Written Answers of 18 April 1995

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  EU Institutions (Visits)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what steps he is taking to encourage hon. Members to take up their annual entitlement to visit EU institutions; and if he will consider organising such visits.

  Mr. Newton
  Hon. Members were made aware of the administrative arrangements covering this facility in December 1991. Members elected since then have had the facility drawn to their attention. I do not have any plans to organise such visits.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list the number of hon. Members who have used their entitlement to a visit to the EU institutions in each of the financial years since the scheme was instituted.

  Mr. Newton
  The information requested is as follows:

  (i) 31 Members in the period 1 January 1992 to 31 March 1992.

  (ii) 88 Members in the year ended 31 March 1993.

  (iii) 75 Members in the year ended 31 March 1994.

  (iv) 68 Members in the year ended 31 March 1995.

  Senior Salaries Review Body
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Lord President of the Council, pursuant to his answer of 4 April,Official Report, columns 986–87, on what date the letter to which he refers was sent to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe; and whether his letter of 23 March to the Government Actuary Department indicated the Government's response to the SSRB's current recommendations other than their proposed increase in the death-in-service benefit.

  Mr. Newton
  The letter to the right hon. Member was sent on 4 April. The letter of 23 March indicated the Government's response to the two SSRB recommendations relating to benefit improvements. This was to allow the necessary considerations to be given to the Exchequer contribution level in the Actuary's valuation report.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Correspondence
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if it is the practice for an official in his Department to reply to letters from hon. Members. [18675]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  It is the practice for either the Lord Chancellor or me to reply substantively to all correspondence from right hon. and hon. Members, save 2
  where the correspondence concerns a specific operational matter within the responsibilities of an agency, in which case the relevant chief executive will reply. On occasions an official may write direct in advance of a substantive ministerial reply being sent. Typically this would happen in the following cases:
  —where further information is required from right hon. or hon. Member to assist with the preparation of a substantive reply; or
  —if the correspondence is being transferred to another Government Department or an agency; or
  —when it is anticipated that there will be a delay in a substantive reply.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what considerations led to the interval between his receipt of the letter of 21 February from the hon. Member for the South Hams, regarding John Halsey, and his reply of 30 March, with particular reference to the content of the answer. [19400]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  It is my normal practice to try to reply to all letters which I receive from hon. Members within one month, unless the letter raises a matter of particular urgency, in which case it is given priority. In this case the reply took a little longer than I would have liked, for which I apologise.

  Immigration
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what co-ordination has occurred between the Foreign Office and his Department over the appeal of Sukhwinder Kaur who was refused entry clearance in New Delhi by Imm ECRO 548/95/5; what is the normal practice in such cases where an appeal is lodged; how soon on average such appeals are heard by an adjudicator; and if he will make a statement. [18673]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  It is not the practice of my Department to approach the Foreign and Commonwealth Office about such appeals. Ms Sukhwinder Kaur's appeal was lodged in New Delhi in the normal way. Once the entry clearance officer's explanatory statement of the reasons for refusal has been completed, it will be sent to the immigration appellate authorities in London together with the notice of appeal. Upon receipt of these documents, the appellate authorities will send copies of them to the representatives of both parties in this country.

  At present, once the parties have indicated they are ready to proceed, the immigration appellate authorities are able to arrange a hearing, on average, within 17 weeks.

  Court Dress
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the usefulness of the wearing of wigs in court. [18713]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the Court Service is best placed to provide an answer and I have accordingly asked the chief executive to reply direct.

  Letter from Michael Huebner to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated 12 April 1995:

  PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION: THE USEFULNESS OF WEARING WIGS IN COURT
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellors Department, has asked me to reply to your question about the usefulness of wearing wigs in court.

  3
  On 19 July 1994 a Practice Direction on court dress was issued by the Lord Chief Justice on behalf of the Lord Chancellor. The Direction arose because of the need to maintain consistency in the court dress worn by solicitors following the extensions to the rights of audience under the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990. The Direction indicated that the current dress requirements for advocates appearing in the Supreme Court and the county courts continued to apply. This meant that while Queens Counsel and junior counsel could wear a short wig in court, solicitors could not.
  The Lord Chancellor recognised the need for further consultation on court dress before arriving at a long-term decision. In August 1994 views were therefore sought from organisations and individuals closely concerned with the working of the courts, on whether solicitors should be allowed to wear wigs in court. Comments were also invited from members of the public. Because there was no consensus among respondents, the Lord Chancellor concluded that the case for change was not made out. A Practice Direction was issued by the Lord Chancellor on 11 April 1995 to re-affirm the position on court dress as stated in the Practice Direction of 19 July 1994.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what procedures his Department will be implementing to ensure that all future transfers of military, security and police equipment, including dual-use technologies, will comply with the European Parliament resolution passed on 19 January. [17780]

  Mr. David Davis
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Pollok (Mr. Dunnachie) by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Technology on 5 April,Official Report, column 1191.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many times in each year since 1979–80 his Department has given a reply to a parliamentary question which has resulted in the information requested being placed in the Library and not printed in the Official Report; [18445]

  (2) how many parliamentary questions to his Department in each year since 1979–80 requesting a priority written answer or answer on a named day, were answered within three days; how many received a holding reply; and how many of those which received a holding reply then received a substantive answer within a further five, 10, 15, 20 days or longer; [18444]

  (3) how many times in each year since 1979–80 his Department has written to a right hon. or hon. Member correcting an answer to a parliamentary question. [18446]

  Mr. Baldry
  The information requested is a matter of public record but it could be extracted in the form requested only at disproportionate cost.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many parliamentary questions to his Department were transferred for answer to the chief executive or other senior official of a non-departmental public body or agency for which he has responsibility in each year since 1979–80 or for each year that the body or agency has been in existence; [18447]
  4
  (2) how many parliamentary questions to his Department that were transferred for answer to the chief executive or other senior official of a non-departmental public body or agency for which he has responsibility received an answer which was not printed in the Official Report in each year since 1979–80 or for each year that the body or agency has been in existence. [18448]

  Mr. Baldry
  The Department has transferred no parliamentary questions to non-departmental public bodies since 1979–80.

  The number of written parliamentary questions referred to next steps agencies by this Department is as follows:

  Session 1992–93: 7

  Session 1993–94: 4

  Session 1994–95: 6

  Information for previous Sessions is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  It is normal practice to print answers from the heads of our agencies in the Official Report.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many parliamentary questions requesting an ordinary written answer were received by his Department in each year since 1979–80; and how many such questions received a substantive answer within 10, 15, 20 days or longer. [18443]

  Mr. Baldry
  The number of written parliamentary questions for ordinary answer received by the Department, excluding the Overseas Development Administration, are as follows:

  Session 1991–92: 223

  Session 1992–93: 1,461

  Session 1993–94: 1,054

  Current session to date—587

  The figures for the Overseas Development Administration are as follows:

  Session 1990–91: 256

  Session 1991–92: 197

  Session 1992–93: 685

  Session 1993–94: 799

  Current session to date—305

  It is not possible to identify those questions that received an answer within a given time period without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Refugee Status (Application)
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements are being made for applications from people residing in Iran for family reunion with relatives granted refugee status in Britain to be processed without requiring applicants to travel to another country to make the application. [18779]

  Mr. Baldry
  The embassy in Tehran cannot normally handle such applications because the number of UK-based staff there is limited. However the embassy does have discretion to consider applications in exceptionally compassionate circumstances.

  Iraq
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information has been received from Mr. Rolf Ekeus of the Special UN
  5
  Committee for the Destruction of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction on the amount of materials for biological weapons supplied to Iraq by western companies; and which were these companies. [18909]

  Mr. David Davis
  The UN Special Commission makes information available in a regular series of reports to the Security Council. The last of these were published on 10 April and commented on iraq's past biological weapons programme. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

  It is not our practice to comment in detail on information given to us by UNSCOM on companies which have trade with Iraq. Any information about potential offences will be investigated and, if substantiated, will be a matter for the courts.

  Sudan
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the ceasefire in Sudan brokered by President Carter and about the intended next steps. [18873]

  Mr. David Davis
  We welcome the announcement of a two month ceasefire in the conflict in southern Sudan to which the Government of Sudan, the Sudanese People's Liberation Army and the South Sudan Independence Movement have agreed. We hope that the ceasefire will give new impetus to the peace initiative sponsored by four east African states, which we fully support.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development has now referred the issue of peace in Sudan to the UN Security Council; and what proposals he has to increase pressure on all participants in the Sudanese civil war to find a peaceful solution. [18910]

  Mr. David Davis
  The peace initiative of the Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development is continuing and the issue has not been referred to the Security Council. We shall continue to urge all participants in the civil war in Sudan to find a peaceful solution and have decided to participate in the recently founded Friends of IGADD, which will consider ways to support this initiative.

  Immigration
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what co-ordination has occurred between the Lord Chancellor's Department and his own over the appeal of Sukhwinder Kaur who was refused entry clearance in New Delhi by Imm ECRO 548/94/5; and if he will make a statement. [18674]

  Mr. Baldry
  None. Mrs. Kaur's appeal has been received in New Delhi and the entry clearance officers explanatory statement is now being prepared. This will be forwarded as soon as possible to the immigration appellate authority which falls under the aegis of the Lord Chancellor's Department.

  Colonel Oliver North
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what meetings his 6
  officials had with Colonel Oliver North between 12 November and 19 November 1984; [18955]

  (2) for what reasons Andrew Green of his Department met Colonel Oliver North on 24 July 1984 to discuss hostage rescue missions; [18954]

  (3) for what reasons Mr. Derek Thomas of his Department met Colonel Oliver North in April 1984 in relation to anti-terrorist and hostage rescue activities in the middle east; [18962]

  (4) for what reasons on 10 May 1984 Mr. Andrew Green of his Department and the British embassy in Washington met Colonel Oliver North to discuss Monzer El Kassar; [18953]

  (5) why Mr. Andrew Green of his Department on 10 May 1984 discussed with Colonel North the role of the British Parliament in the hostage situation. [18961]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  In the mid-1980s members of the British embassy in Washington kept in close touch with the US Administration, including the National Security Council, on matters concerning hostages and on terrorism more generally. This was, and remains, a normal part of the embassy's work.

  Yousef Haidar
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions he has had with United States officials about the pictures taken of President Bush in Damascus in the possession of Yousef Haidar; [18959]

  (2) what discussions he has had with United States officials of a visit by Yousef Haidar to the United States. [18958]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  None.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings his officials had with Yousef Haidar in Beirut. [18960]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are aware of no such meetings.

  Iran
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it was with his authority that Monzer E1 Kassar was authorised in June 1984 to ship arms to Iran. [18952]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No.

  Vice-President Bush
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with Untied States officials about the visits to Damascus in 1986 by Vice-President Bush. [18956]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have had no such discussions. Mr. Bush did not visit Damascus in 1986. British and US officials have regular discussions about the situation in the middle east.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussion he had with
  7
  Lily Boustanny about Vice-President Bush's plans to visit Syria in 1988 to arrange a hostage release. [18957]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  None.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is the practice for an official in his Department to reply to letters from hon. Members. [18672]

  Mr. Baldry
  All correspondence to Ministers from hon. Members receive substantive replies from Ministers with the exception of the correspondence unit of migration and visa department of the FCO and the head of Wilton Park, an agency, who have authority to reply to hon. Members directly.

  The exception for the correspondence unit of migration and visa department was reaffirmed by the then Under-Secretary of State in his letter to hon. Members dated 10 October 1991. A copy of this letter was placed in the Library of the House.

  Wilton Park
  Mr. Mackinley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of Wilton Parks activities is devoted to conferences organised for private sector customers; and what proportion is devoted to conferences for or on behalf of the new democracies of central and eastern Europe. [18677]

  Mr. Goodlad
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to Wilton Park under its chief executive, Richard Langhorne. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from R.T.B. Langhorne to Mr. Andrew Mackinlay dated 10 April 1995:
  I have been asked to respond to your questions about Wilton Park.
  Wilton Park does not itself organise conferences for private sector customers, though it does from time to time cooperate with other organisations, such as the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, where there is a joint interest in a particular topic. During the periods when Wiston House, which is the home of Wilton Park, is not being used for Wilton Park meetings, it can be used as a host venue for private sector customers for training courses and other functions. In the year 1994–95, the proportion of income was 62.4 per cent. from Wilton Park activities and 37.6 per cent. from commercial operations.
  No Wilton Park conferences are directly organised on behalf of foreign governments, but Wilton Park has recently much increased its coverage of issues related to Eastern and Central Europe. In 1994–95, six conferences out of 32 were devoted to such issues and they are listed below. In addition there were Eastern European speakers and participation in 21 of the conferences during the same period. At the invitation of the Polish government, a special and outstandingly successful Wilton Park conference was held in Warsaw in September 1994.

  412: Economic reform and privatisation in Central and Eastern Europe.

  415: Europe's Balkan Wars

  419: Nordic and Baltic Security

  424: Russian Security Dilemmas

  430: Civil society in Central and Eastern Europe

  Warsaw Special: The EU and Central Europe: from Association to Membership
  8
  Later on this year, we will be covering: candidates for membership of the EU; Russian foreign policy in post-communist Europe; Longer-term stability in the Balkans; and the future of Ukraine.
  If you need any further information, please let me know, and I will do my best to provide it.

  Rules and Regulations
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many rules and regulations he repealed in the first three months of 1995; and how many new rules and regulations were introduced in that period by way of statutory instruments, motions or orders. [19361]

  Mr. Goodlad
  No rules or regulations were repealed or introduced during that period.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requirements there are for officials in his Department to introduce a compliance cost assessment for all rules and regulations coming before him and his Ministers; and how many compliance cost assessments have been issued in his Department in the first three months of this year. [19347]

  Mr. Goodlad
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office issues very few rules and regulations. There are therefore no plans to introduce a compliance cost assessment; accordingly, none have been issued this year.

  Mr. Zia Rahman Farooqi
  Mr. John Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 27 March,Official Report, column 444, and his answer to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) of 16 March, Official Report, column 657, if he will list the dates on which Ministers considered the entry visa for Mr. Zia Rahman Farooqi; if he will list the written submissions Ministers in his Department received on this subject; and if he will place such submissions in the Library. [19237]

  Mr. Baldry
  As I said in the answer given on 16 March, there was no ministerial involvement in the issue of a visa to Mr. Farooqi.

  Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Conference
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the Ministers and civil servants who will attend the conference on the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, in New York from 17 April; and if he will give the dates or periods of time Ministers and civil servants will be in attendance. [19318]

  Mr. David Davis
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs will attend the conference from 18 to 19 April. I will attend the latter part of the conference if a ministerial presence is necessary at the end of the negotiations. Up to 26 officials from different Departments will attend the conference at various times. The official delegation will be led by Sir Michael Weston, UK permanent representative to the conference on disarmament, Geneva.

  BIOMED 2 Grant Applications
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has
  9
  made to the European Commission concerning the difficulties being experienced with the Directorate General XII in Brussels with regard to accessing English language proposal forms for BIOMED 2 grant applications; and if he will make a statement. [18880]

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have been asked to reply. The Office of Science and Technology is responsible for the oversight of the management of this programme.

  United Kingdom officials have on many occasions expressed concern to the Commission about the fact that too few English language forms are made available for applicants. Forms for the recent call for proposals ran out in mid-February. Additional forms were made available early March. My officials have again urged the Commission to make better estimates of demand in future.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Military Goods (Export)
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade under which military list specification, as specified in group 1 of part III of schedule 1 of SI 1992 No. 3092, goods for export to(a) Egypt, (b) Gambia and (c) Germany were refused an export licence in 1993. [18284]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The goods in question were classified under ML4 in respect of Egypt, ML1 in respect of Gambia and ML11 in respect of Germany.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many civil servants since January 1988 have left the Export Credits Guarantee Department to join companies that have business contacts with the Department; and what was(a) the date on which each civil servant left the Department and (b) the company they went to work for. [19520]

  Mr. Needham
  Since January 1988, 11 civil servants have left the ECGD to join companies who have business contacts with the Department. In all cases they obtained the required prior approval under the civil service rules governing the acceptance of outside business appointments. The details are as follows:

  Date left

  Company

  29 January 1988

  Lazard Bros

  05 August 1988

  Bowring T. L. Dallas Ltd.

  31 January 1989

  Varity Corporation

  14 July 1989

  Banque Paribas

  11 August 1989

  Moscow Narodny Bank

  12 January 1990

  Trade Indemnity

  04 February 1990

  Alexander Stenhouse UK Ltd.

  31 August 1990

  J. Henry Schroder Wagg and Co Ltd.

  18 October 1991

  GEC

  05 January 1993

  GEC Alsthorn Ltd.

  24 February 1995

  Bank of America

  Export Credits Guarantee Department
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the expenditure from the Export Credits Guarantee Department in the current financial year due to non-payment by Iraqi authorities; and what proportion of these funds relates to exports of military-related equipment. [18116]

  Mr. Needham
  The ECGD paid £46 million in 1994–95 in respect of claims on business supported in Iraq. The ECGD's current exposure on Iraq is estimated at £652 million, of which £596 million relates to un-recovered claims payments. These figures are provisional pending publication of the ECGD's trading accounts.

  Over the period 1985–1990, the ECGD supported about £52 million for exports with potential defence applications. The ECGD's information systems, which reflect the Department's business needs, do not provide a sectoral analysis of claims payments. Extracting the data with reasonable accuracy would involve disproportionate expense.

  Ms Lestor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy that the Export Credits Guarantee Department will not be called on to provide additional export credits to Balfour Beatty and Cementation to cover increases in the cost of the Pergau dam. [18686]

  Mr. Needham
  No approach has been made to the ECGD to provide additional export credits for the Pergau dam project. Any such approach would be considered in the light of the circumstances involved and the ECGD's normal policies and practice.

  Police National Computer
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade who within his Department is to be authorised to have direct access to the police national computer; and what procedures are being established for ensuring that information gained from this source is handled correctly. [18115]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Direct access to police national computer information for security vetting purposes within the DTI will be confined to a small number of personnel within the DTI security section. Staff already handle information from the national identification service and similar levels of operational, technical and physical security will be applied to information obtained from the PNC. In addition, compliance audits will be undertaken by representatives of the police service and Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary.

  Chemical Weapons Convention
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the expenditure by his Department on preparations for the implementation of the chemical weapons convention by Her Majesty's Government in(a) the current financial year and (b) the financial year 1995–96; and from which subheads of which votes this expenditure is taken. [18117]

  Mr. Heseltine
  The provisional outturn of expenditure in 1994–95 by my Department in preparation for implementation of the chemical weapons convention is
  11
  £247,000. All such expenditure falls within class IV vote 1, subhead C1 of the estimates. For the current financial year, it is estimated that the corresponding expenditure could be up to £600,000 and will fall within class IV vote 1, subhead I1 of the estimates.

  Employee Ownership
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to ensure that employee ownership is preserved in companies formed as a result of management/employee buyouts; and if he will make a statement. [19138]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  This is a matter for individual companies. It is open to companies, for example, to include provisions in their articles of association having the effect of preserving employee ownership.

  Company Directors (Duties)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what legal provisions govern the duties of company directors as regards the reading of papers and minutes for board meetings. [18922]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The reading of papers and minutes for board meetings by a director would be an aspect of his or her conduct which could be taken into account by a court in determining whether the director had complied with the general duties of skill and care imposed on directors under the case law developed by the courts.

  EU Directives (Compliance)
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many complaints against failure by Italian companies to comply with EU directives have been brought to the attention of his Departments single market compliance unit in the past two years. [18349]

  Mr. Needham
  The single market compliance unit took up no complaints in 1993 and 1994 against Italian companies for non-compliance with EU directives.

  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the effect on United Kingdom companies of the Italian Government's failure to enforce EU directives with particular reference to the IT sector. [18350]

  Mr. Needham
  My Department's single market compliance unit, which helps British companies overcome illegal barriers to trade in other countries of the EU, is not aware of any particular problem with the non-enforcement by Italy of EC directives covering the IT sector. If companies have any information which points towards such a problem, the SMCU would like to hear from them.

  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he takes to satisfy himself that EU directives are being enforced in(a) Italy and (b) Spain. [18351]

  Mr. Needham
  It is for the Commission and all member states to seek to ensure that Community law is properly enforced. Officials from my Department participate in the Internal Market Advisory Committee,12
  where the Commission chairs meetings of national single market co-ordinators with the tasks of ensuring transposition of legislation, dealing with specific complaints from member states, monitoring the system of co-operation between enforcement officials and exchanging the results of studies of the effectiveness of single market measures. Also in my Department, the single market compliance unit works to help British firms tackle illegal barriers to trade encountered in other member states.

  Cable Laying
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the cable companies which are laying(a) fibre optic and (b) copper cable to the kerb. [17808]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  All cable companies have hybrid optical fibre/copper cable networks. According to industry sources copper cable typically accounts for one in every 5km of cable laid and is mainly in the last drop to the home. In this, cable companies are similar to BT.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many hours per week he and each member of his ministerial team spend on deregulation issues. [19398]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  It would be difficult to estimate how many hours are spent on deregulation issues. Deregulation is a central objective of this Department and as such it is taken into account in all policy matters which are brought before Ministers. In addition, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and I are responsible for managing the Governments deregulation initiative; I am also the Minister responsible for deregulation within the DTI.

  "Energy Paper 65"
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 13 March,Official Report, column 391, what factors underlie the difference between the figures provided in the answer and those in table 3.2 of "Energy Paper 65" regarding assumptions on gross domestic product growth. [19324]

  Mr. Eggar
  The growth rates in table 3.2 of Energy Paper 65 are long-run average growth rates, which take effect early in the next century and continue until the end of the projection period. The growth rate for the period to 2000, given in the answer of 13 March,Official Report, column 391, reflects the period of above-trend growth which is expected to follow the period of below-trend growth in the early 1990s.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assumptions are made concerning the proportion of vehicles fueled by diesel on the road in 2000, under the central forecasts for 2000 in "Energy Paper 65."

  Mr. Eggar
  In the "Energy Paper 65" central GDP growth scenarios the percentage of diesel powered vehicles on the road in 2000 is 20 per cent. for cars and 76 per cent. for light goods vehicles.

  Balance of Trade
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the current balance of trade between the United Kingdom and(a) Italy, (b) Spain, (c) Germany and (d) France. [19092]

  Mr. Needham
  Information on United Kingdom visible trade is published by the Central Statistical Office in "The Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics", available in the Library of the House.

  Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what benefits the European Union EMC directive 89/336/EEC will bring to United Kingdom industry and distribution. [17416]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The Electromagnetic Compatibility directive harmonises relevant technical requirements throughout the European economic area, thus providing manufacturers with access to a very large market free from barriers created by national regulations. It will help to increase UK competitiveness in the international market place.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many parliamentary questions to his Department that were transferred for answer to the chief executive or other senior official of a non-departmental public body or agency for which he has responsibility received an answer which was not printed in the Official Report in each year since 1979–80 or for each year that the body or agency has been in existence; [18504]

  (2) how many times in each year since 1979–80 his Department has written to a right hon. or hon. Member correcting an answer to a parliamentary question; [18502]

  (3) how many parliamentary questions to his Department in each year since 1979–80 requesting a priority written answer or answer on a named day, were answered within three days; how many received a holding reply; and how many of those which received a holding reply then received a substantive answer within a further five, 10, 15, 20 days or longer; [18500]

  (4) how many parliamentary questions to his Department were transferred for answer to the chief executive or other senior official of a non-departmental public body or agency for which he has responsibility in each year since 1979–80 or for each year that the body or agency has been in existence; [18503]

  (5) how many parliamentary questions requesting an ordinary written answer were received by his Department in each year since 1979–80; and how many such questions received a substantive answer within 10, 15, 20 days or longer; [18499]

  (6) how many times in each year since 1979–80 his Department has given a reply to a parliamentary question which has resulted in the information requested being placed in the Library and not printed in the Official Report. [18501]

  Mr. Heseltine
  The information requested is a matter of public record but it could be extracted in the form requested only at disproportionate cost.

  Business Links
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to meet the criticisms contained in the internal audit report on business links development and funding published in January. [18107]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The report was an internal management document. It is not the Governments practice to comment on leaked documents.

  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Leeds, East (Mr. Battle) by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 5 April 1995, Official Report, columns 1726–27.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the business links outlets so far established and the principal funders in each instance. [18108]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  75 business links are currently open in the areas shown.

  Funding in cash and in kind is provided by a number of partners including the local training and enterprise council, the local authority, the chamber of commerce, and local enterprise agencies, and my own Department.

  Barnsley

  Birmingham

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  Chester and Ellesmere Port

  Devon and Cornwall

  Doncaster

  Dorset

  Dudley

  Gloucestershire

  Hereford and Worcester

  Hertfordshire

  Isle of Wight

  Leicestershire

  Lincolnshire

  Manchester

  Merseyside

  North and Mid-Cheshire

  Shropshire

  South Derbyshire

  South and East Cheshire

  Thames Valley

  Tyneside

  Walsall

  Sunderland

  Wigan

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many people are now employed in business links outlets. [18109]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  business links are private companies and as such DTI does not keep this information.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what programme is currently envisaged for the expansion of business links. [18111]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Some 75 business links outlets are currently open and I have already approved plans for a further 146. By the end of May, over 100 business links should be operational and we are well on course towards our target of a national network of over 200 outlets, covering all parts of England, by the end of this year.

  Pergau Dam
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what approaches he has received from the Government of Malaysia following cost escalation on the Pergau dam project. [19689]

  Mr. Needham
  None.

  Disabled People (Access)
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will outline the measures taken, facilities offered and adjustments made in his Department and agencies for which he is responsible to facilitate access for disabled people; what plans he has to improve access; and if he will make a statement. [18583]

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 5 April 1995]: The Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation has carried out site surveys of the buildings my Department occupies in central London. We are acting on the recommendations, and encouraging chief executives of DTI agencies to take similar actions in their buildings where appropriate. We will continue to build on this approach.

  The Disability Discrimination Bill, which will apply to all Government Departments, contains new rights for disabled people in employment and creates a right of access to goods, facilities and services. It also establishes the National Disability Council to advise the Government on eliminating discrimination against disabled people.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will instruct the Child Support Agency (Northern Ireland) to advise all clients in writing that at least four working days should be allowed to ensure that payments arrive with the agency on the due date and that deduction from earnings orders should be withdrawn by the agency when the agency has failed to give proper instruction without requiring appeal through the magistrates courts.

  Mr. Moss
  When absent parents maintenance accounts are set up, they are advised of the amount payable, the due date and the method of payment. Where payments are to be made by paying-in slip through a bank or post office, clients are advised in writing that at least four working days should be allowed for payments to reach the agency.

  The circumstances in which a deduction from earnings order may be discharged are contained in the recently amended regulation 20 of the Child Support (Collection and Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1992 and there is no provision for a deduction from earnings order to be discharged in the circumstances described.

  Tourist Board Grants
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the Northern Ireland tourist board defines as being within the Greater Belfast area for the purposes of deciding upon grant applications for new hotels.
  16
  Mr. Ancram
  The Northern Ireland tourist board currently defines the Greater Belfast area as the area within a 10-mile radius of Belfast city centre.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many grants or loans have been approved by the Northern Ireland tourist board for(a) new hotels, (b) extensions to existing hotels and (c) licensed guest inns in the Greater Belfast area in the first three months of 1995.

  Mr. Ancram
  In the first three months of 1995, no grants or loans were approved by the Northern Ireland tourist board for new hotels, extensions to existing hotels or licensed guest inns in the Greater Belfast area.

  Trade Missions
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the occasions on which he and his ministerial colleagues have been on overseas trade missions in(a) 1992–93; (b) 1993–94; and (c) 1994–95: how many such visits are programmed for 1995–96; and if he will give the outturn, estimated or anticipated cost for each year.

  Mr. Ancram
  Ministers did not accompany any trade missions from Northern Ireland in 1992–93 or 1993–94.

  My noble Friend Baroness Denton accompanied three missions in 1994–95, and plans to accompany five missions in 1995–96.

  The cost in 1994–95 of ministerial involvement with trade missions amounted to £9,878.96.

  It is not possible at this stage to provide a precise figure of the expenditure likely to be incurred in 1995–96. A number of variable factors will influence the final outturn including the length of stay, location and transport costs.

  Educational Administration
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many responses he has received regarding proposed changes to further education in Northern Ireland; and of these, how many were in favour of change;

  (2) what plans he has to disband the South Eastern Education and Library Board;

  (3) when he plans to publish his policy document on education strategy for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Ancram
  The Governments proposals for the future system of educational administration in Northern Ireland were published on 10 April. Copies are available in the Library and the consultation period on the proposals extends until 9 June 1995.

  Equine Encephalomyelitis
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of cases of equine encephalomyelitis in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Ancram
  None.

  Warble Fly
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of cases of warble fly in(a) 1984, and (b)

  Mr. Ancram
  There were 17 cases in 1984 and none in 1994.

  Sinn Fein Manifestos
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will investigate the printing of Sinn Fein manifestos at the Belfast institute Brunswick site; what authorisation was given by the institute; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  I have been assured that the Belfast institute has not authorised the printing of manifestos for any political organisation and that, as far as it is possible to determine, no such material has been printed at the Brunswick street campus.

  Punishment Beatings
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list(a) the total number of punishment beatings recorded since the start of the ceasefires, (b) the numbers attributable to the various paramilitary organisations and (c) the types of injury inflicted.

  Sir John Wheeler
  Between 1 September and 5 April, a total of 90 so-called punishment beatings took place of which 33 were attributed to Loyalist and 57 to Republican groups. Some 78 of these have taken place since 13 October 1994.

