Written Answers of 28 April 1995

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department are under a statutory requirement to(a) publish their advice to Government, (b) publish an annual report and (c) lay an annual report before Parliament, and if he will list those with a statutory base. [21595]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor's Department and the Northern Ireland Court Service sponsor the following advisory non-departmental public bodies:

  Insolvency Rule Committee

  County Court Rule Committee

  Supreme Court Rule Committee

  Land Registration Rule Committee

  Family Proceedings Rule Committee

  Crown Court Rule Committee

  Advisory Council on Public Records

  Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct Council on Tribunals

  Law Commission

  Northern Ireland Court Service:

  Legal Aid Advisory Committee (NI)

  Advisory Committees on General Commissioners of Income Tax (NI)

  Advisory Committees on JPs in Northern Ireland

  Advisory Committees on Juvenile Court Lay Panel

  Advisory Committees on General Commissioners of Income Tax

  Advisory Committees on JPs in England (excluding the Duchy of Lancaster) and Wales

  Judicial Studies Board

  All but the last six have a statutory basis.

  None is under a statutory requirement to publish its advice to Government.

  The Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct, the Law Commission and the Council on Tribunals are all required by statute to make annual reports to the Lord Chancellor. While there is no statutory requirement on the Advisory Council on Public Records to submit an annual report, there is a requirement that any report by it to the Lord Chancellor should be included in the Public Record Office's own annual report, for which there is a statutory requirement. All these annual reports are laid before Parliament by the Lord Chancellor.

  The Legal Aid Advisory Committee (Northern Ireland) is required to consider the Law Society's annual report on legal aid in Northern Ireland and the Lord Chancellor is required to lay before Parliament a copy of any comments or recommendations made by the committee.

ENVIRONMENT

  Public Inquiries
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the number of public inquiries which were held in each year since 1985; [20998]

  (2) what was the average length of time it takes to obtain dates for public inquiries into planning refusals; [20999]

  (3) if he will list by local authority the number of (a) planning application refusals, (b) appeals, (c) public inquiries, (d) the estimated time to obtain a date and (e) the estimated costs for (i) 1992, (ii) 1993 and (iii) 1994. [21000]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I have delegated responsibility for the provision of information on planning appeals to the Planning Inspectorate agency. I have therefore asked Mr. Chris Shepley, the agency's chief executive, to reply.

  Letter from Chris Shepley to Mr. Keith Vaz, dated 25 April 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to provide replies to your Parliamentary Questions about:

  the number of public inquiries held each year since 1985 (PQ/20998)

  the average length of time it takes to obtain dates for public inquiries into planning refusals (PQ 20999);

  for each local authority, the number of (a) planning application refusals, (b) appeals, (c) public inquiries, (d) the estimated time to obtain a date and (e) the estimated costs for (i) 1992, (ii) 1993 and (iii) 1994 (PQ 21000).

  As these are all matters that have been delegated to the Executive Agency.

  20998
  The number of appeals against a refusal of planning permission determined following a public inquiry in each financial year since 1985/86 is shown in the table below. The information is taken from the Chief Planning Inspector's Annual Report.

  Year

  Appeals determined

  1985–86

  1,663

  1986–87

  2,098

  1987–88

  1,960

  1988–89

  2,204

  1989–90

  2,347

  1990–91

  1,960

  1991–92

  1,808

  1992–93

  1,505

  1993–94

  1,176

  1994–95

  1,108

  (20999)
  Our most recent check showed that over 95% of inquiry dates for planning appeals were finalised within the one month negotiation period recommended by the inquiries procedure rules.

  (21000)
  The information you seek in respect of each planning authority on (a) Planning Application Refusals, (b) appeals and (c) inquiries is not immediately available and will take a few days to compile and check. I will write to you again when the work is complete.
  I cannot, however, provide the information you seek in parts (d) or (e) of your question. The Agency does not keep records at a level of detail that would enable us to estimate for each planning authority either the time taken to obtain inquiry dates or the costs of inquiries.

  Rural Areas
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the role of a parish council in the(a) preparation and (b) implementation of a village design statement. [20737]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Parish councils may have an enabling or co-ordinating role during the preparation of village design statements. They may also make representations on development plans and development control matters.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he will take if design constraints in a rural community inhibit(a) local affordable housing, (b) job creation and (c) creative use of areas of local land; and if he will make a statement. [20735]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Design issues—such as considering a building's context, its relationship to its setting, and its relationship to its proposed function—may be material consideration in determining a planning application or appeal. They will need to be assessed with other planning considerations in taking decisions.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to protect free-standing buildings in(a) villages, (b) whole parishes and (c) hamlets and less defined settlements; and if he will make a statement. [20736]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  National policy on the re-use of rural buildings is set out in planning policy guidance note 7, "The Countryside and the Rural Economy." There should generally be no reason for preventing the re-use of rural buildings, provided their form, bulk and general design are in keeping with their surroundings.

  DOE circular 26/92 advises on planning controls over demolition.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance is given to local authorities in determining the relative priority which is accorded to(a) a village design statement and (b) other building development; and what guidelines apply in respect of the use of concrete blocks as building materials in villages. [20738]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Village design statements are being promoted by the Countryside Commission. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State supports this initiative, which enables local people to express views on how future development can make a positive contribution to a specific area. The Countryside Commission plans to publish advice on the preparation of village design statements later this year.

  Village design statements may be a material consideration in determining a planning application or appeal, and it is for local planning authorities to consider whether to adopt them as supplementary guidance to the development plan.

  The development plan system provides the framework for planning for new development and for delivering a quality built environment. Planning policy guidance note 1 advises planning authorities to reject obviously poor designs which are out of scale or character with their surroundings.

  Premises in Multiple Occupation
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the effect 712
  of the image presented by former seaside guest houses and hotels now operated as unlicensed houses in multiple occupation in seaside towns on the prospects for trade in those towns. [20784]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Representations received by the Department of National Heritage from tourism operators and trade organisations strongly suggest that the growth in numbers of houses in multiple occupation in traditional tourism areas, particularly in some seaside resorts, is having an unfavourable effect on the tourist trade. My Department conducted a consultation exercise between November 1994 and February 1995 on the principle of a licensing scheme for houses in multiple occupation and received similar representations. The Government hope to announce shortly the conclusions of this review.

  City Challenge, North Tyneside
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance is given by his Department to North Tyneside city challenge project relating to the placing of contracts for security work; what contracts have been issued by North Tyneside city council for security work; if he will name the city challenge board members and officials who are responsible for such contracts; and how they are appointed. [21224]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Department of the Environment has not given any specific guidance to North Tyneside city challenge, or any other city challenge partnership, about the placing of contracts for security work. North Tyneside city challenge has not let any such contract. The North Tyneside city challenge partnership undertakes no direct tendering or contracting relating to city challenge projects; this is the responsibility of project sponsors, who are required to achieve value for money. Where projects are assisted by city challenge funding, it is the responsibility of the contractor to assess the degree of risk and make the appropriate contractual arrangements for security.

  Agency Job Losses
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the number and location of Building Research Establishment, Ordnance Survey, Planning Inspectorate, Security Facilities Executive and Buying 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 what is 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. [21547]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer to him on 25 April,Official Report, column 471.

  Household Expenditure
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average weekly household expenditure on housing for(a) those in rented accommodation and (b) owner-occupiers in the United Kingdom; what were the corresponding figures in (i) 1987 and (ii) 1992; and if he will make a statement. [20899]

  Mr. Curry
  Estimates of average weekly household expenditure on housing for those in rented
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  accommodation and for owner-occupiers in the United Kingdom are as follows:

  Gross and net average weekly housing costs

  £ per week

  Gross Renters

  Net Owner occupiers

  Renters

  Owner occupiers

  1987

  26.80

  n/a

  17.20

  35.80

  1992

  45.40

  n/a

  28.00

  57.40

  1993

  49.70

  n/a

  29.40

  52.50

  Housing costs include rates, community charge or council tax as appropriate. The estimates of net costs allow for housing benefit, rent rebates and allowances, and rates/community charge/council tax rebates.

  Figures for gross average weekly housing costs for owner occupiers are not readily available.

  These figures are drawn from the family expenditure survey and are subject to sampling error.

  Pigeons
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional financial support he will provide to local authorities which have severe problems with pigeons, with special reference to Bradford. [21551]

  Mr. Curry
  Support for local authorities' revenue expenditure, provided through revenue support grant, is made in respect of all local authority powers and duties. Individual authorities make expenditure decisions on the basis of local needs and priorities. We have received no representations about problems with pigeons.

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he proposes to take to control the pigeon population. [21554]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Under the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, my Department and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food issue annual general licences permitting authorised persons to kill or take 13 species of pest bird, including feral pigeons for specified reasons. Under part VI of the Public Health Act 1961, local authorities have a specific power to abate or mitigate any nuisance, annoyance or damage caused by the congregation of pigeons in any built-up area.

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many accidents due to pigeon droppings were reported in(a) Bradford and (b) West Yorkshire in the last year for which information is available. [21556]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My Department does not collect this information.

EDUCATION

  Philosophy Courses
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State of Education how many people graduated from English higher education institutions with honours either in philosophy or in a joint honours or composite degree involving philosophy in 1994; what proportion of the total number graduating from English higher education this represents; and if she will make a statement. [20903]
  714
  Mr. Boswell
  Some 500 students graduated from first degree courses wholly or mainly in philosophy from English higher education institutions in academic year 1992–93, which represents one third of 1 per cent. of all graduates from these institutions. It is not possible to give data from courses where philosophy is combined with other subjects. Statistics on the numbers graduating where philosophy has been a minor element of the course are not readily available.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many higher education institutions in England currently offer single honours or joint honours degrees in philosophy; what percentage of the total number of higher education institutions in England this represents; and if she will make a statement. [20911]

  Mr. Boswell
  From the 110 higher education institutions in England which are members of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, 45 offered philosophy as an element of a first degree course in the UCAS "Handbook for 1995 Entry". This represents 41 per cent. of all English higher education institutions offering courses through UCAS.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Lord President of the Council, pursuant to his answer of 24 April, column 339, if he will now reply forthwith to the letter sent to him on 25 April by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton.

  Mr. Newton
  I will write to the right hon. Member shortly.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Children (Benefit)
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportions of all children are in households claiming(a) income support, (b) family credit and (c) housing benefit; and what proportion of (i) single parents and (ii) unemployed drawing income support or housing benefit have mortgages. [20391]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The available information is set out in the tables. Figures are not available for housing benefit recipients with mortgages. Housing benefit is not payable for mortgage interest. Although there are a small number of cases where both housing benefit and mortgage interest are in payment, it is not possible to identify these cases separately.

  Children in households receiving benefit1

  Benefit

  Number (000)

  As a percentage of all children in Great Britain

  Income Support

  2,980

  25.8

  Family Credit

  1,086

  9.4

  Housing Benefit

  2,238

  19.4

  715
  1 Children can be in households receiving more than one benefit so figures cannot be totalled. For example, in May 1993 2,053 thousand children were in households in receipt of Housing Benefit, Income Support and/or Family Credit.

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand and to one decimal place.

  2. Children have been defined as dependents under the age of 16.

  Source:

  Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys Mid 1993 estimates.

  Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry Mid 1994.

  Family Credit Statistics Quarterly Enquiry July 1994.

  Housing Benefit Management Information Statistics annual 1 per cent. sample May 1993.

  Income Support claimants with mortgage interest included in the assessment

  Client Group

  Number (000)

  As a percentage of all claimants with mortgage interest included in the assessment

  Single parents

  120

  22.7

  Unemployed

  195

  36.9

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand and to one decimal place.

  2. Children have been defined as dependents under the age of 16.

  Source:

  Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys Mid 1993 estimates.

  Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry Mid 1994.

  Family Credit Statistics Quarterly Enquiry July 1994.

  Housing Benefit Management Information Statistics annual 1 per cent. sample May 1993.

  State Pensions
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what challenges in court have been made to his policy on the date for commencement of payment of retirement pensions; and what discussions there have been of this policy at international bodies of which the Government are a member. [20816]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  None.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to pay retirement pensions so as to include the amount which is currently not paid for the intervening days from a person's date of retirement or relevant birthday to the Monday following. [20817]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  None.

  Vaccine Damage
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what records are kept by the vaccine damage payment unit of claims for compensation; and whether such records are available for all claims made since 1979. [21323]

  Mr. Hague
  The administration of the vaccine damage payment scheme is a matter for Mr. Ian Magee, the acting chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.

  Letter from Ian Magee to Mr. Richard Burden, dated 27 April 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the records kept of claims to the Vaccine Damage Scheme.
  716
  Information is available from the inception of the scheme about the total number of claims received and awards made. Statistics are also available from 1981 in respect of the reasons for disallowance within certain categories.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is his estimate of the number of current invalidity benefit recipients in Wales who will not qualify for incapacity benefit; and if he will make a statement; [20905]

  (2) what is his estimate of the fiscal impact of implementing the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Act 1994 on social security expenditure incurred in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [20906]

  Mr. Hague
  There are insufficient data on which to base a reliable breakdown of the national estimates provided for the effect of the new medical test, or to assess, on a regional basis, the public expenditure consequences of the Incapacity For Work Act 1994.

  Welfare Provision
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what studies he has instigated to determine the effect of the single market on welfare provision in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [20907]

  Mr. Hague
  No such studies have been instigated by the Department.

EMPLOYMENT

  Fair Play for Women
  Ms Angela Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, if he will make a statement on the fair play for women initiative. [21284]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Fair play for women is a joint initiative between the Department and the Equal Opportunities Commission launched in April 1994. Ten independent consortia have been set up all over England to plan how woman can realise their full capabilities and to take suitable action within their regions. The Government and the EOC are encouraged by the wide range of organisations and individuals supporting fair play, and will be monitoring consortia activity.

  Workstart
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which Ministers have visited workstart schemes; which schemes were visited; and when they were each visited. [21127]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Workstart pays a subsidy to employers who recruit very long-term unemployed people. On 5 November 1993, the then Secretary of State for Employment visited Bishop's Move Distribution Service of Broadstairs, Kent, an employer who received a Workstart subsidy under the original pilots, which ended December 1994. Further pilots commenced this month.

  Grays Benefit Office
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 18 April,Official Report, column 57, under which sections of the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 Stapro insecticide was used at Grays benefit office on 5 October 1991. [21141]

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

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Andrew Mackinlay, dated 28 April 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about under which sections of the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986, Stapro Insecticide was used at Grays Unemployment Benefit Office on 5 October 1991.
  You will wish to note that, according to our records, spraying actually took place on 8 October 1991.
  My colleagues at the Health and Safety Executive advise me that Regulations 4(5) of the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 allows use of a pesticide that has been approved by Ministers under regulation 5, provided that

  (a) the conditions of approval are complied with, and

  (b) the requirements of the consent of use (Schedule 3 as amended) are followed.

  The Regulations do not tie the use of pesticides to specific premises, but the conditions of approval specify, for example, who can use the product, the application method and the necessary precautions.

  Severe Disablement Allowance
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many hours of study people in receipt of severe disablement allowance will be able to undertake without jeopardising their benefit entitlement when the jobseeker's allowance is introduced; and if he will make a statement. [19753]

  Mr Hague
  I have been asked to reply.

  On its introduction in April 1996, jobseeker's allowance will allow unemployed people to undertake part-time further education courses of up to 16 "guided learning hours" a week. Severe disablement allowance is paid to people who are incapable of work through sickness and therefore cannot be claimed at the same time as JSA. SDA rules on hours of attendance on educational courses apply only to those recipients aged between 16 and 19 and the current limit on part time education is 21 hours a week. We are considering whether we need to change these rules.

PRIME MINISTER

  Nurses' Pay
  Mr. Mark Robinson
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about nurses' pay. [22336]

  The Prime Minister
  The report for 1995–96 of the Independent Review Body for Nursing Staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine was published on 9 February 1995. The review body recommended a 1 per cent. national increase in pay, with additional increases to be negotiated locally. The 718
  Government accepted the review body's recommendations in full.

  I am advised that offers have been made by 175 NHS trusts. Since the vast majority meet the nurses demand for a rise of 3 per cent., I assume that the offers are acceptable to them. It was that to which I was referring in the House yesterday.

HEALTH

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if NHS trusts are permitted to appoint honorary non-executive directors in addition to the five paid non-executive directors. [20684]

  Mr. Malone
  There is no provision in either the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 or in the National Health Service Trusts (Membership and Procedure) Regulations 1990 for the appointment of honorary non-executive directors for NHS trusts.

  Psychiatric Services
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many psychiatric beds were available in each health authority in 1979; and how many are currently available. [20686]

  Mr. Bowis
  Figures for 1979 are published in "SH3 National and Regional Summaries (DHSS Hospital Statistics) 1979" and for 1993–94, the latest year available, in "Bed availability for England, financial year 1993–94". Copies are available in the Library. Because of changes in the classifications of beds and health authority boundaries over the period, figures are not strictly comparable.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of each £1 spent on the psychiatric services is spent on(a) hospital beds and (b) community health services; and if she will make a statement. [20825]

  Mr. Bowis
  Information in the form requested is not available.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what current plans her Department has to fund Mindline; and if she will enter into discussions with MIND to do
  so. [20687]

  Mr. Bowis
  No such application for funding has been received.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mental health beds per 1,000 population were available in London, Newcastle, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool in each year since 1991. [21914]

  Mr. Bowis
  Hospitals in the cities listed do not provide services exclusively for the populations of those cities. The information is not, therefore, available in the form requested.

