Written Answers of 21 February 1995

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Terrorism
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the current extent of the threat posed by Irish terrorists by reference to the position before the recent ceasefire.

  Sir John Wheeler
  While terrorist organisations retain all their munitions and operational structures, the threat of violence remains, as we have seen from the murder of Mr. Kerr in Newry and continuing callous "punishment beatings". Nevertheless, the incidence of violence has diminished and the security forces have responded imaginatively to the ceasefires.

  Fur Farms
  Mr. Morely
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many arctic fox fur farms there have been, by region, in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Ancram
  There have never been any arctic fox fur farms in Northern Ireland.

  Student Allowances
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many students at universities in Northern Ireland received the mature student's allowance in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what percentage of all mature students in each year these figures represent; what was the administrative cost of operating the mature students' allowance in Northern Ireland for each of the last five years for which information is available.

  Mr. Ancram
  The number of Northern Ireland students receiving the older students' allowance, payment of which is the responsibility of the education and library boards, is available only for the following three years:

  Year

  Number

  1992–93

  375

  1993–94

  439

  1994–95

  530

  Information about the percentage of all mature students that these figures represent and administrative operational costs is not readily available.
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DEFENCE

  Hong Kong
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to travel to Hong Kong in 1995.

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to visit Hong Kong in 1995.

  Alcohol Misuse
  Mr. Critchley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will introduce an anti-alcohol programme into the armed forces as soon as possible.

  Mr. Soames
  Drunkenness is an offence under service law, and all personnel are made aware that the services take a very serious view of alcohol misuse. Considerable effort is put into dealing with alcohol-related problems and a comprehensive system of education and treatment, together with deterrent administrative and disciplinary action, has been developed. A series of alcohol education programmes, making use of pamphlets, films and lectures, has been produced to make all personnel aware of the dangers of alcohol misuse. Officers and NCOs are also trained to recognise symptoms so that alcohol misuse can be dealt with promptly.

  Western European Union
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about co-operation between the member states of the Western European Union on air transport.

  Mr. Soames
  WEU members continue to discuss the potential for enhancing co-operation between national forces, including air transport assets, that may be made available for the range of operations that the WEU might undertake.

  RAF Chivenor
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he is giving to relocating search and rescue helicopters currently based at RAF Chivenor.

  Mr. Soames
  None. It remains our intention to maintain a search and rescue flight at RAF Chivenor.

  Friendly Fire Incident (Normandy)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that a memorial service is held for the men killed on HMS Hussar, HMS Britomart, HMS Salamander and HMS Colsay in the friendly fire incident off Normandy on 27 August 1944; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  It is for veterans' associations to organise the commemoration of individual actions if they so wish. Official events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the D-day campaign as a whole were held last year. This year will see the commemoration of victory in 1945.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will give all reasonable assistance to those wishing to organise a reunion for those sailors who survived the friendly fire incident of Normandy on 27 August 1944 involving HMS Hussar, HMS Britomart, HMS Salamander, and HMS Colsay.
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  Mr. Soames
  The editor of "Navy News", the official newspaper of the Royal Navy, will be pleased to publish a request for survivors of this incident to contact the organisers of any reunion.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will lift the embargo on the names of those who died in the friendly fire incident off Normandy on 27 August 1944, involving HMS Hussar, HMS Britomart, HMS Salamander and HMS Colsay, and publish the names of those who survived prior to their dispersal to other units of the Royal Navy.

  Mr. Soames
  There has never been an embargo on the list of casualties from this incident. Indeed, details of those from the Britomart and the Hussar, the two vessels sunk, were published in The Times in October and November 1944. Any casualty details from the other vessels involved may well have been included in more general casualty lists frequently published in the press at the time, but these could now be checked only at disproportionate cost.

  The names of those who survived would be scattered among any number of contemporary records, and these also could now be checked only at disproportionate cost.

  Gulf War Syndrome
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of alleged Gulf war syndrome.

  Mr. Soames
  It is my Department's policy to investigate the allegations of a Gulf war syndrome in a scientific and objective manner to establish the full facts. We are concerned to ensure that those who are ill receive proper assessment and diagnosis, and where necessary are referred for treatment to those responsible for their health care. As part of these investigations, we have established a medical assessment programme to build up a soundly based data bank of information resulting from individual clinical examination of those Gulf veterans who are coming forward with concerns about their health in response to repeated ministerial requests. We are also following scientific developments in the United States and elsewhere examining the plausibility of the many postulated causes of the alleged syndrome and making comparisons of the health problems experienced by Gulf veterans against the normal incidence of such symptoms among the rest of the armed forces and the general United Kingdom population. Our investigations to date have found no medical or scientific evidence of a Gulf war syndrome, or of any medical condition peculiar to service in the Gulf.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving service personnel have reported sick claiming to have Gulf war syndrome.

  Mr. Soames
  To date, a total of 51 serving personnel have come forward, or have been referred, into my Department's medical assessment programme with concerns about their health as a result of Gulf war service. Of the 24 who have so far been examined and diagnosed, none has been found to have a medical condition peculiar to Gulf service.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel from the other allied 100
  nations who took part in the Gulf claim to be suffering from Gulf war syndrome.

  Mr. Soames
  The latest figures available to my Department indicate that approximately 13,000 United States Gulf war veterans have registered with the clinical evaluation programme established by the United States authorities to examine those alleging ill health as a result of Gulf war service. Among other allies, the claims of some 30 to 40 Canadians and 20 Norwegian Gulf personnel to be suffering from the alleged Gulf war syndrome are being investigated by their national authorities.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many non-military supporting staff are claiming to be suffering from Gulf war syndrome.

  Mr. Soames
  To date, my Department has received notification of 483 potential claims in respect of ill health as a result of service in the Gulf war. The information available shows that 12 are from individuals who were civilians at the time, seven of whom can be identified as non-military supporting staff paid by the MOD.

  Contracts
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total value of contracts awarded by his headquarters contracts branches to(a) Price Waterhouse, (b) EDS Defence Ltd. and EDS Scicon Defence Ltd., (c) Coopers and Lybrand, (d) Touche Ross Management Consultants and Touche Ross and Company and (e) Andersen Consulting for (i) 1992–93 and (ii) 1993–94.

  Mr. Freeman
  The value of contracts placed with these companies by my Department's central contracts branches is as follows:

  1992–93

  Company name

  Total value £ million

  Touche Ross Management Consultants and Touche Ross and Company

  0.6

  Andersen Consulting

  0.2

  Coopers and Lybrand

  9.7

  Price Waterhouse

  0.2

  1993–4

  Company name

  Total value £ million

  Touche Ross Management Consultants and Touche Ross and Company

  0.05

  Andersen Consulting

  0.2

  Coopers and Lybrand

  2.4

  Price Waterhouse

  1.3

  No contracts have been placed by the central contracts branch with EDS Defence Ltd. or EDS Scicon Defence Ltd. over the periods in question.

  The figures given relate only to contracts let by my Department's central contracts branches. They exclude lower value contracts placed by individual budget holders, details of which are not held centrally.
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  Al-Yamamah Deal
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the money transferred to a Saudi by British Aerospace and Rolls Royce in respect of the Al-Yamamah deal was paid for out of his Department's budget; if(a) British Aerospace and (b) Rolls Royce paid for the use of these funds; and whether the funds have now been repaid.

  Mr. Freeman
  I know of no such payment.

  Surgeon Commander D. W. Sommerville
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the barrier to the release of Surgeon Commander D. W. Sommerville from the Royal Navy to allow him to take up the post of consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Raigmore hospital, Inverness.

  Mr. Soames
  Although we are giving all reasonable consideration to Surgeon Commander Sommerville's request for premature voluntary retirement to take up an appointment at the Raigmore hospital, the timing of his release must accommodate the need to maintain a satisfactory level of orthopaedic expertise to support the requirements of the armed forces.

  Army Divisions
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has for the Army's technical equipments division, Donnington, and vehicle spares division, Chilwell.

  Mr. Soames
  In June last year, the then Minister of State for the Armed Forces, my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley) accepted, as the basis for consultation, a recommendation that the Army's technical equipments division, Donnington, and vehicle spares division, Chilwell, should be collocated within a leased building in Telford near Donnington, achieving annual savings of some £6,000,000.

  During the consultation process, my Department received a number of alternative proposals for the siting of the collocated organisation. All these proposals have received the most careful and sympathetic scrutiny and have been subjected to detailed financial appraisals. However, none of the alternatives would provide a more cost-effective solution than the original recommendation to collocate in Telford.

  I therefore have to confirm that we shall now move to implement our plans to amalgamate the two existing divisions to form the Equipment Support Provision and Procurement Authority within a leased building in Telford by late 1995, early 1996.

  We will of course continue to consult with staff and the trade unions about the detailed implementation of the collocation.

  Export Finance House
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the turnover of IMS export finance house in each year it traded.

  Mr. Freeman
  The export finance house set up by International Military Services Ltd. in 1985 proved unable to secure finance house business and was wound up the following year. Consequently, no audit requirement arose.
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AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Coarse Fishing
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he now expects lo announce his decision on the application by the National Rivers Authority for his approval to change the regulations governing the close season for coarse fish.

  Mr. Jack
  In December, the National Rivers Authority applied for confirmation of new byelaws intended to rationalise the existing rules for the coarse fish close season and to produce a consistent and uniform system for England and Wales. In place of the present widely varying rules, it has proposed that a close season should apply to all rivers, streams and canals from 15 March to 15 June but be dispensed with on all lakes, reservoirs and ponds.

  The Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 specifies a statutory minimum close season for fishing for coarse fish, but current legislation also gives the NRA the power to make byelaws to alter the close season or to dispense with it altogether. This power was available to the former water authorities which, prior to the creation of the NRA in 1989, were responsible for the regulation and management of salmon and freshwater fisheries. Many made use of the power with the result that in Devon, Cornwall and Gwynedd there is now no close season at all; in northern England and Lincolnshire there is a close season on rivers and streams, but not on stillwaters; and in the rest of the country there is a close season on all waters. As a result anglers are often confused about the rules that apply and the fishing opportunities that exist, in different regions.

  The NRA advertised the proposed new byelaws last September. Ministers received 256 objections. The NRA wrote to all objectors and, in the light of its explanations, six objections were withdrawn.

  In submitting its proposals to Ministers, the NRA stated:
  "there is no clear evidence that angling for freshwater fish during the period of the statutory close season will have a widespread deleterious impact on fish".

  Nevertheless, it considers that, in our current state of knowledge, a statutory close season serves a useful purpose on rivers and streams, where fish stocks are rarely discrete and fish move between stretches of river. Fishing rights along a river are often held by a number of different bodies, and, in these circumstances, individual fishery owners are not able to take the steps to protect fish stocks that they feel are necessary. The NRA is therefore proposing that there should be a uniform close season on all rivers and streams. There is widespread support for this idea, and there were few objections to this element of the NRA's proposals. We intend to accept it.

  The NRA has proposed that canals should be treated in the same way as rivers. This would entail imposing a statutory close season on canals in northern England and in Devon and Cornwall, which are currently not subject to one. There has been a substantial number of objections to this element of the proposals, both from individuals and angling clubs. We have considered these, together with the case put to me by the NRA, with care. We accept that there are sound reasons for wishing to have the same rules applying to all canals, but we have seen no evidence that the current lack of a close season on the canals in question

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  has had any adverse effect on these fisheries, or on fish stocks and, we have, on balance, concluded that there is not sufficient justification for extending the close season to these canals.

  In other parts of the country, the position may be different. In some areas it may be difficult to make a realistic distinction between rivers and canals, and there may be wider conservation arguments for retaining a close season on some canals. We would not wish to suggest, therefore, that the close season should be removed from canals which are currently subject to it without full consideration being given to all the relevant factors. If anglers or fishing owners feel that the close season should be ended on a particular canal in this category, they should take the matter up with the NRA. It will then be for the NRA to consider each case on its merits and, if it believes that a justified case has been made out, to propose the necessary change.

  In contrast to most rivers, the majority of lakes, reservoirs and ponds are under single management with discrete stocks of fish. The NRA argues that, in these circumstances, management of these stillwater fisheries, including decisions on whether to impose a close season, can be left to individual fishery managers and it is proposing that the close season should be removed on all lakes, reservoirs and ponds.

  This element of the proposals attracted a large number of objections. There are widespread fears that the removal of the close season would have adverse effects on spawning fish, breeding birds, other wildlife and, more generally, on the waterside environment. Both Ministers and the NRA have a duty, under the Water Resources Act 1991, to exercise their powers in respect of proposals they are formulating or considering so as to further the conservation of flora and fauna of special interest in so far as this is consistent with the NRA's statutory functions. A number of objectors felt that the proposals did not take adequate account of these wider conservation implications.

  We have carefully considered the case put to us by the NRA, and the points made by objectors. Our conclusion is that there is no convincing case to be made, from a fisheries management point of view, for the retention of the close season on these waters. We have also concluded that, in general, a statutory close season is not an appropriate instrument for furthering the conservation of flora and fauna. Not all waters are of equal conservation value, nor is angling the only leisure activity to have an impact on the waterside. Boating, walking, riding and cycling, for example, all take place on or close to many waters during the close season and in our view there is no justification for singling out angling as the one activity that must be statutorily suspended.

  Nevertheless, we fully accept that anglers and fisheries managers can make an important contribution to conservation, and we very much welcome the NRA's initiative in drawing up, in consultation with English Nature and the Countryside Council for Wales, guidelines to assist fisheries managers to manage their fisheries in an environmentally friendly way. We also recognise that ending the statutory close season could have an adverse impact on sensitive sites of particular conservation value, and we have concluded that, on balance, it should be retained for such sites. Accordingly, we are proposing to the NRA that its proposals be modified to retain the statutory close season on sites of special scientific interest
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  which might be adversely affected by its removal. English Nature and the Countryside Council for Wales have been asked to provide advice on such sites.

  We have also noted an objection from the Broards Authority to the proposed removal of the close season on stillwaters in the Norfolk broads. The authority argues that the broads form a single, and important, ecosystem, and that there are no valid reasons for distinguishing between rivers and stillwaters in the broads. We accept this argument, and are proposing that the proposals be modified to retain the close season on them.

  In Yorkshire a byelaw currently prohibits the use of keep nets on stillwaters between 15 March and 15 June. The NRA has noted that such a prohibition does not exist in other regions that permit fishing to take place during the close season, and that this does not appear to lead to any problems. In these circumstances, it is proposing to revoke the bylaw in question. Although there have been objections to this proposal, we accept the NRA's arguments on this point and intend to confirm this proposal.

  Under the provisions of the Water Resources Act, modifications to proposed byelaws can be made only with the consent of the NRA. Provided that the authority gives its consent to the amendments I have outlined, I hope that it will be possible to bring the new arrangements into effect before the start of this year's close season on 15 March. Arrangements are in hand to ensure that those directly affected by the amendments we are proposing have the opportunity to comment on them; if necessary, further amendments could then be brought forward before the start of next year's close season.

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

  Mrs. Browning
  [Pursuant to his reply, 15 February 1995, Official Report c. 712–13]The figure in the table for 1994 was incorrect, the correct information is as follows:

  Year

  Percentage unconfirmed

  1990

  15

  1991

  14

  1992

  15

  1993

  16

  1994

  117

  1 Provisional figure.

  A2 Crash
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many sheep were being carried in the truck that crashed on the A2 on 8 February; how many died; and what were the causes of death;

  (2) what was the intended destination of the sheep carried in the truck that crashed on the A2 on 8 February; what subsequently happened to the sheep that survived

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  the accident; and how long they were in transit without food, rest and water.

  Mrs. Browning
  A total of 417 sheep, intended for export via Brightlingsea, were being carried in the lorry. About half of the sheep died of suffocation and six seriously injured animals were put down by veterinary surgeons called to the scene by the RSPCA. I understand that the RSPCA states that 184 or 186 carcases were removed for disposal. The surviving sheep were taken to a lairage about five miles from the scene of the accident, where they were placed under statutory notice requiring their resting feeding and watering. The sheep were inspected at 09.30 hours on the following day by the veterinary officer who had served the notice. He considered them to be in good condition and fit to travel to the exporter's home premises near Canterbury. So the restrictions were withdrawn and the sheep were permitted to return to their premises of origin.

  European Quality Beef Promotion Scheme
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the amount and proportion of funding given to each member state from the European quality beef promotion scheme in each year since its inception.

  Mr. Jack
  Community funds approved to date under the European quality beef promotion scheme are as follows:

  ECUs

  Member state

  1993 approvals

  1994 approvals

  Belgium

  1,893,858

  0

  Spain

  984,984

  379,855

  Germany

  2,093,618

  675,395

  France

  4,027,536

  0

  Ireland

  2,574,653

  0

  Italy

  1,421,956

  1,787,093

  Netherlands

  1,119,546

  0

  Portugal

  0

  126,618

  United Kingdom

  2,251,200

  1,075,066

  In each case, Community financing represents 60 per cent. of the total cost of measures to promote quality beef.

  Shoreham Port (Livestock)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what factors led to the turning away of livestock from Shoreham port on the morning of 15 February;

  (2) what type of livestock animals were turned away from Shoreham port on the morning of 15 February; how many of them there were; what subsequently happened to them; what overall time they were in transit; what length of time they were travelling before getting rest, food and water breaks; how long these breaks lasted; how many breaks there were; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what information was available as to weather conditions on the morning of 15 February; what consideration was given to not transporting animals to Shoreham docks on that day; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Browning
  Taking full account of the weather forecast on the day, the master of the vessel, in 106
  consultation with the Ministry veterinary officer on duty, decided not to sail on 15 February. The information was relayed to the police and the drivers of six vehicles that had arrived at the collection point outside Shoreham were informed.

  The lorries returned to lairages in Kent and East Sussex—respectively, approximately two hours' and one hour's travelling time from the Shoreham collection point. All journeys would have been well within the 15 hours rest, feeding and watering interval under United Kingdom legislation. The animals involved totalled 400 sheep and 668 calves. Prior to loading, the animals had at least eight hours rest and during that period were fed and watered. The animals remained in lairage overnight and were exported through Shoreham port on the following days sailing.

  December Fisheries Council
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 18 January to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell),Official Report, columns 543–44, what amount of additional financial aid was provided to Ireland at the December Fisheries Council meeting.

  Mr. Jack
  The amount of aid to be provided to Ireland was not specified in the agreement reached at the December Fisheries Council.

  Specialist Calf Abattoirs
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of specialist calf abattoirs in Britain in(a) 1971, (b) 1974, (c) 1984 and (d)

  Mrs. Browning
  Information about the number cif specialist calf abattoirs in the years concerned is not available. However, we believe that in 1994 approximately 45 abattoirs in England, Scotland and Wales handled calves, or had handled them in the recent past.

  Veal Calves (Export)
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many letters he has received in favour of the banning of the export of veal calves to the EU.

  Mrs. Browning
  In the past six months we have received more than 20,000 letters on the subject of the transport of live animals for slaughter or further fattening, a high proportion of which call for such a ban.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid Certificates
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans has he to suspend legal aid certificates held by prisoners who have absconded.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Decisions in respect of civil legal aid in individual cases are a matter for the Legal Aid Board. It must consider whether, in the light of all the
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  relevant circumstances, it is reasonable, within the terms of the Legal Aid Act 1988 and the regulations made under it, for an individual to receive, or continue to receive, civil legal aid. The fact that an assisted person is imprisoned and absconds is not, of itself, a specific ground for discharging a civil legal aid certificate.

  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the use by Roy Higginson of a current legal aid certificate after he absconded from prison.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Mr. Higginson was granted civil legal aid in 1989—before he was imprisoned—in order to pursue a claim in respect of damage caused to his house. That certificate continues in force and will continue for as long as Mr. Higginson continues to meet the criteria for the grant of civil legal aid as laid down in the Legal Aid Act 1988 and the regulations made under it.

  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many escaped prisoners have current legal aid certificates.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The information requested is not available.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Consumer Credit
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take in respect of the Director General of Fair Trading's recommendation on consumer credit deregulation.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Our consumer credit legislation provides valuable and necessary consumer protection. That does not mean that it is perfect or unalterable. The Government share the director general's view that, while the basic framework has stood the test of time, some aspects of the legislation need to be changed.

