Written Answers of 27 January 1995

TRANSPORT

  Departmental Employees
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. Norris
  The Department's personnel information system records the following information on women employees by year and grade:

  Grade 7

  Grade 3

  Executive Officer

  Administrative Officer

  Administrative Assistant

  1991

  58

  0

  994

  2,510

  2,911

  1992

  63

  0

  1,034

  2,531

  2,753

  1993

  68

  1

  1,007

  2,445

  2,543

  1994

  71

  4

  902

  2,448

  2,562

  Note:

  Part-time employees are included in the above and are counted on the same basis as full-time staff.

  Vehicle Excise Duty
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the classes of vehicle currently exempt from vehicle excise duty for which vehicle excise duty will become payable from 1 July; and if he will give the amount of vehicle excise duty that will be payable in each class.

  Mr. Norris
  The information requested is as follows:

  Current exempt class

  Proposed class (and vehicles within it)

  Proposed duty

  Special vehicles

  Road roller

  —road rollers:

  £135 (under 3.5 tonnes)

  £150 (over 3.5 tonnes)

  Special concessionary

  Electric

  —electric:

  £35

  Gritter

  —gritter:

  Snowplough

  —snowplough:

  Vehicles used for short journeys between private land

  —6 miles a week vehicles:

  1£15–£5,000

  Road construction

  —road construction:

  1£15–£5,000

  Street cleansing

  —street cleansing:

  Street lighting

  —street lighting:

  1 No increase of more than £1,000 on first relicensing on or after 1st July 1995.

  384
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what amount of vehicle excise duty will be payable from 1 July by agricultural tractors(a) used solely by farmers on their own land and (b) which use public roads for less than six miles per week to travel from one field to another.

  Mr. Norris
  The information is as follows:

  (a) Nil.

  (b) £35.

  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what amount of vehicle excise duty is(a) payable on agricultural tractors in Northern Ireland at present and (b) will be payable after 1 July; and what exemptions there are from this duty.

  Mr. Norris
  The information is as follows:

  (a) £35, but "nil" for those used on public roads for less than 6 miles per week when moving between different parts of privately-owned land, and those used solely on private land

  (b) £35. The only exemptions from this duty will be for agricultural tractors used solely on private land.

  English Road Network (Expenditure)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the expenditure on the English road network by central Government for each year from 1979 to 1994 in 1994 prices.

  Mr. Watts
  The information requested is available only on a financial year basis. In 1993–94 prices, based on the GDP deflator, expenditure on trunk roads in England was as follows:

  £ million

  1979–80

  1,095

  1980–81

  1,083

  1981–82

  1,184

  1982–83

  1,293

  1983–84

  1,190

  1984–85

  1,279

  1985–86

  1,236

  1986–87

  1,270

  1987–88

  1,341

  1988–89

  1,315

  1989–90

  1,647

  1990–91

  2,031

  1991–92

  1,977

  1992–93

  2,015

  1993–94

  2,044

  Recruitment
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent during 1994 on recruiting staff to his Department and its executive agencies; and how many staff were recruited.

  Mr. Norris
  During 1994, my Department spent £521,644 recruiting 182 staff to my Department and its executive agencies.

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what basis financial assistance was given to the relations of British nationals in respect of proceedings arising from the Lockerbie air disaster.
  385
  Mr. Norris
  My Department agreed to meet the costs of legal representation for the British relatives of victims of the Lockerbie disaster at the fatal accident inquiry into the disaster.

  As the then Secretary of State explained to the House on 5 July 1990, this offer reflected the exceptional nature of the disaster—a crime perpetrated by international terrorists which resulted in the destruction of a large passenger aircraft in British airspace. There were therefore very special reasons for departing from the practice that relatives' costs are not met in fatal accident inquiries or inquests.

  Coastguard Service
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what the hourly rate of pay for auxiliary coastguards in each financial year since 1984–85;

  (2) how many (a) full-time coastguards and (b) auxiliary coastguards, excluding rescue centre staff, were in post on 1 April 1984 and each year since;

  (3) what was the total payment made to auxiliary coastguards for (a) all training, (b) training excluding rescue centres and (c) patrols in 1984–85 and each year since;

  (4) what were the total budgets excluding rescue centres, for (a) each region, (b) each district and (c) each sector for (i) full-time coastguards and (ii) auxiliary coastguards in 1984–85 and each year since;

  (5) what was the total number of paid hours for (i) patrol work and (ii) training, excluding rescue centres, in (a) each region, (b) each district and (c) each sector by auxiliary coastguards in 1984–85 and each financial year since then;

  (6) how many (a) full-time coastguards and (b) auxiliary coastguards were in post in 1 April 1984 and each year since;

  (7) what was the total number of unpaid hours worked by auxiliary coastguards for (a) training on coast rescues, (b) training in rescue centres and (c) patrols in each region, each district and each sector in 1984–85 and each year since;

  (8) what was the total coastguard budget in each year from 1984–85 to date at November 1994 prices; and what is the planned budget for 1995–96.

  (9) how many sectors in each coastguard district have exhausted their planned budget for the year for (a) auxiliary coastguard training for rescue centres, (b) auxiliary coastguard training on coast rescue and (c) patrols.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 26 January 1995]: These are operational matters for the Coastguard agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Hourly rate of allowance for Auxiliary Coastguards

  Hourly rate of allowance for Auxiliary in Charge

  0600–2000

  2000–0600

  0600–2000

  2000–0600

  1 April 1984-1 April 1985

  1.86

  2.10

  2.32

  2.62

  1 April 1985-1 April 1986

  1.94

  2.19

  2.42

  2.74

  1 April 1986-1 April 1987

  2.05

  2.32

  2.57

  2.90

  1 April 1987-1 April 1989

  2.17

  2.45

  2.71

  3.06

  1 April 1989-1 December 1991

  2.26

  2.55

  2.83

  3.20

  1 December 1991-now

  2.60

  2.93

  3.25

  3.68

  The information requested in PQs 603/94/95, 605/94/95, 612/94/95 and 613/94/95 is not available in the format requested and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
  386
  Letter from C. J. Harris to Mr. Nick Ainger, dated 27 January 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions as these questions deal with operational matters, for which I have responsibility as Chief Executive.
  PQ 609/94/95. No sectors have exhausted their planned budgets for (a) auxiliary coastguard training for rescue centres and (b) auxiliary coastguard training on coast rescue. Among the 91 sectors four sectors have exhausted their planned budgets for (c) patrols.
  The information requested in PQ 611/94/95 is only available from 1990 and is detailed in the following table:

  Number of full-time Coastguards in post

  Number of auxiliary Coastguards

  1 April 1990

  484

  1—

  1 April 1991

  480

  4,353

  1 April 1992

  474

  4,061

  1 April 1993

  477

  3,823

  1 April 1994

  473

  3,454

  1 Figures not available.

  The information requested in PQ 604/94/95 is only available from 1993:

  Number of full-time Coastguards in post (excluding rescue centre staff)

  Number of auxiliary Coastguards (excluding rescue centre staff)

  1 April 1993

  130

  3,426

  1 April 1994

  125

  3,077

  The information requested in PQ 610/94/95 is only readily available from 1990–91:

  Year

  Total HM Coastguard budget (at November 1994 prices) £

  1990–91

  18,376,804

  1991–92

  19,562,144

  1992–93

  19,415,817

  1993–94

  20,449,937

  1994–95

  119,144,129

  1995–96

  2—

  1 HMCG portion of The Coastguard Agency's budget of £24,882
  million.

  2 Not yet decided by The Coastguard Agency Management Board but estimate provision of £25,596 million is being sought for the Agency as a whole.

  The information requested in PQ 608/94/95 is detailed in the following table:

  London Underground
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list for each London Underground line and for each four-week period between 1 January and 31 December 1994, the number of fire and smoke incidents, and the proportion that were(a) category A, (b) category B and (c) category C;

  (2) if he will list for each London Underground line and for each four-week period between 1 January and 31 December 1994, the number and length of station closures (a) exceeding 20 minutes during usual period for passenger travel, (b) exceeding one hour during usual period for passenger travel, (c) exceeding one day and (d) exceeding one week that were attributable to (i) staff shortages or (ii) security alerts;

  (3) if he will list for each London Underground line and for each four-week period between 1 January and 31 December 1994, the number and length of (a) attributable station closures, and (b) non-attributable station closures (i) exceeding 20 minutes during usual period for rush hour travel, (ii) exceeding one hour during usual period for passenger travel, (iii) exceeding one day, (iv) exceeding one week and (v) exceeding one month; and which stations closed during the period have yet to be re-opened;

  (4) if he will list for each London Underground line and for each four-week period between 1 January and 31 December 1994, the number of incidents, including cancellations, which resulted in a headway of more than 20 minutes; and how many of these were (a) attributable and (b) non-attributable;

  (5) if he will list for each London Underground line and for each four-week period between 1 January and 31 December 1994, the number of incidents, including cancellations, which resulted in a headway of more than 20 minutes, and the number of these attributable to (a) train breakdown, (b) signal failure, (c) track/points failure, (d) power failure, (e) derailment or collision, (f) adverse weather conditions (including leaves on the line) and (g) security alerts;

  (6) what has been the number of (a) assaults and (b) robberies on each London Underground station in (i) 1993 and (ii) 1994;

  (7) if he will list for each London Underground line and for each four-week period between 1 January and 31 December 1994, the number and percentage of escalators out of service;

  (8) if he will list for each London Underground line the number of (a) crimes of violence, (b) robberies and (c) other offences for each four week period between 1 January and 31 December 1994.

  Mr. Norris
  These are operational matters for London Underground.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Next Steps Agencies
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary Lord Chancellor's Department if he will set out for each of the next step agencies in his Department whether they have acquired their own headquarters buildings and, if so, at what purchase cost of annual rental; how many support staff they have required which were not required when their operations were within his Department; how many 388
  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 specially 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. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor is responsible for three agencies: Her Majesty's Land Registry, the Public Record Office and the Public Trust Office.

  The agencies operate within the framework of demanding quality standards and tight controls of costs and other financial targets as set out in the White Paper, "The Civil Service: Continuity and Change", Cm 2627. Their expenditure is subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

  HM Land Registry and the Public Record Office were separate Government Departments in their own right before becoming executive agencies reporting to the Lord Chancellor. The Public Trust Office was, and remains, a self-contained and separately accommodated unit within the Lord Chancellor's Department. Agency status has not led to any additional expenditure on accommodation at the Public Trust Office. The office makes a separate bid for funding and has always had to plan to meet all its expenditure from fee income. The establishment of executive agencies has, therefore, had no impact on the overall expenditure of the Lord Chancellor's Department.

  A record of the performance of individual agencies in improving efficiency and effectiveness in Government is summarised in "Next Steps Review 1994", Cm 2750.

  As the right hon. Member's question concerns specific operational matters, on which the chief executives of the three agencies are best placed to provide answers, I have accordingly asked the chief executives to reply direct.

  Letter from Sarah Tyacke to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 23 January 1995:
  Parliamentary Question: Expenditure by the Next Steps Agencies
  I have been asked by the Lord Chancellor's Parliamentary Secretary to reply to your question about Next Step issues. The answers to the various points are given below:

  1. The Public Record Office is a separate government department under the Lord Chancellor and has had its own headquarters building for over 150 years.

