Written Answers of 15 February 1995

HEALTH

  Community Care
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by her Department on community care for the mentally ill broken down by local authority in the last financial year; and what is the proportion of the resources allocated to community care spent on mental health patients.

  Mr. Bowis
  Figures for the last financial year are not yet available.

  GP Fundholding
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement about the results of GP fundholding in(a) the Fylde coast area and (b) Lancashire.

  Mr. Malone
  Fundholding general practitioners are at the leading edge of purchasing developments and are at the forefront of quality improvements for patients, including the creation of outreach clinics for such services as diabetes, physiotherapy, ophthalmology and vasectomy. The improvements made by general practitioner fundholders often have the effect of improving the quality of care for all patients.

  Information on specific localities is not available centrally. For information about Lancashire, the hon. Member should write to Sir Donald Wilson, the chairman of the North West regional health authority.

  NHS Chief Executive
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what limitations have been placed on the NHS chief executive in his dealings with the media.

  Mr. Sackville
  In accordance with the normal rules for civil servants, the national health service chief executive is permitted, under ministerial authority, to have contact with the media in order, inter alia, to explain Government policy and the performance of the NHS.

  NHS Accounts
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will amend the form of NHS authorities' and trusts' annual accounts to show the number of non-executive directors who decline to accept emoluments or salaries.

  Mr. Sackville
  No.

  Child Protection Registers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for each local authority the percentage annual decrease or increase of children placed on protection registers in England for the latest available 652
  year; and what were the figures for (a) five years and (b) 10 years ago.

  Mr. Bowis
  Information for the year ending 31 March 1994 will be placed in the Library. The earliest reliable annual comparisons available centrally for each local authority are for the year ending 31 March 1990.

  District Nursing Services
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she is taking to ensure that district nursing services are maintained at existing levels under the national health service reforms.

  Mr. Sackville
  Each locality will have different health needs and these will be reflected in the work of district nurses and other health professionals. It is for those who employ district nurses to assess continually and review their work with them.

  Business Plans
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the value of business plans estimated under the public financial initiative broken down by region;

  (2) what is the total value of the public financial initiative business plans currently being assessed by the NHS executive.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department of Health does not have a public financial initiative.

  Intensive Care Beds
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will cancel all payments to chairmen and non-executive directors other than the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses and make available the savings for the provision of intensive care beds.

  Mr. Malone
  No.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the occasions during the last five years when her Department or its agencies has taken legal action against a consultancy firm; and what were the reasons in each case.

  Mr. Sackville
  There have been no occasions when the Department or agencies have had to resort to legal action with consultancy firms over the last five years.

  Acute Psychiatric Wards
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health(a) how many acute psychiatric wards there are, (b) how many beds are in each acute psychiatric ward, (c) on average what percentage of beds are vacant on those wards and (d) on average what percentage of patients are legally detained on those wards in respect of (i) the north-west regional office, (ii) the west midlands regional office, (iii) the south Thames regional office and (iv) the north Thames regional office of the NHS executive.

  Mr. Bowis
  The information is not available centrally.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the occasions during the last five years when his Department or its agencies has taken legal action against a consultancy firm; and what were the reasons in each case.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Information sought can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. But there is one readily identifiable case which is subject to legal action and for that reason no further details can be given.

  The Lord Chancellor has three executive agencies, HM Land Registry, the Public Record Office and the Public Trust Office. As the question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executives of the agencies are best placed to provide an answer, I have accordingly asked the chief executives to reply direct.

  Letter from John Manthorpe to Mr. Alan Milburn, dated 10 February 1995:
  Parliamentary Question—Legal Action by HM Land Registry Against Consultancy Firms
  I have been asked by the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, to reply to your recent question concerning the occasions during the last five years when HM Land Registry has taken legal action against a consultancy firm.

  I can reply that there have been no such occasions.

  Letter from Julia Lomas to Mr. Alan Milburn, dated 10 February 1995:

  The Parliamentary Secretary, of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to you as part of the Lord Chancellor's Department's response to your parliamentary question, listed on 9 February 1995 regarding legal action taken against consultancy firms over the last five years.

  Over the last five years the Public Trust Office has instructed three firms of consultants and has not taken legal action against any of these firms.

  Letter from Sarah Tyacke to Mr. Alan Milburn, dated 14 February 1995:

  Parliamentary Question—Legal Action Against Consultancy Firms

  I have been asked by the Lord Chancellor's Parliamentary Secretary to reply to your question about legal action taken against consultancy firms.

  The Public Record Office has not taken any legal action against a consultancy firm during the last five years.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 17 January,Official Report, column 376, how many appointments to public positions have been made by his Department in the last year.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  In the last year, 244 new appointments were made to the public bodies for which the Lord Chancellor has ministerial responsibility. This does not include re-appointments or judicial appointments.

  Pre-trial Interviews
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many pre-trial interviews in line with the Criminal Justice Act 1991 and the memorandum of good practice have been made since September 1993; how many applications to submit a pre-recorded video taped interview with a child witness 654
  have been made since this date; and how many have been refused as evidence and on what basis.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  My Department does not collect data about numbers of pre-trial interviews. Such information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost and its accuracy could not be guaranteed as many interviews do not result in criminal proceedings. Between 30 September 1993 and 31 December 1994, 725 applications were made to submit pre-recorded video taped evidence. Of these, 41 applications were refused. The reasons for the refusals are not recorded.

  Child Support Agreements
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list those countries which have child support systems which as a result of agreements or treaties with the United Kingdom are able to collect child support and maintenance money in the United Kingdom in respect of(a) their own nationals, (b) United Kingdom nationals and (c) nationals of third party countries.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  In accordance with the relevant international conventions and agreements to which the United Kingdom is a party, the following overseas countries have made arrangements with the United Kingdom for the reciprocal enforcement of maintenance payments through our courts. The nationality of the respondent is not relevant to the operation of the arrangements.Countries
  Algeria, Anguilla, Antigua*, Austria, Australia, Bahamas*, Barbados, Belize*, Belgium, Bermuda, Bosnia and Herzagovena, Botswana*, Brazil, British Solomon Islands Protectorate*, Brunei*, Canada, Cayman Islands*, Central African Republic, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus*, Denmark, Dominica*, Ecuador, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia*, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Grenada*, Guatemala, Guyana*, Guernsey*, Haiti, Holy See, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Jamaica*, Jersey*, Kenya, Lesotho*, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malawi*, Malaysia*, Malta, Mauritius*, Monaco, Montserrat*, Morocco, Naura, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria*, Norfolk Island, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, St. Christopher and Nevis*, St. Helena, St. Lucia*, St. Vincent*, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles*, Sierra Leone*, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland*, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, except Zanzibar, Trinidad and Tobago*, Tunisia, Turkey, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda*, United States, Upper Volta, Virgin Islands*, Zambia*, Zanizibar*, Zimbabwe.
  Note 1: Asterisked countries do not have reciprocal enforcement arrangements with Scotland.
  Note 2: Reciprocal enforcement arrangements have not necessarily been made with all the states or territories of the countries listed.

  Civil Cases (Appeals)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the number and proportion of(a) all civil cases in which the appeals heard by the Court of Appeal were unsuccessful, (b) all applications for leave to appeal to the House of Lords refused by the Court of Appeal, (c) all petitions to the House of Lords for leave to appeal that were

  655
  successful and (d) hearings in the House of Lords which overturned the ruling of the Court of Appeal after a successful petition.

  Mr. John. M. Taylor
  The latest available figures show that in the 12 months ending 30 September 1994, 1,102 or 71 per cent. of the 1,546 civil appeals disposed of by the Court of Appeal were unsuccessful. The information requested regarding applications for leave to appeal to the House of Lords refused by the Court of Appeal is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. During 1994, of the 167 petitions to the House of Lords for leave to appeal from the civil division of the Court of Appeal, 46 or 28 per cent. were allowed. Of the 25 civil appeals from the Court of Appeal allowed by the House of Lords during 1994, including one appeal allowed in part, 17 or 68 per cent. had been granted leave by the House.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Fur Trade
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many fur pelts were(a) imported and (b) exported in each year since 1989; and what was their value.

  Mr. Needham
  The available information is published by the Central Statistical Office in "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom", available in the Library of the House. Fur pelts are classified to group 212 of the standard international trade classification.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many retail businesses were involved in the fur trade in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Government do not collect data on the number of retailers involved in the fur trade.

  Nuclear Levy
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much the nuclear levy has raised for each year since it was introduced.

  Mr. Eggar
  The fossil fuel levy has raised the following amounts:

  Year

  £ Million

  1990–91

  1,175

  1991–92

  1,324

  1992–93

  1,348

  1993–94

  1,233

  Source:

  Office of Electricity Regulation.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much the nuclear levy currently adds to average household fuel bills.

  Mr. Eggar
  The fossil fuel levy is charged to licensed electricity suppliers, at the rate of 10 per cent. of the value, net of VAT, of leviable electricity supplied. The levy has made transparent the nuclear costs that it finances; but because these costs were already being met, electricity prices did not have to increase when the levy was introduced in 1990.
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  Supply Network Programme
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to announce final details of the regional supply network programme.

  Mr. Eggar
  An announcement will be made shortly.

  Insurance Cover (Mortgages)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to encourage insurers to standardise definitions of unemployment and disability in respect of private mortgage protection policies.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  No. This is an operational matter for individual companies in which the Government has no powers to intervene. The Association of British Insurers has said that insurers are guided by an individual's welfare benefit entitlement or by the legislation on redundancy in settling such claims. During their consultation on the proposed changes the Department of Social Security will discuss with insurers how best to ensure that the interface between public and private provision works well.

  Iraq (Sanctions)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the United Kingdom treated individuals and organisations listed by the United States Treasury in April 1991 as sanctions breakers or links with Iraqi procurement networks as persons in Iraq or Kuwait within the terms of the Iraq and Kuwait United Nations Sanctions Order 1990.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Some individuals and organisations listed by the United States Treasury are regarded as being persons in Iraq or Kuwait for the purposes of the Iraq and Kuwait United Nations Sanctions Order 1990.

  Broadly, this would include any body constituted or incorporated under the law of Iraq and any body carrying on business, whether within Iraq or not, which is controlled by persons or bodies resident in Iraq or constituted or incorporated under the law of Iraq.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the United Kingdom companies which have been granted export licences to Iraq since sanctions began.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 14 February 1995]: It has been the practice of successive administrations not to disclose such information unless the public interest outweighs the requirements of confidentiality.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the products that have been exported to Iraq since sanctions began.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 14 February 1995]: To identify and list every product which has been exported to Iraq since sanctions began would incur disproportionate cost. Any export to Iraq has to either be notified to, or authorised by, the United Nations Sanctions Committee in New York. Exports which leave the territory of the United Kingdom will also require a export licence from my Department. Typical exports to Iraq include: foodstuffs, medical items, clothing and other items for essential civilian needs.

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library information showing if each item listed in schedules 1, 2 and 3 of annexe A in his discussion document on the chemical weapons treaty is presently a licensable export and on what date the requirement to be licensed was imposed.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  This information has today been placed in the Library of the House.

  Food Competition
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to encourage genuine competition between different food manufacturers and stop the creation of cartels.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The competition legislation provides for the Director General of Fair Trading, Sir Bryan Carsberg, to consider and, if appropriate, investigate allegations of cartelistic behaviour, anti-competitive practices and abuse of market power. His remit covers all commercial activities in the United Kingdom including the food manufacturing sector. Sir Bryan has recently announced a new initiative against cartels. Should the hon. Member have any specific cases in mind he should write to him directly.

  European Satellite System
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to involve United Kingdom manufacturers of navigation systems in the European Space Agency programme now being set up in co-operation with Eurocontrol and the European Commission to propose a European global navigation satellite system.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  After consultation with officials from the Department of Trade and Industry and the European Space Agency, the Department of Transport has agreed to provide a Government financial contribution to the proposed European collaborative global navigation satellite system.

  This Government funding will allow industry to play an active role in the proposed programme. I am also pleased to report that industry has agreed to provide support to the programme from its own resources.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he last met the Secretary of State for Transport to discuss the operational and industrial importance to the United Kingdom of involvement in the steps being taken by Eurocontrol, the European Commission and the European Space Agency to establish a European global navigation satellite system.
  658
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Officials of the two Departments have been working closely for a number of months on UK participation in the European global navigation satellite system. I hope to meet my noble Friend Viscount Goschen, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, to discuss satellite navigation issues in the near future.

  Fishing Industry
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assistance the Government will give to companies providing products and support services to the fishing industry, to help them diversify.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Government provide a wide range of business support services for these companies and others. There is focused support available in assisted areas, and the full range of services is available to assist diversification in north Devon. Details can be obtained from the Government office for the south-west.

  Assistance is also available from the European structural funds: north Devon is covered by the objective 5(b) single programming document which will make grants towards a variety of economic measures including many business support activities. Diversification is an important factor, and support will be provided for, among other things, product and process development and for increasing the level and capacity for research and development.

  Information Super-highway
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many miles of co-axial cable have been laid towards the information super-highway infrastructure; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many miles of optical fibre cable have been laid towards the information super-highway infrastructure; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The Department does not hold details of how many miles of optical fibre and coaxial cable have been laid. Figures from industry sources, however, point to the rapid installation of new or upgraded communications networks. Investment in these new networks has been spurred by the Government's liberalisation of the telecommunications sector.

  Optical fibre is the dominant technology for trunk networks and inter-exchange traffic, and increasingly for large business customers. BT, for example, has more than 1.4 million miles of optical fibre in its network. The cable industry is installing 260,000 miles of fibre per annum. Together with the networks being installed by other telecommunications operators such as Mercury, Energis, COLT, and MFS, the United Kingdom is estimated to have more than 2 million miles of fibre.

  Coaxial copper cable, which is the medium normally used by the cable industry in the final connection to residential customers, is being installed at a rate of 60,000 miles per annum. Compression techniques can materially increase the amount of traffic which can be sent over these cables. The information super-highway embraces both fibre and coaxial cable and applications are being developed accordingly.

  Nuclear Review
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what timetable he presently envisages for decisions and announcements on matters relating to the nuclear review.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Sherwood (Mr. Tipping) on 19 October 1994,Official Report, column 239.

  Iraq (Visits)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the names of the companies which have been given a licence to communicate with and visit Iraq in(a) 1994 and (b) 1995, in each case giving the date the licence was granted.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 14 February 1995]: It has been the practice of successive administrations not to disclose such information unless the public interest outweighs the requirements of confidentiality.

TREASURY

  Tax Relief
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update his answer of 7 December to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Attercliffe (Mr. Betts),Official Report, column 263, for the year 1995–96 to provide a list of the reliefs categorised under the heading (c) other reliefs.

  Sir George Young
  Estimated full-year yields at 1995–96 income levels based on a projection of the 1992–93 survey of personal incomes and other survey data in line with the assumptions in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96" are given in the table. The figures do not take account of any behavioural effects which might result from the introduction of such changes, and show the yield from restructuring each allowance or relief separately. If two or more were restricted, the total yield would be greater than the sum of individual figures. Most of the amount shown within heading (c) is relief for charitable covenants, for donations under the giftaid scheme, for allowable interest on loans to acquire company shares and relief for class 4 national insurance contributions.

  Restriction to

  Basic rate

  20p

  Effect of restricting

  Yield £ million

  Numbers affected millions

  Yield £ million

  Numbers affected millions

  (a) Personal allowances

  1,600

  3.5

  5,900

  26.5

  (b) Relief for pension contributions

  730

  2

  1,410

  11.6

  (c) Other reliefs

  150

  0.7

  1n/a

  n/a

  1 Information on reliefs given at source is not available from the survey of personal incomes so it is not possible to estimate the effect of restricting other reliefs to 20 per cent.

  660

  Tobacco Duty
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the revenue from tobacco duty in each year since 1992.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The information is as follows:

  Tobacco revenue

  £ billion

  1992–93

  6.0

  1993–94

  6.5

  1994–951

  6.8

  1 Forecast.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the receipts from value added tax in each year since 1993; and what are the forecast receipts of value added tax for the year 1995–96.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The information is as follows:

  VAT receipts

  £ billion

  1993–94

  38.9

  1994–951

  43.3

  1995–961

  48.1

  1 Forecast.

  Alcohol Duty
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the revenue from alcohol duty in each year since 1992.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The information is as follows:

  Alcohol revenue

  £ billion

  1992–93

  5.1

  1993–94

  5.2

  1994–951

  5.4

  1 Forecast.

  Capitalisation Values
  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the current capitalisation values of(a) British Telecom, (b) British Steel, (c) British Gas, (d) the privatised water industry, (e) the privatised electricity industry, including the distribution element—Powergen and National Power and (f) the coal industry.

  Sir George Young
  The capitalisations of BT, British Steel, British Gas, the privatised water and sewerage companies and the privatised electricity companies are shown in the table. They reflect the market's assessment of the increased value achieved by the companies concerned since their flotation. The capitalisation of the privatised coal industry cannot be readily determined.
  661

  Capitalisation of Privatised industries

  Company(ies)

  1Capitalisation (£ billion)

  BT

  24.6

  British Steel

  3.1

  British Gas

  13.5

  Water and sewerage companies (10 companies)

  11.8

  Electricity companies2 (17 companies)

  30.4

  1 As at close of business, 10 February 1995. 2 Excludes the four generating companies in Northern Ireland which are not listed companies.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to reduce the payment of salaries to members of non-departmental public bodies.