  The Government are minded to accept the director general's proposals for changes to the consumer credit legislation. However, the Government have not closed their mind to other options and we shall wish to pay particular attention to further information on the costs and benefits of what has been proposed.

  The director general also proposed that some provisions of section 104 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 should be implemented and the necessary accompanying regulations made. Having considered this carefully, the Government have decided that they should not, at present, bring forward more regulations. However, they will keep the position under review and will reconsider the case for legislation should circumstances change.

  The director general also recommended that we should not proceed with previously announced proposals concerned with tightening the rules on the marketing of consumer credit. The Government propose to accept this advice, but in this case we shall keep the need for additional measures under review.

  The director general's report contains many proposals on consumer credit. It is not practicable to introduce them all at the same time. We shall given priority to the proposals on excluding lending and hiring to unincorporated businesses from regulation; revising the monetary limits and amounts in the legislation; restricting
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  the statutory obligation to notify the director general about changes in the officers of businesses operating under standard consumer credit licences or among those in a position to control them; achieving greater fairness in the rebates to be paid if credit agreements are settled early; and with repealing the regulations on quotations. Other consumer credit deregulation measures will be brought forward in due course.

  The Government wish to reiterate that the intention is to improve the legislation. By providing for consultation on the basis of detailed proposals, they expect that there will be ample opportunity for representatives of consumer interest, enforcement authorities and the credit industry to contribute to this process.

  Cable Companies
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many cable companies provide a free feed to educational institutions.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  I have had several discussions with the cable companies about connections to institutions in communities within their franchise areas. I therefore welcome the Cable Communications Association announcement last week that the United Kingdom cable industry has agreed to offer a free standard connection to every school passed by cable networks. This policy will be co-ordinated by the association, which has said that it will also liaise with cable companies, programme providers and educational authorities with regard to programme content. So far, 350 schools have been connected to cable networks.

  I referred to these initiatives when I gave evidence to the Trade and Industry Select Committee on 25 January 1995.

  Information Super-highway
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade who has ministerial responsibility for ensuring that the social benefits of the information super-highway in education and training, medicine, the public services and Government are maximised.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  I am responsible for co-ordinating the DTI's interests in broadband communications and multimedia for the information society. I aim to encourage the public and private sectors to exploit the technology available and to take full advantage of the opportunities emerging. In doing so, I work closely with colleagues from Departments responsible for the sectors concerned, and with industry through the multi media advisory committee.

  I discussed these matters in evidence to the Trade and Industry Select Committee on 25 January 1995.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the approach to popularising communications and information technology adopted by Manchester city council with accessible electronic village halls for the local community; and how his Department intends to spread best practice in this area.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  My Department supports initiatives to enable local communities to gain access to up-to-date information and telecommunications technology. It is exactly this sort of development which
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  the Government are encouraging more widely through initiatives of broadband communications, multimedia and the Internet. Indeed, the creation of electronic village halls in Manchester was an initiative pioneered in partnership with the council by the former Government-funded Manchester/Salford city action team, which provided £157,500 towards the scheme. Projects of a similar nature could be considered for funding via the appropriate Government office through the single regeneration budget.

  Information Society
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what benefits he expects for the United Kingdom from the European information society initiative in the social and economic spheres.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The Government agree with the European Commission in its White Paper on growth, competitiveness and employment that the enormous potential for new services relating to production, consumption, culture and leisure activities will create large numbers of new jobs and new patterns of working. As a result of our successful policy of telecommunications liberalisation, the UK is very well placed to gain the maximum benefit from this process in both social and economic spheres.

  We are taking forward proposals arising out of the Bangemann report on the information society.

  N. M. Rothschild and Son Ltd.
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade pursuant to his answer of 13 February,Official Report, column 484, how many hours to date N. M. Rothschild and Son Ltd. has worked on the contract on the future of the coal industry; and if he will make a statement on the advice received by the then Secretary of State for Energy from officials.

  Mr. Eggar
  N. M. Rothschild has, to date, worked approximately 37,000 hours since the contract was awarded in May 1991. The content of advice from officials to Ministers is confidential.

  Export Credits Guarantee Department
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost of the fixed rate export finance scheme of the Export Credits Guarantee Department from 1989–90 to the present.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The cost of ECGD's fixed-rate export finance scheme depends on the prevailing levels of short term interest rates. From 1989–90 the costs have been:

  Year

  £ millions (Rounded)

  1989–90

  349

  1990–91

  413

  1991–92

  237

  1992–93

  111

  1993–94

  minus 53

  1994–95

  minus 11 (Estimated)

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what staff have been seconded to the Export Credits Guarantee Department, however briefly, since 1992; in 110
  what capacities they served ECGD; and from which enterprises or companies they came.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: Since the beginning of 1992, there have been the following two secondments into ECGD:
  A Divisional Director from British Aerospace for 15 working days in 1993, under the auspices of the Whitehall Industry Group.
  An Economist from Barclays Bank plc, for just over three years, working as part of a team responsible for the provision of economic advice and forecasts for country risk assessments.

  Mine Closures
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the dates and reasons for closure of coal mines in the Northumblerand and Durham coal fields since 1963.

  Mr. Page
  I am advised by British Coal that the collieries listed in the table have closed in those areas since 1963, in each case through exhaustion of economically viable or technically exploitable reserves.

  Colliery closures in Northumberland and Durham since 1963

  Year

  Area

  Colliery

  1963–64(15 months)

  Northumberland

  Loughbridge

  Seaton Burn

  North Durham

  Addison

  Crookhall

  Fenhall Heworth

  High Marley Hill

  South Pelaw

  Stargate

  South Durham

  Haggs Lane

  Lanchester Townley

  Roddymoor

  1964–65

  North Durham

  Derwent

  East Tanfield

  Lambton 'D'

  Pelton

  Phoenix Drift

  Stanley Burn

  Watergate

  South Durham

  Hole in the Wall

  Tudhoe Mill

  1965–66

  Northumberland

  Algernon

  Bedlington 'F'

  Choppington 'B'

  Isabella

  Stobswood

  North Durham

  Beamish Mary

  Bradley Drift

  Clara Vale

  Harraton

  Lumley Sixth

  Witton

  South Durham

  Dean and Chapter

  New Shildon

  North Tees

  Sherburn Hill

  West Thornley

  1966–67

  Northumberland

  Choppington 'A'

  East Walbottle

  Hauxley

  Weetslade

  111

  Colliery closures in Northumberland and Durham since 1963

  Year

  Area

  Colliery

  1966–67 continued

  North Durham

  Barcus Close

  Chopwell

  Greenside

  South Durham

  DeafHill

  Middridge

  Ryhope

  Thrislington

  Waterhouses

  1967–68

  Northumberland

  Bedlington 'D'

  Newbiggin

  North Walbottle

  North Durham

  Byermoor

  Chester South Moor

  Hamsterley

  Handen Hold

  Ravensworth Park

  South Durham

  Brancepeth

  Brandon Pit House

  Bowburn

  Kimblesworth

  Staindrop Field

  House

  Trimdon Grange

  West Auckland

  1968–69

  Northumberland

  Cambois

  Linton

  Longhirst

  Pegswood

  North Durham

  Burnopfield

  Emma

  Washington 'F'

  Whitburn

  South Durham

  Brusselton

  Esh

  Mainsforth

  Stanley Cottage

  Wheatley Hill

  1969–70

  Northumberland

  Rising Sun

  Mill

  North Durham

  Craghead

  Harton

  South Durham

  Tudhoe Park

  Thornley

  1970–71

  Nil

  —

  1971–72

  Northumberland

  Bedlington 'A'

  North Durham

  Silksworth

  1972–73

  North Durham

  Washington Glebe

  Medomsley

  South Durham

  Shotton

  1973–74

  Northumberland

  Bardon Mill

  Fenwick

  Netherton

  North Durham

  Morrison Busty

  South Durham

  Fishburn

  112

  Colliery closures in Northumberland and Durham since 1963

  Year

  Area

  Colliery

  1974–75

  North East

  Kibblesworth

  Nettlesworth

  Usworth

  Whitworth Park

  1975–76

  North East

  Burradon

  Langley Park

  1976–77

  North East

  Havannah

  1977–78

  North East

  Dudley

  1978–79

  North East

  Metal Bridge

  Rainton Adventure

  1979–80

  North East

  Hylton

  1980–81

  North East

  Eccles

  Eden

  Woodhorn

  1981–82

  North East

  Blackhall

  Houghton

  1982–83

  North East

  Boldon

  Marley Hill

  1983–84

  North East

  East Hetton

  1984–85

  North East

  Bearpark

  1985–86

  North East

  Brenkley

  Sacriston

  Herrington

  Bates

  Horden

  1986–87

  North East

  Whittle

  1987–88

  North East

  Ashington

  1988–89

  Nil

  —

  1989–90

  Nil

  —

  1990–91

  Nil

  —

  1991–92

  North East

  Dawdon

  Murton

  1992–93

  Nil

  —

  1993–94

  North East

  Vane Tempest

  Westoe

  Easington

  Wearmouth

  Ellington

  Nuclear Review
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to publish his Department's review of the future prospects for nuclear power.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sherwood (Mr. Tipping) on 19 October 1994,Official Report, column 239.
  113

  Business Link Wirral
  Ms. Eagle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the projected losses by Wirral Business Link in its first year of operation.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 16 February 1995]: No. Business Link Wirral is a private sector company, and the financial management of the company is a commercial matter for the board.

  Pacific Crane
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the radioactive waste from the Pacific Crane and the reprocessing of its cargo at THORP will be(a) returned to Japan and (b) retained in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 16 February 1995]: The Pacific Crane is one of the five ships used to transport spent fuel from Japan to be reprocessed in Europe. Since 1976, BNFL's contracts for the reprocessing of overseas spent fuel have contained options for the return of wastes. The Government intend that reprocessing contracts with overseas customers shall continue to contain such options, that the options should he exercised and that wastes should be returned.

  Objective 1 Programme
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment Her Majesty's Government have made of the impact of DTI co-financed schemes in 1994 in Merseyside; when this will be available to the objective I partnership; and what improvements Her Majesty's Government are planning to introduce in the current year.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: No separate assessment of the impact of DTI co-financed schemes has been undertaken at this early stage of the objective 1 programme, although a progress report will be submitted to the monitoring committee in due course. There are no current plans for an enhancement of the additional support available through co-financing. DTI schemes are subject to on-going evaluation to ensure value for money.

  Regional Electricity Companies
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what matters of public interest he will take into account in the event of a foreign conglomerate proposing to take over one of the regional electricity companies.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  In the event of such a takeover qualifying for investigation under the Fair Trading Act 1973, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade would be advised on the matter by the Director General of Fair Trading. In giving his advice, the DGFT would take account of all relevant factors, as would the President in making his decision.

  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to meet the Director General of Offer to discuss proposals for the regulation of foreign-owned regional electricity companies.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I and my colleagues discuss a wide range of issues with the Director General of the Office of Electricity Regulation from time to time.
  114

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Retirement Pension
  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what was the value of the basic state pension as a proportion of gross average earnings in the United Kingdom for each year since 1978.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The information is in the table.

  Standard weekly rate of Category A Retirement Pension expressed as a percentage of all adults average earnings

  Date

  Weekly rate £

  Percentage of average earnings

  November

  1978

  19.50

  23.2

  November

  1979

  23.30

  23.2

  November

  1980

  27.15

  22.6

  November

  1981

  29.60

  22.4

  November

  1982

  32.85

  23.1

  November

  1983

  34.05

  21.7

  November

  1984

  35.08

  21.4

  November

  1985

  38.30

  214

  July

  1986

  38.70

  20.5

  April

  1987

  39.50

  19.9

  April

  1988

  41.15

  18.8

  April

  1989

  43.60

  18.2

  April

  1990

  46.90

  17.8

  April

  1991

  52.00

  18.3

  April

  1992

  54.15

  17.8

  April

  1993

  56.10

  17.7

  April

  1994

  57.60

  17.7

  Notes:

  The date shown is that from which the applicable rate became payable.

  Average earnings are based on the Employment Department's new earnings survey estimates of all adults earnings as at the relevant dates.

  Figures for 1978 to 1993 are taken from the "Abstract of Statistics" published by the Department of Social Security, analytical services division.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what grounds unsuccessful applications to the social fund for a payment for rent in advance are refused.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The social fund can help with requests for rent in advance in the form of budgeting and crisis loans. The social fund officer, when using his discretion in reaching a decision, has to take account of all the circumstances surrounding each application, as well as the guidance provided by Secretary of State on priorities. There will inevitably be some variations between decisions in a flexible, discretionary scheme.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department which will(a) follow the pay arrangements of the sponsoring Department and (b) pursue an independent and separate route under the delegated pay option (i) from April 1995 and (ii) from April 1996.
  115
  Mr. Hague
  None of those bodies listed in "Public Bodies 1994" will pursue separate pay arrangements from April 1995 or April 1996.

  Single payments
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what was the total expenditure on single payments for(a) the Greenock and Port Glasgow district offices and (b) the Lothian central district office for (i) 1985–86, (ii) 1986–87 and (iii) 1987–88.

  (2) what was the total expenditure on single payments for (a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland in (i) 1985–86, (ii) 1986–87 and (iii) 1987–88.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many of those gaining national insurance credits in the 1992–93 year were previously in employment or approved self-employment; and what would he the cost to public funds to contribute the sums which employers would have paid in national insurance contributions; assuming earnings at(a) two thirds average earnings and (b) average earnings.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  In 1992–93, some 7.2 million employed earners and 0.6 million self-employed earners were awarded an average of 35 credits. If the employed earners were receiving earnings of two thirds average earnings1 for each of the 35 weeks they were awarded a credit, their employers would have paid £871.152 in contributions at current rates; on average earnings1 employers would have paid £1,306.552.

  Notes:

  1Calculations based on weekly male average earnings of £366 (New Earnings Survey April 1994).

  2 Calculations assume that contributions were paid at the not contracted out rate of 10.2 per cent.

  Cold Weather Payments
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on how many days in the last five years cold weather payments have been paid to people in Inverclyde; and which weather station covers this area.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The administration of the cold weather payments scheme is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 20 February 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about Cold Weather Payments.
  The Inverclyde region broadly corresponds to the geographical area covered by the Benefits Agency District of Clyde Coast and Cowal. Postcodes in that area are linked to the weather station at Glasgow Airport.
  Cold weather periods are forecast or recorded on a weekly basis and, if appropriate, a payment is made for the same period. Including this year to date, Cold Weather Payments have been made to people living in the area covered by the Benefits Agency's Clyde Coast and Cowal District on six occasions over the last five years.
  116
  I have provided a table showing the number of weeks for which Cold Weather Payments were made in each year for the area in question.

  Number of weeks

  1990–91

  3

  1991–92

  0

  1992–93

  0

  1993–94

  3

  1994–95

  0

  I hope you find my reply helpful.

SCOTLAND

  River Clyde (Dredging)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements are made for the waste dredged from the bed of the Clyde by Clydeport to be inspected by public agency to see if it bears any toxic substances.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The disposal of dredge spoil at sea is licensed by the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department under part H of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985. It is a condition of licensing that samples are provided to the Department's marine laboratory at Aberdeen. These are analysed for a range of substances to enable the Department to check that the spoil being disposed of conforms to agreed international standards with respect to the levels of contamination.

  Water (Discharges)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what differences exist in the right of the public to know about substances discharged into a river, estuarial or coastal waters by pipe and by boat.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Under the Control of Pollution Act 1974, discharges from pipes to rivers, estuaries and coastal waters require the consent of the relevant river purification authority. The Act also requires the river purification authorities to maintain public registers containing particulars of all consents, the conditions set and monitoring results. In the case of the deposit of substances or articles from ships, similar registers are maintained by the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department which grants licences under part II of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 relating to deposits in the sea.

  Other discharges from boats and ships are controlled by local byelaws, by the Prevention of Pollution Act 1986 or the international convention on the prevention of pollution—MARPOL—but none have associated public registers. However, certain permitted discharge levels are available for public scrutiny.

  Local Government Finance
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the effect on local
  117
  authority investment of the ending of the provisions whereby notional capital receipts can be generated from 21-year leases of capital assets.

  Mr. Lang
  Outturn information for the latest available year, 1993–94, shows authorities raised £34.8 million of notional capital receipts. This represented 3.5 per cent. of their total expenditure in that year on non-housing programmes. Local authorities' financial plans for 1995–96 indicate that authorities expected to raise £27.9 million of notional capital receipts in 1995–96, representing just over 2 per cent. of their total planned expenditure of around £1,200 million on their non-housing programmes.

  National Heritage Designations
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to review the system of area designations and to include the national parks model in the review; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  A review of natural heritage designations, including consideration of national parks, is part of the work programme of Scottish Natural Heritage.

  Fur Farms
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many arctic fox fur farms there have been, by region, in each of the last five years.

  Sir Hector Monro
  There has only been one Arctic fox farm operating in Scotland during the past five years. This was in Strathclyde region. It was depopulated in 1992 and has not been restocked.

  Learning Difficulties
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average annual cost of caring for a person with learning difficulties in(a) the community and (b) hospital.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The average annual cost of caring for a person with learning difficulties in a national health service hospital in 1993–94 was £34,675. The cost of providing services for people with learning difficulties in the community varies greatly depending on their level of learning difficulty and need for support. Figures are not available centrally which would allow a meaningful average figure to be prepared.

  European Funds
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the schemes approved for European funding in Scotland by(a) name, (b) region and (c) level of funding for the first year of the (i) Urban, (ii) Pesca, (iii) Leader II, (iv) SME, (v) Konver, (vi) Resider II, (vii) RECHAR II and (viii) ADAPT European funds for industrial change.

  Mr. Kynoch
  No schemes have yet been approved under these Community initiatives. Operational 118
  programmes were submitted to the European Commission in early November and we await the Commission's response. Programmes must be approved by the Commission before projects can be considered.

  Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 9 February,Official Report, columns 358–59, when he expects to be able to give the total responses received and from his analysis list those organisations which supported (a) map 1 in his consultative document, (b) map 2 in his consultative document and (c) the whole of the present Strathclyde region.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  We will announce the outcome of the consultation exercise on the boundary and constitution of the proposed Starthclyde passenger transport authority after detailed and thorough consideration of the responses received.

  Student Allowances
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the administrative cost of operating the mature students' allowance in Scotland for each of the last five years for which information is available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The mature students' allowance is administered as an integral part of the students' allowances scheme and it is not possible to identify the administrative costs separately.

  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many students received the mature students' allowance in each of the last five years for which figures are available at universities in Scotland; and what percentage of all mature students in each year these figures represent.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  The table shows the number of Scottish domiciled award holders under the students' allowances scheme who were in receipt of a mature students' allowance in each of the academic years 1989–90 to 1993–94, the latest year for which complete figures are available. The figures distinguish between award holders attending higher education institutions, including universities, in Scotland; other institutions in Scotland; and institutions outwith Scotland. The number of award holders in receipt of the mature students' allowance is expressed as a percentage of the total number of mature award holders in that academic year.

  The responsibility for the provision of student support for students domiciled in England and Wales and Northern Ireland who may be attending institutions in Scotland rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, respectively.
  119

  Table 1—Number of Scottish domiciled award holders in receipt of the mature students' allowance by category of institution

  Higher education institutions,Scotland

  Other institutions, Scotland

  Institutions outwith Scotland

  Total

  Percentage of mature award holders

  Academic year

  Number

  Number

  Number

  Number

  Percentage

  1989–90

  1,895

  355

  150

  2,400

  40

  1990–91

  2,331

  440

  158

  2,929

  42

  1991–92

  2,878

  1,099

  191

  4,168

  43

  1992–93

  3,644

  1,716

  211

  5,571

  47

  1993–94

  4,440

  2,540

  292

  7,272

  49

  Notes:

  1. The mature students' allowance is means tested and not all holders will necessarily have received the full amount.

  2. For this purpose "mature award holder" is one who was aged 26 or over on entry to full-time higher education.

  Further Education Colleges
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what funding was allocated to each further education college in Scotland in(a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96.