  St. Bartholomew's Hospital Site
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 18 April,Official Report, column 19, on the future use of the site of St. Bartholomew's hospital, if future health-related services could include a privately funded casualty, emergency or

  719
  acute hospital which could incorporate some of the existing facilities. [21063]

  Mr. Malone
  A project team, led by Sir Ronald Grierson, will look at the practical options for future use of the St. Bartholomew's hospital site, taking into account its historic health care connections. The team will work with the Royal Hospitals trust and other interested parties.

  Correspondence
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to reply to the letter of 17 March sent to her by Roger and Michelle Gould regarding the medical condition and treatment of their son, Jo. [21676]

  Mr. Bowis
  No such letter has been received in the Department. If the hon. Lady will arrange for a copy to be sent to me I will ensure that it receives urgent attention.

  Market Testing
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the number of staff employed and the establishment and running costs of the NHS Executive(a) information desk and (b) database relating to NHS market testing guidance. [21756]

  Mr. Malone
  The market testing information desk and data base is staffed and run by one half whole-time equivalent national health service executive executive officer at an approximate cost of £12,500 per year.

  Emergency Vehicles
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many emergency vehicles run by(a) the London ambulance service, (b) the Northumbria ambulance service, (c) the West Midlands ambulance service and (d) the Greater Manchester ambulance service are more than three years old; and what proportion of the fleet this represents in each case. [21926]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  NHS Pensions Agency Targets
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the key targets for 1995–96 for the NHS Pensions Agency. [22133]

  Mr. Sackville
  I have agreed the agency's key targets for 1995–96. These are:

  Clearance

  To clear 95 per cent. of the projected 28,200 pension awards within four weeks of the application being accepted by the Agency and 99 per cent. within eight weeks.

  To send a substantive reply to all correspondence within four weeks of receipt.

  Efficiency

  To achieve a 7 per cent. increase in efficiency over three years, based upon the agency's cost-weighted activity index.

  Financial

  To deliver the business programme within the agreed allocations.

  Improvement

  To reorganise the agency into multi-functional client-centred teams by 30 November 1995.

  To implement a new pensions processing system by 31 March 1996.

  960 CW95-PAG1/6

  Medicines Control Agency Targets
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the key business targets for the Medicines Control Agency for 1995–96. [22134]

  Mr. Sackville
  I have today placed in the Library a copy of the Medicines Control Agency's business plan for 1995–96.

  Selected List Scheme
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations her Department has had with the Department of Trade and Industry over the implications to United Kingdom investment of the selected list scheme. [20629]

  Mr. Malone
  There are regular discussions between Government Departments, including the Department of Trade and Industry, and representatives of the pharmaceutical industry about matters of mutual concern.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what change there has been in the level of industry investment into the seven therapeutic areas listed on the 1984 selected list scheme since the announcement of the categories. [20630]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what medical basis there is for retaining the category of contraception within the remit of the Advisory Committee on NHS Drugs. [20638]

  Mr. Malone
  The basis for asking the Advisory Committee on NHS Drugs to continue to review the therapeutic categories covered by the selected list scheme remains that there should be drugs to meet all real clinical need on NHS prescription as economically as possible.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what basis, and by whom, the category of contraception was chosen as one of the selected list of scheme categories. [20639]

  Mr. Malone
  Ministers decided which categories of drugs should be covered by the selected list scheme on the basis that they included a range of products at varying price levels which offered scope for savings while enabling all real clinical need to be met.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the hormonal contraceptives to be blacklisted under the current selected list scheme. [20640]

  Mr. Malone
  There are no plans to remove any hormonal contraceptive products from general practitioner prescription under the selected list scheme.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans her Department has to remove the category of contraception from the selected list scheme. [20641]

  Mr. Malone
  None.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are to extend the number of categories under the remit of the selected list scheme. [20642]

  Mr. Malone
  None.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) on what basis the Advisory Committee on NHS Drugs makes the decision that an oral contraceptive(a) offers a therapeutic benefit and (b) meets a clinical need; [20643]

  (2) how the Advisory Committee on NHS Drugs makes the decision that the range of oral contraceptives available

  721
  on the NHS is sufficient to take into account the individual needs of women. [20644]

  Mr. Malone
  The Advisory Committee on NHS Drugs is composed of a number of independent medical and pharmaceutical experts. It makes its recommendations on the basis of the clinical and scientific knowledge and experience of these members and after examining the relevant published information and any evidence submitted by the manufacturers of the drugs under review.

  Birth Control
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her Department's plans are for research into contraception and contraceptive methods. [20631]

  Mr. Bowis
  None. Research in this field is a matter for the Medical Research Council, which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what initiatives, other than educational, her Department has undertaken within the last 12 months in order to meet "The Health of the Nation" target for teenage conceptions. [20632]

  Mr. Bowis
  Priorities set by the national health service chief executive for 1994–95 required authorities to ensure the provision, within available resources, of the full range of NHS family planning services which are appropriate, accessible and comprehensive and that emergency contraception and services for teenagers, including counselling, are publicised and readily available. This requirement was reaffirmed in the priorities set for 1995–96.

  Over £136 million per year has been spent on NHS family planning services in England. In addition, in 1994–95, more than £340,000 was allocated to key voluntary bodies working towards "The Health of the Nation target on teenage conceptions".

  In March 1995 the Department sponsored a Family Planning Association radio and magazine advertising campaign in London and Manchester to launch the Sexwise phoneline—a free, confidential service offering teenagers the opportunity to receive advice from a trained counsellor. There have been more than 45,000 calls to the line during its first six weeks of operation.

  The Family Planning Association and the Health Education Authority, in collaboration with Brook Advisory Centres and the Birth Control Trust, have also recently launched a national radio and magazine advertising campaign to raise awareness of emergency contraception. This campaign is supported by a telephone helpline.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women in the United Kingdom use hormonal contraception. [20633]

  Mr. Bowis
  According to the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys 1993 general household survey, 25 per cent. of women in Great Britain aged 16 to 49 use oral contraceptives.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average cost to the NHS of one year's course of hormonal contraception. [20634]

  Mr. Bowis
  Assuming that recommended doses were followed in all cases, the average net ingredient cost of one year's supply of hormonal contraceptives, including 722
  implants and injections, dispensed in the family health services authorities in England in 1994 was £18.39 per woman.

  This figure excludes dispensing costs or fees. Preparations for short-term and emergency hormonal contraception have also been excluded from the calculation.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what figures her Department has as to the cost to the NHS of(a) terminations and (b) maternities and births, resulting from (i) all pregnancies and (ii) unplanned pregnancies. [20635]

  Mr. Bowis
  The costs to the national health service of terminations and of maternities and births resulting from planned or unplanned pregnancies are not separately identifiable.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data her Department has on the increased likelihood of pregnancy when a woman changes the type of contraceptive pill she uses for family planning. [20636]

  Mr. Bowis
  None. The "Handbook on Contraceptive Practice", published by the Health Departments in England, Scotland and Wales and issued to doctors and nurses working in the family planning field, provides advice on avoiding the risk of pregnancy when patients need to change their pill formulation.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates her Department makes as to what proportion of pregnancies are(a) unplanned and (b) unwanted. [20637]

  Mr. Bowis
  The chief medical officer's report for 1990 estimated that almost half of all conceptions to women in England were in some sense unwanted or unintended.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether hormonal contraceptives are distinguished by her Department from other pharmaceutical products in any way. [20645]

  Mr. Malone
  Hormonal contraceptives are treated in the same way as other pharmaceutical products under the Medicines Act and the relevant European legislation. Unlike other products, people receiving hormonal contraceptives on NHS prescription do not pay a prescription charge in any circumstances.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many calls seeking post-coital contraception have to date been received by the helpline funded by the Health Education Authority and the Family Planning Association; and what specific advice is given to callers; [21733]

  (2) what public funds have been used by the Health Education Authority and the Family Planning Association to finance their national advertising campaign and telephone advice service promoting the uptake of the morning-after pill; what was the total cost of those campaigns; and by whom were they approved. [21732]

  Mr. Malone
  The campaign budget for 1994–95 was £300,000. It is funded by the Health Education Authority through the Family Planning Association. All expenditure
  723
  has been approved in the normal way. The helpline has received 30,000 calls to date relating to all aspects of use of emergency contraception.

  Smoking
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the percentage of people over 16 years old who smoke; what are the corresponding estimates for(a) 1965, (b) 1970 and (c) 1980; and if she will make a statement. [20908]

  Mr. Bowis
  The available data are shown in the table. Differences in the questions in the two surveys means that the data from the two sources are not directly comparable.

  Percentage of adults aged 16 and over who smoke cigarettes

  Great Britain

  percentage

  Year

  Men

  Women

  19651

  54

  42

  19711,2

  51

  42

  19803

  43

  37

  19923,4

  29

  28

  Notes:

  1.Source: Tobacco Advisory Council. Percentage of those smoking manufactured cigarettes, excludes those smoking hand-rolled cigarettes only.

  2.No survey data are available for 1970

  3.Source: OPCS General Household Survey.

  4.The 1992 survey figures are the latest available.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many were treated for lung cancer in the NHS in(a) 1993 and (b) 1994; what percentage of these were smokers; and if she will make a statement; [20909]

  (2) what was the cost of treating people suffering from lung cancer on the NHS in (a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95; and if she will make a statement. [20910]

  Mr. Bowis
  The number of episodes of hospital care in the national health service in England with a main diagnosis of lung cancer is shown in the table:

  Finished consultant episodes, ordinary admissions and day cases Malignant neoplasm—bronchus or lung (Diagnostic Codes ICD9 162.2–162.9)

  Number

  1992–93

  57,261

  1993–94 (provisional)

  56,317

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics, 25 per cent. sample.

  Information on the smoking habits of patients is not available centrally, but it is estimated that four out of five cases of lung cancer are attributable to smoking. Information on the costs of treating patients with a diagnosis of lung cancer on the NHS is not available centrally.

  BST in Milk (Cancer Risk)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what investigations she has conducted into evidence from research at Musgrove Park hospital, Taunton, that consumption of milk from cows treated with bovine 724
  somatotropin may increase the risk of tumours developing in humans. [21073]

  Mr. Bowis
  This research shows that increased cell division can occur in isolated intestinal tissue directly treated with the growth factor IGF-1. This result is not unexpected. Treatment of cows with BST can cause slight rises in the concentrations of BST and IGF-1 in milk, but the rises are very small compared with the natural variations in levels. There is no convincing evidence to suggest that IGF-1 can cause cancer. The ability of IGF-1 to cause cell division was one of the considerations taken into account by United Kingdom and European Union expert committees in their thorough assessment of the safety of milk from BST-treated cows. They concluded that the levels of IGF-1 and of BST in such milk will have no adverse effect on the health of consumers.

  Electronic Tagging
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is her policy with regard to the use of electronic tagging for hospital patients. [21425]

  Mr. Malone
  Selection of electronic tagging or other security equipment for national health service units is a matter for local managers to determine in the light of local needs, priorities and resources. Tagging is used to increase the safety of patients, but is in itself unlikely to offer a complete solution to security or safety needs. It should be used as part of a wider local strategy which places an emphasis on staff and patient awareness.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she has issued regarding the electronic tagging of hospital patients. [21426]

  Mr. Malone
  No specific guidance has yet been issued on the use of electronic tagging. Guidance will be contained in a supplement to the national health service security manual and a report on a recent survey of security in maternity units, both of which will be published in July.

  Mr. Hinchcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will identify which(a) NHS hospitals, (b) private or voluntary hospitals or (c) care or nursing homes currently use electronic tagging; and if she will specify the category of patient involved. [21427]

  Mr. Malone
  Decisions on security measures in individual units are the responsibility of local management in consultation, where necessary and appropriate, with clinicians, patients and their relatives.

  Parental Responsibility Agreements
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has for making available joint parental responsibility agreements in registry offices for parents when registering the birth of their child. [21600]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Government are considering whether a supply of forms for the making of parental responsibility agreements can and should be made available in registry offices.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Post Office
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the Crown post offices
  725
  converted to agency status in England and Wales, giving the parliamentary constituency in which they lie. [19484]

  Mr. Heseltine
  A list, obtained from the Post Office, showing the Crown post offices in England and Wales which have been converted to agency status, together with the parliamentary constituencies within which they are located, is being placed in the Library of the House.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the agency post offices which were once Crown post offices, listing for each(a) how many staff were employed in them prior to agency status, and how many now, (b) the level of training before and after agency status, (c) what changes have occurred in respect of the business in which the Post Office is sited and (d) the occasions on which the Post Office has at any time had to move to other premises and the factors leading to the move. [20892]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 27 April 1995]: A list of Crown post offices which have been converted to agency status in England and Wales will be placed in the Library of the House in answer to a question from the right hon. Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) today. As more than 700 Crown post offices have been converted to agency status, the specific information requested about each individual office could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the terms of reference of the efficiency audit of the Post Office. [21183]

  Mr. Heseltine
  A copy of the terms of reference of the Post Office performance review has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the tendering and cost of the efficiency audit of the Post Office. [21182]

  Mr. Heseltine
  My Department has recently invited tenders for the Post Office Performance Review from five shortlisted consultants. I expect to make an appointment in May.

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when his Department was first informed of allegations that Singapore was a conduit for arms exported by the company BMARC to Iran; [19078]

  (2) if he will list those contracts involving the firm BMARC, which were notified to his Department as being potentially in breach of Her Majesty's Government's arms export controls; and on what dates this information was received in each case; [19079]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the number of occasions on which breaches of the rules applying to notification took place in respect of BMARC between 1988 and 1991. [19165]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The information required to answer these questions is not held centrally. I will write to the hon. Member in due course and will place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  War Crimes
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Attorney-General how many second world war war crimes are still under investigation; for how long each of the cases has been under investigation; and when a decision on each case as to possible prosecution is due to be taken.

  The Attorney-General
  There are 20 second world war war crimes currently under investigation by the Metropolitan police. Fourteen of these allegations were received from the Home Office on 28 May 1991 on the formation of the Metropolitan police war crimes unit. One allegation was received on 3 June 1992. Three allegations were received on 11 March 1993, 9 August 1993 and 8 December 1993. Two allegations were received on 21 January 1994 and 25 March 1994. Decisions as to possible prosecution will be taken once all relevant evidence has been fully considered and analysed. I refer my hon. Friend to the answers that I gave in the House to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Cunningham) and my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesham (Mr. Arnold) on 24 April 1995 Official Report, columns 517–18, concerning those allegations in the seven cases which have been the subject of initial advice from senior Treasury counsel.

WALES

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the quantitative impact on inward investment into Wales of an increase of(a) 1p, (b) 2p and (c) 5p on corporation tax; and if he will make a statement. [20897]

  Mr. Redwood
  The fact that corporation tax in the United Kingdom, along with levels of income tax, is among the lowest in European Union is undoubtedly an important factor in the attraction of inward investment but there are many other factors which need to be taken into account. These include the skill and flexibility of the work force; the competitive overheads that we have to offer; the excellent communications in this country; and the warm welcome offered by central and local government.

  Household Expenditure
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average weekly household expenditure on housing for(a) those in rented accommodation and (b) owner-occupiers in (i) Wales and (ii) for each Welsh council district area; what were the corresponding figures in (1) 1987 and (2) 1992; and if he will make a statement. [20898]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Estimates of average weekly household expenditure on housing in Wales are as follows:
  727

  £ per week

  Gross housing costs

  Net housing costs

  Tenants

  Owner occupiers

  Tenants

  Owner occupiers

  1987

  27

  n/a

  15

  27

  1992

  41

  n/a

  23

  51

  1993

  45

  n/a

  28

  44

  Notes:

  n/a = not available.

  Source:

  Family Expenditure Survey.Welsh figures are taken from the Family Expenditure Survey and are subject to sampling error.Figures for gross average weekly housing costs for owner occupiers are not readily available.Data are not available for district council areas because of small sample sizes.

  Philosophy Courses
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people graduated from Welsh higher education institutions with honours either in philosophy or in a joint honours or composite degree involving philosophy in 1994; what proportion of the total number graduating from Welsh higher eduction this represents; and if he will make a statement. [20902]

  Mr. Richards
  The most recent data available, from Welsh office returns and the university of Wales registry, are for 1992–93. These data can identify only courses whose only, or main, component was philosophy. Courses in which philosophy was a minority component cannot be identified. On this basis, there were 100 first degree graduates in philosophy from Welsh higher education institutions. A total of 9,360 students graduated with first degrees in 1992–93. The proportion with philosophy degrees was therefore 1.1 per cent.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many higher education institutions in Wales currently offer single honours or joint honours degrees in philosophy; what proportion of the total number of higher education institutions in Wales this represents; and if he will make a statement. [20913]

  Mr. Richards
  The most recent data on courses offered by higher education establishments come from the University and College Admissions Service handbook for the academic year 1994–95. This shows that of the 15 higher education institutions in Wales, four offer first degree courses which have "philosophy" in the course title. This is just under 27 per cent. of the number of institutions.