  2. No additional support staff were required when the office became an Executive Agency.

  3. The only periodical journal that we published is our Readers Bulletin, at a cost of £4,000 per annum.

  4. The Public Record Office has no executive cars.

  5. The Public Record Office had a logo specially designed at a cost of £850.

  6. The Public Record Office has no corporate clothing.

  7. All office stationery is printed in-house. There is no extra cost for printing new corporate stationery.

  Letter from John Manthorpe to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 26 January 1995:
  Parliamentary Question No. 95/181: Expenditure by Executive Agencies
  I have been asked by the Parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department to reply to your recent question concerning specific expenditure items by Executive Agencies.
  HM Land Registry was established in 1862, and has continued since, as a self financing, separate government department directly accountable to the Lord Chancellor. Its move to Executive Agency status in July 1990 did not, as a consequence, involve it in any significant expenditure. I can answer your specific questions as follows:

  389

  (a) The Land Registry's Headquarters building was acquired in 1913 and paid for under the Land Registry (New Buildings) Act 1990 at no cost to the Exchequer;

  (b) Its Headquarters staff has reduced since the launch of the Agency in 1990;

  (c) The only periodical journal produced by the Registry is its internal staff magazine, introduced in 1986;

  (d) The Registry has no executive cars;

  (e) The corporate logo was introduced in 1989 following a staff competition at a cost of £800;

  (f) The Registry does not have corporate clothing;

  (g) The incorporation of the logo into corporate stationery was achieved at no extra cost.

  I do hope that this answers the points raised with the Parliamentary Secretary but please contact me if I can be of any further assistance.

  Letter from Julia C. Lomas to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 24 January 1995:
  The Parliamentary Secretary, of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to you as part of the Lord Chancellor's Department's response to your parliamentary question, listed on 19 January 1995, regarding the cost of establishing Next Step Agencies.
  The Public Trust Office has not acquired any additional accommodation as a result of becoming an Agency.
  Four extra support posts have been created but the additional cost has been met from within the PTO's existing budget allocation from efficiency savings. The creation of these posts in areas such as corporate planning will further contribute to the efficiency of the Office.
  The cost of designing and printing the Framework Document, Corporate and Business Plans in 1994 (the first year of Agency) was £10,980. The Corporate and Business Plans will be published annually together with an annual report. The numbers of these documents required for 1995 is currently being researched and the cost is not expected to exceed £5000.
  The Public Trust Office does not have any executive cars or corporate clothing and has not changed its logo.
  Existing stocks of stationery were used before fresh supplies were ordered with a New Agency heading. The cost of altering the headings was negligible and not separately costed.

  Absenteeism
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the absenteeism rate for(a) the Public Record Office and (b) the Public Trust Office each year since 1991.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executives of the two agencies are best placed to provide an answer. I have accordingly asked the chief executives to reply direct.

  Letter from Julia Lomas to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 23 January 1995:
  Absenteeism at the Public Trust Office
  The Parliamentary Secretary for the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to part (b) of your question listed on 19 January which referred to the "absenteeism rate for the Public Trust Office each year since 1991".
  The most recent figures available are as follows:

  Year

  Number of sick days taken

  Staff in post

  Average sick days per person

  1993

  10,443

  571

  18.29

  1994

  8,930

  561

  15.92

  Note:

  Prior to 1993 separate statistics for the Public Trust Office were not maintained.
  390
  Letter from Duncan Simpson to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 25 January 1995:
  Parliamentary Question: Absenteeism Rate in the Public Record Office since 1991.
  I have been asked by the Lord Chancellor's Parliamentary Secretary to reply to your question about absenteeism rates in the Public Record Office since 1991.
  The Public Record Office has interpreted the data using the 'lost time rate' calculation, which is the standard calculation used in public and private sector organisations for measuring sick absence.

  Lost time rate is calculated as follows:

  Number of working days in period x 100%

  Number of working days available

  The figures for the Public Record Office are therefore:

  Year

  Percentage

  1991

  5.43

  1992

  5.04

  1993

  4 79

  1994

  4.78

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the absenteeism rate for(a) his Department and (b) Her Majesty's Land Registry in each year since 1991.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The average number of working days lost as a result of sick absence for each member of staff within(a) the Lord Chancellor's Department for the years since 1991 is as follows:

  Days lost

  1991

  10.4

  1992

  10.11

  1993

  11.8

  1994

  1—

  1 No details available yet.

  (b) HM Land Registry is a separate executive agency and this question has been passed to the chief executive for reply.

  Letter from John Manthorpe to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 26 January 1995:
  Parliamentary Question No. 95/183: Absenteeism Rate in the Land Registry
  I have been asked by the Parliamentary Secretary for the Lord Chancellor's Department to reply to your recent question concerning the absenteeism rate in HM Land Registry since 1991. 1 can provide the following information:

  Per cent.

  1991

  5.2

  1992

  4.8

  1993

  4.5

  1994

  4.5

  I do hope that this answers the point raised with the Parliamentary Secretary but please contact me if I can be of any further assistance.

  Civil Enforcement Agents
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he will announce proposals for a review of the organisation and management of civil enforcement agents, following public
  391
  consultation in 1992; and if he will make a statement on how these proposals will affect sheriffs.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The public consultation exercise in 1992 raised a wide range of difficult issues, to which the Lord Chancellor continues to give consideration. I am not in a position to say when an announcement will be made or how future proposals will affect sheriffs.

  Departmental Staff
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many employees for which his Department is responsible were women(a) in 1991, (h) 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. John M. Taylor
  Details of the number of women employed in the years 1991–1994 at the relevant grades are set out in the table.

  Number of women employed in the Lord Chancellor's Department for years 1991–1994 at selected grades

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Grade 3

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Grade 7

  45

  51

  64

  78

  EO

  1,242

  1,342

  1,441

  1,442

  AO

  3,454

  3,608

  3,741

  3,644

  AA

  2,187

  2,205

  2,151

  2,054

  Note:

  (i) The figures given are all at 1st April of each year, (ii) they include grade and grade equivalents and (iii) part-time staff are accounted for on a headcount basis.

  Custody Statistics
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the number and percentage of defendants remanded in custody for either way offences who were dealt with within the 70-day limit laid down by the Prosecution of Offences (Custody Time Limit) Regulations 1987; and what was the number and percentage of defendants remanded in custody for indictable offences who were dealt with within the 70-day limit between first appearance and committal laid down by the regulations for each year since the regulations came into force.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Information about the number and percentage of defendants remanded in custody who were dealt with within the 70-day limit is not collected centrally in the form requested. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost and effort.

HEALTH

  Medicines Control Agency
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the members of the Medicines Control Agency, their professional employment, and the details of individual entries in their members' register of interests.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Medicines Control Agency is an executive agency of the Department of Health. Its staff 392
  are civil servants and are therefore subject to the civil service requirements in relation to personal interests.

  Septrin
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action she is taking in respect of the use of Septrin in the United Kingdom;

  (2) what plans she has to remove Septrin from the market; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  We have no plans to remove Septrin from the market. There is no new safety issue with Septrin and recent data support the view that serious adverse effects associated with it are rare. Changing clinical practice, however, favours single rather than combination antibiotic therapy and the Medicines Control Agency is considering whether the licence for Septrin should reflect this.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support she will give to litigants against the Wellcome group in respect of claims for damage caused by Septrin; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  It is not the Department's policy to become involved in individual claims for compensation. This is a matter for individuals themselves to pursue with the companies concerned, if necessary through the courts.

  Hepatitis C
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many persons have been identified as blood donor carriers of hepatitis C under current screening methods; and what advice and counselling they receive.

  Mr. Sackville
  One in 2,000 donors were found to be positive for hepatitis C when screening was introduced in 1991. In the National Blood Service, any donor found to be positive for any infective agent is offered counselling by trained specialist medical staff. In the case of counselling for hepatitis C, national guidelines have been established and are in use at all transfusion centres.

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

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department spent £18,398,000 for 1992–93 and £15,933,037 for 1993–94 from running costs on consultancy. Information on national health service consultancy expenditure is not available centrally.

  Details of the consultants employed by the Department and the tasks performed for 1992–93 were provided to the efficiency unit as part of its scrutiny on the Government's use of external consultants, copies of which will be placed in the Library. For reasons of confidentiality, and in order to achieve value for money in the future, we are unable to list the specific costs of the consultancies concerned and the amounts paid as this would breach contractual agreements and jeopardise future value for money. Information is not held for 1993–94 and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what Government funding is being provided and what other steps are being taken by the Government to enable pursuit of the research programme recommended in chapter 17 of the report of the national task force on myalgic encephalomyelitis published in September 1994.

  Mr. Sackville
  The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The MRC has been funding a study at the Institute of Psychiatry, the estimated cost of which is £91,000, to investigate chronic fatigue in general practitioners' attenders. Researchers at the institute are attempting to find ways to help sufferers of chronic fatigue cope with their disease and regain their health.

  With a view to securing progress and promoting the development of a professional consensus, the chief medical officer has invited the conference of colleges to consider the national task force's report. The views of the conference of colleges will be of much assistance to the Department in helping to determine the best way forward. It is hoped that a response from the conference will be received by the spring.

  Smoking
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the prevalence of cigarette smoking among(a) men over 16 years, (b) women over 16 years, (c) boys aged 11 to 15 years and (d) girls aged 11 to 15 years for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Sackville
  The figures in the tables are extracted from the "General Household Survey 1992" and "Smoking Amongst Secondary School Children in 1993", published by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. Copies of these reports are available in the Library.

  Prevalence of cigarette smoking amongst adults aged 16 and over England 1984–1992

  Percentages

  1984

  1986

  1988

  1990

  1992

  Men

  35

  34

  32

  31

  29

  Women

  32

  31

  30

  28

  27

  Source:OPCS General Household Survey

  Prevalence of regular cigarette smoking amongst pupils aged I1 to 15 England 1984–1993

  Percentages

  1984

  1986

  1988

  1990

  1992

  1993

  Boys

  13

  7

  7

  9

  9

  8

  Girls

  13

  12

  9

  11

  10

  11

  Source: OPCS Smoking amongst secondary school children

  Cosmetic Surgery
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received on the subject of regulating cosmetic surgery.

  Mr. Sackville
  In addition to representations from the hon. Member and from the hon. Member for Gloucester 394
  (Mr. French) we have received 17 letters from members of the public on this subject.

  Blood Clots (Drugs)
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if drugs designed to break up blood clots are available under the NHS to patients aged over 74 years; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  Yes.

  Insulin Syringes (Charges)
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals charge diabetics for insulin syringes; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  None.

  Data Protection
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to introduce legislation to allow the wider use of personal information extracted from the registers of births, deaths and marriages; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Government have no plans to legislate beyond the proposals they published in 1990 in their White Paper "Registration: proposals for change", Cm 939. These proposals include making records of births, deaths and marriages over 75 years old available to public inspection. The Government will introduce a Bill when parliamentary time allows.

  Recruitment
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her Department spent during 1994 on recruiting staff to her Department and its executive agencies; and how many staff were recruited.

  Mr. Sackville
  During 1994, the Department and its executive agencies spent £620,870 recruiting 156 staff.

  Anabolic Agents
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessments she has made of the effect on health of the use of anabolic agents.

  Mr. Sackville
  Anabolic steroids are used therapeutically for certain hormonal and blood disorders. Before a medicinal product may be licensed in this country, it is subject to stringent assessments to ensure that it meets acceptable standards of safety, quality and efficacy. Thereafter, the Medicines Control Agency and its advisory committees, such as the committee on safety of medicines, monitor the safety of all licensed medicines.

  In addition, the Department of Health and Departments for Scotland and for Wales commissioned a report from the Centre for Research on Drugs and Drug Behaviour in 1993, "Anabolic Steroid Use in Great Britain: An Exploratory Investigation", copies of which are in the Library.

  Physiotherapy
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she has considered the evidence by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy regarding damage done to
  395
  patients by unregistered physiotherapists; and what she proposes in response.