  The question of the type of injury suffered by the victims of these assaults is a medical one.

  Strangford-Portaferry Ferry Service
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much it cost to operate the Strangford to Portaferry service in each of the years from 1 April 1991 to 31 March 1995.

  Mr. Moss
  Expenditure on the operation of the Strangford ferry for the period in question has been as follows:

  £000

  Year

  1991–1992

  1992–1993

  1993–1994

  1994–19951

  Operational costs

  556

  650

  722

  688

  1 Provisional figure.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many visits were made by industrialists in connection with potential inward investment projects to each district council area in Northern Ireland from 1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995 and of these how many were repeat visits.

  Mr. Ancram
  During the period 1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995, 480 visits were made to Northern Ireland in connection with potential inward investment projects. Of this number, 315 were first time visits and 165 were repeat visits.

  A breakdown of the visits in terms of district council areas is set out in the table.
  18

  Annex A

  District council areas

  First visits

  Repeat visits

  Antrim

  32

  20

  Ards

  2

  3

  Armagh

  1

  —

  Ballymena

  10

  4

  Ballymoney

  5

  —

  Banbridge

  1

  1

  Belfast: IDB only

  120

  78

  Belfast: Making Belfast

  Work Areas

  Belfast: Others

  Carrickfergus

  12

  6

  Castlereagh

  2

  —

  Coleraine

  5

  3

  Cookstown

  3

  1

  Craigavon

  12

  5

  Derry

  16

  8

  Down

  7

  7

  Dungannon

  11

  6

  Fermanagh

  2

  1

  Larne

  7

  2

  Limavady

  3

  —

  Lisburn

  14

  10

  Magherafelt

  5

  —

  Moyle

  —

  —

  Newry/Mourne

  14

  4

  Newtownabbey

  19

  6

  North Down

  6

  —

  Omagh

  3

  —

  Strabane

  3

  —

  Total

  315

  165

  Roads (Expenditure)
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the capital expenditure on major roads provision in each of the roads divisions from 1 April 1993 to 31 March 1995.

  Mr. Moss
  Expenditure on major roads schemes—that is, mainly those costing over £200,000—in each division of DOE roads service for the period in question, has been as follows:

  Expenditure in £000s

  Financial Year

  1993–94

  1994–951

  Bally Mena

  1,859

  1,564

  Belfast

  12,713

  11,281

  Coleraine

  1,623

  1,321

  Craigavon

  1,369

  4,248

  Downpatrick

  1,026

  558

  Omagh

  320

  827

  Total

  18,910

  19,799

  1 Provisional figures.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the capital expenditure on minor roads provision in each of the roads divisions from 1 April 1993 to 31 March 1995.

  Mr. Moss
  Expenditure on minor roads schemes—that is, mainly those costing less than £200,000—in each division of DOE roads service for the period in question, has been as follows:
  19

  Expenditure in £000s

  Financial year

  1993–94

  1994–951

  Bally Mena

  2,258

  2,373

  Belfast

  2,583

  2,814

  Coleraine

  2,663

  2,517

  Craigavon

  2,677

  2,722

  Downpatrick

  2,379

  2,314

  Omagh

  2,598

  2,448

  Total

  15,158

  15,188

  1 Provisional figures.

  Job Creation
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many jobs have been created by the Local Enterprise Development Unit from 1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995; and if he will list the location of these jobs.

  Mr. Ancram
  Information on job creation by the Local Enterprise Development Unit client companies during 1994–95 is not yet available. It will be included in the Local Enterprise Development Unit's end of year results, which will be published in mid-May.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many jobs were created by the Industrial Development Board from 1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995; how many were the result of inward, investment contracts; and what are the location of these jobs.

  Mr. Ancram
  Information on job creations is not available in the manner requested or by location. However, details of jobs promoted by the Industrial Development Board during the period 1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995 are currently being collated and will be available after the publication of IDB's end of year statement in mid-May.

  Advisers
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many advisers his Department employs broken down to show(a) political advisers and (b) economic advisers; at what grade and salary they are employed; and what are their minimum working hours in each case.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office employ one political adviser at special adviser grade and one part-time economic adviser.

  Salaries for special advisers are negotiated individually and are confidential. They are, however, normally paid on a special adviser's salary spine of 34 points ranging from £19,503 to £67,609, for 41 conditioned hours per week.

  The part-time economic adviser works at least one half-day per week and is paid £12,000 per annum.

  In addition, economic advice is obtained from career civil servants who may be employed on a variety of working patterns.

  Blood Transfusion Agency
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the contract was signed for the new blood transfusion building at Belfast City hospital; what was the contract period for completion; when the 20
  building will be ready for occupation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moss
  The contract for the construction of the headquarters of the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Agency at the Belfast City hospital site commenced on 15 March 1993.

  Practical completion of the project will be achieved on 15 April 1995 with phased occupancy commencing on 1 May 1995.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Civil Service College
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many civil servants have attended courses on delegated pay at the Civil Service college in the last 12 months; and what information he has on the numbers who will attend courses in the period up to April 1996. [19220]

  Mr. Horam
  This question concerns operational matters and I have asked the chief executive of the Civil Service college to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from S.H.F. Hickey to Mrs. Ann Taylor dated 11 April 1995:
  The Parliamentary Secretary has asked me to reply to your question about courses on delegated pay at the Civil Service College (Ref PQ 19220).
  The College has run a number of courses and seminars which were wholly or mainly concerned with delegated pay. In the year to 31 March 1995, 329 civil servants attended these events and since then a further 40 have attended.
  We have a number of events already planned for the remainder of the year to 31 March 1996 and our current estimate is that these will attract 400 civil servants.

  Official Report
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the annual discounted prices to a school and to a library for the daily and weekly Official Reports. [19234]

  Mr. Horam
  The annual subscription price of the daily Official Report to a school is £1,275 and to a publicly funded library £637.50. The annual subscription price of the weekly Official Report to a school is £775 and to a publicly funded library £387.50.

  Top People's Seminars
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many top people's seminars have been held in 1994–95; how many are proposed for 1995–96; and what is the estimated outturn cost to public funds for 1994–95 and the cost allocated or 1995–96. [18420]

  Mr. David Hunt
  The Cabinet Office runs a development course for grade 3s known as the top management programme. During 1994–95, there were four four-week and five two-week courses and during 1995–96 there is provision for four four-week and four two-week courses. The cost to public funds in 1994–95 was £497,500, the allocated funds for 1995–96 are £539,050.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Dover
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish the latest figures showing the volume of correspondence received by Ministers and agency chief executives from hon. Members, the targets

  Annex A Correspondence from Members of Parliament to Ministers and Agency Chief Executives

  1993

  1994

  Department/Agency

  Target set for reply (working days)

  Number of letters received

  Percentage of replies within target

  Target set for reply (working days)

  Number of letters received

  Percentage of replies within target

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  15

  11,150

  69

  15

  9,429

  80

  —Intervention Board

  —

  —

  —

  10

  109

  96

  Cabinet Office (OPSS)

  15

  911

  59

  15

  941

  71

  —Recruitment and Assessment Services

  —

  —

  —

  15

  25

  100

  Central Statistical Office

  10

  63

  77

  110

  70

  67

  Crown Prosecution Service

  15

  229

  66

  15

  206

  76

  Customs and Excise

  18

  6,457

  55

  18

  24,969

  62

  Ministry of Defence

  15

  6,374

  75

  15

  7,769

  69

  —Defence Accounts Agency

  —

  —

  —

  10

  51

  90

  —Defence Research Agency

  15

  53

  66

  15

  48

  63

  Department for Education

  20

  17,049

  84

  20

  212,615

  85

  —Teachers' Pensions Agency

  10

  98

  92

  10

  70

  97

  Office for Standards in Education3

  —

  —

  —

  10

  96

  90

  Department of Employment

  15

  7,604

  85

  15

  6,821

  82

  —Employment Service

  15

  313

  92

  15

  1,156

  85

  Department of the Environment

  15

  21,057

  54

  15

  17,767

  57

  —Planning Inspectorate Agency

  8

  555

  80

  8

  4604

  80

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  10

  9,641

  83

  10

  11,178

  89

  Department of Health

  20

  19,822

  72

  20

  16,311

  84

  —NHS Pensions Agency

  20

  14

  100

  8

  93

  100

  Her Majesty's Stationery Office

  5

  11

  100

  5

  11

  91

  Home Office

  15

  15,950

  25

  515

  14,830

  20

  25

  11,381

  52

  525

  12,845

  51

  —Her Majesty's Prison Service

  25

  348

  54

  15

  1,569

  673

  —UK Passport Agency

  15

  40

  83

  15

  172

  95

  Inland Revenue

  18

  4,202

  45

  18

  2,75,063

  50

  23

  805

  39

  23

  2, 81,048

  60

  —Valuation Office

  23

  74

  45

  15

  2, 923

  78

  Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers

  15

  675

  77

  15

  10549

  76

  Lord Chancellors Department

  20

  6,716

  84

  20

  5,166

  83

  —Her Majesty's Land Registry

  20

  40

  100

  20

  31

  90

  —Public Trust Office11

  —

  —

  —

  15

  36

  75

  Department of National Heritage

  18

  1,145

  83

  18

  3,490

  83

  —Royal Parks Agency

  —

  —

  —

  18

  15

  80

  Northern Ireland Office

  10

  3,814

  66

  1210

  23,468

  65

  —(inc Northern Ireland Depts)

  15

  2,057

  73

  1315

  21,924

  75

  —Child Support Agency (NI)

  10

  27

  96

  10

  48

  88

  —Compensation Agency (NI)

  7

  80

  85

  7

  102

  94

  —Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency (NI)

  —

  —

  —

  5

  14

  100

  —Social Security Agency (NI)

  10

  28

  82

  10

  28

  93

  —Valuation and Lands Agency (NI)

  —

  —

  —

  10

  14

  100

  Overseas Development Administration

  15

  4,218

  87

  15

  3,962

  93

  The Scottish Office

  17

  6,860

  52

  17

  5,562

  49

  —Scottish Prison Service

  —

  —

  —

  17

  68

  76

  —Historical Scotland

  —

  —

  —

  17

  13

  92

  Department of Social Security

  20

  23,518

  76

  20

  23,193

  64

  —Benefits Agency

  20

  28,242

  84

  20

  1421,411

  93

  —Child Support Agency

  20

  2,222

  13

  20

  9,092

  25

  —Contributions Agency

  20

  264

  70

  20

  299

  67

  —War Pensions15

  —

  —

  —

  20

  522

  99

  Department of Trade and Industry

  10

  25,988

  66

  10

  223,171

  74

  —Companies House

  10

  159

  46

  10

  79

  66

  —Insolvency Service

  10

  30

  97

  10

  33

  88

  —Radiocommunications Agency

  10

  43

  100

  10

  38

  100

  Department of Transport

  15

  24,754

  71

  15

  220,905

  72

  —Coastguard Agency

  —

  —

  —

  15

  1620

  100

  —Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

  10

  345

  95

  10

  357

  95

  —Driving Standards Agency

  10

  91

  96

  10

  87

  87

  22
  set for reply and the percentage of replies sent within target. [19750]

  Mr. Horam
  The 1994 correspondence figures are set out in the table. The table also sets out the corresponding figures for 1993, first published on 24 June 1994,Official Report, columns 334–38.
  23

  Annex A Correspondence from Members of Parliament to Ministers and Agency Chief Executives

  1993

  1994

  Department/Agency

  Target set for reply (working days)

  Number of letters received

  Percentage of replies within target

  Target set for reply (working days)

  Number of letters received

  Percentage of replies within target

  —Highway Agency

  —

  —

  —

  15

  16422

  47

  —Marine Safety Agency

  —

  —

  —

  15

  1721

  100

  —Transport Research Laboratory

  —

  —

  —

  15

  10

  90

  —Vehicle Inspectorate

  15

  15

  93

  15

  17

  100

  Her Majesty's Treasury

  15

  11,396

  58

  15

  24,728

  54

  Welsh Office

  12

  3,468

  81

  12

  3,062

  73

  —CADW: Welsh Historic Monuments

  12

  31

  91

  12

  47

  93

  Notes on 1994 figures18:

  1 Represents target set for CSO to submit replies to Her Majesty's Treasury. In addition, the Chief Executive received 3 letters direct from Members of Parliament, of which 2 were replied to within the 10 working day target.

  2 Includes all ministerial replies, not only those letters to Members of Parliament.

  3 Replies sent by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools.

  4 Figure includes letters received direct from Members of Parliament as well as via ministers' offices. Figure also includes 43 cases which relate to Wales.

  5 Targets within the Home Office are expressed in calendar days and because of bank holidays, performance will occasionally be measured against fewer than the 15 or 25 working day target. The 25 day target is for replies to Immigration and Nationality Department, Prison Service and UK Passport Agency subjects; the 15 day target is for all other subjects. Members of Parliament are encouraged to write direct to the Immigration and Nationality Department Board. These letters are included in the totals shown.

  6 Due to the installation of a new computerised correspondence tracking system it is not possible to give a figure for replies within target for the whole period. The figure of 73 per cent. is based on 241 cases from 1 October 1994.

  7 Head Office figures.

  8 Local Office figures. Includes 664 "delegated cases", where local officials replied direct to MPs.

  9 In addition the Valuation Office replied to 122 letters on behalf of Treasury Ministers, of which 56 per cent. were replied to within the 23 day target.

  10 This figure excludes letters received by the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers which were subsequently replied to by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

  11 The Public Trust Office became an Executive Agency on 1 July 1994, and figures given are for all correspondence replied to by the Chief Executive between that date and the 31 December 1994.

  12 Replies signed by the Minister.

  13 Replies signed by Private Secretary to the Minister.

  14 Includes correspondence from Members of Parliament sent direct to district offices.

  15 War Pensions Agency was launched on 1 April 1994.

  16 Figures provided for period 1 April 1994–31 December 1994.

  17 Includes figures for Surveyor General's Organisation for 1 January 1994–31 March 1994.

  18 The 1993 figures are taken from the Official Report, 24 June 1994, columns 334–338. Please also refer to notes given with that reply.

  In addition the following Departments and Agencies received between 1 and 10 letters from Members of Parliament during 1994 but are not shown in the table.

  —Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: Central Science Laboratory, Veterinary Medicines Directorate and the Central Veterinary Laboratory.

  —Cabinet Office: Central Office of Information.

  —Ministry of Defence: Army Base Repair Organisation, Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Defence Animal Centre, Duke of Yorks Royal Military School, Meterological Office and the RAF Training Group.

  —Department of the Environment: The Buying Agency and the Building Research Establishment Agency.

  —Department of Health: Medicines Control Agency and NHS Estates.

  —Export Credit Guarantee Department.

  —Home Office: Forensic Science Service.

  —Attorney General: Government Property Lawyers Agency.

  —Lord Chancellor's Department: Public Record Office.

  —Northern Ireland Office: Rate Collection Agency, Ordnance Survey of NI and Training and Employment Agency (NI).

  —Scottish Office: Scottish Agricultural Science Agency.

  —Serious Fraud Office.

  —Department of Social Security: IT Services Agency and Resettlement Agency.

  —Department of Trade and Industry: Accounts Services Agency, National Physical Laboratory, Patent Office and the Laboratory of the Government Chemist.

  —Department of Transport: Vehicle Certification Agency.

  Written Answers
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the agencies and other bodies to whom questions from hon. Members for written answer are referred for reply and the Departments which answered before the agencies were established. [18848]
  24
  Mr. Horam
  I can answer only for the civil service. It is for Ministers in each Department to decide the best way in which to reply to questions from hon. Members. Where the question concerns operational matters dealt with by an executive agency, the Minister will usually decide that it would be more appropriate and helpful for a reply to be sent by the agency chief executive, who has the detailed
  25
  knowledge which the hon. Member is seeking and has the necessary delegated authority to take appropriate action.

  All agencies, which are in the following list, remain part of the same Department to which they belonged before they were established.

  MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR AGENCIES

  Lord Chancellor

  Court Service

  HM Land Registry1

  Public Record Office1

  Public Trust Office

  Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

  Wilton Park

  Chancellor of the Exchequer

  Central Statistical Office1

  HM Customs and Excise2

  Inland Revenue2

  PAYMASTER1

  Royal Mint1

  Valuation Office

  Secretary of State for the Home Department

  Fire Service College

  Forensic Science Service

  HM Prison Service

  United Kingdom Passport Agency

  President of the Board of Trade

  Companies House

  Insolvency Service

  Laboratory of the Government Chemist

  National Physical Laboratory

  National Weights and Measures Laboratory

  NEL

  Patent Office

  Radiocommunications Agency

  Secretary of State for Transport

  COASTGUARD

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

  Driving Standards Agency

  Highways Agency

  Marine Safety Agency

  Transport Research Laboratory

  Vehicle Certification Agency

  Vehicle Inspectorate

  Secretary of State for Defence

  Army Base Repair Organisation

  Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency

  Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment

  Defence Accounts Agency

  Defence Analytical Services Agency

  Defence Animal Centre

  Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency

  Defence Operational Analysis Centre

  Defence Postal and Courier Services

  Defence Evaluation and Research Agency

  Defence Transport and Movements Executive

  Disposal Sales Agency

  Duke of York's Royal Military School

  Hydrographic Office

  Logistic Information Systems Agency

  Maintenance Group Defence Agency

  Meteorological Office

  Military Survey

  Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation

  Naval Recruiting and Training Agency

  Queen Victoria School

  RAF Signals Engineering Establishment

  RAF Training Group Defence Agency

  Service Children's Schools (North West Europe)

  Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  ADAS3

  Central Science Laboratory

  Central Veterinary Laboratory

  Intervention Board14

  Meat Hygiene Service

  Pesticides Safety Directorate

  Veterinary Medicines Directorate

  Secretary of State for National Heritage

  Historic Royal Palaces Agency

  26

  Royal Parks Agency

  Secretary of State for the Environment

  Building Research Establishment

  Ordnance Survey1

  Planning Inspectorate5

  Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

  Security Facilities Executive

  The Buying Agency

  Secretary of State for Wales

  Cadw (Welsh Historic Monuments)

  Secretary of State for Social Security

  Social Security Benefits Agency

  Social Security Child Support Agency

  Social Security Contributions Agency

  Social Security Information Technology Services Agency

  Social Security Resettlement Agency

  Social Security War Pensions Agency

  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

  Central Office of Information1

  Chessington Computer Centre

  Civil Service College

  HMSO1

  Occupational Health Service

  Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency

  Secretary of State for Scotland

  Historic Scotland

  Registers of Scotland1

  Scottish Agricultural Science Agency

  Scottish Court Service

  Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency

  Scottish Office Pensions Agency

  Scottish Prison Service

  Scottish Record Office1

  Student Awards Agency for Scotland

  Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

  Compensation Agency

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing (NI)

  Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency

  Industrial Research and Technology Unit

  Northern Ireland Child Support Agency

  Northern Ireland Prison Service

  Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland

  Public Record Office of Northern Ireland

  Rate Collection Agency

  Social Security Agency (NI)

  Training and Employment Agency (NI)

  Valuation and Lands Agency

  Secretary of State for Education

  Teachers' Pensions Agency

  Secretary of State for Health

  Medical Devices Agency

  Medicines Control Agency

  NHS Estates

  NHS Pensions

  Secretary of State for Employment

  Employment Service

  Attorney General

  Government Property Lawyers

  Minister for Overseas Development

  Natural Resources Institute

  Notes:

  1 Agencies that are Government Departments.

  2 Government Department operating fully on Next Steps lines.

  3 The Secretary of State for Wales is responsible for ADAS in Wales.

  4 The Secretaries of State for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are responsible for the Intervention Board in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively.

  5 The Secretary of State for Wales is responsible for the Planning Inspectorate in Wales.

ENVIRONMENT

  Homelessness
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, if he intends to introduce legislation to change the provisions of part III of the Housing Act 1985 in respect of homelessness; and if he will make a statement. [17480]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  We are planning to include measures to reform the homelessness legislation in the next Housing Bill.

  Single Regeneration Budget
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement for timetabling on the next round of bidding for the single regeneration budget. [17874]

  Mr. Curry
  The guidance for the second round of the single regeneration budget challenge fund was issued on 12 April 1995. Copies of the guidance have been placed in the Library of the House. Outline bids for challenge fund support should be submitted to Government offices for the regions by 16 June 1995, and final bids by 18 September 1995. It is hoped to announce final decisions on bids by Christmas 1995.

  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment by whom and on what occasion representatives of the Birmingham bid for support from the single regeneration budget 1995–96 were told by his Department to prioritise the two components of that bid. [19459]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Government office for the west midlands advised all applicants seeking support from the single regeneration budget 1995–96 that bids would need to be prioritised. In Birmingham's case, this advice was contained in a letter dated 29 June 1994 to Birmingham city council.

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals on the relationship between international trade and sustainable development he will be taking to, or supporting at, the Commission on Sustainable Development meeting. [18353]

  Mr. Atkins
  At the invitation of the UN conference on trade and development and the UN environment programme, my right hon. Friend intends to present to the Commission on Sustainable Development the conclusions of UNCTAD and UNEP's joint high-level meeting on trade, environment and sustainable development held in Geneva on 21 and 22 November 1994.

  Birmingham International Airport
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will call-in for a full public inquiry into the first stage of Birmingham international airport's master plan involving extending the aircraft parking apron and widening the taxiway. [18850]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State may give a direction requiring planning applications to be referred to him for decision instead of being dealt with by the local authority, but he cannot use these powers in relation to a master plan. Once a planning 28
  application has been submitted to Solihull metropolitan borough council, a decision will be taken as to whether a direction should be issued.

  Rules and Regulations
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what requirements there are for officials in his Department to introduce a compliance cost assessment for all rules and regulations coming before him and his Ministers: and how many compliance cost assessments have been issued in his Department in the first three months of this year. [19346]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My Department issued three compliance cost assessments in the first three months of this year, copies of which are in the Library.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many rules and regulations he repealed in the first three months of 1995; and how many new rules and regulations were introduced in that period by way of statutory instruments, motions and orders. [19360]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Twenty-seven rules and regulations were repealed in the first three months of 1995. In the same period 67 rules and regulations were introduced, not including commencement orders, Orders in Council and instruments not subject to parliamentary procedure, of which:

  18 revoked earlier instruments or substituted a more favourable regime for business;

  2 implemented EU obligations;

  2 updated fees and charges.

  The remainder related to other issues such as local government and its reorganisation.

  None of the rules and regulations introduced new regulatory regimes which had costs for business.

  Stellar's Sea Eagles
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 8 March,Official Report, columns 187–88, (1) how many applications his Department has received to import specimens of Stellar's sea eagle since the licence referred to was granted; how many birds were involved and from where they originated; [19230]

  (2) how many Stellar's sea eagles (a) have been imported or (b) have been authorised to be imported to any other EU countries; [19231]

  (3) if the imported Stellar's sea eagle was intended for a bird zoo; and what were the conservation reasons for the import; [19232]

  (4) what is the application of EC regulation 3626/82 to the import of Stellar's sea eagles. [19233]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  EC regulation 3626/82 implements the provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora throughout the European Union. For some species it also introduces stricter controls on import, export and sale than those contained in CITES. The Stellar's sea eagle is listed in appendix II of CITES which means that commercial trade would normally be allowed. However, the EC regulation provides that, within the EU, the species should be treated as if listed in appendix I, and commercial trade is effectively banned. Sale of the species within the EU would also need to be covered by a sales exemption issued by my Department.
  29
  The permit allowing the import of two birds was issued to an organisation which is licensed under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981. The birds are intended for use in a captive breeding programme, and strict conditions were applied to the permit to ensure that the birds are used for this purpose.

  No further applications to import Stellar's sea eagles have been received since the above permit was granted. The European Commission has not yet published records of imports into other EU states during the past two years.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has discovered the source of the drums containing radioactive uranium waste which were found at Chelverston in January; and if he will make a statement. [19041]

  Mr. Atkins
  Investigations by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution are still under way.

  Hedgerows
  Mr. Bennet
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the research project on developing a hedgerow evaluation scheme currently being carried out by the Agricultural Development Advisory Service was won by competitive tender; how his Department commissioned the project; and if he will make a statement. [19399]

  Mr. Atkins
  This research project was won by competitive tender. It was commissioned through a research contract under the Department's countryside research and long-term monitoring programme. The tender submitted by the Agricultural Development Advisory Service represented best value for money.

  Caravans
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what impact the Valuation Office's increase in valuation for caravans will have on the entitlement of caravan owners to stay on holiday caravan sites. [19390]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  None, as far as I am aware.

  Competitive Tendering
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many competitive tendering exercises carried out by his Department in each of the last two years were caught by the provisions of the public services directive but were not subsequently advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union in compliance with the relevant regulations. [19223]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  None.

  Lancashire County Council
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the most recent information on the current reserves held by Lancashire county council; and what the figures were 12 and 24 months previously. [19053]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The available information is as follows.

  The latest available estimates of the level of reserves as at 1 April 1992 to 1 April 1994 follow. These are split,
  30
  where possible, into schools' reserves and other—non-local management of schools non—LMS reserves include funds, which may be substantial, held for specified purposes which may not be available to the council for general use—funds to finance capital projects to which the authority is committed; and insurance funds where the authority is bearing its own insurance risks.

  These estimates are subject to amendment as authorities finalise their accounts. Compatible data on the use of balances in 1994–95 which would be needed to derive an estimate of the level of reserves at 1 April 1995 are not yet available.

  1 April 19921 £000

  1 April 19932 £000

  1 April 19943 £000

  LMS

  n/a

  31,043

  32,976

  Non-LMS

  n/a

  38,322

  39,138

  Total

  26,241

  69,365

  72,114

  Source:

  1 Level of reserves, outturn at 1–4–92—RS returns for 1993–93

  2 Level of reserves, outturn at 1–4–93—RS returns for 1993–94

  3 Level of reserves, outturn at 1–4–93 +/- appropriations to/withdrawals from reserves 1993–94—RS returns for 1993–94.

  Uniform Business Rate
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total rateable value of all businesses after the revaluations in(a) 1988 and (b) 1993; and what was the total revenue from uniform business rate from the 1988 and 1993 valuations. [19056]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The total rateable value for all businesses for 1 April 1990—based on the market as at 1 April 1988—was £31,882 million. Total revenue from the uniform business rate in 1990–91 was £9,988 million.

  The total rateable value of all businesses for 1 April 1995—based on the market as at 1 April 1993—was £32,697 million. Total revenue from the uniform business rate in 1995–96 is expected to be £11,245 million.

  Allowances
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total amount paid by his central Department and each agency for which he is responsible in subsistence allowances for travel(a) within the United Kingdom and (b) outside the United Kingdom in each of the last three years. [19553]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Details of my Department's spend on subsistence are as follows—UK only:

  £000

  1992–93

  631

  1993–94

  571

  1994–95 (forecast)

  533

  Figures for subsistence for overseas staff are not separately available. Figures for Property Holdings and the Department's agencies are not available without disproportionate cost.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each agency and the central Department for which he is responsible(a) the total amount of removal costs and associated expenses reimbursed to officials who were required to relocate as

  31
  part of their employment, (b) the amount of each of the highest three claims that were concluded and settled and (c) the average amount of each claim in each of the last three years. [19661]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Advisers
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many advisers his Department employs broken down to show(a) political advisers and (b) economic advisers; at what grade and salary they are employed; and what are their minimum working hours in each case. [19424]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  This Department employs two political advisers. The Department also employs, on special adviser terms, one full-time and one part-time expert advisers on environmental and architectural matters respectively. Their salaries and conditions of work are negotiated individually in relation to their previous earnings, and are confidential. Economic advice is obtained from career civil servants, who may be employed on a variety of working patterns. The following numbers by grade are full-time equivalents:

  Grade 3

  1

  Grade 5

  2

  Grade 6

  2

  Grade 7

  14.6

  Assistant Economic Adviser

  9

  Lindane
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department has yet located the container of toxic lindane that was washed overboard in the English channel some years ago. [19697]

  Mr. Atkins
  No. Monitoring by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food did not reveal any traces. I understand that the French authorities have also been involved in the search.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many refugees are being housed in temporary accommodation; how many refugee families have been accommodated in one or two rooms; and what proposals he has to end the practice of accommodating refugees in one or two-room units. [19462]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  At the end of December 1994, 1,018 asylum-seeker households who had been accepted by local authorities as statutorily homeless were occupying temporary accommodation pending the outcome of their application for asylum. Details of the accommodation occupied are not held centrally.

  Cement
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the response of his Department to the formal complaint against the United Kingdom to Ritt Bjerregaard, Commissioner of the European Union, with regard to the use of recycled liquid fuel in the manufacture of cement. [19693]

  Mr. Atkins
  We have received no such complaint.

TREASURY

  Consultants
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken to ensure early retirees are not re-employed by the Treasury as consultants; and if he will ensure that early retirees fully comply with rules not to seek paid employment in the private sector, where market sensitive information may have been obtained during the Treasury employment. [17314]

  Mr. Nelson
  The Treasury has no plans to re-employ early retirees as consultants. Civil servants must abide by the rules governing the acceptance of outside appointments within two years of leaving Crown employment. The rules are set out in the civil service management code—a copy of which is available in the Members' Library.

  All Treasury staff were recently issued with a booklet, "Information on Outplacement Services and Redundancy Terms", which includes details of the business appointment rules. In addition, staff are reminded of these rules when they leave Crown employment.