  Badgers
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many licences have been granted for interference with badger setts for the purpose of hunting in each year since 1991. [21112]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  None. There are no specific provisions under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 for the granting of licences to interfere with badger setts for hunting purposes.

  Local Government Electoral Arrangements
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales who he is consulting on his direction to the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales; on what basis; what deadline he has placed on the consultations;728
  and if he will place a copy of the consultation document in the Library. [21415]

  Mr. Redwood
  For the guidance of the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales in undertaking the electoral arrangements reviews, I propose to issue directions under section 59(1) of the Local Government Act 1972. Copies of the directions in draft form have been sent for comments to the Commission and to the Assembly of Welsh Councils and the Council of Welsh Districts. Comments have been requested by 5 May.

  Section 59(2) of the 1972 Act requires me to consult associations which appear to be representative of local authorities. Since the directions will be issued to the Local Government Boundary Commission, I consider it appropriate to seek beforehand the benefit of their advice and experience in these matters.

  I have made arrangements for a copy of the draft directions to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department are under a statutory requirement to(a) publish their advice to Government, (b) publish an annual report and (c) lay an annual report before Parliament; and if he will list those with a statutory base. [21594]

  Mr. Redwood
  The Local Government Boundary Commission is under a statutory requirement to deposit copies of its reports and proposals to the Secretary of State at the offices of any principal council whose area might be affected.

  The Historic Buildings Council for Wales, the Ancient Monuments Board for Wales, and the Local Government Boundary Commission are under a statutory requirement to publish an annual report and lay it before Parliament. A report on the work of the Welsh Industrial Development Advisory Board must be contained in the annual report on the Industrial Development Act 1982, which must be laid before Parliament.

  The following have a statutory base: the Historic Buildings Council for Wales; the Ancient Monuments Board for Wales; the Local Government Boundary Commission; the Staff Commission for Wales; the Welsh Industrial Development Advisory Board; the NRA Advisory Committee for Wales; the Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committees; the Welsh Dental Committee; the Welsh Medical Committee; the Welsh Optical Committee; the Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee; the Welsh Nursing and Midwifery Committee; and the Library and Information Services Council.

  Cardiff Bay Barrage
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs) of 24 April,Official Report, column 369, what interim payments had already been paid (a) to Balfour Beatty with respect to the Cardiff bay barrage construction contract and (b) to contractors carrying out the sewer diversion contract connected with the barrage. [21680]
  729
  Mr. Redwood
  Interim payments of £16.9 million have been paid to Balfour Beatty-Costain for barrage construction and £0.3 million has been paid for sewer diversion works.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs) on 24 April 1995,Official Report, column

  £ million

  To:

  31 March 1994

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Future

  Totals

  Totals

  22.3

  22.3

  44.4

  48.1

  36.6

  17.3

  191.0

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs) of 24 April,Official Report, column 369, if he will list what categories of cost escalation apply to (a) the main contract with Balfour Beatty for the construction of the Cardiff bay barrage and (b) contracts for sewer diversion being funded by the Cardiff Bay development corporation; and if he will make a statement on how these categories have affected the difference between the October 1992 estimate and the present outturn forecast. [21681]

  Mr. Redwood
  This is an operational matter for the corporation and I will ask the chief executive of the corporation to respond.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs) of 24 April,Official Report, column 369, if he will specify how much of the £15.4 million for preliminary design work and the presentation of Bills to Parliament was (a) for preliminary design work and (b) for presentation of Bills to Parliament. [21683]

  Mr. Redwood
  Of the £15.4 million preliminary design and barrage Bill costs, £9.30 million was for preliminary design work and £6,066 million was for presentation of Bills to Parliament.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. Coombs) 24 April,Official Report, column 369, if he will specify what proportion of the construction of the barrage had been completed by 31 March. [21682]

  Mr. Redwood
  By 31 March 1995, the corporation estimate the construction of the barrage to be 8 per cent. complete. This does not represent the actual cost spent on barrage construction to date, which includes enabling works such as piling and dredging as well as construction materials already bought in.

TREASURY

  Interest and Exchange Rates
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of increases in(a) interest rates and (b) exchange rates on the standard of living. [21404]

  Mr. Nelson
  Permanently low inflation provides the best environment for achieving sustained growth and higher living standards. Monetary policy is set to keep 730
  369, if he will give the details of the breakdown of the figure of £191 million, by each financial year in which any significant part of that expenditure has or will occur. [21684]

  Mr. Redwood
  Details of possible barrage expenditure to 1997–98 are as follows:

  underlying inflation within the Government's 1 to 4 per cent. target range and to bring it down into the lower half of this range by the end of the present Parliament. Movements in the exchange rate are taken into account, along with a range of indicators, when considering the prospects for underlying inflation.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effects of a half point rise in official interest rates in the United Kingdom upon the trade-weighted value of sterling. [21430]

  Mr. Nelson
  Movements in the trade-weighted value of sterling depend on many factors beside interest rates and it is not possible to estimate the effect of any one factor with any degree of confidence. Interest rates are set to meet the Government's objective of permanently low inflation.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is Her Majesty's Government's assessment of the effect on the rate of inflation of raising interest and the exchange rate when the output of manufacturing industry approaches full capacity. [21301]

  Mr. Nelson
  Interest rates are set to keep underlying inflation within the Government's 1 to 4 per cent. target range and to bring it down into the lower half of this range by the end of the present Parliament.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of increases in(a) interest rates and (b) exchange rates on the standard of living. [21404]

  Mr. Nelson
  Permanently low inflation provides the best environment for achieving sustained growth and higher living standards. Monetary policy is set to keep underlying inflation within the Government's 1 to 4 per cent. target range and to bring it down into the lower half of this range by the end of the present Parliament. Movements in the exchange rate are taken into account, along with a range of indicators, when considering the prospects for underlying inflation.

  Tobacco Duty
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what weight he attaches to the cost of NHS treatment of smoking-related diseases when determining the level of duty on tobacco; and if he will make a statement. [20914]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Government recognised the importance of tax in reducing consumption in the continuing Budget commitment to raise tobacco duties, on average, by at least 3 per cent. per annum in real terms.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department are under a statutory requirement to(a) publish their advice to Government, (b) publish an annual report and (c) lay an annual report before Parliament; and if he will list those with a statutory base. [21593]

  Mr. Nelson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 7 March 1995,Official Report, column 62.

  Pensions Offences
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many individual offences against section 47 of the Financial Services Act 1986 have been recorded by the Securities and Investments Board since April 1988; and what measures have been taken by the Securities and Investments Board or his Department to notify victims that they have a legal right to ask the police to investigate these offences. [20833]

  Mr. Nelson
  Prosecution powers in relation to section 47 have not been transferred to the Securities and Investments Board nor are they exercised by the Treasury. These powers can be exercised by the Department of Trade and Industry, the Serious Fraud Office, the Crown Prosecution Service and the procurators fiscal in Scotland.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, on the various occasions that Treasury Ministers and officials have met pensions industry practitioners and regulators, they discussed(a) section 47 offences and pensions mis-selling and (b) the provision of information to victims that they had the right to ask the police to investigate such offences. [20835]

  Mr. Nelson
  No.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, on the occasion of its pensions initiative in October 1994, the Securities and Investments Board referred to(a) the gravity of the offence of mis-selling pensions, (b) prison terms possibly resulting and (c) the fact that victims have the legal right to involve the police in investigations. [20834]

  Mr. Nelson
  I can add nothing further to my answer to the hon. Member of 30 March 1995,Official Report, column 727.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how far(a) his Department, and (b) the Securities and Investments Board, have day-to-day policy control over offences under section 47 of the Financial Services Act 1986; and what information about this control provided to those making representations over the mis-selling of pension and other investment products. [20836]

  Mr. Nelson
  The Treasury is responsible for the general policy expressed in the legislation. On specific contraventions of section 47 and information provided in relation to mis-selling, I refer the hon. Member to my answers of 30 March 1995,Official Report, column 727.

  Vehicle Excise Duty
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors influenced the decision to impose vehicle excise duty on tower wagons; for what reasons vehicle excise duty was not imposed on mobile cranes 732
  and mobile concrete pumps; and what principle determined the different status of these items. [21126]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  A wide-ranging reform of the system of vehicle excise duty exemptions and concessions was announced in the Budget.

  Tower wagons currently pay a concessionary rate of duty of £150. Under the new arrangements, they will pay full vehicle excise duty, in common with nearly all goods vehicles fitted with hydraulic platforms.

  Mobile cranes, including concrete pumps, currently pay duty of £35. Those weighing 3.5 tonnes or more will, under the new arrangements, be registered in the new special vehicles class and will be subject to duty of £150. Vehicles under that weight can register as normal light goods vehicles and pay £135.

  Mobile cranes use the road only between sites and their operations are restricted by their specialised construction which means that they cannot carry any load except necessary equipment. Tower wagons, on the other hand, are adapted goods vehicles which use the road more extensively than mobile cranes and are often parked on the road. Their impact on the roads and the environment is no different to that of normal goods vehicles. There has always been a significant duty differential between the two types of vehicle.

  Bilingual Bank Notes
  Mr. Cynog Dafis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will discuss with the Secretary of State for Wales and the Governor of the Bank of England the issue of bilingual bank notes for Wales; and if he will make a statement. [21048]

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 26 April 1995]: The Bank has no plans to issue bilingual English/Welsh banknotes.

SCOTLAND

  Badgers
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many licences have been granted for interference with badger setts for the purpose of hunting in each year since 1991. [21111]

  Sir Hector Monro
  None.

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the letter and attached documents JRE 110119 from the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West (Lord James Douglas-Hamilton) of 21 April 1995 to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, (1) what evidence he has that the Libyan position on trial of the accused has been one of constant prevarication, and to whom he refers as intermediaries and well-intentioned individuals; [21409]

  (2) what offers have been made by the Crown Office to Lockerbie to the German authorities of evidence relating to Lockerbie. [21410]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I did not write to the hon. Member on 21 April attaching the documents referred to. The document to which the hon. Member
  733
  appears to be referring was prepared for internal use and I am not therefore prepared to comment further on it.

  Drugs, Renfrewshire
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will arrange for the Minister of State, Scottish Office, to visit Paisley to meet the police and others involved in combating the drugs-related problems there; and if he will make a statement. [18994]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My noble and learned Friend has no such immediate plans. He has recently held constructive meetings with the hon. Member and with two other hon. Members who represent constituencies in Renfrewshire to discuss drug-related crime. Furthermore, he has been kept fully briefed on relevant developments by the chief constable of Strathclyde police.

  Water Charges
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the comparative proportion of unpaid water bills in Scotland and in(a) England and Wales and (b) Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [20352]

  Mr. Kynoch
  My right hon. Friend has made no such assessment. Domestic charges in Scotland are collected along with the council tax.

  Bovine Tuberculosis
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many cases of TB in cattle were reported in each region in each year since 1985. [20553]

  Sir Hector Monro
  Complete information in the form requested is not available and information which is available for the years 1985 to 1987 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the total numbers of confirmed cattle tuberculosis breakdowns in each region affected in Scotland in years 1988 to 1991 were as follows:

  Scotland

  Number of herds

  Number of confirmed reactors

  Aberdeenshire

  4

  9

  Argyll

  1

  1

  Ayrshire

  10

  65

  Berwickshire

  1

  1

  Kirkcudbright

  2

  3

  Midlothian

  1

  1

  Wigtown

  4

  5

  Shetland

  1

  1

  For the period 1992 to 1994, the number of confirmed cattle tuberculosis breakdowns in each of the administrative areas in Scotland covered by a divisional animal health office is as follows:

  Scotland

  Year

  Number of herds

  Number of confirmed reactors

  Aberdeen

  1994

  2

  4

  Ayr

  1993

  2

  52

  1994

  1

  1

  Galashiels

  1993

  3

  4

  734

  Scotland

  Year

  Number of herds

  Number of confirmed reactors

  Hamilton

  1992

  1

  1

  1994

  1

  1

  Inverness

  1993

  1

  1

  Perth

  1994

  1

  1

  Divorce
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of divorce have been reported during the last year; and what are the figures for each of the previous four years. [20706]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Provisional statistics indicate that there were 13,005 divorces in Scotland in 1994. In the preceding four years the final figures for divorces were:

  1993: 12,787

  1992: 12,479

  1991: 12,399

  1990: 12,272

  Prison Population
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current prison population; and what were the figures in each of the previous four years. [20776]

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

  Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 28 April 1995:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your Question about the current prison population and the population in the previous four years.
  On Friday 21 April 1995 the prison population was 5,465.
  The table below shows the average daily prison population for each of the preceding four years.

  Average daily population for 1991–94

  Number

  1991

  4,839

  1992

  5,257

  1993

  5,637

  1994

  5,585

  Philosophy Courses
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people graduated from Scottish higher education institutions with honours either in philosophy or in a joint honours or composite degree involving philosophy in 1994; what proportion of the total number graduating from Scottish higher education this represents; and if he will make a statement. [20901]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In 1993, the latest year for which information is available, 85 people graduated from Scottish higher education institutions with a degree where philosophy was the main or only subject; this represents 0.5 per cent. of all degree graduates from Scottish higher education institutions in 1993.
  735
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many higher education institutions in Scotland currently offer single honours or joint honours degrees in philosophy; what proportion of the total number of higher education institutions in Scotland this represents; and if he will make a statement. [20912]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Out of the 22 higher education institutions in Scotland, six currently offer degree courses in philosophy; this represents a proportion of 27 per cent.

  Hunting
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which(a) fox and (b) deer hunts have been issued with licences or permits to hunt live quarry on Forestry Commission land. [21108]

  Sir Hector Monro
  The Forestry Commission has issued the following hunts with licences or permits to hunt on commission land:

  Fox hunts

  Ashford Valley

  Banwen Miners

  Barlow

  Belvoir

  Bicester with Whaddon Chase

  Bilsdale

  Blankney

  Blencathra Foxhounds

  Border

  Braes of Derwent

  Brocklesby

  Buccleuch

  Cambridgeshire

  Chiddingfold, Leconfield and Cowdray

  Cleveland

  College Valley and North Northumberland

  Coniston Foxhounds

  Cottesmore

  Cumberland Farmers Foxhounds

  Cumberland Farmers

  Cumberland Foxhounds

  Curre

  Derwent

  East Essex

  East Kent

  East Sussex and Romney Marsh

  Eglington

  Eskdale and Ennerdale Foxhounds

  Essex

  Farndale

  Fife Foxhounds

  Fitzwilliam

  Fowey Fox Beagles

  Gelligaer Farmers

  Goathland

  Golden valley

  Grafton

  Grove and Rufford

  Hampshire

  Haydon

  Hursley and Hambledon

  Hurworth

  Isle of Wight

  Jedforest

  Liddesdale

  Llangeinor

  Llangibby

  736

  Melbreak Foxhounds

  Middleton

  Milvain

  Monmouthshire

  Morpeth

  New Forest Beagles

  New Forest Hounds

  North Lonsdale Foxhounds

  North Norfolk Harriers

  Oakley

  Pennine Foxhounds

  Pentyrch

  Percy

  Puckeridge

  Saltersgate Farmers

  Sennybridge

  Sinnington

  South Nottinghamshire

  South Pembrokeshire

  South Wold

  Staintondale

  Suffolk

  Surrey Union

  Taf Fechan

  Talybont

  Thurlow

  Tredegar Farmers

  Virginstowe Beagles

  West Norfolk Foxhounds

  West Percy

  Woodland Pytchley

  York and Ainsty North

  Ystrad

  Deer hunts

  New Forest Buckhounds

  Quantock Staghounds

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department are under a statutory requirement to(a) publish their advice to the Government, (b) publish an annual report and (c) lay an annual report before Parliament; and if he will list those bodies with a statutory base. [21157]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 24 April 1995]: The information requested is as follows: (a) Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland, Scottish Records Advisory Council, Secretary of State's (Electricity) Advisory Council; (b) Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland, Historic Buildings Council for Scotland, Parole Board for Scotland, Scottish Industrial Development Advisory Board, Scottish Records Advisory Council, Scottish Valuation Advisory Council, Secretary of State's (Electricity) Fisheries Committee; (c) Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland, Historic Buildings Council for Scotland, Parole Board for Scotland, Scottish Industrial Development Advisory Board, Scottish Records Advisory Council, Secretary of State's (Electricity) Fisheries Committee. Those bodies with a statutory base are: Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland, Building Standards Advisory Committee, Children's Panel Advisory Committees, Consultative Committee on Freshwater Fisheries, Extra Parliamentary Panel, Hill Farming Advisory Committee for Scotland, Historic

  737
  Buildings Council for Scotland, Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland, Local Review Committees for HM Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions, Parliamentary Boundary Commission, Parole Board for Scotland, Police Advisory Board for Scotland, Scottish Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council, Scottish Industrial Development Advisory Board, Scottish Police College Board of Governors, Scottish Records Advisory Council, Scottish Valuation Advisory Council, Secretary of State's (Electricity) Fisheries Committee.

