Written Answers of 4 December 1995

DEFENCE

  Married Housing Stock
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how his Department's married housing stock will be moved into the private sector. [3680]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 30 November,Official Report, columns 810–11, we propose that the Ministry of Defence should transfer ownership of the married quarters estate in England and Wales to the private sector on a series of very long leases, renting back the accommodation which is needed to meet service housing needs. Several thousand surplus properties would be transferred on a freehold basis at the same time. The Ministry of Defence would retain, through the Defence Housing Executive, responsibility for maintenance and the allocation of housing rented by MOD. Further details of this proposal are set out in the preliminary information memorandum published on 30 November, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will publish the preliminary information memorandum on the sale of the married quarters estate. [4168]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The preliminary information memorandum was published on 30 November 1995, and a copy was placed in the Library of the House.

  Departmental Targets
  Ms. Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the published recommended response times within which his Department is expected to reply to letters from the public.[2999]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my predecessor on 6 June 1995,Official Report, column 148.

  Queen's Flight
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions since the recent change in procedures aircraft of the Queen's Flight have been used by members of the royal family for private travel, unconnected with their official duties. [3254]

  Mr. Soames
  Since the introduction, on 1 April 1995, of arrangements under which the royal households are charged for private use of aircraft of No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron, there have been six occasions when such aircraft have been used for private travel.

  Navigation Systems
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason the specification for integrated inertial navigation and global positioning system equipment for Sea Harriers was drafted in accordance with the US Department of Defence's requirement; and if he will instruct British Aerospace to amend that specification to accord with British requirements. [3727]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  As prime contractor with responsibility for conducting the competition for an integrated inertial navigation and global positioning system for the Sea Harrier, British Aerospace defined the specifications to be applied. My Department has reviewed these specifications and is satisfied that they are consistent with recognised international standards.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what steps he has taken to ensure that British Aerospace treats all bidders fairly in its administration of the competition for the supply inertial navigation and global positioning systems for the Sea Harrier aircraft; [3725]

  (2) what are the implication for the IN-GPS contract for the Sea Harrier aircraft of the relationship between British Aerospace, BASE and the division of Honeywell which is bidding for the contract. [3726]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  British Aerospace's handling of the competition for an inertial navigation and global positioning system for the Sea Harrier has been closely supervised by my Department's technical and contracts staff. We are satisfied that the conduct of this competition has been fair and proper.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the economic and strategic importance of maintaining a British industrial capability to design and manufacture inertial navigation and guidance systems. [3728]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  My Department is now assessing the results of the competition for an inertial navigation and global positioning system for the Sea Harrier prior to reaching a procurement decision. This assessment will take into account any impact on a continuing United Kingdom design capability in this technology field.

  Armed Forces Exercises (Ebford)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low flying operations or exercises were conducted by the Royal Air Force or other NATO armed forces over the village of Ebford, Devon, during the autumn of 1988. [2855]

  Mr. Soames
  Although records are maintained of the total number of sorties flown in the UK low flying system, statistics are not available on, nor is it possible to estimate, the number of sorties flown over precise locations.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions a Royal Marines colour sergeant was deployed in Ebford village during autumn 1988. [2860]

  Mr. Soames
  No colour sergeant of the Royal Marines command was deployed in Ebford village during the autumn of 1988.

  Departmental Efficiency Savings
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide details of the efficiency savings required to meet his Department's budget settlement. [3679]

  Mr. Soames
  The MOD efficiency programme has led to savings worth more than £3 billion and "Front Line First" will produce a further £1 billion of savings per year by the end of the century. We will build on this in setting targets for future efficiency savings.

  Amphibious Operations
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place a copy of his directorate of operational capability's latest report in the Library; if he will make a statement on the Royal Navy's capability to mount an amphibious operation equivalent to the Falklands campaign; and what immediate plans he has to order new amphibious assault ships or other vessels to improve that capability. [3745]

  Mr. Soames
  Reports produced by my directorate of operational capability are classified documents, and constitute advice to Ministers. It is not our practice to place such documents in the Library of the House.

  The Royal Navy retains the capability to conduct amphibious operations in support of our defence policy objectives. This capability is currently being enhanced by the acquisition of the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean, which was launched earlier this year, and the refit of the landing ship logistic Sir Bedivere.

  Negotiations are under way with VSEL on its tender to replace the amphibious ships HMS Fearless and Intrepid.

  Aircraft Spare Farts
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the provision of spare parts for British aircraft. [3677]

  British tourist authority

  English tourist board

  Scottish tourist board

  GIA £ million

  £ per head population

  GIA £ million

  £ per head population

  GIA £ million

  £ per head population

  1979–80

  12.8

  0.23

  10.3

  0.22

  4.3

  0.83

  1980–81

  12.0

  0.22

  9.7

  0.21

  4.4

  0.85

  1981–82

  12.5

  0.23

  9.8

  0.21

  4.7

  0.91

  1982–83

  13.0

  0.24

  10.7

  0.23

  5.2

  1.01

  1983–84

  11.6

  0.21

  10.3

  0.22

  5.6

  1.09

  1984–85

  11.3

  0.21

  11.6

  0.25

  6.6

  1.28

  1985–86

  10.6

  0.19

  10.4

  0.22

  5.4

  1.05

  1986–87

  12.4

  0.22

  12.2

  0.26

  5.5

  1.07

  1987–88

  12.6

  0.23

  13.3

  0.28

  5.2

  1.02

  1988–89

  12.7

  0.23

  13.8

  0.29

  5.3

  1.04

  1989–90

  12.8

  0.23

  10.9

  0.23

  6.0

  1.18

  1990–91

  12.8

  0.23

  8.0

  0.17

  5.7

  1.12

  1991–92

  12.8

  0.23

  8.7

  0.18

  5.6

  1.10

  1992–93

  13.0

  0.23

  7.6

  0.16

  5.7

  1.12

  1993–94

  13.1

  0.23

  6.1

  0.13

  5.6

  1.09

  1994–95

  13.3

  0.23

  4.5

  0.09

  7.0

  1.36

  1995–96

  13.4

  0.24

  3.9

  0.08

  6.6

  1.28

  4
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The Ministry of Defence obtains spare parts from industry for support of its aircraft. Logistic support procedures are designed to ensure that requirements are satisfied while minimising spares holdings in the interests of efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Unforeseen problems can mean that aircraft are unavailable awaiting spare parts but this has not affected our current operational commitments.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF aircraft are currently not operational due to the lack of spare parts. [3678]

  Mr. Soames
  The number of RAF aircraft unavailable awaiting spare parts from industry varies on a daily basis. The figure for Monday 27 November 1995, including training aircraft, was 44.

  Ro-ro Ferries
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to purchase roll-on roll-off ferries; and if he will make a statement. [3676]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  We are examining a number of possible enhancements to the civil and military strategic lift available to the joint rapid deployment force, including the charter, lease or purchase of suitable shipping and cargo aircraft.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Tourism
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will set out the Exchequer grant for the promotion and support of tourism for each of the years 1979–80 to 1995–96, at 1979 prices and expressed per head of population, for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. [2158]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: The total Government grant to the statutory tourist boards, expressed in 1979 prices—millions of pounds—for each year from 1979 to 1995, and expressed per head of population—pounds—for the countries covered by the boards, was as follows:
  5

  Wales tourist board

  Northern Ireland tourist board

  GIA £ million

  £ per head population

  GIA £ million

  £ per head population

  1979–80

  3.7

  1.32

  3.9

  2.55

  1980–81

  3.6

  1.28

  4.1

  2.67

  1981–82

  3.9

  1.39

  4.1

  2.67

  1982–83

  4.0

  1.43

  3.7

  2.41

  1983–84

  3.4

  1.21

  3.1

  2.01

  1984–85

  4.2

  1.50

  3.4

  2.19

  1985–86

  4.8

  1.71

  3.4

  2.18

  1986–87

  4.8

  1.70

  3.4

  2.17

  1987–88

  5.0

  1.76

  2.9

  1.84

  1988–89

  5.0

  1.75

  2.9

  1.84

  1989–90

  5.0

  1.74

  2.9

  1.83

  1990–91

  4.9

  1.70

  3.5

  2.20

  1991–92

  5.0

  1.73

  3.1

  1.94

  1992–93

  5.8

  2.00

  4.9

  3.03

  1993–94

  5.6

  1.93

  4.9

  3.00

  1994–95

  5.7

  1.96

  5.0

  3.05

  1995–96

  5.7

  1.95

  5.3

  3.24

  Sources:

  Population Estimates Unit (OPCS) 1979–1994.

  Government Actuaries Department 1995.

  (1992—based projections).

  The British Tourist Authority is responsible for marketing Great Britain overseas. The grant per capita for BTA has therefore been calculated using the total population of England, Wales and Scotland.

ENVIRONMENT

  EU Directives
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all EU and EEC directives which have come into force and have not yet been translated into United Kingdom regulation. [2075]

  Mr. Clappison
  Directives for which my Department is responsible, for which the date for transposition has passed but for which no transposing legislation has been made are those relating to: nitrates, hazardous waste, safety signs and the adaptation of the directive on contained use of genetically modified organisms—GMOs. The steps necessary to give effect to these are well in hand, although explanatory guidelines from the Commission are necessary before the GMOs directive can be transposed. Directives on the quality of fresh waters to support fish life and the quality required of shellfish waters were implemented by administrative means, which are soon to be replaced by new regulations. My Department intends to transpose into United Kingdom law the directive on the control of volatile organic compound emissions from the storage of petrol and its distribution to service stations by the compliance date of 31 December 1995.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all EU and EEC directives which will come into force during the next 12 months indicating the dates when he expects to lay regulations to implement them in the United Kingdom. [2076]

  Mr. Clappison
  There are no directives for which my Department is responsible which are certain to come into force during the next 12 months.

  planning permission
  Mr.Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if authorities will be expected to meet the costs of(a) the new rural business use class
  6
  initiative and (b)informing unsuccessful applicants of the outcome of their application for planning permission from within their existing budgets. [2644]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The present regime under which local planning authorities charge fees for applications for planning permission would apply to applications relating to any new rural business use class. The Government's policy is to progress to full-cost recovery by local planning authorities, including the cost of notifying applicants of planning decisions, and we are close to achieving this target.

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each regional office the number of notices served for each of the last 12 months, for extension of time owing to failures to determine the call in process for planning applications, within the prescribed period of time, together with the average period of time for which such extensions were required. [3487]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Departmental Targets
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the published recommended response times within which his Department is expected to reply to letters from the public. [2997]

  Mr. Gummer
  My Department has a target of replying to all letters from the public, including individuals, businesses and local authorities, within 15 working days of the letter being received by the Department.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to increase his Department's support to voluntary organisations which assist homeless people. [2870]
  7
  Mr. Clappison
  The Housing White Paper "Our Future Homes", issued on 27 June 1995, undertook to continue the Government's rough sleepers initiative—RSI—in central London beyond March 1996, and to assist the development of the successful RSI model in other areas where rough sleeping could be demonstrated to be a major problem. Over the next three years—1996–97 to 1998–99—my Department plans to make available an additional £50 million to meet these commitments. Following analysis of the responses to a consultation paper issued on 3 October 1995, we will be issuing a strategy paper in the new year inviting bids for these resources.

  My Department also provides grants under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 to voluntary sector organisations to provide practical help for single people in housing need. Planned provision for this programme is an increase from £6.9 million in 1995–96 to £7.8 million in 1996–97.

  Public Inquiry (Welbeck)
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when he intends to decide on the inspector's report covering the public inquiry into the appeal by the Warmfield Company against the planned refusal to develop the Newland park and Welbeck site in the Normanton constituency; [3206]

  (2) if he will now make a statement on the inspector's report following the public inquiry held on the Welbeck reclamation and landfill projects and compulsory purchase orders by the Warmfield Company. [3207]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The inspector's report has been received. The Secretary of State's decisions on the Welbeck compulsory purchase orders and the appeal by the Warmfield Company have been deferred at the request of Wakefield council and the company. The Secretary of State currently awaits their confirmation of whether they wish to withdraw the orders and appeal or proceed with them. It is not possible to say when the decision on the appeal will be issued, should the company decide to proceed with it.

  Voting Disqualifications (Councillors)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many councillors since 1979 have sought a dispensation from him to allow them to vote on matters in which otherwise they would be disqualified from voting by virtue of a declared interest. [3376]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  There would be a disproportionate cost involved in providing such figures from 1979. However, records kept since 1985 indicate some 1,360 councillors have sought a dispensation from the Secretary of State to allow them to vote on matters in which otherwise they would be disqualified from voting by virtue of a declared interest.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of new lettings by housing associations have been made to people in receipt of housing benefit in(a) 1994 and (b) 1995 to date. [3187]
  8
  Mr. Clappison
  The latest available information relates to housing association lettings to households that are eligible for either full or partial housing benefit.

  The figures for 1994 and the first nine months of 1995 are:

  Housing association new lettings: per cent. eligible for housing benefit

  England Percentage

  1994

  82

  19951

  82

  Note:

  11 January to 30 September.

  Source:

  CORE new lettings database.

  Local Government Finance
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the metropolitan district budgets for 1994–95 ranking them in order from the largest increase from the previous year to the lowest. [3199]

  Mr. Curry
  The information is as follows:

  Percentage increase in budgeted net revenue expenditure 1993–94 to 1994–95

  Budgeted net revenue expenditure

  Increase

  Metropolitan districts

  1993–94 £000

  1994–95 £000

  Per cent.

  Bury

  110,399

  119,950

  8.7

  Dudley

  191,851

  208,375

  8.6

  Sunderland

  216,544

  230,944

  6.6

  St. Helens

  132,743

  140,857

  6.1

  Salford

  179,220

  188,998

  5.5

  Rochdale

  161,430

  170,041

  5.3

  Oldham

  176,578

  185,750

  5.2

  Sheffield

  370,880

  389,219

  4.9

  Stockport

  186,869

  196,104

  4.9

  Doncaster

  206,068

  215,770

  4.7

  Sefton

  199,304

  208,661

  4.7

  North Tyneside

  137,860

  144,150

  4.6

  Birmingham

  892,141

  932,140

  4.5

  Kirklees

  277,650

  289,371

  4.2

  Leeds

  491,611

  511,947

  4.1

  Wolverhampton

  206,863

  215,307

  4.1

  Manchester

  417,968

  434,576

  4.0

  Newcastle-Upon-Tyne

  217,066

  225,691

  4.0

  Liverpool

  447,622

  465,140

  3.9

  Knowsley

  141,829

  147,285

  3.8

  Tameside

  154,292

  160,092

  3.8

  Barnsley

  143,527

  148,718

  3.6

  Wirral

  248,457

  257,081

  3.5

  South Tyneside

  121,977

  125,429

  2.8

  Bolton

  192,921

  198,298

  2.8

  Rotherham

  183,835

  188,901

  2.8

  Calderdale

  143,241

  146,839

  2.5

  Coventry

  238,382

  243,646

  2.2

  Bradford

  394,674

  402,018

  1.9

  Wigan

  205,223

  208,862

  1.8

  Sandwell

  236,219

  239,676

  1.5

  Solihull

  123,725

  125,507

  1.4

  Trafford

  143,137

  145,174

  1.4

  Gateshead

  165,567

  167,526

  1.2

  Wakefield

  212,640

  214,138

  0.7

  Walsall

  207.930

  205.563

  –1.1

  Debt Charges (North Yorkshire County Council)
  Mr. Sykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the annual debt charges paid by North Yorkshire county council in(a) 1992–93, (b) 1993–94 and (c) 1994–95. [3502]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Annual debt charges paid by North Yorkshire county council were:

  (a) 1992–93: £18.3 million

  (b) 1993–94: £18.9 million

  (c) 1994–95: £18.3 million

  Sick Leave (Lancashire County Council)
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many days off sick were taken by employees of Lancashire county council social services department in(a) 1990–91, (b) 1991–92, (c) 1992–93, (d) 1993–94 and (e) 1994–95 indicating (i) the total figure and (ii) the average for each employee. [3505]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many days off sick were taken by employees of Lancashire county council in each of(a) 1990–91, (b) 1991–92, (c) 1992–93, (d) 1993–94 and (e) 1994–95 indicating (i) the total figure and (ii) the average for each employee. [3508]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  This information is not available centrally.

  Gas Pipeline (Zeebrugge-Bacton)
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will call in for public inquiry the application by Interconnector for construction of a gas pipeline from Zeebrugge to Bacton, Norfolk. [3524]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  No. The Secretary of State for the Environment has no statutory powers to call in proposals for submarine pipelines. Submarine pipelines, from low water mark to the median line, are authorised by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under the provisions of the Petroleum and Submarine Pipelines Act 1975. The section of pipeline from low water mark to the proposed Interconnector (UK) Ltd. facility at Bacton is currently the subject of planning applications before North Norfolk district council. Consideration has been given to call in that application, and one for the related gas processing facility, but it was considered that no more than local issues were involved and North Norfolk district council was best placed to determine the applications accordingly.

  Emergency Drought Order (Yorkshire Water)
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the proceedings, and representations made at the public inquiry into Yorkshire Water's request for an emergency drought order. [3449]

  Mr. Curry
  In line with usual practice, the record of the proceedings of, and representations made at, the public hearing into objections to the application by Yorkshire Water Services Ltd. for an emergency drought order will be the inspector's report.
  10
  Mrs. Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the inspector's report of the public inquiry into Yorkshire Water's request for an emergency drought order; and on what date he will be able to issue the report. [3451]

  Mr. Curry
  The inspector's report will be made public when a final decision is taken whether or not to make the emergency drought order sought by Yorkshire Water Services Ltd.

  Mrs. Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list each measure and drought order he has approved in the current year for the Yorkshire region indicating the dates of each approval, in respect of Yorkshire Water's statutory duty to provide a supply of drinking water. [3453]

  Mr. Curry
  My right hon. Friend has made the following drought orders on the application of Yorkshire Water Services Ltd:
  1. YORKSHIRE WATER SERVICES Lm. (RIVER WHARFE) (DROUGHT) ORDER 1995.Order made 18 August 1995.This order reduced the support to the River Wharfe which Yorkshire Water was required to give Grimwith reservoir and thus allowed more water from Grimwith to be available for public supply. It also allowed the Nidd Aqueduct to be used to take water from Grimwith, rather than just bring water to Grimwith.2. YORKSHIRE WATER SERVICES LTD. (DROUGHT) ORDER 1995.Order made 26 August 1995.This order authorised the restriction of non-essential uses of water in the Bradford area.3. YORKSHIRE WATER SERVICES Lm. (HEBDEN WATER AND RIVER WORTH) (DROUGHT) ORDER 1995.Order made 7 September 1995.This order reduced the amount of compensation water that Yorkshire Water had to release from certain reservoirs.4. YORKSHIRE WATER SERVICES LTD. (SILSDEN RESERVOIR) (DROUGHT) ORDER 1995.Order made 31 August 1995.This order reduced the compensation water that had to be discharged from Silsden Reservoir.5. YORKSHIRE WATER SERVICES LTD. (PENNINE RESERVOIRS) (DROUGHT) ORDER 1995.Order made 2 October 1995.This order reduced the amount of compensation water that had to be discharged from a range of Pennine Reservoirs.6. YORKSHIRE WATER SERVICES LTD. (CHELLOW DEAN RESERVOIRS) (DROUGHT) ORDER 1995.Order made 2 October /995.This order allowed abstraction from reservoirs not normally used for drinking water abstraction.7. YORKSHIRE WATER SERVICES LTD. (RIVER WHARFE) (AMENDMENT) (EMERGENCY DROUGHT) ORDER 1995.Order made 28 September 1995.This order allowed increased abstraction from the River Wharfc to provide water for Bradford.8. YORKSHIRE WATER SERVICES LTD. (RIVER WHARFE) (DROUGHT) (EMERGENCY AMENDMENT) (EXTENSION) ORDER 1995.Order made 31 October 1995.This order extended the period for which Order No. 7 was valid.11 9. YORKSHIRE WATER SERVICES LTD. (SILSDEN RESERVOIR No. 2) (DROUGHT) ORDER 1995.Order made 30 October 1995.This order extended the period during which the amount of water required to be discharged from the reservoir was reduced.10. YORKSHIRE WATER SERVICES LTD. (HAIGH COTE DAM) (DROUGHT) ORDER 1995.Order made 31 October 1995.This order allowed abstraction from a reservoir not normally used for drinking water.11. YORKSHIRE WATER SERVICES LTD. (RIVER OUSE) (DROUGHT) ORDER 1995.Order made 3 November 1995.This order allowed increased abstractions from the River Ouse for supplies to Leeds.12. YORKSHIRE WATER SERVICES LTD. (DROUGHT No. 2) ORDER 1995.Order made 3 November 1995.This order authorised the restriction of non-essential uses of water in Leeds, Selby and Wakefield.13. YORKSHIRE WATER SERVICES LTD. (RIVER WHARFE) (ARTH1NGTON) (DROUGHT) ORDER 1995.Order made 8 November 1995.This order allowed additional abstraction from the River Wharfe for supply to Leeds.14. YORKSHIRE WATER SERVICES LTD. (PENNINE RESERVOIRS) (No. 2) (DROUGHT) ORDER 1995.Order made 9 November 1995.This order reduced the requirements to discharge compensation water from a large number of Pennine reservoirs.15. YORKSHIRE WATER SERVICES LTD. (HEBDEN WATER, RIVER WORTH AND PENNINE RESERVOIRS) (No. 3) ORDER 1995.Order made 15 November 1995.This order consolidated orders Nos. 3 and 5 and reduced further the required compensation water discharges.16. YORKSHIRE WATER SERVICES LTD. (DROUGHT) (No. 3) ORDER 1995.Order made 20 November 1995.This order restricted non-essential uses of water in Harrogate area.17. YORKSHIRE WATER SERVICES LTD. (LEIGHTON AND HAVERAH PARK RESERVOIRS) (DROUGHT) ORDER 1995.Order made 17 November 1995.This order reduced the compensation water required to be discharged from these reservoirs.18. YORKSHIRE WATER SERVICES LTD. (ABSTRACTION LICENCES) (DROUGHT) ORDER 1995.Order made 21 November 1995.This order allowed all operators of licensed boreholes in Yorkshire to provide water to any premises in West Yorkshire, within the quantity limits in their licences.
  Mrs. Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received the inspector's report of the public inquiry into the request by Yorkshire Water for an emergency drought order. [3450]
  12
  Mr. Curry
  My right hon. Friend has received the report of the inspector on the public hearing into objections to Yorkshire Water Services Ltd.'s application for an emergency drought order.

  Mrs. Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to respond to the inspector's report of the public inquiry into Yorkshire Water's request for an emergency drought order. [3452]

  Mr. Curry
  My right hon. Friend indicated on Friday 24 November that he had received the inspector's report, but that in present circumstances he did not propose to take a decision on the application: the matter would be kept under review.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has collected from local authorities about the allocation of properties to asylum seekers and refugees; and how many representations he has received from local authorities about the provision of housing for refugees and asylum seekers. [3669]

  Mr. Clappison
  My Department does not collect information from local authorities about the allocation of properties to asylum seekers and refugees. My hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration has received a request from the Association of London Government to discuss housing for asylum seekers.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applicants for political asylum qualified for housing and housing benefits in the last year for which figures are available. [3667]

  Mr. Clappison
  The only available data relate to asylum seekers seeking housing under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1985.

  In the year ending June 1995, 2,190 households which had applied under these provisions in England were found to be registered as asylum seekers with the Home Office. Local authorities have a duty to provide temporary accommodation for these households until their asylum application is resolved.

  Over the same period, 930 of the households which local authorities accepted for rehousing under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1985 were former asylum seekers.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many properties(a) by local authorities and (b) by Government Departments are currently vacant in the United Kingdom; and what percentage of vacant dwellings were made available to refugees and asylum seekers during the past 12 months. [3668]

  Mr. Clappison
  I will write to the hon. Member about the numbers of vacant dwellings in England when the analysis of the data reported by local authorities on their 1995 housing investment programme returns is complete. No data are collected centrally on vacant dwellings made available to refugees or asylum seekers.
  13
  The information on vacant dwellings relating to Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland is a matter for the Secretaries of State for Wales, for Scotland and for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of providing temporary accommodation for applicants for political asylum in the last year for which figures are available. [3674]

  Mr. Clappison
  This information is not held centrally.

  Single Regeneration Budget
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce the results of the latest round of bidding under the single regeneration budget. [3952]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Before Christmas.

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many statutory instruments his Department sponsored in the last Session of Parliament; and how many of these(a) constituted a new rule or regulation, (b) were introduced to implement European Community directives and (c) amplify the minimum standards set out in an original European Community directive. [2464]

  Mr. Clappison
  [holding answer 28 November 1995]: The Department of the Environment was responsible for 192 statutory instruments in the last Session of Parliament. It is not possible to give a precise number for those which constituted a new rule or regulation. However, the White Paper "Competitiveness: Forging Ahead", Cm 2867, presented to Parliament in May this year, referred at page 192 to seven categories of regulations made in 1994. The statutory instruments made during the last Session of Parliament for which the Department was responsible fell within those categories as follows:

  (i) EU and international obligations: 9

  (ii) NHS Trusts: 0

  (iii) Fees and local provisions: 43

  (iv) Facilitating privatisation and competition: 12

  (v) Repeals and more favourable regimes: 12

  (vi) Other (with possible impact on business): 39

  (vii) Other (with no impact on business): 80.

  In addition, there were five commencement orders.

  The totals do not exactly correspond with the total number of statutory instruments as a small number fall within more than one category.

  In addition, nine statutory instruments have been made since the Health and Safety Executive became a non-departmental public body in connection with which the Department of the Environment has responsibilities.

  Of these, three fell within the category of giving effect to EC and international obligations, one fell within the category of fees and local provisions, five fell within the category of repeals and more favourable regimes and six within the category of other instruments with a possible impact on business.
  14
  None of the instruments adopts measures which set higher standards than minimum standards explicitly laid down in an EC directive.

  Radioactive Waste Dumping
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide a complete list of all radioactive waste dumped since 1965 west of the Hebrides showing(a) the date, (b) the amount, (c) the source and (d) the exact location. [3177]

  Mr. Baldry
  I have been asked to reply.

  No radioactive waste has been dumped since 1965 west of the Hebrides. The "Report of the Independent Review of Disposal of Radioactive Waste in the North East Atlantic" by Professor F. G. T. Holliday, which is in the House Library, lists all the locations where the United Kingdom has disposed of radioactive waste at sea.

TREASURY

  Regional Electricity Companies
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if regional electricity companies will be able to claim corporation tax relief or any other tax relief on any rebate given to domestic consumers arising out of the sale of the national grid; and what is his estimate of the expected value of any such tax relief to the regional electricity companies(a) per customer and (b) in total. [3391]

  Mr. Jack
  The general tax rules apply to any business which reduces its charges to customers. The precise tax consequences will depend on the particular arrangements. If, for example, a business reduces its prices for future services, then, in general because the business is not entitled to the money, there would be no charge to tax—a business would not be charged to tax on profits to which it was never entitled. If, however, the circumstances were such that a rebate was made out of sums which counted as taxable trading receipts, the rebate would be allowed only as a deduction in calculating the business's profits for tax purposes if the expenditure satisfied the general test that it was revenue in nature and incurred wholly and exclusively for the purposes of earning the business's profit.

  I cannot comment on the particular arrangements and tax affairs of individual taxpayers.

  Fuel Duties
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reduce the tax on low sulphur motor vehicle diesel to eliminate the retail price difference. [3750]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No. There are a number of new diesel products under development which will meet future environmental standards. I am not satisfied that any change in the duty structure would be justified.

  Mortgage Interest Relief
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the tax expenditure of mortgage interest relief in each of the years since 1991–92. [3731]

  Mr. Jack
  The total cost of mortgage interest relief in the years 1991–92 to 1994–95 is given in table 5.1 of "Inland Revenue Statistics 1995", a copy of which is in the Library.

  The estimated total cost of the relief in 1995–96 is about £2.8 billion. This is based on the assumption, by convention, of no change from the current average building society interest rate.

  Public Service Pensions
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is proposing to increase public service pensions from April 1996. [4459]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Under the legislation governing public service pensions, they are increased annually by the same percentage as state earnings-related pensions—additional pensions. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security announced on 28 November,Official Report, column 618, that additional pensions will be increased by 3.9 per cent. in line with the annual increase in the retail prices index up to September. Public service pensions will therefore be increased by 3.9 per cent. from 8 April 1996. Pensions which have been in payment for less than a year will receive a pro rata increase.

  Paymaster General
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for the future of the office of Her Majesty's Paymaster General. [4460]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  In accordance with its framework document, a full prior options review of the office of Her Majesty's Paymaster General will now be conducted, covering all its activities. The terms of reference for the review will be as follows:
  To carry out a full Prior Options Review of the Office of Her Majesty's Paymaster General (PAYMASTER), consulting interested parties. To consider the need for the functions of the Agency and for the Government's retaining responsibility for them; whether any need to remain in the Civil Service and if so, to recommend suitable arrangements and a mechanism for transferring the rest to the private sector.
  Since the office of Her Majesty's Paymaster General became a next steps agency nearly three years ago, it has made significant improvements to its efficiency, competitiveness and quality of service. It has won substantial business in competition with public and private sector competitors. I believe that there is a prima facie case now for moving the work of the agency into the private sector, subject to the review revealing no obstacles to this. Privatisation could offer new opportunities for the agency, its staff and—most important—its customers. The review will, therefore, focus on feasible options for moving the agency into the private sector.
  16
  Contributions from interested parties are invited and should be addressed to:

  The Treasury Accountant

  HM Treasury

  19 Allington Street

  London

  SW1E 5EB

  They should be received before 26 February 1996. The results of the review will be announced in due course.

  Finance Act 1995
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of the Finance Act 1995; [246]

  (2) if the Finance Act 1995 was (a) subject to and (b) modified on account of an environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment", produced by the Department of the Environment; and if he will publish the appraisal; [244]

  (3) what alternative courses of action from those detailed in the Finance Act 1995 were considered in any environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department. [245]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 22 November 1995]: The main measure in the Finance Act 1995 relevant to the environment was the real terms increase in road fuel duties enacted in sections 6 and 7.

  It was announced in the March 1993 Budget that the Government's policy would be to increase fuel duties by at least 3 per cent. on average in real terms in future Budgets in order to help to restrain carbon dioxide emissions. In the November 1993 Budget, this was raised to 5 per cent. Raising duties in this way will make a significant contribution to the UK programme for limiting CO2 emissions in line with our commitments under the UN convention on climate change.

  Emissions of CO2 are subject to regular monitoring by the Department of the Environment. It is not normal practice to disclose options considered, but not pursued, in the course of preparing the Budget.

  The 1995 Finance Bill largely related to measures announced in the 1994 Budget. This year's Budget contained other environmental measures: a further 5 per cent. real increase in fuel duties, the definitive arrangements for the new landfill tax, reduced duties on liquid petroleum gas and compressed natural gas, which are relatively clean road fuels, and an additional increase in the duty on super unleaded petrol, which causes higher levels of pollutants such as benzene. These measures will be enacted in the 1996 Finance Bill. The Chancellor also announced that the Government would look into ways of using vehicle excise duty to encourage the use of low emission vehicles.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the annual income from(a) fees (b) charges and (c) fines; what was the total number of staff employed (i) part time and (ii) full time; and what contribution his Department has made towards the annual running costs in

  17
  each of the past three years in respect of (1) the Inland Revenue, (2) Customs and Excise and (3) the Central Statistical Office. [2742]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 28 November 1995]: The information is set out in the table.

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Inland Revenue1

  Annual income from

  (a) fees and charges pound million

  303

  296

  288

  (b) fines2

  Number of staff employed3

  (i) part-time

  9,126

  9,569

  9,438

  (ii) full-time

  64,337

  61,595

  57,686

  Annual running costs4 pound million

  1,766

  1,823

  1,816

  Customs and Excise

  Annual income from

  (a) fees and charges pound million

  5

  2

  2

  (b) fines5 pound million

  162

  130

  113

  Number of staff employed3

  (i) part-time

  1,358

  1,556

  1,570

  (ii) full-time

  24,967

  25,112

  23,803

  Annual running costs4 pound million

  738

  735

  745

  Central Statistical Office

  Annual income from

  (a) fees and charges pound million

  1

  2

  2

  (b) fines

  —

  —

  —

  Number of staff employed3

  (i) part-time

  98

  125

  130

  (ii) full-time

  1,110

  1,205

  1,197

  Annual running costs4 pound million

  43

  44

  48

  1Includes the Valuation Office agency.

  2Not applicable. Penalties are part of overall tax revenues.

  3As at 1 April.

  4Gross running costs.

  5Covers fines and penalties.

PRIME MINISTER

  Former Prime Ministers (Briefings)
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out the procedures by which civil servants are allowed to provide advice and information to former Prime Ministers; and if he will make a statement. [3025]

  The Prime Minister
  Subject to the approval of Ministers, civil servants may provide factual briefing to former Prime Ministers, as to other Members of Parliament. Such briefing is often provided for visits to overseas countries.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the latest total cost to public funds of providing legal services for witnesses to Sir Richard Scott's inquiry. [3028]

  The Prime Minister
  The accounts settled to date from public funds for the provision of external legal services to witnesses to Sir Richard Scott's inquiry are approximately £750,790. The value of legal services charged by the 18
  Treasury Solicitor's Department is £306,320. Some legal advice has also been provided by Government lawyers as part of their normal duties. The cost of this advice is not quantifiable.

  Northern Ireland Peace Process
  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will give an account of his latest discussions with the Prime Minister of the Irish Republic on the peace process; and if he will make a statement. [3699]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on 29 November 1995,Official Report, columns 199-201.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Remand Prisoners
  Mr. Tim Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in England and Wales had, at the latest available date, been held on remand for(a) up to three months (b) from three to six months (c) from six to 12 months and (d) for more than 12 months. [3271]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. Tim Smith, dated 4 December 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question asked how many prisoners in England and Wales had, at the latest available date, been held on remand for (a) up to three months, (b) from three to six months, (c) from six to twelve months, (d) for more than 12 months.The latest available provisional information for England and Wales is for 30 June 1995 and is given in the attached table.

  Remand prisoners in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales by length of time since first reception1 on 30 June 1995

  Time since first remand

  30 June 1995

  Less than 3 months

  6,830

  More than 3 months, up to and inc. 6 months.

