Written Answers of 7 February 1995

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Justices of the Peace
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many new justices of the peace were appointed in Wales during 1994; and what is the political affiliation of the new appointees.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor appointed 116 new justices of the peace in Wales during 1994. The political affiliation of these appointees was as follows:

  Party

  Number

  Conservative

  24

  Labour

  50

  Liberal Democrat

  19

  Plaid Cymru

  8

  Independent/not known

  15

DEFENCE

  Service Children's Education Authority
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reassessment has been made of the list of admissible schools by the Service Children's Education Authority in the light of(a) the Her Majesty's inspectorate and Office for Standards in Education reports and (b) the league table of examination results.

  Mr. Soames
  No reassessment of the admissible schools list has been made in the light of the Her Majesty's inspectorate and Office for Standards in Education reports and the league table of examination results. The Service Children's Education Authority makes Ofsted reports available to service parents, and examination league tables are provided on request.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made by the Service Children's Education Authority of the provision for the education and welfare of service children at(a) Rodney school, Nottinghamshire, and (b) Finborough school, Suffolk.

  Mr. Soames
  The Service Children's Education Authority does not assess the provision of education and welfare at schools. Such assessments are the responsibility of the Department for Education, Her Majesty's inspectorate and the Office for Standards in Education. SCEA offers an advisory service to parents whose children already attend boarding schools and to those who are considering a boarding education for their children.

  Aircraft Orders
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many orders have been placed with aircraft companies to replace Royal Air Force Wessex helicopters; when those orders were made; and when the aircraft will be delivered;

  (2) how many orders have been placed to replace the Wessex helicopters on the Queen's Flight; when those orders were made; and when they will be delivered;

  (3) what plans he has to replace Wessex helicopters in the Queen's Flight;

  (4) what plans he has to replace Wessex helicopters in the Royal Air Force.

  Mr. Freeman
  Current plans assume that all UK-based RAF Wessex helicopters, including those in the Queen's Flight, will be replaced by the turn of the century. The Wessex unit in Cyprus is planned to be replaced early next century. An order was placed in October 1992 for six Sea King helicopters which, with the RAF's existing Sea King fleet, will replace Wessex in the search and rescue role. The Sea Kings are due to be delivered this year. Options for the replacement of Wessex in other roles remain under consideration. No orders have been placed.

  Corporal Punishment
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account is taken of the policy on corporal punishment in assessing the suitability of schools for children receiving the service schools boarding allowance.

  Mr. Soames
  Corporal punishment is a matter between individual schools and service parents; it does not affect the eligibility criteria for boarding school allowance. The Service Children's Education Authority is happy to advise service parents on schools' policies relating to corporal punishment.

  Joint Services Command
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 26 January,Official Report, column 291, what appraisal was made by his Department of the merits of local schools and medical services in (a) Camberley, (b) Greenwich and (c) Bracknell.

  Mr. Soames
  As I explained in my previous answer, the key assessment that we have made in respect of schools and medical services is the extent to which students at the proposed joint services command and staff college, and their families, could benefit from ready access to common facilities.

  The married quarters serving Bracknell and Camberley are close to the college, so students' children form a significant proportion of the local school population. As a result, some schools have been able to make special provision to cater for this group, such as adjusting the teaching year to coincide with that of the college's, and providing special language and cultural training for the children of foreign students. In Greenwich, however, the married quarters supporting the college are dispersed and situated outside the borough, so no appraisal of the merits of Greenwich schools was appropriate.

  Medical care is available on a simillar basis to officers, and their families, at all three sites, but, again, the relative proximity of the associated married quarters to the

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  colleges at Bracknell and Camberley makes access to common medical services much easier

  Secondment
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which individuals have been seconded from the private sector to the Defence Export Services Organisation; and, since January 1992, what were the dates of such secondments and the company or organisation from which each individual was seconded.

  Mr. Freeman
  Further to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Simpson) on 30 November 1994,Official Report, column 778, both the head of the organisation and the offset adviser have been seconded from British Aerospace since September 1994 and October 1993 respectively. The international financial adviser joined the DESO on a short-term contract in April 1992.

  Awards
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he is able to give details of the new award to recognise conspicuous gallantry and heroism by members of the armed forces.

  Mr. Soames
  Her Majesty the Queen has graciously approved the institution of the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross to recognise conspicuous gallantry and great heroism by members of the armed forces. This award will replace the Distinguished Service Order, when awarded to officers for specific acts of gallantry, the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying). It will apply to all three services, and will be open to service men and women of any rank.

  The Distinguished Service Order is to be retained across all three services as an award in recognition of exceptional service in positions of substantial responsibility for command and leadership during active operations.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Political Asylum
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received in the last six months from the Governments of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain about the United Kingdom's political asylum laws, procedures and decisions on individuals.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The Saudi and Bahrain Governments have raised with us the presence in the United Kingdom of some of their nationals. We have explained United Kingdom asylum procedures to them. Decisions on individual cases are a matter for the Home Office.

  Drugs
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to ensure that United Kingdom security assistance provided for drug control purposes does not 122
  contribute to human rights violations in developing countries.

  Mr. Baldry
  Requests from overseas Governments for United Kingdom drugs-related assistance are carefully considered against a number of criteria. These include the human rights record of the country concerned.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what amount of resources has been denied to the Government of Gibraltar by the loss of the dockyard and other reductions in the forces over the last 10 years.

  Mr. Goodlad
  It is generally estimated that, at its peak, the Ministry of Defence contribution to the Gibraltar economy was about 50 per cent. It is currently estimated at about 10 per cent. More detailed figures are not available.

  Dr. Hulak Gerger
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Turkey about the imprisonment without trial of Dr. Haluk Gerger, General Secretary of the United Nations Association of Turkey; and what response he received from the Turkish Government.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We have not raised this specific case, but we take every opportunity to make our concerns on human rights known to the Turkish Government. The Foreign Secretary last did so when he met the Turkish Foreign Minister in London on 2 February. We are following closely the Turkish Government's programme of democratisation measures.

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the reasons for the current decline in Rockhopper penguin numbers in the Falkland Islands; and which other penguin species are similarly affected.

  Mr. Baldry
  Assessments carried out on the reasons for the current decline in Rockhopper penguins are inconclusive. Two major reasons for the decline, which is not confined to the Falklands, have been put forward: first, changes in ocean temperatures, possibly related to the El Nino phenomenon; and, secondly, a natural cycle of decline similar to those previously recorded, which have been followed by an upturn.

  No major penguin species on the Falkland Islands have suffered significant decline. Detailed surveys of penguin colonies are being conducted by the organisation Falkland Conservation.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures are being taken to avoid over fishing in Falkland Islands waters; and which countries are currently licensed to fish in those waters.

  Mr. Baldry
  Fishing in Falkland Islands waters is closely controlled by the Falkland Islands Government through a strict licensing regime that limits fishing effort to safe levels. Scientific evaluation of the sustainable development of the fishery is carried out, under contract
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  to the Falkland Islands Government, by Imperial College and the British Antarctic Survey. The Falkland Islands Government operate two fishery protection aircraft and, depending on the season, either one or two fishery protection vessels.

  Vessels from the following are licensed to fish in Falkland waters during 1995:

  Belize Chile

  Falkland Islands

  France Honduras

  Italy

  Japan

  Korea

  Panama

  Poland

  Portugal

  Spain

  Taiwan

  Fur Seals, South Georgia
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration is being given to a cull of fur seals on South Georgia.

  Mr. Baldry
  There are no plans for a cull. The British Antarctic Survey is studying the population dynamics of fur seals and their impact on terrestrial and marine eco-systems.

  Liberia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries in the ECOWAS monitoring group initiative in Liberia have indicated that they will withdraw their troops unless there is progress in the peace process or financial assistance is given.

  Mr. Baldry
  Many ECOMOG troop contributing countries have voiced their frustration with the lack of progress in the peace process and have indicated that they are not prepared to enter into an open-ended commitment in Liberia.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further financial contribution is being made by(a) the United Nations or (b) other bodies to alleviate the financial hardships being suffered by those countries contributing forces to the ECOWAS monitoring group initiative in Liberia.

  Mr. Baldry
  The UN trust fund for Liberia was set up to help offset ECOMOG's costs. So far, only five countries, including the United Kingdom, have contributed. The UN Secretary-General has appealed for further donations. I am not aware of any other bodies outside the Economic Community of West African States that have given financial help for ECOMOG.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Faraday Station
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will provide additional resources to 124
  enable the Faraday station to stockpile sufficient quantities of baked beans to last until the closure of the station.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The provisioning of the United Kingdom's Antarctic stations is the responsibility of the Natural Environment Research Council and its institute, the British Antarctic Survey.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) when the House was informed of the proposal to transfer Faraday station to the Ukraine;

  (2) who took the decision to hand over Faraday station to the Ukraine; when it was taken; and what are the terms of the transfer.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The House was informed of the decision to close Faraday from March 1996, as a manned station, by the then Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science, on 19 May 1993,Official Report, columns 157–58.

  Subsequently, the possibility of transfer of the station as a working unit to another operator was explored by the Foreign Office. Negotiations with the Ukrainians were opened following authorisation by the then Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in June 1994. These have yet to be concluded.

  The terms of the transfer are still subject to negotiation.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what guarantees he is able to give that the scientific work currently being carried out by the Faraday station will continue after 1995–96;

  (2) what scientific work on the ozone layer is carried out by staff at the Faraday station; and who will carry out this work after the station closes.

  Mr. David Hunt
  If the Faraday station is closed as a manned station, the British Antarctic Survey will complete the development of automated data collection systems, which will enable key long-term meteorological and magnetic observations to be completed at Faraday.

  Should negotiations for the transfer of the station to the Ukrainians prove successful, their scientists will, after training, carry out the existing scientific measurements at Faraday and transfer the resulting data to the United Kingdom.

  Ozone measurements have been carried out for many years at Faraday. The monitoring programme will either continue in that location or be transferred to Rothera island.

  Sick Leave
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list for each Department and agency the average days of sick leave and the index figure taking the civil service average as 100.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  Data on sickness absence is submitted to the civil service Occupational Health and Safety Agency by Departments and agencies on a voluntary basis. The tables show, for 1993, the average days of sick leave and the index figure taking the civil service average as 100 for participating Departments and agencies.
  125

  Ranked working days absence for departments by departmental size

  Figure

  Average Days sick leave

  Staff years

  Index CS average = 100

  Departments of 10,000 + staff

  190

  Inland Revenue

  7.71

  66,392

  76

  058

  MOD

  8.71

  84,726

  86

  180

  Customs and Excise

  8.75

  26,222

  86

  185

  Department of Trade and Industry

  8.90

  12,112

  88

  076

  Home Office

  10.60

  47,141

  105

  093

  Department of Transport

  10.70

  13,588

  106

  048

  Lord Chancellor's Department

  11.80

  13,048

  116

  528

  Employment Service (DE)

  12.27

  48,516

  121

  537

  SS Benefits Agency (DSS)

  12.81

  69,371

  126

  Departments of 5,000-10,000 staff

  165

  Department of Environment

  8.14

  6,307

  80

  422

  Crown Prosecution Service

  8.21

  6,572

  81

  140

  MAFF

  8.45

  7,889

  83

  427

  Department of Health

  9.74

  5,194

  96

  091

  Scottish Office

  10.33

  6,298

  102

  125

  Employment Department

  10.58

  7,620

  104

  538

  SS Contributions Agency (DSS)

  11.03

  9,851

  109

  532

  Land Registry

  12.38

  9,228

  122

  379

  National Savings Department

  14.81

  6,110

  146

  Departments of 1,000-5,000 staff

  551

  ADAS (MAFF)

  7.08

  2,135

  70

  040

  HM Treasury

  7.14

  1,683

  70

  570

  Building Management (PSA)

  8.37

  3,452

  83

  521

  Met Office (MOD)

  8.74

  2,516

  86

  119

  Health and Safety Executive

  8.76

  4,632

  86

  116

  Crown Office and Proc Fiso (SO)

  8.84

  1,044

  87

  430

  Central Statistical Office

  8.91

  1,317

  88

  531

  Ordinance Survey

  9.04

  2,275

  89

  061

  ODA

  9.14

  1,285

  90

  523

  IT Services Agency (DSS)

  9.35

  4,186

  92

  426

  DSS

  9.51

  3,075

  94

  567

  SS Child Support Agency (DSS)

  9.79

  3,628

  97

  102

  Department for Education

  9.82

  2,135

  97

  392

  Welsh Office

  10.13

  2,326

  100

  123

  OPCS

  10.67

  2,128

  105

  139

  Intervention Board

  11.93

  1,023

  118

  432

  Scottish Prison Service

  15.29

  4,533

  151

  516

  Registers of Scotland (SO)

  15.90

  1,268

  157

  Departments of 500-1,000 staff

  512

  Natural Resources Institute (ODA)

  4.82

  548

  48

  447

  OFSTED

  5.50

  543

  54

  443

  OPSS (Cabinet Office)

  5.54

  618

  55

  166

  PSA

  6.28

  854

  62

  515

  Central Office of Information (HMT)

  7.23

  570

  71

  564

  Planning Inspectorate (DOE)

  7.71

  582

  76

  124

  ACAS

  8.98

  681

  89

  526

  Central Vet Lab (MAFF)

  9.48

  619

  94

  002

  Charity Commission

  10.03

  693

  99

  011

  Paymaster General Office

  10.41

  877

  103

  146

  Export Credits Guarantee

  10.94

  598

  108

  050

  Scottish Courts Service

  12.53

  812

  124

  Departments of 200-500 staff

  507

  CS College (OPSS)

  4.85

  257

  48

  530

  Royal Mint

  5.69

  370

  56

  195

  National Heritage

  5.77

  311

  57

  055

  North Ireland Office

  6.22

  204

  61

  001

  Cabinet Office

  7.02

  406

  69

  445

  Government Centre for Information Systems

  8.19

  391

  81

  077

  Treasury Solicitor Department

  8.22

  377

  81

  434

  Office of Electrical Reg.

  8.55

  229

  84

  144

  Crown Estate Office

  8.58

  204

  85

  577

  Chessington CC (OPSS)

  8.63

  441

  85

  054

  Fair Trading Office

  9.40

  420

  93

  508

  Hist Royal Palaces (DNH)

  10.28

  411

  101

  056

  Scottish Courts Administration

  10.54

  216

  104

  131

  Gen. Register Office (SO)

  10.86

  274

  107

  126 127

  Ranked working days absence for departments by departmental size

  Figure

  Average Days sick leave

  Staff years

  Index CS average = 100

  013

  Public Record Office

  11.23

  470

  111

  506

  Resettlement Agency (DSS)

  14.64

  319

  14S

  Departments of 1–200 staff

  075

  Legal Secretariat

  1.95

  29

  19

  509

  QE II Conf. Centre (DOE)

  2.45

  8

  24

  005

  Government Actuary Department

  3.31

  78

  33

  423

  OFGAS

  3.75

  43

  37

  085

  Lord Advocates Department (SO)

  6.35

  19

  63

  503

  HMSO

  6.52

  7

  64

  012

  Privy Council Office

  6.61

  36

  65

  583

  Government Property Lawyers (TSOL)

  6.98

  124

  69

  510

  OHS (OPSS)

  7.17

  104

  71

  429

  OFWAT

  7.46

  145

  74

  424

  Serious Fraud Office

  9.47

  170

  93

  205

  Telecoms Office

  10.04

  140

  99

  205

  Scottish Record Office

  10.14

  129

  100

  120

  Friendly Societies Reg.

  10.98

  165

  108

  028

  Investment and Loans Office

  12.55

  38

  124

  539

  RASA (Cabinet Office)

  12.94

  167

  128

  Government Contracts
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the bodies with contractor or agency roles for Government that(a) can be put into receivership or (b) can fail to pay sums due under contract for services meeting Government commitments.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  Large numbers of private companies and other independent organisations provide goods or services for the Government. Listing them would involve disproportionate cost.

  Abandoned Bases (Antarctica)
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) how much has been allocated in the last two years to clean up abandoned former British bases in Antarctica;

  (2) if he will list all British Antarctic stations now abandoned; and if all the necessary clean up work has been completed.

  Mr. David Hunt
  No specific funds have been earmarked for this purpose from within annual recurrent expenditure. The list of British abandoned bases is provided in the table. Some clean-up work has been undertaken, although not a full programme.

  Base

  Date established

  Port Lockroy

  1944

  Deception Island

  1944

  Hope Bay

  1945

  Sandefjord Bay

  1945

  Cape Geddes

  1946

  Stonington Island

  1946

  Argentine Island, Winter Island

  1947

  Admiralty Bay

  1947

  View Point

  1953

  Horseshoe Island

  1955

  Danco Island

  1956

  Portal Point

  1956

  Detaille Island

  1956

  Prospect Point

  1957

  128

  Base

  Date established

  Orford Cliff Hut (Refuge)

  1957

  Blaicklock Hut (Refuge)

  1957

  Halley Station IV (inaccessible)

  1984

  British Antarctic Survey
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what grant was made to the British Antarctic Survey in 1994–95; and what is the proposed grant for 1995–96.

  Mr. David Hunt
  The science budget allocation for the British Antarctic Survey in 1994–95 was £24.379 million. The planning figure for the science budget allocation for 1995–96 is £25.87 million.

  Duchy of Lancaster "Forward Look"
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the next "Forward Look" will be published; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has recently written to the Chairman of the Select Committee on Science and Technology to confirm that the next "Forward Look" of Government-funded science, engineering and technology, will be published in May 1995.

  This is to be a permanent change from the arrangements proposed in the White Paper "Realising our Potential" which envisaged a publication date in April each year. This slight adjustment in timing will enable the "Forward Look" to link more effectively with annual public expenditure surveys.

  National Science Week
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 10 January,Official Report, column 4, what proportion of the £195,000 allocated in support of the national week of science, engineering and technology was given in grants;

  129
  what number of applications were unsuccessful; and what would their total costs have amounted to.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  Of the £195,000 the Office of Science and Technology has allocated in support of the 1995 national week of science, engineering and technology—SET 95–£50,000 was made available to the Committee on the Public Understanding of Science as additional funding for grants in direct support of SET 95. Some 102 applications were unsuccessful, whose total costs would have amounted to nearly £167,000.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Nitrates
  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the justification for the setting of limits to nitrate levels in vegetables.

  Mrs. Browning
  I see no justification for setting limits while the EC scientific committee for food is still considering the issue. We have made it very clear to the Commission that we oppose the proposal both because no scientific case has been established for it and because of the serious effects that it would cause to our glasshouse lettuce industry. The Commission is accordingly reconsidering the matter.

  Bovine Somatotropin
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make a statement about the objective of the trials currently taking place on bovine somatotropin in the United Kingdom; how my trials are taking place; in which counties they are taking place; what companies are sponsoring the trials; and what measures he is taking to ensure that milk from cows being treated with BST in the trials is not entering the food chain;

  (2) whether the trials for bovine somatotropin in the United Kingdom will continue following the EU Agriculture Council's decision to continue the moratorium until 1999; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Browning
  No trials are currently being undertaken on bovine somatotropin in cows in the UK. The decision of the Council of Agriculture Ministers to extend the moratorium on BST until 31 December 1999 also allowed limited practical tests to be carried out under certain conditions. Details of any such tests and how they might be conducted have yet to be worked out.

  Coventry Airport
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many flights had taken place from Coventry airport carrying live animals to Europe in the year to 21 December 1994.

  Mrs. Browning
  The information requested is not available. It could be provided only by the air operators concerned.

  Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent information about 130
  research into transmissible spongiform encephalopathies he has received from the spongiform encephalopathy advisory committee; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  As part of its continuing work to maintain an overview of research into transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, the independent spongiform encephalopathy advisory committee has produced a report which summarises what is now known about TSEs. The report provides an insight into research both completed and under way.

  I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library of the House. The report has been published by HMSO.

ENVIRONMENT

  Housing, West Midlands
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated number of dwellings for rent in the public sector and scheduled to be built in the next year in each of the West Midlands district council areas; and what are the current housing waiting lists for each of those councils.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The latest available figures for
  local authority and other public sector housing stock and on the numbers waiting for housing in districts in the west midlands relate to 1 April 1994 and can be found in the "1994 HIP1 All Items Prints", a copy of which is in the Library. Estimates of local authority and other public sector bodies' proposals to build new dwellings are not held centrally.

  In addition, there were a total of 71,000 housing association dwellings in the west midlands region—46,000 in the west midlands county—at 31 March 1994. The forecast for housing association new build starts in the west midlands in 1995–96 is 1,800, and 1,100 in the west midlands county.

  Housing Waiting Lists
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the current numbers on local authority housing waiting lists, broken down by local authority, as registered on the 1994 housing investment programme returns from local authorities.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The information requested on the numbers of households on local authority housing waiting lists at 1 April 1994 can be found in section B of the "1994 HIP1 All Items Prints", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Oxygenated Petrol
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department has carried out into oxygenated petrol; what plans for research into the environmental suitability of oxygenated petrol he has; and if he will make a statement.
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  Mr. Atkins
  The environmental case for oxygenated fuel is not yet clear. The Government will keep it under review. We are participating fully in the setting of standards for fuel formulation at a European level, in particular in the light of the forthcoming report from the European tripartite initiative on future engine and fuel technologies.

  Redundancy Compensation
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the reasons for the differences between the proposed compensation package offered for staff made redundant in the current local government reorganisation and that offered in the 1986 package, with special reference to(a) maximum payments and (b) discretionary payments for those over 50 years.

  Mr. Curry
  Any compensation scheme must be tailored to the specific circumstances to which it applies, and should be viewed as a whole. We have provided a compensation package for the current reorganisation which in all the circumstances is fair to employees and affordable for the local authorities and taxpayers.

  Construction Contracting
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the Heating and Ventilating Contractors Association about the need for legislation on construction contracting in the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, more than 60 letters have been received since September 1994 on this subject from members of the constructors liaison group of which the HVCA is a component part. Later today my right hon. Friend is meeting representatives of all sectors of the construction industry to discuss this and other issues arising from the Latham report.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what discussions he has had with the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People regarding the effect of payments by councils in lieu of community care on local authorities' budgets;

  (2) what discussions he has had with the Minister of State for Social Security and Disabled People regarding increases in standard spending assessments to offset the costs on local authorities for disabled people not in care.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health announced in November her intention to allow local authorities to make direct payments to disabled people in lieu of services. My Department has discussed with the Department of Health the effects of this proposal on local authorities' budgets. As any powers to make direct payments will be permissive and will involve the same assessment procedures as now, I am satisfied that there will be no additional need for resources.

  Test Valley
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his inspector will report on the Test valley local plan.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The provision of information on inspectors reports on objections to development plans is the responsibility of the Planning Inspectorate. I have asked the inspectorate's chief executive, Mr. Christopher Shepley, to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from C. J. Shepley to Mr. Michael Colvin, dated 3 February 1995

  PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION No. 1036: 2 FEBRUARY 1995

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the Test Valley Borough Local Plan.

  The long inquiry into objections to the Test Valley Borough Local Plan opened on 11 May 1993, and closed on 22 December 1993 after 100 inquiry sitting days and site visit days. Some 1,600 written objections were lodged in addition to those heard at the inquiry, which have to be examined by Inspectors and reported on with recommendations to the Council.

  The report is expected to be issued to the Council in mid-February 1995. By using a second Inspector, this is several months in advance of the date by which the report would normally be expected given the scale of the inquiry and the large number of written objections to be considered.

  In view of your interest I will arrange for you to be advised of the date of despatch of the report to the Council.

  Ordnance Survey
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the saving to public funds if the Ordnance Survey were privatised.

  Mr. Atkins
  The first review of Ordnance Survey's performance as an executive agency was carried ow: in 1994. It concluded that agency status had been a spur to significant improvements in performance. Consultants employed to look at options for the future status of Ordnance Survey assessed that it would continue to progress well with its current status and recommended that it should remain an executive agency for the time being. The consultants believed that privatisation offered potential benefits as well as disadvantages but found that various obstacles precluded any change of status in the immediate future. They were unable, at that time, to quantify the full costs of privatisation or subsequent savings to public funds. Government accepted these recommendations and OS will remain an agency for the next four years at least. In the meantime, I have tasked the chief executive of Ordnance Survey with investigating the obstacles to privatisation so that these costs and benefits can be established.

  Housing Stock Transfers
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 25 January,Official Report, column 210, if he will list the local authorities which have conducted a ballot on proposed large-scale voluntary transfer of their housing stock and, in each case, the number of tenants eligible to vote, the number of those participating and the number of those voting for and against the proposed transfer.
  133
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Since 1988, 64 local authorities have conducted tenant ballots on proposed large-scale voluntary transfers. These authorities are listed, with details of the number of properties involved, the rate of tenant participation in the ballot and the proportion of tenants voting for and against the proposal.

  Large scale voluntary transfers—successful ballot results

  Authority

  Number of dwellings

  Participation rate (per cent.)

  Votes in favour (per cent.)

  Votes against (per cent.)

  Chiltern

  4,650

  71

  85

  15

  Newbury

  7,053

  87

  82

  18

  Sevenoaks

  6,526

  80

  85

  15

  Broadland

  3,721

  84

  53

  47

  East Dorset

  2,245

  85

  84

  16

  Medina

  2,825

  84

  69

  31

  Mid Sussex

  4,426

  80

  77

  22

  North Bedfordshire

  7,472

  73

  72

  28

  Rochester

  8,029

  76

  60

  40

  South Wight

  2,119

  89

  91

  9

  Swale

  7,352

  80

  82

  18

  Christchurch

  1,621

  76

  54

  46

  Ryedale

  3,353

  83

  82

  18

  South Buckinghamshire

  3,319

  82

  75

  25

  Suffolk Coastal

  5,272

  78

  57

  43

  Tonbridge and Malling

  6,382

  76

  71

  29

  Bromley

  12,393

  76

  55

  45

  Tunbridge Wells1

  5,519

  80

  60

  40

  5,519

  81

  52

  48

  Breckland

  6,781

  81

  62

  38

  East Cambridgeshire

  4,266

  82

  70

  30

  Surrey Heath

  2,885

  78

  55

  45

  West Dorset

  5,279

  84

  65

  35

  Epsom and Ewell

  1,740

  75

  53

  47

  Hambleton

  4,268

  84

  66

  34

  Hart

  2,408

  81

  76

  24

  Havant

  3,561

  81

  51

  49

  Hertsmere2

  4,370

  81

  78

  12

  1,700

  89

  76

  24

  Leominster

  1,832

  84

  87

  13

  Penwith

  3,354

  89

  65

  35

  South Ribble

  3,445

  76

  77

  23

  South Shropshire

  1,500

  82

  69

  31

  Mid Bedfordshire2

  3,976

  80

  73

  27

  North Dorset

  2,881

  84

  55

  45

  Thanet2

  1,760

  91

  51

  49

  Wychavon2

  4,020

  76

  81

  19

  2,543

  75

  54

  46

  Basingstoke and Deane2

  4,850

  72

  52

  48

  4,850

  77

  60

  40

  Windsor and Maidenhead2

  3,250

  81

  60

  40

  3,250

  80

  54

  46

  Vale of White Horse

  5,028

  82

  67

  33

  Maldon

  2,050

  80

  83

  17

  Malvern Hills

  4,867

  80

  83

  17

  Kennet

  4,996

  83

  87

  13

  Rushmoor

  5,300

  75

  69

  31

  1 Held two consecutive ballots

  2 Proposed split transfer to two housing associations. Two ballots held.

  Unsuccessful Ballot Results

  Authority

  Number of dwellings

  Participation rate (per cent.)

