Written Answers of 10 January 1995

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in which non-EU countries legal aid is available to British citizens.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor's Department does not maintain complete and up to date details of legal aid schemes in other countries. Many countries provide help to foreign nationals under the terms of their legal aid schemes.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in which EU countries British citizens are eligible for legal aid on a similar basis to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Legal aid is available to British citizens in each EU country under the terms of that country's legal aid scheme.

  Breast Implants
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to publicise the extension by the relevant court in the United States of the deadline to register potential claims arising from breast implants.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor does not involve himself in individual cases—except in his judicial capacity—and consequently his Department has no involvement with this litigation. I understand, however, that the Law Society intends to publish details of the extension before the end of the month.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Brendan Smyth
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) what requests he has received from the Attorney-General of the Irish Republic or his officials asking to disclose to any third party the statement of facts in the Brendan Smyth case; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what confidentiality agreement exists between his Office and his counterpart in the Irish Republic; when the agreement was first made; when it is reviewed; and to what material the agreement is applied;

  (3) when the statement of facts in the Brendan Smyth case was passed to the appropriate authorities in the Irish Republic; to whom it was passed; and if any conditions were imposed then or subsequently on the disclosure of the statement of facts to any third party;
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  (4) if he is willing for the statement of facts and other documents he supplied to the authorities in the Irish Republic concerning the extradition of Brendan Smyth to be passed to members of the Dail legislation and security committee.

  The Attorney-General
  A statement of the facts in the Brendan Smyth case was supplied to the Irish Attorney-General on 4 May 1993. In all cases where they are required, such statements are provided on a confidential basis for the limited purpose of allowing the Irish Attorney-General to decide whether to allow the warrants for the arrest of the person concerned to be backed for execution in the Republic. No specific conditions have been imposed in this case.

  On 22 December 1994, officials in the Irish Attorney-General's Office contacted my office asking my attitude to the possible release of this statement by the Irish Attorney-General to the Select Committee of the Dail on Legislation and Security.

  My view is that it is a matter for the Irish Attorney-General to judge whether it is appropriate to supply a copy of the statement to that Committee in this case. Full statements are provided on the basis and for the purpose stated above and it would in general be prejudicial to the administration of justice if they were to become public. The anonymity of the injured parties named in this statement has until now been maintained. There is an ongoing investigation in respect of further alleged offences and it is important that any subsequent trial should be fair.

  I understand that the Irish Attorney-General has declined to disclose the statement to the Committee.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Public Services (Bad Practice)
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has for the future on identifying examples of had practice in the delivery of public services.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  When public services are not delivered satisfactorily, this needs to be identified and—more important—put right to ensure good quality service. There is already a range of mechanisms in place for doing this, including inspectorates in many public services, the National Audit Office, the Audit Commission and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. By requiring the setting of standards and the publishing of performance information against them, the citizens charter plays a major role in this process.

  Internet
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement about the plans of his Department to make information available on Internet and the documents which he intends to be made available on Internet over the next year which will be accessible via the world wide web server "open.gov.UK" or any specific departmental server.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Cambridge
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  (Mrs. Campbell) on 1 December, Official Report, column 816.

  The Office of Public Services and Science has been, and will continue to be, at the forefront of Departments making information available over the Internet. The machinery of government division, the citizens charter unit and the office of science and technology have material accessible on the CCTA government information service, as do CCTA and HMSO. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and I shall continue to make available the text of ministerial speeches.

  The CCTA—the Government centre for information systems—has my full support for its plans to expand the use and accessibility of Internet services, including the G-NET internet access service, which I announced at the emerging technology conference last week. This service makes Internet access, including G-MAIL electronic mail, available to every Government telephone network user at rates which will have the minimum impact on running costs. We are using the economies of scale which the GTN affords to maximise the ease with which government officials can get access to the Internet.

  Information Technology Security
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on future responsibility for advising Government Departments on information technology security.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  Two UK authorities advise Departments and agencies on information technology security. The Security Service, as part of its general protective security role, is responsible for non-technical aspects of IT security policy and standards, primarily in the physical and personnel security areas. Responsibility for the technical aspects of IT security policy and standards, which focus on IT hardware, software and communications, rests with the communications-electronics security group of the Government communications headquarters.

  The CCTA—the Government centre for information systems—also provides security advice and guidance, which is based on the security policy and standards set by the two UK IT authorities. The CCTA integrates such security policy into its wider responsibility for the production of policy and best practice for information systems and IT.

  Malaria Vaccine
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what funds the Medical Research Council is making available for research into malaria vaccine.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  The funding of research into malaria vaccine will depend, as with other research areas, on the quality of the research proposals that the Medical Research Council receives. In the last financial year, 1993–94, the MRC's expenditure for research into malaria was £4.4 million. Included in this figure was £1.6 million, which was specifically spent on malaria vaccine research. The MRC is always willing to consider soundly based proposals in competition with other applications for support.
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  Science Engineering and Technology Week
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what level of support he is proposing for next year's science engineering and technology week—SET 95.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  The office of science and technology has allocated a total of £195,000 in support of the 1995 national week of science, engineering and technology. Over and above this, colleagues and officials will be making strong personal contributions to the success of the week. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has written to the chairmen of leading companies to encourage participation in the week. I have written to every member of Parliament on similar lines, and have been very gratified by the huge response from them and other Ministers.

  Electronic Mail
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to be able to receive and respond to communications via electronic mail.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  In my speech to the emerging technology showcase on 4 January, I announced the launch of the G-MAIL electronic mail service via the Internet.

  By exploiting the economies of scale afforded by the Government telephone network and the joint academic network, G-MAIL will allow electronic communications leading to clear efficiency benefits and reduced paper handling and waiting times.

  It is my intention to take advantage of these facilities as soon as practicable. G-MAIL will complement the existing use of electronic mail made by my office via connections to the internal OPSS electronic mail network, facilitating electronic communication within my Department.

  Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to make available the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in electronic format.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  HMSO has plans to publish the complete statute law of Great Britain, in collaboration with the Statutory Publications Office, in various electronic formats, probably next year.

  Meanwhile, HMSO is arranging to publish summary details of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 via Internet this month.

  Secondments
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the amount of secondment and other interaction at all levels between the research councils, industry and Government.

  Mr. David Hunt
  As set out in the 1993 White Paper, "Realising Our Potential", each of the research councils, has set in place a mechanism to increase the level of senior staff exchange and secondment between research councils, industry and Government. To date, 83 people have been, or are, on secondment from the research councils to industry and the Government: 51 people have been, or are on secondment into the research councils.

  Science Research Councils
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what the director general of the Science Research Councils has done to achieve each of the objectives as listed on pages 19 and 20 of the Cm 2250 "Realising our Potential";

  (2) what is the age of the present director general of the Science Research Councils; and when he is due to retire;

  (3) whether the post of director general of the Science Research Councils is classified full time or part time;

  (4) what has been the average hours per week actually worked by the current director general of the Science Research Councils since his appointment in January 1994;

  (5) on what basis the element, of the director general of the Science Research Councils' remuneration which is performance related will be calculated.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Since taking up his appointment on 1 January 1994, the director general of Research Councils has: advised on the allocation of the 1994–95 science budget, which introduced new "Realising Our Potential" awards and industrial co-operative awards in science and engineering studentships as instruments for getting the academic research community better connected with their industrial users; taken part in the selection procedures for the chief executives of the new research councils and advised on the appointment of chairmen and members; agreed a set of 1994–95 work objectives for the chief executives of the new research councils; overseen the negotiations on the large hadron collider project at CERN, whose outcome was an agreement to proceed on the basis of a realistic, fair and sustainable financial framework; brought forward proposals for handling large international subscriptions within the science budget as a whole; overseen a review which resulted in agreement on the independent future status and operation of the Daresbury and Rutherford Appleton laboratories; overseen the consultation and advised on the reform of postgraduate education and training supported by the research councils, with the consequent proposal to pilot a number of self-standing research master's courses; advised on the issue of a policy statement which confirmed that the scientific assessment of applications for research council grants would continue to be made by peer reviewers who are expert and acknowledged as such by their peers; conducted an in-depth review of the programmes of the six research councils which, in addition to regular exchanges with the chairmen and chief executives of the research councils, has entailed some 20 visits to universities and research council institutes and centres, over 70 presentations and discussions with some 260 scientists and users of their scientific output and which will inform the director general's advice to me on the allocation of the 1995–96 science budget; advised on the health and funding needs of the science base, so contributing to the recent public expenditure surrey settlement which I secured; and taken part, as a member, in the work of the Higher Education Funding Councils for England and for Wales, the science and engineering base co-ordinating committee, the technology foresight steering group and the governing body of the European Union joint research centre.

  Sir John Cadogan was appointed to the post of director general of Research Councils in January 1994 for a three-year period in the first instance. He is aged 64. The
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  post is full-time. The performance-related element of Sir John Cadogan's pay will be determined by the extent to which he has met the objectives of the post.

TREASURY

  Welsh Whisky
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he proposes to introduce legislative changes in anticipation of the distillation of Welsh whisky in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Customs and Excise does not propose to introduce any legislative changes in anticipation of the distillation of Welsh whisky in Wales.

  Ministerial Travel
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the duration of the trips undertaken by Ministers in his Department which were referred to in his answer of 2 November,Official Report column 1215 and on which they were accompanied by their spouses and paid for at public expense.

  Mr. Nelson
  The information is as follows:

  Informal ECONFIN 7–9 April 1994 (3 days)

  G7 Summit 8–10 July 1994 (3 days)

  Informal ECOFIN 9–11 September 1994 (3 days)

  Bank of England Trade Weights
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a table showing the combined trade weights used in the Bank of England sterling index for EEC currencies and non-EEC currencies together with the average weighted average rate of exchange in each case for each year and each quarter since 1975.

  Mr. Nelson
  The composition of the exchange rate index is described in the November 1988 issue of the Bank of England quarterly bulletin, a copy of which can be found in the Library. Table 7.1A of "Financial Statistics" provides monthly data on ERI rates. This is available on the Central Statistical Office's database, which can be accessed through the Library.

  Personal Equity Plan Holdings
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how personal equity plan holdings and investments have expanded in each year since the introduction of personal equity plans; how personal equity plan holdings are classified in official returns on share ownerships; and what percentage of personal shareholdings he estimates are held in the form of personal equity plans.

  Sir George Young
  The value of funds held in personal equity plans is shown in the table. This information is derived from returns made by PEP managers.

  As at

  Value of funds £ million General

  Single company

  Total

  December 1987

  440

  —

  440

  December 1988

  720

  —

  720

  April 1990

  2,600

  —

  2600

  April 1991

  4,520

  —

  4,520

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  As at

  Value of funds £ million General

  Single company

  Total

  April 1992

  6,700

  270

  6,970

  April 1993

  11,100

  790

  11,890

  April 1994

  18,500

  1,300

  19,800

  In the national accounts, PEPs are classified as part of personal sector holdings of United Kingdom company securities. At the end of 1993, the share register survey, run by the Central Statistical Office, estimated the value of ordinary shares of UK-listed companies held by individuals, including those held in PEPs, at £141 billion. In addition, personal sector holdings of unit trust units were estimated to be £42 billion.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of income tax revenue was paid by the top(a) 1 per cent. (b) 5 per cent. and (c) 10 per cent. of earners in each year from 1978–79; and what are his future projections.

  Sir George Young
  The information requested is given in the table. Estimates for 1993–94 onwards are based on projections from the 1992–93 survey of personal incomes.

  Shares of total income tax liability1

  Top 1 per cent.

  Top 5 per cent.

  Top 10 per cent.

  1978–79

  11

  24

  35

  1979–80

  10

  23

  34

  1980–81

  11

  24

  35

  1981–82

  11

  25

  35

  1982–83

  12

  25

  36

  1983–84

  11

  25

  36

  1984–85

  12

  26

  38

  1985–86

  13

  27

  38

  1986–87

  14

  29

  39

  1987–88

  15

  30

  41

  1988–89

  15

  31

  42

  1989–90

  15

  31

  42

  1990–91

  15

  32

  42

  1991–92

  16

  33

  43

  1992–93

  16

  33

  44

  1993–942

  16

  33

  44

  1994–952

  16

  33

  44

  1995–962

  15

  32

  44

  1 For years up to and including 1989–90 married couples are counted as one taxpayer and their incomes are combined. Following the introduction of independent taxation in 1990–91 husbands and wives are counted separately.

  2 Provisional.

  Share Options (Tax)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make profits on company directors' share options taxable.

  1989–90 outturn £ million

  1990–91 outturn £ million

  1991–92 outturn £ million

  1992–93 outturn £ million

  1993–94 outturn £ million

  1994–95 estimated outturn £ million

  cash

  10,900

  12,200

  13,600

  14,600

  14,600

  15,000

  real

  13,400

  13,800

  14,600

  15,000

  14,600

  14,700

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  Sir George Young
  Gains realised on the exercise of company directors' share options are already chargeable to income tax, unless the options were granted under a scheme approved by the Inland Revenue. Gains realised on the subsequent sale of shares acquired under option are chargeable to capital gains tax in the normal way, whether the option scheme is approved or not.

  Trade Statistics
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the visible balance of trade of Italy and the United Kingdom for each of the most recent three quarters and the corresponding balance in 1992.

  Mr. Nelson
  Balance of trade data for Italy can be found in the OECD publication, "Monthly Statistics of Foreign Trade." UK trade data can be found on the Central Statistical Office's database, which is available in the House of Commons Library.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will indicate which local authority expenditure counted against the public expenditure syndicate control total and the PSBR in 1979; and what changes have subsequently been made to those definitions.

  Mr. Aitken
  The public expenditure planning total used in 1979 included the expenditure of local authorities, excluding debt interest. The present equivalent, the public expenditure control total, also includes local authority expenditure but including debt interest payments. The present control total, unlike the planning total in 1979, measures local authority expenditure net of VAT refunds and includes the capital value of certain leases. Between 1989 and 1991, the public expenditure survey was conducted using the new planning total, which included central Government support for local authorities rather than local authorities' expenditure.

  The definitions of the public expenditure planning and control total and the public sector borrowing requirement are independent. The definitional changes in the public expenditure planning and control total have no implications for the PSBR.

  Local authorities are part of the public sector; their expenditure is thus a determinant of the PSBR. This was equally so in 1979.

  Government Administration
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of the cost of Government administration for each of the past 10 years, in cash and real terms, inclusive of the latest outturn estimate for 1994–95.

  Sir George Young
  Running costs in cash and real terms, at 1993–94 prices, of civilian departments for 1989–90 to 1994–95 are set out in the table.
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  The split between administrative costs and programme spending modifies over time; so information for the years prior to 1989–90 could be obtained only on a basis consistent with these figures only at disproportionate cost.

  Anti-avoidance Rules
  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from registered housing associations regarding the impact of his new anti-avoidance rules on costs and rents.

  Sir George Young
  A number of representations have been received about the implications of the Chancellor's proposal. None so far have quantified the potential impact on borrowing costs or rent levels.

  Growth Statistics
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average rate of economic growth of the EEC Six since 1979 and the average in 1964 to 1973.

  Mr. Nelson
  The average GDP growth of the six EEC members over the two periods was as follows:

  Annual percentage growth rates

  1964–1973

  1979–1993

  Belgium

  4.7

  1.8

  Germany

  4.2

  2.0

  France

  5.1

  1.8

  Italy

  5.1

  2.0

  Luxembourg

  4.0

  3.0

  Netherlands

  4.9

  1.8

  Market Testing
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 13 December,Official Report, column 593, what was the value of the total contract award to Price Waterhouse and Touche Ross.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 19 December 1994]: The combined value of the two contracts is between £300,000 and £400,000. To give a more precise answer would breach commercial confidentiality.

  Retail Prices Index Advisory Committee
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to receive a report from the retail prices index advisory committee.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [pursuant to his reply, 15 December 1994, c.788]: I have decided to accept all the recommendations made by the committee in its report, Cm 2717 and Cm 2716, on the treatment in the RPI of owner-occupiers' housing costs and cars respectively. The reports were presented to the House and published on 15 December 1994. The Central Statistical Office will implement the changes in the RPI for February 1995.

  Profit-related Pay Scheme
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has on the number of companies currently using the profit-related pay scheme and on the safeguards for employees who do not wish to join the scheme.
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  Sir George Young
  Registered tax relieved profit-related pay schemes may apply to both incorporated and unincorporated businesses or parts of a business. As at 30 September 1994, there were 7,773 live PRP schemes registered by the Inland Revenue. To qualify for registration, a scheme must apply to 80 per cent. of the employees within a business, or part. Subject to that requirement, it is for employers to decide the basis on which they introduce a scheme.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Public Holidays
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals there are to declare a public holiday in Northern Ireland for(a) St. Andrew's day and (b) St. Patrick's day; and what consultations have taken place with (i) the Roman Catholic church, (ii) the Presbyterian church in Ireland (iii) the Loyal Orange Institution and (iv) the Ancient Order of Hibernians.

  Sir John Wheeler
  There are no proposals to declare a public holiday in Northern Ireland for St. Andrew's day. St. Patrick's day is designated a bank holiday in Northern Ireland under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971. Under the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954, a statutory bank holiday is also a public holiday. No consultations have taken place.

  Electronic Mail
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to be able to receive and respond to communications via electronic mail.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The Northern Ireland Departments have interdepartmental links which facilitate electronic mail between the various office systems using the CCITT X.400 communications standard. It is the intention to expand communications links to the wider public and private sector during 1995. The will facilitate electronic mail communications between Northern Ireland Departments and Great Britain Departments which have office systems that comply with the CCITT X.400 standard.

  School Statistics
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the enrolment at(a) Regent House grammar school, Newtownards and (b) Comber high school; how many temporary classrooms arc at each site; what was the last major capital investment at each school; what proposals there are to provide permanent accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  Regent House has an enrolment of 1,620, including 175 in its preparatory department. It has 30 temporary classrooms and the last major capital investment at the school was an extension in 1976. An economic appraisal recommending a further extension and refurbishment of the existing premises has been approved for the school and the south-eastern education and library board is preparing an educational brief with a view to appointing consultants to plan the proposed works.
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  Comber High has an enrolment of 424. It has 15 temporary classrooms and the last major capital investment at the school was an extension in 1971. In 1991, the south-eastern board decided to plan for a new school on the existing site, but following a sharp decline in the school's enrolment the board is now reassessing the appropriate long-term enrolment for development purposes.

  Public Health, Crossmaglen
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received on radio transmission and public health in the Crossmaglen area; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Wheeler
  A number of representations have been made to my right hon. and learned Friend. There is, however, no evidence to suggest a decline in public health in any area of Northern Ireland attributable to radio transmissions.

  Arts Councils
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the present level of co-operation between the Northern Ireland Arts Council and the equivalent bodies in(a) Scotland and (b) the Republic of Ireland; and what proposals there are to improve co-operation with these two bodies.

  Mr. Ancram
  The chairman and chief executive of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland usually meet their counterparts from the Scottish Arts Council and the other two arts councils in the United Kingdom twice a year to discuss matters of common interest. The chief executives of the arts councils in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales also meet annually.

  Officers of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Scottish Arts Council are in frequent contact and co-operate on projects which extend to both territories.

  The arts councils of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland hold annual meetings and have appointed a joint committee to explore cross-border initiatives. The two councils fund the Tyrone Guthrie centre and a European affairs officer and plan to appoint an arts co-operation officer.

  Telephone Dialling Codes
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment has been made as to the additional costs which will be incurred by his Department as a result of the changes in national telephone dialling codes next year; and how much this change will cost his Department in additional expenditure.

  Sir John Wheeler
  Work has already been completed to reprogramme all the telephone switchboards in the Northern Ireland civil service to cope with the changes to the national dialling codes later this year. The cost of this work was minimal as all the private sector suppliers involved carried out the work free of charge. The only Government expenditure, therefore, was a small staffing overhead of approximately £1,500 to plan and co-ordinate the operation.
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  Updating stationery and reprogramming telephone and fax memories will incur minimal additional costs.

  Feed Trials
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what work, other than trials at Loughrey, is being carried out in the United Kingdom to evaluate heat-treated feed against non-heat treated feed in commercial egg layers.

  Mr. Ancram
  No work of this nature is being carried out by the Government. I am not aware of any work being carried out by other parties.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Aid
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is the Government's policy to give aid to avoid environmental destruction; and what help has been made in this field in the latest year for which figures are available

  Mr. Baldry
  All activities supported under the aid programme are assessed for environmental impact according to the procedures contained in the ODA's manual of environmental appraisal, copies of which are in the Libraries of the House. In 1993–94, the ODA spent £147 million on bilateral projects either wholly or partly concerned with environmental protection.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the United Kingdom ranks among EC member states in the proportion of gross domestic product being allocated for aid.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Moray (Mrs. Ewing) on 25 November 1994,Official Report column 426.

  Tibet
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the European Union over the grant to the Chinese Govenment-run Pa Nam rural development project in Tibet, approved by the Asian and Latin Committee of the EU on 19 October 1994.

  Mr. Baldry
  We are in touch at senior level with the European Commission about our concerns that EC assistance should be used to help only indigenous Tibetans and that the Pa Nam project is not detrimental to the fragile environment in the region. We have made clear that these issues should he addressed, if necessary by amending the financing agreement.

  Cambodia
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the projects funded by bilateral aid to Cambodia, including the amount of aid given to each project.
  13
  Mr. Baldry
  Current projects in Cambodia funded under the United Kingdom country programme, and under the joint funding scheme, are listed:

  Country Projects

  Project

  Allocation (£000s)

  Battambang Urban Water Project

  1,400

  Kratie Water Project

  343

  English by TV and Radio

  46

  English Language Training

  1,930

  Strengthening Health Systems Phase II

  741

  Anti Malaria Project

  1,143

  Birth Spacing Project

  250

  Essential Drugs Project

  1,000

  Programme Aid

  2,500

  British Partnership Scheme

  100

  Support for Cambodia Mine Action Centre

  1,136

  Social Marketing of Contraceptives

  150

  NGO Projects

  Agency

  Project name

  Allocation £

  ADD

  Development Programme

  302,894

  Cambodia Trust

  Prosthetics Clinic and Workshop—Kompong Som

  249,741

  Christian Outreach

  Agricultural, Business and Community Development

  336,671

  Christian Outreach

  Preventative Health Care

  288,238

  Concern

  Chuk Saw Forestry programme

  133,938

  Concern

  Primary Education Programme

  326,166

  Concern

  Primary Health Care Programme

  65,359

  Food for the Hungry

  Rural Water Supply

  91,830

  Health Unlimited

  Integrated Health Care

  236,404

  Health Unlimited

  Primary Health Care

  383,288

  Helpage

  Opthalmic Services

  177,393

  Helpage

  Resettlement and Rehabilitation Programme

  118,200

  Oxfam

  Community Development Support Programme

  15,980

  Oxfam

  Rural Development Programme

  2,894

  Oxfam

  Re-establishment of Local Support Structures

  5,389

  Southeast Asian Outreach

  Scale Project

  229,960

  World Vision

  Kompong Tralach Rural Health

  95,895

  World Vision

  Rattanak Mondol: Rural Health Project

  168,129

  Indonesia
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what was the cost of the original aid for trade element in the Cikampek-Padalarang toll road, Indonesia,(a) in cash terms and (b) as proportion of the total estimated costs; what payments were ultimately made; and what proportion of the total outturn cost they represented;

  (2) when the release of aid for trade funds for the Cikampek-Padalarang toll road, Indonesia, was agreed; and when the project was (a) commenced and (b) completed.
  14
  Mr. Baldry
  In 1988, the Government agreed to provide £16.85 million—30.1 per cent. of the officially supported package—towards the cost of constructing the Cikampek-Padalarang toll road, Indonesia. Of this, £4.7 million has been spent on surveys, detailed design and geological investigations. The remainder will he provided as a mixed credit towards the cost of construction.

  Project negotiations are continuing and are not expected to be completed until April next year. The total costs will not be known until the project has been completed. Nevertheless, the total of official support for the project will not exceed £16.85 million.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral statement of 13 December,Official Report, columns 373–74, if he will indicate whether the aid and trade project in Indonesia was approved alongside any other ATP projects; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 December 1994]: The Bandung TV studio project was approved in January 1986 alongside a project to supply new radio equipment for the central radio studios in Jakarta to replace equipment lost in a fire which severely disrupted national radio programmes. The ODA considered that there was a sound developmental case for the provision of aid in support of the radio studio equipment project. The two projects have been pursued separately since October 1986.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral statement of 13 December,Official Report, columns 373–74, if he will give the date that an appraisal was carried out on the Indonesian television studio project; and if he will publish the results of the appraisal in full.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 December 1994]: Consideration and approval of the project was based upon a number of reports from ODA and DTI staff and consultants following visits to Indonesia during 1985 and early 1986. In line with established policy, the ODA does not publish its projects appraisals.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral statement of 13 December,Official Report columns 373–74, if he will outline the main aims and objectives of the aid and trade provision project in Indonesia and indicate what factors led the ODA to consider that it might fall outside the scope of the Overseas Development and Co-operation Act 1980 in the light of the High Court judgment on Pergau.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 December 1994]: The main aims and objectives of the project were to supply equipment to the Indonesian television authority for a new television studio complex constructed at Bandung to assist the service in producing programmes. The factors which led ODA to consider that, in the light of the court's judgment, the project fell outside the scope of the Act were concerns about the developmental soundness of the project and the weight attached to commercial and political considerations in the decision to allocate aid.
  15

  Ankara Metro Project
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date the decision was taken to give support to the Ankara metro project under the aid and trade provision scheme.

  Mr. Baldry
  On 10 September 1990.

  Crown Agents
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what other companies or organisations were considered when KPMG Corporate Finance was appointed to advise on the Crown Agents privatisation; what were the procedures for comparison; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The competition for this contract was conducted in compliance with the European Commission directive on contracting for services under negotiated procedures. Subsequent to the notice in the supplement to the Official Journal of the European Communities on 16 September, proposals were received from Coopers and Lybrand International, Ernst and Young, Samuel Montagu Company Limited and Touche Ross Corporate Finance as well as KPMG Corporate Finance.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the cost of the contract awarded to KPMG Corporate Finance to advise on the transfer of the Crown Agents to the private sector.

  Mr. Baldry
  For services currently under contract, £90,000.

  Consultants
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all the outside consultants appointed by him to advise on overseas development matters in each year since 1984, the total cost in each case, the consultant contracts which are currently under way and the total cost of all current contracts.

  Mr. Baldry
  Information on contracts awarded prior to 1992–93 is not centrally recorded and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. For the years 1992–93 and 1993–94, I refer to my written answer to the hon. Member for York (Mr. Bayley) on 2 November 1994,Official Report, column 1182.

  Good Government
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what considerations were given to the criterion of good government in decisions regarding the allocation of £34.8 million to Indonesia and £33.7 million of aid to China in 1993–94; what proportion each represents of United Kingdom bilateral aid; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Decisions on aid allocations to individual countries take account of a number of criteria. These include poverty, good government issues, including respect for human rights, and the commitment of the country to appropriate economic policies, and other important development objectives such as protection of 16
  the environment. The effectiveness with which United Kingdom aid is used is also an important criterion. Aid for Indonesia and China represented 2.7 per cent. and 2.6 per cent. respectively of total bilateral aid in 1993–94.

  Pergau Dam
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral statement of 13 December,Official Report, columns 773–74, on the Pergau dam, if he will set out in detail the grounds on which each of the aid and trade provision projects in (a) Turkey, (b) Botswana and (c) Indonesia raised legal difficulties following the High Court judgment.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 December 1994]: I refer the hon. member to the replies I gave the hon. member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) today.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral statement of 13 December,Official Report, columns 773–74, on the Pergau dam, if he will set out the criteria used by the ODA to determine which aid and trade provision projects did not comply with the High Court judgment on Pergau.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 December 1994]: The ODA, in co-operation with the National Audit Office, examined all current aid and trade provision soft loan and mixed credit projects to determine whether an appropriate test of developmental soundness was taken into account in each case, whether the projects on which payments are currently being made meet the relevant developmental test and whether the decision-making process gave sufficient prominence to developmental factors, while taking account of other factors such as political and commercial interests

  Aid and Trade Provision
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral statement of 13 December,Official Report, columns 773–74, on the Pergau dam, what legal advice was sought by the ODA in regard to the provision of aid and trade provision funds for the projects in (a) Turkey, (b) Botswana and (c) Indonesia.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 December 1994]: No legal advice was sought on the provision of aid for these projects. However, in each case legal advice was sought on the detailed terms of each of the commercial contracts and the bilateral agreements with the Governments concerned covering the provision of aid.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral statement of 13 December,Official Report, columns 773–74, on the Pergau dam, what were the key political and commercial consideration as taken into account prior to the approval of the ATP funds for (a) Indonesia, (b) Botswana and (c) Turkey.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 December 1994]: The key commercial considerations in each case were the potential loss of both the immediate and follow-on business in the sectors concerned in these countries and the surrounding regions. In the case of Botswana, the key political consideration was our wish to help Botswana as one of the front line states to reduce its dependence on South Africa. In the case of Turkey, political

  17
  considerations took account of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait the previous month and Turkey's positive stance following the invasion. In the case of Indonesia, the key political considerations were Indonesia's position in the Association of South-East Asian Nations region and the need to demonstrate Britain's commitment to the country and its development through a project which was earmarked for a United Kingdom supplier.

  Botswana
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral statement of 13 December,Official Report, columns 373–74, if he will outline the main aims and objectives of the aid and trade provision project in Botswana and indicate what factors led the ODA to consider, following the High Court judgment, that it might fall outside the scope of the Overseas Development and Co-operation Act 1980.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 December 1994]: The main aim and objective of the project was to provide Botswana with its own flight information system to ensure awareness of flights from neighbouring countries. The project was therefore consistent with our overall policy of assisting front line states to reduce their dependence on South Africa and was judged to be a cost-effective means of meeting the objective. The factors which led ODA to consider that, in the light of the court's judgment, the project fell outside the scope of the Act were concerns about the developmental soundness of the project and the weight attached to commercial and political considerations in the decision to allocate aid.

  Turkey
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral statement of 13 December,Official Report, columns 373–74, if he will outline the main aims and objectives of the aid and trade provision project in Turkey and indicate what factors led the ODA to consider, following the High Court judgment, that it might fall outside the scope of the Overseas Development and Co-operation Act 1980.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 December 1994]: The main aims and objectives of the project are to build the first stage of the metro system in the city of Ankara to reduce chronic road congestion and pollution. The factors which led ODA to consider that, in the light of the court's judgment, the project fell outside the scope of the Act were concerns about the developmental soundness of the project and the weight attached to commercial and political considerations in the decision to allocate aid.

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 10 January.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House, I shall be having further meetings later today.
  18
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 10 January.

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

  Intelligence and Security Committee
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what is the annual expenditure earmarked for the Intelligence and Security Committee;

  (2) if he expects to give oral evidence to the Intelligence and Security Committee;

  (3) if senior staff below the level of director general in the security services are to be allowed to give evidence to the Intelligence and Security Committee if the committee requests this;

  (4) at what time of the year he expects to receive the first report from the Intelligence and Security Committee;

  (5) if officers of the House are involved in staffing the Intelligence and Security Committee.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 21 November 1994,Official Report, column 25.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister what considerations underlay the decision to hold meetings of the Intelligence and Security Committee in the Cabinet Office; what consideration was given to holding them in the House; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The House has always recognised that intelligence issues cannot be dealt with in the same way as normal departmental affairs. Special arrangements have been made therefore for the committee to meet in suitable secure accommodation in the Cabinet Office, reflecting the necessary secrecy of the committee's proceedings.

  European Parliament
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy not to agree to any proposal which would extend or increase the powers of the European Parliament.

  The Prime Minister
  The treaty on European Union accorded the European Parliament new powers. We do not believe that the case has been made for an extension of these powers. The primary democratic focus in the European Union rests with national Parliaments, not the European Parliament.

  Hunting Engineering
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will provide a breakdown of all ongoing Government contracts with Hunting Engineering and those completed in the last two years, summarising the amounts relating to each purpose within the contracts and the total of them overall.

  The Prime Minister
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  19

  Voter Satisfaction Surveys
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister what surveys Her Majesty's Government carried out in 1994 to assess voter satisfaction with Her Majesty's Government's policy; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Employment Statistics
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will propose action to increase the numbers of people aged 16 to 20 years employed in each Department and associated agencies;

  (2) if he will give an estimate of the numbers of people available for work aged (a) 16, (b) 17, (c) 18, (d) 19 and (e) 20 years; and if he will compare their ratio to all employees with the ratio of young people employed across the public services and agencies.

