Written Answers of 26 April 1995

TREASURY

  Adult Placement Carers
  Mr. Hinchcliffe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy in respect of income tax contributions by adult placement carers. [21041]

  Sir George Young
  Income received by adult placement carers is subject to the normal taxation rules, which are generally those applicable to the self-employed. Carers are liable to income tax on any profits from caring to the extent that income received exceeds allowable expenditure incurred, and any general income tax allowances available to set against the net income. Relief may also be available under the rent-a-room scheme. Within these rules, it is the Inland Revenue's policy to treat carers sympathetically and, as with other very small businesses, to establish any profits with the minimum of fuss.

  National Insurance Numbers
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the Data Protection Registrar an undertaking that the national insurance number will not be used for purposes unconnected with the tax and benefits system; and if he will make a statement. [20037]

  Sir George Young
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of Social Security on 25 April. The policy of the Inland Revenue is in accordance with that of the Department of Social Security.

  Smuggling
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the scale of value of diamond smuggling into the United Kingdom; and how many Customs and Excise staff are involved in its prevention; and what are the corresponding estimated figures for tobacco, alcohol and drugs. [19529]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Information on the value of diamonds seized is not immediately available and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

  Information on the value of drugs prevented from entering the United Kingdom and the number of seizures made is contained in the Customs and Excise annual

  Debt written off and debt injected prior to privatisation

  Industry

  Debt written off Year

  £ million

  Debt injected Type of debt

  Year

  £ million

  British Steel

  1980–81

  509.3

  National Loans Fund

  —

  —

  British Aerospace

  1980–81

  60.0

  Public Dividend Capital

  —

  —

  National Freight Corporation1

  1980–81

  100.0

  National Loans Fund

  —

  —

  British Airways

  1980–81

  160.0

  Public Dividend Capital

  —

  —

  526
  report. Information for 1993–94 is that drugs to the value of £1,979 million were prevented from entering. A total of 8,510 seizures were made.

  For single market excise-related offences the number and value of seizures of tobacco and alcohol products for the year to December 1994 are as follows:

  Number of seizures

  Value (revenue) £

  Tobacco

  1,850

  3,195,353

  Alcohol

  898

  1,832,879

  Customs staff employed at ports and airports are responsible for preventing the illegal importation of a wide range of prohibited and restricted goods and for the collection of revenue. They are not assigned to the prevention of smuggling of particular goods.

  Income tax
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the total cost in a full year of(a) an increase in the lower rate band of income tax to £3,500, (b) an increase in the basic rate band of income tax to £30,000 and (c) a reduction in the basic rate of income tax to 24 per cent.

  Sir George Young
  Estimates are as follows:

  1995–961 Full year revenue cost £ million

  (a) Increase in the lower rate band from £3,200 to £3,500

  310

  (b) Increase in the basic rate limit from £24,300 to £30,000

  1,670

  (c) Reduction in the basic rate of income tax to 24 per cent.

  1,900

  1 The figures include consequential effects on the yield of capital gains tax. Each option has been costed separately; the combined cost of the three options may be different from the sum of the figures for the individual options.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the debts written off by the Government for each industry privatised since 1979 and the total. [19972]

  Sir George Young
  It is common practice for capital restructuring to be undertaken where necessary before privatisation. For some privatisations debt is written off; for others debt is injected. The table shows the debt written off—and the type of debt concerned—and debt injected for each company privatised where either occurred. Debts shown as written off include all debt written off since 1979 in companies subsequently privatised. Receipts from privatisation have amounted to £60 billion over the past 15 years.
  527

  Debt written off and debt injected prior to privatisation

  Industry

  Debt written off Year

  £ million

  Debt injected Type of debt

  Year

  £ million

  British Transport Docks Board2

  1982–83

  81.3

  National Loans Fund

  1982–83

  25

  British Telecommunications

  1984–85

  2,789.9

  National Loans Fund

  1984–85

  3,500

  British Gas

  —

  —

  —

  1986–87

  2,500

  BAA

  1986–87

  43.5

  National Loans Fund

  —

  —

  British Steel

  1988–89

  500.0

  Public Dividend Capital

  —

  —

  British Steel

  1988–89

  3,480.0

  Borrowing under Iron and Steel Act 1982

  —

  —

  Harland and Wolff

  1989–90

  422.5

  Assistance under Aircraft & Shipbuilding Industries (Northern Ireland) Order 1979

  —

  —

  Short Brothers

  1989–90

  390.0

  Loan by DED

  —

  —

  Water companies

  1989–90

  4,973.3

  National Loans Fund

  1989–90

  72.9

  Water companies

  1989–90

  55.0

  Public Works Loan Board

  —

  —

  Electricity (England and Wales)

  —

  —

  —

  1990–91

  3,583

  Electricity (Scotland)3

  1991–92

  1,043.6

  National Loans Fund

  1991–92

  625.9

  NTL

  —

  —

  —

  1991–92

  22

  Northern Ireland Electricity

  —

  —

  —

  1993–94

  70.3

  Belfast Airport

  —

  —

  —

  1994–95

  15.2

  British Coal

  1994–95

  1,633.4

  Voted Loans

  —

  —

  Total

  —

  16,241.8

  —

  —

  10,414.3

  Notes:

  1 Privatised as National Freight Consortium (now NFC).

  2 Privatised as Associated British Ports Holdings.

  3 Prior to privatisation, National Loans Fund Debt due to the South of Scotland Electricity Board nuclear programme of £1,368.4 million was transferred to Scottish Nuclear Ltd. and subsequently written off.

  Agencies
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the number and location of Central Statistical Office, Paymaster and Royal Mint offices closed and the number of jobs lost or transferred as a result of agency work transferring from Scotland to the rest of the United Kingdom over the past five years; and if he will list the number and location of the offices opened and jobs gained in Scotland as the result of agency work transferring to Scotland from the rest of the United Kingdom over the same period. [19964]

  Mr. Nelson
  There have been no offices opened or closed in Scotland by the Central Statistical Office, Paymaster or Royal Mint in the last five years.

  Beer
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of lowering the excise duty on beer to the level obtaining in France and Germany. [20976]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Cutting United Kingdom beer rates to French or German levels would reduce revenue by about £2 billion.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish(a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) the minutes of meetings, (d) the agendas of meetings and (e) registers of members' interests; and whether this in each case is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary; [20507]

  (2) if he will list the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department which are subject to (a) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (b) scrutiny by the Audit Commission, (c) scrutiny by the
  528
  National Audit Office, (d) statutory provisions for open government, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charter. [20667]

  (3) which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have (a) a statutory requirement to admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings and (b) a statutory requirement to hold open meetings for the public. [20877]

  Mr. Nelson
  There are no executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Chancellor's departments.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 25 November 1994,Official Report, column 463, if he will provide equivalent figures for 1993–94 on top rate taxpayers. [20476]

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 24 April 1995]: Currently available data were given in my reply of 25 November 1994.

  House Buyers
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the additional cost which house buyers will have to meet this year as the result of the interest rate rises, the cut in MIRAS and the costs of private insurance to cover the withdrawal of income support. [17920]

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 19 April 1995]: Housing costs have fallen substantially in recent years. For the average existing homeowner, even after taking into account the recent interest rate rises and the reduction in MIRAS, housing costs will still be over £1,550 per annum lower than in late 1990.

  The combined effect of the recent increase in interest rates and the reduction of MIRAS from 20 to 15 per cent.

  529
  will be to increase housing costs for the average existing home owner by about £270 per annum.

  Without knowing what proportion of house buyers will insure themselves following the changes in income support, it is impossible to estimate what, if any, additional costs house buyers will incur.

PRIME MINISTER

  Kashmir
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Prime Minister what dicussions he proposes to hold with the Prime Minister of India as to what action India will be taking on the future of direct rule in the indian occupied area of Kashmir from 18 July; and if he will make a statement. [21101]

  The Prime Minister
  I have no plans to discuss the question of President's rule in Kashmir with the Indian Prime Minister. Any decision to extend President's rule in Kashmir after 17 July is for the Indian Government.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Public Bodies
  Dr Wright
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have(a) a statutory requirement to admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings and (b) a statutory requirement to hold open meetings for the public. [20884]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor's Department sponsors two such bodies: the Legal Aid Board and the Authorised Conveyancing Practitioners Board. However, the latter has been inactive since March 1992 when the Lord Chancellor announced his decision to postpone implementation of the authorised practioners scheme.

  The Legal Aid Board has no statutory requirement to admit members of the public to meetings or to hold open meetings.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what action he proposes to take in the light of the responses to the consultation paper, "Legal Aid for the Apparently Wealthy". [21310]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Fifty responses to the consultation paper were received. The Lord Chancellor and I are grateful to all these who expressed views. As a result of the consultation exercise, the Lord Chancellor is planning to take the following action:

  (1) The Lord Chancellor intends that a special investigations unit should be established to handle means assessments in both civil and criminal cases where the applicant's financial circumstances are unusually complex. The Lord Chancellor has invited the Legal Aid Board to advise him on the feasibility of establishing such a unit, and on the practical arrangements necessary to establish and run it.

  530

  (2) The Lord Chancellor intends to amend the legal aid regulations to provide those assessing the means of applicants for legal aid with a discretionary power to include in the means assessment the assets of friends, relatives and children where these appear to be providing, a significant material advantage to the applicant.

  (3) The Lord Chancellor intends to examine further the practical implications of allowing the trial judge in criminal cases to release details of the statement of means of an applicant for legal aid in specified circumstances.

  (4) The Lord Chancellor intends to take powers to require applicants for legal aid to transfer ownership of any assets that they fail to declare in their application to the legal aid authorities so that the money disbursed in legal aid can be recovered from those assets.

  (5) The Lord Chancellor intends to amend the legal aid regulations to provide that there shall be a limit of £100,000 on the amount of equity value in a house that is ignored in the legal aid means assessment. He also intends to limit the maximum amount of mortgage that can be offset against the equity value of a house to £100,000, and to limit the amount of mortgage repayment allowable against income to the amount due on a £100,000 mortgage.

  The Lord Chancellor was persuaded by the weight of the responses that the other proposals in the consultation paper should not be pursued.

  The overwhelming weight of the responses supported the view expressed in the consultation paper that it would not be right to impose nationality restrictions on the availability of either criminal or civil legal aid. The Lord Chancellor therefore proposes to make no change in the present arrangements on this point. Assets held abroad by those applying for legal aid in this country will continue to be taken into account in the means assessment process.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have(a) a statutory requirement to admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings and (b) a statutory requirement to hold open meetings for the public. [20871]

  Mr. Horam
  None.

ENVIRONMENT

  Derelict Land Grant
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was paid by way of derelict land grant to the Corby district borough council in each year since 1979. [20269]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The amount of derelict land grant paid to Corby district council since 1979 is as follows:

  Year

  Grant Paid (£m)

  1979–80

  nil

  1980–81

  nil

  1981–82

  1,260,937

  531

  Year

  Grant Paid (£m)

  1982–83

  1,241,666

  1983–84

  2,906,929

  1984–85

  1,818,038

  1985–86

  3,667,586

  1986–87

  1,287,455

  1987–88

  3,817,553

  1988–89

  3,529,020

  1989–90

  2,866,205

  1990–91

  2,486,167

  1991–92

  2,730,477

  1992–93

  3,819,479

  1993–94

  1,873,663

  1994–95

  2,487,319

  Total

  35,792,494

  Since 1 April 1994 payments of derelict land grant have been made by English Partnerships on behalf of the Secretary of State.

  Dry Stone Walls
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the length of dry stone walls that(a) have collapsed and (b) are in need of substantial repair (i) in the national parks and (ii) elsewhere in England and Wales. [20397]

  Mr. Atkins
  The Secretary of State commissioned a comprehensive survey of countryside features in 1990—the countryside survey 1990. The survey included the length and condition of dry stone walls in Great Britain. The main results of the survey were published by the Department in 1993. There are an estimated 107,000 km of stone walls in England and Wales. This total includes walls which are derelict or collapsed. No further breakdown of the results, by condition of walls or designated areas, is currently available.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his statement to the House on 21 March,Official Report, column 146, when he expects election to the new unitary authority of Bournemouth to take place; and what will be the period of service of those elected. [20819]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Subject to Parliament approving the relevant order, the existing authority for Bournemouth will continue but with unitary powers from 1 April 1997. There will be elections on 2 May 1996 to elect a council with a fresh mandate; those elected will serve for three years until May 1999 when the normal four-year cycle will resume.

  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many county councils there are in England; and how many he proposes to abolish in his reorganisation of local government structures. [20795]

  Mr. Curry
  [holding answer 25 April 1995]: There are at present 39 county councils in England. We have accepted the Local Government Commission's recommendations for four of these to be abolished—the county councils of Avon, Berkshire, Cleveland and Humberside.

  Secondary Liquid Fuel
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the periods of the trials which have been carried out at Barrington cement works into the burning of secondary liquid fuel; what was the effect, during the trials, on the levels of dioxin and particulate matter which were permitted whilst the cement kilns were burning secondary liquid fuel; what criteria were used to determine whether future trials will be permitted; and what is the percentage of dioxin in the secondary liquid fuel and the percentage of dioxin in the emissions. [20072]

  Mr. Atkins
  The trials that have been carried out are as follows:

  Trial 1: Secondary Liquid Fuel (SLF) burnt from 9/11/93 to 22/12/93.

  Trial 2: SLF burnt 1/3/94–31/5/94 and 1/7/94–31/8/94.

  Trial 3: SLF burnt 26/9/94–16/12/94.

  Trial 4: Started 24/1/95, ongoing.

  The effect of burning SLF on the levels of dioxins and particulates was insignificant. Dioxins were below the limits set for chemical waste incinerators, and particulates were below the level set in the authorisation.

  The criteria used to determine whether further trials would be permitted were based on a comparison of the emissions and their environmental effect and on the conditions set out in my written reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Duncan) on 23 June 1994, Official Report, columns 259–60. The operator was required to demonstrate that burning of SLF will not result in a net adverse effect on the environment.

  The level of dioxins in the secondary liquid fuel is below the limit of detection. The amount of dioxins as a percentage of exhaust gas weight is approximately 5 x 10-11.

  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether secondary liquid fuel is classified as waste by the European Union; [20073]

  (2) what legal action is outstanding by the European Union against the United Kingdom in respect of the classification of secondary liquid fuel; [20074]

  (3) which commercial companies producing waste allow their waste to be blended into fuels. [20075]

  Mr. Atkins
  The definition of waste in article 1(a) of Council directive 75/442/EEC, as amended by Council directive 91/156/EEC, has been transposed into national legislation in the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994. Whether or not a substance is waste within the meaning of article 1(a) depends on the facts of each case; and interpretation of the law is a matter for the courts. Guidance on the definition of waste is provided in annexe 2 to DOE circular 11/94.

  There is no outstanding legal action by the European Commission against the United Kingdom in relation to the definition of waste and the classification of secondary liquid fuel.

  No information is held centrally on commercial companies which allow waste which they have produced to be blended into fuels. All commercial companies producing waste are subject to the duty of care under section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990; and each waste regulation authority is required to maintain a public register containing the information prescribed by regulation 10 of the 1994 regulations.

  Defective Housing
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Pre-cast reinforced concrete houses have been repaired using grants provided under the housing defects legislation; and what has been the total expenditure to date. [20537]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Local authorities in England report that between 1 December 1984 and 31 March 1994, 10,346 defective houses were reinstated under the housing defects legislation. Over the period, it is estimated that local authorities spent £275.626 million on reinstatement grants to eligible owners.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many complaints have been received by Pre-cast Reinforced Concrete Homes Ltd. regarding the quality of repairs carried out using grants provided under the housing defects legislation. [20538]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  PRC Homes Ltd. receives a low level of complaints about various matters, and does not keep statistics on individual subjects.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many companies have been licensed to repair homes under the terms of the Housing Defects Act; and, in each case, how many homes they have been responsible for repairing. [20539]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The table shows the number of repairs completed under each licensed scheme, as recorded by PRC Homes Ltd. between 1 January 1986 and 31 March 1995. Information is not readily available on the number of repairs carried out under each licence by each builder registered with PRC Homes Ltd.

  PRC Homes Ltd. Dwelling registrations from 1 January 1986 to 31 March 1995

  Licence number

  Designer

  House type

  Completions 1 January 1986 to 31 March 1995

  001

  Curtins Cons. Eng.

  Cornish

  1,686

  002

  Swan Developments

  Cornish

  278

  003

  Swan Developments

  Orlit

  253

  004

  Swan Developments

  Stent

  342

  005

  Curtins Cons. Eng.

  Airey

  196

  006

  Curtins Cons. Eng.

  Woolaway

  335

  009

  John Laing Const.

  Cornish

  912

  012

  Rok-Crete Units

  Airey

  49

  013

  Rok-Crete Units

  Cornish

  32

  014

  PRC Design Assocs.

  Airey

  15

  015

  Williams Davis Ltd.

  Cornish

  61

  016

  Michael Dyson Assocs.

  Cornish

  962

  017

  Michael Dyson Assocs.

  Reema HP

  98

  018

  Michael Dyson Assocs.

  Airey

  338

  019

  John Laing Const.

  Unity

  862

  020

  Curtins Cons. Eng.

  Unity

  672

  021

  Michael Dyson Assocs.

  Unity

  523

  022

  Swan Developments

  Airey

  2

  023

  Michael Dyson Assocs.

  Wates

  1,03

  024

  PRC Design Assocs.

  Cornish

  541

  025

  Michael Dyson Assocs.

  Woolaway

  74

  028

  Bristol City Council

  Woolaway

  28

  029

  PRC Design Assocs.

  Unity

  198

  032

  Kirkham Williams Lewis

  Cornish

  228

  033

  Leeds City Council

  Airey

  290

  035

  The Johns Partnership

  Unity

  29

  039

  J. R. Bacon

  Unity

  72

  041

  Broadway Const. Ltd.

  Wates

  7

  042

  Avebury Design Ass.

  Parkinson

  1

  043

  Swan Developments

  Wates

  253

  044

  Ove Arup and Ptnrs.

  Woolaway

  3

  045

  Curtins Cons. Eng.

  Wates

  582

  046

  Curtins Cons. Eng.

  Reema HP

  74

  048

  M. Dyson Assoc.

  Tarran

  70

  049

  Walsall MBC

  Cornish

  13

  050

  M. Dyson Assoc.

  Parkinson

  2

  051

  Curtins Cons. Eng.

  Smith

  341

  052

  Curtins Cons. Eng.

  Orlit

  57

  534

  PRC Homes Ltd. Dwelling registrations from 1 January 1986 to 31 March 1995

  Licence number

  Designer

  House type

  Completions 1 January 1986 to 31 March 1995

  054

  M. Dyson Assoc.

  Boot

  58

  056

  Curtins Cons. Eng.

  Stent

  45

  058

  John Laing Const.

  Wates

  16

  059

  Kier Ltd.

  Wates

  33

  060

  Dinardo and Ptnrs.

  Dorran

  53

  061

  Swan Developments

  Unity

  65

  063

  KPA Consulting Engs.

  Reema HP

  21

  064

  Curtins Cons. Eng.

  Cornish

  45

  065

  M. Dyson Assoc.

  Sch/Hawks

  196

  067

  Kirkham Williams Lewis

  Unity

  32

  070

  Kirkham Williams Lewis

  Sch/Hawks

  130

  071

  KPA Consulting Engs.

  Parkinson

  18

  072

  Curtins Cons. Eng.

  Gregory

  19

  074

  PRC Design Assocs.

  Sch/Hawks

  68

  075

  PRC Design Assocs.

  Wates

  14

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how companies have had their licence to improve homes under the terms of the Housing Defects Act suspended; and what, in each case, was the date of the suspension, the duration of the suspension and the reason for the suspension. [20540]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  I understand that PRC Homes Ltd. has not suspended any repair licences.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the willingness of mortgage lenders to provide mortgages on homes repaired under the provision of the Housing Defects Act. [20541]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  A survey of the largest building societies carried out in 1986 by the Building Societies Association suggested that almost all will consider, subject to normal conditions and valuation, an application for mortgage on a defective house repaired under the housing defects legislation. Generally this remains the position today. The structural condition of any property is one of a number of factors which lending institutions take into account when considering an application for mortgage.

  Sunspots
  Mr. Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what analysis he has made on the effects of sunspots on(a) global warming, (b) the trade cycles and (c) landslides. [20807]

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government have undertaken no such analyses. However on(a), the 1994 report of the scientific assessment working group of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change suggests that any influence of solar intensity varying on the 11–year cycle associated with sunspots is likely to be small. Longer term variation in solar intensity may have accounted for around 10 per cent. of the warming influence of additional greenhouse gases since 1850.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have(a) a statutory requirement to admit members of the public

  535
  to all board or committee meetings and (b) a statutory requirement to hold open meetings for the public. [20875]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  None of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department has a statutory requirement to admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings, nor do any have a statutory requirement to hold open meetings for the public.