  Mr. Sackville
  To practice within the national health service or local authorities, physiotherapists must be registered under the provisions of the Professions Supplementary to Medicine Act 1960.

  The Government are considering what action may be needed in the light of the profession's concern about the activities of unregistered practitioners.

  Plague Vaccine
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the plague vaccine manufactured in the United States of America by Cutter Laboratories, Miles Inc, has been granted a licence in Britain.

  Mr. Sackville
  There are no granted licences in Britain for the plague vaccine manufactured in the United States of America by Cutter Laboratories, Miles Inc.

PRIME MINISTER

  Mortgage Interest Payments
  Mr. Coe
  To ask the Prime Minister what has been the reduction in average mortgage interest payments since their peak.

  The Prime Minister
  The average mortgage interest payment has fallen by £140 per month, not per week as I inadvertently stated in my answer to the right hon. Member for Sedgefield (Mr. Blair) on 26 January 1995,Official Report, column 469.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Exports
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of exports from other European Union countries comes to the United Kingdom(a) as a whole and (b) by each country, in descending order.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The information is given in the table.

  Visible exports to the United Kingdom as a share of total visible exports

  Exports from

  Per cent.

  EU12 less UK

  8.6

  Ireland

  28.7

  Portugal

  11.4

  France

  9.2

  Netherlands

  9.0

  Denmark

  8.9

  Belgium-Luxembourg

  8.3

  Germany

  7.7

  Spain

  7.5

  Italy

  6.4

  Greece

  5.7

  Source: Eurostat Comext database (CD-Rom 1/1995).

  Lloyd's
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list all the legislation governing the activities and regulation of Lloyd's of London.
  396
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The principal legislation governing the activities of Lloyd's of London is:

  (a) the Lloyd's Act 1982 (together with those provisions of the Lloyd's Acts 1871, 1911 and 1951 which remain in force) and bye-laws made thereunder;

  (b) certain provisions of the Insurance Companies Act 1982 (as amended), in particular Part IV (special classes of insurers);

  (c) the Insurance (Lloyd's) Regulations 1983 (as amended), and some provisions of the Insurance Companies Regulations 1994, the Insurance Companies (Third Insurance Directives) Regulations 1994 and the Insurance Companies (Amendment) Regulations 1994;

  (d) Insurance Accounts Directive (Miscellaneous Insurance Undertakings) Regulations 1993.

  That legislation gives effect to EC directives on the consolidation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to direct insurance other than life assurance—directive 73/239/EEC, 88/357/EEC and 92/49/EEC—and the corresponding directives relating to direct life assurance—directives 79/267/EEC, 90/619/EEC and 92/96); and the EC directive on the annual accounts and consolidated accounts of insurance undertakings 91/674/EEC.

  Other, more general, legislation also affects those operating in the Lloyd's market in a manner comparable to the way in which it affects other individuals or undertakings, including legislation governing the terms and conditions of contracts of insurance—for example the Marine Insurance Act 1906.

  Domestic Gas Appliances
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 18 January concerning supply of spare parts for domestic gas appliances, what assessment he has made, and by what means, of the consequences of his plans for the dis-aggregation of British Gas on the current availability of spare parts for licensed appliances and on the time such appliances cannot be used by consumers for reasons of public safety.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  The servicing of domestic gas appliances is a competitive market, in which British Gas service business competes with some 48,000 registered engineers. This part of British Gas operations is therefore not subject to economic regulation and it is for the management of British Gas to choose the most economical and effective means for the supply and distribution of spare parts in order to meet customers' needs.

  Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to issue the proposed discussion document on the implementation of the chemical weapons convention in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  A discussion document on the implications of the chemical weapons convention for industry will be issued on 31 January; copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Latin America (Firearms Sales)
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information his Department has in respect of, and in what ways it is supporting, trade missions to Latin American countries in January and February; what is the involvement of such trade missions in the sale or
  397
  arrangement for sale of items classified under section 5 (1) (b) of the Firearms Act 1968; and if he will list the items which are so classified.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 26 January 1995]: A trade mission organised by the Caribbean trade advisory group of the British Overseas Trade Board will visit Cuba in early February. None of the planned members of the mission is involved in the sale or arrangement for sale of items classified under section 5(1)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968.

  Nigeria (Military Equipment)
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many export licences his Department has issued for the export of non-lethal military equipment to Nigeria since December 1993.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 20 January 1995]:Thirty export licences have been issued for such military equipment since 1 January 1994.

  United Artists (Cable Licence)
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library a copy of the licence issued by his Department to United Artists authorising it to lay cable in Livingston, West Lothian.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 26 January 1995]: Licences issued under section 7 of the Telecommunications Act 1984 are placed in a public register in the Library at the Office of Telecommunications. I have, however, arranged for a copy of the licence for the Falkirk and Livingston cable franchise to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Executive Search Agencies
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what guidelines are operated by his Department as regards the use of executive search agencies to fill vacancies within his Department and his Department's executive agencies; and in what circumstances his Department employs executive search agencies instead of relying fully on Departmental resources to fill vacant posts.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 26 January 1995]: My Department considers using executive search agencies when it is believed that this represents a cost-effective way of extending the field of candidates for key posts.

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total spent on each local authority area under(a) the city task forces, (b) the city grant and (c) the housing action trusts programmes in 1993–94.

  Mr. Curry
  Expenditure by local authority area on each of the programmes in 1993–94 is set out in the table.
  398

  Expenditure by Local Authority area in 1993–94 on Task Forces, City Grant and Housing Action Trusts

  Local Authority

  Task Forces £000s

  City Grant £000s

  HATs1 £000s

  Barnsley

  —

  2,970

  —

  Birmingham

  1,448

  1,665

  2,175

  Blackburn

  —

  517

  —

  Bolton

  —

  101

  —

  Bradford

  1,187

  2,433

  —

  Bristol

  227

  59

  —

  Burnley

  —

  223

  —

  Coventry

  1,172

  404

  —

  Derby

  1,195

  326

  —

  Dudley

  —

  4,698

  —

  Gateshead

  —

  303

  —

  Hackney

  1,050

  —

  —

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  945

  —

  —

  Haringey

  385

  —

  —

  Hartlepool

  24

  2,717

  —

  Kingston upon Hull

  1,158

  122

  28,142

  Kirklees

  —

  654

  —

  Knowsley

  —

  364

  —

  Lambeth

  —

  35

  —

  Langbaurgh on Tees

  —

  122

  —

  Leeds

  —

  121

  —

  Leicester

  —

  57

  —

  Lewisham

  1,040

  41

  —

  Liverpool

  1,200

  6,926

  19,236

  Manchester

  958

  1,322

  —

  Middlesbrough

  221

  521

  —

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  —

  2,642

  —

  North Tyneside

  —

  145

  —

  Nottingham

  1,102

  2,726

  —

  Oldham

  —

  775

  —

  Plymouth

  353

  872

  —

  Preston

  —

  151

  —

  Rochdale

  4

  687

  —

  Rotherham

  —

  44

  —

  Salford

  —

  917

  —

  Sandwell

  —

  400

  —

  Sefton

  —

  303

  —

  Sheffield

  —

  777

  —

  South Tyneside

  1,084

  250

  —

  Southwark

  1,226

  432

  —

  St. Helens

  —

  62

  —

  Stockton on Tees

  452

  —

  —

  Sunderland

  —

  1,093

  —

  Tower Hamlets

  357

  1,511

  8,600

  Waltham Forest

  —

  —

  25,600

  Wigan

  —

  356

  —

  Wirral

  1,030

  165

  —

  Wolverhampton

  —

  3,679

  —

  Wrekin

  —

  20

  —

  Total

  17,818

  44,706

  83,753

  1 Gross expenditure by each Housing Action Trust.

  Single Regeneration Budget
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in rank order the first round single regeneration budget bids showing where the local authorities fell in the index of deprivation at(a) local authority level, (b) by census enumeration districts and c) by the average score of the three worst wards.

  Mr. Curry
  The information is shown in the tables. In addition to the bids included in these tables, there were a further 73 successful and 87 unsuccessful bids which covered more than one local authority area. It is not possible to include these in the rankings.
  399

  Table 1: SRB successful bids (bids covering single local authority areas or parts of a single local authority only)

  Rankings

  Local authority

  Name of bid

  (A)

  (B)

  (C)

  Newham

  Meeting the needs of Newhams Communities

  1

  5

  9

  Newham

  A regional Role in Tomorrows East London

  1

  5

  9

  Newham

  New Dimensions for Stratford and Temple Mills

  1

  5

  9

  Southwark

  Cross River Partnership

  2

  3

  5

  Southwark

  Peckham Partnership

  2

  3

  5

  Hackney

  Building on our Strengths

  3

  1

  4

  Birmingham

  Birmingham Main Bid

  5

  19

  2

  Liverpool

  Dingle

  6

  17

  19

  Liverpool

  Speke/Garston

  6

  17

  19

  Liverpool

  Social Partnership

  6

  17

  19

  Tower Hamlets

  Stepney Revitalisation Bid

  7

  2

  1

  Tower Hamlets

  Raising Participation: Raising Achievement

  7

  2

  1

  Lambeth

  Riverside South

  8

  6

  3

  Sandwell

  Sandwell Regeneration Partnership

  9

  31

  34

  Lewisham

  Into the Mainstream

  11

  12

  8

  Lewisham

  Silwood Estate: Combatting Racial Harassment

  11

  12

  8

  Knowsley

  Knowsley Industrial Park

  12

  14

  28

  Manchester

  St. Vincents

  13

  25

  25

  Manchester

  Manchester

  13

  25

  23

  Manchester

  Miles Platting and Ancoats Young People Initiative

  13

  25

  23

  Greenwich

  Greenwich Regeneration: Woolwich Revival

  14

  15

  20

  Newcastle

  Grainger Town

  17

  22

  26

  Newcastle

  Education for Regeneration

  17

  22

  26

  Newcastle

  Tyneside Bsus

  17

  22

  26

  Newcastle

  Walker Open and Learning and Fitness Centre

  17

  22

  26

  Newcastle

  Scotswood Regeneration Strategy

  17

  22

  26

  Newcastle

  North Benwell-New Beginnings

  17

  22

  26

  Barking and Dagenham

  Roding Valley Area Regeneration

  18

  30

  36

  Wandsworth

  Wandsworth Partnership

  21

  18

  22

  South Tyneside

  Step

  22

  36

  54

  Bradford

  Training for New Technology

  23

  26

  25

  Bradford

  Royds-Bradford

  23

  26

  25

  Middlesborough

  Middlesborough Pride and Enterprise

  24

  79

  79

  Westminster

  The Bloomsbury Project

  26

  10

  12

  Salford

  The Salford Partnership

  28

  41

  21

  Brent

  Chalkhill Estate: Economic and Physical Regeneration

  29

  11

  7

  Kingston upon Hull

  Hull's First SRB Bid

  31

  57

  42

  Blackburn

  Blackburn SRB Bid

  32

  37

  55

  Gateshead

  Eastgate Development

  33

  61

  44

  Sunderland

  City of Sunderland Partnership

  34

  64

  47

  Sheffield

  Sheffield's Bid to the SRB

  36

  35

  18

  Ealing

  Centre for Manufacturing and Engineering Innovation

  38

  24

  31

  Oldham

  Oldham

  39

  58

  48

  Brighton

  Regenerating Centra) Brighton

  40

  21

  33

  Doncasler

  Stainforth Estate Action

  41

  68

  66

  Southampton

  Southampton City Centre

  42

  27

  32

  Bristol

  Bristol 2020

  43

  55

  35

  Lincoln

  City of Lincoln

  48

  89

  124

  Rochdale

  Canalside Rochdale

  50

  78

  60

  North Tyneside

  Meadowell Regeneration

  52

  62

  73

  Plymouth

  Plymouth 2000 Partnership-Turning the Tide

  53

  29

  14

  Barnsley

  Sustainable Regeneration for Barnsley

  54

  244

  142

  St. Helens

  St. Helens Southern Corridor

  55

  134

  116

  Leeds

  Removing Barriers-Creating Opportunity

  56

  67

  24

  Burnley

  Initiative Burnley

  57

  65

  86

  Easington

  East Durham Regeneration

  58

  235

  152

  Norwich

  Norwich Mile Cross

  59

  75

  81

  Rotherham

  Shaping Rotherham's Future

  60

  109

  90

  Wirral

  Hamilton Quarter

  61

  87

  59

  Langbaurgh on Tees

  Grangetown

  62

  141

  93

  Wansbeck

  Wansbeck Initiative

  63

  86

  140

  Wansbeck

  Aiming High

  63

  86

  140

  Stoke on Trent

  Cobridge Community Renewal

  64

  138

  103

  Tameside

  Tame Valley Initiative

  65

  112

  128

  Derwentshire

  Consett Southern Area

  66

  320

  173

  Hove

  Hove Means Business

  68

  20

  45

  Stockton on Tees

  Tilery Project

  69

  98

  69

  Hastings

  The Battle for Hastings—Town Centre

  70

  32

  51

  Wakefield

  SESKU—Wakefield

  71

  239

  143

  Oxford

  Blackbird Leys/Cowley Initiative

  72

  43

  57

  Sefton

  Netherton

  73

  52

  63

  Sefton

  Bootle Village

  73

  52

  63

  400 401

  Table 1: SRB successful bids (bids covering single local authority areas or parts of a single local authority only)