  Prisons (Weapons)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) firearms, (b) knives and (c) other dangerous weapons or implements were found hidden in prisons in (i) 1979, (ii) 1985, (iii) 1990 and (iv) the last year for which figures are available. [16828]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 30 March 1995]: The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 28 April 1995:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of firearms, knives and other dangerous weapons or implements found hidden in prisons in 1979, 1985, 1990 and the last year for which figures are available.
  The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Royal Collections
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will publish a definitive catalogue of all the works of art in the royal collections which are held by the Crown on behalf of the nation; if he will indicate how many of these works have been displayed to the general public; and for how long. [20990]

  Mr. Dorrell
  The royal collection is a department of the royal household and is not a responsibility of my Department. I understand that the royal household is completing an inventory of works of art in the royal collection, which is scheduled for completion by the end of 1997.

  Sport and Leisure Spending
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much is spent on sport and leisure in the United Kingdom by(a) the United Kingdom Sports Commission and the sports councils and (b) local authorities. [20996]

  Mr. Dorrell
  The United Kingdom Sports Council will not have spending powers until it has formally been established by royal charter. We expect this to be on 1 January 1996. The grant in aid expended by the four Sports Councils in 1994–95 was:
  738

  £

  GB Sports Council

  49,824,000

  Scottish Sports Council

  8,778,000

  Welsh Sports Council

  6,559,000

  Northern Ireland Sports Council

  2,158,569

  Total:

  67,319,569

  It is not possible to make cross-national comparisons of local authority expenditure as different definations are used. Local authority expenditure on sport and recreation in England for 1993–94, the last year for which figures are available, is estimated at £900 million.

  European Football Championship
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what actions his Department has taken to ensure that tourism benefits accrue from the 1996 European football championship. [20986]

  Mr. Dorrell
  Officials from my Department sit on the central co-ordinating committee responsible for the organisation of the 1996 European football championship. The statutory tourist boards, the British Tourist Authority and the English tourist board, which are sponsored by my Department, are ensuring that all possible steps are being taken to maximise the tourism potential of the event. A full overseas marketing plan has been drawn up, supporting programmes of cultural events are being developed and a warm welcome for visitors is being prepared in the host towns and cities.

  New Novelists
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations his Department has received to encourage new novelists by means of securing their publication by HMSO in the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [20991]

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have received no representations. HMSO does not publish works of fiction and is therefore unable to support new novelists.

  Rugby Football (Broadcasting)
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on News Corporation's bid for the rights to television coverage of rugby league football.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Government believe that sporting rights owners should be free to dispose of their television rights in the way they choose. It is for the Rugby Football League to judge whether News Corporation's proposals are in the best interests of the game.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage 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

  739
  or committee meetings and (b) a statutory requirement to hold open meetings for the public. [20883]

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 26 April 1995]: None.

  County Archives
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list by local authority the amount of current funding that is provided to maintain county archival records; and what were the figures for each of the last four years, giving the percentage increase or decrease. [20714]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  I have been asked to reply.

  The figures requested by the hon. Member are not held centrally.

  VE Day
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what recognition is being given in VE day celebrations of the role of the Merchant Navy in the second world war. [20993]

  Mr. Soames
  I have been asked to reply.

  Events to mark the 50th anniversary of VE day offer a welcome opportunity to pay tribute not only to the military but to the civilian contribution to the war effort. The Government are conscious of the vital role played by the Merchant Navy and look forward to seeing it well represented during this year's commemorations. Representation at each of the Government's key events over the VE day weekend is being co-ordinated through the Merchant Navy veterans; organisations and the chamber of shipping. I envisage that tribute will also be paid to the men of Merchant Navy in one of the pavilions in Hyde park, over the period 6, 7 and 8 May.

  In addition to their involvement in the May events, it is hoped that large numbers of merchant seamen will take part in the service and parade in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen which will take place in August, as part of the programme of events to mark the 50th anniversary of VE day.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Occupational Health and Safety Agency
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 20 April,Official Report, column 223, what assessment he has made of the effect on the outcome of the market testing exercise for the supply of occupational health and safety services at AWE Aldermaston, Burghfield, Cardiff and Foulness, of the availability of privileged information from the senior medical officer in the civil service occupational health and safety agency at Aldermaston as a director of the successful bidder company. [21078]

  Mr. Horam
  As both Hunting BRAE Ltd.—trading as AWE—and Trident Medical Services Ltd., the successful bidder company, operate in the private sector and the officer concerned has left the public service, no such assessment can be made.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 20 April,Official Report, column 223, what permission was (a) sought and
  740
  (b) granted by the permanent secretary of the Cabinet Office to the former senior medical officer at the civil service occupational health and safety agency Aldermaston to act as a director of Trident Medical Services in providing health and safety services to the Ministry of Defence Atomic Weapons Establishment plc, and what post-resignation quarantine period applies to civil servants of his grade with respect to acting for companies trading with his previous employer department. [21077]

  Mr. Horam
  No permission was sought or granted while the officer was serving with the OHSA. Within two years of leaving, a former civil servant of his grade must obtain approval before taking up an appointment if the following circumstances apply: if they have had any official dealings with their prospective employer during the last two years of Crown employment; if they have had official dealings of a continued or repeated nature with their prospective employer at any time during their period of Crown employment; if they have had access to commercially sensitive information of competitors of their prospective employer in the course of their official duties; or if, during the last two years of Crown employment, their official duties have involved advice or decisions benefiting that prospective employer, for which the offer of employment could be interpreted as reward, or have involved developing policy, knowledge of which might be of benefit to the prospective employer. The former officer concerned has been reminded of his obligations. Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis; there are no automatic or standard post-resignation quarantine periods at this level.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 20 April,Official Report, column 223, if he will list the sanctions available, in cases where serving senior civil servants form companies for the purposes of bidding for contracts in market-testing exercises; and if he will specify which of those sanctions apply to (a) those civil servants and (b) the companies which they helped to form, whether successful or otherwise in market-testing competition. [21076]

  Mr. Horam
  Serving civil servants are required to seek permission before seeking any outside employment which might affect their work directly or indirectly; where a conflict of interest arises, they must declare their personal interest. Civil servants dealing with procurement or contracts work must report any approach offering employment whether or not they are considering taking it up. Breaches of these rules can lead to disciplinary action, with penalties up to and including dismissal. Civil servants must also observe the rules on business appointments after leaving the civil service. Companies seeking government business might wish to consider the propriety of sanctioning breaches of rules governing the conduct of serving and former civil servants.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department are under a statutory requirement to(a) publish their advice to Government, (b) publish an annual report and (c) lay an annual report before Parliament; and if he will list

  741
  those with a statutory base. [21597]

  Mr. Horam
  None.

  Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what key targets have been set for the Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency for the current financial year. [22335]

  Mr. Horam
  I have set the following targets for Recruitment and Assessment Services to achieve in 1995–96:1. a financial surplus of £100,000 in accrual accounting terms;
  2. at least a 2 per cent. increase in efficiency over 1994–95 performance; and
  3. customer evaluation ratings for overall service of 96 per cent. for customers satisfied with the service they have received with 80 per cent. of customers giving "highly satisfied" or "more than satisfied" assessments.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Singapore
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evaluation he has made of the independence of the judiciary in Singapore from the Government of Singapore in relation to cases which have political or international significance. [21131]

  Mr. Goodlad
  None. The independence of the Singapore judiciary is a matter for the Singapore Government.

  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held(a) with the German Government or German diplomats in the United Kingdom and (b) with the Singapore Government or Singaporean diplomats in the United Kingdom relating to (i) the Barings affair and (ii) the extradition of Mr. Nick Leeson. [21179]

  Mr. Baldry
  There have been no discussions with the German authorities about either the collapse of Barings bank or the possible extradition of Mr. Nick Leeson.

  We and the Singapore authorities are co-operating in investigating the circumstances surrounding the collapse of the bank, including Mr. Leeson's activities. In response to questions from the Singapore high commission we confirmed that the Serious Fraud Office was continuing investigations to establish whether offences of serious or complex fraud had been committed which could be prosecuted in the UK.

  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received from HM embassy or consular staff in Germany about the view of the German authorities on the extradition of Mr. Nick Leeson to Singapore. [21132]

  Mr. Baldry
  None. This is entirely a matter for the German and Singapore authorities.

  Iraq
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a742
  statement on the forthcoming visit by the Iraqi-British interest group to Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We were aware of the possibility but we have no specific details of a forthcoming visit. Before it last visited Iraq in February, the Iraqi British interest group neither sought, nor was given assistance by my Department. Under British legislation, introduced in support of UN sanctions against Iraq, all British companies visiting that country to discuss permissible trade—that is, trade of a humanitarian nature—must first obtain a communications licence.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department will give to the Iraqi-British interest group on its forthcoming visit to Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  None.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests for assistance his Department has received from the Iraqi-British interest group for its forthcoming visit to Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  None.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from Mr. Riad El Taher about sanctions against Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We receive regular reports from Mr. El Taher about how he sees the situation in Iraq. Although he clearly has a keen interest in the welfare of the Iraqi people, and wishes to see an early end to UN sanctions, his reports consistently fail to recognise the Iraqi regime's failure to implement all the relevant UN resolutions.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what investigations he has carried out into the activities of Dr. Riad El Taher.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are aware of Dr. El Taher's activities and those of his organisation, "Friendship Across Frontiers", thanks to the numerous reports that we have received from him about Iraq.

  Mr. Edmund Sykes
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the relationship between the Department and Mr. Edmund Sykes.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are unaware of any contacts between the Department and Mr. Sykes.

  Mr. Stephen Crouch
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the relationship between his Department and Mr. Stephen Crouch. [21703]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs gave to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd), on 28 March 1995,Official Report, column 523. There have since been no further contacts with Mr. Crouch, and none are planned in the future.

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communication Her Majesty's Government have received from the German authorities to the effect that they believe that the bomb which destroyed Pan Am 103 was not put on the plane at the Rhein Main airport in Frankfurt. [21408]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  None.

  Colonel Oliver North
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 18 April,Official Report, column 6, for what reasons he declined to give details in answer to the question by the hon. Member for Linlithgow as to the reasons why Mr. Andrew Green of the Foreign Office met Colonel Oliver North on 24 July 1984 to discuss hostage rescue missions. [21406]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I have nothing to add to the answer that I gave the hon. Gentleman on 18 April,Official Report, columns 5–6.

  VE day Commemorations
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which foreign heads of state and government will be attending the VE day commemorations.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Details of foreign heads of state and government and other ministers attending the VE day commemorations are as follows:

  President of the Republic of Albania

  Professor Dr. Sali Berisha

  President of the Republic of Armenia

  Mr. Levon Ter-Petrossian

  Minister of Defence

  Mr. Serja Sarkissian

  Minister for Defence for Australia

  The Honourable Robert Ray

  Federal President of the Republic of Austria

  Dr. Thomas Klestil

  President of the Azerbaijan Republic

  Mr. Heydar Aliev

  Minister of Foreign Affairs

  Mr. Hassan Hassanov

  President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh

  Mr. Abdur Rahman Biswas

  Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus

  Mr. Mikhail Nikolaevich Chigir

  Minister for Foreign Affairs

  Mr. Uladzimir Leonovich Syanko

  Duke of Brabant

  His Royal Highness Prince Philippe

  President of the Republic of Bosnia-Hercegovina

  Mr. Alija Izetbegovic

  744
  President of the Republic of Botswana

  Sir Ketumile Masire GCMG JP MP

  Minister of Foreign Affairs

  Lt General Mompati Merafhe

  President of the Federative Republic of Brazil

  Senhor Fernando Henrique Cardoso

  Minister for External Relations

  Senhor Luiz Felipe Lampreia

  President of the Republic of Bulgaria

  Dr. Zhelyu Zhelev

  Prime Minister of Canada

  The Rt Hon Jean Chretien PC QC MP

  President of the Republic of Croatia

  Dr. Franjo Tudjman

  Deputy President of the Republic of Croatia

  Mr. Hrvoje Sarinic

  President of the Republic of Cyprus

  Mr. Glafcos Clerides

  President of the Czech Republic

  Mr. Vaclav Havel

  Her Royal Highness Princess Benedikte of Denmark

  President of the Republic of Estonia

  Mr. Lennart Meri

  President of the Republic of Finland

  Mr. Martti Ahtisaari

  President of the French Republic

  Monsieur Francois Mitterrand GCB

  Federal President Federal Republic of Germany

  Herr Professor Dr. Roman Herzog

  Federal Chancellor Federal Republic of Germany

  Herr Dr. Helmut Kohl GCMG

  Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs

  Herr Dr. Klaus Kinkel

  Deputy Chief Minister of Gibraltar

  The Hon. Mr. Joseph Pilcher

  President of the Hellenic Republic

  Mr. Constantinos Stephanopoulos

  Minister of the Presidency

  Dr. lannis Pottakis

  President of the Republic of Hungary

  Dr. Arpad Goncz

  Minister for External Affairs of the Republic of India

  Mr. Pranab Mukherjee

  President of the State of Israel

  Mr. Ezer Weizman

  745
  President of the Italian Republic

  Signor Oscar Luigi Scalfaro

  Governor-General of Jamaica

  The Most Honourable Sir Howard Cooke ON GCMG GCVO CD

  His Majesty King Hussein I bin Talal GCB GCVO King of the Hashemite King of Jordan

  His Royal Highness Prince Hamzah bin Al Hussein

  President of the Republic of Kazakhstan

  Mr. Nursultan Nazarbaev

  President of the Kyrgyz Republic

  Mr. Askar Akaev

  President of the Republic of Latvia

  Mr. Guntis Ulmanis

  Minister of Foreign Affairs

  Mr. Valdis Birkavs

  King of Lesotho

  His Majesty King Moshoeshoe II

  Minister of Defence

  The Honourable S. Motanyane

  President of the Republic of Lithuania

  Mr. Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas

  Minister of Foreign Affairs

  Mr. Povilas Gylys

  His Royal Highness The Grand Duke of Luxembourg

  Her Royal Highness The Grand Duke of Luxembourg

  President of the former Yugoslave Republic of Macedonia

  Mr. Kiro Gligorov

  President of Malta

  Dr. Ugo Mifsud Bonnici

  Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs

  The Hon. Professor Guido de Marco

  First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova

  Mr. Ion Gutu

  His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev of Nepal

  Her Majesty Queen Aishwarya Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah of Nepal

  Her Majesty The Queen of The Netherlands LG

  Prime Minister of New Zealand

  The Rt. Hon. James Bolger MP

  His Royal Highness The Crown Prince Haakon of Norway

  Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland

  Mr. Wladyslaw Bartoszewski

  President of Romania

  Mr. Ion Iliescu

  Minister of State. Minister of Foreign Affairs

  Mr. Teodor Melescanu

  746
  The Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation

  Mr. Viktor S. Chernomyrdin

  President of the Slovak Republic

  Mr. Michal Kovac

  President of the Republic of Slovenia

  Mr. Milan Kucan

  Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa

  Mr. Thabo Mbeki

  King of Swaziland

  His Majesty King Mswati III

  Minister for Foreign Affairs

  The Honourable Solomon M. Dlamini MP

  President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

  Mr. Noor Mohamed Hassanali

  President of Turkmenistan

  Mr. Saparmurad Niyazov

  The Vice-President of the United States of America

  The Honourable Albert Gore Jr.

  State Counsellor of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

  Mr. Bakhtiyor Khisamovich Gulyamov

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Rabies
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the incidence of rabies in(a) Belgium and (b) other EC member states. [21093]

  Mrs. Browning
  We welcome the steady progress being made in the mainland EU member states towards the eradication of rabies in their countries, although we are disappointed to see the increase in the number of reported cases in Belgium in the third quarter of 1994. This was apparently due to a single focus of infection in foxes in the Belgian province of Luxembourg. We shall continue to monitor the situation carefully.

  Badgers
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on badger culling. [21095]

  Mrs. Browning
  In those areas in the south-west of England and parts of Wales where there is a recent history of badger-related herd breakdowns in cattle, badger removal operations may proceed on breakdown farms on the judgment of Ministry staff, providing detailed epidemiological investigations have attributed the source of infection for that breakdown to badgers. Where detailed epidemiological investigations indicate that badgers are implicated in a herd breakdown but where there is not recent history of badger-related tuberculosis, it is a requirement that a badger removal operation must first be sanctioned by a sub-committee of the consultative panel on badgers and bovine tuberculosis. This sub-committee includes farming, veterinary and conservation
  747
  representatives and ensures that the decisions made and action taken are subject to independent scrutiny.

  Of those breakdowns which meet the criteria for the trial of the live test, announced in December 1993 and started in November last year, half will be subject to a live test, which will be undertaken on the breakdown farm and surrounding area so that only badgers from setts containing infected badgers will be culled. On the other half, a badger removal operation will be undertaken following the criteria laid down in the independent report of Ministers by Professor Dunnet in 1986. The trial will run for five years, with the objective of comparing the effect on the incidence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle of the strategy recommended by Professor Dunnet of the live test strategy and of the removing no badgers if the breakdown farmer refuses a badger removal operation.

  In all situations where breakdowns do not meet the criteria for the trial, the farmer will be offered a badger removal operation in accordance with the Dunnett criteria—the "interim strategy". This means that action against badgers is confined to that part of the breakdown farm where it is believed tuberculosis was transmitted to cattle, or to the whole farm if it is not possible to be more precise.

