Written Answers of 24 February 1995

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Departmental Funding
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what changes are proposed to the Privy Council Office cash and running cost limit in 1994–95.

  Mr. Newton
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XIX, vote 3 will be increased from £2,377,000 to £2,767,000. There is no change to the running cost limit. This change reflects the cost of the central drugs co-ordination unit for the current financial year and results from the correction of a fault in the vote structure. There is therefore no addition to the planned limit on public expenditure.

EMPLOYMENT

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how often his Department receives written evaluation reports on the training and financial performance of training and enterprise councils.

  Mr. Paice
  The Employment Department commissions a range of evaluation projects on aspects of the delivery of training by training and enterprise councils. The work is commissioned on a continuing basis and the written reports are received at various times throughout the year. Details of completed work appear in the Department's annual report on research. The Department does not receive written evaluation reports on the financial performance of TECs.

TREASURY

  Building Societies Act 1986
  Mr. French
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the Government's review of the Building Societies Act 1986.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Government have now completed the second and final stage of their review of the Building Societies Act 1986. A consultation document was issued last autumn, seeking views, in particular, on societies' accountability and powers. The Government are grateful to those organisations and individuals—some 72 in all—who responded. Their comments have helped to shape the outcome of the review. The Government have also taken careful note of the report on the building society sector,340
  published by the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee on 19 December. The outcome of the review is broadly in line with many of the Committee's conclusions.

  The Government place great importance on the role of building societies as a safe haven for people's savings and the major source of housing finance in the United Kingdom. At the forefront of our minds has been the objective of creating more competition and accountability in the provision of retail financial services. In drawing conclusions from the review, we have sought to:

  enable societies to expand the range of services they offer, while retaining their primary focus as providers of housing finance;

  improve societies' accountability to their members; and

  maintain a sound prudential framework.

  On accountability, the Government consider that, although societies' present constitutional arrangements are, by and large 'satisfactory' more should be done to improve the information given to members and to bring greater transparency and fairness to the process of electing directors, so they will be bringing forward a 15-point package of measures, the most important of which will:
  improve the information given to members about their rights as shareholders on first joining a society; the state of their society, in the summary financial statements they receive each year; the duties of directors; and the nomination and election procedures, should they wish to stand for the board;
  remove the distinction between shareholders and retail depositors;
  give borrowing members wider voting rights;
  require elections to be held, even when the number of candidates equals the number of vacancies on the board, and the election results to be posted in all branches;
  require societies to seek the approval of their members before entering into a new area of business by making significant use of an existing power. The Government will, however, be giving further consideration to the possibility of permitting societies to adopt powers by board resolution once this new requirement takes effect.

  The Government have decided not to proceed with a proposal put forward by the financial services deregulation task force as a candidate for enactment under the general power in the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994. The proposal would have removed the requirement for societies to send notices of meetings and summary financial statements to all members. Although it would have brought cost savings, it was widely criticised in the consultation process, as being inconsistent with the objective of increasing societies' accountability to their members, so we have decided to drop the measure.

  However, the Government have accepted another task force proposal: to increase, from 1 to 5 per cent. of the total assets of a building society, the maximum bonus which can be paid to its members in the event of a merger with a larger society, without having to have a vote by the members of the latter. This change will be implemented through secondary legislation made by the Building Societies Commission.

  We will now begin discussions with the building society sector on how the main parts of the accountability package can best be implemented. In the first instance, the Government favour a voluntary code or charter, which could be introduced quickly and amended in the light of experience. When a legislative opportunity arises, the more important provisions can be put on a statutory basis.
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  In order to allow building societies to develop and play their full part in the competitive provision of financial services, the Government believe that the current prescriptive legislative framework governing their powers should be replaced by a more permissive regime. The new approach would give societies the freedom—within their principal purpose—to pursue any activities set out in their memorandum, subject only to overall limits on assets and liabilities, and the prudential control of the Building Societies Commission. To retain their distinctive character as mutual housing finance institutions, the Government consider that societies should raise no more than 50 per cent. of their funds from the wholesale market, and that they should have at least 75 per cent. of their lending secured on residential property—mortgage loans to individuals, housing associations and private landlords. Further flexibility would be built into the new legislation to allow the 75 per cent. limit to be reviewed in future, if circumstances warranted it, but societies' housing-related business should continue to account for a clear majority of their assets. The additional statutory restrictions placed on the activities of small societies under the 1986 Act will be removed.

  The Government will introduce legislation to amend the Building Societies Act when a suitable opportunity arises. In the meantime, we will continue to implement, by secondary legislation, the changes announced last July. These will: allow societies to lend to incorporated businesses; raise the wholesale funding limit to 50 per cent. and permit societies to own general insurance companies writing buildings and contents policies and mortgage protection plans. These measures, inter alia, will facilitate the provision of funding for small and medium-sized businesses and encourage the growth of private mortgage payments protection insurance—both key objectives of Government policy.

  Finally, we have decided to bring the limits on dealings between societies and their directors into line with those applying under section 338 of the Companies Act 1985, as amended by section 138 of the Companies Act 1989; and to increase the limit above which certain shares and deposits must count as wholesale funding. These changes will also be implemented through secondary legislation.

  I have issued a press statement today, giving full details of the review. I have also responded to the Select Committee report of 19 December. Copies of the press notice and the response have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Taxation
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest estimated level of uncollected(a) corporation tax, (b) schedule D tax and (c) capital gains tax for each year since 1979 in 1994 prices; and what these amounts represent as a percentage of total tax payable in each category.

  Sir George Young
  The board of the Inland Revenue allows individual remissions of tax as an aspect of their responsibilities for the "care and management" of the direct taxes under section 1(1) of the Taxes Management Act 1970.

  Sound management requires that tax which is not collected and which cannot practicably be collected—for example, because the taxpayer is insolvent or his whereabouts are unknown—should be written off.
  342
  Similarly, it is on occasions necessary to remit tax which it would be unconscionable to collect—for example, because the payment would cause gross hardship to the taxpayer.

  The level of remissions fell for account 93 and is expected to fall again in 1994.

  (a) The amounts of corporation tax uncollected and consequently remitted or written off as irrecoverable since 1979 are as follows:

  Year

  Amount in thousands

  As a percentage of total corporation tax collected

  Amount expressed in 1993 prices

  1979

  15,182

  0.50

  47,079

  1980

  16,214

  0.49

  44,116

  1981

  20,688

  0.70

  51,295

  1982

  34,396

  0.89

  77,888

  1983

  40,912

  0.11

  85,409

  1984

  58,051

  1.23

  113,034

  1985

  75,342

  1.27

  133,725

  1986

  91,365

  1.11

  150,489

  1987

  92,830

  0.93

  137,960

  1988

  225,597

  1.92

  301,357

  1989

  151,368

  1.05

  186,209

  1990

  184,725

  1.17

  210,984

  1991

  320,929

  2.09

  351,891

  1992

  542,233

  4.64

  571,717

  1993

  417,814

  4.21

  417,814

  1994

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Note:

  The figures for 1994 are not sufficiently complete to allow the necessary comparison to be made and, consequently, the information is not available in the form requested. Therefore, the figures are expressed in accordance with 1994 prices.

  (b) The amounts of schedule D tax uncollected and consequently remitted or written off as irrecoverable since 1979 are as follows:

  Year

  Amount in thousands

  As a percentage of total Schedule D collected

  Amount expressed in1993 prices

  1979

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1980

  33,081

  0.79

  90,010

  1981

  41,552

  0.75

  103,028

  1982

  52,763

  0.84

  119,479

  1983

  68,536

  1.04

  143,078

  1984

  91,229

  1.32

  177,636

  1985

  90,196

  1.18

  160,090

  1986

  124,297

  1.29

  204,732

  1987

  133,878

  1.88

  198,964

  1988

  252,424

  3.06

  337,193

  1989

  242,024

  2.53

  297,731

  1990

  254,989

  2.35

  291,237

  1991

  383,566

  3.17

  420,571

  1992

  703,422

  5.16

  741,670

  1993

  701,787

  5.58

  701,787

  1994

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Notes:

  1 The figures for 1994 are not sufficiently complete to allow the necessary comparison to be made and consequently the information is not available in the form requested. Therefore, the figures are expressed in accordance with 1993 prices.

  2 Separate figures for schedule D are not available for 1979.
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  (c) The amounts of capital gains tax uncollected and consequently remitted or written off as irrecoverable since 1979 are as follows:

  Year

  Amount in thousands

  As a percentage of total CGT collected

  Amount expressed in 1993 prices

  1979

  3,048

  0.73

  9,452

  1980

  3,591

  0.71

  9,771

  1981

  2,734

  9.61

  6,779

  1982

  4,868

  0.78

  11,023

  1983

  6,496

  1.01

  13,561

  1984

  5,998

  0.84

  11,679

  1985

  7,562

  0.93

  13,422

  1986

  10,064

  0.99

  16,576

  1987

  8,822

  0.79

  13,111

  1988

  12,680

  0.80

  16,938

  1989

  10,864

  0.47

  13,365

  1990

  12,002

  0.64

  13,708

  1991

  29,721

  1.58

  32,588

  1992

  57,836

  4.69

  60,981

  1993

  50,397

  4.56

  50,397

  1994

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Note:

  The figures for 1994 are not sufficiently complete to allow the necessary comparison to be made and, consequently, the information is not available in the form requested. Therefore, the figures are expressed in accordance with 1993 prices.

  Insolvencies, where the Inland Revenue has very little control over the amount recoverable, account for the vast majority of remissions of tax.

