Written Answers of 24 January 1995

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Court Accommodation
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he intends to publish his Department's court accommodation plan for the next five years.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor's Department's accommodation plan, covering the next three years, will be published by the end of March 1995.

  Court Rooms
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many county court rooms and Crown court rooms are currently not in(a) full-time use and (b) part-time use in England and Wales, excluding London; and what percentage of the total number of court rooms these figures represent.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  There are 98 county court rooms and Crown court rooms in England and Wales, excluding London, currently being used part time. This is 17 per cent. of the total number of court rooms in England and Wales, excluding London. There are 16 county court rooms and Crown court rooms in England and Wales,

  Supreme court fees

  New fee

  Fee number

  Brief description

  Pre 1992£

  1992£

  Percentage rise pre-1992 to 1992

  1993

  Percentage rise 1992–93

  1994 £

  Percentage rise 1993–94

  Before 1992 Supreme court fees {Amendment) Order 1990 WEF 1 September 1990

  Supreme court fees (Amendment) Order 1993 WEF 11 January 1994….Fee

  IN EVERY DIVISION OF HIGH COURT

  Commencement

  1

  On sealing writ of summons, originating summons, origination notice of motion, or originating petition On sealing originating summons for:

  70.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  100.0

  42.86

  2(a)

  approval of settlement

  10.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  15.00

  50.00

  2(b)

  Part 2 of Solicitors Act 1994 (taxation of costs)

  10.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  15.00

  50.00

  2(c)

  for discovery

  10.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  15.00

  50.00

  2(d)

  examination of witness abroad

  10.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  15.00

  50.00

  3

  On presenting a petition of course

  10.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  15.00

  50.00

  4

  Leave to apply for judicial review

  10.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  20.00

  100.00

  Progress of proceedings

  5A

  On taking appointment before master etc.

  10.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  20.00

  100.00

  88
  excluding London, currently not in use at all. This is 3 per cent. of the total number of court rooms in England and Wales.

  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many county court rooms and Crown court rooms in London are currently not in(a) full-time use and (b) part-time use; and what percentage of the total number of court rooms these figures represent.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  There are five county court rooms and Crown court rooms in London currently being used part time. This is 3 per cent. of the total number of court rooms in London. There are no court rooms in London currently not in use at all.

  Court Closures
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many county court centres, court caller offices and Crown court centres he has decided to close in(a) the last five years and (b) the next five years.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Some 35 courts and offices have been closed in the last five years. One court is scheduled for closure.

  Fees (Civil Business)
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list all the increases in the fees for civil business introduced by his Department in the last three years and the percentage rise in the cost of civil business that each increase represents.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  In the last three years—1992, 1993 and 1994—fees have been increased in the Supreme court and the county court. In the Supreme court, fees were increased once during this period, on 11 January 1994. In the county court, fees were increased twice, on 30 November 1992 and 15 August 1994. Details are given.
  89

  Supreme court fees

  New fee

  Fee number

  Brief description

  Pre 1992 £

  1992 £

  Percentage rise pre-1992 to 1992

  1993

  Percentage rise 1992–93

  1994 £

  Percentage rise 1993–94

  Before 1992 Supreme court fees {Amendment) Order 1990 WEF 1 September 1990

  Supreme court fees (Amendment) Order 1993 WEF 11 January 1994….Fee

  5B

  On lodgings summons before judge or official referee

  15.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  20.00

  33.33

  5C

  On ex parte application to judge or official referee

  15.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  20.00

  33.33

  5D

  On lodging a motion

  15.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  20.00

  33.33

  5F

  On setting down for trial

  30.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  50.00

  66.67

  5J

  On obtaining allocation of cause of official referee

  30.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  50.00

  66.67

  5K

  On filing an order for hearing of a cause

  30.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  50.00

  66.67

  6

  On setting down a cause or motion

  10.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  15.00

  50.00

  7

  On examination of witness before trial

  5.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  10.00

  100.00

  8(a)

  On an inquiry etc. on adjourned summons

  15.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  20.00

  33.33

  9

  On sealing notice of appeal

  15.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  20.00

  33.33

  11A

  On filing notice of appeal to High Court

  15.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  20.00

  33.33

  11B

  On filing a case stated for High Court

  15.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  20.00

  33.33

  11C

  On filing a notice of cross appeal to High Court

  10.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  15.00

  50.00

  11D

  On filing respondent's notice of appeal to High Court

  10.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  15.00

  50.00

  Enforcement of Judgments

  12

  On sealing a writ of execution

  10.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  20.00

  100.00

  13

  Application for a garnishee order

  17.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  25.00

  47.06

  14

  Ex parte application to examine a judgment debtor

  17.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  25.00

  47.06

  16(a)(i)

  Ex parte application to register incoming judgment

  10.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  20.00

  100.00

  16(a)(ii)

  Providing certified copy of judgment for use abroad

  10.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  20.00

  100.00

  16(b)(i)

  Ex parte application to register an outgoing order

  2.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  10.00

  400.00

  16(b)(ii)

  Providing certified copy of judgment for use abroad

  2.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  10.00

  400.00

  Miscellaneous

  21(a)

  On filing document under Bills of Sale Acts

  5.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  10.00

  100.00

  21(b)

  On filing a fiat of satisfaction

  5.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  10.00

  100.00

  22A

  Certificate of search in Bills of Sale Index

  2.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  5.00

  150.00

  22B

  For continuation search if within one month

  1.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  2.00

  100.00

  23(a)

  On taking an affidavit or affirmation

  3.50

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  5.00

  42.86

  23(b)

  For each exhibit to affidavit or affirmation

  1.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  2.00

  100.00

  24

  Per hour or part for search for bills of sale

  1.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  5.00

  400.00

  ADMIRALTY

  26(a)

  On lodging a warrant for arrest

  60.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  100.00

  66.67

  26{c)

  On entering a reference for hearing by registrar

  15.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  50.00

  233.33

  COURT OF APPEAL

  27(a)(i)

  filing notice of appeal from county court

  75.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  100.00

  33.33

  27(b)

  On filing notice of cross appeal

  30.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  50.00

  66.67

  90 91

  Supreme court fees

  New fee

  Fee number

  Brief description

  Pre 1992£

  1992£

  Percentage rise pre-1992 to 1992

  1993

  Percentage rise 1992–93

  1994 £

  Percentage rise 1993–94

  Before 1992 Supreme court fees (Amendment) Order 1990 WEF 1 September 1990

  Supreme court fees (Amendment) Order 1993 WEF 11 January 1994….Fee

  COMPANIES/INSOLVENCY

  30(a)

  Presenting petitions to wind up

  40.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  50.00

  25.00

  30(b)(i)

  up Presenting bankruptcy petition by debtor

  15.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  20.00

  33.33

  30(b)(ii)

  Presenting bankruptcy petition by creditor

  45.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  50.00

  11.11

  30(d)

  On hearing of a public examination

  15.00

  As previously

  0.00

  As previously

  0.00

  20.00

  33.33

  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what he estimates will be the total shortfall in fee income from civil business for(a) the current financial year and (b) the next financial year; and what the figure was for the previous financial year.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The estimated shortfall in fee income from civil business for the current financial year is £71.1 million. We plan to meet our reduced income target in full next financial year. The shortfall in the financial year 1993–94 was £53.4 million.

  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list all the increases in the fees for civil business that he plans to introduce in the next 12 months.

  County Court fees—New fees

  New fee number

  Description

  1992 £

  1993£

  Percentage Rise 1992–93

  1994 £

  Percentage Rise 1993–94

  Before 1992 County Court Fees(Amendment) Order 1988. No new fees in 1992

  County Court fees (Amendment) Order 1992(Article 4) WEF 1 April 1993….FEE

  County Court Fees(Amendment) Order 1994 WEF 15 August 1994….FEE

  SUMMONS PRODUCTION CENTRE

  Fee 1(i)(b)

  On issuing a summons at the Summons Production Centre

  10p per £ or part minimum fee £10.00

  New

  maximum fee £60.00

  New

  SETTING DOWN FOR TRIAL

  Fee 2A

  (i) On a request for a date for trial

  50.00

  New

  (ii) On filing a time estimate

  50.00

  New

  (iii) On fixing a date

  50.00

  New

  PARKING

  4A(ii)

  Warrant to enforce parking penalty charge

  5.00

  New

  As 1993

  0.00

TRANSPORT

  Fennell Report
  Mr. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress London Transport has made in implementing the recommendations of the Fennell report into the King's Cross underground fire.

  Mr. Norris
  London Transport has implemented, either as one-off or on-going actions, over 90 per cent. of the report's recommendations. I have therefore agreed that the latest progress report submitted by LT, a copy of which
  92
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  We have no definite plans for increases yet, but we do propose to review the fee structure to introduce a daily hearing fee, and will need to revise the fee levels then.

  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list all the new fees for civil business that his Department has introduced in the last three years; the levels at which they are currently set; and the percentage rise in the cost of civil business that these new fees represent.

  Mr. John. M. Taylor
  During the last three years—1992, 1993 and 1994—new fees were introduced in the county court on 1 April 1993 and 15 August 1994. Details are given.

  has been placed in the Library of the House, should be the last one. Work on implementing the remaining recommendations is in hand and HM railway inspectorate will continue to monitor regularly the progress being made.

  Fire Safety
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to review fire safety arrangements in areas with(a) regional airports and (b) major chemical works; and if he will make a statement.
  93
  Mr. Norris
  The responsibility for the safety regulation of United Kingdom civil aviation, including the operational safety of airports rests with the Civil Aviation Authority. Airports operate under the terms of the Air Navigation Order 1989. Detailed guidance for aerodrome licence holders are given in CAA document CAP168— "Licensing of Aerodromes".

  There are no plans to revise the current regulations but the authority is always willing to consider amendments to its instructions for regional airports in order to ensure the safety of aircraft operations is maintained.

  The arrangements for areas with major chemical works is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive.

  Salvage Tugs
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps were taken by his Department to ensure that the crew and officers on the vessels Brodispas Moon and Sun chartered by his Department were proficient in the English language.

  Mr. Norris
  The emergency towing study team from the Coastguard agency visited and assessed tugs from each of the shortlisted companies prior to the award of the contract. During those visits, discussions were conducted with the vessels' officers and crews and their proficiency in the English language was assessed. Both tugs have British liaison masters.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what actions he took to secure British crewing of the salvage tug vessels charted by his Department prior to his decision to award the contract to Croation crews; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  Tenders for the contract were invited from a wide range of salvage and towing companies against a tight specification. In accordance with Government policy, no limitation was placed on flag or crew nationality as such, subject to vessels meeting international safety requirements. Only two of the 34 vessels offered by tenderers for this contract were both UK crewed and registered. The contract was awarded on the basis of performance against the specification and value for money, to a company with good salvage back-up facilities. The selected tugs are managed in the UK by a UK company and have been employed in the North sea working for major oil companies for the last three years.

  Mr. Charles Kenndey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement outlining the circumstances which led to the coastguard tug, Brodospas, being stationed at Stornoway, with specific reference to its(a) sailing under a flag of convenience, (b) being registered in St. Vincent, West Indies and (c) carrying a Croatian crew; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 17 January 1995]: The Brodospas Sun is one of the two tugs currently under contract to the Coastguard agency and which are stationed at Stornoway and Dover for a trial period 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
  94
  such as the safety of life at sea convention. The contract was awarded on the basis of performance against specification and value for money.

  Aircraft Security
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will institute an inquiry into how British Airways security allowed a representative of ICL Technical Plastics to carry on a British Airways aircraft from Glasgow to London an electro-shock weapon.

  Mr. Norris
  From the scant details given, we are unable to trace this incident.

  Double-decker Buses
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 17 January,Official Report, column 414, what proposals are being considered by the European Commission which would prohibit the manufacture and use in the United Kingdom of double-decker buses; and what response has been made by Her Majesty's Government.

  Mr. Norris
  None.

  Train Cancellations and Delays
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many trains were cancelled; how many of those cancellations were attributable to(a) train breakdowns, (b) signal failures, (c) track/points failures, (d) leaves on the line, (e) staff shortage, (f) adverse weather conditions and (g) other factors; and what percentage of timetabled trains was cancelled in each of the Network SouthEast divisions in each four-week period during (i) 1992, (ii) 1993 and (iii) 1994.

  Mr. Watts
  The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the causes of train delays and cancellations that are(a) recorded and (b) not recorded in British Rail's four-weekly track record on punctuality and reliability under the terms of the citizens charter.

  Mr. Watts
  All train delays and cancellations are recorded in British Rail's track record figures apart from those caused by circumstances outside British Rail's control. Examples of the types of delays and cancellations included and excluded from the track record figures are as follows:

  a) Recorded delays and cancellations

  Delays and cancellations resulting from:

  —Derailments

  —Locomotive or train failures

  —Infrastructure failures

  —Engineering work

  —Accidents and incidents

  —Staff Shortages

  —Leaf Fall

  —Bad Weather

  95
  b) Non-recorded delays and cancellations

  Delays and cancellations resulting from:

  —Acts or threats of vandalism/terrorism

  —Suicides/Accidents to trespassers

  —Motor vehicles striking bridges or level crossings

  —Line closures at the request of police or emergency services

  —Gas leaks or fires in lineside buildings not caused by rail industry employees or agents

  —Fire or failure due to electrical failure or defect not caused by rail industry employees or agents

  MOT Certificates (Fraud)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what new measures he plans to introduce to reduce fraud in the issue of MOT certificates for(a) cars and (b) other vehicles.

  Mr. Norris
  I have no such immediate plans.

  Vessel Registration
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) Spanish, (b) Dutch and (c) Danish-owned vessels registered as British there are in each of the major ports and by total.

  Mr. Norris
  The information available relates to ships of 100 gross registered tonnes and more. The figures are taken from Lloyd's Register of Shipping and are given in the table:

  Foreign parent owned vessels registered in British ports

  Port of Registry

  Vessels

  (a) Spanish

  Unknown

  1

  Brixham

  8

  Plymouth

  1

  Falmouth

  7

  Penzance

  2

  Milford Haven

  12

  Fleetwood

  1

  Ayr

  6

  Peterhead

  1

  Aberdeen

  6

  North Shields

  1

  Grimsby

  1

  Lowestoft

  3

  Total

  50

  (b) Dutch

  Southampton

  2

  Hull

  2

  London

  6

  Total

  10

  (c) Danish

  Newcastle

  1

  Lowestoft

  1

  London

  1

  Total

  3

  Source:

  Lloyd's Register of Shipping.

  M65-M6 link.
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate of the daily 96
  increase in the number of vehicles leaving the M65 at Colne following the completion of the M65-M6 link.

  Mr. Watts
  We expect an extra 2,000 vehicles per day eastbound on the M65 to junction 7 when the link to M6 is completed. There are no forecast of how much of this additional traffic would continue along the motorway to leave the M65 at Colne.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the cost of construction of the M65-M6 link.

  Mr. Watts
  Some £145 million, excluding VAT.

  Heavy Goods Vehicles (Accidents)
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic accidents in each of the past five years leading to the death or serious injury of(a) pedestrians, (b) cyclists, (c) motor cyclists and (d) other motorists involved a heavy goods vehicle; and what proportion this represents of all road traffic accidents affecting each category.

  Mr Norris
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Number of accidents involving an HGV and a pedestrian, where the pedestrian was killed or seriously injured: GB 1989–93

  Accidents/percentage

  Vehicle type

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Pedestrians

  139

  128

  104

  107

  97

  Percentage of all pedestrian accidents

  0.24

  0.22

  0.20

  0.22

  0.21

  Number of accidents involving an HGV and a pedal cycle, where the cyclist was killed or seriously injured: GB 1989–93

  Accidents/percentage

  Vehicle type

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Pedal cyclists

  299

  229

  223

  218

  196

  Percentage of all pedal cycle accidents

  1.03

  0.86

  0.89

  0.87

  0.81

  Number of accidents involving an HGV and a TWMV1 where the TWMV user was killed or seriously injured: GB 1989–93

  Accidents/percentage

  Vehicle type

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  TWMV

  471

  381

  270

  252

  215

  Percentage of all TWMV accidents

  1.09

  0.96

  0.87

  0.92

  0.85

  1 Two wheeled motor vehicle—includes scooters and mopeds.

  Number of accidents involving an HGV and an other motor vehicle1, where the other vehicle user was killed or seriously injured: GB 1989–93

  Accidents/percentage

  Vehicle type

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Other Motor vehicle

  2,609

  2,381

  2,077

  1,940

  1,816

  Percentage of all OMV accidents

  0.99

  0.91

  0.86

  0.81

  0.77

  1 Exludes HGVs.

  97

  Number of accidents involving an HGV and an pedestrian, where the pedestrian, was killed or seriously injured: GB 1989–93

  Accidents/percentage

  Vehicle type

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Pedestrians

  139

  128

  104

  107

  97

  Per cent. of all pedestrian accidents

  0.24

  0.22

  0.20

  0.22

  0.21

  Number of accidents involving an HGV and a pedal cycle, where the cyclist was killed or seriously injured: GB 1989–93

  Accidents/percentage

  Vehicle type

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Pedal cyclists

  299

  229

  223

  218

  196

  Percentage. of all pedal cycle accidents

  1.03

  0.86

  0.89

  0.87

  0.81

  Number of accidents involving an HGV and a TWMV1, where the TWMV user was killed or seriously injured: GB 1989–93

  Accidents/percentage

  Vehicle type

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  TWMV

  471

  381

  270

  252

  215

  Percentage. of all TWMV accidents

  1.09

  0.96

  0.87

  0.92

  0.85

  1 Two wheeled motor vehicle—includes scooters and mopeds.

  Number of accidents involving an HGV and an other motor vehicle1, where the other vehicle user was killed or seriously injured: GB 1989–93

  Accidents/percentage

  Vehicle type

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Other Motor vehicle

  2609

  2381

  2077

  1940

  1816

  Percentage of all OMV accidents

  0.99

  0.91

  0.86

  0.81

  0.77

  1 Exludes HGVs.

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all those passenger and freight train operating companies, or other bodies, which will be responsible for providing or using motive power after full implementation of his plans for rail privatisation, showing which of them will be responsible for(a) recruitment, (b) training, (c) certifying competence, (d) route learning and passing, (e) inspection and (f) disciplining of motive power staff.

  Mr. Watts
  The arrangements to be made by the successor companies to the British Railways Board cannot be listed before full implementation of the privatisation plans.

  The Railway (Safety Critical Work) Regulations 1994 place a duty on employers to ensure that employees carrying out "safety critical work" are competent and fit
  98
  to carry out that work. The regulations also enable the Health and Safety Executive to approve specific assessments and standards to be achieved.

  Roads Programme
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to carry out an assessment of the economic impact of the roads programme.

  Mr. Watts
  The economic impacts of schemes in the national roads programme are assessed.

  The national roads programme has consistently shown good economic rates of return.

  Marine Pollution
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has ratified annexe IV of the marine pollution convention; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  We have not yet ratified annexe IV of the international convention for the prevention of pollution from ships—MARPOL 73/78—but we are taking action to do so soon.

  Birmingham Northern Relief Road
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment the Government have made, following the case of Colonel Owen in Cirencester, of whether devaluation is a sufficient cause for blight to be registered against a home or business when a motorway is to be constructed; and what are the implications for such a course in relation to those constructing the Birmingham northern relief road.

  Mr. Watts
  The full implications of the decision by the Court of Appeal in the Lt. Col. Owen case are being reviewed. An announcement about future policy on discretionary purchase of property affected by motorway and trunk road schemes will be made as soon as possible.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Highways Agency provided figures for traffic flows under the new 2011 AADT figures in relation to the Birmingham northern relief road; for what reasons they were not available earlier; and if the Government will provide compensation for objectors who may have employed professional help or been involved in expenditure of time and energy because of the delay in provision of the figures.

  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 Laurie Haynes to Mr. Mike O'Brien, dated 24 January 1995:
  I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Highways Agency provided figures for traffic flows under the new 2011 AADT figures in relation to the Birmingham Northern Relief Road; for what reasons they were not available earlier; and if the Government will provide compensation for objectors who may have employed professional help or been involved in expenditure of time and energy because of the delay in provision of the figures.
  The revised traffic flows result from updating assessments which have only recently been completed. They will provide the current inquiry with up to date information, but are unlikely to give rise to significantly changed effects. In consequence, there is likely to be little effect on the substance of objections already placed before the inquiry.

  Coventry Airport
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations he has received about noise and nuisance at Coventry airport over the past 12 months.

  Mr. Norris
  A total of 14.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy in respect of prosecuting all those involved with each flight of calves from Coventry airport during November and December 1994 for not having the required export permit under the Air Navigation Order 1989.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: An urgent inquiry is being conducted by my Department into the series of livestock flights by Air Algerie aircraft from Coventry airport in November and December last year. The inquiry will seek to determine whether there was any breach of the Air Navigation Order 1989. The question of further action will be decided once the outcome of the inquiry has been considered.

  Search and Rescue
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate of the costs of operating search and rescue services by helicopters using private contractors, relative to the cost of providing such services through the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.

  Mr. Norris
  The three search and rescue helicopters under contract to the Coastguard agency cost approximately £7.5 million per year. Ministry of Defence helicopters which are provided primarily for military purposes are also made available for civil SAR. The Coastguard agency does not pay for civil use of Royal Air Force helicopters; it pays for the use of Royal Navy helicopters only out of working hours. The agency's estimate of using contracted helicopters to replace all the MOD SAR helicopters units is some £22.5 million. Those figures do not include the cost of SAR for incidents on land for which the Coastguard agency has no responsibilities.

  Parking Enforcement, London
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which companies have been given the task of yellow line parking enforcement in each London borough following the removal of this task from the Metropolitan police traffic warden service from July 1994 under the Road Traffic Act 1991.

  Mr. Norris
  This is a matter for the borough councils concerned.

  Railway Station, Ebbsfleet
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date Eleanor Laing, a special adviser in his Department, was briefed by representatives of Decision Makers Ltd. on Ebbsfleet either formally or informally.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  [holding answer 23 January 1995]: I understand from Eleanor Laing, who was a special adviser
  100
  at the Department of Transport until 20 July 1994, that she was briefed formally on Ebbsfleet by Decision Makers on 29 July 1993 and 3 May 1994.

  Heather Bloom (Loss Inquiry)
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what investigations are under way to investigate the loss of the Heather Bloom; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: An investigation is being carried out by the marine accident investigation branch; the only other known official investigation concerns an inquiry under section 61 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1970 into the cause of death.

  Rail Safety
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 18 January,Official Report, column 485, if he will list the year of introduction and the number of carriages currently in use on British Rail's Kent coastal services in each of the BR classes 415/1–5, 416/2 and 4, 416/3, 411, 413, 415/6–7 and any other mark I carriages; and when the last of each of these classes of carriages will have been replaced by new rolling stock.

  Mr. Watts
  The list of the carriages in use in December 1994 is as follows:

  Class

  Units (coaches)

  Date built from

  411

  106(424)

  1959

  414

  5(10)

  1951

  421

  21(84)

  1964

  423

  66(264)

  1967

  207

  5(10)

  1962

  The replacement of rolling stock, and the appropriate timing of an order, is a decision for BR. However, I understand that the last of the class 414 vehicles in the Kent Coast fleet will be withdrawn by 13 April 1995; the other classes of vehicles listed are considered by BR to have four years' serviceable life left, and in its view are likely to need replacing during 1999.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 18 January,Official Report, column 485, if he will give an undertaking that all carriages currently in use on British Rail's Kent coastal services in the BR classes 411, 413, 415, and 416 will either be strengthened immediately or replaced by new rolling stock within the time scale recommended by the Hidden report into the Clapham Junction railway accident; and how many of these mark I carriages he expects will still be in service in April 1999 given current rolling stock investment plans.

  Mr. Watts
  I understand that by 13 April 1995 all the mark I vehicles in classes 413, 415 and 416 will have been withdrawn and replaced by Networker class 465 and 466 trains.

  Because class 411 vehicles are considered to have only four years' serviceable life left, it would not be reasonably practicable to carry out structural changes to these vehicles. I understand that they will need to be withdrawn from services during 1999.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide an assurance that in respect of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Bill neither Ruckholt road nor Dunedin road in Leyton will be used by construction traffic; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Watts
  There will be a code of construction practice—a draft of which is being discussed with the affected local planning authorities—which will cover the use of the public highway and traffic management matters. In the meantime, I understand that Union Railways is shortly to meet the London borough of Waltham Forest to discuss the issue of road accesses in the Temple Mills area.

  Ministerial Visits, Newbury
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 19 December to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, South (Mrs. Currie),Official Report, columns 874–75, when making his visit to Newbury, what time he arrived and what time he left.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I arrived at Newbury at about 11.30 am and left at about 2.45 pm.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why he gave the hon. Member a holding answer on 10 January, but was able to answer on 12 January,Official Report, column 198.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Notification of this question was received while I was on an official visit to the Netherlands from 9 to 11 January inclusive.

  Newbury Bypass
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what his reasons were for deciding to ask the Highways Agency to reconsider the options concerning the Newbury bypass; when he first made that decision; whom he told before his announcement of the decision; and when he first told anyone else he had made this decision;

  (2) when he instructed the Highways Agency to review the alternative options designed to relieve traffic congestion on the A34; and what form this instruction took.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I decided to look again at the plans for the Newbury bypass against the background of continuing public concern about the scheme and because I wanted to be sure that the proposed western bypass was the right solution. By instructions to the chief executive of the Highways Agency on the day of my public announcement, I asked him to review the options for relieving congestion in Newbury and to report back. I took the decision and shared the information only within Government shortly before making my announcement.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to reply to the letter of the hon. Member for Newbury of 3 January asking him for a meeting to discuss the Newbury bypass.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I have no record of receiving this letter.
  102
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which constituents of the hon. Member for Newbury he has met since his announcement in respect of the Newbury bypass to discuss his decision.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Among those with whom I have discussed my decision on the A34 Newbury bypass, I believe four of them may be constituents of the hon. Member for Newbury.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which hon. Members have so far made representations to him concerning his announcement in respect of the Newbury bypass; and which he has met concerning those representations.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I have received representations about my announcement on the Newbury bypass from the right hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Mr. Patten) and the hon. Members for Newbury (Mr. Rendel), for Hampshire, North-West (Sir D. Mitchell), for Wantage (Mr. Jackson), for Basingstoke (Mr. Hunter), for Swindon (Mr. Coombs), for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin), for Havant (Mr. Willetts), for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson), for Reading, East (Sir G. Vaughan), for Southampton, Test (Mr. Hill), for Isle of Wight (Mr. Field) and for Winchester (Mr. Malone). I have met none of these concerning his representations.