  Mr. Aitken
  Provision for the remuneration of chairmen and members of non-departmental public bodies is generally set out in the founding legislation of those statutory bodies. The Government's policy is to pay the appropriate remuneration as determined by Ministers with the consent of the Treasury.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the occasions during the last five years when his Department or its agencies has taken legal action against a consultancy firm; and what were the reasons in each case.

  Mr. Nelson
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

  Credit Unions
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 7 February,Official Report, column 67, when the consultation document on credit unions is to be issued; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Treasury is currently preparing a consultation document on the proposed amendments to the Credit Unions Act 1979. It will be issued shortly. A copy will be placed in the Library.

  Monetary Union
  Sir Peter Fry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost to date of the Treasury's preparation on economic convergence in the European Union with a view to the possible introduction of a common currency and monetary union.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 14 February 1995]: It is not possible separately to cost work within the Treasury on economic convergence within the EU. The Government's macro-economic policies are directed toward achieving sound public finances and permanently low inflation. These objectives are shared by other EU member states, and are also key elements of the convergence criteria set out in the Maastricht treaty.

TRANSPORT

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the occasions during the last five years when his Department or its agencies has taken legal action against a consultancy firm; and what were the reasons in each case.

  Mr. Norris
  None.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 17 January,Official Report, column 716, how many appointments to public positions have been made by his Department in the last year.

  Mr. Norris
  Eighty-two.

  Network SouthEast
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list(a) the number of trains and (b) the percentage of trains, which arrived more than five minutes late during peak hours on each of the Network SouthEast divisions in each four-week period during (i) 1992, (ii) 1993 and (iii) 1994;

  (2) if he will list (a) the number of trains cancelled and (b) the percentage of trains cancelled on each of the Network SouthEast divisions in each four-week period during (i) 1992, (ii) 1993 and (iii) 1994.

  Mr. Watts
  I have written to the hon. Member and placed a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Waste Containers
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department or consultants to his Department have made of the suitability of the use of(a) elastomer rather than metallic seals and (b) austenitic steel rather than other metallic containment in the transport flasks used for the forthcoming shipment of high-level waste to Japan.

  Mr. Norris
  The Department judges the suitability of both seal materials and materials of construction of the containment system as a part of the design assessment process, against the stringent leaktightness criteria required by the International Atomic Energy Agency's regulations for the safe transport of radioactive material, for each application for design approval which it is required to undertake.

  The forthcoming shipment of high-level waste to Japan will use a French design of package, assessed to the same standards by the competent authority of France.

  Rail Service Withdrawals
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which rail services have been withdrawn since April 1992.

  Mr. Watts
  British Rail has discretion to vary services and many changes are made each year. Information on such changes could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Complete closure of a line or station is subject to statutory closures procedures.
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  Since April 1992 services have been completely withdrawn from the following stations:

  Primrose Hill

  Ditton

  Tilbury Riverside

  Westbourne Park

  Brocklesby

  Elsham

  Llangelynin

  Dover Western Docks

  Rail Track Access Charges
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the rail track access charges in(a) each EU country, (b) each Scandinavian country, (c) the USA and (d) Japan.

  Mr. Watts
  These countries have different railway structures which would make it difficult to identify actual access charges and make accurate comparisons with our own access charge.

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is taking to ensure that charter aircraft engaged in the transportation of live cattle are airworthy.

  Mr. Norris
  Before issuing any permits to a non-European Economic Area airline to operate an aircraft for flights to or from the United Kingdom under article 88 of the Air Navigation Order 1989, my Department must be satisfied that the aircraft to be used has, among other things, a valid certificate of airworthiness issued by the state of registry of the aircraft.

  In view of concern about the safety of flights engaged in the transportation of live cattle from Coventry airport as a result of the Air Algerie crash on 21 December 1994, the Department has taken the additional measure of requesting the Civil Aviation Authority to conduct inspections of the non-EEA aircraft for which an article 88 permit has been made in order to ensure, among other things, that the aircraft is airworthy.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Repetitive Strain Injury
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total Government spending for medical research into the causes and treatment of repetitive strain injury in each year since 1991; and what is the projected figure for 1995.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  None.

  Antarctica
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give details of the clear-up work necessary at each of the abandoned British bases in the Antarctic region with the estimated costs in each case.
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  Mr. David Hunt
  The removal of hazardous waste will be given priority. The cost, estimated at around £45,000 per station, is subject to weather conditions and accessibility. Complete removal of the abandoned stations may be necessary in the longer term.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the occasions during the last five years when his Department or its agencies has taken legal action against a consultancy firm; and what were the reason in each case.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  None.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many public appointments have been made by his Department in the last year; and how many of those appointed were first identified by the public appointments unit.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  Seventy-five public appointments have been made to Cabinet Office and Office of Public Service and Science sponsored public bodies in the last year.

  Of these, 57 were to the scientific research councils whose creation was announced in the White Paper "Realising Our Potential". One of these was first identified by the public appointments unit. In common with other Departments, the Cabinet Office-OPSS follows the guidance provided in the "Guide on Public Appointments Procedures". This advises that PAU is just one option which may be appropriate in filling certain posts.

  Scientists (Higher Education Institutes)
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 2 February,Official Report, columns 757–58, what number of research scientists and engineers were employed by higher education institutes in each year since 1981–82.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  The estimated number of research scientists and engineers, as defined by OECD, employed in HEIs are available only for selected years and are shown in the table. It should be noted that these data are derived from total HEI staff numbers using a set of factors representing the proportion of time that different categories of staff spend on teaching or research. The numbers also include academics working directly on research and development, and the time of central support staff attributed to R and D.

  Research scientists and engineers engaged on R and D within HEIs, 1986–19921

  (Full-time equivalents)

  1986

  1988

  1990

  1991

  1992

  UK

  25,000

  26,000

  28,000

  29,000

  31,000

  Note:

  1 The definition of R and D employment is from the Frascati manual.

  Source:

  Forward Look 1994 Statistical Supplement (table 1.7.1).

EDUCATION

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what account she has taken, in formulating policy, of research carried out by Peter Mortimore of the London Institute of Education, linking performance in reading and mathematics to class size.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department is aware of research published by Professor Mortimore and his colleagues in 1988. His report noted that the weight of earlier research had supported the view that larger classes were more effective. The Department will continue to monitor research in this field.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list the occasions during the last five years when her Department or its agencies has taken legal action against a consultancy firm; and what were the reasons in each case.

  Mr. Boswell
  Neither the Department nor its one next steps agency, the Teachers Pensions Agency, has taken 666
  legal action against a consultancy firm during the last five years.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her answer of 17 January,Official Report, column 398, how many appointments to public positions have been made by her Department in the last year.

  Mr. Boswell
  In the last year, 149 appointments to public positions were made by the Department.

  Careers Advice
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment she has made of the quality of careers advice for those aged 16 to 19 years in south-east London; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Paice
  I have been asked to reply.

  Quarterly and half-yearly reviews of the careers services in south-east London have indicated that they are achieving the objectives set out in their business plans. Impartial and timely careers advice is essential to help young people make informed choices about education, training and employment.

ENVIRONMENT

  Air Pollution, Rotherham
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to monitor air pollution in Rotherham.

  Mr. Atkins
  My Department, in co-operation with Rotherham metropolitan borough council, monitors levels of smoke and sulphur dioxide at four sites and nitrogen dioxide at four sites in the Rotherham area.

  Shop Front Design
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met members of the English Historic Towns Forum to discuss shop front design.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  We have invited many organisations, including the English Historic Towns Forum, to discuss our proposals to improve the quality of design in our towns and cities, set out in the discussion document "Quality in Town and Country".

  Diesel Engines (Public Health)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the impact of diesel engines on public health; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Diesel vehicles emit a range of pollutants, notably small particles—PM10. Advisory committees of my Department and of the Department of Health are examining possible health and environmental effects of PM10 and are expected to make recommendations on possible air quality standards shortly. More generally, Government will continue to fund research into links between air quality and, in particular, respiratory health.

  Revenue Support Grant, Sunderland
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the effect of the reduced revenue support grant on the provision of services in Sunderland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  Sunderland's budget is properly a matter for the city council. Within our provisional capping criteria, the council may increase its expenditure in 1995–96 by 0.5 per cent.

  Water Supply
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will arrange to meet representatives of the water authorities to discuss quality and reliability of water supply.

  Mr. Atkins
  From time to time Ministers and officials do meet representatives of the water companies to discuss matters of mutual interest. My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans for meetings to discuss quality and reliability of water supply.

  House Building
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next expects to meet representatives of the house building industry to discuss 668
  prospects for new house building in the coming year and the impact of Government policies.

  Mr. Gummer
  I met representatives of the volume housebuilders study group on 13 February. Discussion covered a number of topics of mutual interest.

  Housing Market
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the prospects for the housing market in 1995.

  Mr. Curry
  The housing market will continue to benefit from a range of Government policies, including the right to buy, cash incentives and shared ownership schemes for local authority and housing association tenants, and from our economic policies which have produced low interest rates and made home ownership more affordable than for many years.

  Urban Environment
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how he intends to improve the quality of the urban environment.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My Department launched last summer a wide-ranging initiative, "Quality in Town and Country", designed to see what more can be done lo improve the quality of the built environment, in city, town and village. In the light of the overwhelmingly positive response, we are considering how best Government and others can take forward this initiative. The Government already help to improve the quality of life in urban and other areas through the single regeneration budget, including city challenge partnerships. My Department has also issued planning policy guidance aimed at sustaining the vitality and viability of town centres, and encouraging effective town centre management.

  Standard Spending Assessment, Leicester
  Mr. Jim Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the percentage increase in the SSA for Leicester council between 1994–95 and 1995–96.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  On a comparable basis, Leicester city council's SSA increases by 2.6 per cent. from £40.340 million in 1994–95 to £41.396 million in 1995–96. This compares with an increase of 0.1 per cent. for non-metropolitan districts as a whole.

  Out-of-town Shopping Developments
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new out-of-town shopping developments await planning approval subject to DOE appeal.

  Mr. Gummer
  There are 18 appeals awaiting a decision.

  National Parks
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account he will take of the views of national park residents on his plans to change the structure of national park authorities.

  Mr. Atkins
  Our proposals for the future administration of the national parks are set out in part III
  669
  of the Environment Bill, which is currently being considered in another place. No doubt my hon. Friend and other hon. Members whose constituents live in the parks will make their views known when the Bill comes before the House in due course.

  Lobbying Groups
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on meeting lobbying groups.

  Mr. Gummer
  I try to meet as many as possible of the various types of groups that wish to see me, and I listen carefully, with an open mind, to what they say.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial resources, broken down by programme where possible, have been allocated and are to be allocated by each department to each Government office for the regions, in the financial years 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information requested has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Patten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those public bodies for which he retains departmental responsibility; which of these bodies have been identified as suitable for placing in the private sector; and by when it is expected each of these bodies will enter the private sector.

  Mr. Gummer
  Details of the public bodies for which I have departmental responsibility are listed in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies 1994". A copy is available in the House of Commons Library. In addition to the bodies listed in that publication I now have responsibility for two further executive non-departmental public bodies. These are:Stonebridge Housing Action Trust, Brent
  The National Forest Company

  I announced plans in October 1994 to privatise the docklands light railway which is wholly owned by the London Docklands development corporation. The first step will be taken in 1996, when DLR operations will be franchised to the private sector for a period of about seven years. The second step will be taken at the end of the franchise period, when the aim will be to transfer the railway as a whole into the private sector.

  There are no plans at present to privatise any of the other public bodies, but non-departmental public bodies are subject to a quinquennial review. Each such review considers the scope for privatising, contracting out or market testing all or part of the functions of the body. The Department's larger executive public bodies have programmes to contract out and market test parts of their work, where this is not already carried out in the private sector.

  Sulphur Dioxide Emissions
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out a year-by-year projection from 2000 to 2010 of the projected level of sulphur dioxide emissions in the United Kingdom; and if he will 670
  indicate for each projected sulphur dioxide total the targets required under the United Nations economic commission's second sulphur protocol.

  Mr. Atkins
  Year-by-year projections from 2000 to 2010 are not available.

  The most recent published projections of sulphur dioxide emissions, prepared by the Warren Spring Laboratory, now the National Environmental Technology Research Centre, were:

  '000 tonnes

  High

  Low

  2000

  2.596

  2.050

  2005

  2.200

  1.890

  2010

  2.332

  1.889

  These figures represent 47 to 58 per cent., 53 to 61 per cent. and 52 to 61 per cent. reductions respectively against 1980 sulphur emissions. The protocol requires reductions in sulphur emissions against 1980 levels of 80 per cent. by 2010, to be achieved through intermediate targets of 50 per cent. by 2000 and 70 per cent. by 2005.

  There have been considerable changes since these projections were prepared and the Government expect to produce revised projections this year, taking account of recent developments. These will provide a basis for consultation on a national strategy to achieve the protocol commitments.

  Property Sales, Westminster
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many properties that are designated for sale have been empty in each of the wards within the borough of Westminster in the last(a) three months, (b) six months, (c) nine months, (d) 12 months and (e) 24 months.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the district auditor's interim report on Westminster city council's designated sales policy has caused his Department to review guidelines on relationships between members and officials in the control of local councils.

  Mr. Robert. B. Jones
  No.

  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidelines have been issued to local authorities since the district auditor's interim report on Westminster city council's designated sales policy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The Government have said that they will consider whether there are any general lessons to be learned, when it is possible to do so without prejudice to the particular case in question. No guidelines have been issued by the Secretary of State to local authorities concerning housing sales since the district auditor published his provisional findings on the allegations relating to council house sales in Westminster, in January 1994. Designated sales take place under long-standing statutory consents for voluntary sales of housing as part of authorities' normal activities. Revised consents were issued in September 1994 and my Department is currently consulting the local authority associations on further revisions to those consents.

  Consultants
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the framework of rules for engaging consultants by local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Local authorities wishing to engage consultants must follow their own standing orders and obtain value for money. In this regard, the Audit Commission, in 1994, produced a good practice guide for local authorities called "Reaching the Peak? Getting Value for Money from Management Consultants".

  McDonald's Restaurants Ltd.
  Mr. Hawksley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals his inspectors have heard against the refusal of councils to grant planning consent to McDonalds Restaurants Ltd.; and what were the results of the appeals in each of the last three years.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information requested is not held in the Department's records.

  Foleshill Gas Works
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with English Partnerships about grant to assist the development of the Foleshill gas work site.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I understand that English Partnerships has reached agreement with British Gas about the grant required to develop phase I of the site and that a survey will be completed this month for British Gas to establish ground conditions on phase II of the site. A formal submission to the board of English Partnerships will be made shortly after that about the offer of a grant to British Gas.

  Liquid Fuels
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will investigate whether the secondary liquid fuel currently being burned by Rugby Cement at Barrington should be reclassified as hazardous waste.

  Mr. Atkins
  It is for waste regulation authorities to decide whether or not a material should be classified as a waste under the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994, and, if so, whether that waste should be considered special, under the Special Waste Regulations 1980. The Department of the Environment has issued guidance on what is a waste and what is not in its circular 11/94, and on how to determine whether or not a waste is special in waste management paper No. 23. I understand that Cambridge waste regulation authority has taken the view that the material in question is not waste.

  Public Expenditure, Kent
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest estimate of public expenditure per head in the county of Kent.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Local authority net revenue expenditure per head of population in Kent in 1994–95 was budgeted to be £773. Central Government expenditure in Kent is not available.
  672

  Whitechapel Moors, North Devon
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library copies of representations made to him relating to his decision over whether to call in the planning application for a leisure development at Whitechapel moors, north Devon.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I will arrange for the hon. Member to receive copies of all the representations made about the proposed leisure development at Whitechapel moors, north Devon, as it would not be appropriate to place copies in the Library. Copies of all these representations have already been sent to the agents acting for the applicant and North Devon district council.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what considerations underlay his Department's delay in calling in the planning application for a leisure development at Whitechapel moors, north Devon.

  Sir Paul Bereford
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers that I gave him on 2 November 1994,Official Report, columns 1152–53.

  There was no undue delay in calling in the planning application.

  On 21 December 1994 North Devon district council wrote to the Government office for the south-west indicating that it had resolved to grant planning permission for a leisure development at Whitechapel moors, north Devon. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State took full account of all the planning issues involved, and the representations received, and called in the application for his own determination on 19 January 1995—15 working days after receipt of the council' s letter.

  The planning issues which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State wants considered at the public inquiry are set out in the call-in letter issued by the Government office for the south-west.

  Housing Benefit
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount of housing benefit paid in the last year for which figures are available to private tenants renting properties previously acquired from local authorities under the right-to-buy scheme.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Council Tax
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total cost to date of processing appeals against council tax bandings.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The cost of work undertaken by the Valuation Office agency on council tax banding proposals and appeals in England between 1 April 1993 and 31 December 1994 was £56.2 million.

  During the same period, the running costs of the valuation tribunals in dealing with all types of appeal, including non-domestic rating, council tax liability and valuation, were £18 million. Non-domestic rating cases accounted for a majority of this figure, but no exact breakdown is available.