  VAT-registered Companies
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many VAT-registered companies are currently trading in northern England; and what was the figure in 1978.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Based on the latest available information, the number of VAT-registered companies currently trading in northern England, and those trading in 1978, is as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1978

  29,086

  1995

  92,464

  Amusement Machines
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total installed base of video, pinball and amusements with prizes machines; and what are the numbers of those machines which will be liable to duty if the play price duty exemption is fixed at(a) 20p, (b) 30p, (c) 40p and (d) 50p.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: The total numbers of installed machines are as follows: 75,000 video, 30,000 pinball and 20,000 skill with prizes machines. There are about 205,000 amusement with prizes machines. It is not possible to predict the numbers of machines which would be liable to duty at the stated play prices. It would be a matter for individual operators to take advantage of any exemption in the light of the licence cost measured against the income from the machine.
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LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Magistrates
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the current political balance of magistrates in each municipal borough in South Yorkshire.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The political balance of magistrates in Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield, on the latest information available, is as follows:

  Conservative

  Labour

  Liberal/Democrat

  Independent/not known

  Barnsley

  46

  53

  16

  3

  Doncaster

  97

  57

  25

  11

  Rotherham

  44

  53

  8

  39

  Sheffield

  103

  114

  59

  86

TRANSPORT

  Vehicle Registration
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the purpose of levying a fee on new vehicle registrations which are not notified to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency under the automated first registration scheme; what agency or Government Department will be the recipient of the fee; and what the fee will be.

  Mr. Norris
  The automated first registration and licensing system is designed to enable motor dealers to register and license new vehicles without leaving their premises, saving costs and improving service to customers.

  The purpose of the fee would be to charge for first registrations where the automated first registration system was available to manufacturers and importers but they chose not to adopt it.

  The provision has not yet been activated and no fee level has been set. If it is introduced, the fee would be set at a level to offset the additional cost of any manual system which had to be provided.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he intends to introduce to ensure that vendors of vehicles, with particular reference to secondhand vehicles, are given correct and full details of the buyer's name and address in connection with the proposed move to joint notification.

  Mr. Norris
  A consultation paper on the proposed new vehicle registration system will be issued shortly. It will specifically invite views on how best to ensure the accuracy of the information provided by buyers and sellers of vehicles. Decisions will be taken in the light of the comments received.
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  Taxis
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about future plans for regulating taxis and private hire vehicles.

  Mr. Norris
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Milton Keynes, North-East (Mr. Butler) on 22 February,Official Report, column 189.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Parliamentary Data and Video Network
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee (1) when he expects the parliamentary data and video network to be available to all hon. Members; and how much this would cost;

  (2) what are the annual running costs for the parliamentary data and video network.

  Mr. Waller
  By the end of the 1995 summer recess, it is expected that some 550 hon. Members, including all hon. Members with offices in the outbuildings will have access to the video service, which includes the clean feed of proceedings of the House. Because the installation of cabling and trunking on the parliamentary estate is a complex exercise which can only be undertaken during summer recesses, full cabling of all Members' offices is not expected to be completed until the end of 1997. Hon. Members who wish to have access to the network and who have offices in areas of the parliamentary estate which have not yet been cabled may do so by means of a modem. On the matter of costs, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the first report from the Information Committee in Session 1993–94 on "The Provision of a Parliamentary Data and Video Network"—House of Commons Paper No. HC237—which was approved by the House on 30 June 1994.

  Computers
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee what is the size of the budget available to the House for the provision of computer technology to its hon. Members.

  Mr. Waller
  Members may use the office costs allowance to fund their individual use of computer technology. On 30 June 1994 the House approved a report from the Committee—first report "The Provision of Members' Information Technology Equipment, Software and Services", Session 1992–93, HC737—which proposed a modest range of supporting IT services to be available to Members from the next general election, the costs of which will be paid for by Members from their office costs allowance. Special provision can be made for computer equipment for Members with disabilities.

  Internet
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee (1) what is his estimate of the date by which hon. Members will be able to access the Internet through the PDVN;
  346
  (2) what estimate has been made of the expenditure required to make the Internet available to users of the parliamentary data and video network;

  (3) if hon. Members who access the Internet via the parliamentary data video network will be charged for the time for which they are on-line.

  Mr. Waller
  Subject to endorsement by the Finance and Services Committee, it is hoped that hon. Members connected to the parliamentary data and video network and who request it, will be able to access the Internet on an experimental basis from May. A fixed charge line connection to the Internet is planned and access via this link would not be charged to individual Members. The expenditure issue is not yet fully resolved and I shall write to the hon. Member.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Aid (Human Development)
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy that 20 per cent. of aid is to be allocated to priory needs for human development.

  Mr. Baldry
  The purpose of the British aid programme is to help people in countries poorer than our own to improve their lives. To that end, we have established seven priority objectives, one of which is to promote human development. We do not favour setting spending targets for individual objectives for this can reduce the quality of activities undertaken and because the objectives are mutually supporting.

  A substantial proportion of our bilateral aid is devoted to basic needs such as education, health care, clean water and safe sanitation. In 1993–94, 15 per cent.—£147 million—of the bilateral aid programme, excluding emergency relief, was spent in these areas. If emergency relief, most of which was used to meet basic needs in crisis situations, is included, the figure rises to 28 per cent.—£321 million. These figures are conservative since they omit expenditure in support of volunteers and that under the pound for pound scheme for non-governmental organisations—other than block grants—which is not categorised by objective in ODA statistics.

  Low-income Countries (Debt)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support proposals at the world summit on social development that seek immediate implementation of the Trinidad terms proposal to reduce by two thirds the eligible debt stock of severely indebted low-income countries as a first step towards a comprehensive write-off of between 80 per cent. and 100 per cent. of the debt stock of those countries.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 23 February 1995]: Implementation of Trinidad terms was agreed by the Paris Club in principle in December 1994. We pressed for an increase from 50 per cent. up to 80 per cent. debt reduction, but there was no consensus among other creditors to go beyond 67 per cent.
  347
  We welcome agreement by the Paris Club on 20 February to extend these terms to Uganda. I am delighted that that Commonwealth country is the first to benefit from my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's initiative.

  Structural Adjustment Programmes
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support proposals at the world summit on social development that require structural adjustment programmes to have social development goals.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 23 February 1995]: We will continue to stress the need for economic reform programmes to take full account of the social dimensions of development in their design and implementation.

  Development Bank Policies
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will be supporting objectives at the world summit for social development that would require international financial institutions to promote macro-economic policies that put the alleviation of poverty as a central objective.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 23 February 1995]: The primary objective of the World bank and other multilateral development banks is to assist borrowing member countries in their efforts to alleviate poverty and to promote sustainable economic development.

ENVIRONMENT

  Right to Buy
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many former local authority tenants have purchased their homes under the right-to-buy legislation in the northern region of England and in each local authority in the northern region.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Between October 1980 and September 1994 an estimated 116,000 local authority tenants purchased their homes in the north statistical region under the right-to-buy legislation.

  A table showing information on total right-to-buy sales for each local authority in England from 1980 to March 1994 is available in the Library.

  House Building
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new homes were built in the northern region of England by(a) private sector, (b) housing associations and (c) local authorities, by individual local authority (i) since 1979 and (ii) between 1974 and 1978.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Tables have been deposited in the Library showing cumulative totals of house building completions, by sector, for each local authority in the north standard statistical region. The first table shows activity for the period 1974 to 1978, the second shows activity between 1979 and 1994.
  348

  Cemfuel
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those instances in 1994 where permission to burn cemfuel was refused.

  Mr. Atkins
  Only two plants, Castle Cement at Clitheroe and Barrington, use cemfuel. Limited trials have taken place at these sites. There has been no other formal application to burn cemfuel.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the use of cemfuel by Castle Cement at Clitheroe.

  Mr. Atkins
  During the last two years, a number of representations have been received both from those who oppose and those who support the use of cemfuel. In addition, Members of Parliament have asked questions in the House, in particular the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans).

  In February 1995, Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution started a public consultation exercise to precede any decision whether to allow continued burning of this fuel at Clitheroe. This consultation period will last until 29 March.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates he has made of the amount of cemfuel burnt(a) in England and (b) in Lancashire in 1994.

  Mr. Atkins
  The total estimated quantity of cemfuel used in England in 1994 was 4,700 tonnes, of which 3,400 was used in Lancashire.

  Chicken Farm, Throckmorton
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contact his Department has had with the European Commission over the grant of planning permission for a chicken farm at Throckmorton in Worcestershire.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Commission wrote to the United Kingdom Government concerning the application of the directive 85/337/EEC—"the EIA directive"—to this proposal on 19 February 1992 and again on 12 July 1993. On both occasions, the Government replied to the letters. No further communication has been received.

  Habitual Residence Test
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made in calculating the standard spending assessment of the extra costs placed upon local authorities by the implementation of the habitual residence test; and how much he estimates local authorities will save in housing benefit and council tax benefits as a result of the test.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The local government finance settlement takes account of all new burdens on local authorities, together with other service pressures and the potential for increased efficiency and other savings as well as, more broadly, what the country can afford.
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  Housing benefit and council tax benefit savings resulting from the implementation of the habitual residence test are estimated to be about £4 million in a full year. These benefit savings accrue mainly to the Department of Social Security; there will be a small reduction in that part of the cost of benefit which falls on local authorities and this was taken into account in the settlement for 1994–95.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has regarding grants to homeless voluntary organisations under section 73 of the Housing Act 1975; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  My Department has completed its review of the section 73 grant programme. This incorporated the findings of research by York university, which was commissioned to assess the programme's effectiveness and consider its possible future direction. York found that the programme has been successful in providing assistance to a large number of single people. This confirms my own conclusions that the programme represents good value for money. I am pleased to announce that I have decided that the grant programme should continue.

  The Government are to make £6.9 million available in 1995–96. In addition to the applications for funding we have received from existing projects, we anticipate bids to start new schemes in 1995–96. These grants will assist voluntary organisations around the country to meet the running costs of schemes which provide practical help for single people in need of accommodation. They will also enable Shelter, SHAC—the London housing aid centre—and the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux to maintain and develop the national homelessness advice service.

  Dioxin Emissions
  Ms Ruddock
  To aks the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the most recent data evaluated by his Department on dioxin emissions from all sources.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 21 February 1995]: Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution will be publishing a report this spring which will detail the most recent estimates of dioxin emissions.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Benefits
  Mr. Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many changes there have been to benefit law since 1988 which relate to the qualification for benefit, age of qualification, disqualification rules and other changes related to periods of entitlement.