  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to which(a) constituents of the hon. Member for Newbury and (b) other hon. Members he provided the information contained in his answer of 12 January, Official Report, column 198, before he provided the hon, Member with the answer.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I have not kept a record of conversations where I may have discussed details about who accompanied me on my visit to Newbury.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

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

  Mr. Baldry
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Natural Resources Institute under its chief executive, Mr. Anthony Beattie. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Anthony Beattie to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 24 January 1995:
  Mr. Baldry has asked me to reply to your question about the absenteeism rates for the Natural Resources Institute in the years since 1991.
  The figures for sick leave are being collated. I will write again when they are available.

  Indian Sub-continent (Aid)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much overseas aid has been given to(a) Pakistan, (b) India and (c) Bangladesh in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Baldry
  The gross United Kingdom bilateral aid given to Pakistan, India and Bangladesh since 1979 is given in the tables:
  103

  United Kingdom bilateral gross public expenditure to Bangladesh, India and Pakistan 1979–1993–94 (£000s)

  Bangladesh

  India

  Pakistan

  1979

  33,632

  121,623

  21,797

  1980

  66,190

  86,080

  22,245

  1981

  33,383

  168,550

  24,613

  1982

  23,537

  54,204

  18,738

  1983

  24,728

  127.600

  16,612

  1984

  35,656

  146,537

  18,016

  1985

  41,173

  106,466

  16,569

  1986

  38,321

  143,481

  20,715

  1987

  31,634

  78,464

  22,475

  1987–88

  31,265

  99,097

  22,599

  1988–89

  48,161

  84,647

  28,183

  1989–90

  55,827

  87,652

  34,894

  1990–91

  51,602

  100,746

  45,467

  1991–92

  59,231

  136,386

  41,823

  1992–93

  65,717

  115,370

  38,483

  1993–94

  56,258

  103,144

  48,202

  Note:

  British Aid Statistics was published by financial year from 1992.

  Britain also provides aid to these countries through multilateral agencies.

  Pakistan
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the agreements for the provision of British aid that he signed with the Pakistani Government during his recent visit to Pakistan.

  Mr. Baldry
  On 9 January, in Islamabad, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary exchanged letters in respect of two new aid projects in Pakistan. These were:(i) a contribution of £3.6 million over five years to the second phase of the Dir district development project, managed by the United Nations Drug Control Programme. The project is designed to improve basic infrastructure and to provide alternative sources of income for people in the main opium poppy growing area of the North West Frontier Province in parallel with enforcement action by the Pakistan authorities.
  (ii) a contribution of £12 million over three years in support of the Government of Pakistan's social action programme, which the World bank and other donors are also supporting. The programme seeks to improve primary education, health and reproductive health through a combination of sectoral policy reform and incremental budgetary support.

  Rwanda
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether there is any threat by the Rwandan Government to the continued presence of international non-governmental organisations in Rwanda; and what representations he has been making.

  Mr. Baldry
  In order to avoid duplication of effort, and improve co-ordination, the Government of Rwanda have introduced a policy of NGO registration, but a number of NGOs have failed to meet the registration deadline of 9 January. The registration policy has not led to NGO expulsions. We will continue to monitor the situation.

ENVIRONMENT

  Water
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the costs of compliance 104
  in meeting water standards in upland and lowland England and Wales (a) in total and (b) by water authority in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Atkins
  Information is not available in the form requested. However, Ofwat has published information which shows that the compliance programme for drinking water resulted in expenditure in England and Wales of £620.5 million in 1991–92, £733.3 million in 1992–93, and £737.1 million in 1993–94.

  Refrigerants
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures have been implemented with regard to the conservation and reclamation of refrigerants; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The EC Environment Council adopted in December a new EC regulation on ozone-depleting substances. This requires refrigerants contained in commercial and industrial refrigeration equipment and air conditioning equipment to be recovered if practicable for recycling, reclamation or destruction during service and maintenance of the equipment as well as before equipment dismantling or disposal. It also requires that all precautionary measures practicable are taken to prevent the leakage of ozone-depleting refrigerant from this equipment. This regulation is directly applicable in UK law.

  In 1994 the refrigerant users group was set up, with Government support, by a number of refrigerant users and suppliers. The RUG was the first refrigerant bank in Europe. Its main aim is to ensure that the increasingly scarce supply of chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants is conserved through recovery and efficient reuse within the UK.

  Capping Limits
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list for each local authority for which he is responsible(a) the change in the capping limit in cash terms between 1993–94 and 1994–95, (b) this change in cash terms after the notional cost of pay increases at the current rate of inflation have been taken into account and (c) this change in cash terms after notional increases in pay and price increases at the current rate of inflation have been taken into account;

  (2) what is the cash change and percentage change in the capping limit of each local authority for which he is responsible for 1994–95 compared to 1993–94; and if he will also express the change as a figure per head of population.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  I have arranged for a table showing the following for each local authority in England to be placed in the Library of the House:

  (i) the cash change between the 1993–94 cap limit and the 1994–95 cap limit.

  (ii) the cash change between the 1993–94 cap limit (in 1994–95 prices) and the 1994–95 cap limit.

  (iii) the percentage change between the 1993–94 cap limit and the 1994–95 cap limit.

  (iv) the change per head of population between the 1993–94 cap limit and the 1994–95 cap limit.

  Information on cap limits after notional costs of pay increases at the current rate of inflation have been taken into account is not available.

  Pollution
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the level of carbon dioxide emissions for each year since 1980; and what efforts his Department has implemented to reduce these levels.

  Mr. Atkins
  Annual United Kingdom emissions of carbon dioxide since 1980 are as follows:

  Estimated annual United Kingdom emissions for carbon dioxide, expressed in terms of weight of carbon (million tonnes of carbon)

  Year

  Amount

  1980

  164

  1981

  157

  1982

  154

  1983

  152

  1984

  148

  1985

  154

  1986

  158

  1987

  159

  1988

  159

  1989

  156

  1990

  158

  1991

  159

  1992

  155

  1993

  1152

  1latest provisional estimate.

  In fulfilment of our commitment under the climate change convention, the UK climate change programme, published in January 1994, sets out in full the measures aimed at returning emissions of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, to 1990 levels by the year 2000.

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his most recent figures for annual CO2 emissions for the United Kingdom; and what assessment he has made of their consistency with the target set in "Climate Change: The UK Programme".

  Mr. Atkins
  I refer the hon. Member to my oral answer of Wednesday 18 January 1995,Official Report, column 706, to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett) and to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Burnley (Mr. Pike) earlier today.

  London Boroughs Grants Committee
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money the London Boroughs Grants Committee has(a) received from the London borough of Barnet and (b) given to organisations based in Barnet each year since its inception.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The London Boroughs Grants Committee distributes grants to voluntary organisations in Greater London which either have a London-wide remit or cover a significant number of London boroughs. There is no direct relationship between contributions from the amounts awarded to voluntary organisations in particular boroughs. The London boroughs grants unit has supplied the following information:

  The London borough of Barnet's contribution to the committee's annual expenditure

  Year

  Contribution £

  1986–87

  1,190,700

  1987–88

  1,179,250

  1988–89

  1,240,515

  106

  The London borough of Barnet's contribution to the committee's annual expenditure

  Year

  Contribution £

  1989–90

  1,246,000

  1990–91

  1,300,500

  1991–92

  1,265,300

  1992–93

  1,307,000

  1993–94

  1,255,700

  1994–95

  1,255,700

  Amounts awarded to voluntary organisations based in the London borough of Barnet

  Year

  Amount £

  1986–87

  n/a

  1987–88

  62,905

  1988–89

  98,712

  1989–90

  113,688

  1990–91

  92,228

  1991–92

  114,298

  1992–93

  103,340

  1993–94

  153,871

  1994–95

  165,327

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much the London Boroughs Grants Committee has(a) received from each London borough and (b) paid to organisations based in each London borough during the last three years.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  There is no direct relationship between contributions from, and amounts awarded to, voluntary organisations in particular boroughs. The London boroughs grants unit has supplied the following information:

  (a) Borough contributions received

  £ thousands

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Barking and Dagenham

  622.1

  613.5

  607.8

  Barnet

  1,307.3

  1,255.7

  1,255.7

  Bexley

  928.9

  920.3

  911.7

  Brent

  1,078.0

  1,040.7

  1,026.35

  Bromley

  1,267.2

  1,235.6

  1,218.45

  Camden

  782.7

  748.3

  751.15

  City of London

  17.2

  17.2

  17.2

  Croydon

  1,347.5

  1,336.0

  1,330.25

  Ealing

  1,238.5

  1,181.2

  1,178.3

  Enfield

  1,115.2

  1,100.9

  1,089.45

  Greenwich

  911.7

  894.5

  891.6

  Hackney

  808.5

  774.1

  788.4

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  630.7

  639.3

  647.95

  Haringey

  814.2

  871.5

  877.3

  Harrow

  811.3

  854.3

  851.45

  Havering

  977.6

  974.8

  960.4

  Hillingdon

  994.8

  992.0

  986.2

  Hounslow

  831.4

  874.4

  857.2

  Islington

  731.1

  713.9

  725.35

  Kensington and Chelsea

  553.3

  596.3

  610.65

  Kingston

  587.7

  576.3

  573.4

  Lambeth

  980.5

  1,052.1

  1,075.1

  Lewisham

  954.7

  994.8

  994.8

  Merton

  696.7

  719.6

  716.75

  Newham

  880.1

  914.6

  928.9

  Redbridge

  992.0

  969.0

  963.3

  Richmond

  705.3

  688.1

  685.2

  Southwark

  951.8

  937.5

  943.2

  Sutton

  708.1

  716.7

  713.85

  Tower Hamlets

  705.3

  696.7

  699.55

  Waltham Forest

  900.2

  911.7

  905.95

  107

  (a) Borough contributions received

  £ thousands

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Wandsworth

  1,080.8

  1,089.4

  1,103.75

  Westminster

  756.9

  768.3

  782.7

  Greater London Totals

  28,669.3

  28,669.3

  28,669.3

  (b) Amounts paid to or approved for voluntary organisations by borough base.

  £ thousands

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Barking and Dagenham

  44.7

  44.6

  47.5

  Barnet

  103.3

  153.9

  163.3

  Bexley

  63.8

  65.7

  63)7

  Brent

  442.3

  341.9

  355.3

  Bromley

  68.2

  71.5

  76.4

  Camden

  5,035.3

  4,409.3

  4,210.4

  City of London

  156.1

  91.3

  81.5

  Croydon

  158.9

  198.6

  199.9

  Ealing

  258.1

  412.5

  436.6

  Enfield

  132.4

  146.6

  144.4

  Greenwich

  488.3

  479.7

  407.0

  Hackney

  1,491.2

  1,479.5

  1,519.7

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  811.5

  979.3

  993.4

  Haringey

  880.3

  655.8

  699.0

  Harrow

  23.6

  1.2

  —

  Havering

  47.7

  50.5

  56.4

  Hillingdon

  172.1

  177.1

  161.5

  Hounslow

  246.4

  255.7

  268.0

  Islington

  3,391.9

  4,703.2

  4,728.8

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1,399.5

  1,302.0

  1,296.0

  Kingston

  69.8

  95.3

  109.8

  Lambeth

  2,248.9

  2,257.6

  2,260.3

  Lewisham

  465.8

  461.9

  487.7

  Merton

  251.7

  265.3

  259.2

  Newham

  368.2

  386.7

  413.4

  Redbridge

  86.3

  60.1

  67.1

  Richmond

  79.0

  76.8

  95.0

  Southwark

  2,314.8

  2,558.1

  2,425.2

  Sutton

  104.8

  75.2

  72.7

  Tower Hamlets

  1,961.7

  1,934.7

  1,832.9

  Waltham Forest

  73.1

  181.4

  148.9

  Wandsworth

  322.4

  327.3

  367.2

  Westminster

  3,128.4

  2,939.4

  3,055.7

  Outside London

  61.4

  70.2

  70.4

  Totals

  26,952.5

  27,709.9

  27,574.3

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation requiring the provision of(a) adequate heating systems and (b) insulation in domestic buildings.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Part L of the Building Regulations 1991 in England and Wales requires reasonable provision, including insulation and heating controls, to be made for the conservation of fuel and power in new buildings and extensions to existing ones. Revised regulations which come into force on 1 July this year strengthen the provisions of part L and in addition require all new and converted dwellings to be provided with an energy rating based on the standard assessment procedure. The Boiler Efficiency Regulations 1993 require that, when they are placed on the market, gas and oil-fired boilers achieve specified levels of efficiency, These regulations came into force on 1 January last year.

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current combined heat 108
  and power capacity in the United Kingdom; and what is his target for 2000.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The Secretary of State for the Environment has set a target of 5,000 MW installed combined heat and power capacity by the year 2000. It is estimated that approximately 3,000 MW CHP is now in operation in the United Kingdom on around 1,100 sites.

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made toward reaching his target for increased efficiency of domestic appliances by 2000; and what assessment he has made as to the consistency of such progress with reaching that target.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The Government have not set specific targets to improve the energy efficiency of domestic appliances but are committed to achieve overall carbon dioxide targets by a variety of approaches including improving appliances. Joint voluntary initiatives with industry, the Energy Saving Trust and my Department's energy efficiency office have resulted in good progress in some sectors and I believe they can be emulated elsewhere. The Government are presently engaged in studies to assess the impact of energy labelling and other policies in each sector.

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many grants have been made under the home energy efficiency scheme and of what average value in each year since its formation by local authority area.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The information is not available in the form requested. The total numbers of grants under the home energy efficiency scheme in Great Britain and their average values, for each financial year since the scheme began, are as follows:

  £

  1990–91 (from January 1)

  7,582

  154

  1991–92

  167,849

  137

  1992–93

  204,130

  150

  1993–94

  270,148

  153

  1994–95 (until December 31)

  330,751

  168

  Before 9 December 1993, a contribution from the householder, to a maximum of £16, was required in each case. Since then 100 per cent. grants have been available.

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research he carried out into the effectiveness of the advertising campaigns he has run in order to encourage greater energy efficiency in the home.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Two advertising campaigns have been run by my Department to promote energy efficiency in the home. The first of these campaigns, "Helping the Earth Begins at Home", now completed, was monitored through a series of interview surveys to track changes in public knowledge, attitudes and energy saving behaviour, over the course of the campaign. The second campaign. "Wasting Energy Costs the Earth", is currently under way and is subject to a similar programme of monitoring research.

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in tightening building regulations since the publishing of "Climate Change: The UK Programme"; what assessment
  109
  he has made as to achieving the energy-saving target set out in the document; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Revised building regulations for the conservation of fuel and power were laid before Parliament last year. They come into force on 1 July. It is estimated that the improved provisions will save about 250,000 tonnes of carbon per year by the turn of the century, with significantly greater savings in the longer term.

  Uranium
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has about the source of the uranium recently found in Northamptonshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The scrap metal containing uranium found on land at Poplar farm, Caldecott, Northamptonshire, is of unknown origin. Investigations are continuing to trace the source of the material.

  Greenpeace
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has that the misuse of equipment, as referred to in Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution's reply to Greenpeace's complaint regarding a perceived breach of paragraph 2 of the Drigg authorisation, was the sole cause of the high-surface activity levels recorded by the Greenpeace investigators.

  Mr. Atkins
  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution sought the advice of the National Radiological Protection Board regarding the environmental monitoring carried out by Greenpeace and depicted in its video of the Drigg site. The NRPB advised that an item which fully complies with the requirements of the Drigg disposal authorisation could give rise to the results determined by Greenpeace. This is because the instrument used by Greenpeace was not appropriate for use in the mixed radiation fields associated with the low-level wastes disposed of at Drigg. It is possible that there was no surface contamination present at all on the items monitored, and that the spurious surface contamination really was due to radiation emissions from radioactive material contained within the disposed items.

  HMIP thoroughly investigated Greenpeace's complaint and concluded that there had been no breach of the Drigg site authorisation. A reply to this effect was sent by HMIP to Greenpeace on 16 December 1994.

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what attempt has been made to locate and monitor the package reported to him by Greenpeace as containing intermediate-level waste in its complaint regarding arrangements for the disposal of low-level waste at Drigg.

  Mr. Atkins
  Greenpeace entered Drigg illegally, in July 1994, but did not bring its complaint to the attention of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution until October 1994. In the intervening period, the item in question has been completely covered by material disposed of in the trench. Direct monitoring of the item would have been possible if Greenpeace had bothered to notify HMIP immediately of its concerns. An item, which from the Greenpeace video and report could have been mistaken for a glovebox that might have been thought to contain intermediate-level waste, has been identified from photographs provided by British Nuclear Fuels plc of the 110
  tipping face at about the same time that Greenpeace entered Drigg. The disposal records and history of the item indicate that the disposal was carried out in full compliance with the requirements of the Drigg authorisation.

  Sprinkler Systems
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to make the introduction of a sprinkler system a mandatory requirement in single-storey buildings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The provision of sprinklers in new buildings is a matter for building regulations. Whether such sprinklers should be required in large single storey buildings is under consideration at present and I hope to be able to make a statement within a few months.

  Fire Engineers
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to require the compulsory registration of qualified fire engineers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  We have no plans at present to require the compulsory registration of qualified fire engineers but will keep the situation under review.

  Civil Airports
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what powers are available to local authorities to control noise and nuisance at civil airports.

  Mr. Atkins
  Local authorities' powers to control noise at civil airports are those available under planning legislation, through which conditions may be attached, if appropriate, to planning permission. In addition, at all but the smallest airports, operators are required to consult nearby local authorities about matters concerning management and administration which may have a bearing on noise and nuisance.

  Leasehold
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what consideration he has given to the funding of the leasehold enfranchisement advisory scheme beyond its initial two years; and if he will make a statement on the expected longer-term demand for the scheme and the necessary resources to ensure that it is able to respond appropriately;

  (2) what proposals he has for further publicity to increase leaseholders' awareness of their rights under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993;

  (3) what assessment he has made of the interim report of the leasehold enfranchisement advisory service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  I have carefully studied the interim report of the leasehold enfranchisement advisory service and taken note of its conclusions about the way the new rights for leasehold enfranchisement and lease extension introduced by the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 have been exercised.

  I have been impressed with the start that the service has made and consequently I am able to announce that the

  111
  Department has decided to make available, from its special grants programme, a grant of £78,711 to LEAS for 1995–96. This is an increase of 8 per cent. on the initial grant given to the service in 1994–95. The primary reason for the increase is to allow the service to increase its programme of publicity designed to make leaseholders and freeholders more aware of the new rights to enfranchisement and lease extension. At the same time, the Department will continue to make its booklets on enfranchisement freely available on demand. So far, over 145,000 copies have been issued.

  The intention has been to provide funds from the SGP to the service over a three-year period. This means that, subject to a review of the service's performance, planned for later this year, further funding will be made available to the service in 1996–97.

  Energy Saving Trust
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current level of funding for the Energy Saving Trust which is raised from gas customers; and what this level is expected to be in each of the next three years.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The finances of the Energy Saving Trust are properly a matter for the trust, which is an independent company. However, I understand that in the financial year 1994–95 the gas industry will pay the trust a total of £2.5 million, raised from gas customers by the so-called "E-factor" levy. Figures for future years are not available, as the Director General of Gas Supply has yet to reach a decision on proposals to finance, from the E-factor, trust schemes which were submitted to her by British Gas in July 1994.

  Noise Pollution
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to bring forward proposals to address the problems of noise pollution and noise nuisance.

  Mr. Atkins
  Local authorities have a range of powers to prevent or abate noise nuisance from premises and from vehicles, machinery and equipment in the street. An inter-departmental working party was set up in October last year to review the current controls over neighbour noise and to investigate options for swifter remedies. The working party expects to complete its review shortly and I intend to consult fully on its conclusions and recommendations.

  West Yorkshire Fire Service
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has had in respect of the West Yorkshire fire service's budget deficit for 1995–96.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  We have received two written representations from the West Yorkshire fire and civil defence authority about the proposed local government finance settlement 1995–96. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration met a delegation from the authority on 10 January 1995. We will be considering these representations, together with those we have received from other authorities, in finalising the settlement for 1995–96.

  Consultants
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list(a) the consultants, (b) the tasks for which they were employed and (c) the payments made to them from the budget of his Department in (i) 1992–93 and (ii) 1993–94.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information requested is not held centrally by my Department and is obtainable only at disproportionate cost.

  Erin Void, Derbyshire
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he can report on the application by Derbyshire county council to his minerals division for funding under the Moynihan agreement in relation to the reclamation of the Erin void at Poolsbrook, Staveley, Derbyshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Moynihan agreement relates to deep mines in England started before 1 July 1948 which closed within four years commencing 1 April 1990. Under the agreement, British Coal undertook responsibility for the restoration of those closed colliery sites to a soft end use. An application for funding by my Department would not be appropriate nor has such an application been received.

  However, Derbyshire county council has made representations to my Department about a dispute with British Coal as to whether the Erin void falls within the terms of the agreement. My understanding is that the Erin void is a former opencast coal site which is already subject to conditions requiring its infilling and restoration to a condition suitable for agriculture. As such, it would not appear to fall within the agreement.

  Green Belts
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Government will publish revised planning policy guidance on green belts in England.

  Mr. Gummer
  We have today published a revision of planning policy guidance note 2 on "Green Belts". This reaffirms our commitment to green belt policy, and makes limited changes to strengthen it to meet the challenges of the next century.

  Following research which we published in 1993, we issued a draft revision of PPG2 for public consultation last year. We are grateful to the almost 700 organisations and individuals who responded. We have carefully considered their views in finalising the document, and made adjustments to take account of views expressed. The thrust of the revised PPG2 is similar to the consultation draft, which was broadly welcomed.

  Compared with the present published PPG2, the, revision incorporates six main amendments, within a framework of continuity.

  (1) It reaffirms the Government's commitment to green belt policy, stresses the fundamental aim of preventing urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open, and points out that green belts can assist in moving towards more sustainable patterns of urban development.

  (2) It sets out positive objectives for the use of land in green belts, so as to secure greater benefits for the environment without compromising the overall restrictive approach.

  (3) It further encourages proper consideration of the long-term direction of development, through the development plan system, to ensure long-term protection of green belts.

  113

  (4) It removes the former concession for new building in the green belt by institutions, so that they are subject to the same controls as other developers.

  (5) It enables local planning authorities to make realistic provision in their development plans for the future of existing major developed sites in the green belt, such as pre-war factories and power stations, in such a way as to secure environmental benefits.

  (6) It introduces a new policy on the re-use of buildings, which includes specific safeguards for the green belt.

  These modifications will reinforce the position of green belts as a cornerstone of the town and country planning system in England as we enter the 21st century.

  A summary of responses to the consultation exercise has been deposited in the Libraries of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Department of the Environment. Copies of all the responses have been placed in the DOE library.

  Buying Agency
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what performance targets he has set the Buying Agency for 1995.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  To support the objectives set out in the agency's corporate plan 1995–1997, and business plan 1995, we have set financial, productivity, customer satisfaction, environmental, and internal quality targets.

  The financial targets are:

  —to increase sales by 10 per cent. or to £157 million whichever is the higher,

  —to achieve an overall surplus after interest of 1.5 per cent. on total sale.

  114
  The productivity targets are:

  —to increase sales/staff ratio from £1.27 million per employee projected for 1994 to £1.42 million in 1995,

  —to reduce the cost of £ of sales from 2.9p projected in 1994 to 2.6p in 1995.

  The customer satisfaction targets are:

  —to ensure 90 per cent. of direct orders are delivered by the due date,

  — to resolve 90 per cent. of complaints within one month, the balance within three months.

  The environmental target is:

  —to ensure that all new or revised catalogue entries contain information relating to the environmental impact of the product and, where appropriate, its production and disposal.

  These targets require the agency to build on improvements in sales, efficiency, and customer service, made in 1994.

  In addition, the agency is proposing new pay and grading arrangements and management delayering, and other measures in line with the White Paper "The Civil Service—Continuity and Change".

  Pennine Bridleway
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce his decision on the proposed Pennine bridleway.

  Mr. Atkins
  Following further consultations with the local authorities through whose areas the route passes, the Secretary of State has today signified that he has decided to approve the Countryside Commission's report in respect of the Pennine bridleway, with the modifications to the route as submitted by the commission.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Television
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what steps are open to areas where television reception is(a) poor and (b) non-existent; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The first step is for such communities to notify the engineering department of the BBC or Independent Television Commission so that these bodies are aware of the situation. They jointly build about 25 new television relay transmitters each year. It is also open to communities to install their own television relay system at their own expense under the self-help television system.

  Buckingham Palace
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the cost of repairing the damage to the gates of Buckingham palace; what insurance covers the gates; and who will incur the bill for repair.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Investigations are taking place to assess the extent of the damage to the gates of Buckingham palace. Until these are completed, it is not possible to estimate the cost of the repairs. In line with general Government policy, the gates of Buckingham palace were not insured. It is hoped that the car driver's insurance company will meet the cost of the repairs. If not, the repairs will be funded from the royal household's current grant in aid provision.

  National Jazz Centre
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representation his Department has received concerning the creation of a national jazz centre.

  Mr. Dorrell
  My Department has received no such representations.

