Written Answers of 17 February 1995

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Police Discipline Procedures
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his proposals for the reform of police discipline procedures in Northern Ireland.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I issued a consultation paper on police discipline procedures on 26 August 1993. The consultation paper proposed a new system for dealing with unsatisfactory performance, as well as suggesting improvements to existing disciplinary procedures. I have carefully considered the responses which I received, the majority of which were supportive of the reforms.

  The changes which I have decided to make will create a more streamlined and up-to-date system for dealing with unsatisfactory performance and instances of misconduct. The reforms will take the form of new regulation-making powers on the conduct, efficiency and effectiveness of police officers and the maintenance of discipline, and will not prevent the pursuit of disciplinary action, when appropriate, if an officer has been acquitted of a criminal charge. There will be a new appeals tribunal, to replace the right of appeal to the Secretary of State. The right of officers to be legally represented when facing the most severe penalties will continue. Consistency will be maintained with Great Britain on the standards of proof for police disciplinary breaches.

  These changes will establish a flexible framework for reform in this important area and maintain consistency across the United Kingdom.

  Emergency Provisions Act
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will now publish the report of Mr. J. J. Rowe's fundamental review of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991; and what arrangements he has made to review the operation of the Act in 1994.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I announced on 24 May 1994 that Mr. J. J. Rowe QC would be undertaking a fundamental review of the provisions of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991. This review would assist the Government in reaching decisions about what to do when the present Act reaches the end of its life in August 1996. Mr. Rowe's report is being published in full today as a Command Paper. I am most grateful to Mr. Rowe for his valuable work.

  As Mr. Rowe himself makes clear, most of his work was completed before the Provisional IRA cessation of violence and it was wholly completed before the Loyalist cessation. His recommendations do not, therefore, take full account of the new situation which these events created, nor of the Government's working assumption that
  834
  the ceasefires are intended to be permanent. The Government's hope is that a lasting peace will prove to be established and that the need for the exceptional powers provided by this Act will accordingly be removed. In the meantime, the Government will keep the need for such powers under continuing review.

  Mr. Rowe has also accepted my invitation to prepare a report on the operation of the Act during 1994. As the temporary provisions of the Act will lapse on 15 June 1995 unless continued in force by order, I have asked Mr. Rowe to submit his report in sufficient time to facilitate Parliament's consideration of the Emergency Provisions Act.

  At the same time, and as part of the Government's continuing review of the use of powers under emergency legislation, I have concluded on the basis of security advice that there is no longer a need to maintain those exclusion orders for which I am responsible and which are in force under the Prevention of Terrorism Acts. I have, therefore, directed the revocation of those orders. My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary will announce in due course the outcome of a review of the 56 exclusion orders for which he is responsible.

  Planning Applications
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what requirement there is for alterations in the number of dwellings in a planning application from that first advertisment to be advertised in the press.

  Mr. Moss
  There is no requirement to advertise alterations to planning applications. However, where an amended proposal would significantly alter the character or description of the original proposal, it would normally be the practice to re-advertise.

  Belfast Urban Area Plan
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many trees have been removed from the sites identified as site 8 Beechill in the document, "Belfast Urban Area Plan 2001: development of suburban housing sites: Development Control Guidance Note. DOE (NI), June 1991", since June 1991;

  (2) how many healthy trees identified as to be protected in site 8 Beechill in the document entitled, "Belfast Urban Area Plan 2001: development of suburban housing sites: Development Control Guidance Note. DOE (NI)", dated June 1991, have been removed.

  Mr. Moss
  The information requested is not immediately available. I will write to the right hon. Gentleman once it is.

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what was the estimated total cost of producing the document, "Belfast Urban Area Plan 2001: development of suburban housing sites: Development Control Guidance Note DOE(NI)", dated June 1991;

  (2) if he will make a statement of the place of the document entitled "Belfast Urban Area Plan 2001: development of suburban housing sites: Development Control Guidance Note DOE(NI), June 1991" in the Belfast urban area plan 2001;

  (3) what is the legal status of the document entitled, "Belfast Urban Area Plan 2001: development of suburban housing sites: Development Control Guidance Note DOE(NI), June 1991"; and if he will make a statement.
  835
  Mr. Moss
  The cost of producing the document is not available. The BUAP 2001 committed the Department to the publication of this document. The document is a material planning consideration.

  Child Abuse and Rape Allegations
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) child abuse and (b) rape allegations have been made against teachers in each of the last five years; how many cases have not been proceeded with; and in how many cases the teacher has been found guilty.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The RUC does not hold any statistics relating to allegations as there may be many which are never investigated because no formal complaint is made.

  In cases where a prosecution ensues, RUC statistics show persons proceeded against but, in normal circumstances occupation is not recorded.

  Housing Executive
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the policy of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive on allocating grant aid as regards religious belief, what considerations underlay the questions as to the religious and political affiliation of households; and if he will ban the practice of seeking to obtain this information

  Mr. Moss
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. I am advised by its chief executive that completion of the religious affiliation question on the Executive's preliminary inquiry form for grants is optional and has no bearing whatsoever on either the executive's decision to accept or reject an application or the payment of any grant aid, which is made entirely on the basis of house condition and other eligibility factors. The question was introduced following a recommendation by the Standing Advisory Committee on Human Rights that the executive should monitor the impact of its policies and practices on each of the main sections of the community. The collection of this information has a valuable and important role to play in the promotion of equality of opportunity and equity for all the people of Northern Ireland. There are no questions about an applicant's political affiliation on the form.

  Water and Sewerage Service
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were employed by the water and sewerage service in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Moss
  The information, at 31 March of each financial year, is as follows:

  Number of Water Executive Employees

  Year

  Number

  1989–90

  2,569

  1990–91

  2,598

  1991–92

  2,633

  1992–93

  2,543

  1993–94

  2,533

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HEALTH

  999 Telephone Calls
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measure her Department is taking to reduce the number of non-urgent 999 telephone calls.

  Mr. Sackville
  The new patients charter, launched on 18 January, advises the public on how they can help the national health service by remembering that the emergency ambulance service is there for people in the most urgent need of hospital treatment. Improvements in primary care should reduce the incidence of non-urgent calls. Further action is best taken by local initiatives.

  London Ambulance Service
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account is taken of the closure of the accident and emergency departments at St. Bartholomew's, Guy's and other units within their operational area in the financial provisions for the London Ambulance Service recommended in the report to her from the chairman of the South Thames health authority.

  Mr. Sackville
  The future work load and configuration of accident and emergency departments are taken into account in the forward planning of the London Ambulance Service. The funding of the LAS is a matter for the purchasers of its services.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence she has that desirable standards in respect of London Ambulance services can be achieved by(a) unified and (b) fragmented service with equivalent resources.

  Mr. Sackville
  I look to the London Ambulance Service to improve its performance to the standards achieved by other ambulance services and believe that it should remain as a single unit provided it does so.

  Anti-Malarial Tablets
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if anti-malarial tablets are available on prescription on the NHS; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Malone
  Anti-malarial tablets for prophylaxis when travelling to endemic areas are available from travel clinics or from general practitioners on private prescription. Anti-malarial drugs may be prescribed on the national health service if they are being used for the treatment of malaria or for other medical conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

  Female Circumcision
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many girls have been admitted to hospitals in England suffering from complications following female circumcision in each year since such records were kept.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Alzheimer's Disease
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures she proposes to assist younger people suffering from Alzheimer's disease; and if she will make a statement.
  837
  Mr. Bowis
  Purchasers have been advised in "The Health of the Nation" key area handbook to take account of the needs of particular groups and conditions; this includes those suffering from pre-senile dementia.

  Abortions
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list by age the numbers of women who become pregnant within 12 months of abortions performed upon them in the latest year for which such figures are available.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information requested is not collected.

  Organ Donor Register
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when the NHS organ donor register was launched; and when the first advertisements appeared inviting potential donors to register;

  (2) how many people have registered with the NHS organ donor register since its launch;

  (3) when the NHS organ donor register will be fully operational;

  (4) when the registration forms for the NHS organ donor register were first available.

  Mr. Sackville
  The national health service organ donor register was launched on 6 October 1994. Registration forms were available from that date. Over 4 million have been issued since that date and have been available in main post offices, libraries, chemists and other public places. The first advertisements appeared in the national press the following week. About 250,000 people have registered with it at present and numbers are growing rapidly.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 2 February,Official Report, column 843, when she now expects to respond to the open letter from the Islington Gazette, about the planned closure of St. Bartholomew's hospital and the future of health services for the people of Islington, a further copy of which was sent to her on 10 February.

  Mr. Malone
  A reply from the chairman of Camden and Islington health authority was printed in the Islington Gazette on 2 February. I have nothing further to add to that reply.

  Prescibing Costs
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her answer of 3 February,Official Report, column 874, what was the average prescribing costs per 1,000 patients in (a) fundholding and (b) non-fundholding practices on each of dates specified; and what comparable information she has on the prescribing costs of non-fundholding practices participating in incentive prescribing schemes at those dates.

  Mr. Malone
  Available information is shown in the table. Practice-based prescribing incentive schemes did not commence until 1993–94; comparable information is not available centrally.838

  Average prescribing cost per 1,000 patients (net ingredient cost)

  1991–92 £

  1992–93 £

  1993–94 £

  Fundholders:

  51,000

  56,000

  61,000

  Non-fundholders:

  54,000

  61,000

  67,000

  Note:

  Net ingredient cost refers to the cost of the drugs before discounts and does not include any dispensing costs or fees.

  GP Training
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what are the numbers of GP doctors currently in training who are from a member state of the European Union beside the United Kingdom; how their training costs are being met; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer 30 January 1995]: Figures are not available centrally on the number of general practitioner doctors from European Union member states training in this country. The costs of training both in the general practice setting and in hospitals are met by the national health service.

  NHS and Departmental Staff
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will give the number of general and senior managers in(a) regional health authorities, (b) district health authorities, (c) family health services authorities, (d) trusts, (e) general practitioner practices, w the national health service executive and (g) her Department in each year since 1989–90.

  (2) if she will give the salary costs of general and senior managers in (a) regional health authorities, (b) district health authorities, (c) family health services authorities, (d) trusts, (e) general practitioner practices, (f) the national health service executive and (g) her Department in each year since 1989–90.

  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer 30 January 1995]: The available information is shown in the tables.

  The increase in the number of managers in health authorities and trusts and therefore in costs, is largely due to the reclassification of administrative and professional staff—including many senior nurses—as general and senior managers. In family health services authorities, the increase is due to new or greater managerial responsibilities for primary care development, including medical audit advisory groups, budgetary control and health promotion monitoring, and developments in community care.

  Information is not available centrally on general practitioner practice managers. The national health service executive and the Department of Health do not categorise staff in terms of general and senior managers in any way which permits comparison with those defined in this way in health authorities and trusts. Numbers of general and senior managers for 1991 and 1992 cannot be provided because the figures were collected on an aggregate basis and it is not possible to identify such staff in regional and district health authorities and FHSAs separately. The number of general and senior managers in DHAs cannot be provided for 1989, 1990 and 1993 because the aggregate figures collected for those years do not identify such staff in DHA headquarters separately. Information on salary costs is not available centrally for managers in FHSAs because their accounts and financial returns do not contain any breakdown of expenditure between staff groups.
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  Table 1

  General and senior managers within regional health headquarters or headquarter units, family health services authorities and trusts— whole time equivalents at 30 September

  1989

  1990

  1993

  Regional health authorities

  360

  1,010

  1,400

  Family health services authorities

  30

  640

  1,060

  Trusts

  —

  —

  9,210

  Source:

  Department of Health non-medical workforce census.

  Table 2

  Salary costs of general and senior managers 1989–90 to 1993–94

  1989–90 £000s

  1990–91 £000s

  1991–92 £000s

  1992–93 £000s

  1993–94 £000s

  Regional health authorities

  11,145

  24,142

  46,922

  58,560

  58,984

  District health authorities

  145,337

  223,221

  277,179

  287,987

  229,765

  Trusts

  —

  —

  54,296

  143,145

  313,704

  Source:

  Annual accounts—1989–90 and 1990–91—and annual financial retums—1991–92 to 1993–94—of regional and district health authorities. Annual financial returns of NHS trusts—1991–92 to 1993–94.

  Notes to tables:

  1. The number of general and senior managers in trusts in 1993 differs from that published in October 1994 in table E of the Statistical Bulletin—the latter erroneously included some 280 staff from Wales.

  2. Salary costs are based upon gross pay costs including employers' national insurance and superannuation contributions.

  3. Salary costs for 1992–93 differ from those given previously due to validation work carried out in 1994.

  4. Salary costs for 1993–94 are provisional.

  5. First wave trusts did not become operational until 1 April 1991.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Illegal Residents
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the main provisions of the specimen treaty produced by the K4 group of the European Union; when he approved this specimen treaty; when he intends to report his approval of the specimen treaty to the House; if he will place a copy of the specimen treaty in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The standard bilateral readmission agreement adopted by the Justice and Home Affairs Council at its meeting on 30 November and 1 December 1994, provides a standard format and text as a basis for the negotiation of bilateral agreements between individual member states and third countries governing the readmission to their country of origin of those found to be illegally resident in the territories of the contracting parties. A copy of the document has been placed in the Library.

  Prevention of Terrorism
  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish the report from Mr. J. J. Rowe QC on the operation in 1994 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989.