  Housing Association Rents
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the average rent charged by English housing associations for(a) one bedroom, (b) two bedroom and (c) three bedroom properties in each year since 1979. [21085]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  A full breakdown of housing association rents by bedroom size is available only for the last three years. The figures are published by the Housing Corporation in three annual volumes: Housing

  Emissions from large combustion plant in England and Wales 1992 and 1993

  1992

  1992

  1993

  1993

  1992

  1993

  Company

  NOx/te

  SO2/te

  NOx/te

  SO2/te

  Particulates/te

  BAA

  Heathrow

  133

  30

  128

  22

  0

  0

  BASF

  Seal Sands

  2,031

  431

  2,194

  631

  n/a

  0

  Bass

  Burton

  120

  380

  132

  414

  89

  94

  Boots

  Nottingham

  89

  34

  54

  0

  98

  22

  BP Chemicals

  Baglan Bay

  4,818

  24,278

  4,737

  23,008

  —

  —

  Hull

  111

  257

  77

  47

  4

  0

  BPB

  Purfleet

  181

  1,072

  227

  1,497

  n/a

  n/a

  British Coal

  Nottingham

  13

  57

  33

  191

  10

  21

  BP Oil

  Llandarcy

  836

  5,047

  838

  4,776

  n/a

  n/a

  Bridgewater Paper

  Ellesmere Port

  1,110

  3,325

  1,144

  3,702

  500

  307

  British Alcan

  Lynemouth

  10,676

  26,697

  11,555

  26,910

  1,770

  2,152

  British Sugar

  Bardney

  223

  998

  190

  1,304

  —

  —

  Bury St. Edmunds

  194

  351

  169

  46

  —

  —

  Ipswich

  112

  799

  139

  365

  —

  —

  Kings Lynn

  195

  1,109

  235

  1,338

  —

  —

  Wissington

  106

  0

  112

  3

  —

  —

  Newark

  113

  533

  190

  1,112

  —

  —

  York

  53

  0

  61

  1

  175

  639

  British Steel

  Port Talbot

  799

  4,859

  842

  4,458

  —

  —

  Llanwern

  438

  1,306

  350

  874

  —

  —

  Scunthorpe

  457

  1,642

  373

  1,195

  —

  —

  Redcar

  484

  1,040

  461

  593

  173

  250

  536
  Associations in 1992, 1993 and 1994 which are held in the Library.

  Power Station Emissions
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the annual emissions level from all large combustion plants in the United Kingdom for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulates since 1983. [20843]

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 25 April 1995]: I refer the hon. Member to my written reply on 14 March 1995, Official Report, columns 536–38, detailing the SO2, NOx, and particulate emissions from power stations in England and Wales for 1991, 1992 and 1993.

  For the remaining large combustion plants, at present Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution holds validated data only for 1992 and 1993. Data for the preceding years is not held in the form requested.

  HMIP is responsible for large combustion plant within England and Wales only.
  537

  Emissions from large combustion plant in England and Wales 1992 and 1993

  1992

  1992

  1993

  1993

  1992

  1993

  Company

  NOx/te

  SO2/te

  NOx/te

  SO2/te

  Particulates/te

  Brunner Mond

  Lostock

  1,251

  5,032

  1,151

  5,741

  —

  —

  Winnington

  1,952

  6,829

  1,880

  9,574

  n/a

  1,054

  Ciba Geigy

  Manchester

  240

  576

  174

  494

  n/a

  n/a

  Cleveland Power

  Redcar

  109

  267

  82

  365

  n/a

  n/a

  Coal Products

  Chesterfield

  48

  236

  0

  0

  n/a

  0

  Colthrop Board Mill

  Newbury

  89

  126

  73

  0

  0

  0

  Courage

  Reading

  80

  175

  114

  370

  10

  23

  Courtaulds

  Bridgwater

  345

  799

  236

  0

  —

  —

  Coventry

  136

  0

  95

  0

  —

  —

  Great Coates

  1,196

  7,693

  1,157

  5,267

  —

  —

  Spondon

  658

  2,683

  607

  2,689

  2,502

  1,613

  Ford

  Dagenham

  668

  1,620

  291

  1,288

  —

  —

  Halewood

  37

  55

  38

  72

  70

  171

  Forgemasters Steels

  Sheffield

  55

  55

  59

  45

  n/a

  0

  Glaxochem

  Ulverston

  138

  43

  137

  169

  0

  0

  Goodyear

  Wolverhampton

  163

  28

  159

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  Grovenhurst Energy

  Sittingbourne

  2,257

  8,277

  2,408

  7,003

  232

  227

  Guinness

  London

  174

  556

  176

  387

  35

  63

  Hickson and Welch

  Castleford

  142

  78

  130

  1

  n/a

  n/a

  Hydro Fertilizers

  Immingham

  25

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  ICI

  Hillhouse

  581

  2,576

  850

  2,415

  —

  —

  North Tees

  552

  3,255

  610

  3,743

  —

  —

  Runcorn

  802

  951

  1,321

  1,192

  —

  —

  Wilton

  7,598

  27,139

  7,270

  26,040

  —

  —

  Billingham

  65

  1

  57

  0

  n/a

  649

  Iggesund

  Workington

  222

  9

  219

  0

  0

  0

  Ind Coope

  Burton

  85

  166

  60

  0

  0

  0

  Kodak

  Harrow

  154

  695

  115

  768

  0

  0

  London Underground

  London

  1,066

  47

  473

  25

  0

  2

  Phillips Petroleum

  Seal Sands

  337

  4

  220

  5

  n/a

  n/a

  538

  539

  Emissions from large combustion plant in England and Wales 1992 and 1993

  1992

  1992

  1993

  1993

  1992

  1993

  Company

  NOx/te

  SO2/te

  NOx/te

  SO2/te

  Particulates/te

  SAPPI

  Hemel Hempstead

  120

  798

  121

  773

  n/a

  6

  SCA

  Aylesford

  705

  2,006

  766

  1,801

  165

  0

  Shell

  Stanlow

  185

  792

  209

  74

  1

  0

  Shotton Paper

  Shotton

  369

  369

  338

  493

  n/a

  n/a

  Slough Trading Est.

  Slough

  286

  1,444

  216

  408

  73

  21

  St. Regis Paper Co

  Darwen

  96

  179

  84

  53

  —

  —

  Sudbrook

  198

  1

  50

  0

  —

  —

  Watchet

  145

  6

  123

  0

  179

  16

  Tate and Lyle

  Silvertown

  404

  1,706

  170

  609

  33

  72

  Tioxide

  Grimsby

  237

  1,335

  240

  1,380

  —

  —

  Hartlepool

  144

  10

  126

  11

  n/a

  22

  UCB Films

  Wigton

  135

  1,020

  375

  833

  n/a

  n/a

  UML

  Bromborough

  715

  2,449

  650

  2,067

  300

  123

  University of Leeds

  Leeds

  66

  217

  63

  297

  n/a

  n/a

  Zeneca

  Huddersfield

  672

  3,390

  233

  1,054

  n/a

  n/a

  Sub Total

  50,178

  161,456

  47,810

  149,991

  751

  262

  All figures given in tonnes (te). n/a = information not available.

  New plant (within national plan)

  1992

  1992

  1993

  1993

  1992

  1993

  Company

  NOx/te

  SO2/te

  NOx/te

  SO2/te

  Particulates/te

  Albright and Wilson

  122

  5

  91

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  Glaxo

  Stevenage

  0

  0

  2

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  Slough Trading Estate

  Slough

  0

  0

  88

  824

  73

  21

  Toyota

  Burnaston

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Sub total

  122

  5

  182

  824

  73

  21

  All figures given in tonnes (te). n/a = information not available.

  Refineries

  1992

  1992

  1993

  1993

  1992

  1993

  Company

  NOx/te

  SO2/te

  NOx/te

  SO2/te

  Particulates/te

  BP Oil

  Llandarcy

  836

  5,047

  838

  4,776

  n/a

  161

  Conoco

  South Killingholme

  2,128

  2,405

  2,085

  1,367

  n/a

  n/a

  540 541

  Refineries

  1992

  1992

  1993

  1993

  1992

  1993

  Company

  NOx/te

  SO2/te

  NOx/te

  SO2/te

  Particulates/te

  Elf

  Milford Haven

  1,003

  297

  971

  543

  230

  —

  Esso

  Fawley

  5,174

  13,173

  5,051

  12,930

  1,020

  1,029

  Gulf

  Milford Haven

  875

  4,013

  764

  3,264

  n/a

  n/a

  Lindsey

  Killingholme

  2,511

  10,858

  2,773

  11,793

  n/a

  n/a

  Mobil

  Coryton

  2,465

  8,869

  2,513

  6,506

  n/a

  n/a

  Pip

  North Tees

  515

  330

  299

  315

  n/a

  n/a

  Shell

  Shell Stanlow

  4,399

  17,074

  4,655

  17,729

  n/a

  n/a

  Shell Haven

  1,373

  3,314

  1,728

  5,353

  n/a

  n/a

  Texaco

  Pembroke

  3,051

  2,666

  3,070

  3,137

  1,200

  250

  Sub Total

  24,330

  68,046

  24,747

  67,713

  2,450

  1,440

  All figures given in tonnes (te). n/a = information not available.

  There are further large combustion plants which are not regulated under the national plan for the reduction of

  1992

  1992

  1993

  1993

  1992

  1993

  NOx/te

  SO2/te

  NOx/te

  SO2/te

  Particulates/te

  4,140

  5,460

  12,575

  11,600

  1,170

  1,340

  Grand total

  78,770

  234,967

  85,314

  230,128

  4,444

  3,063

  All figures given in tonnes (te).

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Allowances
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. [19547]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The costs incurred by my Department on subsistence for each of the last three years are as follows:

  £

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95 (provisional)

  (a) United Kingdom

  1,857,423

  1,845,800

  1,473,335

  (b) Overseas

  773,353

  776,681

  673,660

  542
  emissions of sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen. The total emissions from these plants were:

  The figures for 1992–93 and 1993–94 include those for the pesticides safety and veterinary medicines directorates.

  Responsibility for such matters within ADAS, the Central Science Laboratory, the Central Veterinary Laboratory and the pesticides safety and the veterinary medicines directorates has been delegated to the agency chief executives and I have asked them to reply to my hon. Friend direct.

  Letter from G. K. Bruce to Mr. David Shaw, dated 26 April 1995:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply, in respect of the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD), to your question about expenditure on subsistence allowances for travel in each of the last three years.
  The Directorate was launched as an executive agency on 1 April 1993 and figures prior to this date have been included in the core—MAFF response and are not separately available. However, I am able to advise that subsistence allowances paid to staff for travel in the UK since the agency was launched have totalled £10,956 in 1993/94, and £20,787 in 1994/95. For travel outside the UK, subsistence allowances paid to PSD staff have totalled £38,516 and £32,611 in 1993/94 and 1994/95 respectively.
  543
  Letter from Dr. J. M. Rutter to Mr. David Shaw, dated 26 April 1995:
  The Minister has asked me to reply to your question about the total amount of subsistence allowance paid by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate within and outside the United Kingdom for each of the last three years, as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible.
  The information requested is as follows:

  Subsistence payments

  1992–93 £

  1993–94 £

  1994–95 £

  Within UK

  8,052

  4,049

  3,956

  Outside UK

  46,868

  48,483

  34,444

  Subsistence payments outside the UK include those incurred on inspections overseas of manufacturing premises for veterinary immunological medicines. These are recovered from the company concerned as part of the inspection fee.

  Letter from Dr. J. M. Walsh to Mr. David Shaw, dated 21 April 1995:
  The Minister of Agriculture has asked me to reply directly to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question number 1055.
  In this you asked for the total amount paid by this Agency for travel within the United Kingdom and outside the United Kingdom in each of the last three years.
  ADAS was formed in June 1992 as an Executive Agency, jointly owned by MAFF and the Welsh Office. The majority of expenditure on subsistence is spent by ADAS Consultants pursuing their commercial activities.
  The costs incurred by ADAS on subsistence for each of the last three years are as follows:

  1992–95 £

  1993–94 £

  1994–95 £

  (a) Within the UK

  843,138

  814,520

  757,214

  (b) Overseas

  45,259

  73,919

  87,612

  Letter from Dr. P. I. Stanley to Mr. David Shaw, dated 26 April 1995:
  Subsistence payments to staff of the Central Science Laboratory (CSL) in respect of travel within the UK for the past three financial years were:

  £000

  1992–93

  63.10

  1993–94

  87.64

  1994–95

  153.33

  I should explain that in April 1994 CSL was re-launched as an enlarged Agency following its merger with the Food Science Laboratories at Norwich and Aberdeen. The merger meant that the number of staff employed by CSL rose from about 450 to 700 and the incidence of UK travel increased with the addition of two major distant sites. This accounts for last year's significant rise in subsistence payments.
  Regarding subsistence payments for travel outside of the UK, such statistics are not recorded separately from travel and other associated expenses and the cost of obtaining them would be disproportionately high.
  544
  Letter from Guy Stapleton to Mr. David Shaw, dated 26 April 1995:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your question about subsistence allowances paid by the Agency for travel within the United Kingdom and outside the United Kingdom for each of the last three years as the information for the Intervention Board is a matter within my operational responsibility.
  The Intervention Board has spent the following sums on subsistence allowances since 1992–93:

  1992–93 £

  1993–94 £

  1994–95 £

  Subsistence on travel within the United Kingdom

  193,890

  191,623

  180,750

  Subsistence on travel outside the United Kingdom

  36,262

  43,310

  53,425

  Subsistence is payable when an officer works away from their normal office and because they incur necessary expenses for accommodation or meals. The rates of subsistence are those currently indicated by Treasury. Approximately three-quarters of the Agency's subsistence for travel within the United Kingdom is paid to staff who regularly travel in their role as investigators, scrutineers and verifiers. Subsistence for travel outside the United Kingdom is incurred mainly by the attendance of Agency staff at meetings with European Commission and other officials in Brussels.

  Letter from T. W. A. Little to Mr. David Shaw, dated 26 April 1995:
  The Minister has asked me to reply to your question about subsistence allowance paid by CVL.
  The total amounts paid over the last three years are:

  Within UK £

  Outside UK £

  1992–93 (Est)

  38,700

  27,250

  1993–94

  24,676

  24,382

  1994–95

  23,638

  26,345

  A word of explanation on the 1992–93 figures may be useful. CVL became an Executive Agency in 1990. Up to and including November 1992 our accounts were processed and produced by MAFF and it has only been possible to identify separately the subsistence allowances paid from 1 December 1992. The 1992–93 figure is derived from the amounts paid between 1 December and 31 March 1993.

  Pesticides
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the cases in which the Advisory committee on Pesticides has been consulted in each of the last five years, and what subsequent action was taken. [20065]

  Mrs. Browning
  Ministers are required by the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 to consult the Advisory Committee on Pesticides on approvals they propose to give or revoke, on the conditions to be attached to approvals and on regulations to be made under the Act. Ministers also consult the committee on other current pesticides issues.

  Consequently the committee has discussed many matters at its 28 meetings over the period 1990 to 1994. Details of these discussions and their outcomes are set out in the committee's annual reports, copies of which are in the House Library.
  545
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health regarding pesticides and animal treatments and their effect on the food chain, and what action resulted. [20066]

  Mrs. Browning
  My right hon. Friends the Minister and the Secretary of State for Health are among the Ministers responsible for the regulation of pesticides and have close contact on such matters. These contacts feed into decisions on individual applications for approval of pesticides and into the shaping of policy.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidance Her Majesty's Government offer on the minimum level for pesticide usage for effective pest control, at what interval this level is reviewed; and what investigations are made to decide it. [20067]

  Mrs. Browning
  Guidance on minimising pesticide use is provided through the code of practice on the safe use of pesticides on farms and holdings through ADAS and other advisory services. The guidance promotes, in particular, the better targeting of pesticide applications and the use of reduced application rates in appropriate cases. A wide-ranging research programme supports the Government's pesticide minimisation policy. Guidance is kept under constant review in the light of results from the research programme.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the European Union regime for regulating pesticides, and how this correlates with his Department's procedures. [20068]

  Mrs. Browning
  Directive 91/414/EEC provides a framework for the harmonisation of national regimes for agricultural pesticides; a framework directive for other pesticides is under negotiation. Under directive 91/414/EEC, active substances will be authorised, or not, by the Community as a whole. Products containing these active substances will be regulated by individual member states who will carry out their evaluations on the basis of agreed "Uniform Principles". Both the UK and EC systems place paramount importance upon human safety, and protecting the environment. Both base decisions on the evaluation of appropriate scientific data and the two systems are of comparable rigour in terms of the data required and the manner in which they are evaluated.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what procedures are adopted to investigate the veracity of company data when submitted for approval of a pesticide. [20069]

  Mrs. Browning
  Companies are required to satisfy themselves of the veracity of their data before submitting them. It is an offence under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 knowingly or recklessly to provide false information or to withhold a material fact. Those evaluating pesticides are alert to inconsistencies in the data package provided or between the data submitted and those which might be expected based on experience with similar active substances or formulations. Experimental toxicity data to support submissions for approval of new pesticides must be generated in accordance with good laboratory practice—GLP. GLP involves regular internal checks and reviews and facilities operating to GLP are subject to independent inspection for compliance.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the specific 546
  criteria used by his Department before approval of a pesticide. [20070]

  Mrs. Browning
  The key aims of the approvals system are that proper use of the pesticide carries no unacceptable risk to human health or to the environment and that the product is efficacious. The pursuit of these aims requires the examination of a number of issues including mammalian toxicity, operator exposure, pesticide chemistry, behaviour and toxicity in the environment and residue levels in food. Specific data relating to all relevant matters are required from the applicant company and evaluated according to best current standards and protocols.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to commission his Department to study the possible connections between the use of pesticides and allergies and other medical problems. [20071]

  Mrs. Browning
  Companies applying for pesticide approvals must provide fully researched data which addresses potential allergic and other medical effects in pesticide users and food consumers. These data are rigorously evaluated before any approval is given.

  The chemical nature of pesticides and the fact that consumers are exposed only to very low levels mean that the risk of allergic reaction to pesticide residues is low compared with food allergens. Therefore, MAFF's continuing research concerned with allergies and intolerances will concentrate on foods rather than on pesticides.

  There will, however, continue to be projects which examine allergic responses or other medical issues at a general level and which assist with the development of risk assessment techniques used in pesticide evaluation. MAFF will also continue to draw on public results of research carried out by other bodies throughout the world.

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the percentage of statutory instruments introduced by his Ministry which implement EU directives in the latest available year. [19739]

  Mr. Jack
  In the 1994 calendar year 22 per cent. of statutory instruments made or laid by MAFF implemented EU directives.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated cost(a) to his Ministry and (b) to the relevant industries of implementing statutory instruments introduced by his Ministry in (i) 1980, (ii) 1985, (iii) 1990 and (iv) 1994. [19739]

  Mr. Jack
  The cost to the Ministry of implementing statutory instruments for the years in question could be provided only at disproportionate cost. As far as costs to the industry are concerned, compliance cost assessments are prepared by the Department in line with Government policy. A list of all such CCAs issued between November 1993 and June 1994 was published in a command paper in December 1994, Cm 2769. Another command paper covering the period July to December 1994 will be published shortly. Copies of the CCAs prepared during these periods and since have been placed in the Library of the House. Details of compliance cost assessments for earlier periods cannot be obtained without disproportionate cost.
  547
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total number of statutory instruments introduced by his Ministry in(a) 1980, (b) 1985, (c) 1990, (d) 1994 and (e) 1995, to date.