  Double Funding
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he expects to report on the allegations of double-funding of money from the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority S4C, and the Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts via Pengwyn Pinc cyf to the Welsh Rock and Folk Music Council; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have received a report from the Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts on the circumstances of an award to the Welsh Rock and Folk Music Council under the business sponsorship incentive scheme. My consideration of that report will be informed by the findings of an internal inquiry which is currently being undertaken by S4C.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Members' Dining Room
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee when the stools for waiters and waitresses by their stations were first introduced into the Members' Dining Room; how many complaints there have been about their use; what considerations underlay their 116
  removal before Christmas; and what proposals there are to return them.

  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: This is a matter for the Director of Catering Services. I have asked her to write to the hon. Member.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Card Systems
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will consider setting up a committee to consider the developing technology of card systems and the potential demand for such systems from Government Departments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  Cabinet Committee GEN34, which is chaired by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, already exists to consider the developing technology of card systems and the potential demand for such systems from Government Departments.

  Recruitment
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what opportunities exist in the civil service for the recruitment of individuals with outside experience.

  Mr. David Hunt
  Many, varied and at all levels.

  Worldwide Web Server
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make it his policy to present to the House during the current Session of Parliament a report on the progress and future plans for development of the government worldwide web server "open.gov.UK".

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  I have asked CCTA, the Government Centre for Information Systems, to prepare a report on the progress and future plans for development of the government worldwide web server "open.gov.UK", in three months' time, and quarterly thereafter. This report will be placed in the Library of the House, and it will, of course, be available over the Internet via the CCTA Government information service.

  The CCTA Government information service was launched in November 1994 as a pilot service to make Government information available over the Internet, and to provide a means for Departments to develop expertise in this sector. It has proved a tremendous success. Over 14 Departments and agencies have already made information available, and most others have plans to do so. On average, there are over 35,000 requests for information each week. This month we have added two additional pilot services, "G-NET" and "GMAIL", and further improvements are planned for the coming months.

  Disabled People
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion and number of non-industrial civil servants are currently(a) registered disabled and (b) disabled as defined by the Cabinet Office document "Focus on Ability".

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  On 1 July 1994, the number of registered disabled people in the non-industrial civil
  117
  service was 8,142, representing 1.67 per cent. of the total. Figures for the number and proportion of all disabled people employed in the civil service are not available, although surveys conducted by some individual Departments suggest that there may be at least as many non-registered disabled people in the civil service as there are registered.

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 24 January.

  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 24 January.

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

  Hugh Colver
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Prime Minister during which years Mr. Hugh Colver was employed by Her Majesty's Government in(a) the Ministry of Defence, (b) other Departments and (c) No. 10 Downing street.

  The Prime Minister
  Mr. Hugh Colver was employed as an information officer in the Ministry of Defence from December 1975 to July 1981 and again from September 1985 to June 1987 as deputy chief of public relations and from then until July 1992 as chief information officer. He was a press officer at: No. 10 from July 1981 to July 1982; at the Department of Education from July 1982 to January 1984; and at the Metropolitan police from January 1984 to September 1985. He is no longer employed by a Government Department.

  Card Systems
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will consider setting up a committee to consider the developing technology of card systems, and the potential demand for such systems from Government Departments; and if he will make a statement.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science today.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Prime Minister which Ministers and former Ministers have given evidence to the Scott inquiry.

  The Prime Minister
  Ministers and former Ministers who the Government are aware have given evidence to Sir Richard Scott's inquiry are:

  Ministers who have given written and oral evidence:

  In addition to myself,

  The Right hon. Kenneth Clarke QC

  The Right hon. Michael Heseltine RD

  The Right hon. Douglas Hurd CH

  The Right hon. Peter Lilley

  The Right hon. Sir Nicholas Lyell QC

  118

  The Right hon. Sir Patrick Mayhew QC

  The Right hon. Malcolm Rifkind QC

  The Right hon. the hon. William Waldergrave

  Former Ministers who have given written and oral evidence:

  The Right hon. Kenneth Baker CH

  The Right hon. Sir Adam Butler

  The Right hon. Paul Channon

  The Right hon. Alan Clark

  The Right hon. Tristan Garel-Jones

  The Right hon. The Lord Howe QC

  The Right hon. Sir Richard Luce

  The Right hon. David Mellor QC

  The Right hon. Timothy Renton

  The Right hon. The Baroness Thatcher OM FRS

  The Right hon. Lord Trefgarne

  Ministers who have given written evidence only:

  The Right hon. Jonathan Aitken

  The Right hon. Douglas Hogg QC

  Former Ministers who have given written evidence only:

  The Lord Glenarthur

  The Right hon. the hon. Sir Archie Hamilton

  Neil Hamilton

  The Right hon. the hon. Sir Timothy Sainsbury

  Science Promotion
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps he has taken since 1993 to promote science and its applications.

  The Prime Minister
  In May 1993, we published the White Paper "Realising our Potential"—Cm 2550—which sets out the Government's policy for science, engineering and technology. It announced a number of new initiatives such as technology foresight and the restructuring of the research councils to carry forward the Governments strategy. That strategy is to improve the nation's competitiveness and quality of life by maintaining the excellence of science, engineering and technology in the United Kingdom.

  In a speech to the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee in February 1994, I underlined the importance of the White Paper and my commitment to the policy it sets out.

  The White Paper recognised the important benefits of international collaboration. In September I visited South Africa and met President Mandela. I exchanged letters of intent with him, committing the United Kingdom and South Africa to continuing discussions with a view to concluding in due course a bilateral science, engineering and technology agreement.

  In September I also met members of the Council for Science and Technology which the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster chairs on my behalf. We discussed the vital contribution of science, engineering and technology to the nation's prosperity and quality of life. I emphasised our determination to create a culture of partnership, where excellence in science and the development of new applications go hand in hand.

  Women Workers
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Prime Minister what practical measures he has introduced to help(a) employers in the private sector and (b) employers in the public sector to increase the quality and quantity of

  119
  women's participation in the work force, since the launch of Opportunity 2000 in 1991.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I have been asked to reply.

  Opportunity 2000 is an employer-led campaign which the Government have supported since its launch in 1991.

  The Employment Department helps private and public sector employers increase the quality and quantity of women's employment by promoting a competitive, efficient and flexible labour market. Details of the ED's initiatives introduced since the launch of Opportunity 2000 are contained in the ED's annual reports, copies of which are available in the Library, and include, the out-of-school child care grant, new horizons for women, and fair play for women.

TREASURY

  Corporate Assets (Individual Investments)
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an estimate of the proportion of corporate assets which represent investments financed by individual investment through unit trusts life, endowment insurance and pension contributions.

  Mr. Nelson
  It is not possible to attribute particular corporate assets to particular sources of funds. However, it can be estimated that about 45 per cent. of company securities are financed by personal sector investments in unit and life assurance and pension funds.

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Cabinet Office—OPSS

  "Red Book"

  892

  977

  1,044

  1,108

  1,241

  1,320

  at 1993 prices

  1,097

  1,113

  1,119

  1,142

  1,241

  1,294

  Real increases

  1

  16

  6

  23

  99

  53

  Cabinet Office—other, etc.

  "Red Book"

  274

  313

  363

  1,123

  1,233

  1,200

  at 1993 prices

  337

  357

  389

  1,157

  1,233

  1,176

  Real increases

  1

  20

  32

  768

  76

  -57

  Direct funding at 1993 prices

  House of Commons

  96

  98

  105

  156

  163

  175

  House of Lords

  18

  19

  20

  33

  33

  41

  Notes:

  (a)This information is not available prior to 1989–90 in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  (b)"other spending" covers expenditure by the Privy Council Office, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, the Houses of Parliament and the National Audit Office.

  (c)The increases in OPSS spending over the period reflect the priority accorded by the Government to the science programme of basic and strategic research, and includes from 1992–93 to 1994–95 the transfer of funding from the higher education funding councils to the research councils in respect of certain research projects.

  (d)Most of the increase in Cabinet Office—other, etc. relates to the setting up in 1994–95 of the security and intelligence services vote, For which comparable historic figures are available only back to 1992–93. Other increases relate principally to capital works and IT projects both in the Cabinet Office and both Houses of Parliament.

  Mortgage Tax Relief
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total cost of mortgage tax relief in Scotland in each year since 1982–83; what is the estimated cost for 1994–95 and 1995–96; and what would have been the costs in 1994–95 and 1995–96 if relief had been available at 25 per cent. for both years.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 16 January 1995]: Estimates for the years in question are given in the table.
  120
  This estimate is based on information which can be found in tables 5.2D and 9.1E, G, H, I and J of the January edition of "Financial Statistics".

  International Monetary Fund
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his current policy towards Russia within the IMF.

  Mr Nelson
  Discussions are continuing on an IMF standby agreement linked to a strong programme of economic reform. I look forward to a successful outcome.

  Government Spending
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the(a) actual and (b) budgeted Cabinet Office and other spending, as classified in the 1995–96 Red Book, in each year from 1979 to 1994, at 1993 prices; what were the reasons for any material increase in real expenditures in this area; and what was the estimated annual actual expenditure on (a) direct funding to the Cabinet Office, (b) direct funding to the House of Commons and (c) direct funding of the House of Lords for each year from 1979 to 1994 at 1993 prices.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  I have been asked to reply.

  It is not possible to provide budget figures on the same basis as the actuals which are shown in the 1995–96 Red Book. Expenditure by the Cabinet Office and other spending as classified in the 1995–96 Red Book were as follows:

  Cost of mortgage interest relief in Scotland

  £ million

  1982–83

  140

  1983–84

  190

  1984–85

  260

  1985–86

  350

  1986–87

  300

  1987–88

  310

  1988–89

  370

  1989–90

  470

  121

  Cost of mortgage interest relief in Scotland

  £ million

  1990–91

  530

  1991–92

  420

  1992–93

  340

  1993–94

  280

  1994–951

  2300

  1995–961

  3240

  1Assumes, by convention, no changes from current interest rates.

  2Relief at 20 per cent.

  3Relief at 15 per cent.

  The estimates for 1994–95 and 1995–96 are approximate and are based on the regional distribution of mortgages shown by the 1993 family expenditure survey applied to the United Kingdom total estimates for these years.

  The corresponding costs in 1994–95 and 1995–96 for relief at 25 per cent. are estimated to be £380 million and £410 million respectively.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Malcom Bruce
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the total departmental expenditures and planned expenditure on trade and industry by his Department and its predecessors for each year from 1979 to 1998 in 1993 prices; showing also expenditures on research and development and expenditure data for industrial support.

  Mr. Heseltine
  Total expenditure figures in cash terms for the DTI and its predecessors from 1979–80 are available as follows:"The Government's Expenditure Plans", published in January of each year by Her Majesty's Treasury for the period to 1990–91:
  Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Energy Departmental Reports, published in February/March of each year, for the period from 1991–92 to 1992–93:
  Department of Trade and Industry Departmental Reports published from 1993–94 onwards which reflect the merger in 1992 with the former Department of Energy.

  Figures for 1993–94 and forward year plans to 1997–98 will be included in the next edition of the Department of Trade and Industry's departmental report, due to be published in late February or early March this year.

  These publications also include details of spending on industrial support. Details of spending on research and development, also in cash terms, are provided in the "Annual Review of Government-funded R and D" published each year from 1983 to 1992 and subsequently replaced by the annual "Forward Look of Government-funded Science, Engineering and Technology". Plans for 1997–98 are not yet available, but will be included in the 1995 edition, due to be published in early summer 1995.

  The cash terms figures may be adjusted to reflect 1993–94 prices by means of the GDP deflators which are shown in table 6A.1 on page 131 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96". Copies of documents referred to above which have already been published are available in the Library of the House. The remainder will be placed in the Library upon publication.

  Iraq (Sanctions)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which countries were listed as likely diversionary routes for the avoidance of sanctions against Iraq in the letter from his Department to various British exporting companies dated September 1990; and why those countries were selected for mention.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The letter sent to a large number of British companies in September 1990 concerning UN sanctions against Iraq did not include a list of countries.

  Training Courses
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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. Heseltine
  The information in respect of civil servants in my Department and its agencies for the calendar year 1994 is as follows:

  Description and cost

  Title

  Oxford Strategic Leadership Programme

  Objectives

  To help senior managers to develop their strategic leadership skills. Allowing them to apply these skills in the workplace.

  Organisation

  Templeton college, Oxford

  Total cost

  £10,575

  Number of attendees

  2

  Responsibilities of attendees

  Senior Managers in the Government Office for the South East

  Evaluation

  Verbal feedback and written course appraisal from trainees on specific forms. Follow-up forms sent to trainees and line managers eight weeks after the course to assess how effective it had been.

  No DTI staff have attended any other training or tuition courses in that period where the cost for the individual exceeded £5,000.

  Biological and Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newport, West, (Mr. Flynn)Official Report, 20 December 1994, column 1045, on the import of biological and chemical warfare weapons materials and their precursors, what are the reasons for the unavailability of the information requested.
  123
  Mr. Needham
  The United Kingdom classification of commodities for overseas trade is based on the harmonised commodity description and coding system, an internationally agreed system of classification which incorporates the headings of the combined nomenclature of the European Communities. This classification does not specifically identify the materials in question. As a consequence, the official trade statistics of the United Kingdom cannot distinguish between the materials in question and related commodities. An analysis of import licences issued by this Department would not provide the required information because it is unlikely that an individual import licence would be required for many of the commodities concerned.

  Nuclear Materials Trafficking
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to the answer of 20 December to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central, (Mr. Cousins)Official Report, columns 1043–44, what additional funds Her Majesty's Government have offered the International Atomic Energy Agency to meet its intensified activities to combat nuclear materials trafficking.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  As I stated in my answer to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central (Mr. Cousins) on 20 December 1994,Official Report, columns 1043–44, the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency will resume its discussions on the director general's report on illicit trafficking at its meeting in March. Any detailed consideration of funding issues would be premature in advance of this meeting, which will establish the nature of IAEA involvement.

  Departmental Employees
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many employees for which his Department is responsible were women(a) in 1991, (b) in 1992, (c) in 1993 and (d) in 1994; and, of these, how many were (i) at grade 7 level, (ii) at grade 3 level, (iii) at executive officer level, (iv) at administrative officer level and (v) at administrative assistant level.

  Appointment

  Commenced

  Ended

  R.J. Dent Esq.

  Baring Brothers

  1 August 1980

  1985

  J.N. Scott Esq.

  The General Electric Co.

  1 August 1980

  1986

  Sir Jeffrey Benson

  National Westminster Bank

  1 September 1981

  1987

  W.J.A. Dacombe Esq.

  Rea Brothers plc

  1 August 1982

  1986

  M.D. McWilliam Esq.

  Standard Chartered Bank

  1 August 1982

  1987

  W. Hogbin Esq. CBE

  Taylor Woodrow International Ltd

  1 August 1983

  1988

  W.G. Barrett Esq.

  Midland Bank

  1 August 1983

  1986

  R.H. George Esq. CB

  Celluware Group

  1 June 1984

  1991

  E.L. Brooks Esq

  Rothmans International plc

  1 November 1984

  1991

  P.W. Bulfield Esq

  J. Henry Schroder Wagg and Co.

  1 October 1985

  1988

  T.W.B. Sallitt Esq. CBE

  Hawker Siddeley Group

  1 April 1986

  1990

  Sir Peter Leslie

  Barclays Bank plc

  1 September 1986

  1992

  A.G. Gormly Esq. CBE

  Trafalgar House plc

  1 February 1988

  1994

  Hon. D. Douglas-Home CBE

  Morgan Grenfell and Co.

  1 March 1988

  1993

  S.M.F. Harris Esq.

  Guardian Royal Exchange

  1 March 1988

  1991

  Prof. K. Scholes

  Sheffield Business School

  1 April 1988

  1991

  D.G. Eustace Esq.

  British Aerospace plc

  1 August 1988

  1992

  F.M.P. Riding Esq.

  Lloyds Bank plc

  1 August 1988

  1991

  R.T. Fox Esq. CBE

  Kleinwort Benson Group

  1 July 1991

  —

  Sir Derek Thomas KCMG

  N M Rothschild and Son Ltd.

  1 October 1991

  —

  C. Smallwood Esq.

  TSB Group plc

  1 October 1991

  1994

  Sir Robert Davidson

  Balfour Beatty Ltd.

  1 October 1991

  —

  Viscount Weir

  The Weir Group plc

  1 November 1991

  —

  124
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The information requested is set out in the following table:

  Headcount of women in the Department of Trade and Industry by grade level at 1 April 1991–1994

  Grade level

  19911

  19921

  1993

  1994

  G3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  G7

  117

  129

  162

  176

  EO

  1,061

  1,067

  1,113

  1,054

  AO

  1,964

  1,944

  2,020

  1,886

  AA

  1,815

  1,756

  1,636

  1,395

  Total number of women employed in Department

  5,617

  5,592

  5,700

  5,309

  1The Department of Energy joined DTI in 1992. The figures for 1991 and 1992 therefore exclude former Department of Energy staff.

  Grenade Launcher Exports
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total value of grenade launcher exports in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The published information is not sufficiently detailed to identify the value of exports of specific weapons. The information available for harmonised system commodity code 9301 0000—"military weapons (other than revolvers, pistols, swords, cutlasses, bayonets, lances, etc.)"—is published in Central Statistical Office business monitors MM20 and MQ20, "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom", copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  Export Credits Guarantee Advisory Committee
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list all of the members of the Export Credits Guarantee Advisory Committee, with their corporate or other affiliation for each year since 1985.

  Mr. Needham
  The information requested is as follows:
  125

  Appointment

  Commenced

  Ended

  J.W. Melbourn Esq.

  National Westminster Bank

  1 November 1991

  —

  G.W. Lynch Esq.

  Hiscox Syndicates Ltd.

  1 July 1993

  —

  B.P. Dewe Mathews Esq.

  J. Henry Schroder Wagg and Co.

  1 July 1993

  —

  T.M. Evans Esq. CBE

  Foster Wheeler Ltd.

  1 August 1993

  —

  Sir Frank Lampl

  Bovis Construction Group

  1 August 1993

  —

  D.B. Newlands Esq

  The General Electric Co.

  1 August 1993

  —

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what remuneration the members of the Export Credits Guarantee Advisory Committee receive.

  Mr. Needham
  Members of the Export Guarantees Advisory Council receive no remuneration for their services.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what selection criteria there are governing appointments to the Exports Credits Guarantee Advisory Committee.

  Mr. Needham
  Members of the Export Guarantees Advisory Council are appointed by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and are drawn from senior levels of the banking, commercial and industrial sectors. Members are chosen for their expertise in their particular field and their experience of export credit business.

  Land Mines
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the occasions when the Export Credits Guarantee Department has advanced credits to cover the export of land mines over the last five years.

  Mr. Needham
  None.

  Gas Market (Competition)
  Sir John Hannam
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for consultation on the choice of areas for the extension of competition in the gas market which he has proposed would be introduced from 1996 to 1998.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have today published a consultation document jointly with the Director General of Gas Supply, Clare Spottiswoode, on the choice of the initial areas for the phased extension of competition into the gas market between 1996 and 1998.

  Subject to enactment of the proposed Bill by Parliament, we propose a first phase starting in April 1996 which would introduce competitive gas supply to a geographic area of Great Britain containing up to 500,000 premises which consume less than 2,500 therms of gas a year. A second phase starting from a date in 1997 would extend competition to an area or areas containing a total of 2 million such premises. Finally, from a date in 1998, it is intended that the entire gas market in Great Britain, some 18 million premises, should be open to competitive supply.

  We intend to announce the prospective areas chosen as soon as possible, so that, subject to parliamentary consideration of the Bill, all may plan accordingly. Once we have considered the responses to the document, my aim is to make an announcement early in March.
  126
  The initial phases are important steps in the proposed move to full competition at the national level in 1998. They will provide an opportunity to ensure the satisfactory operation of the new management and computer systems necessary to ensure the accurate measurement, balancing and allocation of gas. Systems will also be needed to ensure the orderly handover of responsibility where a consumer decides to change supplier. The phased introduction of competition will allow those responsible for these systems time to ensure their fully satisfactory operation.

  It will be convenient if the area chosen is geographically well delineated and coincides with existing administrative boundaries and clearly demarcated part of the gas pipeline network. We should like the area chosen to contain examples of the full cross section of types of premises and customer and include both urban and rural environments. The area chosen should provide a good test of the arrangements for measuring gas and so on, and handling changes of customer.

  Subject to these other factors, we consider it would also be reasonable, in choosing the initial area to benefit from competition, to take into account the pattern of regional transportation charge differentials which were introduced in October 1994. The independent suppliers have said that they expect to offer average savings of some 10 per cent. on current BG prices. Within that pattern, they may—or may not—choose to pass on the differential transportation charges, which amount to around plus/minus 2 per cent. of final prices. I have noted in this context the recommendation of the Trade and Industry Select Committee that
  "areas likely to be disadvantaged by cost reflective charges should be included amongst those selected".

  In the consultation document, we are seeking views on the choice of the initial area in 1996. We are also seeking views as to whether the area for the second phase in 1997 should be:

  (i) a single geographic area (enlarging the area for the first phase); or

  (ii) split between two or more distinct areas (of which the first phase area would be one or part of one).

  There may be some technical arguments in favour of the first alternative. On the other hand, the second alternative would enable more than one area to gain experience of competition.

  In order to gain as much information as possible from the initial phases of competition, the Director General of Gas Supply may invite consumers and appropriate representative groups and persons to supply information to help her monitor the development of competition. It will therefore be helpful if representative organisations in the area concerned are prepared to assist in this process. Parliament will have an opportunity to debate the issues

  127
  related to the initial phases of competition during the passage of the forthcoming Gas Bill.

  The consultation document has been sent to all local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales as well as to all Members of Parliament, consumer groups and the gas industry. Copies have also been placed in the Printed Paper Office in the House of Lords. The deadline for responses is 24 February.

  Further copies of the document can be obtained from the Library of the Office of Gas Supply, 16 Palace street, London SW1E 5JD, telephone 0171 932 1602/3/4.

  British Coal
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the land and property in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency which currently remains in the ownership of British Coal Property.

  ECGD experience on defence business—(£ million) for specific markets requested

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–91

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Bahrain

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Brunei

  0

  0

  1

  0

  3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Egypt

  0

  0

  0

  12

  0

  11

  111

  70

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  India

  0

  7

  0

  219

  0

  19

  1

  17

  0

  25

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Indonesia

  0

  54

  24

  0

  109

  83

  51

  6

  3

  0

  3

  2

  442

  6

  Jordan

  0

  30

  0

  0

  15

  0

  202

  91

  99

  0

  0

  0

  14

  0

  Kenya

  0

  0

  0

  0

  108

  0

  0

  0

  43

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Kuwait

  0

  0

  0

  73

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  580

  Malaysia

  0

  0

  28

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  187

  272

  377

  19

  Nigeria

  0

  39

  278

  3

  47

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Oman

  305

  62

  61

  0

  4

  17

  37

  0

  0

  0

  350

  0

  44

  344

  Pakistan

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  6

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Philippines

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Qatar

  0

  80

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  5

  5

  0

  129

  218

  Saudi Arabia

  0

  0

  24

  0

  0

  6

  0

  0

  450

  0

  0

  0

  225

  750

  Sri Lanka

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Thailand

  0

  0

  0

  0

  4

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Turkey

  0

  0

  0

  75

  8

  70

  0

  0

  0

  31

  24

  0

  1

  0

  UAE

  0

  0

  96

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  188

  0

  0

  356

  0

  ECGD total capital goods and project business experience—(£ million) for specific markets requested

  1980–81

  1981–82

  1982–83

  1983–84

  1984–85

  1985–86

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1991–94

  Bahrain

  17

  64

  4

  20

  7

  2

  0

  3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  35

  32

  Brunei

  0

  0

  1

  0

  3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Egypt

  25

  58

  77

  41

  157

  35

  202

  118

  5

  111

  21

  59

  12

  0

  India

  52

  42

  627

  224

  75

  36

  86

  83

  5

  80

  70

  13

  102

  209

  Indonesia

  9

  150

  566

  301

  249

  140

  73

  48

  67

  52

  150

  124

  450

  100

  Jordan

  188

  42

  1

  26

  18

  0

  240

  103

  152

  41

  0

  0

  14

  0

  Kenya

  5

  4

  48

  14

  126

  3

  50

  23

  45

  1

  128

  0

  0

  0

  Kuwait

  0

  18

  12

  73

  18

  1

  2

  0

  1

  0

  0

  8

  0

  614

  Malaysia

  0

  43

  32

  0

  19

  0

  226

  0

  0

  0

  256

  697

  377

  19

  Nigeria

  272

  246

  1,041

  471

  121

  0

  23

  0

  34

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Oman

  305

  66

  415

  306

  41

  77

  66

  0

  0

  0

  350

  0

  45

  413

  Pakistan

  16

  0

  25

  0

  8

  1

  1

  0

  6

  0

  0

  41

  37

  12

  Philippines

  37

  52

  16

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  37

  29

  0

  19

  0

  Qatar

  0

  85

  4

  3

  1

  0

  1

  5

  0

  5

  5

  0

  129

  218

  Saudi Arabia

  0

  19

  58

  12

  27

  52

  0

  15

  450

  0

  0

  17

  225

  751

  Sri Lanka

  0

  12

  39

  32

  54

  0

  80

  2

  5

  0

  0

  11

  63

  0

  Thailand

  4

  34

  5

  7

  4

  23

  10

  0

  13

  8

  0

  0

  25

  6

  Turkey

  16

  4

  0

  75

  8

  165

  38

  49

  125

  55

  51

  175

  130

  112

  UAE

  0

  0

  96

  0

  0

  1

  0

  33

  0

  188

  0

  0

  356

  0

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the average political risk premium for Export Credits Guarantee Department cover for exports to Saudi Arabia for each six-month period since January 1991.
  128
  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 19 January 1995]: The land and property owned by British Coal are matters for the corporation and I will draw the hon. Member's interest to the attention of the chairman.