  Mr. Hague
  There have been over 100 changes which have affected entitlement to benefit since 1988. A list of these changes has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Harold Fair
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, up to what date Mr. Harold Fair will be entitled 350
  to payment of incapacity benefit; from what date he will be entitled to an old age pension; to what benefit he will be entitled in the intervening period; and if he will make a statement on the consideration underlying the interval in payment of contributory benefits.

  Mr. Hague
  Entitlement to incapacity benefit will cease on 1 June 1995, the day before Mr. Fair's 65th birthday. Retirement pension will be payable from the first pension payday, on 5 June 1995. Additionally, he is entitled to disability living allowance which remains unchanged. Retirement pension is paid weekly, on Mondays, and is not paid for odd days. However, because it is paid in advance and incapacity benefit is paid in arrears, the first pension payment will be received within one week of the final payment of incapacity benefit.

  Income Support (Mortgage Interest)
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he next intends to meet with representatives of the House Builders Federation to discuss his proposed changes to the arrangements for income support for mortgage interest payments.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security has a meeting arranged with the House Builders Federation on Monday 6 March.

  Contribution Conditions
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 10 February,Official Report, columns 433–35, if he will publish the calculations of his Department on the number of claimants who lost (a) unemployment benefit, (b) sickness benefit or (c) retirement pension as a result of the changes in the contributory conditions since 1975.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  [holding answer to February 1995:] The change in the unemployment and sickness benefit contribution conditions in 1975 were the result of the restructuring of the national insurance scheme so that wholly earnings-related contributions were collected along with income tax under the pay-as-you-earn procedures. It is unlikely that anyone lost benefit as a consequence.

  As a result of the abolition of reduced rates of unemployment benefit in October 1986 it was calculated that about 28,000 unemployed people would lose benefit in a full year. Some 10,000 sickness benefit claimants were affected, although a large proportion of these received supplementary benefit. Existing benefit recipients were transitionally protected.

  At the time of the changes to the contribution conditions in 1988, it was estimated that 350,000 people would no longer qualify for unemployment benefit in a full year. Of those, about 300,000 would qualify for income support or for increased income support. It was estimated that about 8,000 people would not qualify for sickness benefit in a full year, and of those about 90 per cent. would qualify for income support. Those in receipt of benefit at the point of change received transitional protection.
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PRIME MINISTER

  East Timor
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to raise the question of Indonesia's illegal occupation of East Timor at future meetings of the Group of Seven.

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Prime Minister if Lord Justice Scott's inquiry has now finished taking new evidence or information; if interview sessions have now ceased; and on what date the last interview was held.

  The Prime Minister
  The last public hearing of Sir Richard Scott's inquiry was held on 7 July 1994, while the last evidence taken in private was on 14 February 1995. Sir Richard Scott has made it clear that, as he compiles his report and as the need arises, he will seek further evidence or information.

  "Back to Basics"
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister what have been the results of his "back to basics" campaign.

  The Prime Minister
  The hon. Member has misunderstood. "Back to basics" is a principle based on the common-sense values of the British people—in particular, individual responsibility.

HEALTH

  Day Surgery
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she has taken or plans to take to ensure that day surgery is undertaken only by surgeons fully trained to do so.

  Mr. Sackville
  We have no such plans. It is for individual provider hospitals to ensure high standards of practice for all patients and for purchasing authorities to ensure their populations have access to high-quality care. Surgeons carrying out day surgery should be experienced in the practice and junior trainees should be closely supervised by experienced staff.

  Financial Services
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the costs of NHS financial services at(a) regional health authorities, (b) district health authorities and (c) family health services authorities in 1989–90; and what were the costs of such services at (i) regional health authorities, (ii) district health authorities, (iii) family health services authorities and (iv) NHS trusts in 1993–94.

  Mr. Sackville
  Figures for regional and district health authorities are shown in the table. Costs of national health service financial services are not available for family health services authorities or NHS trusts.
  352

  Cost of NHS financial services 1989–90 and 1993–94

  1989–90 £000

  1993–94 £000

  Regional Health Authorities

  13,529

  22,935

  District Health Authorities

  164,492

  50,194

  Source:

  Annual financial returns of regional and district health authorities.

  Notes:

  1. Figures include all expenditure on the provision of a finance and accounting function for the authority including any elements recharged from units or common services.

  2. The appropriate proportion of non-finance staff carrying out accounting duties relating to the standing financial instructions of the authority are also included.

  3. The amount spent by NHS trusts and FHSAs is not separately identifiable.

  4. 1993–94 figures are provisional.

  Part-time NHS Employees
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps she has taken to notify former part-time NHS employees of the decision of 4 March in the House of Lords;

  (2) what financial provision she has made to meet claims for compensation from former part-time NHS employees following the decision of 4 March in the House of Lords;

  (3) what guidance she has issued to employers within the NHS in respect of claims for compensation from former part-time NHS employees following the decision of 4 March in the House of Lords;

  (4) what estimate she has made of the number of former part-time NHS employees who have ceased employment during the last 16 years who are potentially affected by the decision of 4 March in the House of Lords.

  Mr. Malone
  The "decision of 4 March in the House of Lords" is taken to mean the decision by the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords on 3 March 1994 in R. v. Secretary of State for Employment ex parte Equal Opportunities Commission and another.

  Employment issues affecting individual employees, such as claims for redundancy payments are the responsibility of health authorities and national health service trusts as autonomous employers.

  It is not possible, from the information available centrally, to estimate the number of former part-time employees who may be affected by the House of Lords' judgment.

  Child Care
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her Department's latest estimate of the total level of public expenditure on child care for children under the age of five years; what this sum is per child under the age of five years; what this sum is as a percentage of gross domestic product; and what this sum is as a percentage of public expenditure.

  Mr. Bowis
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Delegated Pay
  Mr McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the non-departmental public bodies
  353
  sponsored by her 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.

  Mr. Sackville
  According to current plans, the non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Department which will introduce new pay arrangements are as shown:

  Department of Health

  National Radiological Protection board—operative date as yet to be decided.

  From April 1995:

  None

  From April 1996

  None

  Delegated pay option

  From April 1995:

  Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work.

  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

  From April 1996:

  None.

  Breast Screening
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what positive results have arisen from the programme of breast screening.

  Mr. Sackville
  Between 1988 and 1993, 3,246,174 women have been screened and 19,667 breast cancers detected.

  Primary Care
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the role of primary care in developing the NHS and purchasing.

  Mr. Malone
  Guidance issued by the Department EL(94)79, developing NHS purchasing and GP fundholding, sets out our policy for involving primary care practitioners more closely in national health service purchasing. In particular, this will be through the extended options for general practitioner fundholding and the development of stronger partnerships between health authorities and primary health care teams. Copies of the guidance are available in the Library.

  Statistics
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the five health areas in England which had the highest annual figures for(a) birth rates, (b) new cases of tuberculosis, (c) the incidence of pregnancies in women aged under 20 years, (d) the incidence of HIV-AIDS and (e) perinatal mortality rates; and what are the average figures for England in each category in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the tables.

  (a) The five regional health authorities with the highest crude birth rates in 1993 were:
  354

  Crude birth rate1

  North East Thames

  14.8

  North West Thames

  14.2

  South East Thames

  13.6

  North Western

  13.5

  Oxford

  13.4

  England

  13.1

  1 Number of births per 1,000 population of all ages.

  (b) The five regional health authorities with the highest number of notifications of tuberculosis in 1993 were:

  Health Authority

  Number

  North West Thames

  851

  North East Thames

  806

  West Midlands

  788

  North Western

  608

  Trent

  518

  Note:

  The total number of notifications of tuberculosis in England in 1993 was 5,721.

  (c) The five regional health authorities with the highest conception rates to women under 20 in England, 1991, were:

  Health Authority

  Conception rates1

  North Western

  79.2

  West Midlands

  74.0

  Yorkshire

  73.0

  Northern

  72.5

  North East Thames

  69.3

  England

  64.8

  1 All conceptions to women under 20 per 1,000 females aged 15 to 19.

  (d) The five regional health authorities with the highest number of cases of AIDS reported in 1993 were:

  Health Authority

  AIDS cases reported

  North West Thames

  483

  North East Thames

  343

  South East Thames

  214

  South West Thames

  68

  Oxford

  54

  Note:

  The total number of cases of AIDS reported in England in 1993 was 1,463.

  (e) The five regional health authorities with the highest number of cases of AIDS reported in 1993 were:

  Health Authority

  West Midlands

  9.9

  North East Thames

  9.7

  Yorkshire

  9.6

  North Western

  9.6

  South East Thames

  9.3

  England

  8.9

  1 per 1,000 live and still births.

  Note:
  355

  Accident and Emergency Departments
  Mr. Keen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many accident and emergency departments have been relocated in England in 1995; and what were the corresponding figures in each year since 1986.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Breast Cancer
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of breast cancer have been diagnosed in the NHS for each year since 1990 for women aged(a) 21 to 30, (b) 31 to 40, (c) 41 to 50, (d) 51 to 60, (e) 61 years and older and (f) all women.

  Mr. Sackville
  The latest available figures can be found in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys publication MB 1 No. 22 "Cancer statistics, England and Wales 1989", copies of which are available in the Library.

  The statistics do not distinguish whether or not the diagnosis was made in the national health service.

  Medical Staff
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many medical staff are currently employed in the NHS; and what was the figure in 1979.

  Mr. Malone
  The figures are shown in the table.

  Hospital and Community Health Service Staff and General Medical Practitioners in 1979 and 1993—England

  1979

  1993

  Hospital and Community Health Service (whole-time equivalent)

  34,900

  46,400

  General Medical Practitioners (numbers)

  23,100

  28,500

  Total of the above

  58,000

  74,800

  Note:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 2: The figures in the table may not sum to the total because of rounding.

  Mental Health
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when she intends to publish or place in the Library the follow-up report by Dr. John Yates on the closure of psychiatric hospitals and beds for the mentally ill.

