Written Answers of 20 January 1995

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Domestic Violence
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what analysis he has carried out of the likely cost to the legal aid fund of the provisions of the Family Home and Domestic Violence Bill; and when he expects to publish this analysis.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  It is estimated that the provisions of the Family Home and Domestic Violence Bill, when fully implemented, could result in some small savings to the legal aid fund. The Lord Chancellor has no plans to publish the analysis.

  Contempt of Court
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what guidelines are laid down for the judiciary on powers with regard to contempt of court.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Guidelines on sentencing for contempt of court are laid down for the judiciary by the Court of Appeal.

  Rape Cases
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will take action to ensure that half of all rape cases are heard before female judges.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Rape cases are heard before High Court judges and designated senior circuit judges. The allocation of all business in the Crown court is a judicial function, carried out in accordance with directions issued by the Lord Chief Justice and presiding judges, and is not a matter in which I may intervene.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Driver Training
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evaluation he has done of the Devon and Cornwall driver rectification scheme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The scheme has been identified by Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary as good practice and will be promulgated to other forces.

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many pilot driver rectification schemes there have been in the last five years.
  696
  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is not centrally available.

  Drivers (Reoffenders)
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the reoffending rate for drivers prosecuted for driving without due care and attention; and what reoffending rates have been achieved by the pilot driver rectification schemes that have operated in different parts of the country.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is not available.

  Rehabilitation of Offenders Act
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the occupations that are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974; if he will revise the Act so that all citizens, irrespective of their occupation, are treated the same; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what consideration he has given to reviewing the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr Maclean
  Exceptions to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 are most conveniently listed in annex E to the Government's 1993 Green Paper "Disclosure of Criminal Records for Employment Vetting Purposes" CM 2319. A copy is available in the Library. Since that paper was published, osteopaths, chiropractors and operators of the national lottery have been added to the list of excepted categories.

  We have no plans to amend the Act itself. However, we are reviewing the scope and scale of the exceptions to the Act as part of a wider review of employment vetting arrangements. We intend to publish in the spring a White Paper setting out our proposals.

  Charging of Suspects
  Mr. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the basis and rationale for the numerical system in use by police forces to decide whether to charge a suspect with an offence; and if he will give details of the system.

  Mr. Maclean
  Decisions on charging are matters for chief police officers and the Crown Prosecution Service. I understand that systems offering guidance to police officers in deciding whether to charge or caution a suspect, based upon weights given to different factors, have been in use in a number of forces for some time. Systems vary between forces, but, in general, they are intended to prevent inappropriate use of cautioning.

  Director General of the Prison Service
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement giving the conditions of employment of Mr. D. Lewis as the Director General of the Prison Service.

  Mr. Howard
  Mr. Lewis is employed on a three-year fixed-term appointment, which can be extended to five years by agreement between him and the Department. Apart from his pay and pension, for which separate arrangements have been made, his conditions of
  697
  employment are as stated in the civil service management code, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he list the objectives to be met by the head of the Prison Service in order to trigger pay bonuses and their link to the bonus scale;

  (2) what was the bonus objective of the head of the Prison Service in respect of limiting criminal damage to prisons by prisoners.

  Mr. Howard
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche) on 18 January, column 531.

  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what emphasis was made in the contract of employment for the Director General of the Prison Service in relation to(a) financial management and (b) personnel in respect of relations with the prison officers and inmates.

  Mr. Howard
  The Director General's responsibilities in respect of financial management and personnel matters are set out not in his contract of employment but in the Prison Service's framework document, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Director General of the Prison Service's contract ceases; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  The appointment runs for three years in the first instance, until 5 January 1996, but may be extended to five years by mutual agreement.

  Mr. Mahmood Hussein Mattan
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up an inquiry into the destruction of his Department's records relating to the execution of Mr. Mahmood Hussein Mattan in Cardiff in 1952.

  Mr. Howard
  No. My Department's records relating to this capital murder case were destroyed in November 1986, in the course of the standard review processes applied to departmental records under the Public Records Acts.

  Records are preserved at such reviews only if they are of continuing administrative use to the Department or if they are selected for permanent preservation at the Public Record Office on the basis of their historical interest. The vast majority of Home Office records are destroyed during these review processes.

  Domestic Violence
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 13 January,Official Report, column 248, if he will list the names of (a) all the members of the ministerial group on domestic violence and their respective Departments and (b) all the agencies to whom the group intends to send the circular.

  Mr. Maclean
  The membership of the ministerial group on domestic violence is as follows:

  Member

  David Maclean MP (chairman)

  Home Office

  John M. Taylor MP

  Lord Chancellor's Department

  698

  Member

  Sir Derek Spencer QC MP

  The Law Officers' Department

  Robert Jones MP

  Department of the Environment

  The Baroness Cumberlege; CBE

  Department of Health

  Ann Widdecombe MP

  Employment Department

  Eric Forth MP

  Department for Education

  Alistair Burt MP

  Department of Social Security

  The Baroness Denton of Wakefield; CBE

  Northern Ireland Office

  The Right Hon. Lord Fraser of Carmyllie: QC

  Scottish Office

  Roderick Richards MP

  Welsh Office

  David Heathcoat-Amory MP

  HM Treasury

  The list of agencies to which the inter-agency circular on domestic violence will be sent has not yet been finalised, but it will include both statutory and voluntary agencies including, for example, practitioners in the areas of criminal justice, health and housing, and other groups likely to come into contact with those experiencing domestic violence.

  Missing Children
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made on a national register of missing children.

  Mr. Maclean
  The national missing persons bureau was opened at New Scotland Yard in March 1994 and acts as a clearing house for information on vulnerable missing persons reported to the police, including children. It is intended that this function will in due course be undertaken by the police national computer.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  M11 Link Road
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many debates in the House on the M11 link road have been initiated by Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Norris
  I have been asked to reply.

  None.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Lord President of the Council, pursuant to his oral answer of 12 January,Official Report, column 286, on what basis, if the subject of a question was known to him, he would decide whether to include in his reply both formal and informal engagements.

  Mr. Newton
  On the basis of providing accurate information about relevant contacts, other than correspondence and telephone conversations, to the extent that it was practicable to do so without incurring disproportionate cost.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Charter Marks
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will review the charter mark awarded to British Gas.
  699
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  We have naturally been concerned at some of the media coverage of British Gas in recent months and the citizens charter unit in the Cabinet Office has been talking to Ofgas and to the Gas Consumers Council, which collects detailed information about British Gas's service to customers. Ofgas's latest figures show that British Gas is meeting the targets for the 39 detailed standards of service set by the regulatory body.

  The chairman of the Gas Consumers Council has now written to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster expressing concern at evidence of growing consumer dissatisfaction with British Gas's service. The letter stresses that the council has faith in British Gas as a company that puts safety first and deservedly earned the charter mark in 1993. It suggests that our monitoring of British Gas's charter mark should focus on the performance of the company's newly formed business units against the criteria by which the award was judged and that if British Gas no longer meets the criteria it should he given a time scale in which to make the necessary improvements.

  The charter mark focuses on service to the customer and we are obviously always very interested in the views of bodies that represent customers. We will consider the council's concerns and seek to establish the facts. A decision on whether to take away a charter mark would be made only if there were a significant and sustained deterioration in service to the customer.

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what criteria are established for the awarding of charter marks to the privatised utilities.

  Government expenditure on civil and defence research and development, as percentage of grand total: 1984–85 to 1994–95 (Percentage terms, rounded to nearest whole number)

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1Civil Research and Development

  53

  53

  55

  57

  58

  58

  59

  57

  59

  57

  58

  Defence

  47

  47

  45

  43

  42

  42

  41

  43

  41

  43

  42

  1Grand Total £million

  4,026

  4,334

  4,358

  4,424

  4,522

  4,810

  5,042

  5,237

  5,449

  5,715

  5,574

  1 Includes indicative UK contribution to the EC budget in respect of Research and Development.

  Source:

  Statistical supplement to the forward Look of Government-Funded science and Technology 1994 (table 1.3.1).

  Autism
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will introduce a charter for persons with autism in line with the charter adopted at the fourth Autism Europe Congress in May 1992; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  There are no plans to introduce a charter for persons with autism or any other disability. The citizens charter applies to all users of public services equally, including people with disabilities. Public services should be accessible to all those who need them, including persons with autism. To help improve the accessibility of public services the citizens charter unit published "The Citizen's Charter and People With Disabilities—A Checklist" in 1994. This checklist is to help public service organisations ensure that they take
  700
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  The privatised utilities are judged against the same criteria as other public service providers. The criteria are:

  Standards—setting, monitoring and publication of explicit standards;

  Information and openness—full, accurate information, readily available in plain language;

  Choice and consultation—choice wherever possible, regular and systematic consultation with those who use services;

  Courtesy and helpfulness—courteous and helpful service, from public servants who will normally wear name badges;

  Putting things right—if things go wrong, an apology, a full explanation and a swift and effective remedy;

  Value for money—efficient and economic delivery of public services and independent validation of performance against standards;

  Customer satisfaction—evidence of measures in place which identify improvements and levels of customer satisfaction;

  Measurable improvements is the quality of service over the last two or more years—details of the improvements made with evidence that customers appreciate them; and

  An innovative enhancement to services without any extra cost to the taxpayer or consumer—details of planned innovations and evidence that they reflect the concerns of customers.

  Civil and Defence Research
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the ratio of Government expenditure on civil and defence research for each financial year since 1984.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  account of the needs of people with disabilities when making decisions about services and how to make them available to all their customers.

  Public Appointments
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what further progress has been made in appointing more women and black and Asian people as member of public bodies.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  I am pleased to announce a further rise in the number of women and black and Asian people holding appointments. At 1 September 1994, the proportion of public appointments held by women was 30 per cent. compared with 28 per cent. in 1993. The percentage of black and Asian appointees has increased from 2.3 per cent. to 2.6 per cent. over the same period.
  701
  Full details will be published shortly in the 1994 edition of "Public Bodies".

  These two increases show that the Government have been able actively to pursue their policy of appointing more women and members of the ethnic minorities while at the same time ensuring that appointments are made on the basis of aptitude and merit.

TREASURY

  Income Tax
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average rate of the basic rate of income tax would have to be in 1996–97 if the average total personal tax burden on the average-sized family on average earnings were to average the same over the period from April 1992 to April 1997 as it did in April 1992 to April 1993, assuming that no other tax changes beyond indexation for inflation are announced between now and April 1997.

  Sir George Young
  Tax payments in 1996–97 will depend on the level of earnings and prices in 1996–97 and on household composition and spending patterns.

  Royal Household
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 16 January 1995,Official Report, columns 290–91, how many of the directors of the royal household have a salary abatement in excess of 6 per cent.; what was the percentage salary increase for the director who is on a short-term contract; how many had salary increases in excess of £5,000 per annum and how many in excess of £20,000 per annum; in which years performance pay has been available to the director on short-term contract; and how many directors in 1993£94 had higher salaries than the principal private secretary to the Queen and the keeper of the privy purse.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The director of finance and property services is on a fixed-term contract. He is only director in the royal household who has a salary

  1990–91

  SSA £ million

  SSA/Head £

  NNDR £ million

  NNDR/Head £

  RSG £ million

  RSG/Head £

  Humberside

  530.3

  624

  190.9

  224

  158.0

  186

  Derbyshire

  507.6

  549

  208.8

  226

  100.3

  109

  Buckinghamshire

  365.3

  582

  137.4

  219

  97.3

  155

  Surrey

  506.6

  507

  228.9

  229

  83.3

  83

  1991–92

  SSA £ million

  SSA/Head £

  NNDR £ million

  NNDR/Head £

  RSG £ million

  RSG/Head £

  Humberside

  627.7

  733

  227.1

  265

  153.0

  179

  Derbyshire

  602.2

  648

  247.5

  266

  85.0

  91

  Buckinghamshire

  437.8

  690

  161.8

  255

  99.7

  157

  Surrey

  610.2

  610

  266.4

  266

  77.9

  78

  702
  abatement—currently valued at £18,500—on top of the 6 per cent. after-tax salary deduction, or whose salary exceeds that of the principal private secretary to the Queen and the keeper of the privy purse. His performance bonus for the year to 30 September 1994, the first year of the contract, is yet to be determined. His salary was increased by 5.4 per cent.—£5,940—with effect from 1 April 1994, in line with the Senior Salaries Review Body award to comparable civil servants. No other director in the royal household received a salary increase in excess of £5,000.

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was(a) the value of his standard spending assessment assessments and (b) the total grants after the area cost adjustment as a per capita figure for the counties of (i) Humberside, (ii) Derbyshire (c) Buckinghamshire and (iv) Surrey for each financial year from 1990–91.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The standard spending assessment, national non-domestic rate and revenue support grant figures for the named county area from 1990–91 to 1995–96 are set out in the tables.

  The SSA figures are those for the year in question and have not been adjusted to a comparable basis for year-on-year comparisons.

  The 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96 figures for Surrey do not include any SSA, NNDR or RSG element to the receiver for the Metropolitan police district in respect of police services provided by the Metropolitan police in parts of Surrey. The 1995–96 figures for Buckinghamshire do not include any element to the Thames Valley police authority in respect of police services throughout Buckinghamshire.

  The 1995–96 figures are those issued in the provisional local government finance settlement 1995–96, announced on 1 December 1994.
  703

  1992–93

  SSA £ million

  SSA/Head £

  NNDR £ million

  NNDR/Head £

  RSG £ million

  RSG/Head £

  Humberside

  667.1

  776

  224.5

  261

  277.0

  322

  Derbyshire

  637.6

  683

  245.2

  263

  211.5

  227

  Buckinghamshire

  474.3

  741

  160.3

  250

  195.8

  306

  Surrey

  656.6

  656

  264.6

  264

  223.4

  223

  1993–94

  SSA £ million

  SSA/Head £

  NNDR £ million

  NNDR/Head £

  RSG £ million

  RSG/Head £

  Humberside

  641.1

  733

  210.3

  240

  305.1

  349

  Derbyshire

  609.7

  649

  226.0

  240

  238.5

  254

  Buckinghamshire

  466.2

  728

  153.9

  240

  190.3

  297

  Surrey

  614.0

  594

  243.3

  235

  162.4

  157

  1994–95

  SSA £ million

  SSA/Head £

  NNDR £ million

  NNDR/Head £

  RSG £ million

  RSG/Head £

  Humberside

  659.5

  748

  194.7

  221

  329.2

  373

  Derbyshire

  639.4

  675

  209.3

  221

  211.7

  328

  Buckinghamshire

  487.0

  754

  142.6

  221

  211.7

  328

  Surrey

  650.7

  629

  223.6

  216

  202.3

  196

  1995–96

  SSA £ million

  SSA/Head £

  NNDR £ million

  NNDR/Head £

  RSG £ million

  RSG/Head £

  Humberside

  674.5

  763

  206.9

  234

  325.7

  368

  Derbyshire

  653.3

  687

  222.4

  234

  268.4

  282

  Buckinghamshire

  453.9

  698

  139.9

  215

  185.5

  285

  Surrey

  674.3

  651

  237.3

  229

  190.3

  184

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the percentage increase of grant-related expenditure assessment between 1984–85 and 1989–90 and in the standard spending assessment between 1989–90 and 1994–95 for(a) Yorkshire and Humberside and (b) the south-east; and to what factors he attributes the variation resulting from the formula of needs distribution.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  [holding answer 16 January 1995]: The percentage increases in grant-related expenditure between 1984–85 and 1989–90 were 38.6 per cent. for the Yorkshire and Humberside region and 36.9 per cent. for the south east region including London.

  Grant-related expenditure assessments and standard spending assessments are not fully comparable so comparisons between the GREA for 1989–90 and the SSA for 1994–95 are not given. The percentage increases in standard spending assessments between 1990–91 and 1994–95 were 27.7 per cent. for the Yorkshire and Humberside region and 29.7 per cent. for the south-east region, including London.

  These variations are attributable to updating data, changing methodology and changing national aggregates. The figures quoted also make no adjustment for any changes in functions or responsibilities.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received, and from which local government organizations 704
  and authorities, (a) for and (b) against the area cost adjustment.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  We have identified 76 recent representations from local government organisations and authorities about the area cost adjustment, and these are listed. A number of representations cannot be categorised conclusively as "for" or "against" the area cost adjustment, but the majority of representations from authorities outside London and the south east argue for abolishing or reducing the size of the area cost adjustment or making substantial changes to the methodology for its calculation.