  It is estimated that fewer than 3,000 badgers will be humanely killed in Ministry badger removal operations in 1995. This in no way represents a threat to the species, whose Great Britain population is estimated at about 250,000 adult badgers.

  Mr. Morely
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many licences have been granted for interference with badger setts in each year since 1991 for the purpose of hunting; and which purpose this comes under in section 10 of the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. [21109]

  Mrs. Browning
  None. There are no specific provisions under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 for the granting of licences to interfere with badger setts for the purpose of hunting.

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 18 April,Official Report, column 102, and of 4 April, Official Report, columns 1057–58, when he expects to be able to make a statement on banning the export of calves to be reared in veal crates. [21113]

  Mrs. Browning
  My right hon. Friend has already explained on various occasions that it is not his policy, for both practical and legal reasons, to ban the export of calves to be reared in veal crates. Lawyers are currently examining, at his request, the complex arguments, recently submitted by the RSPCA and the International Fund for Animal Welfare, as to how they consider that a ban might be legally defended.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any plans to stop people with convictions for cruelty to livestock from being allowed to continue exporting livestock. [21329]

  Mrs. Browning
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) in the House on 23 February 1995,Official Report, 23 February 1995, column 475.

  Mink and Arctic Fox
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will insist that mink and arctic fox farms are listed under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976; and if he will make a statement. [21105]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 27 April 1995]: The Farm Animal Welfare Council has recommended that consideration should be given to the inclusion of mink and arctic fox in the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976. The views of interested organisations have been obtained on this recommendation and we are currently considering how this matter should be taken forward.

  EC Welfare of Livestock Convention
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) which EC member states have been in breach of the European convention on the protection of animals kept for farming purposes over the past 12 months; [19818]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the European Convention on the Protection of Animals kept for farming purposes; whether the provisions of the convention are mandatory; what assessment he has made of whether all EC member states are taking action to adopt these provisions; and what action he is taking to encourage them to do so. [19819]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 24 April 1995]: The European Community and its member states are all contracting parties to this convention, which lays down general principles for safeguarding the welfare of animals kept for farming purposes, in particular those kept in intensive farming systems. Detailed recommendations for the welfare of individual species are elaborated by a standing committee established under the convention. By adoption of Council decision 78/923/EEC, the European Community approved the convention, while in Great Britain its principles were implemented in provisions which are now incorporated in the Welfare of Livestock Regulations 1994 (SI 2126).

  We do not have detailed information on how other contracting parties implement and enforce the convention and the subsidiary measures adopted under it: the Government agree with the European Commission's view, indicated in its communication on the protection of animals of 8 September 1993 (8442/93), that Community legislation is necessary to ensure uniform application of the convention and its subordinate recommendations within the Community. We are therefore continuing to press for the adoption of high welfare standards on a Community basis.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prison Service Costs
  Mr. Mike O' Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of the Prison Service in real terms in each of the last 15 years. [20385]

  Mr. Maclean
  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.
  749
  Letter from B. Landers to Mr. Mike O'Brien, dated 27 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 cost of the Prison Service in real terms in each of the last 15 years.
  The costs of the Prison Service in England and Wales are set out in the attached table. They are at 1993–94 prices and include notional depreciation and superannuation.

  Year

  Cost: £000

  1979–80

  845,366

  1980–81

  908,605

  1981–82

  943,003

  1982–83

  1,011,316

  1983–84

  1,075,395

  1984–85

  1,055,005

  1985–86

  1,132,401

  1986–87

  1,163,164

  1987–88

  1,239,017

  1988–89

  1,334,463

  1989–90

  1,483,377

  1990–91

  1,667,722

  1991–92

  1,747,796

  1992–93

  1,711,000

  1993–94

  1,638,200

  Prison Population
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the total numbers of(a) adult and (b) juvenile prisoners held in custody in each of the last 15 years. [20386]

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

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Mike O'Brien, dated 28 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 total numbers of adult and juvenile prisoners held in custody in each of the last 15 years.
  Within the prison system, adults are defined as aged 21 and over. A breakdown of the prison population from 1980–1994 into adults and young persons is given in Table 1. Before the introduction in October 1992 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991, young persons in Prison Service establishments between the ages of 14 and 16 were defined as juveniles. Since the 1991 Act came into effect, young persons aged between 15 and 17 have been treated as juveniles. Information on juveniles aged between 15 and 17 in Prison Service establishments is only available from 1987 and is contained in Table 2. More detailed information on the population of young persons up to 1992 is published annually in "Prison Statistics, England and Wales" (Table 3.2 of the 1992 edition).

  Table 1: Population in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales, annual averages 1980–19941

  Thousands

  Year

  Adults2(aged 21 and over)

  Young persons (aged under 21)

  1980

  30.1

  12.5

  1981

  29.9

  13.1

  1982

  30.3

  13.0

  1983

  31.0

  12.5

  1984

  30.5

  12.5

  1985

  33.1

  13.0

  1986

  34.3

  12.3

  1987

  36.5

  12.2

  750

  Table 1: Population in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales, annual averages 1980–19941

  Thousands

  Year

  Adults2(aged 21 and over)

  Young persons (aged under 21)

  1988

  37.9

  11.8

  1989

  38.0

  10.4

  1990

  36.2

  9.3

  1991

  36.8

  8.8

  1992

  37.3

  8.2

  1993

  36.1

  7.8

  1994

  39.8

  8.3

  1 Remand and sentenced, excluding non-criminals.

  2 Includes some 21 year old sentenced persons classified as young offenders.

  Table 2: Population of youths (aged under 18) in Prison Service establishments,on 30 June, 1987–93 England and Wales1

  Year

  Number

  1987

  2,877

  1988

  2,473

  1989

  2,088

  1990

  1,595

  1991

  1,345

  1992

  1,328

  1993

  1,304

  1 Remand and sentenced, excluding non-criminals.

  UK Passport Agency
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement about the recent results of the UK Passport Agency on number of passports issued and levels of customer satisfaction; [20755]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the current UK Passport Agency review of size, number and location of passport offices; and what assessment he has made of the capacity for an increased work load and further improvements to customer service of a network of professionally staffed offices; [20758]

  (3) how the confidentiality and security of the passport issuing process is to be protected under UK Passport Agency management proposals to seek private sector involvement in this process; [20769]

  (4) what plans he has to increase the numbers of evening shifts worked at the UK Passport Agency and the number of casual workers with a consequent reduction of permanent staff numbers; and what effect he expects this to have on productivity; [20756]

  (5) what rise in demand for standard passports he expects with the abolition of the British visitor's passport; and what plans he has to alter staffing levels at UK Passport Agency offices; [20768]

  (6) what considerations underlie his proposals to farmout to the private sector work currently undertaken by the UK Passport Agency; and for what reasons the agency's management is being instructed to seek reductions in numbers of permanent staff employed; [20754]

  (7) what measures he is taking to ensure that the management of the UK Passport Agency is discouraged from breaching unilateral industrial relations agreements within the agency; and what assessment he has made of the contribution of those agreements and the subsequent

  751
  co-operation among management and staff within the UK Passport Agency to the performance of that agency. [20766]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the UK Passport Agency under its chief executive, Mr. David Gatenby. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from David Gatenby to Dr. Kim Howells, dated 28 April 1995:
  The Secretary of State for the Home Department has asked me to reply to your Questions about the UK Passport Agency.
  The Passport Agency has significantly improved its performance since it was established as an executive agency of the Home Office in April 1991. Demand has risen to record levels (we provided almost 4 million passport services in the year ended 31 March 1995) but the maximum time for processing straightforward applications has been reduced from 95 working days in 1989 to 16 working days in 1994. Since 1991 efficiency has been improved by 13.7% in real terms. Very high levels of customer satisfaction are being achieved.
  In November 1994, in confirming the Agency's status as an executive agency for a further 5 years, the Home Secretary indicated his expectation that the Agency would further improve the quality of its service, and its efficiency and that, in accordance with Government policy, the private sector should become progressively involved in the issuing of passports. As part of this process, to improve the convenience and accessibility of its service to the public, the Agency plans to establish, by October 1995, partnerships with travel agents, banks, and the Post Office covering the initial handling of passport applications. This approach has been fully discussed with the Agency Trade Union Side (TUS). I have indicated to them that once the partnership arrangements are effectively in place we will wish to develop them further. It is accepted on both sides that changes to the partnership arrangements will be subject to prior consultation.
  To explore the scope for achieving greater efficiency, we shall shortly commence a review of ways or involving the private sector in the issuing operation after the decision to grant a passport is taken, and in the provision of support services. Until the reviews have been undertaken I am unable to say whether or not private sector involvement is likely but if it is I can assure you that the Agency would require the system to be equally as secure and confidential as the present operation. There has been no secrecy about these reviews which were mentioned in the Home Secretary's statement, and in briefings to our staff.
  We have also undertaken a review of the size number and location of the Agency's offices and this has recently been completed. Once we have sought Ministers' approval of the findings and recommendations we will advise our staff and consult the TUS.
  The review has taken into account the Agency's current and future business needs and the needs of its customers and staff. We are committed to continuing to improve customer service and to maintaining the professionalism of staff. The outcome of the review will in no way diminish the Agency's resolve in these two very important areas.
  As you will appreciate we are duty bound to carry out Government policy which as clearly explained in the two recent White Papers on the Civil Service requires us, among other things, to absorb increases in pay and prices through efficiency improvements. In seeking efficiency savings we simply cannot ignore our staff costs which currently account for more than 50% of our unit costs. The passport business is demand led. Passport demand shows a marked seasonality with demand averaging 100,000 applications per week between mid January and mid July, but tailing off rapidly to under 50,000 per week immediately after the main holiday season.
  Our policy which I believe is a sensible one, is to match our staffing resources more closely to the pattern of passport demand. Over time this will mean some reduction in permanent full-time staff resources as we introduce more flexible and efficient staffing arrangements. These are likely to include the continuation of shift working which is already being used very successfully in four of our offices is providing job opportunities which would not otherwise exist and is proving very popular with those who prefer evening
  752
  work to daytime work. My aim, so far as is possible, is to achieve these reductions in full-time permanent resources through natural wastage. I have given an assurance that there will be no redundancies as a result of introducing those arrangements in the coming year to the end of March 1996. Overall, however, we are likely to be employing more, rather than less staff, although not all staff will work the full year. This will be jobs in place of the former practice of working excessive overtime in the first half of the year.
  I do not believe we have breached agreements with the Trade Unions. In certain areas they have been overtaken by events, and we must have regard to the overriding imperatives of Government policy. We shall shortly be consulting our Trade Unions about a review of these arrangements to check that they remain relevant to the Agency's present and future needs. I remain committed to the maintenance of good industrial relations, and to proper consultations with the TUS.
  As you are aware Ministers have already announced the withdrawal of the British Visitor's Passport (BVP) from 31 December 1995. The Agency is already seeing a steady increase in demand as people switch away from the BVP and we expect these increased levels to continue for the remainder of this year and most of next. Thereafter we will return to lower levels. We have taken a number of measures to cope with this temporary extra demand including increasing the number of seasonal staff we employ and extending the evening shifts. I am confident that these measures will enable us to cope with the expected increase.
  I expect all of the measures I have outlined in my letter to lead to improved productivity reduced unit costs and an even better service for our customers. I should perhaps re-emphasise that we are currently coping with record levels of demand with an average turnround time of less than seven days and shift working is contributing to this success.
  I hope my letter has satisfactorily answered your concerns. If there is anything further you wish to know or if you would like more details of our plans I would be pleased to meet you to discuss them.

  Policing, Sussex
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received on the level of policing in Sussex(a) since October 1994 and (b) between May 1994 and October 1994. [21094]

  Mr. Maclean
  The numbers of representations received were as follows:

  Since October 1994: 40

  Between May 1994 and October 1994: 3

  CS Gas Attacks
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the increase in number of CS gas canister attacks on the public; and what advice he is giving concerning them. [21550]

  (2) what action he proposes to take to stop CS gas canister attacks in public places. [21553]

  Mr. Maclean
  Under section 5(1)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968, as amended, devices capable of discharging a noxious substance are classed as prohibited weapons. We consider that CS gas canisters are covered by the terms of section 5(1)(b). Their possession, acquisition, purchase, manufacture, sale and transfer are prohibited without the authority of the Secretary of State.

  No information is available centrally on numbers of attacks involving CS gas canisters. The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 has increased the maximum penalty for the unauthorised possession of a CS gas weapon, or of any other prohibited weapon, to ten years imprisonment.
  753
  The Government take crime prevention very seriously. The Home Office booklet, "Your Practical Guide to Crime Prevention", gives detailed advice on how people can reduce the risk of assault. More than 17 million copies have been distributed to date.

  Live Animal Exports (Policing)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with representatives of the Essex Constabulary on the use of the Public Order Act 1986 at Brightlingsea docks. [21092]

  Mr. Maclean
  None, beyond requests by officials for factual information.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of the police operation at(a) Dover port and (b) Brightlingsea docks on (i) 20 and (ii) 21 April. [21114]

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand that the estimated additional costs of policing the demonstrations against live animal exports at Dover port on 20 and 21 April were £32,000 and £17,000 respectively.

  I am told that Essex police's estimate of the additional costs of policing at Brightlingsea on the dates in question is not yet available. However, the additional pay costs incurred on 20 and 21 April were £7,700 and £2,970 respectively.

  Firearms
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further action he proposes to take in respect of the availability of firearms. [21552]

  Mr. Maclean
  None. There are already stringent controls designed to restrict access to firearms to suitable persons.

  West Yorkshire Police
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide additional financial resources to the West Yorkshire police to enable them to deal effectively with violent crime in the area. [21679]

  Mr. Maclean
  The police authority has taken full advantage of the additional funds already made available for 1995–96, and set this year's force budget at £249.83 million. This is an increase of £8.94 million, or 3.7 per cent., over the base budget for 1994–95.

  Sunday Dancing
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for relaxing the restrictions on Sunday dancing. [22132]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  We have today published a consultation paper proposing that the prohibition imposed by the Sunday Observance Act 1780 on admission charges for public dancing on Sundays should be removed. Our proposals also include amendments to the Licensing Act 1964 so that extensions of licensing hours at places where public dancing takes place may be granted on Sunday evening in the same way as they are on weekdays.

  We have in mind to implement these changes by means of the order making power in the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994; and we would hope that they could be introduced before Christmas, as Christmas eve
  754
  and new year's eve, which are popular nights for dancing, this year fall on a Sunday.

  Copies of the consultation paper, to which responses are requested by Friday 26 May, have been placed in the Library.

  Prison Service News
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total cost, including cost of compilation, cost of production, cost of distribution, and all other costs, of Prison Service News for April 1995.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 21 April 1995]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from B. Launders to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 28 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 cost of producing the April issue of Prison Service News.
  The total cost, including paper, colour separations, proofing, printing, distribution and staff wages was £9,913.70.
  Set against this cost was £2,373 of advertising revenue.

  Premises in Multiple Occupation
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the standard of enforcement of fire safety regulations in former seaside guest houses and hotels now used as houses in multiple occupation and located in the Kent coastal towns. [20782]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  I have been asked to reply.

  Enforcement of standards for fire precautions and means of escape for houses in multiple occupation is the responsibility of the local housing authority. No particular study of the adequacy of enforcement of these powers in Kent has been made, but the Government are undertaking a more general review of HMO enforcement powers and hope to make an announcement shortly about their proposals for change.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Fair Employment
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what firms have failed to respond to inquiries from the Fair Employment Commission about progress with affirmative action measures and goals and timetables; and what fines have been issued as a result of such breaches since the implementation of the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989. [19859]

  Mr. Ancram
  To date, the commission has sought information concerning affirmative action and goals and timetables without resort to formal powers of inquiry under section 32 of the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what firms have failed to respond to inquiries from the Fair Employment Commission about the regular review of practices or about the composition of monitoring returns; and what fines were issued as a result of such breaches since the implementation of the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989. [19858]
  755
  Mr. Ancram
  The commission has powers under section 32 of the Act to obtain certain information from employers with regard to their reviews and their monitoring returns. To date, no formal inquiries under this section have been made with regard to the composition of the monitoring returns. No concern has failed to respond to a formal inquiry for information concerning regular reviews of practices.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what firms have failed to register with the Fair Employment Commission and what fines were issued as a result of such breaches since the implementation of the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989. [19856]

  Mr. Ancram
  The commission is unaware of any concern which fulfils the requirement to register and has not made applications for registration.

  Technology Graduates
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many technology graduates have been employed in companies under the supervision of the industrial research and technology unit and their university since 1989; and how many of these placements led to permanent employment. [19827]

  Mr. Ancram
  The industrial research and technology unit is not involved in the supervision of any employees in companies. However, the industrial research and technology unit is one of several sponsors of the national teaching company scheme which provides support for technology transfer projects within industry undertaken by young graduates under the joint supervision of the company and the university. Eighty-seven such graduates commenced two-year programmes under TCS in industry in Northern Ireland in the period 1 April 1989 to 31 March 1995. No information is available on the numbers of these graduates in permanent employment.