  Rankings

  Local authority

  Name of bid

  (A)

  (B)

  (C)

  Wigan

  Wigan Plc

  74

  161

  136

  Derby

  Investing in Derby People

  76

  99

  75

  Scunthorpe

  Grimsby and Cleethorpes

  77

  101

  107

  Scunthorpe

  Scunthorpe Bid for SRB Resources

  77

  101

  107

  Thanet

  Thanet District Council SRB Bid

  81

  39

  53

  Sedgefield

  Bessember Park

  85

  224

  167

  Kirklees

  Huddersfield Challenge

  88

  113

  113

  Kirklees

  Kirklees—Routeways to Success

  88

  113

  113

  Hyndburn

  The Regeneration of Central Accrington

  89

  151

  141

  Reading

  Hexham Road Estate, Reading

  92

  53

  52

  Thurrock

  The Tilbury Project, Essex

  94

  83

  111

  Thurrock

  George Street Redevelopment

  94

  83

  111

  Calderdale

  West Central Halifax

  97

  76

  100

  Calderdale

  The Elland Initiative

  97

  76

  100

  Hounslow

  The Bid for Brentford

  99

  42

  68

  Bolsover

  Bolsover Diamond

  100

  320

  182

  Copeland

  Renaissance of Whitehaven

  101

  219

  160

  Torbay

  Torbay (Brixham)

  107

  49

  76

  Rochester Upon Medway

  Medway City Estate Management Initiative

  109

  72

  65

  Rochester Upon Medway

  Small Business Village, Luton, Chatham

  109

  72

  65

  Rochester Upon Medway

  Chatham Campus—Business Creation and Technology

  109

  72

  65

  Lancaster

  Morecambe—Turning the Tide

  111

  48

  56

  Ipswich

  Ispwich Wet Dock

  114

  135

  119

  Carlisle

  Carlisle—Raffles Sets the Pace

  124

  253

  205

  Ellesmere Port and Neston

  Ellesmere Port Epicentre Strategy

  131

  216

  134

  The Wrekin

  The Telford Partnership

  132

  179

  171

  Swale

  Swale Regenerating the Isle of Sheppey

  133

  118

  122

  Eastbourne

  Energise Eastbourne—Eastbourne Town Centre

  136

  83

  153

  Gloucester

  Urban Regeneration in Barton and Tredworth

  137

  56

  83

  Alnwick

  Amble Regeneration

  140

  320

  234

  Dudley

  Dudley—Foundation for the Future

  142

  103

  99

  Cannock Chase

  The Gateway Project

  143

  320

  164

  Northampton

  Northampton Partnership

  144

  128

  70

  Trafford

  Old Trafford

  146

  126

  84

  Weymouth and Portland

  The Island and Royal Manor of Portland

  166

  117

  130

  Eden

  Eden (Appleby Training Centre)

  172

  320

  309

  Dover

  Whitecliff Business Park Dover

  177

  152

  120

  Fenland

  Integrated Regeneration Strategy for the Wisbech Area

  178

  227

  181

  Basildon

  The Bonus Project

  182

  217

  176

  Sutton

  The Northern Wards

  183

  110

  147

  Gillingham

  Architecture Centre—North Kent

  192

  80

  92

  Crewe and Nantwich

  All Change at Crewe

  194

  156

  161

  Chester

  Regeneration in West Chester

  198

  106

  109

  Ashford

  South Ashford Urban Renewal Initiative

  206

  240

  166

  Harrow

  Ethnic Minority Business Development

  207

  133

  208

  West Lindsey

  Gainsborough Riverside Regeneration

  210

  242

  190

  Epping Forest

  The Limes Farm Partnership

  212

  192

  248

  Craven

  Craven: Hellifield Station

  216

  320

  306

  North Bedfordshire

  Queens Park Partnership, Bedford

  227

  105

  88

  Sedgemoor

  The Sydenham Estate, Bridgwater, Somerset

  233

  194

  219

  Leominster

  Kington Connected Community

  237

  320

  324

  Kingswood

  Kingswood Revitalisation Project

  280

  320

  300

  Congelton

  Congleton Town and Industry Initiative

  284

  320

  331

  Selby

  The Selby Waterfront Partnership

  295

  320

  221

  Braintree

  The East Braintree Bid

  315

  320

  285

  Cherwell

  Grimsbury Regeneration, Banbury Oxon

  350

  160

  216

  Table 2: SRB unsuccessful bids (bids covering single local authority areas or parts of a single local authority only)

  Rankings

  Local authority

  Name of bid

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  Newham

  New Routes to New Jobs, Canning Town

  1

  5

  9

  Newham

  Royals University College Technology Institute

  1

  5

  9

  Southwark

  Raising Achievement (ELAN)

  2

  3

  5

  Southwark

  Bermondsey and Rotherhithe Enterprise Network

  2

  3

  5

  Hackney

  Enhance Employment Prospects, Promote Equality

  3

  1

  4

  Islington

  Destination King's Cross

  4

  4

  11

  Islington

  Investment in Achievement

  4

  4

  11

  Birmingham

  Bangladeshi Youth Forum

  5

  19

  2

  Birmingham

  Afro-Caribbean Resource Centre

  5

  19

  2

  402 403

  Table 2: SRB unsuccessful bids (bids covering single local authority areas or parts of a single local authority only)

  Rankings

  Local authority

  Name of bid

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  Birmingham

  Small Heath School

  5

  19

  2

  Birmingham

  Camp Lane Working Group

  5

  19

  2

  Birmingham

  Birmingham Consortium of Colleges

  5

  19

  2

  Liverpool

  Parents and Under 8s

  6

  17

  19

  Liverpool

  Liverpool City of Architecture

  6

  17

  19

  Liverpool

  Second Chance

  6

  17

  19

  Tower Hamlets

  Davenant Centre

  7

  2

  1

  Lambeth

  Adding Value in Media and Cultural Sectors

  8

  6

  3

  Sandwell

  Interpretation Services and English Skills

  9

  31

  34

  Sandwell

  Black Country Urban Vinyard

  9

  31

  34

  Sandwell

  English Skills for the Sikh Community

  9

  31

  34

  Lewisham

  Lewisham Literacy 2000

  11

  12

  8

  Knowsley

  Regeneration Through Partnership

  12

  14

  28

  Manchester

  Greater Monsall Initiative

  13

  25

  23

  Manchester

  Support of Ethnic Minorities

  13

  25

  23

  Manchester

  Advice and Info Strategy

  13

  25

  23

  Manchester

  INCITU

  13

  25

  23

  Manchester

  Moss Side Initiative

  13

  25

  23

  Manchester

  Regional Centres Strategy

  13

  25

  23

  Manchester

  Gorton

  13

  25

  23

  Manchester

  Employment Enterprise and Training

  13

  25

  23

  Manchester

  Visions

  13

  25

  23

  Greenwich

  Raising Employability

  14

  15

  20

  Greenwich

  Increasing Business Competitiveness

  14

  15

  20

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  Enhancing Employment Prospects and EDUC. Achievement

  16

  9

  10

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  North End Road Corridor

  16

  9

  10

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  Partnership Against Crime

  16

  9

  10

  Newcastle

  Newburn Haugh Industrial Development

  17

  22

  26

  Newcastle

  Newcastle Safer Cities

  17

  22

  26

  Newcastle

  Televillage

  17

  22

  26

  Newcastle

  Job Access Programme

  17

  22

  26

  Kensington and Chelsea

  Language Support—ESOL

  19

  13

  15

  Kensington and Chelsea

  From Earls Court to World's End

  19

  13

  15

  Waltham Forest

  SRB Bid for Leyton

  20

  16

  6

  Wandsworth

  Strategy to Prevent Youth Crime

  21

  18

  22

  Bradford

  Manningham/City Centre

  23

  26

  25

  Bradford

  Ethnic Minorities SRB

  23

  26

  25

  Bradford

  Bradford High Technology Partnership

  23

  26

  25

  Bradford

  Keighley SRB

  23

  26

  25

  Middlesbo rough

  Ethnic Business Initiative

  24

  79

  79

  Westminster

  Integration of Homeless Families and Refugees

  26

  10

  12

  Westminster

  Amberely Estate

  26

  10

  12

  Westminster

  Church Street Neighbourhood

  26

  10

  12

  Wolverhampton

  Wolverhampton's SRB Bid

  27

  45

  38

  Brent

  South Kilburn Family Centre

  29

  11

  7

  Brent

  Brent Language Service

  29

  11

  7

  Brent

  Crime Reduction, Employment and Training Programme

  29

  11

  7

  Brent

  Brent Adult and Community Education

  29

  11

  7

  Blackpool

  Blackpool Strategy for Regeneration

  30

  23

  17

  Gateshead

  The Bede Centre

  33

  61

  44

  Gateshead

  Team Valley Crime Prevention Initiative

  33

  61

  44

  Gateshead

  Top Team

  33

  61

  44

  Hartlepool

  Hartlepool Youth Strategy

  35

  130

  91

  Sheffield

  Childcare Partnership Programme

  36

  35

  18

  Leicester

  The Leicester Mosque Trust

  37

  70

  41

  Oldham

  Oldham Telecite

  39

  58

  48

  Doncaster

  Doncaster Regeneration Partnership

  41

  68

  66

  Walsall

  Walsall for Tomorrow

  44

  59

  64

  Preston

  Ribble Link Navigation

  47

  71

  37

  Preston

  Preston Inner East

  47

  71

  37

  Bolton

  Community Arts and Sports Centre

  49

  88

  62

  Bolton

  Bolton Renaissance

  49

  88

  62

  Rochdale

  Blackstone Edge Outdoor Pursuits and Residential Centre

  50

  78

  60

  Halton

  Building Capacity and Competitive Strength

  51

  93

  117

  North Tyneside

  Safer Communities Initiatives

  52

  62

  73

  Barnsley

  Royston Comprehensive School

  53

  244

  142

  Barns ley

  Rain Project

  54

  244

  142

  St Helens

  Newton le Willows

  54

  134

  116

  Barnsley

  Barnsley SRB

  54

  244

  142

  Leeds

  Jamaica Society

  56

  67

  24

  Leeds

  Industry/Education

  56

  67

  24

  404 405

  Table 2: SRB unsuccessful bids (bids covering single local authority areas or parts of a single local authority only)