  Mr. Howard
  I have today arranged for copies of Mr. Rowe's report to be placed in the Library. The Government are considering Mr. Rowe's recommendations on the future of the legislation and will shortly be arranging for debates in both Houses.
  840

  Firearms Licensing
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make available the report by the Association of Chief Police Officers on firearms licensing.

  Mr. Maclean
  A copy of the report on firearms administration produced by the Association of Chief Police Officers has been placed in the Library.

  Bulgarian Vessel (Detention)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to ensure that the crew of the Rotalia are fed by the Bulgarian state while the vessel remains under Marine Safety Agency detention in United Kingdom waters in Lerwick harbour.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The provision of food for the crew of the Rotalia is a matter between them and their employers and not something in which the immigration service can become involved. However, it is my understanding that the crew are in possession of sufficient provisions on board the vessel.

  Mr. Neil Jones
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what inquiries he has commissioned into the circumstances which led to Mr. Neil Jones being placed on probation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  I understand that Mr. Jones was sentenced to probation on 21 July 1994 at Chester magistrates court. It was for the court to decide on the appropriate sentence in the circumstances of that case, and I cannot comment on that decision.
  841

  Anthony Charles Jeffs
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimated date of release has been given to Anthony Charles Jeffs; when he is to be released on. licence; and what warnings have been given to him to avoid making statements after release which may be offensive to the victim's family or colleagues.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  No estimated date of release has been given to Anthony Charles Jeffs. My right hon. and learned Friend has no power to consider the release of this prisoner unless the Parole Board so recommends. The next review of Mr. Jeffs's case by the Parole Board is not due to begin until March 1996.

  Mr. Jeffs is detained in closed prison conditions where specific attention is being paid to his attitude and behaviour towards his victims' families or their colleagues.

  Prisoners, Wales
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the number of convicted and remand prisoners resident in Wales who were detained in prisons outside Wales in(a) 1994 and (b) 1993; if he will express (a) and (b) as a percentage of the prison population who were, prior to their incarceration, residing in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  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. Elfyn Llwyd, dated 17 February 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking, if he will give the number of convicted and remand prisoners resident in Wales who were detained in prisons outside Wales in (a) 1994 and (b) 1993; if he will express (a) and (b) as a percentage of the prison population who were, prior to their incarceration, residing in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
  No information is available centrally regarding the principal address of those committed to custody. The available information on where prisoners originate from is for the court first committing to custody. The table shows the provisional number of receptions recorded centrally into Prison Service establishments in England who were first committed into custody by a Welsh Court in 1993 and 1994.

  Receptions1 into a Prison Service establishment in England from a Welsh Court, 1993–1994

  Type of custody

  Number committed to an establishment in Type of custody England

  As percentage of total committed by Welsh courts

  1993

  remand2

  1,400

  40

  sentenced3

  1,000

  34

  1994

  remand2

  1,900

  49

  sentenced3

  1,150

  33

  1 Provisional figures.

  2 Includes convicted unsentenced prisoners.

  3 Excludes fine defaulters and person held in police cells; includes some prisoners previously held on remand.

  Prisons
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has 842
  received concerning the International Labour Organisation convention on forced labour in prisons; and if he will make a statement.

  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 17 February 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question on what representations he has received concerning the International Labour Organisation convention on forced labour in prisons.
  We have received from the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) Committee of Experts observations on representations submitted by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) concerning ILO Convention 29 on forced or compulsory labour.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the technical and practical difficulties of compulsory drug testing in Her Majesty's prisons; and if he will make a statement.

  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 17 February 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question concerning representations received on the technical and practical difficulties of compulsory drug testing in prisons.
  No specific representations have been received on this matter by the Secretary of State. Two organisations raised issues concerning the potential operational and practical difficulties associated with drug testing within prisons at routine meetings with Ministers last year. I have received recently one letter which highlights similar concerns.
  The difficulties associated with drug testing within prison have been examined in depth by the project team set up to implement mandatory drug testing for prisoners. Procedures developed for this are currently being introduced initially in eight prison establishments. Lessons learnt during this phase will help ensure the effective implementation of the drug testing programme in the remaining establishments.

  Commercial Gambling (Advertising)
  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to relax the press and other media advertising restrictions on licensed bingo clubs in line with recent relaxation of restrictions in the broadcast media for football pools; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  We are currently reviewing restrictions on the advertising of bingo and other forms of commercial gambling and hope to go out to consultation in May.

  Prisoners (Tariffs)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were sentenced pursuant to(a) section 53(1) and (b) section 53(2) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 have now been notified of their tariff; how many of them have been given tariffs of (i) five years or less, (ii) six to 10 years,

  843
  (iii) 10 to 15 years, (iv) 15 to 20 years, (v) over 20 years and (vi) life; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 16 January 1995]: Some 217 persons in Prison Service custody and sentenced under section 53(1) have been notified of their tariff. The details are as follows:

  Number

  Five years or less

  2

  Six to nine years1

  33

  10 to 14 years1

  139

  15 to 20 years

  43

  Over 20 years, less than whole life

  0

  Whole life

  0

  1 These bands have been given to avoid the double counting of 10 and 15 year tariffs.

  Some 21 persons in Prison Service custody and sentenced under section 53(2) have been told the relevant part—the tariff—of their sentence. The details are as follows:

  Number

  Five years or less

  7

  Six to nine years1

  8

  10 to 14 years1

  6

  15 to 20 years

  0

  Over 20 years, less than whole life

  0

  Whole life

  0

  1 These bands have been given to avoid the double counting of 10 and 15-year tariffs.

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the functions for which further orders will be required to give full effect to structural change in Cleveland, together with when these orders will be laid before the House.

  Mr. Curry
  No further orders are required to give full effect to structural change in Cleveland. Depending on our decision on the county area of Cleveland, there may be further provision to redefine the county area and to address ceremonial functions, such as the Lord Lieutenancy. My right hon. Friend and colleagues in other Government Departments may wish to make regulations or issue guidance in due course in relation to the provision of services where there is to be unitary local government.

  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which bodies have commented on the draft Avon, Humberside and North Yorkshire (Structural Change) Orders and the Selby District (Boundary Change) Order; and if he will place copies of those comments in the Library.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  My answer to the hon. Member for Kingswood (Mr. Berry) on 3 February 1995,Official Report, column 911, listed the bodies consulted on the draft orders. We have also received comments from other bodies such as parish councils as well as individuals. We will make available copies of comments from official bodies on request unless we are asked not to do so.
  844
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the provision for a transferor authority affected by structural change under the Local Government Act 1992 to seek information from a transferee; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  We intend that the individual orders made under section 17 of the Local Government Act 1992 will provide for transferor and transferee authorities alike to co-operate with one another so as to facilitate the implementation of structural change.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether article 20 of the draft Avon Structural Change (Order) grants powers to district councils transferring functions to South Gloucestershire which it does not grant to the county council also transferring powers to the new authority.

  Mr. Curry
  No.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date he announced his decision to create new counties in Avon and Humberside.

  Mr. Curry
  Our decision to abolish the counties of Avon and Humberside was announced on 25 October 1994. In accordance with the Local Government Act 1972, when we abolish the counties of Avon and Humberside, we must at the same time provide for their areas to be included in other counties.

  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what role he envisages for the Local Government Commission once the current set of reviews is completed.

  Mr. Curry
  The Local Government Commission is responsible, under the Local Government Act 1992, for undertaking periodic electoral reviews of local government areas in England, as well as for conducting structural and boundary reviews at the direction of the Secretary of State. I expect that, once the current round of structural reviews is complete, its main business will be with the periodic electoral reviews.

  Audit Commission
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what considerations underlay his decision to appoint a serving local authority chief executive to the membership of the Audit Commission; and what assessment he has made of the impact of this appointment on the independence of the Audit Commission from those bodies it supervises.

  Mr. Curry
  The Secretary of State appoints to the Audit Commission those whom he considers have the most appropriate skills and experience. Mr John Foster was appointed on this basis. Members do not represent particular interests, and the independence of the Audit Commission is not affected by the appointment of a serving chief executive, any more than it has been by the appointment in the past of serving local authority members.

  Council Houses
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest figures for the number of council houses without tenants for each local authority in England.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Local authorities in England report the numbers of their dwellings that are vacant at
  845
  1 April in their annual housing investment programme returns. Data for individual local authorities for 1994 can be found in section A of the "1994 HIP1 All Items Print", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Energy Saving Trust
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Field) of 13 February,Official Report, columns 514–15, what funding his Department has (a) set aside from current funds and (6) negotiated as extra funds from Her Majesty's Treasury to give to the Energy Saving Trust after it is designated under section 153 of the Environment Protection Act 1990.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  I shall decide on any appropriate contribution to the costs of the Energy Saving Trust once it has reviewed its plans and discussed them with my officials.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, if he plans to make any changes to the provisional capping criteria which he announced on 1 February.

  Mr. Curry
  Following representations, I have concluded that the six metropolitan fire and civil defence authorities outside London face unique circumstances: as single service authorities with relatively small budgets, operating within detailed requirements governing minimum service provision, their flexibility is exceptionally constrained. I therefore propose to revise the provisional capping criteria that will apply to them.

  My original proposals would have limited single service fire and civil defence authorities that are budgeting above their standard spending assessment to an increase in budget compared to 1994–95 of a 0.5 per cent. I now propose to revise the provisional capping criteria that apply to the metropolitan fire and civil defence authorities. The effect of my intended criteria is:

  i any increase in budget of more than 2 per cent. over 1994–95 would be considered excessive if it gives rise to a budget requirement above the authority's SSA;

  ii. any increase of more than 1.25 per cent. would be considered excessive if it gives rise to a budget requirement over 5 per cent. above SSA;

  iii. any increase of more than 0.5 per cent. would be considered excessive if it gives rise to a budget requirement over 10 per cent. above SSA.

  The capping criteria are necessarily provisional. We cannot take decisions on capping until authorities have set their budgets for 1995–96.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what is the cost of legal aid awarded to Mr. Bryce Taylor.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  No money has been paid on account to the solicitors acting for Mr. Bryce Taylor under legal aid, and no final bill has been received.
  846
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what steps he plans to take to ensure that every individual wishing to complain about treatment at the hands of the Legal Aid Board is automatically given the board's leaflet about its complaints procedures as soon as the complaint is drawn to the board's attention.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Legal Aid Board does not require that complaints are lodged with it on a particular form. On receipt of a complaint—whether by telephone, letter, or on the form included in its complaints leaflet—the board takes immediate steps to resolve the problem. Where appropriate, a copy of the complaint leaflet is sent to the complainant but this would not be appropriate in every case—for example where the complaint has been satisfactorily resolved immediately over the telephone.

  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what mechanisms exist for setting and ensuring that Legal Aid Board staff responsible for assessing expert medical and other reports possess the necessary scientific or professional expertise.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Legal Aid Board ensures through its quality management system, which includes detailed work allocation, supervision procedures and quality control mechanisms, that all work is allocated to' staff with the appropriate degree of training and experience to deal with it.

  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what mechanisms exist for setting and ensuring minimum standards for quality of expert medical and other reports in legally-aided cases.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Individual solicitors are responsible for obtaining expert medical and other reports in legal aid cases. The Legal Aid Board does not, itself, commission such reports. The board has introduced its franchising arrangements to ensure that there is a quality assured legal aid service available to clients. It is a mandatory requirement of franchising that all franchisees have documented procedures for using experts which include, among other things, clear criteria for selecting experts which must be followed and arrangements for checking opinions and reports when they are received to ensure they adequately provide the information sought.

  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what mechanisms exist to ensure that, where a legally aided individual makes a complaint about a particular Legal Aid Board official or office, that individual's application for legal aid will not be prejudiced.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Legal Aid Board has adopted "justifiability of decision-making" as one of its guiding principles and seeks to ensure that all decisions are taken objectively and are uninfluenced by prejudice of any kind. To ensure that it meets this objective, it has obtained accreditation as a quality assured organisation under BS EN ISO 9002, formerly BS 5750. The board uses its quality management system—which includes detailed and comprehensive supervision, work allocation and quality control procedures—to ensure that decisions in individual cases are made objectively.
  847

EMPLOYMENT

  Trade Union Membership
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many employees have not given re-authorisation for their trade union membership subscriptions to be renewed, as laid down by the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Act 1993;

  (2) if he will list the abuses of the process of employer check-off of trade union membership subscription remedied by the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Act 1993;

  (3) if he will issue guidance to employers regarding information that they should give to employees about whether their trade union membership has been cancelled under the terms of the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Act 1993 because of failure to re-authorise;

  (4) how much the process of seeking re-authorisation of trade union membership subscriptions under the terms of the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Act 1993 by trade unions has cost so far in terms of (a) labour costs, (6) administrative costs and (c) overall, breaking the information down by every trade union;

  (5) what is the consequence for any individual who does not re-authorise the renewal of trade union membership subscriptions as laid down by the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Act 1993;

  (6) if he will make a statement on the outcome of the first three-yearly exercise of re-authorisation of trade union membership subscription renewal laid down by the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Act 1993.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  There is no statutory requirement for re-authorisation of union membership subscriptions. Provisions in the 1993 Act require prior written consent from the worker, and renewed consent at least every three years, if an employer is lawfully to make check-off deductions from a worker's pay for union membership subscriptions.

  The Department has no information on how many workers have consented to such deductions since these provisions came into force.

  The case for changes to the law on check-off as it then stood was set out in the 1991 Green Paper "Industrial Relations in the 1990s". Paragraphs 6.18–6.27 of the Green Paper identified the potential problems which could arise for individuals, as well as particular instances of concern about the operation of check-off arrangements.