  Mr. Jack
  A total of 143 statutory instruments were made or laid by MAFF in the 1990 calendar year, 121 in 1994 and 55 in 1995 up to 21 April. Figures for the earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Tuberculosis
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of TB in cattle were reported in each county in each year since 1985. [20554]

  Mrs. Browning
  Complete information in the form requested is not available and that information which is available for the years 1985 to 1987 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the numbers of confirmed cattle tuberculosis breakdowns in each county of England in each of the years form 1988 to 1991 were as follows:

  Year(s) in which cases occurred

  Number of herds

  Number of confirmed reactors

  Avon

  1988

  8

  42

  1989

  10

  49

  1990

  9

  10

  1991

  17

  23

  Bedfordshire

  1988

  1

  1

  1990

  1

  1

  Cheshire

  1991

  1

  2

  Cornwall

  1988

  18

  42

  1989

  45

  110

  1990

  33

  50

  1991

  47

  107

  Derbyshire

  1988

  6

  7

  1989

  2

  3

  Devon

  1988

  17

  33

  1989

  12

  22

  1990

  19

  35

  1991

  10

  19

  Dorset

  1988

  6

  8

  1989

  5

  5

  1990

  4

  6

  1991

  4

  10

  Gloucestershire

  1988

  11

  33

  1989

  13

  31

  1990

  15

  22

  1991

  36

  47

  Hampshire

  1989

  1

  1

  1991

  1

  1

  Lancashire

  1990

  1

  1

  Leicestershire

  1989

  1

  1

  Lincolnshire

  1989

  1

  2

  Northamptonshire

  1990

  1

  1

  Northumberland

  1988

  1

  1

  1989

  1

  1

  1990

  2

  2

  Nottinghamshire

  1988

  1

  1

  548

  Years(s) in which cases occurred

  Number of herds

  Number of confirmed reactors

  Shropshire

  1990

  1

  1

  1991

  1

  1

  Somerset

  1988

  2

  2

  Suffolk

  1989

  1

  3

  Surrey

  1991

  1

  1

  Sussex east

  1989

  1

  5

  1991

  2

  2

  Sussex west

  1989

  1

  12

  1991

  1

  1

  Warwickshire

  1991

  1

  1

  Wiltshire

  1988

  7

  8

  1989

  4

  4

  1990

  5

  5

  1991

  3

  7

  Yorkshire north

  1991

  2

  2

  Yorkshire south

  1989

  1

  1

  1991

  1

  1

  In the period 1992 to 1994 the numbers of confirmed cattle tuberculosis breakdowns in each of the Ministry's administrative areas of England were as follows:

  Year(s) in which cases occurred

  Number of herds

  Number of confirmed reactors

  Berkshire/Buckinghamshire/Oxon

  1993

  2

  9

  1994

  2

  2

  Cheshire

  1994

  1

  1

  Cornwall

  1992

  49

  129

  1993

  82

  277

  1994

  106

  351

  Cumbria

  1992

  3

  12

  1993

  1

  1

  Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire

  1994

  1

  1

  Devon

  1992

  20

  102

  1993

  46

  99

  1994

  75

  189

  Dorset

  1992

  3

  5

  1993

  8

  21

  1994

  2

  19

  Durham/Tyne and Weir/Cleveland/Northumbria

  1992

  2

  2

  1993

  1

  1

  1994

  2

  7

  Gloucestershire and Avon

  1992

  37

  120

  1993

  64

  175

  1994

  63

  214

  Hereford/Worcestershire

  1993

  4

  12

  1994

  12

  83

  Humberside

  1992

  1

  1

  Kent and east Sussex

  1994

  1

  3

  549

  Year(s) in which cases occurred

  Number of herds

  Number of confirmed reactors

  Lancashire/Merseyside

  1992

  1

  1

  1993

  1

  1

  1994

  1

  1

  Leicestershire

  1992

  2

  2

  1993

  1

  1

  1994

  1

  1

  Lincolnshire

  1993

  1

  1

  Somerset

  1993

  14

  65

  1994

  7

  15

  Warwickshire and west Midlands

  1992

  2

  4

  1993

  1

  2

  Wiltshire

  1992

  9

  60

  1993

  18

  89

  1994

  21

  60

  North Yorkshire

  1992

  4

  4

  Smoking Restrictions
  Mr. Peter Griffiths
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what facilities are provided and arrangements made for the well-being and comfort of staff who(a) smoke and (b) do not wish to be affected by smoking at (i) the work station and (ii) rest, recreation and refreshment facilities at Whitehall place, London. [20457]

  Mr. Jack
  Smoking restrictions in the Ministry's London headquarters buildings were introduced on 1 July 1993. MAFF's smoking at work policy came into full force on 1 January 1994. From that date smoking was allowed on Ministry premises only in suitably equipped and ventilated smoking rooms. There are three designated smoking rooms in the Whitehall place complex.

  Rest, recreation and refreshment facilities are available adjacent to one of the designated smoking areas.

  Sheep Scab
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports he has had from markets in the United Kingdom on the prevalence of sheep scab. [21033]

  Mrs. Browning
  Last spring, the state veterinary service launched a month-long surveillance exercise at sheep markets to identify the prevalence of sheep scab in the country and to establish a benchmark for further checks. The result indicated that sheep scab had increased from the levels recorded before deregulation.

  To help reduce the spread of scab the Government announced a joint industry—Government publicity campaign together with a significant increase in the official veterinary presence at markets. Only 46 out of 2,809 market visits conducted between 1 September 1994 and 3 March 1995 resulted in the detection of sheep suspected of being affected with scab. In total, only 363 animals had to be withdrawn and treated for sheep scab; a further 107 suspect animals were sent direct to slaughter.

  The SVS have just repeated last year's exercise and the findings will be compared against those for last year. The
  550
  results are currently being collated and will be announced shortly. The provisional indications are, however, that the amount of scab found at markets has significantly decreased.

  Meat Inspectors
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to extend the rebate given on meat inspector costs. [21100]

  Mrs. Browning
  We have been considering how best to deploy the transitional assistance on meat hygiene service charges announced in the answer given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Hexham (Mr. Atkinson) on 29 March,Official Report, columns 653–54, so as to assist the widest possible range of premises within the funds available. The MHS is now consulting plant operators on the following proposed reductions in its charges:
  Charges for Official Veterinary Surgeons' normal time to be capped at £35 per hour at all plants for this financial year
  Charges for Meat Inspectors' normal time to be reduced by £1 per hour at all plants for this financial year
  A rebate equivalent to £1 per hour off Meat Inspectors' normal time after the end of the first two quarters of 1995–96 (i.e. in July and October 1995) to all plants, subject to the need to observe the requirements of European legislation which prohibits the subsidisation of inspection charges below the level of the Community Standard charge in the case of slaughterhouses.

  Final decisions on these proposed charges will not be taken until after the end of the statutory consultation process. The charges would be subject to review in consultation with the Industry Forum—the consultative body which the MHS has set up to discuss issues with the industry—after the first six months of this financial year to see whether there was any further flexibility within the funds available to make any other adjustments for the remainder of the year.

  Corncrake
  Ms. Quin
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to encourage the return of the corncrake to its farmland habitat. [20243]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 25 April 1995]: The present UK population of corncrakes is confined almost entirely to the north and west of Scotland where the Government have contributed to schemes designed to increase their numbers. English Nature has advised that a reintroduction programme for England is not considered feasible at present given the lack of any substantial areas of suitable habitat. However, the corncrake is a candidate species under consideration by the biodiversity steering group for an individual action plan to improve its conservation status.

  North Sea (Aggregates)
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether any sand or aggregates removed from the banks in the North sea off Lincolnshire is being exported abroad. [19747]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I have been asked to reply.

  Approximately 400,000 tonnes.

HEALTH

  Alzheimer's Disease
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the drugs available on the NHS for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. [19900]

  Mr. Sackville
  The national health service provides different types of treatment for Alzheimer's disease which may include tranquillisers, physiotherapy and educational activities.

  There are, however, currently no licensed drugs available for the treatment of this serious condition, although the Medicines Control Agency is aware that the pharmaceutical industry has drugs under development.

  Organ Donor Register
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many registrations have been made on the national computerised registration system for kidney donors; [20516]

  (2) what guidelines and information have been given to transplant co-ordinators regarding the national computerised registration system; [20517]

  (3) what is the progress of the national computerised registration scheme for kidney donors by region; and if she will make a statement. [20519]

  Mr. Sackville
  Since the national health service organ donor register was launched on 6 October 1994 nearly 1,200,0001 people have joined the register. A regional analysis is not available at present. The United Kingdom Transplant Co-ordinators Association is represented on the Health Departments' steering group for the NHS organ donor register. Transplant unit staff were informed about the register before it was launched and on 31 March 1995 the chief executive of the United Kingdom Transplant Support Service Authority sent transplant co-ordinators the procedure for using the register. A resources and information pack was recently sent to all transplant co-ordinators.
  1 Around 440,000 of these were transferred from the existing Lifeline Wales register.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what efforts her Department has made to promote and advertise the national computerised registration system for kidney donors. [20518]

  Mr. Sackville
  We have produced a wide range of publicity material to support the NHS organ donor register since its launch in October 1994, at a cost of £1.53 million in 1994–95. This has included the delivery of leaflets, including registration forms, to over 19 million homes with local free newspapers or via the Royal Mail; national, regional and local newspaper advertisements; TV fillers; 25,000 posters; freepost and freephone facilities; displays in post offices; and distribution of leaflets and forms to all chemists and GPs.

  M.E. Funding
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the current and future plans for funding the national task force on CFS/PVFS/myalgic encephalomyelitis. [20557]

  Mr. Sackville
  The task force, which is autonomous of the Department of Health, has received £20,000 funding 552
  over the past two years under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968. A bid for further funding has been received from the charity Westcare, which provides the secretariat to the task force, and the Department is in discussion with Westcare regarding this application. The decision on future funding will be made known to Westcare as soon as possible.

  NHS Trust Boards
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if persons with criminal records are eligible for appointment to NHS trusts as chairman or non-executive directors. [20698]

  Mr. Malone
  In accordance with the National Health Service Trusts (Membership and Procedure) Regulations 1990, a person is disqualified from appointment to an NHS trust as chairman or non-executive director if within the preceding five years he has been convicted in the United Kingdom of any offence resulting in a sentence of imprisonment of not less than three months.

  NHS Estates Agency
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the key tasks and targets for 1995–96 for the NHS Estates Agency. [21568]

  Mr. Sackville
  I have agreed the agency's key tasks and targets for 1995–96, and have placed copies in the Library.

  Temazepam
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths occurred from temazepam abuse in each age group in each of the last five years. [19824]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is shown in the table.

  The number of deaths certified as due to abuse of Temazepam 1(ICDs 304.1, 304.7, 304.8, 305.4, 305.9), alone or with other drugs, by five year age groups for the years 1989–1993 in England and Wales.

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  15–19

  1

  1

  1

  2

  0

  20–24

  2

  0

  2

  2

  3

  25–29

  0

  3

  1

  5

  4

  30–34

  2

  1

  2

  0

  3

  35–39

  1

  1

  5

  1

  3

  40–44

  0

  1

  0

  1

  1

  45–49

  0

  2

  2

  1

  0

  50–54

  0

  1

  0

  1

  1

  55–59

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  60–64

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  65–69

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  70–74

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1 International Classification of Disease 9th revision.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has for the further control of temazepam capsules; and what indications there are for the use of temazepam capsules instead of temazepam pills. [19825]

  Mr. Bowis
  The abuse of temazepam capsules by drug misusers is of particular concern and we are keeping the position under review.

  My Department, in consultation with other Departments, is considering the recommendation of the

  553
  Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to tighten the control of the drug temazepam.

  The licensed indications for temazepam capsules and tablets are the same, and include short-term use as a hypnotic and premedication before minor surgery.

  GP Recruitment
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the levels of recruitment of doctors to become general practitioners currently and five years ago. [19826]

  Mr. Malone
  In 1989–90 the number of general practitioners increased by 14–0.6 per cent.—in England. In 1993–94 the number increased by 278–1.0 per cent.—to an all-time high of 26,567.

  Residential Care
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment she has made of the progress made by placing authorities in reviewing placements at Stoke Place and Stoke Green House, residential care homes operated by Longcare Ltd; [20600]

  (2) what conclusions have been drawn by her Department from the investigation by Buckinghamshire county council social services department inspection unit conducted in the period November 1993 to June 1994 of Stoke Place and Stoke Green House; and what account has been taken of these conclusions in the formulation of a new circular to local authorities on the regulation of residential care homes under the Registered Homes Act 1984; [20602]

  (3) if she will list the local authorities that have residents in Stoke Place and Stoke Green House; and if she will give the number of placements by each at 30 June 1994 and at present. [20601]

  Mr. Bowls
  The social services inspectorate is continuing to keep in close contact with Buckinghamshire social services department on developments in the care of residents placed in homes operated by Longcare Ltd. The assessment and placing of residents is a matter for the authorities concerned. Information is not collected centrally on the authorities in relation to which placements in specific homes are made. The social services inspectorate will shortly begin a routine formal inspection of Buckinghamshire's inspection unit to check on the unit's effectiveness.

  Learning Disabilities
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her current policy in respect of village communities for persons with learning disabilities; what factors led her to holding an evaluation of village communities for persons with learning disabilities; and what is the estimated cost of the exercise. [21040]

  Mr. Bowls
  Guidance on residential services for people with learning disabilities is given in LAC(92)15, copies of which are available in the Library. Local authorities can purchase or provide places in village or residential communities if that is what individuals and their families prefer and the communities meet the criteria set out in the guidance. The planned evaluation will involve comparison with the cost and outcomes of other forms of provision and will help authorities make the best use of resources 554
  in meeting the needs of individuals in their area. Precise details of the evaluation including its cost have yet to be finalised.

  Residential Care and Nursing Homes
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the purpose and scope of the review of registration and inspection of residential care and nursing homes; and when it will begin. [21039]

  Mr. Bowls
  In the consultative document, "Inspecting Social Services", issued in October 1992, the Government indicated that in 1995 they would review progress in implementing new arrangements for social services inspection and would consider what further steps might be necessary to achieve the essential objectives of effectiveness and independence. This review will begin later this year. Its precise scope is still under consideration.

  Mental Illness
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what new policy proposals she has to reduce the number of inmates and remand prisons who are transferred to mental institutions shortly after their arrest. [20803]

  Mr. Bowis
  It is well-established Government policy that offenders suffering from mental disorder should, where necessary, receive care and treatment from the health and social services rather than in the criminal justice system. The transfer to hospital of prisoners requiring specialist psychiatric care plays an important part in this.

  The development of services for mentally disordered offenders and others with similar needs is a high priority for the national health service. My Department is working closely with the Home Department in establishing initiatives, such as multi-agency working in courts and the provision of specialist training, to ensure that mentally disordered people who come into contact with the criminal justice system obtain the care they need at the earliest possible stage.

  Cannabis
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what new proposals she has to legalise the therapeutic use of cannabis. [20806]

  Mr. Bowis
  Any consideration of the therapeutic use of cannabis would have to take account of the potential risks associated with short and long-term use. If, as a result of research, evidence became available that the quality, safety and efficacy of a cannabis-based preparation was suitable for the grant of a product licence under the Medicines Act 1968, the Misuse of Drugs Act controls, for which my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary is responsible, could be modified to make such a medicine available to patients.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by her Department have(a) a statutory requirement to admit members of the public to all board

  555
  or committee meetings and (b) a statutory requirement to hold open meetings for the public. [20886]

  Mr. Sackville
  None.

  Hospitals, London
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when she received the South Thames regional health authority submission on changes to London hospitals; and approximately how many hours she spent studying it before 4 April; [21068]

  (2) when she received the North Thames regional health authority submission on changes to London hospitals; and approximately how many hours she spent studying it before 4 April. [21069]

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 18 April at column 120.

  St. Bartholomew's and London Chest Hospital
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated land value of(a) the St. Bartholomew's hospital site and (b) the London chest hospital site. [21102]

  Mr. Malone
  The estimated land values of the St. Bartholomew's hospital site and the London chest hospital site are £65 million and £1.5 million respectively.

  Health Services, London
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the increased investment in primary care, revenue and capital, in London in 1992–93, 1993–94 and 1994–95; and what is planned for 1995–96 and 1996–97. [21103]

  Mr. Malone
  Total expenditure on primary care by family health services authorities in London in 1992–93 and 1993–94 together with increase over the previous year is shown in the table. Figures for 1994–95 are not yet available. No comparable planned figures are available for 1995–96 and 1996–97.

  £000

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Total expenditure

  859,482

  926,820

  Increase over previous year

  101,848

  67,338

  Notes:

  1. Source—Annual Accounts of FHSAs. Figures for 1993–94 are provisional, being subject to National Audit Office review.

  2. Figures relate to all FHSAs in London.

  3. The figures are for total FHSA expenditure (services and administration) excluding general practitioner fundholder expenditure on hospital services. Services expenditure is for both cash limited and non cash limited services, including general medical services, pharmaceutical services, optical services and dental services administered by FHSAs. Expenditure on dental services centrally administered by the Dental Practice Board is not included. Expenditure on administration is both revenue and capital expenditure. The accounting policy in respect of capital changed between the two years: in 1993–94 capital charges were introduced in respect of FHSAs.

  Survey Organisations
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will list the polling or public survey organisations employed by her Department in the financial year 1990–91; what were the values of 556
  individual contracts with these organisations; and what were the purposes of the research undertaken; [18171]

  (2) how much was spent by her Department on contracts with polling or public survey organisations in the financial year 1994–95; [18172]

  (3) if she will list the polling or public survey organisations employed by her Department in the financial year 1994–95; what were the values of individual contracts with these organisations; and what were the purposes of the research undertaken; [18173]

  (4) what was the total amount of money spent by her Department on contracts with polling or public survey organisations in each financial year since 1990–91; [18189]

  (5) if she will list the polling or public survey organisations employed by her Department in the financial year 1993–94, the values of individual contracts with these organisations and the purposes of the research undertaken; [18180]

  (6) if she will list the polling or public survey organisations employed by her Department in the financial year 1992–93, the value of individual contracts with these organisations and the purposes of the research undertaken. [18181]

  (7) if she will list the polling or public survey organisations employed by her Department in the financial year 1991–92, the values of individual contracts with these organisations and the purposes of the research undertaken. [18182]

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 5 April 1995]: A list of research projects commissioned from polling or public survey organisations for the financial years 1990–91 to 1994–95 will be placed in the Library. The cost of each individual survey is a matter of commercial confidentiality. Total costs of surveys in each year since 1990–91 are estimated as follows:

  £ million

  1990–91

  2.5

  1991–92

  3.4

  1992–93

  5.5

  1993–94

  6.7

  1994–95

  5.3

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Relocation Costs
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage 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. [19655]

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department of National Heritage was created in April 1992. It has two agencies—the Royal Parks Agency, created in April 1993 and the Historic Royal Palaces Agency, created in October 1989. The information requested is shown in the following table:
  557

  Total amount of removal costs (£)

  Amounts of highest claims (£)

  Average amount of each claim (£)

  DNH central department

  1992–93

  nil

  n/a

  n/a

  1993–94

  nil

  n/a

  n/a

  1994–95

  nil

  n/a

  n/a

  RPA

  1992–93

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1993–94

  nil

  n/a

  n/a

  1994–95

  nil

  n/a

  n/a

  HRPA

  1992–93

  nil

  —

  —

  1993–94

  2,521

  Two claims only: 2,021 and 500

  See data re actuals

  1994–95

  6,682

  One claim only: 6,682

  See data re actuals

  Overtime and Sickness
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage 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. [19680]

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department of National Heritage was created in April 1992. It has two agencies—the Royal Parks Agency (RPA) created in April 1993 and the Historic Royal Palaces Agency (HRPA) created in October 1989. The information requested is shown in the following tables:

  (a) and (b) Table 1—Overtime

  Total hours of overtime worked

  Total amounts paid in overtime (£)

  DNH central department

  1992–931

  Figures not available

  Figures not available

  1993–94

  Figures not available

  157,661.61

  1994–952

  Figures not available

  133,420.94

  RPA

  1992–93

  Not applicable

  Not applicable

  1993–94

  23,197

  289,570.13

  1994–952

  16,877

  213,354.78

  HRPA3

  1992–93

  Figures not available

  584,000.00

  1993–94

  Figures not available

  650,000.00

  1994–952

  Figures not available

  723,000.00

  Notes:

  1 DNH did not have its own financial and management accounting arrangements in place until August 1992; for the year 1992–93, the information is therefore not available in the format requested.

  2 The 1994–95 figures (for year ending 31 March 1995) may change slightly as year-end accounts are finalised.

  3 The HRPA figures cover both overtime and premium pay (for excess hours worked at weekends and on Public and Bank holidays. It is not possible to disaggregate the two.
  558

  c) Table 2—Sickness

  Number of days lost through sickness:

  DNH central department

  RPA

  HRPA

  1992

  366

  Not applicable

  2,090

  1993

  1,803

  2,350

  3,376

  19941

  —

  —

  —

  Notes:

  1 1994 data is not yet available.

  1. It is not possible to give figures for the monetary equivalent of days lost through sickness as there are too many variables in this calculation and it would be difficult to rely on the accuracy of any such calculations.

EMPLOYMENT

  Workplace Fatal Injuries
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons under 16 years died at a place of employment in each year since 1990. [20689]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The number of fatal injuries to persons under the age of 16 reported to health and safety enforcement authorities in each year since 1990–91 is shown in the following table:

  Fatalities1

  Year

  Employees2

  Non-employees

  Total

  1990–91

  0

  46

  46

  1991–92

  0

  33

  33

  1992–93

  1

  32

  33

  1993–943

  1

  29

  30

  1 Figures are for Great Britain: as reported to the Health and Safety Executive's factory and agricultural and railway inspectorates, and to local authorities.

  2 Includes trainees.

  3 Provisional.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current percentage of adult males who are currently unemployed or economically inactive. [20824]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The latest estimates from the labour force survey for winter 1994–95 show that 34.8 per cent. of males aged 16 and over in Great Britain are ILO unemployed or economically inactive, a category which includes students, the long-term sick and disabled and retirees.