  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many properties currently have
  673
  exemption from council tax under each category of exemption.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The latest information on the number of properties in England under each class of exemption is as follows:

  As at 7 June 1994

  000s

  A. Empty dwellings where works are required, under way or recently completed

  89.5

  B. Empty dwellings owned by charities

  1.5

  C. Dwellings left empty and unfurnished

  201.5

  D. Dwellings left empty by prisoners

  1.0

  E. Dwellings left empty by patients in hospitals and care homes

  31.6

  F. Dwellings left empty by deceased persons

  57.5

  G. Dwellings which are unfit etc.

  10.4

  H. Empty clergy dwellings

  1.2

  I. Dwellings left empty by people receiving care

  5.9

  J. Dwellings left empty by people providing care

  0.7

  K. Dwellings left empty by students

  2.1

  L. Repossessed dwellings

  31.9

  M. Halls of residence

  9.2

  N. Dwellings occupied solely by students or school leavers

  98.5

  O. Armed forces' accommodation

  61.9

  P. Visiting forces' accommodation

  14.0

  Q. Dwellings left empty by bankrupts

  0.6

  R. Vacant caravan sites and moorings

  0.5

  Total

  620.0

  The number of dwellings on the valuation list, including the 620,000 listed was 20,216,303.

  Local Government Finance
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the factors taken into account in the calculation of local authorities' standard spending assessments in order of importance.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The amounts allocated by each of the main indicators in the standard spending assessment formula for 1994–95 were set out in the standard spending assessment handbook 1994–95, a copy of which was placed in the Library. The corresponding figures for the SSAs for 1995–96 will be set out in the next edition of the handbook which is expected to be published in April.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has received on the extent of homelessness among young single people; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  In central London, where the problem of rough sleeping is greatest, a count undertaken last November by voluntary sector agencies found 288 people sleeping rough, of whom two were aged under 18 and a further 45 aged 18 to 25.

  Outside central London, I know of no reliable information about the number of young homeless people. It is properly the responsibility of each local authority to consider the housing needs of all people in their area, including young homeless people.

  British Waterways Board
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the future of the British Waterways Board.

  Mr. Atkins
  I have today published a consultation paper continuing the review of navigation functions of the British Waterways Board and the National Rivers Authority recommended by the Select Committee on the Environment. I intend to consider carefully the views of those who respond and, therefore, I cannot yet say what effect the outcome of this consultation exercise may have on the future of the British Waterways Board.

  Forth Rail Bridge
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he hopes to fulfil his undertaking to inspect the Forth rail bridge.

  Mr. Gummer
  Soon.

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what study his Department has made of changes in air pollution levels in(a) Manchester and (b) other United Kingdom cities; what comparable information he has about the situation in major industrial cities elsewhere in the EU; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Changes in annual average levels of pollution in Manchester and other United Kingdom cities are set out in the 16th edition of the Department of the Environment "Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. Information on levels of pollution in major industrial cities elsewhere in the European Union is not held centrally.

  A European topic centre of the European Environment Agency on air quality has been established to assess, among other issues, environmental data requirements, collection and reporting, with a view to improving information on urban air quality across Europe.

  Ozone Layer (Damage)
  Sir Trevor Skeet
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action the United Kingdom is taking to phase out the production of substances damaging the ozone layer.

  Mr. Atkins
  The production of halons, chlorofluorocarbons and carbon tetrachloride has already ceased, and methyl chloroform will cease by the end of this year. The Community has introduced a new European regulation which phases out hydrochlorofluorocarbons by 2015. This is directly applicable in United Kingdom law.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the occasions during the last five years when his Department or its agencies has taken legal action against a consultancy firm; and what were the reasons in each case.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Secretary of State is not aware that any legal action has been taken during the last
  675
  five years by his Department in relation to a consultancy contract.

  London Boroughs (Rents)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list(a) the planned average rent, (b) the planned actual average rent rise and (c) the planned percentage rent rise of each of the London boroughs.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Local authorities set their own rents and are currently in the process of doing so for 1995–96. For the purposes of calculating housing revenue account subsidy, each authority is given an average weekly guideline rent. These are as follows for all London boroughs for 1995–96:

  Guideline rents

  Borough

  Rents (£)

  Increase over (£)

  1994–95 (per cent.)

  Barking and Dagenham

  36.98

  2.82

  8.2

  Barnet

  46.84

  2.51

  5.7

  Bexley

  39.59

  2.82

  7.7

  Brent

  44.40

  2.82

  6.8

  Bromley

  43.62

  1.82

  4.4

  Camden

  42.88

  2.82

  7.0

  City of London

  44.98

  1.82

  4.2

  Croydon

  48.57

  2.82

  6.2

  Ealing

  47.04

  2.82

  6.4

  Enfield

  45.96

  2.82

  6.1

  Greenwich

  44.06

  2.82

  6.4

  Hackney

  39.79

  2.82

  7.1

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  49.39

  2.82

  6.1

  Haringey

  48.49

  2.82

  6.2

  Harrow

  49.29

  2.82

  6.1

  Havering

  43.92

  2.82

  6.9

  Hillingdon

  44.15

  2.82

  6.8

  Hounslow

  41.56

  2.82

  7.3

  Islington

  44.76

  2.82

  6.7

  Kensington and Chelsea

  58.50

  2.82

  5.1

  Kingston upon Thames

  49.11

  2.82

  6.1

  Lambeth

  39.35

  2.82

  7.7

  Lewisham

  43.17

  2.82

  7.0

  Merton

  44.00

  1.89

  4.5

  Newham

  40.14

  2.82

  7.6

  Redbridge

  46.56

  1.82

  4.1

  Richmond upon Thames

  46.60

  2.82

  6.4

  Southwark

  44.86

  2.82

  6.7

  Sutton

  45.12

  2.82

  6.7

  Tower Hamlets

  39.80

  2.82

  7.6

  Waltham Forest

  42.07

  2.82

  7.2

  Wandsworth

  48.93

  1.82

  3.9

  Westminster

  50.93

  1.82

  3.7

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 17 January,Official Report, column 411, how many appointments to public positions have been made by his Department in the last year.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  No central record is maintained of the total number of appointments made by the Department. However, information readily available indicates that 105 public appointments were made during 1994.

  Regeneration Policies
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new jobs have been created through regeneration policies since April 1992.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Since April 1992, there has been a reduction of more than 500,000 in the number of unemployed. In that time, my Department's policies have been successful in creating or safeguarding over 340,000 jobs.

  EC Eco-management Scheme
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he proposes to take to assist small firms to improve their environmental performance when the European Community eco-management and audit scheme becomes fully operational in April.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The Government strongly supports the EC eco-management and audit scheme which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be launching on 10 April. The scheme will give public recognition, throughout the European Union, to manufacturing businesses which adopt a positive approach to managing their environmental impacts. I am now delighted to be able to announce that we will be introducing a new grant to help small companies participate. The grant will be known as the small company environmental and energy management assistance scheme or SCEEMAS.

  SCEEMAS will be an adaptation of the existing energy management assistance scheme. It will help small firms address the whole spectrum of environmental issues facing them. Energy will remain an important element since the scope for saving energy must always be considered in establishing an environmental management system. Eligibility will be confined to manufacturing industry and to firms with fewer than 250 employees.

  The details of the grant will be refined over the next few weeks and its management will be contracted out, subject to satisfactory competitive tenders being received. I expect SCEEMAS to come into operation during May.

  To make way for SCEEMAS, the existing grant scheme will be phased out over the next year. Fresh applications under the existing scheme will be allowed up to 31 March; applications for successive stages will be allowed up to 29 September; with final claims allowed up to 31 January 1996. My officials will be writing to consultants involved in the scheme in the next few days, explaining the arrangements.

  The new grant should play an important role in promoting environmental management among smaller firms, and assisting them to become more competitive.

  Inland Waterways
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has taken to continue the review of British Waterways and the National Rivers Authority's navigation functions recommended by the Environment Select Committee.

  Mr. Atkins
  I have today published a consultation paper continuing the review of British Waterways' and the National Rivers Authority's navigation functions begun in 1991. Copies have been placed in the House libraries.
  677
  The paper seeks views on how we might secure the best possible stewardship of our waterways for future generations. A number of options are identified, including those of transferring all the NRA's existing navigations to BW and vice versa, achieving more effective management through closer co-operation between existing authorities, and the possibility of creating a new single statutory authority for navigation. Our waterways are a unique asset and must serve a wide range of interests and uses. This consultation aims to give all those concerned about the waterways the opportunity to make their views on the best way forward known to Government.

  Docklands Light Railways
  Mr. Barry Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the extension to Lewisham of the docklands light railway.

  Mr. Curry
  I have today given my approval for Docklands Light Railway Ltd. to shortlist four private consortia to tender for the concession to finance, build, own and maintain the extension of the DLR to Lewisham, under the Government's private finance initiative. The competition is expected to last about nine months, with the concession contract being concluded before the end of this year. Construction should start in 1996, and the extension should then open to passenger services in 1999.

  Private sector interest in the project has been strong, with seven consortia representing a wide range of finance, construction and project management expertise from the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain and Japan competing to prequalify. The four selected by DLR Ltd. to proceed to tendering are, in alphabetical order:

  Brown and Root, AMEC and Dragados

  Docklands Link Group

  Lewisham Extension Company

  Light Rail Group.

  In itement last October, the Secretary of State indicate(' that the project could not be financially viable Cutty Sark station included and that the station could therefore be built only if its costs were to be met in full by third parties. He said that contributors should agree unconditionally and contractually by the end of January 1995 to meet the actual costs of the station as they arose during the construction period. I have to report that no funding package was submitted by third parties. The tender documents to be issued by DLR Ltd. for the Lewisham project will therefore make it clear that bids are being invited on basis of six stations, without provision for a station at Cutty Sark.

  Greenwich council, local landowners and other interested bodies wish to discuss with the four prequalified bidders for the Lewisham extension the possibility of their making separate contractual and financial arrangements to provide a station at Cutty Sark. Those discussions must neither delay the Lewisham project nor prejudice its financial arrangements. The decision whether to enter into negotiations or reach an agreement with the council and other local interests will be for the private bidders to make, according to their own commercial judgment. I have asked DLR Ltd. to provide information, as requested, to assist any discussions between third parties.
  678
  I am pleased to confirm that the Lewisham line will have a new station at Island Gardens just north of the river, which will be 600 m from Cutty Sark via the Thames foot tunnel and another alongside the Greenwich BR station, some 700 m south west of the Cutty Sark. Further south it will have stations at Deptford Bridge, Elverson Road and Lewisham town centre, all in the Deptford city challenge area. The extension will therefore dramatically improve access to Greenwich and Lewisham, and provide new cross-river access to and from the City, Docklands and Stratford for local residents, tourists and north Kent commuters. It will be a splendid addition to the capital's public transport network and will reinforce the Government's commitment to promote regeneration in the Thames gateway.

  Credit Liabilities
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the provision for credit liabilities as at 31 March 1994; and what is his estimate of the total of the provision for credit liabilities represented by cash for each local authority and its total for England.

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 9 February 1995]: Returns to the Department indicate that the total amount that English local authorities had set aside for debt repayment at 31 March 1994 was £6 billion.

  The Department has no detailed information as to the extent to which these amounts are represented by cash held by local authorities, but is aware that many authorities have made use of the cash involved to meet their financing needs.

  Opencast Gravel Mining, Avon Valley
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans there are for opencast gravel mining in the Avon valley.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  [holding answer 13 February 1995]: Proposals for minerals extraction in Hampshire are set out in the deposit draft of the Hampshire minerals and waste local plan, which is due to be considered at a public local inquiry commencing on 21 March. There are no proposals in the draft plan for gravel working in the Avon valley.

  Countryside Stewardship Sites
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 6 February,Official Report, columns 15–18, if he will name and provide a grid reference for each countryside stewardship site; and if he will indicate those sites where access is available beyond September 2004.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 14 February 1995]: A list of the names of countryside stewardship sites has been placed in the House Library. Details of grid references of sites are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Countryside stewardship agreements are signed for 10 years. Contractual obligations to provide access under current stewardship agreements will not extend beyond September 2004 when the last of these agreements terminate. Existing rights of way are unaffected.
  679

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Compensation
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent on criminal damage and emergency provisions compensation in each of the last 10 years.

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

  Letter from Denis Stanley to Ms Majorie Mowlam, dated 13 February 1995:

  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply, on behalf of the Compensation Agency, to your recent Question regarding criminal damage and emergency provisions compensation.

  The following amounts of compensation were paid out on criminal damage and emergency provisions in each of the last ten years:

  Year

  Criminal damage compensation

  £ million Emergency provisions compensation

  1984–85

  19.9

  Not available

  1985–86

  17.2

  Not available

  1986–87

  15.2

  0.3

  1987–88

  19.0

  0.6

  1988–89

  20.6

  1.3

  1989–90

  22.1

  1.2

  1990–91

  22.7

  1.7

  1991–92

  33.1

  1.9

  1992–93

  75.9

  2.8

  1993–94

  67.9

  2.6

  Fair Employment
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 7 February,Official Report, column 168, if he will list the 58 consultants who undertook assignments under the small firms fair employment scheme.

  Mr. Ancram
  The list of consultants is as follows:

  R. Allen

  J. Smyth

  N. Semple

  R. Shevlin

  CTR Services

  G. Parkes

  P. McCallion

  J. Chapman

  Coopers and Lybrand

  DTM Management Consultants

  G. Ward

  Engineering Employers Federation

  P. E. Scullion and Co.

  Ernst and Young

  Fair Employment Services

  Gilpin Black Associates

  A. Patrick

  B. Forsythe

  G. Wilson

  Harold Moss Services

  Hillen and Jenkinson

  Sales Placement NI Ltd.

  IRPC Group Ltd.

  680

  MDS

  Leonard Personal Services

  Price Waterhouse

  S. Cullen

  Peartree Consultants

  Management Consultants

  R. McRoberts

  RMA Consultants

  M. James

  Saville and Holdsworth

  University of Ulster

  J. McQueeney

  Time Consulting Group

  M. McBride

  Mary Carson Management Consultancy

  Mentor Management Consultancy

  H Walker

  Oakes Personnel Consultancy

  KPMG Management Consultants

  G. Patterson

  J. Wylie

  Finegan Gibson

  G. Ackah

  D. Gibson

  Archusa Management Services

  Rose Personnel Associates

  M. Templeton

  Personnel and Training Services

  Resource Counselling

  Toner Recruitment Agency

  I. McKay

  Employment Equality Services

  J. Hawthorne

  G. Patterson

  W. Deane

  Boundary Commission
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 7 February,Official Report, columns 167–68, on what basis officials of the political affairs division of the Northern Ireland Office gave guidance as to the revised recommendations of the Northern Ireland Boundary Commission prior to the publication of those recommendations.

  Mr. Ancram
  In accordance with normal briefing practice, on receipt of the deputy chairman's letter of 16 January 1995 the political affairs division was asked to contribute to the advice for Ministers on the possible electoral consequences if the revised recommendations of the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland were implemented.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the occasions during the: last five years when his Department or its agencies has taken legal action against a consultancy firm; and what were the reasons in each case.

  Sir John Wheeler
  None.
  681
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are his latest estimates of the expenditure on all external consultants, including management consultants, for each year since 1987, in 1994 prices, for his Department and its agencies; and what are the quantified annual cost savings which such expenditure has resulted in.

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 9 February 1995]: The information requested is not available in all the Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office for each year. However, from the information available, expenditure on external consultants, including management consultants in 1994 prices was:

  Year

  Expenditure (£000)

  1987–88

  1,580

  1988–89

  8,889

  1989–90

  14,451

  1990–91

  17,753

  1991–92

  26,141

  1992–93

  29,662

  1993–94

  30,286

  1994–95

  116,933

  1 Available estimates to date.

  As consultants are, in many instances, engaged to contribute particular skills to an element of a much larger process, it is not possible to quantify cost savings which such expenditure has resulted in but, in each instance, consultants were engaged on the basis of best value for money.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 17 January,Official Report, column 420, how many appointments to public positions have been made by his Department in the last year.

  Sir John Wheeler
  From 1 February 1994 to 31 January 1995, 395 individuals were appointed or reappointed to the bodies listed in the publication entitled "Public Bodies 1994", copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  Delorean Motor Car Co.
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give the total and breakdown of legal fees and all other costs associated with the action being pursued against Arthur Anderson in connection with the collapse of the Delorean Motor Car Co. and related matters; on what date the action was commenced; when it is expected to be concluded; and if he will make a statement on progress of that action to date.

  Mr. Ancram
  The legal fees and other costs associated with the action are a matter between the Government and their lawyers and disclosure while the action continues would not be in the public interest. The action was commenced on 15 February 1985. Arthur Anderson and Co. has filed a motion for summary judgement which is at present under consideration by the court. A date for trial cannot be set until the court has ruled on that motion and it is not possible to state when the action will be concluded.

  Sheep Pox
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of sheep pox have been reported in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Ancram
  Sheep pox has never been reported in Northern Ireland.

  Equal Opportunities Commission
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the annual expenditure per capita of the Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Ancram
  The information requested is as follows:

  1992–93: 79p

  1993–94: 87p

  1994–95: 94p

  Criminal Justice
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what provisions there are in the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 to protect the principle that a person is innocent until proven guilty by due process of law.