  Guidance on the law is given in the Department's published "Guide to the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Act 1993"—Ref: PL 945—and in the booklet "The Payment of Union Subscriptions Through the Check-off—Ref: PL 944. Both were published when the provisions came into force.

  How employers may have responded to these requirements, and the consequential costs that they, or trade unions, may have incurred, are matters for them. No employer is required to offer check-off facilities.

  If an employee does not authorise the continuance of such deductions, it will be unlawful for the employer to continue to make them.

  I am unaware of any complaints having been made to industrial tribunals about unlawful deduction of check-off
  848
  since the provisions came into effect. This may indicate that employers are complying with the law.

  Labour Statistics
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list by occupation, the work force in(a) full-time employment and (b) part-time employment in Islwyn in each year since 1979, also expressing the information by gender.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Occupational information is not available for Islwyn.

  Youth Training
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his Department's responsibility for ensuring that non-employed status YT trainees are paid their basic weekly allowance; who is responsible for reimbursing training providers who make such payments in advance but who are not paid by their local training and enterprise council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Paice
  The Department contracts with training and enterprise councils for the delivery of youth training. The contract requires TECs to ensure that non-employed YT trainees are paid a regular training allowance at least to the level specified by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. The arrangements TECs make with training providers is governed by the contracts agreed between the parties. Recovery of any ensuing debts is subject to the law of contract.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what guidance he has issued to TEC directors about(a) their legal liability for the activities of their TEC and (b) the availability and advisability of taking out personal indemnity insurance to cover such liabilities; what information he has about the number of TECs and TEC directors who have insured themselves against such risks; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Paice
  None. Training and Enterprise Councils are private companies. It is for TEC directors to take such advice as they consider appropriate as to their liabilities and the advisability of personal indemnity insurance. The TEC operating agreement requires a TEC to take out and maintain adequate insurance against any losses and damages arising from fault or negligence on the part of the TEC including, but not limited to, employers' liability; public liability; directors' and officers' liability; professional indemnity and damage to property. Information relating to indemnity insurance is not collected by the Department.

  South Thames Training and Enterprise Council
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, what is the liability of the directors of South Thames TEC for the losses incurred before the official receivers were appointed; how these directors will be asked to account for their actions as directors for the year up to the appointment of the receivers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Paice
  South Thames training and enterprise council is a private company limited by guarantee. The liability of the directors will be determined in accordance
  849
  with company law. I understand that the directors are preparing a statement on the companies affairs for the receiver in accordance with the requirements of the Insolvency Act 1986.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 19 January,Official Report, column 619, what was the total number of redundancies at South Thames TEC from December 1994 to date.

  Mr. Paice
  I understand from the receiver that 68 employees of South Thames training and enterprise council have so far been made redundant. This include employees of Routeways, a wholly owned subsidiary of South Thames TEC.

  Greenwich Training Company
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from hon. Members and others regarding the future of the Greenwich Training Company; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Paice
  I have received a number of representations from hon. Members and others about the future of the Greenwich Training Company. I understand that a meeting was held on Wednesday 15 February at which the directors of the Greenwich Training Company agreed to continue trading. The decision was made after the directors received assurances from South London training and enterprise council that it will contract with the company for 1995–96 if its proposals for assuming 'TEC responsibilities in the London borough of Greenwich are successful.

  Commissioner for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will list the costs of legal aid made available to complaintants by the Commission for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action, broken down by(a) those relating to arrangements for legal aid, (b) legal representation to complainants, (c) legal advice given to inquirers and (d) sundry costs associated with cost of proceedings and preliminary activities associated with the preparing for those proceedings, for each year since 1993;

  (2) how many complainants provided their own legal representatives or advisers and were reimbursed by the Commission for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action, broken down by (a) nature or category of complaint and (b) category of company, organisation or individual for each year since 1993;

  (3) how many of the inquiries and complaints made to the Commission for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action were from (a) trade union members, (b) executive members of companies or organisations and (c) non-executive members of companies or organisations, broken down by (i) managerial and professional grades and (ii) manual and non-manual workers for each year since 1993;

  (4) how many applications made to the Commission for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action were withdrawn for each year since 1993;

  (5) how many cases were brought to the courts by the Commission for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial
  850
  action for each year since 1993, broken down by (a) the number of cases lost and (b) the number of cases successfully brought by the commission on behalf of complainants for each year since 1993;

  (6) if he will list the costs of legal aid and legal advice made available to complainants, broken down by (a) nature or category of complaint and (b) category of complainant or inquirer paid for by the Commissioner for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action for each year since 1993;

  (7) how many (a) formal applications and (b) inquiries have been received by the Commission for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action in each year since 1993;

  (8) if he will list the formal applications made to, and inquiries received by the Commission for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action in each year since 1993 broken down by the categories of applicant and inquirer;

  (9) if he will list the previous legal, industrial relations or labour law work experience of Gill Rowlands, prior to her appointment as Commissioner to the Commission for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action;

  (10) if he will give a breakdown of all income received by the Commission for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action for each year since 1993;

  (11) if he will give a breakdown of the nature of complaints made to the Commission for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action for each year since 1993;

  (12) if he will list those organisations in the private and public sectors who received a mailshot letter from the Commission for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action for (a) 1993 and (b) 1994;

  (13) if he will list the overseas visits and activities undertaken by the Commissioner for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action for each year since 1993;

  (14) if he will list United Kingdom visits and activities undertaken by the Commissioner for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action for each year since 1993;

  (15) if he will list the request for information regarding the role of the Commissioner for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action from overseas countries in each case giving a summary of the nature of the information provided for each years since 1993;

  (16) if he will list the costs of the overseas and United Kingdom visits made by the Commissioner for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action for each year since 1993 breaking down the individual costs incurred for each country visited;

  (17) what are (a) the salary costs and (b) the number of hours worked in respect of the Commissioner for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action for each year since 1993;

  (18) how many staff currently work for the Commission for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action; and what are the direct and indirect pay costs and operating expenses associated with the provision of his service, for each year since 1993.

  Mr. Oppenhiem
  [holding answers 15 February 1995]: There is no Commission for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action. The independent Commissioner for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action can

  851
  provide material assistance to individuals contemplating or taking certain proceedings against trade unions.

  The present commissioner, Mrs. Gill Rowlands, has also, since 1988, been the Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members. Prior to her appointment, she was chairman of the Liverpool and Manchester industrial tribunal from 1978 to 1988, and was for 12 years a justice of the peace on the Wirral bench. She read law at Kings college, London and was called to the Bar at Gray's Inn in 1952.

  The salary costs of the Commissioner for the relevant years are:

  1993–94 £8,299.00 (August 1993 to March 1994)

  1994–95 £15,213.44 (April 1994 to date)

  The Commissioner is contracted to work for seven and a half hours, one day per week.

  I understand from the Commissioner that:

  One formal application for assistance was made in 1994 which was withdrawn in the same year. The application was made on the basis that the National Union of Teachers was organising industrial action without the protection of the statutory immunities.

  Some 140 inquiries were received by her office in 1993–94, and 476 in the 1994–95 year (to date).

  No legal costs have been incurred or paid.

  No information on the occupations or union membership of those making inquiries or complaints to the Commissioner is held.

  Apart from grant in aid from my Department, no income has been received by the commissioner.

  No mailshots were carried out in 1993. In 1994, mailshots were sent to:

  Advice centres

  Citizens advice bureaux

  Employment Service offices

  Training and enterprise councils

  Solicitors

  Libraries

  Law centres

  ACAS offices

  All Members of Parliament

  No overseas visits or activities have been undertaken.

  It is not possible to list all the visits and activities undertaken in the United Kingdom as to do so would, in certain instances, breach the Commissioner's guarantee of confidentiality. However, they include meetings with lawyers, Government Departments, academics and others, presentations, public speaking engagements and media interviews.

  Requests for information regarding the role of the commissioner were received from the following overseas countries:

  1993

  Kenya

  Request for information on the commissioner's role and on any other United Kingdom industrial relations matters. A copy of the commissioner's guide and a selection of Employment Department leaflets were provided.

  1994

  Japan

  A guide and annual report were requested by a student at Shimane university. They were provided.
  852
  Spain

  A guide and annual report were requested by the Director of Documentation, Council of Social and Economic Affairs. Copies were provided.

  France

  General information was requested by a student. Copies of the commissioner's annual report and guide were sent together with a selection of Employment Department industrial relations leaflets.

  Greece

  General information requested by a professor at Athens—University. Copies of the guide and annual report were provided.
  Information regarding the commissioner's travel costs is not held separately. The costs of domestic travel and subsistence for the Commissioner's office for the relevant years are as follows:

  1993–94 £1,503.00 (August 1993—March 1994)

  1994–95 £1,492.68 (to date)

  Five staff provide support for both the Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members and the Commissioner for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action. The pay and operational costs apportioned to the latter's office have been:
  1993–94 (August 1993—March 1994)

  Staff salaries: £19,151.00

  Accommodation: £3,737.00

  Fuel and Utilities: £1,454.00

  1994–95 (to date)

  Staff salaries: £33,309.00

  Accommodation: £8,108.33

  Fuel and Utilities: £1,585.33

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what were the costs of all overseas and United Kingdom visits made by the Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members for each year since 1989 broken down by individual country;

  (2) if he will give a breakdown of the income received by the Commission for the Rights of Trade Union Members for each year since 1989;

  (3) if he will list all United Kingdom visits and activities undertaken by the Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members for each year since 1989;

  (4) if he will list the costs of legal aid made available to complainants by the Commission for the Rights of Trade Union Members, broken down by (a) those involving arrangements for legal aid, (b) legal representation to complainants, (c) legal advice given to inquirers and (d) sundry costs associated with the cost of proceedings and preliminary activities associated with preparing for those proceedings for each year since 1989;

  (5) of the inquiries and complaints made to the Commission for the Rights of Trade Union Members how many were from (a) trade union members, (b) executive members of companies or organisations and (c) non-executive members of companies or organisations, broken down by (i) managerial and professional grades and (ii) manual and non-manual workers for each year since 1989;

  (6) how many cases were brought to the courts by the Commission for Rights of Trade Union Members for each year since 1989 broken down by (a) the number of cases lost and (b) the number of cases successfully brought by the commission on behalf of complainants for each year since 1989;
  853
  (7) if he will list (a) the formal applications made to and (b) inquiries received by the Commission for the Rights of Trade Union Members for each year since 1989 broken down by category of applicant and inquirer;

  (8) if he will list the legal, employment and industrial relations work experience of Gill Rowlands, prior to her appointment as Commissioner to the Commission for the Rights of Trade Union Members;

  (9) if he will list (a) the salary costs of and (h) the number of hours worked by the Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members for each year since 1989;

  (10) if he will list those organisations in the private and public sectors who received a mailshot letter from the Commission for the Rights of Trade Union Members for (a) 1993 and (b) 1994;

  (11) if he will list all overseas visits and activities undertaken by the Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members for each year since 1989;

  (12) if he will list the conclusions contained in the evidence provided by the Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members to Mr. Fujikawa from the University of Tokyo in respect of his research project on United Kingdom industrial relations conducted in 1994;

  (13) if he will place in the Library a copy of the papers delivered to (a) the International Conference of Labour lawyers at Lodz university and (b) the lecture given to Torun university in Poland in 1994 by the Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members;

  (14) if he will list the requests from overseas countries for information regarding the role of the Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members; and if he will give a summary of the information provided to these countries for each year since 1989;

  (15) how many complainants who provided their own legal representatives or advisers were reimbursed by the Commission for Rights of Trade Union Members, broken down (a) by nature or category of complaint and (b) by category of company, organisation, or individuals, for each years since 1989;

  (16) how many applications made to the Commission for the Rights of Trade Union Members were withdrawn for each year since 1989;

  (17) if he will list the cost of legal aid and legal advice made available to complainants paid for by the Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members broken down by (a) nature of category of complaint and (b) category of complainant or inquirer for each year since 1989;

  (18) how many (a) formal applications and (b) inquiries were received by the Commission for the Rights of Trade Union Members for each year since 1989;

  (19) if he will give a breakdown of the nature of complaints made to the Commission for the Rights of Trade Union Members for each year since 1989;

  (20) how many staff are employed by the Commission for the Rights of Trade Union Members; and what were (a) the direct and indirect pay costs and (b) the operating expenses associated with the provision of this service for each year since 1989.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answers 15 February 1995]: There is no Commission for the Rights of Trade Union Members. The independent Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members can provide material assistance
  854
  to individuals contemplating or taking certain proceedings against trade unions, their officials or trustees.

  Prior to her appointment, the present Commissioner, Mrs. Gill Rowlands, was chairman of the Liverpool and Manchester Industrial Tribunal from 1978 to 1988, and was for 12 years a justice of the peace on the Wirral bench. She read law at Kings college London, and was called to the Bar at Grays Inn in 1952.

  The salary paid to the Commissioner has been as follows:

  1989–90 £18,795.00

  1990–91 £23,265.00 (12 month period)

  1991–92 £31,174.00 (13 month period)

  1992–93 £29,400.00

  1993–94 £32,715.00

  1994–95—£30,426.50 (to date)

  The commissioner is contracted to work two days per week, seven and a half hours per day.

  I understand from the Commissioner that the total travel and subsistence costs for herself and her staff have been as follows:

  1989–90 £3,200.00 (all within the UK)

  1990–91 £7,147.00 (all within the UK)

  1991–92 £8,332.00 (all within the UK)

  1992–93 £19,121.00 (all within the UK)

  1993–94 £5,580.00 (UK and two visits to Poland)

  1994–95 £6,052.80 (to date—all within the UK)

  The total cost of the Commissioner's only overseas visits—to Poland on a lecture tour organised by Torun university and for a presentation to the International Conference of Labour Lawyers at Lodz university during 1993–94—was £1,265.00. The papers delivered by her on these visits will be placed in the Library.