  Over four out of five of the economically inactive males included in this percentage state, in reply to the LFS, that they do not want a job; many of them are aged 65 or over.

  Employment Service
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what support schemes for employees who take early retirement, early severance or voluntary redundancy are currently being operated by the Employment Service in the London region; how long these schemes have been in operation; and what plans there are to extend the cover of operation of these schemes. [21046]
  559
  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 a reply to be given.

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Ms Harriet Harman, dated 26 April 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about early retirement, early severance and voluntary redundancy schemes in the London Region.
  Schemes are operated on a regional basis and the majority of the following information therefore relates to the London and South East region of the Employment Services (ES).
  Voluntary early retirement and early severance schemes have been operated for a number of years by the Department of Employment (ED), such schemes being offered when the prevailing circumstances justify them and are not run separately for the ES. The need for schemes is considered each year by ED, on a regional basis. Schemes are operated where it is clear that staff surpluses will occur that cannot be accommodated in other ways.
  During the current financial year 89 staff in the ED Group in London and the South East left on early retirement. Of these 58 were from the ES. The staff involved were mainly from the more junior grades and in outlying locations (only three were from the Greater London area) for whom redeployment into other alternative posts elsewhere was not a realistic alternative.
  With unemployment continuing to fall sharply in the region, a similar scheme has just been announced for the current financial year. This will provide ED Group staff London and South East with 170 retirement opportunities. Most of these opportunities are likely to affect ES staff.

  Staff allocation 1994/95

  Staff usage 1994/95

  Grade

  Permanent

  Casual

  Total

  Permanent

  Casual

  Total

  4

  1.0

  0.0

  1.0

  1.0

  0.0

  1.0

  5

  1.0

  0.0

  1.0

  1.0

  0.0

  1.0

  6

  4.0

  0.0

  4.0

  3.9

  0.0

  3.9

  7

  26.0

  0.0

  26.0

  26.4

  0.0

  26.4

  SEO

  69.0

  0.0

  69.0

  74.8

  0.0

  74.8

  HEO

  543.0

  0.0

  543.0

  459.0

  0.0

  459.0

  EO

  3393.0

  0.0

  3393.0

  3276.3

  3.5

  3279.8

  AO

  8048.0

  365.0

  8413.0

  8187.7

  611.0

  8798.7

  AA

  829.0

  1.0

  830.0

  367.0

  109.0

  476.0

  Others

  158.0

  12.0

  170.0

  107.8

  7.9

  115.7

  Total

  13072.0

  378.0

  13450.0

  12505.8

  731.4

  13237.2

  Staffing levels and associated resource levels are determined largely, though not exclusively, by levels of unemployment. In LASER, unemployment fell by 15% between April 1994 and March 1995, although the fall was much sharper in some parts of South East England (up to 25%) than in the Region as a whole. This meant that staffing had to be reduced in LASER in phase with this and in fact staffing fell from 14,329 in April 1994 to 11,820 in March, or 17.5% As it is not possible to forecast with any reliability monthly changes in unemployment levels, ES Regions are not allocated staffing resources on a monthly basis.
  It is also not possible to say with any precision how staffing will move in the year ahead, although during the 1980s unemployment rose more rapidly in London and the South East than in other Regions. That trend is now being matched by a more rapid decline in LASER, particularly outside London, although it is not possible to forecast with confidence whether this will continue. LASER is currently resourced on the basis that it will need an average of 11,650 staff during the current financial year.
  As in all ES Regions, staffing levels are managed so as to keep as close a match as possible through the year between the levels of
  560
  Staff who take retirement under these schemes are offered retirement seminars to advise on financial planning and other matters. At this stage there are no plans for further schemes which would affect ES staff.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of staff actually employed in the region and the number of established positions which allocated resources allow for in the region, for the Employment Service in the London region, for each of the past 12 months, expressing the data by staff grade; and if he will make a statement about the staffing levels of the Employment Service in the London region. [21045]

  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 a reply to be given.

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Ms Harriet Harman dated 26 April 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the levels of staffing in the London region of the Employment Service (ES) over the past 12 months.
  The information you have requested is recorded on an ES Regional basis rather than for specific geographic areas. I have therefore provided the following information for the ES London and South East Region (LASER).
  In common with all ES regions, LASER was allocated resources for the 1994/95 financial year on the basis of expected business volumes. The staff allocation for this twelve month period was 13,450. This is shown by grade and compared with actual usage in the following table.
  business to be performed and the staffing resources allocated. That this has been done successfully has been borne out by the fact that LASER placed 487,000 clients into jobs during the last financial year, 9.5% above target. Of these 37.8% were long term claimants (against a target of 36.0%) and 4.1% people with disabilities, against a target of 3.6%
  I hope this is helpful.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have(a) a statutory requirement to admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings and (b) a statutory requirement to hold open meetings for the public. [20874]

  Miss Widdecombe
  None.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Criminal Injuries Compensation
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total cost to the public purse of administering the change of the criminal injuries compensation awards to a tariff scheme. [20407]

  Mr. Maclean
  A precise figure is not available, but the total additional cost was probably in the order of £1 million.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) firefighters, (b) police officers and (c) nurses have been made criminal injuries compensation awards under the tariff scheme which are less than they would have received under the old scheme; and, for each of these categories, what was the average amount by which each claimant received reduced remuneration. [20408]

  Mr. Maclean
  Under the tariff scheme offers of awards were made to 10 firefighters, 226 police officers and 60 health professionals, including doctors and nurses. Until the cases are reassessed under the 1990 scheme by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board it will not be possible to say whether there was any difference in the awards payable under the two schemes.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he plans to take with regard to claimants for criminal injuries compensation. [20409]

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Mr. Michael) on 6 February at column 113 and to the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Ainger) on 5 April at column 1250, pursuant to a reply given on 9 March.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many claimants were awarded compensation by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority under the tariff scheme; and what action he now proposes to take with regard to those awards. [20406]

  Mr. Maclean
  At 31 March 1995, 4,891 monetary awards had been offered or paid under the tariff scheme. All applications received on or after 1 April 1994 are now to be considered or reassessed under the 1990 scheme. Where a higher award results, the board will pay the balance to the applicant. In other cases the tariff award will be allowed to stand.

  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on legislation to place the criminal injuries compensation scheme on a statutory basis. [20745]

  Mr. Maclean
  Meetings and correspondence between Ministers are confidential.

  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many days a year the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board sits to consider claims; and if he will make a statement. [20616]

  Mr. Maclean
  Claims are decided initially by individual board members or by staff under delegated authority. Only where those decisions are appealed do board members sit in panels of two or three, usually for a week at a time, with a number of panels operating 562
  simultaneously. In 1993–94 the resulting number of sitting days were 969.

  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases are currently outstanding with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; and what is the average length of time taken to settle a claim. [20617]

  Mr. Maclean
  At 31 March 1995, some 38,500 1990 scheme cases—including nearly 19,000 appeals cases—and some 72,000 former tariff scheme cases—which now fall to be considered or reassessed under the 1990 scheme—were outstanding. The board does not maintain statistics on the time taken to deal with cases in a form which enables the average time per case to be calculated, but the board normally aims to make a first decision within nine months of receipt of an application and to hear an appeal within 18 months of an application for appeal.

  Mentally Ill Prisoners
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new policy decisions he plans to reduce the number of prisoners who are transferred to mental institutions(a) before sentence and (b) after sentence; and if he will make a statement. [20804]

  Mr. Maclean
  It is well established Government policy that offenders suffering from mental disorder should, where necessary, receive care and treatment from the health and social services rather than in the criminal justice system. The transfer to hospital of prisoners requiring specialist care plays an important part in this.

  The development of services for mentally disordered offenders and others with similar needs is a high priority for the NHS. My Department is working closely with the Department of Health in establishing initiatives, such as multi-agency working in courts and the provision of specialist training, to ensure that mentally disordered people who come into contact with the criminal justice system obtain the care that they need at the earliest possible stage.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have(a) a statutory requirement to admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings and (b) a statutory requirement to hold open meetings for the public. [20885]

  Mr. Howard
  None. However, the Data Protection Registrar is under a duty, under section 36 of the Data Protection Act 1984 to disseminate information about the operation of the Act.

  Fingerprints
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the abandonment of the advanced fingerprint recognition system. [20685]
  563
  Mr. Maclean
  The national automated fingerprint identification system—NAFIS—which is being procured by the Government on behalf of the police forces of England and Wales, remains on schedule for implementation from 1998. So far as the termination of the contract between the AFR Consortium and IBM for the provision of automated fingerprint recognition services is concerned, I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 5 April at columns 1249–50.

  Miscarriages of Justice
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 19 April at column 193, if he will list the recently completed investigations to which he refers and the cost in each case. [20775]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 April to the question from the hon. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Mr. Michael) at column 271.

  Phoenix Database
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will have access to the Phoenix database when it comes into service. [20466]

  Mr. Maclean
  The following organisations, all of which currently have access to the police national computer criminal names file, will have access to the Phoenix criminal justice record service database when it comes into service:

  All police forces maintained under the Police Act 1964, or the Police (Scotland) Act 1967

  The Metropolitan police

  The City of London police

  Regional crime squads, including the Scottish crime squad

  National Identification Service

  Scottish Criminal Record Office

  National Criminal Intelligence Service

  Regional criminal intelligence offices

  Royal Ulster Constabulary

  Isle of Man police

  Jersey police

  Guernsey police

  British Transport police

  Ministry of Defence police

  Dover Harbour Board police

  National Ports Office

  HM Customs and Excise

  The following four organisations will have access to the database for maintenance, development, or training purposes only:

  Hendon data centre

  Central police national computer training centre

  Home Office technical policy division (maintenance and development)

  The Police Staff college, Bramshill (training access only)

  In addition, as I announced to the House on 22 March at column 200, six Government Departments and agencies

  May 1992-April 1993

  May 1993-April 1994

  May 1994-April 1995

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Hunger Strikers

  1—

  1—

  74

  —

  50

  —

  Suicides

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1 Records of hunger-strikers in prisons prior to May 1993 do not distinguish between immigration detainees and others.

  564
  will also be given limited access to the system, for the purpose of conducting preliminary security vetting checks. Limited direct access has also been approved in principle for the Forensic Science Service to allow the addition of markers to indicate that a sample has been taken and whether a DNA profile is available, and to ensure that their separate DNA database is appropriately weeded.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 5 April,Official Report, columns 1240–41 regarding asylum applications in 1994, if he will provide the comparable statistics for the period from 1 August 1993 to 31 December 1993, in the same format. [20582]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The information requested is provided in the table.

  Decisions during the period August to December 1993, excluding dependants, on applications for asylum1 made before and after the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act, 1993

  Number of principal applicants

  Pre-act applications

  Post-act applications

  Total

  Total decisions2

  4585

  43,355

  4,745

  Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum

  70

  175

  245

  Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave to remain3

  110

  680

  790

  Total refusals

  4405

  42,500

  3,710

  Refused asylum and ELR after full consideration

  405

  2,140

  2,545

  Refused on safe third country grounds

  0

  360

  360

  Refused under para. 340 of the Immigration Rules4

  —

  —

  805

  1 Provisional figures rounded to the nearest 5.

  2 Figures exclude information on applications made overseas.

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

  4 Figures for refusals under para. 340 for failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period (para. 180F prior to 1 October 1994) are not available split between pre- and post-Act cases.

  Immigration Detainees
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the number of(a) hunger strikes and (b) suicides by (i) male and (ii) female immigration detainees in prisons in England and Wales during each of the last three years. [20356]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The available information is as follows:
  565
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of his Department regarding keeping immigration detainees being held in prison in England and Wales informed of the position of their cases; which service is responsible for it; and if he will make a statement. [20355]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  All immigration detainees, including those held in prisons, receive written notification from the Immigration Service, on a monthly basis, of the progress of their case. Asylum applicants receive, in addition, a report from the asylum division on the position reached in considering their application.

  Airlines
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state for each year since 1987 the total sum paid in carriers' liability by each airline. [20394]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The administration of the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987 involves the Home Office in sensitive discussions with air and sea carriers. These are conducted on a "commercial in confidence" basis, and to disclose information on individual carriers, including the level of charges paid by each airline, would represent a breach of confidentiality, which could jeopardise both the carriers' commercial operations, and our own debt recovery programme.

  The total sums paid between 1987 and the end of 1994 by all carriers, together with total—cumulative—charges outstanding at the end of each year are as follows:

  £ millions

  Year

  Paid

  Total outstanding

  1987

  1,403,000

  2,361,000

  1988

  2,274,000

  4,680,000

  1989

  1,721,000

  10,170,000

  1990

  3,433,000

  15,653,000

  19911

  7,581,000

  19,440,000

  1992

  4,789,000

  25,775,000

  1993

  11,500,000

  22,003,000

  1994

  8,652,000

  224,527,000

  Total paid

  41,353,000

  1 Charge increased from £1,000 to £2,000 per improperly documented passenger on 1 August 1991.

  2 Of this sum, £9.269 million is currently the subject of settlement discussions.

  Wandsworth Prison
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the board of visitors at Wandsworth prison as to the physical conditions in A wing; and if he will make a statement of his Department's policy to improve conditions there. [20357]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  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 B. Landers to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 26 April 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about what representations he had received from the Board of Visitors at Wandsworth prison about the physical conditions in A wing and what plans there are to improve the conditions there.
  566
  The Board of Visitors raised their concerns about the physical conditions on A wing in their Annual Report for 1994.
  A wing will be closed at the end of January 1996 for major refurbishment, although showers have already been installed. A wing already provides better accommodation and facilities than would be available to prisoners in police cells. The delay in closing A wing was necessary in order to avoid the locking out of prisoners into police cells in the London area this year.

  Police National Computer
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what bodies other than police forces have access to the police national computer or criminal records; what safeguards exist against misuse; and what sanctions can be taken to remove access when individuals or organisations misuse the data. [20583]

  Mr. Maclean
  The following bodies other than police forces currently have direct access to the police national computer:

  HM Customs and Excise

  The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (vehicles application only)

  National Ports Office

  National Identification Service

  Scottish Criminal Record Office

  National Criminal Intelligence Service

  Regional criminal intelligence offices

  Regional crime squads, including the Scottish crime squad

  The following four organisations have access for maintenance, development, or training purposes only:

  Hendon data centre

  Home Office technical and policy division

  Central police national computer training centre

  Police staff college, Bramshill

  In addition, I announced to the House on 22 March at column 200 that limited direct access for security vetting purposes would be made available to six Government Departments and agencies. Data on stolen vehicles is also supplied directly on tape from the police national computer to HPI (Equifax), CCN Group Limited and the Association of British Insurers.

  All data on the police national computer so far as it relates to identifiable individuals is subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1984, and the provisions of the Computer Misuse Act 1990 are also relevant. All transactions undertaken on the police national computer are automatically logged. Security arrangements are formalised in access agreements which have been or will be concluded with each user. These agreements specify, amongst other matters, the purposes for which the data may be used, security procedures, and arrangements for audit, including external compliance audits to be conducted by Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary. Provisions exist for terminating direct access should this prove necessary.

  There are also statutory and administrative arrangements under which the police conduct criminal record checks on individuals on behalf of a range of employers and licensing authorities, without the recipients of the information having direct access to the police national computer. These bodies are listed in the

  567
  applications for registration completed separately by each data user and subsequently entered on the register held by the Office of the Data Protection Registrar.

  Vulnerable Prisoner Units
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of vulnerable prisoner units in prisons in England and Wales as of 24 April(a) for men and (b) for women. [20353]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  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 Richard Tilt to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 26 April 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the Office, to reply to your recent Question about the number of vulnerable prisoner units for men and women in prisons in England and Wales as of 24 April.
  The latest available information is for 30 June 1994, when there were 38 vulnerable prisoner units for males and three for females.

  Prisoners (Rule 43)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of(a) men and (b) women, who were on rule 43 in prisons in England and Wales on 17 April. [19953]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  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.

  £000

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95 (provisional)

  Home Office (excluding HM Prison Service, the Forensic Science and the Fire Service College)

  3,944

  3,758

  2,646

  HM Prison Service1

  237,500

  29,830

  18,189

  Forensic Science Service

  n/a

  96

  71

  Fire Service College

  10

  nil

  nil

  1 Prison Service figures cover payments made centrally but exclude payments made locally.

  2 Figure includes repayable advances of salary which cannot be identified centrally.

  At the Fire Service college, there were two claims in 1992–93 involving amounts of £5,774 and £4,241. The average was £5,007.

  It is not possible to identify the highest claims that were concluded and settled in any one year or the average amount of each claim in any one year in other parts of the Home Office without disproportionate cost.

  Prison Service Director
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Director General of the Prison Service's contract ceases; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  [pursuant to his reply 20 January 1995, column 695]: Mr. Lewis's original contract was for three years from 6 January 1993 extendable to five years by agreement. He was informed in March 1995 that the Home Office would not be offering him the two-year extension.

  His contract has, however, been varied so that as from 22 April 1995 he continues to serve as Director General
  568
  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 26 April 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General to reply to your recent Question about the number of men and women who were on Rule 43 in prisons in England and Wales on 17 April.
  The latest available information is for 30 June 1994. On that date the number of inmates held on Prison Rule 43 or Young Offender Institution Rule 46 for their own interests or for good order and discipline were as follows:

  Good order and discipline

  Own interest

  Males

  302

  887

  Females

  8

  0

  Total

  310

  887

  Relocation Costs
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [19658]

  Mr. Howard
  Following is the available information about expenditure on removal costs and associated expenses reimbursed to officials of my Department.

  for a period of 12 months which may be rolled forward on a month-by-month basis. The contract will in any event not continue beyond 6 January 1998.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Local Enterprise Development Unit
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the results of the survey of the client companies of the Local Enterprise Development Unit on the success of its total quality policy as announced in section 6.22 of the Northern Ireland expenditure plans and priorities 1994–95 to 1996–97; and how these results are being made available. [19864]

  Mr. Ancram
  LEDU's 1994 "Client Company Quality of Service Survey" showed an overall rate of satisfaction for its services of 78 per cent. among its clients. An analysis of the survey results was published in LEDU's "Business Brief' magazine in February 1995, a copy of which will be placed in the Library.

  Damage to Property (Compensation Claims)
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the reasons for the trend in the level of outstanding claims for damage to property in Northern Ireland between 1990 and 1994; and what provision he intends to make to deal with these outstanding claims as quickly as possible. [19873]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Compensation Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Denis Stanley. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from D. A. Stanley to Ms Marjorie Mowlam, dated 21 April 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply, on behalf of the Compensation Agency, to your recent Question regarding claims for criminal damage to property.
  The following table shows the number of criminal damage claims outstanding at each year ending 31 March from 1991 to 1995 along with the projected figure for the end of the current year:

  Year

  Number of claims outstanding at year end

  1990–91

  4,213

  1991–92

  6,238

  1992–93

  6,432

  1993–94

  6,612

  1994–95

  2,795

  1995–96

  1950

  1 Estimated. The number of claims outstanding at the end of any year is directly related to the numbers of new claims received in that year. The rising trend over the three years up to 1993–94 reflected the terrorist bombing campaign over this period when, in particular, town centres were targeted resulting in a large number of claims involving commercial property, much of which took considerable time to rebuild.

  A significant downturn in new claims occurred in 1994–95 particular following the paramilitary ceasefires of last Autumn. As a consequence, a substantial reduction was made in the number of outstanding claims. On the assumption that this downturn in new claims will continue, it is estimated that by the end of 1995–96 the number of outstanding claims will have been reduced to about 950.
  The Agency remains committed to processing claims as quickly as possible. Resources and procedures are targeted at ensuring that the Agency provides the best possible service to the innocent victims of violent crime.

  Arrests
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many arrests were made in Northern Ireland in each year since 1991. [20480]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Figures for all arrests are not held centrally and to obtain these would incur disproportionate cost. Arrests under the Police and Criminal Evidence Order and section 14 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act are set out below:

  PACE

  Section 14 PTA

  1991

  145

  1,620

  1992

  267

  1,748

  1993

  441

  1,640

  1994

  628

  1,503

  Conviction Rates
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many convictions there have been 570
  for offences committed in Northern Ireland in each year since 1991. [20479]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The number of persons convicted of offences in Northern Ireland in each year since 1991 is as follows:

  1991: 33,303

  1992: 33,459

  1993: 35,085

  1994: 34,216

  Housing Associations (Capital Grants)
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to reduce the capital grants available to housing associations in Northern Ireland. [20536]

  Mr. Moss
  None. The capital grants available to housing associations in Northern Ireland increased from £41.4 million in 1994–95 to £45.7 million in 1995–96.