  Association of County Councils

  Association of London Authorities

  Association of Metropolitan Authorities

  London Boroughs Association

  Abbotskerwell parish council

  Bedfordshire county council

  Bedfordshire police authorit

  Berkshire county council

  Bradford metropolitan borough council

  Calderdale metropolitan borough council

  Chelmsford district council

  Christchurch district council

  Cleveland county council

  Copeland district council

  Coventry city council

  Cumbria county council

  Derbyshire county council

  705

  Derbyshire police authority

  Devon county council

  Dudley metropolitan borough council

  Durham county council

  East Lindsey district council

  East Midlands county councils

  Gateshead metropolitan borough council

  Gateshead metropolitan borough council (on behalf of the metropolitan authorities outside London)

  Glanford district council

  Hereford and Worcester county council

  High Peak district council

  Humberside county council

  Isles of Scilly council

  Isle of Wight council

  Kent county council

  Kirklees metropolitan borough council

  Knowsley metropolitan borough council

  Lancashire county council Lincolnshire county council

  Lincolnshire police authority

  Liverpool city council

  London borough of Brent

  London borough of Ealing

  London borough of Enfield

  London borough of Havering

  London borough of Hillingdon

  London borough of Hounslow

  London borough of Kingston upon Thames

  London borough of Merton

  London borough of Richmond upon Thames

  London borough of Sutton

  London borough of Westminster

  Newark and Sherwood district council

  Norfolk county council

  North Yorkshire county council

  Northamptonshire county council

  Northamptonshire police authority

  Northumberland county council

  Nottinghamshire county council

  Oxfordshire county council

  Reading district council

  Rushmoor district council

  Sheffield city council

  Shropshire county council

  Slough borough council

  Staffordshire county council

  Stevenage district council

  St. Helens metropolitan borough council

  Suffolk county council

  Surrey county council

  Tameside metropolitan borough council

  Tandridge district council

  Thurrock district council

  Tonbridge and Mailing district council

  Warwickshire county council

  West Yorkshire fire and civil defence authority

  West Sussex county council

  Wokingham district council

  Wolverhampton metropolitan borough council

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department plans to remedy inequities in the area cost adjustment.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The Government consider that the existing area cost adjustment is well justified, but remain willing to consider arguments for improvements 706
  in the way in which the standard spending assessments sallow for the higher costs in some parts of the country.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his assessment of the amount of transfer of grant to(a) London and (b) the south-east under the area cost adjustment for each year since it was introduced together with the comparative figures for Humberside, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The table shows the total contribution of the area cost adjustment to standard spending assessments for(a) London and (b) the rest of the south-east, for each year since SSAs were first introduced in 1990–91. The area cost adjustment is not applied to shire counties outside the south-east.

  Contribution of area cost adjustment to SSAs (£ million)

  Year

  London

  Area of the receiver for the Metropolitan Police

  South-east (outside London)

  1990–91

  562.2

  —

  274.0

  1991–92

  778.0

  —

  373.5

  1992–93

  855.0

  —

  458.8

  1993–94

  842.7

  —

  489.0

  1994–95

  960.1

  —

  575.6

  1995–96 (proposed)

  1002.8

  116.1

  556.7

  Note:

  The area of the Receiver for the Metropolitan police excludes the City of London and includes parts of the south-east outside London. Before 1995–96, the SSA for the receiver was based on his budget, as approved by the Home Secretary, which included those extra costs which, from 1995–96, are reflected in the area cost adjustment.

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his proposals to tackle severe air pollution including winter smog.

  Mr. Atkins
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State yesterday published a statement of the Government's strategic policies for improving air quality. Proposals on action during air quality episodes, including provision of information to the public, will be published later this year.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to consult with organisations of, and representing, people with disabilities over any restrictions on vehicular use of city centre streets in periods of high air pollution.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Government's strategic policies for managing air quality are set out in "Air Quality: Meeting the Challenge", published by the Secretaries of State for the Environment, for Scotland, for Wales, for Northern Ireland, and for Transport on 19 January 1995. Those policies are aimed at delivering sustainable improvements in air quality, thereby reducing the risk of episodes of high pollution and possible need for restrictions on vehicular use in such circumstance. It will be the Government's policy to ensure that should such restrictions nevertheless be contemplated, there is appropriate consultation with relevant interests, including people with disabilities.
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  Single Regeneration Budget
  Mr Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the successful bids for single regeneration budget funding in London, giving in each case the total amount allocated in each financial year and its breakdown between each district expenditure programme within the single regeneration budget.

  Mr. Curry
  The proposed funding from the single regeneration budget for the successful bids in London, subject to the finalisation of delivery plans and funding

  Single Regeneration Budget—Successful bids with amount allocated per year

  Lead organisation and bid title

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–00

  2000–01

  2001–02

  AZTEC

  High Flyers

  313,000

  312,000

  311,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  AZTEC

  Unlocking the Economic Potential of Young People

  540,000

  850,000

  850,000

  850,000

  850,000

  850,000

  851,088

  CENTEC

  Business 2000

  370,000

  370,000

  370,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  CENTEC

  Business Education Alliance

  122,000

  225,000

  225,000

  225,000

  225,000

  225,000

  224,500

  CENTEC

  Off the Streets and Into Work

  555,200

  496,800

  522,400

  461,600

  —

  —

  —

  City and Inner London North TEC

  Contributing to a World Class City

  1,042,400

  1,184,675

  1,184,675

  1,184,675

  1,184,675

  1,184,675

  1,184,675

  Hackney 2000 Partnership

  Building on our Strengths

  1,450,000

  2,800,000

  3,890,000

  3,890,000

  3,890,000

  3,890,000

  5,486,727

  London Borough Barking and Dagenham

  Roding Valley Area Regeneration

  235,000

  320,000

  145,000

  10,000

  10,000

  —

  —

  London Borough Brent

  Chalkhill Estate: Economic and Physical Regeneration

  541,000

  619,000

  947,000

  377,000

  766,000

  —

  —

  London Borough Brent

  Crime Reduction, Employment and Training Programme

  674,670

  1,025,450

  622,010

  549,000

  546,000

  —

  —

  London Borough Brent Department of Education

  Brent Reading Recovery

  150,000

  125,000

  100,000

  75,000

  50,000

  —

  —

  London Borough Greenwich

  Greenwich Regeneration: Woolwich Revival

  2,750,000

  5,574,000

  5,579,000

  4,186,000

  3,107,000

  1,828,000

  1,828,000

  London Borough Harrow

  Ethnic Minority Business Development

  79,150

  88,595

  103,460

  —

  —

  —

  —

  London Borough Hounslow

  Bid for Brentford

  2,400,000

  5,000,000

  4,000,000

  1,200,000

  1,000,000

  —

  —

  London Borough Hounslow

  Children's Service Training Centre

  143,000

  31,000

  14,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  London Borough Lambeth

  Riverside South

  390,000

  1,555,000

  1,566,00

  1,148,000

  180,000

  190,000

  160,000

  708
  agreements and the availability of resources, is given the table.

  No allocation can be made between expenditure programmes that make up the single regeneration budget; the new arrangements are designed to provide flexible support for sustainable regeneration, economic development and industrial competitiveness in a way which meets local needs and priorities. It is therefore not possible to identify how funding of successful SRB bids relates to existing programmes that now form part of the SRB.
  709

  Single Regeneration Budget—Successful bids with amount allocated per year

  Lead organisation and bid title

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–00

  2000–01

  2001–02

  London Borough Lewisham

  Silwood Estate: Combating Racial Harassment

  113,908

  81,508

  53,208

  —

  —

  —

  —

  London Borough Merton

  Wandle Strategy for Regeneration

  750,000

  1,500,000

  1,500,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  London Borough Newham

  Green Street Regeneration

  700,000

  1,444,000

  1,360,000

  1,458,000

  942,000

  811,000

  869,000

  London Borough Newham

  Meeting the needs of Newham's Communities

  700,000

  700,000

  2,000,000

  2,000,000

  2,000,000

  2,000,000

  2,000,000

  London Borough Southwark

  Cross River Partnership

  80,000

  225,000

  563,000

  1,025,000

  750,000

  0

  0

  London Borough Southwark

  Peckham Partnership

  3,564,000

  11,257,000

  10,340,000

  10,740,000

  10,740,000

  8,915,000

  4,390,000

  London Borough Sutton

  Sutton Regeneration Partnership

  150,000

  693,930

  621,920

  413,000

  323,000

  329,000

  284,000

  London Borough Hamlets

  Stepney Revitalisation Bid

  2,705,000

  2,700,000

  4,600,000

  4,600,000

  4,600,000

  4,600,000

  4,600,000

  London Borough Wandsworth

  Wandsworth Partnership

  310,000

  1,303,000

  1,303,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  London Boroughs Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Newham

  East Thames Side Partnership

  1,335,000

  1,345,000

  2,775,000

  3,580,000

  3,983,000

  300,000

  300,000

  LETEC

  ASSIST: Business Development Support

  277,000

  277,000

  277,000

  0

  0

  0

  —

  LETEC

  Higher Level Skills Enhancement Initiative

  250,000

  377,000

  377,000

  377,000

  377,000

  377,000

  376,750

  LETEC

  Language Support in East London

  60,000

  70,000

  80,000

  85,800

  85,800

  85,800

  85,800

  LETEC

  Raising the Skill Base in East London

  314,000

  349,000

  349,000

  349,000

  349,000

  349,000

  348,200

  Lewisham Enterprise Consortium

  Into the Mainstream

  125,000

  125,000

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  London First and Groundwork in London

  Action for London's Environment

  120,000

  400,000

  400,000

  0

  0

  —

  —

  NLTEC

  Support for New Businesses

  600,000

  600,000

  600,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  NLTEC

  Upper Lee Valley Partnership

  5,000,000

  6,300,000

  6,300,000

  6,500,000

  5,800,000

  5,000,000

  5,000,000

  NWLTEC

  Brent and Harrow SRB Bid

  573,000

  519,000

  469,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Park Royal Partnership Ltd.

  Development Park Royal's Offer

  2,237,000

  2,645,000

  1,635,000

  735,000

  605,000

  435,000

  325,000

  710 711

  Single Regeneration Budget—Successful bids with amount allocated per year

  Lead organisation and bid title

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–00

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Soho Housing Association

  Sailer's City Foyer

  300,000

  120,000

  80,000

  80,000

  80,000

  80,000

  80,000

  SOLOTEC

  Building Education Business Links

  272,000

  285,250

  285,250

  285,250

  285,250

  —

  —

  SOLOTEC

  Credit Accumulation and Transfer System for London

  170,000

  63,000

  17,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  SOLOTEC

  New Business Growth

  650,000

  650,000

  650,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South Bank Employers Group

  South Bank Environmental Improvements Project

  1,100,000

  1,000,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Stratford Development Partnership Ltd.

  New Dimensions for Stratford and Temple Mills

  800,000

  2,100,000

  2,100,000

  2,000,000

  2,000,000

  2,000,000

  2,000,000

  STTEC

  Education and Guidance

  223,000

  344,500

  344,500

  344,500

  344,500

  344,500

  344,500

  STTEC

  Self employment for the disadvantaged

  250,000

  200,000

  200,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  The Bloomsbury Project Board

  Bloomsbury Project

  125,000

  225,000

  225,000

  225,000

  —

  —

  —

  Tower Hamlets College

  Raising Participation: Raising Achievement

  100,000

  70,000

  70,000

  70,000

  70,000

  70,000

  50,000

  WLTEC

  Centre for Manufacturing and Engineering Innovation

  150,000

  100,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  WLTEC

  Economic Development for New Businesses, West London

  500,000

  500,000

  500,000

  —

  —

  —

  —

  WLTEC

  Education—Business Partnerships in West London

  225,000

  225,000

  220,000

  185,000

  170,000

  150,000

  105,000

  Home Ownership
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many self-employed householders were owner-occupiers in the years 1979, 1985 and 1994.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The estimates available are:

  Million

  1Per cent.

  1977–78

  1.00

  11

  1985

  1.33

  12

  1993–94

  1.81

  13

  1As a proportion of all owner occupiers.

  These figures are taken from the national dwelling and housing survey for the earliest estimate, the 1985 labour force survey and the 1993ߝ94 survey of English housing, and are subject to sampling error.
  712
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the state of the United Kingdom housing industry; and if he will indicate those steps he is taking which specifically promote home ownership.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Total housing starts in the United Kingdom in the first nine months of 1994 were 10 per cent. higher than in the same period in 1993. Private housing starts were up 13 per cent. The number of starts in 1994 will be the highest since 1989 for both the private sector and in total. We are continuing to promote home ownership through a range of policies including the right to buy, cash incentive schemes open to local authority and housing association tenants, and shared ownership schemes.
  713

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding the introduction of a national energy efficiency programme and the environmental implication; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  I receive many representations on every aspect of energy efficiency, including the numerous energy efficiency initiatives and programmes run by my Department's energy efficiency office.

  (£ million)

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  11995–96

  Education

  241.880

  2211.588

  216.529

  219.948

  Personal social services

  47.190

  51.235

  61.284

  69.567

  Police

  26.580

  28.318

  29.448

  3nil

  Fire

  11.831

  12.116

  12.378

  11.672

  Highway maintenance

  25.462

  25.114

  24.968

  24.870

  Other services

  21.480

  21.679

  23.236

  22.811

  Capital financing

  22.620

  22.515

  20.194

  17.772

  Total SSA

  397.044

  372.565

  388.036

  366.640

  Notes:

  11995–96 figures are those in the proposed local government finance settlement 1995–96, announced by the Secretary of State on 1 December 1994.

  2 Responsibility for most further education was transferred out of local government from 1 April 1993.

  3 SSA for police is allocated direct to West Mercia police authority from 1 April 1995. The police authority receives a police SSA of £48.466 million and a total SSA of £49.339 million.

  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the level of standard spending assessment per head of population for all local authorities for which he has responsibility.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  I am placing in the Library a table which provides the information requested using the proposed standard spending assessment figures for 1995–96, as announced by the Secretary of State on 1 December 1994.

  Assembly of European Regions
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the Assembly of European Regions; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  My Department has no record of representations from this organisation.

  Electricity-generating Domestic Waste Incineration Plants
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current number and capacity of electricity-generating domestic waste incineration plants in the United Kingdom; and what estimate he has made of the future number and capacity of such plants.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer that I gave him on 19 January, Official Report, column 591.
  714

  Hereford and Worcester County Council
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total standard spending assessment of Hereford and Worcester county council in 1992–93, 1993–94 and 1994–95 and what it is for 1995–96; and within that total, what the standard spending assessment was for(a) education, (b) social services, (c) police authority and (d) fire services in each of these years.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The figures requested are set out in the table. They have not been adjusted for changes of responsibility.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Peace Talks
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on progress of the peace talks.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Sutton and Cheam (Lady Olga Maitland) on 19 January,Official Report, column 835.

  Fair Employment
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to reform the Fair Employment Act 1989.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Dagenham (Ms Church) on 19 January,Official Report, column 607.

  Youth Service
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what calculations he has made of the changes in levels of funding for the youth service in Northern Ireland since 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ancram
  Recurrent funding for the youth service in Northern Ireland has risen from £9.3 million in 1989–90 to £15 million in 1993–94, the last year for which complete figures are available. This represents a 61.3 per cent. increase in total recurrent funding over that period. An increase of 62 per cent. in capital funding—from £1.1 million to almost £1.8 million—has also occurred over the same period.
  715

  Milk Marketing Board
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what decision has been made on the reorganisation scheme submitted by the milk marketing board for Northern Ireland

  Mr. Ancram
  The Agriculture (Northern Ireland) Order 1993 provided for the ending of the statutory milk marketing scheme in Northern Ireland. It enabled the milk marketing board for Northern Ireland to submit proposals for its replacement by voluntary arrangements, for the transfer of its assets to specified successor bodies and for the distribution of the value of those assets to milk producers.

  The milk marketing board for Northern Ireland submitted reorganisation proposals to the Department of Agriculture on 31 December 1993. Following this, a wide-ranging consultation exercise was conducted when the views of the various parties with an interest were sought. Subsequently, and in the light of the responses to that consultation, the milk marketing board on 26 August 1994 submitted an amended reorganisation scheme and a further round of consultation was conducted.

  In his statement of 21 December 1994, my right hon. and learned Friend, the Secretary of State commented on the milk marketing board's proposals. He said that those reorganisation proposals met the requirements of the Agriculture (Northern Ireland) Order 1993 and that subject to and contingent upon approval being given by the EC under articles 92 and 93 of the EC treaty in respect of the state aids inherent in the scheme; certain amendments being made to the scheme; and satisfactory arrangements being put in place to cover any liability upon the residuary board in respect of milk quota superlevy; the scheme submitted by the board was one that merits approval.

  The milk marketing board has now submitted the formal amendments to its scheme, as required in my right hon. and learned Friend's statement, together with the necessary assurances in relation to payment of any milk quota superlevy. Formal state aid approval by the European Commission has now been confirmed. The scheme has therefore today been approved in accordance with the requirements of the Agriculture (Northern Ireland) Order 1993.

  The order requires that the principles of the approved reorganisation scheme be made public. The principles of the scheme as submitted, and subsequently amended, by the milk marketing board for Northern Ireland were set out in the two consultation documents issued by the Department of Agriculture in January and September 1994. Although some further detailed amendments have been made by the milk marketing board to its scheme, the principles as set out in those documents are unchanged. Copies of the consultation documents, together with a note updating them in the light of the further detailed amendments, are available from the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland.

  Under the approved reorganisation scheme, the existing statutory milk marketing scheme will be revoked on 1 March 1995—the "vesting date". As a result, producers will be free to sell their milk to whom they wish, whether to the successor co-operative being established under the board's reorganisation scheme, to agricultural co-operatives or other group marketing milk on behalf of producers, or direct to processors. The current joint
  716
  committee system of centrally negotiated pricing according to the milk's ultimate end use will end on the vesting date. The price of milk will be determined by contract between purchaser and supplier.

