Written Answers of 23 January 1995

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Development of Tourism Act 1969
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what proposals he has to eliminate the anomaly whereby grants under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969 are now suspended in relation to England but not the other parts of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have no plans to reinstate grants available under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969 in England.

DEFENCE

  Service Personnel
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the combat effectiveness of the armed forces requires discrimination on the grounds of sex or race.

  Mr. Soames
  Combat effectiveness does not require discrimination on the ground of race. Some areas of employment do, however, remain closed to service women, although the scope for extending the employment of women is under review. In order to maintain combat effectiveness, however, it is unlikely that the employment of women will be extended to all front line posts of the armed forces; such exclusions are consistent with national and European law.

  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a table setting out the ethnic composition of the armed forces at each rank in the Army, the Navy and the Royal Air Force at the latest available date.

  Mr. Soames
  A breakdown of the ethnic composition of each of the armed forces will be published shortly. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House at that time.

  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of armed forces sexual harassment policies.

  Mr. Soames
  I shall arrange for a copy of the Army and Royal Air Force documents on sexual harassment to be placed in the Library of the House shortly. The Royal Navy's policy document is nearing completion and a copy will be placed in the Library when it has been finalised.

  Household Cavalry
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the ethnic minorities are now serving in the Household Cavalry; and if he will 2
  make a statement on the progress that has been made following the investigation into recruitment practices by the Commission for Racial Equality.

  Mr. Soames
  It is a basic principle of ethnic monitoring in the Army that individual privacy should be maintained and that statistical data should protect that privacy. Ethnic monitoring in the Army does not therefore distinguish the units to which individual soldiers and officers belong. The Commission for Racial Equality investigation is continuing. No findings have yet been notified to my Department.

  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a table showing(a) the number and (b) percentage of women at each rank in the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force at the latest available date.

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested, as at 1 October 1994 the latest date for which information is available, is as follows:

  Rank

  Number of women in the rank

  Percentage of women in the rank

  Royal Naval Services

  Commodore

  1

  2.4

  Captain

  5

  1.4

  Commander

  16

  1.3

  Lieutenant Commander

  65

  2.5

  Lieutenant

  266

  7.5

  Sub-Lieutenant

  131

  10.8

  Warrant Officer

  9

  1.0

  Chief Petty Officer

  118

  1.5

  Petty Officer

  393

  5.4

  Leading Rate

  985

  9.5

  Able Rate

  1,838

  11.0

  Ordinary Rate/Junior

  279

  19.2

  Army

  Brigadier

  3

  1.5

  Colonel

  12

  2.3

  Lieutenant Colonel

  45

  2.7

  Major

  180

  3.8

  Captain

  554

  12.8

  Lieutenant/2nd Lieutenant

  366

  11.4

  Warrant Officer (Class 1)

  35

  1.9

  Warrant Officer (Class 2)

  103

  2.0

  Staff Sergeant

  209

  3.1

  Sergeant

  557

  4.7

  Corporal

  1,055

  5.6

  Lance Corporal

  1,229

  6.6

  Private (Classes 1–3)

  1,823

  5.3

  Private (Class 4)/Junior

  696

  9.6

  Royal Air Force

  Group Captain

  2

  0.5

  Wing Commander

  37

  2.9

  Squadron Leader

  163

  4.7

  Flight Lieutenant

  554

  9.0

  Flying Officer/Pilot Officer

  283

  17.1

  Warrant Officer

  23

  1.4

  Flight Sergeant/Chief Technician

  54

  1.1

  Sergeant

  448

  4.5

  Corporal

  1,037

  6.1

  Junior Technician/Senior

  Aircraftwoman/Leading

  Aircraftwoman

  3,568

  14.0

  Aircraftwoman

  143

  30.7

  This information has been extracted from the quarterly tri-service statistical return, "tri-service personnel statistics 9", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Judicial Procedures
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he has taken to ensure that court-martials and other judicial procedures within the armed forces comply with the terms of the convention for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

  Mr. Soames
  Courts-martial and other judicial proceedings within the armed forces are provided for in the service discipline Acts approved regularly by Parliament. Their procedures are regarded as consistent with the convention for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

  European Common Foreign and Security Policy
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the progress of the European common foreign and security policy.

  Mr. David Davis
  I have been asked to reply.

  The CFSP has been in operation for a little over a year. A number of common positions and joint actions have been agreed and implemented by EU member states on a range of international issues, including support for the middle east peace process; extending the non-proliferation treaty; promotion of the stability pact in Europe; election monitoring in South Africa and Russia; and humanitarian relief in Bosnia, most notably manpower and financial support for the EU administration of Mostar.

  The CFSP is a relatively new tool: we are determined to use it to best effect. Already, EU member states are becoming accustomed to developing common approaches and dealing with complex and difficult international issues collectively. We welcome this progress: it is self-evidently in the interests of EU member states that they should be able to harness their collective weight in the international arena.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Joint Negotiating Machinery
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the operation of the joint negotiating machinery and Whitley Council agreements in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Wheeler
  Industrial relations machinery in the Northern Ireland civil service is covered by the Central Whitley Council for non-industrial civil servants and the Central Joint Consultative Council for industrial employees. Negotiation and consultation between management and trade unions also take place at departmental and local level where this is appropriate. These arrangements continue to work well.

  I understand that the joint council machinery for health and personal social services staff is to be abolished from 1 April 1995. From that date, employers and staff organisations will negotiate locally the pay and other conditions of service of health and personal social services staff.

  Rate Support Grant
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how the resources element of the rate 4
  support grant allocated to district councils is calculated for the 1995–96 financial year; and what was the basis for the calculation in the 1994–95 financial year.

  Mr. Moss
  As there is no specific rate support grant in Northern Ireland, I assume that the hon. Gentleman is referring to the general exchequer grant which is payable to district councils. There are two elements: derating and resources. The resources element is calculated by subtracting the derating element, which is statutory based, from the total relevant amount available in any one year and is distributed among councils using the set formula. This was the basis used for both the 1994–95 and 1995–96 financial years.

  Brendan Smyth
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he made to(a) the Irish Attorney-General, (b) his officials, (c) other Ministers in the then Irish Government and (d) officials in the Irish Government over delays in extraditing Brendan Smyth from Ireland at any time between (i) April 1993 and February 1994 and (ii) subsequently; to whom representations were made; what was the nature of those representations; and on what date or dates representations were made.

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  [holding answer 18 January 1995]: None.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what research he has conducted into allegations that the Government receive a greater sum from the Department of Social Security's benefit clawback scheme for legally aided litigants than they actually pay out in civil legal aid to those people; and if he will publish that research.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The compensation recovery unit of the Department of Social Security does not record whether a person who recovers compensation is legally aided. Accordingly, it cannot say how much of the unit's recovery is attributable to legally-aided cases. We are considering how this information might be collected.

  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what studies his Department has done into the crisis concerning the cash limiting of the civil legal aid budget in New South Wales in late 1992 and early 1993.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I am aware of the cash limiting of the legal aid budget in New South Wales, and the consequences that this had.

  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary Lord Chancellor's Department what estimate he has of the underspend on the legal aid budget for(a) civil legal aid and (b) criminal legal aid for the current financial year.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The latest available projections suggest that the total net cost of legal aid will be about £1.310 billion in 1994–95, £95 million below provision. Of that total, net expenditure on civil legal aid will be around £604 million, £41 million below provision, and expenditure on criminal legal aid will be about £476 million, £15 million below provision. The remaining
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  expenditure relates to advice and assistance and the duty solicitor schemes.

  Sexual Harassment
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps are being taken to examine the implications of the decision of the Dover magistrates court not to hear the sexual harassment case brought by the Crown Prosecution Service on behalf of a British crew member on Stena Sealink's Fantasia ferry on the ground that the alleged incident occurred on a foreign registered vessel; and if he will make a statement in respect of United Kingdom citizens employed on foreign-flagged vessels.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I understand that the case was dismissed because the court was not satisfied it had the necessary territorial jurisdiction. In general, courts will have jurisdiction for an offence committed in territorial waters, on a British ship, or if the accused is a British subject. Where the offence is committed on the high seas, the matter is likely to fall within the jurisdiction of the country with which the ship is registered.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many appeals against a refusal of asylum on safe third country grounds were made to the Immigration Appeals Authority in 1994; and how many of these appeals were dismissed by the special adjudicator.

  Mr. John. M. Taylor
  There were 763 appeals heard by the special adjudicators in 1994 where the Secretary of State had certified that the person's claim to asylum was without foundation. Four hundred and twelve of these appeals were dismissed by the special adjudicator under the special appeal procedures for claims without foundation. While these appeals included appeals against a refusal of asylum on safe third country grounds, the figures kept do not distinguish between the different types of cases within the overall category of those certified to be without foundation.

  Mr. Bryce Taylor
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what sums of legal aid have so far been awarded to Mr. Bryce Taylor in respect of the action being taken against him by Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  No payment has as yet been made from the legal aid fund in respect of the action between HRH the Princess of Wales and Mr. Bryce Taylor. The final cost to the legal aid fund will depend on the outcome of the case, and, if appropriate, any legal aid cost will be subject to taxation by the court.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Child Labour
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will discuss with high street retailers the practice of commissioning garments from suppliers who employ child labour in their fabrication.
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  Mr. Charles Wardle
  As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Technology explained in his answer to the hon. Member for Thurrock (Mr. Mackinlay) on 19 January 1995,Official Report, column 592, goods produced by unacceptable labour practices are generally indistinguishable in appearance from the same type of goods produced by other means. Moreover, the varied and complex channels of production and their distribution mean that there are severe practical difficulties in identifying their origin.

  The majority of high street retailers have stated that they would not knowingly source from suppliers whose garments have been manufactured using illegal child labour. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade would be prepared to discuss this issue when he next meets representatives of the retail industry.

  British Gas (Complaints)
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the trend of complaints against British Gas by gas consumers.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Gas Consumers Council is responsible for investigating consumer complaints and the Office of Gas Supply, Ofgas, is responsible for monitoring British Gas's activities as a public gas supplier. The number of complaints about British Gas received by these bodies in the last three years as follows:

  OFGAS

  GCC

  1992

  1,624 (328)

  25,280

  1993

  1,658 (329)

  20,428

  1994

  2,192 (320)

  24,359

  Note: The figures in brackets represent the number of Ofgas complaints subsequently referred to the GCC. The GCC totals include those cases referred from Ofgas.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in the negotiations with United States authorities regarding proposals by British Nuclear Fuels plc to import radioactively contaminated nitric acid from the US Energy Department nuclear complex at Harford.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) on 1 November 1994,Official Report, column 1025.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the policy position set out by EC Energy Commissioner elect, Christos Papoutsis, during the confirmation hearings before the European Parliament on 9 January, in regard to the uneconomic status of recycled commercial plutonium for nuclear fuel and the attendant problems of safeguarding plutonium.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Government's policy on the question of whether to reprocess or to seek alternative spent fuel management options is that this is a matter for the owners of the spent fuel.

  With regard to the remarks referred to by the hon. Member, I am informed that Mr. Papoutsis made it clear at the time that he was speaking in a personal capacity.

  Nuclear Review
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the conclusions of the nuclear review.

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

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the matters discussed, and agreements reached, at the European Union negotiations with the United States Government in Washington on 10 to 12 January on the 10-year extension of the US-EURATOM nuclear co-operation agreement of 1959.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Negotiations are continuing between the European Commission and the United States aimed at developing a new agreement for nuclear co-operation to replace the existing agreement which is due to expire on 31 December 1995. A copy of the Commission's press release reporting the outcome of the latest negotiating round has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. It would be inappropriate to go into the details of the negotiations while talks continue.

  Printing Industry (Paper Costs)
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has had from the printing industry about changes in the cost of paper over the last 12 months.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has received no direct representations from the printing industry. Ministers and officials in the Department have regular contact with the British Printing Industries Federation and are aware of the sector's concerns about paper price increase.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what studies his Department has made into the change in the costs of paper for the printing industry in the last 12 months.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The Department is aware of the increase in paper prices over this period but has not made any specific studies into the subject.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the change in(a) the cost of paper for the printing industry, (b) the average cost of raw materials and (c) the average change in the cost of finished products over the last 12 months.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  Price indices for raw materials purchased and for home sales by the printing and publishing industry can be obtained from the Central Statistical Office's "Business Monitor", MM22, tables 3 and 4, or alternatively from CSO's central shared database. Access to both is available in the Library of the House. Separate details for the cost of paper purchased by this industry are not available from official sources.

  Barnsley and Doncaster (Exports)
  Mr. Illesley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the value of exports from Barnsley and Doncaster to(a) European community countries, (b) European free trade area countries, (c) Arab League countries and (d) the rest of the world for the most recent period for which figures are available.
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  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The information is not available since the official statistics of trade of the United Kingdom are not compiled for individual regions within the UK.

  British Gas (Killingworth)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment has been made of the impact on Newcastle university of the loss of research and development resources at British Gas, Killingworth.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I understand that British Gas places research contracts with universities throughout the United Kingdom on the basis of their capabilities. The existing work programmes at Newcastle university will continue in accordance with the contracts and new proposals will be considered, along with those from other universities, in the same manner as before.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what offer of regional assistance was made to British Gas to retain employment for those persons who are employed at Killingworth.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  No offer of regional selective assistance has been made to British Gas and no application for such assistance has been received.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the current capacity of the United Kingdom's renewable energy supplies; what is his target for renewable generating capacity by the year 2000; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The total electrical capacity of the United Kingdom's renewable energy supplies operational at the end of 1993 was estimated to be 1,749 MW DNC—declared net capacity—including 256.4 MW DNC of capacity under non-fossil fuel obligation arrangements.

  The Government are working towards a figure of 1,500 MW DNC of new electricity generating capacity from renewable energy sources by the year 2000.

  Figures are published annually in the "Digest of UK Energy Statistics".

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment has been made as to the impact of the closure of research and development facilities at Killingworth on developing technology and employment prospects in such technology within the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  I understand that much of the work carried out at engineering research station at Killingworth will be transferred to the gas research centre at Loughborough. Appropriate equipment and facilities will be moved there and the research staff are being strongly encouraged to relocate. I understand that British Gas does not believe there will be an adverse impact on the prospects for developing technology or employment in such technology.

  Nuclear Materials (Safeguards)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 11 January 1995,Official Report, columns 184–85, if he will update the total of notifications of withdrawal of nuclear materials from

  9
  safeguards, indicating the uses to which the materials were put and whether any withdrawals were permanent.

  Mr. Eggar
  There have been four notifications of withdrawal of nuclear material from safeguards since my answer last year. All were permanent withdrawals and involved small amounts of nuclear material for R and D or analytical purposes, or depleted uranium for sources shielding.

  Indonesian Aircraft
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he learned of the Indonesian Government's interest in setting up a plant in Europe to assemble N250 aeroplanes; and what action he proposes to take.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade met the Indonesian Minister for Research and Technology on 22 December 1994 when future plans for the Indonesian N250 aircraft were raised. I understand that these plans have also been discussed with UK aerospace companies. Decisions on participation will be a commercial matter for the companies concerned.

  Yorkshire Mining Museum
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how long his Department will take to pay the £102,063 non-quota grant from the European regional development fund to the Yorkshire mining museum, once the funds are received from the European Commission; and what recompense he will make to the museum for the delay in receiving funds.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  This project was not funded by the European regional development fund non-quota programmes but as a single project. The grant has been received from the European Commission and payment to the Yorkshire mining museum was made on 20 January by the Department of the Environment. There are no compensation provisions.

  Uranium Storage
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what type of uranium is stored at Chapelcross.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  [holding answer 19 January 1995]: Depleted uranium.

  Ian Greer Associates
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions departmental officials met representatives of Ian Greer Associates(a) formally and (b) informally in the last two days to discuss matters relating to their clients' interests.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions he or his Ministers met representatives of Ian Greer Associates informally in the last month and discussed matters relating to the interests of the clients of Ian Greer Associates.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: None.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions in the last month he or his Ministers met representatives of Ian Greer 10
  Associates informally to discuss matters relating to the interests of the clients of Ian Greer Associates.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: None.

  HPC Virus
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to invoke Crown use in relation to the use of the virus HPC; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 16 January 1995]: Crown use provisions remain available as a last resort.

  Although concern has been expressed concerning the supply and cost of test kits for the hepatitis C virus, the supply is adequate and continuing competition can be expected to ensure value for money.

HEALTH

  Community Care
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to remove from NI-HS approved registered lists firms or individuals involved in significant community care fraud.

  Mr. Sackville
  National health service contracting authorities already have powers under the various public contracts regulations to exclude from tenders suppliers who have been convicted of a relevant offence or who have been guilty of gross professional misconduct. These powers are used in appropriate cases, but are matters for decision by each contracting authority in the light of the known facts of each case.

  Absenteeism
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the absenteeism rate for the Medicines Control Agency in each year since 1991;

  (2) what was the absenteeism rate for National Health Service Estates in each year since 1991;

  (3) what was the absenteeism rate for the NHS Pensions Agency in each year since 1991;

  (4) what was the absenteeism rate for her Department in each year since 1991.

  Mr. Sackville
  The absenteeism rate for 1993 for the Department of Health including the Medicines Control Agency, National Health Service Estates and NHS Pensions Agency is 9.7 working days absence per staff year. Information for the Department, excluding the three agencies, for 1993 cannot be separately identified. Information is not available for 1991 and 1992.

  1. Source: Occupational health service.

  2. Working days absences exclude weekends and bank holidays for staff working a "Monday to Friday" week.

  Cancer
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of(a) the cost of the organisational audit developed by the Macmillan Fund in measuring the effectiveness of cancer care services and

  11
  (b) the minimum standards for breast cancer care proposed by the Macmillan Fund.

  Mr. Sackville
  No such work has been commissioned centrally.

  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many specialist breast cancer consultants there are in the NHS;

  (2) what is the average cost of supporting a cancer patient (a) at home and (b) in hospital.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Utting Report
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department has taken in response to the criticisms made in the Utting report of 1991.

  Mr. Bowis
  I refer the hon. Member to the Children Act report, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Residential Child Care
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with local authorities and other providers of residential child care about standards of such care; and what proposals she has made for tackling current problems.

  Mr. Bowis
  Ministers and officials have regular discussions with representatives of local authority and independent sector organisations on a wide range of issues including that of residential care for children.

  For the Government's report on action in this area, I refer the hon. Member to the Children Act report, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residential child care staff there were with relevant qualifications in each year since 1980; and what information she has about the turnover rate of(a) qualified and (b) unqualified residential child care staff.

  Mr. Bowis
  Information on qualifications and turnover of residential child care staff was collected in 1993 by the Local Government Management Board and published in "Social Services Workforce Analysis: 1993 Survey", copies of which are available in the Library. Information on qualifications and turnover of local authority social services staff is not available centrally.

  EC Butter
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which regional health authority and district health authorities use European Community intervention board butter (i) for patients' use and (ii) for use in hospital coffee shops; and if she will make a statement;

  Mr. Sackville
  We are not aware of any regional or district health authorities currently buying intervention board butter. The main national health service purchasers are NHS trusts, of which the vast majority buy in the butter under national contract arrangements for use in hospitals in accordance with EEC regulation No. 2191/81, as amended. Eligible consumers within any hospital may include hospital in-patients and out-patients, and the hospital staff using the hospital catering facilities.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will state in respect of the appointment of the chairman of the Doncaster royal infirmary NHS trust(a) the salary awarded, (b) the term of office and (c) the number of hours per week required to be devoted to the job.

  Mr. Sackville
  Mr. Raymond Tonkinson was appointed as chairman of the Doncaster royal infirmary and Montagu hospital national health service trust for a two-year term, from 17 October 1994 until 30 November 1996. He is entitled to receive an annual remuneration of £17,145. Trust chairmen are normally expected to devote 16 to 24 hours a week to their duties.

  Mortality Rates
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys intends to publish the figures on standardised mortality ratios by social class derived from the 1991 census.

  Mr. Sackville
  Standardised mortality ratios by social class are published 10-yearly. Those based on data from the 1991 census will be included in a volume in the decennial supplement series planned for publication in late 1997. The latest available information is in the occupational mortality decennial supplement 1979–80, 1982–83, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Mental Health Task Force
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how and when the NHS executive and the mental health task force plan to review progress with local action plans to improve mental health services in London for severely mentally ill people, in accordance with the task force report on priorities for action.

  Mr. Bowis
  Progress is being carefully monitored by the national health service executive's regional offices. The mental health task force has worked with the regional offices to review local action plans and has recently completed a programme of follow-up visits to the district health authorities in London to check progress.

  Blood
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to disallow the sale for profit of blood donated to the national blood transfusion service; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The national blood service does not sell for profit the blood which is freely donated by our volunteer donors.

  Skin Donations
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to amend the wording on organ donor cards to refer specifically to skin donation after death; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Both the organ donor card and the national health service organ donor register already include among other options a request that "any part of my body can be used for the treatment of others".
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  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on progress towards a national skin bank in the last three months.

  Mr. Sackville
  The United Kingdom Health Departments have commissioned a review to look into the current arrangements for the retrieval, storage and use of tissue, including skin, in the United Kingdom. The findings are not yet complete; when they are we shall give careful consideration to what skin banking arrangements will be needed for the future.