  2,343

  More than 6 months, up to and inc. 12 months.

  1,542

  Over 12 months.

  341

  Total

  11,056

  1Awaiting trial or sentence. Time since first reception on remand into a Prison Service establishment. This includes any intervening time spent on bail, but excludes time spent in police cells beforehand.

  Dr. Bayo Omoyiola
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the(a) right hon. and hon. Members, (b) Church spokesmen and (c) other organisations that have made representations against the deportation of Dr. Bayo Omoyiola to Nigeria; and if he will make a statement. [3357]
  19
  Mr. Kirkhope
  Details of people and groups who have made representations in this case are set out in the tables.

  (a) Honourable and right honoutable Members for

  (b) Church spokesmen

  (c) Other organisations

  Birmingham Selly Oak

  The Rt. Rev. Lord

  Edward Frais

  Chesterfield

  Bishop of Coventry

  Abrahamson Bayo

  Cynon Valley

  The Rt. Rev. Lord

  Omoyiola

  Falkirk West

  Bishop of Liverpool

  Anti-Deportation

  Hackney North and

  The Rt. Rev. Lord

  Campaign

  Stoke Newington

  Bishop of Ripon

  Bolton Communities of

  Islington North

  The Rt. Rev. the

  Resistance

  Littleborough and

  Bishop of Blackburn

  Merseyside and Region

  Saddleworth

  The Rt. Rev. Bishop of

  Churches

  Liverpool Mossley Hill

  Truro

  The Campaign Against

  Liverpool Riverside

  The Most Rev. Derek

  Double Punishment

  Liverpool West Derby

  Warlock

  Partners of Prisoners'

  Renfrew West and

  The Rt. Rev. David

  Families Support

  Inverclyde

  Sheppard

  Group

  Staffordshire

  The Rev. Russell

  Theatre Link

  Moorlands

  Naylor

  Liverpool Black Sisters

  Sunderland North

  Unison

  Warrington North

  Black National Caucus

  Warrington South

  Friends Information

  Centre

  Merseyside Region of

  Churches

  City of Liverpool

  Housing and

  Community Services

  Directorate

  Liverpool Housing

  Trust

  National Museum and

  Galleries on

  Merseyside

  Merseyside African

  Council

  Methodist Church in

  Liverpool

  Liverpool and Law

  Centre

  Merseyside

  Immigration Advice

  Unit

  Federation of Black

  Housing Associations

  Merseyside Caribbean

  Council

  Greater Manchester

  Immigration Aid

  Unit

  Toxteth Activity

  Group

  In addition, an early-day motion was signed by the following:

  The hon. Members for:

  Liverpool, Garston

  Bootle

  Liverpool, Walton

  Tottenham

  Nottingham, South

  St. Helens, South

  Knowsley, North

  Wakefield

  Bolton, South-East

  Easington

  Leyton

  Knowsley, South

  Islwyn

  Birkenhead

  20

  Blyth Valley

  St. Helens, North

  Halifax

  Liverpool, Broadgreen

  Wigan

  Wallasey

  Dr. Omoyiola has been in the United Kingdom without leave since 14 May 1991 and entered his employment without permission to do so. He has been refused a work permit. On 16 November 1994 he was given notice of a decision to deport him and his appeal was subsequently dismissed by an independent adjudicator who considered it inappropriate to make any recommendation on his case to the Secretary of State. Full account has been taken of the various representations made on Dr. Omoyiola's behalf. However, he has no claim to be here and his circumstances are not so compelling or compassionate as to warrant him being allowed to remain exceptionally. A deportation order has therefore been signed on 10 November 1995 and this will shortly be served on Dr. Omoyiola. Arrangements will be made for his removal to Nigeria.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the number of claims for political asylum which have not yet been decided and which date from(a) 1990, (b) 1991, (c) 1992, (d) 1993, (e) 1994 and (f) 1995;[3641]

  (2) how many applications for political asylum dating from before 1990 have not yet been decided. [3631]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The number of asylum applications awaiting an initial decision as at 31 October 1995 was 66,655. The available information on the years in which these applications were made is given in the table.

  Proportion of total number of asylum applications awaiting initial decisions as at 31 October 1995, by year of application.

  Year of application

  Percentage

  pre 1991

  5

  1991

  15

  1992

  15

  1993

  15

  1994

  25

  1995

  25

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many appeals against a decision to refuse political asylum on the grounds that the applicants have visited a third country were received in the last year for which figures are available; and how many were(a) upheld and (b) dismissed. [3633]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The information requested for without foundation appeals—the majority of which are against refusals on the grounds that the applicant had arrived from a safe third country—is given in table 8.4 of Home Office statistical bulletin "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 1994", issue 15/95. A copy of this publication is available in the Library.
  21
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for political asylum have been received from applicants fleeing countries affected by civil war; and how many of such applications were successful, in each year since 1990. [3635]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Asylum applications are considered on the individual merit of each case. The basis for an application is not centrally recorded, so the number of those lodged directly as a result of civil wars is not available.

  Information regarding asylum applications, by nationality, for the years 1986 to 1994 is given in table 2.1 of Home Office statistical bulletin "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 1994", issue 15/95, a copy of which can be found in the Library. Tables 3.1 to 3.3 of this publication gives decisions on asylum applications, by nationality, for the same time period.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which countries are currently classified as undergoing or having undergone events likely to give rise to a well-founded fear of persecution among the nationals of those countries. [3637]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Under proposals on which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security has been consulting for restricting the benefit entitlement of asylum seekers, it will be possible for the Benefits Agency to be notified in the event of a future fundamental upheaval in a country such that persons cannot normally be returned to it for the time being.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many applications for political asylum by applicants with dependent children were refused in the last year for which figures are available; and how many dependent children were involved; [3639]

  (2) how many applications for political asylum by unaccompanied minors were received for the last year for which figures are available; and how many were (a) successful and (b) rejected. [3638]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The available information on the number of asylum applications which were refused in 1994, both including and excluding dependants, is given in table 1.2 of Home Office statistical bulletin "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 1994", issue 15/95, a copy of which can be found in the Library. The available information on applications from unaccompanied children is given in table 2.4 of the same publication. A more detailed breakdown of these figures is not available.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the average time taken to process an application for political asylum for the latest year for which figures are available; [3640]

  (2) what is the average number of hours taken to decide an application for political asylum from the receipt of the application to a decision. [3632]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, North (Mr. Henderson) on 21 November 1995,Official Report, column 219, which provided the available information on the average times involved in deciding applications for asylum.
  22
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for political asylum were dismissed as frivolous and vexatious under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1993; and how many of these cases went to appeal and how many appeals were successful, in the last year for which figures are available. [3634]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for political asylum have been received from applicants from(a) Croatia, (b) Serbia, (c) Bosnia, (d) the Sudan and (e) Rwanda; and how many were successful in each case since 1990. [3636]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Information regarding asylum applications from nationals of Sudan and the former Yugoslavia for the years 1986 to 1994 is given in table 2.1 of Home Office statistical bulletin "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 1994", issued 15/95, a copy of which can be found in the Library. Tables 3.1 to 3.3 of this publication give decisions on asylum applications, by nationality, for the same time period.

  In 1994, there were an estimated 110 applications from nationals of Rwanda. During the same time period there were approximately 15 decisions on Rwandan applications, of which five were granted asylum and 10 were refused.

  Information on applications from the individual states of the former Yugoslavia, and one of those from Rwanda prior to 1994, is not available.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the situation in(a) Somalia (b) Liberia, (c) Nigeria, (d) Sierra Leone, (e) Sri Lanka and (f) Rwanda for the purposes of allowing asylum applications. [3682]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Asylum applications are considered in accordance with the 1951 convention, taking account of available information from a wide range of sources about the position in the country of origin and its significance for the particular application in question.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a breakdown of the number of asylum seekers currently held in detention by(a) nationality, (b) gender, (c) length of detention, (d) place of detention and (e) immigration status at the time of application. [1523]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  [holding answer 23 November 1995]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, North (Mr. Henderson) on 28 November 1995, Official Report, column 655, which gave a breakdown of asylum seekers held in detention.

  Asylum and Immigration Problems
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 28 November,Official Report, column 659, concerning the bodies from which he sought information, or had consultations concerning current asylum and immigration problems, if he will place in the Library a list of the

  23
  organisations he then referred to, distinguishing those from which he sought information or with which he had consultations, respectively. [3701]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The discussions referred to in my previous reply are generally ad hoc rather than in the nature of formal consultations. Information about them could be collated in the form requested only at disproportionate cost.

  Parole Applications
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what percentage of(a) first and (b) second parole applications from prisoners in England and Wales were granted to prisoners serving more than four years in each ethnic category in 1994; [3654]

  (2) what percentage of first and second parole applications were granted to prisoners in England and Wales in each ethnic category in (a) 1989 and (b) 1994. [3656]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The available information is given in the tables; information for 1989 is not available. Comparisons between the ethnic categories are affected by many factors which influence the outcome of parole reviews, including length of sentence, type of offence and amount of time remaining to be served before unparoled released. These factors were analyse in Home Office statistical bulletin 2/94 "Parole recommendations and Ethnic Origin, England and Wales 1990", published in January 1994. Comparisons between 1990 and 1994 are affected by the substantial changes in the parole system—to which annual reports of the parole board refer. Copies are available in the Library.

  Parole reviews for prisoners serving 4 years or more 1994: Proportions recommended for parole

  Percentage

  Consideration

  Ethnic origin

  First

  Second

  White

  35

  44

  Black

  33

  49

  South Asian

  48

  48

  Chinese, Other Asian

  114

  165

  1Fewer than 50 cases considered.

  Parole reviews 1990 and 1994: Proportions recommended for parole

  Percentage

  1990 Consideration

  1994 Consideration

  Ethnic Origin

  First

  Second

  First

  Second

  White

  58

  46

  36

  45

  Black

  47

  39

  33

  50

  South Asian

  53

  40

  48

  49

  Chinese, Other Asian

  142

  1—

  118

  168

  1Fewer than 50 cases considered.

  Prisoners
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current prison population in England and Wales. [3657]
  24
  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Ms Janet Anderson, dated 4 December 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the current prison population in England and Wales.On Thursday 30 November, a total of 52,617 prisoners were in custody in England and Wales.

  Visa Applications (Algeria)
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities were available in Algeria to deal with visa applications to enter the United Kingdom in 1994; how many staff were involved; how many applications were(a) received and (b) successful for a visa to enter the United Kingdom in 1994; how many applicants were recognised as political refugees in 1994; and how many applicants were granted long stay in the United Kingdom in 1994. [3264]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  A full entry clearance service was available in Algeria until 18 August 1994. Since then a service has been available for diplomats and officials only. A list of entry clearance staff appears in the list:

  1 x full-time Entry Clearance Officer (United Kingdom-based) all year

  1 x full-time Entry Clearance Officer (United Kingdom-based)

  January—September 1994

  1 x full-time Vice Consul spending 15 per cent. of his time as Entry Clearance Manager January—September 1994

  2 x LE3 (Locally Engaged) assistants all year

  1 x LE3 (Locally Engaged) assistant January—September 1994

  Information on grants and initial refusals of entry clearance by overseas posts in Algeria and by category—settlement and temporary purposes—in 1994 is given in table 2.1 of "Control of Immigration Statistics United Kingdom 1994", issued on 10 August 1995, Cm 2935 HMSO. Information on applications for asylum made at United Kingdom ports or after entry into the United Kingdom by Algerians in 1994 and the initial decisions is given in table 4.3 of the Home Office statistical bulletin "Asylum Statistics, United Kingdom 1994", issued on 30 June 1995—issue 15/95. Copies of these publications are in the Library.

  Mr. Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) successful and (b) unsuccessful applicants from Algeria for visas to enter the United Kingdom have relatives living in the United Kingdom who are British citizens; and what is the breakdown in age groups of those applicants who were successful in 1994. [3265]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The information requested is not available.

  Prisons
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements have been made by the Prison Service to accommodate expected peaks in the prison population over the next 12 months. [3085]
  25
  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. John Battle, dated 4 December 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about what arrangements have been made to accommodate expected peaks in the prison population over the next twelve months.In dealing with a rising population, our first priority is to ensure that existing accommodation is fully utilised. To meet expected peaks in the population, arrangements have been made to identify accommodation which would normally hold one prisoner but is suitable for holding two for a short period of time; and to bring forward, where practicable, the opening of new accommodation. Around 2,700 additional prisoner places are expected to become available for use over the next twelve months.
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of increasing the density of accommodation use at local and training prisons. [2993]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. John Battle, dated 4 December 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about what assessment has been made of the impact of increasing the density of accommodation use at local and training prisons.The majority of prisons are not overcrowded. Overcrowding is concentrated principally in some local prisons. This is because of the need to hold unsentenced prisoners close to the courts.The Prison Service recognises that overcrowding has the potential to impact on the delivery of planned regimes and other purposeful activity. In spite of increases in the population, since April 1995 prisoners have on average spent 25.5 hours a week on purposeful activity. This is in line with the target set in the Prison Service Business Plan for 1995–96. The proportion of prisoners unlocked for twelve hours or more on weekdays is currently 38 per cent, which is the target set in the 1995–96 Business Plan.In dealing with a rising population, our first priority is to ensure that existing accommodation is fully utilised. In addition, there is a substantial programme for the building of new accommodation. A new houseblock building programme will provide an additional 2,000 places by 1996–97. Further new accommodation is planned to come into use by 1997–98 with the rebuilding and re-opening of Lowdham Grange prison near Nottingham and the opening of two new privately financed prisons in South Wales and Merseyside.

  Prisoner-prison Ratios
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, by region, the prisoner to prison officer ratio in 1989–90, and the latest year for which figures are available. [2498]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter front Richard Tilt to Mr. Gerry Steinberg, dated 4 December 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the ratios, by region, of prisoners to prison officers.26 Annex A shows the overall prisoner:officer (including prison custody officer) ratio in each of the Prison Service's fifteen areas. These figures reflect the position on 31 January 1995 and are the latest available.Area information for 1989/90 is not available. Annex B shows the available information for this period, which is restricted to an overall prisoner:officer ratio for the whole Prison Service.

  Annex A: Prisoner—Prison Officer/Prison Custody Officer ratio by area as at 31 January 1995

  Inmate population

  Officers/SO's/PO's

  Inmate: Officer ratio

  Central Area

  4,515

  2,243

  2.0:1

  East Midlands

  4,018

  1,539

  2.6:1

  Mercia

  2,359

  976

  2.4:1

  North-east

  3,356

  2,104

  1.6:1

  North-west

  3,149

  1,417

  2.2:1

  Trans Pennine

  5,168

  2,595

  2.0:1

  Yorkshire

  2,165

  1,107

  2.0:1

  Chilterns

  2,539

  1,240

  2.0:1

  East Anglia

  2,666

  1,250

  2.1:1

  Kent

  3,217

  1,479

  2.2:1

  London north

  4,302

  2,590

  1.7:1

  London south

  4,214

  2,752

  1.5:1

  South coast

  2,255

  1,244

  1.8:1

  Wales and west

  2,158

  1,147

  1.9:1

  Wessex

  2,570

  1,213

  2.1:1

  Annex B: Inmate—Officer ratio—1989

  Average number of inmates for 1989 calender year

  Officers in post in establishments

  Inmate: Officer ratio

  46,736

  20,532

  128:1

  Public Interest Immunity Certificates
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of public interest immunity certificates signed by his Department for each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [2352]
  27
  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 29 November 1995]: I refer the hon. and learned Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 28 November 1995, Official Report, column 670.

  Murder Victims (Family Compensation)
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many applicants were successful in respect of families of murder victims in general and specifically in respect of(a) parents of adult victims, (b) the adult children of murder victims, (c) the unmarried partners of murder victims and (d) the fathers of illegitimate murder victims under the tariff-based scheme of criminal injury compensation which was announced in April 1994 and subsequently withdrawn; [2307]

  (2) how many applications were received but not processed from the families of murder victims in general and specifically from (a) parents of adult victims, (b) the adult children of murder victims, (c) the unmarried partners of murder victims and (d) the fathers of illegitimate murder victims in respect of the tariff-based scheme of criminal injury compensation which was announced in April 1994 and subsequently withdrawn. [2306]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to him on 28 November 1995, Official Report, columns 652-53.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Ministerial Statements
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many oral statements have been made by the Secretary of State for Wales in each Session since May 1992; and what was the total length of time taken in making these statements and replying to questions. [1709]

  Mr. Newton
  The information is as follows:

  Number of statements made

  1992–93: 5

  1993–94: 1

  1994–95: 2

  Information on the total length of time taken in making these statements and in replying to questions is not held centrally.

  Welsh Grand Committee
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Lord President of the Council on how many occasions the Welsh Grand Committee has sat in each Session since the 1992 election; what was the number of total hours of those sittings; and what proportion those hours represent of the total number of hours that the House has sat. [1802]

  Mr. Newton
  The Welsh Grand Committee has met 12 times since the 1992 general election, for a total of 29 hours. This represents 0.64 per cent. of the House sitting time.

  Oral Answers
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many oral answers have been made by the Secretary of State for Wales in each Session since May 1992; and how many oral questions sessions have taken place since that date. [1710]

  Mr. Newton
  The POLIS database holds the following information:

  Number of orals answered Froem Order

  Session

  Paper

  Supplementaries

  Number of question times

  1992–93

  119

  320

  12

  1993–94

  74

  174

  6

  1994–95

  98

  213

  8

  Total

  291

  707

  26

  Short Money
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list(a) additional office allowances and (b) other allowances paid from public funds made available to (i) the Leader of Her Majesty's official Opposition and (ii) other spokesmen from Her Majesty's official Opposition. [1854]

  Mr. Newton
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 21 November,Official Report, column 46.

  Select Committees
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what proposals he has for submitting the Bills proposed in the Queen's Speech to pre-legislative inquiries by Select Committees. [598]

  Mr. Newton
  It will be proposed that the Armed Forces Bill be committed to a Select Committee prior to its conventional Committee stage. This is the usual practice for such Bills, which are required once every five years.

  Select Committee on Welsh Affairs
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many reports have been received by the House from the Select Committee on Welsh Affairs; and how many of these reports have been debated on the floor of the House. [1801]

  Mr. Newton
  The Welsh Affairs Select Committee has made 36 reports to the House. None has been debated on the Floor of the House.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Beijing Programme of Action
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which aspects of the Beijing programme of action he is prioritising. [2911]

  Mr. Hanley
  We plan to discuss with our aid recipient partners their priorities for our support in implementing the global and regional platforms for action. Their response will also influence our approach to the newer priorities highlighted at the conference, including
  29
  promotion of women in politics and decision making, statistical work, credit, the revision of legal frameworks and capacity building, both of institutions of civil society and of Governments.

  Nigerian Police Force
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many members of the Nigerian police force have visited the United Kingdom for training purposes in each year since 1990. [3147]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 30 November 1995]: Two members of the Nigerian police force visited the United Kingdom in financial year 1990–91; two in 1991–92; one in 1992–93; nine in 1993–94; and seven in 1994–95.

  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Nigerian police officers have received scholarship awards in each year since 1990; and if he will give in each case the recipient's rank, the cost and duration of the scholarship. [3151]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 30 November 1995]: Twenty-one officers have received awards as follows:

  Year

  Rank

  Cost£

  Duration

  1990–91

  Deputy Superintendent

  2,601

  Six weeks

  1990–91

  Not available

  2,601

  Six weeks

  1991–92

  Chief Superintendent

  11,306

  Three months

  1991–92

  Not available

  2,400

  Six weeks

  1992–93

  Superintendent

  5,783

  Six weeks

  1993–94

  Nine Assistant Superintendents

  2,915 each

  Two weeks each

  1994–95

  Deputy Commissioner

  1,650

  One week

  1994–95

  Assistant Commissioner

  4,482

  Four weeks

  1994–95

  Deputy Superintendent

  4,482

  Four weeks

  1994–95

  Two Detectives

  4,482 each

  Four weeks each

  1994–95

  Two Deputy Superintendents

  4,482 each

  Four weeks each

  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many policemen or women have been seconded to Nigeria in each year since 1990; for what periods of time; and from which forces. [3155]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 30 November 1995]: Seven police officers have been seconded to Nigeria as follows:

  Force

  October 1991–May 1994

  Cleveland

  March 1991–April 1993

  West Yorkshire

  April 1991–May 1993

  Greater Manchester

  October 1993–November 19941

  British Transport Police

  October 1993–November 1995

  Metroplitan

  Septembr 1995–October 1995

  Metropolitan

  September 1995–October 1995

  Mettopolitan

  1 Retired officer, so not strictly a secondee.

  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs where and when Nigerian policemen or women have been trained in Britain under the police training programme since November 1993; and if he will make a statement. [3154]
  30
  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 30 November 1995]: Since November 1993, Nigerian police officers have been trained with the west midlands fraud squad, Birmingham in June 1994 and at the Police Staff College at Bramshill in March—April 1995.

  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Nigerian police training programme started; when it finished; how much in total has been spent in each year; and if he will make a statement. [3152]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 30 November 1995]: The programme started in March 1991, and ended in November 1995. Expenditure by financial year is as follows:

  1990–91: £91,793

  1991–92: £272,571

  1992–93: £311,962

  1993–94: £293,085

  1994–95: £197,398

  1995–96: £42,000 (Estimated)

  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Nigerian policemen or women have been trained in Britain under the police training programme since November 1993; and if he will make a statement. [3153]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 30 November 1995]: Seven Nigerian police officers have received training in the UK since November 1993.

  Police Training
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many requests for funding for police training projects overseas have been refused and from which countries; what consideration is given to such requests to human rights and the rights of the individual; and if he will make a statement; [3146]

  (2) what proportion of (a) the overseas aid budget and (b) the amount of that budget allocated to good government has been spent on police training; what sums have been spent, in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement; [3148]

  (3) what has been the cost of scholarship awards in Britain in each year since 1990 for (a) Nigerian police officers and (b) all police officers funded by his Department; [3149]

  (4) how many study tours to the United Kingdom were organised and funded for overseas police officers by his Department; and if he will state the countries that participated and at what cost in each year since 1990; [3150]

  (5) on how many occasions in the past five years, a request for funding for police training from a foreign country has been referred for ministerial approval; and if he will name the countries concerned; [3156]

  (6) which countries have benefited from police training since 1990; and if he will list the programmes, giving the start date and the size of the individual project budget; [3157]
  31
  (7) how many evaluations have been made by his Department of the effectiveness of aid in respect of police training; and if he will make a statement. [3158]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 30 November 1995]: Questions 3146, 3148, 3149(b), 3150 and 3156 to 3158 all concern police training worldwide; I can answer most helpfully by taking them together. The answer to 3149(a) is included in that for 3151.

  Under the aid programme, we provide management and technical training for police forces, both in the United Kingdom and in-country, including the development of in-country training capacity. This is usually in support of a wider objective of enhancing the effectiveness and public accountability of the police. This assistance is only a small part of the aid programme, currently accounting for under 0.5 per cent. of overseas aid. Such assistance is not separately recorded and details could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Support for overseas police forces under the aid programme, whether through training, study visits or other support, is considered as part of individual country programmes. There is no global allocation either for police or more generally for good government. Proposals are considered on their merits and in comparison with other competing demands.

  Priorities for the use of aid are considered periodically as part of the reviews of country programme strategy, which are approved by Ministers, as well as in response to short-term events. Human rights issues are taken into account in these processes. Where support for the police is not identified as a priority for a country or is considered inappropriate, requests will often be refused at an early or informal stage rather than requiring detailed review. No records are kept of requests which are refused. Nor are separate records kept of submissions to Ministers. Issues are referred for ministerial consideration as necessary in view of their size, political sensitivity or novelty. In many cases, assistance to the police will have been only one facet of a wider-ranging submission or review.

  Since 1994, a quarterly report has been made to the Minister for Overseas Development, summarising assistance being provided to police forces under the aid programme.

  Police training is kept under regular review by two police advisers and by the departments financing such training. No overall evaluation has been made in recent years but the 1995 to 1997 work plan for ODA's evaluation department will include a review of assistance to police forces, including training.

  Police training is also supported on a more limited scale from diplomatic wing funds. Efforts are currently being made to assess the impact of such training by tracing the careers of trainees since their return home.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding his Department has given(a) civil liberties organisations, (b) the Campaign for Democracy, and (c) the constitutional rights projects in Nigeria, in the last five years. [3159]
  32
  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 30 November 1995]: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has funded specific projects designed to foster good government through a number of Nigerian non-governmental organisations in the last five years, including those named.

  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which of the aid projects to Nigeria agreed before December 1993 received funding in(a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96; and if he will make a statement. [3160]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 30 November 1995]: Projects receiving funding in 1994–95 were:
  National Electric Power Authority (institutional development) University Management Systems
  Those funded in 1994–95 and 1995–96 were:

  Crop Protection Training

  Middle Level Agricultural Education

  Cross River State Forestry Management

  Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (institutional development)

  Police Training

  Lagos Lagoon (pollution reduction plan)

  Polytechnic Equipment Maintenance

  Integrated Science Teacher Education

  Federal Technical College, Yaba (institutional development)

  Mr. Garrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place an embargo on military equipment shipments in Nigeria. [2967]

  Mr. Hanky
  [holding answer 30 November 1995]: On 20 November 1995 the European Union adopted a common position extending measures against the Nigerian military regime in force since 1993. These included a full arms embargo. We shall continue to strictly enforce all European Union measures against the Nigerian military and keep them under review in the light of progress towards civilian democratic rule.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  HMSO
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will make a statement on his plans for the privatisation of HMSO; and what is the time scale for his plans for the privatisation of HMSO; [3210]

  (2) when he will be able to announce details of his plans for the future of HMSO. [3217]

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave the hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr. Sheerman) on 27 November,Official Report, column 447. The Government's plans envisage completing a privatisation during 1996.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) how many of its financial targets HMSO has met since 1980; [3212]

  (2) if HMSO has been self-financing since 1980. [3213]
  33
  Mr. Freeman
  As a trading fund, HMSO is required to cover all its costs with income from activities, and to make a small annual surplus. It has broken even every year, and achieved the target surplus on all except two occasions—1991 and 1994—since 1980.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people are employed in HMSO. [3211]

  Mr. Freeman
  The total number including casual staff on 1 November 1995 was 2,898.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what(a) representations and (b) requests for a meeting he has received from trade unions representing employees in HMSO with respect to the possible privatisation of that agency; and what response he has given. [3215]

  Mr. Freeman
  I and my colleagues have so far received one letter on the possible privatisation of HMSO from the Graphical, Paper and Media Union, and one from the HMSO trade union side, and have responded to the points each raised. I have received no requests for a meeting. However, I met local trade union representatives at my own request during a visit to HMSO's Norwich headquarters in September.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many times he has met the chief executive of HMSO to discuss proposals for the privatisation of the agency. [3214]

  Mr. Freeman
  Five times.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received from organisations or groups interested in bidding for the contract to run a privatised HMSO. [3216]

  Mr. Freeman
  Around 60 potential purchasers of HMSO have so far contacted me or my advisers. Their identities must remain confidential for the time being for commercial reasons.

HEALTH

  Breastfeeding
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list breastfeeding rates in England for each year since 1985; and if he will make a statement on his Department's policy with regard to the encouragement of breast feeding. [2531]

  Mr. Horam
  Breastfeeding rates are surveyed every five years. Survey results for 1985 and 1990 are comparable. The Government continue to protect and promote breastfeeding as the best way of feeding a baby. Information on breastfeeding rates for 1985 and 1990 are available in "Infant Feeding 1990", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Clinical Psychologists
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many vacant posts for clinical psychologists there were in English NHS trusts in
  each region on(a) I April
  34
  1994 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available. [543]

  Mr. Malone
  The table shows the number of vacancies for clinical psychologists in English national health service trusts by region at 31 March 1994 and 31 March 1995.

  The figures shown for the two years are not comparable because 1995 figures include data from about 80 fourth wave trusts which were directly managed units in 1994.

  The vacancy rate as a percentage of the funded establishment in all trusts in 1994 was 15.2 per cent. In 1995 it was 15.5 per cent.

  The figures supplied are for advertised vacant posts.

  Clinical psychologist all vacancies in English NHS trusts by region: England as at 31 March 1994 and 1995

  Number

  1994

  Northern

  10

  Yorkshire

  30

  Trent

  10

  East Anglia

  20

  North-west Thames

  30

  North-east Thames

  20

  South-east Thames

  20

  South-west Thames

  10

  Wessex

  20

  Oxford

  10

  South Western

  30

  West Midlands

  10

  Mersey

  10

  North Western

  10

  SHAs

  1—

  England total

  240

  1995

  Northern and Yorkshire

  60

  Trent

  20

  North Thames

  60

  South Thames

  30

  East Anglia and Oxford

  40

  Wessex and South Western

  50

  West Midlands

  60

  Mersey and North Western

  60

  SHAs

  2—

  England total

  380

  Source:

  The Department of Health Joint National Professional Manpower Initiative Survey.

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten. Total may not equal sum of components due to rounding.

  1Denotes zero

  1Denotes figures of five and under.

  NHS Finance
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide an analysis of capital expenditure compared to cash limit allocation for(a) trusts in each region and (b) regions in each of the last three years. [2400]

  Mr. Horam
  The available information is shown in the tables. "Allocations to RHAs" represent the final capital cash limits for the year. Trusts do not have cash limits; their equivalent control is external financing limits, but
  35
  these cover both revenue and capital expenditure. The figures provided for trust "Capital Allocations" in the tables therefore represent initial planned capital allocations for the year concerned. In each case, capital expenditure covers capital additions, which include assets purchases by, and donated to, authorities and trusts, as

  £ thousand

  RHAs

  Trusts

  Region

  Capital allocations

  Capital expenditure

  Capital allocations

  Capital expenditure

  1992–93

  Northern

  73,952

  73,531

  17,553

  33,270

  Yorkshire

  56,137

  66,052

  49,017

  76,104

  Trent

  107,883

  134,592

  37,684

  55,044

  East Anglian

  49,673

  54,727

  9,975

  8,215

  North-west Thames

  78,952

  105,782

  22,928

  39,532

  North-east Thames

  58,819

  137,600

  28,691

  38,669

  South-east Thames

  103,389

  119,133

  34,900

  80,401

  South-west Thames

  48,846

  60,975

  40,078

  39.381

  Wessex

  58,405

  66,282

  26,504

  24,028

  Oxford

  61,129

  66,567

  8,802

  11,175

  South Western

  48,692

  56,472

  73,680

  93,486

  West Midlands

  129,651

  145,852

  27,435

  23.799

  Mersey

  18,525

  25,637

  47,054

  57,071

  North Western

  106,797

  108,136

  30,333

  44,915

  Totals

  1,000,850

  1,221,340

  454,634

  625,090

  1993–94

  Northern

  71,205

  70,965

  40,751

  47,780

  Yorkshire

  16,650

  18,509

  94,772

  97,041

  Trent

  37,780

  48,638

  108,112

  158,828

  East Anglian

  16,692

  30,752

  47,412

  49,012

  North-west Thames

  9,396

  15,549

  40,958

  55,981

  North-east Thames

  45,820

  58,965

  71,408

  84,208

  South-east Thames

  20,327

  27,967

  76,691

  120,639

  South-west Thames

  4,681

  26,755

  50,232

  71,330

  Wessex

  29,543

  42,610

  54,167

  62,732

  Oxford

  27,384

  38,238

  31,408

  37,227

  South Western

  18,062

  62,705

  97,775

  120,957

  West Midlands

  97,904

  85,784

  44,775

  54,989

  Mersey

  –1,907

  4,790

  64,030

  73,452

  North Western

  79,721

  125,351

  54,731

  64,593

  Totals

  473,258

  657,578

  877,222

  1,098,769

  1994–95

  Northern and Yorkshire

  12,502

  16,949

  187,702

  208,695

  Trent

  10,175

  18,073

  143,074

  190,355

  Anglian and Oxford

  8,992

  14,021

  128,693

  138,132

  North Thames

  –8,447

  42,576

  154,420

  244,318

  South Thames

  –27,362

  22,445

  194,640

  263,946

  South and West

  –732

  18,137

  188,038

  234,856

  West Midlands

  13,814

  26,603

  140,940

  136,741

  North-west

  –342

  10,950

  185,941

  214,079

  Totals

  8,600

  169,754

  1,323,448

  1,631,122

  1. Capital allocations for RHAs are final cash limits which include in year adjustments made to the original cash limits. The transfer of capital cash limit and capital receipts to Trust external financing limits by some RHAs resulted in negative final cash limit figures.

  2. Capital allocations for trusts are capital planning totals.

  3. The 1994–95 capital expenditure figures are unaudited and therefore provisional.

  4. Capital expenditure represents capital additions, as shown in annual accounts, which includes assets purchased by, and assets donated to, authorities/trusts.

  5. Changes were made to the definition of capital spending in 1993–94. Some items of expenditure formerly treated as capital are now treated as revenue.

  6. RHAs were restructured in 1994–95.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many national health service trusts have borrowed money from commercial sources; and if he will list the sums involved. [3249]

  Mr. Horam
  Information on national health service trusts' borrowing from commercial sources during the year is not available centrally.36
  shown in their accounts. Expenditure also includes assets purchased with the proceeds from land sales which are not included in allocations.

  Information is now available for 1994–95, and provisional figures from the summarised accounts for capital expenditure for that year are also included.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is(a) the current capital value of the Princess Margaret hospital, Swindon, (b) the capital value of the proposed new hospital, (c) the cost of refurbishment and rebuild, (d) the length of the lease from the private financiers with the NHS, (e) the annual cost of the lease to the NHS for each year of the duration, (f) the cost to

  37
  the NHS of preparing the bid and (g) the projected time to rebuild the hospital; [3765]

  (2) what is (a) the current capital value of the Bishop Auckland hospital, (b) the capital value of the proposed new hospital, (c) the cost of refurbishment and rebuild, (d) the length of the lease from the private financiers with the NHS, (e) the annual cost of the lease to the NHS for each year of the lease, (f) the cost to the NHS of preparing the bid and (g) the projected time to rebuild the hospital; [3761]

  (3) what is (a) the current capital value of the Wycombe and Amersham general hospital, (b) the capital value of the proposed new hospital when completed, (c) the cost of refurbishment and rebuild, (d) the length of the lease from the private financiers with the NHS, (e) the annual cost of the lease to the NHS for each year of the lease, (f) the cost to the NHS of preparing the bid and (g) the projected time to rebuild the hospital. [3752]

  Mr. Horam
  The capital value of individual hospitals and the costs of preparing individual business cases are not available centrally. The other information requested is a matter for negotiation between the individual trusts and the private sector consortia bidding for the developments.