  The milk marketing board for Northern Ireland will be succeeded by a producer co-operative, United Diary Farmers Ltd. and the board's commercial division, Dromona Quality Foods, will be incorporated as wholly owned subsidiary of United. The assets being transferred to United have been set at £18.003 million. Eligible producers who join United will receive shares in United proportionate to their milk production in 1992–93. Eligible producers who elect not to join United will receive redeemable loanstock bearing an interest rate at bank base rate plus a 0.5 per cent. premium. Loan stock will be allocated on the same basis as shares to joiners of United and will be redeemed not later than five years after the vesting date.

  In view of the delay in the vesting date from 1 April 1994, as first proposed, to 1 March 1995, the milk marketing board has written to all milk producers who have already signed a contract with United to provide them with an opportunity to withdraw without penalty from that contract.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many staff in his Department have reported an offer of employment from an outside employer since February 1993 as required under the civil service management code; and how many of those reports were followed by an application to join the company concerned.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 18 January 1995]: Information on offers of outside employment to staff below grade 3 level is not recorded centrally in this Department. No members of staff at grade 3 level or above within the Department of National Heritage have reported an offer of employment from an outside employer since February 1993.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Veal
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee what was the country of origin of the veal served in the House of Commons on 17 January; and what method of production was used.

  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  The Director of Catering Services informs me that the veal used in the Refreshment Department is purchase only from United Kingdom suppliers who use the Quantock method of rearing veal calves.

  Kiosk Takings
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee what were the takings of the House of Commons kiosk in(a) the four weeks to 24 December

  717
  and (b) the latest financial year for which figures are complete; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  I am assuming that my hon. Friend is referring to the main kiosk.

  The unaudited figures for December 1994 indicate that the takings of the main kiosk for the four weeks to 24 December 1994 were some £200,000, inclusive of VAT.

  The accounts of the Refreshment Department trading fund account for the year ending 31 March 1994 show that the kiosks had a turnover of £674,966, net of VAT. The Director of Catering Services informs me that, the turnover of the main kiosk was £521,082, net of VAT.

  No. 7 Millbank
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee who are the beneficial owners of, or of the company which owns, the freehold of No. 7 Millbank; and if he will arrange for a copy of the lease to be deposited in the Library.

  Mr. Ray Powell
  The company which owns No. 7 Millbank is Salinger Properties Ltd. For reasons of commercial confidentiality, it is not the practice to deposit copies of leases in the Library.

WALES

  NHS Trust Salary Bills
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many managers are employed by each of the health trusts in(a) Clwyd, (b) Gwynedd and (c) Powys; what is the estimated annual salary bill for each; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Richards
  The available information is given in the following table. It is not yet possible to distinguish between clinicians and non-clinicians in management grades. The figures cover both. The two trusts in Gwynedd and the North Wales ambulance trust, covering Clwyd and Gwynedd ambulance services, were not established until 1 April 1994.

  NHS Trust

  Managers (whole-time equivalents) September 1993

  Salary bill September 1994

  (£ thousands) 1993–94

  Clwydian

  Community Care

  53

  54

  1,661

  Glan Clwyd Hospital

  27

  29

  745

  Wrexham Maelor Hospital

  27

  30

  966

  Powys Health Care

  37

  37

  887

  Gwynedd Community

  Health

  1—

  23

  1—

  Gwynedd Hospital

  1—

  14

  1—

  North Wales Ambulance

  1—

  6

  1—

  1 not appicable

  Unemployment (Young People)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the number of people in 718
  Wales who are currently under 18 years of age but who are not in (a) full-time education, (b) on a training programme or (c) in full-time work.

  Mr. Redwood
  The latest estimate available is based on the labour force survey conducted last summer. It indicates that, at that time, approximately 10,000, subject to confidence limits of plus or minus 4,000, 16 and 17year-olds were neither in full-time education, nor on a training programme nor in full-time work. We can only honour our guarantee of a training place for those not in work where the young person asks for such a place.

  Community Facilities
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has regarding the voluntary youth services, village halls and community centres programme.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Welsh Office has administered the voluntary youth services, village halls and community centres programme since 1978. The programme aims to assist local voluntary and community groups to repair existing facilities or to construct new premises. It is a collaborative scheme with project costs being shared by the Welsh Office, the local authority and the local sponsor. In recent years, the legislative power for the programme has derived from regulation 12 of the Education (Grant) Regulations 1990.

  Since 1978, Welsh Office grants of nearly £6 million have helped fund some 618 local projects. Total provision in 1994–95 is £493,000.

  It is our policy that decisions on the funding of local facilities should, wherever possible and appropriate, be taken by local authorities. I am therefore proposing that the programme should be wound up and the finance transferred to local authorities with effect from 31 March 1997. After that date, assistance to local youth, voluntary and community groups to repair existing facilities and to construct new premises will not normally be funded under these regulations.

  This proposal does not affect projects which have already been approved under the programme, or those which have been submitted under the 1995–96 round and are currently under consideration.

  Before taking a final decision on the proposal, I am consulting local authorities, voluntary groups and other bodies. A copy of the consultation letter, which also includes the arrangements for financial transfer, has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Tech'Atlantique
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the relevance of Tech'Atlantique for Wales in the European Union.

  Mr. Richards
  Tech'Atlantique is a recently established network of universities in those regions of the European Union which border the Atlantic ocean. As yet, no Welsh university has joined the network. It is therefore too soon to assess the relevance of the network to Wales.

  Four Motor Regions
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new proposals he has to strengthen links between Wales and the four motor regions and nations of the European Union; and if he will make a statement.
  719
  Mr. Redwood
  There is a programme of activity with the four motor regions. Collaboration covers a number of areas including business, research and development, healthcare, education, the environment and culture. A visit to Catalunya by Welsh applied scientists and an exchange of graduates between innovative companies in Wales and Baden-Wurttemberg are some of the new initiatives currently under consideration. In addition, the Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones) is to visit both Lombardy and Catalunya later this year.

  National links with Europe are taken forward through the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union.

  Local Council Corporate Services
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the application of the competitive tendering programme in respect of local councils' corporate services.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Westbury (Mr. Faber) on 1 December 1994,Official Report, columns 879–80, by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State at the Department of the Environment.

  Youth Service Funding
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what calculations he has made of the changes in levels of funding for the youth service in Wales since 1989; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  It is for individual local councils to determine the priority that they give to youth activities when apportioning money between functions. Net current expenditure by local authorities for the years 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93, was £12.0 million, £13.3 million and £13.7 million respectively. Information is not available on a consistent basis for prior years and outturn data is not yet available for 1993–94.

  Public Bodies (Running Costs)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the indicative management running Costs he has agreed with each of the non-departmental public bodies he sponsors.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have asked the NDPBs sponsored by my Department to keep within the following running costs budgets in 1995–96:

  £ million

  Housing for Wales

  2.87

  Sports Council for Wales

  1.039

  Arts Council of Wales

  1.719

  Further Education Funding Council

  2.558

  Higher Education Funding Council

  1.679

  Cardiff Bay Development Corporation

  4.101

  Land Authority for Wales

  1.882

  National Museum of Wales

  10.452

  National Library of Wales

  4.523

  Royal Commission for Ancient and Historic Monuments

  1.18

  Welsh National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting

  0.985

  Wales Youth Agency

  0.386

  Welsh Language Board

  1.123

  720

  £ million

  ACAC

  1.65

  Wales Tourist Board

  4.150

  Welsh Development Agency

  13.2

  Development Board for Rural Wales

  3.689

  Countryside Council for Wales

  8.1

  Imax Cinema
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from the chairman of the council of the national museum of Wales and the chairman of the Cardiff Bay development corporation for Wales with respect to the funding of the proposed Imax cinema and the redevelopment of the Welsh industrial and maritime museum; on what date consent for capital expenditure on(a) the Imax cinema equipment and (b) the cinema building was granted; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 1 December 1994,Official Report, column 814, I have received no further representations from either the president of the council of the national museum of Wales or the chairman of the Cardiff Bay development corporation.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a further statement on the forms of direct accountability of NHS trusts to(a) the Welsh Office, (b) health authorities and (c) GP fundholders.

  Mr. Redwood
  NHS trusts, in Wales, enter into accountability agreements which outline the relationship and respective responsibilities between myself, the director for the Welsh Office Health Department, as accounting officer, and the trust chairmen and their chief executive officers. The prime duty is to provide good quality health care for the people of Wales.

  The financial obligations that trusts must meet are to break even, taking one year with another, make a target return—currently 6 per cent.—and stay within the annually established external financing limit.

  Trusts are also required to publish annual reports and audited accounts and to hold at least one meeting a year open to the public.

  Trusts are directly accountable to health authorities and GP fundholders through service contracts to agreed levels of quality, quantity and price.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what undertakings have been(a) sought and (b) given with regard to the continuity of employment for the chief executive-designate newly appointed by the University hospital of Wales—Cardiff Royal Infirmary trust designate subsequent to, and conditional upon, the formation of that NHS trust and his appointment of a chairman and board for it; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  None. South Glamorgan health authority as the employer has offered a contract to the chief executive designate of the University Hospital of Wales—Cardiff Royal Infirmary group. If the application for trust status is approved, the trust will be required to consider and approve the appointment of a chief executive.
  721
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the levels of borrowings of NHS trusts in Wales,(a) for capital developments and (b) for other purposes in each financial year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Redwood
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave on 8 December 1994,Official Report, column 347.

  Blood Transfusion Service
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when a decision will be taken on the future host organisation and format for the national blood transfusion service Wales.

  Mr. Redwood
  The future management arrangements of the Welsh blood service will be subject to consultation. The consultation period is scheduled to commence in January 1995 and be completed by end February 1995 and an announcement on the result will follow shortly thereafter.

  Lobbying Organisations
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what occasions he or his fellow Welsh Office ministers or officials have met representatives of lobbying organisations.

  Mr. Redwood
  I and my Ministers meet Members of Parliament who may bring in delegations to see us. If Members chose to bring in lobbying organisations as part of those delegations, we would not refuse to see them. We do not see lobbying organisations on their own. Officials frequently meet representatives from a wide range of bodies.

  Residuary Body for Wales
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements he has made for the establishment of the residuary body for Wales.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The residuary body will be set up on 1 February. The members will be:

  Mr. D. Hugh Thomas CBE (chairman)

  Mr. J. Elwyn Davies

  Miss D. Adrianne Jones CBE

  Mr. Brian T. Williams

  The Secretary of State will be issuing guidance to the residuary body. Local authorities will be able to comment on a draft of the guidance before it is issued in final form to the residuary body.

SCOTLAND

  Barnacle Geese
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the implications for the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 of the recent acquittal in Dumfries sheriff court of a farmer for the shooting of barnacle geese without a licence.

  Sir Hector Monro
  None.
  722

EDUCATION

  Student Loans Company
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what means of redress a student has against any malfunctioning of the Student Loans Company that affects his or her financial or educational position.

  Mr. Boswell
  As indicated in the charter for higher education, a student who has a complaint against the Student Loans Company should, in the first instance, contact the company. If he is not satisfied with the company's response, or more than three months has elapsed since the complaint was made, the borrower can ask the company to refer his complaint to the independent assessor appointed in accordance with the Student Loans Act 1990. A copy of the assessor's terms of reference was placed in the Library of the House on 19 July 1990.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what plans she has to hold a public inquiry into the functioning of the Student Loans Company;

  (2) what assessment she has made as to the extent to which the Student Loans Company is honouring its promises on quality of service to students;

  (3) what assessment she has made as to the quality of service being offered by the Student Loans Company; and what plans she has to improve its performance.

  Mr. Boswell
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to hold a public inquiry. I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mr. Parry) on 16 January,Official Report, columns 340–41.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether the staff of the Student Loans Company are on performance-related pay; and what has happened to pay levels over the past three years.

  Mr. Boswell
  The pay of staff of the Student Loans Company is performance related. Pay increases for individuals are a matter for the company. For 1992–93, 1993–94 and 1994–95 they were settled within overall totals of 4.42 per cent., 1.48 per cent. and 2.49 per cent., respectively.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the estimated cost of the investigation being carried out by Coopers and Lybrand into allegations concerning the Student Loans Company.

  Mr. Boswell
  Coopers and Lybrand was appointed to undertake the investigation, following competitive tender action. Its bid represented the best value for money in relation to the competition.

  The individual value of contracts between the Department and its suppliers is considered to be commercial in confidence and cannot therefore be disclosed.

  Youth Service (Funding)
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what calculations she has made of the changes in levels of funding for the youth service in England since 1989; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Boswell
  It is for local authorities to decide how much of their budget they dedicate to expenditure on the youth service.
  723
  Local education authorities' net recurrent expenditure on the youth service, as recorded in returns to the Department of Environment, between 1989–90 and 1992–93, the latest year for which figures are available, was as follows:

  Year

  Net recurrent expenditure (actual) £ million

  1989–90

  235.3

  1990–91

  241.7

  1991–92

  251.7

  1992–93

  273.9

  Schools (Capital Programme)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the current estimate of outstanding capital works in schools in each local education authority and for England as a whole.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Such information is not held centrally for individual LEAs. For England as a whole, information from the 1991 National Audit Office report on school buildings suggested that some £2 billion, at 1990 prices, was required to deal with the outstanding capital needs of school buildings. In the four years from 1991–92, Government support for capital and repair work at maintained schools has amounted to some £2.5 billion and a further £620 million will be available in 1995–96.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what capital grants have been given(a) to each grant-maintained school and (b) to local education authority schools in each year since 1990.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Allocations to individual schools are the responsibility of their LEAs or the Funding Agency for Schools. I have asked the chairman of the funding agency to write to the hon. Member in respect of allocations to individual grant-maintained schools.

  Clerical Support
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much money was spent in each of the last five years on clerical support for teachers in schools.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The table gives local education authorities' expenditure on administrative and clerical staff, and education support staff in LEA-maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools, from 1988–89 to 1992–93, the latest year for which figures are available.

  Year

  Expenditure

  £ million, cash

  £ million 1994–95 prices

  1988–89

  598.6

  803.5

  1989–90

  723.4

  907.7

  1990–91

  842.8

  979.1

  1991–92

  989.8

  1,081.9

  1992–93

  1,081.9

  1,137.3

  724

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education for how many boards, authorities, committees and other public bodies she is responsible, in the whole or in part, for appointments; what is the total number of such appointments; and what is the total public spending by the bodies.

  Mr. Boswell
  My right hon. Friend is responsible, in whole or in part, for 385 appointments to 28 boards, authorities, committees and other public bodies. Total public spending by these bodies in 1994–95 is estimated at some £6.6 billion.

  Pre-School Education
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pre-school education places were available in England at the latest available date; and what percentage that number is of the total number of children in the relevant age group.

  Mr. Forth
  Information on the number of education places is not available. In January 1994, there were 675,000 pupils below compulsory school age in maintained nursery and primary schools in England, of whom 347,000 were in nursery provision. The participation rates were 52 per cent. and 27 per cent. respectively.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education which elements of gross income and allowed expenditure are discounted in order to reach the figure for assessment purposes in respect of the amount of parental contribution to fees to be paid in the assisted places scheme.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  As a general principle, parents must declare their gross annual income from all sources for the purpose of assessment under the assisted places scheme. Non-taxable social security benefits are excluded from the assessment of parents' relevant income. For self-employed persons, deductions from the gross profit amount agreed with HM inspector of taxes may be made only in respect of capital allowances, losses and stock relief. In all cases, an allowance—£1,140 in the current academic year, 1994—95—is made for each child, other than the assisted place holder, or other dependent relative in the household. This reduces the relevant income figure and helps larger families in particular. The only other allowance which is discounted from gross income is the blind person's allowance.

  Student Finance
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the Government are doing to assist students in further education who do not wish to fall into debt through student loans and yet are unable to exist on student grants.

  Mr. Boswell
  Student loans are not available for further education. It is Government policy to provide support for students in higher education through grant and student loan. Loans are provided on generous terms. It is for individual students to decide whether or not to take out their loan entitlement.
  725

  School Closures
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools have been closed in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 17 January 1995]: The table lists, by the year in which the closure was proposed to take effect, the number of approved school closure proposals. In some instances, the actual date of implementation may have been modified from that originally proposed.

  Year proposed for closure

  Number of schools

  1990

  322

  1991

  310

  1992

  437

  1993

  224

  1994

  103

  Pupil Testing
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is her policy on the body administering standard assessment tasks using unqualified student teachers to do the marking; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  The recruitment of qualified markers to mark the national curriculum tests for 11 and 14-year-olds this year is going very well. No unqualified student teachers will be employed to do the marking.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how she will prevent the standard assessment task results for 11-year-olds available in June being used by parents for school selection; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend cannot do, and would not want to do, what the hon. Member has suggested. The national curriculum testing and assessment arrangements are intended to raise standards and to promote accountability. My right hon. Friend intends to require schools to publish, in their annual reports and prospectuses, their pupils' aggregate results in the national curriculum assessments and tests for 11-year-olds. This will provide clear and robust information about schools' performance which parents may take in account, alongside other information about schools, when deciding to which school they should apply.