  NHS Expenditure
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the level of underdrawing on capital allocations in each of the last five years by region(a) as a cash total and (b) as a proportion of total allocation made for that year.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  1989–90 Capital Underspending

  Region

  Cash (£'s)

  As a percentage cash limit

  Northern

  2,205

  3.92

  East Anglia

  4,034

  11.99

  Oxford

  256

  0.68

  1990–91 Capital Underspending

  Region

  Cash (£'s)

  As a percentage cash limit

  Yorkshire

  1,268

  1.25

  Trent

  95

  0.08

  Oxford

  141

  0.30

  South Western

  176

  0.21

  North Western

  111

  0.11

  1991–92 Capital Underspending

  Region

  Cash (£'s)

  As a percentage cash limit

  Northern

  1,712

  2.27

  Yorkshire

  4,140

  6.07

  Trent

  175

  0.13

  East Anglia

  8,959

  17.94

  North East Thames

  6,865

  8.81

  South West Thames

  2,576

  5.81

  Wessex

  136

  0.18

  Oxford

  356

  0.72

  South Western

  3,196

  3.53

  West Midlands

  2,203

  1.19

  North Western

  195

  0.16

  1992–93 Capital Underspending

  Region

  Cash (£'s)

  As a percentage cash limit

  Northern

  6,838

  9.25

  Yorkshire

  1,983

  3.53

  Trent

  269

  0.25

  East Anglia

  2,563

  5.16

  14

  1992–93 Capital Underspending

  Region

  Cash (£'s)

  As a percentage cash limit

  North West Thames

  1,587

  2.01

  North East Thames

  5,094

  8.66

  South East Thames

  941

  0.91

  South Western

  1,331

  2.73

  West Midlands

  6,114

  4.72

  Mersey

  477

  2.57

  North Western

  197

  0.18

  1993–94 Capital Underspending

  Region

  Cash (£'s)

  As a percentage cash limit

  Northern

  14,734

  20.69

  Yorkshire

  3,583

  21.52

  Trent

  167

  0.44

  North West Thames

  1,232

  13.11

  North East Thames

  11,216

  24.48

  South West Thames

  12,436

  265.671

  Wessex

  1,442

  4.88

  Oxford

  107

  0.39

  South Western

  2,719

  15.05

  West Midlands

  36,363

  37.14

  Mersey

  793

  -58.4222

  North Western

  10,687

  13.41

  1 South West Thames' final capital limit was £4.681 million. After taking account of receipts, net spend was -£7.897 million—capital receipts exceeded spending by this amount—making the underspend against the cash limit £12.436.

  2 Mersey Regional health authority's final cash limit was -£1.907 million after transfers to trust external financing limits. After taking account of receipts, net spend was -£2.7 million—capital receipts exceeded spending by this amount—making the underspend against the cash limit £0.793 million.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current level of underdrawing on capital allocations in each region.

  Mr. Sackville
  All regional health authorities currently expect to draw down all of their capital cash limits in 1994–95.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the average time taken to approve new capital schemes in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was(a) total NHS expenditure, (b) current expenditure on the hospital and community health services, (c) capital expenditure on the hospital and community health services, (d) expenditure on the family practitioner services, (e) expenditure on centrally funded NHS services and (f) expenditure on personal social services in England in each year since 1974–75 giving each in (i) cash terms, (ii) adjusted using the relevant pay and prices index and (iii) adjusted using the gross domestic product deflator;

  (2) if she will give for each year since 1974–75 total capital spending on hospital and community health services and spending in net terms after deducting proceeds from land and property sales (a) in cash terms, (b) adjusted using the GDP deflator and (c) adjusted using the relevant index of NHS prices.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 16 January 1995]: The information will be placed in the Library.
  15
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give the per capita spending on health and personal social services in cash terms and adjusted for NHS pay prices and for input volume for each year for which estimates have been made from 1989–90 to the latest available year for(a) all ages, (b) births, (c) zero to four years, (d) five to 15 years, (e) 16 to 64 years, (f) 65 to 74 years and (g) 75 years and over, giving the amount spent on (i) hospital and community health services, (ii) family practitioner services, (iii) personal social services and (iv) total in England.

  Hospital and community health services 1992–93

  All ages

  Births

  0 to 4

  5 to 15

  16 to 64

  65 to 74

  75 and over

  £'s cash

  420

  1,750

  390

  175

  265

  725

  1,605

  Family health services 1989–90

  All ages

  Births

  0 to 4

  5 to 15

  16 to 64

  65 to 74

  75 and over

  £'s cash

  105

  120

  80

  60

  95

  170

  240

  1992–93 prices Real terms

  125

  145

  95

  70

  115

  205

  285

  1992–93 Adjusted for FHS pay and prices inflation

  140

  155

  105

  80

  125

  225

  315

  Personal social services 1989–90

  All ages

  Births

  0 to 4

  5 to 15

  16 to 64

  65 to 74

  75 and over

  £'s cash

  85

  35

  115

  115

  30

  110

  475

  1992–93 prices real terms

  100

  40

  135

  135

  35

  130

  565

  1992–93 adjusted for PSS pay and price inflation

  105

  45

  140

  140

  35

  135

  580

  Notes:

  All figures rounded to nearest £5.

  Estimates do not include capital expenditure.

  Health Services (Demand)
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give the most recently available estimates of the percentage changes in demand on the hospital and community health services due to demographic change for each year from 1972–73 to 1999–2000.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 16 January 1995]: The available information is shown in the table.

  Estimated percentage change in demand on the hospital and community health services due to demographic changes

  Year

  Increase over previous year Per cent.

  Estimated

  1975–76

  0.1

  1976–77

  0.2

  1977–78

  0.3

  1978–79

  1.0

  1979–80

  1.3

  1980–81

  1.1

  1981–82

  0.6

  1982–83

  0.7

  1983–84

  0.9

  1984–85

  0.9

  1985–86

  1.1

  1986–87

  0.8

  16
  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 16 January 1995]: Estimates of spending per head by age group for the personal social services and for the family health services are no longer produced. The latest available are shown in the table.

  Estimates for the hospital and community health services are still produced annually, but as a result of changes in data resources, definitions and the methodology used, comparable figures for a series of years cannot be produced. The latest estimates are also shown in the table.

  Estimated percentage change in demand on the hospital and community health services due to demographic changes

  Year

  Increase over previous year Per cent.

  1987–88

  1.5

  1988–89

  1.1

  1989–90

  1.0

  1990–91

  0.9

  1991–92

  0.8

  1992–93

  1.1

  Projected

  1993–94

  0.8

  1994–95

  0.7

  1995–96

  0.6

  1996–97

  0.7

  1997–98

  0.6

  1998–99

  0.6

  1999–2000

  0.5

  Notes:

  1 Estimates for years 1975–76 to 1980–81 are based on the following age bands: births, age bands 0 to 4, 5 to 15, 16 to 44, 45 to 64, 65 to 74, 75 to 84, and 85 and over.

  Estimates from 1981–82 are based on; births, age bands 0 to 4, 5 to 15, 16 to 44, 45 to 64, and single year age groups between aged 65 to 89, and aggregated years 90 and over.

  2 Figures are based on data from the 1991 census.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give for April to September 1987 and for each subsequent six month period(a) the numbers of people admitted from waiting lists to hospital for in-patient treatment, (b) the numbers of people removed from in-patient waiting lists for reasons other than treatment, (c) the numbers of people admitted from waiting lists for day case treatment, (d) the numbers of people removed from day-case waiting lists for reasons other than treatment, (e) the numbers of people on in-patient waiting lists who self deferred and (f) the numbers of people on day-case waiting lists who self deferred.

  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer 16 January 1995]: The information requested for admissions and self-deferrals is given in the tables. Information on the number of people removed from waiting lists for reasons other than treatment is not held centrally.

  Admissions

  6 months to:

  Ordinary

  Day case

  September 1987

  801,755

  268,631

  March 1988

  924,677

  347,273

  September 1988

  941,363

  359,213

  March 1989

  938,864

  392,646

  September 1989

  939,516

  420,536

  March 1990

  934,164

  454,266

  September 1990

  910,557

  465,603

  March 1991

  888,291

  496,554

  September 1991

  918,376

  534,998

  March 1992

  938,842

  601,316

  September 1992

  901,687

  638,905

  March 1993

  879,834

  691,201

  September 1993

  829,580

  712,016

  March 1994

  800,632

  768,249

  September 1994

  796,780

  849,379

  Self Deferrals

  Number at:

  Ordinary

  Day case

  September 1987

  40,766

  8,977

  March 1988

  39,115

  8,361

  September 1988

  40,753

  8,433

  March 1989

  37,098

  8,769

  September 1989

  38,224

  9,905

  March 1990

  36,441

  9,735

  September 1990

  39,274

  11,865

  March 1991

  36,115

  11,998

  September 1991

  33,868

  12,469

  March 1992

  30,965

  13,151

  September 1992

  35,992

  18,134

  March 1993

  35,800

  19,095

  September 1993

  41,550

  24,142

  March 1994

  39,189

  25,185

  September 1994

  43,538

  34,946

  Note:

  The numbers relate to the numbers who are waiting on the last day of the six-month period who have self-deferred and do not represent the total number who have self-deferred over the period.

TREASURY

  Nicaragua (Debt Relief)
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures the Government will take to encourage EU 18
  partners' support for the International Monetary Fund and Paris Club proposals to grant Nicaragua further debt relief.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Government will continue to press other Paris Club creditors at all international meetings to offer all eligible countries including Nicaragua debt relief consistent with the agreement reached by the Paris Club last December. We will also continue to press for action on multilateral debt, along the lines we proposed in Malta and Madrid, for those countries which will still have unsustainable debt liabilities to the multilateral institutions even after generous Trinidad terms debt relief.

  Golden Shares
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what undertakings Her Majesty's Government retain a golden share; and in what circumstances rights relating to that golden share are to be used by Her Majesty's Government.

  Sir George Young
  The table shows all the companies in which the Government holds special—or "golden"—shares. Where this is applicable, the table shows the expiry date on or before which the Government may redeem a special share. Special shares are held by—or on behalf of—the Secretary of State with policy responsibility for the privatised industry. The rights attaching to individual special shares vary and it is not possible to define in advance the circumstances in which they will be exercised.

  Companies in which special shares are held

  Company

  Expiry dale

  Cable and Wireless

  —

  Sealink Stena Line

  —

  BT

  —

  British Aerospace

  —

  VSEL Consortium

  —

  British Gas

  —

  Rolls-Royce

  —

  BAA

  —

  Eastern Electricity

  31 March 1995

  East Midlands Electricity

  31 March 1995

  London Electricity

  31 March 1995

  Manweb

  31 March 1995

  Midlands Electricity

  31 March 1995

  Northern Electric

  31 March 1995

  Norweb

  31 March 1995

  Seeboard

  31 March 1995

  Southern Electricity

  31 March 1995

  South Wales Electricity

  31 March 1995

  South Western Electricity

  31 March 1995

  Yorkshire Electricity Group

  31 March 1995

  National Grid Company

  —

  National Grid Holding

  —

  National Power

  —

  PowerGen

  —

  Scottish Power

  —

  Scottish Hydro-Electric

  —

  British Technology Group

  31 March 1997

  British Technology Group International

  31 March 1997

  Northern Ireland Electricity

  —

  Belfast International Airport

  —

  Crown Buildings (Insurance)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the main buildings, in which the Crown has an interest, for which there is neither buildings nor contents
  19
  insurance cover; what considerations underlay the decision not to take out insurance cover; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  The Government's long-standing policy on insurance is that decisions on whether to insure commercially should be made on value-for-money grounds. Across Government as a whole, the cost of paying premiums could be expected to exceed the value of claims met by insurance companies. Therefore, use of commercial insurance, including buildings or contents insurance cover, by Government Departments and other Crown bodies is confined to a very small number of cases where special considerations apply.

  Investment
  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the levels of investment in the United Kingdom and in the United Kingdom's main international competitors; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  Information on investment levels is set out in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development annual publication, "National Accounts", available in the House of Commons Library.

  VAT
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the European Commission's latest proposals for imposition of VAT in circumstances currently exempt under the sixth VAT directive, and its implication for charities.

  Administration expenditure 1979–90 to 1993–94 at 1993–94 prices £'000

  Inland Revenue

  HM Treasury

  Gross

  Receipts

  Net

  Gross

  Receipts

  Net

  1979–80

  Budget

  1,119,064

  -56,672

  1,062,392

  23,690

  -935

  22,754

  Actual

  1,095,171

  -56,672

  1,038,499

  23,073

  -972

  22,101

  1980–81

  Budget

  1,205,609

  -58,803

  1,146,806

  26,817

  -998

  25,819

  Actual

  1,173,089

  -47,299

  1,125,790

  25,315

  -1,106

  24,209

  1981–82

  Budget

  1,173,955

  -61,536

  1,112,419

  31,509

  -1,410

  30,099

  Actual

  1,123,844

  -61,536

  1,062,308

  29,252

  -1,599

  27,653

  1982–83

  Budget

  1,140,582

  -59,824

  1,080,757

  37,221

  -1,537

  35,684

  Actual

  1,134,764

  -59,824

  1,074,940

  36,007

  -1,491

  34,517

  1983–84

  Budget

  1,338,337

  -66,532

  1,271,805

  47,572

  -1,161

  46,411

  Actual

  1,327,700

  -66,532

  1,261,168

  46,046

  -1,317

  44,730

  1984–85

  Budget

  1,342,929

  -66,873

  1,276,055

  48,729

  -1,345

  47,384

  Actual

  1,341,829

  -66,873

  1,274,956

  45,661

  -1,628

  44,033

  1985–86

  Budget

  1,407,281

  -65,555

  1,341,726

  48,159

  -1,489

  46,670

  Actual

  1,407,201

  -65,555

  1,341,645

  46,772

  -1,495

  45,278

  1986–87

  Budget

  1,492,638

  -67,886

  1,424,751

  47,936

  -1,767

  46,169

  Actual

  1,491,212

  -67,886

  1,423,325

  45,966

  -1,686

  44,28

  20
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The latest proposals from the European Commission which would affect the exemptions in the sixth VAT directive date from July 1992. No conclusions have been reached, and any possible impact on charities would in any case by negligible. The UK's zero rates are not affected.

  Administrative Costs
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are his estimates of the budgeted and actual expenditure on(a) Her Majesty's Treasury administration and (b) Inland Revenue administration, for each year from 1979 to 1994 in 1993 prices.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 19 January 1995]: The table details the administration expenditure for HM Treasury and Inland Revenue going back to 1979–80 in 1993–94 prices. The table compares the gross voted administrative expenditure, including capital, less appropriations in aid-budget-to the outturn expenditure-actual-for the same expenditure. Over the period, there have been several significant changes to the way public expenditure is recorded. The most significant changes have been the delegation to Departments for capital expenditure on information technology in 1980–81; of accommodation costs in 1983–84 and of superannuation in 1993–94. There have also been some machinery of Government changes, including in 1992–93 the transfer of some of the DTI's regulatory functions to the Treasury. Recalculation of the figures to compensate for these changes could be done only at disproportionate cost.
  21

  Administration expenditure 1979–90 to 1993–94 at 1993–94 prices £'000

  Inland Revenue

  HM Treasury

  Gross

  Receipts

  Net

  Gross

  Receipts

  Net

  1987–88

  Budget

  1,542,576

  -78,314

  1,464,262

  53,282

  -1,796

  51,486

  Actual

  1,536,849

  -78,314

  1,458,534

  51,451

  -1,670

  49,782

  1988–89

  Budget

  1,532,516

  -74,966

  1,457,550

  54,733

  -1,743

  52,990

  Actual

  1,506,931

  -74,691

  1,432,240

  51,740

  -1,673

  50,067

  1989–90

  Budget

  1,594,402

  -72,384

  1,522,019

  50,912

  -1,855

  49,057

  Actual

  1,588,420

  -72,384

  1,516,036

  49,413

  -1,730

  47,683

  1990–91

  Budget

  1,534,456

  -68,994

  1,465,463

  53,809

  -1,710

  52,099

  Actual

  1,528,990

  -68,994

  1,459,997

  51,869

  -1,886

  50,183

  1991–92

  Budget

  1,747,570

  -102,262

  1,645,308

  63,835

  -1,732

  62,104

  Actual

  1,733,464

  -102,262

  1,631,202

  61,590

  -1,887

  59,703

  1992–93

  Budget

  1,762,968

  -98,478

  1,664,490

  64,862

  -1,678

  63,124

  Actual

  1,694,685

  -98,478

  1,596,207

  62,190

  -2,268

  59,922

  1993–94

  Budget

  1,843,192

  -171,278

  1,671,914

  86,913

  -16,286

  70,627

  Actual

  1,820,538

  -159,089

  1,661,449

  82,070

  -16,367

  65,703

  Schedule E Tax
  Mr. Churchill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce a tax allowance under schedule E tax, so that an individual, employed through an agency, who has to meet his or her own accommodation and travel expenses when having to work away from home under contract, is able to set such expenses against tax as in the case of an employee required to work at a remote location to his or her usual place of work.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: This is a matter which we keep under active review, but to date it has not been possible to find a solution which does not infringe the general rule that the tax relief is not available for the normal costs of home-to-work travel.

  Home Ownership
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will identify those measures in each of his last two Budgets which were specifically intended to promote home ownership; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: The last two Budgets have given general encouragement to home ownership by promoting sustained economic growth. In addition, they have included specific measures to encourage local authority and housing association tenants to become home owners.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in his Departments 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 these records were followed by an application to join the company concerned.
  22
  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 18 January 1995]: Eight Treasury staff have reported offers of employment from an outside employer since February 1993, one of which was followed by an application to join the company concerned.

  In addition, 56 staff in other Departments responsible to the Chancellor have reported offers of employment from outside employers since February 1993, 53 of which were followed by applications to join the company concerned.

PRIME MINISTER

  MI5 Headquarters
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Prime Minister what are the procedures that need to be followed by a hon. Member to be able to visit the MI5 headquarters; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  It is not normal practice for the Security Service to host visits to Thames house by hon. Members.

  Seals
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) of 24 March 1994,Official Report, columns 343–44, what was the outcome of the discussions with Russia on seal hunting.

  The Prime Minister
  The British mission in Moscow raised this issue with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in March last year, and left the Russians in no doubt of the strength of United Kingdom public opposition to the practice of seal culling. We continue
  23
  to take suitable opportunities to raise this matter with the Russians.

  Weapons of Torture
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will set up a Government inquiry into the sales of weapons of torture by British companies to states where Amnesty International has documented torture.

  The Prime Minister
  The Government give careful consideration to proposals for the export of weapons. In considering such proposals, special care is taken over the political and military implications of allowing consignments to go overseas. Particular attention is paid to countries with poor human "right"s records, where equipment might be used for internal repression. I do not therefore believe there is any need for a Government inquiry.

  Social Development Summit
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will participate in the world summit on social development on 6 to 12 March in Copenhagen.

  The Prime Minister
  I will make a decision on attendance nearer the date.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Prime Minister what consideration he gave to sending an official British representative to the preparatory meeting in New York sponsored by the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development and the United Nations Development Programme for the world summit on social development in Copenhagen in March.

  The Prime Minister
  Officials from the Foreign Office, Overseas Development Administration and Department of Employment are in New York attending the final preparatory committee meeting for the world summit on social development, which will take place in Copenhagen in March. Some of those officials attended the seminar sponsored by UNRISD and UNDP, which took place in the week prior to the preparatory committee meeting.

  Holocaust Museum
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will support the creation of a Holocaust museum in London comparable with those in other major capital cites in Europe and north America.

  The Prime Minister
  I understand that the imperial war museum is considering creating a new museum which would cover the holocaust and other 20th century acts of genocide. That is a matter in the first instance for the trustees of the imperial war museum to consider.

  Nex Steps Agencies
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 16 January,Official Report, column 275, if he will list the Government Department next steps agencies with regional offices in the west country specifying in each case (a) its location, (b) the number of staff in each and (c) the annual cost.
  24
  The Prime Minister
  The table lists next steps agencies with offices in the west country. The information requested about these offices is not held centrally. This is a matter for the next steps agencies concerned.

  NEXT STEPS AGENCIES WITH OFFICES LOCATED IN THE WEST COUNTRY

  ADAS Agency

  Army Base Repair Organisation

  Defence Research Agency

  Disposal Sales Agency

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

  Driving Standards Agency

  Employment Service

  Government Property Lawyers

  HM Prison Service

  Highways Agency

  Hydrographic Office

  Insolvency Service

  Land Registry

  Marine Safety Agency

  Meteorological Office

  Ordnance Survey

  Radiocommunications Agency

  RAF Training Group

  Social Security Benefits Agency

  Social Security Child Support Agency

  Social Security Contributions Agency

  Social Security War Pensions Directorate

  Valuation Office

  Vehicle Certification Agency

  Vehicle Inspectorate

  Departments operating fully on Next Steps lines:

  Customs and Excise

  Inland Revenue (excluding Valuation Office)

  Nolan Committee
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will place a transcript of each day's proceedings of the Nolan committee in the Library as it is published.

  The Prime Minister
  Publication of transcripts of each day's proceedings is a matter for the Committee on Standards in public life. I understand that copies are available from the company appointed by the committee to prepare its official transcript. The Library can, of course, subscribe to this service.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Prime Minister what proposals he has for sanctions to be available in the case of a witness who deliberately misleads the Nolan committee.

  The Prime Minister
  There is no reason to believe that such circumstances will arise.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Prime Minister whether Ministers have informal meetings on matters of public policy with lobbying groups in the course of meetings which they are attending in a private capacity.

  The Prime Minister
  Ministers do not hold or attend meetings on matters of public policy in a private capacity.

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister following the letter he has received from Miss Pamela Dix of Woking, secretary of United Kingdom Families of Flight 103 of 21 December 1994, if he will amend his answer to the oral question from the hon. Member for Linlithgow on 15 December 1994,Official Report, column 1068.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to him on 10 January 1995,Official Report, column 20.