  Other than grant in aid from my Department, the Commissioner receives no "income" other than receipts representing the return of legal costs. These receipts, all of which have been returned to the Consolidated Fund, have been as follows:

  1989–90 nil

  1990–91 nil

  1991–92 £32.477.00

  1992–93 £5,462.00

  1993–94 £35,643,00

  1994–95 £4,427.04 (to date)

  To list the Commissioner's visits and activities in the form requested would, in certain instances, breach the guarantee of confidentiality which the Commissioner provides to those who contact her. Visits within the UK have involved meetings with lawyers, Government Departments, trade union members and others, as well as presentations, speaking engagements and media interviews.

  The Commissioner is not involved in the provision of legal aid, nor does she offer legal advice to inquirers. The assistance made available to enable applicants to obtain legal advice and—if necessary—bring proceedings has been as follows:

  1989–90 £17,893.00

  1990–91 £75,803.00

  1991–92 £85,588.00

  1992–93 £193,265.00

  1993–94 £93,763.00

  1994–95 £108,002.00 (to date).

  855
  No statistics about inquirers' background or status are available before 1991–92. Even then, a number of inquirers were not prepared to release information about themselves. The number who have identified themselves as trade union members is as follows:

  1991–92 277

  1992–93 237

  1993–94 234

  1994–95 190 (to date)

  No further information is available about the status of inquirers.

  While the Commissioner herself does not bring cases to court, proceedings brought with her assistance have been as follows:

  Won by assisted person

  Lost by assisted person

  1988–89

  Nil

  Nil

  1989–90

  Nil

  2

  1990–91

  Nil

  Nil

  1991–92

  5

  Nil

  1992–93

  4

  1

  1993–94

  1

  Nil

  1994–95

  3

  1Nil

  Note:

  The majority of complaints for which assistance was granted were settled without the need to bring cases to court.

  1 To date.

  The subject matter of formal applications for the Commissioner's assistance has been as follows—where no figure is given, there were no relevant applications in the year concerned; complaints about breaches of certain union rules have been in scope of the Commissioner's assistance only since the 1990–91 year:
  Union failure to ballot on industrial action

  1988–89 1

  1989–90 6

  1990–91 1

  1991–92 1

  1992–93 1

  1994–95 1 (to date)

  Union failure to allow inspection of accounting records

  1988–89 2

  1989–90 6

  1992–93 3

  1993–94 2

  1994–95 7 (to date)

  Unlawful use of trade union property

  1988–39 1

  1989–90 1

  1990–91 1

  1991–92 3

  1992–93 2

  1993–94 1

  Unlawful union expenditure on party political activities

  1991–92 1

  Union failure to comply with statutory duties for election to certain union offices

  1988–89 7

  1990–91 8

  1991–92 9

  1992–93 6

  1993–94 3

  1994–95 2 (to date)

  856
  Application of union property to pay a penalty imposed on an individual by a court

  1994–95 1 (to date)

  Union failure to maintain, and provide access to, its membership register

  1994–95 1 (to date)

  Breach of union rules concerning election to/removal from office

  1990–91 7

  1991–92 13

  1992–93 8

  1993–94 10

  1994–95 13 (to date)

  Breach of union rules concerning disciplinary action

  1990–91 6

  1991–92 2

  1992–93 10

  1993–94 10

  1994–95 8 (to date)

  Breach of union rules concerning balloting of members

  1991–92 7

  1992–93 4

  1993–94 3

  1994–95 2 (to date)

  Breach of union rules concerning application of funds or property

  1991–92 2

  1992–93 1

  1993–94 1

  1994–95 1 (to date)

  Constitution or proceedings of union conference, committee or similar body

  1990–91 3

  1991–92 7

  1992–93 5

  1993–94 5

  1994–95 7 (to date)

  Out of scope

  1988–89 6

  1989–90 9

  1990–91 8

  1991–92 19

  1992–93 10

  1993–94 12

  1994–95 4 (to date)

  The subject matter of inquiries received, with figures on a similar basis, is classified as follows:
  Commissioner's role (general)

  1988–89 10

  1989–90 15

  1990–91 9

  1991–92 26

  1992–93 194

  1993–94 231

  1994–95 80 (to date)

  Member's right to a ballot before being called on to take official industrial action

  1989–90 16

  1990–91 5

  1991–92 5

  1992–93 3

  1993–94 4

  Balloting of union members (general)

  1991–92 12

  1992–93 18

  1993–94 14

  1994–95 12 (to date)

  857
  Union withholding information from members

  1988–89 1

  1989–90 2

  1990–91 1

  1994–95 1 (to date)

  Union disciplinary action

  1988–89 4

  1989–90 96

  1990–91 31

  1991–92 9

  1992–93 5

  1993–94 6

  1994–95 3 (to date)

  Operation of union disciplinary procedures

  1991–92 19

  1992–93 26

  1993–94 14

  1994–95 13 (to date)

  Closed shop/union membership requirements for employment

  1988–89 4

  1989–90 15

  1990–91 21

  1991–92 20

  1992–93 15

  1993–94 4

  1994–95 1 (to date)

  Selection/election of union officials

  1988–89 1

  1989–90 14

  1990–91 11

  1992–93 3

  1993–94 2

  1994–95 1 (to date)

  Lack of/inadequate union representation by officials

  1988–89 8

  1989–90 57

  1990–91 50

  1991–92 88

  1992–93 91

  1993–94 121

  1994–95 97 (to date)

  Control/organisation of union meetings

  1988–89 1

  1989–90 4

  1990–91 3

  1991–92 1

  1992–93 5

  Access to union accounting records

  1988–89 1

  1989–90 19

  1990–91 2

  1991–92 9

  1992–93 4

  1993–94 2

  1994–95 5 (to date)

  Unlawful use of union funds by trustees

  1988–89 1

  1989–90 6

  1990–91 2

  1991–92 13

  1992–93 2

  1993–94 3

  1994–95 3 (to date)

  Provision of union benefits/facilities

  1988–89 1

  1989–90 11

  1990–91 6

  1991–92 11

  858

  1992–93 12

  1993–94 8

  1994–95 4 (to date)

  Ballots on union political funds

  1989–90 1

  1994–95 1 (to date)

  Ballots on union executive elections

  1989–90 27

  1990–91 22

  1991–92 21

  1992–93 9

  1993–94 4

  1994–95 2 (to date)

  Unlawful use of union funds for party political purposes

  1989–90 1

  1990–91 1

  1991–92 1

  1992–93 1

  1994–95 1 (to date)

  Application of union funds or property

  1991–92 8

  1992–93 2

  1993–94 3

  1994–95 3 (to date)

  Terms and conditions of employment

  1989–90 24

  1990–91 28

  1991–92 27

  1992–93 22

  1993–94 23

  1994–95 11 (to date)

  Constitution or proceedings of a union conference or other body

  1990–91 6

  1991–92 15

  1992–93 8

  1993–94 8

  1994–95 8 (to date)

  Appointment to, or removal from, union office

  1991–92 25

  1992–93 14

  1993–94 17

  1994–95 6 (to date)

  Union subscription payments

  1992–93 2

  1993–94 1

  1994–95 2 (to date)

  Grievance against employer

  1992–93 1

  1993–94 2

  Inter-union membership agreements

  1992–93 1

  1994–95 3 (to date)

  Others not included in above

  1989–90 16

  1990–91 35

  1991–92 35

  1992–93 34

  1993–94 35

  1994–95 24 (to date)

  During 1993 and 1994, the Commissioner issued a mailshot to everyone attending the Institute of Personnel Managers Conference and Exhibition in 1992 and 1993 respectively. In 1993, she issued a mailshot to all members of the North West Law Society, and in 1994 to all Members of Parliament. All mailshots were to individuals.
  859
  The Commissioner provided neither conclusions nor evidence in her discussion with Mr. Fujikawa, but outlined how her office considers applications for assistance, and supplied him with copies of her annual reports and guides.

  All requests from overseas have been for information about the Commissioner's activities and role. In all cases, the individuals making such inquiries were supplied with a copy of the Commissioner's annual report(s), or guides. Inquiries were received from individuals from the following countries:

  1989–90 Japan, Canada, Malaysia, Greece, USA, Romania

  1991–92 Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden, Japan, Taiwan, USA

  1992–93 Netherlands

  1993–94 USA, Germany, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia.

  No applicant awarded assistance has been reimbursed by the Commissioner. Legal costs are paid direct to the applicant's solicitor on behalf of the applicant. Assistance has been provided only to individuals. The basis of applications assisted in particular years has been as follows:
  Member's right to a ballot before official industrial action

  1989–90 2

  1991–92 1

  1994–95 1 (to date)

  Right of access to union accounting records

  1989–90 1

  1992–93 1

  1993–94 2

  Use of union funds to indemnify unlawful conduct

  1994–95 1 (to date)

  Unlawful use of union property by trustees

  1988–89 1

  1994–95 1 (to date)

  Union failure to comply with statutory duties for election to certain offices

  1989–90 3

  1990–91 3

  1991–92 2

  1992–93 2

  1993–94 1

  1994–95 1 (to date)

  Breach of union rules for appointment or election to office

  1990–91:1

  1991–92 2

  1992–93 1

  1993–94 3

  1994–95 1 to date

  Breach of union rules for disciplinary proceedings

  1990–91 1

  1992–93 1

  1993–94 2

  Breach of union rules on balloting of members

  1992–93 1

  Breach of union rules on application of funds or property

  1994–95 2 (to date)

  Breach of union rules on constitution or proceedings of a committee, conference or other body

  1991–92 3

  1993–94 2

  860
  The number of applicants for the Commissioner's assistance who failed to progress their applications is as follows:

  1989–90 4

  1990–91 2

  1991–92 7

  1992–93 2

  1993–94 1

  1994–95 2 (to date).

  The costs of assistance provided to particular applicants cannot be allocated to particular operational years. Relevant expenditure by nature of the complaint is as follows:

  Member's right to a ballot before official industrial action—£17,627

  Right of access to union accounting records—£16,268

  Use of union funds to indemnify unlawful conduct—£3,760

  Unlawful use of union property by trustees—£103,566

  Union failure to comply with statutory duties for election to certain offices—£148,475

  Breach of union rules for appointment or election to office—£104,569

  Breach of union rules for disciplinary proceedings—£9,793

  Breach of union rules on balloting of members—£1,022

  Breach of union rules on application of funds or property—£12,441

  Breach of union rules on constitution or proceedings of a committee, conference or other body—£39,030.

  Formal applications for assistance, and inquiries, received have been as follows:

  Formal applications

  Enquiries

  1988–89

  10

  37

  1989–90

  29

  324

  1990–91

  34

  233

  1991–92

  64

  345

  1992–93

  50

  473

  1993–94

  47

  502

  1994–951

  47

  281

  1 To date.

  Five staff provide support for both the Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members and, since her appointment in 1993, the Commissioner for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action. The pay and operational costs, and apportioned costs, of the Commissioner's office have been:

  1989–90

  Staff salaries: £66,126

  Accommodation: £20,896

  Fuel and utilities: £1,162

  1990–91

  Staff salaries: £84,536

  Accommodation: £15,693

  Fuel and utilities: £4,817

  1991–92

  Staff salaries: £109,272

  Accommodation: £14,555

  Fuel and utilities: £4,168

  1992–93

  Staff salaries: £118,047

  Accommodation: £17,938

  Fuel and utilities: £4,005

  1993–94

  Staff salaries: £92,890

  Accommodation: £11,362

  Fuel and utilities: £5,633

  861

  1994–95

  Staff salaries: £66,619

  Accommodation: £16,216

  Fuel and utilities: £3,178

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, what was the financial provision from grants in aid from the Employment Department's Supply Estimates to(a) the Commission for the Rights of Individual Trade Union Members for each year since 1989 and (b) the Commission for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action for each year since 1993.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 15 February 1995]: The estimates provision for grant in aid, and grant in aid actually received from the Department, have been as follows:

  Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members

  Year

  Provision (£)

  Actually received (£)

  1989–90

  800,000

  246,000

  1990–91

  280,000

  263,000

  1991–92

  500,000

  291,000

  1992–93

  514,000

  431,000

  1993–94

  375,000

  276,000

  1994–95

  344,000

  1257,000

  1 To date.

  Commissioner for Protection against Unlawful Industrial Action

  Year

  Provision (£)

  Actually received (£)

  1993–94

  148,000

  88,000

  1994–95

  191,000

  196,000

  1 To date.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Mobile Abattoirs
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what backing he is giving to the development and use of mobile abattoirs.

  Mrs. Browning
  All slaughterhouses, including mobile abattoirs, must meet the structural and hygiene standards set out in the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1992 and have to be licensed by the appropriate Agriculture Department. Officials of the State Vetrinary Service have given, and will continue to give, advice and encouragement to any project to design and establish a mobile abattoir. At present, there are no mobile abattoirs in use in England.

  Cheese Production
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the fall in UK cheese production since the demise of the Milk Marketing Board; and what action he plans to take to reverse it and restore the production of quality speciality cheese.