  Votes in favour (per cent.)

  Votes against (per cent.)

  Rochford

  2,343

  87

  7

  93

  Salisbury

  7,795

  77

  25

  75

  Torbay

  3,425

  59

  27

  73

  Arun

  3,569

  81

  25

  75

  Brentwood

  3,269

  88

  20

  80

  Canterbury

  6,228

  79

  25

  75

  Redbridge

  8,165

  73

  30

  70

  Three Rivers

  5,534

  86

  25

  75

  Bournemouth

  6,300

  84

  32

  68

  134
  The Department does not keep a central record of the number of tenants eligible to vote in each transfer, the actual number of votes cast or the actual numbers of tenants voting for and against each proposal.
  135

  Unsuccessful Ballot Results

  Authority

  Number of dwellings

  Participation rate (per cent.)

  Votes in favour (per cent.)

  Votes against (per cent.)

  North Kestevan

  4,800

  85

  44

  56

  South Holland

  4,819

  80

  37

  63

  Wokingham

  3,431

  75

  30

  70

  Hillingdon

  14,500

  79

  20

  80

  Kingston

  6,432

  44

  39

  61

  Woodspring

  7,922

  75

  29

  71

  Maidstone1

  4,000

  81

  41

  59

  4,000

  84

  41

  59

  Mendip

  5,100

  79

  49

  51

  Rother

  3,733

  79

  45

  55

  Westminster

  674

  68

  31

  69

  Poole1

  1,400

  92

  73

  27

  4,000

  86

  39

  61

  Mid Bedfordshire1

  4,907

  78

  48

  52

  Thanet1

  4,850

  80

  37

  63

  Cherwell1

  3,274

  83

  37

  63

  3,692

  77

  43

  57

  Castle Point

  1,877

  81

  17

  83

  1 Proposed split transfer to two housing associations. Two ballots held.

  River Quality
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to maintain recent improvements in river quality in England and Wales.

  Mr. Gummer
  We have in hand a major programme for water quality improvement. Between 1989 and 2005 the water companies are spending an average of some £3 billion a year, much of it of benefit to water quality. The National Rivers Authority has since 1989 been able to bring a co-ordinated approach to discharge consenting and the other means it has of bringing about improvement. Other dischargers and farmers are taking steps that benefit water quality, much of it voluntary in response to codes of practice rather than regulation. The results are shown in the more than 15 per cent. net improvement in river quality that the NRA estimates took place between 1990 and 1993. These efforts will be continuing and we are going further than required by legislation, as is shown by the more than £500 million that water companies will be spending up to 2000 to bring about additional river quality improvement.

  At the time of privatisation of the water industry in 1989, we provided a further mechanism for co-ordinating and prioritising improvement, in the form of statutory water quality objectives—SWQOs. Last May, the Government put in place the new classification system inter alia as the framework for SWQOs. We now intend to consult formally on proposals for a small set of SWQOs which will allow us to test the operation of the system on a pilot basis. The final details are being agreed with the NRA.

  The proposals will specify the improvements to be achieved in each case and the timetable for achieving them. With the help of the NRA, I shall also identify the specific actions that will be needed, with a preliminary assessment of the likely costs and benefits. There will then be a three-month period within which any interested person or body may comment, including by offering further information on costs and benefits. I shall than decide whether and in what form to make the SWQO. In controversial cases, I may arrange for a local inquiry before reaching my decision.
  136
  The implementation procedures, and practical operation of the statutory objectives in the initial limited pilot group of catchments will be assessed before any decision is made on whether SWQOs should be introduced on a wider basis. The Government are also considering the development of proposals for economic instruments for water pollution and abstraction. Our intention on both national water regulation, including SWQOs, and economic instruments will need to take into account the way in which water legislation is developing in the European Community.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to publish another state of the construction industry report.

  Mr. Gummer
  The latest state of the construction industry report, produced jointly by my Department and representatives of the construction industry, has just been completed. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  Crown Estate Meeting
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 12 January,Official Report, column 174, what was the purpose of the meeting held on 26 May 1994 at the Crown Estate between English Nature, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation and the Crown Estate; and what conservation groups were invited to this meeting.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 1 February 1995]The informal discussions were to identify the key issues regarding the current process for leasing the foreshore for wildfowling. Conservation groups were subsequently consulted.

  Tidal Land (Conservation)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what conservation groups have been invited to participate in the Crown Estate's joint group on wildfowling and conservation on tidal land lease application procedures.
  137
  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 1 February 1995]English Nature is a member of the joint group. Voluntary bodies are being consulted on the new draft procedures, which it is hoped will be extended to all foreshore leases granted by the Crown Estate.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the severance payments made to special advisers in each of the last five years indicating(a) the amount and (b) the date.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 1 February 1995]I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of State, Treasury on Monday 6 February 1995,Official Report, column 69.

  Environmental Claims
  Mr. Keen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environmental when he initiated a report by the National Consumer Council on the issue of environmental claims and related issues; when the findings will be made public; and what actions the Government will take to address the report findings.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]My Department and the Department of Trade and Industry are discussing with the National Consumer Council the detailed specification for a study into the effectiveness of controls over the making of environmental claims. The study should be concluded in the summer. We will decide nearer the time how best to make the findings known and what action might be needed to follow them up.

  Planning Funds
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 2 February,Official Report, column 763, what plans he has to restrict the use to which local authorities may put planning gain money to the geographical area of the consent in question; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  We have no plans to introduce such restrictions.

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 7 February.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 7 February.

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

  Constitutional Change
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister what constitutional change he proposes should take place in the United Kingdom before the end of the century.
  138
  The Prime Minister
  Any proposals for constitutional change will be put before Parliament when it is appropriate to do so.

  Staff Inquiry
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Prime Minister between what dates Ms Baxendale served on the Scott inquiry team; and if he will list the members and grades and originating departments of the current team.

  The Prime Minister
  Miss Presiley Baxendale QC has worked on Sir Richard Scott's inquiry from 18 January 1993 to 31 March 1994 inclusive, and from 2 May 1994 to 13 May 1994 inclusive and thereafter from time to time as the need arises.

  The current members of the inquiry team are:

  Department

  Christopher Muttukumaru (Grade 5)

  Treasury Solicitor's Department

  David Price (Grade 5)

  Department of Trade and Industry

  Peter Edwards (Legal Officer)

  Inland Revenue Solicitor's Office

  Karen Wiseman (Grade 7 (Legal))

  Crown Prosecution Service

  Catherine Southern (Grade 7 (Legal))

  Crown Prosecution Service

  Christopher Stone (HEO)

  Department of Trade and Industry

  Mufassir Mohammed (EO)

  Department of the Environment

  Sonia Octave (AO)

  Home Office

  Joanne Bishop (AA)

  Home Office

  Velma Bernard (Personal Secretary)

  Department of Trade and Industry

  Wendy Moore (Personal Secretary)

  Department of Trade and Industry

  Downing Street Policy Unit
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Prime Minister from what sources the head of the Downing street policy unit is paid; and if he will make a statement on the division of his role in relation to official and party matters.

  The Prime Minister
  The head of the Downing street policy unit is paid from the Cabinet Office other services vote as a special adviser. Like other special advisers, and like his predecessors under this and previous Administrations, he assists me with work which is partly governmental and partly political.

  Coastal Protection
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Prime Minister what funds are available other than funds available through the Department of the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in the current financial year for coastal protection and repair.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies given yesterday by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food,Official Report, column 85, and my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of the Environment, Official Report, column 12.

  Deception Island
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans exist to clean up the site of the former British whaling station on Deception island.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have been asked to reply.

  Further work on the clean up of the former British station on Deception island is planned for 1996–97, subject to the allocation of funds and the co-operation of the other Antarctic treaty partners involved.

  Pay Rises (Utilities)
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to establish a committee to examine utility directors' and chairmen's pay rises, pension contributions and share options.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]No. As I have previously made clear, private sector salaries and other remuneration are a matter for companies and their shareholders to decide, not the Government. We welcome the establishment of Sir Richard Greenbury's group, which will prepare a code of good practice on directors' pay and conditions, and the recent contribution made by the Institute of Directors.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the severance payments made to special advisers in each of the last five years indicating(a) the amount and (b)M the date.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 1 February 1995]I refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Treasury,Official Report, column 69.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Radioactive Waste Shipments
  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the United Kingdom will be liable in the event of an accident resulting in radioactive contamination from the imminent shipment of vitrified high-level radioactive waste from France to Japan on a BNFL/PNTL ship.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  If nuclear injury or damage occurs in the course of carriage of cargoes by PNTL in a country which is not a party to the Paris convention on nuclear liability, there is a possibility of claims against BNFL/PNTL, as the carrier.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion and number of non-industrial civil servants in the departments and agencies for which he has responsibility are registered disabled and disabled as defined by the Cabinet Office document "Focus on Ability".

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The figures for the Department, excluding the following executive agencies—Companies House, the Insolvency Service, the National Engineering Laboratory, the National Physical Laboratory, the 140
  National Weights and Measures Laboratory, the Patent Office and the Radiocommunications Agency—but including the Accounts Services Agency and the Laboratory of the Government Chemist are set out in the table. The figures include only those staff who have chosen to declare that they have a disability or long-term health condition.

  Registered disabled staff

  Non-registered disabled staff

  Total number of disabled staff

  Total number of staff

  Number

  52

  146

  198

  6,449

  Per cent, of total staff

  0.8

  2.3

  3.1

  —

  I have asked the chief executives of Companies House, the Insolvency Service, the National Engineering Laboratory, the National Physical Laboratory, the National Weights and Measures laboratory, the Patent Office and the Radiocommunications Agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from David Durham to Mr. John McAllion, dated 7 February 1995

  You recently tabled the following Parliamentary Question:

  "To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what proportion and number of non-industrial civil servants in the departments and agencies for which he has responsibiliy are registered disabled and disabled as defined by the Cabinet Office document, Focus on Ability."

  I am replying as Chief Executive of Companies House Executive Agency.

  The figures are set out below, and include only those staff who have chosen to declare that they have a disability or long-term health condition.

  Registered disabled staff

  Non-registered disabled staff

  Total number of disabled staff

  Total number of staff

  Number

  14

  13

  27

  1,143

  Per cent, of total staff

  1.23

  1.13

  2.36

  —

  Letter from Peter Joyce to Mr. John McAllion, dated 31 January 1995

  The president of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of proportion of non-industrial civil servants in The Insolvency Service who have a disability.

  The figures for the Insolvency Service are as set out below. These only include those staff who have chosen to declare that they have a disability or long term health condition.

  Registered disabled staff

  Non-registered disabled staff

  Total number of disabled staff

  Total number of staff

  Number

  19

  28

  47

  1,615

  Per cent, of total staff

  1.18

  1.73

  2.91

  —

  Notes1 Figures are provided on a head count basis and exclude causal and industrial staff.

  2Firgures show the position on 25 January 1995.
  141
  Letter from W. Edgar to Mr. John McAllion, dated 31 January 1995

  PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS No. 129

  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your question relating to the proportion and number of non-industrial civil servants in the departments and agencies for which he has responsibility are registered disabled and disabled as defined by the Cabinet Office document, Focus on Ability. The following numbers apply to NEL

  Registered disabled—2

  Unregistered disabled—1

  Total manpower at January 1995—252

  Therefore disabled as a proportion–1.2 per cent.

  I trust you will find the above information to be satisfactory for your purposes.

  Letter from Dr. Peter Clapham to Mr. John McAllion, dated 31 January 1995:

  I am writing in response to your question to the President of the Board of Trade regarding the proportion and number of non-industrial civil servants in the departments and agencies for which he has responsibility who are registered disabled and disabled as defined by the Cabinet Office document, Focus on Ability.

  Details of staff currently employed by the National Physical Laboratory, who have chosen to declare their disability, are as follows:-

  Registered disabled

  Non-registered disabled

  Total disabled

  Total staff

  Number

  6

  26

  32

  651

  Per cent, of total staff

  0.9

  4

  4.9

  —

  The above figures are provided on a head count basis as at 25 January, and exclude industrial and casual staff.

  I hope this provides the information you require.

  Letter from Seton Bennett to Mr. John McAllion, dated 31 January 1995

  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory to your question about staff with disabilities.

  This Agency has no registered disabled among its 48 staff, although four members of staff (8.3 per cent.) have declared a level of disability.

  Letter from P. R. S. Hartnack to Mr. John McAllion, dated 7 February 1995

  PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION 129

  The President of the Board has asked me to respond to your Question about non-industrial disabled staff.

  The information requested is set out below. The figures include only those staff who have chosen to declare that they have a disability or long-term health condition.

  Registered disabled staff

  Non-registered disabled staff

  Total number of disabled staff

  Total number of staff

  Numbers

  16

  12

  28

  891

  Per cent, of Total Staff

  1.8

  1.35

  3.15

  —

  142
  Letter from Jim Norton to Mr. John McAllion, dated 7 February 1995

  Employment of Disabled People

  I am replying on behalf of the Radiocommunications Agency to your written question to the President of the Board of Trade about the employment of disabled people.

  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what proportion and number of non-industrial civil servants in the Departments and Agencies for which he has responsibility are registered disabled and disabled as defined by the Cabinet Office document, Focus on Ability.

  Of the 542 staff employed in the Agency on 1 January, there are two registered disabled staff and 14 other staff who have chosen to declare their disability. In total this represents 3 per cent. of Agency staff (0.4 per cent. registered disabled, 2.6 per cent. unregistered disabled staff who have chosen to declare their disability).

  Non-commercial Disputes
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what new provision he is planning for the handling of non-commercial disputes.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The provision of the draft Arbitration Bill would, like those of the existing Arbitration Acts 1950 to 1979, apply to commercial and non-commercial arbitrations alike.

  Bills (Private Utilities)
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will takes steps to ensure that partial payment of bills from private utilities may be made at post offices in cash.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Post Office Counters already has such arrangements on a commercial basis with British Gas, British Telecom and the great majority of regional water and electricity companies.

  Uranium Exports
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 26 January to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith),Official Report, columns 335–36, if he will give the reasons why the British percentage share of EU exports of low enriched, high enriched and natural uranium is confidential for the years 1988 to 1992 but not confidential for 1993.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Information on exports of these commodities is available in aggregate only, due to commercial confidentiality. With the introduction of Intrastat from January 1993, separate figures for EU and non-EU exports are the available aggregates.

  Konver
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which areas have been selected for assistance under the Konver initiative; what types of projects will be supported; how many jobs are expected to result; what funds are involved; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  A list of priority areas eligible for Konver II will be published by European Commission in the Official Journal shortly. I expect the London borough of Ealing to be included in this list. The

  143
  Government are currently considering additional areas to be included in the British programme to be sent to the Commission by 1 March. Once the programme has been agreed, probably in the summer, applications for grant can be considered.

  Konver targets small and medium enterprises needing advice and support for diversification, such as the promotion of innovation, know-how and technology transfer and feasibility studies. The rehabilitation of military sites and environmental improvement is also covered. There is also a provision for training.

  The number of jobs likely to be created through Konver II will not be known until applications are received and considered.

  Konver I grants worth £17.9 million were awarded in 1993 to projects across the country. The UK's allocation from Konver II will be £79 million.

  Coal Privatisation
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements he has made to ensure that agreements existing for the sale and purchase of land by British Coal will be carried out by the appropriate successor privatised companies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  In general, the acquisition and disposal of land are commercial matters for the mining companies concerned. Where British Coal's interests in land have been transferred to successor companies, any binding agreements relating to the sale and purchase of that land have also been transferred.

  Consultants
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if his Department permits consultants to tender for contracts resulting from work they have carried out in(a) drawing up the specification for the tender documents or (b) recommending the contracting out of a Government service.

  Mr. Heseltine
  (a) No. (b) Consultants are generally excluded from tendering for services where they have been employed to advise on the feasibility of contracting out. Where a general exclusion has not applied, appropriate safeguards have been required to prevent potential conflicts of interest arising between the interests of the project and any other commercial interest the consultant may have.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if Shreeveport Consultants submitted its accounts for 1993–94 to Companies House by the legal deadline.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  As this is an operational matter for Companies House executive agency, I have asked David Durham, the chief executive, to respond directly.

  Letter from David Durham to Mr. Nigel Griffiths, dated 7 February 1995

  You have recently tabled a Parliamentary Question which asked for details about the filing of the 1993–94 accounts for Shreeveport Consultants. The Minister has informed you that I have been asked to reply as Chief Executive of the Agency as this is an operational matter for Companies House.
  144
  There is no company with the name Shreeveport Consultants on the UK Register. There is a company called Shreeveport Ltd, but we have no way of knowing whether this is the company that you are interested in.

  Information on document filings by UK companies is a matter of public record, and available to any member of the public either through our search rooms or through our on-line information service Companies House Direct. There is a statutory fee of £1 charged for the screen of information which shows the document filing history of any company. You may find that use of these services provides the quickest and easiest way of checking whether you have correctly identified the company in which you are interested, and of finding out any relevant information on it.

  Insolvency Service
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he intends to publish the responses of official receivers to the consultation on the affirmative order to enable the work of the Insolvency Service to be contracted out; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  I would propose to publish a digest of official receivers' responses to the current consultation by laying copies in the Library of the House before seeking parliamentary approval to any draft enabling order.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will estimate the amount spent annually on mechanical processing work in the Insolvency Service.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  In its report, Stoy Hayward estimated that, based on costs and the average staff in post for 1993–94, the contracting-out of administrative work would open up some £24 million of official receivers' work to competition.

  This figure will vary with changing case loads and changes in the level of the Insolvency Service's staffing.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to recover the working papers of Stoy Hayward Consultants on the Insolvency Service and to ensure that Stoy Hayward Insolvency Co. has not been passed copies.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  No steps have been taken to recover Stoy Hayward's working papers.

  All information obtained by Stoy Hayward Consulting as part of its work for the Insolvency Service is subject to its undertaking as to its confidentiality.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what fee is being paid to Shreeveport Consultants for drawing up the specification for contracting out the Insolvency Service.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The total contract price for drawing up a specification, bid documentation and evaluation criteria was agreed with Shreeveport Ltd. at £126,900, including VAT.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish details of the grades of the staff identified as surplus to the Insolvency Service by Stoy Hayward as option 1 of its recommendations.
  145
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Stoy Hayward identified £24 million of administrative case work which could be exposed to competition if a decision were made to contract out. It did not identify the staff undertaking such work as surplus as it recognised that there would be a need for contract management and supervision and that contracting out would offer the possibility of increased concentration on the official receivers' investigative role.

  Regional Operations
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many staff his Department employs on a regional basis in each standard English region; what is the cost of running these regional operations; what was the total budget for each region in the latest available year; and what are the main purposes for which the budget is used.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]Disaggregated information on the basis of standard English regions is not available. However, information on the resources employed by my Department in each of the English regions covered by the Government offices for the regions is set out in the table.

  1 Staff in post as at 1 January 1995

  Running costs for 1993–94

  Running cost budget for 1994–95

  North East

  112.0

  3,618,000

  3,566,000

  North West

  123.0

  4,720,000

  3,739,000

  Merseyside

  44.5

  2n/a

  1,279,000

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  103.0

  3,394,000

  3,376,000

  East Midlands

  85.0

  2,356,000

  2,848,000

  West Midlands

  148.5

  4,659,000

  4,686,000

  South West

  78.5

  2,320,000

  2,407,000

  South East

  72.5

  1,693,000

  2,769,000

  East

  55.0

  1,799,000

  2,209,000

  London

  60.0

  2n/a

  1,971,000

  Total

  882.0

  24,559,000

  28,850,000

  Notes:

  1 Staff figures are based on full time equivalents (part-time staff count as 0.5)

  2 The Government Office Merseyside and Government Office London did not exist in 1993–94.

  A breakdown of these running costs and budgets as well as details of the activities associated with them were published in MINIS 1994, available in the Library of the House.

EDUCATION

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list those organisations which have made written submissions to the official task force consultation on nursery education for all four-year-olds.

  Mr. Forth
  A list of organisations from which the official task force on under-fives have received written submissions is given. The list does not include individual schools or members of the public who have written to the task force:146

  Association of County Councils

  Association of Metropolitan Authorities

  Avon Nursery Head Teachers

  Avon Nursery Link Group

  Barnardo's

  British Association for Early Childhood Education

  Business and Technology Education Council

  Campaign for State Education

  Catholic Education Service

  Children in Wales

  College of Care and Early Education

  Commission for Racial Equality

  Cornwall Campaign for Nursery Education

  Council for Awards in Children's Care and Education

  Council for Disabled Children

  Daycare Trust

  Devon County Council

  Devon Federation of Parent-Teacher Associations

  Early Childhood Education Forum (in addition to many organisations who made separate submissions, this encompasses:

  Association of Advisors for Under Eights and their Families

  Childcare Association

  National Association of Nursery and Family Care

  National Portage Association

  Tutors of Advanced Courses for Teachers of Young Children)

  Early Years Curriculum Group

  Early Years Trainers Anti-Racist Network

  Equal Opportunities Commission

  Free Church Federal Council

  Funding Agency for Schools

  The GM Initiative

  Grant-Maintained Schools Advisory Committee

  Gwent Under Eights Network

  Hampshire County Council

  High/Scope UK

  Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools

  Independent Schools Joint Council

  Kids' Club Network

  London Borough of Brent Early Years Conference

  London Boroughs Association

  Mencap

  Metropolitan Council of Kirklees

  Middlesborough Borough Council

  Montessori Education (UK) Ltd.

  National Association of Educational Inspectors, Advisers and Consultants

  National Association of Grant-Maintained Primary Schools

  National Association of Head Teachers

  National Association of Nursery Centres

  National Campaign for Nursery Education

  National Childminding Association

  National Children's Bureau

  National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations

  National Council of Women

  National Governors' Council

  National Private Day Nurseries Association

  National Union of Teachers

  OMEP (World Organisation for Early Childhood Education)

  Oxfordshire Education Department

  Penistone and Area Nursery Development Group

  Playgroup Network

  Portsmouth City Council

  Pre-school Playgroups Association

  Ripon Diocesan Board of Education

  Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames

  147

  Save the Children

  Shropshire County Council

  Smart's Agency and Childcare Training Centre

  Society of Education Officers

  Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council

  Sound Start Network

  Special Educational Needs National Advisory Council

  Voluntary Organisations Liaison Council for Under Fives

  Whitehorse Childcare Ltd.

  Women's Royal Voluntary Service

  Working for Childcare

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list those organisations or their representatives she has met as part of her consultation on nursery education for all four-year-olds; and when she will make an announcement on the implementation of her policy.

  Mr. Forth
  A list of the organisations and institutions that my right hon. Friend, members of the DFE task force and I have met or visited is given. My right hon. Friend will make an announcement in due course:

  Andersen Consulting

  Asquith Court

  Association of County Councils

  Association of Metropolitan Authorities

  Association of Teachers and Lecturers

  Bordon County Infant School, Hampshire

  Belgian Ministry of Education (Flemish speaking)

  Belgian Ministry of Education (French speaking)

  Bradshaw Community Nursery Centre, Salford

  British Association for Early Childhood Education

  Busy Bees

  Catholic Education Service

  Centre for Policy Studies

  Chase Children's Centre, Hampshire

  Childcare Association

  Childcare North Shields

  Childcare Vouchers

  Childcare Wallsend

  Church of England General Synod Board of Education

  Clydebank Family Centre, Strathclyde

  Cranstonhill Nursery School, Glasgow

  Danish Ministry of Education

  Danish Ministry of Social Services

  Deighton Nursery, Kirklees

  Dorning Street Nursery School, Salford

  Dorothy Gardner Centre, Westminster

  Early Childhood Education Forum (in addition to those organisations who appear separately on the list, this encompasses: Association of Advisors for Under Eights and their Families

  148

  Campaign for State Education

  Children in Wales

  Commission for Racial Equality

  Council for Disabled Children

  Council for Awards in Children's Care and Education

  Daycare Trust

  Early Years Curriculum Group

  Early Years Trainers Anti-Racist Network

  High/Scope UK

  Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools

  National Association of Education Inspectors, Advisors and Consultants

  National Association of Nursery Centres

  National Association of Nursery and Family Care

  National Childminding Association

  National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations

  National Private Day Nurseries Association

  National Portage Association

  OMEP (World Organisation for Early Childhood Education)

  Tutors of Advanced Courses for Teachers of Young Children)

  Voluntary Organisations Liaison Council for Under Fives

  Working for Childcare

  Early Years Co-ordinators Network

  Faifley Community Nursery, Stathclyde

  French Ministry of Education

  Funding Agency for Schools

  Goldsmiths college

  Gloucestershire LEA

  Hampshire LEA

  Highgate Newton Playgroup

  Hillend Children's Centre, Strathclyde

  Intercity Kitty Nursery

  Irlam Endowed Primary School, Salford

  Jigsaw Day Nursery, Welwyn Garden City

  Kindercare Learning Centres

  Kirklees LEA

  Lepton (CE) Junior and Infants School, Kirklees

  London Montessori Centre

  Margaret McMillan Nursery Centre, Islington

  Milton Keynes Preparatory School

  Montessori UK Ltd.

  National Association of Head Teachers

  National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers

  National Campaign for Nursery Education

  National Children's Bureau

  National Union of Teachers

  North Tyneside LEA

  Park Infant Family Centre, Gloucestershire

  Peat Marwick/KPMG Consultants

  Pen Green Family Centre, Corby

  Perrin's Community School Day Nursery, Hampshire

  Pre-school Playgroups Association

  Professional Association of Teachers

  149

  Ready Steady Go Nursery, Camden

  Royal Society of Arts

  Salford LEA

  Sheffield LEA

  SIMS Education Services Ltd.

  Sound Start

  Spanish Ministry of Education

  Startright Educare

  Strathclyde Regional Council

  Susan Hay Associates, Broadgate Nursery

  Sythwood School Playgroup

  Tower Hamlets LEA

  Thomas Coram Research Unit, University of London

  Full-time equivalent number of teachers employed in the maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special sectors, including self-governing (GM) schools, in England as at January of each year

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  11993

  11994

  Nursery, primary and secondary

  410,547

  405,252

  402,932

  402,280

  401,506

  397,410

  398,542

  394,945

  394,874

  396,332

  389,091

  390,430

  Special

  17,448

  17,470

  17,302

  17,167

  17,644

  16,929

  17,328

  17,014

  16,801

  16,647

  16,647

  16,292

  Education other than at school

  2,180

  2,285

  2,214

  2,083

  2,578

  2,737

  3,058

  2,664

  2,636

  2,578

  2,578

  2,578

  Total

  430,175

  425,007

  422,448

  421,530

  421,728

  417,076

  418,928

  414,623

  414,311

  415,557

  408,316

  409,300

  Source Annual 618G return.

  Note

  1As from 1/4/93 sixth form colleges became part of the Further Education sector, and the 1994 figures therefore exclude teachers in these colleges. The second 1993 figure also excludes these teachers to allow comparison with 1994.

  Schools (Wheelchairs)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education which local education authorities have provided her with information on access to schools for pupils in wheelchairs under the Education (Information as to Provision of Education) Regulations 1994.