  Export Credits
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what value of export credits for capital goods and projects were advanced (i) in total and (ii) in respect of defence exports for each year since 1980 and for(a) Pakistan, (b) India, (c) Nigeria, (d) Indonesia, (e) Jordan, (f) Kenya, (g) Sri Lanka, (h) the Philippines, (i) Saudi Arabia, (j) Malaysia, (k) Turkey, (i) Qatar, (m) Thailand, (n) Kuwait, (o) the United Arab Emirates, (p) Bharain, (q) Oman, (r) Brunei and (s) Egypt.

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: The values requested are set out in the following tables:

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: For reasons of commercial confidentiality, the ECGD does not make public premium rates for individual countries.

  Railway Station, Stratford
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions in the last six months civil servants in his Department met persons representative of interests in Stratford, London, to discuss matters relating to proposals for a new Stratford station.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 23 January 1995]: There have been no meetings between civil servants in this Department and persons representative of interests in Stratford in the last six months, although officials here have been kept well apprised of Stratford's interests in the proposals for a new station.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions and on what date he, Ministers or former Ministers in his Department met persons in Stratford, London, to discuss matters relating to the implications of a new railway station at Stratford.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 23 January 1995]: On 13 January 1994, my right hon. Friend the Member for Hove (Sir T. Sainsbury) when Minister for Trade, met the Stratford promoters group; and on 28 April 1994 I visited Stratford and was briefed by local representatives on the implications of a new railway station.

  Sunday Trading
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if the Sunday Fairs Act 1448 (27 Hen VI c 5) is in force; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if the Statute of Northampton 1328 (2 Edward III c 15) is in force; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if the Statute (1331) 5 Edward III (5 Edward III c 5) is in force; and if he will make a statement;

  The proportion of pensioners with income from occupational pensions with the mean and median amounts for those in receipt

  Percentage with occupational pension

  Mean amount (£ per week)

  Median amount (£ per week)

  All pensioners

  60

  71.70

  37.80

  Single male pensioners under 75

  55

  67.90

  31.20

  Single female pensioners under 75

  60

  52.90

  31.60

  Single pensioners under 75

  59

  53.90

  31.50

  Pensioner couples under 75

  73

  97.10

  54.80

  Single male pensioners aged 75 and over

  51

  56.50

  23.50

  Single female pensioners aged 75 and over

  47

  50.10

  24.30

  Single pensioners aged 75 and over

  48

  51.70

  24.10

  Pensioner couples aged 75 and over

  68

  78.20

  41.50

  Notes:

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

  2. Estimates are drawn from the 1992 family expenditure survey and the GAD 1991 occupational pension schemes survey, at July 1992 prices.

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

  4. Couples aged under 75 are defined by the age of the husband.

  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of(a) single pensioners and (b) pensioner couples who have total gross weekly incomes of £0 to £50, £51 to £100, £101 to £150, £151 to £200, £201 to £250, £251 to £300, £301 to £350, £351 to £400, £401 to £450, £451 to £500 and £500 and above.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The available information is in the table. Owing to difficulties with sample sizes, it has been 130
  (4) if the Sale of Horses Act 1555 (2 and 3 Phil and Mar c 7) and the Sale of Horses Act 1588 (31 Eliz I c 12) are still in force; and if he will make a statement;

  (5) if the Fairs Act 1871 (34 and 35 Vict c 78) and the Fairs Act 1873 (36 and 37 Vict c 37) are still in force; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I have been asked to reply.

  With the exception of the Fairs Act of 1871 and 1873, all of the statutes mentioned have been repealed. The Fairs Acts of 1871 and 1873 empower my right hon. and learned Friend to make an order either abolishing certain types of fair or changing the day or days on which such fairs are held.

SOCIAL SECURITY

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

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The information is in the table.

  necessary to amalgamate some income bands in order to provide reliable estimates.

  Weekly gross income distribution— pensioner units 1992 pensioners couples

  Up to £150

  Up to £200

  Up to £250

  Up to £350

  Over £350

  Number (000s)

  900

  600

  300

  400

  400

  Percentage

  36

  22

  12

  16

  14

  131

  Single pensioners

  Up to £100

  Up to £150

  Up to £250

  Over £250

  Numbers (000s)

  2,700

  900

  500

  400

  Percentage

  60

  21

  11

  8

  Notes:

  1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred thousand. Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole per cent. and may not sum to 100.

  2. Estimates are drawn from the 1992 family expenditure survey.

  3. Pensioner units are defined as single people over state pension age and couples in which the husband is over state pension age.

  Bronchitis and Emphysema
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applicants for benefit under the chronic bronchitis and emphysema regulations were turned down because the X-ray did not show category 1 pneumoconiosis; and of these in how many a post mortem examination revealed evidence of pneumoconiosis.

  Mr. Hague
  By 30 November 1994, 14,600 out of 44,594 claims for benefit had been disallowed because an X-ray did not show at least category 1 pneumoconiosis. The information requested in respect of post mortem examinations is not available.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applicants for benefit under the chronic bronchitis and emphysema regulations had to obtain fresh X-rays because of over-exposure of previous X-rays.

  Mr. Hague
  Any necessary X-rays are obtained by the Benefits Agency. Information on the number of any new X-rays required because of over-exposure of previous X-rays is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applicants for benefit under the chronic bronchitis and emphysema regulations received new X-rays before examination.

  Mr. Hague
  The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Family Incomes
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the average net incomes before and after housing costs, after tax and benefits of(a) a lone mother of two children working 20 hours per week paying an average council rent and (b) a married man with two children and a dependent non-working wife working 40 hours per week paying an average council rent; and if he will give details of the calculation of each benefit to which they may be entitled on the basis of hourly pay rates of (i) £3.50, (ii) £4 and (iii) £5.

  Mr. Burt
  The information requested can be found in the Government Statistical Service publications "Tax Benefit Model Tables, April 1994" published on 21 July 1994, and "Additional Tax Benefit Model Tables, October 1994", published on 20 October 1994. Copies of both publications are in the Library.

  Benefits
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide figures for his Department's expenditure on income support, attendance allowance and disability living allowance for claimants with preserved rights between 31 March 1993 and 31 March 1994.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Estimated quarterly expenditure on claimants who were receiving either income supply only or income support and attendance allowance/disability living allowance is as follows:

  £ million

  May 1993

  736

  August 1993

  696

  November 1993

  653

  February 1994

  612

  Separate data are not collected on attendance allowance or disability living allowance for people in residential care and nursing homes who are not also in receipt of income support.

  Source:

  Income support quarterly inquiries.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people had preserved rights to the higher level of income support between 31 March 1993 and 31 March 1994.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Information on income support for people in residential care and nursing homes is contained in the quarterly statistical inquiry based on sample data. The number with preserved rights are:

  Number

  May 1993

  284,000

  August 1993

  267,000

  November 1993

  249,000

  February 1994

  233,000

  Source:

  Income support quarterly inquiries.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much has been spent by his Department on income support and attendance allowance or disability living allowance for new claimants in independent care homes since 31 March 1993.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Information is not available in the form requested. Estimated total expenditure on claimants who were receiving either income support only or income support and attendance allowance/disability living allowance for the 12 months from May 1993 is £73 million.

  Separate data are not collected on attendance allowance or disability living allowance for people in residential care and nursing homes who are not also in receipt of income support.

  Source:

  Income support quarterly inquiries

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people claiming residential allowance were placed in (a) residential care homes and(b) nursing homes during each month from April 1993 to March 1994.
  133
  Mr. Roger Evans
  Information is not available in the form requested. The total numbers in receipt of residential allowance based on sample data are:

  Number

  May 1993

  2,000

  August 1993

  17,000

  November 1993

  30,000

  February 1994

  44,000

  Source:

  Income support quarterly inquiries.

  Information is not available split between residential care and nursing homes.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of residential allowance were in independent residences or nursing homes on 31 March 1993.

  Table 1: Disability living allowance claims and awards

  March-October 1993

  November 1993-March 1994

  April-October 1994

  Claims received

  298,000

  174,000

  294,000

  Awards made

  155,000

  84,000

  136,000

  Source:

  100 per cent. Count.

  Table 2: First awards of disability living allowance by type of disability

  March-November 1993

  December 1993-February 1994

  March-November 1994

  Physical

  162,000

  48,000

  171,000

  Mental

  32,000

  9,000

  32,000

  Source:

  5 per cent sample.

  Analytical services division.

  Notes:

  1. The information in tables 1 and 2 is from different sources and is collated by different periods.

  2. Table 1—a claim may be received in one period but decided in another.

  3. Table 2—figures are first awards arising from initial claims, reviews or appeals. The breakdown of type of disability is made by reference to the main disabling condition recorded by the adjudication officer initially deciding the claim.

  Incapacity benefit
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what amount of benefit is payable to a recipient with no children at school and a wife under 60 years under the new incapacity benefit scheme.

  Mr. Hague
  The basic rate of incapacity benefit will be payable where there is no entitlement to a child dependency increase, or the person cannot be treated as entitled, and the spouse is under age 60.

  For the first 28 weeks of sickness the basic rate is £44.40, from week 29 to week 52 it is £52.50, and from week 53 it is £58.85.

  People with a terminal illness, or who are receiving the highest rate of the care component of disability living allowance, will be able to get the long-term rate of £58.85 from week 29.

  An age addition may be payable at one or two rates depending on the age of the person when his incapacity for work began. If his incapacity began before age 35, the age addition is £12.40. Where the incapacity began when aged 35 to 44, the age addition is £6.20. No age addition
  134
  Mr. Roger Evans
  Residential allowance was introduced on 1 April 1993. Most people who were in residential care and nursing homes on 31 March 1993 have preserved rights to the higher levels of income support and would not be entitled to residential allowance. Information is not available for those who subsequently claimed residential allowance because they do not have preserved rights to the higher levels of income support.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for disability living allowance were(a) received and (b) approved between (i) March to October 1993, (ii) November 1993 to March 1994 and (iii) April 1994 to October 1994; and how many in each case were from people whose principal disability was (1) physical and (2) mental illness.

  Mr. Hague
  The information is not available in the format requested. The information available is in the tables.

  is payable if the person is aged 45 or over when the incapacity began.

  Note:

  The rates given are subject to parliamentary approval.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to uprate annually all benefits that claimants of the incapacity benefit may be entitled to; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hague
  Section 150 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 requires the Secretary of State to review annually the rates of incapacity benefit.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the difference in the payments made to claimants under the invalidity benefit and the new incapacity benefits scheme for a person aged 30, 40 or 50 years where there is(a) and adult dependant under 60 years and (b) a dependant over 60 years.

  Mr. Hague
  The information is in the table. Some further assumptions have been made to support the examples, as explained in the notes.
  135

  Age 30 £

  Age 40 £

  Age 50 £

  Invalidity benefit

  106.50

  101.90

  98.00

  Long-term incapacity benefit

  Spouse under 60

  71.25

  65.05

  58.85

  Spouse 60 +

  106.50

  100.30

  94.10

  Notes:

  1. In the case of invalidity benefit, the spouse's age is not a relevant factor.

  2. Assumes spouse does not have earnings/occupational pension in excess of relevant earnings limit and does not receive a benefit in own right.

  3. Assumes no earnings-related additional pension payable with invalidity benefit.

  4. In the case of incapacity benefit, an increase is payable for a spouse aged 60 and for an adult dependant if the claimant is entitled or treated as entitled to a child dependancy increase, regardless of adult dependant's age.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Training Courses
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. Goodlad
  The information in respect of both the diplomatic and aid wings of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is given in a list of six pages that is being deposited in the House Library. My agencies bought no training with a total cost in excess of £5,000.

  French Foreign Policy
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the French Government in regard to the proliferation consequences of the sale of nuclear technology by France to the People's Republic of China.

  Mr. David Davis
  We are not aware of any sales of nuclear technology by France to China which could contribute to the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

  Council of Europe
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will support the formal adoption of recommendation 1235 (1994) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe relating to psychiatry and human rights by the Council of Ministers of the Council of Europe; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The United Kingdom and the other member states of the Council of Europe are studying recommendation 1235 of the Parliamentary 136
  Assembly. We will decide in due course whether we are able to support its adoption by the Committee of Ministers.

  Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of the Russian Federation over the potential proliferation consequences of the decision of the Russian Government to rebuild the damaged nuclear power plant at Bushehr in Iran.

  Mr. David Davis
  We have expressed our concern to the Russians that their decision to rebuild the damaged nuclear power station at Bushehr could have proliferation consequences.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what stipulations were set by the non-nuclear weapon state members of the European Union upon France, as President-in-office of the EU, in representing EU political opinion at the final preparatory committee meeting of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty review and extension conference in New York on 23 to 27 January.

  Mr. David Davis
  France, as current President of the EU, has been co-ordinating an EU statement on NPT extension for use at the NPT extension conference's fourth preparatory committee on 23 to 27 January. As with other intergovernmental exchanges of this kind, comments on EU draft statements are circulated in confidence. The final text will have to be acceptable to all EU member states.

  Harjit Singh
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further representations he has made to the Indian Government regarding the case of Harjit Singh.

  Mr. Baldry
  We have raised the case of Harjit Singh with the Indian Government on several occasions. We understand that a case of habeas corpus brought by Harjit Singh's father is still before the courts, although the proceedings are moving very slowly.

  Departmental Employees
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many employees for which his Department is responsible were women(a) in 1991, (b) in 1992, (c) in 1993 and (d) in 1994; and, of these, how many were (i) at grade 7 level, (ii) at grade 3 level, (iii) at executive officer level, (iv) at administrative officer level and (v) at administrative assistant level.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The information requested by the hon. Member is as follows:
  137

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Total Women

  3,048 (98 PAT)

  3,061 (115 P/T)

  3,081 (154 P/T)

  3,029 (152 P/T)

  Grade 3 level

  Figures not available

  5

  4

  5

  Grade 7 level

  Figures not available

  113 (2 P/T)

  127 (7 P/T)

  135 (11 P/T)

  Executive Officer level

  Figures not available

  791 (14 P/T)

  772 (30 P/T)

  794 (37 P/T)

  Administrative Officer level

  Figures not available

  1,302 (28 P/T)

  1,293 (53 P/T)

  1,245 (53 P/T)

  Administrative Assistant level

  Figures not available

  218

  207 (20 P/T)

  172 (6 P/T)

  Notes:

  1. These figures cover all FCO grades including the DS and the ODA.

  2. (P/T = Part-Time).

  Trident
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding his Department's assessment of the perception of overseas Governments of the recent deployment by Britain of the Trident nuclear system.

  Mr. David Davis
  Our NATO allies fully accept the United Kingdom's deployment of Trident as part of our and NATO's strategy of war prevention. It is not for us to comment on the perceptions of others.

  Pakistan
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Pakistan's anti-narcotics legislation, with particular reference to the law providing for the death sentence and forfeiture of property for those involved in drug trafficking.

  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) on 20 January,Official Report, column 746.

  Peace Talks, Nairobi
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the Government of Sudan that it should recognise and co-operate with the UN observer of the Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development peace talks in Nairobi.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It is for the IGADD states to decide whether they want the appointment of a UN observer to the peace process. Discussions between them and the Sudanese Government are continuing.

  Croatia
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Croatia in respect of Krajina and the future deployment of UNPROFOR in the region; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I discussed the Croatian Government's position on the extension of UNPROFOR's138
  mandate with Mr. Sanader, the Croatian deputy Foreign Minister, on 11 January. I made clear our deep concern and regret over this development, which puts at risk the prospect of finding a peaceful solution to the problems in the United Nations protected areas in Croatia. Along with our EU partners, we have called upon the Croatian Government to reconsider their decision.

  Drug Liaison Officers
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the contribution drug liaison officers on attachment to British diplomatic posts overseas make to his Department's efforts to develop international co-operation against the illicit drug trade.

  Mr. Baldry
  British drug liaison officers, who are attached to diplomatic posts in a number of countries, play an important role in developing international co-operation in the fight against the global menace of the illicit drug trade. They are fully integrated into the work of the posts concerned, and carry out their duties in close co-operation with local law enforcement agencies.

  In their work, these officers fully observe Home Office guidelines. These state that no police officer or public informant should counsel, incite or procure the commission of a crime and make it clear that an informant should be instructed that he must not act as agent provocateur.

  Foreign Affairs Council
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Councils in November and December 1994.

  Mr. David Davis
  I attended the Foreign Affairs Councils in November and December.

  The Council of 28 to 29 November covered the following subjects:
  On the White Paper on growth, competitiveness and employment, Mr. Delors introduced the main themes for the Essen European Council. He said that there would be two discussions, one focusing

  139
  on White Paper themes generally, and the second on employment questions.
  Ministers agreed to release a first tranche of 15 mecu of the 35 mecu of EU macro-financial assistance to Albania. The release of the second tranche, 20 mecu, will depend on a favourable Commission report on progress in economic and political reform in Albania and a subsequent Council decision.
  Foreign Ministers held discussions with Mr. Perez and Mr. Arafat and issued a statement which reaffirmed their determination to continue their support for the middle east peace process, both politically and economically.
  Ministers reviewed preparations for the CSCE summit in Budapest—5 to 6 December.
  The Commission introduced a support package of some 200 to 300 mecu for Northern Ireland.
  The Council agreed to put forward for consideration at Essen the interim report of the Consultative Commission on Racism and Xenophoria.
  Ministers discussed preparations for the interim conference on the EU's stability pact initiative to be held in the margins of the CSCE summit in Budapest.
  A partnership and co-operation agreement between the EU and Moldova was signed on 28 November.
  The Council approved a negotiating mandate for Europe agreements with Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
  Ministers discussed the presidency's draft pre-accession strategy for the associated countries of central and eastern Europe. The text was agreed, apart from a passage on cumulation of rules of origin.
  The Council discussed the Commission's communication on a strategy for strengthening the EU's political and economic links with the Mediterranean countries, in preparation for a further discussion at the Essen European Council.
  Ministers reviewed prospects for the Association Council with Turkey on 19 December. The presidency underlined the importance of concluding negotiations on customs union at the Council.
  The presidency reported on progress in the negotiations with Israel, Morocco and Tunisia. The agreement with Israel was close to conclusions, but the agreements with Morocco and Tunisia were delayed by unresolved questions on access for agricultural products to EU markets.
  The Council approved a draft report, to be issued by the Essen European Council, on measures to tackle illicit trade in nuclear materials.
  Ministers discussed a Commission proposal to provide balance of payments assistance to Ukraine.
  The Council discussed the EU position for the ministerial conference on the mid-term review of the Lome convention, to be held in Brussels on 30 November and 1 December. Agreement was reached on a package of measures to be put to the ACP countries on the programming of aid.
  The Council discussed progress in implementing the Uruguay round agreements. It reaffirmed the determination of the Community and the member states to ratify the agreements before I January 1995.
  Discussion of the Commission proposal for the Council to approve the OECD agreement on shipbuilding subsidies was postponed until 19 December.
  On Rwanda, the Council called for the UN to give high priority to actions to stabilise the region. Ministers supported a regional refugee conference, and endorsed an immediate rehabilitation programme to the value of 67 mecu, agreed by the development council.
  In a brief discussion of trade and the environment, the Commission confirmed it was preparing a Green Paper on the subject, and expected this to issue next year.
  On relations with the European Parliament the Council noted progress on comitology and temporary committees of inquiry. There was a brief discussion over lunch about some member states' difficulties with the draft implementing provisions for the right to
  140
  vote and stand in municipal elections of other member states—Article 8B1.
  At the Council of 19 to 20 December 1994, the following subjects were discussed:
  The presidency listed items for action during the remainder of its tenure. M. Juppe highlighted five French presidency priorities.
  On relations with the European Parliament, the Council agreed texts on comitology, temporary committees of inquiry and consolidation of existing Community legislation. Denmark voted against the decision on TCIs. These texts were then adopted by the Commission and the EP at an inter—institutional conference on 20 December.
  The Council unanimously adopted a directive which implements the right of EU citizens to vote and stand in municipal elections in member states of which they are not nationals.
  An association Council with Turkey was held in the margins. It was agreed that a further association council should be held early in the French presidency.
  The EEA Council on 20 December reaffirmed its wish to strengthen the political dialogue on foreign policy with a view to developing closer relations in spheres of mutual interest. The Norwegians are now preparing proposals for a framework for political dialogue under the EEA which they will present to the French presidency.
  There was a discussion on ways in which the peace process in the former Yugoslavia could be taken forward.
  The Council agreed to discuss Russia during the French presidency on the basis of an options paper.
  The Council agreed a new Community generalised system of preferences, to come into force on 1 January 1995. There were two votes. On the creation of a new scheme for industrial products the United Kingdom abstained, and set out its reasons in six statements for the minutes. The scheme passed by qualified majority. Renewal of the scheme for agricultural products was agreed unanimously; this scheme will be reviewed during 1995.
  Agreement in principle was reached on the EU/Israel agreement. The agreement is now expected to be signed at the January FAC. There was no progress on the EU/Morocco and EU/Tunisia negotiations. Morocco has rejected the Commission's offer on access for tomatoes and courgettes. The question of Tunisian olive oil quotas remains unresolved.
  The Council agreed to endorse the results of the Uruguay round, comprising the Marrakesh final act, the agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation, the ministerial declarations and decisions attached to it, the understanding on commitments in financial services, plurilateral agreements on bovine meat, dairy products, civil aircraft and Government procurement, and the bilateral EC agreements with Australia on coal and with Uruguay on bovine meat. The Council also agreed an accompanying package of EC implementing legislation. All the above texts were formally adopted by the Council of Ministers on 22 December. All the necessary processes have thus been completed to allow the Community to ratify the agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation: the instruments of ratification of the Community and the member states are expected to be deposited in Geneva on 30 December.
  The Council received a progress report from the presidency on the three EU/United States working groups established at the July 1994 EU/United States summit. The groups' work covers central and eastern Europe, drugs and international crime, and the mechanisms for EU/United States political co-operation.
  The Council confirmed its negotiating directives, originally adopted in December 1991, for the Commission to negotiate a co-operation agreement between Euratom and the United States. The new agreement is to replace the existing United States/Euratom agreements of 1958 and 1960, the second of which expires on 31 December 1995.
  The Council approved the OECD agreement on shipbuilding subsidies and authorised the Commission to sign the agreement. Signature took place in Paris on 21 December. The Council adopted a Commission proposal that the Commission and Council should make a joint declaration at the signing ceremony to the effect that

  141
  they would monitor the implementation and respect of the agreement by all parties.
  The Council agreed the adjustments necessary to the EFTAn accession treaty following the non-accession of Norway.
  The chairman of the Consultative Commission on Racism and Xenophobia gave an oral report a progress. This was a follow-up to the interim report of the Consultative Commission, which was presented to the Essen European Council. The consultative commission will submit its final report to the Cannes European Council, in June.
  The Council approved concluding decisions allowing the entry into force of the Europe (association) agreements with the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria and the free trade agreements with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Ministers approved in parallel implementing regulations governing the operation of the four Europe agreements.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Shipbuilding
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the size of the shipbuilding industry in Northern Ireland in 1979; and what it is now.

  Mr. Ancram
  In 1979, Harland and Wolff had a recorded turnover of £67.3 million. The company was privatised in 1989 and turnover in 1993 was £103 million.

  Royal Ulster Constabulary
  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the total number of persons serving in the RUC in the ranks of(a) constable, (b) sergeant, (c) inspector, (d) chief inspector, (e) superintendent and (f) chief superintendent as at 31 December 1994.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested is as follows:

  Rank

  Number

  Constable

  6,264

  Sergeant

  1,410

  Inspector

  490

  Chief Inspector

  163

  Superintendent

  122

  Chief Superintendent

  35

  Mr. A. Cecil Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of members of each rank of the RUC broken down by(a) perceived religious affiliation and (b) gender.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested is as given in the table:

  Community background

  Gender

  CB11

  CB22

  CB33

  Male

  Female

  Constable

  5,597

  454

  213

  5,512

  752

  Sergeant

  1,269

  115

  26

  1,336

  74

  Inspector

  429

  45

  16

  468

  22

  Chief Inspector

  139

  23

  1

  158

  5

  Superintendent

  102

  18

  2

  121

  1

  Chief Superintendent

  30

  5

  0

  35

  0

  Notes:

  1Perceived Protestant community.

  2Perceived Roman Catholic community.

  3Other.

  142
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the normal consultative arrangements which exist between the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the Police Authority for Northern Ireland and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The Chief Constable and other senior officers of the Royal Ulster Constabulary attend frequent and regular meetings both with the Secretary of State and with the chairman and members of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland. My officials are in frequent contact with both the RUC and the authority, and there is a wide variety of groups comprising the Northern Ireland Office and the Police Authority for Northern Ireland and the Royal Ulster Constabulary, dealing with matters of common concern.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what aspects of the situation relating to promotions to the rank of assistant chief constable in the Royal Ulster Constabulary are currently under consideration; when this process commenced; what are the difficulties; when the issue is likely to be resolved; and if he will list all the stages in the promotion process for the rank of assistant chief constable in the Royal Ulster Constabulary, including selection for the senior command course, when the Chief Constable makes a specific input to that process.

  Sir John Wheeler
  Appointments to the rank of ACC are made under the provision of section 7(1) of the Police Act (Northern Ireland) 1970. The process is currently the subject of proceedings by way of judicial review; it is not appropriate to comment further pending the outcome of those proceedings.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what comments Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary's 1994 report makes on the need for corporate policy decision making within the senior command of the Royal Ulster Constabulary; and what has been the Chief Constable's response to this.

  Sir John Wheeler
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to paragraph 6 of appendix A on page 40 of the report of Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary on the Royal Ulster Constabulary 1994, a copy of which is in the Library.