  The Prime Minister
  Government Departments and agencies recruit staff on merit through fair and open competition. The details of recruitment procedures are determined by each Department or agency in the light of its own needs and circumstances.

  The Employment Department aims to integrate young people into the labour market by providing a wide range of employment and training measures and services for them. Government Departments and agencies participate fully in programmes such as youth training.

  The employment of young people in different occupations or sectors of activity is affected by recent recruitment levels and by the qualities and experience appropriate to the work.

  In particular, young people tend to group towards particular occupations, some of which may not be associated with the public sector.

  The available estimates from the labour force survey for Great Britain in summer—June to August—1994 show that there were 1,597,000 16 to 20-year-old employees in total, representing 7 per cent. of all employees. Of these 119,000 were in the public sector, representing 2 per cent. of all public sector employees. A further 507,000 16 to 20-year-olds were classified as International Labour Organisation unemployed of which 157,000 were in full-time education but actively seeking a part-time or vacation job.

  Political Resolutions
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Prime Minister what are his political resolutions for 1995.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Queen's Speech,Official Report, 16 November 1994 columns 4–6.

  European Councils
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Prime Minister what changes he proposes to make in reporting to Parliament proceedings and debates within European Council meetings and committees; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  Ministers give Parliament an account of each meeting of the Council of Ministers. Press releases, which include details of voting, are deposited in the Library of the House. I see no reason to change these arrangements.
  20

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library his correspondence with Mr. Martin Cadman, of the Lockerbie victims' relatives association, and in particular his response to Mr. Cadman's letter of 18 December 1994, concerning Lord Parkinson's meetings on 19 September 1989 and 5 December 1989 with the relatives, and his answer of 15 December,Official Report, column 1068.

  The Prime Minister
  No, it is not my normal practice to do so.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his response to Lockerbie victim relative Rev. John Mosey's letter to him of 28 December 1994.

  The Prime Minister
  No, it is not my normal practice to do so.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if, following communications from Mr. Martin Cadman, Pamela Dix, Rev. John Mosey and Dr. Jim Swire, relatives of Lockerbie victims, he has anything to add to his oral answer to the hon. Member of Linlithgow of 15 December,Official Report, column 1068.

  The Prime Minister
  I understand that the meeting between Lord Parkinson and a group of British relatives of the Lockerbie victims to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Gentleman on 15 December took place in December 1989, not in 1990. At that meeting, Lord Parkinson explained the Government's decision not to hold a confidential inquiry into the disaster, but said that the Lord Advocate was likely to hold a public fatal accident inquiry. I have received representations from several relatives of Lockerbie victims calling for a further inquiry. However, in view of all the investigations that have already been carried out, and the need to avoid the danger of prejudicing a criminal trial of the two accused, I do not believe such an inquiry is warranted.

  Ghazanfer Ali
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the latest position in the case of Mr. Ghazanfer Ali, detained in Mirpur prison in Azad Kashmir.

  The Prime Minister
  We continue to raise our concerns over the delays in the hearings of the charges facing Ghazanfer Ali. There has been no progress since my previous answer. The hearings continue to he adjourned.

  Scottish Devolution
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to conduct an analysis of the effects on the rest of the United Kingdom of devolution for Scotland as proposed in the Scotland Act 1978; and it' he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  The proposals for a Scottish assembly contained within the Scotland Act 1978 were the subject of a referendum in 1979 and failed to gain the support of the electorate. The proposals of the Scotland Act 1978 no longer enjoy the support of any political party, but the inconsistencies inherent in those proposals, which were clearly highlighted over 15 years ago, remain today unanswered by the proponents of devolution.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Mortgage Protection Policies
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information he has as to the extent to which the eligibility criteria for mortgage protection policies tend to exclude the self-employed.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  It is possible for the self-employed to safeguard themselves against sickness or disability through mortgage protection policies. The circumstances under which income replacement is payable varies between different insurers—insurers would normally require evidence that trading has permanently ceased. Insurers are considering how they can best meet the needs of the self-employed and others, consistent with sound underwriting practice, following the announcement of the proposed changes in income support for mortgage interest.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will enter into negotiations with the insurance market concerning private mortgage protection policies.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Officials have already held discussions with the Association of British Insurers about mortgage protection policies. Department of Social Security Ministers will also be meeting the ABI as part of the consultation process on the proposed changes in income support for mortgage interest payments.

  £ million

  Financial year

  Iran

  Iraq

  Jordan

  Saudi Arabia

  UAE

  Egypt

  1980–81

  0

  0

  188

  0

  0

  25

  1981–82

  0

  129

  42

  19

  0

  58

  1982–83

  0

  352

  1

  58

  96

  77

  1983–84

  0

  22

  26

  12

  0

  42

  1984–85

  0

  163

  18

  27

  0

  157

  1985–86

  0

  293

  0

  52

  1

  35

  1986–87

  20

  145

  240

  0

  0

  202

  1987–88

  0

  239

  103

  15

  33

  118

  1988–89

  0

  245

  152

  450

  0

  5

  1989–90

  0

  374

  41

  0

  188

  111

  1990–91

  2

  90

  0

  0

  0

  21

  1991–92

  0

  0

  0

  17

  0

  58

  1992–93

  0

  0

  14

  225

  356

  12

  1993–94

  7

  0

  0

  751

  0

  0

  Telephone Dialling Codes
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment has been made as to the additional costs which will be incurred by his Department as a result of the changes in national telephone dialling codes next year; and how much this change will costs his Department in additional expenditure.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  There will be very little additional cost to the Department arising from the national dialling code changes. Service providers such as BT and Mercury have not charged for the necessary work within telephone exchanges and the costs of consequential internal changes to stationery, fax machines and soon will be contained within existing expenditure limits. Forward planning has

  Indonesia
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 8 December 1994,Official Report, column 299, if he will name the United Kingdom company that is licensed to explore for oil and gas in the East Timor gap.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The company is Enterprise Oil plc operating through two wholly owned subsidiaries, Enterprise Oil Timor Gap (9) Ltd. and Enterprise Oil Timor Gap (14) Ltd. of Perth Australia.

  Radioactive Materials
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 7 December,Official Report, column 253, which radioactive materials are licensed for disposal down the Dorset outfalls; in what quantities material has been passed down the Dorset by outfalls; and what monitoring is carried out and by whom of the results of such disposal adjacent to the site of the outfalls.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This is a matter for the board of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.

  Export Credits
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list export credits project business for(a) Iran, (b) Iraq, (c) Jordan, (d) Saudi Arabia, (e) the United Arab Emirates and (f) Egypt since 1980–81.

  Mr. Needham
  The value of liabilities assumed in each of the named markets over the period was as follows:

  enabled these changes to be introduced progressively thereby minimising the additional costs involved.

  The Department recommends that all telephone users plan ahead for the change in dialling codes which come into effect on 16 April 1995.

  Post Office
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the Post Office's external finance limit for each year since 1979; and what are the projected figures for future planned years.
  23
  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Post Office's actual and planned external finance limits since 1979 are as follows:

  £ Million Actual

  1979–80

  -34.0

  1980–81

  -7.7

  1981–82

  -13.4

  1982–83

  -59.7

  1983–84

  -61.5

  1984–85

  -99.5

  1985–86

  -74.7

  1986–87

  -93.1

  1987–88

  -80.0

  1988–89

  -102.0

  1989–90

  -1101.9

  1990–91

  nil

  1991–92

  -74

  1992–93

  -80

  1993–94

  -182

  Advisory Committees
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the programme of work for(a) the Advisory Committee for Arbitration Law, (b) the Aviation Committee, (c) the Standing Advisory Committee on Industrial Property and (d) the Fuel Cell Advisory Panel.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The information requested is as follows:

  a) Advisory Committee for Arbitration Law

  The current work of the advisory committee is set out in my answer to the hon. Gentleman of 27 October 1994, Official Report, column 779.

  b) Aviation Committee

  The committee meets four times a year. Each meeting focuses on the policy background of several specific subjects within the topics of the standing agenda, detailed below:

  a) The performance and competitiveness of the United Kingdom aerospace industry;

  b) A strategy for the industry;

  c) Research and technology acquisition;

  d) The launch aid scheme;

  e) Future opportunities for United Kingdom companies—including market forecasts;

  f) Support for United Kingdom aerospace exports;

  g) Collaboration policy;

  h) MOD procurement policies;

  i) Air traffic management.

  c) Standing Advisory Committee on Industrial Property

  The committee gives advice to my Department on issues such as the fees and implementing rules for the Community trade mark, the draft rules for the international registration of trade marks—Madrid protocol—United Kingdom Patent Office searching policy, the Commission proposal for a block exemption for patent licences, the use and exploitation of intellectual property by small firms and the proposed European directive and regulation on design protection.

  d) Fuel Cell Advisory Panel

  The FCAP advises my Department and the energy technology support unit on the management of the Department's advanced fuel cell R and D programme. It advises on the development of plans to meet the aims and objectives set by my Department for the programme, monitors progress and evaluates its effectiveness. It also advises on the merits and funding of individual project proposals.

  There is no set programme of work for the panel but it meets as necessary, abut four times a year. to undertake these functions. Technical strategies for the programme, endorsed by the panel, were
  24
  published earlier this year and are available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the Government's response to each submission from the Aviation Committee listed in his answer of 26 October,Official Report, columns 649–50.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Government's response to each submission from the Aviation Committee was as follows:Control Technology Programme: It was agreed to offer financial support to this programme from the civil aircraft research and demonstration budget.
  National Strategic Technology Acquisition Plan: On 20 July 1993, the right hon. Tim Sainsbury, MP, Minister for Industry, announced that the DTI would adopt the technological priorities identified in the NSTAP. They are being used to inform DTI's work in the design of its own aerospace policies and in its discussions with the providers of other publicly funded science and technology programmes in Whitehall and Europe. DTI is working with industry, other Government Departments and the science and engineering base to identify ways of helping the aeronautics industry meet its priority needs under the Government's science, engineering and technology policy, also encompassing the European dimension, with the NSTAP priorities serving to inform the Government during discussions on the size and content of the European Union's fourth research and development framework programme.
  Technology Co-ordinators: It has been agreed that technology co-ordinators should be appointed to implement the NSTAP with the cost being shared between Government and industry.
  An Industry Strategy: The Government welcome the work done by the Society of British Aerospace Companies in developing the strategy document. It has been adopted as the basis of a dialogue between Government and the industry on the competitiveness of the sector and represents a good foundation for the stronger partnership between Government and the industry that both wish to develop.
  The Hercules Replacement: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced the Government's policy to the House on 16 December 1994, Official Report column 823.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the Government's response to each submission from the Measurement Advisory Committee listed in his answer of 2 December,Official Report, columns 936–38.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  In response to the submission from the Standards, Quality and Measurement Advisory Committee of 19 February 1993, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Technology, my hon. Friend the Member for Gainsborough and Horncastle (Mr. Leigh), replied to the chairman of the SQMAC by letter on 26 March 1993. Copies of this letter were sent to all the SQMAC members who wrote to my hon. Friend on an individual basis.

  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade replied in a letter to the SQMAC submission of 1 June 1993, offering a meeting which was held on 13 July 1993 between the chairman and representative members of the SQMAC and the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Technology, my hon. Friend the Member for West Derbyshire (Mr. McLoughlin).

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the policies and legislation initiated over the past three years that were based on proposals from(a) the Aviation Committee, (b) the Advisory Committee for Arbitration Law, (c) the Standing Advisory Committee on Industrial Property, (d) the Measurement

  25
  Advisory Committee and (e) the Fuel Cell Advisory Panel.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The information requested is as follows:a) Aviation Committee
  My Department has adopted the technology priorities set out in the national strategic technology acquisition plan for aeronautics prepared by the committee. The Department has also agreed to support the appointment of technology co-ordinators, a mechanism to help implement NSTAP recommended by the working group which consisted of industry members nominated by the Aviation Committee and officials.
  b) Advisory Committee for Arbitration Law
  As indicated in my answer of 26 October 1994, Official Report, column 649, my Department issued a consultation document on a draft Arbitration Bill. This was based on advice from the advisory committee.
  c) Standing Advisory Committee on Industrial Property SACIP has provided advice to my Department on a wide range of issues and made proposals leading to the development of the Trade Marks Act, the trade marks rules, the Community trade mark regulation, draft rules for the international registration of trade marks—Madrid Protocol—the trade mark law harmonisation treaty, the draft directive on the legal protection of Biological inventions, supplementary protection certificates for pharmaceuticals, proposals for second tier protection, the draft treaty on the international registration of industrial designs, and the council regulation on counterfeiting.
  d) Measurement Advisory Committee (MAC)
  The MAC and its predecessor, the Standards, Quality and Measurement Advisory Committee, have given general advice on the size, apportionment and management of spending on the national measurement system. Its working groups have helped to produce, monitor and review 12 programmes of work within the NMS.
  e) Fuel Cell Advisory Panel
  The terms of reference for the Fuel Cell Advisory Panel do not include the development of new policy or legislative proposals.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the programme of work for the Measurement Advisory Committee.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  A full meeting of the Measurement Advisory Committee is scheduled for 27 March 1995 and will discuss a range of issues within the advisory committee's terms of reference. A meeting of the independent members of the advisory committee will be held in September or October 1995—date to be arranged—to carry out the annual task of prioritising all of the work within the 12 national measurement system programmes.

  In addition, there is likely to be 22 meetings of the advisory committee's working groups during 1995. The working groups will review the progress of work within each of the 12 NMS programmes. Each working group is chaired by an independent member of the advisory committee.

  Economic Development
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list all economic development organisations and groups in the south-west region.

  Mr. Eggar
  The best source of this information is the list used by Devon and Cornwall Business Link as a directory of organisations which provide economic and business support and advice. The Government office for Devon and Cornwall is also providing a range of services to Devon and Cornwall from temporary offices in the centre of Plymouth.
  26

  Economic organisations and groups in Devon and Cornwall

  Organisation

  Organisation

  A R Training Services

  Key Information (Devon Library)

  Action Consultants Training

  Law Society—Lawyers For Your Business

  ADAS Consultancy

  Lloyds Bank

  Agricultural Development (ADAS)

  Mid Cornwall Business Associates Ltd

  Barclays Bank

  Mid Devon District Council

  Barnstaple Chamber of Commerce

  Mid Devon Enterprise Agency

  Bowes Associates

  Midland Bank

  British Red Cross

  Ministry of Agriculture

  Business Advisory Service D and C Tec

  National Westminster Bank

  Business Enterprise Exeter

  North Cornwall District Council

  Business Information Centre

  North Cornwall Sport and Recreation Council

  CSM Associates Limited

  North Devon College Enterprise Unit

  Caradon Business Centre

  North Devon District Council

  Caradon District Council

  North Devon Enterprise Agency

  Carrick District Council

  North Devon Manufacturers Association

  Commercial Education Training (CETS)

  Payback Environmental Business Association

  Cornwall Chamber for Industry

  Penwith District Council

  Cornwall College

  PEP Business School Management Centre

  Cornwall County Council

  PEP Research and Consultancy Ltd

  Cornwall Economic Development Office

  Plymouth Area Groundwork Trust

  Cornwall Enterprise Board

  Plymouth Chamber of Commerce

  Cornwall Innovation Centre

  Plymouth College of Further Education

  Cornwall Library Service

  Plymouth Training for Commerce

  Cornwall Rural Community Council

  Red Cross

  Cornwall Tourist Board

  Restormel Borough Council

  Cornwall Trust for Nature Conservation

  Restormel Enterprise Trust

  Countryside Commission

  Royal Bank of Scotland

  Dartmouth Enterprise Group

  Royal British Legion

  Devon and Cornwall Tap

  Rural Development Commission

  Devon Co-operative Agency Ltd

  Saltash College

  Devon County Council

  South Devon Export Group

  Devon and Cornwall Development International

  South Hams Agency for Rural Enterprise

  Devon and Cornwall Training and Enterprise Council

  South Hams District Council

  Down to Earth Training

  South West Productivity

  Duchy College

  St Austell College

  East Devon District Council

  St Johns Ambulance

  East Devon Small Industries Group

  Teignbridge District Council

  English Nature

  Teignbridge Enterprise Agency

  Enterprise Plymouth Limited

  Torbay Borough Council

  Enterprise Tamar Limited

  Torbay Enterprise Agency

  European Information Centre

  Torridge District Council

  Exeter City Council

  Trevint Limited

  Exeter Enterprises Limited

  Trustee Savings Bank

  Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group

  West Cornwall Enterprise Trust

  Finatlantic

  West Country Development Company

  Focus Europe South West

  West Country Tourist Board

  Government Office for the South West

  West Devon District Council

  Incorporated Society of Advertisers

  West Penwith Council

  Kerrier District Council

  27

  Arms Sales
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many items of correspondence his Department has received from the public since 1 September on export credit cover relating to arms sales.

  Mr. Needham
  Over the period the Export Credits Guarantee Department has received approximately 2,300 items of correspondence on the subject, nearly all in leaflet form.

  Overseas Debt
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list by country and for each year since 1984 the total outstanding Export Credits Guarantee Department debt owed to the United Kingdom by developing countries, excluding eastern Europe.

  UK Share of EU Countries Visible Imports (per cent. terms)

  Year

  Latest Quarter

  Corresponding Quarter of 1992

  Belgium/Luxembourg

  Q4 1993

  9.0

  7.3

  Denmark

  Q4 1992

  7.9

  1n/a

  France

  Q2 1994

  7.7

  7.6

  Germany

  Q2 1994

  6.2

  6.7

  Greece

  Q4 1993

  5.8

  5.3

  Ireland

  Q3 1993

  37.3

  43.8

  Italy

  Q2 1994

  6.2

  5.8

  Netherlands

  Q1 1994

  8.4

  8.9

  Portugal

  Q2 1994

  6.3

  6.9

  Spain

  Q2 1994

  7.8

  7.4

  Note:

  1 Denmark data for Q4 1992 is the latest available.

  Source: OECD Series A.

  Audits
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he intends to take against the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales for failure to keep a proper register of individuals eligible to conduct audits; and what inquiries he intends to initiate to investiage the performance of the regulatory bodies in this respect.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Companies Act 1989 (Register of Auditors and Information about Audit Firms) Regulations 1991 require the recognised supervisory bodies for company auditors, of which the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales is one, to take reasonable care to keep and maintain a register of the individuals and firms eligible for appointment as company auditor. The regulations are made pursuant to sections 35 and 36 of the Companies Act 1989.

  It has been alleged that the ICAEW may have failed to meet these requirements in its handling of one case last year. My Department has sought an explanation from the ICAEW and I will write to the hon. Member once I have considered that response and made any further inquiries which may be appropriate.

  Manufacturing
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the change in(a) the average capital employed in manufacturing and (b) the capital employed in other non-North sea industrial and commercial companies between 1990 and 1993.
  28
  Mr. Needham
  To provide year-by-year figures would entail disproportionate cost. For the figures of outstanding rescheduled debt as at 31 October 1994 I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to her by the hon. Member for Chichester (Mr. Nelson) on 20 December 1994,Official Report, columns 1083–84.

  Imports
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the United Kingdom share of imports into each of the other EEC countries in(a) the latest quarter for which figures are available and (b) the corresponding quarter of 1992.

  Mr. Needham
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Figures on average capital employed at current replacement cost by manufacturing industrial and commercial companies are published in the Central Statistical Office "First Release", CSO(94) 205—"Profitability of UK companies: rates of return of UK industrial and commercial companies (1962–1993)". Figures on average capital employed in other non-North sea industrial and commercial companies are available by subtracting the manufacturing figures from those of non-North sea industrial and commercial companies which are also published in "First Release". A copy of "First Release" is available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the average annual rate of growth in manufacturing output in 1973 to 1993.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Between 1973 and 1993 the average annual growth in manufacturing output was 0.03 per cent.

  Transport Equipment
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will list in the Official Report the periods since 1964 in which output of transport equipment remained 12 per cent. below its previous peak after five years.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  No. This information is not readily available and could he produced only at disproportionate cost.

  Assisted Areas
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the United Kingdom tourist areas which qualify for assisted status and the cost of that assistance to the taxpayer in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The assisted areas are defined in terms of travel-to-work areas, most of which include a range of economic activity. There is no list of tourist areas on which the cost of assistance could be assessed.

  Non-fossil Fuel Quota
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy that non-fossil fuel electricity capacity contracted delivered with a provision for annual interruptions on less than(a) 20, (b) 15 or (c) 10 occasions per annum shall count towards the non-fossil fuel quota.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Government's policy is to use the non-fossil fuel obligation as an instrument to assist promising renewable electricity generation technologies to enter the commercial electricity generation market. Competition in the allocation of contracts is an essential part of this process.

  Nuclear Accidents
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the legal processes covering compensation for multiple or sequentially linked accidents on the same nuclear site.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Under United Kingdom law, where third party damage or injury is caused as a result of a single nuclear occurrence at a site, compensation is payable by the site operator up to his insurance limit of £140 million. Further compensation up to an overall limit of approximately £280 million for each occurrence is payable out of money provided by Parliament. This will also cover a case where the £140 million insurance may be exhausted because there has been a previous occurrence at the same site within the same insurance cover period.

  However, following any occurrence resulting in claims on the operator's insurance, the Minister, if he thinks it proper to do so, may direct the operator to open a new cover period for that site, so that a further £140 million will be available for any subsequent incident. If claims exceed £280 million, additional compensation may be provided by Parliament to the extent that it shall determine.

  A succession of occurrences at one site, which is attributable to a particular event or to the carrying out of a particular operation, is regarded as a single occurrence for the payment of compensation. The whole of a continuing occurrence is similarly regarded as a single occurrence.

  EU Trade Deficit
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the EU's deficit in trade with the rest of the world(a) in the current year, (b) in the previous year and (c) five years ago; and what assessment he has made of these figures.
  30
  Mr. Needham
  The information requested is given in the table.

  EU(12) balance of visible trade with the rest of the world

  $ Million

  1988

  -29,541

  1992

  -67,525

  1993

  -3,967

  Source:

  Eurostat External Trade.

  My Department is continuously monitoring the UK and EU trade position with the rest of the world.

  Cable Franchises
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much was paid for each of the cable franchises and local delivery licences awarded since 1983.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Precise details of how much was paid for each of the cable franchises and local delivery franchises cannot be provided other than at disproportionate cost.

  Applicants for the 126 franchises awarded under the Cable and Broadcasting Act 1984 were charged an application fee and an annual licence fee based on a scale related to the size of the franchise. Under the Broadcasting Act 1990 franchises are awarded by competitive tender. In addition to an application fee, successful applicants make tender payments: an initial cash bid payable in the first year and indexed for inflation in each succeeding year. A percentage of qualifying revenue is also payable over the duration of the licence.

  Franchisees are also required to pay a fee for Telecommunications Act licence and an annual renewal fee. These are revised annually.

  Waste Management
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he still supports the hierarchy of waste management options including reduction, re-use, recycling, including materials recycling, composting and energy recovery, which was set out in the joint response by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of the Environment to the second report of the House of Commons Environment Select Committee published in November 1994, Cm 2696.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Government's policy on a waste management hierarchy is set out in paragraphs 23.14 to 23.17 of "Sustainable Development—the UK Strategy", published in January 1994.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Parliamentary Telephone Calls
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee how much has been spent on telephone charges for parliamentary purposes; and how many telephone calls have been made for parliamentary purposes in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Beith
  I have been asked to reply. For technical reasons it is not possible to identify the number of calls
  31
  made. However, call charges in each of the last five years for the Palace of Westminster are as follows:

  1989: £561,000

  1990: £570,000

  1991: £690,000

  1992: £599,000

  1993: £497,000

  The hon. Member will wish to note that since 1991 there has been a significant reduction in the overall cost of telephone calls due to the increased competition from telephone network companies, and to the introduction of the least cost routing system which ensures calls are directed by the cheapest means.

  Parliamentary Mail
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee how much has been spent on postage charges for parliamentary purposes; and how many items have been posted for parliamentary purposes in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Beith
  I have been asked to reply. Postage charges incurred by the House of Commons for parliamentary 32
  purposes in each of the last five financial years are as follows:

  £

  1990–91

  1,262,884

  1991–92

  1,304,419

  1992–93

  1,455,913

  1993–94

  1,766,568

  1993–94 (1 April-31 October 1994)

  1,254,479

  It is not possible to provide the hon. Member with details of the number of items posted.

  Business and Technology Education Council
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to BTEC to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 20 February to Friday 24 February 1995.

EMPLOYMENT

  Industrial Disputes
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many days were lost through industrial disputes(a) in 1994 and (b) in 1979.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  In the 12 months to October 1994, 403,000 days were lost to strikes in the United Kingdom. This compares with a 1979 total of 29.5 million.

  Equal Opportunities Commission
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the future of the Equal Opportunities Commission.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon).

  Job Advertisements
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what legislative action is to be taken in respect of job advertisements that discriminate on grounds of age.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Government have no intention of introducing age discrimination legislation, which we believe would be ineffective and would increase the burdens imposed on employers. The Government firmly believe that the way forward is through persuasion.

  Redundancies, York
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies have been notified in York in the past 12 months.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Latest available figures from the quarterly labour force survey show that in Yorkshire and Humberside in summer 1994 20,000 people were made redundant in the three months prior to interview. This figure is not seasonally adjusted.

  Youth Training
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what research he has commissioned to establish the proportion of young people aged between 16 and 17 whose training needs are not met by current training opportunities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Paice
  The Government are currently considering this issue on a cross-Government basis.

  Baggage Handlers
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the responsibilities of the Health

  Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates in EU countries

  Latest month (October 1994)

  Last Year (October 1993)

  Five Years ago (October 1989)

  Belgium

  10.1

  9.7

  8.2

  Denmark

  9.8

  10.7

  7.8

  Germany1

  6.2

  6.0

  5.3

  Greece2

  —

  —

  —

  34
  and Safety Executive in relation to the transfer of baggage at airports.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Health and Safety Executive is responsible for enforcing the law relating to the health and safety at work of baggage handlers.

  Employment Opportunities
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he plans to take to improve the opportunities to gain work for the long-term unemployed.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Ross, Cromarty and Skye (Mr. Kennedy).

  Unemployment
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current level of unemployment in Workington.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  In November 1994, unadjusted claimant unemployment in the Workington parliamentary constituency stood at 3,482, a fall of 5.9 per cent. over the year.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the level of unemployment nationally as indicated by the labour force survey; and what is the difference between this and the claimant total issued by his Department.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  On the seasonally adjusted basis, the summer 1994 labour force survey shows that 2.64 million people were unemployed in Great Britain under the International Labour Organisation definition, while the average claimant count figure over the same period stood at 2.53 million, a difference of 112,000.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment to what he attributes the fall in unemployment in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Portillo
  Britain's unemployment has fallen faster than that of any other European country because we have pursued sound economic policies based on permanently low inflation and a deregulated, flexible labour market, combined with active measures to help people back to work.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the current rates of unemployment in each EU nation; and what were the figures(a) one and (b) five years previously.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Internationally comparable unemployment rates based on the standardised International Labour Organisation definition of unemployment are published by EUROSTAT in its monthly "Unemployment Bulletin," copies of which are available in the Library. The information requested for each member of the EU as at the end of 1994 is given in the following table:
  35

  Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates in EU countries

  Latest month (October 1994)

  Last Year (October 1993)

  Five Years ago (October 1989)

  Spain

  22.1

  22.5

  16.7

  France

  11.3

  11.1

  9.2

  Ireland

  17.6

  18.4

  15.1

  Italy

  12.1

  11.3

  10.6

  Luxembourg

  3.5

  2.8

  2.0

  Netherlands

  310.0

  9.5

  8.3

  Portugal

  6.1

  5.5

  4.8

  United Kingdom

  8.9

  10.3

  6.9

  EC Average

  10.7

  10.8

  8.7

  Notes:

  1 No ILO rate available for unified Germany. The above rates are for the former West Germany.

  2 Only 1991 annual average figures available for Greece.

  3 The latest rate shown is for September 1994.

  Source:

  Statistical Office of the European Community Unemployment Bulletin.

  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 30 November,Official Report, column 756, what was the total cost of unemployment to the Government in (a) 1990–91, (b) 1991–92 and (c) 1992–93, together with the cost per person unemployed.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Total expenditure on benefits to the unemployed in Great Britain and the average benefit per person is shown in the following table:

  Table 1. Expenditure on benefits to the unemployed in Great Britain

  Financial year

  Total expenditure £ millions

  Average expenditure per claimant per financial year £1

  1989–90

  4,501

  2,800

  1990–91

  5,290

  3,180

  1991–92

  7,558

  3,210

  1992–93

  8,973

  3,260

  1993–94

  9,720

  3,510

  1 Rounded to nearest £10.

  The figures for total expenditure on benefits to the unemployed are taken from the Social Security Statistics 1994 published by the Department of Social Security. They differ slightly from those given in reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary which were based on the DSS departmental report. The DSS has subsequently revised its estimates. The average expenditure figure is derived by dividing the total expenditure by the average number of the seasonally unadjusted claimant count during the financial year.

  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the percentage change in the total cost of unemployment between(a) 1989–90 and 1990–91, (b) 1990–91 and 1991–92, (c) 1991–92 and 1992–93 and (d) 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Total expenditure on benefits to the unemployed in Great Britain, and the annual change is shown in the following table:
  36

  Table 1. Expenditure on benefits to the unemployed in Great Britain

  Financial year

  Total expenditure £ millions

  Percentage change on previous year

  1989–90

  4,501

  —

  1990–91

  5,290

  + 18

  1991–92

  7,558

  + 43

  1992–93

  8,973

  + 19

  1993–94

  9,720

  + 8

  The figures for total expenditure on benefits to the unemployed are taken from the "Social Security Statistics 1994", page 3.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of 16 and 17-year-olds not in full-time education and without a job or training scheme(a) in spring 1994 and (b) on the most recent date for which figures are available (i) in the United Kingdom and (ii) in each part of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Paice
  [holding answer 20 December 1994]: I have written to the hon. Member and placed a copy of my reply in the Library.

  Education and Training
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much his Department is planning to spend on education and training per unemployed person in 1995–96; and what was the level in 1989–90 at 1995–96 prices.

  Mr. Paice
  As the programmes covered by this expenditure are by no means confined to the unemployed, it would not be appropriate to express expenditure per unemployed person.

  Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the work of ACAS.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Industrial relations have improved substantially during ACAS's 20-year lifetime. ACAS has played an important part in bringing about these improvements and will continue to do so.

  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much his Department is spending on
  37
  training; and what the level of planned spending is in 1997–98 in today's prices.

  Mr. Paice
  Forecast expenditure by the Department on training and education programmes this year is £2,042 million. Planned expenditure on these programmes in 1997–98 is £1,801 million at current prices.

  Industrial Tribunals
  Mr. Eric Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the future role of industrial tribunals.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Employment to my hon. Friend the Member for Wansdyke (Mr. Aspinwall) on 14 December 1994,Official Report, columns 696–97.

  Employment Service
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been helped into jobs by the Employment Service in the last year.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Employment Service placed 1,900,600 people into jobs in the last year. This is 16 per cent. more than in the previous year.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for Employment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) of 1 December,Official Report, column 871, if he will make a statement regarding his Department's expenditure on special advisers in each of the last three financial years and for the financial year 1979–80.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary on 19 December 1994,Official Report, column 937.

  North Norfolk Action
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 14 December,Official Report, column 696, if he will make a statement on the principal findings (a) for North Norfolk Action and (b) for each of the Workstart programmes.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Evaluations of North Norfolk Action and Workstart both showed encouraging results, and action is being taken to build on these. The most successful element of North Norfolk Action has already been adopted in the 1–2–1 pilot for 18 to 24-year-olds, which will become a national programme in April 1995. The evaluation of Workstart indicated that the subsidy has had a significant effect on employers' attitudes to long-term unemployed people. The 5,000 Workstart places announced in the Budget will provide an opportunity to explore the potential for varying the level of subsidy to obtain the most cost-effective results.

  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total amount the Government have(a) saved from the Workstart scheme and (b) spent on North Norfolk Action, since their implementation; and
  38
  what has been the expenditure or saving per person per week on each scheme.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Savings in public expenditure from any employment programme arise from long-term improvements in the functioning of the labour market, and cannot be calculated in the terms requested.