  Sir John Wheeler
  Generally speaking the prosecution bears the burden of proving all the elements of the offence necessary to establish guilt. It would not be necessary therefore for the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 to provide any specific protection as the common law rule is not affected by this legislation.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMEMT ADMINISTRATION

  Crown Agents
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements are being made to meet expenditure by the Overseas Development Administration in 1994–95 in connection with the proposal to change the status of the Crown Agents.

  Mr. Baldry
  As announced in the gracious speech on 16 November 1994, the Government intend to bring forward legislation to change the status of the Crown Agents. In advance of the enactment of the legislation, expenditure will be incurred on preparatory advisory services and suppliers have been contracted to provide these services.

  Parliamentary approval to this new service will be sought in a spring supplementary estimate for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Overseas Development Administration external assistance vote, class II, vote 5. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure, estimated at £59,000, will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the occasions during the last five years when his Department or its agencies has taken legal action against a consultancy firm; and what were the reasons in each case.

  The Attorney-General: There are none.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer of 17 January,Official Report, column 399, how many appointments to public positions have been made by his Department in the last year.

  The Attorney-General
  None.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Attorney-General 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.

  The Attorney-General
  [holding answer 1 February 1995]: There have been no special advisers in the departments for which I am responsible in the past five years.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Privy Council
  Ms Lestor
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many women are currently on the Privy Council; and how many(a) men and (b) women have been appointed since 1979.

  Mr. Newton
  The Privy Council currently includes 18 women. Since 1979, 266 men and 13 women have been appointed to the Privy Council.

  House of Commons Medical Facilities
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what medical provision is available in the House to hon. Members and their staff who require medical but not accident and emergency help from a hospital.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  [holding answer 10 February 1995]: The staff of the occupational health service, located off the Lower Waiting Hall, are available to advise Members or their staff, and staff of the House, who require medical help. It is their practice to deal with any small-scale accidents or emergencies, and to arrange for the transfer of more serious cases of this kind to St. Thomas's hospital. The service is not intended to provide medical treatment for which an individual's own general practitioner would be more suitable.

PRIME MINISTER

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the occasions during the last five years when his Office or its agencies has taken legal action against a consultancy firm; and what were the reasons in each case.

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 17 January,Official Report, columns 398–99, how many appointments to public positions have been made by his Department in the last year.

  The Prime Minister
  I have made 18 appointments since January 1994 to bodies listed in "Public Bodies 1994".

  Intensive Care Beds
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Prime Minister what action he plans to take to ensure a higher priority within public spending to the provision of intensive care beds.

  The Prime Minister
  It is for each purchasing authority to determine the appropriate level and type of provision of intensive therapy, and to priorities these accordingly based on an assessment of the total needs of its population. For their part, the Government have undertaken to increase the real level of resources devoted to the health service.

  Education Priorities
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 9 February to the right hon. Member for Bridgewater (Mr. King),Official Report, column 452, if he will list those local education authorities which may need to look carefully at education priorities.

  The Prime Minister
  All local education authorities need to consider their priorities to ensure that they provide an effective and efficient service.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to travel to Hong Kong in 1995.

  The Prime Minister
  I have no plans to visit Hong Kong in 1995.

  Marchioness
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will(a) meet those who survived the sinking of the motor vessels Marchioness and their relatives, and (b) respond positively to the requests for legal aid to be granted to them for their representation at the forthcoming inquest.

  The Prime Minister
  My right Hon. and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor would be willing to meet a delegation of survivors of the tragedy and their relatives. Legal aid is not available for representation at inquests. Subject to financial eligibility, advice and assistance may be available before the hearing under the green form scheme.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Angola
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries have made commitments to the proposed UN peacekeeping force in Angola; how many troops are involved; and what provision has been made to provide the necessary logistical support for such an operation.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The authorised maximum strength of United Nations Angolan unification mission III is 7,000 military personnel, 350 military observers and 260 civilian police observers. Some 30 countries have made offers of troops to UNAVEM III and the UN has accepted commitments from Brazil, Romania, India, Uruguay, Pakistan and Zimbabwe. Logistical support for the operation will be handled by a civilian contractor to be appointed by the United Nations.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how quickly the UN believes it can install United Nations Angolan verification mission III in Angola; and what commitment he has made to assist.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Security Council resolution authorising the deployment of UNAVEM III was adopted on 8 February. That resolution called for the phased deployment of forces subject to a report from the UN Secretary-General that certain conditions have been met for example, an effective cessation of hostilities and provision of all relevant military data. We are considering whether we are able to assist the operation.

  Football Agents
  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Norwegian Government concerning their investigation into the activities of football agents, with particular reference to Mr. Rune Hauge.

  Mr. David Davis
  None.

  Ministerial Travel (Hong Kong)
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to travel to Hong Kong in 1995.

  Mr. Goodlad
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no firm plans to visit Hong Kong in 1995, but he intends to continue to pay regular visits to the territory.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards the accession of Cyprus to the European Union; and what conditions he attaches to such accession.

  Mr. David Davis
  We agreed at the Corfu European Council that Cyprus would be involved in the next phase of enlargement. We welcome that prospect. The Council is currently reviewing Cyprus's application. We want to see the whole island join the EU, and want to help remove the obstacles presented by the intercommunal dispute.

  Former Yugoslavia
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards the proposal of the French Foreign Minister for holding a summit meeting in Paris to which representatives of Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia would be invited.

  Mr. David Davis
  We, along with our EU and contact group partners, support the French Government's initiative. If successful, such a meeting could be a major advance towards political settlements of the conflicts of former Yugoslavia.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions during the last five years when his Department or its agencies has taken legal action against a consultancy firm; and what were the reasons in each case.

  Mr. Goodlad
  My Department has not taken court proceedings against a consultancy firm in the last five years. On one occasion during that period a legal dispute with a consultancy firm was referred to arbitration. This concerned the alleged failure of an architectural practice properly to carry out design, supervision and administrative functions.

  Antarctica
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to offer former bases in Antarctica to non-governmental organisations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Davis
  Our policy is to offer, where appropriate, UK former bases in Antarctica to other Antarctic treaty parties, to promote the spirit of scientific co-operation between states foreseen by the Antarctic treaty. There are no plans to change this policy.

  European Movement
  Mr. Michael Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial assistance the European Movement received from his Department in 1994; and what commitment has been given for 1995 or future years.

  Mr. Baldry
  The European Movement was given a one-off grant of £10,000 in 1993, which was paid in January 1994. It has received no financial assistance this year. No commitment has been given for 1995, or for future years.

  Equipment Sales (Human Rights)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice he gives to the Secretary of State for Defence on the transfer of equipment which is likely to violate human rights.

  Mr. David Davis
  [holding answer 30 January 1995]: If my Department judged that defence equipment, if transferred, would be likely to be used to violate human rights, it would advise against the transfer.

  Sudan
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about reported Sudanese military air attacks on Uganda, the reasons for such activities and the British and international response.

  Mr. Baldry
  We are aware of the recent incident in which two bombs were dropped on Ugandan territory near the border with the Sudan. The Sudanese authorities have stated that this was an accident and continue to maintain normal relations with Uganda. There has therefore been no requirement for a formal British or international response.

  Defence Exports
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what account the Government take, in considering applications for licences for the export of defence equipment, of its likely use for internal security purposes.

  Mr. David Davis
  We do not issue licences for the export of equipment likely to be used for internal repression.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Escaped Prisoners, Parkhurst
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of searching for and recapturing the three prisoners who escaped from Parkhurst prison in January.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 15 February 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the cost of searching for and recapturing the three prisoners who escaped from Parkhurst prison in January.
  It is difficult to give a definitive answer to your Question as some costs have not yet been finally calculated. The estimated additional cost to the Prison Service of mounting the operation to recapture the escaped prisoners is about £25,000.
  The cost of the police operations from the beginning of the incident until Thursday 9 February was £252,000. It is not anticipated that this figure will increase substantially.

  Group 4 Ltd.
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the benefits from the contract with Group 4 Ltd. for court services in Merseyside, Greater Manchester and north Wales.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
  688
  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Peter Thurnham, dated 15 February 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about court escorting and custody services in the North West.Group 4 has been awarded the contract for the court escort and custody service in the North West (Area 6). Based on the tender submitted, the terms of the contract and prior experience, this contract is expected to lead to fewer escapes, a better quality service to the courts, less disruption to the police and Prison Service, and lower costs.Experience in the East Midlands and the Metropolitan Police District shows that there are fewer escapes than occurred when the police and Prison Service were responsible for escorts. In the East Midlands, where Group 4 has been running the service for more than a year, escapes are now 40 per cent. fewer than under the previous arrangements.Contract standards are enforceable, with penalties for non-compliance. Two full time Prison Service monitors will be based in the contract area carrying out regular spot checks. In a recent survey in the East Midlands, over 90 per cent. of court staff said that Group 4 was providing a service as good or better than under the previous arrangements.Contracting out this task also relieves prison and police officers of a non core task, enabling them to concentrate on more important duties. Police forces and prisons will be relieved of a task which is unpredictable in its demands and will no longer have to redeploy officers to meet unexpected peaks. They will be able to plan better how to use their resources most effectively.The overall cost saving, following the award of Area 6 to Group 4 is estimated to be £11 million or 14 per cent. Duplication between the police and Prison Service will be eliminated.

  Prisons
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the salary scales for(a) prison officers and (b) prison auxiliaries; and if he will distinguish between the duties of each.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 15 February 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the salary scales for a) prison officers and b) prison auxiliaries; and to distinguish between the duties of each.The salary scales are from £15,630 to £19,491 for prison officers and £8,348 to £9,299 for prison auxiliaries. In addition to their basic salary, all prison auxiliaries receive 12.6 per cent. shift disturbance allowance and additional hours worked are paid by overtime. Prison officers are compensated for additional hours by time off in lieu.Prison officers are required to undertake and pass formal training at a Prison Service College and accept that they are fully mobile. They are required to demonstrate a wide range of skills and competencies in dealing with inmates in order to perform their duties, which include supervising activities, searching, escorting prisoners, counselling, offending behaviour programmes, advising on legal procedures, sentence planning, categorising prisoners, crisis intervention and support, report writing, security information collation, disciplinary action, interviewing, incident response (including control and restraint techniques) and pre-release course leadership.Prison auxiliaries are non mobile and perform a wide range of support duties, such as staff mess caterer, gate keeper, records officer, escorting contractors and assisting in control rooms.689
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to announce the successful bids for the next phase of private prisons.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. George Howarth, dated 15 February 1995:

  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the next phase of contracted out prisons.

  The next phase will be the first two design, construct, manage and finance prisons, one in Bridgend in South Wales and another in Merseyside.

  We have received a first round of tenders and we are discussing those with the tenderers under the negotiated procedure of the EU Services Directive. We hope to issue a final invitation to tender in the next few weeks.

  After consideration of tenders, we would expect to make an announcement of the successful contractor or contractors in the spring or early summer.

  Radio Broadcasts
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what monitoring he carries out of radio broadcasts to see whether they comply with the Race Relations Acts or Public Order Acts;

  (2) what investigations he has made into the organisation, Muslim Community Radio;

  (3) how many staff are employed monitoring radio broadcasts to consider whether they are racially offensive or incite racial hatred;

  (4) what guidelines are issued to the Radio Authority with regard to broadcasting of racially offensive or anti-semitic material.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Section 22 of the Public Order Act 1986 makes it an offence to broadcast material intended to stir up racial hatred. The investigation of any complaints is a matter for the police and prosecuting authorities.

  The Home Office has no role in the monitoring of radio broadcasts. The responsibilities of the Radio Authority are a matter for the Department of National Heritage.

  Immigration Detainees
  Mr. Litherland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people have been detained at Manchester airport under Immigration Act powers in the last two years;

  (2) how many people were detained on entry at Manchester airport over the past two years; and what was their country of origin;

  (3) how many people detained at Manchester airport under Immigration Act powers were subsequently transferred to other detention centres or prisons over the past two years.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The available information set out shows the number of people detained at Manchester airport overnight or longer broken down by nationality. Of these, 94 were detained on entry in 1994 and an estimated 82 in 1993. The other information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.690

  Country

  1993

  1994

  Not determined/stateless

  27

  32

  Afghanistan

  3

  5

  Albania

  3

  —

  Algeria

  20

  34

  Angola

  1

  7

  Antigua

  —

  1

  Argentina

  —

  1

  Australia

  3

  1

  Austria

  2

  —

  Bangladesh

  27

  33

  Bermuda

  1

  —

  Brazil

  1

  1

  Bulgaria

  1

  1

  Cameroon

  3

  —

  Canada

  4

  1

  China

  6

  6

  Colombia

  7

  4

  Congo

  1

  —

  Croatia

  3

  —

  Cyprus

  3

  2

  Czechoslovakia

  —

  4

  Dominican Republic

  1

  —

  Ecuador

  3

  —

  Egypt

  1

  3

  Gambia

  11

  13

  Ghana

  15

  28

  Guyana

  1

  —

  Hong Kong

  21

  13

  Hungary

  1

  1

  India

  153

  244

  Iran

  1

  7

  Iraq

  —

  1

  Israel

  6

  —

  Ivory Coast

  3

  1

  Jamaica

  19

  20

  Japan

  —

  10

  Jordan

  1

  1

  Kenya

  2

  2

  Latvia

  1

  —

  Lebanon

  1

  2

  Liberia

  2

  —

  Libya

  1

  –1

  Lithuania

  —

  4

  Malawi

  2

  —

  Malaysia

  21

  18

  Malta

  2

  —

  Mauritius

  1

  1

  Mexico

  —

  3

  Morocco

  3

  4

  Nepal

  4

  —

  New Zealand

  2

  —

  Nigeria

  36

  49

  Pakistan

  127

  184

  Peru

  2

  2

  Philippines

  7

  1

  Poland

  4

  9

  Portugal

  3

  —

  Romania

  3

  2

  Russia

  3

  2

  St. Lucia

  —

  1

  St. Vincent and Grenada

  1

  —

  Senegal

  1

  —

  Sierra Leone

  3

  6

  Singapore

  1

  1

  Somalia

  2

  6

  South Africa

  9

  7

  South Korea

  —

  1

  Spain

  —

  1

  Sri Lanka

  10

  24

  Switzerland

  —

  1

  Syria

  2

  —

  Tanzania

  1

  6

  Thailand

  2

  1

  Togo

  2

  —

  691

  Country

  1993

  1994

  Trinidad and Tobago

  1

  —

  Tunisia

  5

  2

  Turkey

  23

  72

  Uganda

  2

  —

  Ukraine

  —

  3

  United Arab Emirates

  1

  —

  USA

  7

  7

  Yemen

  4

  1

  Yugoslavia

  —

  2

  Zaire

  4

  4

  Zambia

  2

  1

  Zimbabwe

  —

  2

  Total

  663

  918

  Football
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the Carling Premiership and Endsleigh Insurance league clubs together with the total season's attendance at(a) matches played in the Carling Premiership and Endsleigh Insurance leagues and (b) matches played in the FA Cup, Coca-Cola Cup and Autoglass Trophy with the total number of (i) arrests and (ii) arrests as a percentage of the total attendance at each category of such matches, accurate to four decimal places, for the 1993–94 season.