  Early Retirement
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff(a) volunteered and (b) were accepted for early retirement in his Department in 1994–95 and 1995–96; what will be the cost of such early retirement to public funds, and if he will indicate the grades and size of lump sum payments being made by grade and service length. [17313]

  Mr. Nelson
  Since 1 April 1994, 20 staff volunteered for early retirement, and 20 were accepted. In addition, 12 staff were granted early retirements on grounds of ill-health, and there were 12 other approved early retirements.

  The total estimated cost to public funds—including lump sum redundancy compensation payment, enhancement of pension lump sum payments and payment of annual compensation up to age 60 will be £4,493,410. This figure may be a slight underestimate since calculations for those whose retirement date is not yet known—but which is likely to be in 1995–96—have been done on the basis of a retirement date of 31 March 95.

  Information about lump sum payments in 1994–95 and 1995–96 by grade is as follows:

  Number of staff

  Grade

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Range of payments1 £

  Range of service length (years)

  2–3

  2

  5

  86,016 to 137,086

  23–33

  4–5

  3

  8

  47,665 to 90,984

  16–39

  6–7

  5

  2

  24,147 to 59,225

  10–36

  SEO-EO

  7

  0

  17,656 to 38,926

  22–40

  AO/AA/PS

  6

  0

  2,189 to 23,861

  3–34

  SGB/SM/Typ

  6

  0

  4,283 to 27,627

  6–33

  1Figures include both lump sum compensation and superannuation lump sum, where appropriate.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 20 February,Official Report, column 9, on how many of the 29 projects for the private finance initiative contracts have been signed; and on how many construction work has commenced. [17717]

  Sir George Young
  Contracts have been signed on two of the projects cited in the original list, of which one is under construction and one is fully operational. In addition, preferred bidders have been announced on three of the 29 projects, and bids received on eight more.

  A further two private finance projects were not included in the original list, of which one is under construction and one fully operational.

  Projects worth less than £5 million are not recorded centrally, but are considerable in sum. For instance, in the health field over 50 schemes worth over £100 million have already been completed.

  Advertising
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list each non-departmental public body and agency for which he has responsibility and, for each, list separate figures for the spending by that body or agency on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising, (d) other promotional materials and activities, (e) the totals in each year of (a) to (d) and (f) the proportion of (e) that was spent on recruitment advertising, for each year since 1979–80 or for each year of its existence if it has been created since then; and what are his latest estimates of (a) to (f) 1994–95; and 1995–96. [17626]

  Mr. Nelson
  Expenditure by the Chancellor's agencies is shown in the table. Information relating to all years back to 1979–80 and separate figures for the different types of advertising are not available. There was no expenditure by the non-departmental public bodies on advertising.

  £

  Recruitment advertising Percentage

  Paymaster

  1993–94

  6,777

  96.9

  1994–95

  53,055

  95.6

  1995–96

  27,500

  30.9

  Valuation Office

  1991–92

  1,900

  80.0

  1992–93

  1,200

  100.0

  1993–94

  3,800

  70.0

  1994–95

  8,900

  53.0

  1995–96

  5,000

  50.0

  Royal Mint

  1992–93

  254,635

  0.3

  1993–94

  411,331

  1.5

  1994–95

  296,570

  7.7

  1995–96

  1,000,000

  2.5

  Central Statistical Office

  1989–90

  42,200

  1—

  1990–91

  69,000

  1—

  35

  £

  Recruitment advertising Percentage

  1991–92

  113,100

  26.7

  1992–93

  125,100

  15.6

  1993–94

  123,000

  18.8

  1994–95

  423,800

  11.3

  1995–96

  546,500

  10.5

  1 Figures unavailable.

  Internet
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the Internet electronic mail addresses of(a) his Department and (b) each Minister in his Department; and if he will make a statement on his Department's approach to the information super-highway. [17731]

  Mr. Nelson
  The Treasury already sends out information electronically. Its Internet service was launched on 15 November 1994.

  Material is provided on the Treasury's own Internet server on the world wide web. In addition to the world wide web, the same information can be obtained by electronic mail or by file transfer—FTP.

  The addresses are:

  E-mail mailing lists: maillist@hm-treasury.gov.uk

  E-mail file transfer: ftpmail@hm-treasury.gov.uk

  File transfer (FTP): ftp.hm-treasury.gov.uk

  World Wide Web: http: //www.hm-treasury.gov.uk

  The Treasury is currently working on expanding the service we offer and it is anticipated that individual e-mail addresses will be allocated later this year.

  At the moment, users can also obtain help about the service using electronic mail. The address is info@hm-treasury.gov.uk.

  Paye T/Ps

  Assessed tax O/S tax£

  Totals T/Ps

  O/S tax£

  T/Ps

  O/S tax£

  £0–1,000

  1,065

  219,977

  2,340

  943,240

  3,405

  1,163,217

  £1,001–5,000

  765

  1,936,894

  2,046

  4,943,254

  2,811

  6,880,148

  £5,001–10,000

  158

  1,113,710

  598

  4,213,844

  756

  5,327,554

  £10,001–50,000

  108

  2,070,946

  459

  8,743,422

  567

  10,814,368

  £50,000+

  20

  2,960,152

  32

  3,270,320

  52,

  5,960,472

  Totals

  2,116

  8,031,679

  5,475

  22,114,080

  7,591

  30,145,759

  Inland Revenue Purchases
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances it is his policy to buy British and to encourage executive agencies responsible to the Treasury to do the same; what consideration was given to this policy in the purchase of furniture, fittings and building materials for the Inland Revenue office at Castle Meadow, Nottingham; and what considerations were present in this specific case to create a preference for foreign products. [17819]

  Sir George Young
  The Government's approach to the purchasing of goods and services is to seek best value for money in terms of cost and quality; the "whole life cost". If a British firm can offer best value for money, it will be awarded the business. The approach for the construction, fitting out and furnishing of the new Inland Revenue

  Tax Planning and Avoidance
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Sir T. Arnold) of 27 March,Official Report, column 431, on determining the difference between tax planning and tax avoidance by what means he determines the intention of Parliament; and if this is indistinguishable from the intention of Her Majesty's Government. [17680]

  Sir George Young
  In deciding whether to legislate to counter tax avoidance, the Government will consider all the implications, including the apparent artificiality and the extent of the tax potentially at risk, of a particular scheme. Any proposed legislation is open to scrutiny by Parliament, whose intentions are reflected in the statutory provisions as finally enacted.

  Unpaid Taxation
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total present tax outstanding unpaid by firms covered by the Inland Revenue at 8 Ruby house, Aberdeen; how many firms at this location have outstanding unpaid tax; and how many of these firms have outstanding tax amounts between(a) zero and £1,000, (b) £1,001 and £5,000, (c) £5,001 and £10,000, (d) £10,001 and £50,000 and (e) over £50,000. [17890]

  Sir George Young
  Details of unpaid tax currently being pursued by the Inland Revenue at 8 Ruby house, Aberdeen are set out. These are the amounts outstanding from all self-employed individuals, partnerships and companies. It is not possible separately to identify tax unpaid by firms. The figures include tax arrears which have been referred to the enforcement office, Scotland. Amounts payable to the accounts office, Cumbernauld are not included as it is not possible to distinguish tax due from Aberdeen taxpayers.

  centre in Nottingham was entirely consistent with this approach. There is a legal obligation for contracts above a certain value—currently just under £150,000—to be advertised in the Official Journal of the EC.

  The total construction cost of the new Inland Revenue centre, which will house 1,800 staff when fully occupied, will be about £55 million, excluding VAT and other overheads. All contracts were awarded in accordance with the approach described above, after a full tender process, and only £3 million-worth of work, excluding VAT, was let to overseas contractors.

  Pension Funds
  Mr. French
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will amend the Government Stock Regulations 1965 to reduce the risk of gilt-edged securities that are owned
  37
  by pension funds trustees and are registered in a central gilts office account at the Bank of England being vulnerable to misappropriation or erroneous misallocation by the account holder. [18927]

  Mr. Nelson
  Placing a duty upon the Bank of England, as registrar of gilts and operator of the central gilts office service, to inquire about the propriety of stock transactions made in the name of trustees would reduce the speed and efficiency of the settlement service without adding materially to the protection of pension fund beneficiaries. Such protection is more effectively given by the measures in the Pensions Bill, currently before Parliament.

  Construction Industry
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what measures he will take to ensure that the introduction of a turnover test with regard to the 714 tax exemption system for construction workers will not be set at a level that will exclude a substantial proportion of those self-employed in the industry. [18868]

  (2) if he will reconsider the proposal to introduce a turnover test with regard to the 714 tax exemption system for construction workers; [18869]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the effect that the introduction of a turnover test with regard to the 714 tax exemption system for construction workers will have on the ability of employers to take on additional workers. [18867]

  Sir George Young
  The Government intend to proceed with the introduction of the turnover test, which will become one of the statutory conditions that a business must satisfy before qualifying for a subcontractor's 714 certificate. This approach has been recently ratified by the House in the Finance Bill. The test will be an objective means of restricting certificates to the more substantial business in the construction industry, which the Government's intention, thereby reducing the opportunities for certificate misuse and associated tax evasion. A compliance cost assessment, published by the Inland Revenue, and based on input from the industry, indicates that the resulting additional burden on contractors will be minimal. The test should not, therefore, have any significant effect on the ability of employers or contractors to take on additional workers.

  Gross Domestic Product
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the gross domestic product per person on Merseyside; and what is the national average. [18950]

  Mr. Nelson
  Estimates for gross domestic product by county are calculated only for years when there is an annual census of employment. The latest available information for GDP per head by county is for 1987, 1989 and 1991 which was published in the December 1993 issue of "Economic Trends", a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library.

  Incomes
  Dame Elaine Kellett-Bowman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the change in real take-home pay for families with one earner and two children since 1979 and between 1974 and 1979 in the Lancaster travel-to-work area. [18795]
  38
  Sir George Young
  Real take-home pay for a one-earner couple on male average earnings in Great Britain with two children has risen by around 40 per cent.—over £80 a week—since 1978–79. It rose by less than 1 per cent. between 1973–74 and 1978–79. No figures are available for the Lancaster travel-to-work area.

  Dame Elaine Kellett-Bowman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the change in real take-home pay for single men in the lowest 10 per cent. of earnings since 1979 and between 1974 and 1979 in the Lancaster travel-to-work area. [18794]

  Sir George Young
  Real take-home pay for a single man at the lowest decile of male earnings in Great Britain has risen by nearly a quarter since 1978–79. It fell slightly between 1973–74 and 1978–79. No figures are available on a regional or sub-regional basis.

  Caravans
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what basis the Valuation Office has changed the basis for valuation for caravans; and what assessment he has made of the implications of the increase in the rateable assessment for caravans. [18667]

  Mr. Nelson
  The basis of assessment for business rates remains rental value. The last revaluation in 1990 had regard to April 1988 rental levels whereas for the 1995 revaluation assessments is based on valuation officers' opinions of values in April 1993. Valuation officers have also reconsidered their assessments of caravans so that they are more comparable with other classes of holiday accommodation.

  The Government have considered the implications of substantial increases in rating assessments for various types of property and have introduced a scheme of transitional relief to ensure that no ratepayers will face increases of more than 10 per cent. plus inflation.

  Chargeable Gains
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total chargeable capital gains and the number of individuals having them in each year between 1979 and 1991–92 for those people having gains of(a) over £500,000, (b) £100,000 (c) £50,000 and (d) £5,000. [19088]

  Sir George Young
  Figures on assessed chargeable gains for individuals, including trusts, and estimated numbers of taxpayers since 1978–79 are published in table 14.1 and table 1.4 respectively in the 1994 edition of "Inland Revenue Statistics"—a copy of which is available in the Library. Because of time lags, assessment figures for the more recent years are less complete.

  A more detailed breakdown for individuals, including trusts, who sold assets in 1991–92 with net chargeable gains exceeding the specified limits is given:

  Net chargeable gains over (£)

  Number of taxpayers

  Net chargeable gains (£ million)

  500,000

  1,300

  1,488

  100,000

  7,400

  2,514

  50,000

  14,700

  2,930

  5,5001

  90,000

  3,971

  1 £2,750 for trusts.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what allowances will be taken into account when the Benefits Agency issues a tax code and deducts tax at source from someone liable to pay tax but whose only income is incapacity benefit. [19279]

  Sir George Young
  Initial tax codes allocated by the Benefits Agency to new claimants of incapacity benefit will take account of entitlement to the basic personal tax allowance and, depending on information supplied by the individual on the incapacity benefit claim form, the married couple's allowance and blind person's allowance. In most cases, that initial code is likely to be the correct one. However, in some cases a new tax code may be issued soon afterwards by the Inland Revenue where further information comes to light after checking its records. That subsequent code—selected from the limited number of further codes available—may take account, where relevant, of entitlement to other allowances.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the procedures for reclaiming an overpayment of tax in cases where deductions have been made at source by the Benefits Agency as a result of the decision to tax incapacity benefit. [19280]

  Sir George Young
  Where deductions of tax from incapacity benefit have been made at source by the Benefits Agency, any overpayment of tax which arises will automatically be refunded by the Inland Revenue at the end of the tax year or when the claim to incapacity benefit ceases, whichever is the sooner. Alternatively, taxpayers can claim a repayment during the tax year from the Inland Revenue. In addition, from October, any overpayments which arise because too much tax has been deducted by the Benefits Agency will be remedied automatically under the pay-as-you-earn system operated by the Benefits Agency.

  Inland Revenue, Bradford
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the proposed building development plans for the Inland Revenue in Bradford. [19135]

  Sir George Young
  The Inland Revenue is planning to bring its operations currently housed in four buildings in the Bradford area into a single occupation by the spring of 1997.

  Options to meet this requirement are under consideration.

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will happen to the leases on buildings that the Inland Revenue holds in Bradford when the Inland Revenue moves into new buildings.

  Sir George Young
  All the leases will be terminated at the break dates and the Inland Revenue will seek to relet or reuse any vacant accommodation in the interim.

  Mr. D. C. Cartman
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the inspector of taxes at Newcastle 3 district to advise Mr. D. C. Cartman of Wooler, Northumberland, of the outcome of the consideration of the taxation of 40
  subsistence expenses to which the Financial Secretary referred in his letter to the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed of 14 October 1994. [19087]

  Sir George Young
  The Inland Revenue wrote to the taxpayer concerned on 11 April 1995, explaining the current position about his tax affairs.

  Civil Service Pay
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Treasury officials are involved in supporting national civil service pay negotiations; and what is the cost. [19229]

  Sir George Young
  In 1994–95, there were 135 staff in the Treasury directorate which looks after civil service management and pay, excluding staff administering the principal civil service pension scheme. The cost of these staff was £6.5 million.

  Corporation Tax
  Mr. Jon. Owen Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide figures for corporation tax paid in each of the financial years since 1987–88 for(a) building societies, (b) friendly societies, (c) industrial and provident societies, (d) credit unions and (e) co-operative societies which are currently aggregated in "Inland Revenue Statistics"; and if he will take steps to provide this information in future editions of "Inland Revenue Statistics". [19452]

  Sir George Young
  Figures of mainstream corporation tax paid by industrial and provident societies, building societies, and co-operative societies published in "Inland Revenue Statistics", as shown, are based on a sample of cases and cannot reliably be broken down at the level of detail requested. However, it is estimated that building societies typically account for in excess of 99 per cent. of the tax shown.

  Mainstream corporation tax paid by industrial and provident societies, building societies, co-operative societies

  £ million

  1987–88

  620

  1988–89

  820

  1989–90

  650

  1990–91

  600

  1991–92

  860

  1992–93

  690

  1993–94

  720

  Source:

  "Inland Revenue Statistics."

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the jobs that have been lost to agencies in his Department in the past two years that have(a) been taken over by contractors and (b) disappeared. [18336]

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 4 April 1995]: The following functions formerly undertaken in the Treasury have been transferred to agencies in the past two years. The numbers of posts are those which existed in the Treasury immediately prior to the transfer. The agencies will make a commercial decision on the number of staff required to undertake these functions in future:
  41

  Function

  Number of posts

  Date transferred

  Agency

  Security Guard

  44

  1 February 1995

  Security Facilities Executive (SAFE) (DOE Agency)

  Superannuation Awarding

  36.5

  1 April 1995

  Paymaster

  Exchange Rate Mechanism
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government that the House will be formally advised before any decision is taken to link the value of sterling, formally or informally, to other currencies. [18151]

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 4 April 1995]: As the Prime Minister has made clear, the Government have no plans to rejoin the ERM in the lifetime of this Parliament. He has also made it clear that any future decision to seek to join a single currency would need the approval of Parliament. The details of exchange rate arrangements are, of course, market sensitive and it has been the practice of successive Governments not to announce them in advance.

  Disabled People (Access)
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will outline the measures taken, facilities offered and adjustments made in his Department and agencies for which he is responsible to facilitate access for disabled people; what plans he has to improve access; and if he will make a statement. [18599]

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 5 April 1995]: The Chancellor's Departments and agencies have an on-going programme to ensure that the disabled have access to buildings and services. Many measures have already been taken to improve access including building adaptations and the provision of equipment and services. The Departments and agencies concerned are committed to keeping the situation under review and building on these initiatives.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  War Widows
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the annual cost of paying war widows a pension for life regardless of their marital status and other income or savings. [18155]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  It is estimated that the additional gross cost would be about £220 million in a full year. That estimate does not take into account savings in other benefits which would normally be offset against the war widow's pension.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of women who will be entitled(a) to enhanced invalidity benefit payments and (b) back payment of benefits if his
  42
  Department's appeal against the commissioner's decision in the case of Mrs. Rose Graham fails; and what estimate he has made of the additional costs to be met by his Department in that event. [17345]

  Mr. Hague
  Increased awards of invalidity benefit are being made by adjudication officers with effect from 1 April 1992, the date of the commissioner's decision. Increases are being suspended pending the outcome of the appeal by the Secretary of State and the chief adjudication officer, except in cases of hardship. Any benefit which has been suspended will be paid in full if the commissioner's decision is upheld. Information about the number of women affected and the estimated costs is in the tables.

  Suspensions of increased Invalidity Benefit awarded as a result of commissioner's decision CS 27/91

  Cases in which suspension applied

  Hardship applications

  Cases in which suspension lifted on hardship grounds

  41,560

  1,604

  994

  Note:

  1. Figures relate to 31 March 1994, the latest date for which information is available centrally.

  Source: Manual count in Benefits Agency offices.

  Estimated net costs if the commissioner's decision CS 27/91 is upheld

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  £210 million

  £85 million

  £95 million

  Notes:

  1. Estimates are net offsetting reductions in income-related benefit expenditure.

  2. Estimates for 1995–96 include arrears to 1 April 1992, the date of the commissioners decision.

  3. Estimates assume the commissioners decision is upheld on the same terms. Actual costs will depend on the precise terms of the final ruling.

  4. Estimates are provisional, and subject to revision.

  Habitual Residence Test
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were refused income support due to the habitual residence requirement, in each month since the requirement was introduced; and how many of those affected were(a) British nationals, (b) European economic area nationals and (c) others. [17878]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is set out in the table.

  British nationals

  EEA nationals

  Others

  August 1994

  238

  474

  290

  September 1994

  372

  1,094

  934

  October 1994

  454

  1,500

  1,224

  November 1994

  584

  1,308

  1,433

  December 1994

  444

  801

  1,427

  January 1995

  507

  849

  1,631

  February 1995

  558

  878

  971

  Notes:

  1. Others include asylum seekers who had the test applied to them but were paid benefit under other provisions.

  2. The figures for January and February are provisional.
  43
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if crisis loans are available, as interim payments, to those claimants who have been refused income support because they have failed the habitual residence test and are now waiting for their appeal to be heard by the Independent Tribunal Service; and what is the latest information on the number of such claimants who go on to win their appeals. [18899]

  Mr. Hague
  Crisis Loans are available to applicants who are not in receipt of benefit and may be paid to those who fail the habitual residence test. The information requested on the number who succeed at appeal is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Benefit Expenditure
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Mid-Kent (Mr. Rowe), of 23 March,Official Report, column 342, why the figures for benefit expenditure as a percentage of GDP are different for the years 1978–79, 1980–81, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93 from those given in The Growth of Social Security, Department of Social Security 1993. [17776]

  Mr. Hague
  The Growth of Social Security was published in 1993 and since then benefit expenditure has reflected certain changes.(a) From 3 October 1994 responsibility for special pension payments to certain categories of war widows was transferred to DSS from the Ministry of Defence. Total benefit expenditure from 1990–91, when the special payments began, has been adjusted to reflect the transfer.
  These figures have been shown in the 1995 departmental report, table 1.
  (b) Outturn figures for housing benefit have been adjusted from 1989–90 to reflect actual costs incurred in respect of each financial year and have been updated in line with the latest actual outturn data available from the local authorities. Previous totals had included interim estimates from the local authorities.
  These figures have been shown in the 1995 departmental report, tables 2 and 3.

  The differences for 1978–79 and 1980–81 are caused by different rounding conventions.

  Council Tax Benefit
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people, not on other benefits, are now receiving a disability premium with council tax benefit on the ground that they are incapable of work; and how many(a) existing recipients of the premium and (b) new claimants he estimates will be found capable of work in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97 and (iii) 1997–98. [18801]

  Mr. Hague
  Within council tax benefit, the number of people receiving the disability premium without other benefits is negligible. It is therefore not possible to estimate how many will be found capable of work in future years.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the savings expected to arise from the introduction of incapacity benefit, including the application of the new incapacity test to people on a disability premium and severe disablement 44
  allowance for each of the years 1995–96, 1996–97, 199798 and total for the years 1995 to 1998. [18802]

  Mr. Hague
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Clydesdale (Mr. Hood) on 27 January,Official Report, Column 425.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his statement of 23 February,Official Report, Standing Committee B, column 555, what discussions took place with the Social Security Advisory Committee regarding the Governments proposals to reduce by 20 per cent, the income support paid to people who choose to appeal on the decision to withdraw their incapacity benefit; and if he will publish the information given to the Social Security Advisory Committee which led to its decision to waive its right to be consulted on the proposals. [18804]

  Mr. Hague
  The proposal was considered by the Social Security Advisory Committee on 3 February 1995, and as a consequence a revised proposal was submitted for discussion on 16 February 1995. Copies of the original and revised proposals presented to the Committee have been placed in the Library.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people, not on other benefits, are now receiving a disability premium with their housing benefit on the ground that they are incapable of work; and how many(a) existing recipients of the premium and (b) new claimants he estimates will be found capable of work in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97 and (iii) 1997–98. [18803]

  Mr. Hague
  Within housing benefit, the number of people receiving the disability premium without other benefits is negligible. It is therefore not possible to estimate how many will be found capable of work in future years.

  Rules and Regulations
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what requirements there are for officials in his Department to introduce a compliance cost assessment for all rules and regulations coming before him and his Ministers; and how many compliance cost assessments have been issued in his Department in the first three months of this year. [19353]

  Mr. Hague
  Officials in this Department follow the guidance set out by the Department of Trade and Industry and agreed by the Government that a compliance cost assessment should be prepared in the following circumstances:in support of all papers for Cabinet and Cabinet Committees, and minutes to the Prime Minister for collective discussion that deal with proposals which may have an impact on business;
  in support of all regulatory proposals which may have an impact on business submitted for consideration under the annual legislative bids process;
  as part of the advice to Ministers on the line to be taken on a private Members Bill which affects business;
  when preparing statistical surveys which will involve business;
  alongside all draft primary, secondary and EC legislation having an impact on business when it is presented to Parliament.

  All compliance cost assessments accompanying draft legislation are published. This Department issued eight of

  45
  these in the first three months of this year, copies of which are in the Library.

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 18 April. [17981]

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 18 April 1995. [17982]

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

EDUCATION

  Foreign Language Institutions
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of primary schools in England

  Pupils under 5 years of age1 in maintained nursery and primary schools and independent schools 1974–1994

  Position in January each year

  Maintained Nursery Schools

  Maintained Primary Schools

  Independent Schools

  Year

  Full-time pupils

  Part-time pupils

  Total pupils as a percentage of the population2

  Full-time pupils

  Part-time pupils

  Total pupils as a percentage of the population2

  Full-time pupils

  Part-time pupils

  Total pupils as a percentage of the population2

  1974

  13,696

  27,614

  3

  268,335

  74,260

  24

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1975

  13,740

  29,777

  3

  270,642

  89,727

  25

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1976

  13,497

  32,062

  3

  285,235

  109,205

  29

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1977

  13,657

  34,043

  4

  250,873

  133,098

  30

  16,687

  11,198

  2

  1978

  14,138

  34,359

  4

  224,240

  142,328

  30

  16,758

  11,576

  2

  1979

  14,219

  34,258

  4

  232,690

  147,473

  33

  17,588

  11,297

  2

  1980

  14,079

  34,377

  4

  230,342

  150,122

  35

  18,910

  10,832

  3

  1981

  13,717

  34,437

  4

  224,544

  155,399

  36

  18,050

  11,500

  3

  1982

  13,295

  35,694

  4

  220,052

  167,639

  36

  18,533

  11,033

  3

  1983

  12,611

  36,940

  4

  225,328

  183,318

  36

  16,723

  12,770

  3

  1984

  12,214

  37,192

  4

  251,340

  194,272

  37

  17,520

  13,836

  3

  1985

  11,890

  37,723

  4

  257,409

  205,545

  39

  18,501

  14,274

  3

  1986

  11,698

  37,685

  4

  247,079

  212,161

  39

  18,450

  14,519

  3

  1987

  11,478

  38,024

  4

  252,401

  214,861

  40

  19,028

  15,586

  3

  1988

  11,216

  38,570

  4

  257,089

  226,058

  41

  20,579

  16,580

  3

  1989

  10,931

  39,239

  4

  259,440

  237,954

  41

  23,134

  18,158

  3

  1990

  10,429

  41,096

  4

  275,183

  250,513

  42

  24,639

  18,910

  3

  1991

  10,085

  42,009

  4

  286,410

  265,082

  44

  25,869

  19,330

  4

  1992

  9,734

  42,470

  4

  299,699

  277,808

  45

  26,461

  19,405

  4

  1993

  9,461

  43,527

  4

  316,788

  286,417

  47

  26,477

  20,620

  4

  1994

  8,930

  43,332

  4

  326,447

  295,887

  48

  26,402

  21,212

  4

  Learning Credits
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what discussions she has had with the Cabinets Home Social Affairs Committee on the report from Coopers and Lybrand on the feasibility of learning credits; and if she will make a statement; [19477]

  (2) what plans she has to introduce learning credits for 16 to 19-year-olds; and if she will make a statement. [19442]
  46
  teach a foreign language; and which languages are most commonly taught. [19057]

  Mr. Forth
  The Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research recently carried out a survey, Modern Foreign Languages in Primary Schools, which covered England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Fifty three out of 125 local education authorities responded, 48 of those being English authorities. The results showed that some 1,919 primary schools, or 22 per cent. of those in the sample, provided some foreign language tuition. The most commonly taught language was French—1,795 schools—followed by German—67 schools—and Italian—64 schools.

  Under-five Provision
  Ms Estelle Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will publish a table showing the number of children under five years in(a) public sector nursery schools, (b) public sector primary schools, broken down into full and part-time and (c) non-maintained schools, broken down into full and part-time and showing what proportion of children aged three or four years is accounted for by each category in each year since 1970 until the most recent date available. [19368]

  Mr. Forth
  Information is shown in the table.

  Mr. Boswell
  The Government are considering the issue of learning credits for 16 to 19-year-olds in the light of advice from Coopers and Lybrand, and will announce their conclusions in due course.

  Further Education Colleges
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her answer of 23 March,Official Report, columns 358–59, when the Further Education

  47
  Funding Councils chief executive will write to the hon. Member for Manchester, Blackley. [19497]

  Mr. Boswell
  Sir William Stubbs, chief executive of the Further Education Funding Council, wrote to the hon. Member on 7 April.

  Education means Business
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many copies of the booklet, Education means Business have been produced; to whom it has been circulated; and what was the total cost. [18851]

  Mr. Forth
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchcliffe) on Friday 17 March,Official Report, column 735.

  Rules and Regulations
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many rules and regulations she repealed in the first three months of 1995; and how many new rules and regulations were introduced in that period by way of statutory instruments, motions or orders. [19358]

  Mr. Boswell
  Some 24 statutory instruments were revoked in the first three months of 1995. In the same period, 29 statutory instruments were introduced. These figures do not include local instruments.

  The great majority of these concerned the maintained, system of education and imposed no regulatory requirements on business.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what requirements there are for officials in her Department to introduce a compliance cost assessment for all the rules and regulations coming before her and her Ministers; and how many compliance cost assessments have been issued by her Department in the first three months of this year. [19344]

  Mr. Forth
  My Department issued one compliance cost assessment in the first three months of this year, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

  Higher Education (Staff)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of(a) university professors and (b) heads of university departments are women. [19099]

  Mr. Boswell
  Some 5 per cent. of full-time professors at former University Funding Councils funded universities in Great Britain in 1992–93 were women. For the same year in former Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Councils funded English polytechnics granted university status, 15 per cent. of full-time professors wholly institute-financed were women.

  Data on the gender of the heads of university departments are not collected centrally.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of staff in United Kingdom universities are women. [19101]

  Mr. Boswell
  Some 23 per cent. of full-time academic staff in former UFC funded universities in England in 1992–93 are women. For the same year in former PCFC-funded English polytechnics granted university status, 34 per cent. of full-time academic staff wholly institute-financed were women.
  48
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many university staff in United kingdom universities are now on short-term contracts. [19097]

  (2) how many staff in the university of Wales are now on short-term contracts. [19086]

  Mr. Boswell
  This information is not held centrally.