  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish information on health authority costs and NHS trust management costs. [4461]

  Mr. Dorrell
  I shall tomorrow publish "Health Authority Costs" setting out actual spending on running each district health authority and family health services authority for 1994–95 together with plans for 1995–96 and the planned spending for the new health authorities in 1996–97. I shall also publish "National Health Service Trusts Management Costs 1994–95" setting out spending on management for each NHS trust for 1994–95.

  Copies of the documents will be placed in the Library.

  Methionine
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to introduce legislation to require methionine to be added to paracetamol products; [3136]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the benefits of adding methionine to paracetamol products. [3135]

  Mr. Malone
  There are no plans to make the inclusion of methionine in paracetamol-containing medicines mandatory.

  Methionine is sometimes given by mouth to treat paracetamol overdose. It is not possible to assess directly the benefits of adding methionine to paracetamol products. It is believed that methionine may have a protective effect on the liver in paracetamol overdose, but clinical trials to establish this would be unethical. At the recommended doses the addition of methionine provides no benefit.

  Prescriptions
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was received in prescription charges in respect of prescriptions where the cost of the drugs to the NHS was less than the prescription charge in each year since 1989. [3121]
  38
  Mr. Malone
  The estimated amounts received in 1993–94 and 1994–95 were £86 million or 32.5 per cent. and £111 million or 38.7 per cent. respectively. Information is not available for earlier years.

  These figures take no account of income received from prepayment certificates or prescriptions dispensed by dispensing doctors.

  Osteoporosis
  Mr. Pope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what progress has been made towards establishing national clinical guidelines for the prevention of osteoporosis; and if he will make a statement; [2861]

  (2) in what percentage of hip fractures experienced by women osteoporosis has been identified as a contributing factor; and if he will make a statement; [2864]

  (3) what research is being conducted by his Department into the prevention of osteoporosis; and if he will make a statement; [2865]

  (4) what measures have been taken since 1994 at a local and national level to educate the public and health professionals about the prevention of osteoporosis; and if he will make a statement. [2866]

  Mr. Horam
  It is likely that osteoporosis is a contributing factor in most hip fractures, of which about 80 per cent. are suffered by women. Our concern about these and other effects of osteoporosis caused us to set up the advisory group on osteoporosis, whose report was published in January 1995. The Department is currently working to implement its recommendations.

  It is the responsibility of professional bodies to develop clinical guidelines where a need has been identified. Discussions have begun the Department and the relevant medical royal colleges with a view to their developing guidelines for osteoporosis, in response to one of the recommendations of the advisory group. The Department has this year significantly increased its financial support to the National Osteoporosis Society, which does a great deal at both national and local levels to educate the public and health professionals about the disease.

  The Department is funding a study into the cost-effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy, including the benefits of using it for the prevention of osteoporosis. The Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid from my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, also funds a significant amount of research on osteoporosis. We are discussing with the Medical Research Council what further work should be undertaken.

  Departmental Targets
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the published recommended response time within which his Department is expected to reply to letters from the public.[2995]

  Mr. Horam
  "Access to Information: a guide for the public" states that the Department aims to respond to letters requesting information under the open government code of practice within 20 working days of receipt.

  Breast Cancer Screening
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that all women aged over 65 years will be offered breast cancer screening in the same way as women aged 50 to 64 years. [3137]

  Mr. Horam
  The Government announced proposals on 18 October for pilot schemes in Northern and Yorkshire, and South Thames regions to evaluate the effectiveness of extending the call/recall breast screening programme to women up to the age of 69. These schemes will run for three years to enable an assessment of the likely uptake, effect on work load, and effectiveness in terms of cancers detected. We will base any changes to our policy on the evidence emerging from these studies.

  Women over 65 can continue to have three-yearly breast screening free of charge if they request it. This facility has been well publicised in leaflets available in general practitioner surgeries and clinics as well as in breast screening centres.

  NHS Trust Directors
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the compensation given to directors of trusts for loss of office in each financial year since 1991–92(a) in total and (b) by each trust. [3113]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally.

  Capital Projects
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list in order of priority capital projects in the NHS which he plans to undertake. [3430]

  Mr. Horam
  No such list is compiled centrally. Programming of capital developments is devolved to national health service executive regional offices and is ultimately determined at local level by the decisions of local purchasers and providers.

  Infertility Treatment
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health authorities provide in vitro fertilisation treatment free within the national health service system. [3185]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not available centrally.

  Information on the services available under the national health service for the treatment of infertility is contained in "The Effective Health Care Bulletin", "The Management of Subfertility", August 1992, published for the NHS management executive by a consortium of Leeds and York universities and the research unit of the Royal College of Physicians. Copies of the bulletin are available in the Library.

  Local health authorities are responsible for the provision of local health services, including the provision of infertility services. Decisions about the resources available for these services must be left to individual health authorities as they are in the best position to determine priorities in the light of local needs and circumstances.

  In-patient Episodes
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average length of in-patient hospital stay for each specialty in each year since 1989–90. [3250]

  Mr. Horam
  Mean duration of stay by specialty is published annually in volume 1 of "Hospital Episode Statistics", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the average throughput of patients per hospital bed in each major specialty in each year since 1989–90; and what was the percentage change over the entire period. [3251]

  Mr. Horam
  The information is not available in the form requested. Information on average throughput by sector groups is published annually in the "Statistical Bulletin—NHS Hospital Activity Statistics: England", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Market Testing (Clinical Services)
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Department's press release 95/532, dated 21 November 1995, concerning his speech on that day to the Royal College of Physicians, if he will identify the NHS trusts which have explored local arrangements for private sector provision of clinical services; and if he will list the clinical service or services considered for private sector provision by each of those trusts. [3474]

  Mr. Horam
  A table will be placed in the Library listing the trusts that are recorded on the national health service executive's market-testing database as having market-tested one or more of their clinical services together with details of the outcome.

  Out-patient Attendances
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the total number of out-patient attendances in each of the last five years. [3763]

  Mr. Horam
  Information on out-patient attendances is published annually in "Outpatients and ward attenders, England", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Hospital Beds
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of NHS beds in the last five years. [3769]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Sackville) gave to her on 28 November 1995,Official Report, column 604.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of private pay beds in the NHS in each of the last five years. [3768]

  Mr. Malone
  This information has not been collected centrally since 1990–91 when there were 2,956 pay beds. Laing's "Review of Private Healthcare", copies of which are available in the Library, provides estimates for subsequent years.

  National Blood Service
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what types of blood products are currently sold by the blood transfusion service outside the United Kingdom; and what is the total value of these contracts every year. [3770]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Sackville) gave to the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Carlile) on 2 November 1995,Official Report, column 455. The value of these exports has never exceeded £5 million in any one year.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors led to the difference between the figures for the National Blood Authority budget for the national blood service quoted in "Plans for the future of the National Blood Service", dated November 1995, and in the National Blood Authority consultation document of August 1994; and if he will make a statement. [3675]

  Mr. Horam
  The figure of £135 million contained in the consultation document is based on actual expenditure in the blood service for the year 1992–93. The figure of £154 million in the November 1995 document is a cost forecast for the current financial year. The difference reflects an average annual increase in the amount of blood supplied of 4 per cent. and a general increase in the level of provision of other services to hospitals.

  NHS Pensioners Trust
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the management costs of the national health service benevolent fund. [3840]

  Mr. Malone
  Further to my answer of 19 June 1995,Official Report, column 38, I now wish to clarify the situation. The parliamentary question tabled in June asked for details of the benevolent fund. It was impossible to identify the body on the basis of the information given. Further information was sought but none was provided. We now have full information which indicates that the question related to the national health service pensioners trust. The trust was formally established in 1990. It is managed independently by its trustees and any action regarding the management costs of the trust is the responsibility of those trustees.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list all NHS trusts(a) as of 30 November 1995 and (b) with effect from 1 April 1996. [4064]

  Mr. Malone
  A list of all national health service trusts as at 30 November 1995 will be placed in the Library. No decision has yet been made on any trust applications for 1 April 1996.

  EU Health Council
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Health Council held on 30 November, giving details of all votes and all decisions which were determined by unanimity or without dissension. [1972]
  42
  Mr. Bowis
  The Health Council agreed a common position on a proposal from the European Commission for a programme of action within the field of public health on combating drug dependency. The Council agreed six resolutions, two in response to reports from the Commission—on the integration of health protection requirements into other Community policies, and on the state of health in the European Community—and four which invited the Commission to produce a study on an area of interest to the Health Council concerning orphan drugs, the mutual recognition of prescriptions, generic medicinal products and medicinal plant preparations. The Council also discussed a modified version proposal on tobacco advertising put forward by the presidency but reached no decision on it. The matters on which decisions were taken were agreed by all member states with no abstentions or votes against.

  NHS Reforms
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the income that has become available to the private sector as a result of NHS reforms. [2272]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally.

  Legionnaire's Disease
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department was first notified of an outbreak of legionnaire's disease at Kusadasi, Turkey, in 1995; what action was taken and at what time to advise travel agencies operating in the United Kingdom about the outbreak; and what advice has been issued to United Kingdom travellers to Kusadasi, Turkey, since May 1995 about the outbreak of legionnaire's disease associated with the Hotel Imbat. [3273]

  Mr. Horam
  The Department of Health was informed of five possibly related cases of legionnaire's disease which were known to have occurred in travellers returning from Kusadasi on 16 August and of a sixth case on 21 August 1995. The Turkish authorities were informed, via the British embassy in Turkey, of all cases as they became known. The consular department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Association of British Travel Agents were informed on 23 August. The Federation of Tour Operators was informed of further cases on 29 September 1995. A notice to travellers was issued on the Prestel database on 23 August and updated on 29 September.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action was taken to alert medical agencies in the United Kingdom about an outbreak of legionnaire's disease in Kusadasi, Turkey. [3274]

  Mr. Horam
  Public health doctors were alerted about cases of legionnaire's disease in travellers returning from Kusadasi, Turkey via the Epinet electronic message system on 23 August and through the public health laboratory service communicable disease reports of 15 September and 6 October.

  Patient Records
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to introduce measures.
  43
  including specific criminal offences, to prevent the obtaining of particulars of patient records from general practitioners other than in circumstances of clinical need; and if he will make a statement. [3356]

  Mr. Horam
  Patient confidentiality is already protected by a number of legislative measures. The General Medical Council re-emphasised the importance of confidentiality in guidance to the profession earlier this year. We shall shortly be issuing guidance to the national health service as a whole on the protection and use of patient information.

  Community Care Services
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 27 November 1995,Official Report, column 523, on community care services, what relevant information is held by his Department. [3618]

  Mr. Bowis
  Information is collected on expenditure on the community health programme on a provider basis. Information about purchaser expenditure on board service groupings, including community health services, will be available at the end of 1995–96.

  Tiffield Secure Unit
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the capital and revenue costs of proposals with regard to the Tiffield secure unit. [3625]

  Mr. Bowis
  The capital cost of the new children's secure unit at Tiffield is £ 4,308,379. A grant to cover this cost has been made available to Northamptonshire county council. The county council is responsible for all revenue cost matters.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has(a) to place in the Library or (b) to place in the nearest public libraries to the development affected, the principal components of the agreements signed between NHS provider units and private sector facilities management and design and build consortia under the private finance initiative. [3733]

  Mr. Horam
  The private finance initiative will further develop our excellent record of co-operation with the private sector and ensure new national health service capital schemes are provided promptly and run efficiently, for the benefit of all NHS patients. Before any PFI scheme with significant expenditure consequences for the NHS is approved, a business case is produced to demonstrate the 44
  cost-effectiveness of the proposal and assess the public spending implications. Approval to PFI schemes is only given only if the business case demonstrates that a PFI approach increases the cost-effectiveness of the scheme for the NHS and if any expenditure implications are affordable to NHS purchasers. NHS trusts and health authorities are accountable to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health, who is accountable to Parliament. He is supported by an accounting officer who has to answer to the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Commons. The Audit Commission, which we invited into the NHS in 1990, carries out independent financial audits in every NHS trust and health authority and it sends to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State any report that is causing it particular concern. Since we are satisfied that all of this process protects the interests of the NHS and patients and taxpayers, I do not propose to place the commercial contracts in Libraries.

  Clinical Negligence
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish figures on clinical negligence settlements for each of the last four years(a) by region, (b) by district and (c) by trust indicating (i) their number and (iii) their cost. [2419]

  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer 24 November 1995]: Information is no longer collected centrally about the numbers of clinical negligence claims settled, nor is any information held about claims settled by districts. However, I am able to give details of the costs of clinical negligence claims by trust, and this will be placed in the Library.

  For information by region, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 6 March 1995, Official Report, columns 40-42, which contains the most current data available.

  Medicine Prices
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received calling for the abolition of the retail price maintenance scheme for medicines. [3017]

  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: None.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received that patients purchasing medicines are being disadvantaged through the higher prices required by resale price maintenance of medicines. [3014]

  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: None.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  National Grid
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the impact of the promised rebate to domestic consumers, arising from the sale of the national grid, on the collection of the fossil fuel levy; and if any rebate will be leviable. [3390]

  Mr. Eggar
  The rebate is expected to take the form of a discount in the first quarter of 1996 with a consequent effect on the fossil fuel levy collected in that quarter.

  Gas Pipeline (Zeebrugge-Bacton)
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement with regard to the implications for United Kingdom energy reserves of the proposed construction of a gas pipeline from Zeebrugge to Bacton, Norfolk. [3484]

  Mr. Eggar
  The Department considers the proposed gas pipeline from Bacton to Zeebrugge to be an important strategic project that will ensure the continued development of our oil and gas resources.

  Natural Gas Reserves
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the United Kingdom's current reserves of natural gas; and what is the rate of consumption through(a) domestic supply and (b) exports. [3483]

  Mr. Eggar
  Estimates of the United Kingdom's remaining recoverable reserves of gas are given in my Department's energy report 1995, volume 2, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. The report shows that discovered reserves could yield 1,915 billion cu m of gas. Allowing for the full potential from as yet undrilled structures could raise this to 3,815 billion cu m.

  In 1994, some 63.5 billion cu m were produced for United Kingdom supply and 0.9 billion cu m were exported.

  Late Payment
  Mr. Day
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans there are to review the case for a statutory right to interest in June 1996 in accordance with the commitment made in the White Paper of June 1994. [3553]

  Mr. Page
  The incidence of late payment and the need for new measures to address the problem are subject to on-going investigation. A number of measures were put in place following the publication of "Competitiveness—Helping Business to Win" in May 1994 and the effect of these will need to be evaluated. Any decision to review the case for a statutory right to interest will be dependent on these considerations and will be announced by June 1996.

  Beaufort's Dyke
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what date in 1981 a United Kingdom Atomic 46
  Energy Authority shipment destined for Rockall Deep in 1981 was diverted to Beaufort's dyke; what was the reason for the diversion; and if he will list the full contents of that shipment. [3552]

  Mr. Page
  In November 1981, the MV Gem left Bromborough bound for the Rockall Deep. It was intended to test a new mechanism for handling drums of the type used for sea disposal of radioactive waste. However, due to severe weather it was necessary to carry out the tests at an alternative approved site at Beaufort's dyke.

  The tests involved the dumping of a small batch of dummy drums containing only solid concrete. Beaufort's dyke was not used for the disposal of radioactive waste.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated cost to date of the Scott inquiry. [1890]

  Mr. Lang
  The direct cost to date of the Scott inquiry is £1.8 million.

  Executive Agencies (Overseas Travel)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list for each of his executive agencies for the last financial year in respect of overseas travel by staff of the agency(a) the cost, (b) the countries visited and (c) the posts held by the staff involved. [2358]

  Mr. Lang
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the chief executives of the agencies for which my Department is or has been responsible. I have therefore asked Mr. David Durham of Companies House, Mr. Peter Joyce of the Insolvency Service, Dr. Richard Worswick of the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, Dr. Peter Clapham, acting chief executive for the National Engineering and National Physical Laboratories, which ceased to be agencies earlier this year, Dr. Seton Bennet of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory, Mr. Paul Hartnack of the Patent Office and Mr. Jim Norton of the Radiocommunications Agency to arrange for replies to be given. My Department's Accounts Services Agency has also ceased to be an executive agency. Its financial and management accounting functions did not necessitate overseas travel.

  Letter from R. D. Worswick to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 November 1995:
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to you about overseas travel by staff of the Laboratory of the Government Chemist (LGC).In financial year 1994/95 just over £99,000 was spent on overseas travel (air fares, hotel bills and subsistence); of this £56,000 was for travel to EU countries and £43,000 for travel outside the EU.Visits were made to Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, and the USA. These visits were made in order to fulfil customer contracts.47 The staff involved were within the Civil Service grades Scientific Officer to Grade 3, with the bulk of the trips made by staff in Grades 5, 6, 7 and Senior Scientific Officer.
  Letter from Peter Joyce to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 30 November 1995:
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your Question about overseas travel by staff in The Insolvency Service during 1994/95.The total cost of overseas travel for 1994/95 was £9,050: the countries visited were Austria, Belgium Canada, France and Spain: and those visits were made by myself, a grade 4, a grade 5, and insolvency B grade (equivalent grade 7) and an insolvency C grade (equivalent SEO).
  Letter from Seton Bennett to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 30 November 1995:
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) to your Question about overseas travel by the staff of the Agency.For NWML, the information you requested is as follows:

  (a) The cost of foreign travel by Agency staff in the financial year 1994/95 was £25,692 (some of which was recovered from the European Commission);

  (b) The countries visited were Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland;

  (c) Apart from myself, some 13 different members of staff were involved, who hold a variety of posts in the Agency.

  Letter from Peter Clapham to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 30 November 1995:
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your Question about overseas travel by staff of the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and the National Engineering Laboratory (NEL) during the last financial year.As you will be aware, NPL and NEL are no longer executive agencies, both now being operated by private sector management. However, as the last Chief Executive of both laboratories I am pleased to respond to your question.I should comment that as internationally active research and technical advice laboratories, both NPL and NEL have a wide range of overseas commitments associated with, for example, collaborative projects, international consultancies, conferences and committee work. A significant proportion of staff travel costs is met directly by customers and in some cases these costs are not separately identified in our accounts. However, the approximate totals for overseas travel and subsistence in 1994/95 were £520,000 and £130,000 for the NPL and NEL respectively.As you might expect from the extent of both laboratories' activities, the countries visited and the grades of staff involved are very wide ranging and it would not be practicable to provide you with a breakdown. However, if you have some specific queries I should be happy to do my best to elicit the information for you.
  Letter from Jim Norton to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 November 1995:
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your Question about overseas travel by staff of the Agency.The Radiocommunications Agency has a major international role. It represents UK-wide interests in many international fora at the European and global levels. These activities all relate to the effective management of the radio frequency spectrum and include the harmonisation of frequency usage, the development of radio regulatory regimes, and the adoption of international standards for radiocommunications equipment. The interests we represent include the Agency's customers who use the radio spectrum, other
  48
  government departments, manufacturers, operators and service providers. In some fora we also represent the interests of the UK's dependant territories.With the agreement of ministers, we play an active and constructive role in the relevant fora and, particularly in Europe, we play a leading role by holding chairmanships and making substantive contributions to the development of international agreements.For the financial year 1994/95, the Agency spent a total of £538,202 on overseas travel including subsistence. In keeping with the Agency's net running cost regime, all of this expenditure was recovered through licence fees and other income.This expenditure involved extensive travel throughout Europe, some visits to the Americas and occasional visits to other parts of the world. The staff involved ranged from the Chief Executive to junior administrative staff (in support of large delegations to world treaty-making conferences). A detailed breakdown of countries visited and staff levels involved could only be provided at disproportionate cost.I hope that this information is of interest.
  Letter from David Durham to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 30 December 1995:
  The President of the Board of Trade, the Rt Hon Ian Lang MP, has asked me to reply to your Question about overseas travel by staff of Companies House Executive Agency during the last financial year.The information you sought is as follows:

  (a) Cost: £12,000

  (b) Countries Visited: Anguilla, USA, Eire, Belgium and France

  (c) Posts held by staff involved: Chief Executive, senior and middle management grades.

  I should explain that in the case of Anguilla, the net cost to Companies House will be nil, because the visit was in connection with consultancy advice we provided to certain overseas administrations, for which we are reimbursed.
  I hope this information fully answers your question.
  Letter from P. R. S. Hartnack to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 December 1995:
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your question about overseas travel by Patent Office staff in 1994/95.The information you requested is as follows:

  Countries visited

  Grades visiting

  Total cost £

  America

  2xSPE 1xPE

  10,472. 09

  Austria

  2xG3 1xG6 1xEO 1xPE 2xSE

  4,748. 98

  Belgium

  2xG3 3xG5 6xG7 1xSEO 10xSPE 21xPE 33xSE

  37,708.90

  Canada

  2xG7 1xSPE

  4,974.85

  Denmark

  1xSPE 2xSE

  3,335.68

  Finland

  1xSPE

  905,13

  France

  1xSPE 1xPE 2xSE

  5,781.01

  Germany

  10xG3 8xG4 2xG6 1xHEO 3xEO 6xSPE 5xPE 8xSE 2xE

  34,875.97

  Greece

  1xG4 1xPE 1xSE

  2,436.98

  Holland

  1xG5 2xG7 2xSPE 2xPE 5xSE

  6,754.41

  India

  1xPE

  1,113.52

  Ireland

  1xPE 2xSE

  961.66

  Italy

  1xG4 1xPE 1xSE

  1,529,66

  49

  Countries visited

  Grades visiting

  Total cost £

  Japan

  1xG4 1xPE

  7,285.02

  Luxemborough

  1xG4 1xG5 1xPE

  1,298.44

  Solvenia

  1xG3

  778.80

  Spain

  2xG3 2xG4 3xG5 1xG6 2xG7 3xPE 2xSE

  10,320.90

  Sweden

  lxG7

  719.05

  Switzerland

  1xG3 7xG4 1xG5 lxG6 5xG7 3xSEO 2xHEO 2xSPE 13xPE 13xSE

  47,815.37

  Zambia

  1G4

  965.54

  Note:

  G3 Grade 3.

  G4 Grade 4.

  G5 Grade 5.

  G6 Grade 6.

  G7 Grade 7.

  SEO Senior Executive Officer.

  HEO Higher Executive Officer.

  EO Executive Officer.

  SPE Superintending Examiner.

  PE Principal Examiner.

  SE Senior Examiner.

  E Examiner.

  As can be seen the bulk of overseas travel by Patent Office staff was to Belgium, Germany, Spain and Switzerland. These countries are respectively the seats of the European Commission, the European Patent Office, the EC Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (which deals with trade marks) and the World Intellectual Property Organisation.

  British Coal Enterprise
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those companies that have prequalified as potential buyers for British Coal Enterprise. [3384]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 30 November 1995]: The sale of British Coal Enterprise is a matter for British Coal. Details of the pre-qualifiers are commercially confidential and are not being released by British Coal, but I understand that there has been a very positive interest in purchasing BCE or its various activities.

  Small Firms
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions his Department has had with the British Standards Institution regarding a British standard for small firms.[3692]

  thousands

  Table 1: UK imports of cycles

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  China

  101.0

  141.9

  127.6

  7.7

  12.5

  ASEAN

  121.6

  136.3

  412.5

  318.2

  395.2

  Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia

  119.0

  125.1

  361.1

  300.2

  387.2

  Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea (north and south)

  1,048.0

  1,012.6

  1,001.6

  664.1

  624.2

  Note:

  ASEAN = Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines.

  Source:

  Her Majesty's Customs & Excise.
  50
  Mr. Page
  This Department has had no discussions with the British Standards Institution regarding a British standard for small firms. As I stated in my reply on 22 November 1995,Official Report, column 209, there are no plans to introduce a British standard for small firms.

  Public Service Contracts
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what powers he has to intervene when there is evidence of anti-competitive activity by local authorities in the award of contracts for public services; [3778]

  (2) how many councils have been investigated by the Office of Fair Trading for favouring their in-house supplier over external contractors bidding for work under CCT; and if he will list them. [3779]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Under legislation governing local authorities, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is responsible for investigating behaviour by local authorities in connection with compulsory competitive tendering for contracts for public services.

  Cycle Imports
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many cycles were imported from(a) China and (b) south-east Asia as a whole in each of the last five years; what has been the allotted quota for each of these years; and by what month in the year the quota was exceeded. [2440]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The figures for imports of bicycles from China and south-east Asia for 1990 to 1994 are given in table 1. There are no import quotas for bicycles. However, a "ceiling" on duty-free imports of bicycles into the EC under the previous generalised system of preferences scheme was introduced in 1991. When a ceiling was reached, full import duty could be reimposed at the request of a member state. Duty was reimposed on imports of bicycles from a number of countries in south-east Asia at various points—in some instances, at the request of the United Kingdom. Details of ceilings and duty reimpositions under the GSP scheme are provided in table 2. A revised EC GSP scheme introduced from 1 January this year contains no limits on the amount of a product that could be imported under it. Instead, a fixed rate of reduced duty is applied to sensitive products. In the case of bicycles this is set at 70 per cent. of the full duty.
  51

  Table 2: GSP Ceilings

  Year

  EC ceiling (ECUs)

  Country

  Ceiling reached1

  Duty reimposed

  1991

  9,004,000

  China

  14 June

  10 September

  1992

  9,454,000

  China

  27 March

  12 May

  Indonesia

  21 August

  22 November

  Thailand

  21 August

  22 November

  1993

  9,454,000

  China

  8 February

  14 May

  Indonesia

  6 August

  5 December

  Malaysia

  6 August

  30 November

  Thailand

  6 August

  5 December

  South Korea

  1 December

  19942

  January to June

  4,727,000

  Indonesia

  22 July

  Malaysia

  22 July

  Thailand

  22 July

  South Korea

  22 May

  July to December

  4,727,000

  India

  17 November

  Malaysia

  9 November

  Thailand

  1 December

  1 The date on which the United Kingdom were notified that the ceiling was reached.

  2 The GSP scheme was under review in 1994 and was operated as two separate six monthly schemes in that year.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest assessment he has made of the probability of BSE entering the human food chain: [1993]

  Mrs. Browning
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to my hon. Friend the Member for Wealden (Sir G. Johnson Smith) on 28 November 1995,Official Report, columns 530–31.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures are currently in place to prevent cattle infected with BSE from entering the food chain. [2668]

  Mrs. Browning
  The following measures are in place to prevent issue from cattle infected with BSE from entering the food chain:

  (i) BSE is a notifiable disease;

  (ii) all cattle suspected to be suffering from BSE are killed and their carcases incinerated;

  (iii) all cattle receive an ante mortem inspection at the slaughterhouse. Any that display signs of BSE are killed and the carcases incinerated; and

  (iv) cattle which are incubating BSE but are not yet showing clinical signs cannot be identified. All cattle are therefore assumed to be potentially infected, and the tissue in which infectivity may be present are removed and cannot be used in human food or animal feed. The tissues are the so called specified bovine offals—brain, spinal cord, spleen and tonsils of cattle over six months of age and the thymus and intestines of all cattle.

  My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food also announced new measures to control the use of bovine vertebral columns in the making of mechanically recovered meat—MRM—in an answer to
  52
  my hon. Friend the Member for Wealden (Sir G. Johnson Smith) on 28 November, Official Report, columns 530–531.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers have been prosecuted to date for falsifying documents relating to BSE in cattle. [2670]

  Mrs. Browning
  Farmers' declarations that cattle have not resided on a holding in which a case of BSE has been confirmed during the previous six years, or that individual animals are less than two and a half years of age, are required for export purposes. They do not form part of our comprehensive system for the protection of the consumer in this country.

  Responsibility for enforcement and prosecution in relation to these declarations rests with local authorities. Although the Department is often kept informed at local level, we do not keep central records of such prosecutions and information on total numbers could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Executive Agencies (Overseas Travel)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for each his executive agencies for the last financial year in resret of overseas travel by agency staff(a) the costs of the travel, (b) tie countries visited and (c) the posts held by foe staff concerned. [2287]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Responsibility for this maucr is delegated to agency chief executives and 1 have asked them to reply to the hon. Member direct.

  Letter from George Trevelyan to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 December 1995:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your question about overseas travel made by staff in this Agency for the last financial year as this matter is within my operational responsibility.The total cost of overseas travel between 1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995 was £77,986.Countries visited by Agency managers were Belgium, Denmark, Eire, France, Greece, Germany, Holland, Italy, Norway, Switzerland and the United States.In all, 62 managers were involved with official business visits and a number of these visited several of the countries concerned over the year. These include the Agency's Finance Director, Chief Accountant, Finance Policy Adviser, Finance Group Managers, Finance Managers, the Head of Information Systems, Group Manager Business Systems, Group Manager IT Development, Information Systems Contracts and Procurement Manager, Computer Services Senior Accounts Manager, Internal Market Director, Head of Internal Market Operations, Internal Market Group Manager, Scheme Managers, Technical Services Managers, Deputy Technical Services Manager, Procurement Manager, Head of External Operations, Group Managers External Operations, External Operations Scheme Managers, Group Manager Anti-Fraud Unit and Anti-Fraud Unit Scrutineers.
  Letter from Phillip Needham to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 December 1995:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply on behalf of this Agency to your Parliamentary Question number 62. In this you sought details for this Agency, for the last financial year, for a) the cost of travel, b) the countries visited and c) the post held by the staff concerned in respect of overseas travel.(2287)53 ADAS was formed as an Executive Agency in April 1992 and is jointly owned by MAFF and the Welsh Office. It undertakes a broad range of consultancy and R&D work for commercial customers as well as government.In recent years, ADAS has been heavily involved in overseas work mostly in Central and Eastern Europe. The majority of work concentrates on consultancy to the emerging governments in matters related to re-structuring of agriculture and food production. Approximately £1.4 million of ADAS income derives from this source. The Agency incurs approximately £200,000 per annum in travelling expenses. These are relating to visits made by ADAS in order to secure future business, visits made to deliver consultancy services and visits to International conferences where these are required to update the professional knowledge of ADAS staff.
  Letter from Johnston McNeill to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 December 1995:
  As Chief Executive of the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS), I have been asked to respond to your question regarding overseas travel with respect to this Agency.As you may know, the MHS was established as an Executive Agency of MAFF on 1 April this year. Since that time there has been no overseas travel by any member of staff.
  Letter from G. K. Bruce to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 December 1995:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, has asked me to reply, in respect of the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD), to your question about overseas travel.During the 1994/95 financial year the cost of overseas travel undertaken by PSD staff totalled £42,339. Details of the countries visited and the posts held by the officers concerned could only be provided at disproportionate cost but the greater part of this expenditure relates to attendance at meetings in Brussels.
  Letter from J. M. Rutter to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 December 1995:
  The Minister has asked me to reply to your question about the costs of overseas travel by staff of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, the countries visited, and the posts held by the staff concerned, as these are operational matters for which I am responsible.The cost of overseas travel, including subsistence, in 1994/95 was £126,863.82. Full details of the countries visited and the posts held by the staff involved could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The main element of overseas travel however, was by immunological inspectors (Grade 7 equivalent) in the VMD, carrying out inspections of manufacturing premises for immunological veterinary medicines in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA and in Europe, and by staff, mainly at Grade 7 level and above, attending meetings of scientific, Commission and Council working groups in Brussels. In both cases, all or part of the travel costs is recovered from the companies involved or from the Commission.
  Letter from T. W. A. Little to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 December 1995:
  The Minister has asked me to reply to your question on overseas travel by staff in the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (known as the Central Veterinary Laboratory until 30 September 1995).In the last financial year, overseas travel costs in the Central Veterinary Laboratory amounted to £40,008. Due to internal management restructuring we have only been tracking the costs from the beginning of this financial year and, consequently, are not able to provide any further breakdown. However, the posts held by staff and the countries visited will be varied as we consider overseas travel, for the purpose of attending conferences and presenting papers, an essential component of the scientific development of staff.54
  Letter from Professor P. I. Stanley to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 4 December 1995:
  You asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to provide information for each of his executive agencies relating to overseas travel by agency staff in the last financial year. The Minister has asked me to reply to you in respect of his Central Science Laboratory (CSL) Agency as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible.In 1994–95:

  (a) The total cost of overseas travel was £175,779.

  (b) Countries visited were: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, USA.

  (c) The posts held by staff concerned were 109 scientific and 3 administrative. The main purpose of overseas travel was either to present scientific papers at conferences or to represent the UK in EU meetings.

  Early Retirement (Farmers)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many representations he has received over the past three years on the subject of initiating an early retirement scheme for farmers; what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the likely benefits of this to the tenanted sector; and if he will make a statement. [2526]

  Mr. Boswell
  In the past three years, the Department has answered four parliamentary questions and 28 Ministers' correspondence on the subject of an early retirement scheme for farmers. Council regulation 2079/92 permits member states to provide early retirement pensions to farmers aged between 55 and normal retirement age who release their land for amalgamation with other holdings or for non-agricultural use. This option has not been taken upon the United Kingdom because we take the view that its terms are not appropriate to the conditions of agriculture here. For that reason, we have not commissioned any research on early retirement for farmers nor evaluated the likely impact on the tenanted sector.

  Executive Agencies (Meetings)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what record he keeps of the number and dates of meetings he has with the heads of agencies which report to him. [3081]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My office holds a record of all my meetings. Those with the heads of agencies which report to me form a part of that record. They are not singled out in any special way.

  Arable Areas (Checks)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will commission a survey of arable areas throughout the European Union by the Western European Union satellite centre to facilitate a scientific comparison between the arrangements made by member states to secure compliance with common agricultural policy regulations including set-aside areas. [3259]
  55
  Mr. Baldry
  No. Most EU member states carry out remote sensing checks on arable areas including set-aside land, using satellite imagery or aerial photography as part of an EC Commission co-financed programme. Discrepancies found are followed up by individual member states and results monitored by the EC Commission. These measures, together with those applied by all member states under the integrated administration control system, are designed to ensure compliance with CAP regulations.