  Mr. Jack
  Figures for cheese production since 1 November 1994 are not yet available. However, one of the biggest problems for cheese makers under the old milk marketing arrangements was the withdrawal of milk supplies by the MMB at short notice. They now enjoy greater security of supply for their milk.
  862

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. MacShane
  (1) To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to travel to Hong Kong in 1995.

  (2) To ask the Minister without Portfolio what plans he has to travel to Hong Kong in 1995.

  Mr. Hunt
  We have no present plans to do so.

SCOTLAND

  M77
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the formal notice of complaint No 95/40005 SG(95)/A/287 from the European Commission, relating to the Ayr road route M77 was received by his Department; and what response has been made.

  Lord James Douglas Hamilton
  The Government have received no formal notice of complaint from the Commission.

  Legal Aid
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when was the last occasion upon which advice was received on the matter of civil eligibility for legal aid from the Scottish Legal Aid Board;

  (2) if he will implement advice given by the Scottish Legal Aid Board in 1991 in its response to his Department's consultation paper on eligibility for civil legal aid in Scotland to the effect that the fixed upper limit should be abolished and replaced by some other form of universal eligibility or flexible upper limit;

  (3) what representations he has received from the Scottish Legal Aid Board following implementation of the new financial limits for eligibility for legal aid.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend has received no representations from the Scottish Legal Aid Board on the question of eligibility for civil legal aid since the advice on proposed changes to eligibility for advice and assistance referred to in my reply to the hon. Members question of 12 February 1993,Official Report, columns 849–50. In setting eligibility limits, the Government must make a judgement as to the correct level, having regard on the one hand to providing access to legal services to those unable to afford them, and on the other to the need to control the level of public expenditure. Against this background, the Government have no plans to abolish the fixed upper eligibility limit.

  Abortions
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many abortions were performed in England and Wales, on women resident in each health authority in 1993; and, of these operations, how many were performed in NHS hospitals.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested for 1993 is not yet available. Information on abortions performed in England and Wales is provided by the Office of Population Census and Surveys. This data will be available within the next few months.
  863

  Scottish Health Common Services
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what consultations he had with the Welsh Health Common Services Authority concerning W. S. Atkins' part in designing Ysbyty Gwynedd hospital, Bangor, Gwynedd, prior to the decision to sell Scottish Health Common Services to the company;

  (2) what information he has concerning the level of compensation paid by W. S. Atkins and Partners in 1988 to the Welsh Health Common Services authority in cognisance of the design faults at Ysbyty Gwynedd hospital, Bangor, before his decision to sell Scottish Health Common Services to the company.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 15 February 1995]: None. The decision to sell the building division of the Common Services Agency for the NHS in Scotland to W. S. Atkins Ltd. followed an extensive competitive tendering exercise.

  Consultants
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. Lang
  [holding answer 15 February 1995]: On no occasion during the last five years has my Department or its agencies taken legal action against a consultancy firm.

  Health Care International
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland who were the members of the Scottish Industrial Development Advisory Committee when Government support for HCI in Clydebank was confirmed; and what is the industrial or commercial background of those members.

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 23 January 1995]: The provision of regional selective assistance for Health Care International was considered and approved by the Scottish Industrial Development Advisory Board, first in April 1988 and subsequently in February 1990.

  Listed below are the SIDAB members at the relevant dates:

  April 1988

  February 1990

  Y. Ali

  Y. Ali

  K. Fox

  B. J. Fox

  T. Johnston

  K. Fox

  B. F. Lawson

  J. J. G. Good

  J. M. Little

  J. C. G. Halley

  D. J. MacLeod

  J. M. Little

  A. Merrills

  D. J. MacLeod

  D. M. Paterson

  A. Merrills

  J. C. Shaw

  D. M. Paterson

  A. K. Smith

  J. C. Shaw

  Sir R. Smith

  A. K. Smith

  R. Thomson

  P. Timms

  The members represented a range of backgrounds including industry and commerce, banking and finance, and the trade unions.
  864

TRADE INDUSTRY

  Companies House (Sickness)
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 14 February,Official Report, columns 552–53, if he will restate the Companies House sickness absence level on the management control basis.

  Mr. Heseltine
  Sickness absence rates, expressed as a percentage of contracted hours for each member of staff, were as follows:

  Year

  Per cent.

  1991

  4.9

  1992

  5.4

  1993

  5.3

  1994

  4.9

  Export Credits Guarantee Department
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the contingent liabilities and interest generated under section 2 of the Export and Overseas Investment Guarantees Act 1978 and charged to the Consolidated Fund accounts in each year since 1981.

  Mr. Needham
  ECGD's liabilities under section 2 of the 1978 Act, as notified in the Department's statutory return, were as follows:

  Year Ending

  £ thousands

  31 March 1983

  21,286

  31 March 1984

  22,590

  31 March 1985

  23,641

  31 March 1986

  21,043

  31 March 1987

  20,326

  31 March 1988

  19,442

  31 March 1989

  20,737

  31 March 1990

  16,767

  31 March 1991

  15,096

  No record is held of the figure prior to March 1983. Likewise no information is available after March 1991 as the section 2 category lapsed when the 1978 Act was superseded by the 1991 Export and Investment Guarantees Act.

  ECGD's accounting records have been maintained on a basis which allows interest earned or charged to the notional section 2 Consolidated Fund balance to be detailed only up to the 31 March 1987. The amounts were as follows:

  Year

  £ Million

  1981–82

  +53.7

  1982–83

  +32.3

  1983–84

  +14.7

  1984–85

  -3.4

  1985–86

  -17.4

  1986–87

  -37.1

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much interest support payments from the Ministry of Defence are shown in the annual accounts of the Export Credits Guarantee Department.
  865
  Mr. Needham
  The level of contributions from the Ministry of Defence towards interest support payments, as shown in the appropriation accounts of the Export Credits Guarantee Department, are as follows:

  Year

  £

  1986–87

  894,000

  1987–88

  972,000

  1988–89

  1,119,000

  1989–90

  993,000

  1990–91

  1,058,000

  1991–92

  920,000

  1992–93

  797,000

  1993–94

  597,000

  The above totals relate to the interest support scheme reported under ECGD's export finance assistance vote.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to travel to Hong Kong in 1995.

  Mr. Heseltine
  At present I have no plans to visit Hong Kong during 1995. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade is hoping to make a trade promotion visit to Hong Kong in the autumn.

  Lebanon
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the involvement of the British Government in the promotion of British business interests in the reconstruction of central Beirut.

  Mr. Needham
  Working in close collaboration with the British embassy in Beirut we have, through a series of promotional events and other activities, ensured that United Kingdom business is fully aware of the opportunities arising from the reconstruction of Beirut. This has included support for trade missions, the "Rebuild Lebanon", and other exhibitions, which have the reconstruction of Beirut as one of their themes. British commercial interests have also been promoted during ministerial visits which have included business men from the UK construction sector.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on economic relations between the UK and Lebanon.

  Mr. Needham
  Since the end of the civil war, our trade and economic links with the Lebanon have grown steadily; in 1994 our exports reached £138 million. The Lebanese Prime Minister visited the UK in January 1994 and there are regular contacts at ministerial and official level involving economic and trade issues. I look forward to the continuing and mutually beneficial growth in these links.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much inward investment there has been in Britain by Taiwanese firms in the past five years by value, number of projects and number of jobs created; and how much has gone to Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Eggar
  All but one of the manufacturing investments by Taiwanese companies in Europe are in the 866
  UK. Since 1990, four companies have set up manufacturing operations in Britain creating or safeguarding nearly 700 jobs. All these investments are located in England. Two further companies have announced their intention to invest in Northern Ireland and one in Wales.

  I am unable to release the figure for the value of the investments as it is commercially sensitive.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 18 January,Official Report, column 557, how many appointments to public positions have been made by his Department in the last year.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 15 February 1995]: I am currently responsible for a total of over 630 public appointments. In 1994, a total of 212 appointments, including re-appointments were made.

  Advertising
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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. Heseltine
  [holding answer 13 February 1995]: Expenditure on advertising from my Department's central publicity budget since 1979–80 at 1994–95 prices is as follows:

  Year

  £000

  1979–80

  3,892

  1980–81

  7,677

  1981–82

  7,546

  1982–83

  6,105

  1983–84

  6,701

  1984–85

  8,219

  1985–86

  7,797

  1986–87

  45,769

  1987–88

  15,256

  1988–89

  27,061

  1989–90

  13,166

  1990–91

  7,601

  1991–92

  1,056

  1992–93

  1,197

  1993–94

  800

  I have asked chief executives of DTI agencies to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Hobday to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 17 February 1995:
  I refer to your question to the President of the Board of Trade concerning expenditure on advertising.
  The Accounts Services Agency have spent £995 exclusive of VAT during the current financial year. This is the first year since the Agency's creation in October 1991 in which expenditure has been incurred.

  Letter from David Durham to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 17 February 1995:
  You recently tabled a Parliamentary Question asking about the total expenditure on all forms of advertising by Departments and Agencies since 1979, in 1994 prices.
  Following the answer given by the President of the Board of Trade, I am replying as Chief Executive of Companies House which

  867
  became an Executive Agency of the Department of Trade and Industry in October 1988.
  Companies House Executive Agency advertising expenditure at 1994/95 prices is as follows:

  1989–90 £380,265

  1990–91 £260,288

  1991–92 £207,670

  1992–93 £348,932

  1993–94 £206,040

  1994/95—£174,000 year to date

  These figures include expenditure on advertising to raise the awareness of Late Filing Penalties and inform and remind companies of the due dates for filing.
  I hope this is helpful to you.

  Letter from Peter Joyce to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 17 February 1995:
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your Question about Insolvency Service expenditure on advertising.
  The Insolvency Service, which became an Executive Agency in March 1990, does not place advertisements of its business. Official Receivers of The Service are required to place in newspapers and other journals notices concerning specific matters relating to individual insolvencies, for example notice of the making of a bankruptcy order. The cost of these notices are a charge on the estates of bankrupts and companies in compulsory liquidation.

  Letter from R.D. Worswick to Mr. Malcolm Bruce dated 15 February 1995:
  PQ ON ADVERTISING
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to write to you about the advertising spend by the Laboratory of the Government Chemist (LGC).
  LGC's spend on external advertising is concentrated in the trade press to promote seminars and other similar scientific events. We also spend modest amounts on recruitment advertising but this is not included in the figures below.
  Information before 1991 is not readily available but I am not aware of any reason to believe that the spend over the last couple of years is not typical of our expenditure in earlier years. In 1991/92 we spent £3,000, in 1992/93 we spent £6,000 and in 1993/94 we spent £4,000 on all forms of advertising (all figures in 1994 prices).

  Letter from W. Edgar to Mr. Malcolm Bruce dated 17 February 1995:
  I refer to your question to the President of the Board of Trade on the subject of the expenditure by the Department of Trade and Industry and its Agencies on all forms of advertising. The expenditure by year in 1994 prices since the vesting of NEL as an Agency on 6 October 1990 is as shown on the attached schedule.
  I trust you will find this information satisfactory for your purposes.

  Expenditure by Nel on all forms of advertising

  £(1994)

  FY 90/91

  3,932

  FY 91/92

  20,745

  FY 92/93

  23,796

  FY 93/94

  10,511

  FY 94/95 (to date)

  5,844

  Letter from Peter Clapham to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 17 February 1995:
  I am writing in response to your question to the President of the Board of Trade about expenditure by his department and its agencies on advertising.
  NPL became an Executive Agency in July 1990, but advertising (other than recruitment advertising) was covered by the department's central publicity budget until 1991/92. Since then expenditure (including recruitment advertising) has been as follows (including VAT) in 1994 prices:
  868

  1991–92 £82,000

  1992–93 £46,000

  1993–94 £45,000.

  Letter from Seton Bennett to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 17 February 1995:
  EXPENDITURE ON ADVERTISING
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory to your question about expenditure on advertising.
  While NWML takes every opportunity to bring its activities to the attention of interested parties, the use of paid advertising is rare and there has been no such expenditure since 1992. Expenditure in previous years, for which figures are not readily available, was limited to occasional advertisements in specialist journals.

  Letter from P.R.S. Hartnack to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 17 February 1995:
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to provide you with information relating to the Patent Office, as part of the reply to your question on advertising expenditure in the DTI and its agencies since 1979.
  The figures for advertising expenditure by the Patent Office are supplied below, covering the years 1990/91–1993/94 (at 1994/95 prices and inclusive of VAT) since the Patent Office became an Executive Agency in 1991. Any advertising expenditure on intellectual property prior to 1990/91 will have been subsumed in general Departmental advertising.

  Advertising expenditure in the Patent Office

  1990–91 £57,000

  1991–92 £54,000

  1992–93 £410,000

  1993–94 £417,000

  I hope this information is helpful to you.

  Letter from Jim Norton to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 17 February 1995:
  ADVERTISING COSTS
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your question about advertising costs for this Agency.
  Since becoming an Agency in 1990 the Agency has spent the following on publicity:

  1990–91 £171,426

  1991–92 £216,166

  1992–93 £289,222

  1993–94 £244,953

  Publicity includes a wide range of information distributed by the Agency which is not wholly 'advertising'. Although we do not have separate figures for advertising as such we estimate this represents around 30 per cent. of the annual outturn figures above.
  Prior to 1990, the then Radio Regulatory Division's advertising costs would have been contained within the overall DTI figures which you have.