  Mr. Bowis
  The report of the 1994 survey of the remaining large mental illness hospitals in England, commissioned by the mental health task force, is to be submitted to Ministers shortly. A decision will then be taken on its publication.

  Dispensing Doctors
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what provisions are currently made by the Prescription Pricing Authority in respect of dispensing doctors who receive substantial reductions from their suppliers concerning their value added tax reimbursements;

  (2) what research her Department (a) has conducted, or (b) plans to conduct, into the relationship between the discounts which dispensing doctors receive from their suppliers and dispensing doctors' value added tax reimbursements; and if she will make a statement.
  356
  Mr. Malone
  The terms on which general practitioners are reimbursed for the cost of drugs which they have dispensed or personally administered to patients, are set out in paragraph 44 of the "Statement of Fees and Allowances Payable to General Medical Practitioners in England and Wales", copies of which are available in the Library. An independent confidential inquiry was conducted jointly by the British Medical Association and the health Departments of England, Scotland and Wales in 1993 into the rates of discount obtained by dispensing doctors on their purchases of drugs and appliances. A new discount rate is to be introduced in England and Wales from 1 April 1995 for calculating the level of doctors' reimbursement. The level of value added tax reimbursement is based on the discount rate. The profession as a whole receives only the level of expenses actually incurred in providing general medical services.

  Steriliser Testing Service
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evaluation she has commissioned of the advantages and disadvantages of having an independent steriliser testing service carried out by(a) private sector and (b) public sector agencies; what proposals she has to publish a report of her evaluation; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department has not commissioned an evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of independent steriliser testing by the private sector and the public sector, but we are aware of the continuing need for competent personnel to carry out this work.

  In order to ensure this, the Department has established, under the auspices of the Institute of Hospital Engineering, a register of steriliser engineers. To become registered, it will be necessary to acquire appropriate professional skills and experience. The Department will monitor closely the effectiveness of the scheme.

  Abortions
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions have now been performed in total under the provisions of the Abortion Act 1967; and how many and what percentage of those abortions were performed in an emergency to save the life the mother.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 17 February 1995]: Up to 31 December 1992, a total of 3,911,680 abortions had been performed in Great Britain under the Abortion Act 1967, as amended by section 37 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, since its implementation. Of these, the number performed in emergency and certified by the operating practitioner as immediately necessary to "save the life of the pregnant woman"—ground 5 prior to April 1991, ground F subsequently—was 154, or 0.004 per cent.

SCOTLAND

  Accidents
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) fatal and (b) non-fatal accidents have occurred on the A947 in each year since 1985.
  357
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is given in the table. Information on non-injury accidents is not held centrally.Number of reported injury accidents on or at a junction with the

  Year

  Fatal Accidents

  Non-Fatal Injury Accidents

  1985

  6

  110

  1986

  4

  122

  1987

  5

  112

  1988

  5

  123

  1989

  3

  102

  1990

  1

  89

  1991

  3

  72

  1992

  2

  72

  1993

  0

  62

  1994'

  1

  42

  11994 statistics are provisional.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  European Prison Rules
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions the United Kingdom has been criticised by the Council of Europe for failure to comply to the minimum standards laid out in the European prison rules; on what factors non-compliance was identified; and if he will make a statement on the steps he is taking to ensure compliance in future.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The European prison rules are not binding on signatory states and consequently there has been no criticism of the Prison Service in England and Wales by the Council of Europe for failure to comply with its terms.

  Prisons (Drugs)
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how may drug and related finds by type of drug were made in gaols in England and Wales in each year since 1990.

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

  Letter front Derek Lewis to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 24 February 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about how many drug and related finds by type of drug were made in jails in England and Wales in each year since 1990.
  Information on drug finds was not recorded centrally until 25 September 1990.
  The tables below list the drug and related finds for the calendar years 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994.

  Items

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Heroin

  72

  99

  158

  348

  Cocaine

  50

  65

  65

  108

  LSD

  12

  32

  41

  49

  Amphetamines

  23

  36

  71

  119

  Barbiturates

  22

  24

  30

  69

  358

  Items

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Cannabis

  2,333

  2,081

  3,388

  4,850

  Cannabis Plant

  80

  81

  158

  242

  Crack

  3

  4

  4

  10

  Other

  101

  183

  203

  403

  Authentic Syringe

  92

  156

  228

  275

  Improvised Syringe

  57

  41

  79

  168

  Authentic Needle

  21

  16

  27

  64

  Improvised Needle

  3

  7

  2

  9

  Pipe(s)

  445

  317

  417

  595

  Roach

  72

  56

  117

  185

  Total

  3,386

  3,198

  4,988

  7,494

  It should be noted that increases in the numbers of finds may reflect more effective searching, as a result of the priority being given to the control of drugs, and are not necessarily an indication that there has been a corresponding increase in the presence of drugs.

  Fire Service
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response he will be making to the Audit Commission report on the fire service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The Government shall be asking the local authority associations and individual fire brigades to give urgent consideration to the recommendations which fall to them to take forward. Where the recommendations affect Government responsibilities, we shall ensure that they are considered either by the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council or in conjunction with the other Government Departments concerned.

  Inquests
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average length of time families of victims have to wait for an inquest;

  (2) what is the average number of hours worked weekly by coroners.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  I regret that this information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what services victims' families can receive from coroners courts.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Coroners are appointed by local authorities to investigate sudden and unexplained deaths in the general interest of the community. The provision of coroners courts is a local authority responsibility, but the Home Office publishes a free explanatory leaflet, "The Work of the Coroner", which coroners are encouraged to make widely available and which describes the responsibilities of the coroner and offers guidance to those who may be involved in an inquest. I am placing a copy in the Library.

  Greater Manchester Probation Service
  Miss Lestor
  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;

  (2) what will be the effect of the 1994 probation budget reduction on staffing levels within each grade of staff;

  359
  and what assessment he has made of the likelihood of redundancies within each grade of staff in the Greater Manchester probation service;

  (3) what assessment he has made of the effect 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 assessment he has made of the effect of the 1994 probation budget cut on staff terms and conditions of service in the Greater Manchester probation service;

  (5) what will be the effect of the November 1994 Budget statement on the Greater Manchester probation service;

  (6) what assessment he has made of the effect of the 19945 probation budget reduction on liaison with victim support and work with victims in the Greater Manchester probation service;

  (7) what reduction in hostel provision will result from the 1994 budget reduction to the Greater Manchester probation service;

  (8) what reduction in probation centre provision will result from the 1994 budget reduction to 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 £900,000 to support probation service partnerships with the independent sector previously funded separately by the Home Office.

  It is for the 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 he undertaken with 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 the Home Secretary.

  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.

  Sudbury Prison
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy towards a prisoner at Her Majesty's prison, Sudbury, serving eight years for major fraud being granted home or temporary leave after serving 12 months of his sentence.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 13 February 1995]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
  360
  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 24 February 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the policy towards a prisoner at Sudbury prison serving eight years for major fraud being granted home or temporary leave after serving 12 months of his sentence.
  We have been unable to identify a prisoner at Sudbury prison serving an eight year sentence for major fraud although there is one prisoner serving a ten year sentence for fraud.
  Prisoners allocated to Sudbury prison would normally be eligible for the "compact weekend" scheme. In November 1994, the Home Secretary announced changes in the Home Leave and Temporary Release schemes for prisoners. Under the new rules, which will come into effect in the Spring, a prisoner serving such a sentence would not be released on temporary licence at that stage in his sentence.

  Prisoners (Repatriation)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking with ministerial colleagues within the Europe Union to provide for EU nationals, and those ordinarily resident in EU states, who are convicted of certain offences to serve their sentences in their own state.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 23 February 1995]: Under the Council of Europe convention on the transfer of sentenced persons, a prisoner sentenced to imprisonment in one jurisdiction may be repatriated to the jurisdiction of which they are a national to serve their sentence. The United Kingdom ratified the convention in 1985. We have been joined in the convention by all but one of our partners in the European Union with which prisoner repatriations are conducted regularly.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Life Assurance Companies
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his Department's approach to the balance between the policyholders' and shareholders' interests in the long-term funds of life insurance companies.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  A number of with-profit life offices have accumulated amounts within their long-term funds whose allocation between the shareholders and policyholders may not be clearcut; and there has been a growing interest among relevant companies in the scope for clarifying shareholders' interest in the long-term fund.

  The Department is in principle in favour of greater clarity in the attribution of the long-term funds of proprietary insurance companies. In any such attribution, it has a responsibility to ensure that the reasonable expectations of policyholders are fulfilled.

  The Department considers that policyholders' reasonable expectations in respect of attribution of surplus are influenced by a range of factors, notably:
  The fair treatment of policyholders vis a vis shareholders;
  Any statements by the company as to its bonus philosophy and the entitlement of policyholders to a share in profit, for example, in its articles of association or in company literature;
  The history and past practice of the company;
  General practice within the life insurance industry.
  361
  The Department is concerned that any restructuring of funds for the purpose of clarification should preserve a proper balance of interests as between policyholders and shareholders. In this connection, it considers that the proportion of policyholders' and shareholders' interests in the surplus are unaffected by whether or not the surplus is actually distributed—that is, if in any year surplus is not distributed but is retained in the fund, the policyholders as a class retain their interest in that element of the fund.

  A life office may make distributions from surplus in the long-term fund as shown by the statutory annual actuarial valuation. It is common practice to make distributions to policyholders and shareholders in the proportion 90:10. In assessing policyholders' reasonable expectations, the Department would expect this ratio to he used as the basis of attribution between the policyholders and shareholders, unless there was clear evidence, based on a company's circumstances, statements or practice, that a different proportion was appropriate in respect of the surplus arising from some particular part of the business.

  The Department considers that the proposal announced today by United Friendly Insurance to restructure its long-term funds is consistent with these principles. It has reached this view on the basis of information provided about the history and practice of the company, the amount of accumulated reserves to be set aside for the benefit of with-profit and other policyholders—a part of which is being used immediately to declare a special bonus to policyholders—and the intended arrangements for the future distribution of surplus arising in the long-term funds.