  Sheep and Beef Support Schemes
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money was spent on(a) hill livestock compensatory allowances, (b) suckler cow premiums, (c) sheep annual premiums and (d) beef special premiums in each country of the United Kingdom in 1994–95. [3221]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 30 November 1995]: In 1994–95 £31.3 million1 was spent on hill livestock compensatory allowances, £64.7 million was spent on suckler cow premium, including extensification premium; £163.7 million was spent on sheep annual premium, including Less-favoured area supplement, and £81.1 million was spent on beef special premium, including extensification premium, in England. Expenditure on these schemes in the other parts of the United Kingdom is a matter for the Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales and for Northern Ireland.

  'This includes expenditure carried forward from the previous financial year.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money will be spent on(a) the hill livestock compensatory allowances, (b) suckler cow premiums, (c) sheep annual premiums and (d) beef special premiums in each country of the United Kingdom in 1995–96. [3222]

  Mr. Hogg
  [holding answer 30 November 1995]: In 1995–96, we estimate that £27.6 million will be spent on hill livestock compensatory allowances; £83 million will be spent on suckler cow premium, including extensification premium; £182 million will be spent on sheep annual premium, including LFA supplement, and £129.2 million will be spent on beef special premium, including extensification premium, in England. Expenditure under these schemes in the other parts of the United Kingdom is a matter for the Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales and for Northern Ireland.

  European Funding (North Yorkshire)
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much matching funding his Department has provided for European agricultural guarantee and guidance projects in(a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96 within the north Yorkshire area; and if he will provide a breakdown based on (i) parliamentary constituency and (ii) local authority.[3744]

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 19 October,Official Report, column 323. A breakdown of this information by parliamentary constituency and local authority can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Investor in People Status
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps his Department is taking to achieve investor in people status; when they started the process; when they expect to achieve investor in people status; and if he will make a statement. [2971]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 30 November 1995]: The Department is committed in principle to pursuing the investor in people standard. The Ministry's information technology directorate achieved the standard at the end of 1993; the regional organisation recently carried out a diagnostic survey and is now evaluating the results; and the rest of the core Department is preparing to follow suit by assembling the various elements that are required in order to attain investor in people status.

  Overgrazing
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers had their payments withdrawn as a result of overgrazing in each country of the United Kingdom in(a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96 to the latest available date. [3223]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 30 November 1995]: In England, four farmers had their hill livestock compensatory allowances withheld in whole or in part in 1994–95 as a result of overgrazing. To date, three farmers have had their hill livestock compensatory allowances withheld in whole or in part as a result of overgrazing in 1995–96. Responsibility for the implementation of overgrazing provisions of the livestock subsidy schemes in other parts of the United Kingdom falls to the Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales and for Northern Ireland.

  Moorland Scheme
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many lectures have been entered into the moorland scheme in each region of the United Kingdom to which the scheme applies. [3225]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  [holding answer 30 November 1995]: In England, 4048.63 hectares of heather moorland grazing have been entered into the moorland scheme. Responsibility for schemes to enhance the nature conservation value of moorland in other parts of the United Kingdom falls to the Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales and for Northern Ireland.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers have entered their land into the moorland scheme in each region of the United Kingdom to which the scheme applies. [3226]

  Mr. Hogg
  [holding answer 30 November 1995]: In England, 13 farmers have to date signed agreements entering land into the moorland scheme. Responsibility for schemes to enhance the nature conservation value of moorland in other parts of the United Kingdom falls to the Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales and for Northern Ireland.

TRANSPORT

  MV Derbyshire
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the results of his assessment of the further work required to be undertaken to identify the cause of the sinking of the MV Derbyshire; and if he will make a statement. [4119]

  Sir George Young
  I have today published Lord Donaldson's assessment. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House and are available in the Vote Office.

  The formal investigation in 1987 into the loss of the Derbyshire decided that
  …the Derbyshire was probably overwhelmed by the forces of nature in Typhoon Orchid"
  and added that
  "the evidence available does not support any firmer conclusion".
  Following the discovery in. June 1994 of the wreckage of the Derbyshire during a search sponsored by the International Transport Workers Federation, my predecessor appointed the right hon. Lord Donaldson of Lymington to undertake an assessment of what further work might be undertaken to seek to determine the actual cause of the loss of the Derbyshire, together with assessments of the costs involved, the likelihood of establishing the cause and the likely benefits to ship safety.

  Lord Donaldson has recommended that a second, and final, re-examination of the wreck should be carried out, at a cost which he estimates at around £2 million. He believes there is a compelling case for, seeking to establish the cause of the loss, with resulting benefits to ship safety.

  I have decided to accept his recommendation. The timing of his re-examination will depend on making the necessary arrangements—drawing up a specification, inviting tenders and selecting a contractor—and will take place as soon as practicable in either spring 1996 or spring 1997. I have raised within the European Commission the possibility of sharing the costs with it, as the potential benefits are not confirmed to British ships and seafarers. The Commission has confirmed its readiness to assist financially.

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 27 November,Official Report, column 505, what considerations led him not to place all documents currently held by his Department relating to the destruction of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, seven years ago, in the Library. [3783]

  Mr. Norris
  It is not my Department's normal practice to release official files other than at the appropriate time under the procedures and criteria set down by the Public Record Office. There are no plans for earlier release of the papers in question, given the classified nature of some of the material and the pending criminal trial.

  South Yorkshire Supertram
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the financial impact of the sale of South Yorkshire Supertram; [3364]
  58
  (2) what will happen to any debts of South Yorkshire Supertram which are not covered by the sale; [3363]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the impact on (a) revenue funding, (b) capital funding and (c) capping levels of each council in South Yorkshire of the sale of Supertram. [3362]

  Mr. Norris
  My Department and South Yorkshire passenger transport executive are currently discussing these issues.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when he announced the sale of South Yorkshire Supertram; and what steps he will take to advertise the sale; [3361]

  (2) if he will list the (a) organisation and (b) individuals which he has engaged to assist with the sale of South Yorkshire Supertram; [3360]

  (3) what restrictions will be placed on the bodies able to purchase South Yorkshire Supertram in respect of (a) bus companies and (b) other organisations; [3367]

  (4) if the sale of South Yorkshire Supertram will be by competitive tender. [3365]

  Mr. Norris
  Arrangements for the sale of South Yorkshire Supertram are a matter for South Yorkshire passenger transport executive.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the timetable and process for the sale of South Yorkshire Supertram. [3368]

  Mr. Norris
  Arrangements for the sale of South Yorkshire Supertram are a matter for South Yorkshire passenger transport executive. It is, however, this Government's policy to privatise public transport operations wherever possible. I therefore look forward to South Yorkshire Supertram being sold at the earliest possible opportunity.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport under what powers he has taken the decision to order the sale of South Yorkshire Supertram. [3366]

  Mr. Norris
  The Government and South Yorkshire passenger transport executive have always agreed that the operation of South Yorkshire Supertram will be privatised at the earliest opportunity. South Yorkshire passenger transport executive proposed the "build first, sell later" structure for Supertram and has put in place arrangements for privatisation. The director general of the PTE has frequently confirmed to me the PTE's commitment to privatisation.

  White Hart Roundabout, Northolt
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will order an inquiry into the time scale adopted by Ealing council in constructing phased traffic lights at the White Hart roundabout, Northolt; and if he will make a statement. [1853]

  Mr Norris
  No. It would not be appropriate for Ministers to intervene in the timing of this local highway scheme.

  A36 (South Newton)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the work, referred to in his answer of 7 November 1995,Official Report, column 753, will commence on installation of experimental speed limit warning signs on the A36 at South Newton. [3617]

  Mr. Norris
  Some of the installation work to accommodate the electronic speed limit warning signs has already started. Following the commissioning and testing of the equipment, the trial will be fully operational from 15 December onwards. The highway authority will be monitoring the site for a minimum period of six months.

  Pollution
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to establish freephone numbers to which the public can report excessively smoky and polluting vehicles. [3721]

  Mr. Norris
  No. I am satisfied that the current reporting procedure for the smoky vehicle hotline explained in the publicity leaflet—copies of which were placed in the library on 27 October—is adequate.

  Cycle Tracks
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures have been made in major cities for the provision for cycle tracks; and if he will make a statement. [3514]

  Mr. Norris
  Cycle facilities such as cycle lanes on the carriageway, cycle tracks away from the road, advanced stop lines at traffic lights and toucan crossings exist in most of our major cities. I hope all local highway authorities will respond positively to our initiatives to encourage cycling.

  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of cycle track currently exist in the cities of(a) Birmingham, (b) Manchester, (c) Newcastle, (d) Leeds, (e) Liverpool and (f) Sheffield; and if he will make a statement. [3196]

  Mr. Norris
  This information is not held centrally. The responsibility for cycle facilities rests with individual local highway authorities.

  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to extend the existing cycle track network in Sheffield; and if he will make a statement. [3197]

  Mr. Norris
  Responsibility for providing cycle facilities in Sheffield lies with Sheffield city council as the local highway authority. Proposals for cycle improvements in Sheffield were included in the south Yorkshire package bid, which is currently under consideration. I expect to make an announcement on funding shortly.

  Cycling Accidents
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) fatal, (b) injury causing non-fatal and (c) minor accidents were recorded involving cyclists who were (i) minors and (ii) adults on pavements in each of the last five years.[3468]

  Mr. Norris
  The information requested is not available.

  Road Accidents
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research he has(a) commissioned, (b) published and (c) evaluated from (i) the Transport Research Laboratory and (ii) others on the contribution of sideways spray from lorries and coaches to accidents on motorways. [3429]

  Mr. Norris
  In 1990 the Transport Research Laboratory undertook a review of the contribution of spray to motorway crashes and followed this with a study in which the police were asked about the contribution of spray when they reported injury accidents on wet motorways or A and M roads.

  The study suggested that spray was a contributory cause in about 131 and 552 accidents on motorway and A and M roads in Britain each year. The annual cost of these accidents was estimated to lie between £6,905,010 and £29,095,020, based on the Department of Transport's figure for the average cost of a motorway injury accident.

  The reports also discuss results of earlier estimates by the Transport Research Laboratory and others on the contribution of spray to accidents.

  British Railways Board (Logo)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that for the foreseeable future the present logo of the British Railways Board will be continued to be displayed(a) on all buildings, direction signs, maps and publicity literature and (b) in all other ways as currently practised in respect of public rail services. [3342]

  Mr. Watts
  I intend to continue to use the double arrow symbol in those places where it is used as a road sign at present. Its use as a logo by the British Railways Board and others is a matter for them.

  Defective Pavements
  Mr. Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will issue guidelines to ensure compensation will be provided for accidents involving faulty paving stones of less than lin in height. [3332]

  Mr. Norris
  No. In any claim for compensation for injury allegedly caused by a defective pavement, it is for the courts to decide whether a highway authority's refusal to accept liability is reasonable in the light of the circumstances of the case.

  Vehicle Statistics
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total number of(a vehicle and (b) passenger miles travelled by (i) motor car, (ii) omnibus and (iii) private coach in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Norris
  Passenger and vehicle miles by vehicle type and year are given in the table. Figures for buses and coaches are available only as a single combined category. However, further information on the use of buses run by public service vehicle operators can be obtained in section 5 of "Transport Statistics Great Britain" 1995 edition, a copy of which can be found in the Library. [3464]

  Vehicle miles (billion)

  Passenger miles (billion)

  Year

  Cars and taxis

  Buses and coaches

  Cars and taxis

  Buses and coaches

  1984

  151.6

  2.4

  255

  30

  1985

  155.6

  2.3

  260

  30

  1986

  164.3

  2.3

  275

  29

  1987

  176.9

  2.5

  295

  29

  1988

  189.8

  2.7

  316

  29

  1989

  205.8

  2.8

  343

  29

  1990

  208.7

  2.8

  347

  29

  1991

  208.3

  3.0

  346

  27

  1992

  210.0

  2.9

  348

  27

  1993

  210.4

  2.9

  348

  27

  1994

  214.5

  2.9

  355

  27

  1. Estimates are derived from the traffic series (vehicle miles) and average occupancy rates from the National Travel Survey.

  2. Changes are estimated by deflating passenger receipts by the most appropriate price indices available. Because the proxy method has to be used the series gives only a broad guide to trends.

  Supplementary Credit Approvals
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list for(a) Sheffield and

  £000

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Authority

  Tot SCA

  Return

  Tot SCA

  Return

  Tot SCA

  Return

  Bolton

  603

  260

  1,342

  0

  632

  0

  Bury

  335

  0

  600

  0

  564

  0

  Manchester

  1,495

  0

  12,986

  0

  3,458

  565

  Oldham

  1,521

  0

  1,830

  0

  646

  0

  Rochdale

  502

  0

  656

  0

  672

  0

  Salford

  913

  0

  1,054

  0

  1,079

  0

  Stockport

  1,154

  0

  1,410

  0

  379

  0

  Tameside

  997

  0

  877

  0

  525

  0

  Trafford

  170

  0

  673

  1,572

  477

  0

  Wigan

  443

  0

  405

  0

  394

  0

  Knowsley

  388

  0

  2,956

  7,867

  762

  0

  Liverpool

  1,100

  0

  1,042

  835

  1,324

  0

  St. Helens

  310

  0

  11,130

  1,069

  3,131

  0

  Sefton

  458

  0

  623

  0

  627

  0

  Wirral

  435

  0

  1,984

  0

  1,009

  0

  Barnsley

  680

  0

  2,116

  21

  704

  290

  Doncaster

  3,158

  0

  2,407

  0

  1,198

  40

  Rotherham

  284

  0

  304

  0

  1,350

  751

  Gateshead

  598

  0

  937

  0

  616

  0

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  398

  0

  518

  0

  355

  0

  North Tyneside

  110

  0

  315

  275

  634

  0

  South Tyneside

  67

  0

  338

  0

  441

  0

  Sunderland

  719

  0

  2,630

  595

  885

  834

  Birmingham

  2,829

  0

  18,791

  299

  14,507

  1,037

  Coventry

  617

  0

  2,553

  4,034

  756

  1,250

  Dudley

  1,250

  0

  2,692

  188

  1,440

  0

  62
  (b) all metropolitan boroughs the number and the value of each supplementary credit approval not used within the specified time period for each of the last three years; [3195]

  (2) if he will list for (a) Sheffield and (b) all the metropolitan boroughs the time limit specified for each supplementary credit approval granted for each of the last three years; [3194]

  (3) if he will list for (a) Sheffield and (b) all the metropolitan boroughs the total value of each supplementary credit approval granted for each of the last three years.[3193]

  Mr. Norris
  Supplementary credit approvals, SCAs, may be issued at any time during the financial year and are valid for expenditure incurred up to the end of the financial year in question. If they are not used, the local authority is expected to return the SCA to the Department for reissue to another authority.

  The following SCAs have been issued to Sheffield city council by my Department in the last three years:
  1992–93:£1,175k 1993–94:

  (a) £3,326k

  (b) £1,391k

  1994–95

  (a) £529k

  (b) £244k

  (c) £80k

  (d) £419k.

  None of these SCAs has been returned to the Department.

  Information for the the metropolitan boroughs is as follows:
  63

  £000

  1992–1993

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Authority

  Tot SCA

  Return

  Tot SCA

  Return

  Tot SCA

  Return

  Sandwell

  2,088

  0

  2,393

  0

  421

  83

  Solihull

  988

  0

  1,652

  0

  442

  0

  Walsall

  9,236

  0

  10,969

  0

  901

  0

  Wolverhampton

  3,580

  0

  6,898

  0

  803

  0

  Bradford

  1,000

  0

  1,929

  0

  1,635

  0

  Calderdale

  363

  0

  1,090

  0

  528

  0

  Kirklees

  1,722

  0

  3,351

  51

  3,929

  174

  Leeds

  1,881

  0

  5,518

  600

  2,417

  370

  Wakefield

  1,107

  0

  1,597

  0

  1,584

  397

  Kingskerswell Bypass
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when work is to begin on the Kingskerswell bypass. [2102]

  Mr. Watts
  I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Rupert Allason, dated 4 December 1995:
  As you know, the Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Transport, when work is to begin on the Kingskerswell Bypass.As announced in Managing the Roads Programme published on 28 November, this scheme has been transferred to the Longer Term programme.It is too soon to anticipate when it might be possible to move the scheme back into the main programme.

  Royal Family (Diary Engagements)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to what extent he is consulted in

  Havey goods vehicles

  Public service vehicles

  Light vehicles

  checks

  Prohibition rate (per cent.)

  checks

  Prohibition rate (per cent.)

  checks

  Prohibition rate (per cent.)

  1992–93

  5,706

  0.6

  4,647

  1.7

  4,759

  0.5

  1993–94

  10,589

  2.1

  5,165

  2.8

  33,103

  0.7

  1994–95

  12,959

  3.5

  7,292

  2.5

  70,899

  3.6

  During 1992–93 and 1993–94, no delayed prohibitions were issued on light vehicles, thus depressing the Failure rate.

  The figures collected before 1992–93 did not specify prohibitions issued for non-compliance with emissions standards.

  Ro-ro Ferries
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress was made at the specially convened International Maritime Organisation diplomatic conference to consider the recommendations of the IMO's panel of experts, set up after the loss of the ro-ro passenger ferry, Estonia, on survivability, evacuation and life-saving appliances; and if he will
  make a statement. [307]
  64
  respect of diary engagements for members of the royal family. [3253]

  Sir George Young
  The extent to which my Department is consulted on visits in the United Kingdom depends on the nature of the engagement. My Department's transport security division is represented in discussions on the security for royal visits overseas.

  Vehicle Emissions
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the extent of non-compliance with vehicle construction and use regulations in respect of motor vehicle emissions in each of the last five years. [3472]

  Mr. Norris
  The extent of non-compliance with emissions standards in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 is assessed in terms of prohibitions issued by the Vehicle Inspectorate after vehicle enforcement checks, which are targeted on vehicles thought most likely to be defective.

  The figures for the last three years, in respect of emissions, are as follows:

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 29 November 1995]: The Government welcome the outcome of the IMO conference, which has agreed significant amendments to the safety of life at sea convention.

  On the ability of a ship to withstand a significant amount of water on the car deck, the conference passed a resolution which paves the way for regional agreements applying the high SOLAS 90 plus 50 cm of water on the car deck standard recommended by IMO's panel of experts established after the Estonia.

  We fully support this resolution and the future application of the SOLAS 90 plus 50 cm standard, through a regional agreement, to all ro-ro passenger

  65
  ferries serving our ports. We will shortly be initiating, with other northern European states, discussion of such a regional agreement.

  The amendments to the convention introduced a wide range of safety improvements including enhanced life-saving equipment, evacuation requirements, search-and-rescue procedures and the extension of the SOLAS 90 survivability standard to all existing ro-ro ferries worldwide.

SCOTLAND

  Departmental Targets
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the published recommended response times within which his Department is expected to reply to letters from the public.[3009]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Scottish Office Ministers aim to reply to letters within 17 working days of receipt. Performance against that target is published in the Official Report. A 20-day response time has been set for letters addressed to Ministers which are answered by officials, although individual areas may set a tighter deadline. Executive agencies include details of target response times and performance in their annual reports.

  Acts of Parliaments of Scotland
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those Acts of the Scottish Parliament before 1707 which are still in force. [3209]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  A list of the Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland before 1707 which have not been statutorily repealed follows. While there is a presumption that any Scots Act which has not been so repealed remains in force, that presumption can be rebutted through application of the doctrine of desuetude. That doctrine requires proof to the satisfaction of the Scottish courts that an enactment has not been repealed and that there has been contrary practice.

  Index of short titles of the current Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland 1424–1707:

  Adjudication Act 1621 (c.7)

  Adjudication Act 1672 (c.45)

  Ann Act 1672 (c.24)

  Arrestments Act 1617 (c.17)

  Arrestments Act 1661 (c.283)

  Bills of Exchange Act 1681 (c.86)

  Bonds Act 1661 (c.244)

  Breach of Arrestment Act 1581 (c.23)

  Burghs Act 1578 (c.11)

  Burghs Act 1587 (c.114)

  Church Act 1579 (c.6)

  Church Jurisdiction Act 1567 (c.12)

  Church Jurisdiction Act 1579 (c.7)

  Citation Act 1592 (c.59)

  Citation Act 1686 (c.5)

  Claim of Right Act 1689 (c.28)

  College of Justice Act 1532 (c.2)

  College of Justice Act 1540 (c.10)(14 March)

  66

  Common Good Act 1491 (c.19)

  Compensation Act 1592 (c.61)

  Confession of Faith Ratification Act 1560 (c.1)

  Confession of Faith Ratification Act 1690 (c.7)

  Confirmation Act 1690 (c.56)

  Confirmation Act 1695 (c.72)

  Coronation Oath Act 1567 (c.8)

  Court of Session Act 1693 (c.42)

  Courts Act 1672 (c.40)

  Criminal Letters Act 1579 (c.16)

  Crown Appointments Act 1661 (c.6)

  Crown Proceedings Act 1600 (c.23)

  Curators Act 1585 (c.25)

  Declinature Act 1681 (c.79)

  Decrees in Absence Act 1584 (c.10)

  Deforcement Act 1592 (c.72)

  Diligence Act 1469 (c.12)

  Diligence Act 1621 (c.6)

  Diligence Act 1661 (c.344)

  Disqualification of Ministers Act 1584 (c.6)

  Division of Commonties Act 1695 (c.69)

  Ejection Caution Act 1594 (c.27)

  Election Act 1707 (c.8)

  Entail Act 1685 (c.26)

  Executors Act 1617 (c.14)

  Expenses Act 1592 (c.62)

  Feu-Duty Act 1597 (c.17)

  Fisheries Act 1705 (c.48)

  General Assembly Act 1592 (c.8)

  Inland Bills Act 1696 (c.38)

  Kirk Dykes Act 1597 (c.3)

  Land Purchase Act 1594 (c.26)

  Lands Redemption Act 1555 (c.3)

  Lawburrows Act 1429 (c.20)

  Lawburrows Act 1581 (c.22)

  Lawburrows Act 1597 (c.40)

  Leases Act 1449 (c.6)

  Leases Act 1491 (c.7)

  Liferent Caution Act 1491 (c.6)

  Liferent Caution Act 1535 (c.14)

  Lyon King of Arms Act 1592 (c.29)

  Lyon King of Arms Act 1669 (c.95)

  Lyon King of Arms Act 1672 (c.47)

  March Dykes Act 1661 (c.284)

  March Dykes Act 1669 (c.38)

  Mines and Metals Act 1592 (c.31)

  Ministers Act 1693 (c.38)

  Minority Act 1663 (c.4)

  Papal Jurisdiction Act 1560 (c.2)

  Parliament Act 1661 (c.7)

  Parricide Act 1594 (c.30)

  Precedence Act 1661 (c.211)

  Prelacy Act 1689 (c.4)

  Prerogative Act 1661 (c.13)

  Protestant Religion and Presbyterian Church Act 1707 (c.6)

  Real Rights Act 1693 (c.22)

  Redemptions Act 1661 (c.247)

  Register of Sasines Act 1693 (c.23)

  67

  Registration Act 1617 (c.16)

  Registration Act 1661 (c.243)

  Registration Act 1693 (c.24)

  Registration Act 1696 (c.41)

  Reversion Act 1469 (c.3)

  Royal Burghs Act 1487 (c. 17)

  Royal Mines Act 1424 (c.13)

  Runrig Lands Act 1695 (c.36)

  Sovereignty Act 1584 (c.2)

  Sovereignty Act 1606 (c.1)

  Sovereignty Act 1633 (c.3)

  Teinds Act 1690 (c.63)

  Theft Act 1607 (c.6)

  Tolls Act 1587 (c.37)

  Udal Tendure Act 1690 (c.61)

  Union with England Act 1707 (c.7)

  Unlawful Jurisdictions Act 1584 (c.4)

  Writs Act 1672 (c.16)

  Salmon Fishing
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Scottish district salmon fishery boards for the restriction of the salmon netting season in Scotland following the publication of the Salmon Advisory Committee report of the timing of salmon runs. [1974]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  I have made one order to implement a two-and-a-half month reduction in the netting season from the River Eachaig district salmon fishery board, and an application for a reduction in the season for the River Dee (Aberdeenshire) district is under consideration. Scottish district salmon fishery boards can also arrange for reductions in net fishing effort in their districts by other means without my intervention, and many have done so in the past 10 years.

  Communication Autistic Spectrum Disorders
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children of school age there are with communication autistic spectrum disorders; and how many places there are in schools appropriate for their needs. [2709]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Al (Haddington-Dunbar)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the target date for the completion of the Haddington and Dunbar section of the Al dual carriageway. [3664]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In his announcement on 15 June of the programme for developing Scotland's trunk road network, my right hon. Friend announced that, subject to the usual criteria including satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures and the necessary preparatory work, it is intended to start work on this section of the A1 dualling by March 1998. The subsequent construction period is expected to be approximately two years.
  68
  The Department plans to publish revised draft road orders early next year to re-test public reaction to the scheme and the design revisions which have been adopted following earlier publication of the proposals. Subsequent progress will be dependent on the reaction of the public to the revised proposals.

  Roads Programme
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his Department's road construction programme following the Chancellor's financial statement.[3665]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend will make an announcement on the roads programme for the next three years after he has set out his new expenditure plans for the Scottish Office.

  Hairmyres Hospitals
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the time scale and funding arrangements for the proposed new build hospital facility at Hairmyres.[3843]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Hairmyres and Stonehouse Hospitals NHS trust is currently seeking a private sector partner to design and build a new hospital at Hairmyres, East Kilbride. The Scottish Office Department of Health expects to received a full business case from the trust in the spring on 1996. Subject to approval, final contractual and planning issues will be completed in 1996 with a start on site scheduled for early 1997.

  Ministerial Transport, London
  Mr. McShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many times in the last year he has used(a) London Buses and (b) London Underground while on official business.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 24 November 1995]: None.

  Unitary Councils
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the guidance circulars issued by his Department to the new unitary councils. [1739]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 23 November 1995]: Circulars issued by the Scottish Office to the new unitary councils have included the following:
  Local Government, Finance, CCT, Staff, Properly etc Finance Circular No. 15/95: Distribution of Grant to Shadow Authorities SOEnvD Circular No. 11/95: Local Authorities (Allowances) (Scotland) Regulations 1995 Finance Circular No. 16/95: Preparation of Notional Budgets Circular Letter: Distribution of Grant to Shadow Councils Circular Letter: The Local Authorities (Staff Transfer) (Scotland) Order 1995 SoEnD Circular No. 13/95: Outlining in detail the provisions of the Statutory Instrument suspending Compulsory Competitive Tendering during local government reorganisation.Finance Circular No. 19/95: Illustrative Grant Aided Expenditure Assessments (GAEs) for 1995-–96.69 circular Letter: The Local Government (Transitional Provisions) (Scotland) Order 1995 Circular Letter: The Local Government (Relevant Date) (Scotland) Order 1995 Circular Letter covering decentralisation guidance Circular Letter: Announcement of Publication of "Green Book" (Illustrative GAEs)Finance Circular No. 20/95: Notional Budgets Circular Letter: The Local Authorities (Property Transfer) (Scotland) Order 1995 and The Local Authorities Property Commission (Scotland) Order 1995.Circular Letter: The Valuation Joint Boards (Scotland) Order 1995 Circular Letter (issued by Scottish Office Pensions Agency): The Local Government (Compensation for Reduction of Remuneration on Re-organisation) (Scotland) Regulations 1995 Finance Circular No. 22/95: Mismatch Problem Transitional Schemes Circular Letter: CCT and Local Government Reorganisation in Scotland Housing Circular: Housing Management Compulsory Competitive Tendering—Arrangements for Tenant Involvement and Consultation.Circular: List of Housing Circulars in force at 31 October 1995.Circular: A Baseline Study of Housing Management in Scotland Planning SOEnD Circular No. 15/95: The Town and Country Planning (Demolition Which is Not Development) (Scotland) Direction 1994.SOEnD Circular No. 18/95 Planning and Compensation Act 1991: Simplified Planning Zones Roads etc.,"Competing for Better Roads"–response to the consultation paper Laying of Records (Transitional Powers) (Scotland) Order 1995 The Roads (Transitional Powers) (Scotland) Order 1995 Circular Letter: Provision for routine and winter maintenance on the trunk road network (from 1 April 1996)Education etc.Circular No. 5/95: Local Government Etc. (Scotland) Act 1994: Local Government Reorganisation—Guidance on Education Provisions Circular No. 6/95: Local Government Etc. (Scotland) Act 1994: Guidance to New Authorities on their responsibilities for Community Education.Circular on provision of cultural and library services Industry Circular concerning notification of Local Authorities State Aids Circular on the implementation arrangements of new urban regeneration policy arrangements under the programme "Policy for Partnership"Social Work SWSG 8/95: Cancellation of obsolete and superseded circulars SWSG 2/95: Local Government Etc., (Scotland) Act 1994—(Section 45) Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 (Section 3)—Chief Social Work Officers: Responsibilities, Appointments and Qualifications SWSG 9/95: Community Service for Offenders: Revised National Objectives and Standards SWSG 10/95: Local Government Reorganisation and Social Work Services SWSG 11/95: The Adoption (Designation of Overseas Adoptions) (Variation) (Scotland) Order 1995 70 SWSG 12/95: Criminal Justice Social Work Services: Options for Management and Organisation Arrangements (Shared Services)SWSG 13/95: Community Care: National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Amendment Regulations 1995: Regulations and Guidance SWSG 14/95: Criminal Justice Social Work Services: Standard requirements in Supervised Release Orders SWSG 15/95: Local Government Etc. (Scotland) Act 1994: Children's Hearing System SWSG 16/95: Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1995: Commencement of Supervised Attendance Order Provisions SWSG 17/95: Children (Scotland) Act 1995: Commencement Order No.1SWSG 18/95: Children (Scotland) Act 1995: Implementation Plan Police Circular covering the issue of a new guidance booklet for members of the new police authorities.

  Private Nursing Homes
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of Scottish private nursing homes; what subjects were discussed; and who attended. [2956]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 28 November 1995]: On 25 September 1995, my right hon. Friend met Mr. John Shearer, chairman of Lanarkshire Nursing Homes Association, and Mr. Neil Cameron, a residential care home proprietor, to discuss community care issues.

WALES

  Unemployment
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current level of unemployment in Wales. [1872]

  Mr. Richards
  In October 1995, the seasonally adjusted number of people on the claimant unemployment count in Wales was 106,600.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Donald Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next proposes to meet the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency to discuss its financing. [1873]

  Mr. Hague
  I regularly meet the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency to discuss a wide range of issues.

  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the board of the Welsh Development Agency to discuss its budget cost. [1875]

  Mr. Hague
  I met the board of the Welsh Development Agency in October to discuss a range of issues.

  National Health Service (Costs)
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total cost of health care provided by the NHS in Wales; and what was the comparable figure in 1979. [1874]

  Mr. Richards
  Planned expenditure on the NHS in Wales in 1995–96 is £2,191 million compared with expenditure of £466 million in 1979–80.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total value of inward investment into Wales since the signing of the Maastricht treaty. [1876]

  Mr. Hague
  The forecast value of inward investment into Wales since February 1992 is £3.2 billion with 23,000 associated new jobs and almost 22,000 safeguarded jobs.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about inward investment in Wales. [1881]

  Mr. Hague
  Inward Investment in Wales has made and continues to make a major contribution to the diversification of the industrial base and to the well-being of the economy.

  Business Advice and Support
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps have been taken to improve the advice and support available to the business community in Wales from governmental organisations. [1877]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  In November, the Department's small firms roadshow completed a tour of Wales. A mobile unit visited many industrial estates and business centres throughout the Principality. It was attended by advisers from the Welsh Office, the Welsh Development Agency, the Development Board for Rural Wales, the training and enterprise councils and other local business support bodies. It gave a shop window on business support to local business people and enabled the business community to air its views and have access to the support available. The roadshow provided advice to some 820 small and medium-sized firms in Wales.

  The roadshow precedes the launch, on 15 January 1996, of "Business Connect Wales". This new initiative will greatly simplify access to publicly funded business support services throughout Wales. One low-cost telephone number will connect callers to the full range of services. Callers will be automatically switched to one of 34 outlets at which trained staff will either deal with the inquiry direct or refer to the source of expertise.

  Further Education
  Mr. Gamier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what increase there has been in enrolments on further education courses in Wales from 1979–80 to 1994–95.[1878]

  Mr. Richards
  The number of student enrolments on further education courses in Wales for the 1979–80 academic year was 62,207 compared with a provisional figure of 105,994 in 1994–95. This is an increase of nearly 44,000 or 70 per cent.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to expand the number of places in the assisted places scheme in Wales. [1879]

  Mr. Richards
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Conwy (Sir W. Roberts) on 29 November,Official Report, columns 757–58.

  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he intends to undertake with representatives of parent-teacher organisations following the Prime Minister's recent announcement of the enlargement of the assisted places scheme. [1880]

  Mr. Richards
  My right hon. Friend and I will consider carefully all points made to us about our proposal to double the number of places available under the assisted places scheme in Wales.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about inward investment in Wales. [1881]

  Mr. Hague
  Inward Investment in Wales has made and continues to make a major contribution to the diversification of the industrial base and to the well-being of the economy.

  Fluoridation
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to require Welsh Water plc to fluoridate drinking water supplies. [1882]

  Mr. Hague
  I support the principle of fluoridation but I do not have the statutory power to require Welsh Water to fluoridate drinking water supplies.

  Cancer
  Mr. Merchant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made in the treatment of cancer in Wales. [1883]

  Mr. Richards
  In response to the report on cancer services from the chief medical officers of England and Wales we have commissioned a review of existing services throughout the Principality which will recommend how the necessary improvements identified in the report can be implemented to bring about better quality of care to patients.

  Work is being undertaken in parallel in the NHS in Wales to establish the right local framework to facilitate progress. We expect to receive a report by September 1996 which will include recommendations on links between the providers of treatment and care, clinical standards and targets and the contribution which can be made to research in this field.

  Parliamentary Accountability
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for the improvement in parliamentary accountability and scrutiny of his Department's affairs; and if he will make a statement. [1884]
  73
  Mr. Hague
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on 30 November on proposed changes to procedures in the Welsh Grand Committee,Official Report, columns 1353– 55.