  Table 1: Male community action participants each month, by region—1993–94

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  December

  January

  February

  March

  Northern

  —

  —

  —

  32

  66

  112

  211

  458

  1,317

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  —

  —

  —

  59

  240

  397

  653

  1,047

  1,464

  East Midlands and Eastern

  —

  —

  15

  103

  297

  435

  576

  849

  1,192

  London and South East

  —

  22

  85

  260

  607

  1,095

  2,042

  3,676

  5,507

  South West

  35

  74

  93

  221

  422

  595

  777

  1,081

  1,482

  Wales

  —

  —

  9

  69

  153

  255

  383

  572

  827

  West Midlands

  —

  —

  4

  38

  146

  251

  419

  682

  1,707

  North West

  —

  —

  39

  212

  421

  571

  842

  1,282

  1,889

  Scotland

  —

  —

  12

  84

  216

  350

  496

  1,030

  1,600

  Great Britain

  35

  96

  257

  1,078

  2,568

  4,061

  6,390

  10,677

  16,985

  726
  My right hon. Friend has, however, made it clear that the results of national curriculum tests and assessments will not be included in national school by school performance tables in 1995.

EMPLOYMENT

  Community Action
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many(a) men and (b) women have entered community action and how many were participating in community action in each month since the start of the programme in each region and for Great Britain; what information he has about the destination of those participants who have left community action; 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.

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Ms Clare Short, dated 20 January 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to respond to your question about the number of men and women who have participated in Community Action in each month since the programme began and the destination of Community Action leavers.
  Since the programme began on 27 July 1993 to 30 December 1994, the latest date for which figures are available, 45,588 men and 11,647 women have started on Community Action.
  The number of men and women who were participating in Community Action in each month since the programme began, in each Employment Service region and for Great Britain are contained in the attached tables. There are separate tables for the 1993/4 and 1994/5 operational years for ease of reference.
  Information is gathered on the destination of all Community Action leavers immediately on leaving and also through a postal follow up survey three months after leaving.
  From April to the end of December this year 30,010 men and 7,673 women had left the programme. Of these 10 per cent. of men and 13 per cent. of women directly entered employment a further 14 per cent. of men and 16 per cent. of women went directly into training or full time education.
  Three month follow up data shows that 15 per cent. of male leavers and 20 per cent. of female leavers are in employment at that stage, and 11 per cent. of male and 13 per cent. of female leavers are in training or full time education. This is at the top end of the target range for positive outcomes from the programme.
  I hope this is helpful.
  727

  Table 2: Female community action participants each month—by region—1993–94

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  December

  January

  February

  March

  Northern

  —

  —

  —

  2

  4

  10

  22

  66

  210

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  —

  —

  —

  17

  60

  87

  139

  206

  308

  East Midlands and Eastern

  —

  —

  7

  18

  61

  93

  145

  202

  319

  London and South East

  —

  —

  4

  59

  145

  246

  500

  972

  1540

  South West

  1

  9

  12

  29

  64

  100

  160

  221

  304

  Wales

  —

  —

  2

  15

  47

  78

  105

  143

  225

  West Midlands

  —

  —

  1

  18

  49

  84

  131

  186

  442

  North West

  —

  —

  25

  64

  92

  152

  237

  353

  Scotland

  —

  —

  10

  29

  51

  80

  119

  275

  394

  Great Britain

  1

  9

  36

  212

  545

  870

  1,473

  2,508

  4,095

  Table 3: Male community action participants each month—by region—1994–95

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  December

  Northern

  1,667

  1,636

  1,575

  1,458

  1,257

  1,022

  610

  667

  712

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1,919

  2,003

  1,860

  1,851

  1,684

  1,604

  1,333

  1,328

  1,296

  East Midlands and Eastern

  1,553

  1,524

  1,428

  1,423

  1,246

  1,242

  1,174

  1,238

  1,342

  London and South East

  6,343

  6,002

  5,883

  6,097

  5,809

  5,750

  4,969

  5,140

  5,125

  South West

  1,724

  1,693

  1,616

  1,593

  1,448

  1,402

  1,271

  1,288

  1,301

  Wales

  968

  909

  803

  693

  638

  646

  537

  567

  574

  West Midlands

  2,434

  2,252

  2,000

  1,768

  1,400

  1,348

  997

  1,013

  1,076

  North West

  2,564

  2,297

  2,341

  2,288

  2,049

  2,038

  1,803

  1,781

  1,764

  Scotland

  1,992

  1,958

  1,912

  1,748

  1,577

  1,480

  1,272

  1,375

  1,409

  Great Britain

  21,164

  20,274

  19,418

  18,919

  17,108

  16,532

  13,943

  14,407

  14,599

  Table 4: Female community action participants each month—by region—1994–95

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  December

  Northern

  277

  277

  271

  251

  237

  174

  129

  128

  135

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  428

  462

  445

  453

  418

  379

  342

  324

  304

  East Midlands and Eastern

  383

  385

  372

  364

  335

  336

  322

  342

  378

  London and South East

  1,865

  1,875

  1,867

  1,940

  1,910

  1,858

  1,622

  1,687

  1,640

  South West

  368

  382

  381

  389

  377

  360

  332

  343

  353

  Wales

  274

  267

  217

  206

  183

  207

  174

  169

  160

  West Midlands

  991

  704

  653

  573

  462

  411

  313

  309

  323

  North West

  460

  472

  474

  475

  399

  379

  338

  375

  358

  Scotland

  450

  461

  436

  399

  366

  343

  292

  313

  333

  Great Britain

  5,196

  5,285

  5,116

  5,050

  4,687

  4,447

  3,864

  3,993

  3,984

  Careers Services Contracts
  Ms Estelle Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the name of the organisation which has been awarded the contract for careers services for each local authority.

  Mr. Paice
  Information on organisations tendering to provide careers services is commercial in confidence. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will announce those organisations with which he will contract when negotiations are finalised.

  Ms Estelle Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will outline the timetable and the procedures used for the allocation of the careers service contract for the Solihull area.
  728
  Mr. Paice
  All bids were assessed against the criteria published in the careers service prospectus. In Solihull, the Department is negotiating with two bidders to determine which offers the best careers service for Solihull and the best value for money for the taxpayer. Both bidders have until 3 February to respond with revised proposals.

  FOCUS Computer System
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will place in the Library the full FOCUS business case.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The FOCUS business case is a working document prepared by the Health and Safety Executive for internal use to support the introduction of the FOCUS computer system and not for publication.
  729

  Trades Union Rights
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has to introduce legislation giving effect to the decision of the European Court of Justice regarding trades union rights in respect of collective redundancy and transfer of undertakings.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The relevant legislation on all but one of the points covered by the judgments was amended by the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Act 1993. The Government are presently considering what action needs to be taken on the remaining issue, concerning consultation with employees' representatives where there are no recognised trade unions.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will list the average weekly earnings inclusive of gross pay and exclusive of overtime for full-time workers in(a) Scotland, (b) the regions of Scotland including and excluding Grampian and (c) Great Britain for (i) male manual workers, (ii) male non-manual workers, (iii) all male workers, (iv) female manual workers, (v) female non-manual workers, (vi) all female workers and (vii) all workers;

  (2) if he will show (a) average weekly earnings, (b) weekly median earnings, (c) the percentage of workers earning below (i) £208.53 per week and (ii) £156.40 per week and (d) the distribution of earnings for those earning (1) under the point below which 10 per cent. of earners fall and (2) the point which 10 per cent. of earners exceed, for Scotland including and excluding Grampian, broken down by (x) manual, (y) non-manual and (z) all workers;

  (3) if he will list the percentage of full-time workers earning less than (a) £221.50, (b) £208.53 and (c) £156.40 per week inclusive of gross pay and excluding overtime in (i) Great Britain, (ii) Scotland and (iii) the regions of Scotland excluding and including Grampian for (1) male workers, (2) female workers, (3) male manual workers, (4) male non-manual workers and (5) all workers;

  (4) if he will list the proportion of full-time workers with hourly earnings inclusive of gross pay but exclusive of overtime below (a) £5.88, (b) £5.53, (c) £4.15 and (d) £3.00 in (i) Great Britain, (ii) Scotland and (iii) the regions of Scotland exclusive and inclusive of Grampian for (1) male workers, (2) female workers, (3) manual workers, (4) non-manual workers and (5) all workers.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  As the information is contained in a number of tables, I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy in the Library.

  European Commission Jobs
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will apply for derogation for Britain in respect of European Commission staff regulations regarding European Commission jobs in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  No. I have no plans to make a statement.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the precedence between the 730
  European Commission's staff regulations and the Race Relations Act 1974 in respect of European Commission jobs in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the consistency of EC staff regulations with the United Kingdom Race Relations Act 1974 in respect of non-EU nationals applying for jobs with the European Commission; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The EC staff regulations are directly applicable in all member states, including the UK. I have no plans to make a statement.

  South Thames Training and Enterprise Council
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much money is owed to training providers in the parliamentary constituency of Lewisham, Deptford and the London borough of Lewisham by the South Thames TEC.

  Mr. Paice
  This is a matter for the administrative receiver.

TRANSPORT

  Air Pollution
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to consult organisations of and representing people with disabilities, over any proposed restrictions on vehicular use of city centre streets in periods of high air pollution.

  Mr. Norris
  The Department of Transport is in close and regular touch with organisations of and for disabled people through its statutory advisory body, the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee. Members of that committee are consulted as a matter of course on all issues which may affect the interests of disabled people. I fully understand the vital importance of personal mobility to many disabled people and the necessity of ensuring that it is not compromised.

  Vehicle Licensing System
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to introduce the order in respect of the change to a continuous operating licence system for heavy goods vehicles and public service vehicles.

  Mr. Norris
  I expect the commencement order for the provisions concerning operator licensing contained within the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 to be made this summer. It is likely that those provisions will be brought into force at the end of the year.

  Heavy Goods Vehicles (Accidents)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents involving heavy goods vehicles there were in each of the last five years for which figures are available by police authority; and how many fatalities and serious injuries there were in each case.

  Mr. Norris
  The information requested is shown in the following table:
  731

  Personal injury road accidents involving an HGV, by year, police authority: Great Britain 1989–1993

  Accidents

  Police Authority

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Metropolitan Police

  1,733

  1,684

  1,302

  1,169

  1,195

  Cumbria

  165

  176

  154

  156

  159

  Lancashire

  220

  281

  213

  237

  281

  Merseyside

  255

  292

  283

  286

  281

  Greater Manchester

  702

  667

  606

  573

  619

  Cheshire

  475

  403

  364

  339

  418

  Northumbria

  249

  255

  232

  184

  212

  Durham

  112

  124

  120

  113

  118

  North Yorkshire

  403

  347

  351

  312

  292

  West Yorkshire

  464

  454

  499

  441

  453

  South Yorkshire

  308

  292

  286

  269

  255

  Humberside

  219

  232

  214

  261

  230

  Cleveland

  91

  69

  87

  66

  63

  West Midlands

  495

  479

  407

  421

  414

  Staffordshire

  327

  355

  368

  363

  358

  West Mercia

  382

  366

  329

  290

  257

  Warwickshire

  247

  225

  176

  172

  191

  Derbyshire

  316

  303

  277

  280

  256

  Nottinghamshire

  320

  283

  289

  267

  259

  Lincolnshire

  278

  287

  219

  245

  246

  Leicestershire

  311

  315

  294

  269

  281

  Northamptonshire

  331

  291

  263

  228

  218

  Cambridgeshire

  376

  327

  281

  272

  264

  Norfolk

  322

  255

  260

  276

  227

  Suffolk

  234

  190

  159

  166

  160

  Bedfordshire

  252

  196

  157

  146

  165

  Hertfordshire

  317

  268

  233

  210

  287

  Essex

  621

  471

  427

  418

  456

  Thames Valley

  624

  517

  528

  508

  529

  Hampshire

  474

  440

  387

  362

  370

  Surrey

  320

  306

  233

  224

  224

  Kent

  477

  456

  375

  436

  429

  Sussex

  357

  321

  294

  283

  293

  City of London1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Devon and Cornwall

  365

  344

  289

  259

  293

  Avon and Somerset

  319

  290

  265

  266

  254

  Gloucestershire

  154

  141

  130

  119

  130

  Wiltshire

  212

  211

  187

  193

  260

  Dorset

  178

  161

  147

  148

  144

  North Wales

  210

  196

  212

  182

  159

  Gwent

  107

  104

  113

  90

  91

  South Wales

  212

  228

  216

  225

  197

  Dyfed-Powys

  168

  207

  206

  197

  168

  Northern

  78

  83

  43

  62

  60

  Grampian

  121

  135

  145

  126

  114

  Tayside

  134

  133

  113

  105

  115

  Fife

  68

  50

  52

  52

  47

  Lothian and Borders

  216

  175

  154

  141

  140

  Central

  79

  47

  58

  56

  50

  Strathclyde

  611

  542

  519

  480

  397

  Dumfries and Galloway

  98

  89

  100

  73

  94

  Total

  16,107

  15,063

  13,616

  13,016

  13,173

  1 Incorporated into the Metropolitan police figure.

  Casualties in personal injury road accidents involving an HGV, by year, police authority and severity: Great Britain 1989–1993

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Police Authority

  Fatal

  Serious

  Fatal

  Serious

  Fatal

  Serious

  Fatal

  Serious

  Fatal

  Serious

  Metropolitan Police

  65

  401

  58

  381

  37

  264

  39

  271

  44

  218

  Cumbria

  16

  70

  33

  72

  14

  46

  18

  48

  17

  45

  Lancashire

  14

  42

  23

  82

  8

  44

  11

  49

  11

  104

  Merseyside

  8

  43

  9

  51

  6

  47

  7

  44

  10

  36

  Greater Manchester

  26

  100

  23

  109

  24

  94

  24

  91

  22

  76

  Cheshire

  29

  109

  20

  91

  32

  66

  16

  45

  18

  66

  Northumbria

  12

  76

  17

  62

  14

  61

  13

  39

  5

  44

  Durham

  11

  23

  11

  28

  12

  20

  8

  22

  7

  33

  North Yorkshire

  36

  202

  23

  173

  36

  169

  21

  130

  23

  149

  West Yorkshire

  27

  133

  25

  106

  24

  122

  16

  120

  25

  85

  South Yorkshire

  18

  60

  13

  72

  10

  73

  12

  79

  20

  33

  732 733

  Casualties in personal injury road accidents involving an HGV, by year, police authority and severity: Great Britain 1989–1993

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Police Authority

  Fatal

  Serious

  Fatal

  Serious

  Fatal

  Serious

  Fatal

  Serious

  Fatal

  Serious

  Humberside

  11

  69

  11

  56

  11

  56

  19

  68

  15

  81

  Cleveland

  0

  14

  1

  7

  8

  10

  2

  12

  0

  12

  West Midlands

  21

  142

  35

  125

  14

  102

  23

  102

  12

  91

  Staffordshire

  20

  80

  18

  72

  12

  58

  12

  52

  8

  33

  West Mercia

  41

  150

  31

  109

  18

  134

  23

  85

  30

  62

  Warwickshire

  26

  104

  3

  76

  7

  81

  16

  70

  22

  62

  Derbyshire

  22

  83

  13

  68

  22

  57

  17

  72

  23

  58

  Nottinghamshire

  15

  114

  22

  87

  21

  70

  12

  74

  9

  71

  Lincolnshire

  22

  88

  39

  103

  16

  77

  20

  90

  18

  79

  Leicestershire

  20

  94

  15

  77

  20

  98

  24

  54

  20

  51

  Northamptonshire

  28

  160

  24

  136

  23

  88

  11

  80

  12

  76

  Cambridgeshire

  23

  125

  30

  120

  18

  104

  15

  86

  10

  88

  Norfolk

  24

  122

  17

  106

  15

  114

  22

  98

  18

  79

  Suffolk

  21

  86

  9

  65

  6

  64

  9

  61

  10

  66

  Bedfordshire

  15

  63

  12

  44

  8

  27

  20

  31

  15

  26

  Hertfordshire

  10

  79

  17

  75

  11

  81

  8

  62

  11

  85

  Essex

  24

  160

  28

  107

  28

  97

  21

  102

  17

  100

  Thames Valley

  34

  135

  46

  152

  35

  117

  34

  103

  24

  89

  Hampshire

  28

  168

  34

  141

  21

  113

  17

  105

  18

  95

  Surrey

  10

  85

  13

  77

  11

  44

  4

  43

  5

  46

  Kent

  34

  113

  17

  108

  21

  65

  27

  98

  22

  113

  Sussex

  24

  97

  17

  83

  12

  57

  16

  66

  14

  70

  City of London1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Devon and Cornwall

  20

  145

  11

  111

  11

  100

  13

  83

  17

  77

  Avon and Somerset

  21

  116

  18

  106

  25

  71

  21

  65

  15

  60

  Gloucestershire

  16

  52

  17

  37

  12

  40

  10

  34

  4

  24

  Wiltshire

  16

  50

  14

  70

  15

  48

  18

  54

  14

  73

  Dorset

  9

  48

  6

  38

  13

  52

  8

  41

  4

  32

  North Wales

  17

  63

  10

  40

  18

  52

  4

  50

  12

  30

  Gwent

  2

  41

  3

  18

  2

  31

  6

  17

  1

  25

  South Wales

  4

  49

  9

  49

  5

  28

  9

  36

  7

  21

  Dyfed-Powys

  10

  83

  17

  107

  13

  92

  11

  82

  9

  82

  Northern

  15

  39

  7

  38

  8

  20

  5

  30

  7

  33

  Grampian

  15

  36

  9

  43

  9

  33

  11

  57

  9

  30

  Tayside

  29

  71

  7

  70

  13

  69

  11

  48

  9

  60

  Fife

  5

  28

  5

  18

  2

  15

  2

  16

  4

  8

  Lothian and Borders

  25

  97

  15

  65

  11

  37

  15

  31

  9

  31

  Central

  6

  30

  5

  18

  3

  25

  3

  16

  3

  15

  Strathclyde

  37

  199

  22

  182

  36

  180

  27

  143

  27

  120

  Dumfries and Galloway

  7

  43

  3

  37

  11

  32

  11

  32

  13

  55

  Total

  989

  4,780

  885

  4,268

  782

  3,645

  742

  3,387

  699

  3,198

  1 Incorporated into the Metropolitan police figure.

  Bus Services (Safety)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings he(a) has held or (b) proposes to hold with organisations running public or private bus services to improve safety for passengers during late evening and night services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  The primary responsibility for the safe operation of bus services rests with bus operators. It is in their commercial interest to ensure that services are safe and attractive for passengers.