  Emergency Provisions Act
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been(a) arrested and (b) convicted under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991 in each year since 1991. [20228]

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 24 April 1995]: Figures for arrests under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991 are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The number of persons convicted under the Act is as follows:

  Year of court

  Number

  1991

  2

  1992

  233

  1993

  241

  1994

  177

  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list by category of offence each(a) arrest made and (b) conviction obtained under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991 in each year since 1991. [20229]

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 24 April 1995]: Figures for arrests under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991 are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Convictions for offences under the Act are as follows:

  Year of court

  Conviction obtained

  Number of persons convicted

  1991

  Unattended parking within control zone

  2

  1992

  Unattended parking within control zone

  184

  Insecure vehicle

  25

  Failing to rendervehicle incapable ofbeing driven

  16

  Possessinginformation useful to terrorists

  3

  Failing to answer question of security forces

  2

  Failing to stop for member of security forces

  1

  571

  Year of court

  Conviction obtained

  Number of persons convicted

  Possessing items for terrorist purposes

  1

  Recording information useful to terrorists

  1

  1993

  Unattended parking within control zone

  179

  Insecure vehicle

  30

  Failing to render vehicle incapable of being driven

  14

  Possessing items for terrorist purposes

  10

  Possessing information useful to terrorists

  6

  Attempting to elicit information useful to terrorists

  1

  Wearing hood in public place

  1

  1994

  Unattended parking within control zone

  129

  Insecure vehicle

  29

  Possessing items for terrorist purposes

  6

  Failing to lock doors

  3

  Failing to render vehicle incapable of being driven

  2

  Belonging to proscribed organisation

  2

  Arrange meeting to support proscribed organisation

  2

  Possessing information useful to terrorists

  2

  Collecting information useful to terrorists

  1

  Recording information useful to terrorists

  1

  Name of body

  Publish annual report

  Publish annual accounts

  Publish minutes of meetings

  Publish agendas of meetings

  Publish register of members' interests

  Department of Agriculture:

  Livestock and Meat Commission

  Yes(S)

  Yes(S)

  No

  No

  No

  Pig Production Development Committee

  Yes(S)

  Yes(S)

  No

  No

  No

  Agricultural Wages Board

  Yes(S)

  1No

  No

  No

  No

  Agricultural Research Institute

  Yes(S)

  Yes(S)

  No

  No

  No

  Foyle Fisheries Commission

  Yes(S)

  Yes(V)

  No

  No

  No

  Fishery Harbour Authority

  Yes(V)

  Yes(V)

  No

  No

  No

  Fisheries Conservancy Board

  Yes(S)

  Yes(S)

  No

  No

  No

  Department of Economic Development:

  Labour Relations Agency

  Yes(S)

  Yes(S)

  No

  No

  No

  NI Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members

  Yes(S)

  Yes(S)

  No

  No

  No

  Northern Ireland Tourist Board

  Yes(S)

  Yes(S)

  No

  No

  No

  Local Enterprise Development Unit

  Yes(S)

  Yes(S)

  No

  No

  No

  Fair Employment Commission

  Yes(S)

  Yes(V)

  No

  No

  No

  Equal Opportunities Commission

  Yes(S)

  Yes(V)

  No

  No

  No

  General Consumer Council

  Yes(S)

  Yes(S)

  No

  No

  No

  Construction Industry Training Board

  Yes(S)

  Yes(S)

  No

  No

  No

  Enterprise Ulster

  Yes(S)

  Yes(S)

  No

  No

  No

  Ulster Sheltered Employment Ltd.

  Yes(S)

  Yes(S)

  No

  No

  No

  Department of Education:

  Belfast Education and Library Board

  Yes(V)

  Yes(S)

  Yes(V)

  No

  No

  South Eastern Education and Library Board

  Yes(V)

  Yes(S)

  Yes(V)

  No

  No

  North Eastern Education and Library Board

  Yes(V)

  Yes(S)

  Yes(V)

  No

  No

  Southern Education and Library Board

  Yes(V)

  Yes(S)

  Yes(V)

  No

  No

  Western Education and Library Board

  Yes(V)

  Yes(S)

  Yes(V)

  No

  No

  Youth Council for NI

  Yes(V)

  Yes(S)

  No

  No

  No

  572
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many people have been(a) arrested and (b) convicted for offences under (i) section 27, (ii) section 28 and (iii) section 29 of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991 in each year since 1991; [20230]

  (2) how many people have been (a) arrested and (b) convicted under (i) section 53, (ii) section 54 and (iii) section 54A of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991 in each year since 1991. [20231]

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 24 April 1995]Figures for arrests under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991 are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The number of persons convicted under specific sections of the Act is as follows:

  Section

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  27

  0

  0

  0

  0

  28

  0

  0

  0

  4

  29

  0

  0

  0

  0

  53

  0

  0

  0

  0

  54

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern bodies sponsored by his Department publish(a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) the minutes of meetings, (d) the agendas of meetings and (e) registers of members' interests; and whether this in each case is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary. [20502]

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 25 April 1995]: The information requested is as follows:
  573

  Name of body

  Publish annual reports

  Publish annual accounts

  Publish minutes of meetings

  Publish agendas of meetings

  Publish register of members' interests

  Arts Council for NI

  Yes(V)

  Yes(S)

  No

  No

  No

  NI Museums Council

  Yes(V)

  Yes(S)

  No

  No

  No

  Sports Council for NI

  Yes(S)

  Yes(S)

  No

  No

  No

  Ulster Museum

  Yes(S)

  Yes(S)

  No

  No

  No

  Ulster Folk and Transport Museum

  Yes(S)

  Yes(S)

  No

  No

  No

  Council for Catholic Maintained Schools

  No

  Yes(S)

  No

  No

  No

  NI Council for the Curriculum, Exams and Assessment (NICCEA)

  No

  Yes(S)

  No

  No

  No

  Staff Commission for Education and Library Boards

  No

  Yes(S)

  No

  No

  No

  Department of the Environment:

  Fire Authority for NI

  Yes(S)

  Yes(S)

  No

  No

  No

  Langanside

  Yes(S)

  Yes(S)

  No

  No

  No

  NI Housing Executive

  Yes(S)

  Yes(S)

  No

  No

  No

  NI Transport Holding Company

  Yes(S)

  Yes(S)

  No

  No

  No

  NI Local Government Officers' Staff Commission

  Yes(V)

  Yes(V)

  No

  No

  No

  Department of Finance and Personnel:

  The Department does not sponsor any executive non-departmental public bodies.

  Department of Health and Social Services:

  National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Northern Ireland

  Yes(S)

  Yes(S)

  No

  No

  No

  Northern Ireland Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education

  No

  No

  No

  No

  No

  Mental Health Commission for Northern Ireland

  Yes(S)

  2Yes(S)

  No

  No

  No

  (S) Statutory requirement. (V) Voluntary.

  1 Report is published bi-annually.

  2 Report is published biennially.

  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have(a) a statutory requirement to admit members of the public to all board

  Statutory requirements to

  Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies

  Admit members of the public to all board/committee meetings

  Admit members of the public to all sub-committee meetings

  Hold open meetings for the public

  Department of Education

  Belfast Education and Library Board

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  South-Eastern Education and Library Board

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  North-Eastern Education and Library Board

  Yes

  yes

  No

  Southern Education and Library Board

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  Western Education and Library Board

  Yes

  Yes

  No

  Council for Catholic Maintained Schools

  Yes

  No

  No

  NIO

  Boundary Commission—Public inquiries only

  In respect of all other executive non-departmental pubic bodies in Northern Ireland, the answer is Nil.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  British High Commission, Nairobi
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the total cost to date of building the new British high commission office in Nairobi. [20940]

  Mr. Goodlad
  The total cost to date of building the British high commission office in Nairobi is £4,989,917 including consultants' fees.
  574
  or committee meetings; and (b) a statutory requirement to hold open meetings for the public. [20882]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested is as follows:

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have(a) a statutory requirement to admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings and (b) a statutory requirement to hold open meetings for the public. [20887]

  Mr. Goodlad
  None.

EDUCATION

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by her Department have(a) a statutory requirement to admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings and (b) a statutory requirement to hold open meetings for the public.

  Mr. Boswell
  None.

  Mature Students
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many mature students were registered for degrees at British universities in the last three years for which figures are available.[20790]

  Mr. Boswell
  The latest available data on all home domiciled, first year, full-time and part-time mature students on higher education courses at publicly funded institutions in Great Britain was published in September 1994 in statistical bulletin 16/94. The numbers of mature students enroling on a first degree course are shown in the table.

  Thousands

  Academic year beginning

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Full-time

  34.7

  50.5

  66.4

  Part-time

  14.6

  21.2

  27.1

  Illiteracy
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the current reported rate of illiteracy; and what were the figures for each of the previous four years. [20725]

  Mr. Boswell
  The number of people in England and Wales who cannot read and write at all is minimal. However, the Basic Skills Agency estimates that one in six adults in England and Wales is unable to read, write and/or speak in English at a level necessary to function and progress at work and in society in general. There is no evidence that this proportion has changed significantly in recent years.

  Barnsley and Doncaster Training and Enterprise Council
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when the contract of the current chairman of the Barnsley and Doncaster TEC was terminated; when the new chairman will be appointed; and what organisations were or are being consulted over this appointment. [20739]

  Mr. Paice
  I have been asked to reply.

  The chairman of the Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council has informed the TEC's board of directors that he intends to step down from the role of chairman before the end of 1995. The appointment of a new chairman is a matter for the TEC board, which has appointed a sub-group to consult local organisations,
  576
  including both local authorities and chambers of commerce in the TEC area.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Coal Privatisation
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to release details of the advice given by civil servants to the Secretary of State for Energy in 1991 on the awarding of the contract for advice on the privatisation of the coal industry to the National Audit Office. [20513]

  Mr. Page
  The National Audit Office has access to all the relevant papers on the appointment of N. M. Rothschild as advisers to the Government on coal privatisation.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if any of the information concerning the reasons for awarding the consultancy contract on the privatisation of the coal industry to N. M. Rothschild, the advice given by civil servants to Ministers, the terms on which the contract was awarded, how value for money was to be judged and subsequent costs controlled is held in files marked as being not for National Audit Office eyes. [20514]

  Mr. Page
  No.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what date his Department became aware that Mr. Richard Budge had provided advice to N. M. Rothschild and Son on matters relating to the privatisation of the coal industry. [20515]

  Mr. Page
  In connection with the privatisation of the coal mining operations of British Coal the Department and N. M. Rothschild and Sons Ltd. held discussions with a wide selection of then existing and prospective coal industry participants, including Mr. Budge, in the period prior to the submission of tenders for the regional coal companies in September 1994. At no time has Mr. Budge provided advice to N. M. Rothschild and Sons Ltd.

  Instruments of Torture
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what Government or training and enterprise council support has been provided in the last five years to companies that produced equipment used for purposes of torture. [20286]

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department has not knowingly supported companies which produce equipment intended for the purpose of torture.

  Questions on TEC support should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the value of the trade in British torture equipment. [20296]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  I know of no such trade. Export licences would not be granted for licensable goods if there were good reasons to suppose that they would be used for the purposes of torture.

  Business Links
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much was spent on business links before September 1994. [19454]

  Mr. Heseltine
  The total amount spent on the development of business links by DTI up to 31 August 1994 was £3.61 million.

  Allowances and Costs
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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. [19650]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  As regards the central DTI, the following amounts of removal costs and associated expenses were reimbursed to officials required to relocate as part of their employment:

  £

  £

  1994–95

  2,234,526

  (includes 694,559 provision for relocation costs for merger of WSL with AEA)

  1993–94

  1,634,070

  (includes 143,108 provision for relocation costs for merger of WSL with AEA)

  1992–93

  1,418,515

  —

  The other expenditure details requested are not identified separately and to provide the information would entail disproportionate cost.

  I have asked agency chief executives to reply direct in respect of the expenditure for which they are responsible.

  Letter from W. Edgar to Mr. David Shaw, dated 26 April 1995:
  I refer to your question to the President of the Board of Trade concerning the amount of removal costs and associated expenses reimbursed to officials who are required to relocate as part of their employment. The expenditure of NEL is as shown below. Please note that in both years where expenditure was incurred only one official was involved and thus the total also represents the answer to part (b) and part (c) of your question. I trust you will find the information supplied to be satisfactory for your purposes.

  £

  1992–93

  nil

  1993–94

  1,927

  1994–95

  3,073

  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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. [19564]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  As regards the central DTI, the subsistence element of claims by officers who travel on official business(a) within the United Kingdom and (b)
  578
  outside the United Kingdom is not recorded separately from the travel costs element.

  To provide the information requested would entail disproportionate cost.

  I have asked agency chief executives to reply direct to the hon. Member as they have their own budgetary responsibility for United Kingdom and overseas travel and subsistence.

  Letter from W. Edgar to Mr. David Shaw, dated 26 April 1995:
  I would refer to your question to the President of the Board of Trade concerning the total amount paid in subsistence allowances for travel, within and outside the United Kingdom in the last three years. The management information system NEL does not separate travel and subsistence costs and does not differentiate between travel and subsistence within or outside the UK. It is not possible therefore to supply the information you require.

  Letter from Peter Clapham to Mr. David Shaw, dated 26 April 1995:
  I am writing in response to your questions to the President of the Board of Trade regarding i) subsistence allowances and ii) removal costs and associated expenses, in each of the last three years.
  Subsistence Allowances

  a) Within the UK—disproportionate cost rule applies. NPL's accounts do not separately identify subsistence costs from travel costs.

  b) Overseas—disproportionate cost rule applies for the reason given above.

  Removal Costs

  a) Total removal costs and associated expenses reimbursed—£17,643 in 1992/93, £15,613 in 1993/94 and £9,354 in 1994/95.

  b) Amount of each of the three highest claims concluded and settled—disproportionate cost rule applies. To obtain this information NPL would need to request that CSL Managed Services (formerly ASA), who handle claims on NPL's behalf, consult each individual relocation file for the last three years and total all expenses paid from each individual file.

  c) Average amount of each claim in the last three years—disproportionate cost rule applies. All files from last three years would need to be consulted to endure that cases did not start outside the three year period, or started within the three year period but have yet to be completed.

  I hope this provides the information you require.

  Letter from P. R. S. Hartnack to Mr. David Shaw, dated 26 April 1995:
  You recently tabled two questions to the President of the Board of Trade, concerning subsistence allowances and removal costs. I have been asked to reply with respect to the Patent Office.
  I am afraid that subsistence payments—in connection with both UK and overseas travel—are not separately identified from the related travel costs on our information system, and differentiating them would involve disproportionate cost.
  The total amount of removal costs and associated expenses reimbursed to Patent Office officials over the past three years was £748,000 in 1992–93; £381,000 in 1993–94; and £354,000 in 199495. These figures exclude advance of salary for house purchase, since this amounts to a repayable loan. The number of relocation cases in the Patent Office has been high over the past three years, since we have been completing the move from London to South Wales. We would need to research individual files in order to determine the three highest claims, which I regret would involve disproportionate cost. The same is true for the average amount of each claim, since many cases are protracted and will overlap with the three years in question.
  579
  Letter from Peter Joyce to Mr. David Shaw, dated 26 April 1995:
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your Question about removal costs paid to officers relocated in the last three years.
  The Insolvency Service Executive Agency paid the following removal and associated costs:

  1992–93: £427,000

  1993–94: £252,000

  1994–95: £250,000

  The figure for 1994–95 is provisional pending clearance of the final accounts for the year.
  The further information which you have sought about the three highest claims and the average amount of each claim is not readily identified by CSL Managed Services (formerly the Accounts Services Agency) which maintain The Insolvency Service's Vote accounts, and could only be obtained from the examination of individual files at disproportionate cost.

  Letter from Peter Joyce to Mr. David Shaw, dated 26 April 1995:
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your Question about the amounts paid in subsistence allowances in the last three years.
  The Insolvency Service Executive Agency paid the following travel costs and subsistence allowances, chargeable against the Vote:

  1992–93: £328,000

  1993–94: £342,000

  1994–95: £370,000

  CSL Managed Services (formerly the Accounts Services Agency) which maintain The Insolvency Service's Vote accounts do not separately identify subsistence allowances from travel costs nor differentiate between UK and overseas travel and subsistence. The specific information which you have sought in relation to subsistence allowances could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The figure for travel and subsistence for 1994–95 is provisional pending clearance of the final accounts for the year.
  The figures do not include travel costs and subsistence allowances chargeable against the estates of bankrupts and companies in compulsory liquidation incurred by Official Receivers and their staff in carrying out their functions under the Insolvency Act 1986. Information in relation to such costs and allowances could only be obtained from the examination of individual estate accounts at disproportionate cost.

  Letter from Jim Norton to Mr. David Shaw, dated 26th April 1995:
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply on behalf of the Radiocommunications Agency to your two written Parliamentary Questions concerning subsistence allowances and removal costs.

  SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCES
  There would be a disproportionate cost involved in providing the information requested for each of the last three years as we do not separately identify subsistence costs and travel costs for either UK or overseas travel.

  REMOVAL COSTS
  The Radiocommunications Agency has spent the following amount on removal costs for its staff relocating as part of their employment:

  1992–93: £64,439

  1993–94: £55,338

  1994–95 £104,038

  You have asked for details of the three highest claims and the average amount of each claim in the last three years. There would be a disproportionate cost invovled in providing this information as we would have to consult each case for the last three years to total all expenses paid from each individual file and to ensure that cases did not start outside the three year period or started within the three year period but have yet to be completed.
  I am sorry that I cannot be more helpful.
  580
  Letter from R. D. Worswick to Mr. David Shaw, dated 11 April 1995:
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your questions about subsistence allowances and removal and associated expenses with respect to the Laboratory of the Government Chemist.
  Most of the information you requested is not readily available, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
  We do not keep records which distinguish between the subsistence costs of any trip and the travel costs. We record the total of "travel and subsistence". The total "travel and subsistence" costs for the last three years is (in £k):

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Within UK

  167

  156

  115

  Outside UK

  47

  72

  98

  This expenditure is associated with fulfilling contracts for customers, attending scientific meetings and pursuing new areas of business.

  Removal Allowances
  The total amount of removal costs and associated expenses charged to the Laboratory of the Government Chemist are (£k):

  1992–93: 18

  1993–94: 6

  1994–95: 6

  I regret that it would require manual searches of records and would not be cost effective to provide further breakdown of these figures.

  Letter from Seton Bennett to Mr. David Shaw, dated 26 April 1995:
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory to your questions about subsistence allowances and removal costs.
  (a) Subsistence allowances
  The CSL Managed Services (formerly ASA) do not separately identify subsistence costs from travel costs, nor do they differentiate between UK and overseas travel and subsistence. However, I am able to provide composite figures for expenditure on all travel and subsistence for the last three years.
  They are:—

  1992–93: £55,126

  1993–94: £66,098

  1994–95: £46,529 (Provisional)

  (b) Removal costs
  This Agency has had no expenditure on removal costs in the last three years.

  Letter from David Durham to Mr. David Shaw, dated 6 April 1995:
  You recently tabled two Parliamentary Questions requesting information about removal costs and associated expenses reimbursed to officials on relocation, and subsistence allowances for travel within and outside the United Kingdom. I have been asked to reply as Chief Executive of the Companies House Executive Agency.
  As far as removal costs are concerned, this agency has not incurred any of these expenses. As regards subsistence allowances, I am afraid this information is not available except at disproportionate costs. This is because we do not separately identify subsistence costs from travel costs when recording claims in our accounting system.

  Manufacturing Firms
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of United Kingdom companies he now assesses to be world class. [20561]
  581
  Mr. Eggar
  A recent study by IBM and the London The table shows the estimated staff time and associated business school shows that the United Kingdom has a costs of the editorial team for each departmental report similar proportion to Germany of world-class manufacturing firms. Forty UK firms are in the Fortune 500 list of top global companies. In terms of profitability, 16 of the top 25 companies in Europe are UK-based.

  Sellafield
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what application British Nuclear Fuels has made for a change of use in its site licence for Sellafield, as part of its decision to offer Nuclear Electric and Scottish Nuclear long-term storage contracts for spent nuclear fuel. [20398]

  Mr. Page
  None. No change is required to BNFL's Sellafield site licence to allow long term storage of spent fuel, although BNFL will be submitting a revised safety case to the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate which takes account of the new contracts.

  Royal Mail
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy that the Royal Mail should be able to negotiate a single contract with all the train operating units or companies. [20647]

  Mr. Page
  Contracts for transport services are a commercial matter for the Post Office. I understand from the Post Office that all Royal Mail's external rail transport services are covered by contractual arrangements with Rail Express Systems.

  Departmental Report
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much staff time, and at what estimated cost, was put into compiling the departmental annual report; and what were the figures for each year for which figures are available since 1990. [20175]

  Mr. Heseltine
  Drafting and editing of the departmental report is co-ordinated by a small editorial team, using information gathered from a wide variety of sources within the Department. It is not possible to quantify the time devoted by staff other than the editorial team to these activities.