  Mr. Forth
  The regulations require local education authorities to provide information on the accessibility of schools to pupils in wheelchairs to the Secretary of State after 1 May and by 1 June 1995, and every second year thereafter. Information on school's access required under these regulations has, accordingly, not yet been received.

  Further Education Funding Council
  Mr. Bryan Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list for each institution of further education funded by the Further Education Funding Council the salary range of the principal in the last two years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Boswell
  This information is not collected centrally. FEFC guidelines on accounting policies recommend that colleges should disclose the emoluments of the principal and other senior postholders in their accounts, which are publicly available.

  Mr. Bryan Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when she expects to respond to the recommendations of the Further Education Funding Council regarding the governing bodies of(a) Wilmorton college, Derby and (b) St. Phillip's college, Birmingham.
  150

  Thornton Lodge Nursery, Kirklees

  Wandsworth LEA

  Widden Family Centre, Gloucestershire

  Worcester College of HE

  Teachers
  Mr. Steinbery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many full-time equivalent teachers there were in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The table shows the full-time equivalent number of teachers employed in the maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special sectors, including self-governing—GM—schools, in England as at January of each year.

  Mr. Boswell
  My right hon. Friend is aware of the need to bring these matters to an early conclusion. She will announce her decisions shortly.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Members' Cloakroom
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee when he expects the new machines in the Members' Cloakroom to be repaired.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  This is a matter for the Serjeant at Arms.

WALES

  Agri-Environmental Regulations
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to meet the EEC agri-environmental regulations; and what funds have been made available for their implementation.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  In the past year, we have launched in Wales two new environmentally sensitive areas, a countryside access scheme, a habitat scheme and an organic aid scheme. We plan to launch new payments to promote public access in ESAs and a moorland scheme shortly. These are additional to the existing five ESAs and Tir Cymen. Expenditure on these schemes is planned to rise to £15,000,000 by 1996–97.

  Crickhowell House
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date his Department's approval was(a) sought

  151
  and (b) given for the construction of the Crickhowell house headquarters of the Welsh Common Health Services Authority at Roath basin, Cardiff docks, Cardiff; what independent evaluation of the alternative sites available was made; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Crickhowell house was constructed by Grosvenor Waterside, the property arm of Associated British Ports and therefore not subject to approval by the Welsh Office.

  In addition to the Welsh Health Common Services Authority's appraisal of alternative sites and options, the authority's occupation of the building was independently assessed by Gooch and Wagstaff, property consultants, which confirmed that it offered the best value for money in terms of the options considered. The National. Audit Office also examined the papers.

  Cardiff Bay
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 30 January,Official Report, column 538, on what date the agreement by Associated British Ports to make a contribution to Cardiff Bay development corporation infrastructure costs announced on 11 May 1989 lapsed; if the chairman of the corporation sought his Department's consent to the lapsing; and if his Department's consent was sought for the development agreement between the company and the corporation signed in March 1991.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Department's consent was not required to the development agreement with Associated British Ports. The hon. Gentleman's questions about the development agreement are operational matters for the corporation, and the chief executive will write to the hon. Gentleman in response.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date he secured the approval of the Cardiff Bay development corporation for the National Audit Office to have secondary access to its accounts for regularity and propriety purposes; and if he will place a copy of the memorandum of agreement in the Library.

  Mr. Redwood
  The financial memorandum of Cardiff Bay development corporation was amended on 2 December 1992 to provide the Comptroller and Auditor General access to the records and books of the corporation. A copy of the letter of the same date which made that amendment has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Health Authorities
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions the local advisory committees in each health authority area in Wales have made representations to that health authority in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Redwood
  This information is not held centrally, but could be obtained from health authorities.
  152

  Medical Committees
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions(a) the Welsh medical committee, (b) the Welsh dental committee, (c) the Welsh nursing committee, (d) the Welsh midwifery committee, (e) the Welsh pharmaceutical committee and (f) the Welsh optical committee, have made representations to him in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Redwood
  I receive advice from the following five statutory committees.

  (a) the Welsh Medical Committee;

  (b) the Welsh Dental Committee;

  (c) the Welsh Nursing and Midwifery Committee;

  (d)the Welsh Pharmaceutical Committee; and

  (e) the Welsh Optical Committee;

  Representation is made both directly to me and indirectly through my representative who attends the committee.

  Of those representations made directly to the Department over the last three years, (a) the Welsh medical committee has presented one report, with a further three currently subject to external consultation; (b) the Welsh dental committee has submitted three reports and offered advice on a further three consultation documents; (c) the Welsh nursing and midwifery committee has submitted five reports and; (d) and one each has been submitted by the Welsh pharmaceutical and Welsh optical committees.

  Each statutory committee also produces an annual report.

  Waste-to-energy Schemes
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what waste-to-energy schemes there are in Wales in accordance with the non-fossil fuel organisation; and what plans there are to establish such schemes in the near future.

  Mr. Redwood
  No waste-to-energy projects were supported in Wales under the first two orders of the non-fossil fuel obligation. Four projects have been awarded contracts under the recently announced third order.

  Recycling
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been paid, and to which organisations, in respect of recycling in Wales, under the(a) recycling credits, (b) environmental technology innovation scheme, (c) the Department of Trade and Industry's environmental management options scheme and (d) Euroenviron.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information is as follows:

  (a) Details are not held centrally.

  (b), (c) and (d): No payments have been made to organisations based in Wales.

  Hazardous Substance Consents
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many hazardous substance consents were made by local councils in Wales in the last year; and if he will make a statement.
  153
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  In the period between 1 April 1993 and 31 March 1994, 12 hazardous substance consents were issued in Wales. The consents were issued under the Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990, which came into force on 1 June 1992. The Act requires that the storage or use of certain substances on particular sites are consented to by the local council. Substances can be used or stored in significant amounts only after the local council has assessed the risk to people in the neighbourhood.

  Only five councils received applications, compared to 26 in the previous year. Of the 12 consents issued, 10 were new applications and two were carried forward from the previous year. These were both consents for sites where substances were already being stored or used before the Act came into force.

TREASURY

  Standard of Living Statistics
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he measures an increase in the standard of living; and how many years it would take to double the standard of living at the rate of increase since (i) 1979 and (ii) October 1989.

  Mr. Nelson
  The standard of living can be measured in a number of ways. Taking real personal disposable income per head, a per capita growth rate of 2.8 per cent. per annum would be required to achieve a doubling of living standards over the next 25 years. This compares with average annual per capita growth rates of 2.1 per cent. since 1979 and 0.8 per cent. since October 1989. However, as these are both dates from the peak of an economic cycle, such selective periods cannot be reliable indicators of future growth.

  Growth Statistics
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what annual rate of growth in GDP is implied in his objective of doubling the standard of living in 25 years; how that compares with the increase in the years since the first year of membership of the EEC; and what role interest rates play in achieving that objective.

  Mr. Nelson
  The standard of living can be measured in many ways. In order that real personal disposal income per head should double in 25 years, each year it would need to grow by 2.8 per cent. The growth rate of real personal disposable income per head between 1973, the year we joined the EEC, and 1994 was around 2 per cent. per annum.

  Monetary policy is set to keep underlying inflation within the 1 to 4 per cent. target. A low inflation environment provides the best chance of delivering higher living standards through a period of sustained growth.

  Rathlin
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if vehicles on Rathlin maintain exemption from vehicle excise duty.
  154
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I am not aware of any vehicle currently registered on Rathlin which will pay more vehicle excise duty, or pay duty for the first time, as a result of the changes in schedule 4 to the Finance Bill.

  Inheritance Tax
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the proceeds under inheritance tax from estates valued at(a) under £1 million, (b) £1 million to £10 million, (c) £10 million to £50 million and (d) over £50 million in the latest available year.

  Sir George Young
  Estimated liabilities for inheritance tax for estates passing on death in 1991–92, the latest year available, are given in the table:

  Value of net estate, including lifetime transfers within seven years of death

  Liability1 £ million

  Under £1 million

  790

  £1 million to £2 million

  150

  Over £2 million

  140

  All estates

  1,080

  1 Provisional

  A further breakdown of estates over £2 million cannot be reliably estimated and, in any case, the numbers involved may be too small to give adequate protection to the confidentiality of individual estates.

  Heavy Fuel Oil Duty
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total value of revenue raised from heavy fuel oil duty in each of the last three years from(a) Northern Ireland and (b) Great Britain.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The total revenue raised from heavy fuel oil duty in Northern Ireland and Great Britain over the last available three years is as follows:

  Year

  Northern Ireland £ million

  Great Britain £ million

  1990–91

  71.13

  2,740.27

  1991–92

  86.84

  3,070.96

  1992–93

  95.32

  3,296.78

HEALTH

  Mental Nurses
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many registered mental nurses were employed in the Northumberland health authority in each year since 1989; and what was the percentage change in each year.
  155
  Mr. Sackville
  The information available centrally is shown in the table:

  Qualified mental health nursing staff within Nortumberland DHA as at 30 September 1989–1993

  Year

  Wte

  Per cent. change

  1989

  280

  1989–90 - 6.2

  1990

  270

  1990–91 + 1.7

  1991–92 -

  1991

  270

  18.8

  1992

  220

  —

  Source: PD(STATS)B Non-Medical Workforce Census.

  Notes:

  1All figures rounded to nearest 10.

  2All percentages calculated on unrounded figures.

  NHS Management
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to develop alternative systems of management of the national health service.

  Mr. Malone
  The system of management that we continue to develop for the national health service, which began with the NHS reforms introduced in 1991, is one of decentralisation of responsibilities to purchasers and providers, while maintaining clear lines of accountability. This improves services to patients and ensures better value for money by devolving decision making about the delivery of services to local level.

  Mental Illness
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients are at present legally detained under Mental Health Act powers.

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Private Finance Partnership Initiative
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list all the projects which at any time have been under consideration as part of the private finance partnership initiative, giving in each case the date of the submission of the project to the Department, and the present status of the application.

  Mr. Sackville
  Since the launch of the private finance initiative in November 1992, the national health service has been encouraged to exploit the benefits of partnership with the private sector. The NHS Executive issued the capital investment manual under the health service guidelines—HSG(94)31—on 28 June 1994, copies of which are available in the Library, which required consideration of options of partnership with the private sector for all capital projects. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Sheffield, Attercliffe (Mr. Betts) on 3 November 1994,Official Report, column 1269, for the latest available information on the status of schemes approved. Other information on date of first submission to the NHS Executive and current status is not collected centrally.

  Speech Therapists
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to provide bursaries for post-graduates pursuing two-year courses to qualify as speech therapists.
  156
  Mr. Sackville
  We have no plans to do so.

  London Ambulance Service
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department has conducted into the length of London ambulance service emergency response times in the one-hour period before shift changes.

  Mr. Sackville
  This is a management issue being addressed by the London ambulance service.

  Social Service Authorities
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what will be the annual payments to each social service authority in lieu of community care.

  Mr. Bowis
  Local authorities were given indicative figures for the 1995–96 special transitional grant in letter LASSL (94) 11, copies of which are available in the Library. Final figures will be issued in due course. It is up to local authorities how much of their general funding they make available for community care services in addition to this.

  Malpractice
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors have been disciplined for(a) negligence and (b) incompetence for each year since 1984; and how many were struck off.

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally.

  Complaints
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints have been received by each family health services authority categories of complaint and the outcome of the complaints in each category.

  Mr. Malone
  The available information is published annually in "Health and Personal Social Services Statistics" copies of which are available in the Library.

  Fluoridated Water Supplies
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to increase the availability of fluoridated water supplies throughout the country.

  Mr. Malone
  The Government remain convinced that fluoridation of drinking water is a safe and effective public health measure and will continue to support the introduction of such schemes, particularly where the dental health of the population is known to be poor. In 1994, the Government agreed to help with the capital funding of seven schemes in the north of England which would bring fluoridation to 1.7 million more people.

  Decisions about fluoridation should, however, continue to be taken at a local level.

  GP Fundholders
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she has given the health commissions in respect of returning to general practitioner fundholders savings they have made.

  Mr. Malone
  Paragraph 24 of the National Health Service (Fund-holding Practices) Regulations 1993 sets
  157
  out how general practitioner fundholders may use audited savings for the benefit of patients.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health districts in England have permission to employ salaried dentists; and how many have now(a) recruited and (b) failed to recruit the approved number.

  Mr. Malone
  The number of salaried dentists employed by English family health services authorities is shown in the table. In addition to those family health services authorities listed, Berkshire, Dorset, Hampshire, Hereford and Worcester, Kingston and Richmond, Northamptonshire and Solihull have been granted permission to employ salaried dentists. Information about vacancies is not available centrally.

  Table 1: General Dented Service: Number of salaried dentists1 by family health services authority as at 30 September 1994

  FHSA

  30 September 1994

  All FHSAs

  115

  Cumbria

  1

  Derbyshire

  3

  Cambridgeshire

  3

  Norfolk

  3

  Kensington, Westminster and Chelsea

  9

  Essex

  2

  City and East London

  9

  Kent

  5

  Greenwich and Bexley

  7

  Bromley

  1

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  31

  Surrey

  5

  West Sussex

  1

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  2

  Wiltshire

  2

  Isle of Wight

  2

  Buckinghamshire

  4

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  3

  Gloucestershire

  3

  Somerset

  4

  Staffordshire

  1

  Cheshire

  8

  Liverpool

  2

  Lancashire

  2

  Manchester

  I

  Salford

  1

  Source

  Dental Practice Board.

  1 This is the number of salaried dentists with contracts registered at the DPB. It is not the number of salaried dentists in employment at the actual specified date.

  Restricted Growth
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she or her Department have had in regard to the incidence of restricted growth; what reply she has sent; what action she is taking; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Mr Paul Zetter, CBE, honorary president of the Restricted Growth Association, has written to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State recently expressing concern that the association has no communication with the majority of people of restricted growth in this country, and mentioning its wish to create a database of those affected.
  158
  I have today written to Mr. Zetter to say that I fully support the excellent work that the association is doing to help people of restricted growth. However, personal health information is subject to the general principle of the law of confidence. As such, health records can be disclosed only within the national health service on a strictly need-to-know basis and, generally speaking, it cannot be disclosed to an outsider or third party without the patient's prior consent. I have invited Mr. Zetter to meet officials of my Department to discuss this issue further.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the severance payments made to special advisers in each of the last five years indicating(a) the amount and (b) the date.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 1 February 1995]I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Treasury gave him on 6 February,Official Report, column 69.

  Anabolic Agents
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals she has to restrict the promotion and sale of anabolic agents designed to improve sporting prowess.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]Anabolic steroids are prescription-only medicines, and their promotion and sale is regulated by the Medicines Act 1968. A failure to comply with the regulations can be a criminal offence. Products which purport to be anabolic steroids but which in fact are not may also be subject to the requirements of the regulations if medicinal claims are made on behalf of such products.

  Enforcement of the Medicines Act is the responsibility of the Medicines Control Agency. Enforcement action against persons who illegally manufacture, sell or promote anabolic steroids is a high priority for the agency.

  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department announced on 2 November that he intended to bring anabolic steroids within tha controls of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The necessary amending regulations will be brought before Parliament in due course.

  Child Care
  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the total social services budget was spent on child care provision in England in the last five years.

  Mr. Bowis
  [pursuant to his reply, 19 December 1994, c. 987–88]I regret that there were clerical errors in the 1992–93 data given in my previous reply.

  A corrected table of figures is as follows.

  Gross expenditure on personal social services in England

  Total

  Children's services

  £ million

  £ million

  per cent.

  1988–89

  3776.1

  1164.3

  30.8

  1989–90

  4204.4

  1277.3

  30.4

  1990–91

  4697.7

  1449.4

  30.9

  1991–92

  5127.4

  1551.4

  30.3

  1992–93

  5469.9

  1653.8

  30.2

  159

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Pools Companies
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to lift the ban to allow the pools companies to advertise on radio and television; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary announced on 25 January that the Government had decided that it was not necessary in the public interest for the ban on broadcast advertising by the football pools to be maintained. I have invited the Independent Television Commission and the Radio Authority to consider amending their advertising codes accordingly.

  Tourism
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will publish the initial findings of the McKinsey Inc. management consultants' report into the future of tourism in Britain; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I shall be making a statement about tourism policy in the near future. The final report on the work McKinsey and Co. has done for the Department and the tourist boards will be placed in the House of Commons Library when it is available.

  Pornography (Internet)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what powers he and his hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade have to regulate the use of pornography on the Internet.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science to a question by the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) on 18 January 1995,Official Report, column 488.

  Television
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of current Independent Television Commission codes in regulating the licensing of channels, with particular reference to Babylon Blue;

  (2) what representations he has received from the Independent Television Commission to strengthen the regulatory powers over adult channels.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I am aware of public concern about the portrayal of sexual conduct in television programmes and keep this matter under careful review, in consultation with the chairman of the regulatory bodies. Babylon Blue, which has been licensed by the Independent Television Commission, has yet to begin broadcasting. If and when it does, it will be expected fully to comply with ITC's programme code and the conditions of its licence. The ITC has powers to ensure that it does. I have received no request from the ITC for any strengthening of its regulatory powers over adult channels.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what are the maximum penalties available(a) to the Independent Television Commission and (b) to his
  160
  Department where (i) satellite and (ii) terrestrial television have broken the terms of their licence or ITC codes.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Under the terms of the Broadcasting Act 1990, the Independent Television Commission has sole responsibility for regulating the licence conditions of terrestrial and satellite commercial television services, which include a requirement to observe the ITC's codes. The commission has a range of sanctions it can impose for non-compliance with the terms of its licences. The maximum penalty that the ITC can impose on Channels 3 and 5 licensees and on satellite services is revocation of the licence. On Channel 4, the maximum penalty the commission can impose is a fine not exceeding 3 per cent. of the channel's annual qualifying revenue for the first occasion and 5 per cent. thereafter.

  Jazz
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what steps his Department will take to increase funding for jazz.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Central Government support for the arts is channelled through the arts councils and, in England, the 10 regional arts boards. It is for these bodies to determine the balance of funding as between the various art forms and individual arts organisations. I understand, however, that the Arts Council is close to completing a major review of support for jazz in this country.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when the first grants to the arts will be available from the national lottery funds.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The arts councils in the United Kingdom are considering applications for lottery funds and the first grants are expected to be announced in spring 1995.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how Her Majesty's Treasury is investing the funds raised for good causes by the national lottery in the period prior to the first allocation of grants by the lottery distribution bodies.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 2 February 1995]Under the terms of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 responsibility for investing the proceeds of the national lottery falls to the national debt office, which is a non-ministerial department separate from the Treasury. The investment powers issued by the Treasury allow the national lottery distribution fund to be invested in a range of secure financial instruments described in paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 5, 5A, 5B, 9 and 9A of part II of schedule 1 to the Trustee Investments Act 1961.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the severance payments made to special advisers in each of the last five years indicating(a) the amount and (b) the date.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 1 February 1995]I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Treasury on 6 February 1995,Official Report, column 69.

  Unusual Industries
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what will be(a) the fee and (b) the expected expenses paid to the firm Unusual Industries in respect of its organisation of events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end in Europe of the second world war.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 2 February 1995]For reasons of commercial confidentiality, it is not our practice to divulge the level of payments made to contractors.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what will be the expected level of costs borne by his Department's administration vote, class XI, vote 7, in respect of officials' support of the firm, Unusual Industries, in its organisation of events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end in Europe of the second world war.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 2 February 1995]No costs will be borne on the Department's administration vote, class XI, vote 7, in respect of officials' support of Messrs. Unusual Industries in the provision of the programme of commemorative events. The costs to vote of officials' engaged on monitoring the performance of the contract and approving payments to Messrs. Unusual Industries is likely to be some £60,000. There are also likely to be additional small costs relating to the work of other personnel involved on an occasional basis.

  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage by what process the firm Unusual Industries was chosen to organise the programme of events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end in Europe of the second world war.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 2 February 1995]Messrs. Unusual Industries was selected to provide the services in question by a process of competitive tendering.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the annual actual administrative expenditure for his Department for each year of its operation, in 1994 prices; and if he will provide a breakdown for each year to show the annual expenditure

  Organisation

  Award £

  Date received by ABSA

  Date approved

  Theatre Bara

  4,000

  9 November 1990

  4 December 1990

  Caws

  7,200

  20 January 1992

  31 January 1992

  Y Faner

  5,000

  23 November 1990

  4 December 1990

  10,000

  21 October 1991

  18 December 1991

  Dalier Sylw

  4,000

  21 December 1990

  10 January 1991

  5,000

  16 August 1991

  3 September 1991

  Ewrosgol

  2,500

  7 February 1991

  21 February 1991

  Creu Cof

  2,500

  16 February 1991

  7 March 1991

  Cwmni Dawns Camre Cain

  4,000

  7 July 1991

  24 July 1991

  162
  on the Royal Commission on historic monuments of England.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]The Department of National Heritage was created in April 1992 when certain areas of responsibility from six other Departments were transferred. The central administration costs for each year of its operation are as follows with figures in 1994 prices shown in brackets:

  £ thousand

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Total DNH administrative

  9,898

  22,710

  20,161

  expenditure

  (10,404)

  (23,164)

  —

  Annul expenditure by Royal Commission on the historical monuments of England, which is accounted for on a separate vote, is as follows:

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  RCHME gross expenditure

  12,251

  14,967

  13,877

  (12,878)

  (15,266)

  —

  Notes:

  1 Figures for DNH administrative expenditure exclude the Royal Fine Art Commission and the Millennium Commission.

  The figures for 1992–93 do not reflect full DNH expenditure cost since some part-year central service costs from former Departments were met by those Departments.

  Figures for 1992–93 and 1993–94 include some one-off cost that relate to the setting up of the Department.

  Figures for 1994–95 represent the current level of provision before adjustments for the spring supplementary. Figures for actual outturn will not be available until the end of the financial year.

  Arts Grants, Wales
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 31 January,Official Report, column 619, if he will give the level of the grants from the Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts in Wales given to each of the organsations listed and the dates on which the applications were (a) made and (b) approved.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 3 February 1995]The information requested is in the table:
  163

  Organisation

  Award £

  Date received by ABSA

  Date approved

  Welsh International Film Festival

  3,000

  16 August 1991

  3 September 1991

  3,000

  16 September 1991

  9 October 1991

  4,000

  18 September 1992

  7 October 1992

  5,000

  24 September 1993

  30 September 1993

  Wales Actors Company

  4,750

  8 May 1992

  4 June 1992

  Arad Goch

  4,000

  29 November 1990

  19 December 1990

  2,000

  16 July 1993

  28 September 1993

  Hwyla

  7,500

  23 November 1990

  4 December 1990

  Fflag

  8,000

  27 September 1991

  9 October 1991

  National Film and Video Archive of Wales

  6,500

  7 December 1990

  19 December 1990

  Clwyd Arts and Exhibition Service

  3,000

  22 January 1991

  31 January 1991

  Taliesin Trust

  2,500

  7 February 1991

  7 March 1991

  Theatr Gorllewin Morgannwg

  7,500

  8 July 1991

  24 July 1991

  Barddas: Y Gymdeithas Gerdd Dafod

  2,000

  22 July 1991

  9 October 1991

  Theatr Had

  2,000

  6 July 1992

  22 July 1992

  Model House Llantrisant

  1,500

  17 August 1992

  3 September 1992

  Rhiniog

  1,500

  27 September 1993

  19 October 1993

  Rules and Regulations
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the rules and regulations in his Department which have been withdrawn in the last 12 months, or which his Department plans to withdraw in the next 12 months; and what impact this will have on his Department's manpower.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]My Department has not withdrawn any rules and regulations in the last 12 months.

  The Department is continuing to identify rules and regulations for withdrawal. Those for withdrawal in the next 12 months will be announced as and when consultations are completed.

  The manpower implications are taken into account in the Department's central manpower plans, which will be published in the Department's annual report.

  Second World War (Anniversary)
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the level of consultancy payments expected to be made to the programme project manager for the organisation of events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end in Europe of the second world war.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 2 February 1995]For reasons of commercial confidentiality, it is not our practice to divulge the level of payments made to consultants.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Next Steps Agencies
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will set out for each of the next steps agencies in his Department, whether they have acquired their own headquarters buildings and, if so, at what purchase cost or annual rental; how many support staff they have required which were not required when their operations were within his Department; how many of them publish periodical journals and at what annual cost; how many have fleets of executive cars or single executive cars and at what annual cost; how many have specially designed logos and at what cost; how many have corporate clothing and at what cost; and what is the cost of specially designed and printed corporate stationery.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The administration of the next steps agencies is a matter for the chief executive of each agency. I have asked the chief executives to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Pat Devlin to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 24 January 1995

  SETRNG UP OF NEXT STEPS AGENCIES

  I have been asked to reply, in respect of the Northern Ireland Child Support Agency, to your Parliamentary Question.

  The Agency has leased its Headquarters building at an annual rent of £196,000.

  We do not publish periodical journals and we do not have executive cars or corporate clothing.

  The Agency has a specially designed logo which cost £4,750 and specially designed printed stationery which cost £2,280.03.
  165
  This is a new Agency and posts did not exist prior to it being set up. At 3 January 1995 there were 1,025 Whole Time Equivalent Staff-in-Post for the entire Northern Ireland Agency, of whom 785 are engaged in delivering child support services to the GB Child Support Agency under a Provision of Service Agreement

  Letter from D. A. Stanley to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 25 January 1995

  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply, on behalf of the Compensation Agency, to your recent Question about Next Steps agencies.

  The Compensation Agency remains in the accommodation occupied by the predecessor division. No additional support staff have been required. The Agency does not publish periodical journals nor does it have any executive cars. Approximately £5,000 was spent on developing a logo and on average an additional £4,000 per year is spent on specially designed corporate stationery. The Agency does not have corporate clothing.

  Letter from Brendan Magee to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 25 January 1995

  I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the costs associated with the setting up of this Agency, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland.

  We have not acquired our own Headquarters building, have not required any additional support staff, have no executive cars and have no corporate clothing.

  We publish an Annual Report and a Business/Corporate plan at an annual cost of approximately £2,500. An Agency logo was designed through an in-house competition at a cost of £150 and we use our own headed stationery which costs no more than the Branch stationery which it replaced.

  I hope you will find this information helpful.

  Letter from L. H. Ferguson to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 25 January 1995

  In the absence of Mr. Watson, who is on leave, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the costs associated with the set up of the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency.

  The Agency has not acquired its own Headquarters building, has required two additional support staff and has no executive cars.

  We publish an Annual Report and Business Plan at a total annual cost of £39,000. We have a specially designed logo at a cost of £1,000 with annual corporate clothing at £1,900 more, and specially designed stationery at £2,000 more, than the pre-Agency costs.

  I hope you will find this information helpful

  Letter from M. J. D. Brand to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 25 January 1995

  I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the costs associated with the set up of the Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland as a Next Steps Agency.

  Ordnance Survey has not acquired its own Headquarters building, does not have any executive cars and has no corporate clothing for its staff.

  Three additional support staff have been required for accounts work since we became an Agency and an Annual Report and Business Plan are published each year at a cost of £7,600.

  We continue to use a logo which was introduced long before we became an Agency and which appears on our stationery.