  Mr.Maclean
  The information is set out in the following tables:

  Premier league 1993–94 season

  Club

  Total attendance

  Arrests

  Arrests Percentage

  Arsenal

  641,833

  80

  0.0125

  Aston Villa

  609,314

  141

  0.0231

  Blackburn Rovers

  372,145

  59

  0.0159

  Chelsea

  407,732

  94

  0.0231

  Coventry

  280,392

  90

  0.0321

  Everton

  480,391

  75

  0.0156

  Ipswich

  344,025

  28

  0.0081

  Leeds

  724,363

  130

  0.0179

  Liverpool

  808,361

  214

  0.0265

  Manchester City

  560,899

  46

  0.0082

  Manchester United

  929,133

  59

  0.0064

  Newcastle

  707,269

  82

  0.0116

  Norwich

  381,436

  70

  0.0184

  Oldham

  263,815

  19

  0.0072

  Queens Park Rangers

  298,782

  59

  0.0197

  Sheffield United

  410,805

  87

  0.0212

  Sheffield Wednesday

  571,002

  67

  0.0117

  Southampton

  309,765

  61

  0.0197

  Swindon

  320,761

  31

  0.0097

  Tottenham

  570,359

  62

  0.0109

  West Ham

  432,008

  59

  0.0137

  Wimbledon

  219,961

  17

  0.0077

  Total

  10,644,551

  1,630

  0.0153

  Division one 1993–94 season

  Club

  Total attendance

  Arrests

  Arrest Percentage

  Barnsley

  175,037

  77

  0.0440

  Birmingham

  333,636

  92

  0.0276

  Bolton

  241,462

  50

  0.0207

  Bristol City

  203,596

  47

  0.0231

  Charlton

  185,279

  11

  0.0059

  Crystal Palace

  360,092

  61

  0.0169

  692

  Division one 1993–94 season

  Club

  Total attendance

  Arrests

  Arrest Percentage

  Derby

  365,549

  54

  0.0148

  Grimsby

  143,747

  28

  0.0195

  Leicester

  351,209

  20

  0.0057

  Luton

  181,197

  13

  0.0072

  Middlesbrough

  239,218

  26

  0.0890

  Millwall

  225,893

  98

  0.0434

  Nottingham County

  197,726

  25

  0.0126

  Nottingham Forest

  529,168

  25

  0.0158

  Peterborough

  170,477

  57

  0.0334

  Portsmouth

  268,918

  50

  0.0186

  Southend

  140,404

  24

  0.0171

  Stoke

  366,419

  89

  0.0243

  Sunderland

  389,493

  54

  0.0139

  Tranmere

  186,278

  94

  0.0505

  Watford

  181,607

  20

  0.0110

  West Bromwich Albion

  387,327

  123

  0.0318

  Wolverhampton

  505,190

  119

  0.0236

  Total

  6,487,104

  1,359

  0.0209

  Division two 1993–94 season

  Club

  Total attendance

  Arrests

  Arrest Percentage

  AFC Bournemouth

  100,156

  28

  0.0280

  Blackpool

  109,403

  129

  0.1180

  Barnet

  55,906

  13

  0.0233

  Bradford

  147,095

  33

  0.0224

  Brentford

  129,043

  37

  0.0287

  Brighton

  177,301

  21

  0.0118

  Bristol Rovers

  122,214

  8

  0.0065

  Burnley

  259,283

  23

  0.0089

  Cambridge

  84,773

  6

  0.0071

  Cardiff

  139,150

  15

  0.0108

  Exeter

  76,366

  20

  0.0262

  Fulham

  107,068

  28

  0.0262

  Hartlepool

  47,742

  14

  0.0293

  Huddersfield

  146,556

  42

  0.0287

  Hull

  136,199

  15

  0.0110

  Leyton Orient

  97,442

  8

  0.0082

  Plymouth

  206,075

  33

  0.0160

  Port Vale

  191,435

  38

  0.0199

  Reading

  158,437

  117

  0.0738

  Rotherham

  85,438

  29

  0.0339

  Stockport

  117,081

  13

  0.0111

  Swansea

  81,281

  9

  0.0111

  Wrexham

  91,098

  48

  0.0527

  York

  106,160

  55

  0.0518

  Total

  2,972,702

  782

  0.0263

  Division three 1993–94 season

  Club

  Total attendance

  Arrests

  Arrests Percentage

  Bury

  54,529

  4

  0.0073

  Carlisle

  116,244

  16

  0.0138

  Chesterfield

  66,958

  33

  0.0493

  Chester

  67,008

  30

  0.0448

  Colchester

  59,998

  6

  0.0100

  Crewe

  83,809

  13

  0.0155

  Darlington

  47,796

  8

  0.0167

  Doncaster

  52,041

  8

  0.0154

  Gillingham

  66,110

  10

  0.0151

  Hereford

  47,499

  1

  0.0021

  Lincoln

  66,758

  0

  0.0000

  Mansfield

  57,082

  19

  0.0333

  Northampton

  72,534

  12

  0.0165

  Preston

  154,918

  56

  0.0361

  693

  Division three 1993–94 season

  Club

  Total attendance

  Arrests

  Arrests Percentage

  Rochdale

  55,788

  7

  0.0125

  Scarborough

  35,302

  20

  0.0567

  Scunthorpe

  66,816

  5

  0.0075

  Shewsbury

  92,435

  162

  0.1753

  Torquay

  72,167

  2

  0.0028

  Walsall

  88,977

  10

  0.0112

  Wigan

  39,844

  17

  0.0427

  Wycombe

  114,411

  17

  0.0149

  Total

  1,579,024

  456

  0.0289

  Cup competitions in the 1993–94 season

  Attendance

  Arrests

  Percentage

  FA Cup

  1,989,474

  761

  0.0383

  Coca-Cola

  1,744,120

  487

  0.0279

  Autoglass

  251,381

  48

  0.0191

  Total

  3,984,975

  1,296

  0.0325

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to re-examine the provisions of section 3 of the Football (Offences) Act 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  We have no specific plans to do so. We do, however, keep under review all of the provisions of the Football (Offences) Act 1991, as well as other football legislation concerned with public order.

  Al Fayed Brothers
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to take decisions on applications for British citizenship by(a) Mr. Ali Al Fayed and (b) Mr. Mohammed Al Fayed; if he has all the information he requires on which to take decisions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  As I explained in reply to a question from the hon. Member on 31 October 1994,Official Report, column 947, I do not propose to comment further on the detailed processing of these applications.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the occasions during the last five years when his Department or its agencies has taken legal action against a consultancy firm; and what were the reasons in each case.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  During the period specified, I am not aware that the Home Office has had occasion to take legal action against a consultancy firm.

  Asylum Seekers
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reinforce asylum decision taking procedures; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  The Government intend to undertake a significant reinforcement of the asylum determination system, and of the independent immigration appellate authorities in respect of their responsibility for hearing asylum appeals.
  694
  The United Kingdom fully adheres to its obligations towards genuine refugees. But the number of abusive or otherwise undeserving asylum applications has grown massively since the late 1980s. Currently, nearly 80 per cent. of asylum applications are rejected outright, and the great majority of appeals are dismissed. It is not in the interests of genuine asylum seekers for the system to be overloaded with applications from people whose real motives have nothing to do with a well-founded fear of persecution.

  Additional money is being made available to fund 150 additional determination staff in the asylum division of the Home Office, and there will be a corresponding reinforcement in the independent appeal system. Once the additional staff are in post and trained, it will make possible an additional 7,000 initial decisions annually.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what use is being made of the power in section 7 of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993 to curtail the leave to enter or remain of an asylum seeker at the same time as his claim is being rejected; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  The use of the curtailment power has been reviewed in the light of the first year's experience of the operation of the Act. The curtailment power has deliberately been used sparingly while the new asylum procedures were settling in. I have concluded that it would now be right to make wider use of this power.

  A refused asylum applicatant with extant leave at the time of his application may, if the curtailment provision in section 7 of the 1993 Act is not used, appeal twice, first against the asylum decision, and then, if he overstays, against deportation. This is wasteful of resources, leads to delay and is not in the interests of either genuine refugees or an efficient asylum system.

  Greater use of curtailment will speed up appeal procedures and make it easier to remove those with existing leave to enter or remain who have sought to abuse the asylum procedures. Genuine asylum seekers are better served by a system that deals with undeserving cases swiftly and effectively.

  Section 7 of the 1993 Act allows curtailment of any existing leave to enter or remain at the time of refusal of an asylum claim. Curtailment takes effect immediately the decision is served. The applicant's appeal right is triggered by the service of a notice of intention to deport. The applicant's detention may be ordered pending his deportation. If the applicant decides to appeal, then all relevant aspects of the case, including the asylum and deportation aspects, may be addressed by a special adjudicator at a single hearing.

  During the passage of what became the 1993 Act, the Government indicated that it was not the intention that curtailment should be used either automatically or punitively. We propose no change of approach in these respects.

  However, discussion of curtailment during the passage of the Bill tended to focus on the case of a person who is admitted as a bona fide tourist but makes an asylum

  695
  application soon after, thus revealing that the real intention in coming here was to apply for asylum. Experience since implementation of the 1993 Act suggests that it would restrict the curtailment power too narrowly to confine its use to cases of this sort.

  At present, some two thirds of all asylum applications in the United Kingdom are made after entry, rather than at the port. More than half of these in-country applications are made by people with existing leave to enter or remain. In the bulk of cases, the asylum application is not made immediately after leave to enter or remain has been granted, but shortly before it is due to expire. We have concluded that in these cases there is significant scope for proper use of the curtailment power.

  There will in future be a general presumption that curtailment will be used where available except where this would be inappropriate. Each case will continue to be looked at on its individual merits and, as before, curtailment will be neither automatic nor punitive. Cases where curtailment might be inappropriate include those where it is right to allow existing leave to run after the asylum decision has been taken; where the applicant qualifies for leave to remain under another category of the immigration rules—for example, if they are married to a British citizen or person settled here; or where there are compelling compassionate or other circumstances which would make it inappropriate to proceed to deportation action. Where the curtailment power is used, a notice of intention to deport will normally be served at the same time. This is necessary in order to trigger a right of appeal against the refusal of asylum. It will still be open to the applicant to leave voluntarily, either before or, if it is unsuccessful, after the appeal.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the total cost to public funds of the Metropolitan police in 1995–96; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  As police authority for the Metropolitan police district, I have approved estimates which provide for net revenue expenditure of £1,687.828 million in 1995–96.

  The receiver for the Metropolitan police district is issuing, with my approval, a precept of £47.86 per property in band D of the council tax valuation band for Metropolitan police purposes.

  I have discussed the estimates for the Metropolitan police expenditure in 1995–96 with representatives of the London local authority associations.

  Boundary Commission for Wales
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take on the fourth periodical report of the Boundary Commission for Wales.

  Mr. Howard
  I have today laid before Parliament the fourth periodical report of the Boundary Commission for Wales together with a draft Order in Council for giving effect, without modifications, to the recommendations contained in the report.

SCOTLAND

  Contagious Agalactia
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of contagious agalactia have occurred in each year since 1985.

  Sir Hector Monro
  No cases of contagious agalactia have been recorded since it was made notifiable on 1 January 1993. Official records are not available before that date.

  Sheep Pox
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of sheep pox have been reported in each year since 1985.

  Sir Hector Monro
  No cases of sheep pox have been recorded in Scotland since 1985.

  Power Generation
  Mr. Eric Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to change Government policy in respect of directing the Scottish utilities, Scottish Power and Scottish Hydro to accept Scottish Nuclear's total generation production at any time.

  Mr. Kynoch
  Scottish Power and Scottish Hydro-Electric purchase all of Scottish Nuclear's output of electricity under the terms of the nuclear energy agreement. Any change in this commercial contract would be a matter for the three companies.

  Strathclyde Fire Brigade
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many malicious calls were made to Strathclyde fire brigade in(a) Inverclyde and (b) Strathclyde in each of the past three years; and, of these, how many led to successful prosecutions in. the district courts in (i) Inverclyde and (ii) Strathclyde.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Relevant information is as follows:

  Malicious calls made to Strathclyde fire brigade

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Inverclyde

  1—

  1—

  1—

  292

  Strathclyde total

  11,370

  16,349

  13,970

  7,914

  1Information about calls in particular districts is not readily separable from brigade totals for years prior to 1994.

  Persons with a charge proved under section 31 of the Fire Services Act 1947 (false alarms of fire)

  1991

  1992

  1993

  District court

  Inverclyde

  —

  —

  —

  Strathclyde

  1

  —

  —

  Stipendiary Magistrates

  4

  4

  3

  Sheriff court

  Greenock

  1

  —

  2

  Strathclyde (including Greenock)

  10

  17

  19

  Note:

  Information for 1994 is not yet available.

  Mountain Rescue Teams
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to require those who benefit from the services of Scottish mountain rescue teams, and who subsequently receive payments from newspapers to provide details of such rescues, to pay over such sums to the rescue services in question; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  I cannot commend too highly the work carried out by our mountain rescue teams, the members of which provide their services free of charge. Although it is most disappointing when a rescued person seeks to sell the story to a newspaper and does not donate the proceeds to the rescue services concerned, I do not consider it appropriate for the Government to legislate in the manner proposed.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what compensation will be available for staff made redundant as a result of reorganisation of local government in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kynoch
  I am laying before the House today regulations setting out the compensation which will be made available, in general, to local authority staff who may be made redundant or prematurely retired as a result of local government reorganisation in Scotland. Further regulations will be laid shortly covering members of the teachers' superannuation scheme who are in administrative posts and who may be similarly affected. Copies of the regulations will be placed in the Library.

  In determining the compensation package, I have given careful consideration to the comments received on the draft proposals which were circulated for consultation at the end of last year. In response to these comments, I have simplified the administrative arrangements and, as indicated, will be bringing forward regulations to provide similar arrangements for members of the teachers' superannuation scheme who are in administrative posts in local authorities. I believe local authorities will welcome these changes.

  I believe the compensation package being made available represents a sensible and balanced approach to an important issue and one which will allow authorities and their staff to take forward the necessary planning for transition to the new unitary authorities.

  Child Witnesses
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when he expects to extend the provision of closed circuit television for the taking of children's evidence in the High Court and criminal trials in the sheriffs courts.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Following consultation with the Lord Justice General and the sheriffs principal, arrangements are being made to extend these provisions from 3 April 1995 to the whole of Scotland. The necessary facilities will be provided in one court house in each sheriffdom.

  Boundary Commission Report
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to present to 698
  Parliament the report of the Boundary Commission for Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The report has been laid before Parliament today, together with the draft of an Order in Council for giving effect to the recommendations.

  Trading Standards
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to safeguard the trading standards service in the future local government structure.

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 14 February 1995]: The trading standards service is a local authority function and I will expect the new councils to give careful consideration to how this important function should be provided in the new structure, including exploring the use of joint arrangements. Should suitable arrangements fail to be made, my right hon. Friend has powers under section 20 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 to establish a joint board.

  Mature Students
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many students in Scotland currently benefit from the mature students allowance.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 13 February 1995]: In the academic year 1993–94—the latest period for which complete figures are available—the number of Scottish domiciled students qualifying for a mature students' allowance as part of their means-tested maintenance award under the students' allowances scheme was 7,272.

  Advertising
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total expenditure on all forms of advertising by his Department and its agencies for each year since 1979 in 1994 prices.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 13 February 1995]: Expenditure by my Department and its agencies on advertising, based on 1994 prices, has been:

  Year

  £

  1993–94

  1,874,000

  1992–93

  1,648,000

  1991–92

  2,104,000

  1990–91

  1,911,000

  1989–90

  2,713,000

  1988–89

  1,470,000

  Figures in the form requested are not available for 1979–80 to 1987–88. Total expenditure on information publicity for each year of that period, at 1994 prices, was:

  Year

  £

  1979–80

  629,000

  1980–81

  744,000

  1981–82

  724,000

  1982–83

  664,000

  1983–84

  592,000

  1984–85

  1,102,000

  699

  Year

  £

  1985–86

  1,001,000

  1986–87

  1,228,000

  1987–88

  1,507,000

  Consultants
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his latest estimates of the expenditure on all external consultants, including management consultants, for each year since 1987, in 1994 prices, for his Department and its agencies; and what are the quantified annual cost savings which such expenditure has resulted in.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 9 February 1995]: A full reply could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, I refer the hon. Member to my answers to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 21 February 1994, Official Report, column 51, and to the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow (Dr. Godman) on 16 March 1994, Official Report, column 660, which contain much of the information sought.

EMPLOYMENT

  Saddlery
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the prospects for young people to enter, and receive training for, the saddlery trade; if he will support the continuing provision of centres of excellence within the trade for the provision of training; and what plans he has to ensure that employment prospects in the industry are strengthened.

  Mr. Paice
  The prospects for young people entering and receiving training in the saddlery trade are very good. The industry is interested in developing a modern apprenticeship framework which will enhance and improve existing opportunities.

  The industry is successful in the domestic and overseas markets and should be responsible for primary support for centres of excellence. Young people are, of course, eligible for support through youth training. Individual training and enterprise councils and local enterprise companies have flexibility in addressing the needs of their local labour markets.

  Training
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of people who took part in schemes run under the auspices of employment training and employment action progressed to further training as a result of their scheme in the years 1991–92 and 1992–93.

  Mr. Paice
  Of those leaving employment training in Great Britain in both 1991–92 and 1992–3, 2 per cent. went into another Government training programme. The only full year for which data are available for employment action is 1992–93. Of those leaving EA in Great Britain in that year, 11 per cent. went into another Government training programme.
  700
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, how many young people with severe disabilities are currently participating on a youth training scheme; how many are awaiting a position on a youth training scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Paice
  Of those leaving youth training in England and Wales in the period April to September 1994, 5 per cent. had a disability or health problem.

  There are no figures available for the number of disabled people waiting for a position on a YT scheme.

  Ministerial Travel (Hong Kong)
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to travel to Hong Kong in 1995.

  Miss Widdecombe
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to travel to Hong Kong.

  South Thames Training and Enterprise Council
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the total assets available to South Thames TEC prior to it going into receivership.

  Mr. Paice
  This is a matter for the receiver. A list of South Thames training and enterprise council's assets and liabilities is still in the process of being drawn up.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment for what reasons his Department is asserting preferential creditor status with regard to the receivership of South Thames TEC.

  Mr. Paice
  The Department is not a preferential creditor with regard to South Thames training and enterprise council. The Department is a secured creditor as a result of the debenture with the TEC. Where, as in the case of South Thames TEC, public money is at risk, the Department has a duty to protect it. Were secured creditor status to be waived, this would not be possible. The debenture provides for a relationship between the Department and the administrative receiver which enables it, consistent with the receiver's legal responsibilities, to influence the management of the contract with the Department so as to minimise the disruption caused by the receivership to individuals on Government programmes within the South Thames TEC area.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much of the South Thames TEC assets will go to his Department as preferential creditor; and how much will go to the training providers owed money by the TEC.

  Mr. Paice
  The receiver is currently still in the process of drawing up a list of South Thames training and enterprise council's assets and liabilities. Until this is known, I am not in a position to make a statement about the division of assets between the Department and other creditors.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the occasions during the last five years when his Department or its agencies has taken legal action against a consultancy firm; and what were the reasons in each case.
  701
  Miss Widdecombe
  Records held by the Department and its agencies do not differentiate between consultancy firms and other organisations. It would be disproportionately costly to examine all case records manually.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 17 January,Official Report, column 461, how many appointments to public positions have been made by his Department in the last year.