  Annual Reports

  Annual Accounts

  Minutes of Meetings

  Agendas of Meetings

  Register of Members Interests

  British Hallmarking Council

  1Y

  1Y

  2Y

  2Y

  2Y

  English National Advisory Committee on Telecommunications

  1Y

  N

  2Y

  2Y

  2Y

  Northern Ireland Advisory Committee on Telecommunications

  1Y

  N

  2Y

  2Y

  2Y

  Scottish Advisory Committee on Telecommunications

  1Y

  N

  2Y

  2Y

  2Y

  Welsh Advisory Committee on Telecommunications

  1Y

  N

  2Y

  2Y

  2Y

  Gas Consumers Council

  1Y

  N

  2Y

  2Y

  N

  Post Office Users National Council

  1Y

  N

  2Y

  2Y

  N

  Post Office Users Council for Northern Ireland

  1Y

  N

  2Y

  2Y

  N

  Post Office Users Council for Scotland

  1Y

  N

  2Y

  2Y

  N

  Post Office Users Council for Wales

  1Y

  N

  2Y

  2Y

  N

  National Consumer Council

  1Y

  1Y

  2Y

  2Y

  2Y

  Design Council

  3Y

  3Y

  N

  N

  N

  Hearing Aid Council

  1Y

  1Y

  N

  N

  N

  Monopolies and Mergers Commission

  2Y

  N

  N

  N

  N

  582
  The table shows the estimated staff time and associated costs of edtorial team for each departmental report since 1992–92. These figures are published each year in MINIS. Figures are not available for the year 1990–91 report, which predated MINIS, but are not expected to have been substantially different from 1991–92. Costs are expressed in 1994–95 prices.

  Time man years

  Cost £000

  1992

  0.6

  20

  1993

  0.8

  26

  1994

  1.1

  36

  1995

  1.1

  36

  In addition, some staff time is devoted to the design and production of the report. In 1993–94 and 1994–95, this amounted to 0.1 and 0.2 man years and £12,000 and £21,000 respectively—costs expressed in cash terms. These figures are not shown separately in MINIS and information on similar costs for earlier years is not available.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures the Department takes to assess the cost and staff implications of compiling material for the departmental annual report. [20176]

  Mr. Heseltine
  The resources needed to coordinate drafting and production of the departmental report are considered as part of my annual examination of the Department's activities and resources in MINIS, the results of which are published each year. Budgets are set for non-staff costs at the beginning of work on each report.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish(a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) the minutes of meetings, (d) the agendas of meetings and (e) registers of members' interests; and whether this in each case is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary. [20505]

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 25 April 1995]: The information requested is as follows:
  583

  Annual Reports

  Annual Accounts

  Minutes of Meetings

  Agendas of Meetings

  Register of Members Interests

  NEB/NRDC

  N

  N

  N

  N

  N

  Policyholders Protection Board

  1Y

  1Y

  N

  N

  N

  Simpler Trade Procedures Board

  3Y

  3Y

  N

  N

  N

  United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

  1Y

  1Y

  N

  N

  N

  1 Statutory requirement.2 Voluntary.

  3 Condition of grant in aid.

  British Coal Projects
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those British Coal projects which received European regional development funding over the last 10 years, indicating(a) the level of funding and (b) the dates when it was received. [20402]

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 24 April 19951: The amounts of European regional development fund grant approved for British Coal projects up to 31 March 1995 are as listed, except for information for Scotland before 1989, which is not readily available. The dates shown are those of the offers of grant. Most of the grants have been for British Coal Enterprise job creation projects. Most of the others have been to British Coal property for activities such as clearing and renovating old mine areas.

  Date

  Area

  £

  20 October 1988

  Carcroft

  215,640

  19 December 1988

  South Tyneside

  159,250

  2 February 1990

  Carcroft

  135,765

  2 February 1990

  Carcroft

  326,285

  2 February 1990

  Carcroft

  110,000

  15 March 1990

  Coatbridge

  350,400

  14 August 1990

  Tyne and Wear

  69,896

  14 August 1990

  Tyne and Wear

  292,000

  14 August 1990

  Tyne and Wear

  171,997

  30 October 1990

  Durham and Cleveland

  179,656

  21 February 1991

  Strathclyde

  602,500

  9 April 1991

  Durham and Cleveland

  157,962

  21 June 1991

  Lothian

  200,000

  21 June 1991

  Cowdenbeath

  40,000

  28 November 1991

  Strathclyde

  100,000

  14 January 1992

  Mansfield

  184,763

  17 January 1992

  Dinnington

  113,659

  17 January 1992

  Dinnington

  323,492

  17 January 1992

  Dinnington

  196,111

  17 March 1992

  Mansfield

  164,446

  23 June 1992

  Mansfield

  498,187

  29 June 1992

  Midlothian

  64,000

  29 June 1992

  Midlothian

  35,900

  29 June 1992

  Central Scotland

  50,000

  29 June 1992

  Central Scotland

  10,000

  29 June 1992

  Bathgate

  64,000

  29 June 1992

  Bathgate

  36,000

  29 June 1992

  Kirkcaldy

  45,000

  29 June 1992

  Kirkcaldy

  25,000

  18 July 1992

  Bolsover

  292,596

  29 July 1992

  Fife

  520,000

  3 August 1992

  Bolsover

  112,305

  12 August 1992

  Falkirk

  188,400

  26 August 1992

  Lothian

  660,400

  13 October 1992

  Ashfield

  128,833

  13 October 1992

  Ashfield

  9,637

  20 October 1992

  South Yorkshire

  500,000

  26 October 1992

  Mansfield

  117,252

  27 November 1992

  Cumnock

  10,272

  584

  Date

  Area

  £

  27 November 1992

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  32,000

  27 November 1992

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  66,500

  27 November 1992

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  33,750

  10 December 1992

  South Yorkshire

  493,819

  15 December 1992

  Blaenavon

  76,396

  18 Decmber 1992

  Ashfield

  3,871

  18 December 1992

  Newark and Sherwood

  284,500

  18 December 1992

  Bassetlaw

  133,000

  5 February 1993

  Carcroft

  136,513

  23 February 1993

  South Yorkshire

  209,379

  2 March 1993

  Whitehaven

  76,750

  16 March 1993

  West Lothian

  375,000

  16 March 1993

  West Lothian

  150,000

  16 March 1993

  Lothian

  240,000

  31 March 1993

  Tyne and Wear

  711,049

  31 March 1993

  Tyne and Wear

  350,000

  31 March 1993

  Tyne and Wear

  300,000

  31 March 1993

  Tyne and Wear

  10,000

  1 April 1993

  Durham

  439,201

  30 April 1993

  South Yorkshire

  800,000

  25 June 1993

  Durham

  143,955

  29 June 1993

  Lothian

  240,000

  16 July 1993

  Dinnington

  826,165

  20 July 1993

  Tyne and Wear

  1,250,000

  13 August 1993

  Newark and Sherwood

  175,553

  17 September 1993

  Durham

  620,400

  17 September 1993

  Templeborough

  1,089,021

  23 September 1993

  Sherbourn

  46,844

  28 September 1993

  Nottingham

  11,574

  2 November 1993

  Coventry

  695,250

  4 November 1993

  Blaenavon

  75,000

  16 November 1993

  Wombwell

  294,500

  16 November 1993

  Armthorpe

  233,611

  18 November 1993

  Strathclyde

  78,125

  18 November 1993

  East Midlands

  25,258

  19 November 1993

  East Midlands

  75,000

  19 November 1993

  East Midlands

  50,000

  22 November 1993

  East Midlands

  128,500

  22 November 1993

  East Midlands

  350,000

  24 November 1993

  Bassetlaw

  442,049

  26 November 1993

  Chesterfield

  222,500

  30 November 1993

  Ashfield

  470,447

  15 December 1993

  Ashfield

  40,031

  15 December 1993

  Ashfield

  157,126

  15 December 1993

  Newark and Sherwood

  55,000

  15 December 1993

  Ashfield

  422,550

  15 December 1993

  Mansfield

  191,250

  15 December 1993

  East Midlands

  174,750

  15 December 1993

  South Yorkshire

  901,215

  23 December 1993

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  142,669

  23 December 1993

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  171,204

  31 December 1993

  Mansfield

  127,872

  31 December 1993

  East Midlands

  210,500

  31 December 1993

  East Midlands

  73,000

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  RMS St. Helena
  Sir David Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the MARSPEC report on the condition of RMS St. Helena. [20366]

  Mr. Baldry
  The MARSPEC report was produced for the Government of St. Helena. With the agreement of the Governor, a copy of the report has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Forest Stewardship Council
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding has been made available by the Overseas Development Administration to the Forest Stewardship Council; and for what purpose. [20781]

  Mr. Baldry
  The ODA made a grant of £14,000 to the World Wide Fund for Nature to meet the costs of attendance of developing country representatives at the founding assembly of the council in 1993. We are presently discussing with the Forest Stewardship Council the possibility of providing funding to support national workshops in developing countries to discuss timber certification issues.

  English Language Book Society
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons he has indicated that he wishes to terminate the subsidy to the English Language Book Society. [19891]

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 25 April 1995]: The subsidy to British publishers under the educational low-priced books scheme—ELBS—is being phased out over two years because it is not fully meeting ODA's developmental priorities. A review carried out in 1994 revealed that about a third of books sold under ELBS went to prosperous countries, including Hong Kong, Malaysia and Turkey, although our aim for the scheme was to reach poorer students in poorer countries who cannot afford to buy books. The review concluded that the money could be spent more effectively if targeted at specific countries and institutions to which poorer students have access. Over the coming months we will be developing new strategies to achieve improved targeting of and access to key text books and other essential learning materials for students in the poorer countries, in pursuit of our developmental objectives.

DEFENCE

  Russian Forces
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the number of Russian forces stationed in each sovereign state outside present Russian borders. [20280]

  Mr. Soames
  Some Russian-controlled military units stationed outside Russia are mixed-manned with Russians and local ethnic groups. The rounded figures for Russian-controlled units are as follows:586

  Turkmenistan around 1,000

  Tajikistan: 25,000

  Kazakhstan: 23,000

  Uzbekistan: around 100

  Kyrgyzstan: around 500

  Estonia: none

  Lithuania: none

  Latvia: 600

  Armenia: 15,000

  Azerbaijan: 300

  Georgia: 25,000

  Moldova: 8,000

  Ukraine: 35,000

  Belarus: 3,000

  Low Flying
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he is likely to complete his investigation into the low-flying incident over Barnoldswick and Earby in January. [20002]

  Mr. Soames
  Although the RAF police investigation is well advanced, there is still a need to interview eye witnesses. The RAF police aim to conduct these interviews as soon as possible and to conclude their investigation shortly thereafter.

  Military Attaches
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what countries the United Kingdom posts have defence attaches; and what number of serving military personnel is attached to each one, together with their rank. [19958]

  Mr. Soames
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett) on 2 March,Official Report, column 687.

  Rifle Grenades
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what United Kingdom capability exists for the design and manufacture of rifle grenades: which company was responsible for the production of rifle grenades currently in service: for what reasons no British company has been invited to tender for the design and supply of rifle grenades under tender No. LWS 2a/459; and if he will make a statement. [20332]

  Mr. Freeman
  Any accredited United Kingdom ammunition manufacturer would have the capability to design and manufacture rifle grenades as the technology is not complex. Current in-service grenades were manufactured by Luchaire (France) and Martin Marietta (US). Two UK companies registered an interest in the advance notice of tender LWS 2a/459, Heckler and Koch (UK) and Hunting Engineering. However, Heckler and Koch (UK) withdrew from the tender in August 1993, and the Hunting Engineering proposal did not meet the services' requirements.

  Helicopters
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the six reports on cost and operational effectiveness investment appraisal of the EH101 helicopter. [20478]
  587
  Mr. Freeman
  This material is classified, and it would not therefore be appropriate to place it in the House of Commons Library.

  Abbey Wood
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) the functions and (b) the staff which he intends to transfer to the new facilities at Abbey wood, Bristol. [20801]

  Mr. Freeman
  The function to be transferred is defence equipment procurement and related policy support which is undertaken by the Department's Procurement Executive. Current plans envisage transferring some 4,300 PE civilian and military posts together with a further 600 PE-related project support and integrated logistics specialist personnel. Of the total PE strength, some 500 administrative or secretarial staff will be recruited locally with the balance transferring from existing locations. Consideration is being given to accommodating additional staff at Abbey wood to allow further rationalisation of MOD property holdings.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out(a) the original completion date, (b) the current completion date, (c) the confirmed cost and (d) the expected cost for the construction of Abbey wood, Bristol. [20802]

  Mr. Freeman
  The original completion date including occupation of Abbey wood by the Procurement Executive headquarters staff was autumn 1996. The current completion date is 31 October 1996. The approved and estimated cost of the development is £254.136 million—inclusive of VAT—at 1993 prices. The project remains within budget.

  University Recruits
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many flying members of each university air squadron were recruited into the RAF on leaving university in the last available year. [20888]

  Mr. Soames
  The number of former university air squadron flying members who were recruited into the Royal Air Force as pilots on leaving university during financial year 1993–94 is as follows:

  Aberdeen, Dundee and St. Andrews

  1

  Birmingham

  6

  Bristol

  3

  Cambridge

  2

  East Lowlands

  1

  East Midlands

  4

  Glasgow and Strathclyde

  1

  Liverpool

  3

  London

  4

  Manchester and Salford

  4

  Northumbrian

  6

  Oxford

  6

  Queen's

  0

  Southampton

  6

  Wales

  1

  Yorkshire

  4

  Plutonium
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the fuel-grade plutonium owned by his Department and stored at Sellafield will be transferred to the civilian stockpile, following the announcement of an end to the production of fissile materials for explosive purposes. [21015]

  Mr. Soames
  We have no such plans. Radioactive Waste

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to take any action against the individuals who, on 17 April, damaged the radioactive waste discharge pipeline which runs from AWE Aldermaston to the River Thames. [21010]

  Mr. Soames
  This matter is currently under consideration by my Department.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have(a) a statutory requirement to admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings and (b) a statutory requirement to hold open meetings for the public. [20872]

  Mr. Soames
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on this subject on 25 April,Official Report, column 497.

  US Naval Facility, Brawdy
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the US Navy has provided the Ministry of Defence with a base closure report on environmental issues for the US naval facility at Brawdy in Pembrokeshire. [21081]

  Mr. Soames
  Although the US naval facility at Brawdy has not yet closed, we have discussed such a document with the US authorities and they have agreed to provide one at the appropriate time.

TRANSPORT

  British Rail Rolling Stock
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when he expects to announce the outcome of the bids for the privatisation of British Rail Maintenance Ltd.; [20546]

  (2) what legal rights are held by Asea Brown Boveri to undertake rolling stock engineering and maintenance work for British Rail and rolling stock leasing companies; [20544]

  (3) if he will place in the Library a copy of the agreement reached with Asea Brown Boveri at the time of the privatisation of British Rail Engineering Ltd. regarding the future placing of orders for rolling stock engineering and maintenance work by British Rail; [20542]

  (4) what reference was made to legal obligations on the railway rolling stock leasing companies regarding any requirement to place heavy engineering and maintenance work with any publicly or privately owned maintenance companies and to legal rights held by Asea Brown Boveri

  589
  to undertake rolling stock engineering and maintenance work for British Rail and rolling stock leasing companies, in the documentation provided to potential purchasers of British Rail Maintenance Ltd.; [20545]

  (5) what legal obligations rest on the railway rolling stock leasing companies regarding any requirement to place heavy engineering and maintenance work with any publicly or privately owned maintenance companies. [20543]

  Mr. Watts
  The British Railways Board and the rolling stock companies have contractual commitments for rolling stock maintenance with a number of private sector suppliers, and with BR Maintenance Ltd.—level 5 maintenance depots. BR described these latter commitments and associated matters in the British Rail Maintenance Ltd.—level 5 information memoranda, other sales documents and in subsequent discussions with bidders for the depots. The documents are commercially confidential and cannot therefore be released. BR hopes to announce sales of the depots shortly.

  Bull Bars
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to sponsor new research by the Transport Research Laboratory into accidents in which bull bars are involved. [20805]

  Mr. Norris
  None. I am waiting for the results of the accident study based on police reports of injuries to pedestrians involving cars fitted with bull bars, which should be available towards the end of this year.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have(a) a statutory requirement to admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings and (b) a statutory requirement to hold open meetings for the public. [20878]

  Mr. Norris
  Only the London regional passengers committee is subject to any statutory requirements. Meetings of the committee are required to be open to the public, except during discussion on items of business defined in paragraph 11A of schedule 3 to the London Regional Transport Act 1984—for example, where a breach of confidence would be involved.

  Railway Passenger Services
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if passenger transport executives will be able to specify timetabling and fares for the rail services they support. [18015]

  Mr. Watts
  The Railways Act 1993 provides for passenger transport executives to submit to the franchising director a statement of their requirements for inclusion in the specification of services in respect of which the franchising director proposes to issue an invitation to tender. Such a statement shall specify the railway passenger services which the passenger transport authority considers it appropriate to secure to meet any public transport requirements within the relevant passenger transport area. The statement may also specify requirements with respect to the fares to be charged to persons using those services.

  Ship Inspections
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of ship inspectors employed at each marine office for each of the last five years. [19381]

  Mr. Norris
  This is an operational matter for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from R. M. Bradley to Ms Joan Walley, dated 26 April 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of ship inspectors employed at each Marine Office during the last five years.
  The number of ship inspectors, including fishing vessel inspectors, in post in each marine district are set out in the table below. The number of inspectors in post by district is not available for the financial years 1989–90 and 1990–91.

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  London

  —

  —

  18

  18

  19

  Southampton

  —

  —

  30

  23

  21

  Liverpool

  —

  —

  20

  19

  21

  Glasgow

  —

  —

  22

  21

  21

  Aberdeen

  —

  —

  17.5

  20

  20.5

  Newcastle

  —

  —

  25

  27.5

  27.5

  Total number of inspectors in post

  129

  137

  132.5

  128.5

  130

  The figure for the number of inspectors in post in 1994–95 is being collated and will be published in the MSA's annual report.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many unannounced inspections have been carried out by the Marine Safety Agency for each of the last five years; [19383]

  (2) if he will list for each of the last five years the number of ship inspections undertaken by the Marine Safety Agency. [19379]

  Mr. Norris
  These are operational matters for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from R. M. Bradley to Ms Joan Walley dated 26 April 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your two Questions about the number of ship inspections and the number of unannounced ship inspections carried out by the Marine Safety Agency (MSA) in each of the last five years.
  Virtually all inspections made by the MSA are unannounced, by occasionally for operational reasons the inspection may be pre-arranged. The records held by the MSA do not identify which inspections might have been announced in advance.
  The number of inspections carried out in the last five years by the MSA and the Surveyor General's Organisation (before 1993) are set out in the table below. The figures include fishing vessel inspections and port state control inspections.

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Total number of inspections

  6,018

  5,801

  6,654

  6,211

  6,663

  The inspection figures for 1994–95 are being collated and will be published in the MSA's annual report.

  Marine Safety Agency
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the total budget for the Marine Safety Agency and its predecessor for each of the last five years. [19387]

  Mr. Norris
  The gross budgets for the Marine Safety Agency for the financial years 1990–91 to 1994–95 are as follows:

  £ million

  1990–91

  26.9

  1991–92

  28.6

  1992–93

  27.6

  1993–94

  28.5

  1994–95

  31.7

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each of the last two years the number of port state control checks undertaken by the Marine Safety Agency. [19380]

  Mr. Norris
  This is an operational matter for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from R. M. Bradley to Ms Joan Walley, dated 26 April 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of port state control inspections undertaken by the Marine Safety Agency (MSA) in the last two years.
  The MSA carried out 2,132 port state control inspections in the financial year 1992/93 and 2,218 inspections in 1993/94. Information on the inspections undertaken in 1994/95 is being collated and the number of port state control inspections carried out will be published in the MSA's annual report.

  Ferry Safety
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the ferries sailing from United Kingdom waters that do not meet the standards set out in SOLAS 90. [19382]

  Mr. Norris
  In his oral statement to the House on 5 April 1995,Official Report, columns 1753–61, the Secretary of State announced the publication of lists of roll-on roll-off ferries serving the United Kingdom ports. The lists show whether the vessels meet the SOLAS 90 survivability standard or the date by which they need to be modified in accordance with the north-west European ferry stability agreement which applies SOLAS 90 to roll-on roll-off ferries built before 1990. A copy of those lists and an explanatory note were placed in the Library of the House.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if it is mandatory for ferry operators to carry out fire evacuation exercises while passengers are on board; and if he will make a statement. [19384]

  Mr. Norris
  This is an operational matter for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from R. M. Bradley to Ms Joan Walley, dated 26 April 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your question about fire evacuation exercises whilst passengers are on board ferries.
  Passengers are not required to participate in fire drills unless the ship is engaged on a long international voyage, in which case a muster of the passengers must take place within 24 hours of their
  592
  embarkation. In addition, all passenger ships on international voyages, including ferries, are subject to requirements that call for a weekly fire drill when the crew receive training and practise the functions that they are expected to carry out in an emergency. In the event of a fire passengers would be alerted using the general emergency alarm system and instructed on the public address system to muster at specified positions in the same way as any other emergency. Instructions are required to be posted in passenger cabins, muster stations and other passenger spaces to inform passengers of their muster station and the essential actions they must take in an emergency.