  Responsibility for employment conditions of university staff, however funded, rests with the universities as employers.

  I stated in a reply to the hon. Member on 21 March 1995, Official Report, column 165, the Higher Educational Statistical Agency, which has now assumed responsibility for the collection of statics on staff, students and finance in all UK higher education institutions, will identify, in its 1994–95 academic staff record, data on staff numbers in institutions on permanent or other form of contracts.

  The University Statistical Record has collected staff data on behalf of former University Funding Council-funded universities, but does not distinguish by type of staff contracts.

  Higher Education (Students)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what percentage and numbers of students in United Kingdom universities are women; [19102]

  (2) what percentage of postgraduate students in United Kingdom universities are women. [19100]

  Mr. Boswell
  The numbers of home-domiciled women students in former UFC-funded universities and former PCFO-polytechnics in England in academic year 1993–94 was 386,600, 47 per cent. of all home-domiciled students. The numbers of home-domiciled women postgraduate students was 63,100, 46 per cent. of home-domiciled postgraduate students.

  Higher Education Applicants (Qualifications)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage and how many students are now admitted to higher education courses on the basis of national vocational qualifications rather then A-levels. [19098]

  Mr. Boswell
  Information published in the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service annual report 1993–94 shows that 159,300 applicants were accepted to first degree and HND courses in autumn 1994 with A-level qualifications—63 per cent. of home acceptances. The remainder gained entry with a range of other qualifications, including the new general national vocational qualifications, NVQs, and predecessor vocational qualifications.

  Postgraduate Vocational Training Courses
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many language graduates have taken up bursaries for postgraduate vocational interpreter and translator training courses over the last three years. [18902]
  49
  Mr. Boswell
  The number of language graduates who have taken up bursaries through the Departments postgraduate awards scheme for postgraduate vocational interpreter and translator training courses over the last three academic years is 136.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many people have taken up bursaries for postgraduate vocational training courses over the last three years. [18901]

  Mr. Boswell
  The number of people who have taken up bursaries through the Departments postgraduate awards scheme for postgraduate vocational training courses in the last three academic years is 1,905.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many bursaries will be available for language graduates wishing to take vocational interpreter and translator training courses next year. [18903]

  Mr. Boswell
  My right hon. Friend has reviewed the provision of bursaries for postgraduate studies in interpreting and translating studies and has now agreed to provide 20 bursaries for language graduates wishing to take postgraduate vocational interpreter and translator training courses in the next academic year.

  Allowances
  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list the total amount paid by her central Department and each agency for which she is responsible in subsistence allowances for travel(a) within the United Kingdom and (b) outside the United Kingdom in each of the last three years. [19551]

  Mr. Boswell
  The subsistence costs in respect of UK travel for the Department and Teachers Pension Agency are as follows. The Department does not keep separate figures of the subsistence costs incurred in foreign travel. No foreign travel and subsistence costs have been incurred by the TPA.

  Net running costs (in thousands) of all non-departmental public bodies sponsored by DFE

  1987–88 outturn

  1988–89 outturn

  1989–90 outturn

  1990–91 outturn

  1991–92 outturn

  1992–93 outturn

  1993–94 outturn

  1994–95 estimated outturn

  1995–96 forecast

  Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges (CBEVE)

  1

  1,760

  1,813

  2,184

  3,021

  3,498

  3,848

  4,052

  4,194

  3,867

  Centre for Information on Language Teaching and research (CILT)

  —

  398

  435

  501

  576

  670

  937

  816

  964

  930

  Education Assets Board (EAB)

  2

  —

  —

  1,420

  551

  537

  839

  764

  858

  986

  Funding Agency for Schools (FAS)

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  10,927

  11,500

  Further Education Funding Council for England (FEFCE)

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4,300

  18,800

  23,800

  24,200

  Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)

  5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  500

  10,355

  11,775

  12,025

  League for Exchange of Commonwealth Teachers (LECT)

  —

  440

  497

  507

  524

  585

  668

  636

  617

  569

  National Council of Educational Technology (NCET)

  6

  —

  1,152

  2,072

  2,387

  2,960

  3,003

  3,334

  3,336

  3,157

  50

  DFE £

  Teachers pension agency £

  1992–931

  290,847

  34,642

  1993–94

  207,189

  56,550

  1994–95

  216,936

  44,375

  1 Figures exclude T and S provision for HM inspectorate, now Ofsted.

  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list for each agency and the central Department for which she is responsible(a) the total amount of removal costs and associated expenses reimbursed to officials who were required to relocate as part of their employment, (b) the amount of each of the highest three claims that were concluded and settled and (c) the average amount of each claim in each of the last three years. [19663]

  Mr. Boswell
  No removal costs were incurred by the Teachers Pension Agency. The information requested in respect of the Department is as follows:

  1992–93 £

  1993–94 £

  1994–95 £

  Total

  60,457

  62,650

  19,785

  Highest claim

  10,163

  10,281

  11,250

  The average costs were:

  5,496

  5,695

  9,892

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the total running costs of all non-departmental public bodies sponsored by her Department including the National Council for Vocational Qualifications and Ofsted for each year since 1987.

  Mr. Boswell
  [pursuant to his reply, 30 March 1995 c. 718]: The running cost of non departmental public bodies that are the responsibility of my Department are given in the table.
  51

  Net running costs (in thousands) of all non-departmental public bodies sponsored by DFE

  1987–88 outturn

  1988–89 outturn

  1989–90 outturn

  1990–91 outturn

  1991–92 outturn

  1992–93 outturn

  1993–94 outturn

  1994–95 estimated outturn

  1995–96 forecast

  National Youth Agency (NYA)

  7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,691

  1,574

  1,566

  1,649

  1—

  National Curriculum Council (NCC) (superseded by SCAA)

  8

  —

  —

  4,293

  3,401

  3,780

  3,734

  2,255

  —

  —

  School Examinations and Assessment Council (superseded by SCAA)

  8

  —

  —

  4,278

  4,930

  6,195

  7,226

  3,142

  —

  —

  School Curriculum and Assessment Authority (SCAA)

  9

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4,310

  9,339

  9,140

  Teaching as a Career Unit (TASC) (superseded by TTA)

  10

  346

  375

  400

  699

  954

  818

  752

  366

  —

  Teaching Training Agency (TTA)

  11

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,640

  2,618

  Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED)

  12

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  22,145

  30,908

  28,755

  28,150

  Total net expenditure

  2,944

  4,272

  15,655

  16,089

  20,870

  49,592

  81,690

  98,220

  97,142

  Notes:

  1. Until December 1993 CBEVE was a NDPB. Since then it has been part of the British Council. However DFE, SOED and DENI continue to have full funding and policy responsibility for CBEVE.

  2. EAB was set up in August 1988. However it was agreed that the initial start-up costs etc., should be accounted for as part of a single twenty month accounting period in 1989–90. All the figures quoted include expenditure on sub-contracted legal work and regional caseworkers.

  3. FAS was set up with effect from 1 April 1994.

  4. The figure for 1992–93 reflects the establishment of FEFCE in July 1992.

  5. HEFCE was established on 6 May 1992, but did not assume its full responsibilities until 1 April 1993.

  6. NCET was formed on 1 April 1988 by the merger of the Microelectronics Education Support Unit and the Council for Educational Technology.

  7. NYA was formed out of the National Youth Bureau on 1 April 1991.

  8. The first years figures cover the period from the establishment of NCC and SEAC on 15 August 1988 to 31 March 1990. 1993–94 figures do not include redundancy payments to NCC and SEAC employees.

  9. SCAA was established on 1 October 1993 after which NCC and SEAC were wound up on 31 December 1993.

  10. The figure quoted in 1993–94 covers the period 1 April to 13 October 1994, when TASC was subsumed within TTA.

  11. The 1993–94 figure includes the running costs of the information section (formally TASC) from 13 October 1994 to 31 March 1995, and expenditure on establishing the TTA as well as running costs.

  12. This figure does not include part-year costs incurred in 1991–92 and transferred from DFE.

  1 still under negotiation

  Distance Learning
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many educational institutions in the United Kingdom use new technology to facilitate distance learning; and if she will list them. [18689]

  Mr. Forth
  Many educational institutions offer programmes through distance learning and it is not possible to list them individually. Opportunities to study by both open and distance learning are increasing rapidly and particularly in the further and higher education sectors. The Department is funding a number of pilot projects in the use of new technologies including their use in distance learning.

  Information Super-highway
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what research her Department has funded into the educational potential of the information super-highway. [18691]

  Mr. Forth
  The Department has funded several initiatives, including projects piloting multi-media technologies, which help to indicate the educational potential of information super-highways. The UK Education Departments will shortly publish a consultation 52
  paper which will explore the use of broadband communications in education and encourage the development of broadband pilot projects in all sectors of education.

EMPLOYMENT

  Asbestos
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the findings of the Health and Safety Executive/Peto report Continuing Increase in Mesothelioma Mortality in Britain and its consequences for his Departments policy. [17075]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The report predicts that the number of deaths from mesothelioma in British men will continue to grow for at least 15, and more likely 25 years, reaching a peak of between 1,300 and 3,300 annual deaths. The most recent available annual total is for 1991 and was 861. Virtually all these deaths are associated with exposure to asbestos. The latent period between first exposure to asbestos and the development and diagnosis of mesothelioma is seldom less than 15 years and can be as long as 60 years. The deaths now occurring and most
  53
  of those expected to occur in the future reflect industrial conditions of the past rather than the effectiveness of current law and work practices. The report further showed that those employed in the building industry, such as plumbers, carpenters and electricians, account for about a quarter of all mesothelioma deaths to date. It concluded that workers in these trades may still be at risk from exposure to asbestos dust from materials put into buildings many years ago. The Health and Safety Executives current asbestos awareness campaign is specifically targeted at building maintenance workers. The findings of the report underline the need to maintain the UK's strict policy on asbestos, supported by the comprehensive regulatory controls already in place.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many deaths from asbestos-related diseases have occurred in each year since 1979. [17079]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The number of death certificates mentioning asbestosis or the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma were published in the Health and Safety Commissions statistical supplement to the 1993–94 annual report, a copy of which was placed in the Library.

  Asbestos-related diseases also include lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Such cases cannot be distinguished medically from lung cancer due to other causes, principally smoking. Based on epidemiological evidence, there are likely to be one or two deaths from asbestos-related lung cancer for each death from mesothelioma.

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the cost to public funds of the current early retirement scheme in the Health and Safety Executive; and how many more such schemes are envisaged for the fiscal year 1995–96. [17306]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The cost to public funds of the Health and Safety Executive 1994–95 early retirement scheme was £2.77 million during the 1994–95 financial year. On-going costs of the scheme will be approximately £1.15 million a year, diminishing as individuals reach the age of 60.

  Currently there are no plans for any further early retirement schemes for HSE professional grades in HSE during the 1995–96 fiscal year.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many of the employees of the Health and Safety Executive have qualifications in(a) computing, (b) personnel management, (c) accountancy, (d) management and (e) training; and how many are currently undergoing study for qualifications in these areas. [17316]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff who have taken early retirement from the Health and Safety Executive have subsequently been offered contracts as consultants with the Health and Safety Executive. [17307]

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

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current salary of the director general of the Health and Safety Executive; at what rate 54
  his successors position is being advertised and for what reasons; who will sit on the appointing panel; and whether salary bargaining will take place at, or before, the interviews of the shortlisted candidates. [17315]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The current salary of the director general of the Health and Safety Executive is £87,435 for the financial year 1994–95. The salary of a successor was advertised as circa £90,000, with more available for an exceptional candidate, for an appointment in June 1995. The appointing panel consists of members of the Health and Safety Commission together with a representative of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, whose approval is required both of the appointment and the salary. No salary bargaining took place during the interviews or before them.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the Health and Safety Executives buildings adjacent to St. Johns house in Bootle suffer from sick building syndrome; and if he will make a statement on their future. [17309]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Health and Safety Executive has no evidence suggesting that any of its headquarters buildings at Bootle, adjacent to St. Johns house, suffer from sick building syndrome. The majority of leases at HSEs offices at Bootle headquarters expire in approximately 10 years time. HSE will be undertaking a review of its headquarters accommodation needs over the short, medium and longer terms. The outcome of that review will determine its future strategy.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the extent to which the procedure for recruiting and salary level offered to the new director general of the Health and Safety Executive complies with current public sector pay policy. [17317]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The procedure for recruitment and salary determination in the appointment of director general of the Health and Safety Executive reflects the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 and the Governments announced policies on the pay of the senior civil service.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, what are the implications for both inspection and supply services staff of the Health and Safety Executive of the Gas Bill. [18044]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 3 April 1995]: The Health and Safety Executive will carry out a number of new tasks following the opening up to competition of the British domestic gas market. Those are set out in the Health and Safety Commissions report, Britains Gas Supply: A Safety Framework.

  Copies of the report were placed in the Library on 1 March 1995.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will place in the Library all Health and Safety Executive reports on the assessment of risk management to deal with the consequences of the Gas Bill; [18047]

  (2) if he will place in the Library all Health and Safety Executive reports setting out the implications, including resources, for the executive as a consequence of the Gas Bill. [18045]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 3 April 1995]: Copies of the Health and Safety Commissions report

  55
  Britains Gas Supply: A Safety Framework were placed in the Library on 1 March 1995.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish details of the numbers of additional inspection and supply staff the Health and Safety Executive will have to recruit to deal directly with the consequences of the Gas Bill. [18046]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 3 April 1995]: The issue of how many additional staff the Health and Safety Executive will require following the opening up to competition of the British domestic gas market is still under consideration.

  However, an estimate of the likely costs of the additional resources was included in the Health and Safety Commissions report Britains Gas Supply: A Safety Framework, copies of which were placed in the Library on 1 March 1995.

  Competitive Tendering
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many competitive tendering exercises carried out by his Department in each of the last two years were caught by the provisions of the public services directive but were not subsequently advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union in compliance with the relevant regulations. [19226]

  Miss Widdecombe
  In each of the last two years there have been no recorded cases in any of the constituent parts of the Employment Department group of non-compliance with EC Council directive 92/50/EEC regulating the award of public services contracts.

  Workstart
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) where the pilot scheme for workstart in Coventry is to be located; [19063]

  (2) which Department is responsible for the workstart scheme in Coventry; [19059]

  (3) if an approved qualification will be granted at the end of the workstart course in Coventry; [19065]

  (4) what is the level of subsidies that an employer would be entitled to under the workstart scheme in Coventry; [19061]

  (5) what is to be the content of the training for the workstart scheme in Coventry; and what will be the duration of that training; [19064]

  (6) what is the level of funding for the workstart scheme in Coventry; [19060]

  (7) what is the target number of people to be involved in the workstart scheme in Coventry. [19062]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Workstart pays a subsidy to employers who recruit very long-term unemployed people. Initial pilots were run in four areas between July 1993 and December 1994. Further pilots, offering 5,000 places, were announced in last Novembers Budget. These new workstart pilots begin this month in the west midlands conurbation, Greater Manchester and Cheshire and are administered through local Employment Service jobcentres. All jobcentres in Coventry will be involved.

  In the west midlands, lower and upper limits of £700 and £2,800 have been set for the subsidy with a duration
  56
  varying between three and 12 months. No targets have been set for the number of people who will participate on workstart in Coventry, and no financial ceilings have been set for individual areas. Some £8 million is available for the pilots as a whole.

  Employers receiving a workstart subsidy are not required to offer training leading to an approved qualification. The purpose of the scheme is to help people unemployed over two years back into work.

  I wrote on 6 April 1995 to all hon. Members whose constituencies are covered by the workstart pilots informing them of the pilots and enclosing a copy of the press notice.

  Training
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his policy towards individuals being obliged by their employers to contribute to the costs of national vocational qualification training schemes as a condition of their continued employment. [19391]

  Mr. Paice
  Matters such as whether or not employees should contribute towards the costs of training are for discussion and agreement between employers and employees, or their representatives, without Government intervention.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently engaged under Government sponsored training schemes by multiple retailers, retail co-operative societies, and other retailers; and what proportion of the total number of people undergoing such training is represented by those engaged in retail distribution. [19068]

  Mr. Paice
  The information requested is not available.

  Grays Unemployment Benefit Office
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment for what purpose Permetherin pesticide was sprayed in the Grays benefit office on 8 October 1991. [19394]

  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 Mr. Andrew Mackinlay, dated 18 April 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the use of Permethrin pesticide in the Grays Unemployment Benefit Office on 8 October 1991.
  A product known as Stapro Insecticide, which contains Permethrin, was used in the Grays office on 8 October 1991, in response to a suspected infestation of insects. Spraying was carried out by an external contractor.
  The contractor has assured the Employment Service that the insecticide used was approved under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 and that the manufacturers instructions were followed. I am further assured by the Health and Safety. Executive that this pesticide is approved for use under these circumstances. Indeed, Permethrin is an active ingredient in a wide range of products, including household fly sprays and flea treatments.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Allerton Outreach Team
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the activities undertaken by the Allerton outreach team; what funding his Department has made to support the project; if he will extend such funding to enable the team to maintain its presence in the local community; and what plans there are to fund similar projects in other parts of Bradford and the United Kingdom. [19066]

  Mr. Paice
  Performance figures for the Allerton outreach team to 6 April 1995 are: 56 clients into employment, target 10, and 25 training starts, target 20. A summary report of the project for the period funded by the Employment Service is currently being produced. ES contributed £5,894.00 to the project from the programme development fund which equated to 50 per cent. of salary costs for a three month period. The PDF has now been absorbed into the single regeneration budget challenge fund which provides flexible support for local initiatives. Whilst outreach work, both in Bradford and elsewhere in the country, falls clearly within the scope of the SRB challenge fund objectives, its inclusion in round 2 bids is an option which it is appropriate for local partnerships to consider alongside other needs and priorities. The Bradford training and enterprise council has offered to part-fund an outreach worker for 1995–96 and discussions between the TEC and Bradford council are continuing.

  Allowances
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list for each agency and the central Department for which he is responsible(a) the total amount of removal costs and associated expenses reimbursed to officials who were required to relocate as part of their employment, (b) the amount of each of the highest three claims that were concluded and settled and (c) the average amount of each claim in each of the last three years. [19662]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information requested in(a) is set out in the following table. The information requested in (b) and (c) is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  1992–93 £

  1993–94 £

  1994–95 £

  Rest of the Employment Department Group1

  9,264,436

  5,192,388

  4,599,474

  Employment Service

  5,171,919

  4,537,032

  3,480,173

  Total

  14,436,355

  9,729,420

  8,079,647

  1 Comprises Employment Department, Health and Safety Executive and the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the total amount paid by his central Department and each agency for which he is responsible in subsistence allowances for travel(a) within the United Kingdom and (b) outside the United Kingdom in each of the last three years. [19552]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is not readily available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The following table shows the total cost of travel and subsistence payments for journeys within the United Kingdom.
  58

  1992–93 £

  1993–94 £

  1994–95 £

  Rest of the Employment Department Group1

  10,493,206

  9,752,161

  9,461,173

  Employment Service

  5,624,341

  4,045,228

  3,579,461

  Total

  16,117,547

  13,797,389

  13,040,634

  1 Comprises the Employment Department, Health and Safety Executive and the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

  Overtime
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list for each agency and the central Department for which he is responsible(a) the total hours of overtime worked for which payment has been made, (b) the total amount paid in overtime and (c) the total time in days and its monetary equivalent lost through sickness in each of the last three years. [19671]

  Miss Widdecombe
  (a) The total hours of overtime worked for the last three financial years is shown in the following table:

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Employment Department (ED)

  257,755

  261,128

  216,771

  Employment Service (ES)

  427,031

  590,624

  276,599

  Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

  52,308

  48,867

  58,927

  Arbitration, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS)

  2,597

  1,406

  2,324

  Total

  739,691

  902,025

  554,621

  (b) The total amount paid in overtime for the last three financial years in pounds is shown in the following table:

  1992–93 £

  1993–94 £

  1994–95 £

  ED

  1,905,659

  1,970,987

  1,726,760

  ES

  2,714,692

  3,849,480

  2,029,850

  HSE

  344,814

  372,940

  444,900

  ACAS

  18,674

  9,505

  18,243

  Total

  4,983,839

  6,202,912

  4,219,753

  (c) Data on total time in days lost through sickness for 1994 are not yet available. However, the figures for 1992 and 1993 calendar years in days are shown in the following table:

  1992

  1993

  ED

  71,953

  80,620

  ES

  482,875

  595,291

  HSE

  30,917

  40,576

  ACAS

  4,166

  6,116

  Total

  589,911

  722,603

  No records are available which give figures for the monetary equivalent for time lost through sickness.

  Advisers
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many advisers his Department employs
  59
  broken down to show (a) political advisers and (b) economic advisers; at what grade and salary they are employed; and what are their minimum working hours in each case. [19425]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Department employs one political adviser. Salaries and conditions of work for political advisers are negotiated individually in relation to their previous earnings, and are confidential.

  Economic advice is obtained from career civil servants, who may be employed on a variety of working patterns. Their grades range from grade 3 to assistant economist.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many elected councillors are currently serving on training and enterprise council boards; and what was the number in 1992, 1993 and 1994. [19534]

  Mr. Paice
  There are currently 14 elected councillors on training and enterprise council boards representing local authorities. There are seven other board members who are councillors, although they are appointed to TEC boards to represent private sector companies.

  I am unable to provide the information requested for previous years as this information is not held centrally.

  Disabled People (Access)
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will outline the measures taken, facilities offered and adjustments made in his Department and agencies for which he is responsible to facilitate access for disabled people; what plans he has to improve access; and if he will make a statement. [18582]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 5 April 1995]: The Employment Department group is committed to estates and accommodation policies which seek to ensure that access and facilities are suitable for disabled people, whether staff or the public. These policies will be adapted to take account of the Cabinet Office Programme for Action for Disabled People and in future to embody the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Bill in all estates provision and accommodation facilities. In many cases, existing buildings and offices have been modified to provide or improve access for disabled people, both staff and the public. New buildings and refurbishment projects take the need for this provision into account from their beginning. Some 3.9 per cent. of the employees of the Employment Department group are registered disabled people, compared with the quota of 3 per cent.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what targets he has for withdrawing regulations within his Department. [15547]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 27 March 1995]: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 27 March by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Corporate Affairs, Official Report, column 410, explaining the Governments deregulation initiative. Within the Employment Department group, the recent review of health and safety regulations by the Health and Safety Commission has recommended substantial simplification and modernisation of health and safety legislation. Seven pieces of primary legislation and 100 sets of regulations have been identified for removal, and HSC has included
  60
  a programme of legislative reform in its Plan of Work, which will be published shortly.

TRANSPORT

  Design, Build, Finance and Operate Projects
  Mr. Legg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in assessing if DBFO contracts could be extended to the whole road building programme. [18842]

  Mr. Watts
  Four DBFO projects were tendered on 9 January and expressions of interest in a further four were requested on 15 February. All contain road building schemes which have been legally authorised following completion of statutory procedures, including public inquiry. Much of the road programme is in earlier stages of preparation.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Legg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what PFI projects(a) have been completed, (b) are at construction stage, (c) are at planning state and (d) are under consideration; and what is the value of each project. [18841]

  Mr. Watts
  In November 1994, the Department published its document, Building Tomorrows Transport Network, which described developments in private funding for transport projects. It included projects under construction, such as the Heathrow express rail link and second Severn crossing, and the Queen Elizabeth II bridge at Dartford, which was opened in 1991. The document also set out a wide range of future opportunities for private sector participation under the PFI.

  Since then the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Bill has begun its passage through Parliament, and bids have been received to build and run the new line; we have announced that the signalling and train control system for the upgraded west coast main line will be secured with private finance; we have announced a second tranche of four design, build, finance and operate road schemes; London Transport has signed the final contract with GEC Alsthom for the supply of privately financed new trains for the Northern line; BR has invited tenders for a possible further trunk of Networker express trains; and we have approved funding in principle for the Croydon Tramlink and line one of the Midland Metro light rail schemes, subject to satisfactory contributions from the private sector.

  ScotRail
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he was consulted by ScotRail over its proposal to include in its draft timetable additional passenger services involving Cowlairs north curve and south-west junction, Springburn junction and Cumbernauld; and if he will make a statement. [19832]

  Mr. Watts
  No.
  61
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the costs and passenger fare revenue involved in the provision of additional passenger services by ScotRail, involving Cowlairs north curve and south-west junction, Springburn and Cumbernauld, respectively, as outlined in its draft timetable; and if he will make a statement. [19833]

  Mr. Watts
  These are matters for the management of British Rail.

WALES

  Animal Diseases
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of Aujeskys disease were reported in each year since 1985. [17810]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  One case of Aujesky's disease was reported in Wales in 1988.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of blue tongue were reported in each year since 1980. [17815]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  No cases of blue tongue have occurred in Wales since 1 June 1991. This disease only became notifiable on that date and official records prior to that were not collected, although I am not aware that there has ever been a case of this disease in Great Britain.

  Year

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  GPs

  6

  2

  6

  2

  1

  4

  4

  6

  4

  3

  6

  11

  Locums

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Notes:

  1. One of the GPs erased from the Register in 1994 currently has an appeal against the Professional Conduct Committee's direction pending.

  2. These figures have not been validated.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what plans he has to review the situation whereby general practitioners struck from the register of the General Medical Council for serious professional misconduct might continue to practice while considering an appeal; and if he will make a statement. [18098]

  Mr. Richards
  The General Medical Council is an independent statutory body whose constitution and functions are regulated by the Medical Act 1983. Adequate powers already exist to ensure that practitioners shall remain suspended from the register during the appeal process in circumstances where the GMC is satisfied that this is necessary for the protection of members of the public or would be in the best interest of the doctor. The way in which those powers are exercised is entirely a matter for the GMC.

  Free School Meals, Clwyd
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate or the(a) percentage and (b) number of school children in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools entitled to free schools meals in Clwyd; and if he will make a statement. [18145]
  62
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of cattle plague were reported in each year since 1985. [18616]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  No cases of cattle plague have occurred in Wales since 1985. As far as I am aware the last known case in Great Britain was in 1877.

  Raytheon Corporate Jets
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the United States Administration on asking Raytheon to reconsider its decision to close its Broughton factory in Britain and move production to the United States of America. [17835]

  Mr. Redwood
  I have asked Raytheon on a number of occasions to reverse its decision to close its plant at Broughton. These representations have been drawn to the attention of the US embassy.

  General Medical Council
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many general practitioners have been struck from the register by the General Medical Council for serious professional misconduct in each year since 1983. [18097]

  Mr. Richards
  The General Medical Council has provided the following information about the number of general practitioners and locums in the United Kingdom erased from the medical register for serious professional misconduct each year since 1983.

  Mr. Richards
  The number and percentage of children entitled to free school meals in maintained primary and secondary schools in Clwyd, as at January 1994, are shown as follows:

  Number

  Percentage of total

  Primary schools

  7,540

  18.5

  Secondary schools

  3,815

  14.3

  Source:

  School Census, January 1994.

  Hospices
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy concerning hospices, and if he will list each of the hospices in each of the counties of Wales. [18102]

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

  Nursing Home Residents
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many residents there are in private nursing homes; and what was the total in 1980. [18103]
  63
  Mr. Richards
  Not all nursing homes provide information on the number of residents. On 31 March 1994, there were 10,661 residents in the private nursing homes which did provide data. Information was collected for the first time in 1991 when private nursing homes reported 7,964 residents.

  Clinical Outcome Indicators
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 29 March,Official Report column 666, if his office is seeking to agree suitable clinical outcome indicators for individual hospitals and trusts in Wales in addition to those for Welsh health authorities. [18411]

  Mr. Richards
  Clinical outcome indicators currently being considered by the medical and nursing professions in Wales are national indictors of value both to health authorities and hospitals.

  Any additional local indicators will be a matter for health authorities to negotiate in contracts with their local providers.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of homeless people in each of the parliamentary constituencies in Wales. [18104]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is not available by parliamentary constituency. Numbers of people who were accepted as homeless for each local authority in 1994 are shown in the following table.

  People accepted as homeless by local authority, 1994

  Number of people

  Aberconwy

  187

  Alyn and Deeside

  476

  Arfon

  74

  Blaenau Gwent

  591

  Brecknock

  359

  Cardiff

  4,638

  Carmarthen

  282

  Ceredigion

  266

  Colwyn

  241

  Cynon Valley

  241

  Delyn

  414

  Dinefwr

  519

  Dwyfor

  65

  Glyndwr

  58

  Islwyn

  807

  Llanelli

  241

  Lliw Valley

  190

  Meirionnydd

  145

  Merthyr Tydfil

  296

  Monmouth

  355

  Montgomery

  251

  Neath

  526

  Newport

  1,540

  Ogwr

  2,258

  Port Talbot

  308

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  269

  Radnor

  100

  Rhondda

  192

  Rhuddlan

  111

  Rhymney Valley

  340

  South Pembrokeshire

  192

  Swansea

  3,072

  Taff-Ely

  612

  Torfaen

  737

  64

  People accepted as homeless by local authority, 1994

  Number of people

  Vale of Glamorgan

  391

  Wrexham Maelor

  692

  Ynys Mon

  176

  Wales

  22,212

  Waiting Times
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the current estimated waiting times for spinal surgery in Wales by county. [18141]

  Mr. Richards
  The numbers of people currently on waiting lists and their current waiting times are recorded centrally by consultant specialty and not by surgical or other procedure. Under the specialty of spinal injury, the numbers reported as waiting at 31 December 1994 were as follows:

  Number waiting for in-patient admission

  Clwyd District Health Authority

  1

  Gwynedd District Health Authority

  5

  All of these patients had been waiting for less than 12 months.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each specialty and each health district in Wales the new target waiting times for NHS treatment. [18876]

  Mr. Richards
  The national standards and guarantees for hospital waiting times are shown in the patients charter for Wales. Information on any detailed local targets can be obtained from individual health authorities.