  Energy Efficiency
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the reasons for the differences in the trends since 1989 in the number of low income households applying for grants from the homes insulation scheme and of businesses applying for the equivalent scheme, the energy management assistance scheme, as published in tables 6.29 and 6.30 of the Northern Ireland Expenditure Plans and Priorities 1994–95 to 1996–97. [19865]

  Mr. Ancram
  The two schemes are not comparable as they are targeted at different groups and provide different forms of assistance.

  Regarding the homes insulation scheme, the reduced number of completions from 1989–90 were the result of (i) changes in the eligibility conditions from 11 April 1988 and (ii) action by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to insulate its own properties in parallel with the homes insulation scheme.

  The energy efficiency survey scheme was launched in June 1988 and the figures reflect a normal build up of applications. This was given further impetus in 1992 when the scheme was replaced by the energy management assistance scheme which provided grant aid for a wider range of energy efficiency measures.

  Peace Initiative
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the principle of additionality applies to the special European Union funds being channelled to Northern Ireland through the peace initiative. [20321]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Both the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland have made it absolutely clear that the European Union's programme will be in addition to the British Government's own expenditure plans for Northern Ireland.

  Security Vetting
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to review the Hurd principles on security vetting procedure; and if he will make a statement. [20322]

  Sir John Wheeler
  It has been Government policy, as set out in the parliamentary written answer of 27 June 1985,Official Report, column 451, by the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, to withhold Government assistance from community groups where the Secretary of State was satisfied that there was a grave risk that such assistance would have the effect of improving the standing or furthering the aims of a paramilitary organisation, whether directly or indirectly. This policy is kept under active review in the light of wider developments in Northern Ireland.

  Salmon
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the number of smolt produced in the River Bush in each of the last 25 years; and what percentage and numbers were lost in each year as a result of predation by cormorants. [20586]

  Mr. Ancram
  Records of the numbers of smolt produced in the River Bush are available only for the last 21 years. These are set out in the table. The only research carried out into the number of smolt lost to cormorants occurred in 1986. I have arranged for a copy of the research paper, which contains the only statistical data available, to be sent to the hon. Gentleman.

  River Bush smolt counts

  Year

  Wild smolt

  Farmed smolt

  Total

  1974

  44,513

  4,349

  48,862

  1975

  33,437

  4,475

  37,912

  1976

  21,011

  37,370

  58,381

  1977

  16,639

  10,557

  30,196

  1978

  27,093

  10,642

  37,735

  1979

  24,286

  10,631

  34,917

  1980

  20,489

  4,841

  25,330

  1981

  1—

  2,702

  —

  1982

  10,779

  1,338

  12,117

  1983

  26,968

  5,733

  32,701

  1984

  30,034

  2,683

  32,717

  1985

  30,519

  17,966

  48,485

  1986

  19,066

  25,159

  44,225

  1987

  22,156

  17,064

  39,220

  1988

  22,994

  16,054

  39,048

  1989

  17,812

  7,431

  25,243

  1990

  17,354

  27,076

  44,430

  1991

  18,471

  32,879

  51,350

  1992

  10,008

  22,384

  32,392

  1993

  1—

  14,726

  —

  1994

  14,145

  5,508

  19,653

  1 Incomplete count (traps flooded out).

  Banbridge District Council
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all the public service offices other than local government offices and the number of persons employed in such offices in Banbridge district council in(a) January 1992, (b) January 1993, (c) January 1994 and (d) January 1995. [20458]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested is as follows:

  Offices

  January 1992

  January 1993

  January 1994

  January 1995

  DOE

  Road service:

  Banbridge

  32

  31

  30

  31

  Corbett

  5

  4

  5

  5

  Katesbridge

  3

  3

  2

  3

  Water Executive

  Banbridge

  58

  54

  55

  52

  DED

  Banbridge Training and Employment Agency

  12

  16

  23

  22

  DHSS

  Banbridge social security office

  55

  55

  54

  49

  Contributions unit area office1

  —

  —

  —

  20

  DANI

  The agricultural development centre2

  —

  —

  —

  17

  1 The contributions unit area office moved to its present location in Banbridge on 18 April 1994. It was previously based in Lurgan SSO.

  2 The Banbridge office is a sub-office of the Department of Agriculture. Information held on numbers of staff based in sub-offices is not held centrally as they can vary according to need. Currently 17 DANI staff use the Banbridge office on an ad hoc basis.

  University Students
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons resident in Northern Ireland who applied for a place in a Northern Ireland university in each of the last three years failed to get a place and are now attending a university in Great Britain. [20614]

  Mr. Ancram
  Due to the different mechanisms for processing applications to universities, the information cannot be supplied in the form requested.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many university students from Northern Ireland are at present attending university in(a) Great Britain, (b) the Irish Republic, (c) other EC countries and (d) elsewhere; and, of these students, how many are following courses leading to a qualification which is available at a university in Northern Ireland. [20613]

  Mr. Ancram
  In 1993–94, the number of Northern Ireland domiciled full-time undergraduate students 758
  attending university outside Northern Ireland was as follows:

  Number

  (a) Great Britain

  10,763

  (b) Republic of Ireland

  1,117

  (c) Other

  10

  It is not possible to separate (c) into EC countries and elsewhere.

  Information on NI students following courses leading to a qualification which is available at a university in Northern Ireland is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many students there are on each campus of each university in Northern Ireland broken down into(a) full-time undergraduates, (b) part-time undergraduates, (c) postgraduate and (d) doctorate level; and, of these, how many are from (i) Northern Ireland, (ii) the Irish Republic, (iii) Great Britain, (iv) other EU countries and (v) elsewhere. [20615]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information is as follows:

  University of Ulster 1993–94

  Undergraduates

  Postgraduates

  Doctorates

  Domicile

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Belfast Campus

  Northern Ireland

  616

  1

  41

  16

  Great Britain

  42

  0

  7

  2

  Republic of Ireland

  60

  0

  4

  2

  Other EU

  9

  0

  2

  0

  Elsewhere

  3

  0

  2

  0

  Total

  730

  1

  56

  20

  Coleraine Campus

  Northern Ireland

  2,702

  100

  456

  126

  Great Britain

  211

  0

  17

  9

  Republic of Ireland

  695

  5

  86

  34

  Other EU

  202

  0

  3

  3

  Elsewhere

  62

  0

  3

  11

  Total

  3,872

  105

  565

  183

  Jordanstown Campus

  Northern Ireland

  4,738

  2,005

  2,228

  175

  Great Britain

  72

  4

  6

  6

  Republic of Ireland

  535

  22

  73

  16

  Other EU

  28

  1

  5

  4

  Elsewhere

  28

  1

  20

  15

  Total

  5,401

  2,033

  2,332

  216

  Magee Campus

  Northern Ireland

  856

  418

  412

  21

  Great Britain

  49

  0

  7

  0

  Republic of Ireland

  266

  98

  89

  4

  759

  University of Ulster 1993–94

  Undergraduates

  Postgraduates

  Doctorates

  Domicile

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Other EU

  25

  0

  2

  0

  Elsewhere

  8

  0

  5

  1

  Total

  1,204

  516

  515

  26

  Queens, Belfast 1993–94

  Northern Ireland

  7,832

  1,076

  2,116

  637

  Great Britain

  229

  3

  57

  48

  Republic of Ireland

  520

  20

  187

  86

  Other EU

  70

  21

  29

  15

  Elsewhere

  273

  6

  90

  90

  Total

  8,924

  1,126

  2,479

  876

  Otters
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the number of otters now present in each river system in Northern Ireland; what was the number five and 10 years ago; and

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Armagh

  176

  114

  52

  118

  314

  386

  404

  592

  519

  973

  Dungannon

  178

  75

  69

  83

  102

  158

  194

  242

  239

  351

  Enniskellen

  123

  152

  190

  148

  160

  174

  117

  225

  343

  242

  Newry

  165

  125

  266

  622

  1,100

  1,270

  2,050

  1,607

  1,831

  1,215

  Newtownards

  257

  197

  171

  261

  217

  214

  284

  627

  1,349

  983

  Ballymena

  218

  84

  51

  49

  105

  277

  341

  228

  348

  377

  Coleraine

  125

  70

  43

  50

  66

  93

  212

  436

  518

  439

  Larne

  204

  167

  162

  84

  295

  379

  432

  512

  860

  420

  Londonderry

  10

  33

  26

  33

  31

  64

  17

  25

  90

  57

  Omagh

  51

  23

  13

  22

  103

  109

  57

  107

  146

  181

  Total

  1,507

  1,040

  1,043

  1,470

  2,493

  3,124

  4,108

  4,601

  6,243

  5,238

  Seals
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the number of seals of each species present in Northern Ireland coastal waters; how much fish of each species they eat annually; and what research he has carried out in recent years on the effect seals have on salmonids. [20587]

  Mr. Moss
  It is estimated that there are approximately 500 common and 200 grey seals in Northern Ireland coastal waters. Data on the species composition of seal diets are not available, but adult male common seals are known to eat approximately 4 kg fish daily and grey seals 5 kg. Taking account of the fact that females and sub-adults eat less, the total consumption is estimated to be approximately 700 tonnes per annum. No local research has been carried out on the effect of seals on salmonids, but from other studies it has been concluded that salmonid fish comprise a very small proportion of the diet of both species.

  Craigavon Borough Council
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all the public service offices other than local government offices and the 760
  what research he has carried out in recent years into the (a) fish species, (b) birds and (c) mammals eaten by otters, and the effect of such predation on the number of prey species. [20588]

  Mr. Moss
  There is no specific information on the numbers of otters, but surveys have confirmed that otters are present in most parts of Northern Ireland.

  The Departments of Environment and of Education have sponsored research which shows that otters are entirely opportunistic in their feeding behaviour and the choice of prey depends on availability; however, mammals and birds are rarely taken. No information is available on the effects of otter predation on the numbers of prey species.

  Bovine Tuberculosis
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many cases of TB in cattle were reported in each county in each year since 1985. [20552]

  Mr. Ancram
  Statistics on the number of cases of TB in Northern Ireland are recorded on a divisional veterinary office basis and are not available by county. The number of animals in which TB has been detected in Northern Ireland since 1985 in each DVO area is shown below:

  number of persons employed in such offices in Craigavon borough council in (a) January 1992, (b) January 1993 (c) January 1994 and (d) January 1995. [20459]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested is as follows:

  Offices

  January 1992

  January 1993

  January 1994

  January 1995

  NIO

  Civil Representatives

  Magowan House

  —

  —

  —

  9

  DHSS

  Lurgan Social Security Office

  85

  88

  86

  81

  Portadown Social

  Security Office

  60

  70

  62

  59

  Contributions1 Unit Area

  Office

  —

  20

  20

  —

  DANI

  Watercourse

  Management Division

  Seagoe Industrial Estate

  30

  30

  28

  27

  DFP

  Valuation and Lands

  Agency Marlborough

  761

  Offices

  January 1992

  January 1993

  January 1994

  January 1995

  House

  234

  33

  31

  35

  DED

  IDB Regional Office3

  5

  4

  3

  6

  Portadown Training and Employment Agency

  19

  21

  20

  21

  Lurgan Training and Employment Agency

  18

  18

  13

  12

  Craigavon Training Centre

  49

  46

  39

  30

  DOE

  Central Claims Unit

  Craigavon

  6

  7

  7

  6

  Countryside and Wildlife Oxford Island

  Craigavon

  2

  2

  2

  1

  Driver and Vehicle Testing Craigavon

  15

  15

  14

  14

  Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland Craigavon

  14

  14

  14

  13

  Planning, Craigavon

  47

  49

  51

  48

  Rate Collection Agency Portadown

  15

  14

  14

  14

  Roads Service Marlborough House

  Craigavon

  140

  137

  137

  134

  Carn, Craigavon

  58

  47

  47

  52

  Transport Licensing and Enforcement Craigavon

  —

  4

  2

  4

  Water Executive Craigavon

  81

  86

  84

  87

  Portadown

  97

  93

  97

  93

  Works Service Portadown

  4

  4

  4

  4

  1 The Contributions Unit Area Office was set up on 7 December 1992 and was originally based in Lurgan SSO. The Unit Area moved to its own location in Banbridge on 18 April 1994.

  2 Figure from April 1992.

  3 Until end March 1995, IDB had a Regional Office in Craigavon, this is now closed along with the other Northern Ireland Regional Offices in Londonderry and Antrim.

  Development Capital Fund
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications were received to manage the Northern Ireland development capital fund; and if he will list the companies and publish the applications. [20467]

  Mr. Ancram
  Ten applications were received with Hambros Bank plc subsequently selected as the manger of the new fund. However, for reasons of confidentiality, the applications cannot be published or the names of the unsuccessful candidates revealed.

  Philosophy Courses
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many higher education institutions in Northern Ireland currently offer single honours or joint honours degrees in philosophy; what proportion of the total number of higher education institutions in Northern Ireland this represents; and if he will make a statement. [20900]

  Mr. Ancram
  Two; that is 100 per cent. of the higher education institutions in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people graduated from Northern Irish 762
  higher education institutions with honours either in philosophy or in a joint honours or composite degree involving philosophy in 1994; what proportion of the total number graduating from Northern Irish higher education this represents; and if he will make a statement. [20904]

  Mr. Ancram
  Seventy-one, or 1.34 per cent. of the total number graduating from Northern Ireland higher education institutions.

  Badgers
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many licences have been granted for interference with badger setts for the purposes of hunting in each year since 1991. [21110]

  Mr. Moss
  No licences have been issued as there is no provision for doing so under the Northern Ireland legislation.

  Social Security Agency
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what performance targets have been set for the Social Security Agency for the current financial year. [22198]

  Mr. Moss
  The targets are included in the agency's 1995–96 business plan, which was published today. A copy of the plan will be placed in the Library. The targets are in line with the Government's policy of improving the service provided to customers and fully support the standards established in the Northern Ireland citizens charter. I am satisfied that the targets present a demanding challenge for the agency. They are as follows:

  1. BENEFIT CLEARANCE TIMES1

  Social fund crisis loans

  on the day the need arises2

  Social fund community care grants

  70 per cent. in seven days

  95 per cent. in 20 days

  Income support

  71 per cent. in five days

  90 per cent. in 13 days

  Incapacity Benefit

  60 per cent. in 10 days

  85 per cent. in 30 days

  Child benefit

  68 per cent. in 10 days

  94 per cent. in 30 days

  Family credit

  57 per cent. in 13 days

  95 per cent. in 42 days

  Disability living allowance

  68 per cent. in 30 days

  85 per cent. in 53 days

  Retirement pension

  65 per cent. in 20 days

  95 per cent. in 60 days

  Unemployment benefit

  75 per cent. in 12 days

  2 BENEFIT ACCURACY
  763
  Income support

  to pay the correct amount in at least 87 per cent. of cases

  Incapacity benefit

  to pay the correct amount in at least 94 per cent. of cases

  Child benefit

  to pay the correct amount in at least 98 per cent. of cases

  Family credit

  to pay the correct amount in at least 93 per cent. of cases

  Disability living allowance

  to pay the correct amount in at least 98 per cent. of cases

  Retirement pension

  to pay the correct amount in at least 99 per cent. of cases

  Unemployment benefit

  to pay the correct amount in at least 97 per cent. of cases

  3. CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

  90 per cent. of customers to regard the agency's service as satisfactory or better

  4. FINANCIAL RECOVERY

  recovery of social fund loans—£19.10 million

  recovery of income support overpayments—£1.70 million

  recovery of centralised benefits overpayments—£0.42 million

  benefit savings from detection and prevention of fraud—£ 14.00 million

  to carry out 3,800 national insurance contributions surveys, including 1,020 employer educational visits

  identify £1.12 million class I arrears as a result of compliance work

  5. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

  to live within a gross allocation of £31.74 million for social fund loans and community care grants

  to live within the agency's gross administration budget of £138.70 million, of which £135.40 million relates to running costs

  to achieve cash efficiency savings of the order of £4.50 million

  Notes:

  1in all cases, clearance time is measured from the date of receipt of a claim or application in the office to the date on which the claim or application is decided. The measure, therefore, excludes the time taken to issue notification of the decision and any payment.

  2 Monitored against 95 per cent. in one day.

  Emergency Provisions Act
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many notices to attend interview have been issued under schedule 5 of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991 in each year since 1991. [20232]

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 24 April 1995]: The information is contained in table 14 of "Annual Statistics on the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act," a copy of which is in the Library.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department which are subject to(a) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner,
  764
  (b) scrutiny by the Audit Commission, (c) scrutiny by the National Audit Office, (d) statutory provisions for open government, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charter. [20662]

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 25 April 1995]: The remit of the Parliamentary Commissioner does not extend to executive non-departmental public bodies in Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration investigates complaints of alleged injustice as a consequence of maladministration by Northern Ireland Departments, including their agencies, while the function of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints investigates similar complaints against local and public bodies.