  Evaluation of Workstart suggested that it had had a positive effect on employers' willingness to recruit long-term unemployed people, and this approach will be explored further using the 5,000 pilot places announced in the Budget. North Norfolk Action provided work experience or a series of interviews with an Employment Service adviser for people who had been out of the labour market for some time. The national work experience programme, community action, was extended in the Budget, and will provide 40,000 places a year.

  Under the first Workstart pilot, employers who recruited long-term unemployed people were paid £60 a week for the first six months, and £30 a week for the next six. Expenditure on the pilot until the end of November 1994 totalled £1,494,516.

  Providers on North Norfolk Action were paid £52 per week per place, and the total cost of the pilot was £686,624.

  Non-wage Labour Costs
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the effect of non-wage labour costs on employment prospects.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Non-wage labour costs are lower in the United Kingdom than in most countries of the European Union. I believe that any increase in such costs would worsen employment prospects as high non-wage labour costs make it more expensive for employers to create jobs.

  Electronic Mail
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to be able to receive and respond to communications via electronic mail.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Officials within the Department are investigating the possibility of establishing links to external E-mail services.

  Self-employment
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the level of the self-employment in Great Britain in(a) 1979, (b) 1985 and (c)

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The information is given in the following table.

  Self-employment: Great Britain (seasonally adjusted)

  Thousands

  June 1979

  1,956

  June 1985

  2,704

  June 1994

  3,192

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what surpluses were held by each training
  39
  and enterprise council at the end of each of the last two financial years.

  Mr. Paice
  A list of English training and enterprise councils, their accumulated reserves and in-year operating surpluses, as shown in their annual statutory audited accounts, at the end of the financial year 1992–93 is shown in the following table.

  I am unable to give the figures requested for 1993–94 as this information is not yet in the public domain for every TEC. However, as TEC accounts for 1993–94 become available to the Department, copies will be placed in the Library.

  TECS by region

  Accumulated reserves 92–93 £000s

  Post tax operating surplus 92–93 £

  Northern

  County Durham

  6,582

  2,595,107

  Northumberland

  3,696

  1,233,752

  Teesside

  9,186

  3,388,000

  Tyneside

  4,486

  (883,000)

  Sunderland (Wearside)

  2,514

  512,381

  26,464

  6,846,240

  North West

  CEWTEC

  2,579

  603,311

  Cumbria

  2,999

  110,772

  ELTEC

  3,364

  1,338,587

  LAWTEC

  2,917

  (236,657)

  Merseyside

  4,210

  1,191,532

  NORMID

  1,093

  (418,902)

  QUALITEC

  1,055

  312,509

  18,217

  2,901,152

  Greater Manchester

  Bolton/Bury

  2,861

  847,848

  Manchester

  3,377

  (880,942)

  METRO

  519

  108,000

  Oldham

  1,456

  83,406

  Rochdale

  1,087

  597,651

  South and East Cheshire

  2,419

  420,244

  Stockport and High Peak

  2,782

  655,247

  14,501

  1,831,454

  Yorks and Humber

  Barnsley/Doncaster

  3,993

  1,012,208

  Bradford

  3,432

  1,524,888

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  828

  (1,574)

  Humberside

  5,193

  2,258,408

  Leeds

  5,724

  2,160,436

  North Yorks

  4,353

  936,000

  Rotherham

  2,865

  1,134,336

  Sheffield

  4,157

  883,000

  Wakefield

  3,110

  668,301

  33,655

  10,576,003

  Eastern

  Bedfordshire

  1,556

  220,801

  CAMBS

  622

  34,280

  Essex

  5,037

  742,805

  Gtr Peterborough

  1,532

  661,071

  Hertfordshire

  2,641

  1,199,133

  Norfolk and Waverney

  2,161

  (411,789)

  Suffolk

  2,984

  473,259

  16,533

  2,919,560

  40

  TECS by region

  Accumulated reserves 92–93 £ 000s

  Post tax operating surplus 92–93 £

  East Midlands

  Gtr Nottingham

  944

  98,000

  Leicester

  4,597

  1,888,317

  Lincolnshire

  2,553

  1,328,872

  Northamptonshire

  1,977

  109,609

  North Derbyshire

  749

  87,828

  North Nottinghamshire

  1,289

  (376,000)

  South Derbyshire

  4,106

  611,343

  16,215

  3,747,969

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  1,212

  (1,606,000)

  Central England

  1,340

  347,027

  Coventry/Warwick

  2,203

  7,122

  Dudley

  1,214

  801,744

  HAWTEC

  1,679

  702,859

  Sandwell

  1,706

  788,829

  Shropshire

  1,304

  703,807

  Staffordshire

  5,789

  1,717,636

  Walsall

  2,340

  941,491

  Wolverhampton

  1,411

  379,147

  20,198

  4,783,662

  South West

  Avon

  3,071

  1,647,961

  Devon/Cornwall

  7,407

  121,000

  Dorset

  2,848

  53,973

  Gloucester

  1,575

  666

  Somerset

  1,746

  711,143

  Wiltshire

  1,110

  251,265

  17,757

  2,786,008

  London

  AZTEC

  1,932

  411,486

  CENTEC

  906

  757,876

  CILNTEC

  2,161

  1,610,046

  LETEC

  655

  1,138,517

  North London

  3,005

  1,851,198

  North West London

  864

  424,679

  SOLOTEC

  3,439

  2,530,966

  South Thames

  3,611

  2,318,842

  West London

  1,163

  1,000,929

  17,736

  12,044,539

  South East

  Hampshire

  4,679

  1,430,483

  Isle of White

  879

  161,087

  Kent

  5,774

  2,231,284

  Milton Keynes/Nth Bucks

  677

  99,326

  Heart of England

  2,424

  860,611

  Surrey

  1,663

  967,259

  Sussex

  5,230

  1,875,000

  Thames Valley Ent.

  3,970

  643,002

  25,296

  8,268,052

  Grand total

  206,572

  56,704,639

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total budget of Hampshire training and enterprise council for the year 1994–95.

  Mr. Paice
  The budget made available by the Employment Department, Department of the Environment and Department for Trade and Industry to Hampshire training and enterprise council during 1994–95 is £40,543,124.
  41

  Apprenticeships
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what guidance he has given to training and enterprise councils concerning assurances they can give to employers about funding for the modern apprentice scheme beyond the first year.

  Mr. Paice
  The operating agreement between the Department and the training and enterprise councils provides assurances for the continuity of funding. This ensures that sufficient funds will be made available to TECs so that young people on modern apprenticeships can complete their training.

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received concerning the need to give long-term commitments to employers involved in the modern apprentice scheme.

  Mr. Paice
  I am not aware of having received any particular representations concerning the need to give long-term commitments to employers involved in modern apprenticeships. Sufficient funds will be made available to training and enterprise councils to ensure that young people can complete their training under modern apprenticeship with employers—normally some three years.

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what checks his Department is planning on attendance records for those involved in the modern apprentice scheme and working with an employer.

  Mr. Paice
  In training and enterprise council areas where there is a pilot scheme for starts and outcomes funding, no attendance records will be made. Where training weeks continue to be used, checks will be made to substantiate training weeks claimed from the Department and that these records are in accordance with the Department's requirements. For employed status trainees the records required are either:

  (a) employers' own payroll or attendance records, providing these record unauthorised absence and employers are prepared for them to be used to verify the attendance of modern apprentices; or

  (b) the attendance records specified by the Department.

  A sample of records will be checked, primarily by the TEC with whom the provider of the modern apprenticeship has a contract, in accordance with the guidance issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment. The checks will he the same as for other programmes where the Department pays for training weeks.

  Work Trials
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many firms and individuals have been involved in work trials in the parliamentary constituency of Derbyshire, North-East since the inception of the scheme; how many people have been placed in permanent employment on(a) a full-time and (b) a part-time basis as a consequence; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
  42
  Letter from M.E.G. Fogden to Mr. Harry Barnes, dated 10 January 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about Work Trials in the parliamentary constituency of North East Derbyshire.Although performance information is not recorded on a constituency basis, North Derbyshire is broadly covered by the Employment Service Jobcentres in Clay Cross, Dronfield, Eckington and Staveley. Since inception of the Work Trial scheme in April 1993, these offices have signed agreements with 45 employers and run 102 Work Trials which have resulted in 70 placings.Records of the break-down of these placings into full and part time work are not maintained by the majority of Work Trials are for full time positions of over 16 hours a week.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Telephone Dialling Codes
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment has been made as to the additional costs which will be incurred by his Department as a result of the changes in national telephone dialling codes next year; and how much this change will cost his Department in additional expenditure.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Disaggregated information of this nature is not available.

  Employment, London
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the net increase or decrease of jobs in London which he estimates for 1995.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Information on employment projections is not available. The level of civilian work force in employment in Greater London increased by 65,000—2 per cent.—over the year to September 1994.

  Source:

  Work force in employment survey.

  Part-time Employment
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of the article in the amended treaty of Rome relating to his announcement concerning part-time employment of 20 December 1994, together with the dates at which Her Majesty's Government assented to the article, and those on which the House gave a Second and Third Reading to the relevant ratifying Act.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The judicial review case R. v Secretary of State for Employment ex parte Equal Opportunities Commission and another was brought under article 119 of the treaty of Rome, which has been in the treaty since it was adopted in 1957; under the equal pay directive, which was adopted in 1975 and came into force in 1976; and under the equal treatment directive, which was adopted in 1976 and came into force in 1978. The application of article 119 is a consequence of the United Kingdom's accession to the European Community, which was approved by Parliament in the European Communities Act 1972. The directives' requirements are met in the UK by provisions of the Equal Pay Act 1970 and the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many skilled workers have lost their jobs in manufacturing industry since 1979.
  43
  Mr. Oppenheim
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Young People
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish tables showing for spring 1994 and for the latest date for which figures are available the total number of 16 and 17-year-olds in the United Kingdom together with the number and percentage who are(a) employed, (b) self-employed, (c) full-time students, (d) undertaking Government employment and training programmes, (e) classified as International Labour Organisation unemployed and (f) economically inactive.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 16 December 1994]: My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Employment has written to the hon. Member and placed a copy of his reply in the Library.

  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the opportunities available for young people aged 16 and 17 years who are classified as(a) ILO unemployed and (b) economically inactive.

  Mr. Paice
  [holding answer 16 December I994]: I have written to the hon. Member and placed a copy of my reply in the Library.

  Christmas Expenditure
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much public money will be spent on entertaining, Christmas decorations and other festive activities this Christmas season by his Department and Government agencies answerable to his Department; and of this sum how much will be spent in Ministers' private offices and offices and official residences.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [pursuant to her reply, 28 November 1994, column 515]: I regret that my reply of 28 November, Official Report, column 515, was incorrect. It should have read: such costs are included in the total running cost expenditure for this Department which is published in the departmental report, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Social Affairs Council
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EC Social Affairs Council held on 21 December 1994.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I attended the Social Affairs Council on 21 December in Brussels, for a further discussion of the draft directive on posted workers.

  Discussion was again inconclusive. As at the previous Council on 6 December 1994, I made clear our considerable difficulties of both principle and detail. A number of other member states, also, had significant difficulties with the proposal, and agreement was not reached.

  Commissioner Flynn reported to the Council on the Essen European Council.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) of 1 December,Official Report, columns 895–96, if he will make a statement regarding his Department's expenditure on special advisers in each of the last three financial years and for the financial year 1979–80.

  Mr. Jack
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary on 19 December,Official Report, column 937.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what measures have been taken to reform the common agricultural policy in the interests of consumers since the publication of Cmnd. 6003—"Membership of the European Community-report on Renegotiation";

  (2) if he will describe by reference to each commodity listed in paragraph 9 of Cmnd. 6003, the progress which has been made since 1974 towards securing a better balance between supply and demand.

  Mr. Jack
  Since 1979, the common agricultural policy has seen a number of changes. The most notable of these was the 1992 CAP reform agreement, which was a major development in moving the CAP closer to the market. The agreement included significant reductions in support prices of major commodities and other measures to cut excess production, thereby securing a better balance between supply and demand, reducing dependence on intervention and reducing the cost to consumers.

  There are no commodities listed in paragraph 9 of Cmnd. 6003.

  North Sea Fishing
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what action is currently being considered at(a) national and (b) international level to exclude industrial fishing from those areas of the North sea which are of high environmental value;

  (2) if he will seek to introduce a quota system for sandeels when he attends the European Council of Fisheries Ministers later in December.

  Mr. Jack
  It is recognised that sandeel and other short-lived species serve as food for many of the human consumption fish and other top predators in the marine eco-system. Scientific knowledge of the short-lived species is not as extensive as for other fish species. For this, and other reasons, the United Kingdom pressed the Commission to establish a working party of marine ecologists and fisheries biologists to study the implications for the marine eco-system of fishing in general and industrial fishing in particular. This group met in May and has reported to the Commission. When its report is discussed in the Council, attention will need to be paid to the environmental aspects of industrial fishing.

  It is for the European Commission to propose new quotas. It has not done so for sandeels for 1995; the current scientific advice is that sandeels in the North sea can sustain fisheries at their present level.

  Rabies
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of rabies in animals there were in Belgium in 1993 and 1994.

  Mrs. Browning
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave the hon. Member for Dover (Mr. Shaw) on 1 December 1994,Official Report, column 893.

  Animal Transportation
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 13 December,Official Report, column 627, regarding exported livestock, what plans he has to prosecute livestock exporters for not fulfilling the journey plan and not feeding and watering the animals after 15 hours.

  Mrs. Browning
  We have no such plans. The departure from the original journey plan was due to weather conditions beyond the transporter's control. When the calves arrived back at Coventry having failed to land at Rennes, a judgment had to be made, in the light of their condition and all the circumstances, whether they should be taken straight back to their premises of origin or whether a stop for food and rest should be arranged first. The Ministry's veterinary inspector, who was present and had the power to serve a notice requiring food and rest to be provided, agreed with the judgment that it was in the best interest of the calves to be taken back to their home premises without further delay. The fact that in the event the overall journey took fifteen and a half hours does not invalidate that judgment.

  EC Vote
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how Britain voted in the recent EC vote on extending the moratorium on the use of bovine somatotropin.

  Mrs. Browning
  The United Kingdom voted against the proposed Council decision to continue the moratorium on the marketing and use of bovine somatotropin until 31 December 1999, as this proposal was without scientific justification. The decision was, however, adopted by qualified majority.

  Premium Payments
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for each of the three counties of Yorkshire and for Humberside the total cost in each year since 1991 of(a) the sheep annual premium, and(b) suckler cow premium and (c) the beef special premium; and what is his estimate for 1994.

  Mr. Jack
  The information available is provided in the table:

  Total annual payments

  North Yorkshire £

  South Yorkshire £

  West Yorkshire £

  Humberside £

  1991

  SAPS1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  SCPS

  2,458,165

  329,368

  652,597

  606,320

  BSPS2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  46

  Total annual payments

  North Yorkshire £

  South Yorkshire £

  West Yorkshire £

  Humberside £

  1992

  SAPS3

  2,556,670

  798,337

  18,669,499

  1,050,303

  SCPS

  2,726,418

  381,756

  733,215

  657,953

  BSPS2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1993

  SAPS3

  2,437,136

  732,425

  18,324,704

  1,060,504

  SCPS4

  3,751,256

  481,010

  958,669

  857,170

  BSPS4

  5,406,598

  606,618

  826,398

  1,287,532

  1994 (est)

  SAPS3 5

  1,500,028

  450,829

  11,318,695

  658,345

  SCPS4

  4,609,305

  615,934

  1,218,486

  1,092,518

  BSPS5

  2,650,500

  276,879

  410,012

  640,863

  1 Breakdown by county not readily available.

  2 Current BSPS was introduced in 1993, earlier figures not comparable.

  3 LFA Supplement included.

  4 Extensification premium included.

  5 Advances of premium paid as at 20.12.94.

  Arable Aid
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the yield figures set for land in(a) less-favoured areas and (b) non less-favoured areas in the calculation of arable aid payments in each of the three counties of Yorkshire and Humberside for the 1994–95 marketing year; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The yield figures used in the calculation of the arable area aid payments in England are the same for both less-favoured areas and non less-favoured areas and also for each county. For cereals, protein crops, linseed and set-aside areas this 5.93 tonne per hectare and for oilseed crops it is 3.08 tonnes per hectare.

  These figures are based on the average yield for cereals and oilseeds in England over the five years from 1986–87 to 1990–91, excluding the highest and lowest figures.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much a farmer growing cereals will be paid in arable aid for each hectare of cereals grown in 1994–95 in each of the three counties of Yorkshire and Humberside in(a) less-favoured areas and (b) non less-favoured areas; what are the figures for the year 1993–94; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The arable area payment for cereals grown in 1994–95 will be 265 ecu per hectare. The sterling equivalent of this can not be calculated until the green rate for ecu conversion is known for 10 July 1995. However, it is expected that it will be approximately £247 per hectare. The figure will be same for both less-favoured areas and non less-favoured areas in England.,

  The arable area payment for cereals grown in England in 1993–94 is £193.53 per hectare.

  The increase is the final one planned under the arable area payments scheme to compensate for reductions in intervention prices for cereals.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out by county a breakdown of the 1994 area payments scheme.

  Mr. Jack
  I am unable to provide the information requested by the hon. Member at the moment. However,
  47
  I will write to him with this information as soon as it is available.

  Sugar Beet
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food how much per tonne is given to European farmers for growing sugar beet; and what is the value on the world market for sugar per tonne.

  Mr. Jack
  [pursuant to his reply, 15 December 1994, column 791]: The price at which quota sugar can be sold on the world market with the aid of export refunds was incorrect. This should have been around 280 ecu/tonne—£267/tonne*

  *1 ecu = £0.953575

  Advisory NDPBS sponsored by MAFF which

  (A) hold open meetings

  (B) conduct public consultation exercises

  (C) conduct consultation exercises with outside commercial interests

  (D) publish a register of members' interests

  (E) publish agendas for meetings

  (F) publish the minutes of meetings

  Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes

  no

  yes

  yes

  yes

  yes

  no

  Advisory Committee on Pesticides

  no

  no

  no

  yes

  no

  no

  Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committees

  no

  no

  no

  no

  no

  no

  Committee on Agricultural Valuation

  no

  1yes

  no

  no

  no

  no

  Consultative Panel on Badgers and Tuberculosis

  no

  no

  no

  no

  no

  no

  Consumer Panel

  no

  no

  no

  yes

  yes

  yes

  Consumers Committee for England and Wales

  no

  no

  yes

  no

  no

  no

  Consumers Committee for Great Britain

  no

  no

  yes

  no

  no

  no

  Farm Animal Welfare Council

  no

  yes

  yes

  no

  no

  no

  Food Advisory Committee

  no

  yes

  yes

  yes

  yes

  no

  Hill Farming Advisory Committee for England, Wales and Northern Ireland

  no

  no

  no

  no

  no

  no

  National Food Survey Committee

  no

  no

  no2

  no

  no

  no

  Regional Panels for the Farming Industry

  no

  no

  no

  no

  no

  no

  Salmon Advisory Committee

  no

  no

  no

  no

  no

  no

  Spongiform Encephalopathies Advisory Committee

  no

  no

  no

  yes

  no

  no

  Sugar Beet Research and Education Committee

  no

  no

  no

  no

  no

  no

  Veterinary Products Committee

  no

  no

  no

  yes

  no

  3no

  1 Occasional consultation with industry representative organisations.

  2 Membership includes representatives of outside commercial interests.

  3 A voluntary news release is published after each meeting detailing the main points.

WALES

  Telephone Dialling Codes
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment has been made as to the additional costs which will be incurred by his Department as a result of the changes in national telephone dialling codes next year; and how much this change will cost his Department in additional expenditure.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department(a) hold open meetings, (b) conduct public consultation exercises, (c) conduct consultation exercises with outside commercial interests, (d) publish a register of members' interests (e) publish agendas for meetings and (f) publish the minutes of meetings; and whether this is in each case (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 16 December 1994]: The table shows the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by MAFF and whether they fulfil the criteria specified in the question.

  In every case where information is published, this is done on a voluntary basis.

  Mr. Redwood
  It is not possible to give a precise estimate of additional cost but it is expected to be minimal.

  Signal Controls (Alltami)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will release funds to Clwyd county council to enable the Highways Authority to put signal controls at the A494 junction Tan Law lane, Alltami.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  It has previously been confirmed in correspondence with the hon. Member that traffic
  49
  signals would not be appropriate at the A494 junction, Tan Lan lane, Alltami. Officials are reviewing conditions at the junction to see if any measures can be introducted to enhance safety.

  NHS (Wales)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the level of operating per head of population on NHS provision in Wales, with family health services expenditure shown separately.

  Mr. Richards
  The information requested is as follows:

  District health authority

  1Total expenditure1992–93£000

  2Per capitaspending£

  Clwyd

  173,967

  420

  East Dyfed

  110,099

  464

  Gwent

  195,361

  435

  Gwynedd

  109,915

  459

  Mid Glamorgan

  247,073

  455

  Pembrokeshire

  48,623

  427

  Powys

  62,501

  524

  South Glamorgan

  223,460

  544

  West Glamorgan

  168,143

  453

  Wales

  1,339,142

  462

  Source:

  Final accounts 1992–93.

  Notes:

  1 1992 estimate for 1994–95 target population.

  2 In addition, WHCSA total expenditure for 1992–93 was £31.509 million.

  Family health services authority

  1Total expenditure1992–93£000

  2Per capita spending £

  Clwyd

  63,714

  154

  Dyfed3

  51,455

  147

  Gwent

  65,045

  145

  Gwynedd

  35,940

  150

  Mid Glamorgan

  77,755

  143

  Powys

  17,728

  149

  South Glamorgan

  54,816

  134

  West Glamorgan

  54,842

  148

  Wales

  421,295

  145

  Source:

  Final accounts 1992–93.

  Notes:

  1 1992 estimate for 1994–95 target population.

  2 Dyfed FHSA covers East Dyfed and Pembrokeshire Health Authorities.

  3 In addition, the Dental Practice Board incurred £51.282 million on the provision of General Dental Services in Wales.

  Electronic Mail
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to be able to receive and respond to communications via electronic mail.

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department already has the facility to communicate via electronic mail between Government Departments.

  NHS Pay
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his statement on public expenditure in Wales 50
  on 14 December, Official Report, column 925, if he will give details of his proposals for funding national pay awards to doctors and nurses in the NHS in Wales with respect to (a) provider unit prices and (b) purchaser costs.

  Mr. Redwood
  I expect pay rises in the NHS in Wales in 1995–96 to be offset by improved efficiency, enabling further growth in patient services. I made clear the total increase in cash for the NHS, and look to health authorities to purchase an increasing quantity of good health care with the money.

  Guidance Notes
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement comparing the guidance notes issued by English Nature with those issued by the Cymru, listing those areas not covered in notes in notes by each; what action people in Wales are to take where only English guidance notes exist: and how soon he expects Countryside Commission for Wales to have he expects set of guidance notes in English and Welsh.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I am not aware of any guidance notes published by English Nature or the countryside Council for Wales of the type described by the hon. Member.

  Acorns Nurseries
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the termination of the contract with Acorns Nurseries for the provision of a creche for his Department and other civil service staff in central Cardiff.

  Mr. Redwood
  The management contract with Acorns Nurseries was terminated because of breaches of contract which prejudiced the delivery of the service to parents and their children.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to provide a continuation of creche facilities for his staff following the termination of the contract with Acorns Nurseries; what temporary arrangements he has made; and when he expects a long-term replacement contract to be in place.

  Mr. Redwood
  It is planned to re-open the nursery with a new management contractor for an interim period from early February once essential remedial work has been carried out. At the same time, tenders will he invited for a full three-year contract to follow the interim period.

  GP Fundholder Steering Group
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of States for Wales what is the membership of the GP fundholder steering group; what is the frequency of its meetings; and if he will make a statement concerning its work.

  Mr. Redwood
  I announced the formation of the OP fundholding steering group in my letter to all OP fundholders of 23 March 1994, copied to all health authorities. The group comprises representatives from the Welsh Office health department, health authorities, trusts and GP fundholders. It has met on three occasions; future meetings are expected to be bi-monthly.

  I will write to the hon. Member about the composition of the group and the terms of reference, and place a copy in the Library of the House.

  Regional Development Funding
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those public projects which received European regional development funding and were subsequently privatised over the last 10 years, indicating(a) the level of funding and (b) the dates when it was received.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  [holding answer 24 November 1994]: A number of projects have been approved for European regional development fund grant since 1 January 1984 in Wales from public bodies which have subsequently been privatised. Payments to such projects would normally cover a number of years following the approval of a project.

  A copy of the information available has been placed in the Library of the House.

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

  Mr. Richards
  [holding answer 19 December 1994]: The information requested is given in the table:

  Gross expenditure on child care services1

  Year

  Per cent.

  1988–89

  21

  1989–90

  20

  1990–91

  22

  1991–92

  22

  1992–93

  21

  Source:

  Local authority returns.

  1 Expenditure on children aged 0–16 as a percentage of total gross local authority expenditure on personal social services. Includes appropriate apportionment for those services which cover children and other client groups.

  Eurorail Freight Depot
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made on the Eurorail freight depot; what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency concerning the evaluation of the short-listed sites from the point of view of(a) freight transport and (b) property development; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 19 December 1994]: No sites have been shortlisted although the agency is considering proposals from private developers. I wish to speed up progress and, to that end, I am discussing the issues with the Secretary of State for Transport.

  Further Education
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of the budgets of colleges of further education was spent on staff salaries in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Richards
  [holding answer 19 December 1994]: This information is not held centrally. However, I have asked the further Education Funding Council for Wales to let the hon. Member have information which it will have

  52
  available shortly in relation to the period since the further education colleges were incorporated on 1 April 1993. I have asked the council to place a copy of the reply in the Library.

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to ensure that when children are given statements of special educational needs that their parents or guardians are advised to investigate whether their children may be eligible for benefits such as disability allowance.

  Mr. Richards
  [holding answer 19 December 1994]: I would expect that all those who are professionally involved with children in need, whether or not they have statements of special educational need, to seek to identify ways in which the child and his or her parents or guardians may be helped.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what plans he has for the recruitment of(a) permanent and (b) casual staff to his Department;

  (2) how many (a) permanent and (b) casual staff his Department employs at present; and how many in each category he estimates will be employed in 1995–96, 1996–97 and 1997–98;

  (3) pursuant to his oral statement on public expenditure in Wales on 14 December, Official Report, column 927, what is the total number of jobs to be lost in his Department arising from the reduction in total running costs provisions for his Department; and how many in each year between 1995–96 and 1997–98 will be lost in (a) training and enterprise councils, (b) CADW, (c) Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector and (d) the Welsh Office itself.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 20 December 1994]: At 1 December, my Department employed the full-time equivalent of 2,309 permanent and 240 casual staff. Preliminary estimates indicate a reduction of some 200 jobs by 1995–96 and 400 by 1997–98.

  The aim will be to manage these reductions by voluntary means, including natural wastage and continuing close control of recruitment, and to avoid compulsory redundancy. Staffing plans for the Welsh Office, including CADW, and OHMCI for 1995–96, 1996–97 and 1997–98 will be set out in the 1995 departmental report to be published in early March. The staffing levels of training and enterprise councils will be determined by their boards in due course.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Cold Weather Payments
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review the cold weather payments scheme so as more accurately to reflect regional and local variations and to introduce a more flexible scheme.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The cold weather payment scheme is reviewed annually with the Meteorological Office to ensure the links between weather stations and local post code areas are as efficient and effective as possible. The
  53
  Meteorological Office uses its judgment and expertise to link post code areas to 63 national weather stations, reflecting the terrain and local conditions. Substantial changes have been introduced to enable automatic payments to be made for each forecasted or sustained period of exceptionally cold weather ensuring a 100 per cent. take-up of payments.

  Compensation Recovery Unit
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much has been recovered by the compensation recovery unit in each of the last three years in 1994 prices.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Barrow and Furness (Mr. Hutton) on 27 October,Official Report, column 803. The amount recovered in 1994–95—up to and including 30 November 1994—now stands at £66 million.

  Child Care Disregard
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what the average award was made to family recipients of the new child care disregard since its introduction in October; and what was the figure for those receiving maximum family credit and for those on the lowest level of family credit;

  (2) how many family credit recipients have claimed the new child care disregard since its introduction in October; and how many of these claims have been (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  In the two-month period to 30 November 1994, the latest date for which figures are available, 5,060 families received higher family credit awards as a result of the new help with child care charges. In 4,340 of these cases, the additional help increased their award to the maximum amount of family credit. The average additional weekly amount was £15.60. A further 5,180 families claimed help with child care charges but did not receive help; 3,720 families were not eligible because they did not satisfy the qualifying conditions and 1,460 families received no extra help because they were already receiving maximum family credit. Families with child care charges, including those who receive maximum family credit, may get extra help through housing benefit and council tax benefit.

  It will be some time before the new help takes full effect as existing family credit recipients can only claim the child care help when their current 26-week award expires, while many potential beneficiaries need to find work of 16 hours or more and to make appropriate child care arrangements.

  Five per cent. sample of family credit awards made between 1 October 1994 and 30 November 1994. The figures do not include claims made by 30 November 1994 but decided after that date.

  Incomes
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many children in(a) the city of York, (b) North Yorkshire and (c) Yorkshire and Humberside lived in a household whose income was (i) in the lowest 10th of household incomes nationally and (ii) in the highest 10th of household incomes nationally in 1979 and in the most recent year for which figures are available;
  54
  (2) how many children in (a) the city of York, (b) North Yorkshire and (c) Yorkshire and Humberside lived in a household whose income was half or less than half the national average household income in 1979 and in the most recent year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Burt
  The information requested is not available on a regional basis.

  Statistics on patterns of household disposable income, for the United Kingdom as a whole, are provided in "Households Below Average Income 1979–1991–92", published in July 1994, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he has about the number of previously employed and absent parents who have ceased working after receiving an assessment of liability to pay maintenance from the Child Support Agency.

  Mr. Burt
  I refer the hon. member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Dr. Jones) on 12 July 1994,Official Report, column 569.

  Income Support
  Mr. Khabra
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for the most recent available full year the annual number of people aged under 25 years claiming(a) income support without unemployment benefit, (b) unemployment benefit without income support and (c) both income support and unemployment benefit.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The annual number of claims is not available, but figures for the number of claims as at November 1993 are set out in the table.

  Claimants under 25 years (thousands)

  Category

  November 1993

  Income support without unemployment benefit

  1,047

  Unemployment benefit without income support

  91

  Both income support and unemployment benefit

  6

  Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand. They are from:

  1. The income support statistical quarterly inquiry.

  2. The half-yearly analysis of unemployed claimants.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to consult the Social Security Advisory Committee regarding his proposals for restricting income support payments for mortgage interest.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  We will be referring our proposals to the Social Security Advisory Committee. The committee will then decide if it intends to have them formally referred for consultation and a report.

  Electronic Mail
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to be able to receive and respond to communications via electronic mail.

  Mr. Hague
  The private office of the Secretary of State for Social Security is currently able to receive and respond to communication via electronic mail from the Department and its agencies.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the level of expenditure on housing benefit in each year since its introduction.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is set out in the table.

  Housing Benefit expenditure (in cash terms) Great Britain

  Rent allowance

  £ million Rent rebate

  1983–84

  536

  1,980

  1984–85

  687

  2,145

  1985–86

  881

  2,296

  1986–87

  996

  2,419

  1987–88

  1,030

  2,506

  1988–89

  1,055

  2,718

  1989–90

  1,336

  2,946

  1990–91

  1,597

  3,345

  1991–92

  2,322

  3,675

  1992–93

  3,257

  4,347

  1993–94 (Estimated outturn)

  3,817

  5,004

  Source:

  Departmental reports.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which of the 82 people described as panel members in annexe 3 to the report "The Medical Assessment for Incapacity Benefit" were not among the 80 experts referred to in part 2 of the report; why their names were included in annexe 3; what part each of them played in the work of the panel; how many sub-groups of the panel were formed and for what purposes; how many members each sub-group had; how many member of each sub-group were not members of the panel; how many were employed by(a) the Benefits Agency medical service, (b) the Department of Social Security and (c) the Department of Health; and how many had medical qualifications.