  Block Grant
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the block grant settlement for expenditure by the Welsh Office in 1996–97; and what percentage change this represents on planned expenditure in 1995–96. [1885]

  Mr. Hague
  In 1996–97 the provision for the Welsh Office will be £6,865 million, including the proceeds of the sale of the Housing for Wales loan portfolio. This represents a 1.4 per cent. increase over the original planned expenditure for 1995–96 and 2.2 per cent. higher than the forecast outturn.

  Community Forests
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy on community forests. [2656]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Government are committed to the expansion of forests close to where people live, with benefits for local communities. We have introduced a range of measures to achieve this aim. The woodland grant scheme offers a community woodland supplement to encourage the creation of new woodlands close to towns and villages, and an annual management grant which can contribute towards the cost of providing public access in existing woodlands. We recently announced a new woodland improvement grant project to encourage owners to provide new facilities for informal public recreation in existing woodlands and a locational supplement for planting in the Aman Gwendraeth community forest project area in south Wales. In addition, the Welsh Valleys initiative encourages local people to make full use of the Forestry Commission's forests through community involvement.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment his Department has made of the probability of BSE entering the human food chain. [2659]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Wealden (Sir G. Johnson Smith) on 28 November 1995,Official Report, columns 530–31, by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The Welsh Office has issued the draft regulations for consultation in Wales.

  School Funding
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the planned expenditure in the schools service in Wales for the year 1996–97; and if he will make a statement.[2924]

  Mr. Richards
  It is for individual local authorities to determine how the resources that are made available are allocated between services, including education, in the 74
  light of their statutory responsibilities and their perception of local needs and priorities.

  Pedestrian Crossings
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many pedestrians have been killed at pedestrian crossings in the past five years, and if he will make a statement. [2922]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The number of pedestrians recorded by the police as having been killed in road accidents at pedestrian crossings in Wales between 1990 and 1994 are as follows. These figures exclude those killed while waiting to cross or while crossing near to but not actually on the crossing.

  Year

  Number killed

  1990

  1

  1991

  3

  1992

  3

  1993

  0

  1994

  3

  Domiciliary Care
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what monitoring his Department has undertaken of public and domiciliary care; and if he will make a statement. [2926]

  Mr. Richards
  The Welsh Office collects the following information form local authorities:
  care arrangements, including those for domiciliary care, made each quarter following assessments of individuals' needs;the number of people receiving different types of care arranged by the local authorities at 31 March each year;local authority annual budgets and expenditure for home care arrangements and annual expenditure on private and voluntary non-residential care.
  From 1995–96, information will also be collected annually on the volumes of domiciliary care provided directly by local authorities and arranged by them with the independent, private and voluntary, sector.

  Figures on privately arranged domiciliary care are not collected centrally.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made with the private finance initiative in Wales: and if he will make a statement. [3486]

  Mr. Hague
  Good progress is being made. Twenty-five projects, with a combined capital value of some £1 billion are being examined at the moment with a view to taking them forward under the initiative. I estimate that £360 million of private finance will be generated by the PFI in Wales over the next three years.

  Chemical Bank
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will recover the grants paid to Chemical bank following its decision to close its branch in Wales. [3681]

  Mr. Hague
  Discussions with companies are commercial in confidence and I cannot comment on particular cases. However, all offers of regional selective assistance contain clawback provisions which are deployed where appropriate.

  WDA Funding
  Mr. Ainger
  to ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects the Welsh Development Agency to make its contribution to Leader and 5b projects in west Wales. [3738]

  Mr. Hague
  This is an operational matter for the agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member and will arrange for a copy of his letter to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Votes cast

  Authority

  Type of school

  Number of ballots

  For grant-maintained status

  Against grant-maintained status

  Percentage of schools holding ballots1

  Primary

  5

  598

  735

  2.1

  Clwyd

  Secondary

  28

  4,074

  2,104

  21.9

  Primary

  1

  27

  155

  0.3

  Dyfed

  Secondary

  1

  37

  426

  3.2

  Primary

  1

  151

  44

  0.5

  Gwent

  Secondary

  26

  2,432

  1,699

  15.2

  Primary

  1

  195

  48

  0.5

  Gwynedd

  Secondary

  1

  84

  311

  4.3

  Primary

  1

  26

  2

  0.3

  Mid Glamorgan

  Secondary

  0

  0

  0

  —

  Primary

  1

  36

  12

  1.0

  Powys

  Secondary

  1

  209

  499

  7.7

  Primary

  2

  122

  273

  1.3

  South Glamorgan

  Secondary

  25

  1,687

  1,560

  15.4

  Primary

  0

  0

  0

  —

  West Glamorgan

  Secondary

  4

  1,771

  3,053

  14.8

  Primary

  12

  1,155

  1,269

  0.7

  Wales

  Secondary

  26

  10,294

  9,652

  10.1

  1 These figures represent the number of schools holding a grant-maintained ballot since the Education Reform Act 1988 as a percentage of LEA maintained and grant-maintained schools existing at September 1995.

  2 These figures include schools which have held more than one ballot.

  Autism
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many children of school age there are with communication autistic spectrum disorders; and how many places there are in schools appropriate to their needs. [2711]

  Mr. Richards
  According to returns made by schools to the January 1995 schools census, 240 pupils in Wales had statements of special educational needs in which autism was identified as the major need. All these pupils were in maintained schools: 146 were in special schools, 79 were in primary schools, 14 were in secondary schools and one was in a nursery school.

  Shorthold Tenancies
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to require landlords to issue a specific prior notice concerning shorthold tenancies; and if he will make a statement. [3388]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The consultation paper "The Legislative Framework for Private Renting", issued in July, outlined proposals to change current notification arrangements for shorthold tenancies. My right hon. Friend and I are currently considering the responses.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will for each county and for Wales as a whole the total number of ballots held in(a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools and (c) in total to determine whether grant-maintained status should be adopted, indicating the numbers of votes cast for and against the proposals; and what percentage of schools held such ballots in each case. [1855]

  Mr. Richards
  The information is as follows:

  Staffing
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest number of staff employed for each civil service grade by his office, indicating the percentage who are Welsh speaking where this is known. [2067]

  Mr. Hague
  The information is as follows:

  Grade

  Number of people

  Percentage who have notified they have some ability in the use of Welsh

  G1

  1

  —

  G2s and equivalents

  2

  50

  G3s and equivalents

  11

  9

  G4s and equivalents

  6

  33

  77

  Grade

  Number of people

  Percentage who have notified they have some ability in the use of Welsh

  G5s and equivalents

  48

  15

  G6s and equivalents

  29

  10

  G7s and equivalents

  159

  16

  SEOs and equivalents

  139

  24

  HEOs and equivalents

  312

  17

  EOs and equivalents

  488

  17

  AOs and equivalents

  570

  16

  AAs and equivalents

  457

  8

  Industrial and museum support grades

  120

  13

  Measles and Rubella Immunisation
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the monitoring and aftercare support programme established in conjunction with the vaccination campaign instituted in November last year against measles and rubella, covering(a) Blaenau Gwent and (b) Wales. [2766]

  Mr. Richards
  I am content that there is a well-established satisfactory system in place, covering the United Kingdom as a whole, to monitor adverse reactions to all medicines, including vaccines. Aftercare support, following vaccination, would be a matter for the clinical judgment of an individual patient's practitioner.

  European Funding
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how much matching funding the Welsh Development Agency is committing to Leader and 5b projects in Wales this year; and if he will list those projects; [3739]

  (2) if he will list those Leader and 5b projects that have received official approval by his Department this financial year; how much each will receive from the EU and from each of the partners involved on the projects; and how many jobs will be supported or created in each project; [3737]

  (3) if he will list the Leader and 5b projects the Welsh Development Agency contributed to in each of the last two financial years; how much each received; how many jobs were supported or created; and what was the contribution from other partners on the projects; [3736]

  (4) how much the Welsh Development Agency contributed to Leader and 5b projects in each of the last two financial years. [3732]

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

  Breast Cancer Mortality
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what research he has initiated to examine the reasons for the higher rates of mortality from breast cancer in Wales relative to the rest of the United Kingdom. [4003]

  Mr. Richards
  Whilst a number of factors influence the mortality rate from breast cancer, the higher rate in Wales may partly be a reflection of its higher incidence in Wales. The Government's priorities in this area have 78
  been directed at achieving a reduction in the overall mortality rate from this disease, through improved diagnosis and treatment.

  European Education Programmes
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the organisations which bid for the provision of the advisory and information service for further and higher education establishments in Wales on European matters, when put out to tender by the Welsh Office; how many had knowledge and experience of further and higher education in Wales and the activities relevant to this field in the European Union; how many had the support of organisations representing and involved in the relevant activity areas in Wales and the European Union; and what considerations led to the selection of Euclid of Liverpool for this contract. [3945]

  Mr. Richards
  The following seven organisations tendered for the provision of services for European education programmes in Wales:
  City college, Manchester and Cardiff institute of higher education—joint tender Cynefin Environmental Euclid Friarsgrove Management Services Ltd.Gwent Tertiary college Penzer Allen Ltd.Welsh joint education committee.
  All tenderers expressed knowledge and experience of the further and higher education sectors in Wales, and activities relevant to the European Union.

  One tenderer declared expressions of support for its tender by other organisations.

  The contract was awarded to Euclid because its tender met the specification at the lowest price.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Iran
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the observations of the European Union observers at the trial of those accused of murdering the Christian leaders, Rev. Tateos Michaelian and Rev. Mehdi Dibaj in Iran. [1996]

  Mr. Hanley
  A representative of the European Union presidency attended two of the four sessions of the trial. No formal observations have been issued. But despite the fact that the trial was held in public, it is not possible to say that justice was done. We are concerned that certain aspects of the procedure did not conform to generally accepted international standards. Examples are the publicity given to the apparent confessions made by the accused before the trial, and the impression that it was stage-managed.

  Nevertheless, the holding of a public trial is a welcome development in itself and we shall continue to stress the importance of public trials and of due process.
  79
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to press the Iranian Government to allow the free sale and distribution of bibles and to put an end to the forced closures of churches. [1998]

  Mr. Hanley
  Following the hon. Member's question on the Bible Society on 10 January 1995,Official Report, columns 60–61, we raised the matter with our European Union partners. As a result, one partner pressed the Iranian Government to clarify their position: no substantive response has been forthcoming. In March 1995 the European Union sponsored a tough resolution on human rights in Iran, adopted by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, which reflected the criticisms of the then UN special representative, Mr. Galindo Pohl. Mr. Pohl referred to the Bible Society's predicament in his final 1995 report.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to press for the Government of Iran to allow an independent investigation into the murders of Bishop Haik Hovsepian Mehr, Rev. Tateos Michaelian and Rev. Mehdi Dibaj by the United Nations human rights rapporteurs. [1997]

  Mr. Hanley
  We fully support the involvement of UN special representatives in investigating the human rights situation in Iran. We and our European partners co-sponsored resolutions on human rights in Iran adopted at the General Assembly in December 2994 and by the Committee on Human Rights in March 1995. They called on Iran to co-operate with the UN special representative and to carry out a thorough and impartial investigation into the deaths of the three pastors.

  Saudi Arabia
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures Her Majesty's Government are taking to link the United Kingdom's trade and defence policies with Saudi Arabia's performance in the area of respect for religious liberty; and if he will make a statement. [2000]

  Mr. Hanley
  The practice of any form of religious other than Islam in Saudi Arabia is prohibited by law. Her Majesty's Government have no plans to link the UK's trade and defence policies with Saudi Arabia's performance in the area of respect for religious liberty. But the Saudi Government are well aware of our views on freedom of thought, conscience and religion and on the importance of inter-faith dialogue.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to encourage the Government of Saudi Arabia to permit(a) Christian worship, (b) the building of churches and (c) the free sale and distribution of bibles in that country; and if he will make a statement. [1999]

  Mr. Hanley
  The practice of any form of religion other than Islam in Saudi Arabia is prohibited by law. The Saudi authorities are aware of our views on the importance of the freedoms enshrined in the universal declaration of human rights, including the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

  Executive Agencies (Overseas Travel)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list for each of his executive agencies for the last financial year in respect of overseas travel(a) the cost, (b) the countries visited and (c) the posts held by the staff involved. [2323]

  Mr. Hanley
  The FCO—diplomatic wing and ODA—has two executive agencies, Wilton Park and the Natural Resources Institute.

  The details requested of overseas travel in financial year 1994–95 for Wilton Park were as follows:

  (a) Cost: £19,472 total.

  (b) Countries visited: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, USA.

  (c) Posts of staff involved: the Director of Wilton Park, and four Associate Directors.

  The chief executive of the Natural Resources Institute has written to the hon. Gentleman with the information requested in respect of that executive agency. The lists mentioned in his letter have been deposited in the Library of the House.

  Letter from Anthony Beattie to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 November 1995:
  In your question addressed to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs you asked for information about travel undertaken by the staff of executive agencies. It has been agreed that I should provide this information in respect of NRI.I am enclosing lists of all visits undertaken by NRI staff during 1994–95, with details of countries visited, the grade of the person visiting, dates and costs. You will see that these visits fall into two broad categories: those which are project funded and those which are funded from running costs.The majority of visits (accounting for £1.670 million out of total visits expenditure of £1.872 million) fall into the former category. They are undertaken by members of the Institute's scientific and professional staff (staff grades are shown on the list) in connection with projects, programmes, and other assignments on behalf of the Overseas Development Administration and other clients.Visits funded from running costs are mainly in connection with marketing and business development (the Institute operates on a commercial basis and these are important aspects of our work), professional development and representation of the Institute in a wide variety of scientific fora. Visits are frequently undertaken for a combination of project- and running-cost-related purposes and these elements have been shown separately in the attached lists.

  European Convention on Human Rights
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to propose an amendment to article 2.2 of the European convention on human rights, in respect of the use of force which is no more than absolutely necessary to replace the word "absolutely" with the word "reasonably". [3165]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The Government do not intend to propose any amendment to article 2 of the European convention on human rights. As my noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development said in another place on 23 October, the European Court of Human Rights did not find a violation in relation to compatibility of the national law on the use of lethal force article 2 standards.
  81
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the compliance of the security forces of other signatories to the European convention on human rights with article 2 of that convention. [3166]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  Compliance with the European convention on human rights by other states party to it and their security forces is a matter for them or, when applications raising questions of such compliance are introduced, for the European Commission and Court of Human Rights and the Committee of Ministers, as appropriate.

  International Court of Justice
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy in respect of advisory opinions from the International Court of Justice. [2942]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  [holding answer 28 November 1995]: The Government believe that advisory opinions by the International Court of Justice at the request of the UN or a specialised agency can serve a useful purpose when they resolve legal matters on which the requesting organisation requires guidance for its current activities. Advisory opinions of the court are given careful consideration. However, they are not binding either on the requesting organisation or on its member states. The Government's attitude to particular advisory opinions depends on the terms of the opinion and the circumstances of the case.

  BBC World Service
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the charges for the use of transmission faciltiies by the BBC World Service when transmission is privatised will be paid out of the Foreign Office grant; and what proposals he has to bring forward in respect of specific grant for transmission charges. [3248]

  Mr. Hanley
  The BBC World Service's costs will continue to be paid by grant in aid after privatisation of the BBC's transmission services. I have no proposals for a specific grant for transmission charges.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the BBC World Service would be allowed to hire foreign transmission facilities if these were cheaper than its own transmission facilities following privatisation. [3242]

  Mr. Hanley
  The BBC World Service already hires foreign transmission facilities where they fit in with its delivery plans, which are a matter for the World Service.

  Iraqi Marshlands
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on evidence obtained by his Department from the Western European Union satellite centre about the effects of the construction of the Euphrates barrage in southern Iraq in 1993; what percentage of the Al Amarah and Hawr al Hammar marshes have been drained; and what assessment he has made of the impact of the draining those marshes on the population of that area. [3260]
  82
  Mr. Hanley
  Although we cannot estimate the precise extent to which the marshlands have been drained, satellite and other imagery of southern Iraq points to a severe reduction of the Amarah and Hammar marshes. This repressive policy has enabled Iraq to control the local population by driving them from the marshes, upon which they rely for their livelihood, into impoverished conditions in cities.

  Visa Applications (Turkey)
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average waiting time between the receipt of a decision to grant a visitor's visa to a visitor from Turkey and the visa being obtained by a visitor. [3694]

  Mr. Hanley
  In Istanbul, once a decision has been made to issue a visitor's visa the visa may be collected the same afternoon, provided the application was received before 11 am. Those received after 11 am may be collected the following working day.

  In Ankara, once a decision has been made to issue a visitor's visa, the visa may be collected within 24 hours.

  Mrs. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average waiting time for an interview for a visitor's visa for a visitor from Turkey. [3693]

  Mr. Hanley
  The longest waiting time for an interview in Istanbul in 1994 was 20 working days and in Ankara in 1994 was two working days.

  Records for average waiting times are not kept.

  Former Soviet Union
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all independent states with a population of 3 million or less, ranked in order of population and indicating for the latest available date(a) population, (b) gross domestic product or gross national product per head in sterling and (c) area. [2068]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  No independent state of the former Soviet Union has a population of 3 million or less.

  We do not consider that the Baltic states, which regained their independence in 1991, are part of the former Soviet Union. We never recognised de jure their incorporation into the Soviet Union. Two Baltic states have a population of less than 3 million.

  Estonia

  Latvia

  (a) Population

  1.5 million

  2.56 million

  (b) Per capita GDP

  $1,100

  $1,600

  (b) Area

  45,200 km2

  64,600 km2

  United Nations
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a list of all countries that have been members of the United Nations since 1965 indicating, where appropriate, the date on which they gained independence. [2069]
  83
  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The list of states that have become members of the United Nations since 1965 can be found in the "United Nations Handbook 1995" edited by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This book is available in the House of Commons Library.

  Turkey (Legionnaire's Disease)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when notification was first received about an outbreak of legionnaire's disease in Kusadasi, Turkey. [3275]

  Mr. Hanley
  On 17 August 1995, when the Department of Health asked our consular officials to notify the Turkish authorities that there may be a link between visitors to Kusadasi and the reported cases of legionnaire's disease.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with Turkish officials about the safety of United Kingdom travellers to Kusadasi. [3276]

  Mr. Hanley
  Our consular officials alerted the provincial and local health authorities, the provincial governor's office, a local hospital, and the Hotel Imbat to the possibility of the hotel being linked to an outbreak of legionnaire's disease.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of United Kingdom nationals visiting(a) Kusadasi and (b) the Hotel Imbat between May and October 1995. [3277]

  Mr. Hanley
  Based on figures from the provincial tourist authority in Turkey and the Hotel Imbat, we estimate(a) some 21,000 British nationals visited Kusadasi, and (b) some 4,230 British nationals stayed at the Hotel Imbat between May and October 1995.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of United Kingdom nationals visiting(a) Kusadasi and (b) the Hotel Imbat since official notification of legionnaire's disease. [3278]

  Mr. Hanley
  Based on figures from the provincial tourist authority in Turkey and the Hotel Imbat, we estimate(a) some 8,750 British nationals visited Kusadasi, and (b) some 1,250 British nationals stayed at the Hotel Imbat after the possible link was made between the resort and the reported cases of legionnaire's disease.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice was issued to British persons located in(a) the Hotel Imbat and (b) Kusadasi when the outbreak of legionnaire's disease was formerly notified. [3358]

  Mr. Hanley
  In late September the Hotel Imbat told British tour companies and their clients that the hotel was a possible source of legionnaire's disease. British tourists were transferred to other hotels.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice was issued to British persons planning to travel to(a) the Hotel Imbat and (b) Kusadasi following formal notification of legionnaire's disease. [3359]
  84
  Mr. Hanley
  The Department of Health issued advice to public health doctors about the possibility of a link between the hotel and the reported cases of legionnaire's disease. It also wrote to the Federation of Tour Operators and to the Association of British Travel Agents advising them of the situation.

  Budget
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the implications for his Department of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's financial statement. [3700]

  Mr. Hanley
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will respond imaginatively to the challenge of maintaining the front-line effort through demanding efficiency targets, and use of the private finance initiative.

  With 21 new posts opened since 1990, the United Kingdom has diplomatic relations with a record high number of countries. The effort to promote exports and investment has been considerably enhanced in recent years and remains a high priority. The British Council and BBC World Service will continue to make an outstanding contribution to the overall UK diplomatic effort.

  The UK's aid programme will remain the fifth largest in the world. Its overriding priority will continue to be poverty reduction through sustainable development, focused on the poorest countries in Africa and Asia.

  Committee of the Regions
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which councillors appointed by him to the Committee of the Regions are no longer elected members of local authorities; and what plans he has to request them to stand down from the committee. [3844]

  Mr. David Davis
  Two of the full UK members appointed to the Committee of the Regions in 1993 and six of the alternate members are no longer elected members of local authorities. The full members are:

  Dame Elizabeth Anson

  Roy Cross (who has since resigned from the committee)

  The alternate members are:

  Doreen Fleming OBE

  Bill Hughes

  Marcus Humphrey

  Frazer Mitchell

  Tony Prior

  Hedley Salt.

  Since losing his seat in the 1994 local elections, Marcus Humphrey has gained a seat on the new Aberdeen council, representing the mid-Deeside ward, which will come into being in April 1996.

  The European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993, which implemented the Maastricht treaty, states that UK members of the Committee of the Regions must be elected members of a local authority
  "at the time of the proposal of their membership".
  Nothing therefore requires committee members who lose their local authority seats to resign.
  85
  Article 198a of the treaty of European Union states that Committee of the Regions members should be
  "completely independent in the performance of their duties".
  The Government have no intention therefore of imposing their views on the committee, or its members.

  Aral Sea
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's response to Kazakhstan's request for technical help in relation to the Aral sea. [3089]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 28 November 1995]: The British Government have committed £500,000 to the World bank's programme for the rehabilitation of the Aral sea. Using funds from the know-how fund for the former Soviet Union, we are providing expertise to enhance Kazakhstan's environmental monitoring capabilities and to investigate climate changes and the geology of the region.

  Retrospective Service Awards
  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Australian and Canadian Governments' approval of retrospective awards of a special service medal for prescribed peacekeeping and non-warlike operations for the period 1945 to 1975; and what plans Her Majesty's Government have to issue a similar medal for Her Majesty's forces. [3240]

  Mr. Soames
  The decision of a Commonwealth Government to institute retrospectively the award of a medal for any service operation, and any approval which Her Majesty the Queen may have given as Queen of that Commonwealth country, is the sole responsibility of the country concerned. It has been a long-standing policy of successive British Governments not to consider the belated institution of medals and awards, and we therefore have no plans to introduce any medals for the period 1945 to 1975 additional to those already approved.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Crown Prosecution Service (Discontinued Cases)
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Attorney-General what proportion of cases are discounted by the Crown Prosecution Service, and if he will make a statement. [1893]

  The Solicitor-General
  The rate of discontinuance has fallen from 13.4 per cent. of cases for the year ending September 1993 to 11.9 per cent. of cases for the year ending September 1995.

  Court of Appeal (Referrals)
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Attorney-General how many cases he has sought leave to refer to the Court of Appeal on grounds of unduly lenient sentencing since 1 January 1995. [1894]

  The Attorney-General
  Since 1 January 1995, I have referred 68 cases in England and Wales and four in Northern Ireland. One has been withdrawn, twenty-four 86
  have so far been heard by the Court of Appeals of which 22, or 92 per cent., have resulted in an increase in sentence.

  Serious Fraud Office
  Mr. Carrington
  To ask the Attorney-General what is the current case load of the Serious Fraud Office. [1895]

  The Solicitor-General
  The current case load of the Serious Fraud Office is 63 cases, excluding appeals. In addition to its domestic case load, the SFO is increasingly being called upon to assist overseas investigators.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Attorney-General how many staff work in his Office; at what cost to the public funds; and if he will make a statement. [2169]

  The Attorney-General
  Twenty-six staff are employed in the legal secretariat to the Law Officers. The total staff costs for the financial year 1994–95—consisting of salary, allowances, overtime, earnings-related national insurance contributions and superannuation—were £1,040,018. These figures do not include agency staff.

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Attorney-General how many staff in his Department are involved in matters related to the Lockerbie crime. [2170]

  The Attorney-General
  Responsibility for the prosecution aspects of the Lockerbie crime lies with the Lord Advocate and his staff in the Crown Office in Edinburgh. Members of my chambers may become involved in the course of their normal duties but only in relation to aspects of the case which have a bearing on my own responsibilities.

  Electro-shock Batons
  Mrs. Clywd
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the progress of the police investigations into the allegations about the production of electro-shock batons. [1887]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I have been asked to reply, since the question relates to a Scottish police investigation.

  The inquires which are being conducted by Strathclyde police into these allegations are still continuing.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Industrial Injuries Benefit
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for industrial injuries benefit in respect of chronic bronchitis and emphysema were made in Nottinghamshire up to 31 October; how many were successful and how many were refused; and if he will indicate the grounds for refusal or acceptance. [3022]
  87
  Mr. Roger Evans
  This is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Paddy Tipping, dated 30 November 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about how many claims for industrial injuries benefit in respect of chronic bronchitis and emphysema were made in Nottinghamshire up to 31 October 1995; how many were successful and how many were refused; indicating the grounds for refusal or acceptance.The information is not available in the format requested. Statistics on the number of claims for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit are maintained by each Benefits Agency District office. The figures provided in the attached Appendix A are for the main benefit offices in the North, East and West Nottinghamshire areas for the period from 1 April 1995. These include those offices in Nottingham, Mansfield and Sutton in Ashfield. It is possible that these figures will include some people living outside Nottinghamshire.The information in this reply follows on from your earlier Parliamentary Question, on 21 April 1995, in which you were provided with the details to 31 March 1995.I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Appendix A: Claims to IIDB for prescribed disease D12—Chronic Bronchitis and/or emphysema in the Nottinghamshire area for the period 1 April to 31 October 1995

  Number

  Claims made

  127

  Successful claims assessed at 14–19 per cent.

  3

  Successful claims assessed at 20–25 per cent.

  6

  Successful claims assessed at over 25 per cent.

  37

  Disallowed claims—20 year rule

  10

  Disallowed claims—failed FEV test

  71

  Disallowed claims—failed X-Ray test

  59

  Assessed at 1—13 per cent.

  0

  IIDB not payable for assessment under 14 per cent. Note that not all claims received within the period will have been decided by 31 October 1995. Similarly some claims decided in the period will have been made prior to 1 April 1995.

  Figures are provisional and subject to amendment.

  Mr. Peter Sutton
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the hon. Member for Wakefield will receive a full reply from the finance director of the Benefits Agency to inquiries made by Mr. Peter Sutton, national insurance No. ZS065267D, in the hon. Member's letter to the Benefits Agency, dated 13 September; and for what reasons the response has taken longer than the three weeks indicated in the agency's letter of 6 October and the further two weeks reported in its letter of 2 November. [3352]

  Mr. Heald
  The administration of the national insurance scheme is a matter for Mrs. Faith Boardman, the chief executive of the Contributions Agency. She will write to the hon. Member.

  letter from Faith Boardman to Mr. David Hinchliffe, dated 30 November 1995:
  As Chief Executive of the Contributions Agency, I have responsibility for answering questions about operational matters relating to the Agency and the National Insurance (NI) scheme.I have been asked to reply to your enquiry made on behalf of Mr. Peter Sutton, National Insurance Number ZS065267D, regarding difficulties with his National Insurance affairs.88 When my assistant wrote to you on 2 November 1995 I anticipated being able to provide a full response within the 2 weeks indicated. Due to the issues raised this was not possible but we should have provided a further update. Please accept my apologies for this oversight.I anticipate that all the information will be available to provide a full response within 2 weeks, if I am unable to meet this deadline I will write to you again.

  War Pension Disregards
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many local authorities and London boroughs currently offer(a)full disregard, (b) partial disregard and (c) the statutory £10 disregard of war widows' and war disablement pension for the purpose of council tax benefit and housing benefit. [1660]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available in the format requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. All local authorities and London boroughs operate the statutory £10 disregard.

  Mr. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what extra public expenditure he estimates would be entailed in implementing a full nationwide disregard of war widows' and war disablement pensions for the purposes of(a) council tax benefit and (b) housing benefit. [1662]

  Mr. Evans
  The information required to make such an estimate is not available.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the average length of time taken to process an appeal against the disallowance of a disability living allowance applications; [2687]

  (2) how many appeals have been lodged following the disallowance of a disability living allowance application since 1 April 1994; and, of these appeals, how many have been upheld. [2688]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information is not available in the format requested. However, the average clearance time for appeals considered by disability appeal tribunals, which include disability living allowance appeals, is 30 weeks.

  Between 1 April 1994 and 31 October 1995, 41,800 disability living allowance appeals have been decided and, of these, 26,662 cases the appeal was upheld.

  Ms Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many disability living allowance applications have been received since 1 April 1994; and how many of those were disallowed. [2686]

  Mr. Mitchell
  The information is not available in the format requested. The available information is in the table:

  Number

  DLA claims received between 1 April 1994 and 31 October 1995

  747,000

  DLA claims processed between 1 April 1994 and 31 October 1995

  735,000

  Number disallowed between 1 April 1994 and 31 October 1995

  378,000

  Compensation Recovery
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many victims of(a) culpable accidents, (b) illnesses and (c) diseases are now settling for compensation of £2,500 or less; and what assessment he has made of the relationship between the number settling at this level and the rules of the compensation recovery unit. [2902]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  Settlements at or under £2,500 are not necessarily notified to the compensation recovery unit. However, the effect of the small payments limit on settlements has been examined as part of a compliance cost assessment of the changes to the compensation recovery scheme proposed by the Social Security Select Committee. The assessment will be published shortly.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to raise the limit of £2,500 as the threshold for non-recovery by the compensation recovery unit. [2903]

  Mr. Mitchell
  A consultation document was published in October on the implications of changes to the compensation recovery scheme proposed by the Social Security Select Committee. One issue discussed in the consultation document is the future of the small payments limit of £2,500. The Government are now considering the responses to the consultation exercise, and will announce their decision in due course.

  Funeral Benefit
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the maximum funeral benefit available to claimants or families in receipt of benefits such as income support in(a) 1979, (b) 1985, (c) 1990 and (d) when it was last uprated. [3735]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  In each of these years, the maximum amount payable would have been the reasonable cost of specified essential expenses which fell to be met by the person responsible. There was no set maximum amount. Since 5 June 1995, the social fund funeral payment scheme allows up to £500 for specified funeral directors' services, the payment of reasonable costs for other specified disbursements and up to £25 for flowers. Payments may still exceed £1,000, especially in the case of burials. The £500 and £25 caps will be kept under review.

  Disabled People, Carers and the Long-term Sick
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the projected total annual spending on benefits for disabled people for(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97 and (c) 1997–98; and what was the equivalent figure for 1978–79; [3801]

  (2) what is the projected total annual spending on benefits for carers for (a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97 and (c) 1997–98; and what was the equivalent figure for 1978–79; [3800]
  90
  (3) what is the projected total annual spending on benefits for the long-term sick for (a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97 and (c) 1997–98; and what was the equivalent figure for 1978–79. [3802]

  Mr. Burt
  Total projected spending on carers is not available as carers have access to the full range of social security benefits, depending on their individual circumstances. The available information is in the table.

  £ million

  1978–79

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Long term sick and disabled

  1,771

  20,230

  20,550

  21,250

  Invalid Care Allowance

  4

  609

  700

  750

  Source:

  1995 Departmental Report and earlier equivalents.

  Departmental Running Costs
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for what reasons the forecast of his Department's running costs for 1996–97 has risen from £3,195 million, as set out in table 3.7 of the statistical supplement to the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96", Cm 2821, published by Her Majesty's Treasury, to £3.5 billion, as set out in chart 6.6 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1996–97". [4057]

  Mr. Burt
  The main reason for the increase is a reclassification of £200 million of other current expenditure as running costs. This does not alter overall DSS current provision. The remaining increase of around £100 million is to cover the implementation of jobseeker's allowance, changes to child support, further anti-fraud measures and increases in work load.

  Personal Pensions
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of holders of appropriate personal pensions who are contributing only their national insurance rebate; and if he will provide this information by relation to the income of the holder. [2701]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is not available in the format requested.

  Out of a total of 5.6 million appropriate personal pensions in 1993–94, we estimate that some 1.25 million received DSS contributions and associated tax relief only.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of holders of appropriate personal pensions who have rejoined the state earnings-related pension scheme in each of the past five years; and if he will provide this information by relation to the income of the holder. [2702]

  Mr. Heald
  The information up to the end of 1991–92, the latest year for which figures are available, is set out in the table.
  91

  (£pa)

  APPs terminated in

  Reckonable earnings in the year of termination

  1987–

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  Total

  All cases

  14.1

  16.2

  9.6

  13.9

  21.2

  75

  Zero

  0.3

  0.1

  0.1

  0.5

  0.9

  1.9

  1 to 4,999

  3.7

  3.9

  1.5

  1.1

  2.2

  12.4

  5,000 to 9,999

  6.4

  6.2

  4.4

  3.6

  6.4

  27

  10,000 to 14,999

  3

  4.7

  1.8

  5.2

  5.6

  20.3

  15,000 and over

  0.7

  1.3

  1.8

  3.5

  6.1

  13.4

  Source:

  1 Per cent sample for the National Insurance Recording System.

  Note:

  1. As the numbers of cases are low the figures are subject to large sampling errors.

  2. The analysis uses reckonable earnings as data on income are not available.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many individuals currently(a) contribute towards a state earnings-related pension, (b) do not pay SERPS because they are in an occupational scheme and (c) do not pay SERPS because they are in a personal pension scheme. [2703]

  Mr. Heald
  The information for 1992–93, the latest year for which all the requested data are available, is in the table.

  Millions

  Accruing SERPS entitlement only

  8.3

  In a contracted-out occupational scheme only

  7.7

  Accruing SERPS entitlement only for part of the year, and in a contracted out scheme during another part

  0.8

  In an Appropriate Personal Pension Scheme

  5.7

  Source:

  1 per cent. sample from the National Insurance Recording System.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many members of personal pension schemes who have opted out of the state earnings-related pension scheme he estimates will opt back into SERPS over the next five years; and how many have opted back into SERPS. [2704]

  Mr. Heald
  It is not possible to give a firm estimate of the number of people likely to opt out of an appropriate personal pension into the state earnings-related pension scheme, since the decision depends on an individual's particular circumstances. However, the introduction of age-related rebates from April 1997 should enable the majority of appropriate personal pension holders to maintain their arrangements.