EDUCATION

  Secondary Schools (Spending)
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the average spending per pupil is in secondary schools in the northern region; and what the figure was in 1978 at current prices.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The table below shows expenditure by 32 LEAs in the north of England on secondary pupils, for 1978–79 and 1992–93, the latest year for which final information is available, in 1994–95 prices. The average is an increase in real terms in 54 per cent.
  869

  Northern region

  Secondary schools

  Cost per pupil 1978–79 in 1994–95 prices £

  Cost per pupil 1992–93 in 1994–95 prices £

  Bolton

  1,470

  2,396

  Bury

  1,434

  2,071

  Manchester

  1,876

  2,550

  Oldham

  1,450

  2,600

  Rochdale

  1,645

  2,294

  Salford

  1,558

  2,221

  Stockport

  1,446

  2,405

  Tameside

  1,509

  2,281

  Trafford

  1,430

  2,396

  Wigan

  1,540

  2,403

  Barnsley

  1,573

  2,261

  Doncaster

  1,416

  2,294

  Rotherham

  1,517

  2,402

  Sheffield

  1,637

  2,325

  Bradford

  1,416

  1,915

  Calderdale

  1,505

  2,274

  Kirklees

  1,402

  2,313

  Leeds

  1,252

  2,520

  Wakefield

  1,407

  2,179

  Gateshead

  1,534

  2,400

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  1,779

  2,243

  North Tyneside

  1,570

  2,332

  South Tyneside

  1,613

  2,310

  Sunderland

  1,569

  2,246

  Cheshire

  1,527

  2,178

  Cleveland

  1,520

  2,644

  Cumbria

  1,541

  2,424

  Durham

  1,472

  2,169

  Humberside

  1,480

  2,342

  Lancashire

  1,477

  2,439

  North Yorkshire

  1,487

  2,376

  Northumberland

  1,489

  1,966

  Total (average)

  1,504

  2,321

  Schools, Bolton
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much money is held in reserves by schools in Bolton.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Some £2.291 million, net, at the end of the financial year 1993–94. This figure relates to schools then covered by the local education authority's scheme for the local management of schools. Information relating to financial balances held by grant-maintained schools is held by the Funding Agency for Schools. I have asked the chairman of the funding agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Incorporated Colleges
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the proportion of spending on staffing of the total of each incorporated college's expenditure; and what is the proportion of total expenditure on teaching staff for each college, in the first accounting period.

  Mr. Boswell
  This information is not collected by the Department.
  870

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education for many pupils(a) in the Northern Region of England and (b) in each school in the region received assistance under the assisted places scheme.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  There were 9,382 pupils holding assisted places in the Northern Region of England in academic year 1993–94, the latest year for which complete figures are available. The number of assisted pupils in each school in the region is given in the following table.

  Assisted places scheme 1993–94 academic year

  School name

  Number of assisted place holders

  Ackworth

  20

  Arnold School, Blackpool

  80

  Ashville College

  11

  Austin Friars

  12

  Barnard Castle

  20

  Batley Grammar

  257

  Belvedere GPDST

  173

  Birkenhead

  196

  Birkenhead High GPDST

  243

  Bolton School Boys

  263

  Bolton School Girls

  256

  Bootham, York

  25

  Bradford Girls Grammar

  62

  Bradford Grammar School

  230

  Bury Grammar Boys

  204

  Bury Grammar Girls

  251

  Casterton

  52

  Central Newcastle High GPDST

  130

  Cheadle Hulme

  132

  Dame Allan's Boys

  119

  Dame Allan's Girls

  129

  Durham

  36

  Giggleswick, Settle

  17

  Harrogate College

  17

  Hipperholme Grammar

  12

  Hulme Grammar Boys

  213

  Hulme Grammar Girls

  188

  Hymer's College

  144

  King Edward VII Lytham

  221

  King's, Chester

  95

  King's, Macclesfield

  173

  King's, Tynemouth

  20

  Kirkham Grammar

  80

  La Sagesse Convent

  155

  Leeds Girls High

  87

  Leeds Grammar

  178

  Liverpool College

  183

  Loreto Convent Grammar

  48

  Manchester Grammar

  261

  Manchester High

  171

  Merchant Taylors Girls

  192

  Merchant Taylors, Liverpool

  226

  Mount Carmel, Cheshire

  25

  Mount, York

  24

  Newcastle upon Tyne Church High

  24

  Pocklington

  149

  Polam Hall

  35

  Queen Elizabeth, Blackburn

  261

  Queen Elizabeth, Wakefield

  130

  Queen Mary, Lytham

  231

  Queen's School, Chester

  63

  Rossall

  45

  Royal Grammar, Newcastle

  215

  Scarborough College

  26

  Sedbergh

  45

  Sheffield High GPDST

  99

  Silcoates

  12

  871

  Assisted places scheme 1993–94 academic year

  School name

  Number of assisted place holders

  St. Ambrose College

  58

  St. Anselm's College

  206

  St. Bede's College

  220

  St. Bees

  72

  St. Edward's College

  398

  St. Mary's College, Crosby

  251

  St. Peter's, York

  107

  Stockport Grammar

  236

  Stoneyhurst College

  34

  Teesside High

  19

  Upton Hall Convent

  168

  Wakefield High

  149

  Westholme

  25

  William Hulme Grammar

  220

  Withington Girls

  79

  Woodhouse Grove

  137

  Yarm

  37

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many full-time students currently attend first degree courses in the North-East; and how many were doing so in 1978–79, listing by each individual institution.

  Mr. Boswell
  The available information is shown in the table:

  Full-time and sandwich undergraduate1 students in publicly funded FHE institutions in the North East region2 of England

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1992/93

  University of Northumbria at Newcastle

  n/a

  4,759

  5,025

  9,390

  University of Newcastle upon Tyne

  6,331

  6,460

  6,600

  9,028

  University of Sunderland

  n/a

  2,759

  2,929

  8,647

  University of Durham

  3,701

  4,083

  4,157

  5,863

  University of Teesside

  n/a

  1,758

  1,885

  5,791

  Newcastle College of Art and Technology

  n/a

  102

  117

  935

  New College Durham

  n/a

  324

  441

  600

  South Tyneside College

  n/a

  313

  267

  563

  Cleveland College of Art and Design

  n/a

  0

  0

  202

  Darlington College of Technology

  n/a

  20

  18

  104

  Kirby College of FE

  n/a

  0

  1

  87

  Northumberland College of Art and Technology

  n/a

  42

  42

  76

  Peterlee College

  n/a

  0

  0

  66

  Hartlepool College of FE

  n/a

  0

  0

  45

  Durham College of Agriculture and Horticulture

  n/a

  0

  0

  27

  North Tyneside College

  n/a

  0

  1

  19

  Wearside College of FE

  n/a

  0

  0

  16

  Bishop Auckland Technical College

  n/a

  0

  0

  10

  Derwentside Tertiary College

  n/a

  0

  0

  8

  Monkwearmouth College of FE

  n/a

  0

  0

  7

  Gateshead Technical College

  n/a

  11

  21

  0

  Total

  n/a

  20,631

  21,504

  41,484

  872
  Notes:

  1 Information is not available for institutions in the FEFC and former PCFC sectors in the form requested.

  2 Institutions shown above are those situated in NE region as defined within LEA's Gateshead, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland and within counties Cleveland, Durham and Northumberland.

  Source:

  University Statistics Volume One: Students and Staff: 1980, 1992–93 and 1993–94 USR, Cheltenham. Statistics of Education: Universities, Volume 6: 1978 and 1979.

  Higher Education Institutes
  Mr. Bryan Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether provision exists for higher education institutions that under-recruit on planned student numbers due to exceptional circumstances to be given exemption or relief from fiscal penalisation by the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

  Mr. Boswell
  This is a matter for the Higher Education Funding Council for England and I am asking the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Habitual Residence Test
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what circumstances the habitual residence test is applied to asylum seekers.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  It was and remains Government policy that the habitual residence test should not apply to asylum seekers. The independent adjudicating authorities considered that the test applied to all income support claimants since its introduction in August 1994, including asylum seekers, but have now revised their position and concluded that the test does not apply to claimants who are already defined as "persons from abroad" in the income support rules.

  Income Support
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the net gain for a person who is on income support and has worked at £3.20 per hour for(a) eight hours and (b) 16 hours, showing calculations in each case.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Information for a single person is shown in the table.

  As part of our plans to make work pay, we aim to pilot new help similar to family credit, but aimed at couples and single people without children. This in-work benefit will be tested in eight pilot locations over a three-year period from October 1996. A consultation document in April will provide more information on the scheme and the proposed pilot locations. If the pilot shows that a national scheme would be effective, the gain from work would increase for childless people with low or modest earnings.
  873

  Gain from work at £3.20 per hour

  Hours worked

  Pay

  Income Support

  Rent

  Housing Benefit

  Council Tax

  Council Tax Benefit

  Total Net Income

  Net Income after payment of rent and council tax when in work

  Net Income after payment of rent and council tax when not in work

  Net gain from work

  8

  25.50

  25.10

  30.91

  30.91

  6.60

  6.60

  88.21

  50.70

  45.70

  5.00

  16

  51.20

  —

  30.91

  30.59

  6.60

  6.50

  88.29

  50.78

  45.70

  5.08

  Notes:

  1. The person is assumed to be single, aged 25 or over, living in local authority accommodation and liable for average council tax and local authority rent.

  2. The person is assumed to take-up full entitlement to income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit.

  3. Tax and national insurance contributions are not payable at the earnings levels shown.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the number of non-employed youth trainees who currently receive a top-up on their allowance and who are(a) liable for income tax, (b) liable for national insurance and (c) credited with national insurance contributions.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Non-employed young people participating in youth training are eligible for an income support top-up if their allowance is less than benefit levels. The youth training allowance does not attract income tax or national insurance deductions; neither does income support paid to someone who is not required to register for work.

  For retirement pension and widows' benefits purpose, all young people are automatically awarded class 3 national insurance credits in the tax year in which they attain their 16th birthday, and the two succeeding tax years.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if Irish nationals are eligible to receive income support during the child benefit extension period; and what are the eligibility requirements.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Income support may be claimed by unemployed young people aged 16 or 17 during the child benefit extension period if they have good reason for living away from the family home and they are registered for employment/youth training.

  Unemployed Irish nationals aged 16 or 17 who are forced to live independently, with no established entitlement to child benefit in Great Britain, can claim income support under the severe hardship provision if there is no other means of support and providing they are registered for work/youth training.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give for the last five years for which figures are available the number of claims for severe hardship payments which have been(a) successful and (b) unsuccessful following review of an unsuccessful claim.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many YT trainees living away from home receive an income support top-up.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  874

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security pursuant to his answer of 2 February,Official Report, columns 820–21, if he will list the sub-headings under which the Child Support Agency reports monthly performance to Ministers on (a) targets, (b) recovery plan implementation and (c) other issues.

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

  Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. Frank Field, dated 17 February 1995:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the sub headings under which the Child Support Agency returns data to Ministers.
  The sub-headings are as follows:

  a) Targets; maintenance arrangements, accuracy of assessments, benefit savings, age of cases, speed of clearance, maintenance collected, fees received, and milestones (for example improving information systems).

  b) Recovery Plan Implementation; generic Child Support Agency (CSAC), improved management information systems, extending information technology (IT) to Field offices, centralisation of CSAC telephone services, improved IT effectiveness, improved key processes, recruitment and deployment of additional staff, centralisation of appeals, reduced intake, Parliamentary business improvements, and review of operational accounting.

  c) Other issues; specialist tracing, paternity, requirement to co-operate, and special payments.

  I hope this is of help.

TREASURY

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 19 January,Official Report, column 595, how many appointments to public positions have been made by his Department in the last year.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 15 February 1995]: Some 84 appointments were made in 1994.

  European Central Bank
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much the United Kingdom has agreed
  875
  to pay towards the establishment costs of the European central bank and what is the value of this sum in pounds sterling; and what legal requirement there was for the United Kingdom to make this contribution under the provisions on monetary union in the treaty of Maastricht;

  (2) if he will make a statement about the basic purpose of the proposed European central bank;

  (3) under what legislative provision he intends to make a payment towards the establishment costs of the European central bank; and if the decision will be subject to the approval of the Houses of Parliament.

  Mr. Nelson
  The UK has made no contribution towards the establishment of a European central bank. Nor would any contribution by any member state be made unless there were a decision to move to stage 3 of EMU as set out article 1091(1) of the EC treaty.

  The objectives and tasks of a European system of central banks—comprising the ECB and the member states' national central banks—and the arrangements for subscribing capital, are set out in articles 2 and 6, and 28 to 29, of the protocol on the statute of the ESCB and of the ECB, annexed to the EC treaty.

  Cuba (Debt)
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is Cuba's external public debt; and how much is owning to Her Majesty's Government or agencies thereof.

  Mr. Nelson
  We have no reliable estimate of Cuba's total external public debt. The OECD estimates Cuba's total external debt at $35 billion—end 1993.

  A total of £54.6 million is currently owed to HMG under four bilateral debt rescheduling agreements. A further £17.1 million, plus late interest, remains outstanding under contracts insured by HMG through the Exports Credits Guarantee Department.

  Government Expenditure
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his oral answer of 2 February,Official Report, column 1200, if he will give a break down of the identifiable Government expenditure per head in 1993–94 in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Aitken
  A detailed breakdown of the identifiable Government expenditure per head in 1993–94 in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will be published in the statistical supplement to the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96" on 24 February 1995.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

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

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 13 February 1995]: The estimated annual spend, in 1994 prices, on all forms of advertising for my Department and its two agencies is shown in the following table.
  876

  1992–93 £

  1993–94 £

  1994–95 £

  DNH

  132,902

  37,539

  14,388

  Historic Royal Palaces

  548,299

  710,750

  527,238

  The Royal Parks

  2—

  244

  15,827

  Notes:

  1 DNH took on responsibility for its own expenditure in August 1992 and this figure represents the period August 1992 to March 1993.