  The Department will assess any similar proposals from other life offices having regard to the facts of the case and the principles described above. The outcome in any specific case will depend on the history and circumstances of the fund, which may differ widely from company to company.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to consider specific proposals stemming from the Commission's document "Europe's way to the information society", No. 15486.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The European Commission has already brought forward a number of proposals listed in the annexe to its communication "Europe's way to the information society"— COM(94)347 final. These are being considered closely by Government, and some are already under discussion in Brussels. I would expect the Commission to bring forward further proposals over the next 12 months, in line with the timetable set out in the annexe.

  The UK has played a major role in co-ordinating two projects: global interoperability for broadband networks, building on the success of Super JANET; and government on-line, developing the CCTA's ideas for electronic communication within government.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what different forms of scrutiny by the United Kingdom Parliament will apply to the European Commission document 15486, "Europe's way to the information society".

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The Commission communication in response to the Bangemann group report, "Europe's way to the information society: an action plan" was a depositable 362
  document and fell within scrutiny arrangements. I submitted a full explanatory memorandum to Parliament on 29 September 1994 and the document was scrutinised according to agreed procedures.

  Telecommunications
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) when he expects to present to Parliament the official text of part II of the European Green Paper on telecommunication liberalisation.

  (2) when he expects to produce the explanatory memorandum from the Government on the implications of the European Commission Green Paper, part II of telecommunications liberalisation.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  I expect to submit to Parliament shortly the official text of part II of the European Commission's Green Paper on the liberalisation of telecommunications infrastructure and an explanatory memorandum on it.

  Exports (Gibraltar)
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the export licence application refused for the export of goods to Gibraltar in 1993 was for equipment specified as MLI in group 1 of part III of schedule 1 of SI, 1992, No. 3092.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  No.

  Land Mines
  Mrs Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what casing or components for anti-personnel mines have been exported by United Kingdom firms since 1982.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  I am not aware of any export of specially designed components for anti-personnel mines, but this could be established only at disproportionate cost.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many licences to manufacture British designed anti-personnel mines have been sold to foreign firms since 1982.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  This is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence. My Department does not maintain such records.

  United Projects Co. Ltd.
  Mrs Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if United Projects Co. Ltd. has been granted a licence to communicate with Iraq since sanctions began.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  It has been the policy of successive Administrations not to comment on individual licensing cases unless the public interest outweighs the need for confidentiality.

  Foreign Direct Investment
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will identify the sites and locations where foreign direct investment has created 300 or more jobs from 1984 onwards; and if he will provide a regional assessment of the total employment created by such investment as at 1 January.

  Mr. Eggar
  I regret that information in the detail requested by the hon. Member is available only at disproportionate cost.
  363
  However, from 1984–85 to 1993–94, the latest year for which complete figures are available, 154 projects expected to create 300 or more new jobs were notified to my Department's Investment in Britain Bureau. These were expected to create nearly 106,000 new jobs, the regional breakdown of which was expected to he as follows:

  Region

  Number of new jobs

  North East

  9,235

  North West

  5,747

  Yorkshire/Humberside

  6,275

  West Midlands

  14,941

  South West

  5,123

  East Midlands

  6,966

  South East

  16,950

  Northern Ireland

  7,106

  Scotland

  22,517

  Wales

  10,809

  Total

  105,669

  In addition, a total of 5,281 jobs were expected to be safeguarded.

  These figures are based on information provided to the Invest in Britain Bureau by companies themselves at the time of the announcement of the decision to invest. There is no requirement to notify the Department, so the figures include only those projects where the Invest in Britain Bureau and its regional partners were involved or which have come to their notice. They take no account of subsequent developments.

  Personal Security Equipment
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade under which headings of the successive export control orders from 1988 batons and personal security equipment designed to blind, stun or disable were included.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Such equipment has been classified under one heading—PL5001.

  Suppression Coatings
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which sections of the export of goods control orders cover "stealth" coatings and materials; and whether export of designs and expertise related to such coatings are also licensable exports.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  "Stealth" coatings and materials are controlled in entry ML17(c), fittings, coatings and treatments for signature suppression of group 1 and entries 1C001, materials specially designed for use as absorbers of electromagnetic waves, and 1C101, materials and devices for reduced observables of group 3 of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994—EG(C)0.

  Jobs expected

  Company

  Country of origin

  Original assistance offered £000

  Value at * 1995 prices

  New

  Safeguarded

  Year 1985

  Tabuchi Electric (UK) Ltd.

  Japan

  2,983

  4,602.8

  185

  Superbadge

  Hong Kong

  383

  591.0

  116

  Komatsu

  Japan

  1,200

  1,851.6

  262

  Shulton (GB) Ltd.

  United States America

  300

  462.9

  66

  364
  Software specially designed for such materials is controlled in entry 1D103 of group 3 of the EG(C)0. Technology, which covers documents detailing design and expertise, for such materials is controlled in entries PL5028, of group I and 1E001, 1E101 and 1E102 of group 3 of the EG(C)0.

  In addition, entry PL5032—goods coated or treated for signature suppression specially designed for military use, other than those specified elsewhere in this group—of group 1 controls military goods with signal suppression coatings not controlled elsewhere in group 1.

  Northern Region
  Mr. Devlin
  To aks the President of the Board of Trade how many jobs have been safeguarded in the northern region through offers of regional and regional selective assistance since 1979.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  For the region covered by the Government office for the north-east, 43,071 jobs were safeguarded through the operation of the regional selective assistance scheme between 1979 and 1994. The principal criteria for the regional development grants schemes related to the level of capital expenditure not the number of jobs safeguarded. The first RDG scheme closed for applications on 28 November 1985 and the second on 31 March 1988.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many trading companies are based in the northern region of England; and what was the figure in 1978.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  For the region covered by the Government office for the north-east, there were 43,222 VAT registered companies trading on 31 December 1993, the latest available figures. On 31 December 1979—the first year that figures were collated—there were 37,436 VAT registered companies trading in the region.

  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will list the companies which have located in the northern region since 1979 which have received Government assistance together with the amount of Government assistance each received at 1995 prices and an estimate of the jobs created or safeguarded, and from which country each company came;

  (2) if he will list the overseas inward investment in the northern region since 1979 by (a) company, (b) amount of Government assistance at 1995 prices and (c) direct jobs created.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The information for the period 1985–94 is in the tables. The figures cover all new investments, a total of 67 projects, which received regional selective assistance, regional development grants and/or regional enterprise grants. These projects were drawn from a list of 376 projects including new investment, expansions, joint ventures and acquisitions.

  It has not been possible to produce figures for 1979 to 1985 as records for that period are incomplete, unavailable or have been destroyed.
  365

  Jobs expected

  Company

  Country of origin

  Original assistance offered £000

  Value at * 1995 prices

  New

  Safeguarded

  Labelling Dynamics Ltd.

  Denmark

  137

  211.4

  23

  Multiman (N'cle) Ltd.

  Norway

  40

  61.7

  25

  Ikeda Hoover

  Japan

  483

  745.3

  161

  Microclad

  France

  500

  771.5

  88

  Tomado

  Belgium

  10

  15.4

  6

  Totals

  6,036

  9,313.5

  932

  0

  Year: 1986

  Helena Laboratories (UK) Ltd.

  United States America

  100

  149.3

  25

  Transfer All Purpose Foils

  United States America

  819

  1,222.8

  130

  RB Bolton(Mining Eng) Ltd.

  Europe

  150

  224.0

  35

  Grorud Industries

  Norway

  335

  500.2

  75

  Calsonic

  Japan

  33

  49.3

  11

  Totals

  1,437

  2,145.4

  276

  0

  Year: 1987

  Amdega

  Isle of Man

  70

  100.3

  20

  Fox Valley Systems

  United States America

  130

  186.3

  12

  Key Tech

  United States America

  1,980

  2,837.3

  260

  Mitsumi

  Japan

  894

  1,281.1

  298

  SMK (UK) Ltd.

  Japan

  690

  988.8

  230

  F. Fill and Sons

  Sweden

  80

  114.6

  377

  Prom

  Denmark

  976

  1,398.6

  60

  Totals

  4,820

  6,907.1

  1,257

  0

  Year: 1988

  BHK (UK) Ltd.

  West Germany

  200

  273.2

  50

  TRW Repa

  West Germany

  750

  1,024.5

  250

  Intertractor

  West Germany

  500

  683.0

  50

  Jotron (UK) Ltd.

  Norway

  115

  157.1

  30

  Lintron Electronics

  Sweden

  90

  122.9

  30

  Glassfibre Flagpoles Ltd.

  Sweden

  20

  27.3

  5

  North Salmon Smokery Ltd.

  Norway

  387

  528.6

  162

  Gliderol Roller Doors

  Australia

  144

  196.7

  48

  Winchmore Knitting

  Hong Kong

  1,050

  1,434.3

  350

  Sanyo

  Japan

  1,407

  1,922.0

  469

  Goldstar

  South Korea

  1,171

  1,599.6

  330

  Swilynn

  Hong Kong

  4,550

  6,215.3

  505

  Cookson Enteck

  United States America

  660

  901.6

  66

  Totals

  11,044

  15,086.1

  2,345

  0

  Year: 1989

  TRW Transportation Electronics

  United States America

  360

  456.1

  120

  Fujitsu

  Japan

  30,000

  38,010.0

  1,626

  Cookson Fukuda Ltd.

  Japan

  1,010

  1,279.7

  115

  Hashimoto Forming Co. Ltd.

  Japan

  1,500

  1,900.5

  135

  T T Coil UK Ltd.

  Denmark

  460

  582.8

  75

  Totals

  33,330

  42,229.1

  2,071

  0

  Year: 1990

  Magneco Metrel

  United States America

  300

  347.4

  51

  TRW Valves

  United States America

  4,500

  5,211.0

  225

  Schurpack UK) Ltd.