  Home Ownership
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Prime Minister if it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government to promote home ownership; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: Yes. Owner-occupation in the United Kingdom has risen from just over 54 per cent. in 1979 to over 66 per cent. now. Home ownership is more affordable than for many years. Surveys show that owner-occupation is the preferred housing choice of about 80 per cent. of people. The Government remain fully committed to promoting the continued growth of sustainable home ownership, both by prudent management of the economy and through specific policies to help people become home owners.

  Training Courses
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list each training and tuition course with a total cost exceeding £5,000 paid for by(a) his Department and (b) his agencies during the last 12 months, showing the title and objectives of each course, the name of the organisations engaged, the total cost of each course, a summary of the responsibilities of staff members taking part and the process for course evaluation by the Department or agency.

  Mr. David Hunt
  I have been asked to reply.

  In the Departments and agencies for which I and my "right" hon. Friend the Prime Minister have responsibility the information for the calendar year 1994 is as follows:
  26

  1.

  Title:

  The General Management Development Programme.

  Objectives

  To contribute towards achieving results through corporate and executive development.

  Organisation

  Sundridge Park Business School.

  Total cost

  £37,392.

  Number of attendees

  6.

  Responsibility of attendees

  Business and Support Managers in Business Suppliesdivision, HMSO

  Evaluation

  Verbal feedback and written course appraisals from attendees

  2.

  Title:

  Strategic Management Programme

  Objectives

  To help senior managers develop their strategic management skills, enabling them to apply these skills in the context of their own organisations

  Organisation Total cost

  Henley management college £10,516

  Number of attendees

  1

  Responsibility of attendees

  Senior managers in HMSO

  Evaluation

  Verbal feedback and written course appraisal from attendees

  No staff attended any other external training and tuition courses in 1994 where total costs for the individual exceeded £5,000.

EMPLOYMENT

  Low Pay
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of(a) male and (b) female employees and the total number of employees estimated to be on low pay for each of the standard regions of the United Kingdom; and if he will publish comparable available data for each of the member states of the European Union.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Definitions of low pay are arbitrary and take no account of particular circumstances. There is therefore no definition of low pay upon which such an analysis can be based.

  Employment Training Percentage of leavers in each outcome three months after leaving July 1989–March 1990 leavers in Hampshire TEC area

  Full-time work Per cent

  Part time-work Per cent

  Self employed Per cent.

  Further education and training1 Per cen t

  Unemployment' Per cent.

  Unemployment duration before startng training

  6–12 months

  31

  6

  7

  2

  46

  Greater than 12 months

  24

  10

  3

  1

  53

  Employment Training Percentage of leavers in each outcome three months after leaving 1990–91 leavers in Hampshire TEC area

  Full-time work Per cent.

  Part-time work Per cent.

  Self employment Per cent.

  Further education and training1 Per cent.

  Unemployment2 Per cent.

  Unemployment duration before starting training

  6–12 months

  20

  5

  5

  3

  58

  Greater than 12 months

  14

  14

  1

  2

  56

  Employment Training Percentage of leavers in each outcome six months after leaving 1991–92 leavers in Hampshire TEC area

  Full-time work Per cent.

  Part-time work Per cent.

  Self employment Per cent.

  Further education and training1 Per cent.

  Unemployment2 Per cent.

  Unemployment duration before starting training

  6–12 months

  16

  7

  5

  4

  61

  Greater than 12 months

  9

  12

  2

  3

  66

  Employment Training Percentage of leavers in each outcome six months after leaving 1992–93 leavers in Hampshire TEC area

  Full-time work Per cent.

  Part-time work Per cent.

  Self employment Per cent.

  Further education and training1 Per cent.

  Unemployment2 Per cent.

  Unemployment duration before starting training

  6–12 months

  23

  6

  2

  3

  58

  Greater than 12 months

  12

  8

  2

  4

  66

  Training Schemes
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide for each of the past five years and for(a) those unemployed for six to 12 months, (b) those unemployed for 12 to 24 months and (c) those unemployed for more than 24 months, the percentage of those leaving adult training schemes who progressed to (i) full-time work, (ii) part-time work, (iii) self-employment, (iv) further education or training and (v) unemployment in, respectively, Southampton, Itchen, Southampton and Hampshire.

  Mr. Paice
  Information is not available for individual constituencies and local authorities. Information for Hampshire training and enterprise council is given in the table. It is not possible to give separate figures for those unemployed for 12 to 24 months and more than 24 months.
  29

  Employment Training Percentage of leavers in each outcome six months after leaving 1993–94 leavers in Hampshire TEC area

  Full-time work Per cent.

  Part-time work Per cent.

  Self employment Per cent.

  Further education and training1 Per cent.

  Unemployment2 Per cent.

  Unemployment duration before starting training

  6–12 months

  30

  9

  3

  7

  45

  Greater than 12 months

  16

  7

  2

  5

  60

  Source:

  ET/TFW national follow-up survey

  Notes:

  1 Includes those on another Government training programme.

  2 Includes those in a jobclub.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Rwandan Refugees
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting of African states which met in Nairobi earlier this month to consider the problem of Rwandan refugees who refuse to return home; and if he will make logistical support available to assist African states who seek to break the hold of the defeated Rwandan Government on the refugee camps in Zaire.

  Mr. Baldry
  We welcome the involvement of regional Governments in efforts to solve the problems of Rwandan refugees. We are supporting international action to secure the safe return of Rwandan refugees to their homes from the camps in Zaire and elsewhere and will look carefully at any firm proposals for logistical support when received.

  Iraq
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received from the Overseas Development Administration team that recently visited the Iraq-Iran border on the number of refugees moving from Iraq to Iran and the reasons for their movement.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 19 January 1995]: It is estimated that some 645,000 Iraqi refugees are currently in Iran, of whom 500,000 arrived before 1991, and the remainder following the Gulf war. The ODA team visited the area bordering the southern Iraq marshes and focused on the needs of recent refugees. There are around 5,000 in the camp at Himmet on the Iranian side of the border. At present, fewer than 50 persons a week are succeeding in crossing the border. Many more, possibly up to 250,000, may be unable to reach the border because of Iraqi military action. Informants told the team that many people are fleeing not just because of Saddam Hussein's brutal suppression of opposition in the south and destruction of the marshlands, but also increasingly because of economic hardship due to the loss of their livelihood and human rights abuses in the whole of central and southern Iraq.

  Israel
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress being made in transferring British and multilateral development funds to the Palestinian national authority while securing the proper
  30
  accountability for the appropriate expenditure of those funds.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 19 January 1995]: British bilateral aid to the Palestinians in the current financial year is expected to amount to £6.5 million. Some £3.5 million comprises bilateral know-how projects and support for projects managed by British non-governmental organisations. These are subject to our normal monitoring and accounting procedures. The remaining £3 million was a contribution towards the net salaries of the Palestinian civilian police. The payment mechanism used, which included monitoring and audit of disbursements by the Crown Agents, ensured full accountability for our funds.

  In addition, we contribute to multilateral programmes including those of the World bank, the European Community and United Nations agencies. These funds are subject to the accountability requirements of the institutions concerned. Full details of multilateral assistance to the Palestinian authority are not available. The World bank estimates that since the Israeli-Palestinian declaration of principles in September 1993 it has disbursed $61 million from funds under its management. The European Community expects to have disbursed some 56 million ecu—£44 million—by the end of February.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is being planned by the World bank and African development bank to block loans to Nigeria until democracy is restored.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: Under their articles of agreement, the World bank and African development bank are required to take only economic and technical considerations into account in their decisions on lending.

  South Africa
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is his Department's specific policy to encourage small British firms to invest in South Africa.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: The British investment in South Africa promotion scheme aims to help the development of small and medium enterprises in South Africa, particularly those from disadvantaged communities, by promoting and assisting new investment in South Africa by small British businesses.
  31
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the ODA is prepared to fund small British businesses in the field of information technology who wish to work in South Africa.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him today. Small British businesses in the field of information technology are eligible under the scheme.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is ODA policy to assist small British firms which wish to do business in South Africa; and what proportion of the budget for South Africa is geared towards funding small British businesses.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him today. The sum allocated for the British investment in South Africa promotion scheme is £2 million. We do not set spending targets for our aid programme to South Africa by sector or project.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the result of ethnic monitoring of the ownership of British firms that have received contracts from the ODA for work in the field of information technology in South Africa.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: ODA does not monitor the award of contracts to British firms under aid programme by ethnic ownership.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the ODA is prepared to fund small black British firms which have viable projects with black South African partners in the field of information technology in South Africa.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: The selection of projects agreed for funding under the aid programme to South Africa is made in the context of the priority areas of focus we have agreed with the South African Government. Where projects involve the supply of British goods and services, we employ our normal competitive tendering arrangements.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much British development aid money in South Africa is being spent on(a) large British firms, (b) medium-size British firms and (c) small British firms in the field of information technology.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: We do not collate information on British firms, contracted under the aid programme, according to their size.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Extradition
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the changes in extradition procedures applying in Ireland of which he has been informed by the Irish Attorney-General; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  I have not been informed by the Irish Attorney-General of any such changes since the latest amendments to the extradition legislation of the Republic of Ireland which came into force on 22 August 1994. Any changes in their internal procedures are a matter for the Irish authorities.

  Brendan Smyth
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his oral answer of 16 January,Official Report, column 448, to the supplementary question by the hon. Member for Thurrock in the matter of Brendan Smyth, if he will explain his reference to a holiday alleged to have been taken in Ireland by the hon. Member for Thurrock; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General
  I was mistaken. I have written to the hon. Member.

EDUCATION

  Youth Service
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the spending on the youth service in each local education authority for(a) 1991–92, (b) 1992–93, (c) 1993–94 and (d) 1994–95.

  Mr. Boswell
  The table sets out net recurrent expenditure by LEAs in England on the youth service for 1991–92 and 1992–93, the latest year for which figures are available. These figures are in actual terms and are drawn from LEAs' own returns of their expenditure to the Department of the Environment.

  Youth Service

  £000

  LEA

  Net recurrent expenditure 1991–92

  Net recurrent expenditure 1992–93

  Corporation of London

  46

  16

  Camden

  2,015

  1,791

  Greenwich

  1,613

  2,746

  Hackney

  2,549

  3,565

  Hammersmith

  1,771

  1,635

  Islington

  2,748

  2,311

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1,712

  2,063

  Lambeth

  1,937

  1,850

  Lewisham

  992

  1,464

  Southwark

  2,747

  2,208

  Tower Hamlets

  4,639

  4,217

  Wands worth

  3,047

  3,116

  Westminster

  2,816

  2,623

  Barking

  593

  1,107

  Barnet

  1,295

  1,272

  Bexley

  1,076

  1,108

  Brent

  2,224

  2,733

  Bromley

  875

  981

  Croydon

  1,595

  1,657

  Ealing

  1,137

  1,007

  Enfield

  1,142

  1,108

  Haringey

  915

  804

  Harrow

  515

  621

  Havering

  1,067

  1,240

  Hillingdon

  904

  1,850

  Hounslow

  1,836

  2,036

  Kingston upon Thames

  782

  820

  Merton

  783

  889

  Newham

  1,670

  1,770

  Redbridge

  1,176

  1,311

  Richmond upon Thames

  723

  748

  Sutton

  765

  1,055

  Waltham Forest

  1,761

  1,866

  Birmingham

  2,987

  5,673

  Coventry

  1,600

  1,802

  Dudley

  1,022

  1,181

  33

  Youth Service

  £000

  LEA

  Net recurrent expenditure 1991–92

  Net recurrent expenditure 1992–93

  Sandwell

  1,070

  964

  Solihull

  528

  656

  Walsall

  3,116

  1,110

  Wolverhampton

  2,302

  2,420

  Knowsley

  2,124

  1,473

  Liverpool

  3,107

  3,635

  St. Helens

  733

  131

  Sefton

  1,352

  1,331

  Wirral

  2,082

  2,352

  Bolton

  1,231

  1,401

  Bury

  851

  1,088

  Manchester

  2,874

  3,057

  Oldham

  897

  1,096

  Rochdale

  1,507

  1,408

  Salford

  1,096

  937

  Stockport

  892

  1,024

  Tameside

  2,000

  2,255

  Trafford

  1,038

  1,141

  Wigan

  1,314

  1,289

  Barnsley

  468

  960

  Doncaster

  2,054

  1,832

  Rotherham

  1,358

  1,842

  Sheffield

  4,464

  4,423

  Bradford

  3,518

  3,494

  Calderdale

  710

  1,384

  Kirklees

  2,961

  3,380

  Leeds

  7,457

  3,199

  Wakefield

  1,252

  1,252

  Gateshead

  804

  880

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  823

  3,035

  North Tyneside

  659

  608

  South Tyneside

  462

  527

  Sunderland

  1,836

  1,688

  Isles of Scilly

  1

  2

  Avon

  5,548

  5,875

  Bedfordshire

  1,914

  2,302

  Berkshire

  3,830

  4,236

  Buckinghamshire

  4,174

  4,849

  Cambridgeshire

  3,120

  3,497

  Cheshire

  3,565

  3,328

  Cleveland

  4,460

  4,590

  Cornwall

  1,336

  1,638

  Cumbria

  1,371

  1,671

  Derbyshire

  10,956

  10,666

  Devon

  3,882

  3,854

  Dorset

  3,071

  3,605

  Durham

  1,749

  4,901

  East Sussex

  1,748

  2,009

  Essex

  7,405

  8,150

  Gloucestershire

  2,388

  2,816

  Hampshire

  3,654

  3,871

  Hereford and Worcester

  1,891

  2,136

  Hertfordshire

  4,122

  4,257

  Humberside

  5,499

  6,158

  Isle of Wight

  603

  752

  Kent

  5,660

  5,372

  Lancashire

  7,941

  8,510

  Leicestershire

  3,783

  5,318

  Lincolnshire

  1,558

  1,860

  Norfolk

  2,765

  2,902

  North Yorkshire

  2,527

  3,146

  Northamptonshire

  2,328

  2,258

  Northumberland

  2,949

  3,139

  Nottinghamshire

  6,780

  6,504

  Oxfordshire

  1,919

  2,267

  Shropshire

  2,512

  2,608

  Somerset

  1,416

  1,788

  Staffordshire

  5,746

  8,104

  Suffolk

  1,102

  1,155

  34

  Youth Service

  £000

  LEA

  Net recurrent expenditure 1991–92

  Net recurrent expenditure 1992–93

  Surrey

  3,712

  4,081

  Warwickshire

  1,469

  1,209

  West Sussex

  2,623

  2,861

  Wiltshire

  2,647

  4,089

  England Total

  251,739

  273,850

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans she has to place the funding of the youth service on a statutory footing.

  Mr. Boswell
  No further legislation is planned. In the case of the youth service, local authorities have a need to decide, within the resources available to them, the appropriate level of provision in order to fulfil their duties deriving from sections 41 and 53 of the Education Act 1994. The Government do not determine this cenally.

  Mature Students Allowance
  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what are the implications for students of the withdrawal of the mature students allowance starting in the academic session 1995–96;

  (2) what sources of finance are available to mature students; and what assessment she has made of the impact on the living standards of such students of the removal of the mature students allowance in 1995–96;

  (3) if he will make a statement on the withdrawal of the mature students allowance for students beginning higher education in 1995–96 following the paper "Main Rates of Student Grants and Loans for 1995–96".

  Mr. Boswell
  The older students allowance is currently payable under the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations as part of a means-tested mandatory award for eligible students on designated courses. It is not targeted at any specific maintenance need which the student may have and its retention could not be justified in the present financial climate. It remains available to eligible students who are already on their courses, but not to new students starting courses on or after 1 September 1995. A range of other sources of financial support for older students exists depending upon their individual circumstances and the type of course they attend.

  Teachers Salaries
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list for each local eduction authority(a) the current annual cost of teacher salaries, (b) the cost of a 2 per cent. increase in teachers' pay for 1994–95 and (c) the cost of a 2.5 per cent. increase in teachers' pay.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The table sets out the 1992–93 expenditure recorded by LEAs in England on teaching staff salaries in nursery and primary, secondary and special schools. These are the latest available figures for LEA-maintained schools. To provide an estimate of the cost of pay awards, the 1992–93 figures have been uprated by the 1993 teachers' pay award, 1.5 per cent. to arrive at notional 1993–94 baselines on which cost of hypothetical increases in teachers' pay for 1994–95 of 2 per cent. and 2.5 per cent. has been calculated. These estimates take no
  35
  account of changes in teacher numbers or other factors that will have affected the teachers' pay bill. The actual increase in teachers' pay 1994–95 was 2.9 per cent.

  LEA expenditure on teachers salaries

  Nursery, Primary, Secondary and Special Schools

  1992–93 (actual) (£000)

  1992–93 (in 1993–94 terms) (£000)

  2 per cent, increase (£000)

  2.5per cent, increase £(000)

  Corporation of London

  428

  434

  9

  11

  Camden

  36,778

  37,330

  747

  933

  Greenwich

  57,441

  58,303

  1,166

  1,458

  Hackney

  42,157

  42,789

  856

  1,070

  Hammersmith

  25,144

  25,521

  510

  638

  Islington

  40,339

  40,944

  819

  1,024

  Kensington and Chelsea

  15,969

  16,209

  324

  405

  Lambeth

  45,081

  45,757

  915

  1,144

  Lewisham

  43,850

  44,508

  890

  1,113

  Southwark

  43,037

  43,683

  874

  1,092

  Tower Hamlets

  57,235

  58,094

  1,162

  1,452

  Wandsworth

  41,485

  42,107

  842

  1,053

  Westminster

  29,064

  29,500

  590

  737

  Barking

  34,134

  34,646

  693

  866

  Barnet

  61,723

  62,649

  1,253

  1,566

  Bexley

  43,229

  43,877

  878

  1,097

  Brent

  48,628

  49,357

  987

  1,234

  Bromley

  37,052

  37,608

  752

  940

  Croydon

  56,379

  57,225

  1,144

  1,431

  Ealing

  48,569

  49,298

  986

  1,232

  Enfield

  57,216

  58,074

  1,161

  1,452

  Haringey

  46,196

  46,889

  938

  1,172

  Harrow

  38,397

  38,973

  779

  974

  Havering

  49,716

  50,462

  1,009

  1,262

  Hillingdon

  32,850

  33,343

  667

  834

  Hounslow

  48,372

  49,454

  989

  1,236

  Kingston upon Thames

  26,672

  27,072

  541

  677

  Merton

  34,380

  34,896

  698

  872

  Newham

  55,156

  55,983

  1,120

  1,400

  Redbridge

  48,178

  48,901

  978

  1,223

  Richmond upon Thames

  25,951

  26,340

  527

  659

  Sutton

  26,067

  26,458

  529

  661

  Waltham Forest

  49,215

  49,953

  999

  1,249

  Birmingham

  226,986

  230,391

  4,608

  5,760

  Coventry

  68,241

  69,265

  1,385

  1,732

  Dudley

  61,409

  62,330

  1,247

  1,558

  Sandwell

  67,116

  68,123

  1,362

  1,703

  Solihull

  44,663

  45,333

  907

  1,133

  Walsall

  57,957

  58,826

  1,177

  1,471

  Wolverhampton

  52,823

  53,615

  1,072

  1,340

  Knowsley

  34,957

  35,481

  710

  887

  Liverpool

  106,122

  107,714

  2,154

  2,693

  St. Helens

  40,656

  41,266

  825

  1,032

  Sefton

  58,695

  59,575

  1,192

  1,489

  Wirral

  71,520

  72,593

  1,452

  1,815

  Bolton

  58,731

  59,612

  1,192

  1,490

  Bury

  33,786

  34,293

  686

  857

  Manchester

  98,210

  99,683

  1,994

  2,492

  Oldham

  57,609

  58,473

  1,169

  1,462

  Rochdale

  44,279

  44,943

  899

  1,124

  Salford

  51,731

  52,507

  1,050

  1,313

  Stockport

  58,114

  58,986

  1,180

  1,475

  Tameside

  46,054

  46,745

  935

  1,169

  Trafford

  39423

  40,116

  802

  1,003

  Wigan

  72,263

  73,347

  1,467

  1,834

  Bamsley

  40,094

  40,695

  814

  1,017

  Doncaster

  61,082

  61,998

  1,240

  1,550

  Rotherham

  59,486

  60,378

  1,208

  1,509

  Sheffield

  95,070

  96,496

  1,930

  2,412

  Bradford

  113,897

  115,605

  2,312

  2,890

  Calderdale

  40,476

  41,083

  822

  1,027

  Kirklees

  83,022

  84,267

  1,685

  2,107

  36

  LEA expenditure on teachers' salaries

  Nursery, Primary, Secondary and Special Schools

  1992–93 (actual) (£000)

  1992–93 (in 1993–94 terms) (£000)

  2 per cent, increase (£000)

  2.5 per cent, increase £(000)

  Leeds

  144,719

  146,890

  2,938

  3.672

  Wakefield

  65,138

  66,115

  1,322

  1,653

  Gates head

  41,420

  42,.041

  841

  1,051

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  54,297

  55,111

  1,102

  1,378

  North Tyneside

  43,.475

  44,127

  883

  1,103

  South Tyneside

  31,785

  32,262

  645

  807

  Sunderland

  64,315

  65,280

  1,306

  1,632

  Isles of Scilly

  599

  608

  12

  15

  Avon

  179,711

  182,407

  3,648

  4,560

  Bedfordshire

  116,753

  118,504

  2,370

  2,963

  Berkshire

  133,913

  135,922

  2,718

  3,398

  Buckinghamshire

  116,645

  118,395

  2,368

  2,960

  Cambridgeshire

  121,295

  123,114

  2,462

  3,078

  Cheshire

  193,359

  196,259

  3,925

  4,906

  Cleveland

  136,127

  138,169

  2,763

  3,454

  Cornwall

  86,734

  88,035

  1,761

  2,201

  Cumbria

  94,791

  96,213

  1,924

  2,405

  Derbyshire

  187,005

  189,810

  3,796

  4,745

  Devon

  179,197

  181,885

  3,638

  4,547

  Dorest

  99,774

  101,271

  2,025

  2,532

  Durham

  122,305

  124,140

  2,483

  3,103

  East Sussex

  115,326

  117,056

  2,341

  2,926

  Essex

  279,683

  283,878

  5,678

  7,097

  Gloucestershire

  87,598

  88,912

  1,778

  2,223

  Hampshire

  281,689

  285,914

  5,718

  7,148

  Hereford and Worcester

  133,454

  135,456

  2,709

  3,386

  Hertfordshire

  195,847

  198,785

  3,976

  4,970

  Humberside

  184,702

  187,473

  3,749

  4,687

  Isle of Wight

  24,255

  24,619

  492

  615

  Kent

  257,412

  261,273

  5,225

  6,532

  Lancashire

  290,367

  294,723

  5,894

  7,368

  Leicestershire

  192,009

  194,889

  3,898

  4,872

  Lincolnshire

  94,889

  96,312

  1,926

  2,408

  Norfolk

  129,927

  131,876

  2,638

  3,297

  North Yorkshire

  137,936

  140,005

  2,800

  3,500

  Northamptonshire

  117,669

  119,434

  2,389

  2,986

  Northumberland

  62,703

  63,644

  1,273

  1,591

  Nottinghamshire

  204,216

  207,279

  4,146

  5,182

  Oxfordshire

  102,211

  103,744

  2,075

  2,594

  Shropshire

  87,570

  88,884

  1,778

  2,222

  Somerset

  83,851

  85,109

  1,702

  2,128

  Staffordshire

  201,758

  204,784

  4,096

  5,120

  Suffolk

  126,106

  127,998

  2,560

  3,200

  Surrey

  151,970

  154,250

  3,085

  3,856

  Warwickshire

  90,879

  92,242

  1,845

  2,306

  West Sussex

  128,140

  130,062

  2,601

  3,252

  Wiltshire

  105,215

  106,793

  2,136

  2,670

  England Total

  9,371,750

  9,788,184

  195,764

  244,705

  Discretionary Awards
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the highest and lowest maximum discretionary awards provided by local education authorities in England for(a) further education students and (b) higher education students.