  I hope you will find this information helpful.
  166
  Letter from D. W. Gallagher to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 6 January 1995

  I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the costs associated with the set up of the Rate Collection Agency.

  The Rate Collection Agency has not acquired its own Headquarters building, has not required additional support staff and has no executive cars.

  An Annual Report and internal magazine are published each year at a cost of £4,700. Corporate clothing (ties and scarves) were ordered for the Agency launch in April 1991 at a cost of £2,705.

  Finally an Agency logo was designed through an in-house competition at a cost of £100. However corporate stationery costs remain broadly similar to pre-Agency levels.

  I hope you will find this information helpful.

  Letter from Alex Wylie to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 23 January 1995

  I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the costs associated with the set up of the Northern Ireland Social Security Agency.

  The Social Security Agency did not acquire a eadquarters building when it was established, but made use of existing accommodation at Castle Buildings, Stormont. We do not publish periodical journals, we do not have any executive cars, nor do Agency staff have corporate clothing.

  We do have an Agency logo and were advised by consultants on the design of Agency stationery. I regret that we are unable to give the separate costs of these. However, the total cost of the development of the logo, letterheads for Agency stationery, signage for the Agency's offices and a corporate identity manual cost a total of £13,397.17 including VAT.

  Finally, 30 additional staff were needed in the Agency for work arising mainly in the areas of Finance, Planning, Personnel and Parliamentary Business which had been transferred from the Department.

  I hope you will find this information helpful.

  Letter from J. S. Crozier to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 25 January 1995

  You have asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a number of questions about Next Steps Agencies. The Secretary of State has asked me as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency to reply on behalf of that Agency.

  The Agency has established its headquarters in Clarendon House, Belfast. This building was already a wholly owned part of the Government estate.

  The Agency brought together in a single organisation the training and employment functions of the Department of Economic Development and a number of responsibilities previously held by the Northern Ireland Training Authority along with some of those of a number of Industrial Training Boards. Overall staffing in the Agency has reduced from 1,660 at the time of its launch in April 1990 (which was the number of staff fulfilling those functions of the Department for which the Agency was given responsibility) to 1,300 at present.

  Two Periodical Journals are published by the Agency at an annual cost of £28,000.

  A single executive car was purchased in 1992 at a cost of £13,500. Repairs and running costs, including petrol for the current financial year are around £1,800.

  The Agency does not provide corporate clothing for its staff.

  When the Agency was established the design of a corporate identity including a logo was commissioned. The overall costs of this work was £11,000. Costs of Corporate Stationery incorporating the Agency's logo are no more than was the cost of producing the Department's stationery which incorporated its own house style. The annual cost of printing stationery is just over £11,000.

  I trust that you will find this information helpful.
  167
  Letter from D. J. Bell to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 13 January 1995

  VALUATION AND LANDS AGENCY

  Sir John Wheeler has asked that I write to you in my capacity as Commissioner and Chief Executive of the Valuation and Lands Agency to give the information requested by you from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 19 January 1995.

  The period since Agentisation has been a most challenging one as the organisation sought to accommodate the necessary cultural change brought about by Agency status and strove to achieve the demanding targets set for it in a climate of considerable financial constraint across the public sector as a whole.

  I am confident that the Agency will continue to demonstrate improved performance flowing from the tighter targeting and resource control put in place under Next Steps.

  The following is the specific information which you requested:-

  (i) The Agency does not own its headquarters building-this was occupied by the Valuation and Lands Office before its agentisation—but shows an assessed notional annual rental value in its Accounts (£275,000 1993–94);

  (ii) no additional support staff have been acquired since agentisation;

  (iii) the approximate annual cost of publishing periodic journals is £13,700;

  (iv) the Agency does not have any executive cars;

  (v) the one-off cost of the Agency logo was £6,243;

  (vi) the Agency does not have corporate clothing; and

  (vii) the cost of specifically designed and printed corporate stationery since agentisation is £5,870.

  I trust this information is sufficient for your purposes, however if I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

  Constituency Boundaries
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the occasions on which Northern Ireland constituency boundaries were discussed(a) in the Anglo-Irish intergovernmental conference and (b) in the Anglo-Irish intergovernmental secretariat.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  The provisional recommendations on electoral boundaries published by the Northern Ireland Parliamentary Boundary Commission in January 1994 were raised by the Irish side at the Anglo-Irish intergovernmental conference held on 28 January 1994. As the joint communiqué issued after that conference recorded, the British side said that the commission is a body responsible to Parliament, not to Government, and described the statutory procedures for interested parties to make representations with respect to the commission's proposed recommendations.

  Northern Ireland Boundary Commission
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list the dates on which officials met or telephone members or officials of the Northern Ireland Boundary Commission;

  (2) when the officials of the political affairs division first became aware of what became the revised recommendations of the Northern Ireland Boundary Commission.

  Mr. Ancram
  Having regard to the independence of the Northern Ireland Parliamentary Boundary Commission, contact has been confined to Northern Ireland Office officials with specific responsibility for the commission's financial accountability and resources. and has been minimal.
  168
  The deputy chairman of the boundary commission wrote to the Secretary of State on 16 January to advise him of the revised recommendations. That letter was copied to appropriate officials within the Department and included senior members of the political affairs division.

  Fair Employment Commission
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all the persons and firms engaged as consultants by the Fair Employment Commission.

  Mr. Ancram
  The firms and persons engaged as consultants by the Fair Employment Commission from 1 January 1990 to date were:

  BIS Beecom (now Parity Solutions Ltd.)

  F. Cassidy

  R. J. Cormac

  A. M. Gallagher

  Gilpin Black

  J. M. D. Kremer

  Market Research N I

  A. Murphy

  Northern Ireland Economic Research Centre

  R. D. Osborne

  Psychometric Research and Development

  Research and Evaluation Services

  M. Rubenstein

  Septembers McConnell

  Ulster Marketing Services

  In addition, the commission administered, on behalf of the Department of Economic Development, the small firms fair employment scheme, under which companies obtained free consultancy advice on fair employment procedures. This scheme ceased to operate on 31 March 1993. During the life of the scheme, 58 consultants undertook assignments for small companies.

  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if it is the practice of the Fair Employment Commission to notify any consultants of forthcoming investigations.

  Mr. Ancram
  The Fair Employment Commission does not notify consultants of forthcoming investigations.

  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by what means notice is given by the Fair Employment Commission(a) to the firms concerned, (b) to other bodies and (c) to the public of forthcoming investigations.

  Mr. Ancram
  The conduct of investigations under section 11 of the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989 is governed by paragraph 2 of schedule 9 of the legislation.

  Before holding an investigation, the commission serves notice of its intention to hold the investigation and furnishes particulars of the scope and purpose of the investigation in a formal letter to the party concerned.

  It is not the policy of the commission to provide notice of forthcoming investigations to any other body.

  The public is provided with general information on the commission's investigation activities in its annual report. The names of concerns under investigation are not released until the investigation is complete and the report published.
  169

  Abortion
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the report of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights on abortion law in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moss
  The Government are giving careful consideration to the recommendations on abortion law which have been made by the commission. Decisions on those recommendations have yet to be taken.

  Roads Service
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many personnel are retiring or being offered redundancy in the current phase of roads service staff reductions; what are the grades of those leaving the roads service; and how reductions are distributed within each division.

  Mr. Moss
  In response to the 1994–95 early retirement programmes available to Northern Ireland civil service industrial and non-industrial staff, a total of 133 personnel in the Department of the Environment roads service have applied successfully for voluntary redundancy and will be leaving during the period 1 January to 20 March 1995.

  Some of the vacancies created within the administrative and professional and technical grades will not necessarily be carried within the division in which the retiring officer served.

  This overall figure is divided among the roads service's divisions as follows

  Non-Industrial

  Division

  Administrative

  Professional and Technical

  Industrial

  Total

  HQ (Belfast)

  1

  6

  3

  10

  Ballymena

  1

  3

  14

  18

  Belfast

  —

  2

  11

  13

  Coleraine

  1

  3

  14

  18

  Craigavon

  1

  11

  15

  27

  Downpatrick

  2

  4

  15

  21

  Omagh

  —

  8

  18

  26

  All the industrial staff leaving are non-craft road workers, with the grades and distribution of the non-industrial staff concerned being as follows:

  Grades

  HQ

  1 x Principal, 2 x SPTO, 2 x HPTO, 1 x PTO, 1 x TG I

  Ballymena

  1 x Staff Officer, 1 x SPTO, 1 x HPTO, 1 x PTO Supervisor

  Belfast

  1 x HPTO, 1 x TG I

  Coleraine

  1 x Staff Officer, 1 x SPTO, 1 x HPTO, 1 x PTO Supervisor

  Craigavon

  1 x EO I, 2 x PPTO, 2 x SPTO, 2 x HPTO, 1 x PTO, 2 x PTO Supervisor, 2xTGI

  Downpatrick

  1 x Deputy Principal, 1 x Staff Officer, 1 x SPTO, 1 x PTO, 1 x PTO Supervisor, 1 x TG I

  Omagh

  5 x SPTO, 1 x PTO Supervisor, 2xPTO

  Notes:

  1. PPTO—Principal Professional and Technology Officer.

  2. SPTO—Senior Professional and Technology Officer.

  3. HPTO—Higher Professional and Technology Officer.

  4. PTO—Professional and Technology Officer.

  5. TG I—Technical Grade I.

  6. EO I—Executive Officer Grade I.

  Rates Collection Agency
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultation took place with elected Northern Ireland Members before(a) the setting up of the Rates Collection Agency and (b) the decision to reduce from 13 to five the number of rates collection offices.

  Mr. Moss
  The decision to establish the Rates Collection Agency as an executive agency of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland with effect from 1 April 1991 was announced in answer to a question from the then Member for North Devon on 27 March 1991,Official Report, columns 426–27. The chief executive's recommendations last year for streamlining the work of the agency became public knowledge before any external consultations could be arranged.

  Local Government Finance

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the proposed reduction in the amount of rate support grant payable in each of the 26 local government councils for the year 1995–96 in(a) overall cash terms, (b) p/£ rate and (c) as a percentage of each council's district rate 1994–95.

  Mr. Moss
  There is no proposed reduction in the amount of general grant payable for the year 1995–96. Overall, there will be a 7.1 per cent. increase as set out below. However, since district councils are still in the process of finalising accounts, it is not possible to provide the information requested at (b) and (c).

  District councils

  Cash provision 1994–95 £k

  Cash provision 1995–96 £k

  Antrim

  189

  394

  Ards

  1,773

  2,007

  Armagh

  1,966

  1,953

  Ballymena

  643

  781

  Bally money

  834

  877

  Banbndge

  872

  1,180

  Belfast

  5,314

  6,061

  Carrickfergus

  743

  835

  Castlereagh

  1,015

  882

  Coleraine

  392

  412

  Cookstown

  904

  964

  Craigavon

  1,899

  2,140

  Deity

  3,065

  3,206

  Down

  2,023

  2,457

  Dungannon

  1,748

  1,704

  Fermanagh

  1,782

  1,774

  Lame

  703

  806

  Limavady

  921

  1,035

  Lisburn

  1,860

  1,531

  Magherafelt

  1,116

  1,452

  Moyle

  540

  554

  Newry and Mourne

  3,375

  3,503

  Newtownabbey

  1,335

  1,447

  North Down

  1,038

  558

  Omagh

  1,666

  1,951

  Strabane

  1,700

  1,741

  Totals

  39.4 million

  42.2 million

  Notes

  1 Staff figures are based on full time equivalents (part-time staff count as 0.5)

  2 The Government office Merseyside and Government office London did not exist in 1993–94.
  171
  The figures for 1994–95 cannot be finalised until accounts are certified towards the end of the 1995–96 financial year. The figures for 1995–96 are based on provisional estimates provided by district councils in September 1994.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he intends to reduce the regional rate required by an amount comparable to the increase which will be required in the district rate in order to compensate for the proposed reduction in the 1995–96 rate support grant.

  Sir John Wheeler
  No decision has yet been taken on the level of the 1995–96 regional rate. An order fixing the regional rate poundage will be laid before the House. However, the legislation governing the striking of the regional rate provides for the amounts to be raised by the district rate to be taken into account before the order is made.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the discretionary power being given to councils in Northern Ireland to increase from 2p to 5p in the pound the amount to be spent on local economic development will be met by extra taxation or by way of transfer of moneys from the Department of Economic Development budget to individual councils.

  Mr. Moss
  There is a discretionary power. It is a matter for district councils to decide how much they wish to raise within the 5p limit to provide economic development activities within their districts. There is no specific funding from central Government. Any additional expenditure by councils as a result of the increase from 2p to 5p will have to be met from within their overall resources.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed reductions in the 1995–96 rate support grant on the work of local government councils in fulfilling their obligations to community relations and other cross-community projects; and what areas of councils' responsibilities are likely to be affected.

  Mr. Moss
  No such assessment has been made because the general grant for 1995–96 has not been reduced. The allocation of £42.2 million represents an increase of £2.8 million—7.1 per cent.—on the 1994–95 provision.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Mine Clearance
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what research is being conducted by the British Government into improved methods of humanitarian mine clearance.

  Mr. Baldry
  We are currently evaluating proposals from the Defence Research Agency, whose technological expertise may be able to improve the means of mine detection. If successful, these proposals could be a major step forward in dealing with the various land mine problems around the world.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what(a) mechanised or (b) other methods of humanitarian mine clearance are available.
  172
  Mr. Baldry
  There a number of methods of mechanical mine clearance, including flails, ploughs, rollers and hard-wheeled vehicles. Other methods of mine clearance include detection by trained mine clearance teams using hand-held locators, or dog teams.

  Bosnia-Herzegovina
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the condition of the Neretva hydro-electricity generation complex and its associated transmission system in central Bosnia; how many people could be served by this electricity supply; if he will estimates the cost of reinstating the system; and if he is involved in any plans to reinstate it.

  Mr. Baldry
  Of the Neretva hydro-power stations, only the Rama power station is currently operating, at a much reduced capacity. If the Neretva system were connected to the national grid it would help provide 709 MW of power to the whole of Bosina Herzegovina compared with 1,160 MW for the thermal system. Following an ODA review in January 1994, it was decided to continue to support thermal, rather than hydro, power stations due to the prohibitive cost of the large-scale civil engineering repairs that would be required. For the past one and a half. years, the ODA has undertaken a £9.8 million programme to restore basic electricity supplies to central Bosnia by assisting in vital repairs to thermal power stations and transmission lines and helping to maintain coal output.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the projects funded by his Department during the last three years, and planned for the future, in Bosnia-Herzegovina, giving the cost of each project and the contributions made by other agencies or Governments.

  Mr. Baldry
  During the three years of the conflict, the ODA has provided over £173.5 million in emergency aid to the former Yugoslavia—£94 million bilaterally and over £79.5 million through the European Union.

  Copies of an information sheet which gives financial and factual information, details of contributions to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, the 1994 summary of overall donor assistance to the former Yugoslavia and a list of all the projects undertaken by the EEU, will be placed in the Library of the House at the earliest opportunity.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the condition of the principal supply routes to and within Bosnia-Herzegovina; and what plans he has to support the repair and maintenance of those routes to facilitate the supply of humanitarian aid.

  Mr. Baldry
  Although local authorities are still responsible for the original roads, the maintenance and repair of principal supply routes in the former Yugoslavia are dealt with primarily by the engineering units of UNHCR, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and UNPROFOR, the United Nations protection force. The ODA has seconded two road engineers to the UNHCR for the last two years to assist with the upkeep of the supply routes. All aid routes are accessible, subject to weather conditions.

  EU Development and Co-operation Activities
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the new division of responsibility for development and co-operation activities within the European Commission.

  Mr. Baldry
  Five Commissioners will share responsibility for development and co-operation activities in the new European Commission. Mr. Pinheiro will be responsible for DG VIII—African, Caribbean and Pacific countries; Mr. Mann will be responsible for DG I North/South—the Mediterranean, Asia and Latin America; Mr. van den Broek will be responsible for DG I—the PHARE and TACIS programmes for eastern and central Europe and the former Soviet Union; Ms Bonino will be responsible for emergency aid—the European Community Humanitarian Office; Mme Cresson will be responsible for research and development including that for developing countries—DG XII.

  Liberia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which British aid organisations are currently involved in providing humanitarian assistance in Liberia.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Save the Children Fund is currently providing health care to displaced persons in Greater Monrovia and Bomi county. We are unaware of any other British aid organisations currently operating in Liberia.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if humanitarian assistance in Liberia outside Monrovia has now been resumed.

  Mr. Baldry
  There has been some resumption of humanitarian aid outside Monrovia, but this is essentially exploratory and small scale. The British Government have provided over £3 million of emergency aid bilaterally to Liberia since April 1993.

  Child Health
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of overseas aid is used for low-cost strategies with particular reference to(a) oral rehydration therapy and (b) immunisation.

  Mr. Baldry
  Improving child health is an important objective for Britain's health and population aid. The promotion of oral rehydration for diarrhoea and immunisation against preventable infectious diseases are essential, cost-effective interventions in all primary health care programmes which now form the major part of ODA's strategy for reaching this objective. Data are not available for our aid to health classified by the specific nature of the intervention; such data could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of overseas aid is devoted to the health, nutrition, education and well-being of children.

  Mr. Baldry
  One of the main aims of the aid programme is to enhance access to education, basic health services and improved livelihoods. Where appropriate, projects are funded to address the needs of children, including their health, nutritional and educational requirements. Information about the amounts spent in each area could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Indonesia
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will list dates on which aid offers in principle were made to the Government of Indonesia in each year since 1980;

  (2) if he will list the dates on which aid and trade provision offers in principle were made to the Government of Indonesia in each year since 1980.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answers 3 February 1995]Aid offers in principle are not made in respect of projects financed from the bilateral aid programme.

  For projects financed under the aid and trade provision, we have entered into the following framework agreements with the Government of Indonesia since 1980:

  Date

  Agreement

  Amount £ million

  16 July 1986

  Concessional loan arrangement 1986

  140

  1 December 1988

  Concessional loan arrangement 1988

  100

  5 April 1993

  Concessional loan arrangement 1993

  65

  7 April 1994

  Concessional loan arrangement 1994

  80

  The amounts indicated relate to support available in principle for projects to be mutually agreed between the United Kingdom and Indonesian Governments. They comprise a mix of grants from the aid and trade provision and export credits through the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates since 1980 bilateral aid to Indonesia, including aid and trade provision support, has been withheld or suspended for good government reasons with particular reference to persistent or severe abuse of human rights.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 3 February 1995]None.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 December,Official Report, columns 118–20, concerning projects in Indonesia financed from the aid and trade provision, if he will give an assurance that none of the equipment provided is being used by Indonesian military or security personnel; and what is the purpose of the provision of radio communications and shortwave radio transmitters for the Ministry of Forestry.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 3 February 1995]None of the equipment provided for the projects referred to in my answer of 6 December 1994,Official Report, columns 118—20, is being used by Indonesian military or security personnel.

  The radio communication systems project was for the installation of an integrated radio network at the Ministry of Forestry's headquarters and selected provincial offices to improve the sustainable management and control of the country's forestry resources.

  The shortwave radio transmitters project involves the installation of high-frequency transmitters to enable shortwave broadcasting to be heard throughout Indonesia. The principle objective of the project is to give the population access to information, and to educate and unite disparate communities.

EMPLOYMENT

  Job Creation
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs will be created if the Jobseekers Bill becomes law.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The national insurance contribution holiday, the back-to-work bonus and other measures in the Jobseekers Bill will assist unemployed people into the jobs which business, not Government, create.

  Equal Opportunities Commission
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met representatives of the Equal Opportunities Commission to discuss fair employment practices.

  Miss Widdecombe
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met the chairwoman and chief executive of the Equal Opportunities Commission on 7 November 1994, when a range of issues was discussed, including fair employment practices.

  Training Places
  Mr. Scott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what calculation he has made of the number of extra training places which will be required as a result of the provisions in the Jobseekers Bill; and what is the total cost of the places to be provided.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Government already provide 1.5 million opportunities, including substantial training provision for unemployed people. The jobseeker's allowance will help unemployed people take best advantage of those opportunities.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what recent discussions he has had with the CBI on the policy of its members employing disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Paice
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State meets the CBI regularly to discuss issues of mutual interest. The CBI responded to the Government's recent consultation document on discrimination against disabled people.

  Industrial Relations
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will meet the Confederation of British Industry to discuss the long-term improvement of industrial relations.

  Mr. Portillo
  Industrial relations in Britain are so much improved and so good by international comparisons that, like most good news, they are nowadays scarcely discussed.

  Employment Service
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people the Employment Service has helped into employment in the last year.
  176
  Miss Widdecombe
  In 1994 the Employment Service placed 1,924,400 people in jobs. This is 16 per cent. more than in 1993.

  European Work Directive
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the impact on United Kingdom unemployment of the EU's 48-hour working week directive.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Government negotiated the working time directive so that people could continue to be free to work more or less than 48 hours a week. Ii. is not possible to make numerical estimates of the effect on unemployment, but any statutory limit on working hours would be damaging to competitiveness, jobs and the economy.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what discussion he has had with his EU counterparts about health and safety measures within Europe; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State meets his European counterparts on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of issues, including health. and safety.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what, at the latest date, were the figures for unemployment; and what were the comparable figures in June 1979.

  Mr. Paice
  There were 2,415,500 claimant unemployed in December 1994 compared with 1,067,400 in June 1979.

  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has to change the method of calculating the numbers of unemployed.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  There no plans at present to change the method of calculating unemployment figures derived from either the claimant count or the labour force survey. Each method complements the other and each has its own distinct advantages.

  Minimum Wage
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the effects of a minimum wage in the tourism industry.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Statutory minimum wages destroy jobs. This is as true of the tourism industry as it is of any other sector of the economy.

  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will place in the Library the notes of his meeting in Davos with Mr. Alphandery with particular reference to the subject of a minimum wage.

  Mr. Portillo
  I took part in a round-table discussion on unemployment and under-employment at the world economic forum in Davos at which Mr. Alphandery and others were present. A full note of the meeting has not been produced to the best of my knowledge. A one-page summary of the meeting has been published by the world economic forum and I shall arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library.
  177
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the effects of a statutory minimum wage on the employment prospects of unemployed people.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  A statutory minimum wage would destroy jobs and job prospects. Its effects on the employment prospects of unemployed people would undoubtedly be disastrous.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number of jobs that have arisen from inward investment over the last five years.

  Mr. Portillo
  According to figures notified to the Invest in Britain Bureau, as a result of inward investment more than 126,000 new jobs were created, and nearly 200,000 more were safeguarded, in the United Kingdom in the five financial years to 1993–94.

  Full Employment
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his policy in respect of full employment.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Government pursue policies designed to achieve high employment and low inflation.

  Youth Unemployment
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the rate of youth unemployment in the United Kingdom and in other EU countries.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The United Kingdom youth unemployment rate is below the European average and is lower than in every EU country except Denmark, Luxembourg and Portugal. The information is contained in the table.

  Seasonally adjusted youth unemployment rates in Eu countries

  Latest month

  Belguim

  19.4 (November)

  Denmark

  10.0 (October)

  Germany2

  —

  Greece1

  —

  Spain

  36.3 (November)

  France

  23.0 (November)

  Ireland

  27.1 (November)

  Italy

  31.2 (November)

  Luxembourg

  7.1 (November)

  Netherland

  15.4 (October)

  Portugal

  11.4 (November)

  United Kingdom

  13.5 (November)

  EC Average

  19.5 (November)

  Source

  Statistical Office of the European Community Unemployment Bulletin. Latest available data—subject to revision.

  1 Only 1991 annual average figures available for Greece

  2No ILO rate available for unified Germany

  Youth Training
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the number of 178
  16 to 17-year-olds who are not in receipt of a youth training scheme place.

  Mr. Paice
  On 30 December 1994, in England, 179 young people covered by the youth training guarantee had been waiting for the offer of a YT place for eight weeks or longer.

  Skill Shortages
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage change in the number of hard-to-fill vacancies over the last year; and in which sectors these skill shortages are most concentrated.

  Mr. Paice
  The number of hard-to-fill vacancies reported by medium and large employers increased by 76 per cent. between spring 1993 and spring 1994. These hard-to-fill vacancies are most concentrated in manufacturing, wholesale and retail, hotel and restaurants and the health and social work sectors.

  Job Creation (East Sussex)
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessments he has made of the prospects for job creation in East Sussex.

  Miss Widdecombe
  We believe that the Government have created the right framework for employers to create jobs and reduce unemployment in East Sussex, as in the rest of the United Kingdom.

  The latest figures show that in the year to December 1994 claimant unemployment in East Sussex fell by 12 per cent., while the labour force survey indicates that in the year to summer 1994 employment in the area increased by 14,000 to 316,000.

  Jobcentres
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently employed in jobcentres; what are the main tasks they undertake; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Currently, around 30,000 staff are employed on front-line duties in jobcentres. They provide a range of services designed to help unemployed people back to work, and to pay benefit to those who are entitled to it. The main tasks staff undertake are job-broking—obtaining vacancies from employers and sending jobseekers to them, advising jobseekers on the range of help available and paying unemployment benefit to those entitled to it. Actual duties are interchangeable, as staff are encouraged to be able to perform a variety of work.

  South Thames Training and Enterprise Council
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment in what circumstances, for what reason and when South Thames TEC ran out of money.

  Mr. Paice
  The extent of the problems at South Thames training and enterprise council was revealed by a team of accountants led by staff from this Department with the support of the accountancy firm, Grant Thornton. Grant Thornton reported to this Department on 16 December 1994. Its report was conveyed to the TEC on the same day. The report showed that the TEC was trading at a loss and forecasted that this would continue, that its balance at best was negative or would shortly become so,
  179
  that it faced major cash flow problems and that weaknesses in its management accounting and financial control systems persisted. In the light of the report, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State concluded that it would be unsafe to commit further public money to the TEC. In view of the report and that conclusion the board of South Thames TEC concluded on 21 December 1994 that the company was insolvent and invited my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to appoint a receiver.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will update each quarter a list of training providers to South Thames TEC that became business failures because of money unpaid by South Thames TEC.

  Mr. Paice
  To date, I have not been told of any training providers who have failed for this reason.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment to what purpose South Thames TEC put the money received from central Government for the purpose of paying training providers.

  Mr. Paice
  The training and enterprise council's financial affairs are currently a matter for the receiver appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. I shall reply to the hon. Member's question when the receiver has done the necessary work in connection with the TEC's affairs.

  Mr. Bryan Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to ensure that training guarantees for young people and unemployed adults in the area formerly covered by South Thames TEC are fulfilled.

  Mr. Paice
  The Government guarantee that any young person aged 16 to 17 who is not in employment, training or education and seeks youth training will be offered a suitable opportunity. There is no equivalent guarantee for unemployed adults. The Department's main aim is to ensure the continued provision of training in the South Thames training and enterprise council area. A number of steps have been taken to assure training providers that they will be paid for training undertaken since 7 November 1994. The Department has issued letters of comfort to providers contracted to South Thames TEC for training for work and youth training credits, child care, work-related further education, careers and guidance year and 10 and careers libraries. The Department of the Environment has extended comfort to the business start-up programme. The Government office for London is making payments direct to providers of these programmes under the terms of its contract with South Thames TEC from 7 November 1994 until 1 January 1995. For the period of three months from the appointment of the receiver on 21 December 1994, the Departments will make available to the receiver sufficient funds to ensure providers receive payments for training and outputs delivered by them under the terms of their contract with South Thames TEC for the same programmes.