  Rankings

  Local authority

  Name of bid

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  Wirral

  Tranmere

  61

  87

  59

  Wirral

  Business Care Pilot

  61

  87

  59

  Wirral

  Wirral Green Alliance LEAC

  61

  87

  59

  Wirral

  Cammel Laird

  61

  87

  59

  Wirral

  Bidstone/M53 Corridor/Cross Lane

  61

  87

  59

  Derby

  Derby City Partnership

  76

  99

  75

  Corby

  Corby Town Centre Regeneration

  78

  146

  172

  Blyth Valley

  Blyth Renaissance

  80

  320

  169

  Thanet

  St Peter's Parochial Church Council

  81

  39

  53

  Darlington

  Darlington SRB

  82

  126

  115

  Great Yarmouth

  North Quay Refurbishment

  86

  40

  39

  Kirklees

  Personal Development and Regeneration

  88

  113

  113

  Barrow in Furness

  Heart of Barrow

  93

  112

  126

  Slough

  Slough Foyer

  95

  85

  125

  Enfield

  Interkids Project

  96

  38

  46

  Hounslow

  Ivybridge South Isleworth

  99

  42

  68

  Pendle

  Meeting the Challenge to Manufacturing

  103

  181

  127

  Merton

  Community Enterprise on Phipps Bridge

  104

  46

  61

  Merton

  Merton Tramlink

  104

  46

  61

  Merton

  A New View of Pollards Hill

  104

  46

  61

  Merton

  Wandle Strategy: Partnership for Skills

  104

  46

  61

  Merton

  Designing Out Crime—Rear Alleyways

  104

  46

  61

  Southend

  Pierhead Development

  110

  73

  80

  Southend

  CC-TV Surveillance

  110

  73

  80

  Peterborough

  The Welland Action Project

  112

  142

  85

  West Lancashire

  Midstream

  116

  320

  175

  Exeter

  Exeter Homes Committee

  118

  81

  123

  Exeter

  Community Safety

  118

  81

  123

  Gravesham

  The High Street—Gravesend

  121

  97

  133

  Gravesham

  North East Gravesend

  121

  97

  133

  Croydon

  Basic Skills for Regeneration in Croydon

  125

  54

  40

  Allerdale

  Maryport Job-Builder

  126

  246

  165

  Chester le Street

  Chester le Street Town Centre

  128

  320

  195

  Chester le Street

  Plawsworth Direct Access Centre

  128

  320

  195

  Chester le Street

  Chester le Street Riverside

  128

  320

  195

  Restormel

  St Austell Town Regeneration Strategy

  129

  119

  210

  Shepway

  Regeneration of East Folkestone

  130

  50

  58

  Bassetlaw

  Destination Bassetlaw Ltd

  138

  153

  112

  Barnet

  Cricklewood Partnership

  139

  51

  77

  Barnet

  Graham Park Area Partnership

  139

  51

  77

  Dudley

  Cable Technology

  142

  103

  99

  Trafford

  Longford Park

  146

  126

  84

  Ryedale

  Writers Workshop

  146

  63

  89

  Dartford

  Business Innovation Centre

  149

  213

  157

  Dartford

  Holy Trinity Church

  149

  213

  157

  North Cornwall

  The Kinsman Estate, Bodmin

  151

  320

  271

  Chorley

  Chorley Open Learning Centre

  152

  320

  246

  North Devon

  The Ilfracombe Partnership

  153

  167

  148

  North Devon

  North Devon Food Village

  153

  167

  148

  Cheltenham

  Cheltenham Millenium

  155

  150

  110

  Havering

  Harold Hill Regeneration

  158

  129

  74

  Bury

  Bridge Hall Area Consolidation

  161

  108

  138

  Bury

  Building a Quality Learning Community Together

  161

  108

  138

  East Staffordshire

  Burton Regeneration Programme

  165

  167

  129

  Tendring

  Clacton Tourism Development Project

  168

  100

  102

  Kingston upon Thames

  Charter Quay—The Missing Link

  169

  107

  155

  Kingston upon Thames

  Kingston Country Court Lay Advocacy Scheme

  169

  107

  155

  Richmond upon Thames

  Boat Project

  173

  164

  232

  Richmond upon Thames

  Butt Farm Initiative

  173

  164

  232

  Warrington

  North West International Business Centre

  174

  155

  105

  Bexley

  Erith and Belvedere Partnership

  181

  96

  101

  Bexley

  Skills, Training and Enterprise in Thamesmead

  181

  96

  101

  Bexley

  Whitehall Centre

  181

  96

  101

  Bexley

  Building Craft Workshops

  181

  96

  101

  Sutton

  Releasing Local Potential

  183

  110

  147

  Newcastle under Lyme

  Greater Chesterton Community Programme

  184

  256

  184

  Oswestry

  Victoria Ward

  185

  320

  263

  Wyre

  Silicon Fylde Enterprise Stimulation

  187

  126

  137

  Canterbury

  Whitstable Harbour Ward Regeneration

  188

  115

  87

  Waveney

  Roman Hill Partnership, Lowestoft

  191

  121

  94

  Gillingham

  Giltingham District Centre

  192

  80

  92

  406 407

  Table 2: SRB unsuccessful bids (bids covering single local authority areas or parts of a single local authority only)

  Rankings

  Local authority

  Name of bid

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  Teesdale

  Evenwood and Barony Parish

  204

  320

  243

  Boothferry

  Economic and Social Opportunities in Goole

  205

  210

  198

  Amber Valley

  Langley Mill

  209

  255

  235

  Stockport

  Project Youth Stockport

  213

  131

  98

  Craven

  Craven SRB

  216

  320

  306

  High Peak

  High Peak Partnership, The Glossop Project

  218

  180

  202

  Staffordshire Moorlands

  Leek SRB Bid

  224

  320

  241

  South Derbyshire

  Made in Swadlincote Partnership

  225

  218

  328

  Rother

  Rye Habour

  241

  234

  159

  Thamesdown

  Swindon Foyer

  245

  193

  131

  Maidstone

  Maidstone Town Centre Community Initiative

  246

  116

  132

  Arun

  Lineside Industrial Estate/Wickbourne Estate

  256

  126

  106

  Arun

  Investing in the Community—Bognor Regis

  256

  126

  106

  Derbyshire Dales

  The Bakewell Project

  257

  320

  358

  Ribble Valley

  Ribble Valley

  262

  320

  352

  Macclesfield

  Community Link

  274

  223

  274

  Milton Keynes

  Tackling Disadvantage in a New Town

  279

  197

  170

  Woking

  Sheerwater, Central and Maybury Regeneration

  291

  143

  180

  Poole

  Hamworthy SRB Bid

  293

  145

  242

  Guildford

  North Guildford Quality in Education

  304

  199

  312

  Lewes

  Newhaven Town Centre

  308

  229

  215

  Kennet

  Tidworth Community Regeneration Bid

  311

  320

  308

  Cotswold

  Northleach Regeneration Scheme

  316

  252

  304

  Harrogate

  Regeneration of Ripon

  318

  272

  224

  Charnwood

  Loughborough Bid

  331

  320

  186

  Woodspring

  Developing Individuals

  333

  132

  96

  Mendip

  Morlands Industrial Site, Glastonbury

  334

  191

  291

  West Wiltshire

  West Wiltshire DC Sports Facilities

  339

  320

  283

  Wealden

  Herstmonceux Science Centre

  342

  266

  258

  Chelmsford

  The Boarded Barns Estate

  361

  320

  289

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish his guidance for the second round of bidding on the single regeneration budget.

  Mr. Curry
  In the spring.

  Recruitment
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much his Department spent during 1994 on recruiting staff to his Department and its executive agencies; and how many staff were recruited.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  During 1994 my Department spent £451,905 on recruiting staff to the Department and its executive agencies: 122 staff were recruited.

  Local Government Commission
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will come to a decision on the Local Government Commission's final recommendations for Lancashire.

  CO/OPSS

  CCTA

  CS COLLEGE

  CCC

  1993

  1994

  1993

  1994

  1993

  1994

  1993

  1994

  Grade 7

  26

  27

  5

  7

  21

  19

  1

  1

  Grade 3

  0

  2

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Executive officer level

  115

  120

  23

  20

  28

  30

  50

  50

  Administrative officer level

  153

  163

  31

  40

  57

  61

  108

  92

  Administrative assistant level

  122

  116

  3

  4

  4

  2

  49

  44

  Total women in department

  493

  507

  124

  135

  111

  112

  261

  237

  Total staff in department

  874

  906

  412

  378

  268

  273

  486

  447

  408
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  We are still considering the Local Government Commission's recommendations about the future structure of local government in Lancashire, and will announce a decision as soon as possible.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Departmental Employees
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 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. Robert G. Hughes
  The Department and agencies for which my right hon. Friend is responsible did not exist in any comparable form before the 1992 election. The figures for 1993 and 1994 for these and other areas which fall within the Cabinet Office vote are as follows:
  409

  OHS

  RAS

  COI

  HMSO

  1993

  1994

  1993

  1994

  1993

  1994

  1993

  1994

  Grade 7

  3

  3

  6

  6

  7

  8

  5

  5

  Grade 3

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Executive Officer level

  18

  16

  19

  16

  22

  26

  149

  158

  Administrative Officer level

  41

  39

  41

  39

  59

  50

  422

  397

  Administrative assistant level

  8

  7

  28

  25

  7

  5

  142

  122

  Total women in department

  112

  109

  94

  86

  95

  89

  971

  936

  Total staff in department

  131

  126

  197

  151

  579

  515

  3,157

  3,117

  Technology Foresight
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the panel reports of the technology foresight exercise will be published;, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  The foresight sector panel reports will be published in the spring. These reports will provide a sectoral focus. An overarching report from the technology foresight steering group will be published. This will draw together the main themes arising from the exercise.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Absenteeism
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Attorney-General what was the absenteeism rate for(a) the Government Property Lawyers and (b) the Law Officer's departments in each year since 1991.

  The Attorney-General
  The information available for absences through sickness is:

  Numbers of staff employed

  Numbers of days absences

  a) Government Property Lawyers

  19921

  —

  —

  1993

  127

  1,021.0

  1994

  128

  1,225.0

  b) Crown Prosecution Service

  1992

  6,221

  48,213.0

  1993

  6,500

  53,495.0

  1994

  6,686

  57,284.0

  c) Treasury Solicitor's Department

  19922

  473

  6,344.5

  1993

  357

  6,233.5

  1994

  377

  6,274.0

  d) Serious Fraud Office

  1992

  168

  1,519.0

  1993

  199

  1,398.0

  1994

  163

  1,590.0

  e) Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers

  1992

  26

  47.5

  1993

  27

  46.0

  1994

  27

  32.0

  1 Government Property Lawyers Agency was created on 1st April 1993.

  2 The figures for 1992 include staff of what is now Government Property Lawyers.

  Next Steps Agencies
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will set out for each of the next steps agencies in his Department, whether they have acquired their own headquarters buildings and, if so, at what purchase cost or annual rental; how many support staff they have required which were not required when their operations were within his Department; how many of them published 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 specially 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.