  Mr. Hague
  Originally 80 people agreed to join the panel. Some dropped out and were replaced at a later date. The 82 people listed at annexe 3 of the report "The Medical Assessment for Incapacity Benefit" were all members of the expert panel at some time. The list includes all those invited on to the panel who agreed that their names should be made public.

  Only one sub-group of the panel was formed, to consider special procedures for assessing the effects of mental health. There were five members, two of whom were employed by the Benefits Agency medical service. In addition, we consulted widely with psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and others representing people with mental health problems.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he decided that the names of the members of the panel on incapacity should not be published without their agreement; and if he will seek the consent of numbers of the sub-group on mental health and incapacity, who agreed to publication of their names in the report "The Medical Assessment of Incapacity Benefit", to the disclosure of the membership of the sub-group.

  Mr. Hague
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies given to him on 3 November 1994,Official Report, column 1377, and 25 November 1994, column 421.

  Mortgage Protection Policies
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what negotiations his Department has had with the insurance market about private mortgage protection policies.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham) on 7 December 1994,Official Report, column 363.

  Habitual Residence Test
  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have taken the habitual residence test; and if he will list(a) how many have failed it, (b) their nationality and (c) their age.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  All income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit claimants have been subject to the habitual residence test since its introduction on 1 August 1994. Provisional figures from the Benefits Agency for the period 1 August to 30 November 1994 indicate that 9,601 income support claimants failed to satisfy the test. Information in relation to housing benefit and council tax benefit claimants who fail the test will not be available until late 1996. Information about a claimant's nationality is not available. Information about a claimant's age is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  VAT (fuel)
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to explain the compensation package for VAT on fuel at 8 per cent. to pensioners who do not have an order book because they receive their pension directly to their bank account by bank automated credit transfer.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 19 December 1994,Official Report, column 929, which also applies to automated credit transfer arrangements.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Khabra
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cumulative effect on the national insurance fund of contracting out and incentive payments for appropriate personal pensions since 1986, giving also an annual cost for the most recent available full year.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The information is not available in the form requested. The most recent published, audited figure on the cost to the national insurance fund of rebates and incentives for appropriate personal pensions, and incentive payments to other types of newly contracted out pension schemes is £9.9 billion up to the end of 1992–93. This includes £2.7 billion for the 1992–93 tax year.

  The Government Actuary's report on the contributions uprating order for 1994–95 estimated the costs for 1993–94 and 1994–95 as £2.8 billion and £1.9 billion respectively.

  Widow's Payment
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the future uprating of the £1,000 widow's payment.
  57
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The level of the lump sum widow's payment has remained at £1,000 since its introduction in 1988. We have no plans to increase it.

  Benefits
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list(a) the numbers of claimants of the

  Sick and Unemployed Benefit claimants and numbers in employment (Numbers in thousands, rounded to nearest thousand)

  Benefit

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Invalidity Benefit1

  1,047

  1,126

  1,209

  1,317

  1,455

  1,606

  1,705

  Sickness Benefit1

  228

  266

  309

  421

  473

  535

  578

  Severe Disablement Allowance1

  263

  275

  285

  274

  289

  298

  304

  Disability Working Allowance2

  3

  4

  Totals

  1,538

  1,667

  1,803

  2,012

  2,217

  2,442

  2,591

  Unemployed claimants3

  2,182

  1,682

  1,519

  2,201

  2,627

  2,812

  2,545

  Work force in employment3

  25,529

  26,317

  26,528

  25,613

  25,023

  24,605

  24,619

  1 From 1988 to 1990 information based on 1 per cent, sample of claimants on 2.4.88, 1.4.89 and 31.3.90

  From 1991 to 1994 information based on 100 per cent, clerical count on the last day of June, and is subject to revision

  2 Information from 100 per cent, count in May.

  3 Information is for Great Britain on last day of June, seasonally adjusted.

  Unemployed claimants are those claiming income support, unemployment benefit and/or national insurance credits who say they satisfy the conditions for receipt of benefits as unemployed people.

  Work force in employment comprises employees in employment, self-employed HM forces and participants on work-related government training programmes.

  Guaranteed Minimum Pension Test
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to replace the guaranteed only at disproportionate cost. minimum pension test.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The Government announced their plans to replace the guaranteed minimum pension test with a new test of overall scheme quality in the White Paper "Security, Equality, Choice: the Future for Pensions" on 23 June 1994. Detailed proposals were set out in the Pensions Bill put before the House of Lords on Thursday 15 December 1994.

  Telephone Dialling Codes
  Mr Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment has been made as to the additional costs which will be incurred by his Department as a result of the changes in national telephone dialling codes next year; and how much this change will cost his Department in additional expenditure.

  Mr. Hague
  The Department and its agencies have so far identified estimated expenditure of approximately £1.8 million to cover all costs associated with the changes in national telephone dialling codes. These costs will be met within existing budgets.

  Funeral Payments
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in how many cases funeral payments from the social fund have included additional expenses arising from the requirements of the religious faith of the deceased; and in how many of these cases the addition was of the maximum permitted amount in each year since 1988–89.
  58
  range o sickness and incapacity benefits, (b) the numbers of unemployed at the closest point of the figures in (a) and (c) the number of workers in employment (a) for each year since 1988.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is set out in the table:

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Claims for additional religious costs are a rarity. The information request could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Unemployment Benefit
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he is in a position to respond to the report by the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux on disqualification from unemployment benefit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I met the chief executive of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux and two of her colleagues on Tuesday 6 December to discuss the report "Benefit of the Doubt". The recommendations made in the report will be considered in the context of the jobseeker's allowance scheme.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the progress of the drafting of his Bill on discrimination against disabled people; and if he is yet in a position to undertake that the scope of the Bill and money resolution will be sufficiently wide to permit an amendment providing for a disability rights commission.

  Mr. Hague
  The Bill will be introduced shortly. I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 12 December 1994,Official Report, column 539. It is not our intention to draft the Bill in such a way as to rule out full discussion of this issue.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Ivory Coast
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning human rights in the Ivory Coast; and what representations have been made to the authorities there by Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Baldry
  We are aware of the July 1994 Amnesty International report on freedom of expression and association in Cote d'Ivoire. We note also the emergence of encouraging signs in the field of human rights in the country. We are pleased to witness, for example, the maturing of the relationship between the Government and Ivorian human rights organisations.

  Our ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire has made clear to the Ivorian authorities the importance which the British Government attach to good government, including full respect for human rights.

  Export Controls
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made towards a new COCOM structure of export controls; and what exports or export destinations the Government currently consider should form part of such controls.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Multilateral negotiations to establish an export control regime to tackle new threats posed by excessive build-up of conventional weapons and related technology are continuing. Working groups have been established to agree and recommended on those goods to be controlled, the procedures for exports, the membership of the organisation and related administrative matters. The Government are committed to controls which are straight forward, responsible and transparent but which do not place an unnecessary bureaucratic burden on legitimate trade. They should be linked to identifiable threats and consistent with our international commitments.

  At a high-level meeting in the Hague on 21 and 22 December, the 23 former COCOM and COCOM co-operating countries, reaffirmed their. commitment to work towards the establishment of new arrangements as soon as possible. A further meeting is due to be held in February.

  Bosnia
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a request for the use of aircraft fitted with electronic combat reconnaissance devices was made by the United Kingdom either directly or indirectly through NATO actions and UNPROFOR forces in Bosnia; when it was agreed; and to which country or countries such request was made.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It is not our policy to comment on operational matters of this nature.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 1 December,Official Report, column 817, concerning the legal basis for the protection by the United Nations of the civilian population of safe areas in Bosnia-Herzegovina, whether the United Nations Secretariat, the United Kingdom and other members of
  60
  the Security Council take account in creating those areas of the possibility of use for war purposes to mount offensives against the Serbs.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Members of the United Nations Security Council, including the United Kingdom, and the United Nations Secretariat do take into account the possibility that safe areas might be used by one party to mount offensives against another. In his report on safe areas of 1 December, the UN Secretary-General highlighted the importance of definition and demilitarisation of safe areas by negotiation. NATO chiefs of defence staff meeting in The Hague on 19 and 20 December, noted the Secretary-General's report on safe areas and underscored the importance of achieving, by negotiations, agreement on complete demilitarisation of the safe areas acceptable to all parties and which could be effectively implemented and controlled by UNPROFOR.

  Vietnam
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the European Union has to suggest to the Vietnamese Government that the delegation from the UN working group on arbitrary detention be allowed to return to the A20 re-education camp at Xuan Phoc, Phu Yen province, so that they may interview all prisoners who were unavailable on 28 October; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  I am not aware of any such plans. Neither the UN working group on arbitrary detention nor the presidency of the European Union has raised this matter with Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the co-operation received from the Vietnamese Government by the delegation from the United Nations working group on arbitrary detention when they visited the A20 re-education camp, at Xuan Phoc, Phu Yen province, Vietnam, on 28 October 1994.

  Mr. Baldry
  The United Nations working group on arbitrary detention has not yet reported on its visit to Vietnam.

  Iran
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to persuade the Government of Iran to allow United Nations special rapporteurs to investigate the murders of the Rev. Haik Hovsepian Mehr, the Rev. Tatess Michaelion and the Rev. Mehdi Dibaj and the situation of the Christian community in Iran.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We fully support the involvement of UN special rapporteurs in investigating the human rights situation in Iran including the situation of Christians and the deaths of Rev. Mehr, Rev. Michaelian and Rev. Dibaj. We and our European partners co-sponsored a resolution on human rights in Iran which was adopted at the UN General Assembly in December 1994. It called on Iran to co-operate with the UN special rapporteur, Mr. Galindo-Pohl, and to carry out a thorough and impartial investigation into the deaths of the three pastors.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration was given to Iran's human rights record when his Department agreed to co-sponsor the forthcoming conference on the political
  61
  economy of contemporary Iran, to be held at the School of African and Oriental Studies in London.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We and our European partners repeatedly underline to the Iranian Government the importance we attach to their human rights record. Our support for the forthcoming conference on Iran does not detract from our commitment to securing an improvement in Iranian behaviour. This conference is aimed at promoting an improved understanding of the Iranian economy and strengthening academic and economic contacts with Iranian professionals.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to persuade the Government of Iran to reopen the Iranian Bible Society and churches and to ensure that bibles are made freely available in that country.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We and our European partners remain committed to maintaining pressure on the Iranian Government to honour fundamental freedoms including freedom of religion. Most recently in December 1994 the European Union sponsored a resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly reiterating our support for the work of the UN special rapporteur, Mr. Galindo-Pohl. Mr. Pohl has referred to the Bible Society's predicament in his reports and we are discussing with our European partners what further action we can take.

  Caribbean
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 9 December,Official Report, column 424, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the relations between each of the dependent territories in the Caribbean and the regional secretariat in Barbados; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  I am satisfied that the dependent territories regional secretariat is operating effectively. It has helped negotiate country policy plans with Anguilla, Montserrat and the Turks and Caicos Islands; and it is working with the Governments concerned to ensure their implementation. It is involved in our continuing dialogue with all the Caribbean DTs and is managing the financial assistance being provided from ODA and diplomatic wing resources. This is in line with the programme set out in the FCO departmental report 1994, Cm 2502, page 23.

  UN Arms Register
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library(a) a list of the items that he submits to the United Nations arms register and (b) the returns he has made to that register; and what proposals he has to extend the scope of the register.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  A copy of the United Kingdom return to the UN register of conventional arms is placed in the Library each year. Each return includes any items contained in the seven categories of equipment where such imports and exports have taken place. The categories are battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, large calibre artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships and missiles and missiles launchers. The UK return also includes background information on national holdings and procurement from national production of 62
  equipment in the seven categories, and a statement of UK policy.

  An international group of governmental experts met last summer to discuss the operation of the register and ways in which it may be developed. There was no consensus for change then, but future groups of experts will look at this question again.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy for ensuring that the people of Gibraltar enjoy the full benefits of membership including the right to vote in Euro-elections and for aircraft using Gibraltar airport to use EU airspace; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We expect Gibraltarians to enjoy those benefits to which they are entitled by virtue of Gibraltar's status within the European Union. We have made this clear whenever necessary. Annexe 2 of the 1976 EC Act on direct elections limits the franchise for European parliamentary elections to the United Kingdom.

  There are no special restrictions affecting the ability of aircraft using Gibraltar airport to fly in the airspace of any EU member state.

  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of his meeting with the Spanish Foreign Minister, Señor Javier Solana, concerning Gibraltar and related matters.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary had very useful discussions with the Spanish Foreign Minister on 19 and 20 December 1994 on a wide range of issues, including Gibraltar. He welcomed the lifting of secondary checks at the frontier and stressed that they should not be reimposed. We agreed on the need for further practical co-operation on a trilateral basis to tackle drugs trafficking. He made clear that we would not deviate from our commitment to the people of Gibraltar in the 1969 constitution. There was no substantive discussion of sovereignty issues.

  A joint statement was agreed and issued to the press on 20 December. A copy of this will shortly be placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Nunn-Lugar Programme
  Mr. Cousins
  To aks the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has for a European Union equivalent of the Nunn-Lugar co-operative threat reduction programme; and what projects or expenditure the United Kingdom has already committed towards objectives similar to the Nunn-Lugar programme.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The European Union has contributed to a number of civil nuclear safety programmes. Individual member states are separately undertaking projects related to military installations. The United Kingdom has committed some £35 million to projects which include the supply of supercontainers and heavy-duty vehicles for the secure transportation of nuclear warheads for dismantlement; and the resettlement and retraining of former military officers.

  Electronic Mail
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to be able to receive and respond to communications via electronic mail.

  Mr. Baldry
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has work under way to allow the exchange of documents by electronic mail within the Department. Such a service is already available within the Overseas Development Administration.

  The Department is investigating the use of the Internet to allow more extensive public access. It is likely an FCO presence will be established on the Internet via the CCTA computer later this year. It will allow the dissemination of FCO-ODA material in the first instance. Public electronic mail access to the Department will be considered after experience has been gained with the initial trials.

  European Union
  Sir Keith Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions he proposes to take in response to recommendation 1250—1994—of the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe relating to the enlargement of the Council of Europe and budgetary prospects; and if he will make statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Committee of Ministers' Deputies and the secretariat of the Council of Europe are currently looking at the resource implications of the enlargement of the Council of Europe. We shall take decisions once the results of their work are known. The parliamentary assembly's recommendation will be fully taken into account.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will arrange to publish after each Council of Ministers and each European summit a concordat version comparing the claims made by each Government to their own electorate about the nature of the decisions taken and the gains and losses for that country.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There are no plans to change the existing arrangements for informing the House of the outcomes of meetings of the Council of the European Union or the European Council.

  Turkey
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Government of Turkey concerning the imprisonment of some of their Members of Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  As stated in the written answer by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of 15 December to the hon. Member for Tooting (Mr. Cox),Official Report, column 761, we joined our EU partners in a statement of protest to the Turkish Government at the harsh prison sentences imposed on elected members of the Turkish Parliament. He subsequently raised the subject directly with the Turkish Foreign Minister when they met in Brussels on 19 December. The deputies concerned have exercised their right to appeal. We await news of a further hearing.

  Internet
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the plans of his Department to make information available on Internet and the documents which he intends to be made available on Internet over the next year which will be accessible via the world wide web server "open.gov.UK" or any specific departmental server.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 29 November 1994,Official Report, column 58. The FCO has active plans for making some data available on the Internet during 1995 and an announcement will be made when it is ready to come on stream.

  China
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to ensure that China's most-favoured nation status is only reviewed after an improvement in its record on human rights.

  Mr. Baldry
  We regularly urge the Chinese authorities to improve their human rights record. My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs raised the issue during his visit to China last July and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary did so with the Chinese Foreign Minister in September. But we have consistently held the view that trade and politics should be treated as separate. Trading and economic relationships are helping to open up the Chinese system and promote the country's development, to the benefit of the Chinese people.

  Immigration (Quotas)
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether entry clearance officers have been given a quota system for refusing foreign nationals entry to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Baldry
  No. All applications for entry clearance are considered on their merits in accordance with the immigration rules.

  Croatia
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the justification for putting Serbs in Croatia under the rule of Croatians.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  When we recognised Croatia on 15 January 1992 as an independent sovereign state, we made it clear that we expected the Government of Croatia to take steps to protect the rights of minorities. We continue to support the efforts of the international conference on former Yugoslavia to bring about a peaceful settlement between the Croatian Government and the Croatian Serb minority. We welcome the recent signing of the economic agreement by both sides which has resulted int he reopening of part of the Zagreb to Belgrade highway. We hope that further elements of the agreement will also be implemented shortly.

  St. Helena
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what statutory basis the Governor of St. Helena requires the output of the local radio and television stations to receive his approval prior to transmission.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Radio St. Helena is not subject to any statutory control.

  A television station is to be operated under licence by Cable and Wireless. The company is subject to statutory control in so far as the terms of that licence require them to notify the Governor of details of the services to be offered and in each case the channel and frequency of the service on which they will be provided.

  Defence Contracts
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale (Sir D. Steel) on 9 December,Official Report, column 377, if he will give (a) the total exposure in respect of defence contracts by the Export Credits Guarantee Department in 1993–94, (b) the amount of that exposure which was in default or had been rescheduled and (c) the cost to the Exchequer of such defaults on rescheduling in 1993–94.

  Mr. Needham
  I have been asked to reply.

  This information is not currently available and cannot be provided except at disproportionate cost.

  Telephone Dialling Codes
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made as to the additional costs which will be incurred by his Department as a result of the changes in national telephone dialling codes next year; and how much this change will cost his Department in additional telephone expenditure.

  Mr. Baldry
  British Telecom has provided this service free of charge to its customers. There will be no additional costs to pay. Minor changes to stationery have been incorporated in standard reprinting procedures.

  East Timor
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will prohibit the export of tanks and military aircraft to Indonesia until self-determination has been granted to the people of East Timor.

  Mr. Baldry
  There is no international embargo on arms sales to Indonesia. The export to any destination of arms and other goods listed in the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994 is prohibited without a licence by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. All applications for export licences for defence equipment are considered carefully on a case-by-case basis in the light of established criteria. We believe that the best way to achieve a satisfactory settlement of the East Timor issue is to encourage the Portuguese and Indonesians to continue a constructive dialogue under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General.

SCOTLAND

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Darlington of 1 December,Official Report, columns 840–41 if he will make a statement regarding his Department's expenditure on special advisers in each of the last three financial years and for the financial year 1979–80.

  Mr. Lang
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary on 19 December,Official Report, column 937.

  Appointments
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his definition of extreme political views as used in his answer to the hon. Member for Truro (Mr. Taylor) on 30 March 1994,Official Report, column 829.

  Mr. Lang
  I used the term in its generally understood sense, but it would include membership of, or support for, a political organisation which was generally regarded as being of an extremist nature.

  Isle of Lewis
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what funds from European Resources have been received for road projects on the Isle of Lewis in 1993–94 and 1994–95.

  Mr. Stewart
  No funds have been awarded for road projects on the Isle of Lewis in 1993–94 from the European regional development fund, the principal source of European funding for infrastructure projects. It is too early to say what projects might come forward through the Highlands and Islands objective 1 programme during 1995.

  Telephone Dialling Codes
  Mr. Donohoe
  To aks the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment has been made as to the additional costs which will be incurred by his Department as a result of the changes in national telephone dialling codes next year; and how much this change will cost his Department in additional expenditure.

  Mr. Lang
  Most of the changes to my Department's telecommunications' networks have been carried out free of charge by the companies responsible for maintaining our telephone systems. At one site a charge of £ 1,000 was incurred.

  It is not possible to give an estimate of the cost of alternations to items of stationery, but because the changes were publicised widely well in advance it has been possible in many cases to incorporate the new codes when placing routine orders for new stationery. Some staff time has been or will be devoted to reprogramming fax machines etc.

  Vandalism
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of vandalism were reported to the procurator fiscal but not proceeded with in the last 10 years for which figures are available.
  67
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Programme Making (Scotland)
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library a copy of his correspondence with the Director General of the British Broadcasting Corporation about programme making in Scotland.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 2 December 1994]: It is not my right hon. Friend's normal practice to make available private correspondence between himself and outside organisations. However, given the public interest in the future of BBC production in Scotland and the nature of the correspondence, he has agreed to make an exception in this case. Accordingly, a copy of my right hon. Friend's letter of 28 October 1994 to Mr. Birt and, with Mr. Birt's agreement, a copy of his reply dated 2 November have today been placed in the Library.

  Housing List Applications
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applicants were waiting on the housing lists of each of the development corporations in each financial year since 1979.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 20 December 1994]: The information is not held centrally.

  Departmental Telephone Calls
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been spent on telephone charges and how many telephone calls have been made by his Department for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Lang
  The information on telephone charges for calls made via both the public service telephone network and the government telephone network by all Scottish Office Departments is set out in the table.

  Public service telephone network £

  Government telephone network £

  Total £

  1989–90

  645,000

  339,000

  984,000

  1990–91

  615,000

  343,000

  958,000

  1991–92

  675,000

  352,000

  1,027,000

  1992–93

  755,000

  366,000

  1,121,000

  1993–94

  695,000

  343,000

  1,038,000

  As call charges are levied by the volume of units used and not by the number of calls made, records on total numbers of calls are not maintained.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Darlington, (Mr. Milburn) of I December,Official Report, columns 895–96, if he will make a statement regarding his Department's expenditure on special advisers for each of the last three financial years.
  68
  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Thanet, South (Mr. Aitken) on 19 December,Official Report, column 937.

  Management Systems
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what consideration he has given to introducing a MINIS-type—managerial information systems—management system to his Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I will be considering what changes I might make to my Department's planning and management information systems in the light of the fundamental expenditure review of the Department and the recommendations of the multidepartmental efficiency scrutiny of management information and planning systems. Both reviews are expected to report in the spring of 1995.

  National Lottery
  Mr. John Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will ensure that all the interest earned on money already collected by the National Lottery Charity Board for distribution to charities and voluntary organisations will he made available to those organisations.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Yes. The National Lottery etc. Act 1993 provides that interest earned on the proceeds of the national lottery is added to the national lottery distribution fund and attributed to each distributing body on a proportionate basis.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if interest earned on money already collected by the national lottery for distribution to charities and voluntary organisations will accrue to Camelot.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Interest earned on the proceeds of the national lottery will not accrue to Camelot. It is added to the national lottery distribution fund and attributed to each distributing body on an equitable basis.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will consider the abandonment of national lottery rollover prizes above £1 million or, when prizes have not been won, distributing the money to charities through a further draw from a list of registered charities.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The rollover of unwon jackpot prizes is a significant factor in maintaining public interest and participation in lotteries around the world. The Government believe that limiting rollover in the UK to a maximum of three consecutive times will balance the aim of maintaining interest in the lottery with the need to put an upper ceiling on jackpot prizes. Returns to good causes would suffer if interest in playing the national lottery generated by jackpot prizes were to decline.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what steps he is taking to ensure the national lottery prize winners can remain anonymous if that is their wish.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 15 December 1994]: Under section 11 of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993, the director-general of the national lottery has been directed to include in the licence to run the national lottery a condition that the identity of any person who has won a prize in any constituent game will not be disclosed by the licensee without the written consent of that person.

  69
  Recent disclosures are being considered both by the director-general and the Press Complaints Commission.

  School Sports
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when the Government's interdepartmental review on school sport and physical education was initiated; how many officials have been involved and from which Departments those officials were drawn; when an announcement is due to be made; and if he expects to make that announcement himself.

  Mr. Sproat
  This Department and the Department for Education are considering ways of strengthening competitive school sport as part of their ongoing involvement in this policy area. The bulk of the work falls to six officials who also undertake a range of other duties. Other staff in DNH and DFE and other interested Departments are being consulted as appropriate. The timing and form of any announcement has yet to be decided.

  Channel 4
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what alternatives to the current formula for funding Channel 4 television are being considered by him; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I am considering the proposals which have been put to me by Channel 4 and the views of others with an interest.

  Sir George Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to reconsider the funding of Channel 4 television; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I am considering the proposals which have been put to me by Channel 4 and the views of others with an interest.

  Broadcasting
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what proportion of programme time transmitted by BSkyB consists of material originated outside the EC; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Information in the form requested is not available.

  Article 4 of the EC broadcasting directive—89/552/EC—requires member states to ensure, where practicable, that broadcasters reserve for European works a majority of their transmission time, subject to the exclusion of certain types of programming such as news, sport and game shows. Member states are further required to report to the Commission every two years on the application of the article. The table shows the performance achieved by the BSkyB channels which were in operation during the period 3 October 1991 to 31 December 1992, as notified to the Commission in the UK's first monitoring report published on 4 November 1993.

  My predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for City of London and Westminster, South (Mr. Brooke), commented on the report in a written answer on the same day to a parliamentary question from my hon. Friend the Member for Thanet, North (Mr. Gale), Official Report, 4 November 1993, column 310. The action which my predecessor announced that the Department would be
  70
  taking continues, and I shall make a further statement in due course.

  European works broadcast by individual BSkyB channels operating from 3 October 1991 to 31 December 1992

  Channel

  Percentage of total qualifying transmission time

  The Movie Channel

  16.4

  Sky Movies

  13.7

  Sky Movies Gold

  19.1

  Sky News

  64.3

  Sky One

  8.5

  Sky Sports

  65.2

  Charities Fund
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will give assurances that the interest earned on money already collected for distribution to charities and voluntary organisations will be made available to the charities fund.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Interest earned on the proceeds of the national lottery is added to the national lottery distribution fund and attributed to each distributing body on an equitable basis. All interest is therefore available for distribution to good causes. Twenty per cent. of the national lottery distribution fund will be available to the National Lottery Charities Board. Other charities and voluntary organisations connected with sports, arts, and heritage will also benefit from lottery proceeds.

  Assets in lieu of Tax
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the assets received by his Department in lieu of tax for the current financial year and for the years 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The assets my Department has accepted in lieu of tax in the current financial year are as follows:

  Picasso painting—'Tete de Femme 1924'

  Picasso drawing—'Tete de Femme 1937'

  Picasso vase—'Artist at his Easel'

  Klee drawing—'Contraholz Solo'

  George I silver kettle and stand

  Ferneley painting—'Council of Horses'

  Riding tack from Calke Abbey

  Scott painting—'Black Painting 1958'

  Amigoni painting—'Dido and Aeneas'

  Collection of architectural drawings related to Nostell Priory

  Benthall Hall chattels

  The Fairfax Archive

  Two busts by Flaxman and Chantrey

  The Fitzherbert papers

  The building No.2 Willow Road, Hampstead

  The studio of F E McWilliam

  The Acland Archive

  Castle Fraser chattels

  For the previous years, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers given to the hon. Member for Warley, East (Mr. Faulds) on 31 March 1994, Official Report, columns 978–79) and 23 April 1993, column 226.

  Telephone Dialling Codes
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment has been made as to the additional costs which will he incurred by his
  71
  Department as a result of the changes in national telephone dialling codes next year; and how much this change will cost his Department in additional expenditure.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department of National Heritage will not incur any significant additional costs as a result of the changes to the national telephone dialling codes.

  Internet
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement about the plans of his Department to make information available on Internet and the documents which he intends to be made available on Internet over the next year which will be accessible via the world wide web server "open.gov.UK" or any specific departmental server.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on 22 November 1994,Official Report, column 111.

  Admission Fees
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the admission fees charged by British museums and historic royal palaces in each of the years since 1979 and which charged concessionary admission fees.

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

  York Stone and Cobbles
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to introduce measures to combat the theft of York stone and cobbles.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have no such plans. A range of measures to prevent the theft of vulnerable paved surfaces is already available to local authorities and other owners. These include increased security lighting, closed-circuit television and neighbourhood watch schemes. It is important that crime prevention measures in historic town centres and conservation areas respect the character of the area.

  Adrian Spencer
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to meet Mr. Adrian Spencer to discuss amateurism in rugby union; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sproat
  I have no plans to meet Mr. Spencer.

  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to meet the Rugby Football Union to discuss the case of Adrian Spencer.

  Mr. Sproat
  I have no plans to meet the Rugby Football Union to discuss the case of Adrian Spencer.

  Rugby
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has for legislation to give players the right to play both rugby union and rugby league.

  Mr. Sproat
  The Government have no plans for introducing legislation. The rules and regulations of independent and properly constituted governing bodies of 72
  sport are a matter for them. My views on this issue are well known.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list those services that have been market tested by his Department and won by the private sector, indicating the organisation that won the tender and its value.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer/2 December 1994]: To date, no services have been market tested by this Department, although a number of activities have been contracted out to the private sector as a matter of policy. Information on new tests is published in the market testing bulletin each month. A copy of this is placed in the Library.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department (i) hold open meetings, (ii) conduct public consultation exercises, (iii) conduct consultation exercises with outside commercial interests, (iv) publish a register of members' interests, (v) publish agendas for meetings and (vi) publish the minutes of meetings; and whether this is in each case(a) under a statutory requirement or (b) voluntary.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 16 December 1994]: On point (i), I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State on 27 July 1993, Official Report, column 763–64. On points (ii) and (iii), the advisory committee on the public lending right has undertaken consultation on reference hooks. My Department has undertaken consultation with the art trade on behalf of the reviewing committee on the export of works of art. The Theatres Trust also consults with outside interests. The regional councils for sport and recreation also conduct consultation exercisees. On points (iv), (v) and (vi), the answer is none.

  As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State made clear on 2 November 1993—Official Report, column 97–8—all appointments are made in accordance with guidance provided by Cabinet Office and the Treasury, which requires Ministers to satisfy themselves that no conflict of interest arises.

EDUCATION

  School Meals
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils aged(a) under seven, (b) between seven and 11 and (c) over 11 years of age, in each local authority area in England received (i) school meals and (ii) pre-school meals.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Information on the number of school meals taken by pupils in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in each local education authority in England in January 1994 is shown in the table. Information is not collected centrally on the take-up of school meals according to pupils' ages or in respect of the level of provision of school meals prior to the start of the school day.
  73

  Numbers of day-pupils taking free and paid school meals in maintained schools in England—January 1994

  Local education authority

  Nursery and primary

  Secondary

  Corporation of London

  158

  —

  Camden

  6,974

  4,736

  Greenwich

  10,946

  5,200

  Hackney

  11,782

  4,118

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  6,747

  4,199

  Islington

  10,571

  3,118

  Kensington and Chelsea

  4,249

  2,081

  Lambeth

  13,079

  4,075

  Lewisham

  12,874

  5,049

  Southwark

  14,664

  5,792

  Tower Hamlets

  15,262

  6,455

  Wandsworth

  10,744

  5,320

  Westminster

  6,696

  4,018

  Barking and Dagenham

  7,296

  3,062

  Barnet

  11,578

  10,629

  Bexley

  7,464

  4,270

  Brent

  10,984

  4,563

  Bromley

  8,967

  8,287

  Croydon

  13,197

  7,255

  Ealing

  10,450

  6,919

  Enfield

  9,711

  6,628

  Haringey

  11,250

  4,912

  Harrow

  1,538

  3,103

  Havering

  7,951

  4,922

  Hillingdon

  3,153

  5,359

  Hounslow

  8,725

  7,629

  Kingston upon Thames

  1,494

  2,575

  Merton

  5,260

  2,737

  Newham

  12,426

  4,127

  Redbridge

  9,797

  6,436

  Richmond upon Thames

  3,990

  2,941

  Sutton

  5,501

  5,514

  Waltham Forest

  10,914

  5,482

  Birmingham

  57,414

  38,742

  Coventry

  12,129

  6,151

  Dudley

  11,222

  7,338

  Sandwell

  12,994

  5,355

  Solihull

  9,646

  6,097

  Walsall

  11,010

  9,534

  Wolverhampton

  10,920

  6,064

  Knowsley

  9,856

  4,458

  Liverpool

  28,663

  15,538

  St. Helens

  7,452

  6,681

  Sefton

  10,469

  8,443

  Wirral

  15,996

  9,952

  Bolton

  14,934

  9,781

  Bury

  8,986

  4,845

  Manchester

  31,966

  11,742

  Oldham

  15,048

  8,522

  Rochdale

  12,432

  6,444

  Salford

  15,298

  4,785

  Stockport

  11,955

  8,873

  Tameside

  12,030

  6,497

  Trafford

  7,207

  6,915

  Wigan

  13,059

  8,537

  Barnsley

  10,865

  5,495

  Doncaster

  20,008

  10,463

  Rotherham

  12,392

  4,412

  Sheffield

  19,845

  11,030

  Bradford

  21,378

  24,339

  Calderdale

  10,710

  5,282

  Kirklees

  21,461

  9,675

  Leeds

  32,138

  19,354

  Wakefield

  12,675

  5,887

  Gateshead

  10,742

  2,583

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  13,874

  7,729

  North Tyneside

  8,942

  6,550

  South Tyneside

  10,454

  4,493

  Sunderland

  16,611

  5,626

  Isles of Scilly

  62

  49

  Avon

  34,730

  18,630

  74

  Numbers of day-pupils taking free and paid school meals in maintained schools in England—January 1994

  Local education authority

  Nursery and primary

  Secondary

  Bedfordshire

  24,683

  20,713

  Berkshire

  23,039

  19,421

  Buckinghamshire

  6,494

  8,747

  Cambridgeshire

  24,007

  13,364

  Cheshire

  37,448

  30,965

  Cleveland

  37,517

  14,582

  Cornwall

  17,108

  15,240

  Cumbria

  21,183

  16,741

  Derbyshire

  45,941

  36,572

  Devon

  31,987

  30,391

  Dorset

  4,254

  14,105

  Durham

  37,023

  15,187

  East Sussex

  22,514

  12,316

  Essex

  47,946

  35,338

  Gloucestershire

  12,452

  10,215

  Hampshire

  48,253

  28,470

  Hereford and Worcester

  8,400

  15,251

  Hertfordshire

  40,492

  28,858

  Humberside

  48,464

  29,348

  Isle of Wight

  3,354

  4,471

  Kent

  52,317

  40,914

  Lancashire

  58,919

  44,315

  Leicestershire

  32,602

  24,727

  Lincolnshire

  4,367

  14,978

  Norfolk

  25,741

  13,836

  North Yorkshire

  26,083

  22,807

  Northamptonshire

  7,626

  14,117

  Northumberland

  12,125

  14,835

  Nottinghamshire

  42,364

  24,073

  Oxfordshire

  14,431

  10,433

  Shropshire

  18,248

  13,604

  Somerset

  6,238

  9,635

  Staffordshire

  48,268

  24,216

  Suffolk

  18,188

  17,816

  Surrey

  36,255

  20,432

  Warwickshire

  18,472

  10,011

  West Sussex

  21,725

  11,809

  Wiltshire

  15,971

  13,703

  England

  1,886,464

  1,250,958

  GCSE Papers
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools have had GCSE papers re-marked by examination boards in the last year; what has been the outcome; and what investigations his Department has undertaken.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This information is not held by the Department. Grading and re-grading are matters for the individual GCSE examining groups.