  The Chief Constable, who is responsible for the direction and control of the RUC, has carefully considered HMI's concerns but believes, given the size and complexity of the RUC, that the systems in place are fully sufficient for corporate decision making. These systems include twice weekly meetings with those assistant chief constables with operational roles and, pending the appointment of a Deputy Chief Constable (Support Services), fortnightly meetings with the assistant chief constables with support service responsibilities; a monthly meeting attended by all chief officers; and a force policy executive, comprising the Chief Constable and his two deputies, which takes all major policy decisions.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the salary of the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary; how long the present Chief Constable has been in post; whether his family residence is in Northern Ireland; to what amount of housing allowance he is entitled; on how many nights during 1994 he was present in Northern Ireland; and if he will list those periods of longer than four nights' duration
  143
  when the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary was out of Northern Ireland during 1994.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The salary of the Chief Constable is £85,350 per annum and he has been in post since 1 June 1989.

  The Chief Constable resides in Northern Ireland with his wife at RUC headquarters and has done so since 1 June 1989. He does not receive housing allowance but to provide some respite from the domestically undesirable nature of his accommodation, above force headquarters, he receives a non-pensionable allowance of £4,355.04 per annum.

  The Chief Constable was in Northern Ireland on 242 nights in 1994. The Chief Constable was outside Northern Ireland on eight occasions for periods of more than four nights; four of those occasions were on official business. When outside Northern Ireland, whether on leave or business, he is always contactable and has been so contacted when appropriate.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total cost to the policing budget of travel, and all associated expenses by the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary during 1994.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The cost of the Chief Constable's travel in the course of his duties in Northern Ireland cannot be disaggregated. Travel outside Northern Ireland on police duties cost £20,505.33 during 1994; associated expenses totalled £1,931.28.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary was informed by the Police Authority for Northern Ireland of its intention to conduct a public survey on the future of policing in Northern Ireland.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The chairman of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland wrote to consult the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary about the arrangements that the authority intended to make for obtaining the views of people about matters concerning policing, on 18 November 1994. At that stage the date on which the authority was to announce its initiative had not been decided. The secretary of the authority informed

  Greenmount College of Agriculture and Horticulture

  Loughry College of Agriculture and Food Tecchonology

  Enniskillen College of Agriculture

  Agriculture

  Horticulture

  Agriculture

  Food Technology

  1990–91

  47

  218

  26

  46

  165

  1991–92

  40

  217

  30

  45

  206

  1992–93

  47

  221

  28

  39

  228

  1993–94

  32

  242

  27

  61

  223

  1994–95

  51

  276

  39

  39

  240

  Each year there were sufficient places available for all qualified applicants for full-time courses.

  In line with the Government's objective of improving the level of education and training of the national work force, the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland is committed to meeting the education and training needs of the Province's agri-food industry.

  Following a strategic review of the Department's activities, consideration is being given to a rationalisation of its education and training service. Under the proposal, the Department would retain three colleges but courses in agriculture would be delivered through Greenmount and
  144
  RUC headquarters of the proposed date of lire announcement on 30 December 1994.

  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what account he has taken of the article published on 1 January written by the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary on the establishment of a commission for policing in Northern Ireland; and if it is the Government's intention to implement this suggestion; and to what extent the suggestion was derived from general consultation with his senior command colleagues or the staff associations.

  Sir John Wheeler
  I have noted with interest the Chief Constable's article on policing published in The Sunday Times on 1 January 1995 in response to an open letter from the hon. Member for Newry and Armagh (Mr. Mallon) published on 11 December 1994, which contained a suggestion that a Northern Ireland commission on policing be established. I understand that the Chief Constable had consulted a number of senior colleagues and that such a commission is the method preferred by the Police Federation of Northern Ireland which represents some 97 per cent. of the RUC. My right hon. and learned Friend does not, at this stage, intend to establish a commission and I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for City of Chester (Mr. Brandreth) on 15 December, Official Report, columns 739–40.

  Agricultural Colleges
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many full-time students attended(a) Greenmount college, (b) Enniskillen agricultural college and (c) Loughry college in each of the past five years; if there were sufficient places for the number of applicants each year; and if he will make a statement on the futures of these three agricultural colleges.

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: The number of full-time students enrolled at the three colleges run by the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland for 1990–91 to 1994–95 was as follows:

  Enniskillen colleges, leaving Loughry college to concentrate its resources and facilities on furthering its aim of being a centre of excellence and a focus for food industry development within Northern Ireland.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Data Protection Act 1984
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the number of complaints
  145
  alleging breaches of the Data Protection Act 1984 received in each of the latest available three years for (a) each county in Wales, (b) for Wales as a whole and (c) for the United Kingdom; how many prosecutions were brought; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The Data Protection Registrar is responsible for administering the Data Protection Act 1984. I understand that statistical information about complaints is not kept on a geographical or county basis. The latest available information relating to complaints and prosecutions—including details, in the case of the latter, of the court concerned—can be found in the 10th report of the Data Protection Registrar, laid before Parliament on 5 July 1994.

  Probation Service
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he makes for rurality in determining the formula for funding the probation service in England and Wales.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The formula takes into account the differing staff costs of providing probation services in different parts of the country. A recent review of the formula by the Home Office, the Central Probation Council and the Association of Chief Officers of Probation concluded that an additional allowance based directly on rurality would not be justified.

  Riot Shields
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether United Kingdom policing authorities or his Department are testing or have tested electro-shock riot shields or weapons in the last 12 months.

  Mr. Maclean
  No such tests have been conducted by my Department. I have no details of any such tests that may been conducted by police authorities in respect of equipment used to protect officers against ferocious dogs.

  Mr. Gerry Hall
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Mr. Gerry Hall has ever applied to his Department for a section 5 permit for the building of militarily sensitive equipment, including electro-shock equipment.

  Mr. Maclean
  No.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the announcement will be made on the distribution of section 11 funding to local authorities, with special reference to Bradford.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) on 17 January,Official Report, column 382.

  Hypnotists
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been of hypnotists in connection with their trade in each of the last five years.
  146
  Mr. Maclean
  Information held centrally shows one prosecution from 1989 to 1993. This occurred in 1991 and resulted in a conviction.

  The 1994 data will not be available until the autumn.

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding the activities of hypnotists in each of the last two years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In 1993, we received three letters about stage hypnotism from hon. Members or members of the public. In 1994, we received 39 such letters, and five parliamentary questions about the subject were asked. In addition, the Adjournment debate on stage hypnotism on 12 December 1994,Official Report, columns 745–52, was initiated by the hon. Member for Lancashire, West (Mr. Pickthall) and my hon. Friends the Members for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson) and for Beaconsfield (Mr. Smith) participated.

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to(a) regulate the activities of hypnotists and (b) require the registration of hypnotists.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In an Adjournment debate on stage hypnotism on 12 December 1994, I announced that there was to be a review of the workings of the Hypnotism Act 1952 which regulates public performances of stage hypnotism. The review is now in hand.

  Woodcock Inquiry
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the estimates, both in capital and running cost terms, for the implementation of Sir John Woodcock's recommendations.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated cost of implementing in full the proposals contained in the report of Sir John Woodcock's inquiry in respect of England and Wales as forecast for each financial year for which figures are available; and if he will break down the costs by recommendation.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Detailed costs of implementing the recommendations contained in Sir John Woodcock's report on Whitemoor are currently being assessed by the Prison Service.

  Wheel Clamping
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when proposals will be forthcoming following his Department's consultation paper "Wheel Clamping on Private Land".

  Mr. Maclean
  We are considering what action it might be appropriate to take. We will make an announcement when our proposals are ready.

  Private Clegg
  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the imprisonment of Private Clegg in Her Majesty's Prison, Wakefield.

  Mr. Howard
  Private Clegg is at present imprisoned at HMP Wakefield, on temporary transfer from Northern Ireland, following the dismissal by the House of Lords last Thursday of his appeal against conviction for murder.
  147
  As my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has made clear, decisions on Private Clegg's release are a matter for him.

  In giving judgment, the House of Lords expressed concern about certain aspects of the law of murder. I can confirm that, together with colleagues, I am reviewing the law in the light of the concern expressed by the House of Lords.

  Card Systems
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider setting up a committee to consider the developing technology of card systems, and the potential demand for such systems from Government Departments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science.

  Life Prisoners
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women currently serving a life prison sentence in a prison in England or Wales have been informed they will never be released from prison; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Carlile) on 16 January 1995,Official Report, column 333. The 15 prisoners mentioned in that answer comprise 14 men and one woman.

  Private Detectives
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the use of private detectives by Government Departments on public agencies; if he will issue guidelines about their use; what representations he has received on the civil liberty implications of such use; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  This information is not held centrally. We have not received any representations on the civil liberty implications of the use by Government of private detectives nor have we any plans to introduce guidelines in this area. But we are looking again at policies on the whole of the private security industry and we await with interest the outcome of the Home Affairs Select Committee's current inquiry into the industry.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to require the organisers of the national lottery to conduct a survey of public opinion before determining the disbursement of funds to charities.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Disbursement of lottery proceeds for charitable expenditure is the responsibility of the National Lottery Charities Board. It is a principle of the lottery that the operator, Camelot, has no role to play in the disbursement of proceeds. I shall be issuing the board with directions as to the matters which it must take into account in making grants, but within that framework it will be responsible for deciding its own policies, practices and procedures. The current draft directions include the 148
  need to make grants to small, local organisations and those without immediate popular appeal as well as to large, national high-profile bodies. It is for the board to determine what factors to take into account before determining its policies. I understand that the board will be undertaking detailed consultation with the charitable and voluntary sectors before reaching decisions on these matters.

  Police (Traffic)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received in respect of his decision not to include enforcement of road traffic regulations in the list of core functions for police authorities.

  Mr. Maclean
  There is no list of core functions for police authorities. My right hon. and learned Friend announced last October the key objectives for policing for 1995–96. Following consultation with ministerial colleagues and others he decided that it would not be right to include a traffic objective, but this does not mean that road traffic regulations will not be enforced. In promulgating the key objectives, my right hon. and learned Friend made plain the importance the Government attach to road safety, and the reduction of road traffic accident casualties.

  It is open to police authorities to include traffic objectives as they consider fit in the local objectives which they will be expected to set each year.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were dedicated to traffic enforcement for each of the last five years for which figures are available by police authority.

  Mr. Maclean
  Information for the years 1989 to 1993 is set out in the table. Figures for 1994 are not yet available. The collection of data for the Metropolitan police began only in 1994.

  Officers dedicated to traffic enforcement by police authority (1989–1993)

  Police Authority

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Avon and Somerset

  253

  259

  268

  266

  208

  Bedfordshire

  94

  99

  101

  80

  73

  Cambridgeshire

  125

  120

  125

  126

  107

  Cheshire

  235

  203

  201

  206

  206

  City of London

  37

  33

  37

  34

  33

  Cleveland

  96

  97

  93

  94

  87

  Cumbria

  132

  131

  133

  132

  128

  Derbyshire

  157

  154

  153

  146

  155

  Devon and Cornwall

  241

  241

  239

  238

  227

  Dorset

  108

  112

  111

  95

  97

  Durham

  130

  135

  134

  113

  115

  Dyfed-Powys

  104

  106

  101

  94

  105

  Essex

  259

  262

  274

  272

  293

  Gloucestershire

  82

  84

  83

  83

  82

  Greater Manchester

  455

  474

  467

  462

  425

  Gwent

  105

  103

  100

  95

  90

  Hampshire

  263

  263

  261

  343

  269

  Hertfordshire

  159

  156

  155

  157

  159

  Humberside

  164

  161

  161

  161

  160

  Kent

  156

  172

  208

  234

  230

  Lancashire

  305

  292

  287

  282

  276

  Leicestershire

  78

  76

  84

  122

  111

  Lincolnshire

  85

  86

  103

  99

  94

  Merseyside

  329

  367

  359

  338

  349

  Norfolk

  118

  127

  114

  116

  119

  North Wales

  134

  134

  137

  136

  125

  North Yorkshire

  156

  161

  147

  139

  132

  149

  Officers dedicated to traffic enforcement by police authority (1989–1993)

  Police Authority

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Northamptonshire

  89

  100

  98

  102

  99

  Northumbria

  251

  253

  253

  244

  249

  Nottinghamshire

  182

  189

  187

  163

  160

  South Wales

  266

  256

  248

  247

  231

  South Yorkshire

  206

  208

  213

  219

  202

  Staffordshire

  233

  234

  240

  233

  226

  Suffolk

  94

  97

  87

  85

  83

  Surrey

  225

  202

  203

  213

  209

  Sussex

  245

  239

  238

  247

  243

  Thames Valley

  326

  341

  354

  344

  345

  Warwickshire

  104

  127

  126

  126

  126

  West Mercia

  119

  142

  132

  127

  120

  West Midlands

  449

  446

  462

  441

  428

  West Yorkshire

  384

  392

  391

  384

  357

  Wiltshire

  101

  96

  103

  104

  115

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each police authority the budget allocated for road traffic enforcement(a) as a total and (b) as a percentage of overall expenditure for each of the last five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested is not held centrally

  Police National Computer
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from senior police officers about the proposed privatisation of the running of the police national computer; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  One formal representation was made by the then president of the Association of Chief Police Officers to my predecessor, which supported the principle of market testing the hendon data centre but expressed concern about the timing of the exercise. Representatives of the association have been consulted on the same matter more recently, and have expressed similar views. I will shortly be announcing our conclusions with respect to the future management of the Hendon data centre.

  Police Stations
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of the 1995–96 police grant allocation on the number of police stations, and their hours of opening in the North Wales police force area.

  Mr. Maclean
  The draft report "The Police Grant Report (England and Wales) 1995–96" sets out the principles on which proposed allocations of resources have been made for 1995–96. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library.

  It is for the police authority and the chief constable to decide what their priorities are and on what they spend their allocation of police grant.

  Police (Abnormal Operations)
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which constabularies' applications for special payments for a one-off abnormal operation 150
  have been successful during the past five years; and what percentage of their annual budget the cost of that operation represented.

  Mr. Maclean
  One application for a special payment of grant has been successful during the past five years, from Northumbria police authority. The estimated additional expenditure incurred represented 6.4 per cent. of budget.

  Police, Shoreham Harbour
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total cost of the police operation at Shoreham harbour; and what percentage of the annual budget for Sussex constabulary this operation will represent.

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand that the total estimated cost of the police operation at Shoreham harbour at 19 January was £2.2 million. This represents about 1.7 per cent. of the force budget for 1994–95.

  Weapons Scanners
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the use of scanners to detect offensive weapons in places of public entertainment.

  Mr. MacLean
  This operation is not collected centrally.

  North Wales Police
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of the 1995–96 police grant allocation on recruitment of police, special constables and graduate recruits for North Wales police.

  Mr. Maclean
  The responsibility for the recruitment of police officers, special constables and graduate recruits to the police lies solely with the chief officer of the police force concerned. No assessment of the impact of the 1995–96 grant allocation on recruitment for North Wales police has been undertaken centrally.

  Martin Fenton
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to release on licence Martin Fenton, currently serving a life sentence for murder.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Mr. Fenton's case has been reviewed twice by the parole board—most recently in October 1992—but the board has not yet recommended that Mr. Fenton is safe to release. My right hon. and learned Friend has no power to release a mandatory life sentence prisoner without a positive parole board recommendation.

  The next review of Mr Fenton's case by the parole board will begin in July 1995.

  Frederick West
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is(a) the total cost of the Frederick West operation to the Gloucestershire constabulary to date and (b) the estimated cost of the

  151
  entire inquiry; and what percentage of the annual budget these sums represent.

  Mr. Maclean
  As at 19 January, the estimated total cost to date was £1.4 million. This represents 2.6 per cent. of the force budget for 1994–95. The additional cost to the force is some £670,000 or 1.2 per cent. of budget.

  The chief constable is not able at present to make a firm estimate of the total costs expected to be incurred.

  Prisoners (Release on Licence)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women who were released on licence were recalled to prison during 1994.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Provisional data for 1994 show that there were 291 men and four women recalled from parole licences under section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 and under earlier legislation and 20 men and no women recalled from life licences. The latest available data for those recalled under sections 38, 65 and 40 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 and for 1993 when there were 33 men and no women recalled for breach under sections 38 and 65 and 22 men and no women recalled for reoffending under section 40.

  Vehicle Crime
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what were(a) the costs of vehicle crime in England and Wales for 1993 and (b) his Department's expenditure on related research that year; and what is the planned expenditure for 1994 and 1995.

  Mr. Maclean
  Our estimate of the total cost of vehicle crime during 1993 was £2.7 billion. This figure includes estimated property loss, and insurance costs, damage, security expenditure, inconvenience costs and criminal justice/police costs.

  Home Office expenditure on vehicle-related research totalled approximately £70,000 in 1993 and £72,000 in 1994. Planned expenditure for 1995 is approximately £90,000.

  Identity Cards
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his latest policy on identity cards; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  My right hon. and learned Friend announced last October that the Government plan to publish a Green Paper on identity cards in the spring of this year.

  The Green Paper will set out options for a national identity card scheme. We will consider the possibility of introducing an identity card scheme in the light of the responses received to this consultation document.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the private companies that have been consulted by his Department over the possible introduction of identity cards.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The Home Office has not entered into formal consultations with any private companies about the possible introduction of identity cards. The forthcoming Green Paper on identity cards will provide an opportunity for private companies to make their views known.

  Electric Shock Equipment
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) which British police forces have electric shock anti-riot equipment; in what quantities; and for what purpose;

  (2) who authorised the supply of electric shock riot shields to police forces in England and Wales for test purposes; how many were purchased then; and to which forces they were supplied.

  Mr. Maclean
  Chief officers of police are responsible for deciding what equipment to obtain for their forces, either for testing or introduction. In the case of the Metropolitan police, the Commissioner requires my right hon. and learned Friend's agreement to defensive equipment. I understand that no force has obtained any form of electric shock equipment for use against people, or for testing for this purpose, although a number of forces have small numbers of electric shock shields and prods for use against ferocious dogs. Details of the numbers or distribution of such equipment are not available centrally.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many section 5 certificates have been granted in the last two years which relate specifically to electric shock weapons and to which companies.

  Mr. Maclean
  Electric shock weapons are prohibited by section 5(1)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968 and cannot be possessed without the authority of the Secretary of State. No company has been granted authority specifically to possess electric shock weapons in the last two years.

  Training Courses
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. Howard
  No part of my Department, including its agencies, has purchased any training, tuition or course, over the past 12 months, costing more than £5,000 for a single member of staff. The immigration and nationality department purchased five courses for 73 middle and senior operational managers at a total cost of £33,000. These were provided by a mix of in-house training staff and external consultants. Evaluation is by discussion between course members and their line managers. My Department has also made considerable investment in information technology training. A total of 19 courses for 127 members of staff on information technology and computer hardware costing more than £5,000 each have been purchased by the immigration and nationality department, the police national computer data centre and the Home Office's research and planning unit. Total costs were, respectively, £26,000, £36,250 and £74,000. The overall costs are a consequence of the number of information technology staff requiring training in implementing and using new systems and software.

WALES

  Defective Buildings, Flint
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action (1) he has taken following the copy letter dated 6 April 1994 from Clwyd county council chief fire officer to the National House Building Council regarding properties at Palace close, Flint and Balmoral close, Flint; and what is his opinion of the conformity to building regulations;

  (2) what request he has received to use his default powers under the Building Act 1984 with regard to Royal Gardens, Flint; what action he has taken; and if he will request a formal opinion of the nature and extent of the defects reported to him.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend has received a request from Mr. C. Gavin of 15 Palace close to use his default powers under section 116 of the Building Act 1984. However, the Secretary of State uses these powers only in cases where there appears to be a manifest failure by a local authority to carry out a specific function under the Act.

  My right hon. Friend has no statutory basis on which he can express an opinion on conformity with the building regulations in this case. It was for NHBC Building Control Services Ltd. to consider what action might be necessary following the chief fire officer's letter to it.

  Blood
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future chain of command of the blood transfusion services in north Wales; what consultations he has hade with the Secretary of State for Health, the National Blood Authority, in England, and the National Blood Transfusion Service, in Wales, on this issue; and what representations he has received concerning his policies.

  Mr. Redwood
  Management of the blood transfusion service in north Wales is the responsibility of the National Blood Authority and representations about the future of this service are for the Secretary of State for Health. My officials were kept informed of progress on the review of services in England and these discussions are continuing. I will shortly be consulting on the future management of the Welsh blood service.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Welsh Health Common Services Authority and the management of National Blood Transfusion Services—Wales regarding the screening of donors and recipients for hepatitis C.

  Mr. Redwood
  The Welsh Health Common Services Authority and National Blood Transfusion Services —Wales are being kept fully informed about the "look-back" exercise for hepatitis C.

  Internet
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the percentage of Welsh businesses connected to the Internet system.

  Mr. Redwood
  It has been estimated that in the United Kingdom as a whole some 30 per cent. of businesses are 154
  connected to the Internet. I am not aware of any reliable estimate of the comparable figure for Wales.

  Ambulance Personnel (Early Retirement)
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will introduce the same early retirement settlement for ambulance personnel in Wales as is proposed for England.

  Mr. Richards
  In view of the level of provision made in 1993–94, there are no plans to introduce a further early retirement scheme for ambulance personnel in Wales in the current financial year.

  Tourist Rail Links (VAT)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment his Department has made of the effect on tourist facilities in Wales of the imposition of value added tax on tourist rail links; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The application of VAT is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer who announced on 29 November that services relating to entertainment or recreational activities and car parking at airports, which include passenger transport, will become wholly standard-rated. The measure will affect a limited range of businesses in Wales.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from the Wales tourist board on the imposition of value added tax on tourist rail links and its likely effects; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The chief executive of the board has written to me about this matter.

  Strategic Development Scheme Expenditure
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total strategic development scheme expenditure to be allowed in Wales in 1995–96; what proportion of this will be spent in Gwynedd, and of this figure, how much in the voluntary sector; and if he will make a statement on any difficulties arising with regard to securing sufficient suitable projects for Gwynedd.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The strategic development scheme's total budget for 1995–96 is £57 million, of which £5,900,000–10.4 per cent.—has been allocated to local authorities in Gwynedd. Some £464,645 will be spent on voluntary sector projects in Gwynedd. Before submitting bids, authorities are asked to consult widely within their local communities, with development agencies, the voluntary sector and other appropriate interested bodies. The selection and priority of the bids are a matter for those local authorities.

  Home Renovation Grants
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in(a) Wales and (b) Alyn and Deeside are waiting for home renovation grants; and what steps he is taking to provide funds for the delivery of these grants.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The figures requested are not held centrally. Since the grant system was introduced in 1990, more than £1.04 billion has been made available for renovation in Wales, with Alyn and Deeside receiving
  155
  some £14.9 million. For 1995–96, we have increased the money available for renovation to £198.5 million.

  Animal Diseases
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of equine infectious anaemia there have been in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  No cases of equine infectious anaemia have occurred in Wales since 1985.

  Housing
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy concerning the requirement for adapting council houses for those suffering disability.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  It is for local councils to determine the priority they attach to adaptations for individuals with disabilities. A council may carry out adaptations or tenants may apply for disabled facilities grants.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish details of the number of dwellings provided by housing assoiciations for each district council and for Wales as a whole, for each of the last three years.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information on the number of dwellings provided by housing associations in each district and in Wales as a whole is published annually in table 5.2 of Welsh housing statistics. Additionally, the numbers of dwellings provided during 1992–93 under the acquisition initiative were published in appendix 3 of Welsh housing statistics No. 13 1993. Copies of the publication are in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the starting date applicable to the Tai Cymru policy framework for assisted ownership; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The relevant regulation—statutory instrument No. 2895 of 1994—came into force on 8 December 1994. I expect the first sales of properties to take place during the financial year 1995–96.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish details of the amount invested in housing provision in Wales from(a) grants from Tai Cymru, (b) transfers from local authorities and (c) private investment from banks and building societies, in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information sought will be covered in the "Government's Expenditure Plans 1995–96 to 1997–98: Departmental Report by the Welsh Office and the Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in Wales" which is due to be published on 9 March 1995.

  Health Authorities (Financial Allocations)
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to inform health authorities of their financial allocation for 1995–96.

  Mr. Richards
  My right hon. Friend will he announcing the financial allocations for 1995–96 to health authorities shortly.

  Houses in Multiple Occupation
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the specific different circumstances in 156
  Wales which led him not to publish the consultation paper inviting views on the desirability of introducing a licencing system for homes in multiple occupation in England and Wales on which the Department of the Environment is consulting in England.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Department of the Environment document covers England only. My right hon. Friend has written to the hon. Gentleman, other Welsh Members of Parliament, local authorities and interested organisations seeking their views on this issue.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the identifiable costs of administration within his office for grant-maintained schools; and what estimate he has made of costs which cannot be readily separated from general educational expenditure.

  Mr. Richards
  I will write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Health Bodies
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will consult the chairmen of the Welsh Health Common Services Authority and the Health Promotion Authority for Wales concerning potential savings from rationalising accommodation and other management running costs expenditure; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Such matters are kept under constant review.

  National Curriculum Assessment
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the results from the 1994 national curriculum assessment in Wales.

  Mr. Richards
  A summary of the results submitted is shown in the following table. The results represent 8.2 per cent. of pupils eligible for assessment at the end of key stage 1 and 11.4 per cent. of pupils eligible for assessment at the end of key stage 3. This low level of response means that no statistically valid conclusions can be drawn from the data as regards the whole of Wales.

  Table 1: The percentage of pupils achieving level 2 and above at the end of Key Stage 1 (7-year-olds). A typical 7-year-old is expected to be at level 2.

  Tests Per cent.

  Teacher Assessments Per cent.

  English

  1—

  76

  Speaking and Listening

  1ߞ

  82

  Reading

  78

  77

  Writing

  66

  69

  Spelling

  69

  70

  Handwriting

  81

  81

  Mathematics

  1ߞ

  77

  Using and applying mathematics

  1—

  76

  Number

  79

  81

  Algebra

  1—

  77

  Shape and space

  1—

  73

  Handling data

  1—

  75

  157

  Table 1: The percentage of pupils achieving level 2 and above at the end of Key Stage 1 (7-year-olds). A typical 7-year-old is expected to be at level 2.

  Tests Per cent.

  Teacher Assessments Per cent.