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Recurrent £

  Capital £

  Recurrent £

  Capital £

  Aberdeen College

  12,622,000

  386,766

  13,348,100

  199,750

  Angus College

  2,779,200

  151,512

  3,176,700

  140,883

  Anniesland College

  3,659,100

  836,310

  3,938,900

  161,093

  Ayr College

  4,389,700

  157,738

  4,591,600

  290,425

  Banff and Buchan College of Further Education

  2,921,500

  39,147

  3,379,900

  0

  The Barony College

  1,018,100

  35,582

  1,252,600

  317,250

  Bell College of Technology

  5,287,900

  146,840

  5,304,500

  565,727

  The Borders College

  3,746,000

  121,461

  3,899,400

  146,053

  Cambusland College

  3,982,300

  46,607

  4,112,700

  55,930

  Cardonald College

  5,782,700

  444,129

  6,124,000

  917,675

  Central College of Commerce

  3,905,595

  384,940

  4,392,200

  356,378

  Clackmannan College

  2,304,900

  182,080

  2,399,500

  100,815

  Clydebank College

  6,595,700

  415,356

  6,801,600

  474,818

  Coatbridge College

  3,697,000

  684,230

  3,768,500

  24,881

  Cumbernauld College

  2,468,800

  34,304

  2,683,600

  173,066

  Dumfries and Galloway College

  4,933,400

  230,272

  4,916,000

  418,952

  Dundee College

  10,711,800

  628,813

  10,501,600

  285,643

  Elmwood College

  3,000,900

  134,551

  3,106,800

  63,333

  Falkirk College

  8,063,700

  161,293

  7,885,400

  458,838

  Fife College of Further and Higher Education

  6,918,700

  140,361

  7,464,700

  193,875

  Glasgow College of Building And Printing

  5,351,500

  907,688

  5,495,000

  477,191

  Glasgow College of Food Technology

  3,324,500

  242,966

  3,374,300

  323,125

  Glasgow College of Nautical Studies

  3,862,300

  284,994

  3,821,200

  208,927

  Glenrothes College

  4,643,800

  105,249

  5,018,200

  51,935

  Inverness College

  6,467,900

  396,102

  6,287,000

  291,400

  James Watt College of Further and Higher Education

  6,034,100

  158,032

  7,372,900

  470,588

  Jewel and Esk Valley College

  7,689,000

  356,766

  7,336,300

  246,868

  John Wheatley College

  2,836,600

  449,017

  3,241,000

  426,525

  Kilmarnock College

  4,311,100

  516,955

  4,859,600

  576,455

  Langside College

  5,121,300

  813,210

  5,705,300

  1,136,813

  Lauder College

  4,844,700

  378,590

  5,126,100

  203,275

  Lews Castle College

  1,964,100

  183,452

  2,063,500

  417,889

  Moray College

  4,561,000

  105,869

  4,826,700

  252,038

  Motherwell College

  6,484,700

  215,329

  6,944,100

  379,103

  North Glasgow College

  5,881,900

  1,174,397

  5,695,900

  765,806

  Oatridge Agricultural College

  1,803,600

  484,353

  1,888,900

  369,126

  Perth College

  5,431,200

  45,008

  5,573,600

  239,113

  Reid Kerr College

  7,205,700

  717,745

  7,685,100

  737,313

  Stevenson College

  10,054,900

  394,472

  9,827,900

  378,938

  Stow College

  3,694,500

  603,760

  4,182,800

  338,635

  Telford College

  12,491,900

  938,441

  12,543,600

  646,250

  Thurso College

  2,444,500

  67,364

  2,660,300

  474,348

  West Lothian College

  5,047,300

  285,539

  4,825,500

  396,927

  Orkney Islands Council

  410,600

  0

  444,800

  0

  Shetland Islands Council

  1,154,600

  0

  1,203,800

  0

  120
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The funding allocated to further education colleges in Scotland and Islands councils in respect of the provision of further education in Orkney and Shetland in 1994–95 and 1995–96 is as follows:
  121

  Access Funds
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish details of the level of access funds provision in Scotland for Session 1995–96.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  A total of £4.33 million will be available for the access funds at higher and further education institutions in Scotland in academic year 1995–96. This compares with a total of £4.14 million in 1994–95, and the provision for 1995–96 thus represents an increase of about 4.6 per cent. over the current session.

  The sum has been allocated between the three funds as shown:

  £ million

  Higher Education fund

  2.61

  Postgraduate fund

  0.83

  Further education fund

  0.89

  The detailed 1995–96 allocations will be notified to the individual academic institutions in late summer.

  Pollok Estate
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much it cost to provide police officers in Pollok estate on 14 February to supervise tree felling in preparation for the building of the M77; how many police officers were involved; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: No separate record is kept by Strathclyde police of the costs incurred in providing police officers to mount this operation. Some 267 officers were deployed in and around the Pollok estate during the course of that day, leading to a total overtime payment estimated by the force to be approximately £5,000.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the outturn figures for 1993–94 and the expected outturn figures for 1994–95 for the management running costs of each of the non-departmental public bodies.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 7 February 1995]: The information for executive non-departmental public bodies receiving Government funding is shown in the table. There are differences between bodies in the precise definition of "management running costs".

  £000

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Executive NDPBs

  Outturn

  Estimated outturn

  Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments for Scotland

  2,855

  2,947

  Scottish Natural Heritage

  16,934

  19,561

  Scottish Film Council

  300

  300

  Scottish Further Education Unit

  611

  623

  122

  £000

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Executive NDPBs

  Outturn

  Estimated Outturn

  Scottish Council for Educational Technology

  1,488

  1,442

  Scottish Community Education Council

  595

  600

  National Museums of Scotland

  8,962

  8,912

  National Galleries of Scotland

  5,293

  5,255

  Scottish Sports Council

  3,034

  3,004

  National Library of Scotland1

  7,518

  7,754

  Scottish Higher Education Funding Council

  3,600

  3,350

  Scottish Arts Council2

  0

  1,934

  Scottish Enterprise3

  55,501

  49,950

  New Town Development Corporations4

  Cumbernauld Development Corporation

  4,536

  4,445

  East Kilbride Development Corporation

  6,942

  5,014

  Glenrothes Development Corporation

  6,001

  5,568

  Irvine Development Corporation

  5,137

  4,510

  Livingston Development Corporation

  6,164

  6,149

  Highlands and Islands Enterprise3,5

  10,644

  10,092

  Scottish Homes6

  42,000

  42,400

  Scottish Tourist Board3,5

  3,546

  3,810

  Scottish Conveyancing and Executory Services Board7

  22

  17

  Police (Scotland) Examination Board

  4

  4

  Scottish Legal Aid Board8

  5,366

  5,422

  National Board for Scotland (Nursing and Midwifery)6

  1,896

  2,082

  Crofters Commission

  1,397

  1,559

  The Scottish Agricultural and Biological Research Institutes

  Hannah Research Institute

  2,902

  2,878

  Macaulay Land Use Research Institute

  5,947

  5,911

  Moredun Research Institute

  3,447

  3,420

  Rowett Research Institute

  5,941

  5,892

  Scottish Crop Research Institute

  7,428

  7,366

  Scottish Agricultural Wages board9

  26

  28

  Red Deer Commission

  517

  630

  Royal Botanic Garden

  5,083

  4,636

  Edinburgh New Town Conservation Committee10

  153

  144

  1 National Library costs increased in 1994–95 to take account of additional staffing requirements for the new building at Causewayside.

  2 Scottish Arts Council previously funded by Arts Council, Great Britain. Separate figures for 1993–94 unavailable.

  3 Includes expenditure on the management of the programme activities of the Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise networks, including running costs of the local enterprise companies.

  4 Management running costs have been taken to be the total gross administration costs of the Development Corporations including the costs of managing their industrial and commercial portfolios and housing which are revenue generating activities.

  5 Takes account of a transfer from Highlands and Islands Enterprise to the Scottish tourist board for restructuring costs arising from the tourism review.

  6This includes the costs of salaries, general running costs of the Office and accommodation including rent and rates, etc.

  7 Includes a retainer for the members and for the rent of the board's premises.

  8 Includes the running costs of the staff, board members and reporters, accommodation costs and general expenditure—postage, telecommunication, stationery and audit fees.

  9The only expenditure of this body is payments of fees and travel subsistence.

  10 This represents the Secretary of State's share of funding. Other funding is provided by Edinburgh district council.

  123

  Pilmuir Quarry
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will implement, in the case of the construction of a landfill site at Pilmuir quarry, Newton Mearns, the European Union directives 85/337 on environmental impact assessment, 80/68 on ground waste, 75/442 EEC on waste, and 78/339 on toxic and dangerous waste; and if he will publish his response to the European Commission's article 169 infringement proceedings.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 15 February I995]: The Government have fully carried out their obligations under directives 85/337, 80/68, 75/442 and 78/339 in connection with the development of Pilmuir quarry as a landfill site.

  Correspondence between member states and the European Commission on infraction proceedings is regarded as confidential between the parties and it would not be appropriate to publish it. We consider that we can provide a full and satisfactory answer to all the points contained in the Commission's article 169 letter.

WALES

  Cardiff Bay Opera House
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales in what way he intends to make his views concerning the design of the Cardiff Bay opera trust known to the Millennium Commission.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage made clear on 20 December 1994,

  Community charge/council tax collection, by authority

  Estimated receipts of 1992–93 Community charge

  Receipts of 1993–94 Council tax

  £000

  1at 31 March 1993 As a percentage of the full amount to be collected

  £000

  2at 31 March 1994 As a percentage of the full amount to be collected

  Alyn and Deeside

  6,820

  88

  8,033

  93

  Colwyn

  4,965

  87

  5,998

  89

  Delyn

  6,319

  92

  7,535

  96

  Glyndwr3

  3,207

  88

  4,215

  83

  Rhuddlan

  5,267

  89

  5,778

  95

  Wrexham Maelor

  8,944

  84

  11,309

  94

  Carmarthen

  4,205

  91

  5,891

  93

  Ceredigion

  5,426

  85

  7,560

  93

  Dinefwr

  2,539

  87

  3,674

  88

  Llanelli

  6,348

  91

  6,976

  93

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  5,847

  94

  7,070

  96

  South Pembrokeshire

  3,275

  88

  4,243

  91

  Blaenau Gwent

  4,104

  84

  4,695

  92

  Islwyn

  4,418

  87

  4,731

  93

  Monmouth

  7,603

  96

  8,586

  94

  Newport

  10,446

  85

  10,687

  93

  Torfaen

  7,360

  96

  7,008

  96

  Aberconwy

  5,173

  91

  5,820

  96

  Arfon

  3,917

  92

  4,348

  95

  Dwyfor

  2,700

  96

  3,310

  98

  Meirionnydd

  3,542

  90

  4,067

  96

  Ynys Mon

  5,792

  89

  6,750

  94

  Cynon Valley

  3,808

  89

  4,008

  95

  Merthyr Tydfil

  3,724

  85

  3,350

  94

  Ogwr

  9,499

  90

  10,373

  94

  124
  neither Ministers nor Departments will comment on the merits of applications to the millennium fund.

  Welsh Health Common Services Authority
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date he issued guidelines to the Welsh Health Common Services Authority for the purposes of preparation of different segments of the organisation for sale or market testing; if he will place a copy in the Library of the letter of instruction; and if he will give the appropriate section of Statutory Instrument 1985 No. 996 under which the instruction was issued.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: The letter was issued on 28 March 1994 on a management in confidence basis. It was not necessary to refer to any particular section of Statutory Instrument 1985 No. 996. The current relevant statutory instrument is the WHCSA Constitution Order 1990 (SI 1990/2647).

  Local Authority Finance
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for each district council in Wales and for Wales as a whole(a) the total amount of community charge collected in respect of 1992–93, (b) the total amount of council tax collected in respect of 1993–94 and (c) the corresponding proportions of (a) and (b) as a percentage of the total collective amounts.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is given in the following table. Around £800 million of community charge for the period 1990–91 to 1992–93 had been received by 31 March 1994, 95 per cent. of the total amount collectable. It is not possible to estimate what proportion of this relates to 1992–93. Some authorities have estimated 1992–93 collection rates because of difficulty in separating receipts for 1992–93 from receipts for earlier years.
  125

  Community charge/council tax collection, by authority

  Estimated receipts of 1992–93 Community charge

  Receipts of 1993–94 Council tax

  £000

  1at 31 March 1993 As a percentage of the full amount to be collected

  £000

  2at 31 March 1994 As a percentage of the full amount to be collected

  Rhondda

  3,531

  88

  4,260

  95

  Rhymney Valley

  7,335

  88

  6,403

  94

  Taff Ely

  7,842

  87

  7,728

  95

  Brecknock

  3,528

  95

  4,551

  98

  Montgomeryshire

  4,213

  93

  5,335

  96

  Radnorshire

  2,082

  95

  2,490

  96

  Cardiff

  21,093

  85

  22,663

  92

  Vale of Glamorgan

  9,667

  92

  11,097

  96

  Lliw Valley

  4,699

  93

  5,949

  96

  Neath

  4,708

  89

  6,125

  95

  Port Talbot

  3,425

  89

  4,091

  94

  Swansea

  15,526

  90

  17,312

  95

  Wales

  222,897

  89

  254,019

  94

  Source:

  Local Authority returns

  1Net of all deductions on Community Charge bills including Community Charge Reduction Scheme and Community Charge Benefit.

  2 Net of all deductions on Council Tax bills including Council Tax Benefit.

  3Council Tax bills were not issued until May 1993, which may have affected the overall collection rate for the year.

  Chippenham Mead Village Green
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date he intends to announce his decision on the holding of fairs at the Chippenham Mead village green, Monmouth.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The decision will be issued shortly.

  Learning Disability
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average annual cost of caring for a person with learning difficulties in(a) the community (b) hospital.

  Mr. Richards
  In 1992–93, local authorities in Wales spent a total of £80 million to support a total of 10,410 individuals with a learning disability living in the community, an average cost of £7,700 per individual. More recent information from local authorities is that the average revenue cost to them of an individual with a learning disability receiving accommodation in the community, including day services, is around £34,000 per annum.

  In 1992–93, expenditure by health authorities on services for individuals with a learning disability was £61 million. This represents the cost of hospital care for some 1,058 individuals and all community health services.

  Zoos
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those zoos which are owned by local authorities.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Phantasia, Swansea.

  Training
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the funding plans for(a) investors in people, (b) business enterprise training, (c) skills choice and (d) open learning credit for 1995–96.

  Mr. Redwood
  Planned expenditure by Welsh TECS in 1995–96 on business growth and start-up activities,126
  including support for investors in people, is £13.175 million. Both the skillchoice and the open learning credits pilots will end this financial year, although residual expenditure of £70,000 on skillchoice is anticipated in 1995–96.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will list the estimated outturn for TECs in Wales(a) youth training, (b) training credit and (c) modern apprenticeships with respect to training weeks used by those in on-the-job training.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information is not available in the form requested. TECs do, however, collect information for youth training and youth credits on the number of "employed status" training weeks delivered—that is, those trainees with a contract of employment. These trainees undergo both on and off-the-job training. Some 350,000 YT/YC employed status training weeks are expected to be delivered by TECs in Wales during 1994–95, which represents 43 per cent. of total YT/YC provision.

  As modern apprenticeships are in a development phase in the current financial year, TECs have not been requested to provide a planned figure for employed status trainees.

  Independent Public Inquiries
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make arrangements for independent public inquiries to be established in relation to(a) the Glan Clwyd baby theft and (b) issues arising from the internal inquiry into the transportation of a stillborn baby for pathological examination from Wrexham Maelor hospital to the University hospital of Wales on 15 November 1994.

  Mr. Redwood
  Glan Clwyd Hospital NHS trust is holding an internal inquiry and I shall consider whether any further action is required in the light of its findings, which will be available in March.

  The report of the internal inquiry is under consideration in my Department and I shall decide whether any further action is required in due course.
  127

TRANSPORT

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 14 February,Official Report, column 560–61, when he expects the inquiry into breaches of the Air Navigation Order 1989 of flights containing calves from Coventry airport in November and December 1994 to reach its conclusions; who is participating in the inquiry and whom they represent; and whether he will make the proceedings and conclusions of the inquiry available to the public.

  Mr. Norris
  The inquiry is expected to reach its conclusions shortly. It is an internal inquiry which is being conducted by the Department to seek to determine whether there has been any breach of the Air Navigation Order 1989. The Department is being assisted by the Civil Aviation Authority. All relevant parties involved in the operation of the flights will be interviewed.

  The question of publication of the proceedings or any other part of the inquiry's conclusions will be considered once the inquiry has been completed and the findings assessed.

  Wind Forces
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the maximum permissable wind force for merchant ships to set sail when(a) unladen, (b) laden and (c) laden with livestock.

  Mr. Norris
  This is an operational matter for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Elliot Morley, dated 21 February 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about maximum permissable wind forces for merchant ships.
  Ships on international voyages are designed generally to operate in all weather conditions and their construction is approved on that basis. The decision to set sail is a matter for the professional judgement of a ship's Master, taking account of the weather and other factors, including the safety of the ship's crew and cargo.

  Consultants
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson) of 14 July 1994,Official Report, column 724–27, to show for all consultants and other outside organisations or individuals currently or previously employed by his Department for advice or assistance in rail privatisation (a) the name of the consultancy, organisation or individual (b) the length of the contract offered to each consultancy, organisation or individual, (c) the total amount inclusive of VAT paid to date to each consultancy, organisation or individual, (d) the total amount inclusive of VAT expected to be paid to each consultancy, organisation or individual, and (e) the services required by his Department from each consultancy, organisation or individual; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Watts
  Information about payments to individual contractors is commercially confidential.

  Payments made to consultants currently or previously employed by the Department total £22.5 million.
  128
  Consultants currently employed by the Department are:

  Organisation

  Linklaters and Paines

  Legal advice

  Freshfields

  Legal advice

  Samuel Montagu

  Merchant banking

  Hambros

  SG Warburg

  KPMG Peat Marwick

  Accountancy and taxation

  Ernst and Young

  Accountancy

  Price Waterhouse

  Accountancy

  Shandwick

  Marketing

  Gresham

  Marketing

  Ernst and Young

  Information systems

  Richard Ellis

  Property matters

  Sedgwick

  Insurance

  Brodies

  Advice on Scots law

  Travers Morgan

  Advice on BR/Railtrack infrastructure contracts

  Ernst and Young

  Advice on BR infrastructure contracts and sales

  Consultants previously employed by the Department are:

  Organisation

  Arthur D Little

  Research

  Coopers and Lybrand

  Access and access charging

  Mercer Management

  Freight and Franchising

  Norman Broadbent

  Recruitment

  Putnam Hayes and Bartlett

  Access and access charging

  Debenham Tewson and Chinnocks

  Property matters

  NERA

  Regulatory matters

  Deloitte Haskins and Sells

  Industry structure

  Dewe Rogerson

  Marketing

  Contracts for consultancy advice are normally offered on an on-going basis with provision for the Department to terminate the contract.

  Bus Services, Greater Manchester
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he holds about the quality of bus services in greater Manchester; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  The quality of bus services is primarily a matter for the commercial judgment of bus operators. The passenger transport executive is responsible for securing the provision of non-commercial services under subsidy. All local bus services in Greater Manchester are registered with the traffic commissioner for the north-west traffic area office, who has powers to act against bus operators who fail to run their services to their registered timetables. The commissioner will also act where buses fail to meet the Department's rigorously enforced safety standards.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Lebanon
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's contribution to the international aid effort in the camps of Lebanon.
  129
  Mr. Baldry
  UK assistance to the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon is mainly channelled through the UN Relief and Works Agency, the organisation with prime responsibility for assistance to all Palestinian refugees in the near east, including those in Lebanon.

  In the last three financial years, Britain has made bilateral contributions to UNRWA's core budget totalling £18 million.

  In addition, Britain pays a share, currently approximately 16 per cent. of the EC contribution to UNRWA's regular programmes. The current convention covering the years 1993–95 is for 80 million ecu, plus food in kind.

  Since 1993, we have also provided grants worth £95,400 to Medical Aid for Palestinians for project work in the camps of Lebanon, and £119,600 as emergency aid through MAP, the British Red Cross and Y Care International.