  School Inspections
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of Stale for Education (1) for how many years past reports from Her Majesty's inspectorate are kept on file and available for inspection;

  (2) what are her plans for making available past reports of Her Majesty's inspectorate.

  Mr. Forth
  These are matters for Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools, who heads the independent Office for Standards in Education. I have asked Mr. Chris Woodhead to write to the hon. Member.
  75

  Faversham College, Bradford
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when she intends to announce her decision on the application for voluntary-aided status made by Faversham college, Bradford; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend will announce her decision on Faversham college's proposals as soon as possible.

  Internet
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will make a statement about the plans of her Department to make information available on the Internet and the documents which she intends to be made available on the Internet over the next year which will be accessible via the world wide web server "Open.Gov.UK" or any specific departmental server.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has noted with interest the recent launch of the open government information service by CCTA, the Government centre for information systems. The Department is keen to play its full part in making information available electronically where appropriate and is considering what material might most helpfully be made accessible via this service.

  Electronic Mail
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects to be able to receive and respond to communications via electronic mail.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend and other Ministers in the Department use electronic mail daily to communicate with officials in London and Darlington.

  The possibilities for extending existing links to connect to non-departmental public bodies and agencies in the education sector are currently under consideration.

  "15,000 Hours"
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will authorise publication of the names of the schools involved in the research led by Professor Michael Rutter published as "15,000 Hours".

  Mr. Forth
  No. It was agreed between all parties before the research began that the schools would never be identified or identifiable in any report which was to be written.

  Telephone Dialling Codes
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment has been made as to the additional costs which will be incurred by her Department as a result of the changes in national telephone dialling codes next year; and how much this change will cost her Department in additional expenditure.

  Mr. Forth
  Additional departmental costs as a result of the changes in national telephone dialling codes next year are estimated to be £2,000. No further expenditure in addition to this is anticipated.
  76

  Further Education Funding Council
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of the Further Education Funding Council's budget supports institutions in Hampshire.

  Mr. Boswell
  The total amount of recurrent funding allocated by the Further Education Funding Council for the academic year 1994–95 is £2,610.8 million, of which £109.5 million was allocated to institutions in Hampshire.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the total annual budget for the Further Education Funding Council for the financial year 1994–95.

  Mr. Boswell
  The total annual budget for the Further Education Funding Council for the financial year 1994–95 is £2,814.5 million.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total expenditure by grant-maintained schools in Hampshire in the financial year 1993–94; and what is the forecast expenditure for 1994–95.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Information relating to expenditure in GM schools is held by the Funding Agency for Schools. I have asked the chairman of the agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Pupil Statistics
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what were the total pupil numbers in schools in 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The total numbers of pupils in all schools in England in January 1993 and January 1994 were 7,747,000 and 7,882,000 respectively.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) 1 December,Official Report column 863, if she will make a statement regarding her Department's expenditure on special advisers in each of the last three financial years and for the financial year 1979–80.

  Mr. Forth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary gave on 19 December 1994,Official Report, column 937.

TRANSPORT

  Roads and Airports (EC Funding)
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the total amounts received from the European Commission for road building and airports in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Watts
  Figures available for European regional development fund and transport infrastructure grant
  77
  receipts for road and airport related projects in England are as follows:

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  ERDF (£ million rounded)

  Airports

  11.3

  2.8

  6.3

  4.5

  1.8

  Roads

  52.5

  23.4

  62.2

  50.2

  25.1

  TIG (£ million)

  Roads

  2.25

  0.12

  5.85

  0.6

  1.05

  1 From 1 April to 31 December 1990.

  Departmental Telephone Calls
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent on telephone charges and how many telephone calls have been made by his Department for each of the last five years.

  Mr. Norris
  The answer is:

  £

  1990–91

  4,479,004

  1991–92

  4,859,147

  1992–93

  5,580,202

  1993–94

  5,183,307

  Full details for 1989–90 are not available.

  Details of the number of calls made per year are not held centrally.

  Vehicle Inspections
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of spot-checks undertaken on heavy goods vehicles and public service vehicles for the west midlands area for each of the last five years.

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

  Letter from Ron Oliver to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 10 January 1995:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the number of vehicle spot-checks undertaken on heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and public service vehicles (PSVs) for the West Midlands Traffic Area for each of the last five years.

  The table below outlines both roadworthiness checks (the mechanical condition of the vehicle) and traffic enforcement checks (the use to which the vehicle is put i.e. drivers' hours, operator licensing etc).

  Roadworthiness

  HGV

  PSV

  Years

  Number of spot checks

  Years

  Number of spot checks

  1993–94

  15,348

  1993–94

  3,491

  1992–93

  10,145

  1992–93

  2,471

  1991–92

  9,552

  1991–92

  2,403

  1990–91

  6,126

  1990–91

  1,370

  1989–90

  5,258

  1989–90

  1,497

  78

  Traffic enforcement

  HGV

  PSV

  Year

  Number of spot checks

  Year

  Number of spot checks

  1993–94

  19,212

  1993–94

  2,337

  1992–93

  17,239

  1992–93

  2,489

  1991–92

  20,938

  1991–92

  1,882

  1990–91

  22,240

  1990–91

  1,754

  1989–90

  23,570

  1989–90

  1,473

  I hope this information is sufficient to answer your query. More information on checks in the West Midlands and elsewhere is available in the Traffic Commissioner Annual Reports and the Licensing Authority Annual Reports, copies of which should be available through the House of Commons Library.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each of the Vehicle Inspectorate testing stations in the west midlands traffic area, the number of staff employed in each of the last five years.

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

  Letter from Ron Oliver to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 10 January 1995:

  Vehicle Inspectorate Staff Employed in the West Midlands Traffic Area.
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the number of staff that have been employed by the Vehicle Inspectorate in the West Midlands Traffic Area during the last five years.The table below gives a breakdown of the total number of staff by year, by a broad categorisation of employment. The attached table gives more detailed information by testing station location and includes staff working on both the Vehicle Testing and Road Transport Enforcement side of the Inspectorate's work. It has not been possible to separate out the VI staff located at testing stations without disproportionate cost.

  Technical

  Administrative

  Industrial

  Total

  1990–91

  51

  31

  25

  107

  1991–921 2

  84

  37

  23

  144

  1992–932

  81

  37

  22

  140

  1993–94

  75

  36

  22

  133

  1994–95

  73

  31

  20

  124

  (Numbers are full-time equivalent and have been rounded to the nearest unit)

  1 The increase in Technical and Administrative staff in 1993–94 results from the amalgamation of the traffic Examiners organisation into the Vehicle Inspectorate as at I April 1991.

  2 It has not been possible to separate South Wales Traffic Area staff out from the West Midlands Traffic area in the first 2 years following the amalgamation.

  I hope this information is sufficient but, if you have any further questions about the Inspectorate's operations, please contact me at the above address.
  79

  Numbers of Staff

  Heavy Goods Vehicle Testing Station

  Year

  Technical

  Admin

  Industrial

  Total

  Shrewsbury

  1990–91

  4

  5

  3

  212

  1991–92

  4

  2

  3

  29

  1992–93

  5

  2

  3

  210

  1993–94

  3

  2

  3

  8

  1994–95

  3

  2

  3

  8

  Birmingham

  1990–91

  17

  9

  7

  233

  1991–92

  18

  9

  6

  233

  1992–93

  16

  9

  6

  231

  1993–94

  7

  5

  6

  18

  1994–95

  7

  3

  6

  16

  Wolverhampton

  1990–91

  14

  8

  9

  231

  1991–92

  15

  8

  7

  230

  1992–93

  15

  8

  6

  229

  1993–94

  7

  4

  6

  17

  1994–95

  6

  3

  5

  14

  Stoke

  1990–91

  16

  7.5

  6.5

  230

  1991–92

  15

  5.5

  6.5

  227

  1992–93

  15

  6

  7

  228

  1993–94

  5

  5

  7

  17

  1994–95

  5

  5

  6

  16

  In addition to the above numbers of staff located in VI offices at HGV testing stations, the following are located in other VI offices in the West Midlands traffic area.

  Year

  Technical

  Admin

  Industrial

  Total

  Other Vehicle

  1990–91

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Inspectorate

  1991–92

  32

  13

  0

  145

  offices3

  1992–93

  30

  13

  0

  143

  1993–94

  52

  21

  0

  373

  1994–95

  52

  18

  0

  370

  1 Includes some staff employed in the South Wales Traffic Area. It is not possible to separate out West Midlands.

  2 Includes staff working on the Road Traffic Enforcement side of the Inspectorate's work.

  3 Includes staff located in VI offices at HGV testing stations.

  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list each multi-agency road check undertaken on HGV and public service vehicles and the number of vehicles inspected together with the number of those receiving prohibition or defect notices for the west midlands area for each of the last 12 months.

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

  Letter from Ron Oliver to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 10 January 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question regarding the number of multi-agency checks undertaken on heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), and passenger carrying vehicles (PCVs), and the number of vehicles inspected together with the number of those receiving prohibition or defect notices carried out in the West Midlands Traffic Area during the last 12 months.Unfortunately not all of the information you require is available. A total of 15 checks were carried out over the period which resulted in 1,433 vehicles being inspected. I have attached a table which provides a breakdown of the checks, I am unable to provide details of how many prohibition or defect notices were issued as a result of these specific checks as such information is not recorded in our
  80
  management information system and any additional information can only be provided at disproportionate cost.If you have any further questions about the Inspectorate's operations, please contact me at the above address.

  Multi agency checks conducted in the West Midlands traffic area December 1993–November 1994

  Date

  Number of multi-agency checks

  Number of vehicles inspected

  December 1993

  0

  0

  January 1994

  1

  10

  February 1994

  1

  10

  March 1994

  1

  41

  April 1994

  1

  39

  May 1994

  2

  262

  June 1994

  1

  98

  July 1994

  2

  186

  August 1994

  1

  177

  September 1994

  2

  100

  October 1994

  1

  420

  November 1994

  2

  90

  Total

  15

  1,433

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his policy and powers to order random and regular safety inspections of public service vehicles; and what plans he has to increase such checks.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 20 December 1994]: Each year the Secretary of State approves a programme of safety inspections on public service vehicles, which includes a target number of random and regular safety checks undertaken on his behalf by traffic and vehicle examiners from the Vehicle Inspectorate. The programme includes provision for traffic commissioners to request additional safety inspections where required for specific purposes. The number of inspections is kept under review and may be adjusted as necessary.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many public service vehicles and minibuses carrying school children have been found to be defective in regular and random inspections in the last two years for which figures are available in(a) Suffolk, (b) Norfolk and (c) England and Wales; and what action has been taken in each case.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 20 December 1994]: This is an operational matter for the Vehicle Inspectorate. I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Ron Oliver to Mr. David Porter, dated 10 January 1995:
  School bus checks.
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about checks on public service vehicles (PSVs) and minibuses carrying school children in Norfolk, Suffolk and England and Wales. Unfortunately, whilst we collect management information on checks on PSVs including any follow-up action, we do not distinguish between those carrying school children and others. The Inspectorate is also unable to provide data on a county by county basis as it is collected by Traffic Areas which do not relate to county boundaries.
  The table attached gives the number of PSVs inspected at roadside checks during 1992–293 and 1993–94 and the number of immediate and delayed prohibitions issued. Additional information can only be provided at a disproportionate cost.
  If you have nay further questions about the Inspectorate's operations, please contact me at the above address.
  81

  PSV spot checks 1992–93 and 1993–94

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Traffic area

  Number of PSVs inspected

  Immediate prohibitions

  Delayed prohibitions

  Number of PSVs inspected

  Immediate Prohibitions

  Delayed prohibitions

  Scotland

  4,059

  264

  157

  4,292

  234

  130

  S. Western

  4,813

  245

  135

  5,191

  316

  170

  N. Eastern

  4,237

  138

  90

  4,604

  277

  261

  S. Wales

  1,853

  110

  117

  2,035

  81

  79

  West Midlands

  2,471

  68

  50

  3,491

  86

  79

  Western

  2,883

  139

  146

  2,947

  89

  128

  Eastern

  2,995

  124

  92

  3,060

  150

  99

  S. Eastern

  6,231

  211

  280

  4,066

  164

  255

  Total

  29,542

  1,299

  1,067

  29,686

  1,397

  1,197

  Transport Research Laboratory
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was allocated for seedcorn research to the Transport Research Laboratory during(a) the current financial year and (b) the three previous financial years.

  Mr. Norris
  The answer is:

  (a) The Department of Transport has allocated £500,000 to the Transport Research Laboratory for seedcorn research in the current financial year 1994–95.

  (b) The amounts allocated previously were:

  in the year 1993–94, £640,000;

  in the year 1992–93, £800,000;

  in the year 1991–92, £550,000.

  Blackwall Tunnel
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) who in his Department receives regular reports on significant interruptions to the north-bound traffic intending to use the Blackwall tunnel;

  (2) if he will estimate the cost-benefit ratio of staffing a special unit to react to indications from detection equipment by diverting over-height vehicles away from the north-bound Blackwall tunnel before traffic is blocked;

  (3) how often drivers or operators of oversized vehicles are charged with an offence if they block the flow of traffic north-bound through the Blackwall tunnel;

  (4) what is his Department's responsibility for (a) the north-bound Blackwall tunnel and (b) its approach road;

  (5) how long it takes on average to unblock traffic at the north-bound Blackwall tunnel after an over-height vehicle blockage.

  Mr. Norris
  These are operational matters for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Peter Bottomley dated 10 January 1995:
  I have been asked by the Secretary of State for Transport to reply to your recent parliamentary questions about the Blackwall Tunnel, as you have raised a number of operational matters that are now the responsibility of the Highways Agency. The Highways Agency acts in these matters on behalf of the Secretary of State who remains the Highway Authority for both the Blackwall Tunnel and its approach roads.
  The delays at the northbound Blackwall Tunnel are often, but not always, caused by overheight vehicles stopped in the tunnel approach slope by automatically triggered traffic signals. Each incident is dealt with by police officers under the direction of the East London Traffic Control Centre (ELTCC) and takes about fifteen minutes to clear. It is usually possible for ELTCC to get one
  82
  lane of traffic moving within a few minutes using a CCTV and loudspeaker system. The offending vehicle must not be reversed until traffic police arrive at the scene. A dedicated unit situated at the approach to the tunnel would have to be staffed by police as only they have the powers to stop and direct traffic. The police, however, share my view that such an arrangement would have few benefits over the present system. A large number of tall vehicles legitimately use Tunnel Avenue as the only access from the south to the northern tip of the Greenwich Peninsular. These drivers are therefore perfectly entitled to use the A102 to the Blackwall Tunnel before turning off adjacent to the tunnel approach slope, and it would be impossible for an officer to separate out those heading for the peninsular from the real offenders until the point that they are stopped now.
  The ELTCC prepare a daily report on incidents for the Highways Agency's office in Docklands where staff are able to monitor incidents on a CCTV link. There are usually between 50 and 60 incidents a month. About 70% of these offenders are processed through the courts or issued with a fixed penalty notice. The balance, which tend to be those only slightly overheight, receive a verbal warning. The police also write to all the haulage companies concerned.
  These measures have reduced the number of incidents and have avoided any damage to the fabric of the tunnel itself. We are however continually looking for further ways of improving the situation, for example, we are looking into the feasibility of providing an escape ramp to avoid the need for offending vehicles to have to reverse out of the Tunnel approach. But it is too early yet to say what the outcome will be.
  I do hope that this answers the points you raised with the Secretary of State, but please contact me if I can be of further assistance.

  Youth Training Scheme
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent by his Department on the youth training scheme during(a) the current financial year and (b) the three previous financial years.

  Mr. Norris
  The Department has spent £35,739.38 date in the current financial year on the youth training scheme. Expenditure in 1993–94, 1992–93 and 1991–92 was £76,237.19, £85,287.85 and £103,652.42 respectively.

  Preferred Carrier Status
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which airlines have been granted preferred carrier status for civil servants' travel to overseas destinations.
  83
  Mr. Norris
  Each Government Department is responsible for obtaining value for money for its own expenditure on overseas travel. My Department has not granted preferred carrier status to any airline.

  River Thames
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state the criteria or basis used in the estimate of capital cost of(a) the river-bus vessels for 62 passengers and (b) larger vessels for 200 passengers as mentioned on page 45 of the report of his River Thames working group.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 19 December 1994]: I am having the data on costs verified and will write to the hon. Member very shortly.

  Motor Insurance
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he has taken following the report of the Association of British Insurers, the Motor Insurance Bureau and Lloyds Motor Underwriters on measures to combat motor insurance fraud.

  Mr. Norris
  Departmental officials have been involved in discussions with the insurance industry since July. Evasion is a complex issue with implications across several Departments. We are looking at the feasibility of a number of possible measures to combat this serious offence. We hope to have reached positive conclusions in the course of the next few months.

  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the number of uninsured motorists.

  Mr. Norris
  In 1993, there were 281,136 convictions in England and Wales for driving without insurance. The insurance industry estimates that 4 to 6 per cent. of drivers are uninsured and a recent Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development report also estimates 6 per cent.

  Driving Standards Agency
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the current chief executive of the Driving Standards Agency achieved his performance bonus this year; and what is his salary as the chief executive of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

  Mr. Norris
  The current chief executive of the Driving Standards Agency achieved a performance bonus of £2,934 in respect of the financial year 1993–94. His salary as chief executive of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency will be £52,704 per annum.

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the current chief executive of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency achieved his performance bonus this year; and what is his current salary as head of the renewing of the traffic area office network.

  Mr. Norris
  The current chief executive of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency earned a non-consolidated performance bonus of £6,762 in recognition of the achievement of the agency's performance targets for the financial year 1993–94. This was in place of the normal 84
  personal performance pay award arrangements normally applicable to civil servants at the same grade. On 3 January he began a review of the traffic area network and his salary will be £54,118 per annum.

  Road Accidents
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was(a) the cost of road accidents in 1993 in England and Wales and (b) his Department's expenditure on related research in that year; and what is the planned spending for 1994 and 1995.

  Mr. Norris
  The estimated total cost of injury road accidents in England and Wales for 1993 is £8.1 billion. This is the cost-benefit value of the total benefits which would be obtained from the prevention of road accidents.

  Expenditure on road and vehicle safety research in 1993–94 was £10.4 million and the planning budget is £10.08 million for both 1994–95 and 1995–96.

  Taxis
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes he proposes to the regulation of hackney carriage and private hire cabs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 6 December, column 181.

  Newbury Bypass
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 19 December,Official Report, column 874–75, to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, South (Mrs. Currie) what was the date of his private visit to Newbury; how long he spent on his visit; what he saw; what other options he has asked the Highways Agency to explore; and which of the requested options has not been already considered.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I visited the Newbury area on 28 November 1994 for about three hours travelling on the A34 from the north and south through the centre of Newbury. I also visited a number of sites to the west of the town to view parts of the published bypass route, as part of my consideration of the proposal. I have asked the Highways Agency to review the options to relieve congestion in Newbury as a matter of urgency.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost of the 1988 inspector's inquiry into the route of the A34 Newbury bypass; and how many man hours of(a) the inspector's and (b) other officials' time were involved.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The recorded costs of the 1988 A34 Newbury bypass public inquiry total about £140,000. This sum includes the cost of the inspector, his traffic assessor, the Department's counsel and the physical arrangements for the inquiry but excludes salary costs of others preparing for and attending the inquiry for which records are not available.

  The inspector and his assessor spent about 1,230 and 640 hours respectively in connection with the inquiry. The number of hours spent by other officials preparing for and attending the inquiry have not been recorded.

  London Transport
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff are expected to be working for London Transport following the reorganisation announced by the chairman of London Transport on 24 November 1994.

  Mr. Norris
  London Transport is currently drawing up detailed plans for implementation of the reorganisation announced by its chairman. The management of London Transport will wish to discuss plans for staff reductions with staff representatives and trades unions. London Transport will not be able to give a reliable estimate of future staff numbers until its plans have been completed.

  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with London Transport over its staff reorganisation.

  Mr. Norris
  London Transport's plans for reorganisation are among a number of matters which my right hon. Friend and I have recently discussed with the chairman of London Transport.

  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the likely impact of reorganisation of London Transport of its ability to carry out its statutory duties under the London regional Transport Act 1984 and its wider statutory duty to plan for London's transport needs.

  Mr. Norris
  It is primarily for the chairman and board of London Transport to ensure that it is organised in a way which enables it to carry out its statutory duties appropriately and effectively. I am satisfied that they have taken full account of their statutory obligations in drawing up their reorganisation plans.

  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff worked for London Transport on 24 November 1994.

  Mr. Norris
  London Transport employed 20,437 permanent staff—full-time equivalent—on 12 November 1994, the nearest date for which figures are available from its management accounts.

  Electronic Mail
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to be able to receive and respond to communications via electronic mail.

  Mr. Norris
  Current projects and plans are likely to provide internal and external electronic mail facilities for my office and my headquarters staff during 1996, following relocation to a new HQ building in 1995.

  Peakes Parkway
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement regarding the funding for Humberside county council concerning phase 3 of the Peakes parkway.

  Mr. Norris
  The local transport capital settlement for 1995–96 which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 15 December,Official Report, columns 769–74 did not include funding for this scheme. Schemes are accepted for transport supplementary grant on condition that satisfactory progress is maintained and that costs do not rise excessively. In this case, the scheme was originally accepted for grant in 1993–94, when Humberside county council forecast that construction would start in September 1993. The latest forecast start
  86
  date is December 1995. Meanwhile, the estimated cost of the scheme has already risen by over 10 per cent.

  In the circumstances, my right hon. Friend and I did not consider it right to maintain our commitment to fund this scheme. This does not prevent its being resubmitted for funding in a future settlement.

  North Circular Road
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations his Department received regarding the Willoughby Lane gas works, offered as exchange open space in the north circular road widening project, and the 1988 public inquiry into the roads; and what response he has made.

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr Harry Cohen, dared 10 January 1995:
  Steven Norris has asked me to write to you about your question in the House in which you asked about representations received by the Department regarding the former Willoughby Lane gas works, being given as exchange land for public open space required for an improvement of the North Circular Road.
  No representations were received regarding the exchange land, during the statutory period for objecting to the formal proposals, after the public inquiry or before the orders were made and the exchange land certificate issued.
  The Agency has been in correspondence for some considerable time with the local authority, the London Borough of Enfield, about the details of the exchange land and associated technical matters. More recently, it has also been in correspondence with Enfield Friends of the Earth about the condition of the land at the former gas works. The Agency has supplied all the information requested for which it is responsible.

  Docklands Light Railway
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his oral answer of 19 December,Official Report, column 1385, to the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Evennett) concerning the extension of the docklands light railway from Beckton to Thamesmead, if he will obtain estimates of the cost of a single line and double line tunnel respectively for that railway across the Thames on an alignment close to that proposed for the east London river crossing.

  Mr. Norris
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 23 November 1994,Official Report, column 381.

  MV Derbyshire
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what future representation or information he has received concerning the sinking of the MV Derbyshire and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  My right hon. Friend is considering the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents' assessment of the sonar and video material provided by the International Transport Workers Federation, and whether further action needs to be taken.

  Telephone Dialling Codes
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made as to the additional costs which will be incurred by his Department as a result of the changes in national telephone dialing
  87
  codes next year; and how much this change will cost his Department in additional expenditure.

  Mr. Norris
  An assessment covered changes to switch board arrangements and revised stationery. The additional costs will be about £3,000.

  Children's Clothing (Reflective Material)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department will consider making recommendations to manufacturers to incorporate reflective materials on garments, bags and rucksacks designed for use by children.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 19 December 1994]: We encourage retailers and manufacturers to consider marketing more outer garments with build-in visibility. A number of companies manufacture, market or promote fluorescent and reflective products for use by children. In October we carried out a "Be Safe. Be Seen" initiative with support from 3M(UK).

  Channel Tunnel
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the arrangements for joint safety meetings following the commission of the channel tunnel rail services.

  Mr. Watts
  Under the terms of the treaty of Canterbury the bi-national intergovernmental commission and safety authority are established for the lifetime of the concession agreement with the channel tunnel operators, Eurotunnel, and will continue to meet at regular intervals to consider safety and other matters.

  Scottish Control Zone
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Scottish control zone and the Prestwick control zone were abolished; what was the reason for their abolition; and what consultations took place in advance of their decision.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 16 December 1994]: I have been asked to reply.

  The Civil Aviation Authority has the responsibility for airspace planning. They advise that the Prestwick control zone—formally the Prestwick special rules zone—was abolished on 3 March 1993. On 3 March 1994 the Scottish Zone and parts of the Scottish terminal control area were abolished.

  Reviews are routinely carried out on the use made of controlled airspace to identify those portions that are under-utilised or no longer serve the purpose for which they were established. This is in accordance with ministerial direction to the CAA and the national air traffic services. Such a review showed that the number of passenger public transport aircraft using Prestwick airport had declined to the level where the provision of controlled airspace was no longer necessary. After the review, NATS consulted the Prestwick airport operator, British Aerospace Flying College—the then principle user of Prestwick airport—the Ministry of Defence, and the National Air Traffic Management Advisory Committee, as well as its own Scottish air traffic control centre about the changes from late 1991 until early 1994.
  88

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Immigration
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the latest appraisal system supplied to immigration officers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  A list has been placed in the Library of the standard main tasks and performance levels against which managers assess the performance of immigration officers at ports.

  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether immigration officers have been given a quota for refusing foreign nationals entry to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  There are no refusal quotas for immigration officers. All passengers are dealt with on their merits and in accordance with the immigration rules laid down by Parliament.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all operational targets which apply to the immigration service.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Service standards are set for the immigration service relating to maximum passenger queuing times at ports of entry. These are set out in the service's published operating plan, a copy of which will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reduce the tariff sentences he imposed on Abdul Qayyum Raja and Mohammed Riaz; what action he has taken in these matters following the judgment of the High Court on 16 December; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The judgment effectively requires the Secretary of State to reconsider the cases of these two prisoners, and to set a fresh tariff for each. He will do so following receipt of any further representations which they may wish to make in the light of further disclosure which has been given to them. We are in correspondence with their legal representatives about these matters.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether immigration officers have been given a quota system for(a) interrogating or (b) refusing foreign nationals entry into the United Kingdom; whether their earnings are linked to such targets; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  There are no quotas of any kind for immigration officers. All passengers are dealt with on their merits and in accordance with the immigration rules laid down by Parliament.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many appeals have been made against payments offered under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board since 1 April 1994; and what has been the administrative cost of processing those appeals.

  Mr. Maclean
  The tariff scheme started on 1 April 1994. Applications lodged before then are being dealt with by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. Applications lodged subsequently are being handled by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
  89
  CICB advises that at the end of December 1994 3,357 appeals had been lodged since 1 April 1994, all in respect of applications made before that date. Based on expenditure in 1993–94, the administrative cost of processing this number of appeals is likely to be about £2.5 million.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offers of payment were made by the criminal injuries compensation scheme in November; and in which of the tariff bands these awards fell.

  Mr. Maclean
  Five hundred and ninety five offers of award were made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, under the tariff scheme. They fell into the following tariff bands:

  Band

  Number of awards offered

  1

  135

  2

  36

  3

  158

  4

  8

  5

  59

  6

  26

  7

  87

  8

  22

  9

  8

  10

  11

  11

  6

  12

  36

  13

  1

  16

  2

  Additionally, offers of award were made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in respect of residual cases lodged before 1 April 1994 under the former arrangements. The CICB is however, unable to say how many such offers were made in November 1994.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice his Department is giving applicants to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority about the outcome of their applications in the event of a legal challenge to the establishment of the authority being successful.

  Mr. Maclean
  Applications under the scheme are considered by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, not the Home or Scottish Offices. In a standard notice sent to all claimants offered a tariff award, CICA explains that, pending resolution of the legal challenge, the award is being made on a provisional, without prejudice basis, and that if the tariff scheme is withdrawn or altered as a result of the court proceedings the application would be reassessed.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of administering the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in 1993–94; and what proportion of that cost was devoted to dealing with appeals.

  Mr. Maclean
  The provisional outturn cost of administering the CICB in 1993–94 was £17.3 million, of which an estimated £3.4 million—19.6 per cent.—was devoted to hearings administration.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many payments were made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in each month from April 1992 to April 1994.
  90
  Mr. Maclean
  The total number of awards made by the CICB in the period 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1994 was 77,273. The CICB is unable to provide a breakdown by month.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Home Department how many payments were made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board between(a) 1 April 1993 and 1 April 1994 and (b) 1 April 1994 and 21 November 1994 in the bands: (i) £1,000 to £4,999, (ii) £5,000 to £9,999, (iii) £10,000 to £24,999 and (iv) above £25,000.

  Mr. Maclean
  The following information has been provided by the CICB:

  a) payments made between 1 April 1993 and 31 March 1994

  32,345 between £1,000—£4,999

  3,398 between £5,000—£9,999

  2,139 over £10,000.

  b) payments made between 1 April 1994 and 31 October 1994 (figures not available after that date)

  10,801 between £1,000—£4,999

  1,306 between £5,000—£9,999

  975 over £10,000

  No further breakdown of payments exceeding £10,000 is readily available.

  In addition the CICA made two payments in the period 1 April 1994 to 31 October 1994, one in the category £1,000 to £4,999, the other in the category £5,000 to £9,999.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to publish each month, the number of offers made by the criminal injuries compensation scheme.

  Mr. Maclean
  No. Information about the number of offers made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority will be published each year in the authority's annual report. We see no need for more frequent publication.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of the Home Department what plans he has for uprating the level of compensation payable by the criminal injuries compensation scheme.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement made during debate on the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill on 20 October 1994,Official Report, column 452.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total level of section 11 expenditure in London in 1994–95; what level is planned for 1995–96; and how it will be allocated.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The table shows budget allocations of section 11 grant which have been notified to local authorities and other recipients in the Greater London area in relation to their expenditure in 1994–95.