  We estimate that some 75,000 United Kingdom appropriate personal pension holders joined SERPS over the five-year period from 1987–88 to 1991–92, the latest year for which figures are available. This may include people who have left their appropriate personal pension and joined SERPS more than once.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of those taking out personal pensions and who have ceased to pay national insurance rebates to this policy after(a) one year, (b) two years, (c) three years, (d) four years and (e) five years. [2705]
  92
  Mr. Heald
  The information is not available in the format requested and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Such information as is available is set out on pages 40 and 41 of "Personal Pension Statistics 1993–94", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost to the national insurance fund of all current holders of an appropriate personal pension with an annual income of(a) £2,000 or below, (b) up to £3,000, (c) up to £4,000, (d) up to £5,000, (e) up to £6,000, (f) up to £7,000, (g) up to £8,000, (h) up to £9,000 and (i) up to £10,000 opting back into SERPS. [2706]

  Mr. Heald
  Information is not available in the format requested. Any estimates of the total cost to the national insurance fund of current holders of appropriate personal pensions opting back into the state earnings-related pension scheme would depend on a number of unknown factors. These include how long the people concerned would remain contracted in to SERPS, how long they would otherwise have contributed to APP schemes and what their future earnings would be. The table gives illustrative estimates of the cost arising, in selected future years, from contributions paid solely in the single year in which the individuals concerned are assumed to contract into SERPS.

  Extra SERPS expenditure in selected years if APP holder in low earnings bands opt back into SERPS for one year

  £ million 1995–96 prices

  APP holders with earning under (£ per annun)

  2010–11

  2020‒21

  2030–31

  2040–41

  2050–51

  2,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4,000

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  5,000

  0

  1

  2

  2

  1

  6,000

  0

  1

  4

  4

  3

  7,000

  1

  3

  10

  10

  5

  8,000

  1

  5

  15

  15

  10

  9,000

  2

  5

  20

  25

  15

  10,000

  2

  10

  30

  35

  20

  1. Little extra cost until 2010 as most APP holders are under age 45.

  2. Estimates of numbers affected based on data for 1993–94, the most recently available, used to estimate proportions of APP holders in respect of people in the earnings bands quoted.

  3. Earnings under £3,000 would not accrue SERPS so no financial effect in respect of that year.

  4. Earnings have been used, as a breakdown by income is not available.

  5. The year in which opting back into SERPS is assumed to take place is 1995–96.

  93
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total cost to date to the national insurance fund of(a) national insurance rebates, (b) tax relief and (c) other incentives paid in respect of personal pensions contracted out of the state earnings-related pension scheme. [2707]

  Mr. Heald
  The information up to and including 1993–94, the latest year for which audited accounts are available, is set out in the table:

  GB receipts

  £ millions

  Rebates to personal pensions (a)

  9,149

  Tax relief to personal pensions (b)

  1,067

  Incentives to personal pensions (c)

  3,126

  Total (a)+(c)1

  12,275

  Notes:

  1 The cost of tax relief is not a cost to the National Insurance fund as it is continually reimbursed by the Inland Revenue.

  Source: National Insurance Fund Accounts and data from the Contributions Agency

  GB accruals of rebates

  £ millions

  Reckonable earnings less than £pa

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991ߝ92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  2,000

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3,000

  4

  4

  2

  2

  0

  0

  0

  4,000

  23

  22

  18

  14

  8

  7

  4

  5,000

  65

  63

  54

  43

  31

  26

  17

  6,000

  127

  127

  120

  95

  74

  60

  43

  7,000

  206

  205

  209

  175

  139

  120

  85

  8,000

  299

  301

  308

  275

  230

  205

  145

  9,000

  397

  399

  420

  394

  338

  306

  224

  10,000

  487

  500

  540

  519

  464

  427

  316

  Notes:

  1. The figures are for accruals of rebate up to and including the year 1993–94. These will normally be paid in the following year.

  2. The analysis uses reckonable earnings as data on income is not available.

  Source:

  One per cent. from the National Insurance Recording System.

  GB accruals of incentives and additions

  £ million

  Reckonable earnings less than £ pa

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  2,000

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3,000

  1

  1

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  4,000

  7

  8

  6

  5

  3

  2

  0

  5,000

  20

  21

  18

  15

  10

  9

  2

  6,000

  40

  43

  41

  32

  25

  20

  4

  7,000

  65

  70

  71

  59

  47

  41

  7

  8,000

  94

  102

  105

  93

  78

  70

  12

  9,000

  125

  135

  143

  134

  115

  104

  19

  10,000

  153

  170

  183

  176

  158

  145

  28

  Source:

  1 per cent. sample from the National Insurance Recording System.

  Notes:

  1. The figures are for accruals up to and including the year 1993–94. These will normally be paid in the following year.

  2. The analysis uses reckonable earnings as data on income are not available.

  3. The figures between 1987–88 and 1992–93 refer only to the 2 per cent. incentive. These payments ceased to accrue after 1992–93.The figure for 1993–94 is for the 1 per cent. age-addition only, payable to all appropriate personal pension holders aged 30 and over. This began to accrue from April 1993.

  94
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the cost, in each year until the most recent, to the national insurance fund of(a) national insurance rebates, (b) tax relief and (c) other incentives paid in respect of personal pensions contracted out of the state earnings-related pension scheme of individuals with an annual income of (i) £2,000 or below, (ii) up to £3,000, (iii) up to £4,000, (iv) up to £5,000, (v) up to £6,000, (vi) up to £7,000, (vii) up to £8,000, (viii) up to £9,000 and (ix) up to £10,000. [2708]

  Mr. Heald
  The information up to the end of 1993–94, the latest year for which figures are available, is set out in the tables. Tax relief is not a cost to the national insurance fund as it is continually reimbursed by the Inland Revenue.

  Invalidity and Incapacity Benefits
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many persons were found fit for work following medicals for(a) invalidity benefit and (b) incapacity benefit between (i) 1 April and 30 September and (ii) 1 October and 31 March in each year since 1990; and what studies he is undertaking in order to compare invalidity benefit take-up and benefit suspension with incapacity benefit. [3272]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available prior to April 1995 is in the table. Between April and September, 18,898 people have been disallowed under the all work test and 293 people because they are capable of their own occupation. Direct comparisons between incapacity benefit and invalidity benefit are not possible because of the different structure, qualifying conditions and administration of the two benefits.

  The figures for incapacity benefit reflects activity during a time when the take-on of cases has been carefully controlled to match capacity as experience of the new procedures grows. It is not representative and it is too early to draw firm conclusions about the effectiveness of the new procedures.

  A number of studies and research projects are planned to establish the effect of the introduction of incapacity benefit.

  Period

  Number of medical opinions given—capable of own occupation

  Number of medical opinions given—capable of alternative work

  April 1992–September 1992

  19,504

  29,502

  October 1992–March 1993

  18,217

  33,118

  April 1993–September 1993

  12,511

  47,370

  October 1993–March 1994

  9,904

  52,996

  April 1994–September 1994

  8,499

  52,217

  October 1994–March 1995

  8,365

  52,684

  1. Figures for Great Britain prior to 1992 are not available. The figures relate to the number of medical opinions given by the Medical Reference Service that the claimant was capable of work following examination for Sickness Benefit, Invalidity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance and not the number of disallowances. Excluded are references where the National Insurance contribution conditions for Sickness/Invalidity Benefit were not satisfied and benefit was payable because the person's incapacity was the result of an accident at work or a prescribed industrial disease.

  2. The decision whether to disallow benefit following a medical opinion was made by an independent adjudication officer.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what benefit provision Her Majesty's Government(a) currently make and (b) intend to make available to disabled applicants for political asylum and those asylum seekers who care for disabled applicants. [3672]
  96
  Mr. Roger Evans
  Disabled asylum applicants, and carers who are themselves asylum applicants, are currently entitled to claim social security benefits, including invalid care allowance, subject to the normal conditions of eligibility. Payment of income support is at the urgent cases rate, which limits the claimant's personal allowance to 90 per cent. of the normal rate. Entitlement to income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit ceases on the abandonment or final negative determination of an asylum application.

  Under proposed changes to these provisions, benefit entitlement would be limited to income support at the urgent cases rate, housing benefit and council tax benefit for people who applied for asylum on entry to the UK.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of his Department's budget is represented by social security benefits made available to refugees and asylum seekers. [3630]

  Mr. Evans
  Approximately one quarter of 1 per cent. of total benefit expenditure, or £215 million per annum.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what benefit provision Her Majesty's Government intend to make for pregnant women who apply for political asylum during the course of the application with regard to housing, maternal and foetal health and food. [3673]

  Mr. Evans
  The two maternity benefits, statutory maternity pay and maternity allowance, are specifically aimed at pregnant working women and both have qualifying conditions closely related to the woman's recent employment and earnings history. They are therefore not available to women who have newly arrived in this country. This applies whether or not they are asylum seekers and the proposed benefit changes do not affect this position. People from abroad, including pregnant women, who apply for asylum on entry to the UK will remain entitled to claim income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit under currently proposed benefit changes. In addition, an application may be made to the social fund for a maternity payment if the applicant or her partner is in receipt of income support, housing benefit or disability working allowance.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions he has had with his European counterparts about the harmonisation of welfare benefits available for asylum seekers and refugees. [3629]

  Mr. Evans
  My right hon. Friend and his ministerial team have had no such discussions.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the maximum amount of disability benefit that may be claimed by an applicant for political asylum; and what amount is then deducted from the amount paid to the applicant in income support; [3671]

  (2) what is the maximum weekly amount of benefit which may be claimed by applicants for political asylum who are (a) a single mother with one child, (b) a married couple without dependent children and (c) a married couple with two dependent children. [3670]
  97
  Mr. Evans
  Asylum seekers are currently entitled to claim any social security benefit, subject to the normal conditions of eligibility appropriate to each. The weekly amount of benefit paid will depend on which benefits are claimed and on the individual circumstances of the claimant and any partner and dependants.

  Income Support
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the current monetary value of the capital thresholds for eligibility for income support; and where these have been indexed if he will give the date they were set at(a) £3,000 and (b) £8,000. [3623]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The income support capital threshold of £3,000 was introduced in April 1988 and the threshold of £8,000 was introduced in April 1990. Had these limits been indexed in line with prices since their respective dates of introduction, the levels that they would be in 1995–96 are set out in the table:

  Income support capital thresholds indexed by prices

  Levels if indexed since introduction

  Current actual levels in 1995–96 £

  by ROSSI £

  by RPI £

  Lower thresholds 3,000

  4,172

  4,254

  Upper threshold 8,000

  10,101

  9,955

  1. The lower capital limit of £3,000 is indexed from 1988 to 1995–96 and the upper capital limit of £8,000 is indexed from 1990 to 1995–96.

  2. Indexation is based upon the yearly (September) CSO figures for ROSSI and RPI. The September figures are used because annual Social Security benefits uprating in April is based upon the ROSSI and RPI figures of the preceding September.

  3. RPI is the CSO Retail Prices Index. ROSSI is the RPI minus adjustments for housing expenditure. ROSSI is the price index used for uprating most of the Income Support allowances and premiums.

  4. No rounding has been assumed at each year so the results are presented to the nearest one pound.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Departmental Targets
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what are the published response times within which his Department is expected to reply to letters from the public. [3007]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Lord Chancellor's Department comprises two next steps agencies —the Court Service and the Public Trust Office—the departmental headquarters and associated offices. The two agencies have published target response times to correspondence as part of their charter standards. As this is an operational matter, I have asked the chief executives of the two agencies to reply direct. There is no universal or published recommended response time in the headquarters of the Department or its associated offices, although individual divisions work to local targets. Every effort is made to respond substantively to letters from the public within 20 working days.
  98
  Letter from M. D. Huebner to Ms Hilary Armstrong, dated 4 December 1995:
  The Parliamentary Secretary has asked me to reply in respect of the Court Service to your Question about replies to letters from the public.If a member of the public writes to a court they should receive a written reply or telephone call usually within 5 but no later than 10 working days. If they are not satisfied with the reply they have received and write to the Court Service Customer Service Unit, they should receive an acknowledgement within 2 working days and a reply within 20 working days from the date the Unit receives the letter, unless legal advice is required. If we need to take legal advice, the member of the public will be notified within 20 working days and will be sent a final reply within 40 working days.These response times are published in the Charter for Court Users.
  Letter from Julia C. Lomas to Ms Hilary Armstrong, dated 4 December 1995:
  The Parliamentary Secretary has asked me to reply to you as part of the Lord Chancellor's Department's response to your Parliamentary Question, listed on 24 November 1995, regarding the published recommended response times to letters from the public.The Court Funds Office's standard for correspondence is to respond to all letters of enquiry within 5 working days. The Mental Health Sector and Trust Division standard is to respond to all letters within 10 working days or to acknowledge letters within 3 working days and respond fully within 20 working days.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  School Meals
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he has taken following the survey conducted by the Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke Association on the dietary content of school meals. [2676]

  Mr. Ancram
  The Department of Education has consulted the Department of Health and Social Services, the education and library boards and other agencies about the issues raised in the survey conducted by the Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke Association and in particular the application of recommendations made by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy about nutrition. The Department will review the existing guidelines for school meals in light of these consultations.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the dietary value of school meals. [2677]

  Mr. Ancram
  The Department of Education has issued nutritional guidelines for school meals in nursery, primary and special schools.

  The Department and the education and library boards school meals service regularly assess the nutritional value of meals offered to pupils.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the expenditure permitted on school meals per pupil in real and constant price terms in each school board area in each year since 1990. [2678]

  Mr. Ancram
  This information requested is in the table.
  99

  Belfast board £

  Western board £

  North-eastern board £

  South-eastern Board £

  Southern board £

  1990–91—actual

  206.54

  216.35

  234.89

  232.53

  229.04

  at 1994–95 prices

  239.36

  250.73

  272.22

  269.48

  265.44

  1991–92—actual

  233.31

  230.30

  255.30

  239.85

  236.53

  at 1994–95 prices

  254.40

  251.12

  278.38

  261.53

  257.91

  1992–93—actual

  214.58

  240.93

  254.54

  225.20

  238.97

  at 1994–95 prices

  225.02

  252.65

  266.92

  236.15

  250.59

  1993–94—actual

  233.93

  247.59

  248.71

  226.51

  245.58

  at 1994–95 prices

  238.02

  262.10

  253.06

  230.47

  249.88

  1994–95—actual

  227.40

  247.81

  260.46

  239.03

  248.53

  Roads (Belfast)
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what low-cost anti-accident measures have been considered as an alternative to the current enlargement scheme for the Balmoral avenue—Malone road junction in Belfast. [2510]

  Mr. Moss
  A number of low-cost options based largely on modified traffic signal arrangements were considered but none was found to be suitable. The proposed scheme is the most appropriate means of dealing with the major problems identified at the junction, a view confirmed by the independent inspectors who conducted two separate public inquiries.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the Balmoral avenue junction scheme in Belfast is part of a wider road enlargement scheme being considered in that area; and how much extra traffic it is expected to generate. [2511]

  Mr. Moss
  The proposed scheme at the Balmoral avenue-Malone road junction does not form part of any other scheme and is not expected to generate additional traffic.

  Road Safety Education Officers
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many road safety education officers have been employed in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years; and how many are planned to be employed in the next financial year. [2717]

  Mr. Moss
  The information requested is as follows:

  Year

  Road safety education officers

  1991–92

  116

  1992–93

  15

  1993–94

  15

  1994–95

  13

  1995–96

  13

  1Reducing to 15.

  It is anticipated that the complement will be 11 road safety education officers with effect from 1 April 1996.

  Social Fund
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much receipts under the European social fund for Northern Ireland in each financial year to date were earned by(a) the private sector, (b) non-central
  100
  Government public sector bodies, and (c) central Government. [2487]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information is as follows:

  £ million

  Year

  (a)Private/Voluntary sector

  (b)Non-central Government public bodies

  (c)Central Government

  1973–74

  —

  —

  —

  1974–75

  0.41

  0.31

  2.68

  1975–76

  —

  —

  —

  1976–77

  0.77

  0.58

  5.05

  1977–78

  0.90

  0.68

  5.92

  1978–79

  1.80

  1.35

  11.85

  1979–80

  1.80

  1.35

  11.85

  1980–81

  2.76

  2.07

  18.17

  1981–82

  3.00

  2.25

  19.75

  1982–83

  4.22

  3.17

  27.81

  1983–84

  4.56

  3.42

  30.02

  1984–85

  4.56

  3.42

  30.02

  1985–86

  3.00

  2.25

  19.75

  1986–87

  6.39

  4.80

  42.11

  1987–88

  6.77

  5.08

  44.55

  1988–89

  4.33

  3.25

  28.52

  1989–90

  4.17

  5.57

  36.66

  1900–91

  4.57

  6.08

  40.05

  1991–92

  4.75

  6.32

  41.63

  1992–93

  3.77

  5.03

  33.10

  1993–94

  3.16

  4.21

  27.73

  1994–95

  6.36

  8.47

  55.77

  72.05

  69.66

  532.99

  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money Northern Ireland has received in each financial year to date; how much each year represented a cash addition to the Northern Ireland economy; and how much was used to offset Government expenditure on Northern Ireland. [2484]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The following amounts were received from the European social fund:

  Financial year

  Total £ million

  1973–74

  —

  1974–75

  3.4

  1975–76

  0.0

  1976–77

  6.4

  1977–78

  7.5

  1978–79

  15.0

  1979–80

  15.0

  1980–81

  23.0

  1981–82

  25.0

  1982–83

  35.2

  101

  Financial year

  Total £ million

  1983–84

  38.0

  1984–85

  38.0

  1985–86

  25.0

  1986–87

  53.3

  1987–88

  56.4

  1988–89

  36.1

  1989–90

  46.4

  1990–91

  50.7

  1991–92

  52.7

  1992–93

  41.9

  1993–94

  35.1

  1994–95

  70.6

  Total

  674.7

  Receipts earned by the private sector and by non-central Government public sector bodies are paid to the claimant. The receipts represent cash additions to the

  Recurrent financial allocations to Education and Library Boards

  £1000

  Financial year

  Belfast

  North Eastern

  South Eastern

  Southern

  Western

  Total

  1988–89

  Actual

  47,959

  55,284

  44,927

  54,083

  47,841

  250,094

  Current prices

  66,152

  76,256

  61,969

  74,599

  65,990

  344,966

  1989–90

  Actual

  53,017

  62,309

  51,246

  60,528

  53,914

  281,014

  Current prices

  68,354

  80,334

  66,071

  78,038

  69,511

  362,308

  1990–91

  Actual

  58,888

  70,036

  59,590

  68,820

  61,371

  318,705

  Current prices

  70,291

  83,598

  71,130

  82,147

  73,256

  380,422

  1991–92

  Actual

  141,136

  169,298

  144,105

  167,182

  146,637

  768,358

  Current prices

  158,506

  190,135

  161,841

  187,758

  164,684

  862,924

  1992–93

  Actual

  156,957

  189,915

  159,702

  185,858

  161,017

  853,449

  Current prices

  169,524

  205,121

  172,489

  200,739

  173,909

  921,782

  1993–94

  Actual

  161,214

  195,910

  166,957

  193,438

  170,183

  887,702

  Current prices

  168,952

  205,314

  174,971

  202,723

  178,352

  930,312

  Note:

  As from 1991–92, under the terms of the Education Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, the Education and Library Boards became responsible for teachers' and lecturers' salary costs.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what resources were made available to each of the education and library boards in connection with the amalgamation of further education colleges in 1993–94 and 1994–95. [2494]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information is as follows:

  1993–94 £

  1994–95 £

  North Eastern education and library board

  52,000

  258,000

  Southern education and library board

  17,000

  89,000

  South Eastern education and library board

  17,000

  93,000

  Playing Fields
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many playing fields are currently under threat of development; [2583]

  (2) what area of playing fields has been sold off since 1981; [2581]
  102
  recipients. Receipts earned by central Government are paid into the Northern Ireland Consolidated Fund. All ESF receipts are subject to EC audit arrangements and normal government accounting requirements.

  The overall level of receipts is taken in account in the Government's decisions on public expenditure allocations, and their availability enables public expenditure to be maintained at a higher level than would otherwise be feasible.

  Education and Library Boards
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the budget in(a) real, and (b) constant price terms, of each education and library board in each year since 1988. [2537]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information requested is as follows:

  (3) what estimate he has made of value of playing fields that have been sold off since 1981; [2673]

  (4) how many playing fields have been sold off since 1981. [2582]

  Mr. Ancram
  Comprehensive records of playing fields in Northern Ireland are not held centrally. Of those grant-aided by the Department, 13 have been sold since 1981 and of these seven were on school/university sites, five were owned by voluntary sports clubs and one was owned by a district council. The total area involved exceeds 76 acres and the total sale value exceeds £4 million.

  Two former school playing fields are currently on the market for disposal with planning permission for housing development. These sites have become available only because of the closure of the schools in question.

  My Department is exploring, with the Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland), the scope for introducing arrangements which would provide for consultation with the Sports Council for Northern Ireland on planning proposals which adversely affect playing fields.

  Further Education Colleges
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) voluntary and (b)

  College

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Voluntary redundancies

  Belfast (wef 1 April 1991)

  n/a

  —

  —

  16

  —

  Fermanagh

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Limavady

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  North-west

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Omagh

  —

  —

  —

  3

  2

  Northern Ireland Hotel and Catering

  North Antrim

  2

  —

  —

  2

  Causeway

  Coleraine

  —

  1

  1

  7

  Antrim

  —

  —

  —

  1

  North-east

  Ballymena

  1

  —

  —

  6

  7

  Magherafelt

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Newtownabbey Lame

  —

  —

  —

  1

  East Antirm

  Larne

  —

  2

  —

  9

  Castlereagh

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Down

  —

  —

  —

  EastDown

  Newcastle

  —

  —

  1

  5

  4

  North Down and Ards

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  East Tyrone

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Newry and Kilkeel

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Banbridge

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Upper Bann

  Lurgan

  —

  —

  —

  3

  4

  Portadown

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Compulsory redundancies

  Belfast (wef 1 April 1995)

  n/a

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Fermanagh

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Omagh

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  North Antrim

  1

  —

  1

  —

  Causeway

  Coleraine

  —

  —

  —

  Antrim

  3

  —

  —

  —

  North-east

  Ballymena

  —

  —

  —

  Magherafelt

  —

  —

  —

  Newtownabbey

  —

  —

  —

  —

  East Antrim

  Larne

  —

  3

  —

  2

  Banbridge

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Lurgan

  —

  3

  —

  Upper Bann

  Portadown

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Information on Belfast is not available prior to 1991–92. There were no voluntary or compulsory redundancies in the other colleges in 1988–89 or 1989–90.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many full-time lecturing posts have

  College

  11990–91

  11991–92

  21992–93

  21993–94

  21994–95

  21995–96

  BIFHE

  551

  567

  551

  550

  524

  526

  Fermanagh

  74

  69

  64

  59

  63

  68

  Limavady

  44

  45

  32

  36

  35

  46

  North-West

  156

  158

  132

  146

  154

  175

  Omagh

  67

  68

  67

  64

  61

  63

  NI Hotel and Catering

  22

  22

  19

  23

  24

  24

  North Antrim

  30

  27

  20

  20

  Causeway

  —

  Coleraine

  64

  64

  53

  56

  97

  89

  Antrim

  40

  38

  31

  33

  North East

  Ballymena

  106

  105

  98

  82

  Magherafelt

  44

  44

  41

  37

  184

  182

  Newtownabbey

  100

  94

  89

  92

  East Antrim

  —

  Larne

  54

  50

  38

  37

  145

  127

  104
  compulsory redundancies there have been in each further education college in Northern Ireland in each academic year since 1988. [2535]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information is as follows:

  been funded from the further and higher education budget in each further education college in Northern Ireland in each year since 1990–91. [2491]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information as at October in each year is as follows:
  105

  College

  11990–91

  11991–92

  21992–93

  21993–94

  21994–95

  21995–96

  Castlereagh

  78

  70

  67

  70

  70

  70

  Down

  67

  71

  56

  58

  East Down

  —

  Newcastle

  36

  34

  23

  27

  98

  96

  Lisburn

  96

  91

  65

  64

  66

  68

  North Down and Ards

  128

  134

  106

  107

  116

  120

  Armagh

  71

  70

  66

  60

  57

  61

  East Tyrone

  67

  70

  64

  59

  67

  64

  Newry and Kilkeel

  92

  92

  86

  86

  86

  101

  Banbridge

  31

  30

  28

  28

  Upper Bann

  —

  Lurgan

  59

  60

  47

  52

  Portadown

  98

  96

  88

  88

  178

  140

  Notes:

  1Includes full-time lecturers employed in the Youth Training Programme (YTP lecturers cannot be separately identified for 1990-91 and 1991-92).

  2 Excludes full-time lecturers employed in the Youth Training Programme.

  1. From 1994?–95 North Antrim and Coleraine became Causeway; Antrim, Ballymena and Magherafelt became North East; Newtownabbey and Larne became East Antrim; Down and Newcastle became East Down; and Banbridge, Lurgan and Portadown became Upper Bann.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many industrial tribunal and fair employment tribunal cases have been lodged against which further education colleges in each year since 1988. [2536]

  Mr. Ancram
  The following information has been provided by the education and library boards. Their records do not show cases prior to 1990.

  College

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Belfast

  —

  1

  —

  1

  4

  6

  Fermanagh

  —

  2

  —

  —

  2

  —

  North-west

  —

  1

  1

  —

  3

  1

  Omagh

  1

  1

  —

  2

  1

  —

  NI Hotel and Catering

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  2

  North Antrim

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Antrim

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Larne

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  College

  11990–91

  11990–91

  21992–93

  21993–94

  21994–95

  College of Technology

  83

  BIFHE

  College of Business Studies

  89

  876

  903

  882

  857

  Rupert Stanley

  851

  Fermanagh

  56

  47

  48

  53

  79

  Limavady

  56

  60

  67

  70

  77

  North West

  137

  156

  184

  203

  337

  Omagh

  58

  52

  60

  53

  101

  NI Hotel and Catering

  5

  9

  5

  6

  11

  North Antrim

  30

  54

  35

  45

  Causeway

  Coleraine

  36

  39

  32

  38

  85

  Antrim

  39

  31

  51

  54

  Ballymena

  61

  72

  73

  67

  North-east

  Magherafelt

  29

  25

  16

  23

  195

  Newtownabbey

  154

  134

  116

  79

  East Antrim

  Larne

  29

  15

  7

  7

  127

  Castlereagh

  184

  139

  100

  145

  186

  Down

  126

  75

  99

  118

  East Down

  Newcastle

  52

  34

  44

  57

  183

  Lisburn

  154

  89

  96

  142

  163

  North Down and Ards

  264

  167

  170

  281

  235

  Armagh

  71

  51

  38

  40

  66

  106

  College

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Castlereagh

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  2

  Down

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Newcastle

  —

  —

  5

  1

  1

  2

  Lisburn

  —

  —

  3

  —

  —

  2

  North Down and Ards

  —

  1

  1

  2

  2

  6

  East Tyrone

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  4

  Newry and Kilkeel

  —

  —

  —

  —

  7

  2

  Lurgan

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Portadown

  —

  1

  —

  —

  2

  1

  Upper Bann1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  1Amalgamation of Portadown, Lurgan and Banbridge on 1 September 1994.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many part-time lecturing staff have been employed in each college of further education in Northern Ireland in each year since 1990. [2492]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information requested is as follows:
  107

  College

  11990–91

  11991–92

  21992–93

  21993–94

  21994–95

  East Tyrone

  47

  51

  51

  43

  119

  Newry and Kilkeel

  64

  82

  54

  53

  135

  Banbridge

  41

  44

  44

  46

  Upper Bann

  Lurgan

  28

  26

  33

  45

  249

  Portadown

  83

  47

  20

  12

  Notes:

  1 Part-time teachers as at January.

  2 Part-time teachers as at October.

  1. From 1994–95 North Antrim and Coleraine became Causeway; Antrim, Ballymena and Magherafelt became North East; Newtownabbey and Larne became East Antrim; Down and Newcastle became East Down; and Banbridge, Lurgan and Portadown became Upper Bann.

  Road Deaths (Children)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children died in road traffic accidents in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years. [2719]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested is as follows:

  Age

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Under 1

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  1

  1

  0

  1

  0

  1

  2

  2

  3

  2

  0

  3

  3

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  4

  2

  1

  1

  0

  2

  5

  4

  1

  1

  0

  1

  6

  0

  2

  2

  0

  1

  7

  4

  2

  1

  0

  3

  8

  1

  1

  1

  2

  0

  9

  0

  4

  2

  4

  2

  10

  2

  1

  1

  1

  2

  11

  1

  2

  0

  1

  2

  £million

  Individual capital products

  Other guidance schemes

  Financial year

  Private sector

  Public sector

  Private sector

  Public sector

  Total

  1990–91

  4.75

  —

  6.25

  —

  11.0

  1991–92

  4.31

  —

  21.78

  2.86

  28.95

  1992–93

  8.31

  —

  9.56

  0.45

  18.32

  1993–94

  2.32

  —

  23.08

  2.7

  28.10

  1994–95

  6.23

  —

  22.13

  —

  28.36

  All these receipts present cash additions to the recipients and are subject to normal European Community audit arrangements. The overall level of receipts is taken into account in the Government's decision on public expenditure allocations and their availability enables public expenditure to be maintained at a higher level than would otherwise be feasible.

  Hotel and Catering College Lecturers
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many lecturers, who are citizens of the Republic of Ireland, were enrolled in hotel and catering colleges in Northern Ireland for each year since 1990–91. [2478]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information is not available.

  General National Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the expenditure on
  108

  Age

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  12

  1

  1

  0

  0

  2

  13

  5

  1

  1

  3

  1

  14

  0

  2

  0

  0

  2

  15

  2

  6

  1

  2

  4

  Total

  25

  28

  16

  14

  26

  European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money Northern Ireland has received in each financial year to date from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund guidance section; how much of these receipts were paid to the private sector; how much of these receipts were paid to the public sector; how much of these receipts represented a cash addition to the Northern Ireland economy; and how much was used each year to offset Government expenditure on Northern Ireland. [2485]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information requested is as follows:

  the introduction of GNVQs in schools and further education colleges in Northern Ireland in each year since 1992–93. [2493]

  Mr. Ancram
  It is not possible to identify separately the total expenditure on GNVQs in schools and further education colleges. Schools and colleges which provide GNVQs meet the costs from within the totality of the resources available to them.

  However, additional resources have been made available to 16 schools and to all colleges to assist them to pilot GNVQs and to facilitate the introduction of new subject areas. To date, a total of £32,000 has been paid to schools and £264,000 to colleges.

  Common Land
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will institute an
  109
  interdepartmental policy group to address the problems of those who live adjacent to common land and thoroughfares where anti-social elements gather; and if he will make it his policy to enclose publicly owned common land where persistent offences occur. [2507]

  Sir John Wheeler
  At present there are no plans to institute an interdepartmental policy group on these issues.

  The Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments do not have a policy to enclose lands to which the public has access; rather, where offences occur, they take whatever steps are necessary to address the problem in consultation with the RUC.

  Road Safety
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what response he has made to the recommendations contained in the 13th report of the Committee of Public Accounts on the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland on road safety—HC 26th Session 1993–94—in respect of the adoption of the local authorities, road safety code of practice. [2716]

  Mr. Moss
  The Public Accounts Committee made no such recommendation. In 1989 the local authority associations in Great Britain produced a road safety code of good practice. The Department of the Environment has not formally adopted the code. However, it has given

  £ million

  Infrastructure Projects

  Financial year

  Non- central government

  central government

  Industrial projects

  Programmes1

  Total

  1975–76

  0.6

  —

  2.3

  —

  2.9

  1976–77

  0.6

  2.8

  3.8

  —

  7.2

  1977–78

  3.2

  0.7

  2.5

  —

  6.4

  1978–79

  2.4

  0.8

  0.8

  —

  4.0

  1979–80

  9.7

  3.3

  3.0

  —

  16.0

  1980–81

  9.7

  1.3

  10.0

  —

  21.0

  1981–82

  4.7

  4.0

  7.6

  0.1

  16.4

  1982–83

  3.8

  11.3

  2.5

  0.4

  18.0

  1983–84

  3.9

  7.5

  1.3

  0.8

  13.5

  1984–85

  5.1

  7.5

  3.0

  1.3

  16.9

  1985–86

  7.0

  9.0

  1.0

  1.4

  18.4

  1986–87

  10.3

  6.8

  3.8

  2.3

  23.2

  1987–88

  22.9

  6.4

  11.1

  5.5

  45.9

  1988–89

  18.9

  7.0

  15.2

  5.6

  46.7

  1989–90

  8.4

  4.9

  16.9

  10.2

  40.4

  1990–91

  7.6

  4.2

  4.9

  9.0

  25.7

  1991–92

  2.4

  1.0

  3.2

  29.3

  35.9

  1992–93

  2.6

  0,8

  4.5

  76.7

  84.6

  1993–94

  2.6

  0.7

  10.5

  88.3

  102.1

  1994–95

  0.7

  —

  0.6

  65.8

  67.1

  1995–962

  0.0

  —

  —

  35.9

  35.9

  Totals

  127.1

  80.0

  108.5

  332.6

  648.2

  1 These programmes combine elements of both industry and infrastructure.

  2 Includes estimated receipts to date for 1995–96 financial year.

  University Research Funding
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements are in place to ensure the continuation of "DevR" research funding for the universities in Northern Ireland. [2532]
  110
  formal expression to the code principles, in so far as they are relevant to the Department's functional responsibilities, within the body of the road safety plan for Northern Ireland. The plan was formally launched on 5 July 1995.

  Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to bring in legislation similar to the Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995. [2509]

  Mr. Moss
  None. The Department of Health and Social Services already has the legislative authority to direct health and social services boards and trusts to carry out assessments of carers' needs as provided by the Act and has done so.

  European Regional Development Fund
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money Northern Ireland has received in each year to date from the European regional development fund; how much has been earned by(a) infrastructure projects undertaken by non-central Government bodies, (b) in frastructute projects undertaken by central Government and (c) industrial projects. [2486]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information is as follows:

  Mr. Ancram
  The developmental element of research funding for the Northern Ireland universities, NIDevR, is to extend until the end of the 1996–97 academic year. Following the outcome of the 1996 research assessment exercise, the Northern Ireland Higher Education Council,
  111
  which advises Government on the planning and funding of higher education in Northern Ireland, will make recommendations on the totality of research funding for both universities beyond 1996–97.