  Miss Widdecombe
  In 1994, 201 appointments were made to the public bodies which are the responsibility of the Employment Department group.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Wicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures showing the number of unemployed persons with dependent children who have been unemployed for(a) less than six months, (b) six to 12 months and (c) 12 months or more.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 13 February 1995]: Latest estimates from the summer 1994 labour force survey for Great Britain show that there were 785,000 International Labour Organisation unemployed parents with dependent children. Of these, 297,000 had been ILO unemployed for less than six months; 138,000 had been ILO unemployed for six to 12 months and 349,000 had been ILO unemployed for over one year.

  Mr. Wicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will publish the latest figures showing the number of children living in families with an unemployed head;

  (2) if he will publish the latest figures showing the number of children living in families headed by a person who has been unemployed for (a) less than six months, (b) six to 12 months and (c) 12 months or more.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 13 February 1995]: Latest estimates from the summer 1994 labour force survey for Great Britain show that there were 1,103,000 children living in families with an ILO unemployed head. Of these, 297,000 children lived in a family where the head had been ILO unemployed for less than six months; 170,000 in a family where the head had been ILO unemployed for six to 12 months and 635,000 in a family where the head had been ILO unemployed for over a year.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his oral answer of 7 February to the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Mr. Chidgey),Official Report, column 124, (1) if he will make a statement regarding measures he is taking to improve the working of the labour market which will address discrimination faced by ethnic minorities;

  (2) what are the measures he has taken to tailor the most effective help for those facing prejudice on the grounds of race when looking for a job.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 13 February 1995]: The Race Relations Act 1976 makes racial discrimination in employment matters generally unlawful and anyone
  702
  who feels that they have been discriminated against any complain to an industrial tribunal.

  The Department's race relations employment advisory service advises employers on how to provide racial equality of opportunity. The Department has also published guidance for employers on this.

  Helping people at a disadvantage in the labour market to find work is one of the strategic priorities set for training and enterprise councils. They are contractually obliged to ensure that they and their providers promote equality of opportunity in access to, treatment on and outcomes from their programmes. Performance-related funding encourages TECs to improve the rate of job outcomes from training for ethnic minority people.

  The Employment Service applies the principles of racial equality of opportunity in its programmes and services. ES has taken a number of measures to assist people from ethnic minorities. Employers wishing to use ES provisions must comply with the Race Relations Act.

  Jobsearch Plans
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his Department's policy on whether it will be considered reasonable, in answer to question 18 of the draft jobsearch plan, to specify a figure below the benefit level that the jobseeker would get if he remained unemployed.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 3 February 1995]: The draft jobsearch plan has been designed to enable jobseekers to set out information to help them prepare for the discussions with an employment adviser about their jobseeker's agreement. Whether a particular level of pay is reasonable will be determined in the light of the jobseeker's skills and experience, whether he has a previous occupation and the labour market conditions. As now, people with a previous occupation may be allowed a permitted period of up to 13 weeks during which they may refuse employment where the level or remuneration is lower than they are accustomed to receive. Legislation would stipulate that, as now, the level of remuneration cannot be a reason for refusing employment outside the permitted period.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what guidance he proposes to issue in respect of the lowest wage that can be specified under question 18 of the draft jobsearch plan without a refusal of benefit resulting; and if he will make a statement about question 18 of the draft plan.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 3 February 1995]: The draft jobsearch plan has been designed to enable jobseekers to set out information to help them prepare for the discussions with an employment adviser about their jobseeker's agreement. A question about the level of pay is relevant for consideration of the permitted period during which an unemployed person may refuse employment where the level of remuneration is lower than he is accustomed to receive. The same question is already asked of all unemployed people when they make a claim for benefit. The draft Jobsearch plan simply carries forward existing practice in this respect.

  Beyond any permitted period, the jobseeker may still be allowed to restrict his availability on grounds of pay for up to six months, provided that he retains reasonable prospects of securing employment, and that he becomes available for an increasing range of jobs. Legislation

  703
  would stipulate that, as now, the level of remuneration cannot be a reason for refusing employment outside the permitted period.

  Decisions on such issues will be a matter for independent adjudication officers who are not subject to guidance from the Secretary of State. It is for the chief adjudication officer to issue guidance based on the relevant legislation and case law.

  Labour Statistics
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people left unemployment in each quarter since 1987 after(a) zero to 13 weeks unemployed, (b) 12 to 26 weeks unemployed, (c) 26 to 39 weeks unemployed, (d) 39 to 52 weeks unemployed, (e) 52 to 65 weeks unemployed, (f) 65 to 78 weeks unemployed, (g) 78 to 91 weeks unemployed, (h) 91 to 104 weeks unemployed, (i) 104 to 140 weeks unemployed, (j) 140 to 156 weeks unemployed and (k) 156 to 208 weeks unemployed; and what is the exit rate as a percentage of the relevant stock of unemployed for each duration.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Unadjusted quarterly information on the stock of claimant unemployment, and on claimant outflows, by duration can be obtained from the NOMIS database in the Library. No information is available on ILO unemployment flows.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many, and what proportion of people, in each year since 1974, who were(a) unemployed, (b) unemployed for more than one year and (c) unemployed for more than two years have (i) a degree, (ii) GCEs or GCSEs and (iii) no qualifications.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  For years 1984 onwards, this information is available from the labour force survey and can be obtained via the Quantime LFS service available in the Library.

  Industrial Accidents
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if Her Majesty's Government support the decision of the European Parliament to amend the EC industrial hazards directive 82/501 so as to require EU member states to forward data on industrial accidents to the Commission and the European Environment Agency.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I understand that the European Parliament is to consider at its session on 16 February 1995 amendments suggested by its members to the proposed Council directive on the control of major accident hazards involving dangerous substances, which is intended to replace Council directive 82/501. The Parliament has, therefore, not yet taken a decision on the position of data on industrial accidents being forwarded to the Commission and the European Environment Agency.

  The Health and Safety Executive and the Department of Environment, which jointly lead on negotiations on the proposed directive, are considering the implications of an additional reporting requirement to the European Environment Agency. I will take a view on this when the European Parliament has made its position clear.

  Part-time Workers
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he intends to take to 704
  publicise the new employment rights for part-time workers.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Employment Department publicises employees' statutory rights in a number of ways. A press notice was issued on 20 December last year when the Government announced their intention to remove the qualifying hours thresholds. News items on the removal of the thresholds have since been included in the Department's "Employment Gazette" and "Employment News" publications. In addition, the Department's series of free leaflets on employment protection rights is being revised to reflect the new position.

WALES

  Pregnancy Statistics
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number and rate of(a) conceptions, (b) full-term pregnancies and (c) terminations for each of the last 10 years, for girls in the age group 12 to 15 years; and if he will disaggregate this information to the level for which figures are collected centrally.

  Mr. Richards
  The information available for Wales is shown in the following table. Corresponding information for district health authorities, with rates averaged over three year periods, is published in the OPCS Monitor, "Conceptions in England and Wales 1991: residents of regional and district health authority areas FM1 94/1", which is in the Library of the House.

  Conceptions at ages under 16—rate per 1,000 women aged 13–15

  Conceptions leading to:

  Year

  Number

  Total conceptions

  maternities

  abortions

  1984

  553

  8.6

  4.5

  4.2

  1985

  577

  9.3

  4.9

  4.3

  1986

  510

  8.4

  4.7

  3.7

  1987

  545

  9.6

  5.0

  4.6

  1988

  536

  9.9

  5.4

  4.5

  1989

  460

  8.9

  4.9

  4.0

  1990

  523

  10.4

  6.3

  4.1

  1991

  461

  9.5

  5.0

  4.5

  Note:

  Rates use the mid-year population estimates revised following the rebasing of mid–1991 estimates using the 1991 census of population.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many 16 and 17-year-olds are unemployed in each of the counties of Wales and in each of the parliamentary constituencies; and what is the percentage not receiving a benefit.

  Mr. Redwood
  Information on levels of claimant unemployment for under 18-year-olds are available from the NOMIS database in the Library of the House. Information on the numbers of people in receipt of benefits is not available from the claimant count.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many long-term unemployed there are in
  705
  each of the parliamentary constituencies and counties of Wales;

  (2) how many young unemployed adults there are in each of the counties in Wales and in each of the parliamentary constituencies.

  Mr. Redwood
  The data requested are available from the NOMIS database, which can be accessed by the staff of the Library of the House.

  Training
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives there are in place to ensure that there are sufficient training opportunities for young people with special needs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Richards
  Youth training provides a range of opportunities for young people, including those with special needs. This is underpinned by the Government's guarantee that all 16 and 17-year-olds not in education or employment who are seeking training shall receive the offer of a suitable YT place. The guarantee may be extended to those aged 18 who have been prevented from taking up, or continuing with, a YT place for specified reasons including language difficulties and disability.

  Civil Servants (Redundancy Payments)
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what factors are taken into account by his Department in relation to the setting of redundancy payments made to civil servants; and if he will make it his policy to offer the same terms to local government staff.

  Mr. Redwood
  The financial terms for civil servants in the event of redundancy are set out in the civil service compensation scheme. This scheme, which applies throughout the civil service, was laid before Parliament on 20 December 1994 by Her Majesty's Treasury.

  The Local Government (Compensation for Redundancy) Regulations 1994 set out the redundancy terms for local government staff, which are not the same as those which apply to civil servants. The regulations were approved by a resolution of the House on 24 January 1995. The Government have no plans to amend them.

  School meals service, by LEA area 1993–94

  Clwyd

  Dyfed

  Gwent

  Gwynedd

  Mid Glamorgan

  Powys

  South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  Wales

  Primary schools:

  Number of pupils taking free midday meals1

  6,570

  6,201

  10,744

  4,111

  15,726

  1,212

  10,125

  8,173

  62,862

  Number of pupils entitled to free meals2

  7,540

  6,972

  12,910

  4,535

  18,078

  1,334

  10,964

  9,342

  71,675

  Secondary schools:

  Number of pupils taking free midday meals1

  2,862

  2,875

  4,378

  1,736

  6,612

  405

  3,762

  3,789

  26,419

  Number of pupils entitled to free meals2

  3,815

  3,906

  6,249

  2,379

  9,398

  486

  5,290

  5,003

  36,526

  1 Pupils taking free midday meals on 18 January 1994.

  2 Pupils on roll on 18 January 1994 who were registered as being entitled to free meals. Pupils entitled to free meals but absent from school on 18 January are included.

  706

  Receiverships
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many firms went into receivership in Wales in(a) 1994, (b) 1993, (c) 1992, (d) 1991, (e) 1990 and (r) 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Official statistics on companies placed into receivership are not available separately for Wales.

  Dentists
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for each(a) district council area, (b) health authority area and (c) for Wales as a whole for the latest available date and for the previous three years the number of (i) dentists and (ii) dentists accepting new patients to NHS lists.

  Mr. Richards
  Information on the number of general dental practitioners treating NHS patients in Wales is collected centrally by family health services authority area and is given in the following table. Information on the number of dentists accepting new patients to NHS lists is not held centrally.

  Number of dentists at 30 September 1

  FHSA

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Clwyd

  105

  102

  114

  117

  Dyfed

  101

  105

  104

  105

  Gwent

  139

  135

  135

  138

  Gwynedd

  65

  66

  67

  66

  Mid Glamorgan

  123

  133

  126

  125

  Powys

  36

  35

  34

  33

  South Glamorgan

  129

  127

  133

  133

  West Glamorgan

  134

  128

  130

  132

  Wales

  832

  831

  843

  849

  1 Principles and assistants. Dentists working in more than one FHSA are accounted in the FHSA where they perform most work.

  Free School Meals
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many children attending(a) secondary and (b) primary schools are entitled to free school meals and how many do not receive them; and if he will provide the information by local education authority.

  Mr. Richards
  The information available is shown in the following table:

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the occasions during the last five years when his Department or its agencies has taken legal action against a consultancy firm; and what were the reasons in each case.

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department has taken legal action against one consultancy firm in the last five years. This action, initiated in 1994, is being taken in connection with alleged defective workmanship on a trunk road scheme. Further information cannot be provided until the case has been resolved.

  W. S. Atkins and Partners
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) on what grounds he instructed the Welsh Health Common Services Authority to place W. S. Atkins and Partners on a stop list for the purposes of hospital design consultancy work; and on what date subsequent modification to that instruction have taken place;

  (2) if he will specify what instructions his Department issued to Welsh Health Common Services Authority to place W. S. Atkins and Partners on a stop list; on what date the stop list was lifted or modified; what bearing the stop list classification had on pre-qualification for inquiries about sale of hospital design sections of the Welsh Health Common Services Authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  W. S. Atkins and Partners has not been placed on any stop list in Wales. Health authorities in Wales were advised on 22 September 1988 that it should not be appointed to major new commissions in 'Wales without the approval of the Department and to ensure the company was capable of performing satisfactorily in all aspects of the proposed commission.

  The requirement for departmental approval was lifted on 4 January 1991, but health authorities were required to exercise caution when considering any appointment of W. S. Atkins and Partners.

  Any speculation about the future of the EstateCare Group of the Welsh Health Common Services Authority or the interest of any particular company is premature until the current review of market testing opportunities has been completed.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Welsh Health Common Services Authority in relation to inquiries by W. S. Atkins and Partners with a view to the market testing and sale of the EstateCare group of the Welsh Health Common Services Authority.

  Mr. Redwood
  None.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 27 January,Official Report, column 423, how many officers of the Welsh Development Agency have had disciplinary action taken against them arising out of problems on procurement of information systems.

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

  Habitat Scheme
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the habitat scheme was launched; and when details were made available to farmers and their unions.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The habitat scheme was announced on 15 December 1994. Further information is available from the new countryside and agricultural information service or Agriculture Department divisional offices.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total budget of the environmentally sensitive area schemes in(a) the Cambrian mountains, (b) Lleyn peninsular, (c) Radnor and (d) Preseli.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The total budget available for distribution under the schemes in Wales in 1995–96 will be £6,900,000.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications have been processed for grant aid under the present environmentally sensitive area scheme; and what was the average time spent processing them.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  There are 793 extant management agreements in Wales. Processing time is not currently recorded but has varied according to the circumstances of each case, and has depended upon the complexity of the application and the amount of help needed by farmers in drawing up a scheme.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications have been received to take part in the Preseli environmentally sensitive area scheme.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Ninety-five.

  Intensive Care Beds
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairmen of Welsh health authorities and trusts concerning the provision of additional intensive care beds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have not discussed the provision of intensive care beds with NHS chairmen, but will shortly be asking all health authorities in Wales to assess the need for such beds and then to work with hospitals to introduce any changes that are necessary.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 17 January,Official Report, column 444, how many appointments to public positions have been made by his Department in the last year.

  Mr. Redwood
  Between 1 December 1993 and 30 November 1994, I made 198 appointments, excluding reappointments, to non-departmental public bodies, including NHS bodies.

  Cardiff Bay Barrage
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Cardiff Bay development corporation concerning the dispatch of tender documents for a buildings condition survey in relation to the impact of rising groundwater from the Cardiff bay barrage; how many applications
  709
  were received by the 20 January deadline; what is the estimated survey cost in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  None. My Department has authorised the provision of £5.04 million in total for expenditure on property condition surveys. The number of survey applications received and the estimated cost of surveys in each of the next five years are operational matters for the corporation and the chief executive will write to the hon. Member.

  St. David's Hospital, Cardiff
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has received for the construction of a new local neighbourhood hospital on the site of St. David's hospital, Cowbridge road east, Cardiff; on what date he received the full detailed business case; what was the date of its approval; if he will make a statement on the application of the principles of the private finance initiative to the business case; and what was the proposed capital expenditure in(a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96 and (c) 1996–97.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Department received and advised on a draft proposal for a local hospital on the site in February 1994. South Glamorgan health authority's revised submission taking into account its strategic purchasing plan and its consultations with local community health councils is still awaited.

  If and when the outline business case is approved, expressions of interest will be sought from private sector organisations wishing to submit proposals for the design, build, finance and management of non-clinical facilities.

  Stillborn Baby, Wrexham
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the Wrexham Maelor hospital into the transportation of a stillborn baby from Wrexham to the University hospital of Wales, Cardiff.

  Mr. Redwood
  Yes. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the occasions during the last five years when his Department or its agencies has taken legal action against a consultancy firm; and what were the reasons in each case.

  Mr. Hague
  No legal action has been taken by the Department of Social Security or its agencies against a consultancy firm during the last five years.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State or Social Security how many appeals concerning invalidity benefit were received by his Department during each of the quarters since 1994; and what percentage of these were found in the claimant's favour.
  710
  Mr. Hague
  The available information is in the table.

  Invalidity benefit appeals

  Quarters in 1994

  Received

  Heard and decided

  Percentage in appellant's favour

  January-March

  6,381

  4,005

  58

  April-June

  6,290

  3,683

  58

  Information from "Quarterly Social Security Appeal Statistics" produced by the Government Statistical Service.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 17 January,Official Report, column 387, how many appointments to public positions have been made by his Department in the last year.

  Mr. Hague
  There were 87 such appointments or re-appointments to those bodies listed in "Public Bodies 1994".