  Allocations for existing projects which will still be running in 1995–96 should be notified to grant recipients shortly. The methodology for calculating these allocations is currently the subject of consultation with local authority associations. Applications for grant for new projects starting in 1995–96 are under consideration.
  91

  Section 11 allocation 1994–95

  London Borough Councils

  Barking and Dagenham

  230,860

  Barnet

  748,243

  Bexley

  100,138

  Brent

  1,742,385

  Camden

  1,111,346

  Croydon

  949,775

  Ealing

  2,615,675

  Enfield

  1,058,164

  Greenwich

  1,329,673

  Hackney

  3,147,620

  Hammersmith

  713,289

  Haringey

  2,604,874

  Harrow

  556,992

  Havering

  39,169

  Hillingdon

  317,055

  Hounslow

  1,389,502

  Islington

  1,434,673

  Kensington and Chelsea

  899,845

  Kingston

  105,071

  Lambeth

  1,109,603

  Lewisham

  1,637,467

  London Boroughs Grants Unit

  123,071

  Merton

  490,246

  Newham

  2,181,976

  Redbridge

  918,005

  Richmond

  56,225

  Southwark

  1,955,157

  Sutton

  46,902

  Tower Hamlets

  6,826,782

  Waltham Forest

  1,585,015

  Wandsworth

  1,396,800

  Westminster

  1,498,548

  Sub-total

  40,920,146

  Grant maintained schools

  Burntwood (Wandsworth)

  55,687

  Chadwell Heath (Redbridge)

  15,047

  Claremont (Harrow)

  13,629

  Copeland (Brent)

  33,860

  Dormers Wells Junior School (Ealing)

  41,425

  Graveney (Wandsworth)

  69,720

  Greenford (Ealing)

  39,461

  Hendon (Barnet)

  28,041

  London Oratory (Hammersmith and Fulham)

  38,025

  Northolt (Ealing)

  5,379

  Raines Foundation (Tower Hamlets)

  27,146

  St. Lukes (Kingston)

  1,671

  St. Francis Xavier (Wandsworth)

  9,576

  St. Thomas the Apostle College (Southwark)

  10,322

  Salesian School (Wandsworth)

  28,010

  Stratford (Newham)

  54,277

  Wood End (Ealing)

  6,815

  Sub-total

  478,091

  Further Education Colleges

  Barnet

  59,505

  Bexley

  24,920

  Croydon

  77,665

  Ealing

  93,710

  Enfield

  111,567

  Greenhill

  162,085

  Hackney

  234,260

  Hammersmith and West London

  28,865

  Hendon

  128,419

  92

  Section 11 allocation 1994–95

  Islington

  67,102

  Kensington and Chelsea

  33,119

  Kingsway

  49,613

  Leyton 6th Form

  18,574

  Newham

  225,627

  North East London

  124,985

  North West London

  352,602

  Southgate

  49,649

  Tower Hamlets

  356,733

  Uxbridge

  51,481

  Waltham Forest

  35,591

  Wandsworth

  48,140

  City of Westminster

  44,189

  Woolwich

  24,583

  Sub-total

  2,402,984

  Grand total

  43,801,221

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what medical services are available to asylum seekers and others held in detention under immigration laws; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Detainees in immigration detention centres and Prison Service establishments have access on a daily basis to a doctor. There is also a nurse present daily at the Harmondsworth and Campsfield house detention centres. A detainee who requires further medical attention may be transferred to a prison or outside hospital.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum have been received from citizens of republics of the former Yugoslavia for each of the years 1992, 1993 and 1994; how many have been agreed; how many refused; and how many are still awaiting a decision.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Information on the number of applications for asylum received from nationals of the former Yugoslavia, and decisions made, for the years 1992, 1993 and until the end of November 1994 is given in the table. As at 30 November 1994, an estimated 6,200 applications for asylum from former Yugoslays were outstanding.

  In addition to consideration of asylum applications, the Government have, under arrangements announced in November 1992 and June 1993, offered to receive 1,000 particularly vulnerable individuals from the former Yugoslavia and those close dependants, an estimated 4,000 people in all. As at 9 January 1995, 836 particularly vulnerable individuals and 1,134 dependants had arrived under these arrangements. Prior to this, 68 sick and wounded ex-detainees from Bosnia arrived in September 1992.
  93

  Decisions1 on applications1 received for asylum from nationals of the former Yugoslavia in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, 1992 to end-November 1994

  Number of principal applicants

  1992

  1993

  71994

  Asylum applications2

  5,635

  1,830

  1,255

  Decisions (2)(3)

  130

  175

  1,655

  Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum

  *

  —

  25

  Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave to remain4

  *

  55

  1,180

  Refused asylum and ELR - after full consideration

  —

  10

  350

  Refused under para. 180F5

  65

  80

  70

  Refused on safe third country grounds6

  60

  30

  25

  1 Provisional figures rounded to the nearest 5, with'*' = 1 or 2.

  2 Figures exclude information on applications made overseas.

  3 Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same year.

  4 Usually granted for a year in the first instance, subject then to further review.

  5 For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period, including failure to respond to invitation to interview to establish identity (para. 101 prior to 26 July 1993).

  6 Refused on the grounds that the applicant had arrived from a safe third country.

  7 Figures up to end-November 1994.

  West Midlands Police
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 9 December,Official Report, column 379, if he has asked for a report on the success of Operation Brink by the West Midlands police force.

  Mr. Maclean
  No. This is an operational matter that falls entirely within the responsibility of the chief constable.

  Stefan Kiszko
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the outcome of the inquiry by the Lancashire police into the Stefan Kiszko case.

  Mr. Maclean
  A report was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which announced on 11 May 1994 that Mr. Richard Holland, a former detective superintendent with West Yorkshire Constabulary, and Mr. Ronald Outteridge, a retired Home Office forensic scientist, are to be prosecuted on charges of perverting the course of justice.

  Blood Sports
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement as to the cost of policing blood sport events.

  Mr. Maclean
  The deployment of police officers to specific duties is a matter for the chief officer of police. Details of the costs of policing field sports are not held centrally.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how may arrests have been made at blood sport events since the implementation of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.
  94
  Mr. Maclean
  Information on the number of people arrested for specific offences is not collected centrally.

  Information on cautioning and court proceedings data under sections 68 and 69—summary offences of aggravated trespass—of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 will not be available until autumn 1996.

  Black People
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of black people in the United Kingdom were the victims of murder or homicide in the last year for which figures are available; and what information he has on the equivalent figure in the United States of America.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is not available centrally for England and Wales.

  Figures for Scotland are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and figures for Northern Ireland are a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Figures for the United States are, of course, a matter for the United States Government, but I understand that the proportion of black people in the United States of America who were victims of murder and non-negligent manslaughter in 1993 is 37 per 100,000 according to the United States Department of Justice. For comparison, the proportion of the total England and Wales population who were victims of currently recorded homicide during 1993 was 1.2 per 100,000.

  Hampshire Police
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total expenditure for Hampshire police authority in 1994–95.

  Mr. Maclean
  The latest estimate of total current and capital expenditure by the Hampshire police authority in 1994–95 is £150.6 million.

  Mr. Karamjit Singh Chahal
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement regarding the case of Mr. Karamjit Singh Chahal, held in Bedford prison.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The Proceedings in respect of Mr. Chahal's application to the European Commission of Human Rights concerning the decision to deport him from the United Kingdom are continuing. He will not be removed from the United Kingdom before completion of these proceedings. Mr. Chahal's detention is regularly reviewed, and my right hon. and learned Friend is satisfied that it continues to be fully justified.

  Prison Population
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the prison population broken down by security category, at the latest date available, for(a) Doncaster prison, (b) The Wolds prison and (c) the female wing at Durham prison.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
  95
  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 10 January 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the prison population broken down by security category, at the

  Adults

  Cat A

  Cat B

  Cat C

  Cat D

  Not yet categorised

  Young offenders

  Total

  Doncaster

  0

  10

  61

  39

  256

  368

  734

  The Wolds

  0

  16

  62

  35

  179

  0

  292

  Young offenders are only given a security category when Category A is applicable.

  Unless Category A is applicable, adult male prisoners are not given a security category until after conviction and sentence.

  There are 35 female prisoners held at Durham prison, including one Category A. Female prisoners are only given a security category when Category A is applicable.

ENVIRONMENT

  Private Finance Initiative
  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is now able to publish draft capital finance regulations relating to the measures under the Government's private finance initiative which he announced on 31 October 1994.

  Mr. Curry
  We have today issued for consultation to the local authority associations and to local authorities the draft of regulations which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment proposes to make under part IV of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. We have asked for comments to be submitted by 13 February 1995. I have arranged for copies of the draft order, together with an explanatory guide, to be placed in the Library of the House.

  The regulations provide:
  —for two major relaxations in the rules governing local authority leasing of non-housing property, extending the revenue treatment of leases from three years to 10 years and enabling capital finance cover to be transferred from one lease to another on surrender or assignment;
  —that notional receipts from disposals of assets to companies in return for shares will no longer require set aside; and
  —that the reserved part of capital receipts from disposals of shares will be reduced from 75 per cent. to 50 per cent. if they were acquired before 10 March 1988 or acquired for the purposes of economic development, or if they are in a company connected with waste disposal or the provision of entertainment facilities.

  Housing Associations, Gateshead
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to the impact of current and projected future housing association funding both on housing and job creation opportunities in the Gateshead metropolitan borough area.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The Housing Corporation estimates that allocations from its approved development programme in 1994–95 for new scheme approvals in the Gateshead metropolitan borough area will total some £2.5 million in 1994–95. Allocations issued for 1995–96 also amount to some £2.5 million. This is expected to enable 126 new social lettings to be approved in 1994–95, and 145 in 1995–96 as a result of the more cost effective use
  96 latest date available, for (a) Doncaster prison, (b) The Wolds prison and (c) the female wing at Durham prison.
  The information requested, as at 19 December 1994, is as follows:

  of resources. Information on jobs created by the approved development programme is not available.

  Housing Corporation
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what analysis he has made of the consequences of changes to the Housing Corporation's approved development programme.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The public resources for the Housing Corporation's approved development programme in 1995–96 will amount to almost £1.2 billion. This is expected to provide some 52,000 new social lettings in 1995–96. We estimate that Housing Corporation and local authority expenditure, and the private finance they will attract, will produce some 180,000 new social lettings over the next three years.

  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what analysis he has conducted of the consequences to the construction industry resulting from changes in the Housing Corporation's approved development programme; and if he will make such information available.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Modest and sustained growth in the construction industry is expected to continue. The next stage of the construction industry report, which is produced jointly by the Department of the Environment and representatives of the construction industry, will be completed very soon. Copies will be placed in the Library.

  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the funding for the Housing Corporation's approved development programme in(a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The public resources for the Housing Corporation's approved development programme in 1993–94 totalled some £1.8 billion enabling the Housing Corporation to provide 56,500 new social lettings in 1993–94. In 1994–95 public funding for the approved development programme will amount to some £1.5 billion, which the Housing Corporation estimates will, with more cost-effective use of public resources, provide over 60,000 new lettings.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total expenditure in Hampshire by the Housing Corporation for the financial year 1994–95.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The Housing Corporation estimates that some £26 million of the Housing Corporation's capital budget for 1994–95 will be spent in Hampshire.

  Building Control Fees
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he received from the
  97
  National House Building Council prior to his decision to increase local authority building control fees from 1 October.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Together with many other consultees, the NHBC responded with comments and suggestions on the Department's consultation letter of 30 March 1993 proposing changes to the fees regulations. It subsequently wrote three letters reinforcing points in its original submission.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what steps he took to consult on the level of local authority building control fees prior to their increase in 1 October; and what were the results of those consultations;

  (2) what considerations led to the increase from 1 October of building control fees charged by local authorities.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Preliminary discussions were held over a long period with local authority representatives. There followed a consultants' study into local authority fee income and costs. Based on the conclusions of the above discussions and on the results of the study, two public consultations were carried out into the form and fee levels for new regulations. The responses were considered by the building regulations advisory committee and by a working group made up of members of the committee and representatives of the local authority associations. In the light of these consultations, and the consideration of the responses, the Building (Prescribed Fees) Regulations 1994 were made.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received since announcing the increase in local authority building control fees.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  My Department has received 39 representations on local authority building control fees up to and including 6 January 1995. Twenty-four were principally about the level of increase in fees for new housebuilding, of which 20 were from local authorities. The remaining representations, largely from individuals, were about the size of the increase for all types of buildings or were concerned with the fee levels for house extensions or for commercial work.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what calculations he has made of the effect on local authority revenue of the increase in local authority building control fees in the light of the decision of the National House Building Council to freeze its fees.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  None. We propose to make arrangements to monitor the future levels of local authority fee income and costs without placing unnecessary burdens on local authorities. The level of fees charged by NHBC Building Control Services Limited is a matter for it.

  Birds of Prey
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has consulted the National Council for Aviculture on the setting up of a DNA register for birds of prey; and if he will make a statement.
  98
  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Department has not undertaken any specific consultations on the setting up of a DNA register for birds of prey. However, I explained in reply to the question from the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson) on 20 December,Official Report, columns 1115–1116, that the Department has established a working group to review the enforcement of wildlife controls. The future role of genetic testing in relation to the bird registration system is one of the issues being considered by this working group, on which the National Council for Aviculture is represented. I shall be making a further announcement about the use of DNA in the near future.

  Electronic Mail
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to receive and respond to communications via electronic mail.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  About a third of the staff in ray Department already have available to them electronic mail facilities for internal communication. A fully advanced office support system project is now under way which will, amongst other things, provide full electronic mail links across all areas of the Department, and the ability to communicate via external networks, during the next three years.

  Internet
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the plans of his Department to make information available on Internet and the documents which he intends to be made available on Internet over the next year which will be accessible via the world wide web server "open.gov.UK" or any specific departmental server.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Cambridge (Mrs. Campbell) on 30 November,Official Report, column 728.

  Water Companies
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what directives or advice have been given by his Department to the National Rivers Authority regarding non-prosecution of the privatised water companies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  None. The National Rivers Authority has full discretion in using its enforcement powers in order to fulfil its role of protecting the water environment and dealing with pollution. The effectiveness of NRA enforcement action has contributed to continuing progress in improving water quality.

  Home Owners
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many families who bought a home in the last two years included(a) one, (b) two and (c) three or more earners.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The available estimates are of numbers of households in England with two or more people in them who in 1993–94 had bought a home in the previous two years. Of these, 230,000 had one person in employment, 720,000 had two persons in employment and 80,000 had three or more persons in employment. There
  99
  were also 290,000 purchasers who were one person households and were in employment.

  These figures are from the "Survey of English Housing" and are subject to sampling error.

  Rural Development Commission
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Enviornment what was(a) the historic cost and (b) the cost at 1994 prices of the Rural Development Commission's (i) training workshops and (ii) total facility in Salisbury.

  Mr. Atkins
  The cost of the training workshops in 1994 prices is £40,612 with the total Rural Development Commission facility in Salisbury costing £207,816. This compares with the estimated cost of the workshops in 1988, the year in which the commission was established, of £37,420 against a total cost of £191,507.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a copy of the independent review of the Rural Development Commission' straining activities.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Rural Development Commission is required to carry out periodic value for money reviews of all its economic and social development programmes. As

  Discipline

  New entrants training scheme

  Open courses

  Marginal cost of training per apprentice (NETS)

  Total cost of training per apprentice including fixed costs

  Marginal cost per student

  Total cost per student

  Woodwork

  3,876

  4,956

  361

  771

  Forgework

  6,004

  8,178

  146

  360

  Furniture

  8,241

  9,969

  68

  303

  Upholstery

  3,030

  5,162

  386

  865

  Saddlery

  4,438

  6,998

  71

  364

  Thatching (nets only)

  3,500

  3,500

  0

  0

  GRP plastics

  3,129

  4,919

  165

  558

  ENG fabrication (nets only)

  3,042

  3,042

  0

  0

  Farriery (nets only)

  6,500

  6,500

  0

  0

  Wheelwrighting

  5,440

  5,440

  279

  553

  Notes:

  1. Marginal costs include salaries and other related costs of tutors.

  2. Fixed costs include an apportionment of administration and other overhead costs.

  3. For some disciplines the running of the courses has been contracted out and this is why there is no difference between marginal and fixed costs.

  4. For open courses the costs are net and take account of fees paid by students.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a copy of the Rural Development Commission's 1993 strategy document.

  Mr. Atkins
  I have today arranged for copies of the Rural Development Commission's document, "Rural Development Strategy for the 1990s", published in December 1993, to be placed in the Library of each House.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date he was informed by the Rural Development Commission of the possible winding down of its direct training commitment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  My right hon. Friend has not been informed by the Rural Development Commission of a100
  part of this process the commission engaged ECOTEC Research and Consulting Ltd to carry out a review of its training services which support economic development. I have today arranged for copies of ECOTEC's report of its review to be placed in the Library of each House.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date officials were informed by the Rural Development Commission of the possible winding down of their direct training commitment; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  Officials in the Department were informed that the rural development commissioners were considering various options for the future provision of training, including the possible winding down of the facilities at the commission's Salisbury offices, following the commissioners' meeting on 22 November 1994. A final decision has yet to be taken on the future of the direct training facilities. The commissioners are planning to discuss this issue further later this month.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the(a) marginal cost and (b) total cost of training a craftsman in each of the skills offered on the various training schemes of the Rural Development Commission based in Salisbury.

  Mr. Atkins
  The marginal and fixed costs are as follows:

  possible winding down of its direct training commitment. Department officials informed my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State, Sir Paul Beresford, on 14 December 1994 that the commissioners were considering various options for the future provision of the commission's direct training services which assist rural economic development.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by skill the number of craftsmen trained by Rural Development Commission staff based in Salisbury for each year since the facility was built.

  Mr. Atkins
  The number of craftsmen and craftswomen who have had all or some of their training provided by Rural Development Commission staff based in Salisbury is as follows:
  101

  Table 1: Number of apprentices trained

  NETS

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Farriery

  115

  113

  117

  118

  122

  119

  91

  94

  102

  115

  125

  105

  25

  Thatching

  33

  34

  30

  25

  29

  16

  24

  24

  28

  21

  29

  22

  25

  Forgework

  22

  27

  39

  40

  36

  38

  32

  38

  37

  44

  26

  19

  25

  Saddlery

  16

  17

  15

  14

  14

  14

  12

  13

  16

  14

  15

  15

  15

  Furniture

  16

  21

  28

  28

  35

  36

  32

  35

  49

  41

  26

  31

  24

  Upholstery

  4

  8

  11

  18

  12

  17

  18

  11

  13

  12

  7

  12

  24

  Woodworking

  12

  14

  27

  51

  54

  59

  50

  55

  64

  60

  53

  37

  36

  Wheelwrighung

  —

  —

  4

  4

  9

  3

  3

  2

  2

  7

  4

  9

  5

  General Engineering/Fabrication

  10

  19

  22

  18

  13

  13

  12

  13

  16

  20

  13

  12

  20

  Agricultural Miscellaneous Repairs

  12

  22

  27

  29

  18

  14

  17

  9

  5

  16

  —

  —

  —

  Plastics

  6

  12

  12

  11

  14

  11

  12

  7

  11

  16

  9

  9

  6

  General Building

  1

  8

  13

  14

  3

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Dry Stone Walling

  6

  3

  9

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Totals

  253

  298

  354

  376

  359

  341

  303

  301

  343

  366

  307

  271

  205

  Table 2: Number of craftworkers attending open courses

  Open courses

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Farriery

  —

  —

  —

  —

  21

  —

  19

  —

  21

  18

  4

  16

  —

  Thatching

  —

  —

  —

  —

  37

  24

  75

  27

  30

  2

  2

  8

  —

  Forgework

  20

  42

  55

  25

  9

  25

  42

  13

  28

  36

  23

  18

  18

  Saddlery

  25

  26

  24

  37

  18

  12

  28

  49

  67

  53

  48

  50

  50

  Furniture

  30

  35

  42

  38

  45

  99

  74

  61

  40

  37

  52

  53

  51

  Upholstery

  20

  30

  30

  25

  26

  28

  14

  21

  20

  25

  11

  16

  13

  Woodworking

  5

  7

  —

  23

  39

  21

  33

  45

  67

  30

  27

  24

  14

  Wheelwrighting

  —

  —

  —

  —

  7

  —

  5

  3

  —

  5

  4

  —

  14

  Welding

  12

  17

  8

  8

  7

  4

  7

  —

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Microcomputers

  —

  206

  210

  99

  22

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Plastics

  12

  20

  8

  18

  16

  11

  27

  16

  10

  6

  8

  10

  15

  Pottery

  —

  —

  —

  5

  14

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Vehicle Electrics

  12

  12

  12

  9

  19

  51

  11

  —

  31

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Builders Estimating

  25

  92

  22

  30

  123

  157

  97

  183

  22

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Wood Turning

  6

  12

  8

  8

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Electrical Estimating

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Supervisors course

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  34

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Totals

  167

  499

  419

  325

  403

  470

  432

  418

  338

  214

  179

  195

  175

  CITES
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement to the House on the outcome of the Conference on International Trade in Endangered Species meeting in Florida.

  Mr. Atkins
  [pursuant to his reply 24 November 1994 column 241–42]: I regret that some of the factual information given in my answer was incorrect. The first paragraph of the answer should have read as follows:
  The CITES conference of the parties agreed new measures to strengthen the operation and effectiveness of the convention. Thirty species presently included on appendix 11 and 111 will be uplisted to appendix 1, and five species will be uplisted from appendix 111 to appendix 11. Twenty-two species presently on appendix 1 or 11 will be downlisted, including six which will be deleted from the appendices altogether. The current listing of a further eight species will be unchanged, but attached conditions will be relaxed. Thirty-three species will be added to the convention for the first time.

  Additionally the number of parties given in paragraph 9 of my answer should have been 124 instead of 126.

  Housing (HIV)
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what technical or economic reasons arose from the research commissioned from the Building Research Establishment by his Department to inform the review of part M of the building regulations on why all new housing could not be built with level thresholds as an essential element of independent living for people with HIV.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The Government will shortly be consulting on proposals to revise the building regulations 102
  in England and Wales to make new housing more accessible to disabled people. One of the matters to be included in that consultation is the issue of level thresholds. A report on relevant research undertaken by the Building Research Establishment will be included in the consultation package.

  Rural Craftsmen
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if it is his policy to give financial support to the training of craftsmen in traditional rural industries including farriery, saddlery and wheelwrighting; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Rural Development Commission is the Government's rural regeneration agency and has statutory responsibility for keeping under review and advising my right hon. Friend upon all matters relating to the economic and social development of rural areas of England. The commission may carry out, or assist others to carry out, measures to further such development. Such measures can include the training of craftsmen in traditional rural industries where these are of importance to the rural economy. However, it is for the commission to decide the most appropriate and cost-effective means of delivering this support.

  National Rivers Authority
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total budget of the southern regions of the National Rivers Authority for the financial year 1994–95.
  103
  Mr. Atkins
  I am informed by the National Rivers Authority that the total budget of its southern region for 1994–95 was £43.6 million.

  Telephone Dialling Codes
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment has been made as to the additional costs which will be incurred by his Department as a result of the changes in national telephone dialling codes next year; and how much this change will cost his Department in additional expenditure.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  For my Department costs directly attributable to the change in national dialling codes amount to less than £100. There will be no on-going additional expenditure.

DEFENCE

  Low Flying
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the reciprocal arrangements between his Department and the Italian authorities concerning RAF low flying training over Italy and Italian air force low flying over the United Kingdom specify(a) the maximum number of sorties and (b) requirements for flight authorisation.

  Mr. Soames
  There are no formal agreements relating to low flying training by the RAF over Italy or by the Italian air force over the United Kingdom. Requests for use of the low flying systems of Italy and the United Kingdom are considered individually by officials of the Ministry of Defence of the country in which the sorties will be flown. Such requests include details of the numbers of aircraft and the duration of deployment. Approval of such requests, if granted, would be conditional on the aircrews receiving a comprehensive face-to-face briefing on the regulations governing the use of the respective low flying system.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy on conducting Royal Air Force police investigations of alleged breaches of low flying regulations which originate from sources other than witnesses on the ground.

  Mr. Soames
  The RAF police may be tasked to carry out an investigation in any case where it appears that a breach of low flying regulations may have occurred, regardless of the source of the complaint.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the RAF police investigations of alleged breaches of flying regulations during 1993 originated from(a) complaints from members of the public, (b) representations from hon. Members, (c) members of the armed forces and (d) other sources.

  Mr. Soames
  Of the 686 RAF police investigations in 1993, 39 originated from representations from hon. Members. A breakdown of investigations by the other categories listed could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the means employed to verify that non-United Kingdom based foreign aircrews conducting low-level flying training over 104
  the United Kingdom are observing low flying regulations during (a) the planning and (b) the execution of their sorties.

  Mr. Soames
  Foreign aircrews using the United Kingdom low flying system are subject to the same monitoring as United Kingdom crews to ensure compliance with low flying regulations.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sums were paid by the Italian authorities for use of United Kingdom range and low-flying facilities in 1993.

  Mr. Soames
  It is not my Department's practice to release details of government-to-government payments of this kind.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) pursuant to his answer of 1 December,Official Report, column 907, what is the current radius of the Eshott microlight avoidance area (a) for foreign military aircraft and (b) for British military aircraft; and if the operators of Eshott airfield are provided with information on the dimensions of the avoidance area;

  (2) in respect of which avoidance areas the diversions applying to foreign aircraft are different from those applying to British aircraft;

  (3) if the radius requirements in respect of the Eshott microlight avoidance area apply equally to all foreign aircraft.

  Mr. Soames
  It is my Department's policy not to release specific details of flying restrictions in individual areas, although we understand that the operators of Eshott airfield are aware of the dimensions of their avoidance. The dimensions of all avoidances apply equally to both United Kingdom and foreign military aircraft.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances other than official NATO squadron exchanges or exercises he grants permission to foreign aircrew to conduct low flying over the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Soames
  Each request for foreign aircraft to fly in the United Kingdom low flying system is considered on its merits, taking into account the principle of reciprocity, the mutual benefit of such flying to the United Kingdom and our allies and the wider defence interest.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 2 December,Official Report, column 945, what rank of RAF officer authorised the flight by Italian air force aircraft on 14 July.

  Mr. Soames
  Use of the United Kingdom low flying system was authorised by my officials, and the specific sortie concerned was properly booked with the tactical booking cell at RAF West Drayton. There was no requirement for individual flight plans to be authorised by an RAF officer.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the date, number, type and nationality of aircraft involved, and source of the reported breach, for each confirmed breach of the Eshott microlight avoidance area in 1991 and 1992.
  105
  Mr. Soames
  Breaches of Eshott microlight site which were confirmed by RAF police investigations are detailed:

  Date

  Number and type of aircraft

  Nationality

  1991

  25 September

  4 F16s

  Royal Netherlands Air Force

  26 November

  2 Hawks

  RAF

  1992

  6 May

  1 Buccaneer

  RAF

  9 September

  5 Jaguars

  French Air Force

  12 November

  1 F15E

  USAF

  8 December

  1 Tornado

  RAF

  All were reported by staff working at the site.

  My answer of 1 December 1994, Official Report, column 907, stated that eight breaches occurred in 1992. Further investigation has, however, revealed that this figure included a number of cases where a breach was suspected but could not be confirmed by RAF investigations. The correct total for 1992 is four.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-level passes were conducted over Her Majesty's prison Stocken by an RAF Tornado on 27 September; what was the minimum authorised altitude for the passes; what use was made of reheat; what attack profiles were used; what consideration was given to the environmental effects of the activity on the surrounding population; and what was the sum recovered from the Prison Service in payment for the service.

  Mr. Soames
  Although the precise number was not recorded, between six and eight low-level passes were made over Her Majesty's prison Stocken on 27 September 1994 at the request of Her Majesty's Prison Service. The aircraft flew at a height of 1,000 ft in a figure of eight pattern centred on the prison. The pattern was rotated to avoid the undue concentration of environmental effects. On approaching the prison complex the aircraft descended to 250 ft and only used reheat when within the prison boundary for a period of five seconds on each pass. This task was conducted at the end of a normal training flight and no payments have been sought from the Prison Service.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-level sorties were conducted by Royal Air Force aircraft over Italy during 1993; and at what minimum altitudes.

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Low flying by Royal Air Force aircraft in Italy is in general permitted down to 500 ft, although in certain specified areas flying down to 250 ft may be authorised.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the basis of the determination, contained in his Department's evidence to the Defence Select Committee, HC 314 of Session 1993–94, page 37, that the breach of the Dounreay nuclear power station avoidance area by two Portuguese aircraft on 21 September 1993, was inadvertent; and if a copy of the RAF police report on the incident was passed to the commanding officer of the aircrew concerned.

  Mr. Soames
  The aircraft concerned were carrying out a training sortie which, had the planned route been 106
  followed, would have taken them no closer than 10 nautical miles to the Dounreay power station. During the sortie the aircraft became lost; to regain its bearings, it flew north to the coast and then east back on to its planned route. In doing so, it inadvertently infringed the Dounreay avoidance area.

  A copy of the RAF police report was not sent to the commanding officer of the aircrew concerned as the matter had already been discussed with the senior officer of the Portuguese detachment concerned in a debrief at RAF Lossiemouth immediately after the sortie had been flown.

  Simulated Attacks
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many telephone kiosks appear on the list of approved features for use as simulated targets for low-level toss or dive attack.

  Mr. Soames
  None.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria are taken into consideration when reviewing the suitability of a particular feature for inclusion on the list of approved mock targets for toss or dive attack.

  Mr. Soames
  Features are carefully selected taking into account the location of nearby habitation, environmental and flight safety factors and their similarity to targets which might be encountered during operational sorties. Targets are surveyed by the RAF police before inclusion on the list.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the total number of simulated attack passes carried out during the recent incident involving Royal Air Force Tornados at Gollinglithfoot, Yorkshire; how many attack runs were made by each aircraft; what was the precise time of the incident; what type of exercise the planes were engaged in; and who authorised the exercise;

  (2) how many of the simulated attack runs carried out by Tornados from RAF Bruggen on a telephone kiosk in Gollinglithfoot were (a) toss attacks, (b) dive attacks and (c) level pass attacks.

  Mr. Soames
  Five Tornado aircraft each flew a single reconnaissance profile, similar to a level pass attack, between 1020 and 1038 hours on 28 June; a further five Tornados each flew a single reconnaissance profile between 1520 and 1535 that day. No toss or dive attacks were made. This activity was part of an exercise intended to evaluate the performance of squadron aircrew which was authorised by the Officer Commanding No. 31 Squadron RAF Bruggen.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the particular aspects of toss and dive attacks which limit them to specifically authorised features; and to what extent similar considerations are applied to level pass attacks.

  Mr. Soames
  To enhance deconfliction during toss and dive attacks, targets are allocated from an approved list to a single aircraft at a time. A level pass attack does not differ significantly from normal low-level flight, and no additional deconfliction arrangements are necessary.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions to Royal Air Force aircrew concerning the desirability of selecting(a) features in

  107
  villages and (b) buildings likely to be inhabited, as mock targets, were in force at the time of the incident at Gollinglithfoot, Yorkshire; and what changes have been made to these instructions since the incident.

  Mr. Soames
  Aircrews are instructed that when choosing any type of simulated target, they and authorising officers are to satisfy themselves that the briefed flight profile can be completed safely without infringing low flying regulations or airspace restrictions. Targets are to be selected with consideration for nearby habitation. Repetitive overflight of targets is prohibited unless essential to achieve training objectives, but no single location is to be overflown more than twice per aircraft during each sortie. These instructions were in force on 28 June when the activity occurred at Gollinglithfoot. No subsequent changes have been made.

  Captain Chris Kelly
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the circumstances of the death of Captain Chris Kelly.

  Mr. Soames
  It would not be appropriate to make such a statement while the inquest into the death of Captain Kelly is pending.

  RAF Aircrew
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what qualifying criteria are required to be met by Royal Air Force aircrew before they are permitted to participate in(a) a tactical leadership training course and (b) a NATO tactical leadership programme course; what targets are set for the frequency of RAF combat-ready aircrew participation in such courses; and how many such courses have been held in each year since 1991.

  Mr. Soames
  The qualifying criteria for all aircrew participating in tactical leadership training is that they be at least combat ready. Combat-ready aircrew take part in a TLT once during their early career, although they may return later in a supervisory capacity. One TLT was carried out in 1991, and two courses have been held in each year since.