  Foyleside Centre
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what public funds have been allocated for the Foyleside centre, Northern Ireland; how much the total budget for the centre is, and if he will make a statement. [2909]

  Mr. Moss
  The allocation of public funds for the Foyleside centre in Northern Ireland comprised a grant of £7.5 million from the Department of the Environment urban development grant budget. The total budget for this centre including fitting-out costs is estimated at some £65 million.

  EEC Payments
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much Northern Ireland's share of the United Kingdom's payments into the European Economic Community was from 1 January 1973 to date; how much Northern Ireland's share of the receipts was for the same period; and how much of those receipts was used to offset Government expenditure in Northern Ireland. [2482]

  Sir John Wheeler
  It is not possible to determine Northern Ireland's actual share of the United Kingdom's contribution to the European Community because payments are made on a national and not a regional basis. Similarly, it is not possible to identify the full extent of receipts from the Community. However, a Northern Ireland attributed share of the contribution to the EC is calculated as an accounting mechanism necessary because of the operation of a separate Northern Ireland Consolidated Fund. This notional attributed share does not count as an item of expenditure within the Northern Ireland public expenditure programme and has therefore no bearing on the level of public expenditure in the Province.

  Figures for the notional attribution of part of Northern Ireland's share of the United Kingdom's payments and for those areas where the receipts from the European Community's structural funds can be separately identified are as follows:

  £ million

  Financial year

  Attributed share (part)

  2Identified receipts

  1973–74

  1

  0

  1974–75

  6

  4

  1975–76

  8

  4

  1976–77

  13

  16

  1977–78

  16

  14

  1978–79

  24

  19

  1979–80

  28

  31

  1980–81

  28

  44

  1981–82

  50

  41

  1982–83

  66

  53

  1983–84

  66

  51

  1984–85

  68

  58

  1985–86

  74

  44

  1986–87

  62

  77

  1987–88

  91

  111

  1988–89

  85

  96

  112

  Financial Year

  Attributed Share (part)

  2Identified receipts

  1989–90

  104

  95

  1990–91

  107

  110

  1991–92

  100

  132

  1993–93

  134

  158

  1993–94

  1171

  185

  1994–95

  1173

  157

  Total

  1,475

  1,500

  1Attributed share figures for the last two years are provisional estimates which will be revised when final details of tax revenues are determined.

  2This comprises total identified EC Structural Funds and, from 1994–95, Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance receipts in Northern Ireland.

  All receipts represent cash additions to the recipients and are subject to normal European Community audit arrangements and the requirements of government accounting.

  The overall level of receipts is taken into account in the Government's decisions on public expenditure allocations and their availability enables public expenditure to be maintained at a higher level that would otherwise be feasible.

  Structural Funds
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money Northern Ireland has received in each financial year from EEC sources apart from payments under the three structural funds. [2483]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The following amounts have been identified as being received in Northern Ireland from European Community sources other than the three structural funds since 1987–88 when meaningful figures first became available.

  Financial year

  Total £million

  1987–88

  27.6

  1988–89

  27.8

  1989–90

  46.0

  1990–91

  48.0

  1991–92

  59.5

  1992–93

  56.1

  1993–94

  89.7

  1994–95

  114.7

  These receipts are from the guarantee section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. However, it should be noted that the bulk of guarantee section receipts are disbursed centrally by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce and details of payments are not generally maintained at regional level. Other small payments are made by the European Commission direct to recipients which are not passed through the United Kingdom Government.

  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money has been received by Northern Ireland under each of the European Community initiatives to date. [2481]
  113
  Sir John Wheeler
  Under the 1989 to 1993 structural funds allocation, Northern Ireland had 11 approved Community initiatives. The amounts received to date under each initiative are:

  Initiative

  £ million

  Interreg I (assistance to border areas)

  26.90

  Stride (research and technological development)

  8.55

  Envireg (environmental improvement)

  11.23

  Prisma (assistance to firms)

  3.41

  Telematique (promotion of telecommunications service)

  3.36

  Euroform (qualifications and new skills, and employment opportunities)

  1.63

  Now (employment opportunities for women)

  0.84

  Horizon (handicapped and certain disadvantaged groups)

  1.18

  Retex I (diversification for textile regions)

  1.45

  Leader I (rural development)

  2.26

  Konver I (restructuring of defence-dependent areas)

  0.25

  Under the 1994 to 1999 structural funds allocation, eight of the nine Community initiative programmes benefiting Northern Ireland have been approved. The amounts to date under each initiative are:

  Initiative

  £ million

  Interreg II (Promoting cross border areas)

  5.94

  Smes (small firms)

  2.55

  Retex II (diversification for textile regions)

  1.54

  Employment (addressing exclusion and marginalisation in the labour markets)

  0.49

  Adapt (industrial change)

  0.13

  Urban (developing selected urban areas)

  5.65

  Pesca (development of fishing areas)

  —

  Leader II (rural development)

  0.64

  Proposed Memorial Volume
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will arrange for the publication of a memorial volume relating to the Northern Ireland conflict, listing the names and details of those members and former members of the armed forces and the police who were murdered or died in accidents while serving since 1969, in Northern Ireland and elsewhere. [1407]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The Government have no plans, at present, to publish a Memorial volume relating to the Northern Ireland conflict. A number of memorial volumes already exist in many military chapels and police stations across the Province, including a book of remembrance at St. Anne's cathedral in Belfast.

  Departmental Targets
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the published recommended response times within which his Department is expected to reply to letters from the public. [3006]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The published recommended response time for the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments to reply to requests for information under the code of practice on open government is 20 working days.

  Targets for replying to other letters from the public are published by the individual NI Departments and agencies as follows:
  114

  Department/Agency

  Published target responce time (working days)

  Social Security Agency

  7 for letters of complaint

  Child Support Agency

  10

  Department of Agriculture

  15

  Valuation and Lands Agency

  10

  Department of the Environment:

  Environment Service, NI

  5

  Monuments and Building Record

  Making Belfast Work

  10

  Roads Service

  15

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing NI:

  vehicle Register information

  4

  General Correspondeance

  5

  Driver and Vehicle Testing

  10

  Agency Ordnance Survey of NI:

  Despatch of Orders

  7

  General Correspondence

  10

  Public Records Office for NI:

  70 per cent. of cases within 10 95 per cent. of cases within 14

  Rate Collection Agency

  10

  Training and Employment Agency

  5 (where an acknowledgement is sent, full reply within 10 days)

  Department of Economic Development:

  Redundancy Branch

  5

  Companies Registry

  5 (where an acknowledgement is sent, full reply within 10 days)

  Trading Standards Branch

  5

  Health and Safety Division

  10

  Compensation Agency

  95 per cent. of cases within 14

  Springvale Campus Project
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions representatives of Planning, Industrial and Economic Development Advisers met representatives of the university of Ulster in the evaluation of the Springvale campus project on behalf of the Government; and whom they met and when. [1773]

  Mr. Moss
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: Representatives of PIEDA met with officials from the university of Ulster on five occasions. Details of the names of the university of Ulster officials and dates of the meetings are listed:

  University of Ulster officials

  Dates of meeting

  Vice Chancellor and Senior Academic Officials

  16 December 1994

  B. Osborne

  16 December 1994

  Professor Wallace Ewart

  16 December 1994

  P. Donnelly

  5 January 1995

  Professor Wallace Ewart

  13 June 1995

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which representatives of the local community representatives of PIEDA met in their evaluation of the Springvale campus project on behalf of the Government; and on what dates they met. [1774]

  Mr. Moss
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: PIEDA did not meet local community representatives as part of its assignment.
  115
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which representatives of the Government representatives of PIEDA met in their evaluation of the Springvale campus project on behalf of the Government. [1775]

  Mr. Moss
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: PIEDA met senior officials at grade 5 level from the Departments of Education, of Finance and Personnel and of the Environment and the Northern Ireland Office in its evaluation of the Springvale campus project. These officials make up the steering group which was chaired by T. McCusker from Making Belfast Work.

  T. Quinn, P. Hewitt: Department of Finance and Personnel

  J. Cowan: Department of the Environment (NI)

  P. Holmes, R. Davison: Department of the Education (NI)

  D. Gibson: Department of Economic Development

  D. Brown: Northern Ireland Office.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much PIEDA's evaluation of the Springvale campus project has cost; and if there will be further cost. [1776]

  Mr. Moss
  [holding answer 27 November 1995]: To date PIEDA' s evaluation of the Springvale campus project has cost £82,263. A further payment of £40,000 will be made shortly.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Initial Teacher Training
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what funds will be available nationally for initial teacher training in 1996–97, and what funds were available in 1994–95 and in 1995–96. [23]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The funds available for initial teacher training for 1996–97 are set out in the letter of 28 November from the Department to the Teacher Training Agency. A copy of this letter is in the Library.

  Some £151.641 million has been notionally allocated for the funding of ITT courses. It is for the agency to decide on the distribution of funds between the activities that it supports.

  In 1994–95, the Higher Education Funding Council for England allocated £141.587 million for the recurrent funding of ITT. In addition, the Department for Education and Employment spent approximately £1.259 million of the school-centred ITT-SCITT-scheme.

  In 1995–96, the HEFCE allocated £53.91 million for ITT funding, for the final term of academic year 1994–95. The Teacher Training Agency has allocated
  116
  £109.953 million for recurrent ITT funding for the first two terms of academic year 1995–96. In addition, the Department has provided £448,000 for funding for SCITT courses in 1995–96.

  None of these figures includes student support, or the income from fees for students on ITT courses.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the grant-maintained schools which have applied for consent for the disposal of premises, in each case stating(a) the nature of the premises, (b) if the premises were previously transferred from a local authority, (c) if the premises were used also by other schools, (d) if consent was given, (e) the proceeds from disposal, (f) the attribution of proceeds and (g) the purpose for which proceeds were used by the school. [2896]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested is contained in tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library. Table(a) contains the information for disposals by sale, including land exchanges, and table (b) contains disposals by lease and easement. The term "disposal" also covers compulsory purchase of school premises and payments "in kind". There have been no applications for the Secretary of State's consent involving either compulsory purchases or payments in kind.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what provision has been made in the 1996–97 budget for an increase in the number of grant-maintained schools, in terms of(a) capital and (b) current expenditure; [3712]

  (2) what is the planned (a) current and (b) capital spending on grant-maintained schools in the years 1996–97 and 1997–98. [3734]

  Mr. Squire
  Recurrent provision for grant-maintained schools takes the form of annual maintenance grant and special purpose grants. Provision in 1996–97 and 1997– 98 for annual maintenance grant—the bulk of recurrent funding for grant-maintained schools—will depend on school budget decisions yet to be taken by local authorities, and by the Department in respect of the common funding formula, and on the number of additional schools which become grant-maintained in these years. Within the overall provision of £103 million for GM recurrent in 1996–97, £86 million has been allocated to special purpose grants for grant-maintained schools. The planning figure for GM recurrent in 1997–98 is £125 million. This total, and within that the provision for special purpose grants, will be subject to review in the next public expenditure survey.

  As regards capital, the Government have announced the allocation of £138 million to the Funding Agency for Schools for 1996–97. The planning figure for 1997–98 is now £134 million. These figures take into account the overall level of capital funds available for schools, the scope offered for work to be supported under the private finance initiative and, subject to parliamentary approval of the proposed legislation, the power which grant-maintained schools will in due course have to borrow on the commercial market. There is no separately identifiable provision for schools newly entering the grant-maintained sector.
  117
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of(a) the number and (b) proportion of (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools opting out of local authority control in the coming year. [3714]

  Mr. Squire
  The number of schools leaving local authority control in the coming year will depend on parental choices in ballots on grant-maintained status.

  Pupils with statements of special educational need in mainstream schools

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Number

  1,815

  26,014

  30,047

  33,277

  40,931

  47,262

  54,299

  61,992

  71,246

  85,013

  100,254

  Percentage of all pupils with statements

  9.8

  20.3

  22.2

  24.7

  29.7

  34.1

  38.9

  40.1

  43.2

  48.1

  52.1

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask' the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have been awarded an assisted place in the years since 1990. [3504]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The numbers of children who were awarded and took up assisted places for the first time in England in each year since academic year 1990–91 are given in the table:

  Assisted places scheme

  Academic

  Number of children taking up Assited Places

  1990–91

  4,948

  1991–92

  5,602

  1992–93

  5,815

  1993–94

  5,775

  1994–95

  5,813

  The total number of assisted place holders in England in the academic year 1994–95, including those who took up places for the first time in earlier years, was 29,747. Questions about the operation of the assisted places scheme in Scotland and Wales are for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales. There is no assisted places scheme in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Blunkett
  to ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much is proposed to be spent on the assisted places scheme in 1995–96, and in each year to 1995–99. [3713]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Provision in the supply estimates for the assisted places scheme in England in the current financial year 1995–96 is £104.4 million. We have increased the planned spending for financial year 1996–97 to £118 million. Provisional figures for the following two years will be published in the departmental report. The actual outturn will depend on the number of acceptable bids from eligible schools for new places from September 1996, and on parental demand.

  Diploma Directive
  Dame Jill Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will add anything to his
  118

  Special Needs
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many and what percentage of disabled children with special educational needs were in mainstream schools in each year since 1979. [3616]

  Mr. Forth
  Data are available only for the years 1984 to 1994, and for all children with statements of special educational needs. The data are provided in the table:

  answer of 25 May 1994, Official Report, column 166, as to when he intends to issue a consultation document on the implementation of the Council directive for a second general system to supplement second diploma directive 89/48/EEC. [3551]

  Mr. Forth
  The preparation of legislation has proved not to be an easy task but is now at an advanced stage. We are hoping to take forward the process of consultation in the near future with legislation following.

  Work Force Skills
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how the £250 million announced in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" for industry's efforts to improve the skills of the work force will be allocated. [3705]

  Mr. Paice
  The £250 million that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 28 November,Official Report, columns 684–88, will be used to support the following programmes:
  employer investment in people which enables TECs to help local businesses to improve their performance through the development of their people and, particularly, by achieving the investors in people standard;skills for small businesses which will improve the training skills of 24,000 key employees, who will lead the development of workforce skills in small firms across the country; and career development loans which aid individuals to upgrade their vocational skills with accessible bank loans.

  Literacy and Numeracy Centres
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what will be the cost of the project to raise standards of literacy and numeracy in primary schools in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98 and (iii) 1998–99. [3710]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Up to £5 million will be made available to support the establishment of primary literacy and numeracy centres in 1996–97. Funding for later years will be decided in the light of each year's public expenditure settlement; it is expected that broadly similar sums ,will be available in 1997–98 and 1998–99.

  Technology and Language Colleges
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what funding has been
  119
  allocated for the 60 additional technology and language colleges announced on 28 November, Official Report, column 684. [3709]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The public expenditure settlement provides funding of some £23 million in 1996–97 to support technology and language colleges. This will support the 107 schools already designated as technology or language colleges, and around 60 schools which will be newly designated before or during 1996–97. The newly designated schools will be eligible for additional capital and recurrent funding in 1996–97 totalling some £11 million.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when her Department asked the Contributions Agency to assess the feasibility and cost of collecting student loan repayments using the national insurance system on behalf of the Student Loan Company and the proposed private sector scheme; what costs were quoted for the first and subsequent years of operation and what these costs represent as a percentage of the total costs of running the social security deductions system; and if she will make a statement. [3615]

  Mr. Bryan Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions her Department has had with officials of the Department of Social Security regarding the use of the national insurance system to collect student loan repayments. [4014]

  Mr. Forth
  My officials, with the assistance of other Government Departments, haye looked at this option on a number of occasions. There are fundamental objections of principle to collecting repayments via the Contributions Agency or Inland Revenue. Any such scheme would have significant implications for both employers and the collecting agency, in addition to the operational costs that the Student Loans Company would still incur in issuing and monitoring loans. For these reasons, no detailed analysis of the cost has been made.

  Mr. Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if students who have been declared bankrupt will remain eligible for subsidised loans made by private sector lenders under the proposed reforms of student loans provision. [3923]

  Mr. Forth
  The Education (Student Loans) Act 1990 does not specifically prevent students classified as bankrupt from being eligible for a loan. Private lenders, who would bear a large share of the risk, would be free to accept loan applications from students, or not.

  Mr. Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if it is her policy that private sector levels of subsidised student loans should be permitted to shorten the current loan repayment period if overall public sector subsidy per loan is held constant.[4054]

  Mr. Forth
  Contracts with the private lenders will set out minimum standards to be met to be eligible for subsidies. This will include a requirement that interest payments are no higher than the rate of inflation as measured by the retail prices index.
  120
  If a lender wishes to offer different terms, including a shorter repayment period and lower interest rates, that is a matter between it and the borrower. Our contracts will ensure that, in such cases, the public subsidy paid will have the same overall value to the taxpayer and to the student.

  Mr. Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is her Department's estimate of the cost of establishing a new central database for the processing of student loans. [4056]

  Mr. Forth
  This work is being put out to tender. No estimate has been made at this stage.

  School Meals (Beef Products)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance her Department has issued to local education authorities on the use of beef products in school meals; and if she will make a statement. [3662]

  Mrs. Gillan
  None, but both the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of Health have made public statements on the safety of beef products.

  Communication Autistic Spectrum Disorders
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children of school age there are with communication autistic spectrum disorders, and how many places there are in schools appropriate for their needs(a) in London and (b) in England.[2710]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This information is not held centrally.

  Nursery Vouchers
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how much of the £390 million over the next three years for nursery vouchers announced on 28 November(a) will be spent on administration costs and (b) will be spent on staff training and capital investment; [3743]

  (2) if the £390 million over the next three years for nursery vouchers announced on 28 November is in addition to the £185 million announced in her statement to the House on 6 July, Official Report, columns 517–32; and what proportion of the £390 million will be spent in each of the three years; [3741]

  (3) what proportion of the extra £390 million for nursery vouchers announced on 28 November will be channelled through local authorities; and what proportion will go to the private company appointed to administer the voucher scheme. [3742]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The £390 million for the nursery education voucher scheme announced on 28 November is in respect of those four-year-olds who do not have a place in a maintained school, with £21 million for phase 1 in 1996–97 and £185 million for 1997–98 when the scheme is fully implemented and for the following year. It will be added to sums deducted from each LEA in respect of existing places for four-year-olds.
  121
  The Government's contract with Capita Managed Services Ltd. to administer phase 1 of the nursery voucher scheme was awarded after competitive tender. The financial details are commercially confidential. The contract for phase 2 will also be the subject of a competitive tender.

  The proportion of the £390 million channelled through local authorities will depend on where new places are created.

  The value of the voucher includes elements for training and the servicing of capital debt.

  Educational psychologists in service and children with statements of special educational needs maintained by each Local Education Authority area in England

  Position as at January in each year

  1985

  Educational psychologists

  Children with statements1

  Full-time equivalent

  per 10,000 pupils in schools2

  Number1

  per 10,000 pupils in schools2

  Corporation of London

  4—

  4—

  4—4—

  4—

  Camden

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  Greenwich

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  Hackney

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  Islington

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  Kensington and Chelsea

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  Lambeth

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  Lewisham

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  Southwark

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  Tower Hamlets

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  Wandsworth

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  Westminster

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  Barking and Dagenham

  7.0

  2.8

  384

  154.1

  Barnet

  8.5

  1.8

  644

  136.7

  Bexley

  5.0

  1.4

  713

  205.7

  Brent

  9.6

  2.6

  5—

  5—

  Bromley

  8.0

  1.8

  766

  171.7

  Croydon

  9.0

  1.7

  791

  151.3

  Ealing

  5.4

  1.3

  513

  119.5

  Enfield

  9.0

  2.2

  779

  188.9

  Haringey

  7.0

  2.3

  556

  184.5

  Harrow

  6.0

  1.9

  596

  186.7

  Havering

  8.0

  2.0

  626

  158.5

  Hillingdon

  5.0

  1.3

  698

  184.6

  Hounslow

  5.9

  1.8

  12

  3.6

  Kingston upon Thames

  2.0

  0.9

  340

  160.2

  Merton

  5.0

  1.9

  160

  60.9

  Newham

  11.0

  2.9

  755

  199.5

  Redbridge

  6.0

  1.7

  724

  210.5

  Richmond upon Thames

  4.0

  1.7

  305

  133.0

  Sutton

  4.0

  1.6

  190

  75.8

  Waltham Forest

  8.0

  2.3

  716

  203.8

  Birmingham

  37.2

  2.0

  3,478

  188.7

  Coventry

  12.3

  2.2

  1,232

  222.7

  Dudley

  7.5

  1.5

  908

  181.7

  Sandwell

  8.0

  1.5

  1,103

  203.1

  Solihull

  7.3

  1.9

  84

  22.1

  Walsall

  7.0

  1.3

  777

  148.4

  Wolverhampton

  6.0

  1.2

  720

  150.0

  Knowsley

  7.0

  2.2

  348

  111.4

  Liverpool

  15.5

  1.8

  1,663

  188.0

  St. Helens

  4.0

  1.1

  647

  185.3

  Sefton

  9.0

  1.7

  581

  109.3

  Wirral

  8.0

  1.3

  1,277

  211.6

  Bolton

  4.0

  0.8

  675

  135.4

  Bury

  3.5

  1.1

  507

  165.9

  Manchester

  14.0

  1.8

  345

  43.2

  Oldham

  5.0

  1.2

  661

  159.3

  Rochdale

  9.0

  2.3

  618

  159.8

  Salford

  6.0

  1.4

  815

  191.0

  Educational Psychologists
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list by local education authority for each year since 1985(a) the number of educational psychologists employed, (b) the ratio of educational psychologists to school children, (c) the number of children with statements and (d) to the ratio of children with statements to the school age population. [3627]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The available information is shown in the table:
  123

  Educational psychologists in service and children with statements of special educational needs maintained by each Local Education Authority area in England

  Position as at January in each year

  1985

  Educational psychologists

  Children with statements1

  Full-time equvalent

  per 10,000 pupils in schools2

  Number1

  per 10,000 pupils in schools2

  Stockport

  6.7

  1.3

  862

  166.8

  Tameside

  7.0

  1.8

  669

  175.8

  Trafford

  3.0

  0.9

  278

  79.4

  Wigan

  8.0

  1.4

  108

  18.9

  Barnsley

  4.0

  1.0

  443

  112.3

  Doncaster

  9.0

  1.7

  14

  2.6

  Rotherham

  9.0

  1.9

  844

  178.7

  Sheffield

  13.6

  1.6

  1,383

  162.3

  Bradford

  14.0

  1.6

  1,391

  157.0

  Calderdale

  2.0

  0.6

  338

  96.7

  Kirklees

  12.0

  1.7

  929

  132.2

  Leeds

  13.5

  1.1

  1,038

  85.9

  Wakefield

  6.0

  1.0

  981

  170.7

  Gateshead

  8.0

  2.4

  598

  176.7

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  12.0

  2.6

  882

  188.1

  North Tyneside

  8.0

  2.4

  604

  178.3

  South Tyneside

  6.0

  2.3

  467

  175.7

  Sunderland

  9.0

  1.6

  1,000

  178.8

  Isles of Scilly

  0.0

  0.0

  5—

  5—

  Inner London

  87.7

  2.6

  7,349

  220.7

  Avon

  28.6

  1.8

  617

  39.7

  Bedfordshire

  12.0

  1.3

  1,529

  162.5

  Berkshire

  17.3

  1.3

  2,121

  164.2

  Buckinghamshire

  16.0

  1.5

  2,859

  268.0

  Cambridgeshire

  12.0

  1.1

  1,252

  119.1

  Cheshire

  17.0

  1.0

  3,468

  209.1

  Cleveland

  18.0

  1.6

  2,290

  208.8

  Cornwall

  8.0

  1.1

  965

  132.9

  Cumbria

  90

  1.1

  1,363

  164.6

  Derbyshire

  21.5

  1.4

  2,698

  172.6

  Devon

  20.4

  1.4

  2,807

  188.2

  Dorset

  14.5

  1.6

  1,590

  171.7

  Durham

  17.4

  1.7

  1,569

  149.5

  East Sussex

  11.8

  1.2

  1,766

  181.0

  Essex

  31.4

  1.3

  4,555

  182.1

  Gloucestershire

  11.0

  1.3

  483

  55.4

  Hampshire

  31.5

  1.3

  5,252

  214.4

  Hereford and Worcester

  11.0

  1.0

  14

  1.2

  Hertfordshire

  21.5

  1.2

  3,472

  193.2

  Humberside

  21.0

  1.4

  2,417

  158.5

  Isle of Wight

  3.0

  1.6

  317

  166.8

  Kent

  19.0

  0.8

  5,137

  203.2

  Lancashire

  34.0

  1.4

  4,708

  200.2

  Leicestershire

  19.0

  1.3

  1,797

  118.9

  Lincolnshire

  10.0

  1.1

  2,001

  217.9

  Norfolk

  14.0

  1.2

  1,494

  130.4

  North Yorkshire

  15.2

  1.3

  1,723

  151.5

  Northamptonshire

  15.0

  1.5

  1,858

  183.2

  Northumberland

  4.1

  0.8

  806

  156.9

  Nottinghamshire

  30.0

  1.7

  2,617

  152.3

  Oxfordshire

  12.5

  1.4

  1,046

  115.7

  Shropshire

  8.0

  1.1

  780

  110.6

  Somerset

  9.0

  1.2

  1,320

  175.6

  Staffordshire

  17.7

  1.0

  2,671

  150.2

  Suffolk

  13.0

  1.3

  1,532

  148.8

  Surrey

  22.0

  1.3

  3,384

  204.0

  Warwickshire

  9.8

  1.2

  1,547

  183.9

  West Sussex

  12.0

  1.1

  1,394

  130.8

  Wiltshire

  13.0

  1.5

  1,795

  202.7

  England

  1,173.4

  1.5

  127,889

  160.7

  1 Children with statements of special education needs maintained by the LEA.

  2 Divisor includes pupils of all ages in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special; independent and non-maintained special schools.

  3 Derived from returns received from LEA's-Special Educational Needs Survey (SEN2). Includes children in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools; independent and non-maintained special schools and children being educated otherwise than in a school.

  4 Not applicable.

  5 Not available.

  124 125

  1992

  Educational psychologists

  Children with statements1

  Full-time equivalent

  per 10,000 pupils in schools2

  Number3

  per 10,000 pupils in schools2

  Corporation of London

  0.0

  0.0

  5

  28.2

  Camden

  7.8

  2.9

  454

  170.4

  Greenwich

  11.0

  2.9

  1,000

  262.6

  Hackney

  8.5

  3.0

  575

  203.9

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  8.0

  4.1

  414

  213.9

  Islington

  10.0

  4.2

  445

  189.1

  Kensington and Chelsea

  6.0

  2.9

  264

  126.0

  Lambeth

  7.8

  2.8

  752

  269.7

  Lewisham

  10.0

  2.9

  760

  219.0

  Southwark

  10.0

  2.8

  779

  217.9

  Tower Hamlets

  10.0

  3.1

  672

  208.1

  Wandsworth

  11.0

  3.4

  1,028

  321.2

  Westminster

  7.0

  3.2

  457

  206.0

  Barking and Dagenham

  7.5

  3.0

  347

  140.5

  Barnet

  13.6

  2.8

  752

  153.6

  Bexley

  6.5

  1.9

  814

  242.4

  Brent

  11.2

  3.2

  543

  154.0

  Bromley

  10.0

  2.4

  1,018

  244.9

  Croydon

  10.8

  2.1

  1,016

  200.1

  Ealing

  9.8

  2.1

  907

  198.8

  Enfield

  12.5

  3.1

  241

  58.8

  Haringey

  9.8

  3.2

  414

  136.4

  Harrow

  6.0

  1.9

  540

  169.1

  Havering

  8.0

  2.2

  629

  174.0

  Hillingdon

  8.2

  2.2

  575

  157.0

  Hounslow

  5.8

  1.7

  1,020

  301.9

  Kingston upon Thames

  3.0

  1.4

  433

  204.9

  Merton

  5.7

  2.2

  581

  227.0

  Newham

  11.0

  2.8

  690

  176.5

  Redbridge

  7.4

  2.0

  621

  169.9

  Richmond upon Thames

  5.5

  2.3

  430

  176.8

  Sutton

  6.0

  2.3

  581

  227.0

  Waltham Forest

  7.0

  2.1

  674

  198.1

  Birmingham

  37.5

  2.0

  3,122

  170.1

  Coventry

  14.0

  2.7

  1,021

  198.4

  Dudley

  8.5

  1.8

  897

  192.8

  Sandwell

  14.0

  2.7

  740

  144.2

  Solihull

  8.0

  2.2

  631

  172.0

  Walsall

  10.0

  2.1

  899

  185.6

  Wolverhampton

  10.0

  2.3

  938

  217.3

  Knowsley

  6.8

  2.4

  813

  288.2

  Liverpool

  18.0

  2.1

  1,870

  221.4

  St. Helens

  6.5

  2.1

  808

  260.4

  Sefton

  11.0

  2.2

  1,049

  207.7

  Wirral

  13.5

  2.3

  1,270

  218.4

  Bolton

  7.4

  1.5

  696

  145.6

  Bury

  4.5

  1.5

  804

  269.5

  Manchester

  19.3

  2.5

  1,024

  130.6

  Oldham

  4.0

  0.9

  860

  202.8

  Rochdale

  7.5

  2.1

  781

  220.3

  Salford

  7.0

  1.8

  470

  120.5

  Stockport

  9.5

  1.9

  1,293

  261.4

  Tameside

  11.0

  2.9

  1,126

  301.0

  Trafford

  4.0

  1.1

  671

  192.1

  Wigan

  6.5

  1.3

  1,000

  195.3

  Barnsley

  4.5

  1.3

  520

  154.1

  Doncaster

  9.0

  1.7

  1,023

  198.0

  Rotherham

  10.3

  2.4

  1,171

  269.0

  Sheffield

  16.2

  2.2

  1,261

  171.7

  Bradford

  19.0

  2.1

  1,267

  141.0

  Calderdale

  6.8

  2.0

  461

  136.9

  Kirklees

  15.0

  2.3

  1,551

  237.9

  Leeds

  19.0

  1.7

  2,879

  252.0

  Wakefield

  12.0

  2.2

  1,011

  186.4

  Gateshead

  10.0

  3.2

  503

  161.1

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  11.0

  2.4

  948

  206.0

  North Tyneside

  8.0

  2.4

  888

  268.8

  South Tyneside

  8.0

  3.1

  497

  193.5

  Sunderland

  10.1

  2.0

  1,107

  216.5

  Isles of Scilly

  0.0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  Inner London

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  126 127

  1992

  Educational psychologists

  Children with statements1

  Full-time eqivalent

  per 10,000 pupils in schools2

  Number3

  per 10,000 pupils in schools2

  Avon

  28.8

  1.9

  4,131

  275.0

  Bedfordshire

  17.0

  1.8

  1,893

  199.8

  Berkshire

  17.0

  1.3

  2,450

  192.2

  Buckinghamshire

  21.9

  2.1

  3,413

  319.9

  Cambridgeshire

  14.0

  1.3

  1,745

  161.9

  Cheshire

  25.1

  1.5

  3,798

  233.7

  Cleveland

  18.3

  1.7

  2,272

  210.5

  Cornwall

  12.0

  1.7

  2,152

  299.8

  Cumbria

  18.0

  2.3

  2,049

  263.4

  Derbyshire

  33.1

  2.2

  3,945

  266.9

  Devon

  22.1

  1.5

  4,704

  316.3

  Dorset

  17.5

  1.9

  2,151

  229.6

  Durham

  20.4

  2.1

  1,938

  195.9

  East Sussex

  19.6

  2.0

  1,888

  191.1

  Essex

  42.7

  1.8

  4,923

  210.6

  Gloucestershire

  17.0

  2.6

  1,477

  176.6

  Hampshire

  44.0

  1.9

  7,048

  298.2

  Hereford and Worcester

  16.5

  1.5

  1,197

  110.2

  Hertfordshire

  28.4

  1.7

  3,806

  224.2

  Humberside

  24.0

  1.6

  2,207

  150.8

  Isle of Wight

  3.0

  1.6

  378

  201.1

  Kent

  30.0

  1.2

  5,862

  236.9

  Lancashire

  42.0

  1.8

  5,950

  262.0

  Leicestershire

  33.6

  2.3

  2,592

  174.1

  Lincolnshire

  13.0

  1.4

  2,534

  281.7

  Norfolk

  18.5

  1.7

  2,732

  248.7

  North Yorkshire

  20.0

  1.8

  2,238

  200.8

  Northamptonshire

  17.5

  1.7

  1,847

  181.7

  Northumberland

  9.5

  1.9

  1,016

  198.3

  Nottinghamshire

  28.5

  1.8

  1,914

  118.0

  Oxfordshire

  14.5

  1.6

  1,078

  121.9

  Shropshire

  12.0

  1.8

  2,004

  296.3

  Somerset

  11.0

  1.5

  1,052

  144.4

  Staffordshire

  29.4

  1.7

  3,400

  201.1

  Suffolk

  14.0

  1.4

  2,384

  239.2

  Surrey

  28.4

  1.8

  4,172

  265.3

  Warwickshire

  12.3

  1.6

  1,600

  203.5

  West Sussex

  17.4

  1.7

  1,555

  148.0

  Wiltshire

  14.8

  1.7

  3,299

  386.6

  England

  1,496.6

  1.9

  165,095

  214.0

  1Children with statements of special education needs maintained by the LEA.

  2Divisor includes pupils of all ages in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special; independent and non-maintained special schools.

  3Derived from returns received from LEA's-Special Educational Needs Survey (SEN2). Includes children in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools; independent and non-maintained special schools and children being educated otherwise than in a school.

  4Not applicable.