  Mr. Boswell
  The information requested is not collected centrally. The provision of discretionary awards is a matter for local education authorities which determine the distribution and size of awards in the light of local needs and priorities.

  Special Needs
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proposals she has to develop a national strategy for special needs students in the 16-plus age range to supply a national progression for them after statutory schooling; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Boswell
  The Education Act 1993, the code of practice on the identification and assessment of special educational needs and the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 already provide a comprehensive framework for the progression of students with special educational needs from schools to post-16 education, training or employment.

  School Playing Fields
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many school playing fields there were in each local education authority in each of the last four years.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The table sets out data from the Sports Council's register of recreational land, giving the number of school sports pitches by local education authority in England as at July 1994. Information for earlier years is unavailable.

  Not all local education authorities have submitted full returns and the figures should be interpreted with caution. The register excludes playing fields on sites with an area of less than 0.4 hectares, so a number of small school playing fields are not recorded.

  Local Education Authorities

  Sports pitches

  Avon

  263

  Barking and Dagenham

  288

  Barnet

  22

  Barnsley

  194

  Bedfordshire

  451

  Berkshire

  509

  Bexley

  0

  Birmingham

  216

  Bolton

  363

  Bradford

  309

  Brent

  36

  Bromley

  0

  B ucki nghamshire

  286

  Bury

  245

  Calderdale

  96

  Cambridgeshire

  329

  Camden

  64

  Cheshire

  1,618

  City of London

  0

  Cleveland

  733

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  664

  Coventry

  545

  Croydon

  332

  Cumbria

  599

  Derbyshire

  807

  Devon

  447

  Doncaster

  649

  Dorset

  421

  Dudley

  145

  Durham

  656

  Ealing

  98

  East Sussex

  233

  Enfield

  366

  Essex

  759

  Gateshead

  120

  Gloucestershire

  551

  Greenwich

  49

  Hackney

  6

  38

  Local Education Authorities

  Sports pitches

  Hammersmith

  12

  Hampshire

  753

  Haringey

  14

  Harrow

  0

  Havering

  86

  Hereford and Worcester

  1,107

  Hertfordshire

  1,633

  Hillingdon

  97

  Hounslow

  43

  Humberside

  838

  Isle of Wight

  104

  Islington

  0

  Kensington and Chelsea

  0

  Kent

  1,579

  Kingston upon Thames

  69

  Kirklees

  104

  Knowsley

  157

  Lambeth

  10

  Lancashire

  1,816

  Leeds

  481

  Leicstershire

  791

  Lewisham

  2

  Lincolnshire

  505

  Liverpool

  245

  Manchester

  148

  Merton

  30

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  151

  Newham

  47

  Norfolk

  569

  North Yorkshire

  822

  North Tyneside

  175

  Northamptonshire

  401

  Northumberland

  595

  Nottinghamshire

  1,443

  Oldham

  168

  Oxfordshire

  496

  Redbridge

  133

  Richmond upon Thames

  101

  Rochdale

  314

  Rotherham

  385

  Salford

  226

  Sandwell

  90

  Sefton

  167

  Sheffield

  521

  Shropshire

  405

  Solihull

  205

  Somerset

  261

  South Tyneside

  112

  Southwark

  3

  St. Helens

  123

  Staffordshire

  772

  Stockport

  397

  Suffolk

  575

  Sunderland

  173

  Surrey

  568

  Sutton

  13

  Tameside

  269

  Tower Hamlets

  3

  Trafford

  209

  Wakefield

  292

  Walsall

  283

  Waltham Forest

  5

  Wandsworth

  29

  Warwickshire

  384

  West Sussex

  960

  Westminster

  0

  Wigan

  263

  Wiltshire

  294

  Wirral

  226

  Wolverhampton

  278

  Total

  37,799

  Further Education Colleges
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the basis for action by the Further Education Funding Council for England and against the governing bodies of colleges; and if she will make a statement on the adequacy of those powers.

  Mr. Boswell
  Under section 5(7) of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, the Further Education Funding Council for England may make any grants, loans or other payments to the governing body subject to terms and conditions which enable the council to require the repayment in whole or in part of sums paid by the council if any of the terms and conditions are not complied with and require the payment of interest in respect of any sums not so repaid. The council is required to keep this power under review. The instruments of government for further education corporations also require the statement of accounts to comply with any directions given by the council.

  In the event of mismanagement, breach of duty or unreasonable actions by a governing body, responsibility rests with my "right" hon. Friend. She is satisfied that the range of powers available to her and the council are, taken together, adequate.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Absenteeism
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the absenteeism rate for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in each year since 1991.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office diplomatic wing administration does not collect statistics on absenteeism centrally.

  Comprehensive sick leave records are not available for 1991, 1992 and 1993; details could be completed only at disproportionate cost.

  In the case of ODA, the figures for sick leave are available but will take a little time to produce. I shall write to the hon. Member when they are available.

  Rwanda
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to assist with the establishment of an international criminal tribunal with regard to militia murders in Rwanda.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Kingdom was a co-sponsor of Security Council resolution 955 of 8 November 1994 which established an international criminal tribunal for Rwanda.

  We have recently indicated to the prosecutor of the tribunal that we will be contributing up to £200,000 to fund UK staff and to provide equipment for his office.

  UN Social Development Programme
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the formal representations made by Her Majesty's Government since 1993 in the preparation of each of the three drafts of the 40
  UN declaration and action programme on social development, giving the dates of each.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have participated actively in each of the four preparatory committee meetings held in New York to agree the documentation for the world summit for social development. The dates for these are: 1 to 11 February 1994, 22 August to 2 September 1994, 24 to 28 October 1994—an intersessional meeting—and 16 to 27 January 1995. We have also been very active in the many EU co-ordination meetings that have taken place in Brussels and New York, putting forward many suggestions for strong texts on the three core issues which have been taken up by the EU as a whole.

  East Timor
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he supports United Nations policy that Indonesia should resolve the dispute over East Timor through a referendum of the people of East Timor.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We support the UN Secretary-General's efforts to promote a just, comprehensive and internationally acceptable settlement to the question of East Timor, taking account of the wishes and interests of the East Timorese. He informed the Foreign Ministers of Portugal and Indonesia on 9 January of his intention to facilitate the convening of an "all-inclusive infra-Fast Timorese dialogue" to help establish an atmosphere conducive to achieving a solution, which we welcome. The question of a referendum did not arise.

  Chinese Foreign Minister
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects a visit from the Chinese Foreign Minister to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We would welcome a visit to the United Kingdom by the Chinese Foreign Minister but, as yet, no dates have been discussed with the Chinese Government.

  Harjit Singh
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the report on the hearing of 26 November 1994 into the case of Harjit Singh has now been prepared by his officers in the high commission in New Delhi.

  Mr. Baldry
  We understand that the hearing in the case of Harjit Singh, which was scheduled for 26 November was postponed yet again. The next hearing is scheduled for 28 January.

  Kenya
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has yet received an invitation to help Kenya adopt a new constitution suited to multi-party democracy; and what has been his response to this request for assistance.

  Mr. Baldry
  We have not yet received a formal request from the Kenyan Government to provide an expert to help take forward the process of constitutional reform. If we do, we shall give it careful consideration.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many opposition leaders are currently in prison in Nigeria; and what representations he has made on this issue to the Nigerian Government.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: A number of political leaders are currently in detention. With our European Union partners we have made several representations to the Nigerian Government calling for the release or proper trial of those detained.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which specific human rights abuses in Nigeria he has raised with the Government of that country.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: With our European Union partners we have called for the release or early trial of all political detainees, and for the lifting of travel restrictions on political activists. We have deplored repressive decrees issued by the Nigerian Government, including the proscriptions of media houses and increases in the power to order detention without trial. We continue to raise these issues with the Nigerian Government, with our partners and bilaterally, raising individual cases of abuse wherever appropriate.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to which Nigerian military or security personnel he has denied visas in line with European Union policy.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: It is not our policy to reveal details of individual visa applications. Since June 1993, however, in line with agreed European Union measures against Nigeria, visas have not been issued to members of the military and their dependants, except in a small number of exceptional cases.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the impact on Nigeria of the decision by European Foreign Ministers to suspend co-operation in the military sphere with the Nigerian Government.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: Since the European Union measures against the Nigerian military were announced in 1993, Nigerian military personnel have ceased to attend military training courses in the European Union. The British military assistance team to the Nigerian national war college was withdrawn in June 1993.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arms sales have taken place to Nigeria since the annulment of the June 1993 election.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: It has been the policy of successive Governments not to give details of individual arms sales. Information on transfers of major equipment is contained in the UN register of conventional arms, copies of the United Kingdom return to which are in the library.

  In December 1993, with EU partners, we announced that all new applications for export licences for defence equipment would be reviewed, on a case-by-case basis, with the presumption of denial.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether there has 42
  been consideration of an embargo on the importation of Nigerian oil until democracy is restored in that country.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: The European Union measures against Nigeria will be reviewed, or strengthened, in the light of progress towards a return to democratic civilian rule. All options will, of course, be considered.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is being taken by the United Nations Commission for Human Rights to investigate human rights abuses in Nigeria.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: The 51st session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights will meet from 30 January to 10 March. The EU will be making a strong statement about its concerns regarding human rights abuses in Nigeria.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prisons Ombudsman
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the salary paid to the prisons ombudsman;

  (2) how many staff work in the prisons ombudsman's department; what is their role; and what salaries they are paid.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The prisons ombudsman is paid at a rate equivalent to the civil service grade 5 salary scale which ranges from £38,341 to £56,953.

  The prisons ombudsman's office currently has ten staff, two assistant prisons ombudsmen, five higher executive officers, two administrative officers and a personal secretary. Their role is to assist with investigations of complaints from prisoners about their treatment in prison. The salary scales for the grades are:

  Assistant Prisons Ombudsman (Grade 7) £25,837–£40,012

  Higher Executive Officer £16,000–£21,564

  Administrative Officer £9,393–£12,450

  Personal Secretary £13,322–£16,320

  A third assistant prisons ombudsman and another higher executive officer will join the staff in January.

  Prisoners (Unlocked Hours)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of prisoners held in establishments at(a) Doncaster, (b) Lindholme, (c) Wolds, (d) Wakefield, (e) Durham women's wing and (f) New Hall, Wakefield, prisons, were unlocked for a total of at least 12 hours on the last week day of each month for the last six months.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 18 January 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent. Question about the percentage of prisoners held in Doncaster, Lindholme, Wolds, Wakefield, Durham women's wing and New

  43
  Hall prisons, who were unlocked for a total of at least twelve hours on the last weekday of each month for the last six months.
  All prisoners at Doncaster, Lindholme, Wolds, Durham women's wing and New Hall were unlocked for at least twelve hours on the

  Average number of hours unlocked per prisoner

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  December

  Durham

  12.75

  12.75

  12.75

  12.75

  12.75

  12.75

  Lindholme

  15.5

  15.5

  15.5

  15.5

  15.5

  15.5

  New Hall

  12.0

  12.0

  12.0

  12.0

  12.0

  12.0

  Wakefield

  11.6

  11.6

  11.0

  11.6

  11.6

  11.6

  Wolds

  13.75

  13.75

  13.75

  13.75

  13.75

  13.75

  Doncaster

  14.5

  14.5

  14.5

  14.5

  14.5

  14.5

  Secure Units
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the number of prisoners being held in special secure units in England and Wales on 10 January;

  (2) under what security category each prisoner is classified who is at present being held in a special secure unit;

  (3) what is the number of special secure units in prisons in England and Wales.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 23 January 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about special secure units in prisons in England and Wales.
  There are three special secure units in prisons in England and Wales, at Full Sutton, Parkhurst and Whitemoor prisons.
  At present only the unit at Full Sutton is in use. On 10 January this year it held eight prisoners, all of whom are category A (exceptional escape risk).

  Prison Education Officers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison education officers were employed in each year since 1991.

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

  Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 23 January 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the number of prison Education Officers employed each year since 1991.
  Teaching staff, are not and have not been Prison Service employees. The Prison Service does not maintain central records of the numbers of staff deployed to prison Education Departments by the various education providers.

  Prison Staff
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) prison officers and (b) prison auxiliaries were employed in each year since 1990.
  44
  last weekday of each month for the last six months. Prisoners at Wakefield are currently unlocked for 11.6 hours on weekdays.
  More detailed information is given in the following table:

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 23 January 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prison officers and prison auxiliaries employed by the Prison Service since 1990.
  I attach a table showing the number of prison officers and prison auxiliaries employed by the Service at 1 April each year since 1990. This is with the exception of 1991 where the figures are for 1 October, as April figures are unavailable.
  The figures for prison officers include the figures for senior officers and principal officers. All specialist officers and prison officers in initial training are also included.

  Year

  Prison officers

  Prison auxiliaries

  1990

  20,785

  994

  19911

  21,421

  1220

  1992

  23,029

  1278

  1993

  23,994

  1436

  1994

  23,756

  1621

  19952

  24,237

  1840

  1 As at 1 October

  2 As at 1 January

  Absenteeism
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the absenteeism rate for the United Kingdom Passport Agency in 1991, 1992 and 1993.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Figures are available only for absenteeism due to sickness in the United Kingdom Passport Agency. The information is recorded in terms of days absence per staff member per year and is as follows:

  Days

  1991

  16.69

  1992

  15.96

  1993

  15.01

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the absenteeism rate for Her Majesty's Prison Service in 1991, 1992 and 1993.
  45
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 23 January 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the absenteeism rate for Her Majesty's Prison Service in 1991, 1992 and 1993.
  Figures are not collected centrally on absenteeism, but we do have information on sick absence, which accounts for virtually all absence from work other than leave. The average number of days sick absence per uniformed prison officer per year in 1991–92 was 13.97; in 1992–93 it was 12.76; and in 1993–94 it was 13.05. These statistics relate to basic grade prison officers, senior officers and principal officers who together comprise nearly two-thirds of all Prison Service staff.
  The sick absence of other staff is recorded by the Home Office, but cannot be separately identified for Prison Service staff.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the absenteeism rate for the Home Office in 1991, 1992 and 1993.

  Mr. Howard
  Figures are not collected centrally on absenteeism.

  The average number of working days lost through sick absence per staff year in the Home Office, including its agencies was as follows:

  1991–9.9

  1992–9.0

  1993–10.6

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the absenteeism rate for the Forensic Science Service in 1991, 1992 and 1993.

  Mr. Maclean
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Forensic Science Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Dr. Janet Thompson to Mr David Chidgey, dated 23 January 1995:
  You recently tabled a Parliamentary Question about the absenteeism rate for the Forensic Science Service in 1991, 1992 and 1993. As you know, the arrangement now is that the Chief Executive of an Executive Agency, with the agreement of the Minister, replies to Members of Parliament on operational matters. I am therefore replying on behalf of the Forensic Science Service.
  The average number of days sick absence per member of staff per year in 1992–93 was 6.4, and in 1993–94 was 6.61. These figures include long term sick absences.
  The figures for 1991–92 were recorded centrally by the Home Office and cannot be identified separately.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the absenteeism rate for the Fire Service College in 1991, 1992, and 1993.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the chief executive of the Fire Service College, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from N. K. Finlayson to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 19 January 1995:
  Your Parliamentary Question asking for information about the absenteeism rate for the Fire Service College in 1991, 1992 and 1993 has been referred to me by the Home Secretary for reply, as the matter falls within my delegated authority.
  I regret that the information for the College is not available in the form requested for the dates requested. The College became an Executive Agency on 1 April 1992. Prior to that date and since,
  46
  details of sickness absences have been included as part of the overall figures for the Home Office.
  For the 12 months ending in September 1994 the average number of sick days per member of staff was 7.7 days.

  Prisoners (Paracetamol)
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what policy guidelines are issued to prison staff on the prescribing and administration of paracetamol to inmates; and what variations exist between different prisons.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. John Gunnell dated 23 January 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question concerning the policy guidelines on the prescribing and administration of paracetamol.
  There are no specific policy guidelines issued on the prescribing of individual drugs with the exception of controlled drugs. Each prison is supervised by a qualified pharmacist and arrangements for the distribution of drugs is agreed between the pharmacist and the prison medical officer, according to local requirements.

  Doncaster Prison
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training programmes are available for staff at Doncaster prison.

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

  Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. John Gunnell, dated 23 January 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply, in the absence of the Director General from the office to your recent Question about training programmes available to staff at Doncaster prison.
  All Prisoner Custody Officers (PCOs) undergo initial training to a specification approved by the Prison Service before certification. I am advised by the Director of Doncaster prison that the following in-service training programmes are provided:
  Weekly Continuation Training of Prisoner Custody Officers, including security practices, control and restraint, first aid, suicide awareness, hostage incidents and anti-bullying.
  Specialist Courses for Prisoner Custody Officers include: hostage negotiations, the escort and movement of category A prisoners, drug testing and identification, use of short duration breathing apparatus, sentence calculation, drug dog handler training and dealing with young offenders.
  Training for non-Prisoner Custody Officers, who have each received a minimum of forty hours training including personal security, prisoner and premises security, race relations, health and hygiene and being first on the scene at a hostage incident. Management Training, which included a specialist senior management course prior to the opening of Doncaster. Operational directors have attended the Command of Serious; Incidents course at the Prison Service College.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners can be accommodated in the health care centre at Doncaster prison.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
  47
  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. John Gunnell, dated 23 January 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about Doncaster prison.
  The Health Care Centre at Doncaster can accommodate 59 patients. Twenty-seven places are in three wards, 12 are in double rooms and the remainder in single rooms.

  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what numerical criteria were contained in the contract between the Home Office and the Premier Prison Service Ltd. at Doncaster; and how many(a) escapes from court, (b) escapes from the prison, (c) grievance resolutions, (d) assaults on prisoners and (e) assaults on staff there were in the first six months.

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

  Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. John Gunnell, dated 23 January 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply, in the absence of the Director General from the office to your recent Question about the contract with Premier Prison Service Limited to run Doncaster prison.
  The contract for managing Doncaster prison, a copy of which is held in the House of Commons library, specifies a range of performance criteria, against which the performance of Premier Prison Service is measured.
  The following are the principal criteria:
  Escapes from the prison: there should be no more than two by the end of the first year of operation and thereafter no more than one in each year of operation.
  Escapes from escort: there should be no more than eight in each year for the first three years and no more than six in the fourth year.
  Time out of cell: prisoners on normal location should be out of their cell for a minimum 12 hours per day.
  A positive regime: prisoners on normal location should be able to participate in at least a minimum of 12 hours each day of regime activities, including education: adult prisoners should have access to a minimum of six hours of education and training each week, young prisoners under 17 should be provided with 15 hours of education and training each week.
  Visits: the statutory minimum as set out in Prison Rules must be met.
  Grievances: ninety per cent of grievances capable of resolution at prison level must be resolved within seven days.
  Assaults: there should be no more than 148 assaults on prisoners by the end of the first year of operation, and no more than 77 assaults on staff by the end of the first year of operation. The contractor will be in default when both of these targets are exceeded.
  In general, Premier Prison Service do not have a contractual obligation to supervise prisoners at court, since the court escort and custody service in that area has been contracted to Group 4 Court Services Ltd. They are, however, responsible for Category A prisoners taken from Doncaster prison to court. None has escaped from the custody of their escorting officers at court, or on journeys to an from court.
  There has been one escape from Doncaster. On 10 August 1994, a prisoner escaped through the visitors exit with the help from a visitor. The prisoner was recaptured and criminal proceedings are pending.
  There have been 546 resolved grievances in the first six months of operation of Doncaster prison.
  At 31 December 1994, the latest date for which figures are available there had been 38 proven assaults by prisoners against other prisoners and 93 proven assaults against staff.