  Press Releases (E-mail)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to introduce E-mail for his press releases. [18916]

  Mr. Redwood
  Some press notices are distributed to the media in London by the Central Office of Informations electronic service. My Department keeps in touch with the demands of the media and the matter is kept under review.

  Trade Missions
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions he or his junior Ministers have taken part in trade missions in 1993–94 and 1994–95; what is the proposed number for 1995–96; and if he will list the destinations. [18791]

  Mr. Redwood
  In 1993–94, my hon. Friends led Welsh Office trade missions on six occasions. In 1994–95 parliamentary business allowed them to lead missions on only three occasions, although four other missions were led by officials.

  During 1995–96, my ministerial colleagues hope to lead five trade missions to Argentina/Chile, Italy, Spain, the Gulf states, and Indonesia/Singapore. Three other trade missions led by officials will visit Japan, the United States of America, and India.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what was the capital value of Welsh Development Agency factories where new rents were negotiated in 1989; what was the average rental per £100,000 of capital value; and what is the estimated capital value of these factories currently; [18864]

  (2) how many tenants of the Welsh Development Agency have been offered the opportunity of purchasing their factories before block sales of whole estates, or significant parts of them, in each of the last five years; what percentage of tenants were made such an offer; and what percentage accepted; [18860]

  (3) how many companies have approached the Welsh Development Agency seeking reductions in their rent during the last year, and how many people they employ; [18862]

  (4) how many jobs have been lost in factories rented from the Welsh Development Agency following factory closures following the rises in each of the last three years; and what estimate has been made of the likely job losses in the current year. [18863]

  Mr. Redwood
  I will arrange for the chief executive of the agency to write to the hon. Member and for a copy of his letter to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 12 December to the hon. Member for the Vale of Glamorgan (Mr. Sweeney),Official Report, column 515–16, if he will list the papers reported to be derived by Cynon Valley borough council to the Grant Thornton inquiry; and if he will make a statement. [18928]

  Mr. Redwood
  The papers to which the Grant Thornton inquiry was not granted access concerned the decision of the council to put Cynon Valley Transport into members voluntary liquidation.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what dates operating guidelines have been issued to the Welsh Development Agency during the past 10 years; on what dates they have come into effect; and to what degree new guidelines have superseded previous ones. [18879]

  £ million

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  11994–95

  1995–96 Plans

  1996–97 Plans

  1997–98 Plans

  GIA

  61.9

  69.8

  81.2

  87.2

  78.4

  69.5

  51.7

  25.4

  228

  285

  Rental and sale of property

  32.5

  43.4

  54.8

  56.9

  79.5

  70.7

  80.3

  103.6

  6—

  6—

  Grants received from European Community

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  11.0

  315.03

  4—

  4—

  Total domestic budget plus estimated ERDF

  115.1

  133.4

  149.2

  158.3

  165.2

  151.7

  157.1

  5153.4

  —

  —

  1 Estimated outturn. 2 Central Government expenditure: cash plans (CM 2815).

  3 Agency's estimate of grant for additional projects to be funded from ERDF.

  4 No firm estimates have been made for future years, although the Agency has made indicative estimates of possible additional items of expenditure in compiling its corporate plan.

  5 Gross expenditure which takes into account GIA and Agency estimates of all receipts.

  6 Not yet available

  Nu-Kote International Ltd.
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has asked the Welsh Development Agency to assist Nu-Kote International, Deeside industrial park; and if he will make a statement. [18783]
  66
  Mr. Redwood
  In the last 10 years, guidelines have come into effect as follows:

  Date

  Guidelines

  May 1988

  General Advisory Function

  August 1989

  DRIVE

  May 1992

  Urban Development

  September 1993

  Rural Conversion Grant (1st revise)

  July 1994

  Urban Development (1st revise)

  July 1994

  Land Reclamation (1st revise)

  July 1994

  Property Development (1st revise)

  July 1994

  Environmental Improvement (1st revise)

  July 1994

  Rural Development

  April 1995

  Urban Development (2nd revise)

  April 1995

  Land Reclamation (2nd revise)

  April 1995

  Property Development (2nd revise)

  April 1995

  Environmental Improvement (2nd revise)

  April 1995

  Rural Development (1st revise)

  April 1995

  Business Services (replaced General Advisory Function)

  April 1995

  Investment (replaced Industrial Investment, 1980)

  April 1995

  Inward Investment

  April 1995

  Marketing

  New or revised guidelines replace earlier versions in their entirety.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has received regarding plans by the Welsh Development Agency to recover derelict land in south Wales. [19322]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend received one letter from a member of the public this year about the land reclamation scheme at Rhoose point, South Glamorgan.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for every financial year since 1988–89 and the plans until 1997–98 for(a) the amount of the Welsh Office grant in aid to the Welsh Development Agency, (b) the amount raised internally by rental and sale of its property, (c) the total revenue received in grants from the European Community and (d) its total budget. [17698]

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 4 April 1995]: The information requested is set out in the following table:

  Mr. Redwood
  I have not asked the Welsh Development Agency to assist NK International, but the agency stands ready to help in any way that it can.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, on what occasions he has visited NK
  67
  International, Deeside industrial park; and if he will make a statement. [18781]

  Mr. Redwood
  I have not visited Nu-Kote International.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the amount his Department and the Welsh Development Agency have paid in grants since the NK International factory was located on Deeside industrial park; and if he will make a statement. [18784]

  Mr. Redwood
  A regional development grant of £92,500 was paid to the company in 1991–92. A subsequent offer of regional selective assistance was made to the company in 1992–93, although no RSA payments have been claimed. The Welsh Development Agency has not paid any grants to the company.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many redundancies are proposed at NK International Deeside industrial park; and if he will make a statement. [18782]

  Mr. Redwood
  Nu-Kote International Ltd. has announced that it proposes to make 140 people redundant at its premises on the Deeside industrial park.

  I very much regret these job losses which, I understand, are due to take place by the end of the year. This was, however, a commercial decision for the company.

  The local training and enterprise council and the development agencies stand ready to help in any way that they can.

  Welsh Health Common Services Authority
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) in what form his direction to the Welsh Health Common Services Authority, in relation to the option appraisals for National Blood Transfusion Services Wales and the Artificial Limb and Appliance Service Wales set pre-conditions requiring their separation from the authority on the same basis as in the option appraisal for Breast Test Wales; [18798]

  (2) by what means he instructed the Welsh Health Common Services Authority in its review of its own future that the three clinical divisions should not be permitted to consider the option of remaining within the authority. [18790]

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department wrote initially on 28 March 1994, on a management in confidence basis, to advise the authority that the three clinical services would transfer out for management purposes. No further pre-conditions were established for the option appraisals undertaken by the services.

  Trainee Dentists
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many trainee dentists there are in the county of Mid Glamorgan; how many there were in 1989; and if he will make a statement; [18891]

  (2) how many trainee dentists there are in the county of Gwynedd; how many there were in 1990; and if he will make a statement. [18883]

  Mr. Richards
  At 31 December 1994, there were four dentists undergoing vocational training in general dental practice in Mid Glamorgan FHSA and none in Gwynedd FHSA. The earliest date at which this data are available is 30 September 1991 when the figures were the same.

  Dental Services, Gwynedd
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many dental practitioners with fewer than two years post-qualification experience there are in the county of Gwynedd; and if he will make a statement. [18227]

  Mr. Richards
  According to information supplied by the family health services authority, there is one dentist in Gwynedd with fewer than two years post-qualification experience.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many representations his Department has received from people in Gwynedd on the subject of the provision of dental services in the county; and if he will make a statement; [18882]

  (2) what.proposals he has to improve the provision of dental services in the county of Gwynedd, and if he will make a statement. [18885]

  (3) how many representations he has received from people in Meirionnydd Nant Conwy during the past 12 months on the subject of the provision of dental services; and if he will make a statement. [18888]

  Mr. Richards
  In the past 12 months, 93 representations have been received about dental services in Gwynedd, including 57 from Members of Parliament. Information relating only to people living in Meirionnydd Nant Conwy is not readily available.

  During the same period, the Gwynedd family health services authority has received nearly £7,000 to cover the cost of local initiatives aimed at increasing NHS dental provision. A location incentive grant has also been agreed by the Welsh Office to assist a dentist to open a new practice in Dolgellau.

  The Welsh Office has also provided a grant of £50,000 to the health authority to enable it to purchase extra community dental sessions and continues to support the Gwynedd family health service authority salaried dental service.

  On 30 January, the Secretary of State announced that he is making a further £2.5 million available to improve dental services in the community. Proposals from the Gwynedd health authorities are being considered.

  On 5 April, the Government announced their plans for the reform of NHS dentistry following consultation on their Green Paper, Improving NHS Dentistry. The Government believe that the measures proposed will provide stability and security for NHS dentistry, deliver increased quality of treatment for patients and promote better use of resources by targeting care on areas of greatest need.

  Dental Services, Gwent
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received in the last 12 months from persons living in Gwent on the question of the delivery of dental services; and if he will make a statement. [18893]

  Mr. Richards
  In the past 12 months, seven representations on the subject of general dental services have been received either from or on behalf of persons living in Gwent.

  Mr Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many dental practitioners with less than four years
  69
  post-qualification experience there are in practice in the county of Gwent. [18886]

  Mr. Richards
  According to information supplied by Gwent health commission, there are 13 general dental practitioners with less than four years, post-qualification experience, in practise in the county of Gwent.

  Dental Services, Mid Glamorgan
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many dental practitioners there are in the county of Mid Glamorgan taking new NHS patients; and if he will make a statement. [18884]

  Mr. Richards
  The information is not available centrally in the form requested.

  Family health services authorities are best placed to provide information on local availability of NHS general dental services, and to provide advice and assistance to any patient seeking to register with a dentist under NHS arrangements.

  Dental Services, Clwyd
  Mr. Llywd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many dental technicians there are in practice in the county of Clwyd; how many there were in 1990; and if he will make a statement. [18892]

  Mr. Richards
  Information on the number of dental technicians employed by general dental practitioners or self employed is not collected centrally.

  However, at 31 December 1994, there were six whole-time equivalent dental technicians directly employed by the NHS in the Clwyd health authority area. At 30 September 1990 the equivalent figure was five.

  Childrens Teeth
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many children in Wales had one or more teeth extracted in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement. [18890]

  Mr. Richards
  The information is not available centrally.

  Breast Test Wales
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of the Breast Test Wales Option appraisal document date 30 November 1994 and the comparable document concerning the Artificial Limb and Appliance Service Wales and the Blood Transfusion Service Wales. [18788]

  Mr. Redwood
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 31 January 1995, column 639.

  Natural Beauty Products Ltd., Bridgend
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the capital value of the factory rented by Natural Beauty Products Ltd., at Weston avenue, Bridgend, when its rent was re-negotiated in 1989; what is the estimated value currently; and if he will make it his policy to allow flexibility in rental charges to reflect market conditions. [18861]

  Mr. Redwood
  The setting of rental levels is an operational matter. I will arrange for the chief executive of the Welsh Development Agency to write to the hon.70
  Member with details of this particular property and for a copy of his letter to be placed in the Library of House.

  Crickhowell House
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Welsh Health Common Services Authority concerning covenants restricting the use of Crickhowell house to public sector purposes; and if he will make a statement. [18874]

  Mr. Redwood
  None. There are no covenants restricting the use of Crickhowell House to the public sector.

  Countryside Council for Wales
  Mr. Ron. Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what subjects he discussed with the Countryside Council for Wales during their meeting on 24 January. [18834]

  Mr. Redwood
  We discussed a wide-range of subjects including the proposed action plan, Tir Cymen, the Countryside Council for Waless green housekeeping policies, the role of local authorities in local environmental management, the protection of designated sites and the environmental agenda for Wales.

  Rules and Regulations
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what requirements there are for officials in his Department to introduce a compliance cost assessment for all rules and regulations coming before him and his Ministers; and how many compliance cost assessments have been issued in his Department in the first three months of this year. [19357]

  Mr. Redwood
  My officials are expected to comply with Government-wide requirements for the preparation and publication of compliance cost assessments for all legislation with an impact on business. No Wales-only legislation affecting business and hence requiring a compliance cost assessment was brought forward in the first three months of this year.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many rules and regulations he repealed in the first three months of 1995; and how many new rules and regulations were introduced in that period by way of statutory instruments, motions or orders. [19373]

  Mr. Redwood
  Eleven regulations and orders were repealed in the first three months of 1995. In the same period, 78 regulations and orders were introduced, none of which placed a burden on business. Most of them related to NHS trusts, local government, the council tax, education and roads.

  Health Promotion Authority For Wales
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what proposals he has for revamping the structure of the Health Promotion Authority for Wales; and if he will make a statement. [19257]

  Mr. Redwood
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on Friday 31 March 1995, column 871.

  NHS Pay Increases
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements he has made for awarding pay
  71
  increases to the chairmen and board members of NHS trusts and health authorities in Wales. [18246]

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 4 April 1995]: Chairmen's pay has not increased since 1991; non-executive directors since 1990.

  Executive directors holding national contracts received a pay award of 2.2 per cent. from September 1994, excluding individual performance awards. Those on NHS trust terms have pay determined by the trust's remuneration committee. The director, Welsh Office Health Department wrote on 25 January 1995 to authorities and NHS trusts informing them that increases in pay for executive directors must be justifiable and publicly defensible, since all NHS bodies are parts of the public sector.

  NHS Forms
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many forms he has extended in respect of the numbers of questions requiring an answer, in a manner analogous to the extension to form PHS1 as provided for in guidance note FHSL [W] 50/94 of 16 December 1994 on local pharmacy budgets; and if he will make a statement. [17996]

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 3 April 1995]: Of the 106 Welsh Office forms to the NHS reviewed in 1993–94 and 1994–95, additional information needs were identified on six occasions. Some 35 forms were' discontinued in the first phase of the review. On 28 March, I announced a further reduction of 30 per cent. on the information collected on remaining statistical returns.

  Form PHS1 is issued by the Department of Health and is included in its rolling programme of information reviews.

SCOTLAND

  Blue Tongue
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many cases of blue tongue were reported in each year since 1980. [17814]

  Sir Hector Monro
  No cases of blue tongue have been reported since it was made notifiable on 1 June 1991. Official records are not available before that date.

  Aujeszkys Disease
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of Aujeszkys disease were reported in each year since 1985. [17809]

  Sir Hector Monro
  No cases of Aujeszky's disease have been recorded in Scotland since 1985.

  Homicide
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the ratio and the causes of the difference in the homicide rates in Scotland as compared with England and Wales. [18920]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  For the period 1989 to 1993 the homicide rate in Scotland per million population, measured by the number of victims, for cases currently recorded as homicide as at 15 October 1994,72
  was 20.4. In England and Wales, over the same period for cases currently recorded as homicide as at 5 August 1994, it was 11.4. Thus the ratio of the homicide rate in Scotland to that in England and Wales for the period was 1.8:1.

  The higher rate for Scotland may in part be attributed to different recording practices. The numbers of homicides are those recorded by the police, but allowing for changes as a result of decisions that may arise during the course of criminal proceedings. However, in England and Wales cases cease to be recorded as homicide where an accused is acquitted of homicide on grounds of self-defence or accident or where the prosecution subsequently concludes that no homicide has occurred, whereas in Scotland such cases continue to be recorded as homicides. This difference in practice may account for up to one quarter of the difference in the recorded homicide rate. Differences may also arise from differences in the criminal law in each jurisdiction.

  Further Education Colleges
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those further education colleges in Scotland which, by 8 March, had received that portion of their grant in aid from 1994–95 which had previously been withheld subject to flexibility arrangements on conditions for their staff; and on what date the sum was released for each college. [18685]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  By 8 March 1995, 20 colleges had received the 2 per cent. of recurrent grant being held back pending progress towards the introduction of more flexible conditions. These colleges are listed, together with the date when the sum was released.

  College

  Date

  Aberdeen college

  24 January

  Angus college

  21 February

  Anniesland college

  24 January

  Ayr college

  24 January

  Borders college

  21 February

  Cambuslang college

  21 February

  Cardonald college

  21 February

  Cumbernauld college

  24 January

  Dumfries and Galloway college

  24 January

  Elmwood college

  24 January

  Glasgow college of building and printing

  21 February

  Inverness college

  21 February

  James Watt college of further and higher education

  24 January

  Moray college

  24 January

  Motherwell college

  21 February

  North Glasgow college

  24 January

  Perth college

  21 February

  Stow college

  24 January

  Telford college

  24 January

  Thurso college

  24 January

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what contacts he had with the Scottish Sunday Mail over the affairs of Dr. Barbouti in relation to Lockerbie. [18951]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  None.

  Listed Buildings
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from Historic Scotland about window replacements proposed to
  73
  listed buildings in Campbell street, Thurso, Breadalbane crescent, Wick and the Customs house, Helmsdale; and what response he has given. [18965]

  Sir Hector Monro
  It would not be appropriate to comment on the advice which Ministers received from their officials. I can, however, confirm that in respect of those listed buildings my right. hon. Friend has decided to call in for his own decision applications for listed building consent. The applicants and the councils may now decide whether they wish the application to be determined by a public local inquiry or by an exchange of written submissions and a site inspection.

  Witness Protection
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the protection available to witnesses and informants who pass on to the police information relating to the protection of drug dealers. [19029]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Decisions about the appropriate protection to provide in individual cases are an operational matter for the police.

  Eider Ducks
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many field visits his staff made in 1994 to assess reported damage by eider ducks at shellfish farms prior to the issue of a licence for the killing of this bird. [19149]

  Sir Hector Monro
  A site visit was made prior to the approval of the one licence to shoot eiders issued during 1994.

  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications his staff have received for licences to kill eider ducks at shellfish farms during each year since 1987. [19141]

  Sir Hector Monro
  Since 1987 three applications have been received under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to kill eider ducks at shellfish farms in Scotland. One application was received in 1991, one in 1994 and one in 1995.

  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many licences have been issued during each year since 1981 under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for the killing of eider ducks at shellfish farms; and what bag limits were imposed on these licences. [19147]

  Sir Hector Monro
  Two licences have been issued since 1981 both in respect of the same site. The first, for the period 23 November to 31 December 1994, had a limit of 50 eider ducks and eight were reported as shot. The second was from 14 March to 30 April 1995 with a limit of 20 birds.

  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from Scottish Natural Heritage about the siting of mussel farms in relation to eider duck populations. [19139]

  Sir Hector Monro
  None. The siting of mussel farms is primarily a matter for the Crown Estate Commissioners, who consult SNH and other appropriate interests before granting leases for such developments.
  74
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has received from Scottish Natural Heritage on the issuing of licences to kill eider ducks during 1994; and if he will publish it. [19150]

  Sir Hector Monro
  SNH advised against the issue of a licence on the single application received in 1994. The basis of SNH's advice was that the farm had been badly sited and that the solution to the predation problem was to relocate it.

  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what evidence is used to justify the granting of a licence to allow the killing of eider ducks at a shellfish farm; and if he will make it his practice to publish it. [19148]

  Sir Hector Monro
  Before any licence application is considered, evidence is required on the amount and significance of the expected damage to shellfish at the farm. It is not the practice to publish information on actual or likely damage in relation to specific businesses.

  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what methods of non-lethal predator control his staff insist must be tried at shellfish farms before any licence is issued for the killing of eider ducks. [19140]

  Sir Hector Monro
  Each application is assessed on its merits. However a range of non-lethal methods, such as nets and scarers, must have been tried before a licence to shoot is considered.

  Correspondence
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average time his Department takes in replying to letters from right hon. and hon. Members; what is the(a) shortest and (b) longest time it has taken to reply in full in the last calendar year; and if he will make a statement. [18989]

  Mr. Lang
  My Department has a target of replying to correspondence received from right hon. and hon. Members within 17 working days of receipt. The average time taken to reply to the 5,562 letters received during the 1994 calendar year was 19.6 working days. The shortest time taken to reply in full was one working day and the longest time was 92 working days.

  Economic Statistics
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what statistics he keeps on the effect of Renfrew district on the Scottish economy; and if he will make a statement. [18997]

  Mr. Kynoch
  Available official economic data include employment and unemployment statistics, data from the annual census of production, number of manufacturing and other units, data on the size and characteristics of the labour force from the labour force survey, VAT registrations and deregistrations, and detailed data on economic activity from the census of population. Because of the different dates and frequency of compilation, and the possible changes in boundary definitions over time, data from different sources cannot be reliably compared. Further details are given in the table.
  75

  Source

  Frequency

  Latest available data

  Key statistics

  Census of Employment

  Biennial

  1991

  Employment by industry and gender status number of units

  Scottish Register of Employment

  Annual

  1992

  Manufacturing employment units

  Unemployment

  Monthly

  March 1995

  Gender, age and duration (Note: rates are not available at district level)

  Annual Census of Production

  Annual

  1992

  Output, employment and purchases for production industries

  Labour Force Survey

  Quarterly

  Winter 1994/95

  Characteristics of the labour force, numbers economically active, inactive. Data is limited at district level

  VAT Registrations

  Annual

  1993

  Registrations, deregistrations and end of year stocks, by broad industry group

  Census of Population

  Decennial

  1991

  Wealth of detail on economic activity, by industry, social class, and socio-economic group

  Availability of official data at district level or for similar sized areas is, in general, limited due to the relatively small sample sizes of key national surveys falling within districts. This applies across the United Kingdom/Great Britain. Further, districts do not match travel-to-work areas, creating conceptual and practical difficulties in providing some labour market statistics. Key statistics such as earnings and gross domestic product estimates have been produced at district level on an ad hoc basis, but are generally available only at Scottish regional level or above. Planned developments in data on services are at an all Scotland level, and not below in geographical terms.

  Photo-identity Passes
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the current uses of photo-identity passes by central and local government in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [19007]

  Mr. Lang
  Photographic security passes which are issued by my Department to staff and other authorised personnel form part of the access control security procedures in place in the main Scottish Office buildings. In addition, photographic identity cards are issued to staff who, during the course of their official or statutory duties, may be required to identify themselves. Arrangements in local government are a matter for local authorities.

  Loitering
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to amend the laws on loitering; and if he will make a statement. [18983]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There is no criminal offence of loitering in Scotland and there are no plans to introduce one.

  A law against loitering would unduly restrict the rights of assembly and movement of law-abiding citizens. Instead, there are a number of common law and statutory offences which target specific types of anti-social and criminal behaviour associated with loitering. In particular, section 46 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 makes it an offence for any person to loiter in a public place for the purposes of prostitution. Section 53 of the same Act makes it an offence for a pedestrian in a public
  76
  place wilfully to obstruct the lawful passage of others. In addition, behaviour likely to cause alarm or annoyance may constitute the common law crime of breach of the peace.

  Street Traders
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to review the laws governing street traders, with particular reference to regulating their right to compete with bona fide shopkeepers; what plans he has to legislate on the council tax liability of street traders; and if he will make a statement. [18988]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The licensing provisions governing street traders are contained in the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. A review of the Act will be carried out once reorganisation of local government is complete.

  Barnacle Geese
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what bag limit was imposed on licences to kill barnacle geese under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in Orkney in the last year; and what non-lethal measures were taken to avoid serious damage to crops before the licence was issued. [19146]

  Sir Hector Monro
  Only one licence has been issued in respect of barnacle geese in Orkney. The licence is not subject to a bag limit but can be revoked at any time.

  The applicant carried out non-lethal scaring measures as recommended by the Department before a licence was issued.

  Police (Court Time)
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to make legislative and procedural changes to ensure that the time spent in court by police officers waiting to give evidence which is not heard on the date or at the time they are called to give evidence is minimised; and if he will make a statement. [19030]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Proposals in the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill, including mandatory first and intermediate diets and provisions for the leading of
  77
  certificate evidence and the agreement of evidence in advance of trial, will lead to a substantial reduction in the time spent by police officers waiting to give evidence in court. Additionally, police forces and courts are currently introducing a number of administrative changes to reduce police waiting times.

  Urban Aid, Glasgow
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people are employed(a) full time and (b) part time in urban aid projects in the east end of Glasgow; and of these, how many reside in the area. [19142]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information obtained—which from Strathclyde regional council and Glasgow district council are responsible for the management of urban programme projects in the area—shows that 161 people are employed full time and 37 part time in such projects in the east end of Glasgow. Information on how many of these people are resident in the area is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mining Subsidence
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the most recent information available to him on the stability of the disused coal mineworkings which lie under the town of Johnstone and the village of Elderslie; if he will commission a study into the need for further ground stabilisation measures; and if he will make a statement. [18990]

  Mr. Kynoch
  Where properties suffer damage as a result of coal mining subsidence, the Coal Authority or the relevant mine owner is responsible for repair or compensation under the Coal Mining Subsidence Act 1991 as amended by the Coal Industry Act 1994. I understand that the Coal Authority is not aware of any stability problems relating to the mineworkings under the town of Johnstone or the village of Elderslie.

  Table 1

  £ thousand

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Capital allocation for introduction of community charge

  6,000

  15,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Community charge grant

  —

  —

  —

  —

  437,000

  16,000

  9,000

  7,400

  Community charge transitional relief

  —

  —

  —

  24,000

  2,000

  —

  —

  —

  Community charge reduction scheme

  —

  —

  —

  —

  140,000

  107,000

  3,050

  900

  Community charge rebilling grant

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4,000

  —

  —

  —

  Council tax transitional relief

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  17,000

  3,100

  Council tax valuation grant

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,000

  7,000

  1,600

  0

  Table 2

  £ thousand

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–951

  Community charge registration

  9,645

  11,709

  14,048

  —

  —

  —

  Council tax valuation

  —

  —

  —

  11,342

  13,798

  9,176

  Community charge collection

  10,426

  25,817

  25,618

  29,595

  —

  —

  Advisers
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many advisers his Department employs broken down to show(a) political advisers and (b) economic advisers; at what grade and salary they are employed; and what are their minimum working hours in each case. [19417]

  Mr. Lang
  My Department employs two political advisers. Their salaries and conditions of work are negotiated individually in relation to their previous earnings.

  Economic advice is obtained from career civil servants, who are employed on standard civil service terms and conditions. The following numbers by grade are full-time equivalents:

  Senior economic adviser—unified grade 5–3

  Economic adviser—unified grade 7–10.6

  Economic assistant/senior economic assistant–11.6

  Council Tax
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average council tax band D bill for the changeover period between the poll tax and the council tax. [19523]

  Mr. Lang
  In 1993–94, the Scottish average band D council tax levels excluding council water charge were as follows: regional average, £397; islands average, £423; district average, £163. In calculating the averages, no allowance has been made for the effects of council tax transitional relief and council tax benefit in reducing the amounts to be paid.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of establishing(a) the poll tax and (b) the council tax. [17902]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 4 April 1995]: Costs incurred by local authorities in establishing the community charge and the council tax, which were reimbursed by my Department through grant schemes and capital allocations are set out in table 1. Known costs for administering local taxation collection are shown in table 2.
  79

  Table 2

  £ thousand

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–951

  Local tax collection

  —

  —

  —

  —

  40,128

  28,800

  Council tax preparation costs

  —

  —

  —

  7,302

  —

  —

  1 Figures based on budget estimates.

  Public Information Telephone Lines
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the public information telephone inquiry lines operated by his Department, in each case indicating the costs of establishing, operating and publicising these lines and the number of calls made to them up until this point; when they were established; and what assessment his Department has made of their effectiveness. [17460]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 3 April 1995]: The Scottish Office inquiry line and the free telephone lines from Scottish Office information points were established in October 1993. The cost of establishing these lines was £8,864 and telephone operating costs are approximately £5,000 per annum. All calls to these lines are dealt with by the Scottish Office central inquiry unit. The handling cost per call is less than £1. Initial publicity for the information points and lines cost £150,000. No further, publicity costs have been incurred.

  There have been some 6,600 calls to the inquiry line from all sources since its inception to 24 March 1995.

  Advertising expenditure by agencies within the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Scotland

  £ thousand

  Date of agency launch

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95 estimate outturn

  1995–96 plans

  Historic Scotland

  April 1991

  a. television

  n/a

  42

  Nil

  Nil

  129

  129

  b. radio

  n/a

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  5

  5

  c. newspaper

  n/a

  380

  253

  260

  93

  93

  d. other promotion

  n/a

  Nil

  65

  65

  70

  70

  e. total

  n/a

  422

  318

  325

  297

  297

  f. proportion of total spent on recruitment

  n/a

  3.6 per cent.

  3.5 per cent.

  3.4 per cent.

  7.1 per cent.

  5.4 per cent.

  Registers of Scotland

  April 1991

  a. television

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  b. radio

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  c. newspaper

  Nil

  Nil

  11

  7

  1

  5

  d. other promotion

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  e. total

  Nil

  Nil

  1

  7

  1

  5

  f. proportion of total spent of recruitment

  Nil

  Nil

  3.0 per cent.

  29.9 per cent.

  29.9 per cent.

  9.0 per cent.

  Scottish Agricultural Science Agency

  April 1992

  a. television

  n/a

  n/a

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  b. radio

  n/a

  n/a

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  c. newspaper

  n/a

  n/a

  6

  6

  11

  10

  d. other promotion

  n/a

  n/a

  Nil

  1

  1

  1

  e. total

  n/a

  n/a

  6

  7

  12

  11

  f. proportion of total spent on recruitment

  n/a

  n/a

  100per cent.