  South Africa
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the attainment of better educational standards in South Africa is being encouraged by Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Baldry
  Education is an agreed priority area for our aid programme to South Africa. We focus our assistance on support for policy reform at both the national and provincial level; the improvement of maths, science and English teaching in schools; and the provision of training for disadvantaged groups, including bursaries for tertiary education in both the United Kingdom and South Africa.

  Slovakia
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding is provided from the United Kingdom via the European bank for reconstruction and development for the Slovakian Mochovce nuclear reactor; and what financial liability the Government will have to assume in the event of an accident at the plant.

  Mr. Baldry
  The UK Government would not provide any funding specifically for the Mochovce project.

  We would not assume any financial liability in the event of an accident. Once Slovakia fulfils its undertaking to accede to the Vienna convention—which would he a condition of disbursement of the bank's proposed loan—all liability for damages resulting from a nuclear incident would be channelled to the operating organisation, Slovenske Elektarne, the Slovak power utility. In addition, the bank would receive an indemnity from the Slovak Government against liability for nuclear incidents.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what position the United Kingdom has taken on the European bank for reconstruction and development loan for the completion of the Slovakian Mochovce reactor; and what assessment he has made of the compliance of a plant if this nature with the standards which would be required in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Baldry
  We have not yet taken a position on this project but are examining the project documentation, particularly the least-cost analysis study, safety report. and environmental impact assessment report, and will also 130
  need to consider the outcome of the public participation programme currently being carried out in Slovakia and neighbouring countries.

  No assessment against United Kingdom licensing requirements has been made, but the bank has required that the safety assessment be based on an approach demonstrably equivalent to good western practices and the safety improvement programme at Mochovce has been reviewed by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

  Liberia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries have contributed to the United Nation's Liberian trust funds; how much they have contributed; and on what the British contribution has been spent.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 16 February 1995]: The following information on contributions has been received from the United Nations' Secretariat: United States $16.5 million, essentially from the ECOWAS monitoring group; Norway—$290,000; Denmark—$295,000; The Netherlands—$262,000; United Kingdom—$1 million.

  The British contribution has been spent as follows:

  $250,900 for public information;

  $50,000 for a hospital generator;

  $15,000 for a university library generator.

  Most of the remainder has been earmarked for the following:

  $300,000 for emergency assistance for war-affected populations;

  $200,000 for demobilisation;

  $100,000 for public information;

  $50,000 for treatment of trauma victims.

  The earmarked funds have not yet been spent because of the decline in the security situation in recent months. The funds will be used as soon as conditions permit.

  The remaining $34,100 has not yet been earmarked for any specific purpose, but can be made available as and when needed.

  Sierra Leone
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people have been displaced and made homeless in Sierra Leone since 1991.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 16 February 1995]: A World Food Council/United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees joint food assessment mission which took place in November 1994 reported 500,000 displaced and homeless Sierra Leoneans in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia since ethnic clashes began in 1991.

  Mozambique
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those aid projects in Mozambique supported by his Department in the last five years, indicating those which will provide sustainable development.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 17 February 1995]: Bilateral aid projects supported over the last five years are as follows:

  Rural Development

  Workshop to facilitate better co-ordination between NGOs. Mozambican Government authorities and ODA

  131

  Save the Children Fund: Rehabilitation and construction of secondary and tertiary bridges in Zambezia province

  Fisheries

  Angoche jetty and Emepesca trawler rehabilitation prawn by-catch project

  Power

  Maputo power station rehabilitation of brush steam generators training of electricians in the electricidade de Mozambique

  Roads

  Mechanical engineering assistance

  Technical assistance to the planning department of the national directorate of roads

  Bus rehabilitation study

  Study to develop a programme for the rehabilitation of secondary and tertiary roads in Zambezia province

  Air Transport

  Aeronautical equipment and telecommunications provision

  Water Transport

  Matola jetties rehabilitation and construction

  Public Administration

  Social dimensions of adjustment contributions to the World bank study

  Institutional strengthening of GCPI (Office for co-ordinating import support programmes)

  Study to assist in the institutional development of free trade zones

  Elections

  Multi-party elections seminar

  Finance

  Assistance to the banking sector

  Contribution to the World bank finance sector adjustment project

  Education

  Assistance to pre-university training

  Assistance to the National Institute for Development in Education (INDE)

  Assistance to the Institute of Languages

  Development of the secondary English department in Eduardo Mondlane university

  Development of the teacher training initiatives in Mozambique

  Multi-sectoral Rehabilitation Grants funded through Non-Governmental Organisations

  Concern: Education and water programmes in Nampula province

  Co-operation for development: support small farmers co-operatives

  Vet Aid: Paravet training Inhassunge District

  Christian Aid: Rehabilitation of educational medical and agricultural activities in Namorroi and Inhassunge districts.

  Action Aid: Rehabilitation and provision of resources for the development of the primary education and agricultural sectors in Pebane district

  In addition Mozambique has benefitted from UK assistance provided to the Southern Africa Development Community as follows:

  Railways

  Rehabilitation of the Limpopo railway and a technical assistance to develop the institutional capacity of the managing Mozambican authority

  Rehabilitation of the Nacala railway and transport corridor.

  Water Transport

  Rehabilitation and institutional development of Maputo port

  We regard all these projects as contributing to sustainable development

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the level of aid provided for Mozambique in each of the last five financial years.
  132
  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 17 February 1995]: The figures for our bilateral aid to Mozambique are as follows:

  £000

  1989–90

  19,589

  1990–91

  25,059

  1991–92

  17,086

  1992–93

  31,441

  1993–94

  29,930

  In addition, Mozambique has benefited from United Kingdom assistance provided to the Southern Africa development community as follows:

  £000

  1989–90

  2,935

  1990–91

  5,903

  1991–92

  6,900

  1992–93

  3,340

  1993–94

  1,398

  Children (Commercial Exploitation)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures his Department undertakes to combat the commercial exploitation of children overseas.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: We seek to promote growth and to reduce poverty through our aid programmes in order to eliminate the pressures which result in the commercial exploitation of children. The ODA is attempting to assist developing country Governments to recognise and address the needs and problems of economically active children by providing them with improved health, education and employment opportunities.

  Rwanda
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what new proposals he has to increase efforts to alleviate the suffering in Rwanda.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: We continue to work with the international community and the Rwandan Government to rehabilitate Rwanda, to encourage the safe return of the refugees and to promote reconciliation between the parties. The significant donor response at the January round table of nearly $583 million underlines the serious efforts being made to improve conditions inside Rwanda and in the region.

  OECD Development Centre
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries in the OECD do not now financially support the OECD development centre in Paris.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: At present, Australia, New Zealand and Turkey do not financially support the OECD development centre.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what have been the
  133
  membership costs of the OECD development centre for the United Kingdom over the past five years.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: The United Kingdom has contributed about 6 per cent. of the total costs of the budget of the OECD development centre. Over the past five years this has been:
  134

  £

  1990–91

  231,125

  1991–92

  268,000

  1992–93

  368,000

  1993–94

  388,000

  1994–95

  406,000

  135
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the role of the OECD development centre in Paris, and what is its relationship with they United kingdom Government.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: The OECD development centre is an autonomous research institute under OECD auspices. Its main activities are research, contacts with research and training institutions around the world and the organisation of informal meetings to discuss economic issues.

  The United Kingdom Government contribute to the budget of the centre and are represented on its advisory hoard. We have announced our intention to withdraw from membership at the end of 1995.

ENVIRONMENT

  MFI Warehouse, Great Stukely
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to make a decision in respect of the planning application by the MFI chain to build a warehouse at Great Stukely, Huntingdonshire, on a site of specific scientific interest; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  There is no planning application currently before my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for a MFI warehouse at Great Stukely, Huntingdonshire.

  Sellafield
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library the interim arrangements for the handling of wastes prior to the introduction of the super-compaction facility at Sellafield, referred to in Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution's response to the Greenpeace complaint regarding a perceived breach of the Drigg authorisation.

  Mr. Atkins
  The information requested by the hon. Member is an operational matter for BNF plc.

  However, the interim arrangements referred to are briefly mentioned in BNF plc's application for a variation to the authorisation for the transfer of solid low-level waste from Sellafield to the Drigg disposal site. I will be placing a copy of this document in the Library of the House.

  North Yorkshire and Humberside
  Mr. Morely
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how long he will allow for consultation on his announcement of 20 January regarding the future of strategic planning in North Yorkshire and Humberside.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The announcement on 20 January, by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, about strategic planning for North Yorkshire and Humberside took account of representations already received from local authorities and other bodies following the announcement of his decision on 25 October about the future local government structure for the area. The draft North Yorkshire (District of York) (Structural Change) Order and the draft Humberside 136
  (Structural Change) Order, both published and circulated to local authorities on 8 February, included provisions that reflected modifications made in light of representations received. Final comments on the orders were invited by 14 February.

  Waste Incinerators
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new measures he is taking to ensure that Britain's waste incinerators comply with European Union regulations.

  Mr. Atkins
  EC legislation concerning polluting emissions from waste incinerators is implemented by means of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and directions made under it. The 1990 Act gives the enforcing authorities strong enforcement powers and provides for transparency of compliance by requiring a range of information to be placed on the public register.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 18 January,Official Report, column 508, when he expects to publish the results of the survey of polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo-para-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurens in soil in the vicinity of incinerators which is referred to in the November 1989 report of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: I expect the report to be published in the spring.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many incinerators have been closed because of dioxin emissions in each of the last five years, giving in each case the site of the plant and the level of dioxins being emitted.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Department does not have information about which if any incinerator closures in the last five years were the result of dioxin emissions. Many incinerators have ceased operating since the Environmental Protection Act 1990 came into force because they were unable to meet the relevant BATNEEC—best available techniques not entailing excessive costs—standards.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the incinerators which have been investigated by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution because of concerns over dioxin emissions giving in each case the site of the plant, the date and nature of the investigation and the outcome;

  (2) if he will list in nanograms per cubic metre the level of dioxins being emitted from each waste incinerator in England and Wales;

  (3) what action HMIP (a) has taken and (b) proposes to take to reduce levels of dioxin emissions.

  Mr. Atkins
  HMIP has issued authorisations under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, that require operators of incinerators to report, among other things, the release of dioxins to atmosphere. These are recorded on the public register. HMIP also routinely inspects the operation of incinerators against the terms of each authorisation and, from time to time, carries out its own measurements of the dioxin releases. HMIP carries out detailed investigations if it has reasons to believe there
  137
  has been a serious breach of the conditions of the authorisation. Thus, for example, HMIP has carried out an investigation of the operation of the incinerator owned by Coalite Ltd. and has subsequently instituted proceedings.

  Through the authorisations it has issued, HMIP is requiring operators to improve operating conditions and the controls of particulates to reduce the release of dioxins. In addition, it is requiring by the 1 December

  Dioxin emissions from incinerators (HMIP) = Results by HMIP—all others by the operator

  HMIP region

  Location

  Type*

  Each result ng/m3

  Date of test

  ANG

  Nottingham

  MSW

  5,20,71,23

  January 1993 (HMIP)

  26

  December 1993

  94.1,50

  November 1994

  ANG

  Edmonton

  MSW

  5.1,8.6

  January 1993 (HMIP)

  7.1, 14

  March 1993 (HMIP)

  11.2,6,9.9,16.3

  January and March 1993

  January 1993

  MID

  Derby

  MSW

  12

  1992

  MID

  Malvern

  MSW

  46.4,50,73.6

  1994 (now closed)

  MID

  Stoke on Trent

  MSW (Two units)

  No. 1=64, 118

  1993/94

  No. 2=208,306

  MID

  Tyseley-1

  MSW

  19,85

  April 1994 (HMIP)

  Tyseley-2

  18,87

  1993–94

  MID

  Wolverhampton

  MSW

  8,10,21,17

  1993–94

  MID

  Coventry

  MSW

  25,18.6

  1993–94

  MID

  Dudley

  MSW

  Closed

  MID

  Killamarsh

  Chemical

  0.84

  November 1991

  1.05

  August 1993

  0.3

  September 1993 (HMIP)

  0.53

  September 1993 (HMIP)

  0.37

  March 1994

  NE

  Stockton on Tees

  MSW

  6.1,2.3

  1994

  NE

  North Shields

  MSW

  Closed

  NE

  Sheffield

  MSW

  4.1, 9.9

  March 1994

  NE

  Huddersfield

  MSW

  178, 182, 187,

  May and

  43,39,73

  September 1994

  NE

  Meltham

  MSW

  Now closed

  NW

  Rochdale

  MSW

  6.8

  1993

  NW

  Bolton

  MSW

  5.8

  1993

  NW

  Ellesmere Port

  Chemical

  0.19,0.17,0.1,

  August 1993 (HMIP)

  0.12,0.05,0.28

  August 1993 (HMIP)

  0.02

  August 1993 (HMIP)

  0.023

  April-June 1994

  0.014

  July-September 1994

  October-December 1994

  SW

  Exeter

  MSW

  0.3

  1994

  sw

  Avonmouth

  MSW

  13.6

  1994

  South

  Havent

  MSW

  5.5, 13, 18, 36,

  1991

  2.6

  1993

  April 1994

  138
  1996 that no incinerator shall operate unless the concentration of dioxin in its gaseous releases does not exceed 1 nanogram per cubic metre. This constitutes HMIP's view of what ought to be achievable using the best available techniques not entailing excessive costs, as required by the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  The table shows all the available measurements of dioxin concentrations in the releases from all municipal and chemical waste incinerators regulated by HMIP.
  139

  Dioxin emissions from incinerators (HMIP) = Results by HMIP—all others by the operator

  HMIP region

  Location

  Type*

  Each result ng/m3

  Date of test

  South

  Basingstoke

  MSW

  51,29,

  1992

  99.

  May 1993

  1.23

  April 1994

  0.3, 0.2

  August 1994

  South

  Winchester

  MSW

  210, 103, 58.

  1992

  3

  May 1993

  April 1994

  South

  Marchwood

  MSW

  7.6, 4.5, 3.8,

  1991

  4

  1.2,

  May 1993

  1.7

  April 1994

  October 1994

  South

  SELCHP

  MSW

  Unit 1=0.4

  March 1994

  (Two units)

  Unit 2=0.12

  March 1994

  Unit1=0.04

  December 1994

  Unit 2=0.03

  December 1994

  South

  MAFF Addlestone

  Clinical

  43, 32.6

  October 1993

  South

  Fareham

  Sludge

  0.12

  October 1993

  0.24

  August 1994

  South

  Fawley

  Chemical

  0.2

  June 1993

  0.19

  July 1993

  0.15

  September1993

  0.08

  October 1993

  4.6

  November 1993

  0.64, 0.64

  January 1994

  0.71,0.68, 0.67

  February 1994

  0.44

  February 1994

  0.65,0.41

  March 1994

  0.7, 0.8

  May 1994

  0.4, 0.57

  June 1994

  0.8

  February 1994 (HMIP)

  0.02

  March 1994 (HMIP)

  South

  Grundon

  Clinical

  8.87

  January 1994

  South

  Southwick Park

  Clinical (Two units)

  Unit 1=2.63

  January 1994

  Unit 2=3.8

  January 1994

  NE

  Sheffield

  Clinical

  2.4

  June 1994

  NE

  York Water

  Sludge

  0.02

  November 1994

  Wales

  Pontypool

  Chemical

  1,0.77

  July 1992

  0.35

  January 1994

  0.5

  March 1994

  0.61

  April 1994

  0.78

  May 1994

  0.39

  June 1994

  0.41

  July 1994

  0.6

  August 1994

  0.47

  September 1994

  0.41

  October 1994

  *MSW = Municipal Waste Incinerator.

  1 ng/m3 = One billionth of a gram.

  Businesses (Crime Prevention)
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what representations he has received from the Small Business Federation on the disregarding of crime prevention measures in the new rate revaluation; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make it his policy to amend regulations to take additional costs for protection of business premises
  140
  against crime out of the formula used for assessing new rateable values; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  I have received a number of representations from the Small Business Federation on the rating of certain security equipment. The Government agree with the recommendation of the Wood committee on the rating of plant and machinery that equipment installed to protect property from vandalism enhances the
  141
  value of that property and thus should attract rates. We have no plans to amend the regulations.

  Uniform Business Rate
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much uniform business rate has been

  £000

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Receipts of non-domestic rates net of refunds

  65,046

  79,114

  88,093

  58,961

  150,548

  Share of distributable amount

  95,702

  117,961

  117,736

  100,968

  93,650

  1 Receipts of non-domestic rates collected from April 1994 to December 1994 only.

  The figures for Liverpool's share of the distributable amount for the years 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93—but not for subsequent years—include the amounts in respect of its preceptors, Merseyside police and Merseyside fire and civil defence authorities.

  The distributable amount includes rates paid by occupiers of property on the Crown and central rating lists, whereas the receipt figures are based only on amounts received from ratepayers on the local list. The figures are therefore not comparable.

  Enterprise Zones
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the cost to the Exchequer of enterprise zones in the north-east region of England since 1979; and what has been the cost of each enterprise zone.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The table shows the costs to the Exchequer of rates revenue forgone and infrastructure costs attributable to the enterprise zone scheme since 1979–1994–95 prices.

  Rates forgone £ million

  Infrastructure EZ costs £ million

  Tyneside

  110,8

  16.4

  Hartlepool

  9.7

  1.0

  Middlesbrough

  10.2

  1.6

  Sunderland

  1.6

  7.2

  Total

  132.3

  26.2

  The costs to the Exchequer of the accelerated capital allowances available on enterprise zones are estimated by an indirect method and are not reliable below national level. The estimated cost of these allowances for all enterprise zones in Great Britain up to October 1993 is £655 million.

  River Humber
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he has now identified a single less-sensitive area high natural dispersion area for the River Humber for the purposes of the directive—91/271/EEC—on urban waste water treatment;

  (2) if he has classified the waters to the east of the Humber bridge as coastal waters for the purposes of articles 6.2 and 8.5 of the directive—91/271/EEC—on urban waste water treatment;

  (3) what plans he has to use the special procedure in article 8.5 of the directive—91/271/EEC—on urban waste
  142
  collected in Liverpool for each of the last five years; and how much the city has received back from this tax.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The receipts of business rates and the share for Liverpool of the amount distributable from the non-domestic rates pool are as follows:

  water treatment in respect of waste water discharges at any of the remaining locations referred to in his Department's announcement on 18 May 1994; if he will specify the locations where this will apply; and what assessment he has made of the extent to which the waste water discharges at all such locations fall within the maximum permitted population equivalent levels for the purposes of article 6.2 of the directive;

  (4) what assessment he has made of the extent to which the area identified as a less sensitive area for high natural dispersion area for the River Humber meets the criteria set out in annexe IIB of the directive—91/271/EEC;

  (5) if he will make it his policy that in the event that the comprehensive studies currently being carried out in relation to waste water discharges from Hull into the River Humber demonstrate that advanced treatment will not produce any environmental benefit, question as to whether such advanced treatment should be provided as an exceptional circumstance will be referred to the European Commission under the special procedure in article 8.5 of the directive—91/271/EEC—on urban waste water treatment.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: As I announced on 18 May last year, the Humber has been identified as a combined high natural dispersion area. The extent of the HNDA is as shown on the map in the Library of the House. The identification was made in the light of advice by the National Rivers Authority that the area qualifies as an HNDA in the context of the urban waste water treatment directive including in particular annexe IIB of the directive. The seaward boundary of the estuary has been drawn at the Humber bridge in accordance with the requirements of article 2, for the purposes of the whole of the urban waste water treatment directive.

  The procedures set out in article 8.5 of the directive will be applied in respect of any discharge into an identified HNDA from an area with a population equivalent greater than 150,000, where a comprehensive study as required by article 6.2 indicates that the less stringent treatment provided for in that article will not adversely affect the environment. Comprehensive studies will have to be carried out before the relevant deadlines in the directive.

  If the comprehensive study being undertaken in relation to the discharge into the Humber at Hull indicate that more advanced treatment will not produce any environmental benefit, the Government will seek an article 8.5 derogation. If successful, this will ensure that the environment is protected while being of significant

  143
  benefit to water charge payers and to local trade effluent discharges.