  Prisoners (Shopping)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many private shopping visits were made by prison officers for inmates in prisons in England and Wales during the week of 2 to 7 January.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 23 January 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about private shopping trips made by prison officers for inmates during the week of 2 to 7 January.
  On 19 December the Home Secretary announced in the House that the practice of prison officers going shopping at the behest of prisoners had stopped. Purchases will take place only through the prison canteen. No private shopping trips by prison officers were reported during the week of 2 to 7 January.

  Prisoners (Phone Calls)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the prison policy followed in prisons in England and Wales where private phone calls made by inmates can be paid from public expenditure.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 23 January 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the policy followed in prisons in England and Wales where private phone calls made by prisoners can be paid from public expense.
  Following the installation of cardphones in all establishments, prisoners are required to purchase phonecards from their earnings or private cash to make personal calls. Prisoners are only allowed access to an official telephone to make urgent legal and compassionate calls. Prisoners are expected to pay for all calls using an official telephone, unless the governor is satisfied that the prisoner has insufficient funds to meet the cost of the call or the cost is so small as to not justify its collection.

  Prison Security
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is the policy of his Department to instruct prison governors and chief officers to visit every area of the prison for which they are responsible on a daily basis.

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

  Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 23 January 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about instructions on managers visiting the areas for which they are responsible.
  Under Standing Order 3A, the governor exercises a close and constant supervision of the prison. All parts of the prison where prisoners are located, including the hospital, are visited and inspected daily by the governing governor or another of the

  49
  establishment's governors. The remainder of the prison will be inspected by such other managers as the governor designates.

  Prison Governors Association
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to meet the chairman and officers of the Prison Governors Association.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Home Secretary has no present plans to meet the chairman and officers of the PGA, nor has the association made such a request. I last met with the Prison Governors Association on 15 November 1994.

  Solitary Confinement
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have spent more than a total of one month in solitary confinement in the latest year for which figures are available; and what is the extra cost per prisoner per month of solitary confinement.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. David Nicholson, dated 23 January 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many prisoners have spent more than a total of one month in solitary confinement in the latest year for which figures are available; and what is the extra cost per prisoner per month of solitary confinement.
  No prisoners in England and Wales are kept in solitary confinement, which is a form of punishment designed to deprive a prisoner of all human contact.
  Under Prison Rule 43, however, and Young Offender Institution Rule 46, governors may remove prisoners from association with other prisoners for the maintenance of good order and discipline or in their own interests. Information is not available in the form requested, but on 30 June 1994 the number of prisoners segregated under Prison Rule 43 and Y01 Rule 46 were:

  30 June 1994

  Good order and discipline:

  310, of which 152 for a period of more than one month;

  In own interests:

  887 held in rule 43 units or segregation unit on rule 43/46.

  Information on the cost of holding prisoners under these Rules is not available.

  Immigration
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases he is aware of involving persons released on bail from Immigration Act detention by the Immigration Appeals Authority who have subsequently absconded or otherwise failed to comply with the terms of bail; and in what time period these cases arose.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The information requested is not recorded centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Data Centre, Bootle
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the privatisation of the data centre in Bootle; what redundancies have ensued; if these redundancies were referred to by the Sema Group in its bid to take over the running of the centre; and what funding his Department provided towards the cost of redundancies.

  Mr. Howard
  Home Office administrative information technology services have been the subject of a market test under the Government's "Competing for Quality" programme. As previously announced in reply to a question on 19 July 1994,Official Report, column 176, following the conclusion of the test, it was decided to award a contract for the supply of these services to Sema Group plc. Its bid was judged to represent best value for money following an evaluation on the basis of the full costs to the Home Office of the competing bids.

  With some limited exceptions, staff in the undertaking were transferred to Sema Group under the terms of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981. The Home Office did not make any staff redundant: subsequent redundancies by Sema Group are a matter for the company.

  In submitting its bid, Sema Group made it clear that the number of staff required for the provision of services under the contract would be dependent on the outcome of an operational review which they would conduct, if awarded the contract.

  All payments to Sema Group in connection with the services subject to the market test, including payments associated with their transitional and restructuring costs, have been made in accordance with the contract for the supply of IT services, the precise details of which are commercial in confidence.

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are being made by the Data Protection Registrar to ensure use of the Welsh language in its operation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The Data Protection Registrar tells me that application forms for registration are currently available in Welsh; that entry on to the register resulting from a Welsh language application is made available to the applicant in Welsh; that the letter confirming registration is also in Welsh; that arrangements are made for letters received in Welsh to be answered in Welsh; and the Office's Wales-based investigation officer is able to conduct interviews and provide oral information through the medium of Welsh.

  I understand that the registrar will be reviewing these arrangements before preparing a plan for submission to the Welsh Language Board in accordance with the provisions of the Welsh Language Act 1993.

  Sentences
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the proportion of defendants who received(a) custodial and (b) non-custodial sentences following conviction by magistrates in England and Wales in each year since 1988;
  51
  (2) How many persons were sentenced to a term of imprisonment following conviction by magistrates in England and Wales in each year since 1988.

  Number and percentage of defendants sentenced at magistrates' courts by year, type of offence and type of sentence England and Wales

  1988 Number

  %

  1989 Number

  %

  1990 Number

  %

  11991 Number

  %

  11992 Number

  %

  11993 Number

  %

  Indictable offences

  Total sentenced

  289,060

  100

  250,967

  100

  256,211

  100

  252,518

  100

  243,447

  100

  239,851

  100

  Immediate custody

  19,068

  7

  13,107

  5

  11,259

  4

  13,050

  5

  11,796

  5

  13,898

  6

  Non-custodial sentence

  269,992

  93

  237,860

  95

  244,952

  96

  239,468

  95

  231,651

  95

  225,953

  94

  Summary non-motoring offences

  Total sentenced

  454,595

  100

  469,312

  100

  464,061

  100

  451,210

  100

  468,928

  100

  451,239

  100

  Immediate custody

  2,569

  1

  3,992

  1

  3,607

  1

  4,221

  1

  3,486

  1

  3,218

  1

  Non-custodial sentence

  452,026

  99

  465,320

  99

  460,454

  99

  446,989

  99

  465,442

  99

  448,021

  99

  Summary motoring offences

  Total sentenced

  713,920

  100

  720,988

  100

  703,284

  100

  711,889

  100

  722,164

  100

  663,963

  100

  Immediate custody

  2,092

  —

  4,541

  1

  4,812

  1

  5,772

  1

  5698

  1

  7,8900

  1

  Non-custodial sentence

  711,828

  100

  716,447

  99

  698,472

  99

  706,117

  99

  716,466

  99

  656,063

  99

  All offences

  Total sentenced

  1,456,925

  100

  1,441,267

  100

  1,423,556

  100

  1,415,617

  100

  1,434,539

  100

  1,355,053

  100

  Immediate custody

  23,729

  2

  21,640

  2

  19,678

  1

  23,043

  2

  20,980

  1

  25,016

  2

  Non-custodial sentence

  1,433,196

  98

  1,419,627

  98

  1,403,878

  99

  1,392,574

  98

  1,413,559

  99

  1,330,037

  98

  1 Improvements in the data collection methods used by the Metropolitan police district have led to increases in the number sentenced in these years.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply of 10 January,Official Report, column 89, how many of the offers of awards made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority under the tariff scheme in November have led to appeals.

  Mr. Maclean
  Seven.

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

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is not currently available.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offers of payment were made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority in September, October and December 1994; and in which of the tariff bands these awards fell.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority made 605 offers of award in the following bands:

  Awards offered

  Band

  September

  October

  November

  1

  9

  77

  68

  2

  1

  8

  18

  3

  8

  48

  95

  4

  —

  4

  9

  5

  5

  20

  40

  6

  —

  5

  7

  52
  Mr. Maclean
  The information is given in the table. The 1994 data will not be available until the autumn.

  Awards offered

  Band

  September

  October

  November

  7

  9

  44

  43

  8

  1

  4

  11

  9

  1

  6

  4

  10

  1

  4

  5

  11

  —

  3

  6

  12

  3

  15

  11

  13

  1

  1

  1

  14

  —

  —

  1

  15

  —

  1

  —

  16

  —

  2

  1

  17

  1

  1

  1

  19

  —

  —

  1

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many awards were made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in(a) 1992–93 and (b) 1993–94.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board made 36,638 awards in 1992–93 and 40,635 in 1993–94.

  Prison Service
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Prison Service's annual report to be published; and what is the reason for its delay.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
  53
  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 23 January 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the publication of the Prison Service's Annual Report and the reason for its delay.
  Although it relates to a past period, publication of the 1993–94 Prison Service Annual Report has been delayed to allow the Report to be updated to reflect the events at Whitemoor and Parkhurst. The report is expected to be published soon.

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what special instructions he has given to the assistant chief constable of Essex police with regard to the export of livestock through Brightlingsea.

  Mr. Maclean
  None. The policing of such events is an operational matter for the chief constable.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 12 December,Official Report, column 495, concerning overseas travel at public expense by spouses of Ministers what proportion of the spouses' visit was dedicated to official visits and business.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: On the two occasions concerned, programmes were drawn up for the spouse by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with practically all the spouse's time dedicated to official visits and duties.

  Ethnic Minority Funding
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce the distribution of section 11 funds for 1995–96.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: Allocations for existing projects which will still be running in 1995–96 should be notified to grant recipients shortly. We hope to announce the outcome of applications for new projects starting in 1995–96 by the end of February.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many serving prisoners were sentenced, pursuant to(a) section 53(1) and (b) section 53(2) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933; and how many of these prisoners are now serving their sentences in adult prisons and young offenders' institutions, respectively.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 16 January 1995]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 23 January 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many serving prisoners were sentenced

  Traffic Area

  1 April 1989

  1 April 1990

  1 April 1991

  1 April 1992

  1 April 1993

  1 April 1994

  Present

  North Eastern (Newcastle)

  46.5

  42.0

  6.0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  North Eastern (Leeds)

  66.0

  63.0

  61.0

  63.0

  60.5

  60.5

  58.0

  North Western (Manchester)

  104.0

  96.5

  86.5

  71.5

  70.0

  70.0

  67.0

  54

  pursuant to (a) section 53(1) and (b) section 53(2) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933; and how many of these prisoners are now serving their sentences in adult prisons and young offenders' institutions, respectively.
  On 30 November 1994, 54 young offenders were held under section 53(1); all apart from two were held in young offender institutions or a remand centre. Nine young offenders were held under section 53(2) life; of these one male was held in an adult establishment. 353 young offenders were held for determinate sentence under section 53(2) of whom 26 were held in adult institutions. Sentenced young offenders include some 21 year olds.

TRANSPORT

  Roads Programme
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to include a measure of employment effects when assessing the local impacts of new roads.

  Mr. Watts
  The Department's current appraisal methods do not attempt to measure the indirect local economic impacts of road schemes, such as employment. A succession of studies has concluded that to include a measurement of indirect effects in addition to the direct economic benefits risks double counting.

  Drivers' Hours
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will urge the European Council of Ministers to tighten regulations governing drivers' hours; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We see no need at present for any significant change in the European Community rules on driving hours and rest periods. However, we do attach importance to more consistent and rigorous application and enforcement of existing rules throughout the Community. The Transport Council expressly agreed that objective during the German presidency. With a view to strengthening enforcement, the European Commission has published a draft regulation proposing an addition to the tachograph that would require the digital recording of drivers' hours on smart cards.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in each of the last five years for which figures are available, how many offences were identified by the vehicle inspectorate in relation to drivers' hours in(a) Derbyshire and (b) North Yorkshire; and what percentage these figures represent of the overall national figures.

  Mr. Norris
  The figures could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Licensing Authority Staff
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many licensing authority staff were employed by the licensing authorities by traffic area on(a) 1 April for each year since 1989 and (b) at present.

  Mr. Norris
  The table gives total numbers of staff employed in each traffic area office in support of the traffic commissioners-licensing authorities.
  55

  Traffic Area

  1 April 1989

  1 April 1990

  1 April 1991

  1 April 1992

  1 April 1993

  1 April 1994

  Present

  West Midland (Birmingham)

  77.0

  73.5

  64.0

  47.5

  47.5

  50.0

  46.0

  Eastern (Nottingham)

  60.0

  59.5

  36.5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Eastern (Cambridge)

  57.0

  55.0

  46.5

  64.0

  63.0

  60.0

  56.5

  South Wales (Cardiff)

  46.0

  37.0

  31.0

  28.5

  28.5

  30.0

  29.0

  Western (Bristol)

  63.0

  62.0

  67.5

  58.5

  57.5

  56.S

  54.0

  Metropolitan (London)

  112.5

  104.5

  74.5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South Eastern (Eastbourne)

  86.0

  84.0

  68.5

  63.5

  61.0

  61.0

  56.0

  Scottish (Edinburgh)

  80.0

  77.0

  71.0

  61.0

  61.0

  58.0

  44.5

  798.0

  754.0

  613.0

  457.5

  449.0

  446.0

  411.0

  Goods Vehicle Operator Licences
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many goods vehicle operator licences were(a) revoked, (b) suspended, (c) curtailed and (d) subject to formal penal warnings by traffic area in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Norris
  The figures requested are contained in the appendices to the annual reports of the licensing authorities which are available in the Library of the House.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many public inquiries were held for goods vehicle operator licences for each of the last five years for which figures are available by traffic area; and if he will give, in each case, the reason for the public inquiry.

  Mr. Norris
  The figures requested are contained in the appendices to the annual reports of the licensing authorities which are available in the Library of the House. To set out the reason for the public inquiry in each case could be done only at disproportionate cost.

  Seat Belts
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has of(a) the number and (b) percentage of people in cars not using seat belts in (a) front seats and (b) rear seats; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  The Transport Research Laboratory carries out six-monthly surveys of seat belt wearing rates. The most recent survey in October 1994 indicated that nationally 92 per cent. of drivers, 93 per cent. of front seat passengers and 67 per cent. of rear seat passengers were wearing seat belts in cars.

  Cycling
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what conclusions he has drawn about planning for cyclists following his recent trip to Holland; and what plans he has to meet representatives of cycling organisations to discuss his Department's future policies for cycling.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  My recent visit to the Netherlands will be useful in developing ideas based on last year's Government statement on cycling policy. I shall be meeting representatives of the cyclists public affairs group to continue discussions on a number of issues.

  Traffic Commissioners (Public Inquiries)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce guidelines to ensure consistency in the
  56
  judgments reached by traffic commissioners in respect of public inquiries held by traffic commissioners; and if he will make a statement as to the merits of education or revocation where previous offences have been proven.

  Mr. Norris
  Traffic commissioners must judge each individual case on its merits, and it is up to the traffic commissioner concerned, having full regards to all the circumstances, to decide whether revocation or another course is preferable in a particular case. The traffic commissioners and their deputies have regular meetings, however, to discuss the general handling of cases, and the senior traffic commissioner issues guidelines on specific aspects of the legislation, in order to promote consistency.

  Hedge Planting
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure the maximum provision of hedge planting on the boundaries of new and widened roads for which his Department has a responsibility.

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. John Fraser, dated 23 January 1995:
  The Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to write to you in reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the provision of hedges along trunk roads and motorways.
  The Highways Agency fully recognises the importance that hedgerows can have in integrating roads into the adjoining landscape, and the benefits they can bring to nature conservation. For this reason we are keen to see hedgerows retained, and in some cases restored, along boundaries wherever possible.
  However, due to the difficulties associated with gaining access to maintain properly boundary hedgerows and fencing, it is our usual practice to provide hedgerows as accommodation works through negotiation with adjacent landowners. We estimate that, on average, around 100km of hedgerow are put back into the landscape in this way each year.
  Any feature provided as an accommodation work becomes the property of the landowner once the establishment maintenance is complete, usually after three years. Because of this, some landowners are unwilling to accept hedge planting and we are not empowered to offer any inducements to persuade them to do so. In exceptional circumstances, where hedgerows are deemed essential to the integration of the road, and landowners are unwilling to accept hedge planting as an accommodation work, we may therefore undertake to plant hedges and maintain them throughout the life of a road scheme.
  Advice on the use of the hedgerows in landscape design is included in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, Volume 10 (the Good Roads Guide), a copy of which is in the House of Commons library.

  Driving Skills Training
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to encourage the use of
  57
  driving skills training as a response to driving without due care and attention offences.

  Mr. Norris
  We have no training plans related specifically to drivers who have committed offences, but my right hon. Friend will shortly be launching a voluntary training scheme for drivers who have recently passed the driving test. I welcome the fact that certain police forces are providing driver rectification schemes.

  London Transport (Funding)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what sum is available to London Transport in its current financial year for the support of services considered desirable for social reasons; what criteria are applied by him or adopted by London Regional Transport; and what is the appropriate level of support in pence per passenger mile on those services.

  Mr. Norris
  The total Government grant available to London Transport in the current financial year is £373 million, excluding the ring-fenced provision for new lines. London Transport is responsible for decisions on the allocation of Government grant and its other resources, and on the general level and structure of services. Social benefits are among the factors taken into account by London Transport in so doing. There is no presumption in favour of any particular level of support per passenger mile.

  Accident Prevention
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he is giving to the research findings of Douglas Stewart of the department of engineering at the university of Aberdeen in relation to accident prevention for child pedestrians and the use of pedestrian guard rails.

  Mr. Norris
  The Department is aware of Dr. Stewart's research on these subjects. Our research programme into accident causation will continue to look at ways of effectively evaluating these and other initiatives.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport from which individuals and organisations he seeks advice on the design of road curves.

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Tam Dalyell, dated 23 January 1995:
  The Minister for Local Transport and Road Safety, Mr. Stephen Norris, has asked me to write to you in reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about advice on the design of road curves.
  The Agency and previously the Department of Transport have provided advice on the design of road curves for many years. This advice reflects the results of monitoring the performance of the network and special studies which have been carried out, in the main, by the Transport Research Laboratory.
  Additionally, experience abroad is monitored through our various contacts, e.g., Members of the Permanent International Association of Road Congresses, and relevant technical papers are examined to see if any points emerge which require follow up.
  Finally the requirements are exposed to peer group review from time to time through professional meetings etc. Where the Highway Agency's engineers find fully substantial evidence that the advice is in need of amendment then revised guidance is issued. There is full liaison with the Scottish Office, Welsh Office and DOENI over their requirements.

  Unmanned Crossings
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the accident between a minibus and a train on the East Suffolk line at the Brampton level crossing on 21 December 1994; and what changes he is proposing to order for unmanned crossings as a consequence.

  Mr. Watts
  The collision between the 09.05 Ipswich to Lowestoft Sprinter train and a camper van occurred at about 10.15 am on 21 December on the automatic, open-level crossing at Brampton station, Suffolk. There was no derailment nor any injury to those on board the train. The driver of the van was seriously injured and was taken to hospital; the passengers, six children, were shaken but uninjured.

  The Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate and Railtrack are investigating the circumstances of this collision. There are no plans to alter the protection at this crossing at present. Railtrack and the Health and Safety Executive will continue to conduct publicity campaigns and research on level crossing safety.

  Opencast Coal (Transport)
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to ensure the transport of opencast coal by rail rather than road.

  Mr. Watts
  It is for local authorities to consider the use of rail and other alternatives to road when appraising planning applications for opencast coal extraction. The Government provide grants for the use of rail for freight where justified by environmental and other benefits.

  Rail Freight
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what volume and value of freight was carried by British railways for each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Watts
  This information is contained in tables 1.12 and 5.11 of "Transport Statistics Great Britain 1994", a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

  Questions
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the reason for the delay in replying in full to the hon. Member for Pembroke's question, tabled on 17 November 1994, for which the hon. Member received a holding answer on 23 November 1994.

  Mr. Norris
  A number of errors occurred in the processing of this question. I am writing to the hon. Member with full details and an apology.

  Railway Station, Stratford
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions and on what dates he, Ministers or former Ministers in his Department met persons in Stratford, London, to discuss matters relating to the implications of building a new railway station at Stratford.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  There have been numerous meetings between present and former Ministers in my Department and persons interested in the implications of providing a station on the channel tunnel rail link at Stratford. I will be
  59
  meeting representatives of the Stratford Promoter Group shortly about their proposals for a station.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions and on what dates he or Ministers or former Ministers in his Department informally met representatives of Decision Makers Ltd. to discuss matters relating to the development of a station at Stratford.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Neither I nor my ministerial colleagues have held any such meetings to discuss matters relating to the development of a station at Stratford; records of the informal meetings of former Ministers are not kept by my Department.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions in the last six months civil servants in his Department met persons representative of interests in Stratford to discuss matters relating to proposals for a new Stratford station.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  There have been many meetings between officials in my Department and persons whose interests include a station on the channel tunnel rail link at Stratford.

  Railway Station, Ebbsfleet
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date he was personally briefed on Ebbsfleet by representatives of Decision Makers Ltd. either formally or informally.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I have received no such briefing.

  Through Ticketing
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many stations in(a) Grampian region, (b) Tayside region, (c) Highland region, (d) Scotland and (e) England will be capable of selling tickets to all destinations in the United Kingdom under the proposals published by the Rail Regulator, what is the ratio of stations to head of population for each of these areas, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Watts.
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: The number of stations capable of selling tickets to all destinations will be unchanged.