  Science

  1—

  84

  Scientific investigation

  1—

  80

  Life and living process

  1—

  86

  Materials and their properties

  1—

  84

  Physical processes

  1—

  81

  Welsh: Insufficient data submitted

  1 Not subject to National Curriculum tests.

  Table 2: The percentage of pupils achieving level or above at the end of key stage 3—14-year-olds. A typical 14-year-old is expected to achieve level 5/6

  Tests Per cent.

  Teacher assessments Per cent.

  English

  48

  52

  Mathematics

  53

  59

  Science

  59

  66

  Welsh: No data submitted

  —

  —

SCOTLAND

  Scottish Homes Board
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the remuneration and emoluments and expenses paid to each member of the Scottish Homes board in each year since it was established.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I have asked the chairman of Scottish Homes, Sir James Mellon, to write to the hon. Member with the relevant information.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will publish his consultation document on an accountability framework for fundholding general practitioners; and who will be included on the list of those to be consulted on this framework.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The proposed consultation document on an accountability framework for GP fundholders is due to be issued for consultation within the NHS in Scotland in the near future. Bodies which will be consulted will include GP fundholders, the Scottish general medical services committee of the British Medical Association, Royal College of General Practitioners, health boards, NHS trusts and local health councils.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many general practitioner fundholders in Scotland(a) are to participate and (b) have expressed an interest in participating in pilot studies under the primary care purchasing initiative for the purchase of all health care services; where these fundholders are located; and when the pilot studies will begin.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The following information relates to the proposed pilot studies to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of GP fundholding 158
  practices which purchase all health care services on behalf of their patients in collaboration with their health board.

  To date approximately 30 GP fundholding practices in the following health board areas have expressed interest in participating.

  Ayrshire and Arran

  Forth Valley

  Grampian

  Greater Glasgow

  Highland

  Lanarkshire

  Lothian

  Tayside

  Some further expressions of interest from fundholding practices are expected.

  It is intended to mount up to six pilot studies in a range of areas but no final decisions have been reached about those practices which will participate. The pilot projects are expected to commence during 1995–96.

  Asthma Medication Costs
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the expenditure on general practitioner prescribed anti-asthma medication and preparations in each health board in Scotland in terms of(a) net ingredient cost and (b) net ingredient cost per capita for the last two years for which figures are available.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information by health board and Scotland for the financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94 is set out in the table. The costs shown are based on the value of the ingredients before the deduction of any discount and relate only to inhaled and oral adrenoceptor stimulants, inhaled steroids, inhaled antimuscarinic bronchodilators and theophylline preparations.

  Cost of medication £ million

  Cost per patient on GP lists (£)

  Health Board

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Argyll and Clyde

  2.751

  3.202

  6.11

  7.17

  Ayrshire and Arran

  3.019

  3.465

  7.72

  8.85

  Borders

  0.771

  0.879

  7.22

  8.20

  Dumfries and Galloway

  0.963

  1.076

  6.30

  7.02

  Fife

  2.105

  2.373

  6.00

  6.76

  Forth Valley

  1.723

  2.001

  5.95

  6.90

  Grampian

  3.098

  3.541

  5.88

  6.64

  Greater Glasgow

  6.135

  7.187

  6.02

  7.12

  Highland

  1.067

  1.247

  5.02

  5.87

  Lanarkshire

  3.775

  4.442

  6.46

  7.61

  Lothian

  4.620

  5.230

  5.78

  6.51

  Orkney

  0.097

  0.109

  4.84

  5.45

  Shetland

  0.077

  0.100

  3.38

  3.35

  Tayside

  2.943

  3.430

  7.20

  8.36

  Western Isles

  0.117

  0.142

  3.89

  4.73

  Unallocated prescriptions

  0.058

  0.054

  —

  —

  All Scotland

  33.319

  38.478

  6.21

  7.17

  Elderly People
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from Highland regional council about attacks on vulnerable
  159
  elderly people in their homes; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No such representations have been received from Highland regional council.

  Arts Courses
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many school leavers, in the last year for which figures are available, entered courses run by colleges of(a) music, (b) art, (c) drama, (d) dance and (e) other arts.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not held centrally.

  Low Moss Prison
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans there are to use the area of the resettlement unit at Bishopbriggs to extend facilities at Low Moss prison; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The suitability of this area for prison service facilities is one of a number of possible options currently being examined. No decisions have been taken; and any proposals for the use of this area would require to be the subject of an application for outline planning consent.

  Objective 1 Funding
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the eligibility for financial assistance under highlands and islands objective 1 status allow for applications for maintenance of rail services regionally; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Under the highlands and islands objective 1 programme, assistance from the European regional development fund can be provided towards rail infrastructure projects. EC funds cannot be used to provide a revenue subsidy.

  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail the incidence of, and extent to which, highlands and islands objective 1 European funding has resulted in corresponding reductions in his Department's financial allocations and expenditure within the area; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  European Community spending, including that in the highlands and islands under objective 1, is dealt with in the public expenditure survey as an integral part of the expenditure programmes for which I have responsibility. EC rules on additionality preclude the use of objective 1 funds to substitute for other forms of public expenditure.

  Electro-Shock Weapons
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date his Department gave ICL Technical Plastics a licence to produce electro-shock weapons in the United Kingdom.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Electric shock weapons are considered to be prohibited under the provisions of the Firearms Acts. Their manufacture, possession and sale, therefore, require the specific authority of my right hon. Friend. No such authority has been granted to ICL Technical Plastics.

  Ferry Transport
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of(a) cars, (b) commercial vehicles and (c) passengers and the volume and value of freight originating from or destined to Scotland which was transported to or from mainland Europe by ferry via English ferry ports in the most recent five years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Norris
  I have been asked to reply.

  This information is available only at disproportionate cost.

  Hip Replacements
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his letter of 31 October to the hon. Member of Linlithgow, what progress his officials have made in monitoring the use of Kyocera titanium fibres in relation to hip replacements.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 19 January 1995]: As explained by my noble Friend the Minister of State in his letter to the hon. Gentleman of 31 October, although Kyocera included the possible use of titanium fibres in hip replacement implants in its patent application it is not yet developing the material into a marketable product for use in hip replacement applications. The Medical Devices Agency is taking the lead in monitoring developments in this area and will keep the other United Kingdom Health Departments informed.

  Ambulance Service
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations took place to ascertain the most suitable specification for the new communications system in the Scottish ambulance service control room in Aberdeen; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]: The Scottish ambulance service consulted within the service to establish its communications requirements and agreed the specification in consultation with the Scottish Office directorate of telecommunications which provided appropriate technical advice.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an analysis of the response to the consultation on trust status for the Scottish ambulance service; what consideration he has given to this analysis; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 10 January 1995]: An analysis of the responses is as follows:

  Body/individual

  1Number consulted

  Supporting the application

  No clear view expressed

  Not Supporting the application

  Health boards

  15

  4

  3

  1

  NHS Trust and DMUs

  51

  14

  7

  0

  Local health councils

  19

  6

  7

  2

  Regional and District councils

  65

  3

  15

  15

  MPs and Euro MPs

  80

  0

  1

  16

  Trades Unions/Trade councils

  12

  0

  0

  3

  Emergency services

  16

  0

  3

  0

  Universities

  12

  1

  1

  0

  161

  Body/individual

  1Number consulted

  Supporting the application

  No clear view expressed

  Not Supporting the application

  Health related organizations

  20

  4

  11

  5

  Community councils

  1,000

  5

  19

  38

  Political parties/organizations

  0

  0

  0

  4

  GPs, pharmacists, members of the public

  2,000

  2

  4

  7

  Total

  3,290

  39

  71

  91

  Note:

  1 Number of the Application Documents issued for consultation.

  Copies of all comments received in response to the public consultation have been retained by the Common Services Agency and are available for inspection. A copy is available for inspection in the Library of the Scottish Office, St. Andrew's house, Edinburgh.

  Following an extensive consultation exercise including 34 public meetings held throughout Scotland, 201 responses were received. Only 91 of these specifically indicated opposition to the application. Consideration was given to all the comments made and to the report and recommendations made by the Common Services Agency. The application was considered against the published criteria of benefits for patients, management competence, involvement of clinicians and other health care professionals in management and financial viability. My right hon. Friend announced on 25 November that he had given his approval to the application after appraisal against the criteria.

  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the letter of the hon. Member for Edinburgh West (Lord James Douglas-Hamilton) to the hon. Member for Linlithgow of 2 August 1994, what evidence he has had from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority about the use of ovarian tissue in research; and what action he proposes to take.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 23 January 1995]: No such evidence has been received. I understand that the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has not received any application for the use of ovarian tissue for research purposes in the period since I wrote to the hon. Member on 2 August 1994.

  Lorries
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he is making of the impact of 40-tonne lorries on secondary roads and bridges in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 23 January 1995]: Regional and islands councils, as local roads authorities, are responsible for assessing the impact of 40-tonne lorries on secondary roads and bridges in Scotland. Bridges which form part of the trunk road network are being assessed, and strengthened where appropriate, by the Scottish Office.

  Bridges
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of increased help for new unitary local authorities for the strengthening of bridges.
  162
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 23 January 1995]: Bridge assessment and strengthening is one of the Government's special objectives in determining local authority capital allocations for roads and transport in Scotland. Full consideration is given, within the resources available, to the proposals contained in local authorities' transport policies and programmes documents and financial plans for bridge assessment and strengthening. There will continue to be arrangements to ensure that adequate financial resources are available to cover necessary work when the new unitary local authorities assume their responsibilities.

  Unitary Authorities
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is his policy in respect of the future management and disposition of common good funds by the new unitary authorities in Scotland after April 1996;

  (2) if he will require new unitary authorities to restrict decisions on the disposition and management of common good funds to the new councillors representing the area for which the common good fund was established;

  (3) if he will ensure that the new unitary authorities are unable to apply common good resources to any subject which can be financed by normal local authority funds.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 23 January 1995]: Subject to complying with the current statutory requirements, local authorities have complete discretion as to the management and disposition of common good funds. Authorities must have regard to the interests of the inhabitants of their area and, with common good property, must have regard to the interests of the inhabitants of the area to which the common good related prior to 16 May 1975. The existing arrangements will continue to apply after April 1996.

  Management and disposition of common good funds may be addressed in the decentralisation schemes which will be drawn up by the new councils. Community councils will be formally consulted on the draft schemes, which will also be subject to public consultation.

  Retail Development
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish the new national planning policy guideline on retail development; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 23 January 1995]: I expect to issue a draft national planning policy guideline on retailing for public consultation very shortly.

  Churches
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in what circumstances churches are classed as business users for water rates; and, if he has any plan to reclassify charitable bodies, including churches.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 23 January 1995]: All occupiers of premises connected to the public water supply may be liable to pay water charges. Churches are liable to pay either the non-domestic water rate, at the reduced levy applicable to such premises, or metered water charges.

  We have no plans to change this prior to restructuring of Scotland's water and sewerage services. At that point,

  163
  it will be for the new water and sewerage authorities to determine future methods of charging for their services.

  Aberdeen Royal Hospitals
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list operations cancelled by Aberdeen Royal Hospitals in each month since June 1994.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 23 January 1995]: This information is not collected centrally. The chairman of the Aberdeen Royal Hospitals NHS trust has been asked to provide the information to the hon. Member.

EDUCATION

  City of Westminster Bill
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations she has received relating to the City of Westminster Bill[Lords]; and what was her response.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  There has been correspondence with Westminster city council about the need for clause 9 of the Bill which would relieve the local education authority of its duty under section 12 of the Education Act 1980 to build a new school at Moxon Street. No other correspondence about this aspect of the Bill has been received.

  Annual Capital Guidelines
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations she has received from local education authorities regarding the 1995–96 annual capital guideline figures since their announcement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  To date, some 14 LEAs have written to officials, identified concerns on the telephone, or made a request to bring a delegation to see me.

  Schools (Capital Spending)
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much central Government support for capital spending in schools has changed in real terms between 1986–87 and 1993–94.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Between 1986–87 and 1993–94, there was a 57 per cent. real terms increase in central Government capital support for schools. That covers spending on local authority and voluntary schools and, since 1989, grant-maintained schools.

  Standard Spending Assessment
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will make a statement on the education standard spending assessment of Hereford and Worcester county council.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The increase in Hereford and Worcester's education standard spending assessment for 1995–96 is higher than the national average. Allowing for the reform of inter-authority recoupment, the authority's provisional education SSA will be 2.3 per cent. higher than in 1994–95.

  Office for Standards in Education
  Mr. Haselhurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment she has made with regard to the progress of Ofsted.

  Mr. Forth
  Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools, the head of Ofsted, is responsible for the new school inspection arrangements. The Secretary of State shares with him the objective of ensuring that all publicly funded schools are independently inspected on a four-year cycle. The new arrangements have got off to a good start. By the end of this academic year, roughly half of all secondary schools, and a significant minority of primary schools, will have been independently inspected and a copy of the report sent to every parent.

  Nursery Schools
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will make a statement on the progress of the working party established to consider the provision of nursery and pre-school education.

  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress she is making in achieving a nursery place for all children over three years of age.

  Mr. Forth
  The task force, established by my right hon. Friend, is consulting widely and is considering a range of options to achieve the Prime Minister's commitment to provide a pre-school place for all four-year-olds whose parents wish them to take it up. As the expansion is achieved, we want to ensure that it will add to the choice parents have among a range of provision—public, private and voluntary. My right hon. Friend will be making an announcement about progress in due course.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much Government funding was given during 1994 for the provision of nursery school education within the Greater London area.

  Mr. Forth
  For the purpose of determining standard spending assessments, the education component of standard spending, net of specific grants, is divided into five sub-blocks—under-fives, primary, secondary, 16-plus, and other education. There is no SSA for nursery school education as the under-fives sub-block notionally includes spending on rising fives in primary schools as well as pupils in nursery schools and classes. The total of the under-fives SSA sub-block for London local education authorities in 1994–95 is £189.87 million.

  Schools, Shropshire
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment she has made of the adequacy of current class sizes and academic achievement in local education authority schools in Shropshire.

  Mr. Forth
  Average class sizes in Shropshire are lower than average class sizes nationally. In 1994, 46.2 per cent. of 15-year-olds in Shropshire maintained schools obtained five or more GCSE grades A*-C, compared with 38.2 per cent. for LEA-maintained schools nationally.

  Research Links
  Mr. Waller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will make a statement about the
  165
  development of research links between universities and industry.

  Mr. Boswell
  There are many examples of universities and industry working together for their mutual benefit. We have asked the Higher Education Funding Council for England to take into account in its funding for research the policies set out in the White Paper "Realising our Potential: A Strategy for Science, Engineering and Technology". This includes developing the method for rewarding universities and colleges which collaborate in generic research with industry.

  Three-tier Schools System
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many education authorities have a three-tier system in their schools.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  In January 1994, 32 local education authorities were operating a three-year system in all or in part of their area.

  Higher Education
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when she last had a meeting with the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals regarding the impact of Government policy on higher education.

  Mr. Boswell
  My right hon. Friend last met the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals on 2 December 1994, and discussed a range of matters, including matters relevant to the impact of Government policy on higher education.

  Disabled Students
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many disabled pupils in Britain who were in mainstream primary schools have been denied mainstream secondary places in 1994.

  Mr. Forth
  This information is not available centrally. The special educational needs code stresses the need for careful planning for transfer between phases: if parents remain dissatisfied with a local education authority's decision about their child's special educational needs they can appeal as appropriate to the SEN tribunal or an independent appeal committee established by the relevant admissions authority.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools in Britain in 1994 have had adaptations to allow full access for disabled students.

  Mr. Forth
  This information is not held centrally. From May this year, we will be conducting a survey of the accessibility of all schools. This survey will be completed biennially and comparing these results with those produced in future years' surveys will provide an indication of the amount of adaptation undertaken during that period.

  School Budgets, Derbyshire
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will make a statement on school budgets in Derbyshire for 1995–96.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  It will be up to Derbyshire county council to decide what to spend on the various services for which it is responsible, including schools. Derbyshire's166
  education standard spending assessment will increase by 0.7 per cent. in 1995–96.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will visit the Makerfield constituency to discuss the funding of local education authority schools.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.

  Student Poverty
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans she has to address the issue of student poverty.

  Mr. Boswell
  There is no evidence of widespread student poverty. For those eligible for mandatory awards and student loans, the total support available has risen slightly in real terms since 1990 when loans were first introduced. It will increase by 2.5 per cent for the 1995–96 academic year. Other students can apply to local education authorities for discretionary awards. The access funds can provide additional assistance to full-time students in particular need.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of pupils on the assisted places scheme receive a free place.

  Mr. Forth
  Over 40 per cent. of assisted place holders received a free place in the academic year 1993–94.

  Class Sizes
  Ms Church
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what research her Department has undertaken into the relationship between class size and educational standards.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department has not undertaken such research itself, but monitors work generally in this field.

  Special Needs
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what additional funding and resources she proposes for children with special needs in the next financial year.

  Mr. Forth
  Education standard spending assessments will rise on average by 1.2 per cent. in 1995–96 and the special educational needs code of practice will encourage schools to make most effective use of their budgets for special educational needs pupils. In addition, grants for education support and training from the Department for Education to local education authorities in support of special educational needs will increase by some 15 per cent.

  Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans she has to make provision, in the entire education service from nursery to higher education, for children identified as being affected by attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

  Mr. Forth
  The responsibility for making provision for school children with special educational needs, including,
  167
  those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, rests with schools and local education authorities. The code of practice on the identification and assessment of special educational needs, issued by the Secretary of State under the Education Act 1993, gives guidance to schools and LEAs on their responsibilities towards all pupils with special educational needs of all kinds. District health authorities and NHS trusts must inform the parents and the appropriate LEA when they form the opinion that a child under the age of five may have special educational needs.

  The Further Education Funding Council and LEAs are statutorily required to take account of the needs of students in further education with all kinds of learning difficulties. In higher education, the Secretary of State's initial letter of guidance to the Higher Education Funding Council for England asked it to consider how it could best meet the needs of students with learning difficulties. Universities are able to make the provision they consider appropriate for students with learning difficulties.

  Teachers' Morale
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment she had made of the proposed system of league tables on the morale of the teaching profession.

  Mr. Forth
  School and college performance tables are now well established, not least because they help ensure that the achievements of individual schools and colleges are fully recognised. The views of the representatives of the teaching profession are sought each year on the format and content of the tables.

  Religious Education
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will make a statement on the future of religious education and the daily act of worship in schools.

  Mr. Forth
  The Government have no plans to change the law requiring religious education and daily collective worship to be provided for all registered pupils at maintained schools. These activities make an important contribution to pupils' moral and spiritual development.

  Student Loans Company
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will investigate the circumstances surrounding the extension of the employment contract of the chief executive of the Student Loans Company; who took the decision, if she approved the extension; and what considerations led to the contract being extended.

  Mr. Boswell
  The decision to offer Mr. Harrison an extension of his contract as chief executive was taken in November 1993 by the board of the Student Loans Company, with the agreement of my right hon. Friend's predecessor and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Departmental Employees
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many employees for which her Department is responsible were women(a) in 1991, (b) in 1992, (c) in 1993 and (d) in 1994; and, of these, how
  168
  many were (i) at grade 7 level, (ii) at grade 3 level, (iii) at executive officer level, (iv) at administrative officer level and (v) at administrative assistant level.

  Mr. Boswell
  The number of women employed by the Department at the specified grades over the past four years is as follows:

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Grade 3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grade 7

  31

  44

  39

  45

  EO

  208

  218

  269

  280

  AO

  403

  410

  446

  416

  AA

  265

  287

  224

  208

  Overall

  1,096

  1,150

  1,186

  1,233

  Private Finance Initiative
  Sir Nicholas Scott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans her Department has for encouraging the use of the private finance initiative in education.

  Mr. Boswell
  In December last, we issued the booklet "Education Means Business" which sets out opportunities for private investment in education. This was sent to all higher and further education institutions, grant-maintained schools and all other secondary schools, maintained special schools, local education authorities, diocesan bodies and teachers' organisations together with banks, solicitors and accountancy firms and other businesses that have expressed an interest in PFI and education. Copies were placed in the Library of the House.

  The Higher Education Funding Council for England, the Further Education Funding Council and the Funding Agency for Schools maintained registers of businesses and education providers who are interested in pursuing privately financed projects and put interested parties in touch with each other.

  The Department—working together with the higher education funding councils and the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals—is organising a conference for universities and the private sector to encouraged further private investment in higher education. It is to be held on 23 March at the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre. We arc considering whether it would be beneficial to organise similar conferences for the further education and schools sectors.

  The Department's PFI unit is arranging a number of visits to schools and LEAs with the objective of promoting PFI.

  As announced at the time of the last Budget, we are making changes from 1 April 1995 to the allocation of capital and recurrent grants to both higher and further education funding councils. This will enable them to give higher and further education institutions more flexibility to decide how to finance capital projects and, in particular, more scope to use private sector finance. In addition, further education institutions will have the same ability as the higher education institutions to use Exchequer-funded assets as security for loans.

  Next Steps Agencies
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will set out for each of the next steps agencies in her Department, whether they have acquired their own headquarters buildings and, if so, at what
  169
  purchase cost or annual rental; how many support staff they have acquired which were not required when their operations were within her Department; how many of them publish periodical journals and at what annual cost; how many have fleets of executive cars or single executive cars and at what annual cost; how many have spoecifially designed logos and at what cost; how many have corporate clothing and at what cost; and what is the cost of specially designed and printed corporate stationery.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department has only one next steps agency, the Teachers Pensions Agency. The operational and managerial matters of the Teachers Pensions Agency are the responsibility of its chief executive, Mrs. Denyse Metcalfe. I have asked her to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Denyse Metcalf to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 23 January 1995:
  As Chief Executive of the Teachers' Pensions Agency, I have been asked to let you have information about the Agency as requested in your Question to the Secretary of State for Education about the operation of the Department's Next Steps Agencies.
  The TPA was launched as an Agency in April 1992 and has continued to occupy premises in Darlington on a site shared with the Department. It has no separate headquarters building. As well as sharing a site with the Department the Agency also obtains most of its support services from the Department under a Service Level Agreement, although it has its own Personnel and Training Section of 5 staff of whom 2 were additional posts in support of delegated freedoms stemming from the Agency's Framework Document.
  The TPA produces an information sheet which it sends to the employers (approximately 3,500) of the Teachers' Superannuation Scheme members each term. The cost of this publication is £6,000 annually.
  The Agency has one 'pool' car which is owned by the Agency and used by the Chief Executive and other staff for seminars and visits to employers. The annual cost of the car in 93/94 was £1,900.
  The Agency has a logo which was produced as a result of an 'in house' competition for which a token amount of £150 was paid to the member of staff who produced it. The Agency has not corporate clothing and the use of a logo on stationery does not result in any increased costs.

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list for(a) English, (b) mathematics and (c) history the publications, guidance and teaching material which has been sent to schools concerning the national curriculum since 1988; and if she will give the cost for each subject.

  Mr. Forth
  The table shows the information requested in the case of the statutory documents setting out study requirements for the current national curriculum in English, mathematics and history.

  For the revised national curriculum which comes into effect in August 1995, however, the statutory documents for the 11 subjects and the two supporting compilations were produced as a single project. It is not possible therefore to disaggregate the production and distribution costs of the individual subjects, but the production cost and the estimated distribution cost of the entire revised national curriculum are shown, along with the names of the relevant documents. Distribution is currently under way.

  The table also lists publications since 1988 relating to non-statutory curriculum guidance and the assessment of pupils in English, mathematics and history, although in
  170
  some cases the documents cover all three core subjects—English, mathematics and science. I will write to the hon. Member with cost details as soon as possible.

  1. Statutory documents containing attainment targets and programmes of study for the current National Curriculum

  Production costs £

  Distribution costs £

  English in the National Curriculum

  840,000

  242,000

  English in the National Curriculum (1991)

  1757,000

  1198,000

  Mathematics in the National Curriculum

  231,000

  74,000

  Mathematics in the National Curriculum (1991)

  736,000

  153,000

  History in the National Curriculum

  1These figures are estimates.