  85.7 per cent.

  91.7 per cent.

  90.9 per cent.

  80
  A telephone call back survey to assess customer satisfaction levels with the service on these lines has just been completed.

  Advertising
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list each non-departmental public body and agency for which he has responsibility and, for each, list separate figures for the spending by that body or agency on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising, (d) other promotion materials and activities, (e) the totals in each year of (a) to (d) and (f) the proportion of (e) that was spent on recruitment advertising for each year since 1979–80 or for each year of its existence if it has been created since 1979–80; and what are his latest estimates of (a) to (f) for the years 1994–95 and 1995–96. [17608]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 3 April 1995]: Details of the relevant expenditure by agencies for which I have responsibility are set out in the following table. Information on individual items of expenditure by non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally.
  81

  Advertising expenditure by agencies within the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Scotland

  £ thousand

  Date of agency launch

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95 estimate outturn

  1995–96 plans

  Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency

  April 1991

  a. television

  n/a

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  b. radio

  n/a

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  c. newspaper

  n/a

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  d. other promotion

  n/a

  5

  Nil

  14

  20

  Nil

  e. total

  n/a

  6

  1

  15

  21

  1

  f. proportion of total spent on recruitment

  n/a

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Scottish Prison Service

  April 1993

  a. television

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  b. radio

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  c. newspaper

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  37

  66

  15

  d. other promotion

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  e. total

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  37

  66

  15

  f. proportion of total spent on recruitment

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  100 per cent.

  100 per cent.

  100 per cent.

  Scottish Record Office

  April 1993

  a. television

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  b. radio

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  c. newspaper

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  3

  1

  2

  d. other promotion

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  e. total

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  3

  1

  2

  f. proportion of total spent on recruitment

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Scottish Court Service

  April 1995

  Nil in all years

  Scottish Office

  Pensions Agency

  April 1993

  Student Awards

  Agency for Scotland

  April 1994

  1 Estimate: not separately identified.

  82

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Police, Hampshire
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the chief constable is required to report the promised increase in police numbers for the Isle of Wight and Hampshire to his Department. [18806]

  Mr. Maclean
  Police complements are now a local matter, and there are no formal requirements for reporting recruitment plans.

  Rules and Regulations
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what requirements there are for officials in his Department to introduce a compliance cost assessment for all rules and regulations coming before him and his Ministers; and how many compliance cost assessments have been issued in his Department in the first three months of this year. [19349]

  Mr. Howard
  Details of when a compliance cost assessment is required are set out in today's reply by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Corporate Affairs, in response to a similar question. In the Home Office no compliance cost assessments have been prepared in the first three months of 1995.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total amount of section 11 funding for each of the last two years; and what are the projected totals for 1995–96 and 1996–97. [19085]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The following table shows expenditure out-turn figures for 1993–94 and 1994–95, and current financial provision figures for 1995–96 and 1996–97.

  £ million

  1993–94

  131.20

  1994–95

  115.02

  1995–96

  91.55

  1996–97

  86.76

  The figures take into account projects originally approved by the Home Office under section 11, but for which responsibility for funding was transferred with effect from 1 April 1994 to the Department of the Environment's single regeneration budget.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his latest estimate of the number of teaching posts likely to be lost in 1995–96 as a result of reductions in section 11 grant. [19129]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  It is not possible to make such an estimate. Increases or reductions in the numbers of section 11–funded posts in particular areas between 1994–95—when many projects ended their planned life—and 1995–96 may be due to a variety of factors. These include changes in levels of need, changes of approach adopted by local authorities in addressing such need, changes in the priorities of local authorities, and the availability of funding under other programmes—such as the single regeneration budget, which embraces such need but is 84
  structured quite differently. It is not possible to gauge the effect of a single factor.

  Refugees
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were assisted by the Refugee Council in the last year when figures were recorded. [19463]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  During 1993, 5,613 cases were assisted by the Refugee Council's advice service. The number of individuals assisted will have been higher than this, as a case may comprise an individual or an individual plus dependants. In the first ten months of 1994–figures are not yet available for the full year—the advice service assisted 5,970 cases.

  The Refugee Council also administers a panel of advisers to assist unaccompanied child asylum seekers. Between March 1994, when the panel started operations, and February 1995, the latest date for which figures are available, 324 children were assisted by the panel.

  The Refugee Council has a leading role in assisting those received under the Government's scheme to accept 1,000 vulnerable people from the former Yugoslavia, and their dependants. During 1994–95, 562 were assisted by the Refugee Council.

  The Refugee Council also has a substantial role in advising and supporting local refugee organisations, and in the training and employment of refugees.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the funding available to refugees in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) each of the other EU member states. [19465]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Home Office funding is available to national and regional refugee organisations to assist refugees and asylum seekers in the United Kingdom. In 1994–95, this funding amounted to £3.3 million, with additional sums for the reception and settlement of refugees from the former Yugoslavia. No information is available about funding for refugees in EU member states.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies have been made by his Department of the needs of refugees in the last five years; and what proposals have been brought forward as a result of these studies. [19464]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The report of a study by the Home Office into the settlement of refugees in Britain was published on 31 March. The report does not make specific recommendations, but its possible implications for policy are being considered. The report of a similar study of the settlement of Vietnamese refugees is in the final stages of preparation.

  Political Advisers
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many advisers his Department employs broken down to show(a) political advisers and (b) economic advisers; at what grade and salary they are employed; and what are their minimum working hours in each case. [19421]

  Mr. Howard
  My Department employs two political advisers. Their salaries and conditions of work are
  85
  negotiated individually in relation to their previous earnings, and are confidential. Economic advice is obtained from career civil servants, who may be employed on a variety of working patterns. The following numbers by grade are full-time equivalents:

  Grade 6–1

  Grade 7–1

  Senior Economic Assistant—1

  Senior Scientific Officer—1

  Police
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many beat officers in each police authority have been replaced with special constables in each of the last three years. [18708]

  Mr. Maclean
  The deployment of all police officers, whether regulars or specials, is a matter for chief officers. But, according to the information we have available centrally, no chief officer has cut the number of regular beat officers in order to replace them with special constables. Specials are volunteers who work part-time to supplement, rather than to replace, the efforts of the regular police.

  Asylum Seekers
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each of the last 10 years(a) the number of asylum seekers, (b) the number of persons granted refugee status, (c) the number of persons granted exceptional leave to remain and (d) the total number of applicants held in detention; and if he will list for each year the six major countries of origin of the applicants. [18870]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Information on the number of asylum applications and decisions made during 1994 is given in the table. The countries with the largest number of nationals applying for asylum in the United Kingdom in 1994 were Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Turkey, India, Ghana and Somalia.

  Information on asylum applications and decisions for the years 1985 to 1993 is published in table 1.2 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin, "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 1993", issue 17/94. Information on the nationalities of asylum applicants in the years 1985 to 1993 is published in table 2.1 of the same publication, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  As at 29 March 1995, 619 persons who had sought asylum were detained. This included persons awaiting an initial decision on their claim for asylum and those pending appeal or awaiting the setting of removal directions. Information on the number of persons who have applied for asylum held in detention during 1990 to 1995 is not available.

  Decisions on applications for asylum1 received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, 1994

  Numbers of principal applicants

  Asylum applications2

  32,830

  Total Decisions2 3

  20,990

  Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum

  825

  86

  Decisions on applications for asylum1 received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, 1994

  Numbers of principal applicants

  Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave to remain4

  3,660

  Total refused5

  16,500

  1 Provisional figures rounded to the nearest 5, with = 1 or 2.2 Figures exclude information on applications made overseas.

  3 Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same year.

  4 Usually granted for a year in the first instance, subject then to further review.

  5 Includes refusals made after full consideration, refusals under para 340 (para 180F prior to 1 October 1994) for failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period, and refusals on the grounds that the applicant had arrived from a safe third country.

  Combat 18
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what actions his Department will take against the organisation known as Combat 18; and if he will make a statement. [18580]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government consider the activities of Combat 18, and any other group which advocates violence, reprehensible. I am satisfied that the police have the resources and powers they need effectively to respond to such groups. For instance, the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 made the offence of publication and distribution of material likely to incite racial hatred an arrestable one, and created an imprisonable offence of intentional racial harassment.

  Police National Computer
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many access requests are expected to be made by Government Departments and agencies to the police national computer in the coming year for security vetting purposes and if those subject to the vetting procedure give prior consent to the police national computer check. [18413]

  Mr. Maclean
  About 150,000 PNC checks per year are currently made on employees, potential employees, and contractors through the national identification service at the request of the Departments and agencies concerned. The introduction of direct access is not expected to affect either the number of checks carried out or the existing arrangements for obtaining the prior consent of subjects.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if access requests made by Government Departments and agencies to the police national computer will return information on bind-overs, cautions and the seriousness of the crime; [18145]

  (2) what categories of information outside departments and agencies will have access to on the police national computer. [18146]

  Mr. Maclean
  Access to the police national Computer by the Departments and agencies concerned will be by means of a discrete application, which will indicate only whether or not a subject is recorded on the criminal names index or listed as wanted or missing. No details of any criminal convictions or other disposals or of the circumstances in which the subject may be reported wanted or missing will be revealed. The response will
  87
  confirm the name, age, sex, colour, and height of the subject of the inquiry.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) under what terms and conditions outside Departments and agencies will have access to information held on the police national computer; [18119]

  (2) what restrictions will be placed on the use of information from the police national computer by outside Departments and agencies when they have access to information held there; [18120]

  (3) what measures he has taken to ensure that Government Departments and agencies do not misuse direct access to the police national computer; and if he is able to trace each access request to the individual making the request. [18412]

  Mr. Maclean
  The arrangements under which each of the Departments and agencies concerned will have limited access to the police national computer will be set out in a memorandum of agreement. The first of these memoranda, with the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, has now been signed. A copy will be placed in the Library.

  All security vetting transactions on the police national computer are logged and the automatic record made identifies both the user's identification code and the terminal from which the inquiry originated. Users will also be required to enter details of the relevant subject file as part of the police national computer transaction. The memoranda of agreement will specify that the information is to be used solely for the purpose of undertaking security vetting checks on employees, potential employees, and contractors.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the safeguards he has put in place in relation to access requests made by Government Departments and agencies to the police national computer to protect those subject to the vetting procedure, should a false positive be indicated. [18414]

  Mr. Maclean
  The limited access provided to the six Departments and agencies concerned will be sufficient to eliminate those who have no record on the police national computer, but not to identify positively those who do have records. For those who appear to have a record, recourse will be made to the national identification service, who will, as now, make the definitive identification.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who, within his Department, is to be authorised to have direct access to the police national computer; and what procedures are being established for ensuring that information gained from this source is handled correctly. [18118]

  Mr. Maclean
  Access to the police national computer within the Home Office is currently restricted to authorised staff at the Hendon data centre, which operates the computer, and in the technical and policy division for maintenance and development purposes.

  Access by the Home Office security division for security vetting purposes has also been approved but not yet implemented. As is the case under the existing manual arrangements, any direct access to police national computer information for security vetting purposes within the Home Office will be confined to a small number of personnel within the security division who already handle information from the national identification service. Guidelines will ensure operational, technical and physical
  88
  security. Regular internal audits will take place to ensure that correct procedures are adhered to. In addition, compliance audits will be undertaken by representatives of the police service and Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary.

  Buckley Hall Prison
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the current ratio of prisoner custody officers to prisoners at Buckley Hall prison; and what is the current prisoner population; [18286]

  (2) on what date Buckley Hall prison started to admit prisoners; what was the full staff complement by grade on that date; how many ex-prison personnel and what grade were initially employed by Group 4; how many and what grade of staff have been sacked to date; how many of these were ex-prison service staff; and on what dates staff have left and on what dates they have been replaced; [18287]

  (3) what is the latest figure for the total number of assaults on (a) custody officers and (b) prisoners at Buckley Hall prison. [18285]

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. George Howarth, dated 18 April 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about Buckley Hall prison.
  On 31 March, Buckley Hall prison held 90 prisoners. The ratio of custody officers to prisoners was 70 custody officers to 90 prisoners which equates to 1 custody officer to 1.28 prisoners.
  Buckley Hall started to admit prisoners on 14 December 1994. The staffing complement by grade was as follows:

  1 Director

  1 Head of Programmes

  2 Residential Managers

  2 Duty Security Managers

  67 Prison Custody Officers (PCO)

  14 Administrative Staff

  Of these the Director, Head of Programmes, Residential Managers and Duty Security Managers were former Prison Service personnel.
  Their former Prison Service grades were as follows:

  Buckley Hall grade

  Former Prison Service grade

  Director

  Governor 3

  Head of Programmes

  Senior Psychologist

  2 Residential Managers

  1 x Supervisor

  1 x Prison Officer

  2 Duty Security Managers

  1 x Governor 4

  1 x Supervisor

  To date no staff at Buckley Hall have been sacked. Details of resignations and recruitment are contained in the attached table.

  There has been one assault on a member of staff at Buckley Hall prison since it was re-opened, and no assaults on prisoners.

  Details of resignations and staff recruitment at Buckley Hall prison

  Date

  Resigned

  Recruited

  10 October 94

  PCO

  7 November 94

  PCO x 2

  30 November 94

  PCO

  89

  Details of resignations and staff recruitment at Buckley Hall prison

  Date

  Resigned

  Recruited

  16 January 95

  PCO x 8

  P/T PCO x 22

  17 January 95

  PCO

  Security Officer1

  19 January 95

  PCO

  23 January 95

  PCO

  7 February 95

  P/T PCO

  23 February 95

  PCO

  Personnel Clerk

  Facilities Co-ordinator

  24 February 95

  Facilities Co-ordinator

  20 March 95

  PCO

  24 March 95

  Security Officer1

  27 March 95

  Personnel Clerk

  1 The Security Officers have not been replaced to date and their duties are being covered by PCOs.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on how many occasions to date Group 4 has defaulted in its contract for Buckley Hall prison; which of the terms of the contract for Buckley Hall prison Group 4 has failed to comply with; what penalties have been incurred for each failure to comply with the contract; and what was the basis of the Prison Service's decision not to penalise on each occasion on, which that decision was reached. [18288]

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. George Howarth, dated 18 April 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of occasions Group 4 has defaulted in its contract for Buckley Hall prison.
  Buckley Hall prison opened in December 1994. There has been no occasion since opening when Group 4 has been in default of contract.

  Strip Searches
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) pursuant to his answer of 14 April 1993,Official Report, column 286, what new methods have been introduced since April 1993 to detect syringe needles concealed within a person's clothing or body as an alternative to strip searching; [18136]

  (2) what is the amount of drugs and explosives that have been detected for each of the past five years as a result of strip searching of convicted and remand prisoners in (a) female and (b) male establishments; [18135]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the impact the availability of hand held search tools to locate metal objects concealed under a person's clothing and methods to detect whether a person has been in contact with explosives or drugs have had on the number of strip searchings being carried out in prisons or in other locations where strip searches are permitted. [18137]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
  90
  Letter from Derek Lewis to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 18 April 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the strip searching of prisoners.
  Since April 1993 the Home Office Police Scientific Development Branch has sponsored work on new methods to detect syringe needles concealed within a person's clothing or body as an alternative to strip searching, but it is still at the developmental stage and there is not yet a metal detector available which is sufficiently sensitive to detect syringe needles with any degree of certainty.
  Information on the number of strip searches conducted in prisons is not recorded and there are no figures available on drugs and explosives found as the result of particular types of search.
  It is not possible to say whether the availability of either hand held or fixed metal detectors, or the availability of new methods of detecting traces of drugs or explosives have affected the number of strip searches.

  Open Prisons
  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used in deciding whether a person convicted of theft should serve all or part of his sentence in an open prison. [18401]

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated 18 April 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the criteria used in deciding whether a person convicted of theft should serve all or part of his sentence in an open prison.
  The type of establishment to which a sentenced adult male prisoner is allocated depends on his security category which is decided on the basis of the level of risk he is assessed to present. Only those adult male prisoners placed in category D, the lowest security category, are allocated to open prisons.
  The criteria and procedures to be used in decisions on the categorisation and allocation of adult male prisoners are set out in Circular Instruction 7/1988 and the Prison Service Manual on Security, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Security category assessment is a continuous responsibility of Prison Service staff both at establishments, in the case of prisoners categorised B, C and D, and at headquarters, in the case of Category A prisoners.
  The criteria and procedures for the allocation of sentenced females and young offenders are set out in Circular Instruction 2/1991, a copy of which is also available in the Library of the House. These prisoners, apart from those who are considered to warrant category A conditions, are not categorised but are allocated to either closed or open conditions according to their level of risk.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the costs that will be incurred by(a) the police, (b) the courts and (c) prisons, as a result of released short sentence prisoners re-offending because of homelessness arising from changes to their housing benefit entitlement; and what assessment he has made of the likelihood of increases in re-offending caused by this factor. [18218]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Changes to housing benefit for persons serving a custodial sentence are not expected to result in increased rates of re-offending on release.

  Prisoner Statistics
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the proportion of prisoners held in establishments where prisoners are normally unlocked for a total of at least 12 hours a day from Monday to Friday inclusive, excluding prisoners who are in segregated or a special secure unit, for each of the past 12 months in prisons in England and Wales. [16268]

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. George Howarth, dated 18 April 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the proportion of prisoners held in establishments where prisoners are normally unlocked for a total of a least 12 hours per weekday.
  The latest available information is as follows:

  Percentage of prisoners unlocked for 12 hours per day

  Months

  1994

  February

  27

  March

  29

  April

  31

  May

  32

  June

  33

  July

  35

  August

  36

  September

  37

  October

  38

  November

  36

  December

  39

  1995

  January

  38

  February

  40

  In my response to your Question of 27 January and my letter to you of 1 March, I indicated that 36% of prisoners were being unlocked for at least 12 hours on weekdays in January 1995. This has been revised to a final figure of 38%. The figure for September 1994 has also been revised from 36% to 37%.

  Transfers of prisoners to hospital by direction of the Home Secretary under Sections 47 and 48 of the Mental Health Act 1983

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  11994

  After sentence S47

  100

  107

  127

  121

  131

  156

  193

  230

  290

  234

  Before sentence S48

  41

  53

  77

  85

  100

  181

  264

  380

  486

  512

  Total

  141

  160

  204

  206

  231

  337

  457

  610

  776

  746

  1 Provisional figures.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Arable Land Subsidies
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many individuals, partnerships or agricultural companies received agricultural subsidy

  Illegal Drugs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his most recent estimate of the percentage of prisoners who(a) use illegal drugs and (b) are addicted to illegal drugs. [18157]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 4 April 1995]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 18 April 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question on the extent of drug misuse and addiction in prisons.
  Information on prisoners who use illegal drugs is not currently available. However, the first phase of a mandatory drug testing programme has already begun in seven establishments. This is being carefully monitored and will help to guide the implementation of testing in all Prison Service establishments. As part of the programme, prisoners are required to participate in random drug testing. This will provide information on the level of drug misuse in prison.
  The information currently available on the extent of drug addition amongst prisoners is limited to that provided by the Home Office Addicts Index. During 1994 4,784 drug addicts were identified by prison medical officers in England, Scotland and Wales.

  Mentally Ill Prisoners
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the number of prisoners who were judged to be mentally ill in each of the past 10 years who were transferred from prison to mental institutions. [18161]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 4 April 1995]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Paul Flynn, Dated 18 April 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question seeking an estimate of the number of prisoners who were judged to be mentally ill in each of the past 10 years who were transferred from prison to mental institutions.
  The enclosed table gives the number of transfers to hospital from 1985 onwards under sections 47 and 48 of the Mental Health Act 1983. This shows that there has been a marked increase in the number of transfers over the last 10 years, with more than double the number of transfers in 1994 when compared with 1990.

  payments for arable land (a) in excess of £50,000 per annum (b) in excess of £100,000 per annum and (c) in excess of £200,000 per annum in each year since 1991. [17224]

  Mr. Jack
  Statistics for 1991 and 1992 are not available as payments under the arable area payments
  93
  scheme did not begin until 1993. Since 1993, under the integrated administration and control system, applicants have had to make a single application covering all the land which they farm in the United Kingdom and some applications may, therefore, cover a number of holdings which are farmed quite separately on a day-to-day basis. Figures are not gathered which distinguish between individuals, partnerships and agricultural companies.

  The following information relates to 1993 UK IACS applications, rather than to individual farms and farmers:

  Number

  Total number of AAPS claims

  45,774

  Number of claims receiving in excess of £50,000 pa

  3,246

  Number of claims receiving in excess of £100,000 pa

  6941

  Number of claims receiving in excess of £200,00 pa

  1061

  1 Each of these is included in the total immediately above.

  ADAS

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  (a) Television

  —

  —

  —

  Not available

  (b) Radio

  —

  —

  —

  Not available

  (c) Newspaper

  Minimal

  Minimal

  Minimal

  Not available

  (d) Other

  £278,000

  £313,000

  £359,000

  Not available

  (e) Total

  £278,000

  £313,000

  £359,000

  Not available

  (f) Proportion of (e) spent on recruitment advertising

  Minimal

  Minimal

  Minimal

  Not available

  1. "Other" expenditure includes costs of exhibitions and shows.

  Central science laboratory

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  (a) Television

  —

  —

  —

  —

  (b) Radio

  —

  —

  —

  —

  (c) Newspaper

  £47,000

  £81,000

  £78,000

  £58,000

  (d) Other

  £3,000

  £7,000

  £15,000

  £15,000

  (e) Total

  £50,000

  £88,000

  £93,000

  £73,000

  (f) Proportion of (e) spent on recruitment advertising

  88 per cent.

  89 per cent.

  81 percent.

  75 per cent.

  1. "Other" expenditure in 1994–95 includes costs of promotional materials and activities in connection with launch of the enlarged agency.

  Central veterinary laboratory

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  (a) Television

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  (b) Radio

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  (c) Newspaper

  £24,011

  £24,593

  £63,686

  £7,656

  £13,429

  £15,780

  (d) Other

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  (e) Total

  £24,011

  £24,593

  £63,686

  £7,656

  £13,429

  £15,780

  (f) Proportion of (e) spent on recruitment advertising

  99 per cent.

  99 per cent.

  99 per cent.

  99 per cent

  99 per cent.

  99 per cent.

  1. CVL figures for 1990–91 to 1993–94 inclusive are at 1994 prices. The figures shown under c) for these years include associated administration and other costs.

  Intervention board

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  (a) Television

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  (b) Radio

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  (c) Newspaper

  £19,409

  £14,210

  £1,640

  £2,108

  £4,469

  £16,000

  (d) Other

  £6,000

  £6,200

  £8,833

  £6,500

  £6,500

  £6,500

  (e) Total

  £25,409

  £20,410

  £10,473

  £8,608

  £10,969

  £22,500

  (f) Proportion of (e) spent on recruitment advertising

  76 per cent.

  70 percent.

  16 per cent.

  24 per cent.

  41 per cent.

  71 per cent.

  94
  Figures for 1994–95 are not yet available as the final oilseed payments are still being made. I will write to the hon. Member when they are.

  Advertising
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list each non-departmental public body and agency for which he has responsibility and, for each, list separate figures for the spending by that body or agency on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising, (d) other promotion materials and activities, (e) the totals in each year of (a) to (d) and (f) the proportion of (e) that was spent on recruitment advertising for each year since 1979–80 or for each year of its existence if it has been created since 1979–80; and what are his latest estimates of (a) to (f) for the years 1994–95 and 1995–96. [17610]

  Mr. Jack
  Listed are the details requested for each of the agencies for which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has responsibility:
  95

  Pesticides safety directorate

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  (a) Television

  —

  —

  —

  (b) Radio

  —

  —

  —

  (c) Newspaper

  £481

  £4,400

  £5,000

  (d) Other

  £14,990

  —

  —

  (e) Total

  £19,471

  £4,400

  £5,000

  (f) Proportion of (e) spent on recruitment advertising

  2.5 per cent.

  100 per cent.

  100 per cent.

  1. "Other" expenditure in 1993–94 includes costs of promotional materials and activities in connection with the agency launch.

  Veterinary medicines directorate

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  (a) Television

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  (b) Radio

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  (c) Newspaper

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  (d) Other

  £15,505

  £11,515

  £3,378

  —

  —

  (e) Total

  £15,505

  £11,515

  £3,378

  —

  —

  (f) Proportion of (e) spent on recruitment advertising

  100 per cent.

  100 per cent.

  100 per cent.

  —

  —

  Notes:

  Although the VMD was established as an agency in April 1990 it did not maintain its own accounts until 1991–92. Expenditure in 1990–91 was included in core-MAFF figures.

  Figures do not include costs of publications and reports.

  The relevant information in respect of non-departmental public bodies could be provided only at disproportionate cost and is not included.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list, for 1992–93 and 1993–94, separate figures for the spending by his Department on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c)

  £

  Recruitment advertising

  Television advertising

  Radio advertising

  Press advertising

  Other publicity and promotional activities

  1992–93

  n/a

  494,000

  nil

  nil

  3,723,000

  1993–94

  125,000

  371,000

  nil

  21,000

  3,920,000

  1994–95

  31,000

  nil

  nil

  181,000

  14,450,000

  1995–96

  65,000

  nil

  nil

  350,000

  14,050,000

  1 Forecasts.

  Figures for 1992–93 include expenditure for recruitment advertising but they can be separated out only at disproportionate cost.

  The purpose of MAFF's publicity and promotional activities is to provide information, on a wide range of issues, to the general public and the agriculture/food industry.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many parliamentary questions requesting an ordinary written answer were received by his Department in each year since 1979–80; and how many such questions received a substantive answer within 10, 15, 20 days or longer. [18467]

  Mr. Jack
  The information which is available only from 1993–94 is as follows:
  96
  newspaper advertising, (d) other promotion materials and activities, (e) the totals in each year of (a) to (d) the proportion of (e) that was spent on recruitment advertising; and what are his latest estimates for the years 1994–95. [17609]

  Mr. Jack
  Expenditure by the Department in 1992–93 and for each subsequent year was as follows:

  Parliamentary Session

  Number

  1993–94

  1994–95 upto 5 April 1995

  Total received:

  943

  411

  Answered within:

  10 days

  889

  388

  15 days

  33

  6

  20 days or longer

  21

  17

  Details for the earlier years are a matter of public record but could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many parliamentary questions to his Department in each year since 1979–80 requesting a priority written answer or answer on a named day, were answered within three days; how many received a holding reply; and how many of those which received a holding reply then received a substantive answer within a further five, 10, 15, 20 days or longer. [18468]
  97
  Mr. Jack
  The information which is available only from 1993–94 is as follows:

  Parliamentary Session

  Number

  1993–94

  1994–95 upto 5 April 1995

  Answered on named day

  564

  317

  Answered within:

  5 days

  86

  83

  10 days

  37

  14

  15 days

  6

  3

  20 days or longer

  45

  2

  Details for the earlier years are a matter of public record but could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many parliamentary questions to his Department that were transferred for answer to the chief executive or other senior official of a non-departmental public body or agency for which he has responsibility received an answer which was not printed in the Official Report in each year since 1979–80 or for each year that the body or agency has been in existence. [18472]

  Mr. Jack
  Parliamentary questions are not transferred to chief executives or other officials, although chief executives are asked to write to the Member concerned when the question seeks information about operational matters delegated to them. Information on the number of occasions letters have been written since 1979–80 which were not printed in the Official Report could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many times in each year since 1979–80 his Department has written to an hon. or right hon. Member correcting an answer to a parliamentary question. [18470]

  Mr. Jack
  The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many times in each year since 1979–80 his Department has given a reply to a parliamentary question which has resulted in the information requested being placed in the Library and not printed in the Official Report. [18469]

  Mr. Jack
  The information requested is a matter of public record but it could be extracted in the form requested only at disproportionate cost.