  Micropollutants
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment pursuant to his answer of 18 January,Official Report, column 508, (1) when the further study of micropollutants including dioxins and furans in five towns and cities was completed;

  (2) when he intends to publish the further study of micropollutants, including dioxins and furans, in five towns and cities, and if he will name the towns and cities involved.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: The Department of the Environment set up its toxic micropollutants survey in 1991. When the study began, sites were located in London, Manchester, Cardiff and Stevenage. In 1992, the site at Stevenage was moved to Middlesborough and a new site was established at Hazelrigg in Lancashire. Since 1994, monitoring has continued at four sites in London, Manchester, Middlesborough and Hazelrigg.

  Details of the study are given in laboratory reports, a copy of which have been placed in the Library of the House. Further copies of these can be obtained from the national environmental technology centre, Culham, Oxfordshire. Future reports from the study will he available from the Department's contractors.

  In addition, a summary of the data from the study has been published in the Department of the Environment's "Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistic", which is also available in the Library.

  Marine Aggregates
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the tonnages of marine aggregates he expects to be extracted from the North sea for road and house building until 2000; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: We have made no estimate of tonnages to be extracted. However, minerals planning guidance note 6, issued by the Department in April last year, contains the Government's guidance on aggregates provision in England up to 2006. It advises minerals planning authorities to assume that a total of 315 million tonnes of marine dredged aggregates will be contributed to construction industry needs, mainly in cement manufacture, over the period.

  The extraction of marine aggregates is licensed by the Crown Estate and I understand that there are 57 current licences for dredging in the North sea, including the Thames estuary, permitting the extraction of up to 23.7 million tonnes per annum. The amount actually dredged depends of course on the market.

  Waste Mercury
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what notification is required to be given 144
  to local authorities of the arrival of a consignment of waste mercury for treatment and disposal; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what notification is required to be given to local authorities prior to the arrival of a consignment of waste mercury for treatment; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what are the current licensing requirements for transportation of waste mercury in the United kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: Mercury-bearing waste, depending on its concentration and chemical form, is normally a special waste and subject to the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980, which apply to movements taking place wholly within the United kingdom. These require waste producers, before the waste is removed, to prenotify the waste regulation authority for the area in which the waste is to be disposed, using a consignment note. A copy is sent to the producer's waste regulation authority, if different, as soon as the waste is removed by the carrier. When the waste is received by the disposer, a copy is sent to the waste regulation authority in whose area the waste was produced. No licence is required for transporting waste but carriers, unless exempt, must be registered by a waste regulation authority.

  Transfrontier shipments of waste for treatment and disposal must be notified in accordance with the provisions of the EC Waste Shipments Regulation—259/93—and the UK's Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations 1994. Advance notification of an intended shipment must be made to the relevant authorities, using a consignment note. Within a prescribed period, the authorities must give their agreement or raise objections to the shipment. Shipments may take place only in the absence of objections and with the prior consent of the authorities concerned. Where consent has been given to a shipment, the person exporting the waste—the "notifier"—must send a copy of the completed consignment note to the authorities concerned three days before the actual date of shipment. The consignee must send confirmation of receipt of the waste within three days of its arrival, again using the consignment note.

  Transport, packaging and labelling, and health and safety legislation also apply in all cases.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment what tonnage of waste mercury has been imported into the United Kingdom for treatment and disposal since 1979; what proportion has been treated and disposed of in Thurrock; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: The collation of statistics on transfrontier shipment of waste into and out of the United Kingdom began with the implementation of the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations 1988. Statistics on transfrontier shipments before 1989 are not therefore available.

  Imports of waste mercury into the UK for treatment and disposal between 1991 and 1994 are as follows:
  145

  Tonnes

  Year

  1991–92

  >0.5

  1992–93

  0.0

  1993–94

  20.4

  1 Figures may be subject to slight revision, as a result of validation exercises carried out by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution.

  Data showing imports of mercury wastes between 1989 and 1991, and relating specifically to sites in Thurrock, are not readily available. I shall write to the hon. Member shortly with further information.

  Water Companies
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider expanding the powers of the regulator to ensure the salary, share options and remuneration package of all chairmen and directors of privatised water companies are revealed at the time of their appointment.

  Mr. Atkins
  Remuneration of water company board members is a matter for each company and its shareholders, not for the Government or the regulator. Companies already publish information on directors' emoluments and share interests in their annual reports and accounts.

  Housing
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the relationship between capital and renovation grant programmes in relation to(a) local authority housing and (b) community care.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Local housing authorities are expected to formulate strategies and capital programmes to meet the housing needs of their areas, including those arising from community care, in conjunction with other interested parties locally. These plans cover expenditure on the authorities' own housing stock and on renovation grants to the private sector. The Government provide support for capital programmes through credit approvals and grants, including specified capital grants towards renovation grant costs. Authorities also finance expenditure from their own resources.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment what steps he is taking to ensure that training in housing management includes specific provision relating to(a) housing needs and (b) community care.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The Department encourages local housing authorities to formulate comprehensive training strategies capable of developing the skill necessary to deliver an effective housing service. We would expect training provision to address issues such as housing needs and community care.

  Bristol Channel
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects work to begin on a comprehensive study of all mineral deposits in the Bristol channel; and what specific instructions will he given to those carrying out the study.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  A research project designed to examine the aggregates resources of the Bristol channel 146
  is in the Department's geological and minerals research programme. It is expected that work will start in 1995–96. The specific aims of the project will be to make a comprehensive appraisal of the existing data to provide a clear indication of the physical processes, marine ecology and marine aggregate resources of the Bristol channel. This will provide essential information for the development of coastal protection policy and the determination of applications for marine aggregates extraction in the area.

  Packaging Standards Council
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what consideration his Department is giving to funding the Packaging Standards Council; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what (a) financial and (b) other support his Department has provided to the Packaging Standards Council in each of the last two years; and what support his Department intends to give in the future.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Packaging Standards Council is an advisory body set up by industry to promote good practice and seek continuous improvement in all aspects of the packaging offered to consumers. The Government welcome the valuable work done in this area by the council. In May 1994, the council approached the Government for support towards its operating costs. We took the view that a body of this type should be independent of the Government and that, in addressing consumer's concerns, its support is properly a matter for businesses in the packaging chain.

  Youth Service
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total public spending on the youth service by each local education authority in(a) cash terms and (b) as a proportion of the total local authority budget for each year since 1979; and what figures are projected for (a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been spent in each year from 1979–80 to 1994–95; and what the planned spending is in 1995–96, in(a) Greater London (b) the metropolitan district areas and c) elsewhere, under (i) the revenue support grant (ii) the proceeds of the national non-domestic rate (iii) special grants and (iv) specific grants.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Mark Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what conclusions have been reached by review of radioactive waste management policy about the siting of drystores for spent nuclear fuel.

  Mr. Gummer
  Consideration has now been given to the responses to the preliminary conclusions of the review, published in August, in relation to the siting of drystores for spent nuclear fuel. An appraisal of the implications of a multi-store strategy compared with the potential benefits of a single-store strategy has also been
  147
  carried out with particular regard to the question of safety. That appraisal does not point to conclusive benefits deriving from a central store or stores compared with one or more stores sited beside nuclear generating stations. The Government have therefore confirmed their preliminary conclusion that decisions on the siting of drystores for spent nuclear fuel should be a matter for the commercial judgment of the operators, subject to the necessary planning and regulatory requirements being satisfied.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  England-Ireland Football Match
  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what communications he had with the Irish Government prior to the Ireland-English football match regarding(a) the provision of tickets and (b) the arrangements in respect of English supporters;

  (2) which Minister in his Department was responsible for liaising with the Home Office on security matters affecting the Ireland-England international football match.

  (3) what discussions took place prior to the Ireland-England football match with the Football Association in relation to the attendance of English supporters.

  Mr. Sproat
  None. These are not matters for this Department.

  National Lottery
  Mrs Ann Winterton
  To asks the Secretary of State for National Heritage on how many occasions a presenter of "National Lottery Live" has appeared on a children's television programme; what assessment he has made as to the consistency of such appearances with the provisions of the code of practice for national lottery advertising; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 15 February 1995]: The appearance by celebrities on children's programmes on the BBC is a matter for the BBC, and does not fall within the provisions of the national lottery advertising code of practice.

  Television Licensing
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received on television licensing's monthly budget plan in respect of the requirement to pay six months in advance before the licence is valid.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 17 February 1995]: Any such representations would be transferred to the BBC, which is responsible for the administration of the television licensing system, including easy payment schemes, and deals with correspondence on this subject. It is not possible to identify from the Department's records the number of representations transferred to the BBC, which related to the monthly budget plan.

  BBC (Transmission)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the status of the reports conducted by Hill Samuel, Nera and Smith Systems Engineering; what 148
  conclusions they reached on the privatisation of the BBC's transmission service; and if he will place them in the Library.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The consultants have provided me with an initial appraisal of the options for the future of the BBC's transmission service. The matters considered are commercially sensitive, and I do not intend to publish their report.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what steps he has taken to ensure that the British broadcasting industry benefits from the increasing channels for distributing programming, from digital transmission to the information super-highway, in European and international markets.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The White Paper on the Future of the BBC made it clear that the development of an international multi-media market would provide unprecedented commercial opportunities for United Kingdom broadcasters and programme makers over the next few years. The White Paper set out the part that the BBC should play in expanding international markets.

  Our current review of media ownership regulation is considering, among other things, how far current controls are consistent with promoting internationally competitive UK media industries. My predecessor announced on 14 July 1994, Official Report, columns 706–7, the basis on which we intend that frequencies will be made available for new digital television services, and we hope to set out later this year the framework we propose for the operation of such services.

  Discovery Channel
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many educational institutions in the United Kingdom have access to the Discovery Channel carried by cable television operators.

  Mr. Dorrell
  This information is not available centrally. The Government welcome diversity of provision of educational broadcasting to schools and other educational institutions.

  Educational Channel
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to reserve any of the new channels facilitated by digital television transmission, as a dedicated educational channel.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Government hope to set out later this year the framework that they propose for the operation of new digital television services.

  Millenium Commission
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 13 February,Official Report, column 477, (1) what proposals he has for measuring the degree of public support for the proposed (a) Zaha Hadid design for the Cardiff Bay opera house and (b) the competing designs of (i) Sir Norman Foster, (ii) Professor Manfredi Nicoletti and (iii) Ms Itsuko Hasegawa; what assessment he has made of the probability factors pertaining to the raising of the private capital required to fund the residual share of the project

  149
  cost for each of the above four designs; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if it is a condition of an application for funding from the Millennium Commission that it should contain firm undertakings in relation to the availability of the private funding of the residual share of the cost of the project.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 16 February 1995]: These are matters for the Millennium Commission. I shall reply to the hon. Member in my capacity as chairman of the commission and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what inquiries he has received in relation to his work as chairman of the Millennium Commission concerning the construction(a) of a new home for the national stadium of the Welsh Rugby Union at Bridgend and (b) extending the existing national stadium at Cardiff Arms park; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what form of representations seeking expressions of support have been received by the Millennium Commission from the Cardiff Bay opera trust; and what response the commission has made.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 17 February 1995]: These are matters for the Millennium Commission. I shall reply to the hon. Member in my capacity as chairman of the commission and place a copy of my letter in the library of the House.

PRIME MINISTER

  Minister Without Portfolio
  Sir Harold Walker
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the responsibilities of the Minister Without Portfolio; and what salary is paid to him for these responsibilities.

  The Prime Minister
  The Minister Without Portfolio works with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to help co-ordinate and formulate Government policy and its delivery. He is a member of the ministerial committees: economic and domestic policy; industrial, commercial and consumer affairs, home and social affairs, local government; regeneration; the Queen's Speeches and future legislation; and the ministerial sub-committees on European questions; and on London—EDL(L).

  The Minister Without Portfolio does not receive a ministerial salary.

  Security Vetting
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 15 December to the hon. Member for Reading, West (Sir A. Durant),Official Report, columns 764–66, what factors led to the exclusion of the involvement in, or association with, activities of export control guidelines, UN sanctions or the missile technology control regime from the revised vetting procedures.

  The Prime Minister
  Officials involved in these areas of work are not excluded from the revised vetting regime.
  150

  Community Care Housing
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Prime Minister which Government Department has responsibility for community care housing.

  The Prime Minister
  The Department of the Environment has responsibility for housing issues in England, including housing for people with community care needs. The DOE works closely with the Department of Health, which is the lead Department on community care. In Wales and in Scotland, responsibility for community care and for housing rests respectively with the Welsh Office and the Scottish Office.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 21 February.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning, I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  World Summit Conference for Children
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the progress made towards satisfying the goals of the 1990 world summit conference for children.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are responding positively to the summit's goals. The United Kingdom published in July 1992 Command Paper number 1984 entitled, "Report on the United Kingdom Implementation of the Goals agreed by the World Summit for Children". A copy was placed in the House.

  The report noted a parallel initiative in the UN convention on the rights of the child, to which the UK Government have agreed to be bound. A report on the application of the convention to the UK was published in February 1994. A copy was placed in the Library of the House.

  The summit's goals are also priority goals for the British aid programme which contributes in a variety of ways through our poverty alleviation and human development programmes.

  El Salvador
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he will take,(a) bilaterally and (b) through the EU to ensure the implementation of (i) the land transfer programme and (ii) outstanding judicial reforms in El Salvador prior to the ending of the ONUSAL mandate in April.

  Mr. Baldry
  We have been consistent supporters on ONUSAL's mandate at the United Nations and have contributed substantially to its work of monitoring the implementation of the peace accords, including the land transfer programme and judicial reform. The expected outturn of UK expenditure in the financial year 1994–95 is nearly £905,000. Through the EU, we are supporting the strengthening of the democratic institutions needed to maintain law and order in El Salvador and are contributing to the resettlement of refugees. We also
  151
  support the UN Secretary-General's proposal to send a small team of professionals to El Salvador to complete the work following the expiry of ONUSAL's mandate on 30 April.

  Georgian Christian Refugees
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government will take to press for the long-term right to settlement of the Georgian Christian refugees currently in Istanbul.

  Mr. Hogg
  The UNHCR has interviewed a group of Georgian Christians in Istanbul. We understand that they found no evidence of persecution or entitlement to refugee status.

  Nicaragua
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he will take to condemn violations of human rights in Nicaragua, identified by the Tripartite Commission; and if he will support the establishment of a human rights ombudsman in Nicaragua at the San Jose XI talks.

  Mr. Hogg
  We make clear our concern over human rights violations, wherever they occur. We welcome the idea of a human rights ombudsman in Nicaragua and will take any opportunity at the San Jose XI conference to encourage it.

  Bosnia-Croat Federation
  Mr.Mcloughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support has the United Kingdom given the Bosnia-Croat Federation.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We support the federation generously because we consider that its success is necessary for an overall settlement in Bosnia.

  We have provided more than 3,000 troops to UNPROFOR in Bosnia. Their presence has helped underpin the ceasefire between Bosnia and Croat forces since March 1994. Their work with local committees and with local commanders through a system of joint commissions has been a major contribution to peacebuilding.

  The Royal Engineers, together with the Overseas Development Administration, constructed the important bailey bridge which now connects east and west Mostar. ODA engineers have already completed 350 reconstruction projects and provided winter shelters for 20,000 people throughout the federation. In Sarajevo, which is dependent on gas for winter heating, ODA-sponsored engineers, despite sniper fire, have laid over 14 km of gas pipes and replaced 2,000 illegal and dangerous connections. Fifty-five ODA lorries form 25 per cent. of the UNHCR humanitarian convoy fleet, and the ODA-leased aircraft carries 20 per cent. of the airlift into Sarajevo. We are providing senior officials in support of the EU administration of Mostar and also police and good government training.

  No other country has provided such a range of support at all levels for the federation.
  152

  Ferdinand Nahimana
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is being taken by the international authorities to detain in Cameroon, Ferdinand Nahimana, former director of Radio Mille Collines in Rwanda, and to charge him with genocide.

  Mr. Baldry
  The International Tribunal for Rwanda, as established by Security Council resolution 955 of 8 November 1994, is in the process of being set up. It will be for the prosecutor to decide whom to bring to trial. We expect all states to comply with their obligations under SCR 955 to surrender suspects at the tribunal's request.

TREASURY

  Privatisation Advertising Campaign
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost of the current National Power and PowerGen privatisation advertising campaign(a) in newspapers and (b) on television.

  Sir George Young
  The cost of the National Power and PowerGen share sale, including the costs of the marketing campaign will be reported to Parliament in the usual way after the end of the sale.

  Electronic Data Interchange
  Mr Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Government Departments have used the electronic data interchange for procurements.

  Sir George Young
  The following Departments have used electronic data interchange for the procurement to some extent:

  The Buying Agency

  Cabinet Office

  Crown Prosecution Service

  HM Customs and Excise

  Ministry of Defence

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  Department of Health

  Home Office

  Board of Inland Revenue

  HM Land Registry

  Office of Population Censuses and Surveys

  Department of Transport

  Resource Accounting and Budgeting
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to publish the results of the consultation on the resource accounting and budget Green Paper.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: There have been more than 40 responses to the Green Paper on resource accounting and budgeting, including the National Audit Office, a large part of the United Kingdom accounting profession and academic interest as well as individuals. So far, the Green Paper has received almost unanimous support in principle, although there is a variety of views on the particular policies it proposes. Responses are still coming in. The Government will publish details of these responses when they

  153
  announce decisions on the proposals set out in the Green Paper.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Dr. Julian Lewis
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any information from police sources about wholesalers and distributors of the magazine "Scallywag" has been made available to Dr. Julian Lewis.

  Mr. Maclean
  I have no information about this matter. Any release of information from police sources would be a matter for the chief officer of the force concerned.

  Research Expenditure
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number and grades of personnel currently employed within his Department's emergency planning division research group; what is the total expenditure for the research group for each of the years, 1988–89 to 1993–94, and the planned and projected expenditure in(a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96 and (c) 1996–97; and if he will list the projects on which the research group is currently engaged.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Following the end of the cold war, civil defence planning primarily for a major nuclear attack has been replaced by a more broadly based approach to improving the national response to a disaster of whatever cause. The current programme of the emergency planning research group reflects that change. Its focus is on defining and evaluating new arrangements for responding to a wide range of disasters. The programme includes work on the development of a national air attack warning system based on the media, a review of options for radiation monitoring, investigations of the consequences of disasters and public protection measures, and the archiving of wartime civil defence related material.

  The number and grades of personnel currently employed within EPRG are as follows:

  Grades

  Numbers

  Scientific staff

  Grade 7

  2

  Senior scientific officer

  2

  Higher scientific officer

  1

  Scientific officer

  1

  Assistant scientific officer

  1

  Student (sandwich course)

  1

  Total

  8

  Support staff

  Personal secretary

  1

  The emergency planning research group was formed in 1990 when the scientific research and development branch was divided into its constituent groups. Expenditure data from that date are as follows:
  154

  Financial year

  Actuals

  Estimated

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  423

  559

  799

  521

  433

  630

  663

  French Nationals
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nationals from each French dependent territory entered the United Kingdom from France in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The information requested is not available.

  South Yorkshire Probation Service
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many court reports were completed by the South Yorkshire probation service during 1992 and 1993.

  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many court reports were completed by the South Yorkshire probation service during(a) 1992 and (b)

  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many court reports were completed by the South Yorkshire probation service during(a) 1992, (b) 1993 and (c)

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  South Yorkshire probation service completed 8,752 pre-sentence reports, social inquiry reports, family court reports and other reports from courts in 1992 and 7,082 such reports in 1993. The information for 1994 is not yet available.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders were supervised by the South Yorkshire probation service on 30 June 1994.

  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders were supervised by the South Yorkshire probation service on 30 June 1994.

  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders were supervised by the South Yorkshire probation service on 30 June 1994.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The latest available information is for December 1993, when the number of offenders supervised by South Yorkshire probation service was 5,743.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were employed and at what grade by the South Yorkshire probation service, on 30 June 1992, 30 June 1993 and 30 June 1994.

  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were employed and at what grade, by the South Yorkshire probation service on(a) 30 June 1992 (b) 30 June 1993 and (c) 30 June 1994.

  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were employed, and at what grade, by the South Yorkshire probation service on(a) 30 June 1992, (b) 30 June 1993 and (c) 30 June 1994.
  155
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Information is given in the table.

  Staff employed by the South Yorkshire probation service, in post at 30 June, whole-time equivalent1, by grade and type.