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for unemployment benefit in the last available year the claimant(a) gained the adult dependent addition and (b) refused the addition on the grounds that the claimant's dependents earnings were above the threshold.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The latest available information is that the number of claimants with an adult dependency increase to unemployment benefit in Great Britain, as at May 1994, was 73,000 and, as at November 1993, was 82,000. Figures are for a point in time, rounded to the nearest thousand, and based on a 5 per cent sample. They are derived from the "Half yearly analysis of unemployed claimants", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Information on the number of refusals of adult dependency increases by reason is not available.

  Incapacity Benefits
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the exercise of monitoring the revised medical control procedures introduced for incapacity benefits will be completed and published.

  Mr. Hague
  The current medical control arrangements for benefits for incapacity will be superseded by the introduction of incapacity benefit from 13 April 1995. Data collection from the monitoring of the procedural changes introduced in April 1993 will continue for some time after that. We expect analysis to be completed towards the end of the summer.

  Net Incomes
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) of 2 February,Official Report, columns 825–26, if he will provide a comparable table on income distribution for quintiles 2, 3 and 4.

  Mr. Burt
  The following table gives the change in the real net incomes for quintiles 2, 3 and 4 of the United Kingdom income distribution of families with children for the period 1979 to 1991–92. 1991–92 is the two calendar years combined.
  711
  Information is given both before and after housing costs.

  Percentage change in real incomes of 2nd, 3rd and 4th quintiles of families with children, 1979 to 1991–92

  Quintile 2 20–40 per cent.

  Quintile 3 40–60 per cent.

  Quintile 4 60–80 per cent.

  Before housing costs

  (7)

  22

  33

  After housing costs

  (1)

  20

  32

  Notes:

  1. In the table quintiles 2,3 and 4 refer to the second from bottom, middle and second from top quintiles respectively.

  2. Percentage growth estimates are calculated from the median income of each quintile.

  3. Estimates in brackets () are particularly uncertain; see appendix 5 of "Households Below Average Income 1979 to 1991–92—a copy of which is in the Library—for details of the tests applied to estimates of changes in real incomes.

  Income of families with children: quintile medians for 1979 and 1991–92

  Quintile 1 bottom 20 per cent.

  Quintile 2 20–40 per cent.

  Quintile 3 40–60 per cent.

  Quintile 4 60–80 per cent.

  Quintile 5 Top 20 per cent.

  Before housing costs

  1979

  103

  138

  165

  198

  261

  1991–92

  100

  148

  202

  263

  394

  After housing costs

  1979

  86

  117

  141

  172

  227

  1991–92

  76

  118

  169

  226

  339

  Notes:

  1. The figures relate to the median income level in each quintile in April 1994 prices. Estimates are for weekly income and are given to the nearest whole £.

  2. The figures given are for equivalised income.

  3. All estimates are subject to sampling error.

  Before housing costs the income level of the 21st percentile of the income distribution of families with children is the same in 1979 as in 1991–92. After housing costs the equivalent figure is approximately the 29th percentile.

  Newcastle Estate
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy that as part of the proposed redevelopment of his Department's Newcastle estate the new office will be in the Tyneside area and will not involve any loss of jobs locally.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The administration of the Department's Newcastle estate is the responsibility of Mr. George Bertram, the acting chief executive of the Contributions Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from George Bertram to Mr. Neville Trotter dated 14 February 1995:
  As Acting Chief Executive of the Contributions Agency, I have responsibility for control and administration of the Department of Social Security's Newcastle Estate. I have been asked to reply to your question to the Secretary of State for Social Security regarding the proposed development of the Estate.
  The Newcastle Estate Development Project seeks to provide new accommodation within a ten mile radius (approximately) of Newcastle city centre. This encompasses the whole of the Tyneside
  712
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) of 2 February,Official Report, columns 825–26, on income distribution, if he will indicate (a) the numbers in each quintile in each year, (b) the actual income levels in each year for each quintile, 1 to 5 and (c) at what income level there was no change in income (i) before housing costs and (ii) after housing cost; and if he will provide a regional analysis of real income levels in each quintile, 1 to 5.

  Mr. Burt
  Information is provided for the United Kingdom as a whole. Information is not available on a regional basis.

  In 1979 there were 5.5 million individuals in each quintile of the income distribution of families with children. For 1991–92 the equivalent figure is 5 million. 1991–92 is the two calendar years combined.

  The available information is in the table.

  area and also extends into Wearside, whilst skirting the boundaries of Durham and Northumberland.

  Organisations who express interest will, over the coming months, develop proposals to satisfy our accommodation requirements, the evaluation of which will consider all factors including location, and most importantly, value for money for the taxpayer.

  The aim of the project is to provide modern, multi-functional accommodation for the use of DSS staff currently on the Newcastle Estate. As you know, the Department continues to seek efficiency savings and possible future reductions in staffing levels may coincide with a change of location. However, the rationalisation of the accommodation will not itself involve any loss of jobs although the physical location of the jobs may change within the ten mile radius.

  I hope you find this information helpful.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Poultry Transport
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the regulations applying to the transport of poultry; and if he will make a statement.
  713
  Mrs. Browning
  The following orders, made under the Animal Health Act 1981, apply to the transport of poultry:

  The Transit of Animals (General) Order 1973

  The Welfare of Poultry Transport Order 1988

  The Welfare of Animals during Transport Order 1994.

  Consultants
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his latest estimates of the expenditure on all external consultants, including management consultants, for each year since 1987, in 1994 prices, for his Department and its agencies; and what are the quantified annual cost savings which such expenditure has resulted in.

  Mr. Jack
  Expenditure on consultants in each of the years concerned was as follows:

  Financial year

  Expenditure £

  Expenditure at 1994 prices £

  1987–88

  44,015

  61,887

  1988–89

  1,174,114

  1,547,016

  1989–90

  2,972,150

  3,661,506

  1990–91

  4,495,793

  5,125,327

  1991–92

  5,374,284

  5,761,665

  1992–93

  7,010,814

  7,238,665

  1993–94

  12,169,785

  12,169,785

  1994–95

  111,534,575

  —

  1 Estimated.

  The figures for 1987–88 exclude computer consultants.

  It is not possible to quantify savings accruing from this expenditure, since most of the benefits derive from new systems and working methods, and from the consultants' expertise in certain fields, in which permanent staff do not have the necessary knowledge and experience.

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what checks were made that the calves unable to be flown from Coventry airport on 3 February were fed, watered and rested every 15 hours; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Browning
  Two consignments of calves that had arrived at the airport were returned to their premises of origin after planned flights were disrupted by demonstrators. A third consignment was turned back before reaching the airport. Two of the three would have reached their premises of origin within the 15-hour statutory period. The third could not and the calves were therefore returned under a notice requiring their feeding and watering immediately on arrival at the home premises.

  As a result of this incident we are now insisting that exporters make contingency arrangements for the animals to be lairaged in premises near the airport in the event of similar disruptions.

  Fur Farms
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many mink were killed on fur farms in the United Kingdom in 1994; and how their carcasses were disposed of.
  714
  Mrs. Browning
  This information is not available.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people were employed in the killing of animals on fur farms in the United Kingdom in 1994; and what were their qualifications for this.

  Mrs. Browning
  In monitoring welfare standards on fur farms the state veterinary service takes account of guidelines laid down in the recommendation concerning fur animals adopted by the Council of Europe in 1990. That recommendation specifies that the killing of farmed fur-bearing animals must be carried out by a competent person. However, no specific qualifications are laid down and information regarding the number of people involved is not available.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the environment needs of farmed mink and Arctic fox; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Browning
  The Farm Animal Welfare Council's review of fur farming in 1989 considered the environmental needs of farmed mink and fox. It concluded that there was insufficient evidence to make specific recommendations on the keeping of fur-bearing animals and recommended that the industry should carry out further research.

  The Farm Animal Welfare Council has recently given its views on a report by Respect For Animals which made certain recommendations regarding the keeping of mink and Arctic fox. Interested organisations are being consulted on this further advice from FAWC.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many reports he has received of mink escaping from fur farms on the Isle of Wight in the last 10 years.

  Mrs. Browning
  Over the last 10 years no reports have been received by this Ministry of mink escaping from the licensed mink farm on the Isle of Wight.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many licences for fur factory farms of the Isle of Wight he has issued in the last 10 years.

  Mrs. Browning
  In each of the last 10 years only one licence has been issued to keep mink at premises on the Isle of Wight.

  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what checks are carried out to ensure that pentobarbiturate used killing animals on fur farms has been properly and legally authorised and obtained.

  Mrs. Browning
  Products used to kill animals require authorisation under the marketing authorisation for veterinary Medicinal Products Regulations 1994. All such products are categorised as prescription-only medicines and are subject to the usual checks for product of that sort. Members of the state veterinary service, as part of their duties during regular visits to all farms for welfare purposes, including fur farms, check that veterinary medicines have been properly authorised and obtained.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the occasions during the last five years when his Ministry or its agencies has taken legal action against a consultancy firm; and what were the reasons in each case.
  715
  Mr. Jack
  No central records are kept, but so far as we can ascertain no such actions have been taken.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 17 January,Official Report, column 447, how many appointments to public positions have been made by his Department in the last year.

  Mr. Jack
  In the last year, my right hon. Friend has made 205 appointments to those bodies listed in "Public Bodies 1994". Of these, 80 were re-appointments and 125 were new appointments.

  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of compensation paid in respect of animals slaughtered as BSE carriers has subsequently been discovered to have been paid in respect of animals which were not infected in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Browning
  The percentage of cattle slaughtered as BSE suspects which were subsequently not confirmed after laboratory examination for the past five years is as follows:

  Year

  Percentage unconfirmed

  1990

  15

  1991

  14

  1992

  15

  1993

  16

  1994

  123

  1 Provisional figure.

  However, it is not possible without disproportionate costs to divide the total amount paid out in compensation into the percentages for confirmed and unconfirmed cases. The compensation paid varies from animal to animal according to market value within a ceiling which is adjusted monthly—the indicative market price. The ceiling is increased by 25 per cent. for unconfirmed cases.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 31 January,Official Report, column 645, what was the nature of the other experiments which revealed that cows milk contains no detectable BSE infectivity.

  Mrs. Browning
  The other experiments involved challenge of mice with:

  A) A mixture of milk and udder by feeding;

  B) Milk alone by feeding;

  C) Udder alone by inoculation; and

  D) Milk alone by inoculation;

  All derived from cows with clinical signs of BSE and confirmed by microscopic examination of the brain. No infectivity was detected in any of these studies.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 31 January,Official Report, column 647, how the sterilisation of specified bovine offals is undertaken.

  Mrs. Browning
  The term "sterilised" is defined in the Specified Bovine Offal (Prohibition) Regulations 1989, as amended, and has the meaning as given in the Meat (Sterilisation and Staining) Regulations 1989.
  716
  Under existing legislation, specified bovine offal must either be sterilised or stained at the place of its removal—that is, at the slaughterhouse. The sterilisation option is rarely used by slaughterhouses and the Government have recently consulted with interested parties on proposals to withdraw this option for slaughterhouses.

  SBO will continue to be sent from slaughterhouses to rendering plants for treatment before being buried or incinerated under licence.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 31 January,Official Report, column 646, what was the monthly number of cases of BSE confirmed in the United Kingdom during 1994 that (a) were born before 18 July 1988 and (b) after 18 July 1988.

  Mrs. Browning
  The number of confirmed cases of BSE in Great Britain for 1994 is as follows:

  Year

  Born before 18 July 1988

  Born after 18 July 1988

  January

  1,559

  637

  February

  2,312

  805

  March

  2,160

  1,119

  April

  1,643

  945

  May

  1,425

  558

  June

  1,480

  1,024

  July

  948

  493

  August

  1,019

  539

  September

  992

  884

  October

  1,071

  940

  November

  1,079

  816

  December

  685

  495

  Total

  16,373

  9,255

  The number of cases of BSE in Northern Ireland for 1994 is as follows. The ruminant feed ban in NI came into force on 11 January 1989.

  Year

  Born before11 January 1989

  Born after 11 January 1989

  January

  44

  8

  February

  36

  7

  March

  42

  7

  April

  28

  2

  May

  11

  0

  June

  23

  6

  July

  19

  2

  August

  23

  4

  September

  20

  8

  October

  22

  3

  November

  22

  7

  December

  17

  2

  Total

  307

  56

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 31 January,Official Report, column 645, what was the apparent source of the infection in the cow born in April 1989.

  Mrs Browning
  It is not possible to precisely indicate specific routes of infection for most individual cases. The breeding records relating to the case in question were incomplete and the date of birth was therefore estimated by its dentition. The animal's mother has been sold but has not been reported as a BSE suspect elsewhere.

  Milk Quota
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many representations he has received concerning delays in transferring milk quota by the Intervention Board.

  Mr. Jack
  The Ministry received 57 representations concerning the delays in processing milk quota transactions by the Intervention Board following the transfer of responsibility for administering the milk quota system to the board on 1 April 1994. These delays were due in part to technical problems with the Intervention Board's new computer system, but the principal cause was the delay on the part of the milk marketing boards in providing essential information. These problems have now been overcome and the processing of quota transactions is proceeding satisfactorily.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many transfer applications the Intervention Board had for(a) the sale and (b) the leasing of milk quota in England and in Wales.

  Mr. Jack
  As milk quotas can be transferred throughout the United Kingdom, separate figures are not available for England and Wales. For the whole of the UK the Intervention Board had received 24,404 applications for the lease of milk quotas by the end of the leasing period on 31 December 1994, and 5,762 applications for the permanent transfer of milk quotas by 13 February 1995.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total litreage of milk quota transferred by the Intervention Board(a) by sale and (b) for leasing to date.

  Mr. Jack
  The total litreage of milk quota processed by the Intervention Board at 13 February 1995 was 341,000,000 litres by permanent transfer and 1,339,000,000 litres by lease.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the average time spent by the Intervention Board in processing applications for transfer of milk quota by(a) sale and (b) leasing in England and in Wales.

  Mr. Jack
  After initial processing delays when milk quota records were being transferred from the milk marketing boards and subsequently amended following vesting day changes on 1 November 1994 in England, Wales and Scotland, the Intervention Board is now processing the majority of milk quota leases and transfers within 15 days of receipt of acceptable applications.

DEFENCE

  Land Sales
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he has taken to ensure that sale by tender or auction is not the invariable method of approved disposal where another method would achieve better value; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  It is our normal practice to dispose of the freehold of surplus land—in which there is no former owner of pre-emptive interest—on the open market by competition, so as to maximise the financial return. A range of other methods may, however, be used if 718
  professional advice indicates that such alternatives would produce a better value.

  Departmental Property
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action his Department has taken to ensure the provision of an efficient and cost-effective service to customers of his Department's property services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  A new Defence Estate Organisation is to be formed which will incorporate the staff who are involved in providing services to the occupiers of the defence estate. The intention is that this will provide a top-down oversight of the estate and thereby improve the efficiency of those services. As announced on 17 January, the chief executive of the new organisation will take up his appointment on 1 April.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy as to the notice given to agents appointed to dispose of property by reference to the date of closure of a service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  When disposing of surplus property, it is our policy to seek the smoothest possible transition from service to civilian use by ensuring that as much notice as possible of closure and vacation dates together with other appropriate information is given to appointed agents.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action is taken to ensure that the use of joint ventures is encouraged so that optimal value is achieved for property disposals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  It is our practice to consider alternative methods of disposal, including joint venture, where professional advice indicates that conventional open market sale would not achieve optimal value.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has established a clear distinction between his Department as estate owner and the various budget holders as occupiers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The responsibilities of the budget holders as occupiers of the defence estate are clearly established. They are responsible for the efficient and economic use of the estate in ensuring that the armed forces are properly prepared for war. Their responsibilities include the maintenance of the estate, taking account of operational requirements, conservation, the interests of tenants and, wherever possible, the generation of income and allowing access by the public. The budget holders are ultimately responsible to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, in whom title to the estate is vested, for the discharge of these duties.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of disposal pressures on the achievement of optimal value for property disposals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  We are conscious that many factors such as the size and nature of the establishment; the local planning environment; the state of the market; and the timing of the disposal can impact on the achievement of optimal value. All such factors are taken into account in developing a disposal strategy for a site.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action his Department has taken to promote the effective utilisation of landed property and its
  719
  rationalisation, reductions in cost of use and operation and consequently properly planned redundancy and disposal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The director of estate rationalisation, defence lands service is specifically charged with identifying opportunities for rationalisation and disposal of the defence estate, so as to promote its best and most cost-effective use; this includes ensuring that estates issues are taken fully into account in investment appraisals and studies.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the normal time scale for the disposal of surplus property; what discretion is given to the defence estate in this respect; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  In common with other Government Departments, it is our policy to dispose of surplus property, wherever practicable, within three years. It is accepted that for some sites a longer-term disposal strategy is required, and in those circumstances, a flexible approach is adopted.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will restructure the defence land service and the defence works service and infrastructure to form one overall organisation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  It was announced on 17 January that the first chief executive of the Defence Estate Organisation will be Mr. Brian Hirst who will join the Ministry of Defence on 1 April this year. The new organisation will incorporate the defence lands service, the defence works service and the infrastructure and logistics, infrastructure, division.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to amend budgetary rules related to anuality to ensure that optimal value is achieved for property disposals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  There are no plans to seek changes to the existing end-year flexibility scheme which allows funding to be carried forward from one year to the next subject to certain criteria being met. All defence operating costs, including property disposals, and defence procurement expenditure are eligible for carry-forward under this scheme.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if all his Department's property assets are valued; if a comprehensive database has been established; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  Some parts of the defence estate have already been valued and other elements are to be valued under a programme which is due to be completed by the end of 1996. As a separate but related exercise, a new database is to be created containing a more detailed record of property assets held by my Department.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he is taking to ensure his Department's estate becomes more proactive in overall occupational and budgeting decisions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  Defence estate issues are already given the fullest possible exposure in Departmental studies and other initiatives involving occupational and budgeting decisions.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his strategic plan encompassing property interests at his Department; and if he will make a statement.
  720
  Mr. Soames
  It is our objective to manage the defence estate so that it supports, cost effectively, the military capability of the armed forces in peace and war. Property which is no longer required for these purposes is disposed of.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons phasing plans are used for large-scale disposals of his Department's property; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  A phased disposal strategy may be employed under various circumstances including: where market supply exceeds demand; where planning objectives can best be met by staged release of land; or, where the financial return from sale cannot otherwise be maximised.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures he takes to ensure value for money in property maintenance in his Department.