  The Attorney-General
  The chief executive of the Government Property Lawyers has provided the following information. Of the matters raised by the hon. Member, only the following have resulted from the establishment of the agency:

  £

  Cost of specially designed logo

  1,586

  Cost of specially designed and printed stationery

  464

EDUCATION

  School Finances
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her answer of 19 January,Official Report, columns 641–42, on what date information requested by the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth on the balances held by schools in England was due in to her Department; what steps are being taken to obtain the information where it is late; and what requirement is made of local education authorities to give reasons if the information is late.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Regulations made under section 42 of the Education Reform Act 1988 require local education authorities to publish their local management of schools outturn statements before 1 November following the end of the financial year to which the statement relates. In relation to statements for the year 1993–94, a letter was sent by the Department to all LEAs in October 1994 reminding them of the imminence of this deadline. In cases of significant delay, the LEAs in question have been further reminded as appropriate, and explanations obtained from them. The attention of LEAs has also been drawn to the powers of the Secretary of State under section 99 of the Education Act 1944.
  411
  In the table included in the answer given on 19 January to the hon. Member, the following figures should be substituted for those previously given:

  LEA

  Balance £000

  Avon

  12,093

  Buckinghamshire

  8,116

  Dorest

  7,200

  Secondary Schools
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is(a) the number of places, (b) the

  Net surplus places in secondary schools by local authority area (excluding GM schools in stage 1 authorities—see note 1) January 1994

  LEA maintained schools

  Self governing (GM) schools (see note 2)

  Number of places

  Number on roll

  Percentage excess (see note 3)

  Number of places

  Number on roll

  Percentage excess (see note 3)

  LEA

  Avon1

  63,459

  52,708

  17

  —

  —

  —

  Barking

  9,390

  9,756

  -4

  —

  —

  —

  Barnet

  9,917

  8,885

  10

  10,351

  9,905

  4

  Barnsley

  15,280

  12,730

  17

  —

  —

  —

  Bedfordshire

  43,641

  35,859

  18

  9,493

  8,852

  7

  Berkshire

  45,556

  39,596

  13

  8,653

  7,409

  14

  Bexley

  12,522

  10,860

  13

  3,691

  3,655

  1

  Birmingham

  58,380

  49,551

  15

  16,521

  15,177

  8

  Bolton

  14,931

  14,228

  5

  3,036

  2,803

  8

  Bradford

  46,291

  40,988

  11

  5,005

  5,286

  -6

  Brent

  3,329

  2,983

  10

  11,664

  9,705

  17

  Bromley

  5,610

  5,584

  0

  11,957

  11,553

  3

  Buckinghamshire

  28,608

  26,989

  6

  10,218

  10,174

  0

  Bury

  10,687

  10,333

  3

  —

  —

  —

  Calderdale

  8,449

  6,846

  19

  7,124

  6,543

  8

  Cambridgeshire

  27,112

  25,630

  5

  16,055

  15,274

  5

  Camden

  8,810

  8,276

  6

  2,309

  2,381

  -3

  Cheshire1

  67,671

  61,091

  10

  —

  —

  —

  Cleveland

  44,670

  36,437

  18

  —

  —

  —

  Cornwall

  30,810

  28,977

  6

  —

  —

  —

  Corporation of London

  0

  0

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Coventry

  23,232

  19,013

  18

  —

  —

  —

  Croydon

  9,654

  9,002

  7

  6,320

  5,907

  7

  Cumbria

  23,982

  20,311

  15

  13,042

  10,873

  17

  Derbyshire

  50,432

  42,062

  17

  16,348

  15,485

  5

  Devon1

  57,357

  54,127

  6

  —

  —

  —

  Doncaster

  28,134

  21,869

  22

  —

  —

  —

  Dorset

  32,932

  31,294

  5

  10,554

  9,947

  6

  Dudley

  15,274

  13,456

  12

  4,846

  4,669

  4

  Durham

  45,675

  37,708

  17

  —

  —

  —

  Ealing

  8.081

  7,368

  9

  6,228

  6,111

  2

  East Sussex

  37,232

  34,348

  8

  —

  —

  —

  Enfield

  13,616

  12,214

  10

  5,891

  5,634

  4

  Essex

  35,532

  28,787

  19

  77,500

  67,108

  13

  Gateshead

  14,223

  11,751

  17

  —

  —

  —

  Gloucestershire

  12,463

  11,239

  10

  23,285

  22,150

  5

  Greenwich

  16,730

  13,980

  16

  —

  —

  —

  Hackney

  9,408

  7,445

  21

  —

  —

  —

  Hammersmith

  7,248

  4,648

  36

  1,178

  1,237

  -5

  Hampshire

  70,357

  62,950

  11

  16,692

  16,249

  3

  Haringey

  10,718

  9,222

  14

  —

  —

  —

  Harrow1

  7,650

  7,792

  -2

  —

  —

  —

  Havering

  13,280

  11,015

  17

  3,642

  3,880

  -7

  Hereford and Worcester1

  51,305

  43,833

  15

  —

  —

  —

  Hertfordshire

  57,405

  47,368

  17

  23,557

  20,979

  11

  Hillingdon

  2,596

  2,127

  18

  12,369

  11,988

  3

  Hounslow

  12,011

  12,403

  -3

  2,108

  2,123

  -1

  Humberside

  66,592

  56.111

  16

  —

  —

  —

  Isle of Wight

  11,168

  10,498

  6

  —

  —

  —

  Isles of Scilly

  345

  122

  65

  —

  —

  —

  Islington

  8,855

  7,215

  19

  —

  —

  —

  412
  number of pupils and (c) the percentage excess or shortage of places in (i) local education authority maintained and (ii) grant-maintained secondary schools in each local education authority in England.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information is given in the table. Data on surplus places in the 286 grant-maintained schools in stage 1 authorities are not available. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave the Member for St. Ives (Mr. Harris) on Friday 9 December 1994,Official Report, columns 410–14 which gave for each local education authority the total number of unfilled places in schools where the number of places is greater than the number of pupils.
  413

  Net surplus places in secondary schools by local authority area (excluding GM schools in stage 1 authorities—see note 1) January 1994

  LEA maintained schools

  Self governing (GM) schools (see note 2)

  Number of places

  Number on roll

  Percentage excess (see note 3)

  Number of places

  Number on roll

  Percentage excess (see note 3)

  Kensington

  3,253

  2,541

  22

  614

  621

  -1

  Kent

  60,419

  50,126

  17

  58,380

  52,118

  11

  Kingston upon Thames

  5,094

  4,886

  4

  3,214

  2,901

  10

  Kirklees1

  26,642

  23,608

  11

  —

  —

  —

  Knowsley1

  9,986

  8,365

  16

  —

  —

  —

  Lambeth

  5,464

  2,998

  45

  3,984

  3,308

  17

  Lancashire1

  87,983

  77,417

  12

  —

  —

  —

  Leeds1

  48,110

  42,450

  12

  —

  —

  —

  Leicestershire1

  65,946

  56,693

  14

  —

  —

  —

  Lewisham

  11,924

  10,888

  9

  —

  —

  —

  Lincolnshire

  23,892

  21,206

  11

  17,736

  16,635

  6

  Liverpool1

  35,422

  28,190

  20

  —

  —

  —

  Manchester

  33,733

  21,685

  36

  —

  —

  —

  Merton

  8,674

  7,313

  16

  —

  —

  —

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  21,301

  16,898

  21

  —

  —

  —

  Newham1

  16,144

  13,485

  16

  —

  —

  —

  Norfolk

  35,198

  32,032

  9

  9,067

  8,802

  3

  North Tyneside1

  17,204

  14,122

  18

  —

  —

  —

  North Yorkshire

  49,566

  44,040

  11

  —

  —

  —

  Northamptonshire

  38,639

  35,524

  8

  10,134

  9,386

  7

  Northumberland1

  31,320

  28,769

  8

  —

  —

  —

  Nottinghamshire1

  81,573

  61,931

  24

  —

  —

  —

  Oldham

  17,200

  16,330

  5

  —

  —

  —

  Oxfordshire

  41,833

  35,144

  16

  —

  —

  —

  Redbridge1

  14,057

  14,237

  -1

  —

  —

  —

  Richmond upon Thames

  7,710

  7,622

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Rochdale1

  14,105

  11,854

  16

  —

  —

  —

  Rotherham

  20,884

  18,187

  13

  —

  —

  —

  Salford1

  14,509

  11,209

  23

  —

  —

  —

  Sandwell1

  20,988

  17,765

  15

  —

  —

  —

  Sefton

  22,335

  19,030

  15

  —

  —

  —

  Sheffield1

  30,348

  25,045

  17

  —

  —

  —

  Shropshire

  26,102

  21,522

  18

  3,703

  3,701

  0

  Solihull

  13,948

  13,506

  3

  —

  —

  —

  Somerset1

  30,803

  27,654

  10

  —

  —

  —

  South Tyneside

  11,504

  9,570

  17

  —

  —

  —

  Southwark

  8,505

  6,598

  22

  3,175

  2,786

  12

  St. Helens

  13,880

  11,759

  15

  —

  —

  —

  Staffordshire1

  67,215

  65,023

  3

  —

  —

  —

  Stockport

  17,812

  16,020

  10

  —

  —

  —

  Suffolk

  53,590

  48,024

  10

  —

  —

  —

  Sunderland

  21,729

  19,436

  11

  —

  —

  —

  Surrey

  35,138

  34,015

  3

  12,529

  11,390

  9

  Sutton

  4,443

  4,660

  -5

  6,705

  6,699

  0

  Tameside

  12,346

  11,001

  11

  2,171

  2,371

  -9

  Tower Hamlets1

  13,080

  10,985

  16

  —

  —

  —

  Trafford

  10,272

  8,864

  14

  3,402

  3,083

  9

  Wakefield

  24,623

  20,077

  18

  —

  —

  —

  Walsall

  16,297

  13,738

  16

  6,567

  5,768

  12

  Waltham Forest

  11,097

  9,407

  15

  2,078

  2,099

  -1

  Wandsworth

  3,464

  2,335

  33

  7,785

  6,606

  15

  Warwickshire

  25,580

  20,304

  21

  5,993

  4,483

  20

  West Sussex

  45,558

  39,952

  12

  —

  —

  —

  Westminster

  7,911

  7,464

  6

  —

  —

  —

  Wigan

  21,604

  19,523

  10

  —

  —

  —

  Wiltshire

  24,811

  20,787

  16

  15,353

  13,700

  11

  Wirral1

  22,818

  19,052

  17

  —

  —

  —

  Wolverhampton

  16,640

  13,597

  18

  2,747

  2,404

  12

  1 Stage 1 LEAs which have one or more GM secondary schools

  1. Stage 1 = less than 10% of pupils in the GM sector

  2. The GM columns include schools which became grant-maintained on or before 1 April 1994.

  3. A negative figure indicates a net shortage of places.

  Expenditure (Books and Equipment)
  Dr. Hampson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much per pupil was spent by each local education authority on books and equipment in 1993–94 prices in(a) 1979–80 and (b) 1993–94.
  414
  Mr. Robin Squire
  The table sets out per-pupil expenditure in 1993–94 prices by LEAs in England on books and equipment at LEA-maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in 1979–80 and 1992–93, the latest year for which figures are available. Equivalent information is not available for grant-maintained schools.
  415

  Expenditure on books and equipment per pupil in 1979–80 and 1992–93 by LEA (in 1993–94 prices)