  Denmark

  850

  984.3

  104

  Marley Kansei Ltd.

  Japan

  846

  979.7

  77

  Calsonic Automotive Products

  Japan

  427

  494.5

  48

  Inkel Corporation

  Korea

  553

  640.4

  60

  Totals

  7,476

  8,657.2

  565

  0

  Year: 1991

  Manhattan Kids

  United States America

  25

  26.4

  17

  Lego Fact

  Sweden

  12

  12.6

  12

  Lite-On (NPE) Ltd.

  Taiwan

  90

  94.9

  85

  Totals

  127

  133.9

  114

  0

  366 367

  Jobs expected

  Company

  Country of origin

  Original assistance offered £000

  Value at * 1995 prices

  New

  Safeguarded

  Year: 1992

  Tallent Eng Ltd.

  Germany

  700

  737.8

  199

  Vynapoint Ltd.

  Germany

  15

  15.8

  6

  Samsung Electronic Manuf (UK) Ltd.

  Korea

  3,000

  3,162.0

  290

  Onwa Electronics

  Hong Kong

  3,250

  3,425.5

  280

  Totals

  6,965

  7,341.1

  775

  0

  Year: 1993

  Starpak Inc.

  United States America

  95

  98.6

  70

  Whiting Co.

  United States America

  90

  93.4

  10

  Production Services

  United States America

  25

  26.0

  10

  Technotype Ltd.

  United States America

  6.7

  7.0

  5

  Matrixx Marketing Inc.

  United States Amercia

  95

  98.6

  65

  Europa Magnetics Corporation

  Korea

  8,250

  8,563.5

  550

  Siam Furniture

  Thailand

  3

  3.1

  22

  Lineraid Ltd.

  Hong Kong

  160

  166.1

  89

  Totals

  8,629.7

  8,957.6

  751

  0

  Year: 1994

  Camrex Inc.

  United States America

  500

  506.5

  56

  TRW Transportation Electronics Ltd.

  United States America

  1,500

  1,519.5

  136

  Nippon Silica Glass

  Japan

  250

  253.3

  18

  3

  L. N. P. Plastics

  Japan

  450

  455.9

  40

  Lucas SEI Wiring Systems Ltd.

  Japan

  980

  992.7

  650

  Goldstar Electric (UK) Ltd.

  Korea

  4,000

  4,052.0

  431

  44

  Samsung Electronics Manuf (UK) Ltd.

  Korea

  10,500

  10,636.5

  900

  Totals

  18.18

  18,416.3

  2.231

  47

  Fire Safety
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a cost-benefit analysis of the proposals contained in the report of the interdepartmental review of fire safety legislation and enforcement which transfer to building control authorities the role of the fire authorities in determining fire safety standards in new and altered or extended buildings.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  In considering the way forward on the review of fire safety legislation and enforcement, the Government recognise the need for the costs and benefits of any possible changes to be properly assessed.

  The Government hope to come to decisions on the report in the coming weeks, taking account of comments received during the consultation process. We will look at the case for publication at that time.

  UK Investment
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the current level of British investment in(a) the United States of America, (b) the EEC excluding the United Kingdom, (c) Japan and (d) south America; and what it was in 1979, at 1995 prices.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The available information, in current prices, is as follows:368

  UK direct investment: book value of net assets

  £ million, current prices

  1978

  1981

  1993

  United States of America

  3,559

  7,979

  57,420

  EC

  4,926

  5,910

  52,778

  Japan

  112

  187

  1,909

  Caribbean, central and south America

  957

  1,711

  12,216

  Note:

  Until 1987, the inquiry into overseas transactions was conducted triennially. Consequently, data are available for 1978 and 1981, but not 1979.

  Military Technology (Export Licences)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 31 January,Official Report, column 609, what factors led him to conclude that the information requested on export licences granted for temporary export of military technology for display at exhibitions could be put together only at a disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  As I said in my original reply, the required information could only be extracted by examining original case papers. This is because that information—in the degree of detail that was asked for—is not itemised on my Department's databases. The manual search would breach the guidelines on disproportionate cost.
  369

  Postal Services
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the position of Her Majesty's Government on(a) liberalisation of postal services and (b) implementation of the single market in postal services.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Government made it clear in their consultation document "The Future of Postal Services"— Cmnd 2614, June 1994—that they favoured the progressive introduction of further competition in postal services, provided this did not put at risk the Royal Mail's ability to maintain a universal service at a uniform and affordable tariff.

  As regards the European single market, the European Commission itself produced a Green Paper—Com(91)476, June 1992. This acknowledged that a fully harmonised market in postal services was unlikely as each member state would wish to impose restrictions on competition in postal services, in order to ensure the continued ability of the national postal service to meet its social obligations. It made a number of proposals, however, which were intended to ensure that restrictions on competition were no greater than necessary to fund these social objectives.

  The Commission is currently preparing draft directives on postal services as a basis for further discussion. While Her Majesty's Government have no formal position on those directives until they have been published, the United Kingdom has one of the more liberalised postal markets in the European Union and would support moves which would bring similar liberalisation in other member states.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if Her Majesty's Government support the use of article 90(3) EU to define the list of reserved postal services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Government would prefer that all directives implementing the single market in postal services should have as their legal basis article 100A of the treaty of Rome.

  Nirex
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what liability the Government have for future routine or accidental contamination to the environment as a result of the construction and operation of the proposed Nirex nuclear waste repository.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: The Government have already announced their intention to introduce regulations to provide for the licensing of radioactive waste repositories. The provisions of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, as amended, will then apply to claims for compensation for third party damage to property or injury in accordance with the arrangements in force at the time. For details of the current arrangements I refer to the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Under Secretary of State for Industry and Energy to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent, (Mr. Smith) on 10 January 1995, Official Report, columns 29–30.

  Albert Company Plumbing
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will refer the charging practices of Albert Company Plumbing of Middlesex to the Director General of Fair Trading.
  370
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  [holding answer 21 February 1995]: The Consumer Protection Act 1987 provides a means for individuals to complain about misleading pricing to their local trading standards office.

  Dounreay
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many on-site contractors have been engaged at Dounreay over the last six months; and what services they have provided.

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 23 February 1995]: This is a management matter for the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.

WALES

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each non-departmental public body in Wales to which he appoints members(a) the title of the organisation, (b) the number of non-executive members which represents the full complement and (c) the actual current number of non-executive members which have been appointed.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information given in the following table relates to all executive NDPBs and NHS bodies in Wales. In each case, the figures show (i) the maximum—and, where applicable, the minimum—number of members who may be appointed, including the chairman and vice-deputy chairman; and (ii) the number of appointments which were current at 1 December 1994.

  Details of these and all other appointments made by me are listed in "Appointments by the Secretary of State for Wales" which is updated quarterly. Further details about public bodies in Wales is provided in "Public Bodies 1994" HMSO. Both publications are available in the Library of the House.

  Full membership complement

  Appointments held at 1 December 1994

  Executive NDPBs

  Agriculture Wages Committee1

  Clwyd

  15

  2

  Dyfed

  21

  2

  Glamorgan

  15

  2

  Gwent

  15

  2

  Gwynedd

  21

  2

  Powys

  21

  2

  Arts Council of Wales

  18

  16

  Cardiff Bay Development Corporation

  13

  13

  Countryside Council for Wales

  8–12

  10

  Curriculum and Assessment Authority

  10–15

  15

  Development Board for Rural Wales

  11–13

  13

  Further Education Funding Council

  8–12

  11

  Higher Education Funding Council

  8–12

  10

  Housing for Wales

  6–8

  6

  Land Authority for Wales

  6–9

  8

  National Library of Wales: Council2

  20

  3

  National Museum for Wales: Council3

  16

  4

  Sports Council for Wales

  24

  14

  Wales Tourist Board

  7

  5

  371

  Full membership complement

  Appointments held at 1 December 1994

  Wales Youth Agency

  15

  10

  Welsh Development Agency

  9–11

  8

  Welsh Language Board

  15

  15

  Welsh National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting

  7

  7

  Health Bodies

  District Health Authorities

  Clwyd

  6

  6

  East Dyfed

  6

  6

  Gwent

  6

  6

  Gwynedd

  6

  6

  Mid Glamorgan

  6

  5

  Pembrokeshire

  6

  5

  Powys

  6

  6

  South Glamorgan

  7

  6

  West Glamorgan

  6

  6

  Family Health Services Authorities

  Glwyd

  10

  10

  Dyfed

  10

  9

  Gwent

  10

  10

  Gwynedd

  10

  10

  Mid Glamorgan

  10

  9

  Powys

  10

  10

  South Glamorgan

  10

  10

  West Glamorgan

  10

  9

  Health Promotion Authority for Wales

  8

  8

  NHS Trusts

  Bridgend and District

  6

  6

  Carmarthen and District

  5

  5

  Ceredigion and Mid Wales

  5

  5

  Clwydian Community Care

  6

  6

  Derwen

  5

  5

  East Glamorgan

  5

  5

  Glan Clwyd

  5

  5

  Glan Hafren

  6

  5

  Gwent Community Health

  6

  6

  Gwynedd Community Health

  5

  5

  Gwynedd Hospitals

  6

  5

  Llandough Hospital

  6

  5

  Llanelli/Dinefwr

  6

  6

  Mid Glamorgan Ambulance

  5

  5

  Morriston Hospital

  6

  5

  Nevill Hall and District

  6

  6

  North Wales Ambulance

  5

  5

  Pembrokeshire

  6

  6

  Powys Health Care

  6

  5

  Rhondda Health Care

  5

  5

  South and East Wales

  Ambulance

  6

  6

  Swansea

  6

  5

  Velindre

  6

  5

  Wrexham Maelor

  6

  6

  Welsh Health Common Services Authority

  4

  4

  Notes:

  1 Agricultural wages committees—Secretary of State appoints two members to each Committee. The other members are nominated by groups representing the industry.

  2 National Library—Secretary of State appoints only three of the maximum of 20 members.

  3National Museum—Secretary of State appoints only four of the maximum of 16 members.