  Statutory documents containing Attainment Targets and Programmes of study for the revised National Curriculum coming into effect in August 1995

  English in the National Curriculum

  Mathematics in the National Curriculum

  History in the National Curriculum

  The National Curriculum

  Key Stages 1 and 2 of the National Curriculum

  Production cost—entire National Curriculum—£1,167,000

  Estimated distribution costs—entire National Curriculum—£255,000

  Non-statutory curriculum guidance, and publications related to assessment of pupils

  a. Curriculum guidance

  English

  1989 Non-Statutory Guidance (Key Stage 1)

  1990 Non-Statutory Guidance (Key Stages 1–4)

  1990 Aspects of English

  Mathematics

  1989 Non-Statutory Guidance

  1991 Non-Statutory Guidance

  1990 Using and Applying Mathematics (Book A)

  1990 Using and Applying Mathematics (Book B)

  1991 Mathematics Programmes of Study:

  INSET for Key Stages 3 and 4

  1993 Mathematics Programmes of Study:

  INSET for Key Stages 1 and 2

  History

  1991 Non-Statutory Guidance

  1992 History at Key Stage 2: an introduction to the non-European study units.

  1993 Teaching History at Key Stage 3

  1993 Teaching History at Key Stage 1

  1993 Teaching History at Key Stage 2

  b. Assessment of pupils

  The core subjects—English, mathematics and science combined

  Key Stage 1

  1991 Children's Work Assessed

  1992 School Assessment Folder

  1992 Core Subjects Reference Notes

  1992 Core Tasks

  1993 School Assessment Folder

  1993 Children's Work Assessed

  1993 Core Tasks

  1994 School Assessment Folder

  1994 Core Tasks

  1995 Assessment Arrangements

  Key Stage 2

  1994 School Assessment Folder

  1994 Children's Work Assessed

  1995 Assessment Arrangements

  171

  1995 Special Arrangements

  Key Stage 3

  1991 Teacher Assessment at KS3

  1991 Teacher Assessment in Practice

  1992 School Assessment Folder

  1993 School Assessment Folder

  1993 Materials to Support the End of Key Stage Tests

  1993 Guidance on Special Arrangements

  1993 Test Timetable

  1993 Test Guidance Notes

  1994 End of Key Stage Assessment Arrangements

  1994 Test Timetable

  1994 Guidance on Special Arrangements

  1994 Test Guidance Notes

  1994 Reporting and Recording Leaflet

  1995 School Assessment Folder (booklet 1)

  1995 School Assessment Folder (Booklet 2)

  1995 Test Timetable

  1995 Special Arrangements Timetable

  English

  Key Stage 1

  1991 En 1 Speaking and Listening

  1992 Children's Work Assessed

  1992 Reading and Spelling

  1993 Reading and Spelling Tasks

  1994 Reading and Spelling Tasks

  1995 Tasks

  Key Stage 2

  1993 Pilot Tests

  1994 Pilot Tests

  1995 Tasks

  Key Stage 3

  1992 Pupils' Work Assessed

  1993 Assessing En 1

  Information on the 1993 Tests

  1993 English Anthology

  1993 Sample Test Questions

  1994 Level 1–3 Tasks

  1994 Test Guidance Notes

  1995 Levels 1–3 Tasks

  Mathematics

  Key Stage 1

  1992 Optional Tasks (mathematics and science combined)

  1994 Optional Mathematics Pack

  1995 Mathematics Tasks

  Key Stage 2

  1993 Pilot Tests

  1994 Pilot Tests

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  £ million

  outturn

  estimate

  Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges1

  3.021

  3.498

  3.848

  4.051

  4.184

  Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research

  0.535

  0.652

  0.949

  0.857

  0.832

  National Council for Educational Technology

  4.660

  4.961

  5.658

  5.506

  5.391

  Further Education Unit2

  3.871

  3.129

  3.545

  —

  —

  National Youth Bureau3

  0.571

  —

  —

  —

  —

  National Youth Agency4

  —

  1.840

  1.495

  1.344

  1.394

  Education Assets Board

  0.552

  0.500

  0.858

  0.784

  1.401

  School Examinations and Assessment Council5

  7.730

  10.532

  12.383

  4.139

  —

  National Curriculum Council5

  7.340

  7.698

  8.135

  3.091

  —

  School Curriculum and Assessment Authority6

  —

  —

  —

  21.998

  34.000

  Teaching as a Career Unit

  1.487

  1.402

  1.407

  1.064

  1.194

  Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council7

  1,104.255

  993.158

  1,034.601

  —

  —

  172

  1995 Tasks

  Key Stage 3

  1991 Teacher Assessment at KS3

  1992 Pupils' Work Assessed

  1992 Materials to support the Assessment of MA 1

  1993 Sample Test Questions

  1993 Assessing Ma 1

  1993 Pupils' Work Assessed

  1994 Level 1&2 Tasks

  1995 Level 1&2 Tasks

  History

  Key Stage 1

  1993 Children's Work Assessed (history and geography combined)

  Key Stage 3

  1992 Teacher Assessment at KS3

  1993 Pupils' Work Assessed

  University Students
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what action she is taking to help university students living below the poverty line and not in receipt of social security benefit.

  Mr. Boswell
  The student income and expenditure survey for 1992–93 conducted on behalf of the Department revealed no evidence of widespread student poverty, for those students prepared to take the concessionary student loans on offer. The total support available through the main rates of grant and loan will increase by 2.5 per cent. for the 1995–96 academic year. Income support and housing benefit continue to be available to students in certain vulnerable groups. The access funds, which will be increased by about £1 million to around £28 million for 1995–96, can provide additional assistance to full-time students in particular need.

  Public Bodies (Grants)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list the grants given to non-governmental organisations by her Department in each year since 1990.

  Mr. Boswell
  The grants given to the non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Department are listed in the table. Those made to the research councils and to the Sports Council, formerly sponsored by the then Department of Education and Science and now by the Office of Public service and Science and the Department of National Heritage respectively, are published in the appropriation accounts, copies of which are in the Library.
  173

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  £ million

  outturn

  estimate

  Universities Funding Council7

  1,836.708

  1,782.142

  1,806.426

  —

  —

  Higher Education Funding Council for England8

  —

  —

  0.500

  2,810.626

  3,436.076

  Further Education Funding Council8

  —

  —

  24.417

  2,706.066

  2,847.058

  Funding Agency for Schools9

  —

  —

  —

  0.674

  237.026

  Teacher Training Agency10

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1.932

  Special Educational Needs Tribunal11

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0.220

  1Merged with British Council December 1993. Henceforth sponsored by Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  2Subsumed in Further Education Funding Council grant from 1993–94.

  3Wound up in 1991 and replaced by the National Youth Agency.

  4Established April 1991 incorporating National Youth Bureau and Council for Education and Training in Community Work.

  5Wound up in 1993.

  6Established October 1993 incorporating School Examinations and Assessment Council and National Curriculum Council.

  7Wound up March 1993.

  8Established April 1993. Preparatory costs in 1992–93.

  9Established April 1994. Preparatory costs in 1993–94. 1994–95 estimate net of annual maintenance grants, which are recouped in full from local education authorities, and loan repayments.

  10Established September 1994. Preparatory costs only.

  11Established September 1994. Programme costs only.

HEALTH

  Cancer
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she has taken to assist cancer sufferers to live at home with the appropriate and necessary level of support.

  Mr. Sackville
  Health authorities are required to contract for specialist palliative care services to meet the assessed health needs of their populations. We have increased the amount of funding made available to health authorities for specialist palliative care from £8 million in 1990–91 to nearly £48 million this financial year. This financial commitment has helped to ensure that palliative care is increasingly available in all settings, including in the patient's own home. The development of the right services to enable people to live in their own homes wherever this is possible and sensible is a key objective of the new community care arrangements. The expert advisory group on cancer also recommended that treatment should be provided as close to the patient's home as is compatible with high-quality, safe and effective treatment.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health trusts have set energy saving targets comparable to those set by health authorities given in "Climate Change: The UK Programme".

  Mr. Sackville
  Some 387 national health service trusts have established energy targets for the period to March 1996 and beyond.

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made by each health authority in the United Kingdom towards the energy saving target given in "Climate Change: The UK Programme".

  Mr. Sackville
  The national health service energy savings programme commenced in April 1991 with a target set to reduce national energy consumption by 15 per cent. over the five years to 1995–96. The broad total savings achieved in England to date amount to 7.9 per cent.
  174
  It is not possible to give totals for each health authority or national health service trust.

  Additional energy savings have been projected from April 1994 to March 1996 amounting to 8.3 per cent.

  Special Transitional Grant
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for each local authority in England the special transitional grant for 1994–95; and if she will indicate for each local authority the funding that would have been received by that authority if the distribution formula had been the same as that used for 1993–94, and indicate the difference between the two.

  Mr. Bowis
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 9 March 1994,Official Report, column 308.

  Long-term Care
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what national criteria she has stipulated against which she will judge whether the definitions of access to long-term health care which the district health authorities will be negotiating with their local authorities next year are reasonable and equitable;

  (2) what financial recompense she will require to be made to local authorities required to provide a substantial part of long-term care which is elsewhere available under the NHS.

  Mr. Bowis
  We shall shortly be issuing guidance to health authorities on their responsibilities for continuing health care. Under this guidance, all health authorities will be required to review their current arrangements and to ensure they are securing an adequate level of continuing health care to meet the needs of their population.

  NHS Uniformity
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring mechanism she has requested the National Health Service Executive put in place to ensure that there is consistency of definitions between authorities.

  Mr. Sackville
  The National Health Service Executive in consultation with the NHS, has commissioned national standards for the data items, including definitions, which
  175
  all NHS authorities have agreed to collect regularly, both for local NHS management and returns to the centre. The regulation of these standards is governed by the joint Department of Health-National Health Service Committee for Regulating Information Requirements.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanism is in place to ensure equity between different areas of the country as regards the availability of different forms of treatment on the NHS.

  Mr. Sackville
  Our policy objective is to secure, through resource allocation, over time, equal opportunity of access to health care for people at equal risk. A weighted capitation formula is used as the basis for allocating hospital and community health services revenue to regional health authorities. The formula weights their population for age, need, and for geographical variation in the cost of providing services. It is for health authorities to determine, taking full account of national priorities, set out in the annual priorities and planning guidance, how best to use the resources available to them to meet local needs.

  Stress-related Diseases
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of deaths among(a) men and (b) women in each of the last five years were a consequence of stress-related diseases.

  Mr. Bowis
  Information on death certificates about causes of death is given in terms of diagnosis. Stress may be a contributory factor in deaths from a number of diseases, but is not a separate diagnostic category. It is therefore not possible to say what proportion of deaths from any disease are stress related.

  Children's Homes
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the study being prepared by the social services inspectorate into unregistrable children's homes will be(a) completed and (b) published.

  Mr. Bowis
  I expect the report to be submitted within the next few months. A decision on publication will be made thereafter.

  Children (Placement)
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children are currently placed with non-relatives under the arrangements for the Placement of Children (General) Regulations 1991; and in what percentage of these placements a taxable fee is being paid directly to the non-relative or to an agency.

  Mr. Bowis
  Information collected centrally relates only to children looked after by local authorities. At 31 March 1993 approximately 43,000 children looked after by local authorities were placed in foster care with non-relatives or in residential accommodation, and would have been subject to these regulations. Of these, 27,000 were in foster care. The total includes about 2,000 children with agreements for a series of short-term placements, who will not all have been so placed on that date.

  Where placements are with a foster family, the percentage of foster carers that receive a taxable fee—reward payments—is very small.
  176
  In all cases where placements are with an agency, the fee, less expenses accepted by the Inland Revenue, would be regarded as taxable income.

  Conception
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what surveys she has conducted to establish which scientists argue that conception in human reproduction occurs days later than fertilisation; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The accepted scientific view is that pregnancy does not occur until the fertilised ovum implants in the womb, which is usually around six days after fertilisation.

  Laparoscopic Operations
  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received regarding the recently issued guidelines, by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, on the subject of laparoscopic operations; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  No representations have been received about these guidelines, which were contained in a report of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists working party on training in gynaecological endoscopic surgery, the publication of which we welcome.

  Mrs. Peacock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will require the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to introduce an accreditation procedure for surgeons wishing to perform laparoscopic operations.

  Mr. Sackville
  We welcome the recent decision by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to introduce compulsory training in endoscopic surgery, including issuing certificates of competence to those who have had satisfactory reports.

  Ambulance Response Times, Bolton
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what are the target ambulance response times for Bolton;

  (2) on how many occasions, numerically and as a percentage over the last two years, target ambulance response times for Bolton have not been met.

  Mr. Bowis
  Health authorities are responsible for setting and monitoring performance standards for the emergency and urgent ambulance services in the district(s) they cover, which must as a minimum accord with national standards. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of Wigan and Bolton district health authority, for details of the services in Bolton.

  Mrs Elizabeth Bailey
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to receive the report of the inquiry into the part played in the death of Mrs. Elizabeth Bailey of Bolton by(a) hospital bed availability and (b) ambulance response time.

  Mr. Bowis
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is aware of the sad circumstances of Mrs. Bailey's death. My right hon. Friend does not expect to receive further reports. It is for the local health authorities to consider any lessons to be learned for the operation of the health services in Bolton.

  Specialty Statistics
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give for each financial year since 1989–90 the numbers of(a) hospital spells and (b) finished consultant episodes in NHS hospitals in England recorded in the NHS Executive's fast-track monitoring returns for (i) acute specialties, (ii) geriatrics, (iii) mental illness, (iv) mental handicap, (v) maternity, (vi) well babies and (vii) all specialties.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 16 January 1995]: The numbers of finished consultant episodes for ordinary and day case admissions in national health service hospitals in England are published in "Ordinary and day case admissions for England: Financial Year 1993–94, copies of which are available in the Library. These are the definitive figures which supersede the provisional forecasts from the National Health Service Executive's fast-track monitoring returns. Information on hospital spells is not collected within the fast-track system.

  Family Health Services
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give for each year since 1974–75 total spending on family health services for each NHS region and for the special health authorities(a) in cash terms, (b) adjusted using the GDP deflator and (c) adjusted using the NHS pay and prices index.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 16 January 1995]: A regional breakdown of all family health services expenditure from 1992–93 will be placed in the Library. Regional figures for earlier years are not readily available on a comparable basis but national totals of FHS expenditure from 1974–75 will also be placed in the Library. Figures have been adjusted to 1993–94 prices using the GDP deflator. The only available FHS inflation index is based on costs in the non-cash-limited part of the FHS and is not applicable to these figures which incorporate both cash-limited and non-cash-limited FHS expenditure. Special health authorities do not incur expenditure on family health services.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give for each financial year since 1989–90 the numbers of day case admissions to NHS hospitals in England recorded in(a) the hospital episode system and (b) the NHS Executive's fast-track monitoring returns for (i) acute specialties, (ii) geriatrics, (iii) mental illness, (iv) mental handicap, (v) maternity, (vi) well babies and (vii) all specialties.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 16 January 1995]: The number of day case admissions for each speciality group from the hospital episode statistics system for each financial year 1988–89 to 1992–93 is given in the annual publication "Hospital Episode Statistics, England", copies of which are available in the Library.

  The National Health Service Executive's fast-track monitoring returns are used to produce provisional forecasts which are not routinely published. The final definitive figures of day case admission in NHS hospitals are published in "Ordinary and Day Case Admissions for England: Financial Year 1993–94", and copies are available in the Library.

EMPLOYMENT

  Factory Inspectors
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the annual cost of employing a factory inspector.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The average annual cost at 1994–95 prices to the Health and Safety Executive of employing a factory inspector 1B, the main grade deployed on inspection work, is £45,387.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment in how many cases relatives of(a) existing factory inspectors and (b) administrative staff have been recruited in (i) area offices, (ii) HQ Bootle or (iii) London in the administrative executive and clerical grades; if he will issue instructions to prevent this practice; and if he will take appropriate disciplinary action.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  No statistics are kept of relatives employed in Health and Safety Executive offices.

  The recruitment of all staff in the HSE meets the civil service Order in Council rules dealing with fair and open recruitment. The existing rules about recruitment of relatives are sufficiently clear and stringent and no disciplinary action is needed.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many factory inspectors are due to be recruited in 1995; and when the recruitment will take place.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  A current recruitment competition aims to recruit approximately 60 factory inspectors.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many premises were inspected by the factory inspectorate(a) in 1992–93 and (b) 1993–94.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Information about the number of premises inspected is not readily available since some premises received more than one visit. The number of planned inspection visits carried out by the field operations division's factory, agriculture and quarries inspectors is shown in the following table:

  Year

  Number of inspections

  1992–93

  157,426

  1993–94

  152,014

  Visits were also paid for a range of other purposes, such as to follow up complaints and to investigate accidents.

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the names and full costs of all consultants currently used by the Health and Safety Executive and those used in 1993–94.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Available information for 1993–94 is given in the following table. A similar list for the current year is not yet available.
  179

  Names and costs of consultants—1993–94

  Consultant

  Cost (£)

  P. A. Consulting Group

  22,424.72

  MaST Western Ltd.

  1,796.20

  Dr. Fitzgerald

  141.00

  Elintech

  64,918.75

  Easesystems Ltd.

  13,236.94

  R. M. Consultants

  2,806.75

  Dr. P. Knight

  194.95

  W. L. Pugh Mining Engineer

  1,044.00

  Strata Control Technology Pty Ltd.

  13,612.89

  Mr. Essery

  10,000.00

  Mr. Sibson

  10,000.00

  Mr. Hiles

  15,928.00

  Miss Caws QC

  2,931.25

  Mr. Burgess

  238.60

  Disc Europe

  60,000.00

  Compel plc

  1,890.00

  Retix UK Ltd.

  700.00

  Amtec Consulting

  870.00

  Level 7 Ltd.

  16,218.65

  Admiral Software Ltd.

  1,000.20

  Uden Computer Consultants

  33,929.37

  Mica Computing Services

  772.40

  Sensory Systems

  125.00

  Yale Consulting

  38,315.00

  E2E Systems

  8,510.64

  SiSL

  34,042.55

  Hoskyns Group

  13,846.74

  Cognos Ltd.

  29,594.31

  Triad Special Systems

  490.95

  Comtex (UK) Ltd.

  4,815.00

  Kinesis Computing Ltd.

  149,398.12

  Professor Sir William Wade QC

  5,581.25

  Patrick Thomas

  455.49

  Keisley Harris

  7,167.50

  Capita

  42,881.00

  Denham-Nash Ltd.

  18,926.80

  W. S. Atkins

  42,955.66

  Ernst and Young

  15,000.00

  Allan H. Webb

  5,922.01

  Hunterskill

  31,114.05

  Turner Williams

  28,107.34

  ROSPA

  19,470.58

  University of Nottingham

  4,200.00

  John Enderby

  502.26

  Shreeveport

  2,440.00

  KPMG

  27,672.14

  Ian Sharland Ltd.

  7,680.00

  Institute of Occupational Medicine Ltd.

  125.00

  BMRB International

  3,466.00

  TQM International Ltd.

  34,771.46

  Pointing Consulting Services Ltd.

  15,537.47

  Business Planning and Research International

  13,899.74

  Taylor Nelson AGB plc

  18,623.75

  Dr. P. Buley

  4,857.69

  Mr. A. B. Martin

  16,817.62

  Mr. A. J. Linehan

  6,511.36

  Dr. J. Patrick

  1,552.17

  Mr. J. Hannaford

  3,074.82

  Dr. D. Hicks

  2,044.61

  Sir Alan Cottrell

  10,000.00

  Professor E. Smith

  13,747.50

  Mr. G. L. Potts

  21,072.00

  Dr. R. E. Long

  11,944.97

  Mr. D. Stallard

  4,999.62

  Total

  996,914.84

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when the Health and Safety Executive will open the files held in area offices on individual firms' inspection history to members of the public on demand without payment of any fees.
  180
  Mr. Oppenheim
  Under the code of practice on access to government information and the Environmental Information Regulations 1992, the Health and Safety Executive will make available, on request information about inspections it has carried out at particular premises, subject to the exempted categories of information in the code and the regulations.

  Where the HSE uses significant resources to make information available, it will make reasonable charges for such information as it is entitled to do under both the code and the regulations.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many premises liable to inspection by the Health and Safety Executive have not had a full basic inspection by the Health and Safety Executive in the last(a) five, (b) seven, (c) nine, (d) 11 and (e) more years; and what will be the inspection backlog for 1994–95.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Information about the elapsed years since full basic inspections were carried out by the Health and Safety Executive to premises for which the HSE has inspection responsibilities, can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Although elapsed years is one consideration in determining inspection priorities, more account is taken of the degree of hazard and risk posed to employees and the public. Inspection programmes are selected each year to match the resources available, and there is no inspection backlog.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the target number of basic field inspections for 1995–96 in the field operations division of the Health and Safety Executive; and how many premises in total the Health and Safety Executive is now responsible for inspecting.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The 1995–96 plan of work for the field operations division of the Health and Safety Executive is still in preparation and the target number of inspections is not yet known. HSE inspectors are responsible for enforcing health and safety legislation in over 650,000 establishments.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how the Health and Safety Executive is alleviating the problem of work-related stress among its staff.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Health and Safety Executive's safety policy is clear in establishing divisional management responsibilities for dealing with issues such as stress at work. Guidance to divisional line managers is currently provided in the Employment Department group personnel handbook. This guidance augments the high level of awareness within the HSE's divisions of the risks associated with work-induced stress. While recognising the difficulties posed by non-work stresses, it sets out a practical approach to identifying and combating workplace stress. The HSE's 1995 staff attitudes survey will provide monitoring of its effectiveness in managing this issue.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what changes in the complement of principal inspectors of factories is being planned for the Health and Safety Executive area offices; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The complement of principal inspectors—factory, agriculture and quarries—in area offices is being reduced for 1995–96 by approximately 34, as part of the process of restructuring some parts of
  181
  the Health ad Safety Executive in order to allow the executive to recruit more inspectors for front-line activities. The HSE has agreed to the recruitment of some 60 of the latter during 1995–96.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the ratio of managers to managed grades in the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Health and Safety Executive has many staff whose work involves a mixture of supervisory and personal work. The ratio of those staff whose work is entirely or mainly managerial to other staff at 1 January 1995 was 1:18.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what personnel policies the Health and Safety Executive has to deal with husbands and wives working in the same office of the Health and Safety Executive; and what consideration he has given to making a formal statement banning such arrangements.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Employment Department group policy on partners working with each other is set out in the ED group personnel handbook. This broadly ensures that partners should not have line management responsibilities, should not have a disciplinary role and should not act directly over the other in financial matters.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff were made redundant following market testing in the Health and Safety Executive in 1993–94.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  None.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to reduce the Health and Safety Executive front-line services; and what is the consequence for 1995–96 and 1996–97 of the recent public expenditure round for the Health and Safety Executive front-line services in area offices.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Following the reduction in its financial provision, I have asked the Health and Safety Commission to safeguard the front-line work of the executive, including inspection, guidance, advice and enforcement, by building on the executive's record of continuing efficiency improvements.

  The commission will be announcing details of its planned deployment of resources in its plan of work for 1995–96, due to be published in the early summer.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many of the employees of the Health and Safety Executive have had their child care costs met by the executive; what is the grade of staff involved; and on what basis this assistance is made available.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  No Health and Safety Executive staff have their child care costs full met by the executive. Currently, a total of 25 people have a place at one of HSE's two workplace nurseries on Merseyside at a subsidy of £45 per week—pro rata for part-time use—which is around 50 per cent. of the full weekly cost.

  The grades involved are two grade 7s, two senior information officers, one inspector, two higher executive officers, one scientific officer, five executive officers, 11 administrative officers and one administrative assistant. Additionally, there are currently 14 holiday play schemes at various locations throughout the country which assist parents with child care during school holidays. The numbers of staff assisted, their grades and the degree to which they are financially assisted varies from scheme to scheme but, in the main, the HSE's contribution is in the
  182
  form of some basis set-up and running costs depending on the scheme.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the Health and Safety Executive has been seeking volunteers for early retirement from factory inspectors; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Health and Safety Executive has been seeking volunteers for early retirement from a wide range of senior staff within the HSE, including at principal inspector level and above. This exercise, which is resulting in the early retirement of 85 staff in March 1995, was caused by the need to restructure some parts of the HSE in order to allow the HSE to recruit more inspectors for front-line inspection.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what resources were available to the field consultant group of the Health and Safety Executive,(a) in 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The following staffing resources were available to the field consultant groups of the Health and Safety Executive in 1993–94 and 1994–95.

  As at 31 March 1994

  As at 1 November 1994

  Specialist inspector grades

  99.50

  96.75

  Scientific grades

  28.50

  29.50

  Total

  128.00

  126.25

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many factory inspectors in the area offices of the Health and Safety Executive are suffering from work-related stress; and whether the Health and Safety Executive has a contingency budget for legal claims against the executive for any of its staff suffering work-related stress.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  It is not possible to say how many factory inspectors are under stress currently, or whether that is causing them suffering. It is also very difficult to separate work-related stress from non-work-related stress or to measure it accurately because stress-related illness can manifest itself in a variety of ways. There is no Health and Safety Executive budget for claims of this kind.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what will be the cost of the regional tier of field management in the field operations division of the Health and Safety Executive in 1995–96.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The regional tier of field management in the field operations division of the Health and Safety Executive in 1995–96 is expected to be unchanged from that in the current year. The 1995–96 payroll cost of the regional directors, their support managers and secretarial services is £496,000.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many relatives of existing employed staff have been recruited at Health and Safety Executive headquarters, Bootle; and whether such recruitments are within civil service personnel rules.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  No statistics are kept on the recruitment of relatives within Health and Safety Executive headquarters, Bootle. All recruitment meet civil service Order in Council regulations about fair and open recruitment.
  183
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current hourly rate of security and messengerial staff at the Health and Safety Executive headquarters at Bootle, Merseyside.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The security staff at the Health and Safety Executive headquarters at Bootle are employed by a private contractor, and I am unaware of their wage rates.

  The current hourly rate for messengerial staff employed at HSE HQ at Bootle is £4.71 per hour.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what further contracted-out operations the Health and Safety Executive plans in 1994–95.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Health and Safety Executive has no further contracted out operations planned for the financial year 1994–95.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what legal provisions allow the Health and Safety Executive to exclude premises from its future inspection programmes; what classes of premises are being excluded; and what procedures are in place to allow challenges to this practice.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  There are no legal provisions concerning the exclusion by the Health and Safety Executive of premises from its future inspection programmes.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what steps his Department intends to take to inform speakers of Bengali, Gujerati, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu of the availability of the Health and Safety Executive leaflet "Your Health and Safety-a guide for workers";

  (2) what steps his Department intends to lake to publicise the availability of the Health and Safety Executive leaflet "Your Health and Safety—a guide for workers".

  Mr. Oppenheim
  This leaflet was published in English and five Asian languages in November 1994. The Health and Safety Executive initially distributed a package including an advertising poster and copies of the leaflet in each language to around 3,000 organisations including community centres, citizens advice bureaux, legal advice centres and ethnic minority libraries. Copies of the leaflet were sent, with a press release, to the ethnic minority press and all local radio stations broadcasting in ethnic minority languages. The leaflets are available free of charge from HSE books. Demand so far has been high: over 180,000 copies of the leaflet have now been distributed.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what commercial involvement Ernst and Young has with the information technology division of the Health and Safety Executive; and what steps have been taken by him or by the commission to avoid conflicts of interest in the case of commissioners who have other dealings with Ernst and Young.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Ernst and Young is nearing the end of an assignment to assist the in-house bid for the market test of the Health and Safety Executive's information technology services. Their appointment followed a competitive tendering exercise in which four consultancy firms submitted tenders and were interviewed by a panel. To avoid any conflicts of interest, tenderers were required to provide CVs of staff who would be involved in the work. The decision to use Ernst and Young was taken by 184
  the executive in accordance with civil service rules. The commission was not involved in the decision.