  The Rail Regulator is currently consulting on a range of options for ticket retailing obligations at stations. No decisions on the number of stations required to sell through tickets will be made until the consultations exercise is completed.

WALES

  Civil Servant Travel
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which airlines have been granted preferred carrier status for civil servant travel to overseas destinations.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Welsh Office has not granted preferred carrier status to any airline. The preferred carrier for any particular civil servant's travel depends on the circumstances of the journey concerned and the value for money.

  Farm Hygiene Inspections
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many farms were visited by Agricultural Development Advisory Service officers for the purposes of carrying out hygiene inspections in Wales in each year since 1990.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The number of dairy farm hygiene inspection visits undertaken by ADAS in Wales is as follows—in financial years:

  Year

  Number

  1990–91

  2,721

  1991–92

  2,888

  1992–93

  2,557

  1993–94

  2,790

  1994–95—to 31 December 1994

  1,939

  Opencast Mining
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a list of all sites for which approval has been sought for opencast mining operations, or on which opencast mining is currently taking place, indicating the latest estimate of annual tonnage extracted.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the total volume of opencast coal mined in Wales for each year since 1975 together with its percentage share of the total volume of coal mined and his comparable estimates for the next five years.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Figures for the production of opencast coal are not held centrally. However, the County Planning Officers Society has published figures from 1983–84. The figures relating to Wales are as follows:

  Year

  Thousand tonnes

  Percentage of UK total

  1983–84

  1,547

  10.5

  1984–85

  1,738

  11.7

  1985–86

  2,174

  14.2

  1986–87

  1,522

  10.4

  1987–88

  1,677

  10.3

  1988–89

  1,748

  9.7

  1989–90

  2,088

  11.2

  1990–91

  1,865

  10.2

  1991–92

  2,402

  12.6

  1992–93

  2,423

  13.6

  1993–94

  2,504

  15.4

  The future production of opencast coal in Wales will depend on the commercial plans of the coal operators and planning decisions.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many salaried dentists were employed by each family health service authority in Wales in December 1994; and how many unfilled vacancies there were.

  Mr. Richards
  On 1 December 1994 there were three salaried dentists in post in Dyfed, Gwynedd and Powys. There were three unfilled vacancies in Gwynedd.
  61
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many dentists in Wales were providing NHS treatment in each of the family health services authority areas in each year since December 1990.

  Mr. Richards
  Information, relating to the number of dentists at 30 September, is given in the table:

  Number of dentists providing NHS treatment1

  FHSA

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Clwyd

  111

  105

  102

  114

  117

  Dyfed

  98

  101

  105

  104

  105

  Gwent

  125

  139

  135

  135

  138

  Gwynedd

  69

  65

  66

  67

  66

  Mid Glamorgan

  134

  123

  133

  126

  125

  Powys

  34

  36

  35

  34

  33

  South Glamorgan

  131

  129

  127

  133

  133

  West Glamorgan

  135

  134

  128

  130

  132

  Wales

  837

  832

  831

  843

  849

  1 Principals, assistants and vocational trainees. Each dentist is included in the FHSA in which the majority of time is spent.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent on providing the services of salaried dentists, including all establishment costs, employed by each Welsh family health services authority in 1992–93, 1993–94 and to date in 1994–95.

  Mr. Richards
  Expenditure on salaried dentists has been incurred by three FHSAs in Wales. Details of these are as follows:

  1993–94 £

  1994–95 (to 31.12.94) £

  Dyfed FHSA:

  16,553

  17,271

  Remuneration

  66,789

  28,206

  Expenses

  83,342

  45,477

  Gwynedd FHSA:

  18,228

  18,702

  Remuneration

  83,103

  20,231

  Expenses

  101,331

  38,933

  Powys FHSA:

  Remuneration

  nil

  18,920

  Expenses

  nil

  14,620

  Wales

  184,673

  117,950

  Sources: FHSA annual accounts for 1992–93, 1993–94, FHSA FIS returns for December 1994 and FHSA capital budgets for salaried dentists for 1993–94 and 1994–95.

  Cormorants and Goosanders
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what requests he has from individuals and organisations to issue licences to shoot cormorants and goosanders on any Welsh river other than the River Wye; and what has been his decision in response to those requests.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Very few applications have been received to kill birds on other rivers in Wales in recent years and no licences have been issued.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the first licences were issued for the shooting of cormorants and goosanders on the River Wye.
  62
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  On 14 December 1994.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cormorants and goosanders have been shot on the River Wye following the issuing of licences by his Department.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Up until 18 January 1995, three goosanders and no cormorants had been shot under current licences.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which organisations requested that licences be issued for the shooting of cormorants and goosanders on the River Wye.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  None. The applications were from individual fishery owners.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he requested advice from the Countryside Council for Wales on the issuing of licences for the shooting of cormorants and goosanders on the River Wye.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  In November 1994 as far as the current licences are concerned.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what advice was sought by his Department before issuing licences for the shooting of cormorants and goosanders on the River Wye.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Advice and recommendations were provided by Agricultural Development Advisory Service wildlife consultants. These took account of comments by the Countryside Council for Wales and information provided by the National Rivers Authority.

  A-level Students
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with representatives of Welsh local education authorities and further education colleges concerning competition for students wishing to follow A-level courses.

  Mr. Richards
  My right hon. Friend has had no discussions with Welsh LEAs or FE colleges regarding this matter.

  Discretionary Awards
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consideration has been given to the Calonste Gulbenkian Foundation report into discretionary awards; and what action he proposes in the light of its findings.

  Mr. Richards
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply, given to the hon. Member for Oldham, Central and Royton (Mr. Boswell) on 23 November Official Report, columns 177–98, by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Further and Higher Education.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the maximum annual discretionary award available to(a) further education students and (b) higher education students in each of the county councils in Wales.

  Mr. Richards
  The amount and conditions of a discretionary awards for students on courses of further education or courses of higher education which are not designated for mandatory awards purposes are entirely a matter for local education authorities. LEAs may also make discretionary awards to students on designated courses of higher education who are personally ineligible
  63
  to receive mandatory awards. The amount and conditions of such an award must be the same as for a mandatory award for that course.

  Further Education Access Fund
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much of the total Welsh further education access fund each further education college received on behalf of its students in 1992–93, 1993–94 and to date in 1994–95.

  Mr. Richards
  Details of allocations of access funds to further education institutions in Wales in the years 1992-93, 1993-94 and 1994-95 are given in the following table.

  Allocation of access funds

  Institution

  1992–93 £

  1993–94 £

  1994–95 £

  North East Wales Institute1

  68,218

  —

  —

  Llandrillo Technical College

  17,045

  24,302

  32,304

  Welsh College of Horticulture

  3,754

  3,961

  5,274

  Coleg Llysfasi College

  1,064

  1,280

  1,705

  Carmarthen College of Technology and Art

  19,155

  19,155

  24,955

  Pembrokeshire College

  9,955

  9,955

  13,047

  Coleg Ceredigion

  5,504

  6,015

  8,010

  Welsh Agricultural College1

  6,554

  —

  —

  Gwent Tertiary College

  38,325

  40,976

  54,566

  Gwynedd Technical College2

  5,349

  7,385

  9,835

  Coleg Pencraig2

  1,408

  2,263

  3,014

  Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor

  2,471

  3,425

  4,560

  Merthyr Tydfil College

  4,536

  7,385

  9,835

  Aberdare College

  5,881

  5,881

  7,217

  Bridgend College of Technology

  7,033

  7,266

  9,676

  Rhondda College

  1,001

  1,221

  1,626

  Ystrad Mynach College

  6,725

  8,427

  11,223

  Pontypridd Technical College

  7,570

  9,112

  12,135

  Pencoed College

  1,408

  2,144

  2,855

  Coleg Powys

  5,067

  5,067

  5,433

  Coleg Glan Hafren

  10,031

  10,031

  12,631

  Barry College

  9,978

  9,978

  12,571

  Swansea College

  7,914

  7,914

  9,636

  Gorseinon College

  1,720

  1,727

  2,300

  Neath College

  5,349

  5,349

  6,464

  Afan College

  1,720

  1,720

  2,221

  Coleg Harlech

  4,723

  4,723

  5,512

  Deeside College3

  —

  11,405

  15,188

  St. David's RC 6th Form College4

  —

  417

  555

  Yale College4

  —

  715

  18,916

  1 Since 1 April 1993 NEWI and WAC have been incorporated, higher education institutions

  2 Amalgamated as Coleg Menai on 1 August 1994

  3 Incorporated 1 April 1993 as a result of transfer of some FE provision from NEWI

  4 Joined FEFCW funded sector 1 April 1993

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many individual applications were made to the further education access fund in 1992–93, 1993–94 and to date in 1994–95; and which further education colleges those students were attending.

  Mr. Richards
  Further education colleges in Wales received a total of 2,493 applications for assistance from the access funds in academic year 1992–93. Details of the applications received by each further education college are given in the following table. Similar information for academic years 1993–94 and 1994–95 is not yet available.
  64

  Institution

  Number of students applying for assistance from the access funds in the academic year 1992–93

  North East Wales Institute

  649

  Llandrillo Technical College

  184

  Welsh College of Horticulture

  28

  Coleg Llysfasi College

  10

  Carmarthen College of

  85

  Technology and Art

  Pembrokeshire College

  62

  Coleg Ceredigion

  41

  Welsh Agricultural College

  48

  Gwent Tertiary College

  353

  Gwynedd Technical College1

  88

  Coleg Pencraig1

  31

  Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor

  19

  Merthyr Tydfil College

  72

  Aberdare College

  63

  Bridgend College of Technology

  57

  Rhondda College

  14

  Ystrad Mynach College

  116

  Pontypridd Technical College

  143

  Pencoed College

  11

  Coleg Powys

  52

  Coleg Glan Hafren

  106

  Barry College

  72

  Swansea College

  15

  Gorseinon College

  18

  Neath College

  20

  Afan College

  15

  Coleg Harlech

  121

  Total

  2,493

  1 Amalgamated as Coleg Menai on 1 August 1994.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what criteria are used to decide if a student is eligible for assistance from the further education access fund.

  Mr. Richards
  The Further Education Funding Council pays grants to institutions within the further education sector in Wales so that they may provide financial help to students whose access to further education might be inhibited by financial considerations or who, for whatever reason including physical or other disabilities, face financial difficulties.

  In order to be eligible for assistance from the access funds, further education students must satisfy the residence requirement, be following full-time—including sandwich—courses of further or adult education and be aged 19 or over. It is for each institution to decide its own criteria and procedures for considering applications and making payments of access funds to eligible students, subject to the terms and conditions specified by the council and any other guidance from the council.

  GP Fundholding
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements he has in mind for the review of the role and function of the fundholding project management group at the end of the first year.

  Mr. Redwood
  The group will conduct its own review after the end of its first year of operation. I will then consider its future in the light of that review and circumstances obtaining at the time.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the number, date and place of the meetings of the general practitioner fundholder steering group since 23 March 1994; what sub-committees have
  65
  been set up and to cover which topics; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will list the papers and studies commissioned and actions taken to implement the recommendations of the general practitioner fundholding project management group.

  Mr. Redwood
  The GPFH steering group has met on three occasions at the Hensol conference centre on 10 May, 13 September and 15 November 1994. No sub-committees have been set up.

  The following topics have been considered:

  Steering Group Terms of Reference

  Weighted Capitation

  Financial Management

  Survey of GP practices

  Fair Purchasing

  Most of this work is continuing.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the initiatives by the general practitioner fundholding project management group, taken in(a) promotion of general practitioner fundholding to non-fundholders, (b) setting up a strategic planning process, (c) meeting the need for financial control and an acceptable method of determining allocations, (d) evaluating the scheme and (e) evaluating the implications of the onset of unitary authorities on the relationship with fundholders.

  Mr. Redwood
  The GP fundholding project management group has no executive function. Any action required in respect of views or recommendations arising from its work will be a matter for my Department.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of the executive committee of the general practitioner fundholding project management group and its membership and functions.

  Mr. Redwood
  The GPFH steering group does not have an executive committee.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the arrangements for the Welsh conference on general practitioner fundholding mentioned in his letter of 23 March 1994 to all general practitioner fundholders.

  Mr. Redwood
  The conference was held on 14 June 1994. The Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones), gave the keynote address and other speeches dealt with matters relating to the scheme. GP Fundholders and representatives from DHAs, FHSAs, and hospitals responded to an invitation widely distributed in the service.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the percentage figures for(a) brand name and (b) generic prescribing for the average of all general practitioner fundholders in Wales in (i) the second year before they became fundholders, (ii) the year before they became fundholders, (iii) the first year after they became fundholders and (iv) the average of each subsequent year;

  (2) if he will list the percentage brand name and generic prescribing ratio for the average of all general practitioner fundholders in (a) the second year before they became fundholders, (b) the year before they became fundholders, (c) the first year of fundholding and (d) the average for all subsequent years;
  66
  (3) if he will list the average value of capital projects at the surgery premises of (a) general practitioner fundholders and (b) non-fundholding general practitioners, in each of the past three years.

  Mr. Redwood
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the percentage figures for(a) brand name and (b) generic prescribing for (i) general practitioner fundholders and (ii) non-general practitioner fundholders in each family health service authority in Wales for each of the past three years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Redwood
  Information is not available in the form requested. The percentages of generic prescribing in each family health services authority in Wales is as follows:

  October 1992

  October 1993

  October 1994

  Clwyd Fundholders

  40.89

  50.00

  53.66

  FHSA

  40.23

  44.28

  47.23

  Dyfed Fundholders

  50.87

  52.87

  51.62

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will specify the policy objectives of the general practitioner fundholding project management group, relating to the NHS in Wales and the other developments relevant to the development of the general practitioner fundholding scheme.

  Mr. Redwood
  I wrote to the hon. Member on 17 January about the GP fundholding project management group's terms of reference and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to institute a full valuation of the surgery premises at(a) general practitioner fundholders and (b) non-fundholders; what estimate his Department has made of the average value of surgery premises of (i) general practitioner fundholders and (ii) non-fundholders; what estimate his Department has made of the rate of change of that average capital value of (1) general practitioner fundholders and (2) non-fundholders' surgery premises; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  General practitioners are independent self employed contractors in the NHS. Under their terms of service, they themselves are required to provide adequate practice premises from which to see their patients. The capital value of, and investment in, the premises they own is a matter for them, and their interest in any premises they may rent is between them and their landlord. It would not be appropriate therefore for me to institute a full valuation of their practice premises.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list short-term loans given to each NHS trust in Wales, since its inception, stating what the interest rate was, what the term was, if security was requested and provided and for what purpose the loan was requested; and if he will detail any requests that were refused and the purpose for which they were sought.
  67
  Mr. Redwood
  Information on short term loans to NHS trusts in Wales is as follows:

  Trust

  Loan (£000)

  Interest rate per cent.

  Term (days)

  Nevill Hall and District

  220

  5.2

  10

  230

  5.3

  7

  175

  5.2

  10

  175

  5.3

  7

  175

  5.2

  12

  175

  5.3

  7

  Pembrokeshire

  150

  5.2

  14

  100

  5.3

  7

  300

  5.7

  10

  200

  5.8

  11

  Morriston

  1,029

  5.1

  92

  1,162

  5.2

  124

  800

  5.3

  31

  850

  5.4

  41

  Gwynedd Community Health

  580

  5.0

  29

  150

  6.2

  111

  200

  6.4

  99

  Bridgend and District

  1,000

  6.2

  121

  1,000

  6.3

  91

  South East Wales Ambulance

  500

  5.3

  183

  500

  6.2

  155

  North Wales Ambulance

  130

  5.1

  60

  Derwen

  105

  5.2

  13

  Rhondda Healthcare

  300

  5.2

  14

  Clwydian Community Care

  900

  5.3

  178

  500

  6.0

  182

  Velindre

  15

  5.2

  14

  Gwynedd Hospitals

  500

  5.3

  10

  Security is required only in the case of commercial loans. All short-term loans to NHS trusts in Wales have been provided by my Department for financial management purposes. No such applications have been refused.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Absenteeism
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what was the absenteeism rate for the Veterinary Medicines Directorate in 1991, 1992 and 1993;

  (2) what was the absenteeism rate for the Agricultural Development Advisory Service in 1991, 1992 and 1993;

  (3) what was the absenteeism rate for the Intervention Board in 1991, 1992 and 1993;

  (4) what was the absenteeism rate for the Central Veterinary Laboratory in 1991, 1992 and 1993;

  (5) what was the absenteeism rate for the Central Science Laboratory in 1991, 1992 and 1993;
  68
  (6) what was the absenteeism rate for the Pesticides Safety Directorate in 1991, 1992 and 1993.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  These matters are the responsibilities of the chief executives concerned. I have asked them to write to the hon. Member direct.

  Letter from Dr. J. M. Rutter to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 20 December 1994:
  The Minister has asked me to reply to your question about absenteeism rates in the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible as Chief Executive.
  The VMD has a total staff of 102 as at 1 December 1994. In terms of absenteeism related to sickness, the information you requested for the Directorate is as follows:

  Year

  Percentage

  1991

  3.4

  1992

  2.6

  1993

  3.0

  Letter from Dr. J. M. Walsh to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 23 January 1995:
  Recently, you tabled a Parliamentary Question (PQ 240) enquiring after the absenteeism rate for ADAS in 1991/1993. Subsequently, you requested additional data for 1994. The figures are as follows:

  Year

  Average days per person

  1991

  6.5

  1992

  6.7

  1993

  18.5

  1994

  7.8 (year to 14 December 1994)

  1 Introduction of new work recording system.

  Please note that these figures contain many reasons for absenteeism such as sick leave, maternity leave, special leave for other purposes.

  Letter from Guy Stapleton to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 23 January 1995:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your question about the absenteeism rate for the Intervention Board in 1991, 1992 and 1993, as the matter is one within my operational responsibility.
  Sick absence rates in the Intervention Board for the financial years 199–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93, calculated as a percentage of total man years, were:

  Year

  Percentage

  1990–91

  44

  1991–92

  3.9

  1992–93

  6.7

  The increase in 1992–93 was mainly the result of a relatively small number of the Agency's staff who were then on long-term sick leave. Most of these officers have since retired on medical grounds.

  Letter from T. W. A. Little to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 23 January 1995:
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the absenteeism rate for the Central Veterinary Laboratory in 1991, 1992 and 1993.
  As you know the Minister has asked that I write to you direct with the answer to your question.
  CVL was launched as an Executive Agency on 2 April 1990. Information on absences since that date is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
  69
  Letter from Dr. P. I. Stanley to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 23 January 1995:
  Absenteeism Rate in the Central Science Laboratory 1991–93
  The Central Science Laboratory (CSL) was launched as an executive agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 1 April 1992. Questions relating to staff when they formed part of the core Department before the Agency's launch are for the Minister to consider.
  Since becoming an Agency CSL has kept management information, including details of absenteeism (unauthorised absences), on a financial year basis. During the 1992–93 financial year there were no unauthorised absences and during 1993–94 there was a single incidence of eight days duration involving a junior member of the scientific staff. This was out of a total number of . staff in post of 488.
  On 1 April 1994 CSL was re-launched as an enlarged Agency following the merger with the Food Science Laboratories at Aberdeen and Norwich. To date in the current financial year there have been no instances of absenteeism in the enlarged Agency.

  Letter from G. K. Bruce to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 23 January 1995:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your Question about absenteeism rates in respect of the Pesticides Safety Directorate.
  The Directorate was launched as an executive agency on 1 April 1993. Information on absences since that date is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Questions relating to staff when they formed part of the core Department before the agency's launch are for the Minister to consider.

  Flooding
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 29 November,Official Report, column 614, what evidence he has that agricultural practices which leave land without grass or crop cover can lead to an increased rate of run-off.

  Mr. Jack
  Grass or, indeed, any kind of crop cover has the ability to retain water, thereby leading to a natural decrease in the rate of run-off. The precise effect of crop cover on rates of run-off will however vary according to a number of factors including slope of the land, type of soil, rate of rainfall and agricultural practices.

  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, pursuant to his answer of 29 November,Official Report, column 613, what assessment he has made of the need for extensive surveys and flood modelling to assess if more run-off from the land is occurring and flood damage is becoming more frequent and widespread.

  Mr. Jack
  Changes in flood response in any particular catchment depend on a combination of factors notably land use, topography and climate. Ministry research carried out by the Institute of Hydrology suggests little evidence of any significant overall trend in the rate of runoff from land over time. In the light of this, the Ministry has no plans for more extensive surveys over and above those being undertaken by the National Rivers Authority to inform local planning authorities of flood risk areas.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Deva
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure that other member states comply with the rules in the common agricultural policy.
  70
  Mr. Jack
  Ensuring member state compliance with Community rules, including those concerning the CAP, is the responsibility of the European Commission.

  The most effective sanction against non-compliance with CAP regulations is the Commission's powers to "disallow"—not reimburse—member states' expenditure which it believes was not in accordance with the rules. In December 1994, in its decision on the clearance of the 1991 CAP accounts, the Commission disallowed £1.2 billion of member states' 1991 CAP expenditure—almost 5 per cent. of the total. The Government will continue to do everything possible to ensure that the Commission makes full and proper use of these powers. For example, as a result of the United Kingdom's legal challenge to Commission disallowance decisions relating to breaches of the EC milk quota legislation by Italy, Spain and Greece, the disallowance due is increased by over 50 per cent.

  We also fully support a measure soon to be implemented which, among other things, seeks to speed up the clearance of accounts process and improve the financial management of the CAP in all member states.