  GP Fundholding
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for the introduction of total fundholding for general practitioners; and if he will make a statement.
  372
  Mr. Redwood
  I will encourage any suitable projects for piloting total fundholding in Wales which are supported by the health authorities and GP fundholders.

  Urban Investment Grant
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the circumstances in which clawback arrangements will apply to urban investment grants paid or part-paid both directly by his Department and by the Cardiff Bay development corporation.

  Mr. Redwood
  Each development assisted with urban investment grant is assessed for potential clawback liability, either when the developer disposes of it, or after five years, whichever comes first. If the value of the development has increased in real terms, discounting any inflation in the building cost index, clawback will be payable. The rate of clawback will usually be the rate of the urban investment grant which was awarded.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the aggregate level of savings achieved by general practitioner fundholders in each family health services authority in the years 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information requested is as follows:

  FHSA

  1991–92

  1992–93 £000

  1993–94 £000

  Clwyd

  nil

  24

  1845

  Dyfed

  nil

  nil

  239

  Gwent

  nil

  234

  1,1156

  Gwynedd

  nil

  nil

  113

  Mid Glamorgan

  40

  139

  414

  Powys

  nil

  136

  876

  South Glamorgan

  nil

  19

  219

  West Glamorgan

  nil

  38

  459

  Note:

  1Included are savings in respect of pilot projects. These were £36,000 in Powys in 1992–93. In 1993–94 they were £8,000, £80,000 and £13,000 in Clwyd, Gwent and Gwynedd respectively. All such savings were surrendered and reallocated by the Department for Health spending generally.

  In accordance with regulations all savings are available for spending on patient care.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many GP fundholders have submitted their fundholder health plans to the relevant family health services authority.

  Mr. Redwood
  I understand that nine out or 10 GP fundholders in Wales have submitted health plans to family health services authorities, and that the remaining fundholders are expected to do so shortly.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many general practitioner fundholders have so far been removed from the scheme and for what reasons.

  Mr. Redwood
  None.

  Crown Buildings, Cardiff
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements he will make for the occupation of those sections of his main departmental accommodation
  373
  at Crown buildings, Cathays Park, Cardiff, when NCM Ltd. leaves.

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department plans to use the space to be vacated by NCM for the relocation of Welsh Office staff currently housed in other buildings in Cardiff.

  Steriliser Testing Services
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what independent evaluation he has carried out of the advantages and disadvantages of steriliser testing services carried out by(a) public sector and (b) private sector agencies.

  Mr. Redwood
  None.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those sections of his Department's responsibilities which have been market tested; on what date each was advertised for market testing; what was the outcome of the market-testing exercise; and, where appropriate, what was the name of the winning outside company.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information is as follows:

  Welsh Office responsibility

  Date first advertised/published

  Tender outcome (awarded to)

  Building maintenance management

  November 1992

  Kirkham, Williams and Lewis of Newport, Gwent

  Catering services

  August 1992

  Forward Catering

  Security guarding

  Candidates identified on basis of research conducted by external advisers.

  In-house team

  Reprographic services

  November 1992

  In-house team

  Support services

  November 1992

  In-house team

  Staff training

  November 1992

  Training Services (Wales) Ltd., of Bridgend

  Cartographic and desk top publishing

  November 1992

  In-house team

  Internal audit services

  November 1992

  In-house team

  Records management

  March 1994

  In-house team

  Typing services

  March 1994

  In-house team

DEFENCE

  Royal Navy Hospital, Haslar
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what considerations underlay his decision to retain the Royal Navy hospital at Haslar in Portsmouth; which military hospitals are scheduled for closure between the present time and 1996; and which will still be open in 1996.

  Mr. Soames
  A mix of defence-related medical training, operational and cost criteria, all of which were contained in the consultative document, a copy of which is in the Library of the House, led to the conclusion that Haslar would best meet the future medical support needs of the front line. Details of the future secondary care organisation of the defence medical services were given in my answer to the hon. Member for Scarborough (Mr. Sykes) of 8 December 1994,Official Report, columns 304–305.
  374
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for improvements to the Royal Navy hospital, Haslar; and what assessments he has made of the costs of improving this hospital and Wroughton hospital.

  Mr. Soames
  Under our announced plans for reorganising service hospitals in the United Kingdom, the Royal Navy hospital, Haslar is to be expanded to become the tri-service core hospital. The anticipated costs in 25-year discounted cash flow investment appraisal terms are some £146,000,000. Costs for a similar expansion of the Princess Alexandra's RAF hospital, Wroughton would have been some £119,000,000 although not all facilities could have been created and insufficient patient flows would have been generated to fulfil the defence medical services' essential training requirements.

  Medical Staff
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many medical staff were serving in the armed forces in each of the past five years; and what is the projected figure for 1996.

  Mr. Soames
  The total personnel of the defence medical services during the years in question are as follows:

  1990–9,461

  1991–9,335

  1992–9,100

  1993–9,220

  1994–7,305

  Current plans indicate a requirement for 5,722 posts from April 1996.

  Military Hospitals
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the costs in each of the last five years for improvements to all military hospitals.

  Mr. Soames
  Figures are not available in the form requested.

  Captain Chris Kelly
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the committee of inquiry into the death of Captain Chris Kelly will commence.

  Mr. Soames
  The board of inquiry will reconvene once the commanding officer has taken any disciplinary action which may be required as a result of the findings of the inquest into Captain Kelly's death. My Department requires a copy of the transcript of the inquest from the coroner's court before any further action can be taken. A copy of this is awaited.

  Burtonwood
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future use of Burtonwood air base.

  Mr. Soames
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) on 16 February,Official Report, column 724.
  375

  Nerve Agents
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the assessment drawn from the research into the ease of acquisition of the precursors for GD mentioned in his answer of 24 June 1994,Official Report, column 378–79.

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

  Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 24 February 1995:
  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what was the assessment drawn from the research into the ease of acquisition of the precursors for GD mentioned in his Answer of 24 June 1994, Official Report, columns 378–9, has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
  2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to carry out work to ensure that the UK Armed Forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical and biological weapons may be used against them. As part of this work the potential hazard of possible chemical and biological warfare agents is assessed and the effectiveness of British protective measures evaluated.
  3. The work carried out into the ease of acquisition of the precursors for GD was to determine whether the precursors were or were not available and what the costs were likely to be, whether it would be cheaper or easier to synthesise them and to assess which particular process was cheapest, easiest and safest. This work showed that the precursor methyl phosphonic dichloride was of particular importance and could be prepared by several chemical processes.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Leyton on 20 December,Official Report, column 1173, in which years since 1965 CR gas was synthesised and produced at (a) Porton Down and (b) Nancekuke.

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

  Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 24 February 1995:
  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking pursuant to his Answer to the Honourable Member for Leyton on 20 December, Official Report, column 1173, in which years since 1965 CR gas was synthesised and produced at (a) Porton Down and (b) Nancekuke has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
  2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to carry out work to ensure that the UK Armed Forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical and biological weapons may be used against them.
  3. The synthesis of CR was first reported in the Journal of the Chemical Society in 1962 by two scientists, Higginbottom and Suschitzsky, working in academia. Our records indicate that it was synthesised at Porton Down in the early to mid 1960s and small quantities were synthesised between 1965 and 1975 for research studies. Work on producing CR also began at Nancekuke in the early 1960s and continued until 1977.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the conclusions of the studies on CR gas on service volunteers mentioned in his answer of 24 June,Official Report, column 383, in relation to the physiological tests to determine the effects on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems; with which other countries the results of these studies were shared; and
  376
  under which defence agreement the results were exchanged.

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

  Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 24 February 1995:
  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what were the conclusions of the studies on CR gas on Service volunteers mentioned in his Answer of 24 June, Official Report, column 383, in relation to the physiological tests to determine the effects on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems; with which other countries the results of these studies were shared; and under which defence agreement the results were exchanged, has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
  2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to ensure that the UK Armed Forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical and biological weapons may be used against them. In order to carry out this work, it is necessary to use Service volunteers to:

  a. Assess the ability of Service personnel to function with new equipment and procedures.

  b. Develop medical countermeasures to protect Service personnel, and

  c. Evaluate the effects of very low and medically safe concentrations of CW agents on the ability of unprotected personnel to operate normally.

  No studies involving volunteers are carried out unless there is a clear military need and a detailed protocol has been reviewed and approved by an independent Ethics Committee in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Royal College of Physicians.
  3. The conclusions of the studies into CR carried out at CBDE Porton Down have been largely reported in the article entitled "Riot control agents: biomedical and health aspects of the use of chemicals in civil disturbances" by Bryan Ballantyne and published in the Medical Annual 1977; John Wright, Bristol. As CR solution has a negligible vapour pressure, few effects on the respiratory tract would be expected after the use of liquid formulations. Studies into the pulmonary function of volunteers exposed to vaporised CR showed no significant change in the respiratory capability. Cardiovascular studies using vaporised CR showed no significant effect.
  4. The results of this work were part of the chemical and biological defence programme and would have formed part of the technical database drawn upon in collaboration with the United States, Australia and Canada under the Technical Cooperation Programme and its predecessors and with the United States and Canada under the Memorandum of Understanding on Chemical and Biological Defence.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the purpose of research on the nerve agent GF at the nerve agent plant at Nancekuke, Cornwall; what quantities of nerve agent GF were used in this research; whether the results of this research were shared with any other countries; and under which defence agreements these results were exchanged.