  Railway Signalling Systems
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what dates work started or will start on site on the renewal of(a) Winchester/Weston, (b) Dorking-Arundel AHB level crossings, (c) Kingmoor area, (d) east Kent AHB level crossings, (e) Holmwood, (f) central Scotland, (g) Medway valley, (h) Olive Mount, (i) Great Eastern, (j) Manchester north, (k) Manchester south—Stockport(l) Manchester south, (m) Hither Green, (n) Willesden, (o) Barnes, (p) Dartford and (q) Guildford railway signalling systems; and in each case when the renewal is due to be completed. [20303]

  Mr. Watts
  Railtrack has supplied me with the following information:

  a. Winchester/Weston
  The start date was April 1994. The implementation phase started in June 1994. The project is due to be completed in early 1996.

  b. Dorking—Arundel AHB Level Crossings
  Crossings are renewed when their life has expired. No indication that remedial action is required at present.

  c. Kingmoor Area
  The programme for this project is currently under review.

  d. East Kent AHB Level Crossings
  No specific programme. Crossings are renewed when their life has expired. No indication that remedial action is required at present.

  e. Holmwood
  This signal box has not been used for over 10 years. Plans are being drawn up for decommissioning, but no date fixed.

  f Central Scotland
  Installation work has been completed at Hilton and largely completed at Grangemouth junction. At Carmuirs East and Dunblane work has been completed.

  g. Medway Valley
  Most boxes have had their interlocking refurbished over the last two years. There is no immediate plan to renew.

  h. Olive Mount
  No scheme is in progress at this moment in time.

  i. Great Eastern
  The project started in 1988 and is due to finish commissioning at Easter 1998.

  j. Manchester North
  The design contracts for this project are about to be let. Site surveys are beginning now but implementation is likely to start in early 1996 and to end towards the close of 1997.

  k. Manchester South (Stockport)
  Signalling work will be started this year and finished during 1996.

  l. Manchester South
  No work currently under way except that on the Stockport section.

  m. Hither Green
  No plans at present for this location.

  n. Willesden
  The Willesden work is due to start during 1995 and finish during 1996.
  593
  o. Barnes
  The implementation phase of this project is planned to start during 1995 and the project completed during 1997.

  p. Dartford
  Repairs were undertaken in November 1994 which removed immediate problems. Various options are currently under consideration, but at this stage, no fixed date for start of works.

  q. Guildford
  The start date was July 1994. The implementation phase is planned to start in April 1996. The project is due to be completed in July 1998.

  Jubilee Line
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress towards meeting the completion deadline for construction of the Jubilee line. [20988]

  Mr. Norris
  Construction of the line continues. London Underground is still aiming for it to be completed in early 1998.

  Container Freight Lorries
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many container freight lorries enter each United Kingdom port annually through ferry facilities. [20765]

  Mr. Norris
  The information requested is not available.

  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many container freight lorries have entered the United Kingdom via the channel tunnel since its opening. [20764]

  Mr. Norris
  The information requested is not available.

  Motorways (Abnormal Loads)
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to privatise the escorting of wide and heavy loads on motorways by the police; and if he will make a statement. [20470]

  Mr. Maclean
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers are examining the idea that on motorways and linking dual carriageways the escorting of abnormal loads which are between 4.3 and 4.6 m wide and 80 to 150 tonnes in weight might be carried out by suitably trained and qualified private escorts. The issue has recently been examined by consultants and their report is under consideration. The road haulage industry associations concerned with abnormal loads will be invited to comment on the report.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioners
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners in Scotland(a) are dependent on income support, (b) have incomes less than £10 above income support levels and (c) are placed above these levels by receipt of a contributory pension or superannuation scheme. [18986]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The number of pensioners1 in Scotland in receipt of income support is 153,00022.
  594
  It is estimated that 95,000 pensioners in Scotland will have income within £10 of income support thresholds including housing requirements in 1995–96 3.

  It is estimated that 500,000 pensioners in Scotland would be placed above income support thresholds including housing requirements by the receipt of a contributory pension or superannuation scheme in 1995–963.

  Notes:

  1 The definition of "pensioner" used throughout is women aged 60 and over and men aged 65 and over.

  2 The figure is rounded to the nearest 1,000.

  Source: income support statistics quarterly inquiry May 1994.

  3 (a) Case load figures are rounded to the nearest 5,000.

  (b) This is estimated using income brought to account for income support purposes, modelled from 1990, 1991 and 1992 family expenditure survey data uprated to 1995–96 prices and benefit levels.

  (c) The definition of "contributory pension or superannuation scheme" used is:

  —public and private pensions—occupational pensions;

  —state retirement pensions.

  Income-related Benefits
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many British nationals who have paid tax and national insurance contributions in the United Kingdom have been excluded from income-related benefits on the grounds of the habitual residence test, before taking up appeals after returning to the United Kingdom from another member state of the European Union. [19267]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  This information is not available.

  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to limit income-related benefit payments to claimants who have paid tax and national insurance contributions in the United Kingdom. [19271]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  None. Tax and national insurance contributions are not taken into account when deciding entitlement to the income-related benefits.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. MacDonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the number and location of Benefits Agency, Child Support Agency, Contributions Agency, the Information Technology Services Agency, Resettlement Agency, War Pensions Agency offices closed and the number of jobs lost or transferred as a result of agency work transferring from Scotland to the rest of the United Kingdom over the past five years and the number and location of offices opened and jobs gained in Scotland as the result of agency work transferring to Scotland from the rest of the United Kingdom over the same period. [20263]

  Mr. Hague
  The Benefits Agency opened the Glasgow benefit office in August 1989 and over the following 18 months 831 posts were gained as a result of work transferring from the rest of the United Kingdom. The central office for Scotland was closed in March 1992. During the 18–month run-down period the majority of posts were redistributed within Scotland and approximately 50 posts transferred to Leeds.

  The Child Support Agency opened an agency center—CSAC—at Falkirk during 1993. As at the end of February 1995, the CSAC had a total of 721 posts dealing with new work created following the Child Support Act 1991.
  595
  Over the last four years, the Contributions Agency has centralised some work at Newcastle while maintaining a local presence for face-to-face contact with customers. This has entailed some posts transferring to Newcastle from around the United Kingdom. Exact figures for posts transferring from Scotland to Newcastle could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The Information Technology Services Agency, the Resettlement Agency and the War Pensions Agency have not transferred any work between Scotland and the rest of the UK.

  Residential and Nursing Homes
  Mr. Wicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information his Department has in respect of the numbers of people who are entering private residential or nursing homes, where such care is publicly financed but does not involve the local authority social services department in any assessment of need, or in any expenditure. [19898]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Information is not available in the form requested. In November 1994, the number of residents who were in receipt of income support that included residential allowance was 80,000. It is not known how many of these had been assessed or financially supported by social services. In addition, 201,000 residents have preserved rights to the higher levels of income support. It is not known how many of these receive financial support from the local authority.

  Source: income support statistics quarterly enquiry, November 1994.

  Expenditure
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the underlying rate of growth in social security expenditure in the next 10 years, assuming level unemployment and assuming the full effects of all recently announced changes from the previous year. [20464]

  Mr. Hague
  The latest long-term projections of underlying growth in expenditure were published in the departmental report "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1995–96 to 1997–98", Cm 2813, which stated that recently announced reforms would contain growth between 1997–98 and 2000–01 to 2.1 per cent. a year, assuming level unemployment. Projections of social security expenditure over a 10–year period would be subject to considerable uncertainty.

  Consultants
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many former members of staff of his Department or its agencies are currently employed as consultants within his Department or its agencies; what is the length of the consultancy in each case; and what were their previous grades; [20343]

  (2) how many former members of his staff are currently employed as consultants by DSS headquarters; what is the length of the consultancy in each case; and what were their previous grades. [20344]

  Mr. Hague
  Two former members of staff are currently employed as consultants by DSS headquarters. Their previous grade and length of consultancy are as follows:
  596

  Previous grade

  Length of consultancy

  Grade 2

  Four days in total during April and May 1995.

  Grade 3

  Two/three days per week on continuing basis.

  The information requested for the Department's agencies is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the proportion of(a) married couples and (b) single parents who claim family credit. [20390]

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

  Family credit case load July 1994

  Cases

  Percentage

  Couples1

  327,700

  57

  Lone parents

  243,980

  43

  Note:

  1 Not categorised by marital status.

  Source:

  Family credit statistics: quarterly tables, July 1994.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 28 March,Official Report, column 557, (1) how many of the 45,000 new incapacity benefit claimants who will be found capable of work in 1995–96 he estimates will (a) sign on as unemployed and receive unemployment benefit, (b) sign on as unemployed and receive income support only, (c) sign on and receive national insurance credits only, (d) receive retirement pension, (e) receive invalidity care allowance, (f) receive widows benefits and (g) receive income support without having to sign on; [21020]

  (2) how many of the 55,000 new incapacity benefit claimants who will be found capable of work in 1996–97 he estimates will (a) sign on as unemployed and receive unemployment benefit, (b) sign on as unemployed and receive income support only, (c) sign on and receive national insurance credits only, (d) receive retirement pension, (e) receive invalidity care allowance, (f) receive widows benefits and (g) receive income support without having to sign on; [21021]

  (3) how many of the 80,000 existing invalidity benefit claimants who will be found capable of work in 1996–97 he estimates will (a) sign on as unemployed and receive unemployment benefit, (b) sign on as unemployed and receive income support only, (c) sign on and receive national insurance credits only, (d) receive retirement pension, (e) receive invalidity care allowance, (f) receive widows benefits and (g) receive income support without having to sign on; [21018]

  (4) how many of the 140,000 existing invalidity benefit claimants who will be found capable of work in 1995–96 he estimates will (a) sign on as unemployed and receive unemployment benefit, (b) sign on as unemployed and receive income support only, (c) sign on and receive national insurance credits only, (d) receive retirement pension, (e) receive invalidity care allowance, (f) receive widows benefits and (g) receive income support without having to sign on. [21016]
  597
  Mr. Hague
  There are no estimates of the number of Figures based on the estimated number of people found capable of work who will receive retirement pension, invalidity care allowance or widow's benefits. Such information as is available is in the table.

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Invalidity benefit/incapacity benefit claimants

  Existing cases

  New cases

  Existing cases

  New cases

  Estimated number of claimants found capable of work

  140,000

  45,000

  80,000

  55,000

  Estimated number who will be unemployed and receive unemployment benefit/contributory jobseeker's allowance

  70,000

  25,000

  40,000

  30,000

  Estimated number who will be unemployed and receive Income support/income-based jobseeker's allowance only1

  25,000

  10,000

  15,000

  10,000

  Estimated number who will be unemployed and receive national insurance credits only

  20,000

  10,000

  15,000

  10,000

  Estimated number who will receive income support without having to sign on as unemployed

  10,000

  5,000

  5,000

  5,000

  Note:

  1 Not receiving unemployment benefit/contributory jobseeker's allowance but may receive other benefits—for example, housing benefit, council tax benefit.

  All estimates rounded to nearest 5,000. Totals may not sum due to rounding and because not all groups are included—for example, those found capable of work who do not register for employment or receive any other benefit.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 28 March,Official Report, column 557 (1) if he will break down by region the estimates of the numbers of (a) existing invalidity benefit claimants, (b) existing income support claimants, (c) new incapacity benefit claimants and (d) new income support claimants who will be found capable of work in each of the years (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97 and (iii) 1997–98; [21019]

  (2) if he will break down by gender the estimates of the numbers of (a) existing invalidity benefit claimants, (b) existing income support claimants, (c) new incapacity benefit claimants and (d) new income support claimants who will be found capable of work in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97 and (iii) 1997–98. [21017]

  Mr. Hague
  The information is not available in the form requested. Estimates are available only on a national basis. There is insufficient data to allow them to be broken down regionally, or by gender.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many of those who move off incapacity benefit in 1995 he estimates will not qualify for unemployment benefit for reasons of(a) failing the contribution test or (b) failing the availability test;
  [21011]

  (2) pursuant to this answer of 28 March, Official Report. column 557, how many of the people who will fail to qualify for contributory jobseeker's allowance will do so for reasons of (a) failing the contributions test or (b) failing the availability tests; [21022]

  (3) how many people who move off incapacity benefit in 1995–96 he estimates will not qualify for unemployment benefit. [21012]

  Mr. Hague
  It is estimated that around 95,0001 new and existing claimants found fit for work in 1995–96 will not qualify for unemployment benefit because of failure to satisfy the contribution conditions.

  Information is not available as to the number of people who will not qualify for unemployment benefit or contributory jobseeker's allowance due to failure to satisfy the availability for work tests.

  1 Figure rounded to the nearest 5,000.
  598
  Figures based on the estimated number of people leaving incapacity benefit earlier than they would done under current arrangements.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people who move off incapacity benefit in 1995–96 will qualify for contributory jobseeker's allowance in each of the years 1996–97 and 1997–98. [21013]

  Mr. Hague
  The information requested is not available.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have(a) a statutory requirement to admit members of the public to all board of committee meetings and (b) a statutory requirement to hold open meetings for the public. [20880]

  Mr. Hague
  The Occupational Pensions Board is the only executive non-departmental public body sponsored by this Department. There is no statutory requirement to admit members of the public to its board or committee meetings. However, there is a statutory requirement, under the provisions of the Occupational Pensions Board (Determinations and Review Procedure) Regulations 1973 to hold formal public hearings, in connection with reviews of the board's determinations, unless the board for any special reasons directs otherwise. If such a hearing is held privately, a member of the Council on Tribunals is entitled to attend.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many complaints have now been made to his Department or the Child Support Agency concerning the Child Support Agency. [19239]

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

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Allan Rogers, dated 26 April 1995:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the number of complaints received by the Child Support Agency.
  The precise information you request is not available. Since launch to the end of February 1995, the Agency has recorded a total of

  599
  34,449 letters of complaint; but a significant proportion of those complaints concern areas such as general policy or the powers of this Agency. Many of these letters are from persons who are opposed to the legislation but not actually affected by it. The number of letters received that contain complaints specifically about the Agency's performance is not separately identified, but it is considerably less than the overall figure shown above.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average amount of maintenance payable as a result of a full assessment by the Child Support Agency in cases where there are(a) one, (b) two and (c) more than two children, and the overall average figure excluding cases where the absent parent is on income support or other benefit and so paying the standard minimum contribution at the latest date for which figures are available. [19281]

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

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Donald Dewar, dated 26 April 1995:
  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the average amount of child maintenance payable following a full maintenance assessment by the Child Support Agency.
  As at 11 March 1995, the average weekly maintenance payable by absent parents with income from employment, but excluding those receiving income support, following a full maintenance assessment, was £43.46. Information on the average maintenance payments broken down by the number of qualifying children involved is not available.
  I hope this is of help.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total number to date of maintenance application forms issued by the Child Support Agency to parents with care that have not been returned, broken down to show(a) where good cause was accepted, (b) where good cause was investigated and not accepted, (c) where MAFs were issued at a parent with care's request which were subsequently found to have been duplicated, (d) where the parent with care ceased to claim benefit before returning the MAF and (e) the number of unreturned MAFs which were issued prior to 1 July 1994. [19152]

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

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Frank Field, dated 26 April 1995:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the number of maintenance application forms (MAF) issued by the Child Support Agency that have yet to be returned by the parent with care.
  Since launch to the end of February 1995, a total of 1,217,941 maintenance application forms (MAF's) have been issued 867,883 of which have been returned, leaving an outstanding balance of 350,058. At that time 27,800 of the outstanding forms had only been issued during February. It is not possible to break the remaining 322,200 forms down into the categories that you request.
  Some information that is available is as follows. The requirement to co-operate has been considered in a total of 146,790 cases. Good cause was accepted in 69,228 cases and refused in a further 53,174. The remainder (24,388) were cases where the parent with care (PWC) chose to name the absent parent (AP) before a decision on good cause was made.
  Since September 1994, it has been possible to conduct good cause investigations without a MAF having been issued. No separate record is made of this type of investigation. Good cause may also
  600
  be considered, for example, after a MAF has been returned if, in the case of a multiple assessment unit, the PWC chooses to name one or more APs while claiming good cause not to name one or more of the other APs, or where a MAF is returned incomplete but with a claim for good cause. The number of good cause investigations completed does not therefore provide a direct comparison with the number of MAF's not yet returned.
  Cases where a MAF is issued and is subsequently found to have been a duplicate, along with cases where a PWC ceases to claim benefit before a maintenance assessment is completed, are recorded as "other" clearances or closures. This is regardless of whether the MAF has been returned or not. No data are collected on the number of closures falling into particular categories, except for cases where good cause is accepted. Other examples of closures are: reconciliation of AP and PWC; AP abroad; AP not traced. This list is not exhaustive.
  At present the Agency cannot provide a detailed analysis of the age of those cases where a MAF has not been returned but future enhancements to the Child Support Computer System which will provide this information are planned. However, as at the end of February, 16,254 cases had been identified as part of the one off deferral exercise, announced in December 1994, referring to MAFs issued before 1 July 1994. This figure includes cases where no MAF had been returned and those where a partially completed form was received by the Agency and the PWC does not wish to pursue the matter.

WALES

  West Wales Ambulance NHS Trust
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list, in respect of the newly established West Glamorgan and Dyfed ambulance trust,(a) the date when the trust commenced its operational duties, (b) the date on which the chief executive was appointed, (c) the date when the chairman was appointed, (d) the number of applications he has received for the executive positions and the date he will announce the appointments and (e) the number of applications he has received for the lay membership and the date he will announce the appointments. [19929]

  Mr. Richards
  The information requested is as follows:

  a. The Trust became operational on 1 April 1995.

  b. The appointment of the Chief Executive is a matter for the Trust Board (i.e. Chairman and non-Executive Director).

  c. The appointment of Mr. Roger Hayes as Chairman of the Trust was announced on 27 March 1995 and took effect from 1 April 1995.

  d. Responsibility for the appointment of the Executive Directors lies with the Trust Board, including the Chief Executive.

  e. More than 300 applications have been received for the non-Executive Director posts of the five new NHS Trusts. I shall announce the names of those who have been appointed as soon as possible.

  General Dental Services
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish information for Wales corresponding to that contained in table 23 on page 63 of the Department of Health's departmental report, cm 2812 (March 1995). [19918]

  Mr. Richards
  The information is given in the following table.
  601

  Family Health Services—Key Statistics on General Dental Services

  General Dental Services1

  1983–84

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Per cent. change 1983–84 to 1993–94

  Per cent. change 1992–93 to 1993–94

  Gross expenditure (£ millions)2

  30.320

  50.115

  57.055

  69.513

  73.794

  67.964

  124.2

  -7.9

  Gross expenditure in real term (1994–95 prices)(£ millions)

  52.201

  62.886

  66.284

  75.983

  77.573

  69.323

  32.8

  -10.6

  Proportion of gross expenditure met from charges (per cent.)3

  23.5

  33.3

  31.8

  28.9

  27.7

  28.0

  19.1

  1.1

  Number of general dental practitioners (GDPs)4

  702

  827

  837

  832

  831

  843

  20.1

  1.4

  Adult courses of treatment (thousands)

  1,048

  1,192

  1,327

  1,031

  1,398

  1,409

  34.4

  0.8

  Adult courses of treatment per GDP

  1,493

  1,441

  1,585

  1,239

  1,682

  1,671

  11.9

  -0.7

  Children registered into capitation (thousands)5

  —

  —

  —

  338

  416

  431

  —

  3.6

  Children registered per GDP6

  —

  —

  —

  407

  501

  511

  —

  2.0

  Average gross cost of adult courses of treatment in real terms (1994–95 prices) (£)7

  38.79

  43.71

  39.96

  39.77

  36.93

  31.99

  -17.5

  -13.4

  Gross cost of general dental services per GDP in real terms 1994–95 prices)

  74,360

  76,041

  79,192

  91,326

  93,349

  82,234

  10.6

  -11.9

  1 General dental services are the care and treatment provided by independent dental practitioners, who provide services under arrangements made with local Family Health Services Authorities.

  2 Gross expenditure is based on Appropriation Account (cash) figures. It includes that proportion of costs met from patient charges and excludes charge refunds. Appropriation Account figures.

  3 Charge income collected from patients (net of refunds) as a proportion of gross expenditure.

  4 Principals and assistants at 30 September.

  5 Number of children registered as at 30 September. Capitation registration only began with the introduction of the new dental contract from 1 October 1990.