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many parliamentary questions to his Department were transferred for answer to the chief executive or other senior official of a nondepartmental public body or agency for which he has responsibility in each year since 1979–80 or for each year that the body or agency has been in existence. [18471]

  Mr. Jack
  Parliamentary questions are not transferred to chief executives or other officials, although chief executives are asked to write to the Member concerned when the question seeks information about operational matters delegated to them. Information on the number of occasions this has happened is readily available only from the 1993–94 Session of Parliament and is as follows:
  98

  1993–94

  1994–95 upto 5 April 95

  Agency Chief Executives invited to write as a result of Parliamentary Questions

  16

  6

  Details for the earlier years are a matter of public record but could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Notifiable Animal Diseases
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the notifiable diseases of animals in(a) 1975, (b) 1980, (c) 1985, (d) 1990 and (e) 1995. [18268]

  Mrs. Browning
  The information is as follows:

  (a) 1975

  African horse sickness

  Anthrax

  Bovine tuberculosis

  Brucellosis melitensis (in cattle)

  Cattle plague

  Dourine

  Epizootic lymphangitis (in equines)

  Equine viral encephalomyelitis

  Equine infectious anaemia

  Foot and mouth disease

  Fowl pest (includes fowl plague and Newcastle disease)

  Glanders or farcy (in equines)

  Parasitic mange (in equines)

  Pleuropneumonia (in cattle)

  Rabies

  Sheep pox

  Sheep scab

  Swine fever

  Swine vesicular disease

  Teschen disease

  (b) 1980

  African horse sickness

  African swine fever

  Anthrax

  Aujeszkys disease

  Bovine tuberculosis

  Brucellosis melitensis (in cattle)

  Cattle plague

  Dourine

  Enzootic bovine leucosis

  Epizootic lymphangitis (in equines)

  Equine viral encephalomyelitis

  Equine infectious anaemia

  Foot and mouth disease

  Fowl pest (includes fowl plague and Newcastle disease)

  Glanders and Farcy (in equines)

  Parasitic Mange (in equines)

  Pleuropneumonia (in cattle)

  Rabies

  Sheep pox

  Sheep scab

  Swine fever

  Swine vesicular disease

  Teschen disease

  (c) 1985

  African horse sickness

  African swine fever

  Anthrax

  Aujeszky's disease

  Brucella melitensis (cattle)

  99

  Cattle plague

  Classical swine fever

  Dourine

  Enzootic bovine leukosis

  Enzootic lymphangitis

  Equine infectious anaemia

  Equine viral encephalomyelitis

  Foot and mouth disease

  Fowl pest (includes fowl plague and Newcastle disease)

  Glanders and farcy (in equines)

  Pleuropneumonia (in cattle)

  Rabies

  Sheep pox

  Sheep scab

  Swine vesicular disease

  Teschen disease

  Tuberculosis (in cattle)

  Warble fly

  (d) 1990

  African horse sickness

  African swine fever

  Anthrax

  Aujeszky's disease

  Bovine spongiform encephalopathy

  Brucella melitensis (cattle)

  Cattle plague

  Classical swine fever

  Dourine

  Enzootic bovine leukosis

  Enzootic lymphangitis

  Equine viral encephalomyelitis

  Equine infectious anaemia

  Foot and mouth disease

  Fowl pest (includes fowl plague, Newcastle disease, avian influenza and paromyxovirus)

  Glanders and farcy (in equines)

  Pleuropneumonia (in cattle)

  Rabies

  Sheep pox

  Sheep scab

  Swine vesicular disease

  Teschen disease

  Tuberculosis (in cattle and deer)

  Warble fly

  (e) 1995

  African horse sickness

  African swine fever

  Anthrax

  Aujeszkys disease

  Bovine spongiform encephalopathy

  Blue tongue

  Brucella melitensis (cattle, sheep and goats)

  Cattle plague

  Classical swine fever

  Contagious agalactia

  Contagious epidydimitis

  Contagious equine metritis

  Dourine

  Enzootic bovine leukosis

  Enzootic lymphangitis

  Equine viral encephalomyelitis

  Equine infectious anaemia

  Foot and mouth disease

  Fowl pest (includes Newcastle disease and avian influenza)

  Glanders or farcy (in equines)

  Goat pox

  Lumpy skin disease

  Paromyxovirus in pigeons

  Peste des petits ruminants

  100

  Pleuropneumonia

  Rabies

  Rift valley fever

  Scrapie

  Sheep pox

  Swine vesicular disease

  Teschen disease

  Tuberculosis (in cattle and deer)

  Vesicular stomatitis

  Viral haemorrhagic disease (rabbits)

  Warble fly

  Rabies
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many reported cases there were of fox vectored rabies in Belgium in(a) 1993 and (b) 1994 or to the latest available date for which figures are available. [18410]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Ministry does not hold comprehensive data on the vector species for rabies cases outside the United Kingdom.

  Cattle (Tuberculosis)
  Mr. Michael Spicer
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has about the extent of tuberculosis in cattle; and if he will make a statement. [18825]

  Mrs. Browning
  There were 362 new confirmed TB cattle herd breakdowns in Great Britain during 1994. They are largely confined to the south west of England—274 new confirmed outbreaks—and Wales—62 new confirmed outbreaks. Following investigations, 88 per cent, of new and continuing confirmed outbreaks in the south west of England and 3 per cent, in Wales are considered to have resulted from infection by badgers.

  Sheep Quota
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what part was played in the refusal by the Exeter office to register the special quota leased and purchased by Spence and Sons Ltd, of New Barn farm for 1993, 1994 and 1995 by the delay in informing Spence and Sons Ltd of the outcome of their application, ref.16006001; and what plans he has to assist Spence and Sons Ltd. on this matter; [19154]

  (2) if he will set out the reasons for the delay in informing Spence and Sons Ltd. of New Barn farm, reference number 16006001 about their application for special quota. [19155]

  Mr. Jack
  My hon. Friend has written to me about this complex case which involves an application to the sheep quota national reserve and the transfer and lease of sheep quota and I will write to the hon. Gentlemen shortly explaining the matter in full.

  Agriculture Council
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Luxembourg on 10 April; and if he will make a statement. [19236]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  This Council, at which I represented the United kingdom, again discussed the situation created by the strengthening of the German, Dutch, Belgian, Austrian and Danish currencies, which should result in
  101
  the revaluation of the corresponding green rates of exchange used in the common agricultural policy. All other member states could agree to a proposal that these revaluations, which the Commission had already delayed under its own powers, should be further delayed until after the Councils next meeting on 29 May.

  I objected on the grounds that neither the trade distortions generated by these delays nor the budgetary costs of alternative courses of action had been properly considered; and that no clear indication had been given of how these problems would be tackled at the end of any further period of delay. The proposal was not adopted and it was agreed that these matters would be discussed urgently.

  The Council adopted, with Portugal voting against, an extension of the existing sugar arrangements with some changes. The main changes are to enable beet sugar production quotas to be cut if necessary to enable the Community to observe its obligation under the GATT to restrict subsidised net exports; and to improve the guarantee of supplies of imported raw cane sugar to refiners.

  I made it clear, as did the Swedish Minister, that I would have preferred a genuine reform of the sugar system but there was no support for this from others. The formula for allocating quota reductions, which all other member states were ready to accept as a compromise, means that the share of any cut that would fall on the United Kingdom is a lot less than our share of Community sugar production. It will be important to work for the export limit to be met by means other than quota cuts. The guarantee of raw sugar supplies is welcome and the details of the guarantee are considerably better than those in the Commissions original proposal.

  Veal Crates
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what representations he has received from Gerald Barling QC on the lawfulness of export restrictions on calves to be reared in veal crates, and if he will make a statement. [18622]

  (2) if he will make a further statement on the export of calves to be reared in veal crates. [18623]

  (3) if he will make a further statement on the use of article 36 of the treaty of Rome to stop the export of calves to be reared in veal crates. [18624]

  Mrs. Browning
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Mr. Streeter) on 4 April 1995,Official Report column 1057–58.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 15 March,Official Report, column 630, whether he expects veal crates to be banned throughout Europe before or after 2000. [17771]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 5 March 1995]: The timetable for phasing out veal crates in the European Union under any Council measure requiring this will depend on the terms of the measure when it is adopted.

  Cattle Plague
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of cattle plague were reported in each year since 1985. [18613]
  102
  Mrs. Browning
  There have been no confirmed cases of cattle plague in England since 1877.

  Ostriches
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many ostriches were slaughtered in Britain in each year since 1991 for meat or plumage; how many of these were reared from eggs in Britain and how many were imported; and if he will make a statement on the welfare of farmed ostriches. [18614]

  Mrs. Browning
  There is no commercial slaughter industry for ostriches at present in Great Britain, and the breeding population is still being established. Some small numbers will have been killed on farms since 1991, but no figures are available. The welfare of ostriches is protected on the farm by the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968 and regulations made under that Act, and by the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976; in transit by the Welfare of Animals during Transport Order 1994, as amended, and by standards set by the International Air Transport Association; and at slaughter by the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 which came into operation on 1 April 1995. Guidelines on the welfare of farmed ostriches, prepared by the Farm Animal Welfare Council, were issued in February 1994. In addition, the Council of Europe is currently drawing up a recommendation on the welfare of ostriches and other ratites.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what area of England is designated as being environmentally sensitive; how much Government funding is spent annually on environmentally sensitive areas; how this formula is calculated; and if he will make a statement. [17793]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 3 April 1995]: There are 22 environmentally sensitive areas covering 1,149,217 hectares. Payments to farmers opting to join the schemes in these areas are based on calculations of estimated average income losses and additional costs resulting from compliance with the land management conditions, and may include an incentive element. In 1993–94 payments totalled £16.5 million. The financial provision rises to £43.3 million by 1996–97. A public information pack on the English environmentally sensitive areas is being sent to the hon. Member.

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer 27 March,Official Report, column 501, which company was responsible for transporting animals to Brightlingsea; and what plans he has to prosecute it for breaking the 15-hour rule. [18038]

  Mrs. Browning
  I am not, for reasons of commercial confidentiality, in a position to disclose the identity of the company concerned. Prosecution for breaking the 15-hour rule would not be sensible in this case where feeding and watering were precluded by the presence of protesters.

  Sir Terence Higgins
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what powers he has to prevent vessels carrying live animals from putting to sea in bad weather. [17468]
  103
  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 3 March 1995]: Inspectors and veterinary inspectors of the ministry have powers to prohibit the transport of animals where they consider the animals are about to be transported in a way which may cause them unnecessary suffering, or in any way which does not comply with any provision of the welfare legislation made under sections 37, 38, or 39 of the Animal Health Act 1981.

  The Welfare of Animals during Transport Order 1994, made under the 1981 Act, places a duty on masters of vessels not to carry animals if, in their judgment, there are grounds for believing that, due to adverse weather conditions, the voyage will be attended by serious risk to the animals of injury, suffering or death. A number of sailings from various ports this winter were cancelled for this reason.

  Sir Terence Higgins
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what inspections were carried out by officials to check that the carriage of live animals by the vessel Northern Cruiser was in conformity with all the provisions of the Welfare of Animals during Transport Order 1994; what provisions existed for isolation of ill or injured animals during the voyage and first aid treatment, schedule 3 section 18; and if he will make a statement. [17467]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 3 March 1995]: Before the vessel was used to carry animals it was inspected by the ministry's livestock transport adviser to, ensure that the facilities met the requirements of the legislation. Veterinary inspectors have also accompanied sailings with animals on board to monitor conditions during the voyage.

  The Department is not of the view that point 18 of schedule 3 to the Welfare of Animals during Transport Order 1994, which implements a requirement of EC directive 91/628, applies when animals are being carried on a roll-on/roll-off ferry.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) how many parliamentary questions to his Department in each year since 1992–93 requesting a priority written answer or answer on a named day, were answered within three days; how many received a holding reply; and how many of those which received a holding reply then received a substantive answer within a further five, 10, 15, 20 days or longer; [18482]

  (2) how many parliamentary questions to his Department that were transferred for answer to the chief

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Historic Royal Palaces

  (a), (b) and (c)1

  228,350

  183,682

  205,089

  678,814

  502,238

  (d)

  70,000

  70,000

  80,000

  108,000

  138,000

  (e) = total (a) to (d)

  298,350

  253,682

  285,089

  786,814

  640,238

  (f) proportion of (e) spent on recruitment (per cent.)

  4.1

  5.6

  5.8

  2.3

  3.9

  104
  executive or other senior official of a non-departmental public body or agency for which he has responsibility received an answer which was not printed in the Official Report in each year since 1992–93 or for each year that the body or agency has been in existence; [18486.1

  (3) how many times in each year since 1992–93 his Department has written to an hon. or right hon. Member correcting an answer to a parliamentary question; [18484]

  (4) how many times in each year since 1992–93 his Department has given a reply to a parliamentary question which has resulted in the information requested being placed in the Library and not printed in the Official Report; [18483]

  (5) how many parliamentary questions to his Department were transferred for answer to the chief executive or other senior official of a non-departmental public body or agency for which he has responsibility in each year since 1992–93 or for each year that the body or agency has been in existence; [18485]

  (6) how many parliamentary questions requesting an ordinary written answer were received by his Department in each year since 1992–93; and how many such questions received a substantive answer within 10, 15, 20 days or longer. [18481]

  Mr. Dorrell
  The information requested is a matter of public record, but it could be extracted in the form requested only at disproportionate cost.

  Advertising
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, if he will list each non-departmental public body and agency for which he has responsibility and, for each, list separate figures for the spending by that body or agency on(a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising, (d) other promotional materials and activities, (e) the totals in each year of (a) to (d) and (f) the proportion of (e) that was spent on recruitment advertising for year since 1979–80 or for each year of its existence if it has been created since then; and what are his latest estimates of (a) to (f) for the years 1994–95 and 1995–96. [17620]

  Mr. Dorrell
  My Department is responsible for two agencies: Historic Royal Palaces and Royal Parks. Details of their expenditure on advertising and promotional materials is given in the following chart. Figures for 1995–96 have not been finalised.

  The non-departmental public bodies which are sponsored by my Department are listed in Public Bodies 1994, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. These operate at arm's length from my Department and the provision of information on their expenditure on advertising and promotional materials is an operational matter for them. The information could not be obtained by my Department without incurring disproportionate cost.
  105

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  The Royal Parks2

  (a) and (b)

  —

  —

  —

  0

  0

  (c)

  —

  —

  —

  240

  16,597

  (d)

  —

  —

  —

  0

  0

  (e) = total (a) to (d)

  —

  —

  —

  240

  16,597

  (f) proportion of (e) spent of recruitment (per cent.)

  —

  —

  —

  0

  66

  Notes:

  1 Costs cannot be desegregated without involving disproportionate cost.

  2 Established on 1 April 1993.

  Television (Violence)
  Sir John Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to introduce further controls on the amount of violence broadcast on television. [18671]

  Mr. Dorrell
  Broadcasters in the United Kingdom are independent of Government but have clear responsibilities with regard to programme content. In May last year, my predecessor held meetings with the chairman of the BBC, the Independent Television Commission and the Broadcasting Standards Council to discuss public concern about television violence. Both the BBC and ITC undertook to monitor the amount of violence shown on television and report back. We have received interim reports from both bodies and are now awaiting the findings of joint research they have commissioned. The research will be completed later this year, and I intend to discuss its findings with the chairmen of the two bodies and consider whether any further action is called for.

  Robert Burns
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the plans of his Department to celebrate the life and times of Robert Burns during the next year. [18999]

  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland on 3 March 1995 at column 772.

  Local Television
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is his policy towards encouraging the development of local television; and if he will make a statement. [18690]

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Broadcasting Act 1990 has increased the scope of broadcasting in the United Kingdom, including opportunities for local television services delivered by cable. For the future, the introduction of digital television services may open up further prospects.

  Green Policy
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will name the green Minister for his Department and list(a) the green initiatives taken by that Minister in respect of the Departments functions, (b) the representations made by the Minister in respect of functions carried out by other departments and (c) the input made by the Minister into consultations on the Environment Bill. [18645]
  106
  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 5 April 1995]: The green Minister for my Department is Viscount Astor. My Department, the English Tourist Board, and the Countryside and Rural Development Commissions have commissioned consultants to produce a study on the local visitor management initiatives set up since the 1991 Maintaining the Balance report. This will result in the publication of a good practice guide later this year. My Department is in regular contact with other Departments on environmental issues which affect its policy interests.

HEALTH

  Accident and Emergency Departments
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many accidents and emergency departments have been temporarily closed in each of the last 12 months and in total. [17567]

  Mr. Sackville
  Information on closures of accident and emergency departments is not available centrally.

  Consultants
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the proportion of time spent by NHS consultant doctors on working in the private sector. [17568]

  Mr. Malone
  It is a statutory requirement and underpinning principle of the conduct of private practice in national health service hospitals that private work should not significantly interfere with a hospitals NHS contracts. Within this framework, consultants are free to undertake private work in addition to their NHS duties and in their own time. The combination of private practice and NHS treatment means that overall more patients are treated than if health care were available only through the NHS. There is a contractual obligation on NHS consultants to devote substantially the whole of their professional time to their NHS duties.

  Cardiac Surgery, Plymouth
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in the provision of a specialist cardiac surgery unit in Plymouth. [17569]

  Mr. Sackville
  The £4.3 million development of the new cardiac surgery unit at Derriford hospital is progressing well and is on target to be opened in 1997.

  Acute Beds
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the change in the number of acute beds in(a) Birmingham and (b) the west midlands since 1979.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information requested is as follows:

  1979

  1993–94

  Birmingham

  4,391

  2,918

  West Midlands

  14,668

  11,305

  Source:

  1979, SH3 returns; 1993–94 KHO3 returns.

  Over this period in the west midlands, the number of in-patient cases increased by 42 per cent, to 670,000 and day cases by 308 per cent. to 207,000.

  Low Income
  Mr. Bill Mitchie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made on the effects of low income on health. [17583]

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) on 23 March 1995, columns 353–54.

  Community Care
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will review the criteria for the distribution and expenditure of the special transitional grant for community care; and if she will make a statement. [17584]

  Mr. Bowis
  The distribution of the special transitional grant for 1995–96 and the conditions attached to its payment were agreed by Parliament on 30 March. We review and consult on these matters before laying each year's special transitional grant report.

  Diabetics
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has about the number and types of diabetes in the United Kingdom and the incidence of coma deaths amongst diabetics who live alone. [17585]

  Mr. Sackville
  In the United Kingdom, an estimated 1.2 per cent, of the population have clinically diagnosed diabetes, while the number of currently undiagnosed individuals is considered to increase this to 2 per cent, or more. No information is available centrally on the numbers of diabetics who live alone or on the incidence of coma deaths among them.

  GP Fundholding
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for health what research her Department has undertaken into the administrative costs of general practitioner fundholding; and if she will make a statement. [17586]

  Mr. Malone
  The Department keeps the management costs of general practitioner fundholding under regular review. In the first three years of the scheme, GP fundholding management costs were about 2 per cent, of budgets set. Figures are not yet available for 1994–95, but we expect them to be of the same order.

  Hospital Closures
  Ms. Estelle Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to collate information about hospital closures. [17587]

  Mr. Sackville
  We have no plans to do so.

  Mortality Rates, London
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether mortality rates in London have improved over the last 10 years. [17589]

  Mr. Sackville
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Year

  Total number of deaths

  Population (000s)

  Deaths per thousand population

  1983

  76,135

  6,764.8

  11.3

  1984

  73,756

  6,772.4

  10.9

  1985

  75,909

  6,790.2

  11.2

  1986

  73,882

  6,803.4

  10.9

  1987

  71,949

  6,800.5

  10.6

  1988

  71,217

  6,770.3

  10.5

  1989

  70,631

  6,798.7

  10.4

  1990

  64,481

  6,852.5

  9.4

  1991

  68,856

  6,889.9

  10.0

  1992

  66,461

  6,904.6

  9.6

  19931

  68,399

  6,933.0

  9.9

  Notes:

  1 Provisional information.

  Source:

  OPCS.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she has taken to prevent potential conflicts of interest between those who hold senior posts in NHS trusts and also in private sector health service consultancies. [17570]

  Mr. Sackville
  The codes of conduct and accountability, which were issued to all national health service board members in April last year, introduced stringent measures to prevent conflicts of interest arising at board level. All NHS boards now maintain a register of members relevant private interests and these are available for inspection by the public.

  Mental Health Care
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement about the cost of the use of private beds for mental health care. [17581]

  Mr. Bowis
  National health service returns do not separately identify expenditure incurred specifically on the purchase of care outside the NHS.

  Chorionic Villus Sampling
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research she has commissioned into the use of chorionic villus sampling; and what evidence she has of the links between the use of villus sampling and subsequent disabilities. [17588]

  Mr. Sackville
  None. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 27 March 1995, columns 420–21.

  NHS Tenders
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many tenders for NHS services or capital projects have been won by private sector organisations, where private sector organisations have been in competition with NHS organisations; and what percentage that represents of all tenders open to the private sector. [15771]

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is not available in the form requested. Of 3,927 service contracts for which information is available, 1,226 were awarded to the in-house team, and 2,701 were awarded to other contractors, including other national health service trusts or authorities. Not all of these contracts would have involved an in-house bid, and in some cases there may have been no external bidder.

  Mesothelioma
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the findings of the health and safety executive/Peto report, Continuing Increase in Mesothelioma Mortality in Britain, and its consequences for her Departments policy. [17074]

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Employment gave him today.

  It is for the individual health authorities to ensure that, the health care needs of their populations are being met, including those with Mesothelioma.

  Medicines
  Mr. Stott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if(a) Seatone green lipped mussel extract capsules and (b) Kwai concentrated garlic tablets have been subjected to the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations etc) Regulations 1994. [19137]

  Mr. Sackville
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Medicines Control Agency under its chief executive, Dr. Keith Jones. I have asked him to reply to the hon. Member.

  Letter from K. Jones to Mr. Roger Stott, dated 18 April 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about Seatone capsules and Kwai tablets, and the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations etc.) Regulations 1994.
  The Regulations provide that from 1 January 1995, unless exempt, no medicinal product may be placed on the market in the United Kingdom without a marketing authorisation. Article 1.2 of Directive 65/66 EEC defines a medicinal product as one which is presented for treating or preventing disease, or one which "may be administered with a view to making a medical diagnosis or to restoring, correcting or modifying physiological functions". (Most medicinal products in fact qualify on both the "presentation" and "function criteria".)
  In the case of the products you have asked about, the Agency has regularly monitored their status. On the basis of the information currently before it, the Agency considers they do not fall within either limb of the definition of a medicinal product. They are not, therefore, subject to the Marketing Authorisation etc. Regulations.

  Foster Placement (Children) Regulations 1991
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what parliamentary proceedings will be necessary to implement proposed changes to the Foster Placement 110
  (Children) Regulations 1991; and if she will make a statement. [19287]

  Mr. Bowis
  Regulations are subject to negative resolution.

  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what fostering duties in the Foster Placement (Children) Regulations 1991 she proposes to allow local authorities to delegate to profit-making bodies through amendments to those regulations. [19285]

  Mr. Bowis
  The proposed amendments to the Foster Placement (Children) Regulations 1991 will permit social services departments to delegate fostering duties, specified by part II of the Foster Placement (Children) Regulations 1991, to private sector organisations on the same basis as to voluntary organisations.

  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health with whom she proposes to consult in respect of the draft amendments to the Foster Placement (Children) Regulations 1991. [19286]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department of Health issued a consultation document to a wide range of interested authorities, voluntary and independent agencies.

  Psychiatrists
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to ensure that psychiatrists are members of the community teams to help mentally ill people. [19048]

  Mr. Bowis
  It is usual for consultant psychiatrists to be members of community mental health teams and this is a practice which we encourage.

  Leeds Healthcare
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been placed by Leeds Healthcare with private sector health organisations during 1994–95; and at what cost. [19252]

  Mr. Sackville
  This is a matter for Leeds Healthcare. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mrs. Pam Smith, chairman of Leeds Healthcare, for details.

  Mental Health
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when the Audit Commission's concerns about district health authorities having the resources to meet their own unique mental health needs are going to be met; [19046]

  (2) how she will apportion funds for the health and social care of the mentally ill, as recommended by the Audit Commission. [19049]

  Mr. Bowis
  The national weighted capitation formula used to allocate hospital and community health service funds to regional health authorities has recently been revised and modified to include a separate index of factors which affect the need for psychiatric services.

  The greater part of funding for personal social services is allocated to local authorities on the basis of standard spending assessments which indicate the Governments view of the need for particular services in individual local authorities, which then decide how to spend these resources in the light of their individual assessments of local needs and priorities.
  111
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of steps taken in reducing the socio-economic problems for those who are mentally ill in Wales; and what plans she has to implement this policy in England. [19045]

  Mr. Bowis
  The policy for both England and Wales is to provide a range of care appropriate to the needs of the individual. Our guidance for England is set out in the Mental Illness Key Area Handbook, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has for those people suffering from less severe forms of mental illness receiving help in a primary care setting. [19047]

  Mr. Bowis
  In many cases, such illnesses can be dealt with in a primary care setting by a suitably qualified member of the team. We have initiated a programme of action to improve the understanding of mental health issues among primary care staff.

  Mentally Disordered Offenders
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what decisions have been made between herself and the Home Secretary to fund the care of mentally disordered offenders. [19050]

  Mr. Bowis
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department work closely together in developing services for mentally disordered offenders. Funding is determined through the annual public expenditure survey process.

  Housing and Mental Illness
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the desirability of providing affordable housing for the mentally ill; and what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for the Environment on the subject. [19051]

  Mr. Bowis
  The provision of suitable housing plays an important role in providing care for mentally ill people. Housing for those requiring community care is the responsibility of local statutory agencies, which should work closely together to meet local needs.

  To help develop effective inter-agency working, the Department of Health, in partnership with the Department of the Environment, will host four regional seminars in June to consider housing for groups with special needs. The seminars will have mental illness as a linking theme. Ministers from both Departments met in December 1994 to discuss a range of housing and community care issues and will attend the seminars.

  Tuberculosis
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the world campaigns against TB and on the United Kingdom contributions. [19120]

  Mr. Sackville
  The Overseas Development Agency has identified the control of communicable diseases, and particularly mentioned tuberculosis, as one of its priority themes for health and population assistance. During 1994 and 1995, the United Kingdom contributed £625,000 to the World Health Organisation tuberculosis programme and almost £2,500,000 has been paid in grants for tuberculosis-related activities. This includes £175,000 112
  channelled through British non-governmental organisations.

  NHS Prescriptions
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in each of the last five years received help with NHS prescriptions under the low income scheme. [19396]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available. Information on free prescriptions is collected for the numbers of prescribed items dispensed, rather than for the numbers of people to whom the prescriptions are dispensed.

  NHS Sight Tests
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the population was eligible for free NHS eye examinations in each of the last 10 available years. [19002]

  Mr. Malone
  Before April 1989, everybody was eligible. Since that time, when universal eligibility was removed, about 40 per cent, of the population have been eligible.

  Since 1 April 1989, the groups entitled to a national health service sight test have been:

  children under 16

  students under 19 in full-time education

  people on income support or family credit and their partners

  holders of exemption certificate AG2

  the registered blind or partially sighted

  those who need certain complex lenses

  diagnosed diabetics and glaucoma sufferers

  close relatives aged 40 or over of diagnosed glaucoma sufferers

  Since 1 April 1995, people receiving disability working allowance are also eligible to receive free NHS sight tests.

  Pharmaceutical Industry
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her answer of 4 April,Official Report, column 1039, about the pharmaceutical industry, when she expects the report on the contribution of the pharmaceutical industry to the United Kingdom economy will be (a) completed by the Office of Health Economics and (b) submitted to her Department; and what proportion of the cost of this study is being contributed by (i) the United Kingdom pharmaceutical industry and (ii) her Department. [19401]

  Mr. Malone
  The paper has been prepared by the Office of Health Economics in consultation with Government economists, and was discussed by the pharmaceutical industry strategy working group, which includes senior Government officials. The Office of Health Economics will meet all costs, and hope to publish the paper in May.

  Peto Institute
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how the current funding for the British Peto institute was calculated; [19516]

  (2) what proposals she has to offer temporary assistance to the British Peto fund; [19518]

  (3) what assessments she has made of the work of the British Peto institute; [19517]
  113
  (4) how much public funding in the current financial year has been provided to the Peto institute in the west midlands; and if the outreach services provided by the Peto institute in Britain is recognised in its funding. [19515]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department of Health does not currently provide funding to the Foundation for Conductive Education in Birmingham, although funding has been provided in the past. It is open to the foundation to apply for funding under the Departments section 64 scheme, but no application has been received.

  It is also open to the foundation to seek funding from health authorities, local authorities and other public bodies for services provided. The Department for Education funded an assessment of the Foundations work with children by the University of Birmingham, which was published in 1993.

  In September last year, I visited the Peto institute in Budapest to see for myself the work being undertaken. I was also able to discuss this with the Hungarian Minister of Health.

  Psychiatric Disorders
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will list the numbers and proportion of people broken down into age bands admitted to NHS hospitals by psychiatric disorders in each year since 1970 until the most recent date available on a consistent basis. [19519]

  Mr. Bowis
  Information on admissions to national health service hospitals by age group and age-specific rates per 100,000 home population for mental illness in each year since 1970 will be placed in the Library.

  Infertility Treatment
  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what advice West Kent health authority has sought from her Department in respect of the most efficacious provision of infertility diagnosis and treatment; [19531]

  (2) what contacts her Department has had with West Kent health authority in respect of infertility treatment and investigation in the United Kingdom. [19530]

  Mr. Sackville
  The provision of infertility diagnosis and treatment locally is a matter for West Kent health authority. Guidance on infertility services has been provided by the Department of Health. As far as we are aware West Kent health authority has not sought any additional advice from the Department.

  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the efficacy of one infertility treatment against another; [19533]

  (2) what recent assessment her Department has made of the efficacy of provision of infertility treatments and investigation in the United Kingdom. [19532]

  Mr. Sackville
  Advice on the effectiveness of infertility treatments in England is available to health authorities and clinicians in two publications drawn to the attention of the national health service in 1992:

  (a) The effective health care bulletin, Management of Subfertility, published for the NHS Management Executive by a consortium of Leeds and York Universities and the Research Unit of the Royal College of Physicians.

  114

  (b) The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists publication Infertility—Guidelines for Practice.

  Copies of these documents are available in the Library.

  Information relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland and for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which bodies funded by her Department have undertaken studies into the effectiveness of infertility treatment; and on what dates the studies were undertaken. [19480]

  Mr. Sackville
  The effective health care bulletin The Management of Subfertility contains a comprehensive list of references to published research papers, including those concerning the effectiveness of various infertility treatments. The bulletin was published for the national health service executive by a consortium of York and Leeds universities and the research unit of the Royal College of Physicians and was made available to health authorities and clinicians in 1992.

  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what advice Sunderland health authority has sought from her Department in respect of the most efficacious provision of infertility treatment and diagnosis in the last five years; [19479]

  (2) what contacts her Department has had with Sunderland health authority in respect of infertility treatment and investigation in the United Kingdom in the last five years. [19478]

  Mr. Sackville
  The provision of infertility diagnosis and treatment locally is a matter for Sunderland district health authority. Guidance on infertility services has been provided by the Department of Health. As far as we are aware, the health authority has not sought additional advice from the Department.