  Nursery primary and secondary 1979–80 £

  Nursery primary and secondary 1992–93 £

  ILEA

  126

  —

  Corporation of London

  —

  114

  Camden

  —

  81

  Greenwich

  —

  45

  Hackney

  —

  34

  Hammersmith

  —

  61

  Islington

  —

  56

  Kensington and Chelsea

  —

  82

  Lambeth

  —

  14

  Lewisham

  —

  197

  Southwark

  —

  64

  Tower Hamlets

  —

  127

  Wandsworth

  —

  56

  Westminster

  —

  261

  Barking

  40

  111

  Barnet

  55

  102

  Bexley

  63

  55

  Brent

  75

  66

  Bromley

  53

  71

  Croydon

  50

  69

  Ealing

  56

  48

  Enfield

  50

  31

  Haringey

  66

  13

  Harrow

  67

  105

  Havering

  51

  85

  Hillingdon

  56

  92

  Hounslow

  53

  93

  Kingston upon Thames

  46

  71

  Merton

  51

  102

  Newham

  66

  82

  Redbridge

  54

  102

  Richmond upon Thames

  50

  74

  Sutton

  55

  54

  Waltham Forest

  71

  63

  Birmingham

  37

  76

  Coventry

  48

  65

  Dudley

  29

  51

  Sandwell

  45

  56

  Solihull

  38

  97

  Walsall

  45

  80

  Wolverhampton

  47

  51

  Knowsley

  47

  76

  Liverpool

  47

  48

  St Helens

  34

  84

  Sefton

  44

  71

  Wirral

  44

  59

  Bolton

  46

  96

  Bury

  52

  68

  Manchester

  69

  71

  Oldham

  48

  82

  Rochdale

  51

  49

  Salford

  48

  12

  Stockport

  46

  98

  Tameside

  44

  73

  Trafford

  36

  69

  Wigan

  45

  84

  Barnsley

  48

  91

  Doncaster

  52

  0

  Rotherham

  35

  63

  Sheffield

  52

  67

  Bradford

  42

  55

  Calderdale

  38

  77

  Kirklees

  35

  96

  Leeds

  36

  57

  Wakefield

  39

  67

  Gateshead

  50

  87

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  58

  64

  North Tyneside

  50

  1

  South Tyneside

  69

  74

  Sunderland

  50

  81

  416

  Expenditure on books and equipment per pupil in 1979–80 and 1992–93 by LEA (in 1993–94 prices)

  Nursery primary and secondary 1979–80 £

  Nursery primary and secondary 1992–93 £

  Isles of Scilly

  40

  18

  Avon

  39

  109

  Bedfordshire

  57

  86

  Berkshire

  46

  101

  Buckinghamshire

  49

  85

  Cambridgeshire

  47

  91

  Cheshire

  39

  62

  Cleveland

  49

  67

  Cornwall

  47

  80

  Cumbria

  40

  64

  Derbyshire

  45

  66

  Devon

  43

  93

  Dorset

  46

  72

  Durham

  36

  51

  East Sussex

  58

  93

  Essex

  46

  77

  Gloucestershire

  37

  79

  Hampshire

  36

  97

  Hereford and Worcester

  44

  83

  Hertfordshire

  49

  19

  Humberside

  47

  86

  Isle of Wight

  57

  82

  Kent

  51

  46

  Lancashire

  39

  100

  Leicestershire

  44

  116

  Lincolnshire

  40

  101

  Norfolk

  49

  60

  North Yorkshire

  48

  102

  Northamptonshire

  48

  86

  Northumberland

  55

  61

  Nottinghamshire

  46

  81

  Oxfordshire

  58

  89

  Shropshire

  40

  17

  Somerset

  44

  70

  Staffordshire

  54

  73

  Suffolk

  45

  189

  Surrey

  32

  53

  Warwickshire

  36

  92

  West Sussex

  55

  109

  Wiltshire

  45

  88

  Total

  49

  77

  Pupil Statistics
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the estimated number of pupils in 1995–96 aged(a) five to 10 years and (b) 11 to 15 years in each local education authority and in total.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The projected numbers for England for January 1996 are as follows:

  Age (at 31 August 1995)

  Five to 101

  11 to 15

  Maintained primary and secondary schools2

  3,583,000

  2,691,000

  Maintained special schools2

  33,000

  48,000

  1 Excluding rising fives, ie pupils whose fifth birthday falls between 1 September 1995 and 31 December 1995.

  2 Including grant maintained schools.

  Projections at local education authority level are not available.

  Recruitment
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much her Department spent during 1994 on recruiting staff to her Department and its executive agencies; and how many staff were recruited.

  Mr. Boswell
  In 1994, the Department and its executive agency recruited 339 staff. We estimate the recruitment costs to the Department to have been approximately £210,000.

  Projections at local education authority level are not available.

  Student Loans Company
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her answer of 20 January,Official Report, column 720, on what date she was informed of the allegations made concerning the Student Loans Company; what was the nature of these allegations; at what date management consultants were invited to tender to carry out an investigation into the allegations; if she will identify those consultants who were invited to tender; which consultant submitted the lowest tender; on what date the contract was awarded; on what date the provisional findings were received; and if she will place a copy in the Library.

  Mr. Boswell
  My right hon. Friend was informed of the most recent allegations of impropriety at the Student Loans Company on 5 October 1994. Tenders for the contract to carry out an investigation were invited from three organizations—Robson Rhodes, Ernst and Young and Coopers and Lybrand—on 10 October 1994.

  The contract was awarded to Coopers and Lybrand on 12 October. The winning tender was not the lowest. The contract was awarded to the tenderer who was considered to offer the best value for money. Lowest cost alone is not necessarily the best indicator of this.

  My right hon. Friend received a report of Coopers and Lybrand's provisional findings on 9 January 1995. The investigation into the allegations is not complete. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on the nature of allegations which are still under investigation, nor to make public provisional findings. The full conclusions of the investigation will be reported to the Public Accounts Committee in the usual way.

  Boxing Skills
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) if she will give the names and locations of any other schools that have applied for, or will be participating in, the basic boxing skills training scheme similar to that given at Croxteth community school; when the scheme will be launched; and what will be the extent of Government funding;

  (2) what funding has been made available to Croxteth community school to teach basic boxing skills.

  Mr. Forth
  The boxing skills training scheme at the Croxteth community school is privately sponsored and attracts support of £5,000 through the Government's sports match scheme. Information about similar schemes is not collected centrally.

SCOTLAND

  Health Care International
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what offer of regional selective assistance has been made to the Abu Dhabi Investment Group in relation to its bid for the Health Care International hospital at Clydebank; on what this RSA assistance will be spent; if the offer is conditional on the original employment targets at the Health Care International being achieved; and what these targets are.

  Mr. Stewart
  No further offer of regional selective assistance has been made. If a new investor were prepared to take the project forward, it is possible that the balance of existing offer could be transferred. Such a transfer would be subject to appropriate conditions and would be based upon the project being taken forward as previously envisaged. If the offer were transferred, the unpaid balance of grant would be released by stages, in line with the achievement of job targets which would otherwise have applied to HCI. These targets envisaged the ultimate creation of 1,800 direct new jobs at Clydebank.

  Gemini Housing Association
  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what funds Scottish Homes has made available to Gemini Housing Association;

  (2) which housing associations have been invited to make a bid to take over Scottish Homes's property in (a) Springburn, (b) the Royston area and (c) Dennistown;

  (3) when the board of Scottish Homes decided that its officers and staff would form Gemini Housing Association;

  (4) how many officers of Scottish Homes have been involved with the setting up of Gemini Housing Association;

  (5) how many hours Scottish Homes's officials and staff have devoted to the running of Gemini Housing Association during 1994.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is a matter for Scottish Homes. I have asked its chairman, Sir James Mellon, to write to are hon. Member with the relevant information.

  Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he has decided on the compulsory competitive tendering timetables to apply in Scotland.

  Mr. Lang
  The Government are committed to ensuring that the benefits of local government reorganisation and compulsory competitive tendering are realised across Scotland. To achieve both aims, a flexible programme is required, linked closely to Scottish circumstances.

  I therefore issued a consultation paper on compulsory competitive tendering and local government reorganisation last July. I have considered carefully the responses submitted and have decided on certain adjustments to the timetables proposed in the consultation paper.

  For work subject to CCT under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980, competition will be reintroduced with effect from 1 July 1997. By this date, contracts must be commenced. There will be no

  419
  exemptions for construction contracts worth over £0.5 million.

  For work subject to the Local Government Act 1988, competition will be reintroduced and contracts will require to be let between July 1997 and July 1998.

  The new manual services, security services and vehicle management will follow the same timetable as for the existing 1988 Act activities.

  The new professional services will require to he let between April 1998 and April 1999. Authorities will have flexibility during that period to decide the areas of work that they wish to put out to competition first.

  The timetable for housing management remains unchanged. However, the dates will now refer to when contracts are let rather than when the contracts commence. This is in line with the timetable for professional services.

WALES

  Schools, Clwyd
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will visit(a) Penyffordd voluntary primary school and (b) Penyffordd county primary school, Clwyd; and if he will meet the governors of each school.

  Mr. Richards
  Neither my right hon. Friend nor I have any plans at present to visit Penyffordd voluntary primary school or Penyfford county primary school. We will, however, bear these in mind when arranging our future programmes of school visits.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning his Department's allocation of money for schools in Clwyd; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Richards
  The Department has received many representations on the issue of education funding in Clwyd in 1995–96 from school governors, head teachers, parents and others. My right hon. Friend does not set individual county education budgets. It is for each local authority to determine how much of its available resources to direct towards the services it provides, including education, in the light of its statutory responsibilities and its perception of local needs and priorities.

  As at 1 April

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Total women

  1,016

  1,140.5

  1,021

  948

  Grade 3

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Grade 7

  25

  26

  24

  23

  Executive officer

  200

  207.5

  191

  190

  Administrative officer

  295.5

  282.5

  259

  240

  Administrative assistant

  161

  187.5

  157

  158

  Ministerial Visits (Schools)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which schools he and his Ministers have visited since the 1992 general election.

  Mr. Richards
  School visits undertaken by Welsh Office Ministers since 9 April 1992 are as follows:

  Aberdare girls high school

  Ashgrove Special School

  Bedwas Comprehensive School

  School Playing Fields
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning his new policy on school playing fields.

  Mr. Richards
  No. Neither my right hon. Friend nor I has announced a new policy on school playing fields.

  Absenteeism
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the absenteeism rate for(a) the Welsh Office and (b) Cadw in each year since 1991.

  Mr. Redwood
  The average number of working days absent per member of staff was 9.82 in 1992 and 10.1 in 1993. Statistics on a comparable basis are not available for 1991.

  Details for Cadw are not separately identified; they are included in the Welsh Office totals.

  Christmas Expenditure
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many official Christmas cards he and his Ministers intend to send in 1994; how much these cards will cost,(a) to buy, (b) to post and (c) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes; and if he will place in the Members' Library a sample copy of the official Christmas card he intends to send this year.

  Mr. Redwood
  I apologise for not replying to the hon. Gentleman's question sooner.

  Ministers in this Department sent out 900 official Christmas cards in 1994 costing (a) £755 to buy, and (b) £200 to post.

  The disaggregated cost for staff time is not available.

  Departmental Employees
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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, (iii) at executive officer level, (iv) at administrative officer level and (v) at administrative assistant level.