  The Department chairs a standing panel of representatives of bus operators, trade unions, the police and interested Government Departments, which meets to consider trends in assaults on bus crews and passengers and to recommend preventive measures. The Department is also commissioning a national review of transport-related crime, perceptions of safety and current preventive initiatives. This will include public and private bus companies.
  734

  British Rail
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact of privatisation on British Rail's subsidiary, British Rail Telecom, and on the optic fibre it has already laid.

  Mr. Watts
  I have assessed the future of British Rail Telecommunications Ltd. in conjunction with the British Railways Board. Privatisation will best secure for the future the high-quality telecommunications links necessary for railway operations and will also provide opportunities for the company to exploit its significant cable, including optic fibre, network.

  Austrian Tunnelling Method
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to what caused the Heathrow tunnel collapse in October; what part was played in this by the new Austrian tunnelling method; and what changes in plans for tunnelling at Heathrow and the new Jubilee line he is making as a result.

  Mr. Norris
  I understand from the British Airports Authority and the Health and Safety Executive that their
  735
  respective investigations into the Heathrow tunnel collapse in October are continuing. I have received no information on the specific causes of the collapse or the part played by the new Austrian tunnelling method. The HSE's eventual report will be published in due course.

  Plans for carrying out tunnelling are primarily a matter for those carrying out the work. I understand that the HSE has published a discussion document to inform those proposing to restart NATM and has established a procedure for assessing any such proposals. London Underground is considering its construction plans for the Jubilee line extension, in the light of the HSE's recent decision that use of NATM can be recommenced for some of the project's tunnels. BAA is also considering its construction plans at Heathrow.

  Disused Underground Stations
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many disused Underground stations there are in London; if he will list them; and if he will make a statement about the arrangements for the safety of the public in respect of each of them.

  Mr. Norris
  The 22 disused Underground stations are as follows:

  London Underground: Disused Stations

  Aldwych

  Blake Hall

  British Museum

  Brompton Road

  Bull and Bush

  Chancery Lane (old Central line station)

  City Road

  Down Street

  Highgate (high level)

  King William Street

  King's Cross (old Metropolitan line station)

  Lords

  Mark Lane

  Marlborough Road

  North Weald

  Ongar

  Osterley (old Piccadilly line station)

  South Kentish Town

  St Mary's

  Swiss Cottage (Metropolitan line station)

  Wood Lane

  York Road

  I understand that London Underground has a variety of arrangements in place to ensure the safety of the public.

  Public Transport
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings he(a) has held or (b) proposes to hold with organisations running public transport systems in the United Kingdom to make the service more user-friendly.

  Mr. Norris
  My right hon. Friend and I regularly meet the chairman of London Transport and the British Railways Board to discuss a wide range of issues including measures to improve services for passengers. For bus services outside London, I have reconstituted the bus working group, which will include representatives from the Confederation of Passenger Transport, local authority associations and the National Federation of Bus Users to see what further measures can be taken to improve services within the deregulated framework.
  736

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the total costs to date of preparations for privatising the British Rail system; and what is his estimate of such costs over each of the next four years, including any cost of regulation.

  Mr. Watts
  Total costs of rail privatisation to date of the Department, the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising, and the Office of the Rail Regulator, are £48 million.

  The costs of BR and Railtrack are primarily a matter for the industries themselves. However, we understand that their total costs to date are around £160 million.

  Forward plans of expenditure by the Department, Opraf, and Orr for 1995–96 to 1997–98 will be published in the Transport Report 1995. Projected expenditure by BR and Railtrack is a matter for them.

  Road Traffic (Doncaster)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last assessed the road traffic needs of Doncaster; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Watts
  The review of the road programme announced on 30 March 1994 was the most recent review of the needs of the trunk road and motorway network, including that around Doncaster. The needs of the local road network are reviewed annually by Doncaster metropolitan borough council in its transport policies and programmes and the Secretary of State's decisions on that were announced on 15 December 1994.

  Fire Service (Ships)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the additional demands made on the fire service by ships in United Kingdom coastal waters and ports(a) registered under the British flag and (b) registered under a flag of convenience; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  None. Incidents at sea requiring attendance or advice from the fire service are rare, although suitable arrangements are in place should this be necessary. There is no evidence of any relationship between the demand on the fire service caused by vessels on fire in UK waters and the vessels' flag state.

  M1 Widening Schemes
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the time scale for making public the result of his internal reviewing respect of MI widening schemes of(a) junctions 24 to 28 and (b) junctions 28 to 31.

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 19 January 1995]There is no special review of these schemes. All schemes in the road programme are subject to appraisal at key stages in their development. The results of public consultations on the schemes for junctions 23A to 25 and 25 to 28 will be announced in due course. Options to put to the public are still being considered for the scheme for junctions 28 to 31.
  737

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  European Commission (Fines)
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take following the fines levied by the European Commission on countries for allowing farmers to collect subsidies to which they were not entitled.

  Mr. Jack
  The financial penalties, or disallowances, imposed by the Commission's decision on the 1991 clearance of accounts will be collected from the member states concerned by automatic deductions from the monthly reimbursements of common agricultural policy expenditure. The UK has fared well, with disallowance of some £2 million compared to a total disallowance of £1.2 billion for all member states. It is important to note that disallowances are penalties imposed on member states for the failure to implement properly legislation relating to CAP scheme rules and controls.

  While these deficiencies may result in farmers, or other recipients, being paid subsidies for which they are not eligible, this is by no means always the case. Some two thirds of the 1991 disallowance is on Italy and Spain for failure to implement milk quotas and exceeds the amounts received by those member states in respect of milk support. Where farmers are found to have overclaimed, it is the member state's responsibility to recover the money due and apply the appropriate penalties. Failure to do so would render them liable to disallowance.

  We are keeping our own procedures under constant review. With regard to other member states, we are committed to ensuring that proper controls are in place, and that appropriate penalties are applied where this is not the case. We fully support a proposal currently on the table which, among other things, seeks to speed up the clearance of accounts process and improve the financial management of the CAP.

  Fishing
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the impact of the increase in Spanish vessels authorised by the Fisheries Councils on the existing balance stocks of fishing fleets to fish as required by section 1 sub-paragraph (ii) of the Fisheries Council statement.

  Mr. Jack
  Under the agreement reached at the December Fisheries Council, it is for each member state to inform the Commission, by the end of March this year, of the reference list of its named vessels which may have access to the various fisheries covered by the agreement, of the fishing effort assessed by the member state to he necessary to enable it to take up fully its fishing possibilities for total allowable catch and non-TAC species and, where the potential effort corresponding to free access for vessels in the reference list exceeds the assessed effort, the arrangements envisaged by the member state to regulate fishing effort. The Commission will make this information available to the other member states, and will then make a report and proposal to the Council, by 1 May, for the regulation of fishing effort. The Council shall decide on that proposal by 30 June. The agreement makes it clear that existing balances in 738
  exploitation by fishery and by zone are not to be disturbed.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the effect of the swaps of haddock and cod agreed in the Fisheries Board agreement in Spain between(a) Spain and Belgium and (b) Spain and France on (i) establishing a Spanish track record and entitlement for areas where Spain has not fished before and (ii) the principle of relative stability in those areas.

  Mr. Jack
  Article 9 of the basic Council Regulation of the Common Fisheries Policy, 3760/92 provides that member states may, after notifying the Commission, exchange all or part of the fishing availabilities allocated to them. Such quota swaps are a regular part of the management of the CFP and are valuable in permitting the best use of fishing opportunities. The United Kingdom makes such swaps in the interest of and with the support of our fishing industry. Such swaps do not affect the relative stability shares on which the Council agrees quotas each year.

  The swaps of haddock and cod apply in areas where Spain already fishes. Thus, they have no impact on track record or entitlement for areas where Spain has not fished before.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the consequences for the fishing industry of the United Kingdom failing to meet its commitment to reduce catching capacity by 1996 under the multi-annual guidance plan; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  The targets for UK fleet reduction set out in Commission decision 92/593/EEC have since been made mandatory by Council decision 94/15/EEC. Council regulation (EEC) 3699/93 also provides that progress against targets may be taken into account in determining eligibility for certain types of structural assistance. It would be for the Commission in the first instance to consider what action might be appropriate in the event of the United Kingdom targets not being met.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what commitments the British Government have made under the current multi-annual guidance plan for reducing United Kingdom catching capacity by 1996.

  Mr. Jack
  Commission decision 92/593 of 21 December 1992 on a multi-annual guidance programme for the fishing fleet of the United Kingdom for the period 1993 to 1996 pursuant to Council regulation (EEC) No. 4028/86 sets out the reductions required in the United Kingdom's fleet capacity. A copy is available in the House Library.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what action has already been taken to ensure that the United Kingdom meets catching capacity targets for 1996 set under the multi-annual guidance plan;

  (2) what measures the Government intend imposing on the fishing industry for 1995 to ensure that the United Kingdom meets catching capacity targets for 1996 set under the multi-annual guidance plan.

  Mr. Jack
  The 1993 and 1994 decommissioning schemes should reduce fleet capacity by about 4.8 per cent. at a cost of £16.7 million. My right hon. Friend the Minister announced on 18 January that a further £28
  739
  million will be made available for decommissioning increasing the amount for 1995–96 to £12 million and continuing the scheme at this rate for a further two years.

  Capacity penalties on licence transfers and aggregations also contribute to the achievement of the MAGP target by requiring a reduction in aggregate capacity on each occasion.

  We shall be monitoring the progress of the reduction in our fleet but I do not expect that it will be necessary to impose further measures in 1995 unless it becomes evident that fishing effort of the remaining fleet is rising.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action the Commission has taken to condemn the landing of undersize fish in Spanish waters.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 19 January 1995]It has not been the procedure of the Commission to publish details of reports made by the inspectors of member states enforcement of, and adherence to, the rules of the common fisheries policy. The United Kingdom was however, successful at the December Fisheries Council in securing a commitment from the Commission that it would report annually on inspections it carried out in member states, together with an assessment of the results of those inspections and details of any improvements in national enforcement arrangements which it had recommended.

  Water Pollution
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action his Department is taking to minimise agricultural pollution of rivers and seas in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Jack
  My Department provides free advice to farmers on pollution prevention, has widely distributed free codes of good agricultural practice and has in place a significant research and development programme examining how to minimise pollution from farm wastes, nutrients and pesticides. In addition, 32 nitrate-sensitive areas have been designated, and consultation is currently taking place over designating 72 vulnerable zones under the EC nitrate directive with a view to reducing nitrate leaching. Furthermore, all pesticides are subject to strict approval arrangements which take into account their potential to pollute water. Regular reviews of older pesticides ensure that they continue to meet our strict safety standards. My Department also carries out research into the fate of various contaminants in coastal waters and makes a significant contribution to monitoring those waters through a national monitoring programme.

  Set-aside Land
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the latest developments in discussions with the EC regarding enabling set-aside land to be used for tree-growing; and if he will specify the types of trees included in such arrangements.

  Mr. Jack
  I am pleased to say that the European Commission has now accepted in principle the United Kingdom's view that land taken out of arable production under the forestry and agri-environmental schemes or "structural" set-aside should, under certain conditions, be allowed to count against a farmer's set-aside obligation 740
  under the arable area payments scheme or "market" set-aside. We now need a rapid decision in Council to amend the relevant legislation. Once the proposal has been adopted, we anticipate that the new approach will give a welcome boost to our environmental and farm woodland schemes.

  Subject to the detailed rules to be agreed, land planted to woodland under the farm woodland premium scheme and the woodland grant scheme will be eligible to count towards set-aside. Most broadleaved and coniferous species may be planted, but planting under the FWPS for the purposes of agro-forestry or for producing coppice, Christmas trees or cricket bat willow is not permitted.

  Short rotation coppice may already be grown on set-aside land under the non-food use rules. We have announced our intention to offer grants under the woodland grant scheme to support this activity and I hope that the Council decision referred to above will provide the legal basis for this, too.

  Irish Box
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what financial aid has been offered to the Government of the Republic of Ireland in connection with the revised access arrangements for the Irish box; and for what purpose it is designed.

  Mr. Jack
  The agreement reached at the December Fisheries Council provides for additional financial aid to be provided for Ireland in order to improve controls, including operating expenditure, allowable under Community practice and within the framework of the financial guidelines.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the adequacy of resources for the management supervision of fishing in the Irish box; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jack
  Detailed plans for the implementation of the control measures for the Irish box from 1 January 1996 have still to be developed. In developing such measures, we shall be making a very careful assessment of the resources necessary to ensure effective enforcement of the new rules.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the United Kingdom will retain responsibility for the management of fishing in the Irish box; when the details for the management plans will be considered by the Council of Ministers; and what application has been made to the EC for the costs involved.

  Mr. Jack
  There is no change in the areas for which coastal member states have responsibility. The United Kingdom retains responsibility for enforcement of the common fisheries policy in those parts of the Irish box which fall within UK fishery limits. The rest of the Irish box remains, as now, the responsibility of the Irish Republic's enforcement authorities. The United Kingdom will be co-operating with the Republic of Ireland to ensure the effective operation of those provisions in the agreement which are relevant to the Irish box. The necessary measures will be put in hand in the forthcoming months. No application has been made to the EC for the costs involved, but some enforcement expenditure in the UK may be eligible for aid.
  741

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  The Gambia
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what considerations underlay the timing, in relation to the abortive coup in The Gambia, of the issuing of his Department's advice to United Kingdom citizens not to travel to that country.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the letter I sent him on 9 January. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the implications for United Kingdom policy towards The Gambia of the restoration of diplomatic relations between that country and Libya.

  Mr. Baldry
  The United Kingdom has a long-standing friendship with the Gambian people. It is for the Gambian Government to decide whom they have relations with.

  Diplomatic Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the total diplomatic expenditures for each year from 1979 to 1994 in 1993 prices.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The information expressed in 1993–94 prices, using figures for the overseas representation and other external relations votes, is contained in the table.

  All figures shown gross in £ million at 1993—94 prices

  Years

  Diplomatic expenditure

  Of which peacekeeping

  1978–79

  778

  34

  1979–80

  782

  24

  1980–81

  728

  22

  1981–82

  773

  52

  1982–83

  844

  53

  1983–84

  904

  57

  1984–85

  899

  51

  1985–86

  762

  48

  1986–87

  809

  47

  1987–88

  819

  41

  1988–89

  736

  46

  1989–90

  857

  64

  1990–91

  882

  40

  1991–92

  980

  64

  1992–93

  1,187

  191

  1993–94

  1,226

  235

  Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the actual Foreign Office expenditures, not including overseas development expenditures, for each year from 1979 to 1994 expressed in 1993 prices.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The information, expressed in 1993–94 prices, is contained in the table.

  All figures shown gross in £ million at 1993–

  Years

  Foreign Office Expenditure

  1978–79

  960

  1979–80

  958

  1980–81

  907

  742

  All figures shown gross in £ million at 1993—94 prices

  Years

  Foreign Office Expenditure

  1981—82

  956

  1982—83

  1,038

  1983—84

  1,106

  1984—85

  1,106

  1985—86

  976

  1986—87

  1,038

  1987—88

  1,042

  1988—89

  1,025

  1989—90

  1,090

  1990—91

  1,140

  1991—92

  1,245

  1992—93

  1,453

  1993—94

  1,500

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was(a) actual and (b) budgeted expenditure on Foreign Office overseas representation for each year from 1979 to 1994 expressed in 1993 prices.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The information, using figures for the overseas representation vote—votes 1, 2, 8 and part of 5 before 1985–86—expressed in 1993–94 prices, is contained in the table.