  Number of staff, whole time equivalent

  Probation Officers

  30 June 1992

  30 June 1993

  30 June 1994

  Probation Officers

  Chief

  1

  1

  1

  Deputy Chief

  2

  2

  2

  Assistant Chief

  6

  7

  7

  Senior

  37

  40

  42

  Main grade

  176

  178

  180

  Total probation officers

  222

  228

  232

  Non-probation grade staff

  Probation Services' Officers2

  81

  78

  78

  Clerical/secretarial

  109

  120

  114

  Administrative

  34

  37

  40

  Other non-probation grade staff, excluding hostel staff3

  42

  40

  31

  Hostel staff

  64

  62

  46

  Total non-probation grade staff

  330

  336

  308

  Total probation staff

  553

  565

  541

  1 Whole-time staff plus whole-time equivalent of part time staff. Figures rounded to the nearest whole number. Components and totals are rounded independently and so components may not add precisely to totals.

  2 Formerly ancillaries

  3 Figures include sessional supervisors on community service schemes, staff employed in student training units and on miscellaneous functions.

  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the effect of the November 1993 Budget statement on the budget of South Yorkshire probation service.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The 1993 Budget statement resulted in a specific grant cash limit for 1994–95 for South Yorkshire probation service of £9.6 million, 6.1 per cent. higher than for 1993–94. It was for the South Yorkshire probation service to decide how these resources are best used and to determine what specific changes within the service should be undertaken on the basis of the total expenditure limit implied by this level of grant support. The committee's report covering the current financial year will be available from the secretary in due course.

  Mr. Quddus Ali
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 9 February,Official Report, column 37, if he will make a statement about what he has learnt from the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis about the police investigation into the assault upon Mr. Quddus Ali; what admissions to the police to taking part in the attack were discovered by that investigation; what the police did with such an admission;and if he will summarise the representations he has received and how he has responded.

  Mr. Maclean
  The commissioner has kept my right hon. and learned Friend informed of the progress of the 156
  police investigation into the assault upon Mr. Quddus Ali. I understand that 25 police officers were assigned to the investigation and that a special incident room was set up. Appeals for witnesses produced a good response. Nine people were arrested. One was brought to trial on a charge of affray and was acquitted. I understand that no admissions to having taken part in the assault were received by the police from any person during the course of the investigation.

  On 4 November 1994, my right hon. and learned Friend received a letter from the parents of Mr. Ali raising a number of issues, some concerning the handling of racial attacks in general, others specific to the case of their son. This letter was also signed by some 900 local residents. My noble Friend Baroness Blatch responded to the points which were made. A letter was also received through the Prime Minister's office from Mr. Ali, to which my noble Friend replied. A letter was received from a member of the public which was replied to at official level.

  Greater Manchester Probation Service
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the effect of the November 1993 statement on the budget of Greater Manchester probation service; and what will be the impact of the November 1994 Budget statement;

  (2) what will be the impact of the 1994 probation budget reduction on (a) hostel provision and (b) probation centre provision in the Greater Manchester probation service;

  (3) what will be the impact of the 1994 probation budget reduction on the implementation of national standards for the supervision of offenders in the Greater Manchester probation service;

  (4) what will be the impact of the 1994 probation budget reduction on staff terms and conditions of service, liaison with victim support and work with victims in the Greater Manchester probation service;

  (5) what will be the impact of the 1994 probation budget reduction on staffing levels within each grade of staff, and the likelihood of redundancies within each grade of staff in the Greater Manchester probation service.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The 1993 Budget statement resulted in a specific grant cash limit for 1994–95 for the Greater Manchester probation service of £18.9 million, 6.3 per cent. higher than for 1993–94. The 1994 Budget statement resulted in a specific grant cash limit for 1995–96 of £18.8 million, plus a further £0.9 million to support probation service partnerships with the independent sector previously funded separately by the Home Office.

  It is for Greater Manchester probation service to decide how these resources are best used and to determine what specific changes within the service, including staffing levels, should be undertaken within the total expenditure limit implied by this level of grant support and within the terms and conditions of service of probation officers as determined by my right hon. and learned Friend.

  Grant support should be sufficient to enable the Greater Manchester service to carry out its responsibilities in relation to the enforcement of national standards and working with victims.

  Approved hostels are separately funded by the Home Office; and no changes in hostel provision in the Greater Manchester area are planned as a result of the last Budget.
  157
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were employed and at what grade by the Greater Manchester probation service on 30 June 1992, 30 June 1993 and 30 June 1994.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were employed, and at what grade, by the Greater Manchester probation service on(a) 30 June 1992, (b) 30 June 1993 and (c) 30 June 1994.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Information is given in the table.

  Staff employed by the Greater Manchester probation service, in post at 30 June, whole-time equivalent1, by grade and type

  Number of staff, whole time equivalent

  30 June 1992

  30 June 1993

  30 June 1994

  Probation Officers

  Chief

  1

  1

  1

  Deputy Chief

  3

  3

  3

  Assistant Chief

  12

  12

  12

  Senior

  66

  76

  73

  Main grade

  360

  380

  396

  Total probation officers

  442

  472

  486

  Non-probation grade staff

  Probation Services' Officers2

  136

  136

  148

  Clerical/secretarial

  218

  227

  228

  Administrative

  47

  54

  56

  Other non-probation grade staff, excluding hostel staff3

  40

  44

  32

  Hostel staff

  61

  77

  85

  Total non-probation grade staff

  502

  537

  548

  Total probation staff

  944

  1,008

  1,024

  1 Whole-time staff plus whole-time equivalent of part time staff. Figures rounded to the nearest whole number. Components and totals are rounded independently and so components may not add precisely to totals.

  2 Formerly ancillaries.

  3Figures include sessional supervisors on community service schemes, staff employed in student training units and on miscellaneous functions.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders were supervised by the Greater Manchester probation service on 30 June 1994.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders were supervised by the Greater Manchester probation service on 30 June 1994.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The latest available information is for December 1993, when the number of offenders supervised by the Greater Manchester probation service was 11,452.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many court reports were completed by the Greater Manchester probation service during 1992 and 1993.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many court reports were completed by the Greater Manchester probation service during(a) 1992 and (b)

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Greater Manchester probation service completed 18,375 pre-sentence reports, social 158
  inquiry reports, family court reports and other reports for courts in 1992 and 18,201 such reports in 1993.

  Police Operation, Shoreham
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of the police operation to escort lorries of livestock to the dock area of Shoreham on the morning of 15 February.

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand that the estimated cost was £36,000. Fifty-one per cent. of this expenditure will be met by Home Office grant.

  Electronic Monitoring Equipment
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been undertaken in respect of the unlawful use of electronic monitoring equipment(a) within organisations or (b) against individuals in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Maclean
  Court proceedings data held centrally by my Department do not identify this type of information.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the operation and enforcement of current legislation in relation to the unlawful use of electronic monitoring equipment;

  (2) what are the legislative protections currently in place for employees in the workplace who may be subject to electronic surveillance without their prior authorisation or consent;

  (3) what proposals he has for changes in legislation relating to the utilisation of electronic monitoring equipment in the workplace against employees of the organisation.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  A number of provisions may be relevant to the use of electronic monitoring equipment. These include the Interception of Telecommunications Act 1985, the Data Protection Act 1984 and the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949. The Government are considering what, if any, changes may be needed to the law as it relates to privacy in the light of the report on privacy and media intrusion by the National Heritage Select Committee and of the report of Sir David Calcutt's review of press self-regulation.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals there are within the European Community to combat the unlawful use of electronic monitoring equipment within organisations or against individuals; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  I am aware of no specific proposals for the regulation of electronic monitoring equipment.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps he is taking to proscribe the services of those companies who operate private surveillance facilities which may be made available to other organisations and individuals without reference to the subjects involved;

  (2) what complaints he has received about the operation and practices of any company providing electronic surveillance services to commercial organisations; what steps he is taking to ensure that these practices are wholly lawful; and if he will make a statement.
  159
  Mr. Maclean
  We have received a number of complaints about advertising material produced by organisations offering information-gathering services, which may include electronic surveillance. A recent amendment to the Data Protection Act 1984 makes it an offence for a person to procure the disclosure of personal data in breach of the 1984 Act, and to offer for sale the data so procured. We are looking again at policies on the whole of the private security industry, and we await with interest the outcome of the Home Affairs Select Committee's inquiry into the industry.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if an investigation has been ordered into the circumstances surrounding recent allegations of the electronic bugging of office premises occupied by Mr. Michael Moore in his former employment as advertising director of Express Newspapers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  My right hon. and learned Friend has ordered no such investigation.

  Ticket Allocations
  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he has taken to ensure that those people listed as potential trouble makers by the football intelligence unit do not receive tickets for the 1996 European championship.

  Mr. Maclean
  Arrangements concerning the ticket allocation for the 1996 European championships are for the Football Association to consider. If requested, the football unit of the national criminal intelligence service would be prepared to offer advice to the FA on applications for the purchase of tickets by English fans. It is a matter for the football associations of other countries which qualify for the tournament to consider their own arrangements, I understand that the Football Association has every reason to believe that they will do so responsibly.

  Exclusion Orders
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many exclusion orders from football grounds have been made under part IV of the Public Order Act 1986; and what has been the duration of such orders.

  Mr. Maclean
  There are 449 exclusion orders extant under part IV of the 1986 Act. I understand from the Football Association that there have been 5,939 orders, including those that are extant, since the Act came into force. Information concerning the duration of such orders could he gathered only at disproportionate cost. The duration of such orders is at the discretion of the courts, but the Act provides that this cannot be for less than a period of three months.

EMPLOYMENT

  Modern Apprenticeship Schemes
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the contract signed by the apprentice and the employer on modern apprenticeship schemes is legally binding.
  160
  Mr. Paice
  Modern apprenticeships call for a training agreement recording commitment of all parties to pursue the training to a successful outcome. There is, however, no prescription by the Department as to the form or content of an agreement. This is left to the parties with the support of the industry training organisations and training and enterprise councils. For this reason, I cannot answer for the legal status of training agreements as a class of document. I can say that the possibility that an agreement will be legally binding is not precluded.

  Training, Northern Region
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much will be spent on training and retaining in the northern region in the current year by training and enterprise council; and how much was spent on training and re-training overall in 1978 at current prices.

  Mr. Paice
  The total sums available for training in northern region in 1994–95 for each of the training and enterprise councils are shown in the following table:

  TEC

  £ million

  Tyneside

  41

  County Durham

  27.2

  Sunderland City

  18

  Teesside

  30

  Northumberland

  13.8

  Total

  130

  Information which identifies spend on training in 1978 is not available at regional level.

  Estimated Outturns
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the estimated outturn for(a) business enterprise training, (b) skills choice and (c) open learning credits for 1994–95.

  Mr. Paice
  The business start up scheme, which includes an element of business enterprise training, is now part of the single regeneration budget. The estimated outturn in 1994–95 for BSUS is £70.1 million. Estimated outturn for skill choice in 1994–95 is £11.1 million. Open learning credits was a pilot scheme in 1993–94; there is no provision for it in 1994–95.

  Restart Interviews
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to ensure that the introduction of positive outcome targets for staff conducting restart interviews will not result in individual claimants being forced off programmes or benefits.

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

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Jim Cunningham, dated 21 February 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about whether the introduction of positive outcome targets for my

  161
  people conducting advisory interviews will result in clients being forced off programmes or benefits.
  It may help if I explain that one of the main tasks of our local Jobcentres is to advise unemployed people in the best possible way and help them to find a job, or appropriate training, as soon as possible. This is done by having regular interviews, where the client is able to discuss their situation with an adviser, consider the options available and agree a course of action which, if taken, will offer the best prospects of finding a job.
  As part of our objective to offer unemployed people, particularly the longer term unemployed and others at a disadvantage in the labour market, we offer help and advice in finding work or appropriate training. Since April 1994 we have had targets for positive outcomes from advisory interviews. We aim for a positive outcome of 50‥ of those clients invited to a 12 month advisory interview and 35‥ of those invited to a 24 month interview. These targets reaffirm our commitment to interviews which are effective in meeting the needs of each individual.
  Far from encouraging our people to force clients off programmes or benefits, the targets reinforce the importance we place on ensuring we provide positive advice helping people back to work. This is the message that the guidance we give our people in delivering advisory interviews is designed to reinforce.
  I hope this is helpful and assures you of our intent to provide unemployed people with practical advice and information which is geared to their individual requirements.

  Jobcentres, Scotland
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of jobcentres that have been closed in the past 15 years in Scotland, by region.

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

  Letter from M.E.G. Fogden to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 21 February 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the number of Jobcentres that have been closed down in the past 15 years in Scotland, by region.
  Unfortunately this information is not fully available. Figures can only be provided from 1989/90, the year in which the Employment Service became an Agency.
  Since that date, one Jobcentre has closed in the regional authority area of Strathclyde. This office was Dalmellington.

  Mobile Jobcentres
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to extend the use of mobile jobcentres, as currently used in Fife into other regions of Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment

  Vacancy Display Boards in Libraries, Community Centres and Post Offices

  Regional authority

  Location of library

  Cost of maintenance (per week)

  Location of Community Centre

  Cost of maintenance (per week)

  Location of Post Office

  Cost of maintenance (per week)

  Strathclyde

  Strathaven

  £1.00

  Auchinleck

  25p

  Dundonald

  25p

  Bargarran

  Muirkirk

  25p

  New Cumnock

  25p

  Bridgewater

  Strone

  Port Bannatyne

  Whitletts

  25p

  Mauchinhill

  Ardbeg

  Mossblown

  25p

  Stewarton

  Kilchattan Bay

  Coylton

  25p

  Riccarton

  Inverary

  £1.50

  Tarbolton

  25 p

  West Kilbride

  Mull

  25p

  Maybole

  25p

  Lamlash

  Colonsay

  25p

  162
  Service under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 21 February 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about his plans to extend the use of mobile Jobcentres as currently in Fife into other regions of Scotland.
  There are no plans at this time to extend the use of mobile Jobcentres into other regions in Scotland.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment pursuant to his answer of 10 February,Official Report, columns 468–69, when mobile jobcentres in Fife began.

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

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 21 February 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the date mobile Jobcentres in Fife began.
  The mobile Jobcentre in Fife began in February 1994.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Job Vacancy Boards
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment pursuant to his answer of 10 February,Official Report, columns 471–72, (1) if he will list by region (a) libraries, (b) community centres and (c) post offices which, by way of a local agreement, display job vacancy boards in Scotland;

  (2) what is the cost of maintaining job vacancy boards in libraries, community centres and post offices in Scotland.

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

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 21 February 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the locations of job vacancy display hoards in libraries, community centres and post offices in Scotland and the cost of maintaining these boards.
  The information required is listed by Regional and Island Council Authorities in the enclosed table.
  The costs (where quoted) include only postage, telephone and fax charges. They do not include any amount for staff time either in the Jobcentres or at the vacancy board locations. Where costs are not shown nil costs apply.
  I hope this is helpful.
  163

  Vacancy Display Boards in Libraries, Community Centres and Post Offices

  Regional authority

  Location of library

  Cost of maintenance (per week)

  Location of Community Centre

  Cost of maintenance (per week)

  Location of Post Office

  Cost of maintenance (per week)

  Dalmellington

  25p

  Patna

  25p

  Dunlop

  Forth

  Kilmaurs

  Lesmahagow

  Fenwick

  3 Mobile libraries

  in Clydesdale

  Dalry

  Tarbert

  Symington

  Beith

  Dundonald

  Kilmaurs

  Darvel

  Crosshouse

  Newmilns

  £1.25

  Hurlford

  Port Ellen

  Crosshouse

  Hurlford

  Galston

  £1.25

  Dalry

  Bridge of Weir

  Highland

  Wick

  £1.50

  Kinlochleven

  Broadford

  Aviemore

  Helmsdale

  Tongue

  Lairg

  Durness

  Dornoch

  Bonar Bridge

  Brora

  Golspie

  Bettyhill

  Kinlochbervie

  Merkinch

  £1.50

  Alness

  25p

  Ballintore

  25p

  Western Isles

  Island Council

  Benbecula

  South Uist

  Harris

  Tarbert

  Barra

  Dumfries and

  Galloway

  Eastriggs

  19p

  Eastriggs

  19p

  Gretna

  19p

  Kelloholm

  19p

  Langholm

  19p

  Kirkconnel

  19p

  Whithorn

  19p

  Wanlockhead

  19p

  Leadhills

  19p

  Kirkcolm

  19p

  Drummore

  19p

  Glenluce

  19p

  Portpatrick

  19p

  Sandhead

  19p

  Garlieston

  19p

  Whithorn

  19p

  Isle of Whithorn

  19p

  Whauphill

  19p

  Wigtown

  19p

  Lothian

  Fauldhouse

  Craigmillar

  £1

  Broomhouse

  Blackburn

  South

  £1

  Whitburn

  Dunbar

  Queensferry

  Tranent

  Prestonpans

  North Berwick

  Mayfield

  Newtongrange

  Danderhall

  Gorebridge

  Grampian

  Keith

  38p

  Aberlour

  25p

  Rhynie

  38p

  Huntly

  38p

  Lossiemouth

  25p

  Insch

  38p

  Insch

  38p

  Ellon

  £1.25

  Portsoy

  £1.25

  Stonehaven

  £1.25

  Cornhill

  £1.25

  164 165

  Vacancy Display Boards in Libraries, Community Centres and Post Offices

  Regional authority

  Location of library

  Cost of maintenance (per week)

  Location of Community Centre

  Cost of maintenance (per week)

  Location of Post Office

  Cost of maintenance (per week)

  Macduff

  £1.25

  Aberchirder

  £1.25

  Gardenstoun

  £1.25

  Rhynie

  £1.00

  Insch

  £1.00

  Cruden Bay

  Mintlaw

  New Deer

  St Fergus

  Tayside

  Whitfield

  Crieff

  Laurencekirk

  £10 pa

  Crieff

  Auchterarder

  Carnoustie

  £20

  Kirriemuir

  £20 pa

  Brechin

  Central

  Linlithgow

  Training Budget
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has for increasing the training budget for young people.

  Mr. Paice
  In 1997–98, planned expenditure by the Department on training for young people, through youth training, modern apprenticeships and accelerated modern apprenticeships will be £174 million more than forecast expenditure in the current year.

  Training Loan
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what estimates he has made of(a) the percentage and (b) the amount in cash terms constituted by the take-up in Wales of (i) career development loans and (ii) small firms training loans for 1994–95.

  Mr. Paice
  At 31 January 1995, 491 career development loans, with a total value of £1.783 million, had been approved in Wales during the current financial year. This represented nearly 4 per cent. of the total approved throughout Great Britain. Total outturn for career development loans in Wales over 1994–95 is estimated at approximately 500 loans, with a total value of some £1.82 million.

  Small firms training loans is a new programme, serious promotion of which did not start until the end of 1994. At 31 January 1995, one small firms training loan had been approved in Wales. Further applications for loans are being processed by the participating banks.

  General National Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy to allow local authorities to submit the classroom costs of delivery of general national vocational qualifications in schools for support from the European social fund; on what grounds the same rule is not applied to similar qualifications delivered by the further education sector, via the Further Education Funding Council; and if he will make a statement.
  166
  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: The Department is currently reviewing the eligibility of GNVQ courses for European social fund support.

  Training, Merseyside
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the cost of Government training and other initiatives delivered by TECs and other organisations in Merseyside in 1993 and the contribution made to that cost by the European social fund; and what are the estimated equivalent figures for 1994.

  Mr. Paice
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: The cost of the three main Government training and other initiatives delivered by training and enterprise councils in Merseyside in 1993–94 was £78,306,927, which included a contribution of some £14,000,000 from the European social fund. In 1994–95, the corresponding budget figures are £73,252,333 and £12,900,000 respectively.

  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total cost of training initiatives delivered by TECs and other organisations in Merseyside in(a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95; and what was the contribution made to these costs by the European social fund.

  Mr. Paice
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: The cost of the three main Government training and other initiatives delivered by training and enterprise councils in Merseyside in 1993–94 was £78,306,927, which included a contribution of some £14,000,000 from the European social fund. In 1994–95, the corresponding budget figures are £73,252,333 and £12,900,000 respectively.