  The current list of executive non-departmental public bodies which are subject to the jurisdiction of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints is as follows:

  Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland

  Arts Council of Northern Ireland

  Council for Catholic Maintained Schools

  Education and Library Boards

  Enterprise Ulster

  Fire Authority for Northern Ireland

  Fisheries Conservancy Board for Northern Ireland

  Industrial Training Boards

  Labour Relations Agency

  Laganside Corporation

  Livestock and Meat Marketing Commission for Northern Ireland

  Local Enterprise Development Unit

  Mental Health Commission for Northern Ireland

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

  Northern Ireland Housing Executive

  Northern Ireland Local Government Officers' Superannuation Committee

  Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment

  Northern Ireland Sports Council

  Northern Ireland Tourist Board

  Office of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members

  Trustees of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum

  Trustees of the Ulster Museum

  Youth Council for Northern Ireland

  There are no executive non-departmental public bodies in Northern Ireland which are subject to scrutiny by the Audit Commission.

  The following executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Northern Ireland Office are subject to scrutiny by the National Audit Office.

  Police Authority for Northern Ireland

  Probation Board for Northern Ireland

  Independent Commissioner for Police Complaints

  Training School Management Board Rathgael and Whiteabbey

  The responsibility of the National Audit Office does not extend to the six Northern Ireland Departments, which have their own similarly appointed body—the Northern Ireland Audit Office. The following executive non-departmental public bodies are subject to scrutiny by the NIAO:

  Belfast Education and Library Board

  Northern Education and Library Board

  South Eastern Education and Library Board

  Southern Education and Library Board

  Western Education and Library Board

  765

  Enterprise Ulster

  Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland

  Executive of the Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland

  Fair Employment Commission for Northern Ireland

  Fire Authority for Northern Ireland

  General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland

  Health and Safety Agency for Northern Ireland

  Mental Health Commission for Northern Ireland

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

  Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessments

  Northern Ireland Housing Executive

  Northern Ireland Tourist Board

  Sports Council for Northern Ireland

  Staff Commission for Education and Library Boards

  Ulster Folk and Transport Museum

  Ulster Museum

  Youth Council for Northern Ireland

  The executive non-departmental public bodies which are subject to the statutory provisions for open government are those bodies listed as under the jurisdiction of the NI Commissioner for Complaints.

  All executive non-departmental public bodies listed in the publication "Public Bodies 1994" are subject to performance indicators and the provisions under the citizens charter. A copy of the "Public Bodies 1994" is available in the Library.

TRANSPORT

  Executive Agencies
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what targets he has set for the executive agencies in his Department. [22100]

  Mr. Norris
  The following key targets have been set for the Department of Transport's executive agencies. The targets are set out in the agencies' business plans, which also include management objectives, performance indicators and key tasks, where appropriate to the agencies' businesses. Copies of the business plans will be placed in the Library in due course except that for the Transport Research Laboratory, whose plan is commercially confidential and will not be published.

  The key targets for the Coastguard Agency are to:
  discharge the Secretary of State's responsibility for maritime search and rescue through the agency's own or dedicated assets by:

  (i) maintaining a 24 hours SAR co-ordinating capability within, and including the coasts and shoreline of, the United Kingdom search and rescue region, UKSRR;

  (ii) maintaining a comprehensive radio reception and transmission coverage of the UKSRR which enables SAR co-ordination action for the duration of incidents without interruption or equipment malfunction; and

  (iii) testing contingency plans for major maritime SAR incidents, particularly those involving ferries, by undertaking six major live exercises;

  review the recording of SAR incidents, by October 1995; and after consideration of the pattern and type of incidents to make proposals for improving the effectiveness of the current SAR prevention strategy by March 1996;
  maintain a fully operational 24-hour channel navigation information service covering the Dover strait traffic separation scheme, in concert with the appropriate French authorities;
  766
  discharge the Secretary of State's responsibility for dealing with marine pollution by the maintenance of a national contingency plan and in particular:

  (i) activate the plan within 30 minutes of notification of an incident;

  (ii) commence action at sea to deal with a spill of dispersable oil within four hours of notification of an incident;

  (iii) test the effectiveness of the plan by undertaking a major exercise and to report on the outcome by 31 March 1996;

  carry out 625 hours a year aerial surveillance of the sea area for which the UK has responsibility to detect or deter incidents of marine pollution, including illegal discharges from ships; deliver the key targets and key tasks in the business plan within the agreed running costs budget.

  The key targets for the Driving Standards Agency are to:
  achieve unit costs of £24.75 for car tests; £56.00 for vocational tests; £33.40 for motorcycle tests; and £40.80 for the activities associated with the register of approved driving instructors;
  achieve a national average waiting time of no more than six weeks for car tests; no more than three weeks for vocational tests; no more than four weeks for motorcycle tests; and no more than five weeks for the approved driving instructor practical test;
  to answer 90 per cent. of telephone calls to booking offices within one minute.

  The key targets for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency are to:
  make an efficiency gain, on the basis of overall efficiency index, of 2.2 per cent.;
  complete successfully 460,000 VED enforcement cases by imposition of penalties and recover through penalties and duty from induced relicensing at least £2.65 for every £1 full cost spent by DVLA on VED enforcement;
  deliver 95 per cent. of ordinary driving licence cases to customers within 11 working days of receipt, 95 per cent. of vocational driving licence cases within 10 working days of receipt, and 95 per cent. of first provisional driving licence cases within 10 working days of receipt;
  for medical cases, deliver 80 per cent. of first applications for ordinary driving licences within 35 working days of receipt, and 80 per cent. of first applications for vocational licences within 29 working days; and for cases of notification of medical condition reply in 80 per cent. of cases involving ordinary driving licences within 40 days and in 80 per cent. of cases involving vocational licences within 50 days;
  deliver 95 per cent. of registration documents for new vehicles within 13 working days;
  deliver 95 per cent. of changes to vehicle registration documents within 13 days;
  deliver answers to 95 per cent. of written inquiries within eight working days;
  answer 80 per cent. of telephone inquiries within 30 seconds;
  achieve percentages of documents without DVLA induced error of 96 per cent. for driving licences, 98 per cent. for registration documents for new vehicles and 93 per cent. for changes on registration documents.

  The key targets for the Highways Agency are to:
  complete the implementation of the agency's restructuring plans to achieve running cost savings of 20 per cent. by 1996–97, compared to the 1993–94 costs, by:

  (i) reducing the number of office locations from 18 to 11 by October 1995; and

  (ii) reducing the number of permanent staff from 2,280 at 1 October 1994 to 1,975 full-time equivalents by 1 October 1995;

  using existing management information systems, report on the agency's internal unit costs for the management and supervision of new construction schemes over £3 million in value, compared to costs in the last three years.
  Introduce and develop an activity costing and information system enabling:

  767
  unit costs for the agency's activities on new construction, maintenance and network stewardship to be developed;
  specific proposals for unit cost targets to be submitted to Ministers by the end of November 1995; and
  subject to ministerial approval, the introduction of comprehensive targets for unit costs to be set from 1996–97 onwards.
  In line with the objective of reducing the time taken to complete schemes, state in the agency's annual report:
  the average time taken to complete schemes that are completed in 1995–96 compared with the performance in recent years;
  and the average time between milestones for all those schemes that reach milestones in 1995–96, and compare this with previous years' performance.
  Complete all schemes within the approved scheme brief with performance to be measured by the number of schemes submitted to the Central Transport Group because of changes of scope or cost initiated by the Agency.
  Monitor, and state in the annual report, the unit cost of new construction.
  Monitor, and state in the annual report, the unit cost of carriageway renewal.
  Monitor, and state in the annual report, the benefit-cost ratio for the national roads programme based on the scheme briefs and agree with the Central Transport Group a target level for 1995–96 and following years below which the average should not fall.
  Carry out post-scheme evaluations on all appropriate schemes as agreed with the Central Transport Group.
  Reach scheme milestones for schemes in the roads programme and listed in annexe B of the business plan, as follows:
  award main works contracts for six of the eight publicly funded schemes;
  reach 90 per cent. of the other scheme milestones.
  Report in the annual report on progress towards the target of letting 30 per cent. of new construction contracts, by value, as design and build contracts by the end of 1996–97.
  If tenders represent good value for money, award four DBFO contracts and, subject to ministerial decisions, invite tenders for a further four DBFO contracts.
  Start 14 of the 16 major network enhancement projects listed at annexe C of the business plan and 85 per cent. of the smaller network enhancement projects listed at annexe D of the business plan.
  Maintain the trunk road network cost effectively by undertaking a programme of capital maintenance to preserve past investment at an optimum whole life cost, with the minimum disruption to traffic, and to ensure that roads are safe, reliable, and offer an acceptable quality of ride; and to ensure that, from 1 January 1999, all vehicles up to and including the new 40 tonnes maximum gross weight standard can use all structures supporting trunk roads and other important routes over trunk roads by, in 1995–96:
  renewing 134 nearside lane kilometres of motorway and 261 nlks of all purpose trunk road;
  assessing the structural capacity of 820 structures and upgrading 86 structures.
  Contribute to the Government's target of reducing road casualties by one third by the year 2000 compared to the annual average for 1981–85, by reducing casualties on the trunk road network to an average of not more than 35,000 a year over the three years 1993 to 1995.
  Publish, as part of the agency's annual report, a section reporting its activities to promote road safety, including the accident rate on motorways and trunk roads.
  Publish as part of the agency's annual report, a report on environmental aspects of new schemes, and network management and maintenance activities demonstrating that the agency has given full weight to environmental issues in carrying out its functions, and has struck a balance accordingly. Meet the aims and targets enshrined within the citizens charter, the road user's charter and the agency's charter standard statement, "Your Home and Trunk Road Proposals".
  768
  Continue to develop systems for measuring the performance of the network, including quality of service indicators; collect data during 1995–96; make specific proposals to Ministers by the end of November 1995; and, subject to ministerial approval, agree targets for 1996–97.
  In accordance with the normal rules of Government accounting, avoid breaching the cash limits on the budgets voted by Parliament for both total expenditure and running costs.
  Introduce accrual accounting procedures to enable an auditable set of commercial-style accounts to be produced for the 1996–97 financial year, including a balance sheet, income and expenditure account, and a cash flow statement.
  Produce certified appropriation accounts by August 1995.

  The key targets for the Marine Safety Agency are to:
  review the recommendations of the IMO panel of experts convened to consider ro-ro passenger ferry safety and report by 30 June 1995 to the Department's Shipping Policy Directorate on the way forward to achieve improved safety standards;
  undertake trials by 31 March 1996 involving the fitting of radio transponders on a selected number of ships and press IMO through the Marine Safety Committee meeting for international acceptance of transponders including the development of performance specifications;
  following consultations with industry make proposals by 31 December 1995 for the introduction of intermediate safety equipment inspections of fishing vessels of 12 metres and over, and on their delegation;
  on deregulation, complete the internal review of all groups of merchant shipping legislation by 31 March 1995;
  maintain survey fee levels in real terms below those applied in 1994–95 whilst recovering the full economic cost of providing the service;
  work with the EU to ensure arrangements are in place by 31 December 1995 for the mandatory application of the international safety management code for passenger ships, class I and II, by 30 June 1996;
  undertake port state control inspections of 30 per cent. of foreign flagged vessels using UK ports including inspections of ro-ro ferries and fish factory ships;
  achieve an average output of 100 completed surveys and/or inspections per marine office surveyor while delivering the planned programme of surveys and inspections;
  manage efficiently the agency's resources so as to deliver the key targets and key tasks in the business plan within the agreed total running costs budget.

  The key targets for the Transport Research Laboratory are to:
  conduct its business pre-privatisation so as to meet its full costs over the 12-month period;
  manage the business pre-privatisation so that over the 12-month period direct fee earning costs as a percentage of total operating costs are greater than 56 per cent.;
  achieve average staff utilisation in research resource centres of at least 1,300 hours per year on direct fee earning work;
  ensure that 94 per cent. of project outputs to be assessed by customers as satisfactory or better on project assessment forms; and
  facilitate achievement of the privatisation objectives announced by the Secretary of State on 14 March 1995.

  The key targets for the Vehicle Inspectorate trading fund are to:
  achieve an efficiency improvement of 6 per cent. as measured by the agency's aggregate cost efficiency index;
  break even while achieving a 6 per cent. real rate of return on capital employed, taking one year with another;
  achieve an HGV/PSV test exemption rate of less than 0.01 per cent.;
  achieve an HGV/PSV test error rate of less than 0.47 per cent.;
  achieve a roadworthiness prohibition error rate of 0.5 per cent. or less;

  769
  return 95 per cent. of maintenance assessments for 'o' licence renewals and variations within six weeks and 99 per cent. within 12 weeks;
  decide 99 per cent. of all MOT statutory appeals against refusal to issue a test certificate within five working days;
  produce 95 per cent. of traffic enforcement reports for the traffic commissioners within four weeks or other agreed deadline;
  examine a minimum of 1.4 million HGV and 145,000 PSV tachograph charts;
  weigh a minimum of 115,000 goods vehicles; and
  achieve DOT weighbridge site equipment availability at 90 per cent. level nationally.

  The key targets for the Vehicle Certification Agency are:
  to achieve a net unit cost no higher than £70.80;
  to achieve such quality in the production of certificate that, after issue, at least 98 per cent. do not need correction as a result of VCA-generated errors;
  where errors in certificates do occur, to issue corrected documents within three working days in 80 per cent. of cases;
  to audit at least 50 per cent. of VCA's approved quality procedures;
  to receive a satisfactory appraisal report on VCA's technical performance from the Department's chief mechanical engineer.

  National Bus Company
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the current owners of the 70 former subsidiaries of the National Bus Company. [21673]

  Mr. Norris
  The 72 subsidiaries of the former National Bus Company, which included engineering works and holiday and service companies, were privatised between 1986 and 1988. Since then, there have been various changes in ownership, the structure of groups, and in operating territories, which makes it impossible to provide an exact correlation between original subsidiaries and present ownership.

  M11 Link Road
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the latest total estimated cost of the M11 link road; [16549]

  (2) on what estimated total cost the cost-benefit analysis study of the M11 link road was based; [16545]

  (3) if accidents including fatal ones were included in the COBA study of the M11 link road and what numbers and costs were used. [16550]

  Mr. Norris
  The current estimated total cost of the link road at today's prices is £340 million. This figure includes the preparation of designs and the supervision of works by our consulting engineers, the works contracts, the cost of diversion of statutory undertakers services and land costs; it also includes VAT where applicable.

  The cost-benefit analysis at the 1987 public inquiry used a present value of total costs of £39.11 million calculated in accordance with then current practice of using 1979 prices discounted to 1979. Future cost savings attributable to anticipated reduction in all accidents were included in the cost-benefit analysis. Details are given in the letter and in section 4.5 and table 7.1 of inquiry documents D2 and D45 respectively, which were sent to the hon. Member at his request by the Highways Agency on 20 December last.
  770
  The present value cost was based on a construction cost of £101.02 million and land cost of £23.3 million at 1986 prices.

  A comparison of these figures with the present £340 million estimated total cost indicates that the main areas with increases from the 1987 estimate are an update of works cost to 1995 prices of £29 million; land costs of £12 million; statutory undertakers costs of £22 million; preparation and supervision costs of our consulting engineers of £21 million; the introduction of secant piling retaining walls to reduce the effects of construction on adjoining properties and London Underground in Leytonstone of £32 million; various changes such as the cost of making provision in the scheme for the Chelsea-Hackney underground line, changes following receipt of soils investigation, and increased use of brick for screen and boundary walls and an improved standard of finish generally of £39.5 million; improved signs, lighting and communications in the tunnels of £4 million; security costs of £10 million; and VAT, £46 million.

  Airports
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department will consider introducing legislation to give airports the power to impose fines on aircraft deliberately straying from officially recognised approach and departure flight paths. [20465]

  Mr. Norris
  The Government announced in March 1993 their intention to introduce, at a suitable parliamentary opportunity, new legislation to give aerodromes power to prepare and enforce noise amelioration schemes. The announcement followed extensive consultation, and included consideration of powers to impose fines for poor track keeping.

  Noise preferential routes for departing aircraft are in place at most major UK airports. There is, however, no consensus on what constitutes an unacceptable deviation from track, since track keeping, especially on turns, may be affected by operational factors, including weather. Operational factors also make it more difficult to devise comparable routes for landing aircraft.

  For safety reasons, air traffic controllers have complete discretion to direct aircraft off noise-preferential routes when necessary.

  Purchase Guidelines (Motorway Widening Schemes)
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether new guidelines will be introduced for the discretionary purchase of property affected by a proposed motorway widening scheme, which take into account loss of value of the property. [21277]

  Mr. Watts
  Yes.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will reconsider the cases of homeowners in Hadrian's way, Baldock, when new guidelines are introduced for the discretionary purchase of properties affected by a proposed motorway widening scheme. [21275]

  Mr. Watts
  I should be grateful if my hon. Friend would write to me about these cases.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will introduce new guidelines for the discretionary purchase of property affected by a proposed motorway widening scheme. [21278]
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  Mr. Watts
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave my right hon. Friend the Member for Tonbridge and Malling (Sir J. Stanley) on 23 March,Official Report, column 317.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for interim measures pending the introduction of new guidelines for the discretionary purchase of property affected by a proposed motorway widening scheme. [21276]

  Mr. Watts
  Applications from owners whose property may be seriously affected by scheme proposals will continue to be considered against the current guidelines, which I have placed in the Library. Applications which are refused under the current guidelines during this period will be reconsidered when the new guidelines are introduced.