  Construction Regulations
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when the Construction (Designed Management) Regulations and approved code of practice will be approved; when they were submitted to him; and what factors were responsible for the length of the interval.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994 were signed on 19 December 1994 and consent given to the code of practice, which was approved by the Health and Safety Commission on 3 January 1995. Both were submitted to the then Minister of State on 18 March 1994 and passed to me following the Cabinet changes on 20 July 1994.

  Making new regulations is an important ministerial responsibility. It was necessary to be absolutely certain that this complex package of regulations was as fair and reasonable as possible and this inevitably took time.

  Job Advertisements (European Commission)
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about advertisements for United Kingdom-based European Commission jobs, with particular reference to any restrictions on the nationality of applicants.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The wording of advertisements for jobs with the European Commission is a matter for the Commission.

  Offshore Safety Division
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which trade union representatives the contracted-out administrative support at the offshore safety division office at Norwich; and what is the average hourly wage rate(a) at the offshore safety division office at Norwich and (b) other area Health and Safety Executive offices.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The administrative support staff at the offshore safety division office in Norwich are employed by Manpower plc, and I am unaware of either their wage rates or trade union representation.

  The average hourly rate for administrative staff employed at Health and Safety Executive offices is £4.47 per hour—excluding additional allowances paid to staff working in the London area.

  Health and Safety Commission
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when the meetings of the Health and Safety Commission and its industrial advisory committees will be open to the press and public under the open government initiative.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Under the code of practice on access to government information and the Environmental Information Regulations 1992 the Health and Safety Commission and its advisory committees will normally release information about the decisions it has taken and the facts and analyses behind those decisions, subject to the exempted categories of information in the code and regulations. The commission believes that to open its
  185
  meetings to the press and public would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion, as is recognised in the code and the regulations.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many copies of "Fraud, Theft and Impropriety" have been issued; and if all members of the Health and Safety Commission have received a copy.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The leaflet "Fraud, Theft and Impropriety" was issued on a ratio of one copy for each member of the Health and Safety Executive's staff. The members of the Health and Safety Commission were not issued with this leaflet.

  Social Charter
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in chronological order, all regulations and directives arising from article 118A of the amended treaty of Rome, stating in each case the title and objective, the number as published in the Official Journal of the European Community and the relevant United Kingdom Act and regulation, where applicable; and if each instrument is part of the work programme envisaged by the social charter, adopted by some member states in 1989.

  Miss Widdecombe
  As the information is contained in a number of tables, I shall write to the hon. Member and place a copy in the Library.

  Fishermen (Redundancies)
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many fishermen have been made redundant as a result of the existing decommissioning scheme offered by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The information is not available.

  Departmental Employees
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employees for which his Department is responsible were women(a) in 1991, (b) in 1992, (c) in 1993 and (d) in 1994; and of these, how many were (i) at grade 7 level, (ii) at grade 3 level, (iii) at executive officer level, (iv) at administrative officer level and (v) at administrative assistant level.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is given in the following table:

  Women in the Employment Department group

  Grade level

  April 1991

  April 1992

  April 1993

  April 1994

  Grade 3

  2

  2

  1

  2

  Grade 7

  128

  160

  182

  197

  EO

  9,756

  11,711

  11,792

  10,322

  AO

  20,401

  23,718

  23,925

  23,424

  AA

  2,241

  2,422

  2,366

  1,902

  Total women in ED group

  36,879

  42,344

  42,340

  38,786

  Labour Statistics
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were(a) the hours worked per week, (b) the number of full-time workers and (c) the number of part-time workers in each year since 1979.
  186
  Mr. Oppenheim
  The available information from the labour force survey is given in the following table. There are no comparable figures before 1983.

  Total actual weekly hours of work, and full and part-time classification of all employees and self-employed Great Britain

  Quarter

  Total actual hours worked per week (millions)

  Number in full time employment (thousands)

  Number in part time employment (thousands)

  Not seasonally adjusted

  Spring 1983

  787

  18,253

  4,336

  Spring 1984

  777

  18,244

  4,828

  Spring 1985

  802

  18,401

  4,943

  Spring 1986

  805

  18,398

  5,036

  Spring 1987

  810

  18,529

  5,230

  Spring 1988

  857

  19,163

  5,402

  Spring 1989

  885

  19,936

  5,546

  Spring 1990

  885

  20,114

  5,612

  Spring 1991

  866

  19,561

  5,633

  Seasonally adjusted (quarterly survey introduced)

  Spring 1992

  808

  18,917

  5,689

  Spring 1993

  807

  18,556

  5,807

  Spring 1994

  816

  18,529

  5,990

  Autumn 1994

  —1

  18,722

  6,004

  Note:

  1 Not yet available.

  Source:

  Labour force survey.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many schemes have been approved and at what total value in pound sterling for each of the member states of the European Union and for Wales and Scotland under objective 4 of the European social fund since its inception; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The current objective 4 of the European social fund was created by the structural fund regulations passed in July 1993. Plans for implementing it in eight member states were provisionally approved by the Commission in November 1994. It is not possible to say how many schemes other member states have approved.

  As far as the United Kingdom is concerned, no schemes have been approved under objective 4. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by the then Minister of State on 25 January 1994, Official Report, column 223.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Diary Farmers
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the approximate average net profits for dairy farmers were in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Jack
  Information on incomes of full-time dairy farms and other farm types is collected in the farm business survey and published each year in "Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom". The latest edition, "Farm Incomes in United Kingdom 1992–93", shows estimates of several different measures of income for
  187
  dairy farms in 1991–92 and 1992–93. Definitions of these income measures are contained in appendix 2.

  To illustrate longer-term trends in incomes, index series are also given for net farm income, occupier's net income and cash income back to 1986–87—table 1.1 and appendix 1, tables 1 and 2—the earliest year for which data are available on a consistent basis.

  "Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom 1993–94" will be published in spring.

  Integrated Administration and Control System
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what are the requirements for IACS applications in England and Wales in 1995.

  Mr. Jack
  I have consulted closely with the industry on the detail and the timing of the IACS arrangements for 1995 to ensure that they are kept as straightforward as possible.

  I am pleased to be able to announce that, as a result of pressing strongly for a UK deadline later than 31 March 1995 to meet farmers' needs, we will be applying the latest possible date of 15 May.

  The IACS explanatory booklet and forms will be issued in March. The documentation is designed to be as helpful and as easy to follow as possible given the complex nature of the rules.

  I recognise that farmers will want to do as much as they can in advance to prepare for IACS. The mapping and field data requirements set out in the 1994 guidance note on mapping and field data requirements will continue to apply in 1995.

  No maps will be required where applications relate only to forage area. Nor will they be required for arable area, provided the land was registered as eligible for future arable payments in 1993 or 1994 and has not changed significantly since then. Applicants will need to supply a single national grid reference number for each field and the Ordnance Survey map sheet reference in order to comply with the basic requirements of the IACS rules. Fields which have been permanently amalgamated, divided or which are on more than one map sheet must have a single field number for 1995.

  Fields which are on more than one map sheet must, from 1995, be allocated a new number based on the centre point of the whole field. If farmers obtained new numbers on a different basis in 1994, they do not need to provide another number this year. Estimates of area will continue to be accepted, but if areas are found to be over-declared, we have no option but to apply the strict penalties set out in the rules.

  I strongly urge farmers to obtain any necessary maps, field numbers and area measurements from the Ordnance Survey or other professional advisers as soon as possible and not leave this to the last minute, otherwise they risk missing the application deadline.

  Melatonin
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what procedures are in place to monitor and control the use of melatonin in the breeding of lambs.

  Mrs. Browning
  One marketing authorisation has been issued for the use of melatonin in the breeding of lambs.
  188
  This product is available on prescription only and must be used under the direction of a veterinary surgeon. Any suspected adverse reactions to the use of medicinal products should be reported to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. The state veterinary service is responsible for the enforcement of legislation which protects the welfare of the lambs and their mothers.

  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what survey his Department has conducted into external research; and what research his Department has conducted into(a) the administering of melatonin to ewes, (b) the breeding cycles of ewes artificially induced and (c) the risks to humans of consumption of sheep meat from flocks in which melatonin is used to control artificially the breeding cycles of ewes.

  Mrs. Browning
  No research is currently being funded by MAFF into the use of melatonin in the breeding of lambs. However, a three-year project investigating the use of melatonin and light treatment as a new method of producing autumn lambs, was funded in 1986. Before any veterinary medicinal product is authorised to be placed on the market in the United Kingdom, it is carefully assessed by the licensing authority, which consults independent scientists, against the statutory criteria of safety—including to the animal, the operator and the consumer of meat and meat products—quality and efficacy. This applies to medicinal products containing melatonin.

  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many prosecutions have been pursued against sheep breeders for the conditions under which they have reared winter lambs born as a result of the administering of melatonin to their mothers in each of the past three years.

  Mrs. Browning
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what statistics his Department compiles on the use of melatonin in the breeding of lambs.

  Mrs. Browning
  The use of a medicinal product, once authorised, is a matter for the marketplace to determine and not for the licensing authority. My Department therefore compiles no statistics on the use of melatonin in the breeding of lambs.

  Lambs
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what procedures are in place to monitor and control the conditions under which winter lambs are reared.

  Mrs. Browning
  The Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968 makes it an offence to cause unnecessary pain or unnecessary distress to any livestock on agricultural land. Subordinate legislation and the associated welfare code lay down more detailed requirements for the welfare of sheep. The state veterinary service is responsible for the enforcement of these provisions.

  Agricultural Council
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome: of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 23 January.
  189
  Mr. Waldegrave
  As I had signalled beforehand, I took the opportunity of this Council to explain the public concern about the transport of farm animals and the conditions in which calves are reared for veal in some member states. I stressed my determination to see that the law requiring freedom of trade is upheld. But I also emphasised the urgent need for the Community as a whole to recognise these concerns, which are being expressed widely, not just in the United Kingdom, and to take effective measures as soon as possible to improve the standards for the welfare of farm animals.

  I am glad to say that a considerable number of Council members agreed with British concerns. Five Ministers pointed out that, like the UK, they had already banned the use of veal crates. There was wide support for, and no dissent from, my proposal that the review of the directive, planned for 1997, that allows the use of this method should be brought forward, the Agriculture Commissioner, Mr. Fischler, undertook to produce a report as soon as possible. All also agreed to make a determined effort to adopt rules on transport: this will be on the Council's agenda at its next meeting.

  The only other substantive debate was on the Commission's proposals for adjusting the support system for sugar. I regretted that the Commission had not seized the opportunity to propose more radical changes. I urged that, in so far as sugar quotas might have to be cut to keep within the general agreement on tariffs and trade limits on subsidised exports, these cuts should be targeted on the surplus-producing member states. I also underlined the need to guarantee adequate supplies of raw sugar for the refining industry. The Council will return to these proposals at its next meeting.

  I welcomed the appearance of the Commission's proposal creating a link between set-aside and arable land taken out of production for environmental and forestry purposes, and urged its speedy adoption.

DEFENCE

  Training Courses
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. Freeman
  Information is not held in the form requested and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

  Discipline (Armed Forces)
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the circumstances in which a service man may find himself liable to disciplinary action when refusing drugs or vaccine in a theatre of war.

  Mr. Soames
  In operational circumstances where it is regarded as reasonable to issue an order for service personnel to receive drugs or vaccines to protect them 190
  against the threat of biological or chemical warfare agents, refusal of such a lawful order might render members of the armed forces liable to disciplinary action. The lawfulness of the order could be raised as an issue in the disciplinary proceedings, and the individual's rights would be taken into account. Any such case would turn on its own merits, including the fact that such vaccines and drugs could be life saving in operational circumstances.

  Operation Granby
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration was given to monitoring for health effects after administration of the drugs and vaccines administered to service men, either during or after Operation Granby, with particular reference to compounds that were unlicensed at the time of administration.

  Mr. Soames
  All aspects of the health of service personnel are monitored, in peace and war, as a matter of routine. During the Gulf war, routine monitoring did not detect any adverse effects to health which would warrant special additional monitoring either during, or after, Operation Granby.

  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration was given to administering toxicology and virology tests to all those suffering from illness related to Operation Granby; and what was the reason for not doing so.

  Mr. Soames
  Individuals who believe that they are suffering from unexplained illnesses as a result of service in Operation Granby are offered a medical examination through my Department's Gulf assessment programme. The special tests employed on this programme are tailored to the particular requirements of each patient after considering the medical and occupational history, the reported symptoms and clinical signs found on examination. If indicated, these special tests can include toxicological and virology tests.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark), of 20 December 1994,Official Report, column 1179, if he will set out the reasons why the specific counter-measures adopted against potential biological warfare by British forces in Operation Granby in the Gulf war are classified.

  Mr. Soames
  Information relating to the specific counter-measures adopted against potential biological warfare by British forces in the Gulf war could be useful to terrorists and potentially hostile intelligence services. Its continued classification is to protect British troops who may face a biological warfare threat in the future.

  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration was given to compiling a list of all recipients of the drugs or vaccines administered during Operation Granby, with particular reference to prescription-only medicines, with a view to recording them on the recipient's medical records; and what were the reasons for not doing so.

  Mr. Soames
  Standard peacetime procedures involve records of vaccines and prescribed medication being kept on every individual's service medical documents. Under operational conditions, individual service medical records are not held locally for logistic reasons, and a field medical documentation system is invoked. During
  191
  Operation Granby, vaccinations or prescribed medications are entered on a nominal roll for later transfer to individual records. Given the repaid repatriation and demobilisation of personnel at the end of the conflict, it is likely that some individual medical records were not fully annotated. As a result, no reliable comprehensive list of recipients could be now compiled.

  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence from whom and by what means plague vaccine, batch No. 10H03A, was obtained.

  Mr. Soames
  Details of specific medical counter-measures employed by British forces against potential biological warfare threat during Operation Granby remain classified.

  Nerve Agent Immobilised Enzyme Alarm Detector
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of whether NAIAD can be triggered by the toxic compound given off from jet engines.

  Mr. Soames
  Nerve agent immobilised enzyme alarm and detector is designed to be used in conditions where it would not normally be in close proximity to jet engines. Nevertheless, NAIAD was extensively evaluated against a wide range of aircraft engine effluent during acceptance tests for military use. Out of the 18 aircraft type evaluated, in only one case was alarm condition attained. It follows that, although NAIAD is not commonly triggered by compounds emitted from jet engines, circumstances might arise in which this could happen.

  Electro-shock Batons
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the inclusion of electro shock-batons which formed part of the Al-Yamamah defence deal was known to Ministers or civil servants.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 17 January 1995,Official Report, column 452.

  Defence Housing Executive
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the salary and length of contract of the new chief executive of the defence housing executive; and what is the estimated cost of establishing the defence housing executive.

  Mr. Soames
  Arrangements for the appointment of the chief executive have yet to be finalised. It is not possible to apportion costs between the establishment of the defence housing executive and the work undertaken previously to establish a housing trust.

  Married Quarters Estate
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the individuals and companies who have been employed as paid consultants by his Department to advise on the management of the married quarters estate during the last three years.

  Mr. Soames
  Since January 1992, the following consultants have provided my Department with advice on the future arrangements for the services' married quarters estate:192

  Firm

  Subject

  Ashurst Morris Crisp

  Legal

  Trowers and Hamlins (and Counsel)

  Allen and Overy

  Government Property Lawyers

  Macklay Murray and Spens

  Legal (Scotland)

  Henderson Boyd and Jackson

  Shepherd and Wedderburn

  Robson Mclean

  Coopers and Lybrand

  Business and Finance

  Price Waterhouse

  NatWest Markets

  UBS

  Chapman Hendy

  Housing

  Alistair McIntosh

  Cluttons

  Surveys and Valuation

  Chestertons

  DTZ Debenham Thorpe

  Knight, Frank and Rutley Savills

  Valuation Office Agency

  Recruitment and Assessment Service

  Recruitment

  Government Actuary's Department

  Pensions

  Major General J.F.J. Johnston CB CBE (Retd)

  Chairman designate of Housing Trust

  Crown Housing Trust
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 17 January,Official Report, column 451, if the chief executive of the Crown housing trust has or will be, receiving the £20,000 bonus which is linked to performance.

  Mr. Soames
  The bonus is payable in April this year on the anniversary of the chief executive designate's appointment. The final amount will, however, depend on performance over the year.

  Royal Navy Armaments Depot, Trecwn
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to announce the successful tenderer for RNAD Trecwn.

  Mr. Soames
  It is too early to say when a successful tenderer will be announced.

  Tremoram
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to release documents on work on the chemical tremoram; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer Tuesday 17 January 1995]: These records will be reviewed in accordance with the terms of the Public Records Acts 1958 and 1967. If release does not prejudice the Government's undertaking not to aid the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, they will be released in due course.

  Documents
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will release the reference numbers and title of all
  193
  documents relating to works at Nancekuke that are more than 30 years old but have not been released for public inspection; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer Tuesday 17 January 1995]: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out his reasons for not releasing the document reference 195/155956, which refers to work undertaken more than 30 years ago.

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer Tuesday 17 January 1995]: There is no document with this reference. W0195/15956, however, is closed for reasons of continuing sensitivity. The release of the report would enable others to acquire details of weapons technology that would be contrary to our commitment of non-proliferation.

  Vacant Dwellings
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of vacant dwellings currently owned by his Department; and if he will make a statement.
  194
  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer Tuesday 17 January 1995]: As at 31 December, my Department owned 12,408 vacant dwellings in the following categories:

  Number

  Service married quarters

  9,992

  Former married quarters in the process of sale

  2,160

  MOD civilian houses

  218

  Former civilian houses in the process of sale

  38

  Discussions are currently taking place with the Housing Corporation on an enhanced programme of short-term leasing to housing associations for married quarters which are temporarily surplus to our requirements. However, the majority of the vacant service married quarters are not surplus but are undergoing or awaiting major maintenance, held for future deployments, or form part of the management margin needed to ensure that accommodation is available for entitled service families.

  Of the vacant civilian houses, 71 are leased properties awaiting return to Dumbarton district council, 97 are houses recently taken over from the United States air force awaiting occupation by Ministry of Defence police and the remainder are mainly properties in secure areas which cannot be sold for security or safeguarding reasons.

  ELECTRIC VEHICLES: POLICY
  Lord Dormer
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What steps they plan to take to encourage the development of electrically-propelled vehicles, especially for shorter journeys; and what contribution they consider such vehicles could make to the control of pollution.

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Viscount Goschen)
  The Government are considering what role electric vehicles and other possible alternatives might play in minimising transport emissions. As part of this effort, the Department of Transport is leading a collaborative trial of alternative fuels involving, among others, electric vans and buses. This will help quantify the environmental benefits and the viability of their use.

  If viable electric vehicles were available and used in sufficient numbers, particularly for short journeys, such vehicles would make a significant contribution to the control of urban transport emissions at the expense of increased emissions from electricity generation. Using statistics compiled by the London Area Transport Survey in 1991, the department estimates that, if electric cars were used for all journeys less than 10km (6 miles), urban car emissions could fall by around 20 per cent. To put this in context, progressive tightening of emission limits for new vehicles is expected to reduce urban transport emissions by around 65 per cent., using much more cost effective technology. The Government believe that this approach, which allows manufacturers to decide on how best to meet tighter limits, will continue to be the primary means of bringing new technology to the market and further reducing transport pollution.

  BUYING AGENCY: 1995 TARGETS
  Lord Brougham and Vaux
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What performance targets they have set the Buying Agency for 1995.

  The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Viscount Ullswater)
  To support the objectives set out in the agency's Corporate Plan 1995–1997 and Business Plan 1995 we have set financial, productivity, customer satisfaction, environmental, and internal quality targets.

  The financial targets are:

  — to increase sales by 10 per cent. or to £157 million, whichever is the higher,

  — to achieve an overall surplus after interest of 1.5 per cent. on total sales.
  WA 74
  The productivity targets are:

  — to increase sales/staff ratio from £1.27 million per employee projected for 1994 to £1.42 million in 1995,

  — to reduce the cost per £ of sales from 2.9p projected in 1994 to 2.6p in 1995.

  The customer satisfaction targets are:

  — to ensure that 90 per cent. of direct orders are delivered by the due date,

  — to resolve 90 per cent. of complaints within one month, the balance within three months.

  The environmental target is:

  — to ensure that all new or revised catalogue entries contain information relating to the environmental impact of the product and, where appropriate, its production and disposal.

  These targets require the agency to build on improvements in sales, efficiency and customer service made in 1994.

  In addition, the Agency is proposing new pay and grading arrangements and management delayering, and other measures in line with the White Paper on the Civil Service—Continuity and Change.

  GREEN BELT POLICY
  Lord Brougham and Vaux
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  When they will publish revised planning policy guidance on green belts in England.

  Viscount Ullswater
  We have today published a revision of Planning Policy Guidance note 2 (PPG2) on Green Belts. This reaffirms our commitment to green belt policy, and makes limited changes to strengthen it to meet the challenges of the next century.

  Following research which we published in 1993, we issued a draft revision of PPG2 for public consultation last year. We are grateful to the almost 700 organisations and individuals who responded. We have carefully considered their views in finalising the document, and made adjustments to take account of views expressed. The thrust of the revised PPG2 is similar to the consultation draft, which was broadly welcomed.

  Compared with the present published PPG2, the revision incorporates six main amendments, within a framework of continuity.

  (1) It reaffirms the Government's commitment to green belt policy, stresses the fundamental aim of preventing urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open, and points out that green belts can assist in moving towards more sustainable patterns of urban development.

  (2) It sets out positive objectives for the use of land in green belts, so as to secure greater benefits for the environment without compromising the overall restrictive approach.

  WA 75

  (3) It further encourages proper consideration of the long-term direction of development, through the development plan system, to ensure long-term protection of green belts.

  (4) It removes the former concession for new building in the green belt by institutions, so that they are subject to the same controls as other developers.

  (5) It enables local planning authorities to make realistic provision in their development plans for the future of existing major developed sites in the green belt, such as pre-war factories and power stations, in such a way as to secure environmental benefits.

  (6) It introduces a new policy on the re-use of buildings, which includes specific safeguards for the green belt.

  These modifications will reinforce the position of green belts as a cornerstone of the town and country planning system in England as we enter the twenty-first century.

  A summary of responses to the consultation exercise has been deposited in the Libraries of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Department of the Environment. Copies of all the responses have been placed in the DoE Library.

  SUPERVISION REGISTERS
  Lord Thurlow
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether the guidance HSG(94)5 on supervision registers is fully implemented in all health authorities.

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Cumberlege)
  The latest reports indicate that supervision registers are in place in the vast majority of health districts. The National Health Service Executive is taking action to ensure that the guidance on supervision registers is fully implemented in all health districts as soon as possible.

  RAF REGIMENT
  The Earl of Mar and Kellie
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether they have any plans to reduce the size of the Royal Air Force Regiment.

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Henley)
  There are five RAF Regiment field squadrons (including the Queen's Colour Squadron), five RAF Regiment Rapier-equipped squadrons and five Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment squadrons providing ground and air defence of RAF stations. Current plans retain all of these squadrons.

  Following US decisions on USAF restructuring, they no longer require the RAF Regiment to man three squadrons of US Rapier units in the UK. These squadrons are consequently disbanding by the end of March. The decision has no effect on UK defence requirements.

  SEVERE DISABILITY PREMIUM: AMENDMENT TO REGULATIONS
  Earl Russell
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Why they considered the Income-Related Benefits Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 6) Regulations (SI 1994, No. 3061), tabled on 1 December, to be so urgent that it was inexpedient to refer them to the Social Security Advisory Committee.

  The Minister of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish)
  A Court of Appeal judgment delivered on 30 November 1994 reversed a long-standing policy intention on entitlement to the severe disability premium in income support. The judgment entailed a benefit cost estimated at £90 million a year, and resulted in anomalous entitlement conditions. It was therefore deemed necessary to restore the original policy intention immediately by laying the amendment regulations before Parliament on 1 December 1994.

  The Social Security Advisory Committee, under Section 173 (1)(b) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992, has now decided that it does not wish to have the regulations referred to it.

  HUMAN RIGHTS: FOURTH PERIODIC REPORT
  Lord Lester of Herne Hill
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Further to their Answer of 9 January 1995, (HL Deb., col. WA 14), how many copies of their Fourth Periodic Report to the Human Rights Committee they have distributed to non-governmental organisations, newspaper editors, legal deposit libraries, and the public at large.

  The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Blatch)
  By 23 January, 23 copies of the report had been distributed to non-governmental organisations, three to newspaper editors, six to the legal deposit libraries and 19 to the public at large.

  LIFE PRISONERS: TARIFF DISCLOSURE
  Lord McIntosh of Haringey
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  When they expect to complete the present process of notification to prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment of the actual minimum period they may expect to spend in custody.

  Baroness Blatch
  The exercise to disclose tariff information to some 2,300 mandatory life sentence prisoners in the prison system will be completed within the next few weeks.

  A separate exercise to give disclosure to the some 120 mandatory life sentence prisoners who have been transferred to hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983 will begin in February.

  LIFE PRISONERS: WHOLE LIFE TARIFF
  Lord McIntosh of Haringey
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  How many prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment have been notified that they may expect to remain in custody for "whole life".

  Baroness Blatch
  To date, 15 mandatory life sentence prisoners have been informed, in accordance with the judgement in the case of Doody et al, that previous Ministers set a whole life tariff in their case. These prisoners now have the right to make representations in the light of the disclosure given them. If they do so, their case will be considered afresh. No
  WA 78
  decision has been made in any of these cases, nor has a whole life tariff been set in any other case.

  POLICE AUTHORITY MEMBERSHIP: CONSULTATIONS
  Baroness Hilton of Eggardon
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Pursuant to the Written Answer of Baroness Blatch on 16th December (col. WA 150), whether the Home Office Whip was consulted before the Home Secretary made his nominations for independent members of the new police authorities.

  Baroness Blatch
  Yes.