  South Thames TEC
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the amount owed by South Thames TEC to his Department.

  Mr. Paice
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: I estimate that the Department is owed at least £2 million but the final figure could be substantially higher. This represents principally the cost of training for which the Department has paid South Thames training and enterprise council but which the TEC cannot at present substantiate with evidence.
  167
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment who will be responsible for the financial liability in respect of the South Thames TEC employees when Central London training and enterprise council takes over the S ITEC responsibilities for Southwark and Lambeth; and who will meet the cost of their redundancies and pensions.

  Mr. Paice
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: This will depend on the circumstances when successor arrangements to South Thames training and enterprise council are eventually agreed.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the budget allotted by his Department to South Thames TEC for 1995–96.

  Mr. Paice
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: The Government office for London has yet to reach agreement with training and enterprise councils over the size of budgets for 1995–96.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what will be the contract price for CENTEC to take over STTEC's responsibilities in Southwark and Lambeth.

  Mr. Paice
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: I am not in a position to answer at present. Negotiations about this have yet to be concluded.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment in what proportions the full amount of the proposed budget for S'ITEC for 1995–96 will be divided between South London TEC and Central London TEC.

  Mr. Paice
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: The Government office for London is developing proposals for the appropriate division of the budget between SOLOTEC and CENTEC. When these are available they will be subject to further discussion between the Government office for London and the two training and enterprise councils before being finalised.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he will sign the contract for CENTEC to take over the responsibilities of STTEC in relation to Southwark and Lambeth.

  Mr. Paice
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: I am unable to specify a date. Discussions between the Government office for London and CENTEC are still continuing on this matter.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the position of providers providing training in Southwark and Lambeth formerly contracted to STTEC in respect of contracts which expire on 1 April.

  Mr. Paice
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: It is normal for providers' contracts with training and enterprise councils to expire at the end of the contract year. Providers then have to negotiate new contracts for the following year. No provider can be guaranteed renewal of its contract. The position will be the same in the South Thames TEC area, except that providers will seek to contract with one or both successor TECs. It is a commercial decision for TECs about which providers they wish to contract with.

  Because of the particular circumstances in the South Thames TEC area, the Department has laid a minute before the House seeking parliamentary approval to extend the letter of comfort already issued to providers contracted with South Thames TEC to deliver the Government's youth training credits and training for work programmes. For those YT/credits and TfW providers
  168
  whose existing contracts with South Thames TEC are not renewed by a successor to South Thames TEC, this would give a guarantee of payment for:

  (i) outputs achieved in relation to training completed prior to 26 March under the existing contract with South Thames TEC;

  (ii) training for up to a further 3 months in respect of TfW and a further 6 months in respect of YT/Credits that commenced prior to 26 March in accordance with their existing contracts, and outputs achieved in relation to training completed within the periods stated above.

  Central London TEC
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the contract between his Department and CENTEC in respect of Southwark and Lambeth will take account of the unfunded commitments normally paid out of surplus.

  Mr. Paice
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: The contract to be negotiated between the Department and CENTEC will relate only to Government-funded training and business support programmes.

  Southern Derbyshire TEC
  Mrs Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress Southern Derbyshire TEC is making in meeting the criteria for the award of a three-year licence.

  Mr. Paice
  I am pleased to announce that Southern Derbyshire training and enterprise council has now completed the process of meeting the rigorous standard we set for the award of the new three-year licences. Its licence will be effective from April 1995.

HEALTH

  General Medical Council
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how she seeks nominations for lay members of the General Medical Council.

  Mr. Malone
  A wide range of bodies and organisations are invited, in writing, to nominate suitable people who would be willing to serve as lay members on the General Medical Council.

  John Walsh
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the timing involved in the case of the Eltham boy shot with an arrow and on the referrals made between the hospitals.

  Mr. Sackville
  The patient was injured in a south London park and taken by helicopter ambulance to Moorfields Eye hospital. The doctor there thought neurosurgery might be necessary and referred him to the Royal London for a brain scan.

  Following the scan, the neurosurgical consultant decided that the injury was primarily ophthalmic and it was not felt that there was any requirement for neurosurgical treatment beyond regular CT scan monitoring. At all times, the patient was conscious with no neurological signs.

  He was then taken to the Smithfield site—Bart's—where the Royal Hospitals Trust bases its ophthalmology

  169
  services and where the injury was successfully treated. At no time was any life-saving procedure required or performed.

  NHS Staff
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many staff were employed in each category in the national health service in the Northern region in the last year for which figures are available; and how many were so employed in 1978.

  Mr. Malone
  This information is shown in the table.

  Directly-employed staff in the National Health Service, Northern Region as at 30 September 1978 and 1993—whole-time equivalents6

  Total hospital community health service staff

  1978 49180

  1993 48560

  Medical and dental1

  2,380

  3,010

  Nursing and Midwifery2 (excluding agency)

  22,960

  24,580

  Professions allied to medicine5

  —

  2,470

  Professional and technical

  3,240

  2,100

  Scientific and professional5

  —

  720

  Works Professional

  370

  300

  Maintenance

  1,360

  1,050

  General and Senior Managers3

  —

  830

  Administrative and clerical

  5,700

  7,030

  Ambulance

  1,420

  1,250

  Ancillary

  11,740

  5,190

  Others4

  —

  50

  Source:

  Department of Health of Medical and Non-Medical Workforce Census.

  Notes:

  1Medical and dental staff exclude locum staff.

  2Nursing and midwifery figures exclude agency staff. The 1993 figures also exclude students or Project 2000 training courses. Project 2000 students are regarded as supernumerary and are not included in workforce numbers. (In September 1993 there were about 28,000 Project 2000 students). By contrast traditional learners are counted as part of the workforce. In 1980–81 the contracted hours for nurses changed from 40 hours per week to 37.5 hours. Figures for nursing and midwifery are therefore not strictly comparable for the years shown.

  3A new management class introduced in phases from 1984 following the Griffiths report (1983). There was one general manager in each health authority and HCHS unit. Senior managers were introduced in 1987 with up to 7 senior posts at Board level in each health authority, from 1989 senior management posts extended below Board level and to hospital Units. Most of these posts replaced those formerly counted within the administrative and clerical groups.

  4A change in data collection procedures in September 1991 resulted in the creation of an 'other staff' category. This category comprises health care assistants and other staff on locally determined rates of pay.

  5In 1978 Professional and Technical staff group included Professions Allied to Medicine and Scientific and Professional staff.

  6All data are rounded to the nearest ten whole-time equivalents.

  Dioxins
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations she has received concerning the impact of dioxins on public health.

  Mr. Sackville
  Since 1 March 1994, two hon. Members have tabled questions to the Department about dioxins, six hon. Members have written to Ministers and five letters were received from members of the public. In addition, the Department was asked to comment on two petitions from constituents of the hon. Members for 170
  Derbyshire, North-East (Mr. Barnes) and for Mansfield (Mr. Meale), although the latter petition was more appropriate for the Health and Safety Executives to which it was transferred.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she is taking to ensure that the public are alerted to the danger of exposure to dioxins.

  Mr. Sackville
  Dioxins are present all over the world and occur from natural sources as well as from the combustion processes in industry, and cigarette smoke. The Government are advised on the toxicity of dioxins by the Committee on Toxicity of Food, the Environment and Consumer Products, and the tolerable daily intake recommended by the committee exceeds the estimated intakes for the general population in the United Kingdom.

  The toxicology of dioxins is kept under review by the committee. It is at present undertaking an evaluation of the draft United States Environmental Protection Agency report on dioxins.

  Drugs Services
  Mr. Jim Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what grants, apart from the drug and alcohol specific grant, local authorities can apply for in order to provide services to help combat drug abuse and its effects.

  Mr. Bowis
  In addition to the drug and alcohol specific grant local authorities may apply for the following:AIDS Support Grant
  The Department of Health administers an AIDS Support Grant (the specific grant for people with HIV infection or AIDS) which provides grant funds for social services for drug misusers affected by HIV or by AIDS.
  The Department for Education—Grants for Education Support and Training
  This grant is to train teachers with responsibility for drugs education and to develop innovative drug education projects in 16 local education authorities.
  The Home Qffice Drug Prevention Initiative
  There are twenty local drug prevention teams administered by the Home Office Drugs Prevention Initiative. Statutory and voluntary sector agencies and individuals may apply to them for funding.
  The Drug Prevention Measures in Great Britain Fund
  This Home Office fund makes small financial contributions in support of measures to reduce drug misuse. Preference is given to projects, services or schemes which are innovative and may be of national or regional significance. They are not eligible if they properly fall against an existing source of Government funding.
  The Seized Assets Fund
  This represents the proceeds of drugs trafficking seized under international confiscation agreements. Because of the uncertain source of the funding, the Home Office is unable to fund recurrent expenditure. There have been no resources available from this fund since 1991–92.
  The Commission of the European Communities
  The Commission administers a grant programme to support efforts made by Member States in the field of public health in order to contribute to maintaining a high level of health protection in the Member States.

  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much each local authority has bid for the drug and alcohol specific grant for 1995–96; and how much they were awarded.

  Mr. Bowis
  Grants for 1995–96 have not yet been awarded.
  171

  Heart Disease
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has on the causes of acquired heart disease among children(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in other countries.

  Mr. Sackville
  Acquired heart disease in childhood is uncommon in the United Kingdom, especially since acute rheumatic fever—historically, the main cause—has become a rare and relatively mild disease. The causes of acquired heart disease among children in other countries vary, especially in developing countries where rheumatic heart disease remains a common and significant cause of paediatric heart disease.

  Polonium 210
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action her Department is taking to measure the correlation between the presence of polonium-210 in children's teeth and atmospheric lead from vehicle exhaust emissions; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 10 February,Official Report, column 442, which explained that the Government are considering the options for further research in this area.

  Child Care
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her latest estimate of the number of children under the age of five years who are in the care of(a) private child minders or nannies and (b) private and voluntary playgroups.

  Mr. Bowis
  Using information from the survey conducted by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys of day care for children, it is estimated that in 1990 the figures for England were 180,000 attending child minders on a paid basis, 50,000 cared for by nannies and 560,000 attending private or voluntary playgroups.

  NHS Prescriptions
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the administration costs of the NHS prescription system.

  Mr. Malone
  The available information is shown in the table.

  Administration costs of the NHS prescription system1 in England in 1993–94

  Item

  Cost (£ million)

  Purchase of prescription forms for supply to doctors and dentists2

  1.2

  Pricing of prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists, appliance contractors and doctors3

  26.7

  Total

  27.9

  Notes:

  1Excludes fees paid to doctors, dentists and pharmacists for professional services, expenditure on the drugs bill and the costs of operating the prescription charge exemption and remission arrangements.

  2Expenditure by Family Health Services Authorities. Other FHSA administration costs associated with the NHS prescription system are not separately identified.

  3Expenditure by the Prescription Pricing Authority.

  172

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what circumstances chairmen of NHS trusts are brought into direct contact with NHS psychiatric patients in Scarborough.

  Mr. Malone
  I would expect all national health service trust chairmen to come into regular contact with the patients using the services provided by their trust.

  Mr. Richard Shepherd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial arrangements are being made for the NHS trusts dissolved on 1 April 1994.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  Pursuant to the dissolution of 16 national health service trusts on 1 April 1994, and their reconfiguration with parts, or all, of other trusts or directly managed units, I propose to create new originating debt for the 14 new trusts equal to the net assets transferred to them and therefore to remit the outstanding debt of the 16 dissolved trusts.

  These operations involve no loss to the Exchequer. Her Majesty's Treasury has today presented a minute to the House giving the particulars and circumstances of the proposed remission which it has approved in principle.

  Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who has been appointed chief executive of Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS trust; and what posts the individual held over the last 10 years.

  Mr. Malone
  Mr. Robert Creighton has been appointed chief executive of Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children national health service trust, as from the beginning of April 1995. Mr. Creighton joined the Department of Health in 1988 and for four years held a series of posts concerned with national health service planning and the management of special health authorities. He was Principal Private Secretary to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health from 1992–1994, and is currently head of the NHS executive's change management team.

  NHS Trusts, Doncaster
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the chairmen of the Doncaster Royal Infirmary NHS trust and Doncaster Healthcare trust were told of their expected time commitments in their appointment letters.

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 14 February,Official Report, column 642.

  Dementia
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response she has given to the report "Services, for Younger People with Dementia", published by the Alzheimer's Disease Society, a copy of which has been sent to her; what action she is taking; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  I met representatives of the Alzheimer's Disease Society earlier this month to discuss its report. In "The Health of the Nation" key area handbook for mental health, we have advised purchasers to take account of the needs of people with pre-senile dementia.
  173

  Community Care
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what inflationary element has been built into the special transitional grant for community care for(a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96.

  Mr. Bowis
  Various components are taken into account in the assessment of resources for local authorities' new community care responsibilities, including the Government's forecast of inflation.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects the special transitional grant for community care to be incorporated within the standard spending assessment.

  Mr. Bowis
  It is already being incorporated each year within the standard spending assessment.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account has been taken in the calculation of the 1994–95 and 1995–96 special transitional grants of increased costs on the infrastructure for administering the community care changes.

  Mr. Bowis
  Local authorities' additional costs, which include, but are not limited to, administration costs, have been taken into account each year in the assessment of the additional resources needed for their new community care responsibilities. Not all elements of the additional costs initially incurred by local authorities have been increasing since the special transitional grant was introduced.

  Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information is held in her Department on the numbers of ME sufferers who are(a) bed-ridden and (b) otherwise housebound; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  None. The nature of what is increasingly being referred to as chronic fatigue syndrome is not fully understood or defined. Until this is resolved it will not be possible to determine the true incidence or prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome.

  GP Fundholding
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is given to GP fundholders in respect of their relationship with agencies other than the NHS.

  Mr. Malone
  Recent guidance, EL(94)79, and the consultative document "An Accountability Framework for GP Fundholding" provide the framework within which general practitioners and local health authorities should work together in partnership. It is health authorities who, working with GPs in developing local health and service strategies, have responsibility to consult widely on their plans. Copies of the guidance and consultative document are available in the Library.

EDUCATION

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many primary age children are being taught in classes larger than 30 by a single teacher.
  174
  Mr. Robin Squire
  At January 1994, nearly 1.1 million or a little over one in four pupils.

  Mr. Benton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate she has made of the effect of the budget settlement for local authorities on class sizes.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate she has made of the effect of the budget settlement for local authorities on class sizes.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The effect of the settlement on class sizes will depend on decisions yet to be made by individual LEAs and schools.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations she has received regarding delays in payment of student loans.

  Mr. Boswell
  My right hon. Friend has received some 50 representations on delays in the processing of loans. The Department has also received a number of telephone calls from both students and higher education institutions.

  Books and Equipment (Expenditure)
  Mr. Legg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what has been the change in real and cash terms in spending on books and equipment in schools since 1979.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Spending on hooks and equipment in LEA-maintained schools in England is estimated to have increased by 23 per cent. in real terms, and by 23 per cent. in cash terms, between 1979–80 and 1993–94. Figures for 1993–94 are provisional. On a per pupil basis, spending is estimated to have increased by 55 per cent. in real terms, and 280 per cent. in cash terms, over the same period. Equivalent information is not available for grant-maintained or independent schools.

  Pre-fours Education Provision
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans she has to extend education provision for children before the age of four.

  Mr. Forth
  The Prime Minister's commitment is to provide, over time, good quality pre-school places for all four-year-olds whose parents wish them to it take up. There are no plans as yet to extend the commitment to younger children.

  Disability
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans she has to amend section 21 of the Education Act 1993 to extend the range of disability covered.

  Mr. Forth
  None. Information on wheelchair access, which is required under regulations made under section 21, will be collected for the first time from May this year. We will keep the regulations under review thereafter.

  A-level Students
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations she has received concerning competition for A-level students between further education colleges and schools.
  175
  Mr. Boswell
  My right hon. Friend receives many reports of greater responsiveness by schools and colleges to the needs of young people. We welcome that. Informed choice and a diverse education system are fundamental to higher participation and attainment.

  Capital Investment
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is her assessment of the need for additional capital investment in schools.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The condition of school buildings is the responsibility of local education authorities and governors. It is for them to assess their capital needs and bid accordingly.

  I should mention, however, that a National Audit Office report on school buildings in 1991 suggested that some £2 billion—at 1990 prices—was required for outstanding capital needs. In the four years from 1991–92, Government support for capital work at maintained schools has amounted to some £2.5 billion. Moreover, a total of £621 million is being made available for 1995–96—£21 million above the current year—and a further increase of £50 million is planned for 1996–97. Further resources are available to LEAs and voluntary-aided schools and I am encouraging schools to explore the scope for private sector finance.

  Grant-maintained Schools (Accessibility)
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps she is taking to improve the accessibility to all parents of(a) primary and (b) secondary schools with grant-maintained status.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The continuing expansion of the GM sector—from 20 schools five years ago to well over 1,000 today—gives growing numbers of parents the opportunity to send their children to grant-maintained schools, both primary and secondary. We shall continue to foster that expansion, including through the distribution of factual information about grant-maintained status and how to attain it.

  Universities (Governing Bodies)
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proposals she has to reform the governing bodies of universities.

  Mr. Boswell
  My right hon. Friend has no such proposals. However, the Committee of Chairmen of University Councils and Boards issued guidance on governance arrangements to its members, including those in Northern Ireland, in December. We endorse the broad approach taken by the committee.

  Teachers' Salaries
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the average teacher salary in 1979; what it is today; and how much of a real terms change this represents.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The average teacher's salary in April 1979 was £5,100. In April 1994, it was £21,600. This represents a real-terms increase of 59 per cent.
  176

  Pupil Numbers
  Mr. Jim Cunnningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when she last met the chairs of local education authorities to discuss the increase in pupil numbers.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend and other Ministers and I regularly meet representatives of local education authorities; discussions cover a range of issues, including the forecast increase in pupil numbers.

  Sixth Forms
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what criteria are normally employed by her Department when considering applications by secondary schools for the re-instatement of sixth forms; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Boswell
  When deciding proposals for the addition of sixth forms, my right hon. Friend has regard to the criteria published in the circular on the supply of school places issued last November. These criteria address issues of choice, and diversity, need, quality and cost-effectiveness.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what criteria are normally employed by her Department when considering applications by secondary schools for the re-instatement of sixth forms; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Boswell
  When deciding proposals for the addition of sixth forms, my right hon. Friend has regard to the criteria published in the circular on the supply of school places issued last November. These criteria address issues of choice, and diversity, need, quality and cost-effectiveness.

  Chalfont Community College
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations she has received concerning access to Chalfont community college.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  None. This matter is being considered by the Education Assets Board.

  Nursery School Staffing
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what is the level of staff turnover in private day nursery schools;

  (2) what information she has on the ratio of staff to children in private day nursery schools; and if she will list the available data by geographical area.

  Mr. Bowis
  I have been asked to reply.

  Information on staffing of private day nursery schools is not available centrally.

  Day Care (Children)
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what is the number of private nursery school places in each local education authority area:

  (2) how many registered child minders there are by local education authority area.

  Mr. Bowis
  I have been asked to reply.

  Day care facilities for children aged under eight are registered by local authority social services departments.

  177
  Figures for child minders are published in "Children's Day Care Facilities at 31 March 1993, England", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Information held centrally does not separately identify nursery schools registered under the Children Act 1989. Where nursery facilities are part of schools with five or more children of compulsory school age, information on pupil numbers is published by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education.

  Local Education Authorities
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will name the schools, together with their local education authorities with(a) the highest and (b) the lowest percentage of the education budget assigned to school governors; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Information on the overall proportion of the potential schools budget retained by local education authorities, rather than that delegated to schools, is contained in the answer which I gave on 17 October 1994 to my hon. Friend the Member for Billericay (Mrs. Gorman),Official Report, columns 27–36. This proportion depends on the local management of schools scheme for the LEA concerned. The total call made be each school on the general schools budget of an LEA depends on the use a school makes of centrally funded services as well as the size of its delegated budget, and data on this are not collected by the Department.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much was spent per(a) primary and (b) secondary pupil in each LEA in England and on average in England as a whole in the most recent year for which figures are available in cash terms and in 1992–93 prices.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The table shows LEA expenditure per pupil on pre-primary and primary pupils combined, and on secondary pupils in 1992–93, the latest year for which outturn figures are available. Equivalent information on grant-maintained schools is not available.