  Maudsley Hospital
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement concerning the future of the centre for epilepsy at Maudsley hospital. [19473]

  Mr. Bowis
  I was pleased to participate in the launch of the centre for epilepsy in July last year. The centre is established at the Maudsley hospital where it is expected to remain for the foreseeable future.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for each agency and the central Department for which she is responsible(a) the total hours of overtime worked for which payment has been made, (b) the total amount paid in overtime and (c) the total time in days and its monetary equivalent lost through sickness in each of the last three years. [19684]

  Mr. Sackville
  The total hours of overtime worked and the total amount paid in overtime in each of the last three years for the Department of Health, excluding its agencies, is shown in the table. Figures for the number of hours worked in 1992–93 are not available.
  115

  Overtime hours worked

  Overtime cost of hours worked (£)

  1992–93

  —

  1,372,671

  1993–94

  80,764

  1,034,738

  1994–95

  68,939

  795,737

  The total days lost through sickness were:

  1992: 38,938

  1993: 50,382

  The figures for 1994 are not yet available, the sickness absence data are not analysed by cost.

  Asthma
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the total expenditure on general practitioner prescribed anti-asthma medication and preparations, per family health service authority, for the last year for which figures are available; [19430]

  (2) what was the total number of prescriptions for the treatment of asthma, per family health service authority, for the last year for which figures are available; [19509]

  (3) what was the total expenditure on general practitioner prescribed anti-asthma medication and preparations, per drug prescribed, for the last year for which figures are available. [19472]

  Mr. Malone
  The information will be placed in the Library.

  Acute Breathing Difficulties
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of patients receiving hospital treatment for acute breathing difficulties per region, for each month from September 1994 until the last month for which figures are available. [19471]

  Mr. Sackville
  Acute breathing difficulties occur as a symptom of a wide range of medical conditions. Central returns do not include numbers of hospital admissions classified by symptom. Information on hospital admissions for asthma for the 1994–95 financial year is not yet available.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the bleaching of teeth using peroxide-based agents by dental practitioners.
  [19475]

  Mr. Malone
  Many products used by dentists will, given their nature, be subject to specific consumer safety requirements designed to ensure that products on the market are safe and are accompanied by adequate information. Medicinal products, cosmetic products and medical devices are all—subject to certain transitional arrangements in the case of medical devices—covered by such legislation. Within this legal framework, dentists use their clinical judgment in determining appropriate treatment for their patients.

  Hospital Services
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will quantify the substantial revenue savings which she expects to be released from bringing hospital services together following her announcement of 4 April. [19704]
  116
  Mr. Malone
  The revenue savings expected to be released are currently estimated at around £75 million per year.

  Occupational Health
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the occupational health guidelines covering NHS trusts; and if she will make a statement. [19474]

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply I gave him on 5 April, columns 1217–18.

  Ambulances
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice is given to ambulance authorities and trusts on buying British ambulances. [19527]

  Mr. Sackville
  Specification and selection of ambulances is a matter for each individual trust, but it is the suppliers responsibility to ensure the specification requirements are fully met, or to indicate where they are not.

  Primary Care
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the pressure on acute services in the demand for more resources resulting from the increased investments in primary care in London. [19702]

  Mr. Malone
  It is for local health commissions to manage the implementation of change within the available resources; assessing future service requirements and the balance between hospital, primary care and community care in their area. Changes to acute services will be paced over a number of years to ensure continuity of provision as alternative services are built up.

  Residential Care
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her policy on the sale of homes of patients who have been taken into residential care to defray costs incurred; what consideration is given to carers who were long-term residents in such houses; and what assistance is given to carers who find themselves with no alternative accommodation or funds. [19525]

  Mr. Bowis
  In the assessment of charges for residential accommodation, local authorities do not have powers to force the sale of property without first seeking a court order. Under the local authority charging regulations, local authorities are required to ignore the value of property if the residents spouse or a relative who is over 60 or under 16 or ill still lives there. They also have discretion to ignore the value in other circumstances, for example where a long-term carer or elderly companion still occupies the property. This discretion has been highlighted in guidance issued by both the Department of Health and the Scottish Office.

  Mixed Sex Wards
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of hospital wards are of mixed sex; and if she will make a statement. [17983]
  117
  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available.

  NHS and the public
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to publish the information collected from the chairman of health authorities as a result of the letter sent to them and published in her Department's press release of 21 January 1994 entitled, "Is the NHS listening to the public?—Mawhinney asks health authorities for answers"; and if she will make a statement. [18932]

  Mr. Malone
  My right hon. Friend the then Minister for Health announced the results of his letter of 12 January 1994 to chairmen of district health authorities at a national conference for national health staff on 13 April 1994. Copies of the Ministers speech and a good practice booklet, "Involving Local People", which drew on survey findings, were issued to all district health authorities, family health services authorities, NHS trusts and community health councils on 13 May 1994. Copies of both documents are available in the Library.

  Community Care Social Services
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS beds are being blocked by the Isle of Wight community care social services decisions for a period in excess of five days. [18805]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally., My hon. Friend may wish to contact the chairman of the Isle of Wight health authority for details.

  Hospital Developments (Tenders)
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria have been issued to hospital trusts regarding the assessment of bids from groups of companies for development of new hospitals through the private finance initiative. [19694]

  Mr. Sackville
  There is general guidance on the appraisal of proposals and assessment of tenders for hospital developments in the national health service executives capital investment manual and in the NHS estates guidance CONCODE. The specific criteria used for individual schemes are decided locally. Copies of these documents are available in the Library.

  St. Bartholomew's and Guy's Hospitals
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the service to patients provided at present by(a) St. Bartholomew's hospital and (b) Guy's hospital. [19711]

  Mr. Malone
  St. Bartholomew's hospital provides in-patient, out-patient and day-case services in the following specialities:

  Pain Relief

  Dialysis Unit

  General Medicine

  General Surgery

  Haematology Clinical

  Ophthalmology

  Paediatrics

  Renal

  Trauma and Orthopaedic

  Cancer Services

  Endocrinology

  ENT

  118

  GUMS/AIDS/HIV

  Nephrology/Renal

  Oral Maxillo Facial Surgery

  Plastic Surgery

  Specialised Immunology

  Urology

  Cardiac Services

  Gastroenterology

  Dermatology

  Gynaecology

  Neurosciences

  Orthodontics

  Regional Amputee Unit

  Thoracic Medicine

  Over time, the services will be relocated on a single Whitechapel site.

  Guy's hospital currently provides the following in-patient, out-patient and day-case services:

  Accident and Emergency

  Trauma and Orthopaedics

  Paediatrics

  Gynaecology

  Dermatology

  Gastroenterology

  Oral and Maxillo Facial

  Surgery

  Urology

  Paediatric Surgery

  Paediatric

  Renal

  Genetics Centre

  Dental

  General Medicine

  Geriatrics

  Anaesthetics

  ENT

  GUM

  Palliative Care

  Lithotripsy

  Cardiac

  Cancer

  Neurology, including Neurophysiology

  General Surgery

  Intensive Care

  Obstetrics

  Clinical Haematology

  Diabetes and Endocrinology

  Ophthalmology

  Rheumatology

  Neonatology

  Foetal Medicine and Cardiology

  Plastic Surgery

  Over time, the main site for acute specialist services will be at St. Thomas hospital with Guy's developing as a local hospital and academic centre.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds, on average, there are at Guys hospital; and what information she has on the likely number of in-patients beds remaining at Guys hospital after the changes announced on 4 April. [19708]

  Mr. Malone
  There are currently 702 beds in use at Guy's hospital. By 1998–99, after the changes announced on 4 April, there will be 112 in-patient beds on the Guy's site dedicated to planned surgery for patients. As proposed in the recent public consultation exercise, changes at Guy's will take place over a period of time.
  119
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of whether the St. Bartholomew's hospital site is able to house a private hospital. [19709]

  Mr. Malone
  A project team, led by Sir Ronald Grierson, has been set up to look at options for the future use of the St. Bartholomew's site. The Royal Hospitals trust has also been in discussion with the city initiative on possible uses of the site for health-related services.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has for the future of the St. Bartholomew's site once NHS services have terminated there. [19707]

  Mr. Malone
  A project team has been set up to look at practical options for the future use of the St. Bartholomew's site. This will be chaired by Sir Ronald Grierson and will include a number of distinguished academics and clinicians.

  London Chest Hospital
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the service provided by the London Chest hospital. [18719]

  Mr. Malone
  The London Chest hospital provides cardio thoracic surgical and medical services, primarily for the residents of North Thames regional health authority. Services will transfer over time to the Royal London hospital site at Whitechapel.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she has given to the Royal London Hospital trust in relation to the closure of cardiothoracic services at St. Bartholomew's and the London Chest hospital prior to the development of the new unit on the Royal London hospital site. [19705]

  Mr. Malone
  The relocation of cardiothoracic services from St. Bartholomew's and the London Chest hospitals forms part of the Royal Hospitals trust's proposals to concentrate acute services on a single site at Whitechapel. The trust is required to meet all patients charter standards and make full and adequate provision for all its services which may need to be relocated, either permanently or temporarily, whilst building work is undertaken.

  No services will transfer or close until adequate alternative facilities are in place.

  London Hospitals
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 4 April,Official Report, columns 1043–45, relating to changes to London hospitals, when she received the final documents from the four comprehensive consultation exercises carried out by the district health authorities. [19723]

  Mr. Malone
  The conclusions of the consideration by South Thames regional health authority were received on 16 March 1995 and the conclusions of the consideration by North Thames regional health authority were received on 23 March 1995.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what weight was put on the opinion of local people in making the decision about changes to London hospitals. [19717]

  Mr. Malone
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State took full account of all comments made during the consultation processes in reaching her decision.
  120
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which London hospitals closed in the last five years; and which are due to close in the next 10 years. [18716]

  Mr. Malone
  The Department does not routinely collect information on hospital closures or proposals for closure. Information has been held centrally, since 1992, on cases where proposals to change the use of health service facilities are referred to Ministers for decision following objections from a community health council. A list of such closures and changes of use for the period January 1992 to March 1995 will be placed in the Library.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates she has made of the changes to the London hospitals being a consequence of the internal market. [19710]

  Mr. Malone
  The changes being made to health services in London address many of the issues identified in the Tomlinson report on London's health services, medical education and research, and take forward the Government's strategy set out in "Making London Better". They are intended to improve health care in London by concentrating specialist services in fewer, better, centres of excellence, providing modern acute hospitals closer to major centres of population and releasing resources for investment in primary and community health services, while preserving and enhancing London's reputation for treatment, teaching and research.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will break down by hospital the £400 million capital investment announced for London hospitals; and from which budget it will come. [19713]

  Mr. Malone
  Latest estimates of planned gross capital investment are as follows:

  £ million

  Royal Hospitals NHS Trust

  239

  Guy's/St. Thomas' NHS Trust

  90

  Greenwich Healthcare NHS Trust

  35

  Wellhouse NHS Trust

  68

  Total

  432

  These estimates may be subject to revision as more detailed plans are prepared. Exchequer capital funding for "Making London Better" projects is available from the national health service capital allocation. Funding arrangements for individual projects, including the exploration of private finance, will be considered as part of detailed implementation of proposals.

  Primary Care, London
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the recommendations of the Acheson report into primary care services in London in the early 1980s which were not carried out. [18721]

  Mr. Malone
  The individual recommendations of the Acheson report are no longer relevant as the 1990 general practitioner contract and the national health service reforms have changed the framework within which primary care services are provided. However, these changes did take full account of the Acheson report, and the further development of services in the London initiative zone following the Tomlinson report have
  121
  continued the improvement of primary care services in London.

  Brook and Edgware Hospitals
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the service to patients provided by(a) the Brook hospital and (b) Edgware hospital. [19712]

  Mr. Malone
  The Brook hospital currently provides:

  General Medicine

  Cardiac

  General Surgery

  Neurosciences

  Geriatric Medicine

  Minor injuries unit

  Out-patient services supported by on site diagnostic, X-ray, pathology, nuclear medicine, occupational therapy and physiotherapy services.

  Services provided at the Brook hospital will transfer to the new hospital at Greenwich, the Queen Elizabeth Military hospital, with tertiary cardiac and neurosciences services transferring to the Guy's and St. Thomas' trust and King's Healthcare trust.

  Edgware Hospital currently provides the following services:

  General Surgery

  ENT

  Plastic Surgery

  General Medicine

  Haematology

  Neurology

  Obstetrics

  Urology

  Ophthalmology

  Thoracic Surgery

  Dermatology

  Geriatric Medicine

  Clinical Oncology

  Gynaecology

  Orthopaedics

  Oral Surgery

  Accident and Emergency

  Rheumatology

  Anaesthetics

  Paediatrics

  Main acute services will be relocated to Barnet General hospital and Northwick Park hospital.

  Services currently provided at the Brook and Edgware hospitals will not transfer or close until adequate alternative facilities are in place.

  London Hospitals (Research)
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was each London hospital's research rating in each of the last five years. [18720]

  Mr. Malone
  The research of London hospitals is not subject to an annual rating review. The last review which concerned the R and D of any of the London hospitals was the special health authorities research review. The review report was published in July 1993 and a copy is in the Library. The UK higher education funding councils undertake reviews of higher education institutions, including medical schools in the University of London, every four years. Research ratings are used to determine 122
  the allocation of research grants. The next research assessment exercise is to be held in 1996.

  London Ambulance Service
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria she will use for deciding whether or not the London Ambulance Service is fully equipped to provide an improved service for Londoners in relation to the announcement on 4 April on changes to health services in London. [18718]

  Mr. Sackville
  The London Ambulance Service has recently achieved better response times and considerable improvements have been made to its vehicle fleet and equipment, including 180 new emergency ambulances. The need for further developments and improvements to accommodate the decisions made on changes to London's health services have been identified, and changes planned to ensure a satisfactory standard of service to patients.

  Royal London Hospitals Trust
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the cost of concentrating acute and specialist services over time at the Royal London hospital in capital terms; and what is the expected revenue saving from this capital investment. [19714]

  Mr. Malone
  The estimated net cost of rationalising the services of the Royal London Hospitals national health service trust at the Royal London hospital is £173 million, once land sales are taken into account; £35 million of this cost is backlog maintenance. In addition, the completed development is expected to produce NHS revenue savings of £30 million per annum.

  Deprivation Scores
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average deprivation score for the areas of each hospital listed as due to change in London in the announcement of 4 April. [18715]

  Mr. Malone
  The following figures for the relevant district health authorities are calculated using the same method as the Department of the Environment's ward index of local conditions.

  A positive score shows relatively high levels of deprivation, while a negative score shows relatively low levels.

  District Health Authority (DHA)

  DOE index

  Barnet

  -2.065

  Brent and Harrow

  13.530

  East London and the City

  28.203

  Bexley and Greenwich

  13.289

  South East London

  27.250

  Source:

  Public Health Common Data Set 1994

  Correspondence
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the correspondence she has received
  123
  on her changes to London's hospitals' services was in favour of them. [18722]

  Mr. Malone
  Figures are not available.

  Nursing Numbers
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses were employed by the NHS and how many employed by the private sector in each of the last four years(a) in total, (b) by region and (c) by district health authority. [13371]

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 16 March 1995]: Available information on whole-time equivalent numbers of nursing and midwifery staff in the national health service is shown in the attached table. The table includes nursing and midwifery staff directly employed by the NHS in hospital and community health services, those working in the general medical services who are employed by general practitioners, and England totals for numbers of Project 2000 students.

  Students undertaking traditional forms of training are included in the hospital and community health service figures shown.

  Numbers of nursing and midwifery staff by district health authorities can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The publication "Private hospitals, homes and clinics registered under Section 23 of the Registered Homes Act 1984" contains whole-time equivalent numbers of staff in post for non-NHS establishments in England, by region and by district health authority. The latest data available relate to 1993–94, and copies of this year and the preceding three years are available in the Library.

  Nursing and midwifery staff in the NHS by region as at 30 September 1990–1993 (including Project 2000 students in England totals and excluding agency)

  Whole-time Equivalents

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  England

  Total HCHS, GMS and Project 2000

  406,100

  411,480

  406,210

  399,060

  HCHS Nurses and Midwives

  395,360

  392,200

  378,790

  361,460

  GMS Practice Nurses

  7,740

  8,780

  9,120

  9,600

  Project 2000 Students

  3,000

  10,500

  18,300

  28,000

  Northern

  Total HCHS and GMS

  27,730

  27,770

  25,670

  25,130

  HCHS Nurses and Midwives

  27,310

  27,270

  25,120

  24,580

  GMS Practice Nurses

  430

  500

  550

  550

  Yorkshire

  Total HCHS and GMS

  30,590

  30,070

  28,210

  27,890

  HCHS Nurses and Midwives

  30,020

  29,460

  27,560

  27,140

  GMS Practice Nurses

  570

  610

  650

  750

  Trent

  Total HCHS and GMS

  38,980

  38,800

  36,720

  36,540

  HCHS Nurses and Midwives

  38,210

  37,950

  35,790

  35,580

  GMS Practice Nurses

  770

  850

  930

  960

  East Anglia

  Total HCHS and GMS

  16,580

  16,270

  15,900

  15,360

  124

  Nursing and midwifery staff in the NHS by region as at 30 September 1990–1993 (including Project 2000 students in England totals and excluding agency)

  Whole-time Equivalents

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  HCHS Nurses and Midwives

  16,140

  15,730

  15,390

  14,810

  GMS Practice Nurses

  440

  550

  510

  550

  North West Thames

  Total HCHS and GMS

  27,100

  27,160

  25,470

  22,300

  HCHS Nurses and Midwives

  26,480

  26,480

  24,770

  21,550

  GMS Practice Nurses

  610

  680

  700

  750

  North East Thames

  Total HCHS and GMS

  33,510

  33,480

  31,950

  29,040

  HCHS Nurses and Midwives

  32,980

  32,750

  31,250

  28,280

  GMS Practice Nurses

  540

  730

  700

  760

  South East Thames

  Total HCHS and GMS

  29,790

  28,910

  29,220

  24,990

  HCHS Nurses and Midwives

  29,110

  28,280

  29,570

  24,250

  GMS Practice Nurses

  660

  630

  650

  740

  South West Thames

  Total HCHS and GMS

  22,610

  22,140

  22,930

  21,910

  HCHS Nurses and Midwives

  22,120

  21,590

  22,380

  21,350

  GMS Practice Nurses

  490

  550

  560

  560

  Wessex

  Total HCHS and GMS

  24,230

  24,240

  22,760

  23,610

  HCHS Nurses and Midwives

  23,690

  23,570

  22,170

  23,000

  GMS Practice Nurses

  530

  680

  590

  610

  Oxford

  Total HCHS and GMS

  17,530

  17,310

  16,900

  17,420

  HCHS Nurses and Midwives

  17,080

  16,820

  16,370

  16,850

  GMS Practice Nurses

  450

  490

  540

  580

  South Western

  Total HCHS and GMS

  28,030

  27,730

  26,920

  26,740

  HCHS Nurses and Midwives

  27,340

  27,030

  26,160

  26,000

  GMS Practice Nurses

  680

  710

  760

  740

  West Midlands

  Total HCHS and GMS

  42,830

  42,120

  42,230

  40,230

  HCHS Nurses and Midwives

  42,070

  41,300

  41,320

  39,210

  GMS Practice Nurses

  750

  830

  910

  1,020

  Mersey

  Total HCHS and GMS

  21,420

  20,450

  19,830

  18,560

  HCHS Nurses and Midwives

  21,090

  20,100

  19,390

  18,170

  GMS Practice Nurses

  330

  340

  440

  390

  North Western

  Total HCHS and GMS

  37,480

  37,120

  35,930

  34,480

  HCHS Nurses and Midwives

  36,990

  36,480

  35,290

  33,830

  GMS Practice Nurses

  490

  640

  640

  650

  SHAs and Others

  Total HCHS and GMS

  4,730

  7,400

  7,260

  6,840

  125

  Nursing and midwifery staff in the NHS by region as at 30 September 1990–1993 (including Project 2000 students in England totals and excluding agency)

  Whole-time Equivalents

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  HCHS Nurses and Midwives

  4,730

  7,400

  7,260

  6,840

  GMS Practice Nurses

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Source:

  HCHS Nursing and Midwifery—PD(STATS) B Non-Medical Workforce Census.

  GMS Practice Nurses—PD(STATS) C GMP Census.

  Project 2000 Students—English National Board for Nursing Midwifery and Health Visiting.

  Notes:

  1. The HCHS and GMS figures are rounded to the nearest ten.

  2. The HCHS Nursing and midwifery figures include qualified, unqualified, traditional learners, others and bank staff. Agency nursing and midwifery are excluded.

  3. Practice nurses are employed by general practitioners not directly by the NHS.

  4. Project 2000 students have been included in the England totals. Project 2000 students are supernumerary to the workforce. They receive bursaries and are not employed by the NHS. Project 2000 students undertake 1,000 hours of rostered service as part of their course.

  5. The figures given for Project 2000 students are estimated numbers (not wtes) rounded to the nearest hundred and may include some part-time students.

  6. '—' denotes no staff.

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

  NHS Staff Suicides
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of suicides by(a) female NHS staff and (b) male NHS staff, in each professional group, in each year since 1990. [17708]

  Mr. Bowis
  [holding answer 5 April 1995]: Information is not available in the form requested.

DEFENCE

  Estimates
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to publish the 1995 "Statement on the Defence Estimates". [18907]

  Mr. Soames
  On current plans, the "Statement on the Defence Estimates" 1995 should be published on Wednesday 3 May. This would be followed by a press briefing and publication of a press notice. Copies will also be placed in the Library of the House.

  Land Sales
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 8 March,Official Report, column 257, if he will list the capital receipts for each of the last 10 years from the sale of land by his Department. [18906]

  Mr. Soames
  Capital receipts generated by the sale of my Department's land over the last ten financial years are as follows:

  1984–85: £27.7 million

  1985–86: £60.2 million

  126

  1986–87: £75.6 million

  1987–88: £77.8 million

  1988–89: £149.6 million

  1989–90: £74 million

  1990–91: £81.6 million

  1991–92: 102.2 million

  1992–93: £68 million

  1993–94: £70.7 million

  Final figures for 1994–95 are not yet available, but receipts are expected to be in the region of £65 million.

  Redundant Military Sites
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's involvement in environmental clean-up operations; how many operations are currently under way; and how much money is spent each year on such operations. [18846]

  Mr. Freeman
  Decontamination of MOD land is undertaken where there is a significant risk to health and safety or the environment, or where land is being sold. In the latter case, my right hon. Friend the then Minister of State for the Armed Forces set out the position in answer to a question from the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Ainger) on 15 July 1994,Official Report, column 818. Information on the total number of remediation/decontamination programmes currently under way at individual MOD sites and their associated costs is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Details of sites in disposal with identified contamination problems are contained in the House of Commons Defence Committee's report on the defence estate, Vol. II, page 72, published on 15 December 1994.

  Green Policy
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy concerning environmental matters; if he will specify what actions his Department are pursuing to safeguard the environment; how much money his Department spent in each of the last 10 years on environmental protection and maintenance; and if he will make a statement. [18844]

  Mr. Freeman
  My Department's policy is to comply with the letter and spirit of UK environmental legislation and international conventions to which the UK is a signatory, and Crown or defence immunities are invoked only where necessary for national security. I set out current environmental action in my answer to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms Ruddock),Official Report, column 1152, on 5 April 1995.

  Environmental protection measures are an integral part of many defence activities. As a consequence, the discrete costs involved cannot be separately identified. Details of my Department's policy and activities on environmental matters are readily available in the "Statement on Defence Estimates".

  Climatic Change Data
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department's policy to use RN submarines to collect climatic change data from beneath the Arctic ice cap costs each year. [18845]

  Mr. Soames
  The Ministry of Defence does not specifically fund the collection of climatic change data
  127
  by Royal Navy submarines. As part of my Department's commitment to the environment, however, data obtained from Royal Navy submarine deployments to the Arctic have been made available to the Scott Polar Research Institute.

  Sport
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what priority is given to sport in the armed forces; and what resources are committed to its promotion. [17558]

  Mr. Soames
  All three services strongly encourage their personnel to participate in sport; it is widely recognised that sport encourages physical fitness and contributes to military effectiveness by developing personal qualities such as courage, resilience, stamina, co-ordination, and team spirit. Sport is also enjoyable and it therefore makes a significant contribution to morale and esprit de corps, and is an important retention and recruitment factor.

  Resources for sport within the armed forces derive from various sources, including both public and non-public funding, and assistance from some of the major sporting associations; it is not, therefore, possible to quantify the resources, in terms of funding or manpower, devoted to the promotion of sport within the service environment.

  Adventure Training
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what priority is given to adventure training in the armed forces; and what resources are committed to its promotion. [17559]

  Mr. Soames
  The armed forces have long recognised the great value of adventurous training as a medium for developing qualities such as fitness, self reliance, initiative and endurance. All the services are committed to adventurous training as an integral part of personal and unit training. This was recognised by the House of Commons Defence Committee report in October last year on military training, ninth report.

  Full details of the resources committed to adventurous training, much of which is conducted at unit level, could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, as quoted in the HCDC report cited £9.5 million was spent on operating costs for adventurous training centres in the financial year 1993–94, the last period for which this information is available, with 375 staff being employed on adventurous training at these centres.

  Ships
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated present value of HMS Kent, HMS Jupiter and HMS Hermione; and what amounts have been spent on(a) maintenance and (b) refits of each ship in the last 10 years. [18849]

  Mr. Soames
  While my Department is attempting to sell these vessels any estimate of their value remains commercially confidential. Approximate known costs of major maintenance and refits carried out over the last 10 years are set out. Details of routine and operational maintenance and the costs of refit and maintenance work carried out before the royal dockyards passed into commercial management in April 1987 are no longer available.
  128

  Vessel

  Major maintenance

  Refits

  HMS Kent

  £240,000

  None in the period

  HMS Jupiter

  £13,000,000

  £8,000,000

  HMS Hermione

  1£4,000,000

  £8,000,000

  Note:

  1 Excludes cost of a maintenance period undertaken in 1985 which is not available.

  Public Interest Immunity Certificates
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many public interest immunity certificates were signed by himself or Ministers in his Department between April 1992 and July 1994; and if he will state for each certificate the date it was signed and the Minister responsible. [19225]

  Mr. Freeman
  I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 10 March 1994,Official Report, column 399, for the period April 1992 to July 1994.

  Rules and Regulations
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many rules and regulations he repealed in the first three months of 1995; and how many new rules and regulations were introduced in that period by way of statutory instruments, motions or orders. [19375]

  Mr. Freeman
  The MOD is not a regulator of business and did not repeal or introduce any rules or regulations with a significant impact on business in the first three months of 1995.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what requirements there are for officials in his Department to introduce a compliance cost assessment for all rules and regulations coming before him and his Ministers; and how many compliance cost assessments have been issued in his Department in the first three months of this year. [19343]

  Mr. Freeman
  The permanent secretary has personal responsibility for overseeing the preparation of compliance cost assessments. Officials are required to follow the Department of Trade and Industry's advice contained in its booklet "Checking the Cost to Business A Guide to Compliance Cost Assessment" published in 1992. On 30 March 1995, the MOD published draft proposals for new reserve forces legislation. The document explained the need for a compliance cost assessment, described the costs that will need to be estimated and invited employers willing to help with this work to come forward. No completed CCAs were issued by MOD in the first three months of 1995.

  Gifts
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 3 April,Official Report, column 970, on how many occasions since 1979 any Minister or relative of a Minister has accepted any financial gift, payment or commission associated with proposed or completed sales of arms to overseas Governments. [19476]

  Mr. Freeman
  I am not aware of any such financial gift, payment or commission contrary to the procedures set down for Ministers and their families.

  Western European Armaments Group
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what effect membership of the Western European Armaments Group will have on the costs of European procurement collaborations. [17541]

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 3 April 1995]: The title of the Western European Armaments Group was adopted following the transfer of the functions of the former Independent European Programme Group to the WEU in
  130
  December 1992. The group is the main forum for European co-operation in research, development and production of defence equipment and the United Kingdom has been a member since its establishment in 1976. The United Kingdom shares with other European nations constraints on our defence budget. We must constantly seek value for money in all aspects of our work and, in the area of equipment procurement, we have recognised for many years that co-operation with our European neighbours can be a most effective method by which we can achieve this aim.

  Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Negotiations
  Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Negotiations
  Council of Europe and WEU: UK Delegation Activities
  Council of Europe and WEU: UK Delegation Activities
  European Court of Human Rights: Cases Pending
  European Court of Human Rights: Cases Pending
  European Court of Human Rights: Findings of Convention Breaches
  European Court of Human Rights: Findings of Convention Breaches
  Turkey: Anglo/German Consultation
  Turkey: Anglo/German Consultation
  Public Sector: Trades Union Status
  Public Sector: Trades Union Status
  Lloyd's: Solvency Assessment
  Lloyd's: Solvency Assessment
  Irish Box: Controlling Jurisdictions
  Irish Box: Controlling Jurisdictions
  Israel: Projected Naval Exercises
  Israel: Projected Naval Exercises
  US Sixth Fleet: Port Arrangements
  US Sixth Fleet: Port Arrangements
  Dead Bodies: Responsibility for Disposal
  Dead Bodies: Responsibility for Disposal
  Turkish Nationals: Asylum Applications
  Turkish Nationals: Asylum Applications
  Dangerous Dogs Act 1991: Police Powers
  Dangerous Dogs Act 1991: Police Powers