  I made an announcement on 31 January, Official Report, columns 598–600, in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley), about the future arrangements for the South Thames TEc area. Two neighbouring TECs, Central London TEC and South London TEC have been invited to submit proposals to me on how they would provide the full range of TEC responsibilities for the area fro the beginning of the new financial year.
  180
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the names and addresses of training providers who did not have a formal contract with South Thames TEC but who had provided training by agreement with South Thames TEC.

  Mr. Paice
  I understand that the South Thames training and enterprise council did not have formal contracts but paid under letters of intent to providers of the following programmes: compacts, teacher placement service, work-related further education and years 9 and 10 careers-guidance. In addition, some providers of traineeships to Routeways—a wholly owned subsidiary of South Thames TEC—were also paid through letters of intent. The providers covered by letters of intent are shown in the following table:

  Archbishop Michael Ramsey

  Aylwin

  Charles Edward Brooke

  Dick Sheppard

  Dunraven

  Geoffrey Chaucer

  Lilian Bayliss

  Norwood

  Sacred Heart

  St. Martin's in the Field

  St. Saviours and St. Olaves

  Stockwell Park

  Walworth

  Warwick Park

  Waverly

  William Penn

  Aspen House

  Elm Court

  Highshore

  Landsdowne Mortimer

  Orchard Centre

  Spa

  Thurlow Park

  Turney

  Willowfiled

  Clapham Park

  George Rainey

  Kingsdale

  Abbey Wood School

  Addey and Stanhope School

  Anerley School

  Blackheath Bluecoat C of E

  Brent Knoll School

  Catford County Girls School

  Churchfields School

  Crofton School Crown Woods School

  Deptford Green School

  Eaglesfield Boys School

  Eltham Green School

  Forest Hill School

  Hatcham Wood School

  John Evelyn ESC

  John Roan School

  Kidbrooke School

  Malory School

  Moatbridge School

  Northbrook C of E School

  Pendragon School

  Plumstead Manor School

  Prendergas Girls School

  Sedgehill School

  181

  St. Joseph's Academy Boys

  St. Pauls RC School

  Sydenham School

  The Schoolhouse Alternative Education Project

  Waterfied School

  Woolwich Polytechnic Boys

  Others

  Southwark College

  Lambeth College

  Lewisham College

  Greenwich College

  Southwark Careers Service

  Lambeth Careers Service

  Lewisham Careers Service

  Greenwich Careers Service

  British School of Motoring

  Direct Team

  Goodnews Training Ltd.

  Greenwich Clipper

  Jobreach (Greenwich)

  New Directions

  Pepys Radio Project

  Rendberry Ltd.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when South Thames TEC was entered on to the high-risk register.

  Mr. Paice
  The Department does not maintain formal risk registers. The training and enterprise council's internal financial management is a matter for the TEC board. The high-risk assessment made by the Department related to the effectiveness of financial control systems in the TEC and was made in December 1993.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Enright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what responsibilities his Department has to those firms which are put into bankruptcy as a result of the financial failure of TECs which renege on their debts.

  Mr. Paice
  Because training and enterprise councils are private companies, the Department has no legal responsibilities towards firms contracted with them.

  Contracts between TECs and other parties are commercial, subject to company law and the law of contract, including that relating to insolvency.

  The Department is concerned, where problems arise between TECs and suppliers of services under Government programmes, that steps are taken to minimise disruption to individuals.

  Earnings Statistics
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what percentage of works on adult rates divided between manual and non-manual, male and female, and full and part-time have earnings less than £2.60, £3, £3.20, £3.40, £3.60, £3.80, £4, £4.40, £4.80, £5.20, £5.60, £6 and £8 per hour, including and excluding overtime, in West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, Humberside, Yorkshire/Humberside and the north region;

  (2) what were the average gross weekly earnings, weekly hours and hourly earnings for part-time workers, manual and non-manual, in (a) West Yorkshire, (b) South Yorkshire, (c) North Yorkshire, (d) Humberside, (e)
  182
  Yorkshire/Humberside and (f) the north region; and what were the lowest and highest decile and median hourly earnings of these workers;

  (3) what percentage of full-time workers on adult rates, male/female, manual/non-manual, are earning less than £160, £180, £200, £220, £300 and £340 per week, including and excluding overtime, in West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, Humberside, Yorkshire/Humberside and the north region.

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

  European Social Conference
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment who will represent Britain at the European social conference held in Paris on 30 March.

  Miss Widdecombe
  A decision on Government representation at this conference will be taken nearer the date.

  Women
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which Ministers have what responsibility in respect of matters of specific relevance to women; how they are co-ordinated; what have been the results of their work to date; what they are currently working on to improve women's lives; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Every Minister takes account of sex equality issues within his or her area of policy responsibility. The Cabinet Sub-Committee on Women's Issues reviews and develops overall Government policy on issues of special concern to women; the Employment Department has lead responsibility within Whitehall for co-ordinating this policy. The United Kingdom's report for the United Nations fourth world conference on women, produced in October 1994, gives a recent overview of key achievements and priorities for action, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Forth Rail Bridge
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the responsibilities of the Health and Safety Executive in relation to the Forth rail bridge; and what is the conclusion of Mr. John Rimington's inquiry into the Forth rail bridge.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate is responsible for the oversight of safety on all parts of the railway, including the safety of workers, the protection of passengers and the integrity of structures such as the Forth rail bridge.

  I understand that Mr. Rimington wrote to the hon. Member about this matter on 25 January 1995. There is no present threat to the structural integrity of the bridge.

  Structural Funding
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he is in a position to announce that the Auchmountain Glen restoration and training project, Greenock, will receive in 1995 financial support by way of the European Union's objective 3 structural funds; and if he will make a statement.
  183
  Miss Widdecombe
  No application for European social fund support under objective 3 has yet been approved. All applications are currently being considered by sector managers who represent the main organisations which receive ESF money. In accordance with European Commission requirements, all the selected projects will be presented to regional co-ordinating groups for their approval during March. The Department will then be able to issue formal approval letters to successful projects.

  Training Providers
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his written answer of 30 January,Official Report, column 539, if he will list the names and addresses of those training providers who have yet to receive a letter of comfort but whose case is still under investigation by the receiver.

  Mr. Paice
  I apologise to the hon. Member for the confusion caused by my answer of 30 January. This resulted from an administrative error made by the Department. A list of training providers who have yet to receive a letter of comfort but whose case is still under investigation by the receiver is now shown in the table:

  List of South Thames TEC Employer Investment in People Contractors which did not receive comfort letters

  QTAB

  Business Development Consultancy

  ETC Ltd.

  Terry Smith

  Training For Change

  Trevor Holt Associates

  Hambledon Group

  My Fathers Business

  Strand International

  John Horwood Consultants Ltd.

  Nick Zienau Consultancy and Training

  ECO International Ltd.

  Sandra Burrows Associates

  Peter Austin

  John Beecher

  John Lawrence

  FOTEC

  Performance 2000

  Genesis Development

  Mountwood Consultants

  Roger Ayscough

  Roy Price Healthcare Consultant

  PPC Ltd.

  Central Management Services Ltd.

  Latimer Chandler

  Bridge Penines Ltd.

  Statius Management Services

  Scher Associates

  LCD Associates

  Partners in Innovation

  L M Quality

  Havenguard Financial Management Ltd.

  Martyn Dawes Association

  Chalk n Cheese Chromacolour

  Colebrook Bosson Saunders

  Executive Cleaning Group

  Executive Cleaning (Security)

  Heymount Ltd.

  London Research Centre

  184

  Scotts of Stockwell

  Skill National

  South London Press

  St. John's Angell Town CE

  Surrey Cricket Club

  TEC National Council

  Telferscot Primary School

  World Society for Protection of Animals

  Cromwell Cleaning

  EPS

  Executive Cleaning Ltd.

  Freemans

  Leiths Good Food

  Office Cleaning Services

  Railtrack South West

  SAS Services

  Swirl Service

  Alma Primary School

  Anthony Gold Solicitors

  (Ayscough Travel)

  Battley Brothers

  Book Aid International

  Bredinghurst School

  Chapter Group plc

  Design Research Unit

  DSL Software Ltd.

  Fisher Meredith

  Further Education Unit

  (Hatcham Wood School)

  Highshore School

  Institute of Optometry

  London Limousines

  Martyn Dawes

  Raymond Bushell

  Robin Johnson

  Sacred Heart School

  Sitra

  Southwark Counsell Corporate Policy

  (St. Michaels Press)

  St. Saviour's and St. Olave's School

  Training for Change

  Understanding Industry

  Walter Coles

  Walworth School

  W. J. Boyle

  ASRA Housing

  Clapham Park School

  Graham and Rose Colley

  Major Hire

  Melrose Film Productions Ltd.

  Peries Solicitors

  SM Distribution

  St. Martin-in-the-Field School

  St. Saviour's Primary School

  St. Stephens Primary School

  Vassel House

  Medicines Control Agency

  Railtrack South

  Beormund Primary School

  Bishop Thomas Grant

  Charles Dickens Primary School

  Cherry Garden School

  Cleaning and Support Services

  Eltham Green

  Joseph Lancaster

  Middle Park Junior

  Nell Gwyn Nursery

  Peckham Park Infants School

  Plumstead Manor School

  185

  Southwark CEOs

  outhwark EMs

  St. Stephens School

  Steer Davies Gleave

  Unilever (CMEG)

  Waterfield School

  Waverley School

  Central Office of Information

  Davy Wine Bar

  Hunter Plastics

  (Lambeth College)

  (Lewisham College)

  London Borough of Southwark

  Southbank University

  (Southwark College)

  (Southwark Development Directorate)

  (Southwark Direct)

  (Woolwich College)

  AEEU

  Financial Times

  Goldsmiths College

  Greenwich: Direct

  Greenwich: Director of Environmental and Consumer Services

  Greenwich: Education Directorte

  Hyde Housing

  Lewisham: Assessment and Care Management

  Lewisham: Care First

  Lewisham: LEED

  Lewisham: Direct

  Lewisham: Education

  Lewisham: Revenue and Benefits

  Bryen and Langley

  Clarkes

  Computer Literacy

  Deptford Enterprise Agency

  Forest Hill Cars

  Greenwich: Borough Secretary and Solicitors

  Greenwich: Planning

  Lewisham: Care and Corporate Services

  Lewisham: Chief Executives Office

  Lewisham: Computing

  Lewisham: Legal

  Lewisham: Member Services

  Lewisham: Personnel and Administration

  Lewisham: Womens Training Centre

  Lings Ltd.

  Mastercoun Ltd.

  Regent Graphics Ltd.

  Action for Blind People

  Age Concern Southwark

  Convoys Ltd.

  Lewisham: Central Service

  Peabody Trust

  Southwark Direct

  Southwark Education

  Southwark Housing

  Southwark Law and Administration

  Southwark Leisure

  Greenwich: Borough Treasures

  Optimum Health

  Bromcom Computers

  Convoys

  Elfrida Primary School

  Furnitures

  Greenwich Careers

  Harveys

  Lewisham Nexus

  Mercury Newspapers

  Music City

  186

  Perrymount Primary School

  Speedicars

  URBED

  Watergate School

  Archduke Partnership

  Centrereed

  Emergency Exit Arts

  George E. Neville and Co.

  Guarantee Security Cover

  Hays Corporate Service Ltd (P)

  House of Questa

  Superprint

  Tower Bridge

  (Citi Data Ltd—Hays Group)

  (Colourama)

  Columbia International

  Greenwich Leisure

  Hays Record Management

  HM Prison Belmarsh

  Imperial War Museum

  (IPC Magazines)

  London Quadrant and Housing Ltd.

  Abbey Wood School

  Blackheath Leisure

  Charlton Garage Services Ltd.

  Cyril Henry Nursery

  Eglinton Infant School

  George English Electronics

  Hawksmoor Grant Maintained School

  Henwick School

  Jackson Lifts

  Kennedy and Partners

  Kidbrooke Primary School

  Kidbrooke School

  Linton Mead Primary School

  Maze Hill Special Needs School

  Meagher Credit Management Service

  M. Epps

  Middle Park Infants School

  Morden Mount Primary School

  Protegumus Security Services

  Sherryton School

  Thomas Tallis School

  Project Coin

  Shelley School

  Walton Lodge Linen Service

  Windmill School

  North West Training and Enterprise Council
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 1 February,Official Report, column 716, if he will name the members on the board of the north west training and enterprise council together with the interests they represent.

  Mr. Paice
  The names of all training and enterprise council board members are available from the Library. TEC board members join and remain on the board of directors as individuals and not as representatives of another company or organisation. There is no such single organisation as the north west TEC.

  Redundancies
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the firms in the Dundee travel-to-work area which have notified his Department
  187
  of redundancies involving more than 10 people since 1 August 1993, giving in each case the actual number.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Information given to the Department under the statutory redundancy handling provisions is provided in confidence.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the severance payments made to special advisers in each of the last five years indicating(a) the amount and (b) the date.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 1 February 1995]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Treasury on 6 February 1995, Official Report, column 69.

TRANSPORT

  East Coast Main Line
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the effect of the subsidence of old mine workings under the east coast main line between Prestonpans and Wallyford; what assessment he has made of the completeness of the record of such workings under railway lines; and what will be the liability of Railtrack for the consequences and costs of similar incidents following privatisation.

  Mr. Watts
  A temporary speed restriction was imposed in November 1994 between Prestonpans and Wallyford station following discovery of subsidence of old mine workings during routine maintenance. To prevent further subsidence, Railtrack is injecting concrete slurry into the former mine workings. It is anticipated that the work will be completed in the next few weeks and the line speed will be back to 60 mph by March 1995 and restored to 125 mph later in the year.

  Railtrack is carrying out a search of mining records compiled by the British Railways Board, the Coal Authority and other sources for a report identifying the locations of mine shafts, drifts and shallow mine workings in the vicinity of Railtrack property.

  Liability for costs and consequences of remedial work to a collapsed mineshaft or shallow mine working will depend on the circumstances of each case. Privatisation will make no difference to Railtrack's liabilities.

  Driving Test Centre, Rhyl
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from individuals and organisations with regard to the proposed relocation of the driving test centre at 96 Cefndy road, Rhyl; if he will review the objections for himself; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  This is an operational matter for the Driving Standards Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
  188
  Letter from L. M. Manley to Mr. David Hanson, dated 7 February 1995:

  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your question about the Rhyl driving test centre. I wrote to you on 20 January about the need to relocate the Rhyl and Llandudno driving test centres and the public consultation exercise we are carrying out.

  The public consultation exercise concluded on 30 November 1994. Some 25 individuals and organisations responded, mostly expressing concern at our proposals. In the meantime the Rhuddlan Borough Council and the Vale of Clwyd Traders Council have offered to assist us in finding alternative accommodation in Rhyl. We will delay consideration of the representations made during the public consultation exercise until our discussions with Rhuddlan Borough Council and Vale of Clwyd Traders Council have been completed.

  Sickness Absence
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 1994,Official Report, column 881, if he will list the areas of work in his Department which have been reorganised following the Vehicle Inspectorate's total quality initiative; and what assessment he has made of the relationship between these reorganisations and the stress' level and sick absences among employees of his Department.

  Mr. Norris
  This is an operational matter for the Vehicle Inspectorate. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Ron Oliver to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 6 February 1995:

  TOTAL QUALITY INITIATIVE IN THE VEHICLE INSPECTORATE

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question regarding reorganisation within the Vehicle Inspectorate following its Total Quality Initiative.

  To meet its commitments, the Inspectorate has to keep pace with developments and be able to respond to change. We are currently in the second stage of the Total Quality Initiative (TQI) and we expect it to deliver improvements in efficiency, as well as effectiveness and service. During the course of this financial year, Corrective Action Teams and Continuous Improvement Teams have been working across the Inspectorate. We believe that staff participation and understanding can help in minimising the stress of change and their recommendations as part of the "Teams" have contributed to the reorganisations under way in the Inspectorate's 3 divisions.

  The Inspectorate surveyed staff attitude at the start of the TQ process in Autumn 1993. We plan to survey staff attitude again during the 1995/96 financial year and continue to look at staff absence rates to provide us with as full a picture as possible.

  If you have any further questions about the Inspectorate's initiatives, please contact me at the above address.

  Policies and Programmes
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether each of the transport policies and programmes of highway authorities for the past two years are in his Department's library; whether the library is open to researchers; where the library is; when it was last moved; and what the cost consequences have been.
  189
  Mr. Norris
  Current transport policies and programmes are held by local transport policy division. They are available to the DOT library in 2 Marsham street, if required. Old TPPs are stored off site. Researchers may use the library by prior arrangement. The library moved in April 1994, saving £1 million a year.

  Publicity
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each of the last three financial years, the amount spent by his Department on publicity for the work of the traffic area offices, excluding that spent on the traffic area network, the traffic commissioners and the licensing authorities' annual reports.

  Mr. Norris
  Excluding the annual reports, the amount spent directly on publicity for the work of the traffic area offices is as follows:

  1992–93: £4,756.74

  1993–94: £2,520.28

  1994–95: £5,801.00

  Driving Standards Agency
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 1994,Official Report, column 881, if he will (1) list the occasions in 1994 on which risk assessments by the Driving Standards Agency have led to reorganisations in his Department;

  (2) list the dates of risk assessments by the Driving Standards Agency in 1994; and if he will make a statement on the nature of these assessments.

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

  Letter from L. M. Manley to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 7 February 1995:

  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your question about risk assessments in the Agency which have led to reorganisation.

  To date it has not been found necessary to make any reorganisation as a result of risk assessments. Where risks have been identified, they have been controlled or eliminated without the need for reorganisation.

  Letter from L. M. Manley to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 7 February 1995:

  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your question about risk assessments in the Driving Standards Agency.

  The attached table provides the dates and numbers of risk assessments carried out in 1994. The assessments covered display screen equipment, manual handling procedures and general risks.

  Year

  Month/Date

  Number

  1994

  January

  6

  1

  19

  1

  25

  1

  29

  1

  4

  February

  8

  7

  9

  3

  190

  Year

  Month/Date

  Number

  10

  1

  11

  7

  14

  6

  15

  3

  18

  1

  22

  2

  28

  2

  32

  March

  1

  1

  4

  1

  8

  1

  17

  6

  28

  1

  29

  3

  30

  1

  31

  4

  32

  April

  5

  1

  6

  2

  8

  6

  11

  8

  12

  12

  13

  1

  14

  6

  22

  5

  25

  1

  42

  1994 (cont.)

  May

  4

  1

  9

  2

  10

  2

  11

  2

  13

  31

  16

  1

  17

  6

  18

  2

  20

  2

  21

  18

  67

  June

  2

  1

  3

  4

  6

  7

  10

  2

  20

  1

  22

  6

  24

  12

  28

  2

  29

  5

  30

  1

  41

  July

  1

  1

  4

  1

  8

  1

  17

  1

  18

  1

  19

  4

  22

  1

  10

  August

  9

  1

  10

  1

  191

  Year

  Month/Date

  Number

  12

  2

  16

  3

  17

  6

  22

  2

  23

  9

  24

  4

  25

  3

  26

  5

  30

  7

  31

  7

  50

  September

  1

  4

  2

  8

  5

  3

  6

  12

  7

  10

  8

  2

  9

  3

  10

  1

  12

  4

  13

  6

  14

  8

  15

  2

  16

  1

  17

  1

  19

  4

  20

  4

  21

  3

  22

  2

  23

  4

  24

  1

  25

  2

  26

  3

  27

  6

  28

  4

  29

  2

  30

  6

  106

  October

  1

  2

  3

  9

  4

  5

  5

  7

  6

  13

  7

  7

  10

  15

  11

  15

  12

  9

  13

  9

  14

  7

  17

  5

  18

  10

  19

  13

  20

  5

  21

  2

  24

  7

  25

  5

  26

  1

  27

  10

  28

  5

  29

  2

  30

  1

  31

  3

  167

  192

  Year

  Month/Date

  Number

  November

  1

  3

  2

  1

  3

  1

  4

  3

  7

  2

  8

  2

  9

  4

  10

  2

  11

  26

  12

  1

  14

  2

  15

  2

  16

  4

  17

  4

  18

  7

  20

  1

  21

  30

  22

  12

  23

  9

  24

  2

  25

  6

  26

  9

  29

  8

  30

  7

  148.

  December

  1

  19

  2

  7

  4

  3

  5

  10

  6

  12

  7

  4

  8

  3

  12

  10

  13

  1

  15

  3

  16

  3

  21

  3

  22

  3

  28

  1

  30

  1

  83

  Total 1994 768

  1995

  January

  3

  2

  5

  2

  6

  1

  9

  4

  12

  4

  16

  1

  17

  4

  18

  3

  19

  1

  20

  1

  23

  7

  24

  5

  25

  13

  26

  3

  27

  1

  Total 1995 52

  Grand Total 820

  193

  Casual Staff
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the status of employees of his Department which make up the panels which recruit casual staff at AA or AO level.

  Mr. Norris
  Casual staff within the Department of Transport at AA or AO level are recruited by the division where the vacancy arises. Usually two members of staff, at EO level or above, would conduct the recruitment interview.

  Vehicle Inspectorate
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about his employment of the former head of personnel for the Vehicle Inspectorate to undertake a report on the Register of Shipping and Seamen office in Cardiff; and if he will list(a) the status of this employee, (b) the status of any severance pay granted following redundancy from the Vehicle Inspectorate and (c) the process by which he was chosen to fill this post.

  Mr. Norris
  The former head of personnel for the Vehicle Inspectorate is employed as a consultant by the Marine Safety Agency and was selected from a shortlist of retired departmental employees with the appropriate skills and experience.

  There is no direct employer-employee relationship between MSA and Mr. Walton, and the status of his severance pay is not affected.

  West Coast Main Line
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made on the improvement of the west coast main line; if it is up to schedule; when the works will commence; what is the total likely cost; and what is the expected completion date.

  Mr. Watts
  The feasibility study was completed on schedule at the end of December. Railtrack will be publishing a summary of its findings shortly.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions since the channel tunnel rail link has been established, his inspectors have inspected the operation of the security services on the route; and what were their findings.

  Mr. Watts
  The channel tunnel security inspectors have inspected the security measures in place on a number of occasions. It would not be appropriate on security grounds to detail their findings.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply of 2 February,Official Report, column 859, about the channel tunnel link route on what date the delegation was led by the hon. Members for Gravesham (Mr. Arnold) and for Dartford (Mr. Dunn), at which Miss Maureen Tomison made a presentation to his predecessor on behalf of the Ebbsfleet Promoter Group.
  194
  Mr. Watts
  The presentation referred to in my reply of 2 February took place on 11 May 1994. Miss Tomison made no presentation at this or any other departmental delegation.

  Highland Railways
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has about the adequacy of safety measures in place at accommodation crossings on rail lines in the highlands; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Watts
  Accommodation level crossings are private crossings, and it is the responsibility of the authorised user to ensure that the railway is clear before attempting to cross. Instructions on the safe use of crossings are displayed at each crossing.

  Rail Stations (Wheelchairs)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the railway stations in(a) Inverclyde, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland which are inaccessible to wheelchair users; and what proposals he has to make such stations barrier free.

  Mr. Watts
  The facilities available for disabled passengers vary from place to place. The leaflet "British Rail and Disabled Travellers" is designed to help disabled passengers plan their rail journeys and gives contact details for British Rail managers who will provide passengers with information about their nearest suitably designed and equipped station. A copy of this leaflet is available in the House Library.

  Government proposals to improve accessibility at stations for disabled passengers are included in the Disability Discrimination Bill, published last month.

  Bull Bars
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 31 January to the hon. Member for Ilford, South (Mr. Gapes),Official Report, column 586, what steps he proposes to take to discourage vehicle manufacturers from fitting bull bars.

  Mr. Norris
  My predecessor wrote to vehicle manufacturers in 1993 expressing concern about the fitting of aggressive bull bars. We have since put in hand the accident analysis referred to in my answer of 31 January. We shall consider whether further steps should be taken to discourage vehicle manufacturers from fitting bull bars, and owners of existing vehicles from using them on the road with bull bars attached, in the light of that analysis.

  Rules and Regulations
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the rules and regulations in his Department which have been withdrawn in the last 12 months, or which his Department plans to withdraw in the next 12 months; and what impact this will have on his Department's manpower.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]The Department is continuing to identify rules and regulations for withdrawal. Most of the rules and regulations which
  195
  were identified for withdrawal in last year's reviews have yet to be implemented. Those for withdrawal in the next 12 months will be announced as and when the consultations are completed.

  The manpower implications are taken into account in the Department's central manpower plans, which will be published in the Department's annual report in March.

  Train Timetables
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many trains between London and Plymouth in the last 28 days have arrived at the time advertised in the timetable, on weekdays and at the weekend; and if he will make a statement on the level of delays.

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]Statistics are compiled according to service groups, not individual routes, and on a four-weekly basis. The most recent figures covering the 28 days up to 7 January 1995 show that 88 per cent. of all trains in the Great Western service group arrived within 10 minutes of their advertised time. The figure for the 12 months up to this date is 91.2 per cent.

  Channel Tunnel (Safety)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made as to the existing integrity of the safety regime operating in the channel tunnel; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 2 February 1995]Under the terms of the treaty of Canterbury the channel tunnel intergovernmental commission takes decisions in the name of the two Governments for the implementation of the concession.

  The channel tunnel safety authority is established under the treaty to advise and assist the commission on all matters concerning safety in the construction and operation of the tunnel. It ensures that safety measures and practices applicable to the tunnel comply with national and international laws.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when he expects that agreement will be reached clarifying the respective responsibilities for the enforcement of channel tunnel safety measures between the French authorities, the channel tunnel safety authority and Britain's Health and Safety Executive; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will place in the Library the proposals of the Health and Safety Executive for the future division of responsibility for safety in the channel tunnel between the French authorities, the channel tunnel safety authority and Britain's Health and Safety Executive; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answers 2 February 1995]The channel tunnel safety authority is preparing advice for the intergovernmental commission. Formal agreement between the United Kingdom and French authorities will be reached in due course. The Health and Safety Executive works in close co-operation with the United Kingdom delegation to the safety authority.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what considerations have so far led the channel tunnel safety authority not to exercise its power to make regulations and appoint inspectors; and if he will make a statement;
  196
  (2) when inspectors will be appointed by the channel tunnel safety authority.

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answers 2 February and 3 February 1995]The channel tunnel safety authority does not have power to make regulations. It has powers to authorise experts to observe and inspect Eurotunnel's activities and exercises those powers as it considers appropriate.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he has taken with the French authorities and Eurotunnel to meet the concerns about the responsibility and jurisdiction for safety in the channel tunnel as expressed by the Health and Safety Executive to the Employment Committee in November 1994; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 2 February 1995]These matters are under continuing discussion within the channel tunnel intergovernmental commission.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioners' Incomes
  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide a breakdown on the number of(a) single pensioners, (b) pensioner couples and (c) all pensioners (i) aged under 75 years, (ii) aged 75 years and over and (iii) in total given in the analysis of pensioner incomes by quintile published on 15 April 1994, Official Report, column 304.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The latest information relating to 1992 pensioners' incomes details is in the tables.