  The pre-course standard for all aircrew participating in the tactical leadership programme is as follows: 500 hours operation flying with 100 hours on aircraft type, with pilots qualified to lead a formation of two aircraft. In addition, half the pilots in any unit detachment to TLP must be qualified to lead a formation of four aircraft or more. No targets are set for the frequency of RAF aircrew participation in TLP. Six TLP courses have been held each year since 1991, and a further out-of-area course was held in 1993 and 1994.

  RAF Finningley
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has made to the private sector to develop civil aviation at Royal Air Force Finningley; what replies he has received to date; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  My Department has made no representations to the private sector to develop civil aviation at Royal Air Force Finningley. We are, however, considering proposals put forward by the hon. Member.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the name and rank of Treasury 108
  officials participating in the defence costs study working group on Royal Air Force, Finningley; and what were the number of visits paid and formal meetings held by these teams.

  Mr. Soames
  There has never been a defence costs study working group on Royal Air Force Finningley. As part of a wider remit, however, one of the defence costs study teams examined flying training in all three services, including that conducted at RAF Finningley. The Treasury representative on the team was Mr. R. Devereux, a grade 5 official. There is no central record of all the visits paid and meetings held by the defence costs study teams and such information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Air Force Bases (Security)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the last inspection was made at(a) Royal Air Force Finningley and (b) Royal Air Force Macrahanish under the terms of the intermediate nuclear forces treaty; when the last arrest was made at each base under the base by-laws; and how many breaches of security there have been at each base over the last 18 months.

  Mr. Soames
  There have been no inspections under the terms of the intermediate-range nuclear forces treaty at RAF Finningley and RAF Macrihanish; neither are declared INF inspection sites. There are no byelaws enacted under the Military Lands Acts at RAF Finningley and RAF Macrihanish; there have therefore been no arrests under any such byelaws. There have been no known unauthorised incursions at RAF Finningley and RAF Macrihanish during the past 18 months.

  Air Misses
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the dates, aircraft types involved, locations and risk categories of air misses numbers(a) 39/93, (b) 52/93, (c) 56/93, (d) 66/93, (e) 73/93, (f) 82/93, (g) 92/93 and (h) 113/93.

  Mr. Soames
  There are no air misses with the serial numbers referred to in the question. Air miss serial numbers are not necessarily continuous since an air miss report can subsequently be withdrawn. The decision to file an air miss report rests with the commander of any of the aircraft involved. There are occasionally instances when an air miss report is later withdrawn by the filing pilot when he realises that there had in fact been no risk of collision.

  Hazardous Waste
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what hazardous waste stored at(a) Royal Air Force Finningley and (b) Royal Air Force Macrihanish is from United States bases in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) abroad; and if there are polychlorine benzines stored at the bases.

  Mr. Soames
  No hazardous waste originating from United States bases in the United Kingdom or abroad is stored at RAF Finningley or RAF Macrihanish. A small number of electronic components of United Kingdom origin in equipment stored at RAF Finningley contain very small amounts of polychlorinated biphenyl. None is stored at RAF Macrihanish.

  Major Graham Carruthers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons Major Graham Carruthers was given immunity in respect of the recent court martial of Major Peter Kennedy earlier in December.

  Mr. Soames
  Any witness giving evidence in civil or criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom is entitled to refuse to answer any question if the answer to the question might incriminate him or her and might be used in criminal proceedings against him or her. In this case, an allegation of a technical assault on Major Kennedy by Major Carruthers could have been made. To avoid any suggestion at the trial of Major Kennedy that Major Carruthers might therefore be inhibited from giving evidence on the grounds that he might incriminate himself, the normal practice was adopted of his commanding officer condoning that allegation.

  "Competing for Quality"
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by individual activity those who have been awarded contracts under the "Competing for Quality" programme for the periods(a) 1 April 1992 to 30 September 1993 and (b) 1 October 1993 to the latest available date.

  Mr. Freeman
  In the period from April 1992 to September 1994 the Ministry of Defence examined 82 support activities under its "Competing for Quality" programme, and as a result contracts were placed with the private sector in respect of 46 of those activities; I have written to the hon. Member with a list and have placed a copy of the letter in the Library of the House. Details of individual contracts remain commercial-in-confidence, although information on contracts awarded is published monthly in the efficiency unit's market testing bulletin, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  Mines
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether German manufactured anti-personnel mines have been transferred or re-exported to UNITA forces in Angola in the last decade

  Mr. Freeman
  We have no information to indicate that UNITA has acquired any German-manufactured anti-personnel landmines.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the possibility of modifying the German AT2 anti-tank mine so as to deploy it as a de facto and anti-personnel mine.

  Mr. Freeman
  Such a modification is not considered practical, and no formal assessment has been made of the possibility.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many German AT2 anti-tank mines are in use with the United Kingdom armed forces; and in what role.

  Mr. Freeman
  There are no German AT2 anti-tank mines currently in service with United Kingdom forces although they are being supplied as part of the multiple-launch rocket system, phase II. It is our established policy for security reasons not to reveal quantities of munitions held. The role of the system is the rapid deployment of minefields.
  110
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many mines are currently available for deployment with(a) multiple-launch rocket systems and (b) the Skorpion mine-laying system.

  Mr. Freeman
  Although the multiple-launch rocket system phase II, which incorporates anti-tank mines, is in production, none is currently in service. It is our established policy, for security reasons, not to reveal quantities of munitions held.

  The Skorpion mine-laying system is not currently in service with United Kingdom forces.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the United Kingdom has exported or transferred to any other country German manufactured anti-personnel mines in the last 10 years.

  Mr. Freeman
  None.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of the non-proliferation treaty in the design and maintenance of United Kingdom triggers for its nuclear weapons at the United States nuclear weapons laboratory at Sandia;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the effect of the non-proliferation treaty on the transfer under the 1958 United Kingdom, United States of America agreement on nuclear weapons or fissile material between the two countries; and what implications exist for the renewal of the treaty.

  Mr. Freeman
  The non-proliferation treaty has no implications for the transfer of materials and equipment between the United Kingdom and the United States under the terms of the 1958 mutual defence agreement.

  Recruitment
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the spending on services recruitment for the last year for which figures are available; and what are his estimates for spending during the current year.

  Mr. Soames
  Expenditure on recruitment to the armed forces during financial year 1993–94, the most recent year for which figures are available, was £96,573,000. This figure differs from that given by my predecessor the right hon. Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley) on 20 May 1994,Official Report, column 604. This was as a result of a number of bills which were paid later than had been previously expected. It is estimated that expenditure on recruitment during the current financial year will be £92,340,000.

  Royal Artillery Range, Benbecula
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the proposed schedule for contractorisation at the Royal Artillery range, Benbecula; and if he will give an assurance that Ministry of Defence personnel will be kept in place until civilian employees are ready to take on their duties.

  Mr. Freeman
  Consideration is currently being given to the most cost-effective means of operating the Royal Artillery range, Hebrides.

  No firm proposals have yet been made and the existing contract is scheduled to be relet at the end of 1995.

  Electronic Mail
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to be able to receive and respond to communications via electronic mail.

  Mr. Freeman
  The office of the Secretary of State for Defence is able to receive and send electronic mail to some 6,500 users internally. This should rise to 9,000 users by the end of 1995 and 12,000 users by the end of 1996.

  Tanks
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the values and volumes of material exported under the two memoranda of understanding specific to tanks signed with Jordan on 28 November 1979 and 2 February 1989.

  Mr. Freeman
  It has been the practice of successive administrations not to reveal information relating to specific defence exports.

  Defence Export Sales Organisation
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a table of the total value of defence exports exported through the Defence Export Sales Organisation in each year since 1981.

  Mr. Freeman
  The information requested is contained in table 2, vote 3, class I, supply estimates. The most recent edition is for 1994–95—HC276-I, and copies of this are available from the Library of the House.

  Chile
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department, its officials, or any person acting on their behalf have been involved in negotiations jointly with United Kingdom enterprises and enterprises in Chile in the last 10 years.

  Mr. Freeman
  Officials from the Defence Export Services Organisation within my Department have supported efforts by various UK companies to form relationships with Chilean enterprises. However, negotiations between United Kingdom and foreign enterprises are a commercial matter in which the MOD does not participate.

  Al-Yamamah Contracts
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence through what agents the oil made available to him as part of the Al-Yamamah contracts was placed on the commodity markets; and what have been the transaction costs involved.

  Mr. Freeman
  Details of the funding arrangements for Al-Yamamah are a matter for the Saudi Arabian Government. It is not our practice to comment on detailed matters concerning individual defence exports sales.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it was the practice to ask for end user certificates for defence exports supplied to Saudi Arabia under the Al-Yamamah contracts.

  Mr. Freeman
  Under the Al-Yamamah programme, equipment is supplied by the United Kingdom Government which has incorporated no-transfer 112
  provisions in the government-to-government memorandum of understanding covering the programme.

  Equipment (contracts)
  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 15 December 1994,Official Report, column 809, for what military purpose the 12 light dumpers referred to are required; what factors led him to conclude that leasing was not appropriate in this instance; what information he has on availability on the civilian market of equivalent vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  The 12 light dumpers are to be held available for short notice, air portable deployments. Given this requirement a short-term lease arrangement would not meet the time required to prepare commercial machines to meet the military specification, while a long-term leasing arrangement would not be cost effective in view of the need to ensure short notice priority for military requirements. A/S Hydrema is the only manufacturer, with the necessary quality assurance certification, who can supply light dumpers of the size required by MOD.

  Telephone Dialling Codes
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made as to the additional costs which will be incurred by his Department as a result of the changes in national telephone dialling codes next year; and how much this change will cost his Department in additional expenditure.

  Mr. Freeman
  The reprogramming of all the Ministry of Defence telephone exchanges and call connect systems in order to access the new Oftel national dial codes was completed in August 1994 and both the new and old codes now operate in parallel. Call information record and management systems have also been reprogrammed, together with the MOD's call barring and routing tables. Stock orders for all new letterheaded stationary, business cards, and so on, ordered after 1 August 1994 have the respective new dial codes shown.

  An estimate of the cost for these number changes across the Ministry of Defence, is £15,000.

  Defence Research Agency, West Freugh
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what radar bomb scoring facilities are currently available at the Defence Research Agency establishment at West Freugh.

  Mr. Freeman
  The test and evaluation establishment at West Freugh is not part, at present, of the Defence Research Agency. It is capable of providing the necessary facilities for radar bomb scoring and has the required radars and instrumentation for such activity.

  Maritime Patrol Aircraft
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about his plans for replacing the current maritime patrol aircraft.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Ministry of Defence has invited four potential prime contractors to bid for the supply of a maritime patrol aircraft to replace the Nimrod early next century. The four contractors are British Aerospace, Dassault, Lockheed and Loral ASIC. I expect a contract
  113
  to be let with the winner of this international competition in the late summer of 1996.

  Defence Fixed Telecommunication Service
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department is now in a position to issue a cardinal point specification in relation to the defence fixed telecommunication service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 19 December 1994]: My Department plans to issue a cardinal point specification early this year.

HEALTH

  Nurse Statistics
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many qualified nursing staff there have been by specialty, for each region, in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 25 January 1994,Official Report, column 238 for the years 1989 to 1992. Information for 1993 will be placed in the Library.

  GP Fundholding
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what independent evaluations into(a) the cost-effectiveness, (b) the impact on equity of treatment and (c) the effect on bureaucracy of fundholding have been commissioned; and which of them have been published.

  Mr. Malone
  We welcome the recent independent evaluations of the benefits of general practitioner fundholding. These include: "Evaluating the NHS Reforms", Kings Fund Institute 1994; "Implementing GP Fundholding", Howard Glennester et al. 1994; and the "OECD Economic Survey 1993–94: United Kingdom". On 20 December, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced a review of bureaucracy in general practice.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information she has about the number of hours general practitioners spent on paperwork in March 1991 and currently;

  (2) what information she has about differences in time spent on paperwork between general practitioners in fundholding and in non-fundholding practices.

  Mr. Malone
  Information in the form requested is not available.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) of 1 December,Official Report, column 832, if she will make a statement regarding her Department's expenditure on special advisers in each of the last three financial years and for the financial year 1979–80.
  114
  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary gave on 19 December 1994,Official Report, column 937.

  Alcoholism
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has for the co-ordination of alcohol services and other functions carried out by regional alcohol co-ordination following the intended demise of the regional health authorities; and what is to become of the funds made available to regional health authority's following circular HN(89)4 to provide for regional alcohol co-ordinators.

  Mr. Bowis
  The report, "Public Health in England: Roles and Responsibilities of the Department of Health and the NHS", copies of which are available in the Library, makes it clear that health authorities will be expected to continue alcohol-related work. There will be a gradual process of devolution of specialist advice from regional offices as the recommendations of the functions and manpower review take effect and it will be for health authorities to decide the form this should take. Regional offices will be responsible for ensuring that robust and appropriate arrangements are in place. Finance for alcohol co-ordination work was made available to regional health authorities in 1989–90 and added into their general funding in 1990–91.

  Health Authority Staff
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff were employed by each health region in 1993–94; and how many were administrative.

  Mr. Malone
  The information is shown in the table. At 30 September 1993, administrative and clerical staff made up 17.3 per cent. of the total national health service work force in England. Over a quarter of administrative staff work in direct support of clinicians, allowing them to concentrate their skills and experience on direct patient care.

  Total national health service staff and administrative staff employed in each region as at 30 September 1993

  Whole-time equivalents

  Administration and clerical

  Total

  Northern

  7,030

  48,560

  Yorkshire

  9,140

  57,810

  Trent

  10,980

  73,790

  East Anglia

  4,660

  31,050

  NW Thames

  8,590

  44,900

  NE Thames

  10,420

  60,060

  SE Thames

  9,760

  53,410

  SW Thames

  7,070

  42,440

  Wessex

  6,800

  45,540

  Oxford

  6,040

  34,810

  South Western

  7,880

  52,010

  West Midlands

  13,020

  81,720

  Mersey

  5,970

  37,350

  North Western

  11,060

  68,680

  SHA's and Others

  14,230

  34,570

  England Total

  132,650

  766,710

  Source:

  Department of Health Medical and Non-Medical Workforce Censuses.

  Note:

  All figures are independently rounded to the nearest ten whole-time equivalents.

  Family Health Services
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the level of spending per head of population on family health service services in England; and if her answer of 1 December,Official Report, column 830, included such expenditure.

  Mr. Malone
  Gross expenditure on family health services per head of population in England in 1993–94 was £157.

  The reply that I gave the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 26 May 1994 at column 305 gave per head of population spending figures for each family health services authority in England for 1992–93.

  The information is not directly comparable because the figures relate to different years, and the earlier answer recorded expenditure by FHSAs on an accruals basis whereas the national figure of £157 specifically reflects spending in cash terms on family health services. Key differences are that the FHSA data include GP fundholders' purchases of hospital services and FHSA administration costs, and exclude dental services administered centrally by the dental practices board and the income from prescription and dental charges collected by FHS contractors.

  Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to increase funding for research into sudden infant death syndrome.

  Mr. Sackville
  The main agency for Government funding of research into sudden infant death syndrome and respiratory distress syndrome is the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant-in-aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Between 1991–92 and 1992–93, the last two years for which figures are available, spending on this area of research rose by almost 117 per cent., from £747,000 to £1.62 million.

  The Department is currently funding two research projects through its central research programme which are both examining changes in infant care practice following the "Back to Sleep" campaign. Estimated expenditure on these totals £408,257 between 1993 and 1996.

  In 1995, the Department will be continuing with a further £200,000 special in-depth study using the mechanism of the confidential inquiry into stillbirths and deaths in infancy to examine possible new, avoidable factors leading to sudden and unexplained deaths in infancy. This is in addition to £200,000 which has been spent on the project already this year.

  The need for further research into sudden infant death syndrome is kept under regular review. New research is commissioned as soon as the need arises, as exemplified by the chief medical officer's recent announcement of the formation of an expert group to steer further work on cot death and to examine the likelihood of a causal link between chemicals and cot death.

  Maternity Contracts
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements she has made for piloting the maternity contract minimum data set; and if she will list the sites where it will be piloted, who will be responsible,116
  the duration and costs of the piloting exercise and when a report of the piloting is expected to be available.

  Mr. Sackville
  No arrangements are in place for piloting the maternity contract minimum data set. These will be made following consultation on the content of the proposed data set.

  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions her Department has had with the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the British Paediatric Association about the content of the maternity contract minimum data set; and when she proposes to place a copy of the consultation document in the Library.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department of Health consulted widely on the content of the maternity, community and mental health contract minimum data set during 1993, and held meetings to gain the views of representatives of the healthcare professional bodies.

  The outcome of the consultations is included in five documents which will be placed in the Library:— "CMDS Volume 1 Overview"; "CMDS Volume 2 Community Health Services"; "CMDS Volume 3 Maternity Services"; "CMDS Volume 4 Mental Health Services" and "CMDS Volume 5 Data Models".

  Subsequent work during 1994 concentrated on the community contract minimum data set. As work on the maternity contract minimum data set has resumed, further discussions will be held with the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the British Paediatric Association.

  Breast Screening
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons no information was available for the former North West Thames region in the tables of data from the maternity hospital episode system for 1991–92 which she placed in the Library following her answer of 27 October,Official Report, column 820.

  Mr. Sackville
  During 1991–92, changes were undertaken to the hospital information systems in North West Thames region. Problems were encountered in re-establishing links to collate some centrally required maternity data, and the region was unable to provide full data. These difficulties have been resolved and maternity information for the former North West Thames region is available for subsequent years.

  Recycled Paper
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy that all Government Departments NHS and NHS trust authorities and other non-departmental public bodies should publish all reports on recycled paper.

  Mr. Sackville
  Departments are encouraged to purchase paper and board containing as much recycled fibre as possible without impairing performance. National health service and NHS trust authorities, along with other non-departmental public bodies, make their own purchasing decisions, but we would expect them to consider the environmental issue.

  Road Accident Victims
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what statutory authority hospitals may request payment for treatment from road accident victims; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Hospitals are empowered to collect an emergency treatment fee of £20.65 under section 158 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. The fee must be covered by motor vehicle insurance policies and is payable by vehicle users in respect of each person given immediate treatment or examination arising from a road traffic accident.

  Charges may also be made, under section 157, for subsequent in-patient or out-patient hospital treatment, up to ceilings of £2,856 and £286 respectively. These charges are levied directly on insurance companies, but only in cases where companies make third party payments.

  Diabetes
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her Department's current policy on the provision of supplies for the treatment of diabetes.

  Mr. Sackville
  Human and animal insulin and disposable syringes to dispense it are available on prescription where necessary for the treatment of diabetes.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if novo pen(a) cartridges and (b) needles used by diabetics are available on prescription.

  Mr. Malone
  The cartridges of insulin for the novo pen II injection device are available on national health service prescription; the needles that fit them are not.

  Disabled Children
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many families with children with disabilities have been provided with respite care for each year since 1990; and what proportion has been provided to them in their own homes.

  Mr. Bowis
  The available information, which relates only to children accommodated by local authorities under section 20 of the Children Act 1989, is shown in the table. This does not include families whose children are not accommodated by local authorities, but may receive respite care under section 17 of the Act within their own homes or elsewhere.

  Children accommodated by local authorities under section 20 of the Children Act 1989 because parents need relief from problems or Stresses of caring for children with disabilities, England.

  Period1 ending 31 March

  1992

  1993

  Series of short term placements covered by one agreement2

  1,600

  3,600

  Single placement23

  900

  1,400

  1 Periods 14 October 1991 to 31 March 1992 and 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993. No comparable information is available prior to implementation of the Act on 14 October 1991.

  2 Some children may be counted in both categories if their type of care changed during the period.

  3 Most children in single placements were receiving long term care.

  118
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action her Department has taken since the publication of the Children Act report 1993 and the social services inspectorate report on the national inspection of services to disabled children and their families in 1994 to improve implementation of the Children Act 1989 with respect to these children and their families.

  Mr. Bowis
  Following the publication of "Services to Disabled Children and their Families" and other information about the implementation of the family support provisions of the Children Act the SSI organised six workshops across England to disseminate the findings and discuss with local authorities how improvements can be achieved.

  Ninety two local authorities attended the workshops, and there was widespread commitment to seeking ways to improve services. A report of the worshop discussions is being prepared.

  Our continuing interest in services for disabled children and their families is demonstrated by the inclusion of a further inspection in the SSI work programme for 1995–96. The findings will be published in due course.

  NHS Guidelines
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she has issued guidance giving further clarification on the issues of(a) setting eligibility criteria, (b) assessment of patients and (c) service provisions;

  (2) if her Department has issued guidance on the NHS responsibility for meeting long-term health care needs following the consultation exercise carried out over the summer.

  Mr. Bowis
  We are considering the results of the consultation exercise. A final version of the guidance will be issued in due course.

  Health Authorities
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cash allocation for health authorities' discretionary use in each year since 1988–89 and in 1994–95; and what was the percentage change in each year.

  Mr. Sackville
  The allocations for resident population for hospital and community health services for 1991–92 to 1994–95, including capital charges, are shown in the table. Figures for earlier years are not available on a comparable basis.

  Year

  Allocation for resident population

  per cent, change

  1991–92

  £17,283,812,000

  1992–93

  £18,909,977,000

  9.41

  1993–94

  £19,731,477,000

  4.34

  1994–95

  £20,569,646,000

  4.25

  Medicines
  Mr. Trotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy that the system of regulation imposed by the Medicines Act 1968 will be maintained to ensure that medicines are not marketed without a product licence.

  Mr. Sackville
  From 12 January this year, no medicinal product for human use, unless specifically exempt from
  119
  licensing, may be placed on the market in the United Kingdom except in accordance with a licence issued by the United Kingdom Licensing Authority under the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations Etc.) Regulations 1994 or the Medicines Act 1968, or, in a small number of cases, an authorisation issued by the European Commission.

  Children Act 1989
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if her Department has completed work on the pilot questionnaire to produce regular statistics on the Children Act 1989; and in what areas information will be collected.

  Mr. Bowis
  No general questionnaire is planned as regular statistics are already collected and published to monitor local authority implementation of many of the key aspects of the Act. The most recent figures were presented to Parliament in the Children Act report 1993, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Information is not regularly collected centrally at present on local authority support for children and families under section 17 of the Act. A questionnaire was sent to local authorities in September 1994 to identify the information they collect for their own use in implementing this section of the Act. Response to this questionnaire is not yet complete.

  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding her Department has made available to local authorities to assist with the implementation of the Children Act 1989.

  Mr. Bowis
  In general, central Government support to local authorities is not allocated to individual services; it is for local authorities to decide on the allocation of resources between particular services in the light of local needs and priorities. Implementation of the Children Act 1989 was, however, one of the factors which influenced the relevant revenue support grant settlements. Standard spending for children's services in the current year is 17 per cent. in real terms above 1990–91.

  Leather Preservatives
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will commission research into the carcinogenic properties of leather preservatives; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  We are not aware of any particular concern regarding the carcinogenic potential of leather preservatives, and have no plans for commissioning work in this area.

  The International Agency for Research into Cancer reviewed the data in leather tanning and processing industries, and in the manufacture of leather goods, in 1987 and concluded that there is no evidence to warrant classification of these processes in causing cancer.

  Creuzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of Creuzfeldt-Jakob disease were diagnosed in the United Kingdom in each year since 1990; and if she will break down cases by occupation.

  Mr. Sackville
  There have been 166 definite and probable cases of Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease since 1990. Details are shown in the table.120

  Year

  Total

  1990

  31

  1991

  36

  1992

  51

  1993

  40

  1994 (to April)

  8

  Total for the period

  166

  A breakdown of these cases by occupation is not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. A demonstration of the broad range of lifetime occupations of 50 definite and probable cases is at table 7 of the third annual report of the Creutzfeldt-Jakob Surveillance Unit. Copies of the report are available in the Library.

  AIDS
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds have been made available for the treatment of AIDS in 1993–94 and 1994–95 in(a) absolute terms and (b) as a percentage of the NHS budget.

  Mr. Sackville
  The amount of funding made available specifically for the treatment of HIV and AIDS services was £148 million in 1993–94 and £164 million in 1994–95. As a percentage of the total NHS budget, we estimate this to be approximately 0.5 per cent. in each year.

  Electronic Mail
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to be able to receive and respond to communications via electronic mail.

  Mr. Sackville
  Electronic mail is used throughout the Department of Health and its agencies. However, there are no immediate plans for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to receive or respond to external communications by electronic mail.

  The Department of Health is consulting widely to determine how best to develop electronic mail links with other Government Departments, organisations and electronic networks. These discussions are part of a wider study on external communications.

  The Department will consider establishing electronic mail links with external contacts only when it is sure that it can receive and respond to electronic mail communications effectively without risking the security of confidential or personal information.

  Hospitals, Manchester
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in the version of the Wythenshawe hospital development scheme and the clinical review of hospital services in south Manchester since her answer of 21 June,Official Report, column 119; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Professor Sir Herbert Duthie's review of clinical services in south Manchester was received by North West regional health authority at its meeting in November 1994. The review broadly endorsed the proposals for Wythenshawe hospital. Manchester district health authority has been asked to draw up a new public consultation document outlining those needs of the local population that can be met on the site of Withington hospital. Consultation is planned to begin in February.
  121
  The RHA has set up a steering group to ensure that there are no further unnecessary delays in developing services in south Manchester. In the meantime, the South Manchester university hospital national health service trust continues to develop its plans for major capital investment at Wythenshawe hospital.

  Doctor's Letters
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners make a charge for doctor's letters required to assist a patient's application for social housing; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Malone
  General practitioners provide a range of services outside the national health service which are considered as private matters between patient and doctor. Such services, of which no record is held, include the writing of letters to provide medical information to a third party, such as a local authority housing department. Doctors are free to charge for such services, as they wish.

  Tobacco
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the status of the proposed voluntary agreement on tobacco promotion between herself and the industry; and when she expects the agreement to be concluded.

  Mr. Sackville
  The new voluntary agreement on tobacco products advertising and promotion was published on 21 December, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Heart Disease
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of research at Harvard medical school on the practice of hydrogenating vegetable oils to produce solid fats and the effect on coronary heart disease.

  Mr. Sackville
  The committee on medical aspects of food policy has considered the issue of hydrogenation and has examined a wide range of research evidence, including that of Harvard medical school, for its report "Nutritional Aspects of Cardiovascular Disease", copies of which will be placed in the Library. COMA has recommended that the intake of transfatty acids in the population should not increase beyond the current average and that consideration should be given to ways of decreasing the amount present in the diet.

  Smoking
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her estimate of the proportion of smokers among lone mothers on income support.

  Mr. Sackville
  Data on the proportion of smokers amongst lone mothers on income support are not available centrally. Surveys indicate that the levels of smoking amongst lone parents and amongst low-income families are significantly higher than in the population as a whole.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her estimate of the proportion of smokers among doctors.

  Mr. Sackville
  The available information from a 1989 survey by the Commission of the European Communities showed that 10 per cent., of general medical practitioners in the United Kingdom were smokers. There is no 122
  information collected concerning the smoking habits of doctors working in other fields.

  Telephone Dialling Codes
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made as to the additional costs which will be incurred by her Department as a result of the changes in national telephone dialling codes next year; and how much this change will cost her Department in additional expenditure.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department will not incur additional costs as a result of changes to national telephone dialling codes. Changes to the Department's telephone exchanges will be done as part of our standing maintenance arrangements and the printing of stationery with the new codes will be contained within our existing financial allocations.

  Health Authorities
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the total budget for Hampshire family health services authority in the financial year 1994–95;

  (2) what was the total annual budget of (a) Winchester, (b) Basingstoke and north Hampshire and (c) Portsmouth and south-east Hampshire district health authorities in the financial year 1994–95.

  Mr. Sackville
  This is a matter for the South and West regional health authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman, Rennie Fritchie, for details.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total annual budget for the Wessex regional health authority for 1994–95.

  Mr. Sackville
  The initial cash limit for hospital and community health services for Wessex regional health authority for 1994–95 was set at £1,345,359,000 in December 1993. This figure does not include demand-led spending on family health services or money allocated since then. Wessex regional health authority ceased to exist on 1 April 1994 when it was replaced by the new South and West regional health authority.

  Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make available a screening programme for athletes, sports people and young people in order to reduce hypertrophic cardiomyopathy deaths.

  Mr. Sackville
  A genetic screening test is currently being investigated. An effective screening programme would probably need to be focused on affected families since the disease is inherited.

  Stomach Ulcers
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the total expenditure by the national health service in each of the last five years for which figures are available on(a) Zantac, (b) Cimetidine and (c) Tagamet.

  Mr. Sackville
  The data for Zantac and Tagamet are commercially confidential. Information in respect of Cimetidine is shown in the table.
  123

  Prescribing information for the chemical entity cimetidine

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Prescriptions (thousands)

  2,617.4

  2,635.4

  2,608.9

  Net Ingredient Cost (£ thousands)

  48,333.9

  45,860.7

  33,816.0

  Figures are based on items and cover all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists, appliance contractors, dispensing doctors and also include prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for health (1) in what percentage of cases of stomach ulcers(a) Zantac, (b) Cimetidine, (c) Tagamet or (d) other acid blockers are prescribed;

  (2) what information she has concerning the percentage of cases of stomach cancer in which (a) Zantac, (b) Cimetidine, (c) Tagamet or (d) other acid blockers are prescribed.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has concerning the comparative typical costs of a full course of treatment for stomach ulcers involving(a) antibiotics for helicobacter whether or not in conjunction with acid blockers and (b) a course of acid blockers not in association with antibiotics for helicobacter; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The medicines resource centre has published data on comparative costs on the treatment of duodenal ulcers, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration she has given to the implementation of a screening programme involving a short course of antibiotics for helicobacter as a means of substantially reducing the incidence of(a) stomach ulcers and (b) stomach cancer; how the costs of such a programme might compare to a typical course of treatment involving acid blockers over a period of several years and surgery to remove all or part of the stomach; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Whether to carry out a test for, and subsequently treat, helicobacter pylori infection is primarily a clinical decision to he made by the doctor concerned.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether Zantac, Cimetidine and Tagamet are branded or generic products; by whom they are manufactured; whether the antibiotics used for the treatment of helicobacter stomach infections are branded or generic products; and what would be the effect upon the national health service drugs budget of a substantial switch from treatment by the former to the latter.

  Mr. Sackville
  Zantac is the brand name used by Glaxo for drug preparations of the chemical ranitidine hydrochloride. Tagamet is the brand name used by SmithKline Beecham for cimetidine preparations. Cimetidine is also available in other branded and generic versions. All the antibiotics commonly used in the eradication of helicobacter pylori are available as generic versions, except Clarithromycin, which is available only in the proprietary form. It is not possible to calculate the effects on the national health service drugs bill of a switch from H2-antagonists to antibiotic drugs for the treatment 124
  of ulcers as not all prescribing of acid suppressants is for the treatment of ulcers.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information her Department holds relating to the incidence of helicobacter or similar infections in patients suffering from heart disease; what research it is funding in this area; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department has no information at present. However, we are aware that research into this subject is taking place.

  The Department of Health has not funded any research into this subject. The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant-in-aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State of Health what(a) research projects, (b) publications and (c) meetings, conferences or seminars her Department has funded to promote a greater awareness of the benefits deriving from antibiotic treatment of helicobacter stomach infections in cases of stomach ulcers compared to treatment by a protracted course of acid blockers; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The medicines resource centre, which is funded by the Department, has made available to all general practitioners and family health services authorities prescribing advisers detailed information on the success rates achievable with the various regimes, their relative costs versus maintenance therapy and the appropriate selection of patients for this intervention. The medical advisers support centre, which also is departmentally funded, has recently promoted a series of local workshops and educational meetings for FHSA prescribing advisers on this subject and more are planned for 1995–96. The MASC is also co-operating in a practice-based GP endoscopy research project which aims to speed up the rate at which patients are given a specific diagnosis and appropriate treatment, including eradication therapy. The drug and therapeutics bulletin, published by the Consumers Association and distributed to all GPs at the Department's expense, covered this topic in its February 1993 edition. Copies of the relevant D and TB and MeReC publications have been placed in the Library.

  Further research into the most efficacious and economic treatment regimes should commence later this year as part of the national health service health technology assessment research and development programme.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when her Department first became aware of the developments in the treatment of stomach ulcers associated with the use of antibiotics whether or not in conjunction with acid blockers in preference to the use of such acid blockers alone; when her Department first took steps to ensure that these developments were drawn to the attention of general practitioners; how she accounts for the period between the two dates; how many operations were performed during that period for the removal of all or part of a stomach as a result of stomach ulcers; and what claims for compensation her Department is either facing or accepting.