  1993

  Educational psychologists

  Children with statements1

  Full-time equivalent

  per 10,000 pupils in schools2

  Number3

  per 10,000 pupils in schools2

  Corporation of London

  0.0

  0.0

  5

  27.9

  Camden

  7.0

  2.5

  508

  184.5

  Greenwich

  12.0

  3.1

  1,200

  314.3

  Hackney

  7.5

  2.7

  1,027

  363.6

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  7.0

  3.6

  497

  253.5

  Islington

  8.0

  3.4

  567

  243.4

  Kensington and Chelsea

  7.0

  3.3

  285

  135.4

  Lambeth

  11.1

  3.9

  598

  210.8

  Lewisham

  9.0

  2.5

  912

  256.2

  Southwark

  10.5

  2.9

  814

  221.3

  Tower Hamlets

  8.5

  2.5

  829

  245.0

  Wandsworth

  10.0

  3.0

  920

  278.0

  Westminster

  6.0

  2.7

  523

  231.3

  Barking and Dagenham

  7.5

  3.0

  404

  159.2

  Barnet

  14.5

  2.9

  781

  157.9

  Bexley

  6.5

  1.9

  873

  255.9

  Brent

  8.5

  2.3

  629

  169.2

  128 129

  1993

  Educational psychologists

  Children with statements1

  Full-time equivalent

  per 10,000 pupils in schools2

  Number3

  per 10,000 pupils in schools2

  Bromley

  10.0

  2.3

  946

  219.0

  Croydon

  10.8

  2.1

  992

  189.7

  Ealing

  9.8

  2.2

  1,024

  225.7

  Enfield

  13.0

  3.1

  397

  93.5

  Haringey

  10.8

  3.5

  479

  154.0

  Harrow

  9.0

  2.8

  594

  182.9

  Havering

  8.7

  2.4

  671

  183.6

  Hillingdon

  8.8

  2.3

  423

  112.0

  Hounslow

  6.0

  1.7

  1,038

  300.9

  Kingston upon Thames

  4.0

  1.8

  437

  202.1

  Merton

  6.6

  2.5

  706

  267.6

  Newham

  10.2

  2.5

  794

  193.6

  Redbridge

  7.4

  1.9

  681

  179.0

  Richmond upon Thames

  6.0

  2.4

  491

  196.1

  Sutton

  4.0

  1.5

  673

  256.6

  Waltham Forest

  7.0

  2.0

  672

  192.1

  Birmingham

  31.5

  1.7

  3,598

  192.8

  Coventry

  12.0

  2.3

  1,025

  196.4

  Dudley

  7.1

  1.5

  940

  198.7

  Sandwell

  14.0

  2.7

  660

  126.8

  Solihull

  8.4

  2.2

  713

  188.7

  Walsall

  9.0

  1.8

  951

  192.9

  Wolverhampton

  9.0

  2.0

  1,044

  234.5

  Knowsley

  5.8

  2.0

  810

  283.6

  Liverpool

  18.0

  2.1

  2,092

  244.2

  St. Helens

  9.0

  2.9

  1,020

  327.0

  Sefton

  10.0

  2.0

  1,119

  219.2

  Wirral

  10.5

  1.8

  1,431

  242.8

  Bolton

  7.4

  1.5

  823

  169.4

  Bury

  4.6

  1.5

  990

  322.9

  Manchester

  18.2

  2.3

  1,217

  153.6

  Oldham

  7.0

  1.6

  768

  176.6

  Rochdale

  7.5

  2.1

  810

  225.1

  Salford

  7.6

  1.9

  445

  112.2

  Stockport

  9.5

  1.9

  1,397

  278.0

  Tameside

  8.0

  2.1

  1,086

  284.3

  Trafford

  4.0

  1.1

  757

  212.3

  Wigan

  6.5

  1.3

  1,409

  272.3

  Barnsley

  4.5

  1.3

  631

  184.4

  Doncaster

  11.0

  2.1

  1,112

  212.7

  Rotherham

  9.3

  2.1

  1,207

  272.4

  Sheffield

  18.2

  2.4

  1,483

  199.1

  Bradford

  20.0

  2.2

  1,270

  137.9

  Calderdale

  6.5

  1.9

  488

  142.1

  Kirklees

  17.0

  2.6

  1,691

  256.6

  Leeds

  19.0

  1.6

  3,011

  258.2

  Wakefield

  10.5

  1.9

  1,074

  194.6

  Gateshead

  8.5

  2.7

  536

  169.0

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  11.0

  2.4

  1,019

  219.8

  North Tyneside

  8.0

  2.4

  1,066

  319.4

  South Tyneside

  6.0

  2.3

  501

  191.8

  Sunderland

  11.1

  2.1

  1,200

  231.8

  Isles of Scilly

  0.0

  0.0

  1

  35.5

  Inner London

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  Avon

  25.5

  1.7

  4,054

  265.8

  Bedfordshire

  15.9

  1.6

  2,448

  253.7

  Berkshire

  19.5

  1.5

  3,009

  234.2

  Buckinghamshire

  23.0

  2.1

  3,793

  349.1

  Cambridgeshire

  16.0

  1.5

  1,842

  168.3

  Cheshire

  25.3

  1.5

  4,154

  252.5

  Cleveland

  16.5

  1.5

  2,353

  215.8

  Cornwall

  12.0

  1.6

  2,571

  352.3

  Cumbria

  19.0

  2.4

  2,076

  264.3

  Derbyshire

  30.3

  2.0

  4,066

  271.3

  Devon

  24.5

  1.6

  4,740

  313.0

  Dorset

  18.6

  2.0

  2,320

  243.5

  Durham

  23.5

  2.3

  2,133

  213.2

  East Sussex

  18.7

  1.8

  2,200

  217.4

  Essex

  42.3

  1.8

  5,067

  214.5

  Gloucestershire

  17.4

  2.0

  2,070

  243.5

  Hampshire

  46.8

  1.9

  6,802

  281.9

  130 131

  1993

  Educational psychologists

  Children with statements1

  Full-time equivalent

  per 10,000 pupils in schools2

  Number3

  per 10,000 pupils in schools2

  Hereford and Worcester

  16.0

  1.5

  1,676

  153.1

  Hertfordshire

  33.0

  1.9

  4,145

  240.6

  Humberside

  24.0

  1.6

  2,373

  159.0

  Isle of Wight

  3.0

  1.6

  391

  205.7

  Kent

  36.5

  1.5

  6,008

  239.2

  Lancashire

  40.2

  1.7

  6,556

  284.8

  Leicestershire

  32.6

  2.2

  5—

  5—

  Lincolnshire

  13.0

  1.4

  2,810

  306.1

  Norfolk

  19.0

  1.7

  3,060

  274.3

  North Yorkshire

  19.0

  1.7

  2,193

  192.8

  Northamptonshire

  19.0

  1.8

  1,983

  192.4

  Northumberland

  9.5

  1.8

  1,200

  230.1

  Nottinghamshire

  29.0

  1.8

  1,934

  117.3

  Oxfordshire

  14.5

  1.6

  1,521

  169.4

  Shropshire

  11.6

  1.7

  2,112

  305.0

  Somerset

  11.1

  1.5

  1,594

  215.4

  Staffordshire

  27.4

  1.6

  3,699

  215.1

  Suffolk

  14.0

  1.4

  2,704

  268.9

  Surrey

  29.5

  1.9

  4,449

  281.2

  Warwickshire

  12.7

  1.6

  1,458

  182.9

  West Sussex

  17.1

  1.6

  1,930

  180.3

  Wiltshire

  13.3

  1.5

  3,419

  388.9

  England

  1,497.7

  1.9

  176,698

  225.2

  1 Children with statements of special education needs maintained by the LEA.

  2 Divisor includes pupils of all ages in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special; independent and non-maintained special schools.

  3 Derived from returns received from LEA's-Special Educational Needs Survey (SEN2). Includes children in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools; independent and non-maintained special schools and children being educated otherwise than in a school.

  4Not applicable.

  5Not available.

  1994

  Educational psychologists

  Children with statements1

  Full-time equivalent

  per 10,000 pupils in schools2

  Number3

  per 10,000 pupils in schools2

  Corporation of London

  0.0

  0.0

  6

  32.7

  Camden

  8.2

  2.9

  645

  230.4

  Greenwich

  12.0

  3.1

  1,174

  306.8

  Hackney

  10.0

  3.5

  1,041

  366.4

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  7.0

  3.6

  519

  263.6

  Islington

  8.0

  3.3

  786

  326.8

  Kensington and Chelsea

  7.0

  3.4

  298

  145.7

  Lambeth

  13.5

  4.8

  518

  183.1

  Lewisham

  9.0

  2.5

  1,142

  320.6

  Southwark

  11.6

  3.0

  955

  247.8

  Tower Hamlets

  8.0

  2.3

  1,063

  303.0

  Wandsworth

  5.6

  1.7

  916

  277.2

  Westminster

  6.0

  2.6

  481

  210.5

  Barking and Dagenham

  7.2

  2.8

  478

  183.6

  Barnet

  14.5

  2.9

  884

  178.5

  Bexley

  8.0

  2.3

  916

  261.3

  Brent

  10.5

  2.8

  805

  213.3

  Bromley

  9.0

  2.0

  1,059

  234.0

  Croydon

  10.8

  2.1

  1,012

  195.1

  Ealing

  11.8

  2.6

  956

  209.8

  Enfield

  15.2

  3.5

  406

  93.5

  Haringey

  10.8

  3.4

  588

  183.5

  Harrow

  8.6

  2.6

  693

  212.6

  Havering

  8.0

  2.2

  691

  192.3

  Hillingdon

  8.9

  2.3

  840

  217.7

  Hounslow

  8.1

  2.3

  1,064

  302.1

  Kingston upon Thames

  4.3

  1.9

  484

  218.0

  Merton

  5.4

  2.0

  661

  248.3

  Newham

  10.0

  2.4

  963

  234.7

  Redbridge

  7.4

  1.9

  758

  193.7

  Richmond upon Thames

  6.0

  2.3

  515

  200.7

  Sutton

  5.0

  1.8

  707

  261.5

  Waltham Forest

  7.0

  2.0

  566

  165.4

  132 133

  1994

  Educational psychologists

  Children with statements1

  Full-time equivalent

  per 10,000 pupils in schools2

  Number3

  per 10,000 pupils in schools2

  Birmingham

  39.3

  2.1

  4,182

  226.9

  Coventry

  12.0

  2.3

  1,028

  195.1

  Dudley

  6.6

  1.4

  918

  188.4

  Sandwell

  12.0

  2.3

  667

  128.4

  Solihull

  7.5

  2.0

  758

  204.2

  Walsall

  10.0

  2.0

  1,263

  252.9

  Wolverhampton

  9.0

  2.0

  1,046

  233.3

  Knowsley

  6.8

  2.4

  828

  288.3

  Liverpool

  18.0

  2.1

  2,339

  266.7

  St. Helens

  8.0

  2.6

  1,326

  433.3

  Sefton

  10.0

  2.0

  1,304

  255.6

  Wirral

  11.5

  2.0

  1,556

  264.4

  Bolton

  7.4

  1.5

  927

  191.8

  Bury

  4.6

  1.5

  1,120

  366.5

  Manchester

  17.8

  2.3

  1,267

  164.9

  Oldham

  6.0

  1.4

  487

  111.9

  Rochdale

  7.5

  2.1

  797

  218.1

  Salford

  7.6

  2.0

  642

  166.5

  Stockport

  10.4

  2.2

  1,437

  298.1

  Tameside

  7.0

  1.9

  1,140

  303.2

  Trafford

  4.0

  1.1

  812

  221.2

  Wigan

  9.0

  1.8

  1,836

  362.7

  Barnsley

  5.6

  1.6

  813

  234.7

  Doncaster

  11.0

  2.1

  1,349

  254.6

  Rotherham

  10.3

  2.3

  1,123

  252.8

  Sheffield

  16.3

  2.2

  1,656

  219.2

  Bradford

  21.5

  2.3

  1,417

  151.6

  Calderdale

  7.0

  2.0

  566

  163.0

  Kirklees

  18.0

  2.7

  2,000

  304.0

  Leeds

  15.0

  1.3

  3,371

  282.2

  Wakefield

  8.5

  1.5

  1,303

  235.0

  Gateshead

  9.0

  2.8

  621

  193.9

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  11.0

  2.4

  1,099

  236.3

  North Tyneside

  8.0

  2.4

  895

  272.7

  South Tyneside

  6.0

  2.3

  577

  218.1

  Sunderland

  11.5

  2.2

  1,170

  223.1

  Isles of Scilly

  0.0

  0.0

  2

  68.7

  Inner London

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  Avon

  25.0

  1.6

  3,929

  255.6

  Bedfordshire

  14.9

  1.5

  2,858

  294.0

  Berkshire

  18.8

  1.4

  3,273

  250.0

  Buckinghamshire

  22.8

  2.1

  3,802

  344.6

  Cambridgeshire

  18.0

  1.7

  2,109

  193.4

  Cheshire

  25.1

  1.5

  4,829

  293.9

  Cleveland

  19.9

  1.9

  2,454

  232.0

  Cornwall

  12.0

  1.7

  2,662

  366.1

  Cumbria

  19.0

  2.4

  2,506

  319.4

  Derbyshire

  29.0

  1.9

  5—

  5—

  Devon

  24.5

  1.6

  4,824

  313.9

  Dorset

  17.6

  1.8

  2,536

  261.4

  Durham

  21.5

  2.1

  2,789

  278.0

  East Sussex

  19.8

  2.0

  3,064

  304.2

  Essex

  35.8

  1.5

  5,322

  226.4

  Gloucestershire

  18.4

  1.9

  2,320

  268.6

  Hampshire

  46.9

  1.9

  7,526

  312.0

  Hereford and Worcester

  16.0

  1.5

  1,853

  169.1

  Hertfordshire

  28.0

  1.6

  4,299

  245.0

  Humberside

  21.0

  1.4

  2,751

  186.4

  Isle of Wight

  3.0

  1.6

  436

  227.4

  Kent

  42.1

  1.7

  6,347

  248.8

  Lancashire

  43.5

  1.9

  7,518

  324.3

  Leicestershire

  32.7

  2.2

  3,412

  226.6

  Lincolnshire

  15.0

  1.6

  3,140

  335.9

  Norfolk

  18.0

  1.6

  582

  321.0

  North Yorkshire

  18.0

  1.6

  2,520

  221.3

  Northamptonshire

  25.5

  2.4

  2,049

  195.4

  Northumberland

  8.4

  1.8

  1,232

  234.8

  Nottinghamshire

  28.6

  1.7

  1,836

  110.6

  Oxfordshire

  14.5

  1.6

  1,653

  180.3

  Shropshire

  11.6

  1.7

  2.221

  324.0

  Somerset

  11.9

  1.6

  1,415

  189.7

  134 135

  1994

  Educational psychologists

  Children with statements1

  Full-time equivalent

  per 10,000 pupils in schools2

  Number3

  per 10,000 pupils in schools2

  Staffordshire

  27.0

  1.6

  4,136

  239.3

  Suffolk

  15.0

  1.5

  3,078

  302.1

  Surrey

  27.2

  1.7

  4,673

  298.7

  Warwickshire

  14.1

  1.8

  1,812

  226.4

  West Sussex

  19.0

  1.8

  2,223

  208.7

  Wiltshire

  14.0

  1.6

  3,087

  344.5

  England

  1,514.2

  1.9

  192,308

  243.8

  1 Children with statements of special education needs maintained by the LEA.

  2 Divisor includes pupils of all ages in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special; independent and non-maintained special schools.

  3 Derived from returns received from LEA's-Special Educational Needs Survey (SEN2). Includes children in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools; independent and non-maintained special schools and children being educated otherwise than in a school.

  3Not applicable.

  4Not available.

  1995

  Educational psychologists

  Children with statements1

  Full-time equivalent

  per 10,000 pupils in schools2

  Number3

  per 10,000 pupils in schools2

  Corporation of London

  0.0

  0.0

  12

  65.3

  Camden

  6.5

  2.3

  788

  276.2

  Greenwich

  14.0

  3.6

  1,358

  353.1

  Hackney

  8.3

  2.8

  1,038

  348.1

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  6.5

  3.2

  580

  288.0

  Islington

  8.0

  3.2

  849

  341.9

  Kensington and Chelsea

  7.0

  3.4

  333

  161.5

  Lambeth

  11.0

  3.8

  668

  233.3

  Lewisham

  8.0

  2.2

  1,229

  338.9

  Southwark

  10.0

  2.6

  1,111

  286.6

  Tower Hamlets

  11.5

  3.2

  1,367

  380.0

  Wandsworth

  10.7

  3.2

  1,088

  320.6

  Westminster

  7.0

  3.0

  575

  249.2

  Barking and Dagenham

  8.9

  3.3

  607

  221.7

  Barnet

  13.0

  2.6

  1,141

  225.0

  Bexley

  8.0

  2.2

  1,010

  275.2

  Brent

  10.0

  2.6

  899

  234.2

  Bromley

  10.0

  2.2

  1,312

  282.1

  Croydon

  6.3

  1.2

  1,018

  189.5

  Ealing

  7.3

  1.6

  1,118

  239.7

  Enfield

  14.1

  3.2

  608

  136.5

  Haringey

  14.8

  4.4

  822

  246.8

  Harrow

  9.6

  2.9

  846

  257.1

  Havering

  8.5

  2.3

  841

  231.5

  Hillingdon

  11.4

  2.9

  1,201

  302.7

  Hounslow

  7.6

  2.1

  1,052

  293.8

  Kingston upon Thames

  4.0

  1.8

  528

  233.2

  Merton

  3.6

  1.3

  796

  294.1

  Newham

  10.7

  2.5

  1,063

  243.9

  Redbridge

  7.4

  1.9

  792

  200.2

  Richmond upon Thames

  6.0

  2.3

  527

  201.8

  Sutton

  6.0

  2.2

  794

  285.5

  Waltham Forest

  7.0

  2.0

  828

  236.6

  Birmingham

  39.4

  2.1

  4,437

  237.7

  Coventry

  13.0

  2.4

  1,051

  197.6

  Dudley

  8.0

  1.6

  974

  196.9

  Sandwell

  12.0

  2.3

  714

  135.1

  Solihull

  9.0

  2.4

  786

  205.4

  Walsall

  10.0

  2.0

  1,301

  258.4

  Wolverhampton

  9.8

  2.2

  1,115

  246.4

  Knowsley

  6.8

  2.2

  969

  320.6

  Liverpool

  18.0

  2.1

  2,654

  304.8

  St. Helens

  8.0

  2.6

  1,385

  449.9

  Sefton

  11.0

  2.1

  1,339

  257.7

  Wirral

  15.0

  2.5

  1,629

  275.0

  Bolton

  8.4

  1.7

  1,051

  214.1

  Bury

  6.5

  2.1

  1,210

  388.0

  Manchester

  13.1

  1.7

  2,084

  269.1

  136 137

  1995

  Educational psychologists

  Children with statements1

  Full-time equivalent

  per 10,000 pupils in schools2

  Number3

  per 10,000 pupils in schools2

  Oldham

  7.0

  1.6

  510

  116.1

  Rochdale

  6.5

  1.8

  876

  237.0

  Salford

  7.6

  1.9

  641

  161.9

  Stockport

  11.7

  2.4

  1,421

  290.5

  Tameside

  7.0

  1.8

  1,115

  291.1

  Trafford

  4.0

  1.1

  750

  199.1

  Wigan

  9.0

  1.8

  2,091

  409.9

  Barnsley

  6.4

  1.8

  1,046

  298.0

  Doncaster

  10.9

  2.0

  1,763

  328.8

  Rotherham

  10.3

  2.3

  1,375

  303.0

  Sheffield

  17.0

  2.2

  2,002

  261.3

  Bradford

  19.5

  2.1

  1,736

  183.5

  Calderdale

  9.4

  2.7

  696

  196.7

  Kirklees

  18.5

  2.8

  2,242

  337.0

  Leeds

  18.7

  1.5

  3,436

  283.5

  Wakefield

  7.5

  1.3

  1,512

  266.5

  Gateshead

  9.0

  2.8

  756

  233.5

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  12.0

  2.6

  1,184

  252.4

  North Tyneside

  8.8

  2.6

  956

  287.0

  South Tyneside

  6.0

  2.2

  641

  237.6

  Sunderland

  10.5

  2.0

  1,485

  282.8

  Isles of Scilly

  0.0

  0.0

  5

  176.7

  Inner London

  4—

  4—

  4—

  4—

  Avon

  30.0

  1.9

  4,712

  303.7

  Bedfordshire

  14.3

  1.5

  2,754

  280.1

  Berkshire

  22.8

  1.7

  3,625

  272.8

  Buckinghamshire

  23.2

  2.1

  3,929

  349.1

  Cambridgeshire

  18.0

  1.6

  2,654

  239.8

  Cheshire

  24.5

  1.5

  4,932

  296.4

  Cleveland

  17.5

  1.6

  2,541

  238.1

  Cornwall

  12.6

  1.7

  2,894

  393.5

  Cumbria

  20.0

  2.5

  2,660

  335.5

  Derbyshire

  28.6

  1.9

  5,311

  344.5

  Devon

  31.5

  2.0

  4,964

  316.3

  Dorset

  17.6

  1.8

  2,774

  280.3

  Durham

  23.4

  2.3

  3,222

  318.7

  East Sussex

  19.7

  1.9

  2,986

  290.5

  Essex

  56.6

  2.4

  5,652

  235.5

  Gloucestershire

  17.4

  2.0

  2,504

  283.8

  Hampshire

  49.8

  2.0

  7,960

  325.7

  Hereford and Worcester

  15.5

  1.4

  2,573

  231.4

  Hertfordshire

  28.8

  1.6

  4,488

  248.7

  Humberside

  26.0

  1.7

  3,298

  220.7

  Isle of Wight

  3.5

  1.8

  516

  265.8

  Kent

  48.2

  1.9

  7,122

  274.3

  Lancashire

  48.1

  2.0

  8,110

  344.8

  Leicestershire

  33.7

  2.2

  3,793

  248.4

  Lincolnshire

  16.0

  1.7

  3,047

  317.4

  Norfolk

  20.4

  1.8

  4,274

  377.0

  North Yorkshire

  19.0

  1.6

  3,872

  230.1

  Northamptonshire

  22.8

  2.1

  2,491

  233.6

  Northumberland

  8.4

  1.6

  1,390

  263.2

  Nottinghamshire

  28.6

  1.7

  1,803

  107.1

  Oxfordshire

  14.0

  1.5

  1,703

  180.8

  Shropshire

  13.0

  1.9

  2,401

  343.6

  Somerset

  13.7

  1.8

  1,850

  244.2

  Staffordshire

  27.0

  1.5

  4,894

  268.1

  Suffolk

  16.5

  1.6

  3,251

  312.8

  Surrey

  32.2

  2.0

  4,649

  285.6

  Warwickshire

  14.9

  1.8

  1,977

  244.0

  West Sussex

  17.8

  1.6

  2,715

  249.5

  Wiltshire

  13.3

  1.4

  2,841

  309.7

  England

  1,596.9

  2.0

  217,445

  271.2

  1 Children with statements of special education needs maintained by the LEA.

  2Divisor includes pupils of all ages in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special; independent and non-maintained special schools.

  3 Derived from returns received from LEA's-Special Educational Needs Survey (SEN2). Includes children in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools: independent and non-maintained special schools and children being educated otherwise than in a school.

  4Not applicable.

  138

  Local Education Authority Staff
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) teaching staff and (b) non-teaching staff were employed by the local education authorities throughout the United Kingdom and for each year since 1990; and if she will make a statement. [3626]

  Full-time equivalent teaching and non-teaching staff employed by local authorities in England—June 1990 to June 1995

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  19952

  Teaching

  482,700

  475,100

  466,800

  392,100

  378,000

  372,600

  Non-teaching3

  362,400

  364,200

  360,300

  318,200

  320,300

  262,000

  1 The table includes all manual and non-manual staff whether employed in schools or centrally based. Staff employed by grant-maintained schools are excluded throughout. There was a growth of over 6,000 teaching staff in grant-maintained schools between January 1994 and January 1995. The figures for 1993 to 1995 exclude staff in colleges that transferred to the new FE sector in April 1993.

  2 As a result of changes to the survey form, the 1995 figures are on a different basis from other years. Previously the FTEs were estimated using national statistics of average hours worked. More reliable FTEs are now calculated by local authorities at employee level. Also, staff doing two or more jobs in an authority are now recorded for each job separately. After adjusting the 1994 data to allow for these changes the estimated differences between 1994 and 1995 FTEs are decreases of 3,600 and 5,200, for teaching and non-teaching staff respectively.

  3 Non-teaching staff include educational support, clerical, school meals and premises related staff employed in schools and colleges, together with central services and administration within the education service.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are the pilot areas for the trials on the implementation of the jobseeker's allowance; and what is being undertaken in each pilot area. [3799]

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

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Keith Bradley, dated 4 December 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about Jobseeker's Allowance trial offices.Jobseeker's Allowance implementation trials are currently taking place in Employment Service Jobcentres (ESJ) in the following locations:

  Exeter, Barnstable, Newton Abbott (all in Devon)

  Alnwick, Jarrow (North East)

  Porthmadog, Cardiff (Wales)

  Norwich (Norfolk)

  Madeley (Shropshire)

  Cheetham Hill (Manchester)

  Goole (Humberside)

  Bathgate (Edinburgh)

  Additional trials will be undertaken in an ESJ in Tottenham, North London commencing 4th December.These offices are examining various Jobseeker's Allowance processes under current legislation, including new claims, fortnightly job search reviews, enquiries and change of circumstances. The outcomes from these trials will inform the Jobseeker's Allowance project nationally and locally.I hope this is helpful.

  Publicity
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the expenditure on publicity by her Department in 1994–95 and 1995–96
  140
  Mr. Robin Squire
  Information on the numbers of teaching and non-teaching staff employed by local authorities is collected by a local government management board on behalf of the joint staffing watch group. The table provides information for England as at June of each year. The coverage of these figures does not reflect the 2,500 increase in teacher numbers in maintained schools between January 1994 and January 1995.

  broken down into spending on (a) television, (b) radio, (c) newspapers and (d) other matters; and what is the protected spending on publicity in 1996–97. [3983]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Before the merger in July 1995, the Department operated separately as the Department for Education and the Employment Department. We will continue to follow separately funded programmes of publicity until the end of the financial year 1995–96.

  Expenditure on publicity by the Department is:

  £000

  ED

  DFE

  1994–95

  (a) Television

  2,778.3

  —

  (b) Radio

  441.6

  —

  (c) Newspapers and posters

  3,257.8

  147.1

  (d) Other matters

  2,528.4

  7,941.2

  1995–96 (estimated)

  2,906.1

  —

  (a) Television

  —

  —

  (b) Radio

  3,376.7

  300

  (c) Newspapers and posters

  1,312.6

  5,130

  (d) Other matters

  —

  —

  The projected spending on publicity in the 1996–97 public expenditure survey allocation for the Department is £13,040,000. Details on how this will be divided between various forms of publicity have not yet been agreed.

  Consultation Papers
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the consultation papers that have been issued by her Department since 31 July, indicating in each case(a) the date on which the consultation paper was issued, (b) what consultation period was allowed in weeks and (c) if the consultation period was subsequently extended and by how long. [4000]
  141
  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department for Education and Employment has issued the following consultation papers since 31 July 1995:
  Proposed Amendment to the Teacher Regulations and Guidance on the use of Supply Teachers. Issued on 17 November, consultation period—10 weeks. No current plans to extend consultation period.The Education (School Premises) Regulations 1995—Draft Regulations and Circular. Issued on 14 August, consultation period—nine and a half weeks. The period was not extended.Quality Assurance Regime for Institutions which Redeem Vouchers for Pre-School Education. Issued on 4 September, consultation period—six weeks. The period was not extended.Removing the Requirement to Publish Statutory Proposals to Establish Nursery Classes in the Maintained Sector. Issued on 26 September, consultation period—four weeks. The period was not extended.Commercial Borrowing and Asset Disposal by GM Schools. Issued on 10 October, consultation period—six weeks. The period was not extended.
  Self-Government for Voluntary Aided Schools. Issued on 27 October, consultation period—four weeks. The period was extended by one week.Consultation Letter to Industrial Training Organisations, Lead Bodies and Occupational Standards Councils on working relationships with Sector Partners. The aim was to set-up a series of conferences on: 28 November, 11 December, 14 December and 19 December. Issued on 19 October, consultation period—five and a half weeks. The period was not extended.Consultation Proposals to Allow Easier Access to Schools' National Curriculum Assessments Results. Issued on 30 October, consultation period—six weeks. No current plans to extend consultation period.A Common Funding Formula for Grant-Maintained Schools, 1996–97: The Top-slice.Issued on 3 October, consultation paper—four weeks. The period was not extended.Consultation Paper on Calculating the Primary/secondary Split. Issued on 5 September, consultation period—four weeks. The period was not extended.Consultation Paper on Standardising the Pupil Count and Pupil Contingency. Issued on 6 October, consultation period—four weeks. The period was not extended.Consultation Paper on Other Common Funding Formula Issues. Issued on 31 October, consultation period—four weeks. The period was not extended.Consultation Paper on Proposed Allocation Formula. Issued on 29 November, consultation period—three weeks. No current plans to extend consultation period.Consultation Letter on Training for Appeal Committee Members for Admission and Exclusion. Issued on 27 November, consultation period—three weeks. No current plans to extend consultation period.Draft Planning Guidance for TECs and Careers Service 1996–97. Issued on 6 October, consultation period—three weeks. The period was not extended.Consultation Letter on Proposed Regulations Affecting Entitlement to JSA of People Undertaking Voluntary Work While Unemployed. Issued on 11 August, consultation period—six weeks. The period was not formally extended, however, the last response was accepted on 26 September.Future Arrangements for the Secretary of State to Receive Local Advice and Assistance on the Employment of People with Disabilities. Issued on 9 October, consultation period—12 weeks. No current plans to extend consultation period.Criteria for Severely Disabled People entering the Employment Service's Supported Employment Programme. Issued on 25 October, consultation period—14 weeks. No current plans to extend consultation period.142 Local Advisory Arrangements. Issued in October, consultation period—nine weeks. No current plans to extend consultation period.Draft Leaflet for Parents on School Attendance. Issued on 29 August, consultation period—four and a half weeks. The period was not extended.Letter Inviting Comments on the Proposed Collection of Exclusion Appeals Data. Issued on 28 September, consultation period—four weeks. This period was not extended.Letter to Governors of Stratford Schools about use of Powers to Replace First Governors. Issued on 3 November, consultation period—one and a half weeks. The consultation period could have been extended, however, no extension was requested.Consultation on the Main Proposals Contained in the Report Produced by the North East London Education Association on the Future of the Hackney Downs Schools. Issued on 31 October, consultation period one and a half weeks. The period was not extended.

  Unemployment (Waveney)
  Mr Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is her most recent estimate of the level of unemployment in Waveney; and if she will make a statement on the measures she proposes to take to reduce it. [3845]

  Mr. Forth
  On 12 October 1995, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of unemployed people in Waveney was 4,580.

  The local offices of the Employment Service provide a wide range of programmes to assist jobseekers to find work. Norfolk and Waveney training and enterprise council provides a range of training programmes for adults and young people, including a programme specific to Waveney offering practical training in skills for the offshore industries. The TEC, in conjunction with the local authority, offers an incentive scheme for those who start up new businesses in the area. These opportunities, together with our overall policy aim of achieving sustainable low inflation growth, are the best way of achieving a reduction in unemployment.

  Code of Practice (Consultation)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she expects to draw up a code of good practice on consultation along the lines recommended by the efficiency scrutiny on the administrative burden on schools. [4001]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Work on the code of practice is due to start shortly. As my officials need to consult widely on the content, it will not be generally available until next year.

  Suffolk Training and Enterprise Council
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the accuracy of the published information on the value of Suffolk TEC's contract with the Employment Department in the financial year 1994–95; and if she will make a statement. [4190]

  Mr. Paice
  The published figure is incorrect. The value of Suffolk TEC's budget in the financial year 1994–95 was overstated by £4.52 million: the correct figure should
  143
  be £15.6 million. This error was caused by a change to the method by which the TEC's youth credits programme was funded, midway through the year.

  This led to a clerical error when part of the budget was double counted. I should stress that this was purely an administrative error and at no time were public funds at risk. The administrative systems have now been changed to ensure that this mistake cannot be repeated.

  College Fees
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has for the future handling of college fees at the universities of Durham, Kent, Lancaster and York.[4192]

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has accepted that the funds paid in college fees to the universities of Durham, Kent, Lancaster and York should be paid to those universities as part of their funding council grant. The constitutional independence of St. Chad's college, St. John's college and Ushaw college from the university of Durham precludes the transfer of 144
  college fees in their case. The Higher Education Funding Council for England has been asked to advise my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on the annual adjustment of their college fees in future.

  Lifetime Learning
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on lifetime learning. [4181]

  Mr. Paice
  I shall be publishing tomorrow a consultation document on lifetime learning. Copies will be placed in the Library.

  Building a culture of lifetime learning is crucial both to sustaining our international competitiveness and to the quality of our national life. It is a shared enterprise between Government, employers, individuals, and education and training providers. The document invites views from a wide range of interested parties by 26 February 1996 on how together we can set a course for achieving the national targets for lifetime learning, building on the progress already achieved.

  National Security: House of Lords Debates
  National Security: House of Lords Debates
  Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration
  Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration
  Sudan
  Sudan
  The Gambia
  The Gambia
  Nuclear Disarmament
  Nuclear Disarmament
  Nuclear Test Ban
  Nuclear Test Ban
  Female Genital Mutilation
  Female Genital Mutilation
  ODA: Supply of Defective Condoms
  ODA: Supply of Defective Condoms
  NATO Expansion
  NATO Expansion
  Councillors: Bicycle Allowances
  Councillors: Bicycle Allowances
  Fines: Alternative Sentences
  Fines: Alternative Sentences
  Northern Ireland: Judges
  Northern Ireland: Judges
  Emma Humphries: Transcript of Trial and Appeal
  Emma Humphries: Transcript of Trial and Appeal
  Pregnant Women Prisoners on Escort: Handcuffing
  Pregnant Women Prisoners on Escort: Handcuffing
  UN Convention on Racial Discrimination: UK Report
  UN Convention on Racial Discrimination: UK Report
  Royal Household: Appointments
  Royal Household: Appointments
  The "Derbyshire"
  The "Derbyshire"
  Black Rod's Garden: Conversion
  Black Rod's Garden: Conversion
  House of Lords in Session: Painting by Mr. Andrew Festing
  House of Lords in Session: Painting by Mr. Andrew Festing