  In addition, we are always ready to press the Commission to take action against another member state whenever evidence of breaches of the rules comes to light. Our agricultural attachès in other member states have specific instructions to be alert to such breaches. As a result of our initiatives, the Commission has recently ruled illegal state aids to French pig producers and Irish mushroom growers, requiring the aids to be repaid with interest.

  Farm Hygiene Inspections
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farms were visited by Agricultural Development and Advisory Service officers for the purposes of carrying out hygiene inspections in England in each year since 1990.

  Mrs. Browning
  The number of farm hygiene inspections carried out by ADAS officers in England in each financial year since 1990 is as follows:

  Number

  1990–91

  14,457

  1991–92

  12,112

  1992–93

  12,896

  1993–94

  12,602

  19941

  9,203

  1 April-December

  Fishing (Spanish Vessels)
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what scientific advice he has received on the impact on fish stocks of 40 Spanish vessels fishing in the Irish box.

  Mr. Jack
  Throughout the negotiations on the integration of Spain and Portugal into the common fisheries policy I have been advised by the fisheries scientists at the Ministry's directorate of fisheries research at Lowestoft.

  Spanish fishing in the Irish box from 1 January 1996 will be constrained not only by the number of vessels they are permitted there but by their quotas for the relevant International Council for the Exploration of the Seas

  71
  zones, and by any effort control measures which may be adopted in relation to their fleet during 1995.

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 12 January,Official Report, column 210, what was the destination of the 6,662 cattle exported for immediate slaughter; and if all the animals were over six months of age.

  Mrs. Browning
  The destinations—and number of animals—are: France, 83; the Netherlands, 233; Republic of Ireland, 32; and Northern Ireland, 6,314.

  European Community rules prohibit the export from the United Kingdom to other member states of cattle which are over six months of age—unless they were born outside the UK. Animals consigned from Great Britain to Northern Ireland are included in the ANIMO figures because health certification is required for such movements, and are not subject to an upper age limit.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number of(a) lorries carrying live animals and (b) animals, by species, exported live through Dover to Zeebrugge on the weekend of 13 to 15 January, stating whether these animals were being exported for (i) immediate slaughter, (ii) further fattening or (iii) breeding only.

  Mrs. Browning
  Such information could be provided only by the ferry companies concerned.

ENVIRONMENT

  Area Cost Adjustments
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how much more would be distributed to(a) Humberside and (b) east midlands counties if the area cost adjustment was adjusted as proposed by the Association of County. Councils; and if he will make a statement on his reasons for rejecting such an adjustment;

  (2) what were his reasons for rejecting the Association of County Councils' proposals in July 1994 for reassessing the area cost adjustment on the basis of actual spending; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what is his estimate of the change in the area cost adjustment if it was based on actual rather than theoretical labour cost differentials as indicated by local authority pay scales and employee budgets; what are his reasons for using theoretical costs; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) what is his estimate of the reduction in the gain to the south-east in the current year through the area cost adjustment of basing it only on London weighting;

  (5) what are his reasons for rejecting the proposals made by the Association of County Councils in 1993 for adjusting the area cost adjustment on the basis of the actual payments to teachers, firemen and police; how much would have been deducted from the adjustment to the south-east if he had done; and if he will make a statement;

  (6) when he expects his new review of costs as a new base for the area cost adjustment to be (a) completed and (b) considered; on what grounds it is being carried out on the basis of travel-to-work areas rather than local
  72
  authority areas; and what are the actual costs and wages for local authority employees or average costs;

  (7) what evidence and research he relied on to demonstrate the existence of a general labour market requiring higher wages to attract good-quality staff in the south-east; and what assessment he makes of the margin of difference this makes in actual average wages of (a) teachers, (b) firemen and (c) local authority manuals between London and the south-east and the east midlands.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The area cost adjustment is based mainly on evidence of differences between areas in rates of pay in occupations within which local authorities are likely to have to compete for employees. The evidence of rates of pay is taken from the new earnings survey, and is updated each year.

  The Association of County Councils has criticised the scale of the area cost adjustment. In 1993, it suggested that the adjustment should, in the case of teachers, police, and firefighters, take account only of London weighting payments. In 1994, the association suggested that other specific employment-related costs might also be included, although it believed that, even if this were done, the total of the area cost adjustment would be less than it is.

  We have misgivings, however, about the association's proposals in 1993 to base the area cost adjustment on London weighting payments alone because this would not reflect all the variations in employment costs faced by local authorities. We also Lave misgivings about the association's proposals in 1994 to identify and cost all the extra expenses related to operating in London and the south-east. This is partly because we seek to avoid reflecting in standard spending assessments the actual expenditures of authorities; and partly because we would be reluctant to introduce additional judgments into the determination of the SSA formula. We remain to be persuaded that a generally agreed list of extra costs could be identified and costed objectively, without reference to evidence of prevailing rates of pay in the local employment market of the kind which already forms the basis of the area cost adjustment.

  The association's observations in 1994 were not developed into a methodology which could be applied in the calculation of the area cost adjustment. It is therefore not possible to say what the area cost adjustment would have been if the association's views had formed the basis of the calculation. Nor does the Department currently have sufficient information to calculate the level of the area cost adjustment if it were based solely on actual wage payments, local authority pay scales or London weighting. Any change in the basis of the area cost adjustment would also affect other aspects of the formula for calculating SSAs. For example, there would need to be a reappraisal of the weighting given to additional education needs.

  Nevertheless, my hon. Friend has discussed with the Association of County Councils its views on the area cost adjustment. We are prepared to consider further any proposals they may make for an alternative methodology for calculating the adjustment.

  We also propose to commission research this year which may enable the area cost adjustment to take account of variations in rates of pay between travel-to-work areas in all parts of England. Travel-to-work areas are being considered because they may be a better reflection of the pattern of local labour markets than are the administrative areas of local authorities. The progress of the research will

  73
  depend both on the availability of the necessary data and the success of the researchers in developing a method by which it could be used in the area cost adjustment. We will consider the findings of the research, once they are available.

  Departmental Administration
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what assessment he made of the advantages and disadvantages of moving Cumbria from the northern standard region into the integrated north-west region;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of transferring Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex from the south-east standard region into the south-east integrated region;

  (3) what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of transferring Merseyside from the north-west standard region and creating a free standing integrated Merseyside region;

  (4) what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of transferring Greater London from the south-east standard region to the Greater London integrated region;

  (5) what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of transferring Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk from the East Anglian standard region and Bedfordshire, Essex and Herfordshire from the south-east standard region into the new integrated eastern region.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The 10 Government offices for the regions brought together the existing regional offices of the Departments of Employment, Trade and Industry, Transport and the Environment. The proposed boundaries of the new offices harmonised the existing departmental regional boundaries and were adopted, after due consultation, when the new offices opened for business in April 1994. The boundaries are depicted in my Department's annual report, available from the House of Commons Library. There is no direct relationship between the boundaries of the Government offices for the regions and the standard regions, which are used primarily for statistical purposes.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals against council tax bandings are currently outstanding(a) nationally and (b) by each valuation office.

  Mr. Curry
  Some 959,101 proposals to alter the valuation list had been received in England by the end of December 1994, of which 229, 084 were outstanding. I am placing in the Library a table which breaks these totals down by valuation office region and office.

  Railway Station, Stratford
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions and on what dates he or Ministers or former Ministers in his Department met persons representative of interests in Stratford, east London, to discuss matters relating to proposals for a new Stratford station.
  74
  Sir Paul Beresford
  Matters relating to the proposal for an intermediate station on the new channel tunnel rail link at Stratford in east London have been raised with various Ministers in this Department in a variety of meetings over the last two years. For example, in that period, there have been four meetings of the East Thames Forum, in which Ministers responsible for urban regeneration have met the leaders of east London local authorities. The then Minister with responsibility for urban regeneration, my right hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, Acton, (Sir G. Young), visited the Stratford site in August 1993 and he and the Minister of State with special responsibility for the east Thames corridor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Skipton and Ripon, (Mr. Curry), received a presentation from the Stratford promoters in November 1993.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions and on what dates he or Ministers or former Ministers in his Department have met persons in Stratford, London to discuss matters relating to the regeneration of east London.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Stratford is the focal point of a number of major regeneration initiatives in east London. These includes Stratford city challenge, a successful single regeneration budget bid and the European regional development fund funded "East London and the Lea Valley Corridor" programme. Stratford is also an important part of the Government's Thames gateway initiative. Since May 1992, the earliest date for which information is readily available, the Secretary of State and departmental Ministers have visited Stratford in connection with these regeneration initiatives as follows:

  Secretary of State

  Regeneration of east London conference, Old Town hall, Stratford, 19 October 1993.

  Opening of new Stratford bus station, 16 November 1994.

  Sir George Young

  East London housing association, Victoria street, Stratford, 9 March 1993.

  Marking the city challenge boundary, 2 August 1993.

  Annual review, Stratford city challenge, 1 February 1994.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones

  Tour of Stratford city challenge, 25 November 1994.

  Announcement of successful SRB bids, Old Town hall, Stratford, 6 December 1994.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions in the last six months civil servants in his Department met persons representative of interests in Stratford to discuss matters relating to proposals for a new Stratford station.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  In the last six months, officials from my Department have met officers from the London borough of Newham and others with an interest in the proposed intermediate station on the new channel tunnel rail link at Stratford on a number of occasions. Similar meetings have been held with those with an interest in other intermediate stations. For example, as part of the public consultation exercise on the Thames gateway planning framework, published on 7 September 1994 and more generally. Officials from the Department's Thames gateway task force have regularly attended, as observers, meetings of the Stratford Station Promoters Group.

  Railway Station, Ebbsfleet
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date Ministers in his Department were briefed by Decision Makers Ltd. either formally or informally on the international station at Ebbsfleet.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Ministers naturally meet a wide range of people at social occasions to which they are invited, and it is inevitable that issues of current concern are raised during conversations at such occasions. However, the Secretary of State and Ministers in this Department have had no briefing meetings with Decision Makers Ltd. on the proposed intermediate station on the channel tunnel rail link at Ebbsfleet. They were fully briefed on the station proposals during visits to the local authority areas concerned, when they met councillors, officers and representatives of the landowners, Blue Circle Properties. The Minister of State with special responsibility for Thames gateway met representatives of Dartford borough council in June 1994, to discuss the regeneration of Kent Thamesside. Representatives of Decision Makers Ltd. were present at that meeting as advisers to Dartford council.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Open Government
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will establish an investigation into the differential charges made to applicants under the code of practice on official information by non-departmental public bodies.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  No.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what action is being taken to give the public more access to Government information.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  We are continuing to implement the policy set down in the White Paper on open government.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will indicate the percentage of the total number of appointments to public bodies who are (i) women, (ii) of Asian origin, (iii) of Afro-Caribbean origin and (iv) of other ethnic minority origin.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  As I announced to the House on Friday, the proportion of public appointments held by women is 30 per cent.; and 2.6 per cent. of appointments are held by black and Asian people.

  County Palatinate
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he will next visit the County Palatinate to discuss science.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Shortly.

  Civil Service Morale
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what new proposals he has to improve morale in the civil service.
  76
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  The best way to improve morale is to allow staff to perform to the best of their abilities in their chosen career. The Government's civil service reforms enable staff to focus their attention on delivering high quality public services efficiently and effectively, with a minimum of central oversight.

  Research Council Staffing
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the progress of Sir John Cadogan's review of the staffing of the research councils.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Sir John Cadogan is concluding his discussions with the research councils regarding their plans for 1995. Thereafter, the continuing search for improvements in efficiency and effectiveness is an essential part of the Government's commitment to ensure that the costs and complexities of administering the research councils' systems are minimised.

  Citizens Charters
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what further citizens charters he is proposing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  The Northern Ireland further and higher education charters will be published later this year. This will bring the total number of charters to 42.

  In addition, public service organisations continue to develop their existing service standards and a number of revised charters will be published later in the year. These include the contributors charter for national insurance payers, the council tenants charter and the court service charter, which will replace the existing courts charter.

SCOTLAND

  M77
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what expressions of concern he has received regarding proposed funding for the Ayr road route, M77, from the European Commission.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There have been no formal exchanges with the European Commission regarding funding for the M77 Ayr road route. However, the issue of funding of roads was discussed in the context of negotiations about the western Scotland single programming document, which was approved by the Commission on 16 December 1994. The SPD provides that support from the European regional development fund will be available for projects which construct or improve access roads to new or existing sites for industrial, business or tourism development where there is demonstrable potential for significant job-creating investments.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he has had with the European Commission about the environmental impact assessment for the Ayr road route, M77.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The United Kingdom authorities have received an informal letter of inquiry
  77
  from the Commission on that subject and we propose to respond by the end of this month.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he took to ensure that a proper environmental impact assessment was carried out before he gave consent for the Ayr road route, M77.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  A full and wide-ranging public local inquiry was undertaken into the proposed road scheme in 1988. The environmental assessment of the scheme was presented by the joint promoters at the inquiry. The report of the inquiry, including a summary of the evidence and arguments, was submitted to my right hon. Friend before his decision on whether to proceed with the road proposals.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he has taken to secure European Commission funding for the Ayr road route, M77.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend does not intend to seek European Community funding for the trunk road sections of the proposed M77 Ayr road route for which he is responsible. It would be for Strathclyde regional council to decide whether to apply for funding for all or any part of the route for which it is responsible.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list which interested groups he consulted during the planning stage of the Ayr road route, M77; and what were the results of this consultation period.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  More than 50 organisations were consulted, including the National Trust for Scotland, the Countryside Commission for Scotland, regional, district and community councils, ScotRail and the National Farmers Union. The consultations showed general support for the proposals, but also identified some specific concerns. In those cases where the concerns could not be resolved by discussion, they were considered at the subsequent local public inquiry.

  Scottish Renewables Obligation
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he has taken to ensure that genuine competition exists between potential contractors for the Scottish renewables obligation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  There was considerable interest in the first order under the scottish renewables obligation. A bulletin describing the arrangements for the SRO was issued by my officials in October 1993 to about 300 interested organisations and individuals. As a result, some 190 projects were submitted for consideration. Following a technical and economic scrutiny of these projects, about 140 were judged to be acceptable by the Office of Electricity Regulation. These formed the subject of the advice given to my right hon. Friend by the Director General of Electricity Supply. I understand that 30 of these 140 projects have now been offered contracts by the 78
  public electricity supply companies under the terms of the first order. There was therefore very keen competition for contracts across the whole range of technologies included.

  Bridges
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he has taken as a result of the BD21 directive of 1985.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The bridge assessment and strengthening programme to upgrade all sub-standard bridges on the trunk road network started in 1988 and is expected to be completed by 1998. This is in line with the rest of the United Kingdom. The regional councils were advised to implement a similar programme for regional roads in December 1988 and the Scottish Office Industry Department has taken this into account in the capital allocations to individual regions.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had from the Scottish Road Haulage Association in relation to the strengthening of bridges.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Office Industry Department has had no representations from the Road Haulage Association Scottish division in relation to the strengthening of bridges.

  Museums and Galleries
  Mr. Faulds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the attendance figures for 1994 reported by the national museum and galleries in Scotland, broken down to the individual institutions but including their substations, with the percentage change from 1993.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 19 January 1995]: The information is as follows:

  1994

  Percentage change since 1993

  National museums of Scotland

  1,120,240

  +4

  National galleries of Scotland

  883,928

  + 18

  Figures for the national museums of Scotland relate to the Royal museum of Scotland, the museum of antiquities, the Scottish agricultural museum, the Scottish united services museum, the museum of flight, the museum of costume and the gasworks museum. The national galleries of Scotland figures relate to the national gallery of Scotland, the Scottish national portrait gallery and the Scottish national gallery of modern art.

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

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: In Scotland, the youth service is part of local authority provision for community education. It is not possible to identify separately expenditure on the

  79
  youth service. Total expenditure by local authorities on community education in 1989–90 was £62 million rising to £79.2 million in 1992–93.

  In addition, the Scottish Office Education Department administers a scheme of grants to voluntary organisations in the community education field. Grants paid to organisations engaged in the provision of youth services totalled £0.57 million in 1989–90 rising to £0.69 million in 1993–94.

  Goats
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) goat producers and (b) goats there are in Scotland; and what financial assistance is available to goat producers in Scotland.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: The number of goats recorded in the census at June 1994 was 11,123 kept on 1,047 agricultural units.

  There are some grant assistance schemes which may be of interest to those who keep goats. Goat producers, provided that they meet the eligibility criteria, would qualify for grant under the farm and conservation grant scheme. There are also the marketing and development scheme and, in relation to goat milk and meat products, the EC processing and marketing grant scheme. Some financial assistance in objective 1 and 5b areas may also be available.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all sites in Scotland where low-level radioactive waste is dumped or stored; what steps are taken to ensure that no higher level waste is also included; and what measures are taken to protect the public from any potential dangers.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: The following landfill sites in Scotland are approved by Her Majesty's industrial pollution inspectorate for the controlled burial of low level radioactive wastes from hospitals, universities and other small users and are still receiving these wastes:

  Site

  Site location

  Kilgarth

  Glasgow

  Summerston

  Glasgow

  Dalmacoulter

  Monklands

  Braehead

  Edinburgh

  Melville Wood

  North East Fife

  Riverside

  Dundee

  Ness

  Aberdeen

  Lower Polmaise

  Stirling

  East Saltoun

  East Lothian

  Longman

  Inverness

  At AEA Technology's premises at Dounreay, low-level radioactive waste produced by activities on the site is disposed of by burial on site. Before disposal, detailed monitoring of waste takes place to ensure that only low level waste is disposed of by this route.
  80
  All wastes disposed of by these users are classified as low-level waste and the disposals take place in accordance with authorisations issued by Her Majesty's industrial pollution inspectorate.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Means-tested Benefits
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of his Department's expenditure on benefit is means-tested; and what was the figure 15 years ago.

  Mr. Lilley
  The percentage of my Department's expenditure on income-related benefits was 15.7 per cent. in 1979–80 and 34 per cent. in 1993–94.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Keen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many social fund grants, for each of the last three years for which figures are available, were awarded above the new maximum ceiling of £875.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  In 1992–93, 27,800 social fund funeral payments were made for amounts more than £875. There were 41,300 such payments in 1993–94 and 31,500 have been made so far in the current financial year.

  Benefits (Post Office Payments)
  Sir John Hannam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to enable pensioners to choose to have their benefits paid through the Post Office.

  Mr. Lilley
  We are committed to giving pensioners the choice of payment directly into their bank or building society by automated credit transfer or at the post office. For pensioners and others who do not want to be paid in this way, we are planning significant improvements in the delivery of benefits at post offices. The post office network will be automated, and order books and girocheques replaced with a benefit payment card.

  Automation will virtually eliminate instrument of payment fraud, produce administrative savings for the Department, and provide a more responsive service to our customers, as well as providing Post Office Counters Ltd. the opportunity to automate other counter business. We are looking to the private sector to suggest how the system might best achieve these objectives, and to design, build, finance and operate the system under a contract that would provide payment based on transaction volumes. I was able to announce on 9 December Official Report, column 385, the names of five companies, some of which lead consortia, which have been invited to further develop their solutions.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask' the Secretary of State for Social Security what forms of payment pensioners will be eligible to opt for when having their benefits paid through the Post Office; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Pensioners will continue to be able to choose to be paid through the post office by using either automated credit transfer into girobank or National Savings bank accounts, or order books.
  81
  In future, there will be major changes for those who do not choose ACT. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has announced plans to automate the payment of benefits at post offices. Order books will eventually be replaced by a benefit payment card which will allow access to information held electronically. People paid by ACT will not be affected.

  Child Support
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to extend the scope of the child support appeal tribunals.

  Mr. Khabra
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to reform the operation of the Child Support Agency.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to extend the scope of the child support appeal tribunals.

  Mr. Burt
  I refer the hon. Members to the statement made earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

  Sir David Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to reply to the fifth report by the Social Security Select Committee of Session 199394 on the operation of the Child Support Act 1991, HC420; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lilley
  The Government have considered carefully the recent report of the Social Security Select Committee and today made their response. A copy is in the Library.

  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many reduced benefit directions have been issued by the Child Support Agency to date.

  Mr. Burt
  From 5 April 1993 to 31 October 1994, the Child Support Agency referred 13,830 cases to the Benefits Agency to consider the implementation of a reduced benefit direction.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to publish a compliance cost assessment for the Child Support Act 1991.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  We have published the compliance cost assessment for the Child Support Act 1991 today. The report highlights areas where the work of the agency affects employers and represents a cost to them. It has been produced in consultation with the DSS employers' panel and the DSS employers' sub-group for child support.

  Copies of the compliance cost assessment have been placed in the Library.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of people receiving income support assistance with their mortgage interest payments are people with disabilities.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Approximately 14 per cent. of claimants currently receiving income support mortgage interest payments are receiving the disability premium.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a further statement on the work of his Department's Maxwell pensions unit.
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  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The Maxwell pensions unit continues to provide substantial administrative support to the Maxwell pensioners trust and to work with all concerned to encourage the resolution of Maxwell pensions disputes. The unit will stay in business while it has useful work to do, although it clearly does not represent an infinite resource.

  Occupational Pension Funds
  Ms Estelle Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to improve the accountability of occupational pension funds.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to reform the operation of occupational pension funds.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  We published our proposals in the Pensions Bill which was introduced in the House of Lords on 15 December 1994.

  Maternity Grant (Blyth Valley)
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many women claimed maternity grant in Blyth Valley in the last year for which figures are available, and what is the estimated number of women who will receive social fund payments for maternity in the year 1993–94.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Around 560,000 maternity grants were made in Great Britain in 1986–87, the last year in which the grants were awarded. The corresponding figures for Blyth Valley are not available.