  Motorway Restrictions (Heavy Goods Vehicles)
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he is giving to restricting heavy goods vehicles to the inside two lanes on four-lane motorways. [21549]

  Mr. Norris
  None. To do so would deny the road haulage industry the benefits of motorway widening and could have an adverse effect on road safety.

  Drivers' Hours Regulations
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to introduce proposals for changes in the road vehicle drivers' hours regulations during the current Session of Parliament. [21660]

  Mr. Steven Norris
  The only change that we expect to propose in this Session is a minor one to clarify that the application of the UK regulations to certain vehicles used by health authorities extends as well to similar vehicles used by health trusts.

  British Railways Board
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the current subsidiaries and other commercial or operational units of the British Railways Board. [21658]

  Mr. Watts
  This is a matter for the board of British Rail. I have asked it to reply to the hon. Member.

  Passenger Coaches
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what checks are being made on the roadworthiness of passenger coaches. [21548]

  Mr. Norris
  A check of the roadworthiness of a passenger coach is made at the annual test. In addition, passenger coaches are examined for roadworthiness at enforcement checks both at the roadside and at operators, premises, where they may be prohibited from use if found to be defective.

DEFENCE

  Haymes Garth
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether advice was sought from an interior 772
  designer in respect of the redecoration and furnishings for Haymes Garth. [20612]

  Mr. Soames
  An interior designer was commissioned in November 1992 to provide advice in respect of the redecoration and furnishings for Haymes Garth.

  Turkish Forces
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military training has been given by his Department within the United Kingdom or Turkey to members of the Turkish military forces during the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [20358]

  Mr. Soames
  Training has been provided in the UK to members of the Turkish armed forces during the past 12 months, as is normal practice between NATO nations. Pursuant to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Mrs Clwyd) on 28 March 1995,Official Report, column 633, it is not normally our practice to disclose the precise details of military training given to any particular country as such details are regarded as being confidential between Governments.

  Sub-strategic Capability
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the transfer of the United Kingdom's sub-strategic capability from free-fall bombs to Trident missiles will allow a reduction in the overall number of weapons assigned to the sub-strategic role. [20569]

  Mr. Soames
  It is not our practice to comment on the details of nuclear forces assigned to different roles.

  Nuclear Warheads
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what change there will have been in the total number of nuclear warheads deployed by the United Kingdom when Trident is fully deployed compared with the 1990 level. [20567]

  Mr. Soames
  By the time Trident is fully in service, the UK's total stockpile of nuclear weapons will be 14 per cent. smaller than in the 1980s.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department had made as to the advantage that might accrue to the United Kingdom in terms of demonstrating restraint in its nuclear weapons policy if Her Majesty's Government declared the number of nuclear warheads it deploys. [20571]

  Mr. Soames
  The restraint exercised by the United Kingdom in its nuclear weapons policy is amply demonstrated by the fact that total deployed UK nuclear warheads will be less than 10 per cent. of the strategic nuclear forces available to Russia or the United States even when the START 2 ceilings are implemented.

  Military Hospital, Aldershot
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of the recent upgrading of toilets at Cambridge military hospital, Aldershot; and who ordered the upgrading. [20672]

  Mr. Soames
  While there has been no upgrading of lavatories at the Cambridge military hospital itself, the lavatories in the officers' mess were recently brought up
  773
  to normal standards at a cost of around £1,100. The work was authorised locally in line with established procedures.

  Edmund Sykes
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the relationship between his Department and Mr. Edmund Sykes. [21688]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department has no relationship with Mr. Edmund Sykes.

  Mr. Stephen Crouch
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the relationship between his Department and Mr. Stephen Crouch. [21687]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department has no relationship with Mr. Stephen Crouch.

  Arms Sales (Lebanon)
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what official business was discussed at the meeting between the right hon. Member for Thanet, South (Mr. Aitken) and Mr. Fouad Makhzoumi, pursuant to his answer of 24 April,Official Report, column 395. [21740]

  Mr. Freeman
  Discussions covered a range of topics of mutual interest to the MOD and Mr. Makhzoumi.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the occasions on which the right hon. Member for Thanet, South (Mr. Aitken), as Minister for Defence Procurement, discussed with Mr. Fouad Makhzoumi defence sales possibilities involving Lebanon. [21739]

  Mr. Freeman
  I have nothing to add to the answers that I gave to the hon. Members for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson) and for Wallsend (Mr. Byers) on 24 April 1995,Official Report, column 395.

  Portland Naval Base (Closure)
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the expected departure dates from the Royal Navy base at Portland of(a) the Defence Research Agency, (b) the Sea Systems Controllerate, (c) the Naval Support Command and (d) other units; what is the expected departure date of units from the rest of south Dorset; and what are the numbers of personnel involved. [21405]

  Mr. Soames
  On current plans, the departure dates of units from south Dorset and members of personnel involved are as follows:

  Defence Research Agency: all operational staff will have left the naval base by June 1995.

  Sea Systems Controllerate: Staff relocating from Portland to Abbey Wood are expected to move between August and October 1996.

  Naval Support Command: options for the location of the headquarters are still under consideration. It is not yet possible to say when these moves will take place.

  Other units: if the Front Line First proposal is agreed that the Royal Naval air station Portland should close, the expected relocation of units to Yeovilton would be phased over a period, leading to the final closure of RNAS Portland by 1 April 1999. On current plans flag officer sea training personnel will move to Plymouth on 21 July 1995. It is also expected that Royal Marines personnel will relocate to Poole in June 1995.
  774
  For numbers of personnel involved, I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 27 April, column 692.

  Overtime
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [19687]

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 25 April 1995]: Separate records are not maintained for all the individual defence agencies and it would require disproportionate cost to provide this information. We are, however, able to supply the overtime information requested at (a) and (b) for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency and the Met Office. The information set out below relates to non-industrial and industrial staff for the financial years shown:

  (a) Overtime hours worked

  (b) Amount paid £ million

  1992–93—MOD including Agencies

  Non-industrial

  8,463,679

  67.7

  Industrial

  8,279,479

  52.2

  Total

  16,743,158

  119.9

  1993–94—MOD excluding DERA

  Non-industrial

  8,591,769

  63.6

  Industrial

  7,372,299

  48.1

  Total

  15,964,068

  111.7

  1993–94—DERA

  Non-industrial

  687,759

  4.7

  Industrial

  314,763

  2.1

  Total

  1,002,522

  6.8

  1994–95—MOD excluding DERA and Met Office

  Non-industrial

  7,201,061

  50.5

  Industrial

  7,233,424

  48.3

  Total

  14,434,485

  98.8

  1994–95—DERA

  Non-industrial

  714,186

  5.2

  Industrial

  227,960

  1.5

  Total

  942,146

  6.7

  1994–95—Met Office

  Non-industrial

  558,407

  3.5

  Industrial

  454

  0.003

  Total

  558,861

  3.503

  (c) 1992 Total MOD including agencies

  Non-industrial

  709,745 days

  Industrial

  No data available

  1993

  Non-industrial

  737,963 days

  Industrial

  No data available

  1994

  Data is not yet available for this year

  775
  It is not possible to give a figure for the monetary equivalent of the total number of days lost to sickness. There are too many variables involved in this calculation and it would be difficult to rely on the accuracy of any such calculation.

  Agency Job Losses
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the number and location of Army Base Repair Organisation, Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Defence Accounts Agency, Defence Analytical Services Agency, Defence Animal Centre, Defence Operational Analysis Centre, Defence Postal and Courier Services, Defence Research Agency, Duke of York's Royal Military School, Hydrographic Office, Meteorological Office, Military Survey, Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation, Queen Victoria School, RAF support command's Maintenance Group Defence Agency, RAF Training Group Defence Agency, Service Children's Schools 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 offices opened and jobs gained in Scotland as a result of agency work transferring to Scotland from the rest of the United Kingdom over the same period. [20036]

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 27 April 1995]: I have asked the chief executives of the agencies mentioned in the question to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from J. Drew to Mr. Calum Macdonald, dated 27 April 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Defence has asked me to reply directly to your parliamentary question concerning the number of Army Base Repair Organisation offices closed in Scotland, and the transference of workload between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom.
  It might be helpful if I begin by briefly explaining how the Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO) is organised. The Agency is responsible for the delivery of a repair and refurbishment service for Army equipment. This service is delivered through a network of workshops and contract repair offices located throughout the United Kingdom. Agency Headquarters is at Andover. The repair service comprises two distinct categories. First is the planned repair of the Army's equipment fleets, known as base repair. Second is the unplanned repair and support of equipment held by Army units in the geographical area covered by each workshop and contract repair office. Both the planned and unplanned repair workload is divided between ABRO's workshops and private industry. This could well change in the future as our Competing for Quality strategy matures.
  The Agency has a workshop situated at Stirling, and I can confirm that there has been no transference of workload into or out of Scotland, and therefore no loss or increase in jobs other than that associated with the normal fluctuation of the annual workload. However, given the character of the work, there can be substantial variations. The future may well see further reductions throughout the agency as Defence Costs Study decisions are implemented.
  During June 1992 the ABRO Contract Repair office based at Inverness closed with the loss of two technical posts (HPTO, PTO) and one and a half clerical posts. The workload was transferred to the Glasgow office with no increase in staffing levels at that location. Subsequently, the ABRO Contract Repair office at Glasgow relocated to Stirling during March 1994, co-locating with the workshop with the loss of one clerical post.
  I hope this information is sufficient for your purposes.

  Letter from P. Trevelyan to Mr. Calum Macdonald, dated 27 April 1995:
  I have been asked by the Secretary of State for Defence to reply, on behalf of the Defence Accounts Agency, to your Parliamentary Question number 7343G. You asked for the number and location of Agency offices closed and the number of jobs lost or transferred as
  776
  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 from the rest of the United Kingdom over the same period.
  The answer to both parts of your question is Nil.

  Letter from P. Altobell to Mr. Calum Macdonald, dated 27 April 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Defence has asked me to reply to your question about jobs lost or gained as a result of Agency work transferring to or from Scotland over the past five years.
  For the period concerned the Defence Analytical Services Agency have had no offices in Scotland.

  Letter from A. Roache to Mr. Calum Macdonald, dated 27 April 1995:
  The Under Secretary of State for Defence has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question No 7343G, relating to numbers of Agency offices and jobs in Scotland.
  The Defence Animal Centre operates from a single site here at Melton Mowbray and has no connection, past or present, with jobs or offices in Scotland.
  I hope you find this information useful.

  Letter from T. Brown to Mr. Calum Macdonald, dated 27 April 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Defence has asked me to reply on behalf of the Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency to your question about the number of offices closed and jobs lost or transferred as a result of work moving between Scotland and other parts of the United Kingdom.
  In the period requested this Agency has not closed or opened any new offices. In addition no work has been transferred from Scotland to other parts of the United Kingdom, or vice versa.

  Letter from J. Chisholm to Mr. Calum Macdonald, dated 27 April 1995:

  1. I am replying to your parliamentary question about changes in employment in Scotland over the last 5 years in the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).

  2. The DERA was formed on 1 April 1995 out of the Defence Research Agency (DRA), the Defence Operational Analysis Centre (DOAC), the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBDE), all Agencies of the MOD, and a number of other MOD directorates and establishments providing scientific and technical support to the department.

  3. I am therefore now responsible for three former Agencies listed in your question. Of these, only the DRA, which was formed in April 1991, has sites in Scotland, DOAC and CBDE are both confined to single sites in the south of England.

  4. Since its launch in 1991 the DRA has neither closed offices or lost jobs as a result of any of its work transferring from Scotland to the rest of the United Kingdom nor has it opened offices or gained jobs in Scotland from the rest of the United Kingdom over the same period.

  5. I hope this information is useful.

  Letter from W. Spreadbury to Mr. Calum Macdonald, dated 27 April 1995:
  I have been asked to reply to your PQ 7343G on behalf of the Chief Executive who is absent on duty.
  In response to your request to list the number of offices closed and jobs lost or transferred from Scotland and also of offices opened and jobs gained in Scotland for the same reason, I have to report that the answer in respect of the Duke of York's Royal Military School is nought in all cases.

  Letter from R. Cotton to Mr. Calum Macdonald, dated 27 April 1995:

  1. You recently asked The Secretary of State for Defence a Parliamentary Question concerning the number of Offices closed and jobs lost or transferred from Scotland to other areas in the UK as a result of agency work transferring from Scotland over the past five years. As your question was, in part, related to the Hydrographic Office, the Secretary of State has asked that the Chief Executive of the Hydrographic Office should reply to you direct. Unfortunately,

  777
  Admiral Essenhigh is at present away from the Office on official duty so I am replying on his behalf.

  2. The UK Hydrographic Office, located in Taunton, Somerset, became a Defence Agency on 6 April 1990. Its primary task is to provide nautical charts and publications to the Royal Navy, but it also offers similar services to the mercantile marine and other commercial shipping agencies both within the UK and overseas. To support the Royal Navy, a number of chart maintenance units (CMU) exist throughout the UK to provide a waterfront service for the Fleet. Two such CMUs are located in Scotland, one at Rosyth and one at Faslane.

  3. Since 1990 there has been a reduction from 10 to 2 posts in the complement of the CMU at Rosyth; some of these posts have been lost while others have been transferred to other CMUs within the UK. No posts have been lost at Faslane, where the complement remains at 2. This reduction has been caused by a combination of a reducing Fleet, baseport transfers and a reduction in stockholdings arising from ongoing efficiency improvements.

  4. I hope the above has served to answer your question. If I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to get in touch.

  Letter from J. C. R. Hunt to Mr. Calum Macdonald, dated 25 April 1995:
  I am responding on behalf of the Meteorological Office to your Parliamentary Question concerning job gains and losses in Scotland over the past five year.
  As an operational organisation responsive to changes in customer requirements we have periodically to move jobs around within Scotland as well as 'importing' and 'exporting' posts to and from the rest of the United Kingdom. However the net effect of these changes over the years in question has been neutral in terms of Meteorological Office staff in Scotland.

  Letter from A. J. Hoon to Mr. Calum Macdonald, dated 20 April 1995:
  I understand that you have asked the Secretary of State for Defence to give the number Military Survey offices closed, and the number of jobs that have been lost or transferred result of Agency work transferring from Scotland to the rest of the United Kingdom, over the five years. Likewise for the creation of such in Scotland. Acting on behalf on the Chief Executive of Military Survey I have been asked to reply with regard to this Agency.
  Military Survey has no offices in Scotland. There have, therefore, been no closures of nature identified and no job losses resulting in the last five years. Neither have there been transfers to Scotland during the period.

  Letter from W. S. Graham to Mr. Calum Macdonald, dated 27 April 1995:

  1. The Secretary of State for Defence has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question concerning offices and jobs changes in the NARO DA over the last 5 years.

  2. My response to your 2 part question is as follows:

  778

  (a) Transferring from Scotland: Nil.

  (b) Transferring to Scotland: Nil.

  Letter from Brian Raine to Mr. Calum Macdonald, dated 27 April 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Defence has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question No 7343G about Agencies and jobs lost or transferred out of Scotland.
  As a result of Queen Victoria School being designated an Agency in 1992, no offices or jobs have been lost or transferred to other parts of the United Kingdom, nor have any jobs been created.
  I hope this answers your question satisfactorily, but if there is anything on which you would like to me to elaborate, please do not hesitate to contact me.

  Letter from Richard Kyle to Mr. Calum Macdonald, dated 27 April 1995:
  You asked Secretary of State for Defence if he would give the number and location of RAF Logistics Command's Maintenance Group Defence Agency's 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 offices opened and jobs gained in Scotland from the rest of the United Kingdom over the same period.
  The Maintenance Group was established as a Defence Agency on 1 April 1991. The Defence Agency has no offices or establishments located in Scotland and no offices or jobs have been transferred from Scotland to the rest of the United Kingdom since the creation of the Defence Agency.

  Letter from A. A. Nicholson to Mr. Calum Macdonald, dated 27 April 1995:

  PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION NO PQ7343G—TRAINING GROUP DEFENCE AGENCY REPLY
  The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State asked me to reply, in respect of my own area of responsibility, to the question you asked of him about Defence Agencies and Jobs Lost and Jobs Transferred.
  I am able to tell you that no Training Group jobs have been lost in Scotland since the launch of Training Group Defence Agency on 1 April 1994, nor have others been transferred to Scotland since the same date.
  I am copying this letter to the Agency's owner, the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Personnel & Training Command.

  Letter from Ian S. Mitchelson to Mr. Calum Macdonald, dated 27 April 1995:

  1. The Secretary of State has referred to me for reply to your Parliamentary Question asking for the number of Service Children's Schools (amongst others) 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 in the past 5 years. You also asked for similar information about offices opened and jobs gained.

  2. Service Children's Schools (North West Europe) formed as a Defence Agency in April 1991. Under the arrangements set out in the Agency's Framework Document the Agency operates solely overseas in North West Europe. The Agency does not have any responsibility for Scotland.

  VE Day Commemorations
  VE Day Commemorations
  Lloyd's: Contribution to UK Balance of Payments
  Lloyd's: Contribution to UK Balance of Payments
  Palace of Westminster: Restoration
  Palace of Westminster: Restoration
  Appleby Castle
  Appleby Castle
  Northern Ireland: Mr. Santer's Statement
  Northern Ireland: Mr. Santer's Statement