  2 The Royal Parks was established as an agency in 1 April 1993.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Zaire
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much food is currently needed for the Rwandan refugee camps in Zaire; and how much is currently being delivered.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 16 February 1995]: Emergency food needs for Rwandan and Burundian refugees in Goma, Bukavu and Uvira in eastern Zaire are estimated by the World Food Programme to be 24,200 metric tons per month. Approximately 26,000 metric tons of food was delivered to the camps in January 1995. This supplemented stocks of approximately 5,000 metric tons already available in the camps at the beginning of the year.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what difficulties are being experienced by the World Food Programme in crossing Rwandan territory on their way to Rwandan refugees in Zaire.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 16 February 1995]: We understand that the Rwandan authorities are imposing limits on axle loads at Gatuna on the Uganda/Rwanda border and are delaying trucks crossing at Gisenyi on the Rwanda/Zaire border. The World Food Programme is currently in discussion with the Rwandan authorities to try to resolve these matters.

WALES

  Cycling Accidents
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many accidents between cyclists and pedestrians occurred in 1994; and how many prosecutions there were for cycling on the footway.

  Mr. Redwood
  Road accident data is not yet available for the whole of 1994. Provisional data shows that there were seven accidents between cyclists and pedestrians in Wales between January and September 1994. Details of prosecutions for cycling on the footway during 1994 are not yet available.

  Rail Freight
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (i) what grants are available for rail freight infrastructure development in Wales; and how much was given for each year since 1990; (ii) what incentives are currently offered for freight users to use rail as opposed to road transportation.
  877
  Mr. Redwood
  The freight facilities grant scheme provides financial assistance towards the cost of providing rail freight facilities. This is an environmental grant available from the Welsh Office to encourage firms to take heavy lorries off the roads. Grant assistance of up to 50 per cent. of the capital costs of rail freight equipment is available although schemes of exceptional environmental benefit may attract a higher rate. The amount of grant paid since 1990 is as follows:

  £ million

  1990–91

  nil

  1991–92

  nil

  1992–93

  0.4

  1993–94

  0.7

  1994–95

  1.6

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if stone may be transported from the Tonfanau quarry into England by train using the Cambrian line; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  I understand from the railway operators that while it is technically feasible to transport stone on the line, the track will not bear high axle weights and loading figures would be poor.

  Rail sidings which would also be required may be eligible for assistance under the Department's rail freight facilities grant scheme.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action has been taken to employ load-spreading techniques on trains and tracks in Wales since 1990.

  Mr. Redwood
  I understand that British Rail has not used such techniques.

  I hope that the privatised freight companies will consider all technologies which will enable them to expand the opportunities for attracting more freight off the roads.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals or plans he has to improve rail freight services in Wales.

  Mr. Redwood
  Freight services in Wales will benefit by measures provided for under the Railways Act 1993. These include improved rail freight grants, the transfer of freight services to the private sector and open access to the network for private operators. In addition, the Welsh Development Agency has been asked to consider providing a rail freight option at industrial estates, wherever practicable.

  Rail Infrastructure
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what infrastructure work is currently being done on Welsh railways.

  Mr. Redwood
  Infrastructure works are an operational issue for Railtrack, which has a programme of investment to maintain and improve the quality of the rail infrastructure in Wales.
  878

  Alzheimer's Disease
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he will implement to locate and assist younger people who suffer from Alzheimer's disease; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Richards
  Local and health authorities have responsibility for assessing the needs of their residents and to plan services with the resources available to them. This includes individuals who have Alzheimer's disease.

  Organ Donor Register

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the NHS organ donor register was launched in Wales; and when the advertisements inviting donors to register first appeared.

  Mr. Richards
  The NHS organ donor register was launched on a UK-wide basis on 6 October 1994. Advertisements inviting potential donors to register appeared the following week.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the registration forms for the NHS organ donor register were made available in Wales.

  Mr. Richards
  A bilingual version of the new organ donor card is being produced and will be dispatched as soon as possible. In the meantime, registration forms can be obtained from the United Kingdom Transplant Support Services Authority in Bristol or alternatively it is possible to register with Lifeline Wales.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many individuals in Wales have registered with the NHS organ donor register since its launch.

  Mr. Richards
  Facilities do not currently exist for extracting complete lists of the nationality of potential donors from the NHS organ donor register. Details of registrants from Wales are not currently available.

  Prescribing
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 30 January,Official Report, column 535, which Glamorgan health area is referred to in the figure of 53.53.

  Mr. Redwood
  South Glamorgan.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made on the introduction of incentive prescribing schemes for non-fundholding practices; which family health service authorities have incentive prescribing schemes in place or definitely due to start on 1 April; and how many practices and list patients will be covered.

  Mr. Redwood
  All Welsh FHSAs now have prescribing incentive schemes in place. The number and list sizes of practices participating in the scheme is a matter for individual FHSAs. Payments are being authorised on an extra-statutory basis to those practices who succeed in meeting their targets. The total amount paid on this basis—estimated at £40,000 in 1994–95—will be included in FHSA summarised accounts.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to his answers of 23 January,Official Report, column 66, 26 January, Official Report, columns 379–80 and 30 January, Official Report, column 535, if he will

  879
  give for each of the dates specified (a) the aggregate numbers of practices in the fundholding and non-fundholding categories, the total numbers of general practitioners in each category on a full time equivalent basis and the number of list patients covered, (b) the average prescribing costs per 1,000 patients in (i) fundholding and (ii) non-fundholding practices and (c) the aggregate percentage figure for all fundholders and non-fundholders in respect of brand name and generic prescribing.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information is as follows:

  (a) Aggregate numbers of practices

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  GP Fundholders

  26

  74

  117

  Numbers of list patients

  294,442

  706,634

  967,346

  Non-Fundholders

  519

  471

  428

  Numbers of list patients

  2,627,100

  2,247,235

  2,007,724

  Information regarding the numbers of full-time equivalent general practitioners in each category is not held centrally.

  (b) Prescribing costs per 1000 patients

  October 1993 £

  October 1994 £

  GP Fundholders

  6,288

  6,885

  Non-Fundholders

  6,866

  7,331

  (c) Aggregate percentage cost

  October 1993 Generic

  October 1994 Brand

  Generic

  Brand

  GP Fundholders

  49.00

  51.00

  51.23

  48.77

  Non-Fundholders

  42.39

  57.61

  44.55

  55.45

  Information in respect of October 1992 is not available.

  £million

  Revenue allocation

  1993–941 Capital allocation

  Revenue allocation

  1994–952 Capital allocation

  Revenue allocation

  1995–963 Capital allocation

  Clwyd

  161.110

  1.634

  171.322

  0.082

  199.762

  0.010

  East Dyfed4

  105.145

  2.207

  102.600

  0.166

  175.555

  0.010

  Gwent

  182.785

  2.211

  193.602

  0.020

  213.418

  0.010

  Gwynedd

  113.188

  10.333

  115.192

  0.120

  124.524

  0.010

  Mid Glamorgan

  246.218

  6.899

  254.127

  2.458

  276.713

  2.462

  Pembrokeshire

  48.455

  —

  49.466

  0.020

  —

  —

  Powys

  58.543

  —

  58.144

  0.020

  67.824

  0.010

  South Glamorgan

  217.273

  14.623

  211.441

  14.326

  231.339

  0.010

  West Glamorgan

  154.739

  8.738

  152.314

  2.449

  178.989

  0.010

  Notes:

  1 Final cash allocation including capital charges but excluding transfers to GP fundholder budget for their purchase of certain hospital and community health services for their patients (source 1993–94 annual accounts of health authorities).

  2 Notified allocation as at 15 February, 1995, including capital charges but excluding transfers to GP fundholder budgets for the purchase of certain hospital and community health services for their patients (source Welsh Office).

  3 Initial cash allocations for 1995–96 announced on 2 Feburuary inclusive of capital charges and funding to be transferred to GP fundholder budgets for the purchase of certain hosptial and community health services for their patients (source Welsh Office).

  4 Allocation for 1995–96 represents the fundintg available to the new Dyfed health authority.
  880

  Welsh Health Common Services Authority
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish details of companies which have previously provided services to the Welsh Health Common Services Authority and which his Department has instructed the authority not to use(a) at all and (b) except in exceptional circumstances; on what date each company was listed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Welsh Health Common Services Authority has not been instructed to avoid using any companies which had previously provided services to it. It was advised on 22 September 1988 that it should notify my Department before appointing W. S. Atkins and Partners to any major contract. On 4 January 1991, this instruction was revoked. No other companies have been subject to such notification.

  Toy Libraries
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by local authority the toy libraries for which he(a) provides and (b) does not provide specific grants.

  Mr. Richards
  No toy libraries are currently funded directly through the Department's child and family services grant scheme. Grant awards in respect of 1995–96 under this scheme will be announced shortly.

  Toy libraries may apply for funding to county voluntary bodies, to which the Department awarded £59,850 in 1994–95 under the "small grant" element of the child and family services grant scheme.

  Financial Allocation
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the financial allocations made by his Department to each of the health authorities in Wales in(a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1995–96.

  Mr. Richards
  The information requested is as follows. It is not comparably based for the reasons explained in the footnotes to the table.
  881

DEFENCE

  Christina Menzies
  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Military police are looking for anyone else following the not guilty verdict on Corporal Fisher in respect of the murder of Christina Menzies in 1993; what the victim's father has been told and for what reasons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  Without a conviction in this case, the inquiry cannot be closed. Any new evidence or avenue of inquiry has been and will continue to be thoroughly pursued, although at present neither the German civil police nor the special investigation branch of the Royal Military police are conducting active inquiries in connection with Christina's murder. Staff Sergeant Menzies has been advised accordingly.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will call for an inquiry into the conduct of the prosecution in the murder case against Corporal Fisher cleared of the murder of Christina Menzies.

  Mr. Soames
  No inquiry is considered necessary or appropriate. The prosecution was properly brought and conducted by an experienced senior legal officer of the Army legal services.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made as to the propriety and competence of the military police investigation into the murder of Christina Menzies at RAF Giitersloh in 1993.

  Mr. Soames
  The body of Christina Menzies was found at Spexard, approximately 10 k south-east of RAF Gutersloh, now Princess Royal barracks altersloh. The Home Office forensic pathologist confirmed that Christina was killed at the scene where her body was discovered. The investigation by the special investigation branch of the Royal Military police into the murder of Christina Menzies was one of the most comprehensive inquiries ever mounted by the SIB in Germany: a major incident inquiry team was established, and worked in close liaison with the German civil police; wide-ranging and extensive avenues of inquiry were rigorously pursued; more than 300 service personnel, dependants and civilians were interviewed; and extensive searches, forensic examinations and appeals for information were made. The investigation team included several Home Office-trained individuals with a wide experience of such serious investigations.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many prosecutions for serious crimes had been undertaken by the military prosecutor who conducted the case against the man accused of the murder of Christina Menzies on a British military base in Germany in 1993; and what verdicts were returned on those cases.

  Mr. Soames
  The Army senior legal officer who prosecuted at this general court-martial has prosecuted at 12 general courts-martial and 19 district courts-martial since February 1989. A total of 21 accused were found guilty.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military police inquiries are ongoing into 882
  the murder of Christina Menzies at RAF Giitersloh in Germany in 1993.

  Mr. Soames
  None at present. Although some avenues of inquiry were pursued following the trial, in the absence of further evidence which would implicate anyone other than the then prime suspect who was originally brought to trial, no active inquiries are being made. The case is subject to review, however, and any new evidence will be investigated.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make available, without charge, the full transcript of the trial of the case of the murder of Christina Menzies, to the lawyers of Staff Sergeant and Mrs John Menzies.

  Mr. Soames
  If Staff Sergeant and Mrs Menzies' lawyers require a transcript of the trial they should apply to the office of the Judge Advocate General, 22 Kingsway, London WC2B 6LE.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the German police requested that they should conduct the investigations into the murder of Christina Menzies in Germany in 1993; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The body of Christina Menzies was discovered in a German civil area and the German police were properly involved at the beginning of the inquiry.' Once her identity was established as that of a British forces dependant, joint inquiries between the German civil police and the special investigation branch of the Royal Military police were conducted. Subsequently, a British service man was arrested on suspicion of Christina's murder. In view of the status of both the victim and the suspect, prime jurisdiction for the prosecution of the service man was passed by the Germany civil authorities to the British military authorities.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who decided that the British military police and not the German civilian police should investigate the murder of Christina Menzies in Germany in June 1993.

  Mr. Soames
  Although the German civil police were involved in the investigation into Christina Menzies' murder, jurisdiction was passed to the British service authorities after the suspect's arrest. The NATO status of forces agreement and supplementary agreement permits the German public prosecutor to waive the primary right of jurisdiction, which then passes to the sending state. In this case it was decided between the chief police adviser of the British service liaison organisation, the German public prosecutor and the service authorities that the case would proceed to court-martial.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the competence of military police to handle complex forensic and scientific investigation into serious crime.

  Mr. Soames
  Royal Military police special investigation branch major inquiry teams include Royal Military police and Home Office-trained investigators and scenes of crime officers of the highest competence. Special investigations branch investigators may on occasion be required to work alone, unsupervised and without immediate support and therefore are well trained in a wide range of investigative techniques.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the military police
  883
  investigation into the murder of Christina Menzies on the base of RAF Giitersloh in Germany in June 1993.