  Mr. Soames
  Following my Department's untying from the Property Services Agency on 1 April 1990, property maintenance became the responsibility of individual top-level budget holders. At each unit which controls maintenance programmes, three independent parties undertake clearly defined tasks. The Department appoints a service or civilian officer as property manager who is advised by a contractor—establishment works consultant. Another contractor acts as works services manager carrying out the tasks. This system, centering on contractorisation, reinforced by independent reviews and audits, is intended to ensure best value for money.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he is taking to ensure his Department's property estate places greater emphasis on active asset management and asset realisation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The Department is taking a number of steps to place greater emphasis on the management of the defence estate as an asset. These include the creation of the Defence Estate Organisation which will provide a top-down view of all estate related activities. In addition, the estate is being valued as a precursor to the introduction of resource accounting and the valuation work is linked to the creation of a new property database.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances his Department's estate is allowed to enter into term contracts with the private sector; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  As with all contracts, term contracts are used when they are both appropriate and to my Department's advantage in terms of value for money. The scale and nature of the demand and delivery requirements are also factors used to determine whether a term contract is the most appropriate means to meet a particular need.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what advice his Department gives in the preparation of planning briefs for significant disposals of property, including joint ventures, to ensure appropriate greater local authority involvement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  It is normal practice to seek to develop, in co-operation with the local authority, a planning brief for large or complex sites.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the surplus air bases in the eastern counties of the United Kingdom that(a) have and (b) have

  721
  not a phasing plan for disposal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The following air bases in the counties of Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk have been declared surplus to RAF requirements: RAF Bentwaters, RAF Sculthorpe, RAF Swanton Morley, RAF West Raynham and RAF Woodbridge. An offer has been accepted for the sale of RAF Bentwaters in its entirety. No disposal plans have been finalised for the other sites, several of which remain under consideration for alternative defence uses.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will liaise with the Department of National Heritage and other appropriate bodies where buildings need to be preserved for posterity; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  My Department has developed good working relationships at all levels with the Department of National Heritage, English Heritage and other national heritage bodies with the aim of achieving the highest standards of conservation of its historic buildings.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to ensure that buildings declared surplus but which have feasible alternative uses are not neglected to such an extent as to make their disposal at a later date more difficult and less cost-effective; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  It is already our policy to take steps, wherever possible, to maintain the viability of surplus buildings which have alternative use potential and to explore the scope for realising revenue through their short-term commercial use where disposal of the freehold is not in immediate prospect.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account is taken in his strategy for control of his property operations of heritage policy and the military married quarter estate; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  Within the overall strategy of holding the minimum amount of land and buildings necessary to support the operations of the armed forces, historic buildings are considered for their suitability alongside other buildings. Many continue in full use and others are being adapted to a new defence use but where an historic building is redundant, my Department seeks to dispose of it for an alternative use which will preserve its architectural and historic value.

  The Department is committed to ensuring that the number of married quarters is kept to the minimum necessary to meet service demands. Responsibility for management of the estate will pass to the defence housing executive on 1 April 1995.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to forming a holding agency to cover those properties held by his Department for which there is no immediate market; and if he will make a statement.
  722
  Mr. Soames
  The House of Commons Defence Committee report on the defence estate recommended that consideration be given to the creation of a separate agency to hold and dispose of surplus land. This recommendation will be given further consideration when the chief executive of the new Defence Estate Organisation takes up his appointment on 1 April 1995.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to learn from the experience gained by the NHS in a conservation strategy for his Department's buildings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  Officials in the Department of National Heritage who have been working with the NHS on their conservation strategy also work with my Department and policy is being developed along similar lines. In particular, my officials are working with English Heritage on the selective listing of aviation structures, dockyards and barracks, on which thematic surveys are being carried out. In addition, officials from my Department held a meeting in August last year with the chairman of the historic hospitals working group to discuss common problems and respective approaches.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what phasing plans exist for disposal of Old Park barracks, Dover; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  Discussion with the local authority and other interested parties concerning a single regeneration budget to assist in the development of the site is ongoing. A planning brief has been agreed for the site and phased development is an option for disposal.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those properties(a) sold by his Department and (b) in the process of being sold where the sale involved a joint venture with private or public sector partners; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  Although, to date, no Ministry of Defence properties have been sold through joint venture schemes, the following properties are in the process of being sold through such schemes: the former central vehicle depot, Hilton, Derbyshire, and the former ordnance storage depot, Ruddington, Nottinghamshire.

  Departmental Assets
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he is taking to ensure that there is greater emphasis on active asset management and asset realisation in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  A number of financial management improvements are being introduced as a result of the defence costs study. These include conventional asset accounting techniques, supported by appropriate commercial software, which are to be introduced throughout the Department.

  Royal Air Force Finningley
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost of running Royal Air Force Finningley in each of the last 10 years.
  723
  Mr. Soames
  The cost of running Royal Air Force Finningley, including the cost of operating the units based there, for each of the last three financial years is as follows:

  £ million

  1991–1992

  29.5

  1992–1993

  27.5

  1993–1994

  31.2

  Information for financial years 1984–85 to 1990–91 is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Simulated low-altitude Bombing
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who can request and obtain simulated low-altitude bombing attacks on publicly owned buildings.

  Mr. Soames
  Any public body can request that its premises be used as targets for simulated low-level attacks. Any request would be considered on its merits taking into account not only the reasons for the request, but the usual criteria for selecting suitable simulated targets.

  Land Contamination
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the most recent assessment he has made of land contamination at(a) the Defence Research Agency, Woolwich arsenal and (b) Royal Ordnance, Waltham abbey; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The royal arsenal, Woolwich, comprises two sites. A number of studies have been commissioned on the west site; the ground study report has been completed, but the results of the building investigation are still awaited. Studies for the east site have been commissioned but not completed. The most recent assessment of contamination of Waltham abbey was conducted in August 1992.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions his Department has given in respect of the production of land quality statements for service establishments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  As part of an on-going review of land contamination and the defence estate, steps are being taken to incorporate the production of a land quality statement into site disposal procedures. Appropriate guidance for site occupiers is being prepared.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what budget is allocated for his Department's potential liabilities in respect of contaminated land; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  Individual budget holders within my Department are responsible for all aspects of site management, including any survey and decontamination work, and for making appropriate financial provision.

  Burtonwood
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons his defence land agent did not inform Warrington borough council local planning department of the operational decision made in respect of 724
  Burtonwood; what was the role of that local authority's economic development unit in promoting its availability; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  RAF Burtonwood has not been declared surplus to MOD requirements, pending consideration of an alternative defence use. The defence land agent has had on-going discussions with Warrington borough council regarding short-term lettings while the future of the site is determined, and also about non-defence uses in the event that the site was declared surplus. Warrington borough council will be advised when a final decision has been taken on the future of RAF Burtonwood and consulted fully about the future of the site.

  "Instructions for Opening Fire in Northern Ireland"
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the current wording on the "Instructions for Opening Fire in Northern Ireland" issued to British armed forces.

  Mr. Soames
  Instructions concerning the use of firearms in Northern Ireland are part of rules of engagement which, like other operational documents, are not made publicly available.

  Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he is taking to maintain the battle of Britain memorial flight's Lancaster in an airworthy condition; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  All necessary steps are being taken to retain the BBMF Lancaster in an airworthy condition.

  Rules of Engagement, Bosnia
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the current wording on the cards issued to armed British peacekeeping troops in Bosnia in respect of rules of engagement.

  Mr. Soames
  The wording on the cards issued to British troops in Bosnia is part of rules of engagement which, like other operational documents, are not made publicly available.

  Defence Land Service
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the timetable for informing the defence lands service in respect of operational decisions; and what account is taken of its planning systems.

  Mr. Soames
  Our procedures require that the defence lands service should be closely involved from an early stage in studies where defence estate issues are, or are likely to be, a factor in operational decisions.

  Private Lee Clegg
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action was taken against the officer in charge of the patrol at the time of the incident which led to the imprisonment of Private Lee Clegg; and if he will make a statement.
  725
  Mr. Soames
  The officer concerned was tried in the Belfast high court on two counts: making a statement with intent to pervert the course of justice; and obstructing the police. The officer was found not guilty of both charges.

  Gulf War Syndrome
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if any of the volunteers who underwent tests for(a) inoculations and (b) nerve agent pre-treatment sets at Porton Down in preparation for the Gulf war were women.

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, CBDE to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Graham Pearson to Mrs. Edwina Currie dated 15 February 1995:

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking if any of the volunteers who underwent tests for (a) inoculations and (b) nerve agent pre treatment sets at Porton Down in preparation for the Gulf War were women has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to carry out work to ensure that the UK Armed Forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical and biological weapons may be used against them. As part of this the potential hazard of possible chemical and biological warfare is assessed and the effectiveness of medical countermeasures evaluated.

  3. No Service volunteers participated in studies on inoculations and nerve agent pre-treatment sets (NAPS) in preparation for the Gulf War. However, a number of studies into NAPS using Service volunteers were carried out primarily between 1970 and the early 1980s at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, RMCS Shrivenham, Dover, Bulford, Cambridge Military Hospital as well as some collaborative work with the Institution of Aviation Medicine and more recently in 1993 at the Cambridge Military Hospital. These studies were to evaluate the acceptability of using pyridostigmine bromide and whether such use had adverse side effects or was affected by the nature of the duties of the Service personnel. These studies which lasted for up to eight weeks included the assessment of the effects of NAPS on volunteers undergoing strenuous exercise and of a thermally stressful environment. Our records indicate that a total of about 11 female Service volunteers received NAPS during these studies.

  4. Insofar as vaccines are concerned, over many years the staff at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment and previously at the Microbiological Research Establishment at Porton Down engaged in work involving potential biological warfare agents have been vaccinated to protect them against the microorganisms they are working with in the laboratory. Over the past five years this has involved the vaccination about 150 female personnel.

  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the conditions and illnesses which have so far been diagnosed among those British veterans claiming to be suffering from Gulf war syndrome.

  Mr. Soames
  Initial findings from my Department's Gulf war medical assessment programme show that those diagnosed so far are suffering from medical conditions which can be categorised as follows: approximately 25 per cent. are suffering from psychological conditions; 20 per cent. from serious, but well-recognised, medical conditions; 10 per cent. from chronic fatigue syndrome and the remainder from minor physical ailments. None of the conditions has been found to be peculiar to service in the Gulf. There is no single illness, major or minor, common to those examined and no evidence to suggest the existence of a Gulf war syndrome. More detailed 726
  preliminary findings will be made public shortly, when 100 individuals have been fully assessed and diagnosed.

  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service men and women claiming to be suffering from Gulf war syndrome have registered a claim for compensation; how many have presented themselves to his Department's medical officers for examination; and how many have been assessed to date.

  Mr. Soames
  To date, my Department has received notification of 483 potential claims in respect of alleged ill health as a result of service in the Gulf. Approximately one third of these are from serving armed forces personnel and the remainder from former personnel. Some 39 of these potential claims have subsequently been withdrawn.

  So far, 233 personnel have requested medical assessment through the Gulf war assessment programme, of whom about 25 per cent. are serving. Some 90 of these have been examined to date.

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces are currently garrisoned on the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  Figure 2 of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1994 lists the British military units deployed to the Falkland Islands. It is not our practice to reveal precise details of the numbers of personnel involved. We keep force levels in the Falkland Islands under review and, if the need arises, the garrison can be reinforced at very short notice using the airfield at Mount Pleasant.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the occasions during the last five years when his Ministry or its agencies has taken legal action against a consultancy firm; and what were the reasons in each case.

  Mr. Freeman
  I am not aware of any such actions.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 17 January,Official Report, column 451, how many appointments to public positions have been made by his Department in the last year.

  Mr. Soames
  The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Haymes Garth
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what grounds he has decided not to publish the independent investigation by KPMG Peat Marwick into the official residence known as Haymes Garth.

  Mr. Soames
  I have made a full report to Parliament on this matter, and do not believe it would be appropriate to publish the report by KPMG Peat Marwick, which is confidential and was prepared for the use of senior management and Ministers.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 10 February to the hon. Member for Fareham (Sir P. Lloyd),Official Report, column 465, if he will specify the occasions on which the

  727
  House was provided with wrong information concerning expenditure on Sir Sandy Wilson's official residence, Haymes Garth; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The two occasions on which the House was provided with incorrect information on this subject were in the answers given by the then Minister of State for the Armed Forces, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. J. Hanley), first to the hon. Member on 9 February 1994,Official Report, columns 362–63, which put the figure at some £250,000, and, subsequently to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Jones) on 29 March, Official Report, column 732, which gave a figure of around £260,000. In his answer to the hon. Member for Dorset, West (Sir J. Spicer) on 4 July 1994, Official Report, column 85, the then Minister of State for the Armed Forces provided the revised figure of £387,000 and expressed his regret that an incorrect figure had been given in the preceding answer.

  Gulf War Veterans
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action is taken to ensure that ex-service men and women who have been assessed as suffering from medical conditions following their service in the Gulf war are followed up to ensure adequate care and treatment.

  Mr. Soames
  The health care of individuals who have left the armed forces is the responsibility of the NHS. In accordance with standard medical practice, and to ensure continuity of health care, the medical reports on those ex-service personnel assessed by my Department are therefore forwarded to the patient's general practitioner. These reports contain recommendations for further care where necessary.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many individuals have returned for a second examination under his Department's Gulf war veterans' medical assessment programme.

  Mr. Soames
  Some 14 out of the 90 patients seen to date under the Department's Gulf medical assessment programme have attended for further examinations by the service consultant co-ordinating the programme on one or more occasions.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for 728
  Defence how many People who have taken part in his Department's Gulf war veterans' medical assessment programme. are (a) currently in the armed forces and (b) were in the armed forces at the time of their assessment but have since left the services.

  Mr. Soames
  Some 24 out of the 90 patients seen to date were in the armed forces at the time of their assessment. Information relating to the number of individual who may have left the services since being assessed is not readily available.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which separate tests are incorporate into the examination of an individual under his Department's Gulf war veterans' medical assessment programme

  Mr. Soames
  All tests offered to individuals coming forward for assessment are tailored to the particular requirements of each patient after considering the medical and occupational history, the reported symptoms and clinical signs found on initial examination. Possible tests include: full blood assay, radiological examination —CT/MRI scan—electrocardiograph, endoscopy and psychiatric or psychometric assessment but further tests or referrals are available when required.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much each examination of an individual under his Department's Gulf war veterans' medical assessment programme costs.

  Mr. Soames
  No separate or central record of the cost of the assessments under this programme is maintained.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many individuals have been referred to a second doctor for examination under his Department's Gulf war veterans' medical assessment programme.

  Mr. Soames
  Current records show that 48 out of the 90 individuals seen to date have been referred to another consultant following initial assessment.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the projected total cost of his Department's Gulf war veterans' medical assessment programme.

  Mr. Soames
  The assessments do not form a separately funded programme and their total costs would, in any case, depend upon final numbers of those coming forward, which are still uncertain.

  Maxwell Case: Costs
  Maxwell Case: Costs
  Guinness Case: DPP's Role
  Guinness Case: DPP's Role
  Director General of the Prison Service: Future Employment
  Director General of the Prison Service: Future Employment
  Identification Parades
  Identification Parades
  Asylum Procedures: Curtailment Power
  Asylum Procedures: Curtailment Power
  Asylum Decision-Taking Procedures
  Asylum Decision-Taking Procedures
  Crown Agents
  Crown Agents
  Road Fuel: Effect of Duty Increases on Demand
  Road Fuel: Effect of Duty Increases on Demand
  Churches: VAT on Repairs
  Churches: VAT on Repairs
  Works of Art: VAT on Sales
  Works of Art: VAT on Sales
  Domestic Fuel and Power: VAT Rate
  Domestic Fuel and Power: VAT Rate
  Anti-dazzle Road Barriers
  Anti-dazzle Road Barriers
  Secretary of State for Transport: Powers of Direction
  Secretary of State for Transport: Powers of Direction
  Churches: Repair and Maintenance
  Churches: Repair and Maintenance
  Pension Age Equalisation
  Pension Age Equalisation
  Net and Coble Fishing for Salmon
  Net and Coble Fishing for Salmon
  Waterways: Review of Navigation Functions
  Waterways: Review of Navigation Functions
  Docklands Light Railway: Extension to Lewisham
  Docklands Light Railway: Extension to Lewisham