  The available figures on social fund maternity claims and payments for the Benefits Agency district office of Northumberland are set out in the table.

  Year

  Number of maternity payments claimed in Northumberland district

  Number of maternity payments awarded in Northumberland district

  1991–92

  1,072

  907

  1992–93

  1,160

  988

  1993–94

  1,239

  1,058

  The total number of social fund maternity payments awarded in Great Britain in 1993–94 was 230,220; the number for 1994–95 is estimated at 312,900. Estimates cannot be made other than on a national basis.

  Income Support
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list(a) the total number of claimants receiving assistance, (b) the average cost per claimant and (c) the total cost of assistance to (i) home owners, (ii) local authority tenants and (iii) private and housing association tenants, in receipt of income support towards their housing costs in each year since 1989.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is set out in the tables.
  83

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  (i) Home owners

  Number of income support cases with mortgage interest included in the assessment

  281,000

  310,000

  411,000

  499,000

  555,000

  Average weekly cost

  £24.16

  £34.32

  £44.41

  £44.02

  £42.17

  Implied annual cost

  £353 million

  £553 million

  £949 million

  £1,143 million

  £1,217 million

  (ii) Local authority tenants

  Number of income support cases in local authority housing

  1,739,000

  1,678,000

  1,657,000

  1,754,000

  1,842,000

  Average weekly cost

  £19.93

  £22.74

  £26.08

  £29.88

  £32.23

  Implied annual cost

  £1,802 million

  £1,984 million

  £2,247 million

  £2,725 million

  £3,087 million

  (iii) Private and housing association tenants

  Number of income support cases in private housing and housing association

  552,000

  589,000

  673,000

  836,000

  1,004,000

  Average weekly cost

  £25.48

  £31.35

  £37.35

  £43.20

  £48.58

  Implied annual cost

  £731 million

  £960 million

  £1,307 million

  £1,878 million

  £2,536 million

  Sources: Income support statistics annual inquiries May 1989–93; housing benefit management information statistics, annual 1 per cent. sample with income support taken at the end of May in each year given.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the number of recipients of rent allowance housing benefits at 31 May 1994 in(a) housing association properties and (b) private rented properties;

  Recipients (thousands)

  Average weekly eligible rent

  Average Weekly rent allowance

  Housing Association Tenants

  Other Private Tenants

  All Private Tenants £

  Housing Association Tenants £

  Other Private Tenants £

  All Private Tenants £

  Housing Association Tenants £

  Other Private Tenants £

  May 1993

  412

  1,068

  46.98

  39.88

  49.86

  43.61

  35.75

  46.80

  May 1994

  508

  1,126

  50.78

  n/a

  n/a

  47.21

  n/a

  n/a

  Note:

  1 Information relates to eligible rent for housing benefit as actual rents paid are not available. Detailed average rent and benefit figures are for May 1993 as May 1994 figures are not yet available.

  Source:

  Housing benefit management information system.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of his estimated savings on invalidity benefit in 1995–96 and 1996–97 will be achieved by(a) an estimated reduction in the number of successful new claimants and (b) existing claimants losing benefit.

  Mr. Hague
  In 1995–96, 13 per cent. of the estimated savings are accounted for by the exclusion of new claimants as a result of the medical test of incapacity and 41 per cent. by the exclusion of existing claimants. In 1996–97, 17 per cent. of the estimated savings are accounted for by the exclusion of new claimants as a result of the medical test and 48 per cent. by the exclusion of existing claimants.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about measures being taken to review cases handled at the disability living allowance unit in Blackpool.

  Mr. Hague
  The administration of disability living allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief
  84
  what was the average rent of each of these properties; and what was the average rent allowance being paid for each of them.

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

  executive of the Benefits Agency. He will reply to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mrs. Jane Kennedy, dated 20 January 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about measures being taken to review cases handled at the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Unit in Blackpool.
  The Benefits Agency is committed to improving customer service by working towards the introduction of a One Stop service. Following the introduction of DLA in April 1992 the Agency has looked carefully at the options available in processing DLA claims and reviews.
  Currently new claims are the responsibility of Disability Benefits Centres (DBC) before the centralised unit in Blackpool takes over the case. Our research has shown that the three month period following the initial decision is the period of high activity and this also represents the prescribed time limit for applications for a review on any grounds.
  A pilot exercise is currently being carried out at Newcastle DBC where the file is retained at the DBC and almost all of the activity, including reviews, that arises in the three month period following the decision on a new claim is dealt with; some work done by specialist

  85
  sections, such as Motability agreements, is retained at the DLA Unit in Blackpool.
  If the pilot at Newcastle successfully demonstrates efficiency and an improved customer service, consideration will be given to extending the practice to other DBCs.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Absenteeism
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the absenteeism rate for(a) his Department (b) the Benefits Agency, (c) the Child Support Agency, (d) the Contributions Agency, (e) the Information Technology Services Agency, (f) the Resettlement Agency and (g) the War Pensions Agency in each year since 1991.

  Mr. Hague
  Information on sickness absence rates can be supplied in the form requested only for 1993, the latest year for which figures are available. The average number of working day's absence per staff year due to sickness was as follows:

  Department or Agency

  Days

  Department of Social Security

  12.2

  Benefits Agency

  12.8

  Child Support Agency

  9.8

  Contributions Agency

  11.0

  Information Technology Services Agency

  9.4

  Resettlement Agency

  14.6

  The War Pensions Agency was not in existence in 1993.

  In 1992, the average number of working days lost throughout the Department due to sickness was 9.3 and in 1991 the number was 11.2.

  State Earnings-related Pensions Scheme
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what assumptions he has made about(a) the growth in the retail prices index and (b) the growth in earnings when changing the calculations of the earnings factors used to derive SERPS entitlement as proposed in the Pensions Bill;

  (2) if the changes in the calculation of the earnings factors used to derive SERPS entitlement contained in the Pensions Bill will (a) reduce the sum paid out to the pensioner from what it is currently forecast to be, (b) contain any element of retrospection and (c) impact in a regressive way;

  (3) what is his forecast of the cost or saving in paying out SERPS pensions brought about by the changes in the calculation of the earnings factors used to derive SERPS entitlement contained in the Pensions Bill;

  (4) if he will list by earnings decile the impact of the changes in the calculation of the earnings factors used to derive SERPS entitlement contained in the Pensions Bill by comparison with the forecast outcome under the present arrangement for the years (a) 2000–01, (b) 201011, (c) 2020–21, (d) 2030–31, (e) 2040–41 and (f) 2050–51;
  86
  (5) how the amount paid to SERPS beneficiaries will be affected by the changes in the calculation of the earnings factors used to derive SERPS entitlement from 6 April 2000 onwards contained in the Pensions Bill.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The changes in the calculation of earnings factors used to derive SERPS, as outlined in the Pensions Bill—annualisation of SERPS—is a technical change to the SERPS formula which will restore the original policy intention that SERPS entitlements are based on average earnings between the lower and upper earnings limit.

  The change will result in a recalculation of the amount of SERPS payable in respect of past years for those people who become entitled from 6 April 2000. There will be no loss for people who reach state pension age or qualify for widows benefits before that date.

  The maximum weekly reduction in individual entitlements, using the woman's current pension age, is estimated to be (a) £2.70, (b) £3.80, (c) £4.90, (d) £4.60 (e) £4.40 and (f) £4.40.

  This effect is flat rate and applies to those with a complete work history of earnings above the lower earnings limit since 1978 or age 16, whichever is the later. For those with broken work records, the effects will be smaller.

  Savings as a result of the change will amount to £400 million in 2010 rising to £2.3 billion by 2050. Projections assume that future upratings will continue to increase flat-rate benefits in line with prices and therefore have been calculated on 1994–95 prices. An assumed real earnings growth rate of 1.5 per cent. has been used.

  Family Credit
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the annual spending on family credit; and what was the spending on family income supplement in 1979.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The published forecast for family credit expenditure for 1994–95 is £1,276 million. This is 18 times more in real terms than the £24 million spent on family income supplement in 1978–79.

  Habitual Residence Test
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the annual cost to the public purse of administration of the habitual residence rules.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Since the habitual residence test was introduced in August 1994, we have been involved in evaluating and refining the operational procedures and we are not in a position to give the full annual cost of applying the test. These figures should become available by the end of this year.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the(a) average, (b) shortest and (c) longest time taken to process appeals against the adjudication officer's decision on habitual residence rules since the rules were introduced (i) in the Greater London area and (ii) in the United Kingdom as a whole.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not collected' centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  WORLD SUMMIT FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
  Lord Redesdale
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What directives they intend to pursue at the Social World Summit for Development in March.

  The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey)
  I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave the noble Lord, Lord Judd, on 19 January at col.WA49.

  ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
  Lord Redesdale
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  In view of their commitment at the Rio Summit to support sustainable agriculture, what steps are being taken to stimulate organic systems of agriculture in developing countries with a view to improving the productivity of farmers unable to afford imported chemical inputs.

  Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
  The ODA has prepared a sustainable agriculture strategy aimed at maintaining or enhancing the productivity of the natural resource base while improving long-term food security. A copy has been placed in the Libraries of the House. ODA officials are in regular contact with representatives of the UK organic movement about the contribution that organic systems can make to the strategy, and a number of project proposals are being developed.

  During 1994, the ODA supported eight projects in east and west Africa on organic approaches to sustainable agriculture at a total cost of over £1 million.

  ZAIRE: RWANDAN REFUGEE CRISIS
  Lord Redesdale
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What steps they are taking with other members of the European Union and the United Nations to end the refugee crisis in Zaire and facilitate the return of refugees to Rwanda.

  Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
  Increased refugee return depends on greater security in the camps outside Rwanda and efforts to rebuild the country's economic and social fabric. We are, with EU partners, pressing the UN to take urgent action to improve security, At the Rwanda Round Table on 18–19 January, the international community, including the UK and EU partners, pledged about 578 million dollars in support of Rwanda's 1995 Programme of National Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Recovery.

  NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY
  Lord Kennet
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether former members of the Warsaw Pact, which are signatories of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and are now associated with NATO through
  WA 64
  "Partnerships for Peace", are now recipients of the security guarantees which hitherto were extended by the NPT signatories only to non-nuclear signatories of that treaty not allied to a nuclear power.

  Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
  The United Kingdom's Positive and Negative Security Assurances, announced in 1968 and 1978, have always been applied to non-nuclear weapons States Parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) or States Parties to other internationally binding commitments not to manufacture or acquire nuclear explosive devices. Under the Negative Security Assurance the United Kingdom undertakes not to use nuclear weapons against such states except in the case of an attack on the United Kingdom, its dependent territories, its armed forces or its Allies by such a state in association or alliance with a nuclear weapon state. This has not changed.

  Lord Kennet
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether, in the run-up to the Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, the attention of the signatories to the Treaty has been drawn to: the absence of Israel from their number; the undenied reports of Israel's substantial nuclear stockpile; and the provision to Israel by one of the treaty's signatories of massive financial, technical, intelligence, and military assistance, including nuclear-capable aircraft.

  Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
  We, and other states parties, have been concerned for some time about reports that Israel has a nuclear weapons programme. We continue to urge Israel to allay suspicions categorically by acceding to the Non-Proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear-weapon state and concluding a full-scope safeguards agreement with the IAEA.

  Lord Kennet
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether they consider that the nuclear-capable exercises (such as "Team Spirit") that have been conducted by the USA and its allies in the neighbourhood of the Korean Peninsula have been compatible with the security assurances extended to North Korea when it adhered to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and whether similar nuclear-capable exercises by Russia in the neighbourhood of the Ukraine would be compatible with the written security assurances that the US, Russia and the UK are now extending to Ukraine and other new signatories of the treaty.

  Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
  It is for the recipients of security assurances to decide whether, in their view, a threat has arisen incompatible with those assurances. North Korea has not approached us on this matter. It would be open to Ukraine to raise any concerns with us if ever they judged it necessary.

  Lord Kennet
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Further to the Answer of Baroness Chalker of Wallasey (HL Deb., 8 December 1994, Col. WA99), whether Ukraine has adhered to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as a weapon state or as a non-weapon state; and, if the latter, whether it still claims ownership of the weapons which remain on its territory or of the materials of which they are made.
  WA 65
  Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
  Ukraine has acceded to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as a non-nuclear weapons state. The law passed by the Ukrainian Parliament (Rada) paving the way for the country's accession to the NPT included a proviso referring to its claim to ownership of the nuclear weapons on its territory. This was made against the background of Ukraine's claim to receive compensation for the dismantlement of the weapons. Ukraine had agreed in January 1994 that the weapons on its territory should be removed to Russia and dismantled.

  UK/US MUTUAL DEFENCE AGREEMENT
  Lord Kennet
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether the UK is bound by the 1958 UK-US Mutual Defence Agreement to collaborate with the US in the development of plans for defence against atomic weapons, and specifically in the US Defence Counterproliferation Initiative.

  Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
  The 1958 UK/US Mutual Defence Agreement is an enabling measure, which facilitates bilateral co-operation on atomic energy for nuclear defence purposes. It imposes no obligations on Her Majesty's Government to collaborate on specific UK projects.

  SOMALIA: CONSTRUCTION WORK BY BROWN & ROOT
  Lord Kennet
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What constructions were erected by Brown & Root in Somalia, for whose benefit and on whose orders, what facilities they included; and for what will they now be used.

  Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
  Prior to 1 April 1994, Brown & Root provided construction services to the United Nations Operation in Somalia II (UNOSOM II) under a support contract negotiated directly with the United Nations.

  According to the UN Secretariat, construction projects assigned to Brown & Root by UNOSOM included fabrication or relocation of the temporary, one-storey, general purpose wooden buildings that UNOSOM used as living accommodation and administrative space; the renovation of UN-owned prefabricated buildings which had outlived their normal lifespan; and the selective refurbishment of indigenous structures so as to make them usable by UNOSOM for the duration of its mandate. In some cases, Brown & Root was tasked to build or relocate entire camps from one location to another. The scope of work included the requirement to construct associated water, power, drainage and septic systems, access roads and walkways, and perimeter security fencing.

  In addition, Brown & Root carried out road and runway construction projects, involving limited improvements to existing roads, runways, taxiways and parking aprons, helipads used by UNOSOM supply vehicles and transport aircraft engaged in the logistics tasks of the mission.
  WA 66
  Lord Kennet
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether they will confirm that the United Nations peacekeeping forces in Somalia requested $94 million from United Nations headquarters in New York to pay for services from Brown & Root during the spring of 1994, and, if so, what were those services, and by whom were they approved.

  Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
  According to the United Nations Secretariat, the actual amount paid to Brown & Root for the period 1 November 1993 through 31 May 1994 relating to services in Somalia was $44,614,700.

  The UN has issued the following breakdown of the services provided:

  $

  I.

  Equipment acquisition

  15,301,000

  II.

  Contractual services Water distribution

  1,415,000

  Engineering services

  2,950,000

  Transportation

  4,018,000

  Troop support

  1,539,000

  Equipment rental

  1,463,000

  Brown & Root mobilisation costs

  2,046,000

  Parts for US-provided equipment

  12,582,700

  Airfield matings purchased from US Army

  1,298,000

  Airport services and freight management

  2,002,000

  Sub-total

  29,313,700

  Total

  44,614,700

  The services provided by Brown & Root were approved by the appropriate Committee on Contracts convened in the field and in the United Nations headquarters in New York.

  SOMALIA: UN MESS HALL
  Lord Kennet
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether they will confirm that a new "village" for 800 United Nations employees was constructed in Somalia at an estimated cost to the United Nations of $12 million.

  Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
  According to the United Nations Secretariat, a 800-man mess hall, inclusive of water, septic system, generators, electrical installations, air-conditioners and basic furniture was constructed to provide messing facilities for all civilian and military staff (some 800–1200 people per day) assigned to the UNOSOM II Headquarters in Mogadishu at an estimated cost of 12,000,000 dollars.

  The camp will be dismantled by 31 January 1995 and shipped to other United Nations missions as required.

  NORTHERN IRELAND: MILK MARKETING SCHEME
  Lord Lyell
  asked Her Majesty's Government:
  WA 67
  What decision has been made on the reorganisation scheme submitted by the Milk Marketing Board for Northern Ireland.

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office (Baroness Denton of Wakefield
  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 honourable and learned friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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 honourable 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 was therefore approved on 20 January 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
  WA 68
  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 groups marketing milk on behalf of producers, or direct to processors. The current joint 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 Dairy Farmers Limited, and the board's commercial division, Dromona Quality Foods, will be incorporated as a 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. Loanstock 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.

  STORNOWAY:EMERGENCY TOWING ARRANGEMENTS
  The Earl of Dundonald
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether the article published in the West Highland Free Press dated 30 December 1994, covering the deployment of a Croatian-crewed, St Vincent-flagged tug, employed by the Coastguard Agency to operate in the Minches is true; and if so whether they are satisfied that its deployment will satisfy the recommendations of the Donaldson report.

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Viscount Goschen)
  The Coastguard Agency has awarded a contract to United Towing Limited of Hull for two tugs to be stationed at Stornoway and Dover for a trial period of this winter. This meets Lord Donaldson's recommendation that there should be interim emergency towing arrangements this winter: the inquiry recommended that priority should be given to the Dover Strait and North-West Scotland. Tenders were invited from a wide range of salvage and towing companies against a tight specification. In accordance with government policy, no restriction was placed on flag or crew nationality as such, though the vessels proposed were expected to meet international safety requirements such as the Safety Of Life at Sea Convention. The contract was awarded on the basis of performance against specification and value for money. The selected tugs, which are Croatian-owned and crewed and are
  WA 69
  registered in St. Vincent, are managed in the UK by a UK company. They have been employed in the North Sea by major oil companies for the last three years.

  CENSUS UNDER-ENUMERATION
  Earl Russell
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether they will commission research to estimate the under-enumeration of 16 and 17 year-olds in the 1991 census.

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Cumberlege)
  Research into undercoverage was carried out as the results of the 1991 census became available. Details are given in various Office of Population Censuses and Surveys and General Register Office (Scotland) publications, copies of which are available in the Library. The estimated undercoverage of 15–19 year olds in Great Britain was 2 per cent., but this cannot be subdivided by single year of age as not all the necessary information could be obtained in this degree of detail.

  HM PRISON WORMWOOD SCRUBS: MOSQUE
  Lord Avebury
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Why the mosque at Her Majesty's Prison, Wormwood Scrubs has been closed, and when it will reopen.

  The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Blatch)
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter to Lord Avebury from the Director General of the Prison Service, Mr. Derek Lewis, dated 23 January 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the mosque at Wormwood Scrubs.
  The mosque has been closed temporarily for the last four months to allow for the refurbishment of this area of the prison. The expectations are that it will re-open in March of this year. Until then an alternative site for worship has been provided for use by prisoners of the Islamic faith and other religious denominations.

  BRINSFORD YOUNG OFFENDER INSTITUTION: DRUG TRAFFICKING PROSECUTION
  Lord Harris of Greenwich
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What action they propose to take following the comments made on drug trafficking at Her Majesty's Young Offender Institution and Remand Centre, Brinsford, in the report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons and whether they propose to discuss with the Crown Prosecution Service and the police the policy on prosecutions relating to drug smuggling in closed penal institutions.

  Baroness Blatch
  Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
  WA 70
  Letter to Lord Harris of Greenwich from the Director General of the Prison Service, Mr. Derek Lewis, dated 23 January 1995:
  Baroness Blatch has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the prosecution of those involved in drug trafficking in Brinsford young offender institution.
  Since Brinsford opened in November 1991 there has been one case of a visitor found in possession of drugs. The case was reported to the police, who cautioned the visitor. The governor met the police and Crown Prosecution Service to explain the implications for the prison. The local police have since indicated that, with sufficient evidence, they would charge such suspects with intent to supply a controlled drug. A vigorous approach is taken at Brinsford (as at all other establishments) to preventing drugs being smuggled into the establishment.
  Governors are encouraged to liaise locally with the police and Crown Prosecution Service. The Prison Service have previously made more general representations to the Crown Prosecution Service on the greater impact of offences when they are committed in a prison or young offender institution, because of the wider effect on internal discipline. The Crown Prosecution Service accept this point and have reflected it in the new prosecution code they issued for Crown Prosecutors last summer.

  CAPPING CRITERIA: REPRESENTATIONS
  Viscount St Davids
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What representations they have received on the proposed notional amounts and adjustments to the capping criteria in 1995–96.

  The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Viscount Ullswater)
  We have received a large number of representations from authorities, including new information and revised data, which we are considering carefully. However, we have now reached preliminary views on all these representations, and we are informing authorities of our current proposals reflecting these preliminary conclusions. Tables showing our current proposals have been placed in the Library of the House.

  SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: UK ROUND TABLE
  Viscount St Davids
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  When the first meeting of the United Kingdom Round Table on Sustainable Development is to be held.

  Viscount Ullswater
  The inaugural meeting of the Round Table is being held today. Professor Sir Richard Southwood and my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will be co-chairmen.
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  This is a major new body with a vital role in driving forward environmentally sustainable development. It will have the following objectives:

  * to help identify the agenda and priorities for sustainable development;

  * to develop new areas of consensus on difficult issues of sustainable development and, where this is not possible, to clarify and reduce difference;
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  * to provide advice and recommendations on actions to achieve sustainable development;

  * to help evaluate progress towards objectives; and

  * to inform and involve others, building wider support for emerging consensus.

  A copy of my right honourable friend's letter of invitation to members has been placed in the House Libraries. A list of members will be placed in the Libraries today.