  Mr. Sackville
  The use of antibiotics in the treatment of peptic ulcers has been reported and discussed in academic and professional journals for over a decade. Eradication therapy continues to be debated and medical
  125
  opinion is still divided. These are matters for the profession and the royal colleges, in particular, to lead and inform clinical opinion. Information on the number of gastrectomy and partial gastrectomy operations performed where a gastric ulcer was diagnosed is shown in the table. We are not aware of any claims for compensation against the Department.

  Number of gastrectomy and partial gastrectomy operations performed where a gastric ulcer was diagnosed: finished consultant episodes

  Number

  1989–90

  749

  1990–91

  753

  1991–92

  556

  1992–93

  504

  Source:

  Hospital Episodes System, Department of Health.

  The above figures are 100 per cent. estimates from a 25 per cent. sample database. A finished consultant episode is defined as a period of health care under one consultant in one health care provider.

  Generic Products
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance is provided by her Department to enable the development of new regimes of medical treatment in situations where the medication involved in the new regime would be a low-cost generic product, compared with an existing regime of treatment by a highly profitable branded product; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The choice of medical treatment is a matter for the professional judgment of the doctor concerned and will be determined primarily by the clinical needs of the particular patient. Only if there is a choice between two or more equally appropriate and effective medications would the doctor he expected to exercise a decision based on cost. General practitioners are kept informed of developments in treatment regimes, and comparative costs of treatment, by the British National Formulary, medicines resource centre bulletins and the drugs and therapeutic bulletin, all of which are supported financially by the Department of Health. All GPs are also routinely provided with an analysis of their own prescribing patterns and costs by the prescription pricing authority using prescribing analysis and cost data.

  Stomach Cancer
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information she has concerning the percentage of cases in which an individual has been identified as being of greater than average risk of developing stomach cancer and in which antibiotics for helicobacter are prescribed; if it is her policy to encourage general practitioners to make greater use of such antibiotics in such cases; and if she will make a statement;

  (2) what information she has concerning the percentage of cases of stomach ulcers in which antibiotics for helicobacter are prescribed; whether it is her policy to encourage general practitioners to make greater use of such antibiotics whether or not in conjunction with acid blockers in preference to the use of such acid blockers alone; and if she will make a statement.
  126
  Mr. Sackville
  Such information is not available centrally. All general practitioners are encouraged to prescribe in a clinically effective and cost-effective manner. The decision on which drug, if any, to prescribe for a particular patient is, however, solely a matter for the clinical judgment of the doctor.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when her Department first became aware of the developments in the treatment of those at greater than average risk of stomach cancer associated with the use of antibiotics for helicobacter; when her Department first took steps to ensure that these developments were drawn to the attention of general practitioners; and how she accounts for the period between the two dates.

  Mr. Sackville
  Suggestions of a possible link between stomach cancer and infection with helicobacter pylori emerged around 1990. Research is still in its early stages. Dissemination of the results of such work when completed will initially be by publication in academic and professional medical journals.

  Camden and Islington Health Authority
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings have been held by Ministers or officials of her Department with Camden and Islington health authority concerning the resources available for health care in Camden and Islington; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  There have been no such meetings. The allocation of resources to this health authority is the responsibility of North Thames regional health authority.

  Health Education Authority
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will outline the new funding mechanism for the Health Education Authority;

  (2) what plans she has to put out to tender in the private sector the work now being carried out by the Health Education Authority;

  (3) what was the budget for the Health Education Authority for each of the last four years; what will be the level of funding for 1995–96; and what estimate her Department has made of the core funding for the Health Education Authority in 1996–97;

  (4) what assessment she has made of the number of job losses that may result from the Government's announcement on the Health Education Authority's future.

  Mr. Malone
  Total funding to the Health Education Authority in the last four years has been as follows:

  £

  1991–92

  31,427,000

  1992–93

  33,955,000

  1993–94

  36,194,000

  1994–95 (to date)

  36,984,000

  In 1995–96, the authority will receive direct from the Department a sum similar to that for 1994–95. Thereafter, the authority's income will be derived from departmental contracts for services it wishes the authority to provide.

  The staffing of the authority will be for the authority to determine in the light of contracts awarded. Both the

  127
  Department and the authority believe that the authority is well placed to maintain, if not increase, its current income, by better marketing of its products and an increased ability to respond to the needs of its customers.

  Breast Implants
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will ask general practioners and health service trusts to contact women who have had breast implants to inform them of the extension of the deadline to register potential claims arising from breast implants with the United States legal authorities; and if her Department will take steps to advertise the new deadline.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department of Health is investigating reports that the deadline has been extended to 1 March 1995. When confirmation is received the Department will consider whether any further publicity is needed in addition to that provided from the United States.

  Lynfield Mount Special Care Unit
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she has received the report and recommendations of the external review team who inquired into the escape by Mr. Raymond Pemberton from Lynfield Mount special care unit in Bradford last June; if she will place a copy of the report in the Library; if she will arrange for a copy of the report to be provided to those individuals and organisations who gave oral and written evidence to the inquiry; and if she will make a statement outlining what action she is taking in the light of recommendations of the external review team.

  Mr. Bowis
  Ministers have received a copy of the external review team's recommendations which are a matter for Bradford Community Health national health service trust. The hon. Member may wish to contact the trust for details of the action it plans to take.

  Imported Blood Samples
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what quantities of amniotic fluid blood samples and human tissues were imported from Hong Kong through Heathrow airport to private laboratories in the United Kingdom in 1994; what tests are carried out on such samples for the AIDS virus, hepatitis and other infectious diseases; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information is not available centrally on the quantity of blood and tissue samples sent to the United Kingdom from abroad. The transport of potentially infectious pathology samples is subject to detailed national and international guidelines directed at ensuring safety. Laboratories receiving such material will be aware of the procedures which they, and the sender, should follow.

  London Ambulance Service
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to receive the report of the review of the London ambulance service carried out by Mr. William Wells; and if she will make a statement.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I have today received this report, copies of which are available in the Library. I am grateful to Mr. Wells and his colleagues for undertaking 128
  this review and for producing speedily such a thorough report.

  The review, which looked at the management, working practices and performance of the London Ambulance Service, was established following the unacceptable delays in providing an ambulance for Nasima Begum on the night of 19 June. The report sets out clearly both the progress which the LAS has made since the report of the independent inquiry in February 1993 and the substantial agenda of further work which is needed to improve its performance to the standard achieved by other ambulance services.

  I welcome the report's analysis and the key recommendations arising from it. Most of these are for the LAS and the South Thames regional health authority to implement and I look to it to do this vigorously to the challenging timetable set out in the report. Achieving these changes will require all staff in the LAS and the LAS management, to work together. I have asked Mr. Wells, as chairman of the South Thames RHA, to report regularly on progress to Ministers in addition to producing the quarterly public reports proposed in the report.

  The report recommends that the LAS should seek trust status and that it should remain as a single unit for providing emergency ambulance services for London. I welcome the conclusion about trust status for the LAS. This would, in principle, clarify and strengthen management and accountability for the LAS and I agree that preparatory work should begin now. I also agree that the LAS should remain as a single unit but with the very important proviso that this can be justified only if the LAS improves its performance to the standards achieved by other services.

  Finally, the report recommends that there should be a review of national standards for ambulance response times. My Department has already set action in hand for such a review this year and will take into account the points made in the review report.

  Public Bodies
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by her Department(a) hold open meetings, (b) conduct public consultation exercises, (c) conduct consultation exercises with outside commercial interests, (d) publish a register of members' interests, (e) publish agendas for meetings and (f) publish the minutes of meetings; and whether this is in each case (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 16 December 1994]: The information is as follows:

  (a) hold open meetings: None

  (b) conduct public consultation exercises: British Pharmacopoeia Commission; Nutrition Task Force;

  (c) conduct consultation exercises with outside commercial interests: British Pharmacopoeia Commission; Nutrition Task Force;

  (d) Publish a register of members' interests: Committee on Safety of Medicines (on a voluntary basis); Medicines Commission (on a

  129
  voluntary basis); The advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food; Committee on the Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment; Committee on the Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment; Committee on the Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food. Consumer Products and the Environment; Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food Policy; Committee on Dental and Surgical Materials; Advisory Board on the Registration of Homeopathic Products;

  (e) publish agendas for meetings: None

  (f) publish the minutes of meetings:

  (i) under a statutory requirement: None

  (ii) voluntarily: Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food Policy.

  GPs and Dentists
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the population in each family health service authority area is registered currently with(a) a general practitioner and (b) a general dental practitioner.

  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer 20 December 1994]: Information on the proportion of patients registered with a general medical practitioner is shown in the table. Available information on registration with a dental practitioner is in the Dental Practice Board publication "Registrations: GDS Quarterly Statistics", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Proportion of people resident in each FHSA who were registered with a GP 1993–94

  FHSA

  Estimated total resident population at mid 1993

  Registered patients at 1 Oct. 1993

  Per cent.

  Northern RHA

  Cleveland

  557,286

  573,355

  102.9

  Cumbria

  491,874

  494,210

  100.5

  Durham

  604,131

  610,182

  101.0

  Northumberland

  309,019

  307,994

  99.7

  Gateshead

  202,787

  211,773

  104.4

  Newcastle

  275,217

  290,477

  105.5

  North Tyneside

  193,495

  191,635

  99.0

  South Tyneside

  156,281

  160,444

  102.7

  Sunderland

  295,951

  298,783

  101.0

  3,086.041

  3,138.853

  101.7

  Yorkshire RHA

  Humberside

  882,733

  892,995

  101.2

  North Yorkshire

  733,981

  726,107

  98.9

  Bradford

  478,871

  498,894

  104.2

  Calderdale

  194,357

  199,496

  102.6

  Kirklees

  380,732

  385,272

  101.2

  Leeds

  719,880

  731,043

  101.6

  Wakefield

  317,943

  330,172

  103.8

  3,708,497

  3,763,979

  101.5

  Trent RHA

  Derbyshire

  949,702

  953,764

  100.4

  Leicestershire

  907,576

  931,810

  102.7

  Lincolnshire

  602,722

  605,103

  100.4

  Nottinghamshire

  1,027,600

  1,015,682

  98.8

  Barnsley

  224,198

  231,908

  103.4

  Doncaster

  294,394

  296,615

  100.8

  Rotherham

  256,493

  252,026

  98.3

  Sheffield

  525,387

  530,608

  101.0

  4,788,072

  4,817,516

  100.6

  East Anglia RHA

  Cambridgeshire

  688,395

  659,863

  95.9

  Norfolk

  768,759

  735,056

  95.6

  Suffolk

  665,062

  638,939

  96.1

  2,122,216

  2,033,858

  95.8

  130

  Proportion of people resident in each FHSA who were registered with a GP 1993–94

  FHSA

  Estimated total resident population at mid 1993

  Registered patients at 1 Oct. 1993

  Per cent.

  North West Thames RHA

  Bedfordshire

  539,737

  571,500

  105.9

  Hertfordshire

  995,681

  1,036,258

  104.1

  Barnet

  306,691

  361,439

  117.9

  Brent and Harrow

  450,807

  560,106

  124.2

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  647,164

  825,644

  127.6

  Hillingdon

  240,156

  244,042

  101.6

  Kensington Chelsea and Westminster

  339,330

  413,167

  121.8

  3,519,566

  4,012,156

  114.0

  North East Thames RHA

  Essex

  1,564,673

  1,582,637

  101.1

  Barking and Havering

  373,998

  391,552

  104.7

  Camden and Islington

  356,223

  443,531

  124.5

  City and East London

  590,117

  697,054

  118.1

  Enfield and Haringey

  466,444

  542,419

  116.3

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  447,799

  464,654

  103.8

  3,799,254

  4,121,847

  108.5

  South East Thames RHA

  East Sussex

  723,252

  731,975

  101.2

  Kent

  1,551,464

  1,583,583

  102.1

  Greenwich and Bexley

  436,818

  441,546

  101.1

  Bromley

  300,271

  301,464

  100.4

  Lambeth Southwark and Lewisham

  723,696

  869,658

  120.2

  3,735,501

  2,928,226

  105.2

  South West Thames RHA

  Surrey

  1,033,462

  1,061,272

  102.7

  West Sussex

  723,637

  745,978

  103.1

  Croydon

  320,881

  338,277

  105.4

  Kingston and Richmond

  309,028

  322,917

  104.5

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  601,405

  645,079

  107.3

  2,988,413

  3,113,523

  104.2

  Wessex RHA

  Dorset

  671,181

  677,774

  101.0

  Hampshire

  1,595,950

  1,602,384

  100.4

  Wiltshire

  587,895

  561,942

  95.6

  Isle of Wight

  126,656

  126,474

  99.9

  2,981,682

  2,968,574

  99.6

  Oxford RHA

  Berkshire

  764,097

  802,031

  105.0

  Buckinghamshire

  659,288

  662,442

  100.5

  Northamptonshire

  599,634

  596,526

  99.5

  Oxfordshire

  588,051

  597,611

  101.6

  2,611,070

  2,658,610

  101.8

  South Western RHA

  Avon

  966,489

  994,668

  102.9

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  483,114

  478,040

  98.9

  Devon

  1,052,488

  1,031,592

  98,0

  131

  Proportion of people resident in each FHSA who were registered with a GP 1993–94

  FHSA

  Estimated total resident population at mid 1993

  Registered patients at 1 Oct. 1993

  Per cent.

  Gloucestershire

  544,449

  552,682

  101.5

  Somerset

  476,153

  469,561

  98.6

  3,522,693

  3,526,543

  100.1

  West Midlands RHA

  Hereford and Worcester

  694,411

  682,018

  98.2

  Shropshire

  417,005

  407,434

  97.7

  Staffordshire

  1,059,474

  1,023,646

  96,6

  Warwickshire

  492,357

  502,370

  102.0

  Birmingham

  1,004,258

  1,068,805

  106.4

  Coventry

  300,515

  325,178

  108.2

  Dudley

  310,663

  319,786

  102.9

  Sandwell

  292,431

  316,347

  108.2

  Solihull

  203,364

  221,756

  109.0

  Walsall

  263,261

  267,984

  101.8

  Wolverhampton

  245,742

  258,337

  105.1

  5,283,481

  5,393,661

  102.1

  Mersey RHA

  Cheshire

  976.735

  992,462

  101.6

  Liverpool

  466,864

  493,005

  105.6

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  335,232

  354,729

  105.8

  Sefton

  295,501

  289,070

  97.8

  Wirral

  335,943

  341,934

  101.8

  2,410,275

  2,471,200

  102.5

  North Western RHA

  Lancashire

  1,419,625

  1,423,984

  100.3

  Bolton

  265,692

  272,058

  102.4

  Bury

  180,969

  183,415

  101.4

  Manchester

  433,706

  476,980

  110.0

  Oldham

  221,185

  213,580

  96.6

  Rochdale

  207,033

  213,858

  103.3

  Salford

  227,161

  245,733

  108.2

  Stockport

  290,594

  295,034

  101.5

  Tameside

  220,406

  216,056

  98.0

  Trafford

  214,979

  221,441

  103.0

  Wigan

  311,688

  292,774

  93.9

  England

  48,549,799

  50,003,459

  103.0

  The resident population includes members of Her Majesty's forces in England but the population registered with a General Practitioner excludes Her Majesty's Forces patients who move from one family health services authority area to another do not automatically change general practitioners at the same time.

  This will influence the percentage outcomes shown in the table.

  Capital Projects
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list(a) NHS trusts and (b) directly managed units which have received funding from (i) the Department of Health and (ii) the private sector for capital projects in each of the last four years, showing in each case the amount of funding involved.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 15 December 1994]: Information is not available in the form requested. Capital funding for directly managed units is a matter for their parent district health authorities and information about individual units is not available centrally. National health
  132
  service trusts are not funded directly for capital expenditure. Projects are financed by a combination of internally generated resources from trading, principally depreciation and retained surpluses, and loans. The NHS Executive controls the total expenditure of NHS trusts through external financing limits which allow for capital expenditure up to a certain approved level. The actual amount of capital expenditure is for each trust to determine provided expenditure is contained within its external financing limit. A table will be placed in the Library showing actual expenditure on capital assets, excluding donated assets, by each NHS trust. Information is provided for the financial years 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94. There were no NHS trusts prior to 1991–92.

  NHS trusts do not normally use private sector funds for capital expenditure since loans are available to them from the NHS Executive at Treasury rates. NHS trusts principally use the private sector to obtain overdrafts to fund working capital requirements.

  Termination Payments
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many termination payments have been made by national health service trusts to chief executives and general and senior managers; and what is the total amount for each trust to date.

  Mr. Malone
  [pursuant to his reply, 9 December 1994, column 395]: I regret that my previous reply contained the following clerical errors:

  i) the overall number of termination payments to National Health Service chief executives, senior and general managers notified to the NHS Executive was 54 rather than 48. The total failed to include some late notifications, although these are in the amounts shown for individual trusts;

  ii) the total amount for Broadgreen Hospital NHS Trust was £42,888 not £81,838. The figure was incorrectly shown against Burton Hospitals NHS Trust; and

  iii) The total amount for Burton Hospital NHS Trust was £7,053 not £42,888.

  Prescription Costs
  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of prescription drugs cost less than £5.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of prescriptions cost less than £5; what is the(a) average and (b) median cost of a prescription item; how many prescriptions were issued by doctors in the last year; how many prescriptions items were dispensed by pharmacists last year, in total, and by the family health service authority area; and what has been the total revenue generated by charging for prescriptions in each of the last 15 years.

  Mr. Malone
  [pursuant to his reply, 9 December 1994, column 397]: I regret that some of the figures in the table "Percentage distribution by total cost of prescription items dispensed by community pharmacists, appliance contractors and dispensing doctors and prescription items personally administered by prescribing doctors in England in 1993, and the average total cost of such items" placed in the Library are incorrect. A correct table has been placed in the Library.

  HEDGES: USE ON MOTORWAYS AND DUAL CARRIAGEWAYS
  Viscount Devonport
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether they will adopt the practice common in continental Europe of planting motorway and dual carriageway central reservations with hedges to screen the glare from headlights of oncoming vehicles at night; and what research they have undertaken to establish the value of hedges in controlling dust and pollution and reducing the effect of noise emanating from motorways and dual carriageways.

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Viscount Goschen)
  These are operational matters for the Highways Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to the noble Viscount.

  Letter to Viscount Devonport from the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes:
  The Viscount Goschen has asked me to write to you in reply to your recent parliamentary Questions about the use of hedges as a means of reducing headlight glare from oncoming vehicles, controlling dust and pollution, and reducing noise from trunk roads and motorways.
  Whilst we fully recognise the benefits that hedges within the central reservation can bring to reducing the glare from headlights of oncoming traffic, hedges are not generally provided. We have found that it is difficult to establish trees or shrubs and to maintain them in good condition in a central reserve under 10m wide. This is because the reserve usually also has to accommodate drains and lighting columns, safety fences or telecommunications equipment and is an extremely hostile environment for plants due to winter saltings and turbulence from passing traffic. Similar conditions occur less frequently on the majority of roads on the Continent.
  Hedgerows could be established if wider central reserves were provided. This would mean, however, that additional land would be required, and no matter what the width of the central reserve, access

  Numbers of accidents resulting in:-

  Deaths

  Serious Casualties

  Slight Casualties

  Total

  1989

  0

  1

  3

  4

  1990

  2

  0

  1

  3

  1991

  0

  0

  2

  2

  1992

  0

  2

  4

  6

  1993

  1

  2

  3

  6

  1994 (provisional to end of September)

  0

  1

  2

  3

  Total (5¾ years)

  3

  6

  15

  24

  PLANNING INSPECTORATE: REVIEW
  Lord Brougham and Vaux
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What plans they have to review the Planning Inspectorate.
  WA 20
  for maintenance is difficult and has substantial road safety implications for personnel undertaking the maintenance work.
  The Government commissioned research through the Transport and Road Research Laboratory between 1974 and 1982 which showed that, although vegetation could perform a screening function for some pollutants, especially particulates, for many species this resulted either in damage to, or the death of the plants, so making any benefits short term. Planting including hedgerows is therefore usually provided as a means of visual screening or to help integrate the road into the landscape through which it passes. This means that predominantly native species are used.
  Research in this country and practice abroad have shown that very dense vegetative barriers can reduce measured noise levels. However, there are problems with the sustainablity and maintenance of such barriers. The best species to achieve the required density is willow, and this often needs irrigation and can suffer from pest attack. Traditional hedges are not dense enough to have a noticeable effect on measured noise.
  There is research evidence to suggest that listeners perceive some noise reduction when the noise source is partially visually screened. Currently we are undertaking research to see how we might use vegetation to exploit this perceived benefit.

  COLSTERWORTH ROAD JUNCTION: ACCIDENTS
  Lord Monson
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  How many road accidents resulting in (a) deaths: (b) serious casualties; (c) slight casualties occurred at or adjacent to the junction of the A.1 and the B.6403 near Colsterworth in each of the last five years for which statistics are available.

  Viscount Goschen
  This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to the noble Lord.

  Letter to Lord Monson from the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes:
  I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about road accidents at or adjacent to the junction of the A.1 and the B.6403 near Colsterworth.
  The number of accidents resulting in (a) deaths, (b) serious casualties and (c) slight casualties in each of the years 1989 to 1993, and also provisionally in 1994 to the end of September, are given in the table attached.

  The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Viscount Ullswater)
  The Planning Inspectorate, as an executive Next Steps Agency, is being reviewed. As part of the usual arrangements for Next Steps agencies, performance and activities will be subjected to the normal prior options tests set out in the 1993 Next Steps Review (Cm 2430).
  WA 21
  Comments and contributions from those with an interest in the work of the agency will be welcome, and should be sent, by 28 February 1995, to Richard Jones, Planning Directorate, Department of the Environment, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 3EB, for England or to Peter Roderick, Planning Division, Welsh Office, Cathay's Park, Cardiff, CFI 3NQ for Wales.

  The Planning Inspectorate was launched as an Executive Agency, in the Department of the Environment and the Welsh Office, in April 1992. It serves the Secretaries of State for the Environment and Wales on appeals and other casework under planning, housing, environment, highways and allied legislation.

  WALES: POLICE FUNDING PROPOSALS
  Lord Hooson
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Why the level of funding for police forces in Wales has been scaled down by some 4 per cent. compared with similar forces in England.

  Lord Lucas
  In a difficult local government revenue settlement it is necessary to balance the needs of police and other local authority services. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Wales is of the view that £300.7 million is an appropriate level of resources for police. It is less than the level of police resources implied by the full application of the police funding formula and this has given rise to the difference in scaling.

  The sum of £300.7 million for police services nevertheless represents an increase of 6 per cent. on 1994–95 budgets and demonstrates the importance the Government attach to policing. It compares with a settlement increase for other local authority services of around 0.5 per cent. The Secretary of State for Wales is of the view that to direct resources from county and district council services to policing would put an unreasonable strain on those services. His funding proposals are provisional and are the subject of consultation.

  Lord Hooson
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Why, in allocating the additional £16 million made available to him to distribute between the four police forces in Wales, the Secretary of State gave £12.7 million to South Wales and £3.5 million to Gwent and nothing to the other police forces; and on what grounds he based his decision.

  Lord Lucas
  The allocation of resources between the individual police forces derives from a funding formula for police authorities in England and Wales which the Government propose to introduce for 1995–96.

  The aim of the formula is to distribute money objectively and fairly in relation to each area's need for policing. The formula assesses the need for policing by looking at factors such as population density and the social characteristics of each area. It also includes approved police establishments as an indicator of need; this factor—weighted at 50 per cent.—takes account of the need for continuity and stability of funding.
  WA 22
  The Government are at present consulting on the formula and resulting distribution of resources to individual police authorities. Their final proposals will be announced shortly.

  HOUSING BENEFIT: AVERAGE RENT CALCULATION
  Lord Milverton
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What method they propose to use in calculating the average rent for housing benefit payments.

  The Minister of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish)
  We are considering options and will be discussing these with, for example, the local authority associations and the Institute of Rent Officers.

  HOUSING BENEFIT: EMPTY PROPERTIES
  Earl Russell
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Further to the statement of Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish (HL Deb, 30 November 1994, col. 646), which categories of people with exceptional reasons for being absent from home beyond 13 weeks will retain entitlement to housing benefit; whether these categories allow the flexibility to provide for unforseen cases; and what consultations are in progress on the subject.

  Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish
  Proposals for amending the rules for the payment of housing benefit in respect of housing costs on empty properties provide, subject to certain qualifying conditions, for benefit to be paid for up to the first 13 weeks of a person's temporary absence from home, and for up to 52 weeks in prescribed circumstances. The proposed circumstances are:

  - prisoners held on remand;

  - hospital in-patients;

  - persons away from home for medically approved treatment or convalescence for themselves or dependants;

  - persons providing or receiving medically approved care;

  - persons receiving care in residential accommodation;

  - persons undertaking a training course;

  - persons in remunerative work in the UK.

  It is intended to retain the current flexibility which enables benefit to be awarded for 52 weeks even though the period of absence exceeds the normally permitted maximum of 52 weeks.

  The proposals have been put to the Social Security Advisory Committee and the local authority associations. The Social Security Advisory Committee have decided to consult with interested bodies and are due to report to my right honourable friend the Secretary of State early in 1995.

  MEANS-TESTED BENEFITS: HABITUAL RESIDENCE TEST
  Earl Russell
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  How many British subjects have failed the habitual residence test for means-tested benefits since its introduction: how many have appealed: how many appeals have been successful: and how many of those affected have subsequently left the United Kingdom.

  Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish
  1,053 British citizens did not satisfy the habitual residence test when claiming income support in the three months from 1 August. Figures for housing benefit and council tax benefit refusals are not available. I am informed by the President of the Independent Tribunal Service that the information about appeals from British citizens is not collected centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The Government do not keep records of the reasons for British citizens leaving the UK.

  MORTGAGE PAYMENTS ASSISTANCE: CEILING
  Earl Russell
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether the figure of £100,000 as a limit beyond which the Department of Social Security will not provide help with mortgages will be applied to London on an equal basis with the rest of the country.

  Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish
  The limit of £100,000 will be applied equally throughout Great Britain.

  MORTGAGE PAYMENTS ASSISTANCE: AMENDMENT PROCEDURE
  Earl Russell
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether the changes in help with mortgage interest announced by Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish on 30th November 1994 (HL Deb., col. 646) will require primary legislation and, if so, whether that legislation will be embodied in a separate Bill.

  Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish
  The rules providing assistance with mortgage interest in Income Support will be amended using secondary legislation.

  PART-TIME WORKERS: PENSIONS EQUAL RIGHTS
  Lord Lester of Herne Hill
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether they will introduce legislation to secure to part-time workers their right to join occupational pension schemes and to obtain benefits under those schemes without sex discrimination, so as to give full effect to the rights conferred by Article 119 of the EC Treaty and by the EC Equal Pay Directive 75/117/EEC, in accordance with the decisions of the European Court of Justice and the principle of legal certainty.

  Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish
  In response to recent rulings of the European Court of Justice, the WA 24
  Government propose to legislate to bring domestic legislation into line with European law, to prohibit sex discrimination in occupational pensions. The proposals were included in the Pensions Bill put before the House on Thursday 15 December 1994. Clauses 55–59 provide that schemes must comply with an equal treatment rule which relates to the terms on which persons become members of the scheme and terms on which members of the scheme are treated.

  SOCIAL FUND FUNERAL PAYMENTS: UPRATING
  Earl Russell
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether the cash limit on grants paid for funerals through the Social Fund will be uprated in line with means-tested benefits.

  Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish
  Like other Social Fund payments, funeral payments are not subject to the annual uprating of income-related benefits. However, we keep the level of all Social Fund payments under review.

  HORTICULTURAL MARKETING
  Lord Gallacher
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Where organisational responsibility now rests for promoting horticultural marketing co-operatives since the change of focus in activities of the Food From Britain Organisation.

  The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Earl Howe)
  The Government encourage better horticultural marketing through the Marketing Development Scheme and the Processing and Marketing Grant, which are administered by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, but do not promote one particular type of marketing organisation rather than another.

  AGRICULTURE COUNCIL, 12–15 DECEMBER 1994
  Lord Pearson of Rannoch
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels from 12 to 14 December.

  Earl Howe
  My right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food represented the United Kingdom at this meeting of the Council, which lasted from 12–15 December.

  The Council's major achievement was agreement on ground rules for implementing the GATT Uruguay Round agreement on agriculture. This package, including the Framework Agreement on bananas, will now pass to the Foreign Affairs Council on 19/20 December for formal adoption along with all other GATT implementation texts. This is a very important agreement for Britain in itself. In addition, I am glad to report that my right honourable friend achieved a range of measures designed to meet specific British interests, notably in relation to cereals, bananas, and commitments

  WA 25
  of benefit to the processed food industry. My right honourable friend also made clear to the Commission that the eventual arrangements for rice, which are not yet in place, must not disadvantage UK millers of high quality rice.

  The Council also discussed a Commission proposal to revise the agrimonetary regime. In the absence of an opinion from the European Parliament, no formal decision could be taken. But it was established that a qualified majority of the Council existed in favour of a Presidency compromise proposal which the Commission was prepared to support. My right honourable friend voted against this revised proposal because, although it abolished the potentially expensive and inflationary switchover mechanism which my right honourable friend strongly welcomed, it also introduced unduly complex and potentially costly replacement arrangements to protect farmers in strong-currency countries against currency-induced falls in incomes. Denmark also voted against. The Commission tabled a proposal to prolong the present regime until 31 January 1995 pending a European Parliament opinion on the substantive proposal.

  The Council held a further discussion of the Commission's proposal on the welfare of animals in transit, but was unable to reach agreement. My right honourable friend will continue to press for strong and effective Community measures. But meanwhile my right honourable friend is introducing improved national measures to help fill the gap resulting from the absence of agreement by the Council.

  My right honourable friend voted against a Council Decision to continue the moratorium on Bovine Somatotropin until 31 December 1999 as this was without scientific justification. The Decision was however adopted by qualified majority.

  The Agriculture Commissioner, René Steichen, tabled a report supporting the case, for which the UK has long argued, for allowing land entered into environmental set-aside or woodland to be counted, under certain conditions, against the farmer's compulsory market set-aside requirement. The Council committed itself to taking an early decision on this matter.

  The Council adopted unanimously proposals providing for continuation of New Zealand butter access to the United Kingdom and for continuation of sheepmeat imports from various third countries under existing Voluntary Restraint Agreements. In both cases, these regulations apply until 30 June 1995, when they
  WA 26
  will be superseded by the GATT Uruguay Round provisions.

  Directives amending the Fresh Meat Hygiene Directive and Milk Hygiene Directive were agreed by qualified majority. On meat hygiene, my right honourable friend abstained, whilst the Dutch and Portuguese delegations opposed. The outcome on milk hygiene was generally highly satisfactory; however, my right honourable friend abstained because there were no provisions to permit the continued double pasteurisation of skimmed milk.

  Finally, I am particularly delighted to report that the Council agreed unanimously a new Directive on Minced Meat and Meat Preparations which protects traditional British products, including the British sausage.

  SHEEP SCAB
  Lord Stanley of Alderley
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  How many cases of sheep scab have been identified by their officials at livestock markets; what action has been taken and how many cases have been taken to court in (a) England and (b) Wales.

  Earl Howe
  From figures received up to 19 December, only eight of 1,348 market visits conducted since 1 September 1994 have resulted in sheep scab being detected. Of the 181 animals discovered with sheep scab, 78 sheep were withdrawn from sale and treated and 103 were sent for slaughter, as planned.

  Seven cases of scab found at markets necessitated welfare visits to the vendor's premises but we are not yet aware of any cases where local authorities are considering prosecution.

  BBC WORLD SERVICE: NORTHERN IRELAND REFERENCES
  Lord Monson
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether they will ask the BBC World Service, in its news and current affairs programmes covering Northern Ireland, to refrain from using the phrases "Protestant paramilitaries" and "Protestant terrorists", bearing in mind that care is taken to avoid references to "Catholic paramilitaries" or "Catholic terrorists".

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of National Heritage (Viscount Astor)
  This is a matter for the BBC, taking account of its obligation to treat controversial subjects with due impartiality.