  All figures shown gross in £ million at 1993—94 prices

  Overseas Representation

  Years

  Actual

  Budgeted

  1978–79

  640

  653

  1979–80

  604

  628

  1980–81

  610

  655

  1981–82

  623

  662

  1982–83

  643

  660

  1983–84

  741

  756

  1984–85

  771

  778

  1985–86

  630

  661

  1986–87

  623

  652

  1987–88

  636

  665

  1988–89

  615

  632

  1989–90

  641

  660

  1990–91

  653

  665

  1991–92

  700

  707

  1992–93

  764

  781

  1993–94

  801

  858

  Atomic Energy Co-operation
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list each of the amendments made by date and command number since 1965 to the 1958 United States-United Kingdom mutual defence agreement on atomic energy co-operation, setting out the particular purpose of each amendment; and which amendments were ratified in accordance with the Ponsonby rule.

  Mr. David Davis
  The amendments which have been made to the 1958 United States-United Kingdom mutual defence agreement since 1965 entered into force on the following dates: 28 March 1969, Cmnd 4119; 8 April 1970, Cmnd 4383; 26 January 1975, Cmnd 6017; 25 March 1980, Cmnd 7976; 16 November 1984, Cmnd 9434; and 23 December 1994, Cmnd 2686. The prime purpose of each amendment was to extend the time-limited article III bis; occasionally new paragraphs
  743
  on nuclear materials accountancy procedures were inserted.

  As for the last part of the hon. Member's question, that information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the reason for the time period that elapsed between the presenting to the US Congress by President Clinton of the proposed amendments to the 1958 United States-United Kingdom mutual defence agreement on atomic energy matters and the same amendments being laid before Parliament.

  Mr. David Davis
  The 1994 amendment to the 1958 United States-United Kingdom mutual defence agreement was laid before Parliament in good time in order to ensure its ratification before the end of 1994. As US procedures require such documents to be laid before Congress for 90 days, it was necessary for the amendment to be presented earlier in the United States.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Boothferry (Mr. Davis), has yet replied to the hon. Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Simpson) in respect of the working group dealing with co-operation on computer modelling referred to in the debate on the Anglo-American mutual defence agreement on atomic energy,Official Report, 15 December, column 1238.

  Mr. David Davis
  I wrote to the hon. Member for Nottingham, South on 9 January. I shall place a copy of my reply in the Library.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library the technical annex to the 1958 United States—United Kingdom mutual defence agreement on atomic energy co-operation, as amended; and what infonnation he has as to its publication status in the United States.

  Mr. David Davis
  The technical annex to the 1958 United Kingdom—United States mutual defence agreement is a classified document. I have no plans to place a copy in the Library or to arrange for its publication.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters in regard to regional non-proliferation arrangements and the prospects of Pakistan and India joining the nuclear non-proliferation treaty were discussed during his recent visit to Pakistan and India.

  Mr. David Davis
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs urged Pakistan and India to accede to the non-proliferation treaty. Both indicated that they were unable at this time to sign the treaty.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's proposals put to the final preparatory committee for the nuclear non-proliferation treaty preview and extension conference in New York in January.

  Mr. David Davis
  Our aim at the fourth preparatory committee for the nuclear non-proliferation treaty conference will be to settle a number of unresolved issues 744
  left over from the third preparatory committee. These include the allocation of posts, the provision of background papers, the agenda, and questions related to financing and rules of procedure for the conference, which opens on 17 April 1995.

  Uranium Sales
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise at the next EU Foreign Affairs Council the allegations made by the South African Government on 9 January in respect of the sale by France of enriched uranium to South Africa in the 1980s; and if he will press the presidency of the Council of Ministers to investigate the allegation.

  Mr. David Davis
  I have no plans to raise this matter at the next EU Foreign Affairs Council.

  Croatia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the President of Croatia had made about the removal of UNPROFOR troops; and what was Her Majesty's Government's response.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  President Tudjman of Croatia wrote to the United Nations Secretary-General on 13 January to inform him that the Croatian Government did not wish UNPROFOR's mandate to be renewed in the UN protected areas beyond 31 March 1995. The Croatian deputy Foreign Minister had forewarned us of this decision on 11 January.

  In our response, we have made clear our disappointment with this development and our concern that it puts at risk the search for a peace settlement in the region. UNPROFOR has a vital role in this process. Although we recognise the domestic pressures on the Croatian Government to find a solution to the situation on the Krajina, we have urged them, both nationally and through our support for the Security Council statement on 17 January, to reconsider their decision.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken by the European Union to establish a human rights centre in Hong Kong; and what has been the response of the Chinese Government.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The European Union has no plans to set up a human rights centre in Hong Kong. The European Parliament added a new "remark" to the 1995 budget line B7–5240 to the effect that the budget line could be used to"promote the protection of human rights in countries where there is soon to be a change of sovereignty."

  Such remarks represent the views of the European Parliament alone, and have no binding force on the other European Union institutions.

  We are not aware of any response from the Chinese Government.

  BBC World Service
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards the BBC World Service with particular reference to funding the balance of broadcasts in different languages
  745
  and the relationship between his Department and the service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  As stated in the White Paper on "The Future of the BBC" Cm 2.621 of July 1994, the World Service will in future operate to targets and performance indicators agreed with FCO, instead of a detailed prescription of languages and hours of broadcasts. Priorities for the allocation of resources are discussed regularly between the World Service and the FCO.

  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Broxtowe (Mr. Lester) on 9 December 1994, Official Report, columns 425–26, which gave details of some of the targets agreed for the current triennium.

  East Timor
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what ways British policy on the annexation of East Timor by Indonesia has changed since the mid-1970s; and what evidence he has of the effect of these changes.

  Mr Goodlad
  Our policy has been consistent throughout this period. We do not recognise Indonesia's annexation of East Timor and continue to encourage Indonesia and Portugal to work together, under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General, to find a lasting and acceptable solution to the problem. We welcome the outcome of the latest round of talks on 9 January.

  Rwanda
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action has recently been taken by UNAMIR forces in Rwanda to disarm and control former soldiers in the Rwandan army.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  UNAMIR's mandate does not cover disarming former soldiers of the Rwandan army and we have no reports that such action has taken place.

  French Foreign Policy
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has expressed concern to the French Government about the adverse consequences of their foreign policy initiatives with Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have raised the recent French decision to open an interests section in Baghdad both bilaterally and in discussion with European Union partners. We expressed our concern at the move, and underlined that we had no plans to follow suit, given Iraq's continuing failure to implement outstanding Security Council resolutions.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has expressed concern to the French Government about the adverse consequences of their foreign policy initiatives with Algeria.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  No. The French were party to the EU statement in September 1994 calling on all sides to cease all acts of violence and to allow peaceful dialogue.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has expressed concern to the French Government about the adverse consequences of their foreign policy initiatives with Sudan.
  746
  Mr. Hogg
  EU concerns about such issues as the human rights situation and civil war in Sudan are supported by all partners. Recent EU joint action has included a statement on 31 October which condemned the use of violence by the Sudanese authorities to evict residents from a Khartoum squatter camp.

  Bermuda
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the criteria for selection for the position of commissioner of police and deputy commissioner of police in the overseas dependent territory of Bermuda.

  Mr. Baldry
  It is that the officers should be qualified and experienced with the ability to introduce the most modern administration, management and policing techniques to see that the Bermuda police service provides efficient and effective policing, responsive to the needs of the community.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what procedures are being used to select the successful candidates for the positions of commissioner and deputy commissioner of police in Bermuda; and which individuals will be involved in their selection.

  Mr. Baldry
  In accordance with section 87 of the Bermuda constitution, the appointments are made by the Governor in consultation with the Public Service Commission.

  A shortlist of eight Association of Chief Police Officers candidates was prepared by the ODA senior police adviser in consultation with Her Majesty's chief inspector of constabulary and the deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan police. Preliminary interviews of these candidates were conducted by the deputy Governor, the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs and the ODA senior police adviser. Three of the eight were selected to travel to Bermuda for a final interview.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the present salaries of the commissioner of police and the assistant commissioner of police in Bermuda; and what are the proposed salaries for both posts for their replacements.

  Mr. Baldry
  The present salaries are $110,465 and $88,644 respectively. The proposed salaries are the same.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if native Bermudians may apply for all vacant posts in the administration of Bermuda.

  Mr. Baldry
  Yes. Bermudians are the first source for candidates for all vacant posts in the public service in Bermuda.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of state for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the current vacancies in Bermuda for the posts of commissioner and deputy commissioner are open to(a) suitably qualified Bermudans, (b) suitably qualified candidates from other dependent territories, (c) suitably qualified candidates from the Caribbean and other areas in the region and (d) suitably qualified candidates from Africa.

  Mr. Baldry
  Yes. All vacancies are open to suitably qualified candidates. Priority is given to Bermudians where possible. In this particular instance, in the absence of any suitably qualified Bermudian candidates, the
  747
  Governor and Government decided to recruit from the UK.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library the country policy plan for the overseas dependent territory of Bermuda.

  Mr. Baldry
  There is no country policy plan for Bermuda. Country policy plans are draw up for those Caribbean dependent territories which are recipients of aid from Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will place in the Library the report produced by Lionel Grundy on the Bermudan police force in 1994; what assessment he has made of the effect of the report on morale of the Bermudan police force; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The report was compiled by HM inspector-general of the dependent territories constabulary, following a request from the Governor of Bermuda. The report is confidential to the Governor and Government of Bermuda and will not, therefore, be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's position regarding the recruitment of non-Bermudian policemen at all ranks to the Bermuda police force.

  Mr. Baldry
  No. That is a matter for the Governor and the Government of Bermuda.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs where the advertisements for the posts of commissioner and deputy commissioner of police in the overseas dependent territory of Bermuda have been placed.

  Mr. Baldry
  The posts were not advertised in this instance and, because of the need to fill the posts with reasonable expedition, the Governor and Government decided to recruit from the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) which posts in the overseas dependent territory of Bermuda have been reserved specifically for expatriate white Britons;

  (2) what representations he or the Governor of Bermuda have received from opposition parties in Bermuda regarding the replacements for the commissioner and deputy commissioner of police; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  None.

  Ministerial Travel
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 12 December,Official Report, columns 463–66, concerning overseas travel at public expense by spouses of Ministers, what proportion of the spouses' visit was dedicated to official visits and business.

  Mr. Baldry
  When a spouse accompanies a Minister on an overseas visit, her time is dedicated to accompanying the Minister on his official programme or following a parallel programme.
  748

  Pakistan
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made since his return from Pakistan to the Pakistan Government regarding legislation they have proposed providing for the death penalty for certain categories of drug traffickers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  We have made no such representations.

  More than 80 per cent. of the heroin seized in this country originates from south-west Asia. Much of this passes through Pakistan.

  We have for some time been pressing the Government of Pakistan to introduce comprehensive anti-narcotics legislation. The ordinance signed by the President on 5 January has the force of law. Many of the provisions of the new ordinance are welcome and should enhance Pakistan's ability to combat drug trafficking.

  I welcome provision in the new legislation for the seizure and forfeiture of the proceeds of drug trafficking. I hope that, before long, Britain and Pakistan will negotiate a bilateral asset confiscation agreement which would allow us to trace, freeze and confiscate the assets derived by drug traffickers from their crime. No one should profit from this evil trade.

  The inclusion of provision for the death penalty as ale maximum sentence for the possession, import, export or transhipment of more than 100gm of heroin—or equivalent—is a matter for the Government of Pakistan, provided that respect is shown for the provisions on the death penalty in international human rights law.

  Overseas Diplomatic Residences
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answers to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley of 6 December,Official Report, column 168 and the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Byers) 16 January, Official Report, column 286, what information is collected about the cost of upkeep of overseas diplomatic residences owned by Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Information on all expenditure associated with diplomatic properties is accounted for in accordance with Government accounting rules. The expenditure on upkeep of property at posts is recorded by functional subhead—maintenance, furnishing, utilities etcetera—and not by individual property. To identify the upkeep, therefore, of owned residences of heads of post, for example, it would be necessary to extract specific information from a range of subhead records held at posts. This is not readily done. With the advent of a new financial management accounting system in April 1996, it is the FCO's intention to make aggregation of the relevant figures more easily attainable.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what factors made it(a) possible to provide information in respect of the cost of upkeep of diplomatic residences in response to the question of the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Byers) of 16 January, Official Report, column 286 and (b) impossible to provide such information in response to the question of the hon. Member for Cynon Valley of 6 December, Official Report, column 168.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The question from the hon. Member of Wallsend of 16 January asked for details of total running
  749
  costs for certain posts and total entertainment costs for those posts. This information is held centrally and is therefore relatively easy to identify.

  The question from the hon. Member for Cynon Valley of 6 December asked for details of the cost of the upkeep of owned residences of heads of post. Such expenditure is included in a range of overseas subheads which combine the total cost of maintenance, furnishings, utilities and other upkeep costs for overseas offices, heads of mission residences and staff residential accommodation. Since the responsibility for such maintenance is partially delegated to posts and partially exercised in London, each post would be required to prepare and submit separate analyses; this could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Iraq
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy in respect of UN Security Council resolutions regarding the retention of full-scale sanctions against Iraq.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  UN sanctions against Iraq should remain in place until the Iraqi Government comply fully with their obligations under all relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

DEFENCE

  Pitreavie
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the final destination for the Comcen equipment currently at Pitreavie.

  Mr. Soames
  On current plans, the principal items of Comcen equipment at Pitreavie would be relocated as follows:

  a. Tandem CLX computers to the new Portsmouth dockyard Comcen.

  b. Ten channel RATT ship shore equipment to Faslane.

  c. Two core network packet switches to other nodes in the naval shore telecommunications network. The precise destination remains subject to detailed planning for reconfiguration of the NSTN.

  d. NATO submarine broadcast control equipment to either Comcen Whitehall or RAF High Wycombe.

  A number of small obsolescent equipments and system components at Pitreavie would be disposed of. Those with remaining useful life would be retained in store to support other Comcens.

  As stated in the consultation document on Pitreavie, where final destinations for relocating equipment are unclear the most expensive option has formed the basis of the estimated costs involved.

  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what considerations underlay the decision to include in the average costs quoted in C31 consultation document of the defence costs study on Pitreavie of both general running costs and one-off costs.

  Mr. Soames
  Both general running costs and one-off costs need to be taken into account to gain a complete understanding of the overall costs and relative savings associated with particular options. This was the basis of the approach used in the consultation document on 750
  Pitreavie. In the case of future unprogrammed one-off costs, provision was made, where appropriate, on the basis of figures derived from historical expenditure patterns.

  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the conduct of the consultation process over the future of Pitreavie.

  Mr. Soames
  Proposals on the future location of FOSNNI's operational headquarters were promulgated in a consultation document dated 21 October 1994. Amended financial information relating to these proposals was issued subsequently on 16 December. The period allowed for consultation was extended slightly to allow for this additional information to be studied and consultation formally completed on 6 January 1995. Responses to our proposals are currently being given careful consideration and I hope to announce a decision shortly.

  Service Accommodation
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he is taking to maximise proceeds on the sale of Ministry of Defence houses.

  Mr. Soames
  Married quarters which are suitable for individual sale are normally offered for sale to service personnel through the services discount scheme. Any properties not suitable for this scheme are currently being offered for sale in bulk to housing associations at a discount in return for nomination rights on some of the properties for personnel leaving the services. Any properties not taken up through schemes are offered for sale on the open market at full market price.

  Motor Vehicles
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the breakdown by company and country of origin of purchases of motor vehicles under his Department's enabling contract arrangements in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Freeman
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Military Equipment
  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he gave to the leasing of tracked tractors before inviting Caterpillar Overseas SA of Switzerland to tender for the reconditioning of 82 tracked tractors under tender No. ABROIA2/1695; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Staff Cars
  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he gave to the leasing or contract hiring of staff cars before inviting tenders for replacement of part of the staff car fleet under tender No. LV2a/255; whether the successful contractor will be required to provide maintenance of the vehicles; and if he will make a statement.
  751
  Mr. Freeman
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Naval Equipment Procurement
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about naval equipment procurement plans.

  Mr. Freeman
  I am pleased to confirm that an order valued in the region of £40 million has been placed with BAeSEMA to build an ocean survey vessel for the Royal Navy's hydrographic service. The new ship will be built by Appledore Shipbuilders Ltd. in Devon under sub-contract to BAeSEMA and will carry out systematic hydrographic surveys in the world's oceans, replacing the existing specialised vessel HMS Hecla. This order recognises the importance to the Royal Navy of a continuing specialist hydrographic capability and is part of the Government's plans to replace current hydrographic vessels and equipment as it becomes necessary, which were announced by the then Minister of State for Defence Procurement in the House on 8 March 1994.

  Bosnia
  Mr. Michael Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how the United Kingdom intends to respond to the recent United Nations request for additional troops and equipment to enable UNPROFOR to implement the cessation of hostilities agreement in Bosnia.

  Mr. Rifkind
  The Government made a formal offer to the UN yesterday of an additional United Kingdom contribution to UNPROFOR. This consists of three Royal Air Force Chinook helicopters for military resupply and movement of UNPROFOR, and a further 12 British Army helicopters, comprising six Lynx and six Gazelles for air reconnaissance and transport. A further three Chinooks will be available on standby in the UK. We are also offering to provide up to 19 additional UN military observers to augment the 18 UK UNMOs already in theatre.