  The numbers of pensioner units in each quintile of the next equivalised income distribution of pensioners—Table 1: Single pensioners

  Ql

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  Q5

  Under 75

  300,000

  3500,000

  350,000

  400,000

  400,0000

  75 and Over

  ∗250,000

  ∗150,000

  ∗150,000

  ∗150,000

  ∗100,000

  Total

  550,000

  500,000

  500,000

  550,000

  550,000

  Table 2: Pensioner couples

  Ql

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  Q5

  Under 75

  350,000

  450,000

  400,000

  450,000

  550,000

  75 and over

  550,000

  450,000

  450,000

  450,000

  350,000

  Total

  900,000

  900,000

  900,000

  900,000

  900,000

  Table 3: All pensioner units

  Ql

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  Q5

  Under 75

  650,000

  750,000

  750,000

  850,000

  1,000,000

  75 and Over

  750,000

  650,000

  650,000

  550,000

  450,000

  Total

  1,400,000

  1,400,000

  1,400,000

  1,400,000

  1,400,000

  Notes:

  1. These estimates are taken from the 1992 family expenditure survey and are for private households in the UK.

  2. The estimates denoted by an asterisk are based on unreliably small sample sizes and therefore should be treated with caution.

  3. The estimates have been rounded to the nearest hundred thousand. Total population figures may therefore be misleading.
  197

  1992 Version of Table 1 of the answer made on 15 April 1994—Table 1 the Average Incomes of Pensioners 1979–1992 (by quintile—quintile 1 = lowest—(£per week July 1992 prices).

  Quintile 1

  Quintile 2

  Quintile 3

  Quintile 4

  Quintile 5

  Total

  Income Source

  1979

  1992

  1979

  1992

  1979

  1992

  1979

  1992

  1979

  1992

  1979

  1992

  (a) Single Pensioners

  Earnings∗

  0.40

  0.00

  0.10

  0.20

  0.40

  0.50

  3.80

  1.60

  25.00

  23.20

  5.90

  5.10

  Benefit Income

  51.00

  57.20

  59.20

  68.10

  62.10

  78.50

  61.60

  78.40

  55.90

  72.00

  58.00

  70.80

  Investment Income

  2.00

  10.50

  2.20

  5.00

  2.40

  4.60

  6.90

  12.80

  33.00

  93.20

  9.30

  25.20

  Occupational Pension

  0.60

  2.10

  1.90

  5.40

  3.30

  8.00

  7.90

  24.30

  37.10

  82.90

  10.10

  24.50

  Other∗

  0.50

  0.10

  0.20

  0.40

  0.30

  0.20

  1.00

  0.30

  1.00

  2.80

  0.60

  0.70

  Gross Income

  54.50

  69.80

  63.50

  79.00

  68.50

  91.90

  81.20

  117.40

  152.00

  274.10

  83.90

  126.40

  Deductions

  5.60

  12.90

  4.70

  5.60

  4.40

  6.20

  7.30

  10.70

  29.50

  49.50

  10.30

  17.00

  Net Income BHC (mean)

  48.90

  56.90

  58.90

  73.40

  64.10

  85.70

  74.00

  106.70

  122.50

  224.60

  73.60

  109.40

  Net Income AHC (mean)

  38.10

  42.30

  47.40

  55.80

  51.30

  64.30

  59.60

  90.40

  107.10

  212.80

  60.70

  93.00

  Net Income (BHC (median)

  50.50

  58.90

  60.20

  75.50

  66.80

  86.30

  74.40

  105.60

  106.10

  184.30

  66.80

  86.30

  Net Income AHC (median)

  40.20

  46.60

  47.40

  55.70

  52.10

  62.80

  60.00

  88.60

  92.80

  175.50

  52.10

  62.80

  (b) Pensioner Couples

  Earnings∗

  0.30

  0.10

  1.30

  2.70

  5.90

  6.60

  28.00

  15.60

  95.50

  65.20

  26.10

  18.00

  Benefit Income

  85.50

  100.80

  93.10

  110.00

  93.00

  111.80

  88.10

  110.60

  78.80

  102.10

  87.70

  107.10

  Investment Income

  2.70

  4.60

  3.70

  8.40

  5.80

  26.20

  10.70

  42.80

  64.70

  145.60

  17.50

  45.40

  Occupational Pension

  2.60

  7.00

  7.30

  19.10

  19.20

  35.30

  38.30

  79.10

  96.30

  189.70

  32.60

  65.90

  Other∗

  0.30

  0.40

  0.40

  0.30

  1.60

  1.30

  0.90

  1.40

  1.10

  3.70

  0.90

  1.40

  Gross Income

  91.40

  112.90

  105.80

  140.40

  125.50

  181.20

  166.00

  249.50

  336.40

  506.30

  164.80

  237.80

  Deductions

  6.10

  10.60

  5.70

  11.10

  8.40

  17.00

  18.40

  26.90

  80.80

  92.70

  23.80

  31.60

  Net Income BHC (mean)

  85.20

  102.30

  100.20

  129.30

  117.10

  164.20

  147.60

  222.70

  255.60

  413.60

  141.00

  206.20

  Net Income AHC (mean)

  70.60

  83.80

  83.20

  112.00

  100.10

  148.10

  128.90

  209.80

  228.70

  400.80

  122.20

  190.70

  Net Income BHC (median)

  85.80

  105.10

  99.20

  128.10

  115.10

  162.90

  145.50

  220.80

  221.00

  364.60

  115.10

  162.90

  Net Income AHC (median)

  70.90

  84.90

  82.30

  112.50

  97.90

  145.80

  128.00

  208.50

  197.90

  352.70

  97.90

  145.80

  (c) Pensioner Units

  Earnings∗

  0.30

  0.00

  0.50

  0.80

  0.90

  1.90

  10.50

  7.40

  52.20

  39.50

  12.90

  9.90

  Benefit Income

  62.70

  70.80

  71.30

  83.10

  69.40

  89.00

  70.30

  92.30

  67.40

  86.70

  68.20

  84.40

  Investment Income

  2.20

  8.40

  2.80

  5.20

  3.00

  9.90

  8.50

  24.50

  44.10

  116.00

  12.10

  32.80

  Occupational Pension

  1.30

  3.60

  3.90

  8.70

  6.40

  15.40

  17.20

  41.20

  60.80

  131.10

  17.90

  40.00

  Other∗

  0.40

  0.20

  0.20

  0.30

  0.50

  0.60

  1.40

  0.50

  0.80

  3.40

  0.70

  1.00

  Gross Income

  67.00

  83.00

  78.70

  98.20

  80.20

  116.70

  107.90

  165.80

  225.40

  376.70

  111.80

  168.10

  Deductions

  5.80

  11.80

  5.00

  7.30

  5.20

  8.90

  10.20

  16.90

  48.50

  67.40

  14.90

  22.40

  Net Income BHC (mean)

  61.20

  71.20

  73.710

  90.90

  75.00

  107.90

  97.70

  148.90

  176.90

  309.30

  96.90

  145.60

  Net Income AHC (mean)

  52.80

  57.70

  57.90

  65.80

  61.90

  93.00

  83.10

  137.50

  154.00

  293.90

  81.90

  129.50

  Net Income BHC (median)

  53.70

  63.60

  62.50

  80.40

  68.40

  93.50

  85.10

  134.20

  163.00

  266.60

  68.40

  93.50

  Net Income AHC (median)

  43.40

  50.50

  48.00

  57.70

  53.00

  76.40

  67.40

  120.80

  141.20

  254.70

  53.00

  76.40

  Average income change (per cent.)—Single Pensioners (S), Pensioner Couples (C) and Pensioner Units (U)

  Quintile 1

  Quintile 2

  Quintile 3

  Income Source

  S

  C

  U

  S

  C

  U

  S

  C

  U

  (d) Growth in Pensioner Income 1979–92

  Earnings∗

  -96

  -59

  -89

  50

  107

  59

  50

  12

  121

  Benefit Income

  12

  18

  13

  15

  18

  17

  26

  20

  28

  Investment Income

  413

  70

  274

  132

  128

  87

  94

  350

  226

  Occupational Pension

  227

  165

  178

  187

  162

  126

  139

  84

  140

  Other∗

  -87

  56

  -45

  125

  -22

  34

  -30

  -22

  16

  Gross Income

  28

  24

  24

  24

  33

  25

  34

  44

  45

  Deductions

  129

  73

  104

  21

  96

  45

  41

  103

  71

  Net Income BHC (median)

  17

  23

  18

  25

  29

  29

  29

  42

  37

  Net Income AHC (median)

  16

  20

  16

  17

  37

  20

  20

  49

  44

  Average income change (per cent)—Single Pensioners(S), Pensioner Couples(C) and Pensioner Units(U)

  Quintile 4

  Quintile 5

  Total

  Income Source

  S

  C

  U

  S

  C

  U

  S

  C

  U

  (d) Growth in Pensioner Income 1979–1992

  Earnings∗

  -57

  -44

  -30

  -7

  -32

  -24

  -14

  -31

  -23

  Benefit Income

  27

  26

  31

  29

  30

  29

  22

  22

  24

  Investment Income

  85

  300

  189

  182

  125

  163

  172

  160

  171

  Occupational Pension

  207

  106

  139

  124

  97

  116

  142

  102

  123

  Other∗

  -72

  61

  -68

  190

  235

  307

  29

  65

  48

  198 199

  Average income change (per cent)—Single Pensioners(S), Pensioner Couples(C) and Pensioner Units(U)

  Quintile 4

  Quintile 5

  Total

  Income Source

  S

  C

  U

  S

  C

  U

  S

  C

  U

  Gross Income

  45

  50

  54

  80

  50

  67

  51

  44

  50

  Deductions

  47

  46

  66

  68

  15

  39

  65

  33

  50

  Net Income BHC (median)

  42

  52

  58

  74

  65

  63

  49 (mean)

  46 (mean)

  50 (mean)

  Net Income AHC (median)

  48

  63

  79

  89

  78

  80

  53 (mean)

  56 (mean)

  58 (mean)

  Notes: N.B. means given for total income growth.

  ∗ Indicates that sample sizes are too small to provide reliable estimates. Figures are shown only to demonstrate how totals are arrived at.

  1.All figures before housing costs (BHC) unless otherwise stated. After housing costs= AHC.

  2.All average amounts are means except where otherwise stated.

  3.Components may not sum to totals owing to rounding.

  4.Pensioner units are defined as single people over state pension age and couples in which the husband is over state pension age.

  5.Estimates of percentage growth are based on unrounded income figures and may not therefore be the same as those calculated from the rounded amounts shown in the table.

  6.Estimates of growth in total net incomes by quintile are based on medians. Estimates of growth of components of income and total incomes of all pensioners are based on means.
  200

  Benefits
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for each of the past 30 years(a) the number and percentage of people claiming the state retirement pension, (b) the number and percentage

  Claimants over slate retirement age with and without Retirement Pension (RP), Supplementary Benefit (SB), Income Support (IS) and Housing Benefit (HB). Table 1A: Number of claimants—(Thousands)

  People with RP

  People without RP

  Year

  All (a)

  With IS/SB only (b)

  With IS/SB and HB

  With HB only (c)

  All

  With IS/SB only (b)

  With IS/SB and HB

  With HB only (c)

  1964

  6,158(d)

  —

  —

  —

  1,747

  —

  —

  —

  1965

  6,357(d)

  —

  —

  —

  1,710

  —

  —

  —

  1966

  6,540(d)

  —

  —

  —

  1,622

  —

  —

  —

  1967

  6,769(d)

  —

  —

  —

  1,560

  —

  —

  —

  1968

  6,973(d)

  —

  —

  —

  1,497

  —

  —

  —

  1969

  7,170(d)(e)

  1,662

  —

  —

  1,457

  208

  —

  —

  1970

  7,363(d)(e)

  1,700

  —

  —

  1,396

  200

  —

  —

  1971

  7,515(d)

  1,735

  —

  —

  1,404

  185

  —

  —

  1972

  7,668(d)

  1,733

  —

  —

  1,367

  177

  —

  —

  1973

  7,688

  —

  —

  —

  1,467

  —

  —

  —

  1974

  7,822

  1,654

  —

  —

  1,454

  156

  —

  —

  1975

  7,985

  1,538

  —

  —

  1,399

  142

  —

  —

  1976

  8,155

  1,547

  —

  —

  1,295

  143

  —

  —

  1977

  8,266

  1,590

  —

  —

  1,242

  150

  —

  —

  1978

  8,397

  1,593

  —

  —

  1,138

  147

  —

  —

  1979

  8,528

  1,599

  —

  —

  1,032

  121

  —

  —

  1980

  8,681

  1,576

  —

  —

  1,032

  114

  —

  —

  1981

  8,780

  1,624

  —

  —

  1,030

  116

  —

  —

  1982

  8,877

  1,683

  —

  —

  990

  97

  —

  —

  1983

  8,936

  1,549

  —

  —

  946

  101

  —

  —

  1984

  9,003

  1,565

  —

  —

  907

  115

  —

  —

  1985

  9,085

  —

  —

  —

  936

  —

  —

  —

  1986

  9,210

  1,592

  —

  —

  892

  128

  —

  —

  1987

  9,310

  1,613

  —

  —

  863

  117

  —

  —

  1988

  9,298

  1,431

  —

  —

  923

  109

  —

  —

  1989

  9,305

  1,314

  —

  1,057

  974

  116

  —

  108

  1990

  9,391

  595

  789

  1,033

  919

  59

  60

  109

  1991

  9,380

  595

  677

  1,026

  976

  68

  65

  124

  1992

  9,425

  692

  626

  1,031

  955

  76

  64

  123

  1993

  9,448

  674

  712

  952

  943

  80

  75

  120

  1994

  9,442

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Table 1B: As a percentage of all people over state retirement age.

  People with RP

  People without RP

  All (a)

  With IS/SB only (b)

  With IS/SB and HB

  With HB only (c)

  All

  With IS/SB only (b)

  With IS/SB and HB

  With HB only (c)

  1964

  77.9

  —

  —

  —

  22.1

  —

  —

  —

  1965

  78.8

  —

  —

  —

  21.2

  —

  —

  —

  1966

  80.1

  —

  —

  —

  19.9

  —

  —

  —

  1967

  81.3

  —

  —

  —

  18.7

  —

  —

  —

  1968

  82.3

  —

  —

  —

  17.7

  —

  —

  —

  1969

  83.1

  19.3

  —

  —

  16.9

  2.4

  —

  1970

  84.1

  19.4

  —

  —

  15.9

  2.3

  —

  —

  1971

  84.3

  19.5

  —

  —

  15.7

  2.1

  —

  —

  1972

  84.9

  19.2

  —

  —

  15.1

  2

  —

  —

  1973

  84

  —

  —

  —

  16

  —

  —

  —

  1974

  84.3

  17.8

  —

  —

  15.7

  1.7

  —

  —

  1975

  85.1

  16.4

  —

  —

  14.9

  1.5

  —

  —

  1976

  86.3

  16.4

  —

  —

  13.7

  1.5

  —

  —

  1977

  86.9

  16.7

  —

  —

  13.1

  1.6

  —

  —

  1978

  88.1

  16.7

  —

  —

  11.9

  1.5

  —

  —

  1979

  89.2

  16.7

  —

  —

  10.8

  1.3

  —

  —

  1980

  89.4

  16.2

  —

  —

  10.6

  1.2

  —

  —

  1981

  89.5

  16.6

  —

  10.5

  1.2

  —

  202
  receiving income support, (c) the number of people over retirement age who draw only income support and (d) the number receiving the relevant pension plus housing benefit.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The available information is in the tables.
  203

  Table 1B: As a percentage of all people over state retirement age.

  People with RP

  People without RP

  All (a)

  With IS/SB only (b)

  With IS/SB and HB

  With HB only (c)

  All

  With IS/SB only (b)

  With IS/SB and HB

  With HB only (c)

  1982

  90.0

  17.1

  —

  —

  10

  1.0

  —

  —

  1983

  90.4

  15.7

  —

  —

  9.6

  1.0

  —

  —

  1984

  90.8

  15.8

  —

  —

  9.2

  1.2

  —

  —

  1985

  90.7

  —

  —

  —

  9.3

  —

  —

  —

  1986

  91.2

  15.8

  —

  —

  8.8

  1.3

  —

  —

  1987

  91.5

  15.9

  —

  —

  8.5

  1.2

  —

  —

  1988

  91.0

  14.0

  —

  —

  9.0

  1.1

  —

  —

  1989

  90.5

  12.8

  —

  10.3

  9.5

  1.1

  —

  1.0

  1990

  91.1

  5.8

  7.7

  10.0

  8.9

  0.6

  0.6

  1.1

  1991

  90.6

  5.8

  6.6

  10.0

  9.5

  0.7

  0.6

  1.2

  1992

  90.8

  6.7

  6.1

  10.0

  9.3

  0.7

  0.6

  1.2

  1993

  90.9

  6.5

  6.9

  9.2

  9.1

  0.8

  0.7

  1.2

  1994

  90.8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Notes

  —not available.

  (a) Including AP only from 1979.

  (b) All SB/IS claimants prior to 1990.

  (c) All claimants aged 60 or over.

  (d) Figures include a small number of pensions paid to persons overseas.

  (e) Estimated figures.

  1. Males aged 65 or over and females aged 60 or over.

  2. Supplementary benefit, income support and housing benefit figures are for claimants only, ie partners are not counted.

  3. Housing benefit data are not available prior to 1989.

  4. Income support replaced supplementary benefit in 1988.

  5. "People without RP" includes those who have elected to receive invalidity benefit or widows benefit, rather than any retirement pension to which they may be entitled.

  6. To arrive at the total number and proportion of people over pension age receiving IS/SB, it is necessary to add the figures in columns 3, 4, 7 and 8.

  Sources

  Supplementary benefit/income support statistics annual inquiries.

  Retirement pension annual inquiries.

  Housing benefit management information statistics.

  Invalidity Benefit and Sick Pay
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will list for each of the last 30 years for which figures are available(a) the number and percentage of claimants drawing invalidity benefit, (b) the number and percentage drawing invalidity benefit and income support, (c) the number and percentage drawing invalidity benefit and housing benefit and (d) the number and percentage of long-term sick drawing income support and or housing benefit;

  (2) if he will list for each of the past 30 years (a) the number and percentage of people claiming sick pay or statutory pay only, (b) the number and percentage of this group drawing sick pay and income support, (c) the number and percentage claiming sick pay and housing benefit and (d) the number and percentage without sick pay cover who draw only income support and/or housing benefit.

  Mr. Hague
  The available information is in the tables.

  Table 1 Statutory sick pay beneficiaries in Great Britain

  Year ended

  Number

  Percentage of population

  1985

  4,963,000

  14.7

  1986

  5,059,000

  14.9

  1987

  5,203,000

  15.3

  204

  Table 1 Statutory sick pay beneficiaries in Great Britain

  Year ended

  Number

  Percentage of population

  1988

  5,386,000

  15.7

  1989

  5,497,000

  16.0

  1990

  5,871,000

  17.0

  1991

  5,664,000

  16.40

  1992

  5,283,000

  15.3

  1993

  4,822,000

  13.9

  Notes

  1.Statutory sick pay was introduced on 6 April 1983, and was payable for a maximum of eight weeks in any one tax year. This increased to 28 weeks from 6 April 1986 and the tax year limit removed. Data are not available for the year ending April 1984.

  2.An employee may have more than one spell of statutory sick pay in the year.

  3.The figures are in respect of the number of employees who received statutory sick pay in the year ended April.

  4.Statutory sick pay is not payable to men aged 65 and over. Prior to 6 April 1994 it was not payable to women aged 60 and over.

  5.There are a limited number of cases where the region within the United Kingdom is not known, which are not included within the Great Britain figure.

  6.Population in Great Britain aged 16 to 59 for a woman, 16 to 64 for a man, each mid-year, supplied by OPCS.

  Sources

  1. per cent. sample of employer tax returns in respect of their employees, rounded to the nearest thousand.

  2. Estimated mid-year resident population figures supplied by OPCS.
  205

  Table 2A Recipients of invalidity benefit (IVB) and sickness benefit (SB) with and without supplementary benefit (SuppB)/income support (IS) and housing benefit (HB)

  Number of recipients—Thousands

  Invalidity benefit recipients

  Sickness benefit recipients

  Year

  All

  With SuppB/IS only (a)

  With SuppB/IS and HB

  With HB only

  All

  With SuppB/IS only (a)

  With SuppB/IS and HB

  With HB only

  1964

  —

  —

  —

  —

  876

  —

  —

  —

  1965

  —

  —

  —

  —

  923

  —

  —

  —

  1966

  —

  —

  —

  —

  900

  —

  —

  —

  1967

  —

  —

  —

  —

  903

  —

  —

  —

  1968

  —

  —

  —

  —

  934

  —

  —

  —

  1969

  —

  —

  —

  —

  923

  16

  —

  —

  1970

  —

  —

  —

  —

  932

  16

  —

  —

  1971

  —

  —

  —

  —

  857

  21

  —

  —

  1972

  414

  110

  —

  —

  455

  20

  —

  —

  1973

  435

  —

  —

  —

  449

  —

  —

  —

  1974

  442

  72

  —

  —

  455

  18

  —

  —

  1975

  450

  54

  —

  —

  403

  15

  —

  —

  1976

  —

  48

  —

  —

  —

  17

  —

  —

  1977

  505

  45

  —

  —

  452

  17

  —

  —

  1978

  557

  42

  —

  —

  472

  16

  —

  —

  1979

  610

  33

  —

  —

  430

  11

  —

  —

  1980

  615

  34

  —

  —

  384

  13

  —

  —

  1981

  633

  43

  —

  —

  353

  19

  —

  —

  1982

  683

  55

  —

  —

  393

  24

  —

  —

  1983

  737

  63

  —

  —

  338

  21

  —

  —

  1984

  797

  83

  —

  —

  190

  24

  —

  —

  1985

  849

  —

  —

  —

  180

  —

  —

  —

  1986

  899

  92

  —

  —

  179

  25

  —

  —

  1987

  968

  112

  —

  —

  110

  20

  —

  —

  1988

  1,047

  97

  —

  —

  117

  23

  —

  —

  1989

  1,126

  102

  —

  189

  109

  27

  —

  9

  1990

  1,209

  110

  4

  205

  103

  12

  11

  9

  1991

  1306

  51

  53

  237

  110

  13

  17

  13

  1992

  1,439

  65

  65

  260

  138

  16

  16

  11

  1993

  1,580

  80

  77

  267

  147

  16

  17

  11

  Notes:

  1. See notes to table 2B

  Table 2B—As a percentage of all people of eligible age for invalidity benefit/sickness benefit

  Invalidity benefit recipients

  Sickness benefit recipients

  Year

  All

  With SuppB/IS only (a)

  With SuppB/IS and HB

  With HB only

  All

  With SuppB/IS only (a)

  With SuppB/IS and HB

  With HB only

  1964

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2.5

  —

  —

  —

  1965

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2.7

  —

  —

  —

  1966

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2.6

  —

  —

  —

  1967

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2.6

  —

  —

  —

  1968

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2.7

  —

  —

  —

  1969

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2.7

  *

  —

  —

  1970

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2.7

  *

  —

  —

  1971

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2.5

  0.1

  —

  —

  1972

  1.2

  0.3

  —

  —

  1.3

  0.1

  —

  —

  1973

  1.3

  —

  —

  —

  1.3

  —

  —

  —

  1974

  1.3

  0.2

  —

  —

  1.3

  0.1

  —

  1975

  1.3

  0.2

  —

  —

  1.2

  *

  —

  —

  1976

  —

  0.1

  —

  —

  —

  *

  —

  —

  1977

  1.5

  0.1

  —

  —

  1.3

  *

  —

  —

  1978

  1.6

  0.1

  —

  —

  1.4

  ∗

  —

  —

  1979

  1.8

  0.1

  —

  —

  1.2

  *

  —

  —

  1980

  1.8

  0.1

  —

  —

  1.1

  *

  —

  —

  1981

  1.8

  0.1

  —

  —

  1.0

  0.1

  —

  —

  1982

  2.0

  0.2

  —

  —

  1.1

  0.1

  —

  —

  1983

  2.1

  0.2

  —

  —

  1.0

  0.1

  —

  —

  1984

  2.3

  0.2

  —

  —

  0.5

  0.1

  —

  —

  1985

  2.5

  —

  —

  —

  0.5

  —

  —

  —

  1986

  2.6

  0.3

  —

  —

  0.5

  0.1

  —

  —

  1987

  2.8

  0.3

  —

  —

  0.3

  0.1

  —

  —

  1988

  3.0

  0.3

  —

  —

  0.3

  0.1

  —

  —

  206 207

  Table 2B—As a percentage of all people of eligible age for invalidity benefit/sickness benefit

  Invalidity benefit recipients

  Sickness benefit recipients

  Year

  All

  With SuppB/IS only (a)

  With SuppB/IS and HB

  With HB only

  All

  With SuppB/IS only (a)

  With SuppB/IS andHB

  With HB only

  1989

  3.3

  0.3

  —

  0.5

  0.3

  0.1

  —

  ∗

  1990

  3.5

  0.3

  ∗

  0.6

  0.3

  ∗

  ∗

  1991

  3.8

  0.1

  0.2

  0.7

  0.3

  ∗

  ∗

  ∗

  1992

  4.2

  0.2

  0.2

  0.8

  0.4

  ∗

  ∗

  ∗

  1993

  4.6

  0.2

  0.2

  0.8

  0.4

  ∗

  ∗

  ∗

  Notes—not available

  ∗ less than 0.1 per cent.

  (a) All supplementary benefit income support claimants prior to 1990.

  1. Males aged 16 to 69 and females aged 16 to 64. Figures rounded to the nearest thousand.

  2. Income support and housing benefit figures are for claimants only, i.e. partners are not counted and include claimants with statutory sick pay.

  3. Housing benefit data not available prior to 1989.

  4. Income support replaced supplementary benefit in 1988.

  5. Invalidity benefit was introduced on 23 September 1971, and is payable from the 169th day of incapacity.

  6. From 1972 to 1982 invalidity benefit figures are at May/June, and thereafter at March/April.

  7. The sickness benefit information for 1964, 1965 and 1966 in respect of claimants, may include a number of cases where benefit was not in payment.

  8. Statutory sick pay was introduced on 6 April 1983, and was payable for a maximum of 8 weeks in any one tax year. This was increased to 28 weeks from 6 April 1986 and the tax year limit removed.

  9. From 1964 to 1982 sickness benefit figures are at May/June, and thereafter at March/April.

  Sources

  Supplementary benefit/income support statistics annual inquiries 1969–1993.

  Housing benefit management information statistics.

  Sickness benefit based on a 5 per cent. sample of claimants up to 1969, 2.5 per cent. between 1970 and 1975, 2 per cent. for 1977 and 1978 and 1 per cent. thereafter.

  Invalidity benefit based on a 2.5 per cent. sample of claimants up to 1975, 2 per cent. for 1977 and 1978 and 1 per cent. thereafter.