  6 Average number of children registered per dentist, including principals and assistants, although patient registrations are formally attributed to principals only.

  7 Average cost of adult courses of treatment, as measured by Dental Practice Board data recording only item of service fees payable for such treatments up to September 1990, from October 1990 onwards, costs are based on item of service fees payable and adult continuing care payments. Prior to 1986–87, data is only available on a calendar year basis.

  Health Authorities
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of whether all health authorities' members in Wales have now publicly declared any outside interests in which they participate. [19931]

  Mr. Richards
  At the annual review meetings to be held in June authorities will be asked to confirm that they have implemented a recently introduced requirement that they maintain a register of relevant private interests.

  Paramedical Services
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information is collected by his Department on

  Community nursing and midwifery

  Chiropodists

  Speech therapists

  Expenditure1

  Staff in post (Wte)2

  Expenditure1

  Staff in post (Wte)2

  Expenditure1

  Staff in post (Wte)2

  September 1993

  December 1994

  September 1993

  December 1994

  September 1993

  December 1994

  Trusts

  Bridgend and District

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  8

  9

  n/a

  6

  5

  Carmarthen and District

  2,259.8

  n/a

  n/a

  158.0

  6

  6

  81.1

  5

  5

  Ceredigion and Mid Wales

  1,555.9

  n/a

  n/a

  88.1

  3

  3

  68.5

  3

  2

  Clwydian Community Care

  12,515.2

  n/a

  n/a

  454.5

  18

  19

  682.6

  26

  25

  Glan Clwyd General Hospital

  647.8

  n/a

  n/a

  12.1

  —

  —

  69.7

  2

  3

  Glan Hafren

  1,309.1

  n/a

  n/a

  14.6

  —

  —

  41.0

  —

  —

  Gwent Community

  11,200.5

  n/a

  n/a

  510.4

  23

  27

  337.0

  24

  20

  602
  the numbers employed, expressed as whole-time equivalents, and the total expenditure for each NHS provider in Wales on each of the paramedical services in the community, with particular reference to (a) community nurses, (b) health visitors, (c) chiropodists, (d) speech therapists, (e) occupational therapists, (f) physiotherapists and (g) community dentists. [19930]

  Mr. Richards
  The available information is in the following table. Reliable estimates of the numbers of nursing staff employed in specific occupational groups, such as community nursing and health visiting, are not available centrally. As the expenditure data relates to the financial year 1993–94, staffing figures for September 1993 and 1994 are given.
  603

  Community nursing and midwifery

  Chiropodists

  Speech therapists

  Expenditure1

  Staff in post (Wte)2

  Expenditure1

  Staff in post (Wte)2

  Expenditure1

  Staff in post (Wte)2

  September 1993

  December 1994

  September 1993

  December 1994

  September 1993

  December 1994

  Llandough Hospital

  360.0

  n/a

  n/a

  3.1

  —

  —

  20.8

  —

  —

  Llanelli/Dinefwr

  2,881.5

  n/a

  n/a

  171.1

  8

  8

  100.4

  4

  4

  Pembrokeshire

  3,902.7

  n/a

  n/a

  242.1

  5

  —

  115.7

  5

  4

  Powys Health Care

  3,697.0

  n/a

  n/a

  333.8

  15

  —

  225.2

  8

  10

  Swansea

  675.3

  n/a

  n/a

  22.4

  —

  —

  22.4

  —

  1

  Wrexham Maelor Hospital

  508.1

  n/a

  n/a

  5.7

  —

  —

  90.6

  4

  3

  Directly Managed Units:

  East Dyfed Mental Health Unit

  2,435.3

  n/a

  n/a

  17.7

  1

  1

  125.6

  5

  5

  North Gwent Unit

  396.2

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Gwynedd DHA3

  8,404.2

  n/a

  n/a

  386.0

  14

  14

  447.0

  14

  15

  Mid Glamorgan

  Hensol

  308.8

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  —

  —

  89.7

  5

  7

  Merthyr/Cynon

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  10

  10

  n/a

  5

  7

  Rhondda

  4,169.4

  n/a

  n/a

  279.4

  11

  11

  97.4

  6

  7

  Rhymney Valley

  2,321.4

  n/a

  n/a

  132.9

  6

  5

  37.8

  3

  5

  Taff Ely

  1,074.0

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South Glamorgan

  Community

  10,746.9

  n/a

  n/a

  736.0

  29

  30

  550.8

  33

  29

  UHW/CRI

  333.0

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  —

  —

  26.1

  1

  1

  West Glamorgan

  DHA4

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  35

  35

  n/a

  17

  16

  Occupational therapists

  Physiotherapists

  Community dentists

  Expenditure1

  Staff in post(Wte)2

  Expenditure1

  Staff in post (Wte)2

  Expenditure1

  Staff in post (Wte)2

  September 1993

  December 1994

  September 1993

  December 1994

  September 1993

  December 1994

  Trusts

  Bridgend and District

  n/a

  24

  21

  n/a

  19

  19

  n/a

  —

  —

  Carmarthen and District

  86.2

  3

  3

  402.1

  16

  17

  96.1

  2

  2

  Ceredigion and Mid Wales

  143.3

  4

  3

  311.3

  14

  13

  219.7

  4

  4

  Clwydian Community Care

  962.4

  34

  35

  1,124.6

  44

  42

  1,063.8

  10

  14

  Glan Clwyd General Hospital

  134.5

  6

  5

  510.7

  24

  23

  —

  —

  —

  Glan Hafren

  430.3

  21

  17

  1,215.2

  51

  56

  —

  —

  —

  Gwent Community

  1,172.4

  34

  40

  378.0

  20

  23

  910.0

  14

  12

  Llandough Hospital

  427.0

  16

  16

  667.7

  30

  32

  —

  —

  —

  Llanelli/Dinefwr

  181.6

  8

  9

  362.7

  14

  15

  197.2

  2

  3

  Pembrokeshire

  327.0

  5

  —

  621.0

  16

  —

  373.8

  6

  6

  Powys Health Care

  708.3

  19

  1

  950.5

  36

  1

  449.5

  4

  6

  Swansea

  166.8

  4

  7

  742.9

  21

  24

  —

  —

  —

  Wrexham Maelor Hospital

  166.1

  8

  7

  517.4

  24

  26

  —

  —

  —

  Directly Managed Units

  East Dyfed Mental Health Unit

  604.6

  16

  17

  116.6

  3

  5

  —

  —

  —

  North Gwent Unit

  274.9

  13

  11

  517.6

  23

  23

  —

  —

  —

  Gwynedd DHA3

  796.9

  34

  35

  1,535.6

  64

  63

  594.2

  8

  9

  Mid Glamorgan:

  Hensol

  178.8

  4

  7

  124.6

  3

  4

  —

  —

  —

  Merthyr/Cynon

  n/a

  12

  13

  n/a

  22

  18

  n/a

  —

  —

  Rhondda

  298.8

  10

  12

  351.5

  14

  13

  —

  —

  —

  Rhymney Valley

  81.7

  3

  3

  172.7

  8

  7

  —

  3

  1

  Taff Ely

  181.6

  7

  7

  504.7

  23

  21

  —

  5

  5

  South Glamorgan

  Community

  729.7

  34

  35

  680.2

  32

  33

  808.4

  12

  11

  UHW/CRI

  967.0

  41

  37

  1,940.7

  81

  85

  —

  1

  1

  West Glamorgan DHA4

  n/a

  32

  38

  n/a

  62

  69

  n/a

  12

  11

  1 £ thousands 1993–94.

  2 Qualified staff. Staff paid on local payscales for whom no details of occupation are available centrally are excluded from the table. In order that a comparison of the two figures can be made staff employed in provider units which obtained Trust status on 1 April 1994 are shown under their previous management unit.

  3 Includes staff employed by Gwynedd Acute NHS Trust, Gwynedd Community NHS Trust (Data for these were not available separately in 1993) and Gwynedd DHA.

  4 Includes staff employed centrally by West Glamorgan DHA.

  n/a Information not available.

  Dental Caries
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of children had caries-free permanent teeth in(a) 1973, (b) 1983 and (c) 1993, and what was the dental caries experience of deciduous teeth of five-year-old children in the same years. [19917]

  Mr. Richards
  Three national surveys of children's dental health have been carried out—1973, 1983 and 604
  1993–by the social survey division of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys and results were published by HMSO. The publications show separate information for Wales and copies are in the Library of the House. The ISBN numbers are as follows:

  1973: ISBN 0 11 700687 4

  1983: ISBN 0 11 691136 0

  1993: ISBN 0 11 691136 0

  Environment Powers
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list those powers available to him, by order, to further the interest of the natural environment, forestry and agriculture; [19993]

  (2) if he will list those powers available to him by executive action to further the interests of the natural environment, forestry and agriculture. [19992]

  Mr. Redwood
  This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Official Receivers
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in full the replies of the official receivers to the consultation on privatisation under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994. [20262]

  Mr. Redwood
  This is a matter for the President of the Board of Trade.

  Electoral Reviews
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will next instigate a review of electoral wards by the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales; and if he will make a statement. [20373]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The reviews of local government electoral arrangements are instigated not by my right hon. Friend, but by the relevant provisions of the Local Government Act 1972. Section 64(1) of that Act, as substituted by section 6 of the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994, requires the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales to undertake reviews of the electorial arrangements in each of the new unitary authorities "as soon as practicable" after the first elections to be held next month.

  Planning Policy Guidance
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list(a) the planning policy guidance notes and (b) the mineral policy guidance notes that have been issued in England but not in Wales over the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [21051]

  Mr. Redwood
  The following is the information.(a) Planning Policy Guidance—(PPG)—note 2 "Green Belts" (DOE: January 1995);
  PPG9 "Nature Conservation" (DOE: October 1994);
  PPG13 "Transport" (DOE/DOT: March 1994);
  PPG15 "Planning and the Historic Environment" (DOE/DNH: September 1994);
  PPG23 "Planning and Pollution Control" (DOE: July 1994); and
  PPG24 "Planning and Noise" (DOE: September 1994).
  (b) Minerals Planning Guidance note 6 "Guidelines for Aggregates Provision in England" (DOE: April 1994).

  Draft planning policy guidance for Wales is currently being prepared and consultation with Welsh interests will follow.

  Housing
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the percentage grant available to Welsh housing associations for new and existing properties in each year since Tai Cymru was established. [21083]
  606
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Percentage rates for the standard housing association grant in Wales are set out as follows:

  Date

  Percentage

  1989–90

  72

  1990–91

  75

  1991–92

  70

  1992–93

  67

  1993–94

  65

  1994–95

  62

  1995–96

  58

SCOTLAND

  Tourism
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the way in which Scottish Enterprise, Tayside supports tourist-related capital projects. [19585]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The only representations received by my right hon. Friend about the way in which Scottish Enterprise, Tayside supports tourist-related capital projects have been those made by my hon. Friend.

  Public Inquiries
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consider paying local authorities' costs of holding public inquiries where these are caused by his own amendments to local plans. [19586]

  Mr. Kynoch
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to make payments in respect of the costs to local authorities of holding public inquiries. Such costs are provided for within the rate support grant.

  Local Government
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to reorganise Scottish local government. [19587]

  Mr. Kynoch
  None.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will re-evaluate his proposals for local government. [19593]

  Mr. Kynoch
  I refer to the reply given earlier to the hon. Member for Falkirk, West (Mr. Canavan) by my right hon. Friend.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends to meet representatives of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to discuss local government funding. [19595]

  Mrs. Adams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet representatives of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to discuss local government finance. [19596]

  Mr. Kynoch
  My right hon. Friend and I are scheduled to meet representatives of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on 12 June as part of the normal consultation on local government finance matters.

  Psychiatric Hospitals
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last discussed the closure of psychiatric hospitals with the health boards; and if he will make a statement. [19588]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My noble and learned Friend the Minister of State regularly meets representatives from all health boards to discuss health issues.

  Strathclyde Regional Council
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to meet the leadership of Strathclyde regional council to discuss the resources available to the council in the current financial year. [19590]

  Mr. Kynoch
  My right hon. Friend has no plans for such a meeting; such discussions on local government finance are conducted with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

  Scottish Homes
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet officials of Scottish Homes to discuss transfer of properties. [19591]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend meets the board of Scottish Homes from time to time. He has issued guidance to Scottish Homes on the future ownership of its housing stock following which it has published procedures for the disposal of its stock.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for the development of nursery education. [19592]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Government have given a commitment to provide, over time, quality pre-school places for all four-year-olds whose parents wish to take them up. Work is currently going on to develop the details of the policy and this has involved contacts with a number of organisations in Scotland. An announcement will be made as soon as possible.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many dentists in Scotland are refusing to treat certain categories of NHS patients. [19597]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is not available. General dental practitioners on health board NHS dental lists are free to decide in each case whether to provide NHS treatment to an individual patient.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about inward investment in Scotland. [19598]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The Government's pro-business policies have created a business climate in which companies can flourish and this continues to make Scotland—and indeed the United Kingdom as a whole—a very attractive location for inward investment.
  608
  In the five years to March 1994, Locate in Scotland and the Scottish Office industry department helped to attract to Scotland nearly 350 inward investment projects involving planned investment of £2.6 billion associated with the expected creation or safeguarding of over 47,000 jobs. That success was maintained during 1994–95, with Scotland attracting inward investment projects at the rate of almost two per week.

  The success announced during the year to March 1995 included Motorola's decision to invest a further £250 million at its East Kilbride plant, creating 250 new jobs; NEC's decision to invest £530 million in setting up a new state-of-the-art wafer fabrication facility in Livingston, creating 430 new jobs; and BSkyB's decision to set up a new subscriber management centre in Dunfermline, creating up to 1,000 full-time jobs over the next few years.

  Detailed figures for inward investment in Scotland in 1994–95 will be published in the Locate in Scotland annual review in June.

  Japanese Companies
  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent meetings he has had with Japanese companies concerning trade and investment; and if he will make a statement. [19599]

  Mr. Kynoch
  My right hon. Friend and I regularly meet representatives of Japanese companies to discuss trade and investment. My right hon. Friend's most recent such meeting was on 24 February when he accompanied my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister at a ground-breaking ceremony on the site of NEC's proposed new silicon wafer fabrication facility in Livingston.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will also visit Japan later this year, when trade promotion activities and meetings with existing and potential inward investors will play a key part in his programme.

  Bus Services, Strathclyde
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he plans to meet the director general of Strathclyde passenger transport executive to discuss bus services in Strathclyde. [19600]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No such meeting has been arranged.

  Employment Prospects
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends meeting the chair of Scottish Enterprise to discuss employment prospects. [19601]

  Mr. Kynoch
  My right hon. Friend meets the chairman of Scottish Enterprise from time to time to discuss a range of issues affecting the Scottish economy. No date has yet been arranged for the next meeting.

  Monklands District Council
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many police inquiries have been initiated into(a) Monklands district council's affairs and (b) those of its councillors in the last five years. [19602]

  Mr. Kynoch
  During this period Strathclyde police conducted one inquiry into the affairs of Monklands district council and two separate inquiries into those of some councillors.

  Education, South Lanarkshire
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will undertake to meet representatives of the new South Lanarkshire council to discuss educational priorities within the council area. [19603]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The setting of educational priorities within its area will be an important matter for the new South Lanarkshire council. If the council in due course seeks a meeting, its request would be given full consideration as are all such requests for meetings. My hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government will wish to meet the new councils individually in due course.

  Arts Funding
  Mr. Maxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends to meet the chairman of the Scottish Arts Council to discuss the funding of the arts in Scotland. [19604]

  Sir Hector Monro
  My right hon. Friend meets the chairman of the Scottish Arts Council from time to time to discuss a range of issues concerning the arts in Scotland. He has no current plans for a meeting.

  Non-domestic Rates
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will review the system of non-domestic rates relief available to small businesses in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [19605]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The Non-domestic Rates (Levying) (Scotland) Regulations 1995 introduced provisions to protect all ratepayers including small businesses from unexpected and significant increases in rates bills resulting from the combined effects of the 1995 Revaluation and the introduction of the national non-domestic rate in Scotland.

  The Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 also introduced with effect from 1 April 1995 a power permitting rating authorities to remit any rate levied by them where the ratepayer would otherwise suffer hardship and where it would be in the interests of the authority's council tax payers to do so.

  I have no plans to review further the arrangements for non-domestic rating relief.

  Drug-taking Kits
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation making it an offence for anyone to sell drug-taking kits; and if he will make a statement. [19606]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  It is already an offence under section 9A of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 for a person to supply any article which may be used for the administration of a controlled drug, if he believes that the article is to be so used in circumstances where the administration is unlawful. If the hon. Member has a specific issue in mind, he might wish to write to my right hon. Friend.

  EC Aid
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects funds from the EC aid programme the borders objective 5b scheme to be made available to the appropriate authorities for distribution in the borders region; and what measures he is taking to ensure that receipt of funds is as soon as possible. [20249]

  Mr. Lang
  I understand the Commission will take the formal decision on the borders objective 5b single programme document before the end of April. To facilitate early release of funds, the monitoring committee met on 20 April and decided in principle which projects should be supported in the first round of applications under the programme. Formal offer letters will be issued to successful project sponsors immediately after the decisions of the committee are ratified, following the formal decision. Successful applicants can then claim structural funds grant against progress on their projects.

  Urban Programme
  Mrs. Adams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what powers he has to investigate(a) an inquiry, (b) an investigation and (c) an audit into the accounts or trading activities of community businesses established with public funds; and if he will make a statement. [21008]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 25 April 1995]: Where financial assistance is being provided through the urban programme, my right hon. Friend has the right to ensure that the expenditure has been incurred for the purposes approved by him and seeks re-assurance from the sponsoring local authorities on this. My right hon. Friend has no powers in relation to community businesses once the period of any urban programme funding has expired.

  Auditors
  Mrs. Adams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which body is responsible for auditing the accounts or trading activities of FCB Enterprise Securities; and if he will make a statement. [21009]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 25 April 1995]: Under the Companies Act 1985 all companies other than certain categories of small companies and dormant companies are required to appoint auditors. The Companies Act 1989 makes provision to secure that persons appointed as company auditors are appropriately qualified and independent. A copy of a company's annual accounts must be lodged, normally in the case of a private company within 10 months after the end of the company's financial year, with the Registrar of Companies. As my right hon. Friend is not involved in the running of FCB Enterprise Securities, he is unable to supply the information requested, which should be available from the Registrar of Companies.

  Large Combustion Plant Directive
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many installations in Scotland are covered by the large combustion plant directive; and if he will list them. [20845]

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 25 April 1995]: In Scotland, 19 installations, as listed, are subject to control under the United Kingdom's programme and national plan for reducing emissions of sulphur dioxide and oxides of

  611
  nitrogen from existing large combustion plants which addresses the requirements of the large combustion plant directive in respect of existing plants. To date there is one plant at BP Chemicals Ltd. subject to the controls contained in the directive relating to new plants. The plants covered by the national plan are:

  Electricity Supply Industry:

  Longannet PS

  Cockenzie PS

  Peterhead PS

  Kincardine PS

  Refineries:

  BP Oil Grangemouth Refinery Limited

  Other Industry:

  Methill PS

  Roche Products Limited

  Exxon Chemicals Olefins Inc

  C. Davidson and Sons

  Limited Nobels Explosives Co. Limited

  BP Chemicals Limited

  Tullis Russell Limited

  Caledonian Paper plc

  Michelin Tyre plc

  Donside Paper Co. Limited

  BP Sullom Voe Terminal

  Ciba-Geigy plc

  Royal Ordnance plc

  Allied Distillers Limited

  TABASCO
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action has been taken by his Department 612
  to support the TABASCO application by Strathclyde regional council and others for EU 4th framework programme funding. [20799]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 25 April 1995]: TABASCO is based on collaborative links actively promoted by The Scottish Office with partners in Germany. Within the TABASCO project the Scottish Office is leading the work modules relating to travel and traffic control and information management and regional traffic control. The Scottish Office is supporting the TABASCO project bid through the implementation of the forth estuary driver information and control system—FEDICS—its committed joint funding with Strathclyde region of the new CITRAC traffic control system and the plans to develop a Scottish travel information centre.

  Marine Discharges
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many installations in Scotland require consents for marine discharges; and if he will list them. [20841]

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 25 April 1995]: Marine discharges are controlled either by the river purification authorities under the Control of Pollution Act 1974, part II as amended or, where relevant, by Her Majesty's industrial pollution inspectorate and river purification authorities acting together under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 part 1. Information relating to all such discharges is available for public inspection in registers maintained by river purification authorities, but a complete record is not held centrally.

  "Legal Aid for the Apparently Wealthy"
  "Legal Aid for the Apparently Wealthy"
  Ambassadors: Remuneration Committee
  Ambassadors: Remuneration Committee
  Trident
  Trident
  MI5 and MI6
  MI5 and MI6