  In reaching this decision, the Government judged it essential to respond positively to the UN request in order to support the recent cessation of hostilities agreement, which offers an opportunity for concluding a durable, negotiated peace settlement to which all the parties can agree and by which they will abide. As a member of the five-nation contact group leading the peace negotiations, and as a nation with one of the largest military contingents in Bosnia, this positive response demonstrates the Government's firm and continuing commitment to a lasting peaceful solution to the conflict.

  Directorate of Marine Services (Naval)
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to contractorise or privatise those depots and vessels that are administered by the Directorate of Marine Services (Naval).

  Mr. Soames
  We have at present no plans to contractorise or privatise any of the depots or vessels administered by the Director of Marine Services (Naval). Invitations to tender will shortly be issued to a number of companies and to an in—house team, however, inviting bids for the provision of services undertaken at present by the directorate.
  752
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff are employed at Her Majesty's mooring and salvage depots throughout the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Soames
  A total of 137 staff are employed in the depots at Pembroke dock and Fairlie.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff are employed by his Department's Directorate of Marine Services (Naval).

  Mr. Soames
  The service employs some 1,770 staff.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff are employed aboard vessels that are the responsibility of his Department's Directorate of Marine Services (Naval).

  Mr. Soames
  Some 1,200 of the directorate's staff are employed afloat.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those contractors who are carrying out marine service operations for his Department's Directorate of Marine Services (Naval); when they began their contract; how long the contracts were for; and which operations they cover.

  Mr. Soames
  The information is as follows:

  Contractor

  Period of contract

  Operation

  James Fisher and Son pic

  3 June 1991 to 2 June 1995

  Range safety

  AV Seawork

  1 May 1993 to 30 April 1998

  Support to training exercises, including sea survival.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when was the last review carried out into the operation of his Department's Directorate of Marine Services (Naval); and what were the recommendations of that review.

  Mr. Soames
  A study into the feasibility of market testing the Directorate of Marine Services was completed in February 1994; this concluded that the marine services organisation should be market tested. The future of the organisation was also considered during "Front Line First", in common with all naval support services; this endorsed the findings of the market testing feasibility study.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reviews have been carried out into the operation of his Department's Directorate of Marine Services (Naval) in the last 10 years; and what were the recommendations of those reviews.

  Mr. Soames
  In addition to the market testing feasibility study and "Front Line First", which were both completed during 1994, there have been two separate reviews of the totality of operations carried out by the Directorate of Marine Services (Naval). The first of these was undertaken during 1989–90 and resulted in a division of the directorate's responsibilities between the Commander—in—Chief Naval Home Command and the Chief of Fleet Support. As a result of difficulties subsequently experienced with this approach, a second review was undertaken in 1991–92, resulting in re—unification of the directorate.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those depots that are the responsibility of his Department's Directorate of Marine Services (Naval).
  753
  Mr. Soames
  The Director of Marine Services (Naval), whose headquarters are in Bath, is responsible for:

  Her Majesty's mooring and marine salvage depot, Pembroke Dock, Dyfed;

  The NATO mooring and support depot, Fairlie, Strathclyde;

  Marine services bases within HM naval bases at Devonport, Portsmouth, Portland, Faslane and Rosyth;

  Marine services bases at Greenock and Kyle of Lochalsh.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what operations which are the responsibility of his Department's Directorate of Marine Services (Naval) have been privatised or contractorised in the past 10 years.

  Mr. Soames
  The following operations, previously the responsibility of the Directorate of Marine Services (Naval), have been privatised or contractorised during the past 10 years:

  Range safety at coastal ranges around the United Kingdom (contractorised);

  Support to sea survival and other training exercises (contractorised);

  The Gourock to Kilgreggan ferry service (privatised)

  Industrial Staff

  Non-Industrial Staff

  Total

  a. established civil servants with more than 10 years service:

  1

  1

  2

  b. established civil servants with less than 10 years service:

  2

  3

  5

  c. currently unemployed:

  3

  3

  6

  d. ex-casual or period contract MOD or Civil Service staff:

  25

  2

  27

  e. currently employed outside of the MOD and Civil Service:

  7

  1

  8

  Atomic Weapons Establishment
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the plans for the future of the Atomic Weapons Establishment.

  Mr. Freeman
  Hunting-BRAE Ltd., which manages and operates the Atomic Weapons Establishment on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, is today announcing a rationalisation of the sites of the establishment. This will involve some transfers of work to Aldermaston, and also the closure of the Cardiff site, the partial closure of the Burghfield site, and the transfer of the responsibility for some of the work carried out at Foulness site to the single defence science and technology agency proposed by the defence costs study. In all there will be about 850 job losses.

  These proposals will be made possible by the completion of work on Trident warheads. They will allow sensible economies to be made without in any way affecting our ability to meet our present and future needs, and they have our full support. Our nuclear policy is unchanged. The Atomic Weapons Establishment will continue to underwrite the safety and reliability of warheads now in service and will retain the capability to design and produce warheads in future as circumstances make necessary.
  754

  Army Base Repair Organisation Bovington
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have started employment at ABRO Bovington since that establishment became an agency; how many were, on recruitment,(a) established civil servants with more than 10 years service, (b) established civil servants with less than 10 years service, (c) currently unemployed, (d) ex—casual or period contract MOD or civil service staff and (e) currently employed outside of the MOD and Civil Service.

  Mr. Freeman
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Army Base Repair Organisation. I have therefore asked him to reply.

  Letter from J R Drew to Mr. Ian Bruce, dated 20 January 1995:
  I am responding, as Chief Executive of the Army Base Repair Organisation, to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the number of people who have joined the staff of ABRO Bovington since the launch of the Agency on 1 April 1993.
  The total number is 48, which breaks down as follows:

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensioner Incomes
  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the proportion of pensioners receiving income from savings identified as(a) all pensioners, (b) single male pensioners aged under 75 years, (c) single female pensioners aged under 75 years, (d) single pensioners aged under 75 years, (e) pensioner couples aged under 75 years, (f) single male pensioners aged 75 years and over, (g) single female pensioners aged 75 years and over, (h) single pensioners aged 75 years and over and (i) pensioner couples where at least one partner is aged 75 years and over; and if he will provide figures for the mean and median amount received for the latest year in which figures are available.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The information is in the table.

  The proportion of Pensioners with Investment Income with the Mean and Median Amounts for those in Receipt

  Proportion with Investment Income (per cent.)

  Mean Amount (£ per week)

  Median Amount (£ per week)

  All Pensioner Units

  76

  43.30

  10.10

  Single male pensioners under 75

  70

  66.60

  23.30

  755

  The proportion of Pensioners with Investment Income with the Mean and Median Amounts for those in Receipt

  Proportion with Investment Income (per cent.)

  Mean Amount (£ per week)

  Median Amount (£ per week)

  Single female pensioners under 75

  72

  34.40

  7.30

  Single pensioners under 75

  71

  41.00

  9.10

  Pensioner couples under 75

  83

  53.60

  20.60

  Single male pensioners 75 and over

  68

  51.10

  8.60

  Single female pensioners 75 and over

  71

  25.10

  3.50

  Single pensioners 75 and over

  70

  30.20

  4.10

  Pensioner couples with one partner 75 and over

  83

  55.60

  13.40

  Notes:

  1. Percentages are rounded to the nearest one per cent. amounts rounded to the nearest 10p.

  2. Estimates are drawn from the 1992 family expenditure survey at July 1992 prices.

  3. Single pensioners are defined as those over state pension age, couples are those where the husband is over state pension age.

  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was(a) the mean and (b) the median income of (i) single pensioners and (ii) pensioner couples before and after housing costs in the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The information is in the table.

  Mean and median income for single pensioners and pensioner couples 1992 (£ per week)

  Single pensioners

  Pensioner couples

  Mean net BHC

  109.40

  206.20

  Mean net AHC

  93.00

  190.70

  Median net BHC

  86.30

  162.90

  Median net AHC

  62.80

  145.80

  Notes:

  1 Figures are rounded to the nearest 10p.

  2 Estimates derived from the 1992 family expenditure survey.

  3 "Single pensioners" are defined as single people aged over state pension age, "Pensioner couples" are married couples where the husband is over state pension age.

  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of pensioner households with total weekly incomes below income support level.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Estimates of the number of pensioner units who would be eligible for income support and with incomes below their income support level are contained in the DSS publication 756
  "Income-related Benefits: estimates of take-up in 1992" which was published today. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the annual revenue which would be raised by the Exchequer if employer national insurance contributions were extended to cover all benefits in kind.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  It is estimated that the extension of employers' contributions to all taxable benefits in kind would raise approximately £250 million in a full year. This is based on an estimate of taxable benefits in kind reportable to the Inland Revenue in 1994–95. It assumes the rate of national insurance contributions payable as currently chargeable under class 1A.

  Take-up Rates
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the benefit take-up figures for 1992 will become available.

  Mr. Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the number of pensioner households which do not claim(a) housing benefit and (b) income support to which they would be entitled; and what is this figure as a proportion of the total non-take-up of these benefits.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Estimates of the income-related benefit take-up for 1992 have today been published by the Government Statistical Service. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

  Disability Legislation
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to produce a copy of the Disability Discrimination Bill using pictures and simple text to make it accessible to people with learning difficulties.

  Mr. Hague
  The White Paper, which explains in detail the Bill's provisions, is available in a full and simplified summary version on audio cassette. A shortened, simplified written version is also available. We have no plans to produce copies of the Bill in pictorial formats.

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to produce a copy of the Civil Rights (Disabled Persons) Bill using pictures and simple text to make it accessible to people with learning difficulties.

  Mr. Hague
  Publication of private Members' Bills is arranged by the Member concerned. There are no plans for this Department to become involved in the publication of this Bill in alternative formats.

  Child Support
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many parents with care on income support prior to April 1993(a) have had their cases taken on by the Child Support Agency and (b) will have the take-on of their cases delayed;

  (2) how many parents with care, who have not returned their maintenance application form for over six months, will not have their cases pursued;
  757
  (3) how many parents with care in receipt of family credit prior to April 1993 have (a) had their cases taken on by the Child Support Agency and (b) have still to have their cases taken on;

  (4) how many parents with care, who have returned their maintenance applications forms with insufficient information to progress the case, will not have their case pursued; and, in this category, what is the Child Support Agency's definition of insufficient information;

  (5) if parents with care who do not return their maintenance application forms for six months or more will have their cases delayed or if this provision will apply only to those outstanding for more than six months at 20 December 1994.

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

  Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. Frank Field, dated 20 January 1995:
  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security on the operations of the Child Support Agency.
  Between April 1993 and the end of October 1994, the Agency recorded the issue of 1,111,700 maintenance application forms to parents with care. Of these, 291,000 went to parents who were in receipt of income support before the implementation of the Child Support Act 1991, and 296,000 to parents receiving Family Credit (FC) or Disability Working Allowance (DWA). Cases where FC or DWA was in payment prior to April 1993 cannot be identified separately within this latter figure, but there should be no remaining cases in this category where an application form has not been issued to the parent with care.
  The measures announced on 20 December will enable the Agency to give priority to improving its performance in achieving accurate and regular payments of maintenance in the applications already received, and in the new cases which it will continue to take on.
  The measures allow the Agency to defer the take on of the remaining pre—April 1993 income support cases, with an estimated 340,000 cases being deferred.
  In addition, some several thousand cases are expected to be deferred where an application form was issued more than six months ago but either has not been returned at all, or is lacking information necessary to progress the case. Such information includes, for example, details of the absent parent and/or the qualifying child. Parents who have returned their incomplete form will be asked whether they wish the Agency to continue to process their application at the present time. This will be a one off exercise relating only to maintenance application forms issued before 1 July 1994.
  A precise figure will be available for the cases which can be deferred where the application form was issued before 1 July once an exercise has been completed to identify those which fulfil the criteria. This should be about the middle of March.
  The Agency will continue to deal with all applications arising from new and repeat claims to benefit, and from parents not in receipt of benefit without existing maintenance agreements. It will also still be able to take on cases where parents in receipt of income support wish to make an early application for a maintenance assessment. There is absolutely no question of deferring a case because the Absent Parent has refused to cooperate with the Agency.
  The Agency will recommence the take—on of the deferred cases where the Parent With Care is currently in receipt of a prescribed benefit just as soon as it is in a position to deal with them promptly and effectively.
  I hope that this is of help.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many parents with care since implementation of the Child Support Act 1991 have(a) not returned the maintenance application form, (b) had
  758
  good cause accepted and (c) been subject to the benefit penalty.

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

  Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. Frank Field, dated 20 January 1995:
  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the total number of maintenance assessment forms not returned to the Child Support Agency and the number of claims by Parents With Care (PWC) of good cause not to cooperate with the Agency in arranging maintenance.
  According to the Agency's records, 1,111,733 maintenance application forms have been issued and 802,561 returned. However, not all of the remainder still have action outstanding since good cause activity will either have been completed or still be ongoing in many. In others, the parent with care will no longer be in receipt of a prescribed benefit.
  The Agency accepted that in 57,000 cases the PWC had good cause not to cooperate with the Agency. Of the 39,000 cases where good cause was not accepted, a total of 11,500 reduced benefit directions were issued to the Benefits Agency for imposition.
  Details of the number of cases in which benefit was actually reduced is not currently available, except at disproportionate cost. The Agency is, however, taking steps which will make this information available in the future.
  I hope that this is of help.

  Automated Credit Transfers
  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of pensioners opted to receive their state pension by bank automated credit transfer in 1994.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  This is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend with such information as is available.

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Sir Andrew Bowden, dated 19 January 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the proportion of pensioners receiving payment of Retirement Pension (RP) by bank automated credit transfer (ACT).
  Information is not available in the exact form requested. This is because information is not collated to define whether ACT payments are made to either a bank or building society account. To provide information specifically relating to ACT payments made to banks would incur a disproportionate cost.
  As of 20 November 1994, the latest date for which figures are available, a total of 2,844,721 pensioners were having their RP paid by ACT. This represented 28.63 per cent. of the total caseload.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Parliamentary Questions
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many parliamentary questions she has referred to chief executives of next steps agencies in each year since 1992.
  759
  Mr. Heseltine
  The information is as follows:

  Parliamentary session

  Questions answered by chief executives1

  1992–93

  25

  1993–94

  11

  1994–952

  5

  Notes:

  1 A number of questions have required answers from some, or all of the Department's 10 agencies.

  2 Figures shown are as at 18 January 1995.

  South Africa (Visits)
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how often he has visited South Africa since the beginning of 1993; what were the dates of these visits; and if he was accompanied by British businessmen on any of these visits.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I have visited South Africa once since the beginning of 1993. My visit took place over the period 9 to 15 July 1994 and I was accompanied by 57 British business men.

  Directors (Disqualification)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he intends to take to ensure that directors are disqualified when they have committed a misconduct in relation to the insolvency of a company.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  During 1994, proceedings were issued against 747 unfit directors of insolvent companies representing a 77 per cent. increase over 1993—422 directors. During 1995, it is proposed to make further additional resources available to the Insolvency Service's disqualification unit, which combined with the benefits accruing from implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Public Accounts Committee on disqualification, will enable the increased effectiveness achieved in 1994 to be further improved.

  Insolvency Service
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the cost or savings to his Department of contracting out of the Insolvency Service.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The consultants, Stoy Hayward Consulting, concluded that value for money and other potential benefits needed to be definitively tested; and that the bidding process would provide such a test of value for money.

  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the applicability of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Order 1981 to the contracting out by his Department of the Insolvency Service.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  No decision to contract out work of official receivers has been taken; any decision would be subject to the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 and the procedures applicable to contracting out which are set out in it.

  In the circumstances it is too early to consider the issue of Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981, the implications of which may not become clear until the nature of proposals in any bidding process could be assessed.
  760
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost of the Lois computer system; for what purpose it was designed; and what estimate he has made as to whether his Department will recover the cost of investment in the Lois computer system following the contracting out of the Insolvency Service.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The estimated cost of the Lois computer system, which is designed to assist official receivers in the administration of cases and in particular with the production of the many documents that have to be prepared, is £8,490,150.

  As no decision to contract out the work of official receivers has been taken, the question of whether the costs of Lois would be recovered in the event of such a decision has not yet been considered.