  Table 3A—Sick and disabled claimants of supplementary benefit (SuppB)/income support (IS) and housing benefit (HB) but without invalidity benefit (IVB), sickness benefit and statutory sick pay (SSP)

  Number of claimants—thousands

  Long term sick and disabled

  Short term sick

  Year

  All sick and disabled(a)

  All

  With SuppB/IS only (b)

  With SuppB/IS andHB

  With HB only

  With SuppB/IS

  1964

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1965

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1966

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1967

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1968

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1969

  310

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1970

  307

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1971

  284

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1972

  168

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1973

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1974

  170

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1975

  173

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1976

  178

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1977

  167

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1978

  165

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1979

  163

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1980

  158

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1981

  159

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1982

  160

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1983

  157

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1984

  168

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1985

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1986

  185

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1987

  220

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1988

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1989

  349

  270

  258

  —

  12

  79

  1990

  386

  307

  297

  —

  10

  79

  1991

  421

  353

  348

  —

  5

  68

  1992

  470

  390

  206

  176

  8

  80

  1993

  562

  481

  235

  237

  9

  81

  Note:

  1. See notes to table 3B
  208 209

  Table 3B As a percentage of people of eligible age for invalidity benefit/sickness benefit

  Long term sick and disabled

  Short term sick

  Year

  All sick and disabled (a)

  All

  With SuppB/IS only (b)

  With SuppB/IS andHB

  With HB only

  With SuppB/IS

  1964

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1965

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1966

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1967

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1968

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1969

  0.9

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1970

  0.9

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1971

  0.8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1972

  0.5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1973

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1974

  0.5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1975

  0.5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1976

  0.5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1977

  0.5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1978

  0.5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1979

  0.5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1980

  0.4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1981

  0.4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1982

  0.4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1983

  0.4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1984

  0.5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1985

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1986

  0.5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1987

  0.6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1988

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1989

  0.9

  0.7

  7

  —

  ∗

  0.2

  1990

  1

  0.8

  0.8

  —

  ∗

  0.2

  1991

  1.1

  0.9

  0.9

  —

  ∗

  0.2

  1992

  1.3

  1

  0.6

  0.5

  o

  0.2

  1993

  1.5

  1.3

  0.6

  0.6

  ∗

  0.2

  Notes:

  "—" not available

  "∗" less than 0.1 percent

  (a) Sick and disabled supplementary benefit claimants only prior to 1988.

  (b) All income support claimants from 1989 to 1991

  1. Males aged 16 to 69 and females aged 16 to 64. Figures rounded to the nearest thousand.

  2. Income support and housing benefit figures are for claimants only, ie partners are not counted.

  3. Supplementary benefit figures include all claimants (males under 65, females under 60) who are sick and disabled without invalidity benefit, sickness benefit or statutory sick pay. Long-term sick or disabled income support claimants without invalidity benefit, sickness benefit and statutory sick pay are those who qualify for a disability premium or a higher pensioner premium (males aged 60 to 64 only) in their own right, ie not because of their partners' condition, and those in residential care or nursing homes (males aged under 65, females aged under 60). Short-term sick income support claimants without invalidity benefit, sickness benefit or statutory sick pay are those aged under 60 who are incapable of work but who have not yet qualified for a disability premium.

  4. Long-term sick or disabled housing benefit claimants without invalidity benefit, sickness benefit or statutory sick pay are those who qualify in their own right for a disability premium, ie not because of their partners' condition. It is not possible to identify short-term housing benefit claimants without invalidity benefit, sickness benefit or statutory sick pay.

  5. Housing benefit data not available prior to 1989.

  6. Income support replaced supplementary benefit in 1988.

  Sources:

  Supplementary benefit/income support statistics annual inquiries 1969–1993.

  Housing benefit management information statistics.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families receive family credit; and how many of these also pay income tax and/or national insurance.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Some 572,000 families receive family credit, of whom 456,000 pay income tax and/or national insurance.

  Source:Five per cent. sample of family credit recipients as at July 1994.

  National Disability Council
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions he has had with the 210
  Minister for Social Security and Disabled People on the composition of the national disability council.

  Mr. Hague
  My right hon. Friend and I were both fully involved in the discussions on the provisions within the Disability Discrimination Bill, including those relating to the composition of the national disability council.

  Child Support Agency
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many cases of mothers with care successfully claiming as a good cause not to co-operate with the Child Support Agency's request about an absent father in(a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom as a whole, were based upon (i) emotional distress, (ii) mental

  211
  illness or (iii) welfare of the child in the period April 1993 to March 1994;

  (2) What is his estimate of the number of mothers with care in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom as a whole who had their claim of a risk of violence if they revealed the father's name accepted by the Child Support Agency;

  (3) how many of the cases in which the Child Support Agency accepted that parent had good cause not to co-operate to the latest available date involved parents with care in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom as a whole;

  (4) how many of the requirements to co-operate cases between April 1993 and March 1994 involved parents with care in (a)Scotland and (b)the United Kingdom as a whole;

  (5) how many parents with care in (a)Scotland and (b)the United Kingdom as a whole gave authorisation or information concerning absent parents when issued with a formal requirement to co-operate order between April 1993 and March 1994;

  (6) how many reduced benefit directives were referred by the Child Support Agency to the Benefits agency in (a)Scotland and (b)the United Kingdom as a whole between April 1993 and March 1994.

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

  Letter from Ann Chant to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 6 February 1995

  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of state for Social Security about the requirements to co-operate.

  The information is not available in the format requested. Figures are only available for Great Britain as the Agency does not collect separate statistics for Scotland, and has no responsibility for the UK as a whole. Northern Ireland has a separate Child Support Agency, which is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Between April 1993 and March 1994, the requirement to co-operate was considered in 64,800 cases. After investigation, good cause not to co-operate was accepted in 31,700 cases. Of these 8,400 were cases where the parent with care was unable to name the parent of the child; 15,800 were cases where there was a risk of violence and 7,500 were cases where other reasons such as emotional distress, emntal illness or concern for the welfare of the child were accepted. After interview, 14,200 parents with care subsequently provided their authorisation or the necessary information. Good cause not to co-operate was not accepted in 18,900 cases.

  Six hundred and twenty-seven benefit directions were issued in this period.

  Between April 1993 and November 1994, the Agency had investigated 124,300 cases, of which good cause not to co-operate was accepted in 60,000.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) in how many cases of absent parents in(a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom as a whole the Benefits Agency made deductions from income support at the behest of the Child Support Agency in the period April 1993 to March 1994;

  (2) how many absent parents assessed by the Child Support Agency between April 1993 and March 1994 in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom were in receipt of income support;

  (3) how many assessments made by the Child Support Agency in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom as a whole in the period April 1993 to March 1994 resulted in
  212
  the absent parents being assessed as being unable to pay more than the minimum contribution of £2.30.

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

  Letter from Ann Chant to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 7 February 1995

  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the number of absent parents assessed by the Child Support Agency during 1993/94 who were in receipt of Income Support (IS) and the number of absent parents who were assessed as only being able to pay the minimum contribution of £2.30.

  Information is only available for Great Britain as the Agency does not collect separate statistics for Scotland and has no responsibility for the UK as a whole.

  From launch to March 1994, a total of 40,450 absent parents (AP) receiving IS were assessed for child maintenance.

  Information is not available for the total number of APs who were assessed, during 1993/94, as being unable to pay more than the minimum contribution of £2.30, or on the total number of APs who had deductions made from IS.

  I hope that this is of help.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many parents with care in(a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom have relinquished income support and are now dependent on maintenance payments;

  (2) what is his estimate of the number of parents with care in (a) Scotland and (b) the rest of the United Kingdom who relinquished income support in the period April 1993 to March 1994 and who are now in receipt of family credit and maintenance.

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

  Letter from Ann Chant to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 7 February 1995

  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the number of parents with care who no longer qualify for Income Support and now receive Family Credit as a result of receiving maintenance assessed by the Child Support Agency.

  Since launch, 12,000 parents with care (PWC) ceased to receive Income Support (IS) because child maintenance payments, assessed by the CSA, led to their income exceeding their entitlement to IS. It should be noted that child maintenance may not have been the only income received by the PWC in these cases. Other income such as part time earnings, Child Benefit and One Parent Benefit, which the PWC would continue to receive in addition to any child maintenance payments, may have contributed to the gross amount of weekly income exceeding entitlement IS.

  No information is presently available on how many PWCs are presently receiving Family Credit and child maintenance following an assessment by the Agency.

  I hope that this is of help.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in how many cases in which the mother with care was unable to name the father involved women living in(a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom as a whole.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.
  213
  Letter from Ann Chant to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 7 February 1995

  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about parents with care who were unable to name the absent parent.

  My letter to you in reply to PQ 789 sets out the position for the period April 1993 to March 1994.

  Since April 1994, these cases are no longer considered under the requirement to cooperate provisions. This is because it is clear that a parent with care who cannot name the absent parent is not refusing to co-operate, but in fact is unable to co-operate. The information you request is therefore no longer collected.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many maintenance application forms issued in the period April 1993 to March 1994 were sent to parents with care in(a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom as a whole; and of these how many were given to parents with care who (i) were not in receipt of any social security benefits, (ii) parents with care in receipt of family credit, (iii) in receipt of disability working allowance and (iv) in receipt of income support;

  (2) how many maintenance application forms issued in the period April 1993 to March 1994 in Scotland were sent to parents with care who were (a) new applicants for income support or (b) repeat applicants for income support.

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

  Letter from Ann Chant to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 7 February 1995

  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of state for Social Security about the number of maintenance application forms issued by the Child Support Agency during 1993/94.

  Information is only available for Great Britain as the Agency does not collect separate statistics for Scotland and has no responsibility for the UK as a whole.

  The agency issued 858,000 maintenance assessment forms (MAF) between April 1993 and March 1994. 29,650 of the forms issued were sent to parents with care (PWC) who were not receiving benefit; 223,800 MAFS were sent to PWCs receiving Family Credit (FC) and Disability Working Allowance (DWA). It is not possible to separately identify recipients of FC and DWA from within this group.

  A further 534,000 MAFs were sent to recipients of Income Support (IS). Information on how many of those forms were sent following new or repeat applications for IS is not available.

  I hope that this is of help.

  Habitual Residence Test
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list by social security district office(a) the number of people who have been refused benefits for failing the habitual residence test since its introduction and (b) how many have successfully appealed.

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

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Alan Milburn, dated 6 February 1995

  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking for statistical information in connection with the habitual residence test for each Benefits Agency district office.

  Information about the number of people refused Income Support after failing the habitual residence test has been collated for the
  214
  period 1 August 1994 to 31 December 1994 and is provided at Annex A. The table shows the twenty one Benefits Agency Area Directorates that make up Great Britain and lists the districts that make up each area. A copy has been placed in the Library.

  Housing and Council Tax Benefits information is not yet available and is collected by the Department of Social Security from Local Authorities annually.

  Data regarding the number of successful appeals, in cases where Income Support has been disallowed as a result of the test's application, is not collected in the format requested; this could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total amount of unemployment benefit claimed in the Merseyside area during the past 12 months.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Crime (Policy)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the implications of the British crime survey results for Government policy on crime.

  Mr. Maclean
  The British crime survey is one measure of the extent of crime, the results of which are disseminated widely throughout the criminal justice system. Its findings have informed thinking about crime prevention in several ways, most broadly in identifying the highest risk areas and groups, and the offences which pose the greatest numerical problem. It also yields information which is helpful in monitoring some of the services of the criminal justice system, including public satisfaction with the police, police complaints procedures and victim support schemes.

  The Government's policy on crime remains that no amount of crime is acceptable. The protection of the public, the punishment of offenders, the support of victims and the prevention of crime will remain our priorities.

  Miscarriages of Justice
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of alleged miscarriages of justices are currently being dealt with by officials in C3 division; when each case was received by
  215
  his Department; and what is the number of personnel assigned to this work.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  At the beginning of 1995, 188 representations of wrongful conviction were under consideration in C3 division. Information about the date of receipt of each of these cases is not readily available in this form, but 106 of those cases had been outstanding for more than six months. Nineteen staff are engaged in work relating to allegations of wrongful conviction.

  Prison System and Police Forces (Expenditure)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the annual expenditure on(a) the English prison system and (b) the English police forces for each year since 1979 in 1994 prices.

  Mr. Howard
  Table A shows expenditure on the English prison system since 1979–80. Details of expenditure attributable to English police forces, shown at table B, are readily available only for the years 1984–85. For the years 1979–80 to 1983–84 inclusive, the table shows figures for English and Welsh police forces combined. All figures are at 1994 prices.

  Annual expenditure on the English Prison System since 1979 at 1994 prices

  Financial year

  Expenditure at 1994 prices £ million

  1979–1980

  944.3

  1980–1981

  876.7

  1981–1982

  867.4

  1982–1983

  898.1

  1983–1984

  959.1

  1984–1985

  985.3

  1985–1986

  979.1

  1986–1987

  977.4

  1987–1988

  1,054.6

  1988–1989

  1,303.9

  1989–1990

  1,451.2

  1990–1991

  1,598.8

  1991–1992

  1,627.6

  1992–1993

  1,564.8

  1993–1994

  1,558.5

  Note:

  1. The figures are taken from the published appropriation accounts adjusted for the costs of the three prisons in Wales. Historic cash expenditure figures for individual prisons are not easily available and we have used the total costs of the Welsh prisons as shown in the Prison Service's annual report (copies are available in the House of Commons Library). The expenditure on the English prisons may therefore be very slightly understated.

  Expenditure on the English police system

  Financial Year

  Police expenditure at 1994 prices (£ million)

  1979–80

  13,542.8

  1980–81

  13,552.4

  1981–82

  13,931.5

  1982–83

  14,067.5

  1983–84

  14,216.4

  1984–85

  4,391.4

  1985–86

  4,096.9

  1986–87

  4,274.5

  1987–88

  4,475.8

  1988–89

  4,672.9

  1989–90

  4,976.7

  216

  Expenditure on the English police system

  Financial Year

  Police expenditure at 1994 prices (£ million)

  1990–91

  5,109.1

  1991–92

  5,365.1

  1992–93

  5,599.6

  1993–94

  5,741.7

  1 Combined expenditure figures for England and Wales forces.

  Passports
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many United Kingdom passports have been(a) issued and (b) revoked since 1979.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Figures for passport services are kept for financial years April to March. The numbers of each of the years since 1978–79 are:

  Year

  Numbers

  1978–79

  1,614,382

  1979–80

  1,995,401

  1980–81

  2,168,344

  1981–82

  1,748,241

  1982–83

  2,014,687

  1983–84

  1,966,019

  1984–85

  1,800,440

  1985–86

  2,193,489

  1986–87

  2,588,426

  1987–88

  2,485,312

  1988–89

  2,841,888

  1989–90

  3,194,418

  1990–91

  3,116,939

  1991–92

  3,227,522

  1992–93

  3,368,060

  1993–94

  3,699,526

  Withdrawal of a passport would be considered:

  a. if it came to the Passport Agency's attention on replacement that it had been issued incorrectly; and

  b. on the same basis as the refusal of an application. That is in the case of

  (i) a minor whose journey was known to be contrary to a court order, to the wishes of a parent or other person or authority to whom a court had awarded custody, care and control or to the provisions of section 25(1) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, as amended by the Children Act, 1989, or section 56 of the Adoption Act 1976;

  (ii) a person for whose arrest a warrant had been issued in the United Kingdom or who was wanted by the police on suspicion of a serious crime;

  (iii) in very rare cases, a person whose past or proposed activities were so demonstrably undesirable that the grant or continued enjoyment of passport facilities would be contrary to the public interest;

  (iv) a person repatriated at public expense until the debt has been repaid.

  No records are kept of the numbers, but it is very rare for a passport to be withdrawn.

  Pardons
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) absolute and (b) conditional pardons have been granted to persons convicted of criminal offences since 1979.
  217
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Since 1979, 1,253 free and three conditional pardons have been granted under the exercise of the royal prerogative of mercy.

  Sponsor Interviews
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will establish a central record of requests made by overseas entry clearance officers and others for sponsors in the United Kingdom to be interviewed by immigration officers; and if he will arrange for all requests for interviews to be acknowledged and sponsors or their representative to be notified and for action to be taken if such interviews are not held within a reasonable period;

  (2) what representations he has received about delays in interviewing sponsors in the United Kingdom in relation to entry clearance applications; if he will arrange for a procedure to record and monitor progress in sponsor interviews at all overseas posts on the Indian sub-continent; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The information requested on representations about sponsor interviews is not available. Such interviews are received, recorded and despatched by immigration service headquarters. Monitoring the progress and action is a matter for local managers who are aware of the objective to complete them within three months where practicable.

  I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs that overseas posts already record and monitor requests for interview and generate reminders as necessary and that applicants are informed at the time of their interview that their application is deferred pending an interview with their sponsor. A further acknowledgement is not necessary.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average delay at(a) Leeds-Bradford airport and (b) other ports once a sponsor has been interviewed in reports being sent to his Department; and what is the average delay between the receipt of such reports and their dispatch to British overseas posts with particular reference to Islamabad.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Reports are normally sent from the interviewing office direct to the overseas post. A record is not kept of the average time taken to prepare and dispatch such reports. Local managers are responsible for ensuring that they are completed and despatched promptly. In the case of Leeds-Bradford airport, a sample study of such cases indicates that it took between four and seven days and that the time taken in cases originating from Islamabad took about four days.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he is having with(a) ministerial colleagues and (b) officials to expedite sponsor interviews and reports of such interviews being received by overseas ports.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  I have asked officials to continue with measures which will help to achieve the objective of three months for the completion of such interviews.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 1 February,Official Report, column 681, who determines if capacity for conducting interviews exists at another port; who informs Leeds-Bradford of such capacity; in the last year,
  218
  to date, how many sponsors waiting to be interviewed at Leeds-Bradford have been invited for interview at another port; and if he will list the ports where those interviews have been conducted.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The capacity for conducting interviews at any port is identified by local managers in consultation with immigration service headquarters.

  Invitations have been sent to 20 sponsors to attend interview at other ports and offices in the north-east. Hull, North Shields, Stockton and south Humberside will be used for this purpose.

  Prevention of Terrorism Powers
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-United Kingdom nationals in each year to date, have been(a) detained, (b) charged, (c) prosecuted and (d) released without charge under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  The information requested is not available. The statistics, which are collected centrally, and which are published in statistical bulletins issued by my Department and by the Northern Ireland Office, do not categorise by nationality those detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

  Police Vehicle Maintenance
  Mr. Thomason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are his plans for introducing competition into the provision of police motor vehicle maintenance and repair and the cleaning of police buildings.

  Mr. Howard
  The initial proposals for the extension of compulsory competitive tendering to police motor vehicle maintenance and repair, and the cleaning of police buildings, sought to recognise the operational and security requirements of the police service. In the case of the former, the proposed 40 per cent. competition requirement was intended to allow a core of sensitive vehicles to be serviced within secure in-house facilities. The 90 per cent. level initially proposed for cleaning provided an option to retain in-house staff to clean sensitive areas, or remote and small stations for which CCT might not be cost-effective.

  Detailed consultation proposals for both services were issued by the Home Office on 11 April 1994. The Government have now considered the responses received from the police service, local authority associations and other interested parties.

  For the cleaning of police buildings, the consultation exercise sought specific comment on the need for a competition-free element. Many responded that a larger competition-free element was necessary to safeguard the cleaning of sensitive areas, and small and remote stations. The Government are satisfied that a sound case has been made, and intend, therefore, that the competition level should now be set at 80 per cent. We are confident this will achieve a rigorous competitive regime, bring improvements in service and value for money, while providing the police service with the flexibility it requires.

  For police motor vehicle maintenance and repair, the initial proposals were specifically designed to cater for concerns about security and operational effectiveness. The

  219
  results of the consultation exercise have been looked at against the other initiatives being developed within police fleet management, such as centrally negotiated purchasing arrangements. The Government are now satisfied that the introduction of CCT to police motor vehicle maintenance and repair would not, in this case, add greatly to the gains being made in other areas. We have, therefore, decided that the existing exemption should be retained.

  The introduction of CCT to the police service is, of course, more than just achieving better value for money. It is also about providing a strong impetus for organisational change and service review. The Government remain committed to the value of these processes within public services, and hope to announce in the near future our initial plans for introducing CCT to police while collar support services.

  Emergency Calls
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures his Department is taking to reduce the number of non-urgent and hoax 999 telephone calls.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Home Office sponsors a 999 liaison committee, which brings together the public telephony operators, the emergency services and Oftel and provides a forum in which problems can be addressed. A number of initiatives are being carried out to reduce the incidence of non-urgent and hoax 999 calls; these include sending warning letters to customers and school visits by emergency service personnel. A report will be submitted to the 999 liaison committee in March 1995, documenting progress and making recommendations for the development of a national strategy.

  Crime Prevention
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's crime prevention policy.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government's crime prevention policy is based on partnership and is being developed on a broad front. The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 and the Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994 respectively strengthen the powers of the courts to deal with offenders and lay the foundations for a new more effective partnership between the Government, the police and the public to fight crime. The recently launched "Partners Against Crime" initiative puts a new emphasis on the individual citizen as a partner with the police, whether as a member of neighbourhood watch or street watch or as a neighbourhood or special constable.

  At national level, the ministerial group for crime prevention co-ordinates activity across Government Departments and the National Board for Crime Prevention continues to disseminate best practice. At local level, the Government continue to support crime prevention projects and partnerships through, for example, the expansion of our successful safer cities programme, the single regeneration budget, and the work of Crime Concern, the independent crime prevention organisation.

  The Government also attach particular importance to the use of new technology in the fight against crime. We are pushing forward with a number of major new initiatives on crime reduction through technology, including the promotion and funding of closed circuit
  220
  television in public places, and co-operation with vehicle manufacturers on car security.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civilian staff of the Metropolitan police have been made subject to early retirement against their wishes in the last two years; and what pension entitlement is available in such cases where retirement occurs at age 60 years.

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand from the Commissioner that the normal contractual age of retirement for Metropolitan police civil staff is 60 years, at which age the pension paid is the full entitlement based on reckonable service and pensionable pay. Those leaving the service under the provisions of early retirement schemes do so by agreement.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list(a) the population of the Metropolitan police area, (b) the number of police officers and (c) the number of officers per head of the population in Greater London in (i) 1979, (ii) 1985 and (iii) the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]Information on population figures for police areas, the number of police officers per force and the number of police officers per head of population can be found in the annual reports of Her Majesty's chief inspector of constabulary, copies of which are in the Library.

  Colombian Nationals
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his Department's estimate of the number of Colombian nationals resident in this country; and how many of those are thought to be here illegally.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The 1991 census of population indicated that there were 5,682 persons resident in Great Britain on census night who were born in Colombia. There is no estimate available of the number of those who are Colombian nationals nor those who might be here illegally.

  Wiltshire Police Authority
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much initial financing grant is to be made available to the new Wiltshire police authority to help its parallel running with the existing police authority; and what guidelines are issued by his Department for its use.

  Mr. Maclean
  New police authorities have each received an initial financing grant of £97,560 under section 32 of the Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994. This grant enables the new authorities to function during 1994–95 in preparing to assume their full statutory function of securing the maintenance of an efficient arid effective police force for their areas on 1 April 1995, when the current police authorities will cease to exist. Guidance on the use of this grant was provided in a Home Office letter of 8 July 1994 to chief constables and clerks of police authorities. New police authorities will be expected to submit to the Home Office an account of the expenditure in respect of which initial financing grant was
  221
  made. District auditors will provide a further check on how the money has been spent.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what considerations underlay his assessment of the needs of the Wiltshire police force in allocating grant to facilitate the change over to the new Wiltshire police authority; and what representations he has received concerning the level of grant.

  Mr. Maclean
  Under section 32 of the Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994 initial financing grants totalling £17 million are available for police force use in preparing to assume their new role from 1 April 1995 of being answerable to new free-standing police authorities.

  Claims from police forces for initial financing grant for police force use were measured against the relative need of each police force as assessed with the assistance of Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary.

  A provisional claim for initial financing grant for police force use was submitted by the chief constable of Wiltshire in a letter of 26 August 1994. A detailed claim was submitted by the clerk of the Wiltshire police authority in a letter of 15 December 1994.

  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much initial financing grant is to be made available to the Wiltshire police force to facilitate the change over to the new Wiltshire police authority; and what guidelines are issued by his Department for its use.

  Mr. Maclean
  Under section 32 of the Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994, an allocation of £400,000 of initial financing grant for use by Wiltshire constabulary has been provisionally approved.

  Guidance on the use of this grant was provided in a Home Office letter of 8 July 1994 to chief constables and clerks of police authorities.

  Police forces will be required to submit formal claims for their initial financing grants with accompanying evidence of incurred or committed expenditure before the end of the current financial year. Subsequently, district auditors will provide a further check on how the money has been spent.

  Appeal Applications
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications have been made in the last year by the immigration department for leave to appeal against a decision of an immigration adjudicator; in how many cases leave has been given; and in what percentage of cases where leave has been given the subsequent appeal by the Home Office was successful.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  According to the records of the immigration appellate authorities, in 1994 the Home Office made 691 applications for leave to appeal against adjudicators' determinations; leave was granted in 195 cases. It is not possible to give the percentage of cases where the subsequent appeal was successful because the appeal has yet to be heard in some of the cases in which leave was granted in 1994. Of the Home Office appeals which came before the Immigration Appeal Tribunal in 1994, 113 were successful.

  Unique Identification Numbers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for what reasons he is continuing 222
  to require police officers to wear visible unique identification numbers;

  (2) what plans he has to discontinue the requirement for police officers to wear unique identification numbers visible on their uniforms.

  Mr. Maclean
  Issues relating to police uniforms are primarily operational matters which are for decision by chief officers of police, but I continue to agree with the advice given by the then Home Secretary—now Lord Callaghan in Home Office circular 13/1968—that"it is in the interests both of the public, and of the police themselves, that the police should continue to wear numbers on their uniforms".

  Junior Doctors
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time taken to process work permits for appointments of junior doctors to health authorities and as a percentage of the overall average for all work permits; how many junior doctor applicants were appointed to jobs in(a) the Yorkshire and Humberside health region and (b) nationally in the last year for which figures are available; how many are currently before his Department; and when the initial application was made for each one.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The available information relates to post-graduate doctors and dentists undergoing further medical training, for which a work permit is not required, and to qualified doctors and dentists who are in employment, for which a work permit is required. The average time taken in 1994 to grant extensions of leave to remain in these categories and to all trainees or persons in work permit employment is given in the table. The other information requested is not available.

  Average time between application and the grant of leave to remain, 1994

  Category of leave to remain

  1Number of days

  Post-graduate medical trainees

  29

  All trainees

  33

  Doctors and dentists in employment

  49

  All employment cases

  50

  1 Excludes the time which some cases spent, during the first half of 1994, in Lunar house before being passed to the casework section and may thus understate slightly.

  Mud Deposits (Roads)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been in each of the last three years for the depositing of dangerous amounts of mud on public roads by agricultural vehicles.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Domestic Violence
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the organisations invited to comment on the draft inter-agency circular on domestic violence; which organisations responded; and what was the length of time allowed for consultation on the draft circular.
  223
  Mr. Maclean
  Following initial consultations with a number of organisations in June and July 1994, the Home Office wrote to the organisations listed on 15 September to invite comments on the draft circular by 7 October. I understand that, in addition to this, the Department of Health wrote to a number of statutory and voluntary agencies on 21 September and 4 October inviting responses by 7 and 12 October respectively.

  (∗denotes those organisations from which responses were received).

  Organisations contacted by the Home Office

  Allied Dunbar Charitable Trust Ltd.