  Unit cost net institutional expenditure 1992–93 at 1992–93 prices (includes LMS balances)

  Nursery/primary £

  Secondary £

  Corporation of London

  3,063

  0

  Camden

  2,067

  2,726

  Greenwich

  2,058

  2,497

  Hackney

  2,144

  3,014

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  2,335

  3,105

  Islington

  2,377

  n/a

  Kensington and Chelsea

  2,230

  3,061

  Lambeth

  2,183

  2,800

  Lewisham

  1,896

  2,534

  Southwark

  1,846

  2,506

  Tower Hamlets

  2,398

  3,352

  Wandsworth

  2,141

  3,212

  City of Westminster

  2,292

  2,486

  Barking

  1,730

  2,347

  Barnet

  1,841

  2,615

  Bexley

  1,415

  2,121

  Brent

  1,740

  2,425

  Bromley

  1,578

  2,377

  Croydon

  1,728

  2,369

  Ealing

  1,855

  2,784

  Enfield

  1,577

  2,267

  Haringey

  2,102

  2,897

  Harrow

  1,870

  2,614

  Havering

  1,563

  2,364

  Hillingdon

  1,714

  2,686

  178

  Unit cost net institutional expenditure 1992–93 at 1992–93 prices (includes LMS balances)

  Nursery/primary £

  Secondary £

  Hounslow

  1,973

  2,419

  Kingston upon Thames

  1,748

  2,663

  Merton

  1,907

  2,679

  Newham

  1,709

  2,629

  Redbridge

  1,663

  2,337

  Richmond upon Thames

  1,863

  2,285

  Sutton

  1,522

  2,036

  Waltham Forest

  1,626

  2,454

  Birmingham

  1,457

  2,341

  Coventry

  1,435

  2,382

  Dudley

  1,489

  2,072

  Sandwell

  1,645

  2,340

  Solihull

  1,599

  2,223

  Walsall

  1,468

  2,216

  Wolverhampton

  1,589

  2,407

  Knowsley

  1,487

  2,298

  Liverpool

  1,489

  2,375

  St. Helens

  1,557

  2,357

  Sefton

  1,499

  2,232

  Wirral

  1,448

  2,418

  Bolton

  1,526

  2,280

  Bury

  1,408

  1,970

  Manchester

  1,555

  2,426

  Oldham

  1,774

  2,474

  Rochdale

  1,384

  2,182

  Salford

  1,339

  2,113

  Stockport

  1,510

  2,288

  Tameside

  1,469

  2,170

  Trafford

  1,416

  2,279

  Wigan

  1,375

  2,286

  Barnsley

  1,525

  2,151

  Doncaster

  1,437

  2,182

  Rotherham

  1,631

  2,285

  Sheffield

  1,636

  2,212

  Bradford

  1,828

  1,822

  Calderdale

  1,549

  2,163

  Kirklees

  1,523

  2,200

  Leeds

  1,420

  2,397

  Wakefield

  1,482

  2,073

  Gateshead

  1,668

  2,283

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  1,737

  2,133

  North Tyneside

  1,513

  2,219

  South Tyneside

  1,477

  2,197

  Sunderland

  1,495

  2,137

  Isles of Scilly

  2,345

  5,040

  Avon

  1,523

  2,277

  Bedfordshire

  1,603

  2,170

  Berkshire

  1,589

  2,227

  Buckinghamshire

  1,429

  2,118

  Cambridgeshire

  1,579

  2,243

  Cheshire

  1,321

  2,072

  Cleveland

  1,574

  2,515

  Cornwall

  1,507

  2,132

  Cumbria

  1,637

  2,306

  Derbyshire

  1,576

  2,310

  Devon

  1,529

  2,164

  Dorset

  1,507

  2,097

  Durham

  1,535

  2,064

  East Sussex

  1,558

  2,233

  Essex

  1,610

  2,138

  Gloucestershire

  1,687

  2,203

  Hampshire

  1,578

  2,248

  Hereford and Worcester

  1,609

  2,116

  Hertfordshire

  1,616

  2,263

  Humberside

  1,522

  2,228

  Isle of Wight

  1,584

  2,081

  Kent

  1,380

  1,999

  Lancashire

  1,632

  2,320

  Leicestershire

  1,443

  2,219

  Lincolnshire

  1,429

  2,174

  Norfolk

  1,555

  2,177

  179

  Unit cost net institutional expenditure 1992–93 at 1992–93 prices (includes LMS balances)

  Nursery/primary £

  Secondary £

  North Yorkshire

  1,581

  2,260

  Northamptonshire

  1,384

  2,093

  Northumberland

  1,394

  1,871

  Nottinghamshire

  1,575

  2,346

  Oxfordshire

  1,776

  2,212

  Shropshire

  1,590

  2,509

  Somerset

  1,506

  2,220

  Staffordshire

  1,463

  2,088

  Suffolk

  1,944

  2,393

  Surrey

  1,577

  2,293

  Warwickshire

  1,517

  2,126

  West Sussex

  1,468

  2,125

  Wiltshire

  1,593

  2,268

  Total

  1,583

  2,256

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list local education authorities in England in rank order by the proportion of the potential schools budget held back in the most recent year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Information on the percentage of the potential schools budget retained centrally for 1994–95 by each English LEA was included in the answer which I gave on 17 October 1994 to the hon. Member for Billericay (Mrs. Gorman)Official Report, columns 27–36. The figures there given are rearranged in rank order in the table.

  Percentage of PSB not delegated 1994–95 (in rank order)

  Local Education Authority

  1994–95 Per cent.

  Rank Number

  Dudley

  7.5

  1

  Islington*

  7.5

  2.

  Hertfordshire

  8.7

  3.

  Solihull

  9.6

  4.

  Croydon

  9.9

  5.

  Berkshire

  10.0

  6.

  Brent

  10.0

  7.

  Leeds

  10.1

  8.

  Waltham Forest

  10.2

  9.

  Stockport

  10.7

  10.

  Northamptonshire

  10.7

  11.

  Greenwich*

  10.8

  12.

  Knowsley

  10.9

  13.

  Manchester

  11.0

  14.

  Bedfordshire

  11.0

  15.

  Richmond

  11.1

  16.

  Northumberland

  11.1

  17.

  Harrow

  11.2

  18.

  Wolverhampton

  11.3

  19.

  Oxfordhisre

  11.3

  20.

  Cheshire

  11.3

  21.

  Rochdale

  11.3

  22.

  Westminster

  11.5

  23.

  Merton

  11.7

  24.

  Havering

  11.7

  25.

  Hereford/Worcester

  11.7

  26.

  Bury

  11.7

  27.

  Staffordshire

  12.1

  28.

  Sunderland

  12.1

  29.

  Enfield

  12.1

  30.

  Norfolk

  12.2

  31.

  Devon

  12.2

  32.

  Salford

  12.2

  33.

  180

  Percentage of PSB not delegated 1994–95 (in rank order)

  Local Education Authority

  1994–95 Per cent.

  Rank Number

  Calderdale

  12.3

  34.

  Walsall

  12.3

  35.

  Bexley

  12.4

  36.

  Suffolk

  12.4

  37.

  West Sussex

  12.9

  38.

  Cornwall

  12.9

  39.

  Coventry

  12.9

  40.

  Redbridge

  13.0

  41.

  Sefton

  13.0

  42.

  City of London*

  13.0

  43.

  Hammersmith/Fulham*

  13.0

  44.

  Wigan

  13.1

  45.

  North Yorkshire

  13.1

  46.

  Surrey

  13.1

  47.

  Isle of Wight

  13.1

  48.

  Lincolnshire

  13.2

  49.

  Birmingham

  13.2

  50.

  Oldham

  13.2

  51.

  Nottinghamshire

  13.3

  52.

  Hillingdon

  13.4

  53.

  Dorset

  13.4

  54.

  Trafford

  13.4

  55.

  Barnet

  13.4

  56.

  Hampshire

  13.4

  57.

  Bradford

  13.5

  58.

  Cumbria

  13.5

  59.

  Liverpool

  13.5

  60.

  Sandwell

  13.5

  61.

  South Tyneside

  13.5

  62.

  Bromley

  13.6

  63.

  Gloucestershire

  13.6

  64.

  Leicestershire

  13.6

  65.

  Wirral

  13.7

  66.

  Isles of Scilly

  13.7

  67.

  East Sussex

  13.8

  68.

  Cambridgeshire

  13.8

  69.

  Rotherham

  13.8

  70.

  Somerset

  13.8

  71.

  Tower Hamlets

  13.8

  72.

  Ealing

  13.9

  73.

  Southwark*

  13.9

  74.

  Gateshead

  13.9

  75.

  Wiltshire

  14.0

  76.

  Durham

  14.0

  77.

  Sutton

  14.0

  78.

  Hounslow

  14.0

  79.

  Tameside

  14.1

  80.

  Essex

  14.1

  81.

  North Tyneside

  14.1

  82.

  Humberside

  14.1

  83.

  Kensington/Chelsea*

  14.2

  84.

  Warwickshire

  14.3

  85.

  Avon

  14.4

  86.

  Cleveland

  14.4

  87.

  St. Helens

  14.5

  88.

  Kingston

  14.5

  89.

  Newcastle

  14.6

  90.

  Shropshire

  14.6

  91.

  Wakefield

  14.6

  92.

  Barking/Dagenham

  14.7

  93.

  Lancashire

  14.7

  94.

  Kent

  14.8

  95.

  Buckinghamshire

  14.9

  96.

  Haringey

  14.9

  97.

  Sheffield

  15.0

  98.

  Barnsley

  15.0

  99.

  Bolton

  15.0

  100.

  Derbyshire

  15.0

  101.

  Doncaster

  15.0

  102.

  Newham

  15.0

  103.

  181

  Percentage of PSB not delegated 1994–95 (in rank order)

  Local Education Authority

  1994–95 Per cent.

  Rank Number

  Lewisham*

  15.4

  104.

  Lambeth*

  15.8

  105.

  Kirklees

  15.8

  106.

  Hackney*

  16.5

  107.

  Camden*

  17.0

  108.

  Wandsworth*

  17.7

  109.

  Notes:

  I. The figures have been derived from budget statements published by local education authorities under section 42 of the Education Reform Act in respect of the financial year 1994–95, and received by the Department prior to 17 October 1994. The percentages have been rounded in the the Table to one decimal place.

  2. In the case of the inner London authorities (other than Westminster), the introduction of Local Management of Schools was deferred until April 1992, and the delegation requirements applicable to these authorities (marked * in the Table) differ from those applicable elsewhere.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many(a) teachers and (b) administrators are employed by local education authorities in England according to the latest figures; and if he will list in rank order the ratio of teachers to administrators for each local education authority in England.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

  Nursery Provision
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the qualifications required for staff working in state nursery schools.

  Mr. Forth
  The Education (Teachers) Regulations 1993, as amended, require that those employed as teachers at maintained schools shall be qualified teachers as defined in those regulations. There are certain limited exceptions to this rule, also set out in the regulations.

  Expenditure on pre-primary education: 1991

  Public current expenditure1 on pre-primary education (US$Million3

  Public expenditure2per pupil in pre-primary education (US $3)

  Public current expenditure1 on pre-primary education as a percentage of gross domestic product

  Public current expenditure1 on pre-primary education as a percentage of total public expenditure

  Denmark

  144

  4,736

  0.2

  0.3

  France

  5,619

  2,163

  0.5

  1.1

  United Kingdom

  1,754

  2,223

  0.2

  0.4

  Sources

  Education at a Glance, OECD, December 1993.

  UNESCO Statistical Yearbooks 1993 and 1994 editions.

  Notes

  1 Excludes capital expenditure and loan charges.

  2 Includes capital expenditure and loan charges.

  3Adjusted to US dollars using Purchasing Power Parities published by OECD.

  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment she has made of the level of staff turnover in public day nursery schools.

  Mr. Forth
  In maintained nursery schools in England in 1991–92, the turnover of full-time qualified teachers
  182
  There are no statutory requirements governing the qualifications of staff employed in other roles in maintained nursery schools.

  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of registered disabled children get a place at a nursery school or in a nursery class in a primary school.

  Mr. Forth
  This information is not available centrally.

  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of children with special educational needs as defined by the Children Act 1989 get a place at(a) nursery school and (b) nursery class in a primary school.

  Mr. Forth
  Figures for children in need as defined under section 17(10) of the Children Act 1989 are not collected centrally.

  In 1994, 319 children with a statement of special educational need maintained by the local education authority under section 168 of the Education Act 1993 attended a maintained nursery school, representing 0.6 per cent. of the total maintained nursery population.

  The numbers of children with statements of special educational needs attending a nursery class in a primary school are not available.

  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the total level of public expenditure on education for children under school age in(a) Denmark, (b) France and (c) the United Kingdom; what this sum is in each country per child under school age; what this sum is as a percentage of the national gross domestic product; and what this sum is as a percentage of public spending overall in the country concerned.

  Mr. Forth
  International comparisons of public expenditure on pre-primary education are difficult to make because of the need to ensure consistent definitions across countries. The latest available estimates based on information published by UNESCO and OECD are shown in the table.

  was 14.4 per cent. Information on turnover rates of other staff is not collected centrally.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of the standard spending assessment is
  183
  being spent and what proportion of the education budget is being retained for administration, in rank order, in each English county, accordingly to the latest figures.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  There is no separate allowance within standard spending assessments for administration; it is for each local education authority to decide what proportion of its education budget to use for administration costs. The table shows, for each LEA in England, expenditure on service strategy and regulation, management and administration and the inspection and advisory service, as a proportion of total LEA expenditure, in 1992–93, the latest year for which outturn figures are available.

  LEA expenditure on administration1 as a proportion of total expenditure, 1992–93

  LEA Rank number

  Percentage of total expenditure on administration

  1 Corporation of London

  15.4

  2 Lewisham

  13.4

  3 Bexley

  10.9

  4 Hammersmith and Fulham

  9.2

  5 Greenwich

  9.0

  6 Croydon

  8.8

  7 Kensington and Chelsea

  8.6

  8 Kent

  8.0

  9 Waltham Forest

  7.9

  10 Southwark

  7.9

  11 Lambeth

  7.9

  12 Sutton

  7.9

  13 Northamptonshire

  7.8

  14 Salford

  7.6

  15 Coventry

  7.6

  16 Tower Hamlets

  7.4

  17 Isle of Wight

  7.2

  18 City of Westminster

  7.2

  19 South Tyneside

  7.1

  20 Wandsworth

  7.0

  21 Buckinghamshire

  6.9

  22 Enfield

  6.7

  23 Barking

  6.6

  24 Camden

  6.4

  25 Somerset

  6.3

  26 Merton

  5.9

  27 Knowsley

  5.9

  28 Islington

  5.9

  29 Kirklees

  5.7

  30 Northumberland

  5.7

  31 Oldham

  5.6

  32 Ealing

  5.6

  33 Redbridge

  5.6

  34 Hackney

  5.5

  35 Haringey

  5.5

  36 Warwickshire

  5.4

  37 Kingston upon Thames

  5.4

  38 Cumbria

  5.4

  39 Wiltshire

  5.2

  40 Cornwall

  5.2

  41 Hillingdon

  5.1

  42 Barnsley

  5.1

  43 Solihull

  5.1

  44 Bromley

  5.1

  45 Suffolk

  5.0

  46 Dudley

  5.0

  47 Berkshire

  4.8

  48 Bury

  4.8

  49 Gateshead

  4.6

  50 Harrow

  4.6

  51 Dorset

  4.5

  52 Hampshire

  4.5

  53 Lincolnshire

  4.4

  54 Leeds

  4.4

  55 Manchester

  4.4

  184

  LEA expenditure on administration1 as a proportion of total expenditure, 1992–93

  LEA Rank number

  Percentage of total expenditure on administration

  56 Newham

  4.3

  57 Avon

  4.3

  58 East Sussex

  4.3

  59 Newcastle upon Tyne

  4.3

  60 Barnet

  4.2

  61 Calderdale

  4.2

  62 Hertfordshire

  4.2

  63 Birmingham

  4.2

  64 Norfolk

  4.2

  65 Sefton

  4.1

  66 Sandwell

  4.1

  67 Cheshire

  3.9

  68 Bedfordshire

  3.9

  69 Essex

  3.9

  70 Sheffield

  3.9

  71 Nottinghamshire

  3.9

  72 West Sussex

  3.8

  73 Bolton

  3.8

  74 Wirral

  3.8

  75 Shropshire

  3.8

  76 Cambridgeshire

  3.7

  77 Derbyshire

  3.7

  78 Gloucestershire

  3.6

  79 Havering

  3.6

  80 Rotherham

  3.6

  81 Sunderland

  3.6

  82 Richmond upon Thames

  3.4

  83 Wolverhampton

  3.4

  84 Rochdale

  3.3

  85 Liverpool

  3.3

  86 Hounslow

  3.3

  87 Wakefield

  3.3

  88 Tameside

  3.3

  89 Brent

  3.3

  90 Stockport

  3.3

  91 Hereford and Worcester

  3.1

  92 North Yorkshire

  3.0

  93 Surrey

  3.0

  94 Durham

  3.0

  95 Bradford

  3.0

  96 Doncaster

  3.0

  97 Devon

  3.0

  98 Isles of Scilly

  2.8

  99 Staffordshire

  2.7

  100 St. Helens

  2.7

  101 Wigan

  2.7

  102 Oxfordshire

  2.6

  103 Walsall

  2.5

  104 Humberside

  2.4

  105 Leicestershire

  2.4

  106 Cleveland

  2.2

  107 Trafford

  2.1

  108 North Tyneside

  1.8

  109 Lancashire

  1.7

  Total

  4.5

  1 Administration covers Service Strategy and Regulation, Management and Administration and the Inspection and Advisory Service.

  Staffordshire Local Education Authority
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what would have been the increase required to remove the effect of inflation from central Government payments to Staffordshire local education authority in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The annual rate of inflation for the last 10 years is set out in the table, but it is not possible to state what would be the increase required to remove the effect of inflation from central Government payments to Staffordshire local education authority because of
  185
  annual changes in authorities' relative need to spend. The underlying increases in inflation rates are:

  Inflation percentage

  1984–85 to 1985–86

  5.5

  l985–86to 1986–87

  3.0

  1986–87 10 1987–88

  5.3

  1987–88 to 1988–89

  6.7

  1988–89 to 1989–90

  7.0

  1989–90 to 1990–91

  8.0

  1990–91 to 1991–92

  6.3

  1991–92 to 1992–93

  4.0

  1992–93 to 1993–94

  3.1

  1993–94 to 1994–95

  2.0

  1994–95 to 1995–96

  3.3

  Under-five Provision
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list the most recent percentage available of under fives in maintained nursery and primary schools in the north-east of England by individual local authority area; and what the percentages were in 1978.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Information on pupils under five being taught in maintained nursery schools in each local education authority in north-east England in 1978 and 1994 is shown in the table.

  Percentage of children under five in maintained nursery and primary schools for each LEA in North East England1

  Position at January

  Local Education Authority

  1978

  1994

  Cleveland

  55

  90

  Durham

  58

  77

  186

  Percentage of children under five in maintained nursery and primary schools for each LEA in North East England1

  Position at January

  Local Education Authority

  1978

  1994

  Gateshead

  51

  68

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  61

  72

  North Tyneside

  62

  87

  Northumberland

  41

  71

  South Tyneside

  64

  86

  Sunderland

  58

  74

  1 Excludes pupils who became 5 years of age by 1 January.

  School Reserves
  Mr Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the value of reserves held on deposit on current account by state schools in England and Wales.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  In respect of England, information on the cumulative net balances recorded in local education authorities' LMS outturn statements for the financial year 1993–94 is contained in the answers which I gave to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. Pawsey) on 19 and 27 January,Official Report, columns 641–43 and 410–11 respectively. The Department does not collect information which would indicate the extent to which these balances are held in schools' own current bank accounts.

  Information regarding the financial balances held by grant-maintained schools in England is held by the Funding Agency for Schools, and I have asked its chairman to write to the hon. Member. The funding of LEA and grant-maintained schools in Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

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