  Advisory Bodies
  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 Overseas Projects Board, (b) the Offshore Industry Liaison Committee, (c) the Energy Advisory Panel and (d) the Advisory Committee on Coal Research.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The information requested is as follows:a) Overseas Projects Board
  No legislation has resulted from the work of the Overseas Project Board over the past three years. However it has acted as a valuable source of advice to Ministers on how Government resources including aid and trade provision, overseas projects fund and ECGD cover should best be directed. It has also set up sector working groups, co—opting wider industry representation with appropriate experience, to identify project opportunities overseas and develop tactics, jointly with government, to maximise the United Kingdom's chances of winning contracts. So far, seven groups have been set up covering airports; railways and mass transit; power; water industries; telecommunications; healthcare; education and training.
  b) Offshore Industry Liaison Committee
  OILCO does not initiate policies or legislation. It has advised Ministers on issues arising from activity on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf and has facilitated a dialogue on matters such as construction demand, forecast of activity and training. A working group set up under OILCO's auspices reported to UKCS competitiveness in February and November 1993.
  c) Energy Advisory Panel
  There have been no proposals from the energy advisory panel for policies and legislation as its principal role is to assist in the preparation of the Government's annual energy report.
  d) Advisory Committee on Coal Research
  No legislative proposals have been initiated by the advisory committee on coal research in the last three years. Policy was initiated by the Government under the advice of the coal task force, who were the predecessor to the ACCR. A summary of the policy is published in Energy Paper 63, which is held in the Library of the House of Commons.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the programme of work for(a) the Overseas Projects Board, (b) the Offshore Industry Liaison Committee, (c) the Energy Advisory Panel and (d) the Advisory Committee on Coal Research.

  Mr. Heseltine
  The information requested is as follows:a) Overseas Projects Board
  The Overseas Projects Board will continue to provide expert advice to Ministers and their officials on issues affecting UK industry's ability to compete effectively for major project

  761
  business overseas. The seven sector groups of the Board have produced action plans and have identified a number of opportunities. These are being pursued.
  b) Offshore Industry Liaison Committee
  OILCO does not have a programme of work. The committee is free to consider and give advice on all issues which fall within its terms of reference.
  c) Energy Advisory Panel
  The principal role of the energy advisory panel lies in assisting in the preparation of the Government's annual energy report. This involves regular meetings with officials to discuss the structure and content of the energy report.
  d) Advisory Committee on Coal Research (ACCR)
  The programme of work for the ACCR is as outlined in Energy Paper 63 (annex B) which is held in the Library of the House of Commons.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if a complaint from a member of the public would be treated unfavourably by his Department if the letter of complaint included grammatical errors.

  Mr. Heseltine
  It certainly should not be treated unfavourably.

  Anglian TV Shares
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of the Board of Trade who was the independent QC called in to advise the Secretary of State on the DTI report on Lord Archer of Weston—super—Mare's share dealing in the Anglian TV shares; and what instructions he was given.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I was advised on this matter by Mr. Edmund Lawson QC. I am not prepared to disclose the instructions which he was given. These instructions and the advice which he gave were confidential, and to disclose them would involve disclosing the substance of the inspectors report, for which there is no provision in the Act.

  Export Credits
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade in what months since 1980 the Export Credits Guarantee Department has declared Nigeria off—cover for medium-term export credit.

  Mr. Needham
  The ECGD, having paid substantial claims in respect of defaults on credits to Nigeria, suspended medium-term cover on 1 February 1984. However, already issued offers for medium-term cover were held valid until they expired. Such cover has not been available for new business since that date.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the definition of defence contracts as used by the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

  Mr. Needham
  All sales involving overseas defence organisations such as ministries of defence or armed forces.

  Ministerial Travel
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 22 November,Official Report, column 76, concerning overseas travel at public expense by spouses of Ministers, what proportion of the spouses' visit was dedicated to official visits and business.
  762
  Mr. Heseltine
  Visits by Ministers overseas involve a full programme of official engagements. Many of these will not be appropriate for a spouse's participation. A spouse's visit will therefore include some of these engagements as well as separate engagements organised by the British embassy. This has been normal practice under successive Governments and applied in the case of all the visits by DTI Ministers referred to in my answer of 22 November.

  Export Control (Costs)
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the total running costs of his Department's export control organisation for each of the last five financial years.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The total running costs for the Department's export control organisation for the financial years 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94 were £2.6 million, £2.8 million, £3.3 million, £3.2 million, and £3.7 million respectively.

  Iraq
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assistance was given by his Department to British companies visiting the Baghdad trade fair centre in November.

  Mr. Needham
  A number of British companies were given licences to communicate on the supply of humanitarian goods, currently permitted under UN sanctions, which enabled them to attend the Euromed and Watertech exhibitions held in Baghdad in November.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what assistance is being given by his Department to the proposed trade mission to Iraq on 15 February;

  (2) when he last met the Iraqi British interests group;

  (3) which companies are involved in the proposed trade mission to Iraq on 15 February; what is its purpose; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what assistance is being given to (a) Thames Water International, (b) Amersham international, (c) Leyland Trucks, (d) RB International, (e) Angus Fires, (f) Quest International, (g) Metrito UK and (h) United Projects to visit Iraq in February.

  Mr. Needham
  I have heard of the proposed trade mission to Iraq by the Iraqi—British interests group and I have seen the reports of its activities in the press. I have not met the group. Neither it nor the companies reportedly involved are being provided with Government assistance to visit Iraq. Apart from those identified in the press, I am not aware of the companies involved.

  Promotional Offers
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider introducing legislation that protects the consumer against the failure of promotional offers.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 19 January 1995]I consider existing controls in this area to be adequate.
  763

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Attorney-General what was the result of his action over the Lord Archer share dealing allegations with particular reference to possible grounds for prosecution; and what plans he has to take the matter further.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Financial Services Act 1986 places responsibility for these matters on me. I appointed inspectors on 8 February 1994 to investigate allegations concerning share dealing by Lord Archer and they presented their report to me on 18 July 1994. As I announced on 28 July 1994, I concluded, on the basis of the inspectors' report and departmental and other, independent, legal advice, that the Department should take no further action against any of the individuals concerned in the investigation.

HEALTH

  Ambulance Services
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what places or areas in England or Wales responsibility for running the emergency ambulance service is that of an authority which includes directly elected members of the public, or persons other than those directly, or indirectly appointed as employed persons.

  Mr. Sackville
  All ambulances services in England are national health service trusts or parts of trusts, with the exception of the London ambulance service. All trusts have a chairman appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and up to five non-executive directors, two appointed by the relevant regional health authority and the remainder by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. The London ambulance service is managed by South Thames regional health authority on behalf of the RHAs in London. Ambulance services in Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Mixed-sex Wards
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes have been made in respect of policy on mixed-sex wards in the national health service since 1965.

  Mr. Sackville
  None. National health service hospitals have always been expected, as a general principle, to provide accommodation in such a way as to preserve the dignity of the individual patient, prevent embarrassment, and at all times to ensure acceptable standards of privacy. This has not changed since 1965, but is now a national standard under the patients charter.

  The patients charter in England has been strengthened to ensure that patients are better informed so as to enable them to make a more informed choice on whether to accept accommodation in a mixed-sex ward. Under new charter standards, patients should expect single-sex washing and toilet facilities.
  764

  General Practitioners, Sunderland
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what allocation of funds per patient is received(a) by general practitioner fundholders and (b) by non-general practitioner fundholders in Sunderland.

  Mr. Malone
  Information from Northern and Yorkshire region indicates that general practitioner fundholder budgets in Sunderland for 1994–95 average £140 per patient. District health authorities purchase all hospital and community health services for the patients of non-fundholding general practitioners, as well as those services outside the fundholding scheme for the patients of fundholders. Because of this, the equivalent information is not available for non-fundholders.

  Fraud
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the extent of fraud in the national health service each year since 1979.

  Mr. Sackville
  We do not collect comprehensive information on the level of fraud against the National Health Service. However, the recent Audit Commission publication, "Ensuring Probity in the NHS", copies of which are available in the Library, reported that proven fraud was small.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what specific actions she has taken against fraud in the national health service since 1989.

  Mr. Sackville
  The prime responsibility for preventing and detecting fraud lies with the boards and managers of national health service bodies. We have, however, taken a number of national measures including the strengthening of external and internal audit, the creation of audit committees in all NHS bodies, and the issue of guidance on improving internal control in the NHS.

  Cancer Care
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements cover the provision of palliative care to terminal cancer patients who are discharged to a nursing home.

  Mr. Sackville
  Where a patient with terminal cancer is discharged into a nursing home and is assessed as requiring specialist palliative care, it is the responsibility of the health authority to provide any such care over and above general nursing care. Specific arrangements should be agreed locally between health and local authorities.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements govern the employment by general practitioner fundholders of Macmillan nurses to care for their patients.

  Mr. Malone
  Palliative care services such as those provided by Macmillan nurses are not included within the scope of the current general practitioner fundholding scheme. There are currently four total purchasing pilots—a further 30 are being established—where fundholders can purchase all hospital and community care including palliative care. These pilots will be evaluated as part of the national programme.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many specialist breast cancer care units there are in the NHS.
  765
  Mr. Malone
  The number of consultants who specialise only in the treatment of breast cancer is not known.

  Cold Weather Deaths
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the excess winter death rate in England in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the table.

  The figures in the table give the percentage difference in the number of deaths recorded in the period December—March, compared to the average for the preceding August to November and the following April to July.

  England

  Year

  Percentage difference

  1988–89

  +7.7

  1989–90

  +16.2

  1990–91

  +13.4

  1991–92

  +12.6

  1992–93

  +8.1

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people died of hypothermia in each of the last five years, by region.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the table:

  Deaths in each regional health authority and Wales from 1988–92 where1 hypothermia (ICD 1991.6) was the underlying cause

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Northern RHA

  10

  6

  7

  10

  7

  Yorkshire RHA

  16

  9

  11

  11

  8

  Trent RHA

  14

  17

  10

  18

  10

  East Anglian RHA

  5

  5

  6

  14

  7

  North West Thames RHA

  8

  14

  12

  24

  10

  North East Thames RHA

  25

  20

  19

  14

  17

  South East Thames RHA

  19

  16

  13

  27

  10

  South West Thames RHA

  12

  11

  9

  14

  10

  Wessex RHA

  9

  8

  9

  13

  9

  Oxford RHA

  8

  10

  4

  13

  6

  South Western RHA

  16

  11

  11

  18

  9

  West Midlands RHA

  15

  12

  17

  38

  20

  Mersey RHA

  7

  5

  5

  6

  6

  North Western RHA

  17

  12

  10

  16

  13

  Wales

  12

  10

  8

  13

  7

  1 International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision.

  NHS Trusts
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what evidence her Department has of trusts collaborating with each other in the provision of services;

  (2) what rules regulate collaboration between trusts in adjoining areas and in disparate areas.

  Mr. Malone
  None. The organisation of services should, in all cases, reflect the best interests of the public as both patients and taxpayers. Health authorities have the duty to ensure the services meet the needs of their local population. On 12 December 1994, the national health service executive published HSG(94)55 entitled, "The 766
  Operation of the Internal Market: Local Freedoms, National Responsibilities".

  This guide sets out the criteria by which arrangements between trusts may be assessed in order to ensure they serve the interests of the public. It states the circumstances in which the NHS executive will intervene to protect the wider public interest, balancing this against the need for local freedom to shape services to best meet the needs of the local population.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what time commitment is expected of(a) NHS trust chairmen and (b) NHS trust non-executive directors.

  Mr. Malone
  National health service trust chairmen and non-executive directors normally devote around 16 to 24 hours per week and 16 to 24 hours per month respectively.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trusts have confidentiality clauses in their contracts for employees.

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for 'Health how many trusts have merged since April 1991.

  Mr. Sackville
  Since April 1991, three mergers between trusts have taken place and 16 mergers between trusts and directly managed units.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many trusts have contracts with district health authorities and regional health authorities that are (i) outside the district health authority area and (ii) outside the regional health authority area in which they are situated.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total amount of accumulated assets of trust hospitals.

  Mr. Sackville
  The total value of net assets employed by trust hospitals at 31 March 1994 was £12,464,800,000.1

  1Source: Trust summarised accounts for 1993–94. This figure is provisional being subject to audit by the National Audit Office.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what surplus or loss has been accumulated by each trust hospital.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information will be placed in the Library.

  Malnutrition
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information has been collected nationally regarding malnutrition and the incidence of rickets.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department of Health does not collect information specifically about the incidence of rickets. Malnutrition is a term which covers a wide variety of single or combined deficiencies of nutrients and/or energy. A report of the national diet and nutrition survey of children aged one and a half to four and a half, due to be published in the spring, will provide information on the food and nutrient intakes of this group of the population and their vitamin D status.
  767

  Non-NHS Health Care
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total value of all health care in England provided outside the NHS in 1994 and 1979.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not collected by the Department.

  Contracts
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence her Department has of any non-NHS providers failing to meet their contracts with NHS bodies.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department of Health has no evidence of any non-NHS providers failing to meet their contracts with NHS bodies.

  Private Insurance
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her Department's estimate of the number of people with the cover of private dental insurance, and of private medical insurance.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information on the number of people with private dental insurance is not collected by the Department.

  Waiting Lists
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence her Department has of a correlation between the change of numbers of people waiting for hospital in-patient treatment and the health of the nation.

  Mr. Malone
  There is no proven correlation between any change in the numbers of people waiting for hospital in-patient treatment and the health of the nation.

  Life Expectancy
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence her Department has that life expectancy has decreased for any group of people during the last 15 years.

  Mr. Sackville
  The available data for England do not identify any sub-groups whose life expectancy has decreased overall in the last 15 years. Life expectancy for males and females for every age group has increased since 1980. Over the period there are a few age groups for which life expectancy shows year on year fluctuations, but the overall trend for every age group is upward.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what increase in life expectancy has been experienced in(a) England, (b) the United Kingdom, (c) each EC country and (d) each OCED country.

  Mr. Sackville
  Figures for life expectancy at birth in England, United Kingdom, each European Community country and each Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development country for males and females for the years 1980 to 1992 will be placed in the Library.

  Pregnancy Statistics
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of women aged under 20 years become pregnant in each district health authority area, in the latest year for which figures are available.
  768
  Mr. Sackville
  The number of conceptions and the rate per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 in each district health authority area in 1991, the latest year for which figures are available, were published in Office of Population Censuses and Surveys monitor FMI 94/1, "Conceptions in England and Wales, 1991: residents of regional and district health authority areas." Copies of this monitor are in the Library.

  Private Patients
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the income from private patients for each trust hospital and special health authority hospital in 1993–94.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply that I gave her on 13 January, columns 267–68.

  Disease Statistics
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people contracted(a) dysentery, (b) tuberculosis and (c) influenza in each regional health authority area and in total in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information will be placed in the Library. The data relating to influenza are cases of newly diagnosed episodes of influenza-like illnesses and are for the whole of England and Wales. A regional breakdown of these figures is not available centrally.

  Staff Safety
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what compensation is offered to staff, including community care nurses, who are injured by patients, including challenging clients.

  Mr. Malone
  All staff are covered by the national health service injury benefits scheme. This is a statutory scheme providing benefits where an injury or disease, which is attributable to NHS employment, results in either a temporary loss of earnings or permanent reduction in earning ability.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many violent incidents were initiated by patients towards nurses and doctors, by region, in the last three years.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Houghton and Washington (Mr. Boyes) on 27 January 1994, column 375.

  Mental Illness
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the figures contained in her Department's recent survey of provider units of the numbers of mentally ill people placed on supervision registers for each unit in London.

  Mr. Bowls
  This information is not yet available centrally.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were conveyed by the police to a place of safety under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in each year since 1990.

  Mr. Bowis
  We will shortly be publishing a bulletin on "Legal Status Statistics 1987–88 to 1992–93" which will include figures for section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983. Copies of the bulletin will be placed in the Library.
  769
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been subject to section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 during each year since 1991.

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 28 November,Official Report, column 535, how many acute psychiatric beds are needed in London for average bed occupancy to be 85 per cent.

  Mr. Bowis
  It is for individual health authorities to assess the need for acute psychiatric beds and to contract with providers of mental health services to ensure that sufficient beds are available to meet the needs of their resident population. Average bed occupancy rates can be agreed as part of the contracting process and will relate to local circumstances. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave her on 28 November 1994, column 535 for specific action being taken in inner London.

  GP Fundholders
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner fundholding practices there were in each family health service authorities and regional health authority in each of the last four years.

  Mr. Malone
  The available information will be placed in the Library.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were de-registered from general practitioners lists in total and at the request of the general practitioner broken down by family health service authority, by regional health authority and separating fundholding from non-fundholding general practitioners in each of the last four years.

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply that my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State gave to the hon. Member for Ynys Mon (Mr. Jones) on 19 July 1994, columns 367–68, and the replies that I gave to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 24 October 1994, column 449 and on 9 December 1994, column 400.
  770
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence her Department has, and what representations it has received, on a link between the amount of general practitioner fundholding and the level of patient de-registration.

  Mr. Malone
  None.

  Neurosurgery
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current policy of the Maudsley hospital in respect of the admission of emergency cases for neurosurgery; and what proposals there are to change this policy.

  Mr. Malone
  This is a matter for the Bethlem and Maudsley national health service trust. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Bernard Williams, the chairman of the trust, for details.

  St. Bartholomew's Hospital
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will delay the closure of the accident and emergency unit at St. Bartholomew's hospital until 1 August 1995, pending a further review following the letter dated 13 January from the City and Hackney community health council.

  Mr. Malone
  No.

  Patient Complaints
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what access her Department has to records of complaints from(a) patients and (b) members of surgical professions relating to surgical treatment; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Malone
  The Department collects statistics on written complaints made by, or on behalf of, patients in England. The data give numbers of complaints which were wholly or partly about clinical issues but it is not possible to identify the numbers relating specifically to surgical treatment.