  Association of County Councils

  Association of District Councils∗

  Association of London Authorities

  Association of Metropolitan Authorities∗

  Association of Chief Officers of Probation

  Catholic Marriage Advisory Council∗

  Central Probation Council

  Charnwood Borough Council Domestic Violence Panel∗

  Crime Concern∗

  Domestic Violence Intervention Project, London

  Dorset Police Headquarters Child Protection Unit∗

  Essex Probation Service∗

  Family Welfare Association

  Federation of Army Wives∗

  Hammersmith and Fulham Domestic Violence Forum∗

  Health Visitors' Association∗

  Hereford Women's Aid

  Islington Council, Women's Equality Unit∗

  Jewish Marriage Council∗

  Jewish Women's Aid∗

  Keighley Domestic Violence Forum

  Leeds Inter-Agency Project∗

  London Boroughs Association∗

  London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Community Safety Unit∗

  Manchester, Crown Prosecution Service∗

  Merseyside Probation Service∗

  Metropolitan Police Community Affairs Branch∗

  MIND

  Mid Glamorgan County Crime Prevention Co-ordinating Committee∗

  National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux∗

  National Association of Probation Officers

  National Board of Catholic Women∗

  Network∗

  Northern Ireland Women's Aid

  Nottinghamshire County Council∗

  Nottinghamshire Domestic Violence Forum∗

  ONE plus ONE∗

  Pro-Act∗

  Probation Managers Association∗

  Refuge∗

  Relate∗

  224

  Roehampton Institute, Department of Sociology and Social Administration∗

  Royal College of General Practitioners∗

  Royal College of Midwives

  Royal College of Nursing∗

  Royal College of Psychiatrists∗

  Royal College of Surgeons

  Scottish Women's Aid

  Somerset County Council Social Services Department∗

  Southall Black Sisters∗

  South Glamorgan Probation Service∗

  South Somerset Domestic Violence Project∗

  South Yorkshire Probation Service∗

  Swindon Women's Aid∗

  Tavistock Marital Studies Institute∗

  Thames Valley Police, Family Protection Unit∗

  The Body Shop Foundation The Housing Corporation∗

  The Samaritans∗

  The Sanctuary

  Trades Union Congress Equal Opportunities Department Unison

  University of Bradford, violence, abuse, and gender relations unit∗

  University of Bristol, Domestic Violence Research Group∗

  University of Wales Department of Social and Administrative Studies∗

  Victim Support∗

  Wales Assembly of Women∗

  Wearside Women in Need∗

  West Midlands Probation Service∗

  Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council Social Services Department∗

  Williscroft and Co.

  Wolverhampton Domestic Violence Forum

  Women's Aid Federation (England) ∗

  Women's National Commission∗

  Welsh Women's Aid∗

  Organisations contacted by the Department of Health

  Bradford Community NHS Trust

  Bradford Health Authority

  British Association for the Study and Prevention of Child Abuse

  Catholic Child Welfare∗

  Childline∗

  Children's Legal Centre∗

  Family Rights Group

  Hammersmith and Fulham Social Services Department∗

  Home-Start UK∗

  Kensington and Chelsea Social Services Department∗

  Kidscape∗

  Leeds Community and Mental Health Services∗

  Leeds Health Authority∗

  Leeds Family Health Services Authority∗

  Liverpool Social Services Department∗

  National Children's Bureau∗

  National Children's Homes for Action∗

  National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children∗

  NEWPIN

  Parents against Injustice Parentline Opus

  Standing Committee on Sexual Abuse of Children

  The Michael Seiff Foundation∗

  United Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust∗

  Voluntary Organisations Liaison Council for Under Fives∗

  225
  Mr Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will extend his review of the charge of murder to include the case of female victims of domestic violence who kill their partners.

  Mr. Maclean
  No. I have made it clear that the review will look at the law of murder specifically in the light of the concerns expressed by the House of Lords in the case involving Private Clegg. That case related to the use of lethal force in the maintenance of law and order.

  Market Testing
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been paid thus far to KPMG management consultants as a result of their work on the market testing of the internal research function of his Department.

  Mr. Howard
  KPMG Peat Marwick management consultants have been paid for 10 days' work as part of the scoping study for the market test of the internal research function of the Home Office research and planning unit. Information on the costs of individual contracts with consultants is commercial in confidence and it is not the practice to disclose these details.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the scoping study into the proposed market test of internal research function of the research and planning unit.

  Mr. Howard
  I expect the scoping study report to be completed towards the end of February. It is not the general practice to publish market-testing scoping study reports, which are internal working documents and can contain commercially sensitive information about potential service suppliers.

  Drivers (Visual Acuity)
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) prosecutions and (b) convictions of drivers failing to satisfy the required standards of visual acuity there have been in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]The information requested is not available centrally.

SCOTLAND

  Ancillary Workers
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many ancillary workers were directly employed by health boards and NHS trusts in Scotland; and how many were employed by private contractors in each of the past five years for which figures are available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The number of ancillary staff directly employed by health boards and NHS trusts is shown in the table. Information about ancillary staff employed by private contractors is not collected centrally.
  226

  Ancillary staff employed in the NHSIS: at 30 September

  Headcount

  Whole time equivalent

  1990

  24,113

  16,181.3

  1991

  22,686

  15,021.6

  1992

  21,493

  13,974.2

  1993

  20,583

  13,286.4

  19941

  19,133

  12,285.1

  1 Provisional at 30 September 1994.

  Scottish Homes
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what(a) guidance and (b) direction he has issued to Scottish Homes to abandon its role as landlord; and if he will place copies of these documents in the Library.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Under section 3A of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988, Scottish Homes' power to dispose of its housing stock may be exercised only with the consent of my right hon. Friend. He issued guidance to Scottish Homes in February 1989 and February 1991, following which Scottish Homes published its own procedures for the large-scale voluntary disposal of its stock. Copies of these guidance documents, entitled "Scottish Homes: Arrangements for Evaluating the Suitability of Proposals for Acquisition of Stock by Other Landlords: Note by SDD" and "Guidance on Scottish Homes Stock Disposals: February 1991", are available in the Library. No directions have been issued to Scottish Homes on this matter.

  NHS Trust Chief Executives
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much the chief executives in each NHS trust in Scotland earned in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what steps he is taking to monitor the level of such earnings.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not held centrally. NHS trusts are now required to publish in their annual reports information about the remuneration of chief executives.

  Housing
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many tenant-led housing associations have been successfully established from previous Scottish Homes tenants; and how many tenants and how many non-tenants are on the management committees of each.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is a matter for Scottish Homes. I have asked its chairman, Sir James Mellon, to write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many ballots have been held for Scottish Homes tenants under its large-scale stock transfer procedure; who conducted these ballots for Scottish Homes; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the full ballot result in each case.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is a matter for Scottish Homes. I have asked its chairman, Sir James Mellon, to write to the hon. Member and he has agreed to arrange for a copy of his reply to be placed in the Library.
  227

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many three and four-year-olds were receiving nursery education in(a) Scotland and (b) each

  Education authority nursery schools and departments; independent schools with nursery departments Number of children 1 as at September 1993 aged:

  Private nursery schools Number of children 2 as at March 1994 aged:

  3years

  4years

  3years

  4years

  Borders

  38

  454

  138

  76

  Central

  732

  2,267

  76

  18

  Dumfries and Galloway

  165

  1,051

  19

  7

  Fife

  752

  3,648

  67

  28

  Grampian

  918

  3,964

  409

  231

  Highland

  114

  720

  203

  188

  Lothian

  3,146

  6,612

  268

  198

  Strathclyde

  6,645

  12,659

  1,283

  1,188

  Tayside

  1,064

  2,711

  518

  311

  Orkney

  37

  172

  —

  —

  Shetland

  84

  180

  —

  —

  Western Isles

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Scotland

  13,693

  34,438

  2,981

  2,245

  1 Age as at December 1993.2 Age as at March 1994. Private nursery schools registered with local authority social work departments.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much expenditure was incurred by each local education authority in Scotland on the provision of nursery education in(a) 1991–92, (b) 1992–93 and ( c) 1993–94.

  Mr. Lang
  Net current expenditure by education authorities on nursery education in 1991–92 and 1992–93 is given in the table. These figures exclude the costs of school meals, home-to-school transport and central administration. Comparable figures for expenditure in 1993–94 are not yet available.

  £000

  1991–92

  1992–93

  Border

  449

  456

  Central

  2,585

  2,838

  Dumfries and Galloway

  476

  833

  Fife

  3,156

  3,484

  Grampian

  4,027

  4,935

  Highland

  909

  902

  Lothian

  9,611

  10,433

  Strathclyde

  25,698

  27,698

  Tayside

  3,915

  4,338

  Orkney

  33

  96

  Shetland

  307

  337

  Western Isles

  —

  —

  Total

  51,166

  56,350

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will express in both cash and constant price terms the amount of capital allocated, in terms of consent to borrow, to local authorities for schools buildings in every year since 1979.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Local authorities in Scotland receive an allocation of consent to incur liability to meet capital expenditure on educational buildings. Within this overall level of consent they are free to 228
  local education authority area in Scotland in September 1994.

  Mr. Lang
  The information requested for September 1994 is not yet available. The latest available information is given in the following table.

  determine which educational building projects will proceed. They are also free to transfer consent between certain other capital programmes and to augment their consent levels in other ways, for example by utilising resources raised from the disposal of assets or by funding capital projects from current revenue. Information on the level of the total capital allocations for education, and the assumed schools element included in them, is given in the table.

  Total allocation for educational building

  Assumed schools element

  At cash

  At 1994–95

  At cash

  At 1994–95

  Year

  prices

  prices

  prices

  prices

  1979–80

  53,605

  134,240

  49,810

  124,736

  1980–81

  56,678

  119,959

  53,813

  113,895

  1981–82

  62,213

  120,059

  59,988

  115,765

  1982–83

  53,669

  96,686

  49,579

  89,317

  1983–84

  45,755

  78,775

  40,940

  70,485

  1984–85

  40,310

  66,080

  36,623

  60,036

  1985–86

  50,275

  78,132

  42,950

  66,748

  1986–87

  47,480

  71,628

  39,785

  60,019

  1987–88

  53,175

  76,164

  44,279

  63,422

  1988–89

  61,315

  82,315

  52,069

  69,902

  1989–90

  65,555

  82,261

  54,390

  68,251

  1990–91

  62,619

  72,748

  52,055

  60,475

  1991–92

  73,291

  80,112

  61,049

  66,731

  1992–93

  85,647

  90.033

  75,355

  79,214

  1993–94

  78,489

  80,059

  75,510

  77,020

  1994–95

  71,489

  71,489

  68,510

  68,510

  Note:

  1. The total allocations for educational building include elements for further education from 1979–80 to 1992–93 and for community education from 1985–86

  Students
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the percentage increase or decrease in real terms for spending per capita on students(a) at universities and

  229
  (b) in further and adult education from 1982–83 to 1992–93.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 3 February 1995]: Per capita spending—Universities Grants Committee and Universities Funding Council grants for teaching and research, and from tuition fees—for students on full-time courses who were charged fees at the home rate decreased by 27 per cent. in real terms between 1982–83 and 1992–93 in the then eight universities in Scotland. Over this period, the number of students in these universities increased by 42 per cent. The estimate of spending does not include spending by the research councils, funding provided for maintenance and loans, or fees paid by part-time and overseas students and does not take account of changes in funding arrangements, such as the transfer of research funds

  Percentage generic prescriptions

  Health boards

  1992–93 Fundholders

  1992–93 Non-fundholders

  1993–94 Fundholders

  1993–94 Non-fundholders

  Argyll and Clyde

  40.91

  35.55

  45.16

  39.51

  Ayrshire and Arran

  39.37

  33.96

  43.08

  37.17

  Borders

  —

  44.83

  54.93

  49.44

  Dumfries and Galloway

  —

  37.01

  40.42

  39.79

  Fife

  43.19

  38.70

  45.02

  41.06

  Forth Valley

  37.44

  39.28

  41.15

  43.27

  Grampian

  40.45

  38.73

  44.34

  42.78

  Greater Glasgow

  42.83

  39.50

  46.67

  43.13

  Highland

  38.95

  37.93

  41.81

  40.87

  Lanarkshire

  38.67

  33.25

  43.51

  37.73

  Lothian

  44.07

  43.24

  47.90

  47.51

  Orkney

  —

  39.29

  —

  42.38

  Shetland

  —

  35.75

  —

  36.68

  Tayside

  47.97

  41.25

  51.92

  45.04

  Western Isles

  —

  46.35

  —

  49.27

  Scotland

  41.38

  38.97

  45.49

  42.37

  Pre-school Education
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many pre-school education places were available in(a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland at the latest available date; and in each case what percentage these figures represent of the total number of the children in the relevant age group.

  Education authority nursery schools and departments; nursery departments of independent schools1

  Private nursery schools2

  Number attending at September 1993

  Percentage of population3

  Number attending at March 1994

  Percentage of population3

  Strathclyde

  19,661

  33.9

  2,864

  4.9

  Scotland

  49,194

  38.6

  6,982

  5.5

  1 Includes all those under five years old attending independent schools with nursery departments.

  2 Registered with local authority social work departments. Includes all children aged under five.

  3 Based on the mid-1993 estimates of the three and four-year-old population prepared by the General Register Office for Scotland.

  Long-stay Mental Hospitals
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) which long-stay mental hospitals in(a)hospitals in (a)
  230
  within the dual support system from UFC to the research councils.

  Similar information on expenditure per student in further and adult education is not available.

  Generic Prescribing
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the proportion of generic prescribing for each family health services authority, divided by(a) general practitioner fundholders and (b) non-fundholders in each of the last three years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 3 February 1995]This information is not available in the form requested except at disproportionate cost. The table offers a partial response. It gives an estimate of generic prescribing by general practitioner fundholders and non-fundholders based on a full analysis of one month in each of the years compared with a full analysis for all prescribers for each complete year.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]The available information given is for children attending education authority nursery schools, nursery departments of primary schools, nursery departments of independent schools and private nursery schools.

  Strathclyde and (b) Scotland as a whole do not yet have an agreed closure plan; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what are the closure dates of the long—stay mental hospitals in (a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland as a whole;
  231
  (3) what plans he has to close remaining long-stay mental hospitals in (a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland as a whole.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]: The Secretary of State has announced approval to the closure of Gartloch hospital and Woodilee hospital, in 1996; Ravenspark hospital, this year and Gogarburn hospital in 1999. No other long-stay mental hospital in Scotland has an agreed closure plan.

  The pace of change in long-stay sector is directed by patient needs. The organisation of long-stay care and care services in the community are determined by continuous joint assessment of local needs involving health boards and local authorities. The aim is to secure the most effective package of services, both in hospital and the community, that meet the specific needs of patients and carers.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many long-stay mental hospitals remain open.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]: Numbers of mental hospitals currently open which have patients resident for more than one year are shown in the table:

  Mental illness

  Type of Hospital Psychiatric unit

  Mental handicap

  Scotland

  Total

  33

  37

  23

  Source:

  Information and statistics division,NHS in Scotland

  Residents in hospital as at 31 December whose stay is one year or more

  Hospital type

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Strathclyde

  5,362

  5,092

  4,779

  4,512

  Mental Illness

  3,445

  3,315

  2,934

  2,671

  Psychiatric Unit

  280

  283

  348

  508

  Mental Handicap

  1,637

  1,494

  1,497

  1,333

  Scotland

  12,154

  11,560

  11,115

  10,733

  Mental Illness

  7,569

  7,275

  6,798

  6,463

  Psychiatric Unit

  627

  723

  871

  1,056

  Mental Handicap

  3,958

  3,562

  3,446

  3,214

  Source:

  The information and statistics division, NHS IN Scotland.

  Health Care (Strathclyde)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total cost of all health care provided outwith the NHS in each year since 1979 at 1979 constant prices, in(a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland.

  Year

  Argyll and Clyde health board £000s

  Ayr and Arran health board £000s

  Greater Glasgow health board £000s

  Lanarkshire health board £000s

  Total £000s

  All Scotland £000s

  1979–80

  722

  0

  3,421

  514

  4,657

  7,241

  1980–81

  772

  0

  3,008

  124

  3,904

  7,437

  1981–82

  707

  0

  2,396

  554

  3,657

  7,019

  232
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many long-stay mental hospitals have closed in(a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland as a whole in each of the past four years.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]Closure dates in the past four years of mental hospitals which had patients resident for more than one year are listed in the table:

  Closure date

  Type of hospital

  Strathclyde

  Dunlop House Hospital

  3 December 1991

  (mental handicap)

  Stoneyetts Hospital

  19 February 1992

  (mental illness)

  Bellefield Hospital, Lanark

  1 December 1993

  (mental illness)

  Rest of Scotland

  County Hospital, Stornoway

  1 October 1992

  (mental illness)

  House of Daviot Hospital, Inverurie

  31 March 1994

  (mental illness)

  Source

  Information and statistics division, NHS Scotland

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of patients in long-stay mental hospitals in(a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland as a whole.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]Information on the number of patients who have been resident in mental hospitals for one year or more is shown in the table:

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]The table has been derived from health board annual accounts and contains costs of health care purchased from the private sector by(a) health boards within the Strathclyde region area and (b) all health boards in Scotland. No figures are held centrally by the national health service for other health care provided by the private sector.
  233

  Year

  Argyll and Clyde health board £000s

  Ayr and Arran health board £000s

  Greater Glasgow health board £000s

  Lanarkshire health board £000s

  Total £00Os

  All Scotland £0O0s

  1982–83

  860

  5

  1,885

  524

  3,274

  6,358

  1983–84

  681

  0

  1,444

  476

  2,601

  5,855

  1984–85

  794

  0

  969

  435

  2,198

  5,485

  1985–86

  731

  11

  899

  408

  2,049

  5,141

  1986–87

  755

  48

  930

  460

  2,193

  5,299

  1987–88

  749

  84

  1,129

  479

  2,441

  5,675

  1988–89

  717

  69

  1,171

  550

  2,507

  5,753

  1989–90

  803

  179

  1,396

  573

  2,951

  6,403

  1990–91

  851

  243

  1,450

  590

  3,134

  6,979

  1991–92

  688

  157

  2,683

  662

  4,190

  8,406

  1992–93

  731

  5

  3,212

  1,046

  4,994

  9,015

  1993–94

  434

  613

  3,148

  1,069

  5,264

  6,621

  Note

  1. Figures have been calculated at 1979 prices using the GDP deflator.

  Winter Death Rate
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the excess winter death rate in(a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland in each of the past 10 years.

  Deaths in Scotland and Strathclyde by month, 1984–1993

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  (a) Strathclyde

  January

  2,829

  2,970

  3,485

  2,630

  2,569

  2,711

  3,243

  2,662

  2,616

  2,641

  February

  2,532

  2,497

  2,784

  2,397

  2,496

  2,279

  2,299

  2,340

  2,342

  2,314

  March

  2,690

  2,704

  2,384

  2,772

  2,508

  2,487

  2,380

  2,252

  2,482

  2,938

  April

  2,716

  2,655

  2,674

  2,408

  2,351

  2,254

  2,451

  2,573

  2,327

  2,449

  May

  2,537

  2,376

  2,277

  2,186

  2,458

  2,485

  2,363

  2,328

  2,205

  2,287

  June

  2,063

  2,052

  2,297

  2,389

  2,210

  2,297

  2,130

  2,078

  2,361

  2,292

  July

  2,235

  2,357

  2,153

  2,206

  2,004

  2,146

  2,192

  2,276

  2,105

  2,136

  August

  2,169

  2,097

  2,133

  2,091

  2,367

  2,246

  2,178

  2,073

  2,169

  2,286

  September

  2,062

  2,043

  2,371

  2,152

  2,174

  2,103

  1,900

  1,982

  2,119

  2,220

  October

  2,458

  2,480

  2,223

  2,396

  2,185

  2,358

  2,381

  2,567

  2,324

  2,305

  November

  2,375

  2,434

  2,136

  2,430

  2,397

  2,728

  2,282

  2,328

  2,401

  2,967

  December

  2,626

  2,927

  2,647

  2,804

  2,524

  3,986

  2,527

  2,601

  2,597

  2,881

  Total

  29,292

  29,592

  29,564

  28,861

  28,243

  30,080

  28.326

  28,060

  28,048

  29,716

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  (b) Scotland

  January

  6,126

  6,324

  7,456

  5,741

  5,609

  5,976

  6,884

  6,014

  5,894

  5,762

  February

  5,376

  5,383

  5,774

  5,197

  5,385

  4,944

  4,958

  5,218

  5,274

  4,913

  March

  5,723

  5,759

  5,226

  5,943

  5,539

  5,507

  5,091

  5,046

  5,343

  6,084

  April

  5,827

  5,685

  5,743

  5,112

  5,088

  4,837

  5,276

  5,451

  5,040

  5,361

  May

  5,249

  5,191

  4,943

  4,704

  5,387

  5,328

  5,144

  4,974

  4,666

  5,049

  June

  4,476

  4,462

  4,900

  5,109

  4,825

  5,010

  4,685

  4,466

  4,962

  4,948

  July

  4,783

  5,072

  4,730

  4,758

  4,488

  4,689

  4,805

  4,861

  4,684

  4,571

  August

  4,642

  4,613

  4,471

  4,585

  5,075

  4,823

  4,734

  4,500

  4,630

  4,921

  September

  4,406

  4,669

  5,072

  4,753

  4,689

  4,622

  4,198

  4,453

  4,710

  4,722

  October

  5,280

  5,201

  4,797

  5,137

  4,891

  5,158

  5,211

  5,328

  4,960

  4,930

  November

  4,947

  5,302

  4,659

  5,191

  5,329

  5,569

  4,960

  5,024

  5,117

  6,531

  December

  5,510

  6,306

  5,696

  5,784

  5,652

  8,564

  5,581

  5,706

  5,657

  6,257

  Total

  62,345

  63,967

  63,467

  62,014

  61,957

  65,017

  61,527

  61,041

  60,937

  64,049

  Hypothermia
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people died of hypothermia other than when engaged in outdoor pursuits in(a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland in each of the past 10 years.

  Lord James Douglas Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]It is not possible to identify those
  234
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]There is no universally accepted definition of excess winter deaths and it would not be possible to calculate a rate for these. The total numbers of deaths by month are given in the table.

  hypothermia deaths where the deceased had been engaged in outdoor pursuits.

  Numbers are already published regularly—in the Registrar-General's four-weekly "Vital Statistics Return", available in the Library—of total deaths with any mention of hypothermia on the death certificate. Figures for Scotland and Strahtclyde are given.
  235

  Deaths with any mention of hypothermia on the death certificate, 1984 to 1993. Strathclyde and Scotland:

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  (a) Strathclyde

  73

  90

  101

  80

  72

  68

  67

  43

  47

  64

  (b) Scotland

  175

  231

  208

  153

  138

  150

  136

  99

  115

  141

  public Bodies
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland to how many agencies and non-departmental public bodies his Department makes appointments; how many appointments have been made to these bodies; and what was their total budget in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]The non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department to which I make appointments are listed in the Cabinet Office annual publication "Public Bodies 1994" which was published today and copies of which are held in the Library of the House. The information includes the number of appointments I make to each body, the gross expenditure of the body and the amount funded by central Government. Further information on the financial affairs

  £ millions.

  1989–
  90 Outturn

  1990–91 Outturn

  1991–92 Outturn

  1992–93 Outturn

  1993–94 Outturn

  (a) Historic Scotland

  8.6

  9.8

  11.4

  12.7

  12.6

  (b) Scottish Agricultural Science Agency

  3.6

  4

  4

  4.5

  4.7

  (c) Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency

  9.5

  10

  10.8

  11.2

  12.1

  (d) Scottish Office Pensions Agency

  3.8

  3.9

  4

  4.2

  4.5

  (e) Student Awards Agency for Scotland

  1.7

  1.9

  2.1

  2.3

  2.6

  (f) Scottish Prison Service

  97.9

  105

  119.4

  114.8

  135.3

  (g) Registers of Scotland

  14.6

  20.8

  26.3

  28.6

  27.5

  (h) Scottish Record Office

  2.9

  3.3

  3.8

  4.1

  4.0

  Council Housing
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many council house tenants have brought their homes under the right-to-buy scheme; and how many subsequently sold their homes in(a) Inverclyde, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]The most recent information on right-to-buy sales is published in the statistical bulletin HSG/1994/9 a copy of which is available in the Library. Information on the resale of dwellings bought under the right-to-buy scheme is not held centrally.

  Special Transitional Grant
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give by regional and island authority the amount of special transitional grant for 1993–94 spent on(a) nursing home placements, (b) residential home placements and (c) non-residential services.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]Local authorities in Scotland have received funding of £85.8 million in 1993–94 to support their new community care responsibilities. The comparable figures for 1994–95 and 1995–96 are £176 million and £241 million respectively. These include 236
  of each executive non-departmental public body may be obtained from the annual report of the body.

  I appoint two non-executive directors to the board of the Scottish Prison Service and one non-executive director to the management board of registers of Scotland.

  Details of my responsibilities with respect to the appointments of individual chief executives for each of my eight executive agencies can be found in the agency framework documents, copies of which are held in the Library of the House.

  Information about the running costs of each of my executive agencies is set out in the table. Agencies came into being on various dates during this period. To give a consistent time series a full five-year run of figures has been prepared irrespective of when the agencies were created. The table shows outturn expenditure since information is not readily available over the full five-year period on a budget basis.

  resources equivalent to the special transitional grant which applies in England only. Outturn expenditure data for 1993–94 are not yet available.

  "Progress in Partnership"
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 26 January, to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Robertson),Official Report, columns 353–54, if it is his intention to create a priority partnership area in (a) Greenock and Port Glasgow or (b) Inverclyde as a whole; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]In announcing the outcome of the review of urban regeneration policy in Scotland my right hon. Friend noted that further consultation on the implementation of the new arrangements would be conducted. Once this process is completed, we plan to issue detailed guidance to local authorities and other local partners on the operation of the new arrangements and then enter into discussions with these bodies on a range of matters, including the selection of priority areas. An announcement will then be made, probably later this year, on the designation of the first priority partnership areas. The needs of Greenock, Port Glasgow and Inverclyde as a whole will be considered, alongside those of other areas, during this process.
  237

  Population Estimates
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the total number of people in Scotland over the age of 65 years in 2001.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]The population of Scotland aged 65 years and over is projected to be 805,000 in 2001.

  Breast Cancer
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of operations for breast cancer in 1993–94 were performed in hospitals where(a) more than 100 such operations took place, (b) between 50 and 100 took place and (c) fewer than 50 took place.
  238
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]The estimated number of discharges from Scottish NHS hospitals in 1993–94 following an operation for breast cancer is given in the following table.

  Estimated discharges from Scottish hospitals following an operation for breast cancer for the financial year ending March 19941

  Frequency

  percentage of total cases

  Female Breast Cancer

  Hospitals with frequency over 100 cases

  3,996

  75

  Hospitals with frequency between 50 and 100

  929

  18

  Hospitals with frequency between 0 and 49

  370

  7

  Total cases

  5,295

  100

  Male Breast Cancer

  Hospitals with frequency between 0 and 49

  31

  100

  1 1994 Dates are provisional.

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  Bahrain/UK Relations
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  Conspicuous Gallantry Cross
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