  Mr. Soames
  A large-scale joint investigation was carried out by the German civil police and the Royal Military police, involving the most senior and experienced special investigation branch investigation officers. Given the complexity of the investigation, which involved every conceivable avenue being pursued and the deployment of all available resources, it is concluded that the Royal Military police investigation was carried out thoroughly.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will call for a report from the officer commanding the military police into the police investigation of the murder of Christina Menzies, at RAF Gutersloh, Germany, in 1993.

  Mr. Soames
  No. On completion of inquiries into this case, a comprehensive report detailing the action taken by the investigation team was prepared. In view of the verdict of not guilty, the procedures were reviewed by the special investigation branch, Royal Military police and were found to be sound. No further report is considered necessary.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many prosecutions for(a) murder and (b) other serious crimes have been prosecuted by military prosecutors in courts martial over the last 20 years; and what verdicts were returned.

  Mr. Soames
  Since February 1989, 146 accused have been tried by Army general courts-martial and have been prosecuted by legal officers of Army legal services, including 11 prosecutions for murder and five for manslaughter. At these courts-martial, 116 accused have been found guilty and 30 have been acquitted. Statistics for earlier years could not be provided without disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Galloway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the competence of military prosecutors to prosecute serious crimes involving forensic and scientific dimensions at courts martial.

  Mr. Soames
  The competence of the officers in question is not in doubt. The findings and conduct of Army courts-martial are continually reviewed by the director of Army legal services, by the Judge Advocate General and, where an appeal has been lodged, by the Courts-Martial Appeal Court.

  Gulf War Syndrome
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what investigations his Department has carried out on those service-personnel who took part in the Gulf War and who are now suffering from the so-called desert-fever syndrome in respect of possible damage to the immune system resulting from the precautions they were instructed to take; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The only such precautionary measure service personnel in the Gulf were instructed to take was the self-administration of one 30mg pyridostigmine bromide tablet every eight hours from their nerve agent pre-treatment sets on order from the local chain of command as a protection against the threat of nerve agent attack. The body of medical evidence from over four decades of medical use of pyridostigmine, the specific research into pyridostigmine as a nerve agent prohylaxis and the Department's current Gulf war medical 884
  assessment programme all indicate that pyridostigmine does not damage the immune system. Nor is there any biologically plausible rationale to suggest that it could do so.

  Various vaccines were administered during the Gulf war on a voluntary basis. Again, the body of medical evidence shows that vaccines do not produce immune system dysfunction.

  The Department's Gulf war medical assessment programme uses well-established screening investigations, which include a full blood count, differential white cell count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Any individual patient with suspected immune dysfunction undergoes immunoglobulin assay, tests for autoantibodies and a variety of imaging investigations. If this whole screening process reveals a possible immune system abnormality, more detailed investigations are ordered.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if complete medical records, including all substances and innoculations administered during the Gulf war to any member of the armed forces, will be made available to him or her or their general practitioner on request.

  Mr. Soames
  Service medical records are the property of the Department but, in common with civilian medical records, individual access to them by the patient concerned is allowed in accordance with the Access to Health Records Act 1990. Under the provisions of this Act, medical records are normally released to the individual concerned only if they were compiled after 1 November 1991, which post-dates the end of the Gulf conflict. However, for service medical records of former personnel compiled before this date, it has long been my Department's policy to release them upon request to the individual's general practitioner when they are required for the management of a particular case. These records include details of the medications and vaccinations given to the patient. However, in the operational situation pertaining during the Gulf conflict it is possible that not all such details were transcribed from field records on to personal medical records. The Defence Medical Services is happy to give advice to GPs in individual cases of doubt. Nerve agent pre-treatment sets were issued to all personnel in the Gulf but are not recorded on personal medical records as they are self-administered on order from the local chain of command, depending on the assessed threat of nerve agent attack, and not given as a medicinal product.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what terms of reference the members of the Royal College of Physicians are conducting their independent verification of his Department's Gulf war veterans medical assessment programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The purpose of obtaining the assistance of the Royal College of Physicians is to gain an independent opinion of our Gulf war medical assessment programme. It is for the Royal College of Physicians to determine the terms of reference.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will identify by name the members of the Royal College of Physicians who will oversee examinations under his Department's Gulf war veterans medical assessment programme.
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  Mr. Soames
  The purpose of obtaining the assistance of the Royal College of Physicians is to gain an independent opinion of our Gulf war medical assessment programme. The selection of members to oversee the programme is a decision for the Royal College of Physicians.

  Phoenix Aircraft
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will specify the technical problems which have developed with the Phoenix remote-controlled surveillance aircraft.

  Mr. Freeman
  MOD flight trials held in the course of last year highlighted a number of areas requiring further work, including the degree of damage sustained by air vehicles on landing, sensor focus drift, propeller performance and supportability issues.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what other options his Department is considering in relation to the Phoenix remote-controlled surveillance aircraft.

  Mr. Freeman
  The way ahead on the Phoenix project is currently under consideration. The Department also continues to review the capabilities of alternative systems, in accordance with normal procurement practice.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the original estimated cost of the Phoenix remote-controlled surveillance aircraft at current prices; and what is the total amount spent to date at current prices.

  Mr. Freeman
  The original estimated cost of the Phoenix project at current price levels is £218.2 million, including VAT. The total amount spent to 31 December 1994 is £168.99 million, including VAT at current price levels.

  Lieutenant Commander Chris Parke
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if Lieutenant Commander Chris Parke of the Royal Navy pensions and payroll department, HMS Centurion, Portsmouth, sought permission from the civilian management and conditions of service division within his Department to permit him to join the data supply company Informix;

  (2) on which date Lieutenant Commander Chris Parke, of the Royal Navy pensions and pay roll department, HMS Centurion, Portsmouth (a) ceases to be in the employ of the Royal Navy (b) ceases to be in the employ of his Department and (c) commences employment with the data supply company Informix.

  Mr. Soames
  Lieutenant Commander Christopher Parke RN will cease to be employed by the Royal Navy on 26 February. Between 9 and 29 January he worked, unpaid, with Informix under normal resettlement arrangements. From 30 January, he was on terminal leave and entitled to take up full-time employment, and I understand that he has worked full-time for Informix since that date. Service instructions require Lieutenant Commander Parke to seek permission to take up employment with Informix and this has now been sought retrospectively. I cannot speculate on the likely outcome of his application.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the role of Lieutenant Commander 886
  Chris Parke, of the Royal Navy pensions and pay roll department, HMS Centurion, Portsmouth, in the awarding of contracts on behalf of the Royal Navy to the data supply company Informix.

  Mr. Soames
  Lieutenant Commander Christopher Parke RN provided technical and administrative support to those responsible for the decision to award a contract for a relational database management system to Informix in April 1994.

  Official Service Residences
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the expenditure for each of the official service residences in each of the previous five financial years before 1991–92.

  Mr. Soames
  Information prior to financial year 1991–92 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Search and Rescue
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to close the RNAS base at Portland; and where he plans to relocate the search and rescue helicopters currently based there.

  Mr. Soames
  It is our intention to close RNAS Portland by 1999. The Royal Navy Sea Kings, which. currently provide daytime-only search and rescue cover, are planned to join the Sea King Mk IV fleet at HMS Heron at Yeovilton. In the light of their planned withdrawal, future search and rescue coverage in the region is currently being considered with the coastguard.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to base search and rescue helicopter operations at RAF St. Athan in the next three years.

  Mr. Soames
  There are no plans to base search and rescue operations permanently at RAF St. Athan. However, the station is often used as a temporary operating base and this practice is expected to continue.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Japan (Princess of Wales Visit)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the cost to public funds of the visit of HRH the Princess of Wales to Japan; on which vote it is met; and for what reasons.

  Mr. Baldry
  The costs of different activities related to this visit were borne by the Departments whose responsibilities they were as follows:

  (i) The cost of the princess's travel to and from Japan was a charge—as for all air travel, whether official or unofficial, by the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen Mother and the Prince and the Princess of Wales—to the Ministry of Defence.

  (ii) The cost of the personal protection office who accompanied the princess was met by the Metropolitan police.

  (iii) The visit involved some costs to the embassy in Tokyo on entertainment, transport and staff time. These are part of the normal functioning of an embassy.

  (iv) The cost of travel for reconnaissance visits undertaken by the princess's private secretary and a press secretary—necessary to ensure the visit was properly prepared in relation to security and other aspects—was met by the FCO

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  and amounted to £6,568—that is two business class return fares. The two officers were accommodated by embassy staff.

  UN Social Summit
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Heads of State or of Government have indicated they will attend the United Nations social summit in Copenhagen in March.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Over 90 Heads of State/Government have confirmed their attendance at the Summit. Several countries, including Japan, Canada, New Zealand, Austria, Ireland and Greece have not yet decided who will represent them.

  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the Ministers who have represented the United Kingdom at preparatory meetings for the United Nations social summit in Copenhagen in March.

  Mr. Baldry
  The four preparatory committee meetings held in New York to prepare the documentation for the summit have been attended by officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Overseas Development Administration, the Department of Social Security and the Department of Employment. The vast majority of countries, including all our European Union partners, felt that ministerial attendance was not appropriate.

  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom will support the common European position at the forthcoming United Nations social summit in Copenhagen in March.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Yes. United Kingdom and European Union policies on the summit are in line. The United Kingdom has played a full part in European Union co-ordination during preparations for the summit.

  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his assessment of the European Union policy to be presented at the United Nations social summit in Copenhagen in March.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We are content with the European Union's position in relation to the summit. It is the result of active EU co-ordination in New York and Brussels during which many of our suggestions for strong texts on the three core issues were incorporated into the overall EU position.

  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will include representatives of the Confederation of British Industry and Trades Union Congress in the United Kingdom delegation to the United Nations social summit in Copenhagen in March.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The United Kingdom delegation to the summit will not include representatives of non-governmental organisations. However, the Trades Union Congress, along with several other UK-based NGOs are planning to send representatives to the summit.

  Chatham House Conference
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what public or private institutions will be invited as full participants in 888
  the forthcoming Chatham House conference on promoting British values, civilisation and the English language.

  Mr. Baldry
  The conference on "Britain in the World" is being organised by the Royal Institute of International Affairs, in association with Her Majesty's Government, as part of the institute's 75th anniversary celebrations.

  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will give the opening speech. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales will give a lunch-time address. The hon. Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) will also speak. Other contributors will include Dr. Henry Kissinger; Mr. Peter Bonfield, Chairman of ICL; and Dr. Josef Joffe, foreign editor of the "Siiddeutsche Zeitung". The programme has been agreed jointly with the RIIA, which is inviting people from all walks of British life who will represent a wide range of interests and viewpoints. There will also be a smaller number of foreign guests.

  Israel
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Government of Israel concerning the treatment of Lebanese detainees being held in Khiam prison in southern Lebanon.

  Mr. David Davis
  We regularly raise our concerns about the treatment of Lebanese detainees being held in Khiam prison with the Israeli Government. We welcome recent reports that detainees are now being allowed visitors. However, we remain concerned about continued reports of ill treatment of detainees and urge those responsible for Khiam prison to grant the International Committee of the Red Cross full access.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the United Kingdom is taking, together with the other European Governments, to persuade Israel to withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon, in compliance with United Nations Security Council resolution No. 425.

  Mr. David Davis
  The United Kingdom has repeatedly called for the full implementation of Security Council resolution No. 425 and the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Lebanese soil. The Israeli Government are well aware of our views.

  Russian Federation
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about relations between the Western European Union and the Russian Federation.

  Mr. Baldry
  A range of informal links have been developed between the Western European Union and the Russian Federation. Foreign Minister Kozyrev addressed the Assembly of the Western European Union on 1 December last year.

  UN Peacekeeping Missions
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what circumstances it is the practice in a United Nations peacekeeping mission to install a radio station to communicate accurate information to the local population; and if he will make a statement on conclusions drawn on the desirability of such an action after the experiences of Rwanda and Somalia.
  889
  Mr. Baldry
  The United Nations has no set criteria for the establishment of a radio station in any peacekeeping operation. It is clear to the UN Secretary-General, however, that peacekeeping operations need an effective information capacity to enable them to explain their mandate to the population and, by providing a credible and impartial source of information, to counter misinformation disseminated about them. We agree with his view that radio is the most effective medium for this purpose.

  Iran
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 13 February,Official Report, columns 519–20, what are the two exceptions which have received licence application approval for significant nuclear items destined for Iran; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Davis
  The two exceptions for export licence approval for Iran were set out in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Secretary's reply to the hon. Member for Finchley (Mr. Booth) on 1 March 1993,Official Report, column 8, namely that we should not
  890
  approve licences for any goods or technology on the military or atomic energy lists—schedule 1, part 3, group 1 and 2—of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1992 (as amended) unless they are:

  (a) goods essential for the safety of civil aircraft and air traffic control systems;

  (b) radioactive material in the form of sources for medical equipment and deuterium labelled compounds for medical use.

  Iraqi British Interest Group
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if British officials in Amman have had meetings in the last 12 months with the Iraqi British Interest Group; and if British officials in Amman have assisted representatives of the Iraqi British Interest Group in the last 12 months.

  Mr. David Davis
  Officials in the embassy in Amman last had contact with the current head of the Iraqi British Interest Group, Mr. Stephen Crouch, in a private capacity in September 1994. They have not knowingly given any assistance to representatives of the Iraqi British Interest Group. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has only become aware of the existence of the group in the last few months.