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

  Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 24 February 1995:
  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what was the purpose of research on the nerve agent GF at the Nerve agent plant at Nancekuke, Cornwall; what quantities of nerve agent GF were used in this research; whether the results of this research were shared with any other countries; and under which defence agreements these results were exchanged has been passed

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  to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
  2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to carry out work to ensure that the United Kingdom Armed Forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical and biological weapons may be used against them. As part of this work the potential hazard of possible chemical and biological warfare agents is assessed and the effectiveness of British protective measures evaluated.
  3. The programme of research on GF was part of the research into the processes which would be involved in the production of any of the G series of agents. The chemistry of GF is similar to that of GB and production would be dependant upon the same intermediate. Since GF was slightly more toxic than GB by the percutaneous route, and also more persistent with a volatility intermediate in the G series, there were good reasons for continuing the evaluation started by Germany. GF has been made on the laboratory scale at Nancekuke. Work continued at Nancekuke until 1976. The quantities of GF used in this work are not readily available; they are likely to have been pounds.
  4. The results of this work were part of the chemical and biological defence programme and would have formed part of the technical database drawn upon in collaboration with the United States, Australia and Canada under the Technical Cooperation Programme and its predecessors and with the United States and Canada under the Memorandum of Understanding on Chemical and Biological Defence.

  Chemical and Biological Defence Memoranda of Understanding
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates the 1980 memorandum of understanding on chemical and biological defence between the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Canada has been amended; why these amendments were made; and when the existence of this memorandum was first notified to Parliament.

  Mr. Freeman
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment. I have therefore asked him to reply.

  Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 24 February 1995:
  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking on what dates the 1980 Memorandum of Understanding on Chemical and Biological Defence between the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Canada has been amended; why these amendments were made; and when the existence of this memorandum was first notified to Parliament has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
  2. The Memorandum of Understanding on Chemical and Biological Defence between the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Canada has been amended on eight occasions:

  (a) October 1984 to extend the MOU.

  (b)March 1985 to clarify an aspect of the MOU.

  (c)November 1988 to add an Annex to the MOU.

  (d)October 1989 to replace this Annex to the MOU.

  (e)October 1989 to extend the MOU.

  (f)October 1991 to add an Annex to the MOU.

  (g)June 1994 to add an Annex to the MOU.

  (h)November 1994 to extend the MOU.

  The additional Annexes provide details about areas of collaboration between the three countries concerned.
  3. Our records do not indicate when the existence of the Memorandum of Understanding was notified to Parliament. However, it has been referred to in the answer to many Parliamentary Questions during the past five years.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many memoranda of understanding covering the research, development, production or procurement of 378
  chemical and biological defence equipment have existed between the United Kingdom and the United States of America since 1965.

  Mr. Freeman
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment. I have therefore asked him to reply.

  Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 24 February 1995:
  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking how many Memoranda of Understanding covering the research, development, production or procurement of chemical and biological defence equipment have existed between the United Kingdom and the United States of America since 1965 has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
  2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to carry out work to ensure that the UK Armed Forces are provided with effective protective measures against the threat that chemical and biological weapons may be used against them.
  3. A single Memorandum of Understanding exists which was signed in 1980. This Memorandum of Understanding has been very effective in promoting cooperation and collaboration between the three countries enabling resources to be shared and more robust conclusions to be drawn arising from peer review by the three countries.

  Civil Servants (Fast Stream)
  Ms Maddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of those accepted for fast-stream entry for which his Department is responsible(a) in 1991, (b) 1992, (c) in 1993 and (d) in 1994 were women.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested for 1991 and 1992 is contained in the civil service commissioners' reports for the relevant years, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. The proportion of women entering the fast stream in the Ministry of Defence in 1993 and 1994 is shown in the table. These figures include successful in-service candidates.

  1993

  1994

  Number of women

  5

  5

  Total number of men and women

  24

  13

  Export Finance House
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Treasury gave its approval to the creation of the state-owned export credit operation of IMS Export Finance House; and if there are any other such state owned export credit operations.

  Mr. Freeman
  Formal Treasury approval was not required for this commercial initiative by International Military Services Ltd. Our understanding is that the Export Credits Guarantee Department is the only state-owned export credit institution currently operating.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the activities of IMS Export Finance House run by the Ministry of Defence are covered by the limits of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development consensus on export support; and whether they are included in the fixed rate export finances scheme.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 21 February 1995,Official Report, column 101.
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  Works of Art
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Minister within his Department has the responsibility for ensuring the safe keeping of works of art in Ministry of Defence properties.

  Mr. Soames
  My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence is the Minister responsible.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how often the works of art kept in Ministry of Defence properties have been the subject of an inventory in the last 20 years for which information is available.

  Mr. Soames
  The staff in my Department who manage works of art in our London headquarters buildings carry out frequent inspections as well as asking all senior staff to account for the works in their offices twice each year. In addition, the government art collection inspects each London building about once a year and other lenders of works will inspect their loans whenever necessary.

  Outside London, local managers will carry out inspections as they deem necessary and as lenders of works of art require. In recent years, the government art collection has carried out an inventory check of its works of art on loan to my Department's properties outside London every 12 or 15 months.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the approximate value of the paintings entitled(a) "Woman Carrying a Goat", (b) "Crete" and (c) "A Court Martial Case at Deptford".

  Mr. Soames
  I believe the hon. Member is referring to a print by Michael Ayrton entitled "Woman Carrying a Goat, Crete" which the government art collection values at about £100. The work entitled "A Court Martial Case at Deptford" is a print taken from a publication; the government art collection doubts that it has any commercial value.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what system is in operation for the allocation of works of art from the government art collection to Ministry of Defence properties.

  Mr. Soames
  Ministers and staff of civil service grades 1 to 3 and their service equivalents with offices in central London buildings may borrow works from the government art collection. In general, officials below grade 1, permanent secretary, are allocated only prints. Works of art are allocated subject to the environmental conditions of the rooms in which they will hang satisfying the government art collection's standards. The government art collection will also lend works of art for display in conference rooms within Whitehall office buildings, reception rooms in official residences and the public areas of the Royal College of Defence Studies.

  With a few exceptions, the government art collection ceased lending additional works to my Department's properties in the regions and abroad in 1981, and has since been implementing a policy of withdrawing existing loans for use elsewhere whenever the opportunity arises.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have been prosecuted for crimes of dishonesty involving works of art kept in Ministry of Defence properties in the last 20 years for which information is available.

  Mr. Soames
  In the past five years, Ministry of Defence police have solved eight cases where works of 380
  art, both Government and privately owned, were stolen from Ministry of Defence properties. Central records are not kept of the number of prosecutions resulting from these cases and this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. A detected case of theft would, however, almost certainly result in prosecution.

  Information on cases dating back further than the last five years could he provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Land Mines
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research he has carried out to investigate weapons systems which could act as alternatives to anti-personnel land mines.

  Mr. Freeman
  The need for anti-personal land mines is kept under review. Such reviews include the investigation of possible alternative ways of carrying out the important defensive role which is currently fulfilled by anti-personnel land mines. Recent operational analysis has not identified any weapon system which could act as an effective alternative to anti-personnel land mines.

  War Pensions
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel who served in Operation Granby have been given war pensions arising out of illness as a result of the immunisation programmes carried out during the operation.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I have been asked to reply.

  Records show that a war pension award has been made in one case for a condition related to immunisation.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Integrated Electronic Systems
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what(a) service, (b) functions and (c) duties are carried out by the Integrated Electronic Systems group for or on behalf of (i) his Department or (ii) its agencies.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Integrated Electronic Systems, of West Malling, Kent supplied the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with minor amounts of consumable products in 1987 and supplied four items of electronic equipment in 1993.

  Salamat Masih
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with(a) the Pakistani Muslim community in Britain and (b) the Pakistani Government regarding the death sentence imposed on Salamat Masih; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  We have made representations to the Pakistani high commission over the Salamat Masih case and initiated action in Islamabad by the European Union. We have not raised the issue with Muslims of Pakistani origin in Britain. Salamat Masih is now reported to have been acquitted on appeal.
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  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will impose sanctions against Pakistan in response to the Salamat Masih case.

  Mr. Baldry
  We do not intend to impose sanctions against Pakistan in response to this case. Salamat Masih is now reported to have been acquitted on appeal.

  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the response from the British Pakistani Muslim community to the Salamat Masih case and sentence.

  Mr. Baldry
  Our efforts have been directed towards events in Pakistan and the protection of human rights for minorities there. We have not raised the case with Muslims of Pakistani origin in Britain.

  Software Counterfeiting
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Governments of(a) the United Kingdom or (b) Hong Kong about the counterfeiting of software products or software-based products; and what assessment he has made of whether the actions being taken by the Government of the USA or the People's Republic of China as a result of concerns about counterfeiting have had, or could have, any impact on Hong Kong.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We receive from time to time expressions of concern about piracy of software in countries overseas. We recognise the seriousness of piracy of intellectual property and use all means available to encourage other countries to introduce and enforce acceptable standards of intellectual property protection.

  The Hong Kong Government have received representations from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry on the need to strengthen controls against compact disc piracy by increasing the maximum statutory penalty for copyright infringement offences.

  If Sino-American talks on the protection of intellectual property rights do not produce agreement, the US Government's proposed tariffs on certain Chinese merchandise imports are implemented. The Hong Kong
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  Government estimate that this could lead to the loss of up to 4,700 jobs in Hong Kong, affect 2.3 per cent. or HK$4.5 billion of Hong Kong's re-exports from China to the United States, and reduce GDP growth by 0.14 per cent.

  Somalia (Land Mines)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British manufactured Mk.2 anti-personnel mines have been discovered in northern Somalia.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Nations mine-clearance and policy unit informs us that, to the best of its knowledge, no land mines of this type have been found in northern Somalia.

  Mr. Shahia Iqbal
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Mr. Shahia Iqbal—Ref: IMM/89155—made his latest application to join his wife in the United kingdom; when he was interviewed; when a decision will be taken on his application; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  If the hon. Member would let me know at which post Mr. Shahia Iqbal applied, I will arrange for him to receive a substantive reply from the migration and visa correspondence unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as soon as possible.

  Mozambique (Land Mines)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received that British manufactured anti-personnel mines became available to and were used by combatants in Mozambique; to which types of mine these refer; where they were made; and what further inquiries he has instituted.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have no record of any reports that British anti-personnel mines have been used in Mozambique. We announced on 27 July 1994 an indefinite moratorium on the export of anti-personnel mines which do not have a self-destructing or self-neutralising mechanism.