  Mr. Redwood
  The numbers of individuals were as follows:

  Bishop Vaughan Grant-Maintained School

  Bishopston Comprehensive School

  Brynhyfryd School

  Brynmawr Grant-Maintained School

  Coed y Lan Comprehensive School

  Corpus Christi High School

  Crickhowell High School

  Croesyceiliog Comprehensive School

  Dame Anna Childs Endowed School

  Dynevor Comprehensive School

  Eglwys Wen and Melin Gruffydd Primary School

  421

  Eirias High School

  Garnfach Infants School

  Glan Ely High School

  Heol Ddu Comprehensive School

  Holyhead High School

  John Beddoes School

  Llandovery College (Independent)

  Llandrindod County Primary School

  Llanfigangel Rhydithon County Primary SL0

  Lliswerry Comprehensive School

  Llwyn Crwn County Primary SL0

  Maes Dyfan Special School

  Marlborough Road Junior School

  Palmerston County Primary School

  Pencoed Comprehensive School

  Pentrepoeth School

  Pilgwenlly County Primary School

  Radyr Comprehensive School

  St David's College (Independent)

  St David's High School, Wrexham

  Tredegar Comprehensive School

  Tregynon (Special Needs) School

  Trelai County Primary School

  Windsor Clive Infants & Junior Schools

  Ysgol Bro Lleu

  Ysgol Caergeiliog (Grant Maintained)

  Ysgos Croes Atti

  Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan (Grant Maintained)

  Ysgol Esgob Morgan

  Ysgol Glan Clywd

  Ysgol Gwynllyw (County Secondary)

  Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelin

  Ysgol Gymraeg Dewi Sant

  Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Brynsierfel

  Ysgol Rowen

  Company Sizes
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many companies in Wales employ(a) more than 200 persons; (b) fewer than 200 but more than 20 persons and (c) fewer than 20 persons; and what are the percentages represented by each of all companies.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information requested is not available for companies in Wales. However, a breakdown of census of employment data units, which are roughly equivalent to workplaces, is available and is shown in the table:

  Size of units

  Number of units1 in Wales

  Per cent. of total

  (Number of employees)

  (thousands)

  1–24

  52.5

  88.4

  25–199

  6.3

  10.6

  200 and over

  0.6

  1.0

  All sizes

  59.4

  100.0

  Source: NOMIS.

  1 The figures relate only to data units with employees. Solo proprietors and HM forces are excluded. Also excluded are agricultural and horticultural holdings. Some workplaces may comprise several data units because of the way the information is collected eg. because of different pay arrangements, for weekly and monthly paid staff.

  Recruitment
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent during 1994 on recruiting 422
  staff to his Department and its executive agencies; and how many staff were recruited.

  Mr. Redwood
  In 1994, my Department spent £121,000. Forty-one substantive staff were recruited, some from other Departments.

  SMART Scheme
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the European Union on the criteria to be used and the control and compliance mechanisms in adjudicating applications for assistance under the SMART scheme.

  Mr. Redwood
  SMART is a nationwide competition whose guidelines are drawn up by the DTI as the lead Department. The European Commission was consulted and notified of the criteria used for running the competition and judging the entries. All SMART programmes receive EC approval prior to launch.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to strengthen the scientific, technological and engineering qualifications and know how available to his advisory panel on applications for assistance under the SMART scheme.

  Mr. Redwood
  I am satisfied that its combined professional qualifications and experience, and the additional expertise that it is able to call upon when necessary, suitably equip the appraisal team for the task of judging the SMART competition.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the scientific and engineering qualifications of his advisory panel on applications for assistance under the SMART scheme; when he last assessed the quality of the science and engineering qualifications required to make appropriate assessment of such applications; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The members of the appraisal team together possess the following qualifications: BSc, PhD, DipSH, ONC(Eng), IEng, MIMechE, AMIEE. Each also has direct experience of having worked in industry.

  In addition, the panel is able, as necessary, to consult specialist advisers within other Government Departments, the research establishments and the Patent Office, thus affording them access to expertise of worldwide repute.

  NHS Trusts Cardiff
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to announce the appointment of a chairman and the board for the(a) Dental Hospital trust, Cardiff and (b) Cardiff Community and Priority Services trust.

  Mr. Redwood
  Interviews for the post of chairman of both trusts will be held shortly, and I shall make an announcement as soon as possible thereafter. I hope to announce the names of non-executive directors by 31 March.

  Cultural Organisations
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library copies of the reports from(a) his Department, (b) S4C and (c) the Association for Business Sponsorship in the Arts in Wales into the funding of cultural organisations in Wales via matching grants.
  423
  Mr. Redwood
  My Department has not prepared any reports into his matter. Any reports relating to S4C or the Association of Business Sponsorship in the Arts in Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency concerning past expenditure on out-sourcing computer systems and relevant infrastructure expenditure on dedicated land lines which required but did not receive(a) board approval, (b) advertisement in the contracts supplement of the Official Journal of the European Union and (c) his Department's approval; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have written to the chairman of the WDA expressing my concern about the breaches of the rules on the procurement of information systems. The chairman shares that concern and the agency has taken steps to ensure that such breaches do not recur. The chief executive of the agency has reported on these matters to the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee and has taken disciplinary action.

  My Department is discussing with the agency what further action may be necessary.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 20 January,Official Report, column 717, if he will give the equivalent out-turn figures for 1993–94 and the anticipated out-turn figures for 1994–95 for the management running costs of each of the non-departmental public bodies he sponsors.

  Mr. Redwood
  The figures are set out in the table:

  NDPB Running Costs

  Executive NDPB

  Out-turn 1993–94

  Forecast out-turn 1994–95

  Housing for Wales

  2.9

  2.9

  Sports Council for Wales

  1not available

  1.016

  Arts Council of Wales

  —

  1.719

  Further Education

  Funding Council

  2.7

  2.8

  Higher Education

  Funding Council

  1.091

  1.4

  Cardiff Bay Development Corporation

  4.094

  4.0

  Land Authority for Wales

  1.882

  1.882

  National Museum of Wales

  9.895

  10.24

  National Library of Wales

  4.224

  4.339

  Royal Commission for Ancient and Historic Monuments

  1.18

  1.18

  Welsh National Board for Nursing,

  Midwifery and Health Visiting

  0.987

  0.957

  Wales Youth Agency

  0.38

  0.386

  Welsh Language

  Board

  —

  0.872

  424

  NDPB Running Costs

  Executive NDPB

  Out-turn 1993–94

  Forecast out-turn 1994–95

  ACAC

  —

  1.573

  Wales Tourist Board

  3.859

  4.14

  Welsh Development Agency

  15.09

  14.13

  Development Board for Rural Wales

  3.27

  3.253

  Countryside Council for Wales

  8.72

  9.2

  1The definition of running costs for the Sports Council for Wales has been revised, effective from 1994–95.

  Konver Scheme
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the eligibility of(a) the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Cardiff and (b) the Cardiff area as a whole for designation under the Konver scheme.

  Mr. Redwood
  Assessment of the Atomic Weapons Establishment, and its impact on the wider Cardiff area, has shown that the area and the establishment will not be eligible for Konver support.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have had their claims for invalidity benefit withdrawn in Liverpool each quarter during the last five years for the reason for being found fit for work within limits; what is the average weekly loss of income incurred by a claimant who has invalidity benefit withdrawn.

  Mr. Hague
  The information requested on the numbers who have had their invalidity benefit withdrawn is not available.

  The average weekly amount of invalidity benefit in payment at 3 April 1993, the latest date for which information is available, was £79.34.

  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the consequential effect will be to claimants of the proposed changes from invalidity benefit to incapacity benefit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hague
  Existing invalidity benefit recipients will be protected. Incapacity benefit will be paid at the same rates as the preceding invalidity benefit. The rates will continue to be uprated annually with the exception of the earning-related addition, which will be frozen at the rate in payment at the point of change.

  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total annual amount paid to those people in receipt of invalidity benefit; and if he will break the figures down in percentage terms for payments to(a) single claimants,(b) additions for spouses or partners, (c) additions for children or dependants and (d) additional component element, and age additions.

  Mr. Hague
  The information is not available in the form requested. In 1993–94 the total amount paid to people in receipt of invalidity benefit was £6,967 million. Data are not collected on the breakdown of expenditure
  425
  between each of the components of invalidity benefit. Estimates of the breakdown are in the table:

  Breakdown of invalidity benefit expenditure at 1993–94 prices

  £ million

  Per cent.

  Personal benefit

  4,610

  66

  Adult dependency increase

  780

  11

  Child dependency increase

  120

  1.7

  Invalidity allowance (net)

  210

  3

  Additional Pension

  1,200

  17

  Graduated benefit

  40

  0.6

  Note:1. Estimates rounded to the nearest £10 million. Totals may not sum due to rounding.

  2. The invalidity allowance figure is the net amount paid. Invalidity allowance is extinguished by additional pension and /or guaranteed minimum pension entitlement.

  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what savings are expected to arise from the change from invalidity benefit to incapacity benefit; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hague
  Total estimated savings from the incapacity benefit changes are:

  1995–96: £410 million

  1996–97: £1,185 million

  1997–98: £1,720 million

  Note: Estimates rounded to nearest £5 million, expressed in cash terms.

  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants who lose their entitlement to invalidity benefit will be entitled to income support.

  Mr. Hague
  On average, in 1995–96 we estimate that about 45 per cent. of claimants excluded by the new medical test will be entitled to income support.

  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what resources he has made available to the Social Security Benefit Agency and the Independent Tribunal Service to cope with appeals arising out of the change from invalidity benefit to incapacity benefit.

  Mr. Hague
  The total amount provided to the Benefits Agency to deal with incapacity benefits in the first year is £37 million. This includes resources to deal with appeals. The amount provided for the independent tribunal service for incapacity benefit appeals in the first year is £8.17 million.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many of the current invalidity benefit claimants will be exempt from the new test for incapacity benefit, by virtue of(a) age, (b) receipt of disability living allowance care allowance—higher rate—and (c) prescribed list of severe medical conditions.

  Mr. Hague
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave the hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) on 9 December 1994,Official Report, columns 385–86.

  CSA
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much revenue has been collected by the Child Support Agency as fees in the first half of 1994–95; how much in the way of fees is outstanding; and how many actions have been taken by the CSA to enforce outstanding fees.
  426
  Mr. Burt
  Administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. Adam Ingram, dated 27 January 1995:
  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the collection and enforcement of fees due to the Child Support Agency.
  During the period April 1994 to September 1994 the Agency collected in excess of £1 million in fees. At the end of November 1994, the total for the year to date was £1.45 million and the amount of outstanding fees due to the Agency, including fees charged in 1993/94 was £11.6 million.
  The Agency has sought or is seeking Court action for the recovery of outstanding fees in approximately 1,350 cases.
  I hope that this is of help.

  Personal Pensions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of the total sum expended by his Department on incentive payments to those opting into personal pensions.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The most recent published, audited figure on the cost to the national insurance fund of incentive payments for those opting out of SERPS into appropriate personal pensions for the period 1988 to 1993 is £2.4 billion, up to the end of 1992–93.

  The Government Actuary's report on the contributions uprating order for 1994–95 estimated to total additional cost for 1993–94 and 1994–95 as £0.7 billion.

  Fraud
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what evaluation he has made of the experience of the Australian Government in the detection and eradication of fraud by benefit claimants; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  As part of the six nations social security interchange scheme, a senior official from the security, fraud and control division of the Australian Department of Social Security has been seconded to this Department since 1993. He has been assisting in the development of the security strategy, modelled on the equivalent Australian fraud control plan.

  A small team from Australia is currently working with the Information Technology Services Agency and the Benefits Agency as part of the security strategy.

  Recruitment
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much his Department spent during 1994 on recruiting staff to his Department and its executive agencies; and how many staff were recruited.

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

  Invalidity and Disablement Allowance
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many of the current claimants in receipt of
  427
  invalidity or severe disablement allowance are (a) single, (b) in receipt of additional payments for their spouses or partners, (c) in receipt of an additional earnings-related element and (d) in receipt of additional payments in relation to age bands; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hague
  There is no information on the number of invalidity benefit or severe disablement allowance recipients who are single.

  The available information is in the table.

  The number of Invalidity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance recipients in Great Britain on the 3 April 1993 (latest date for which information available)

  Benefit

  Number of recipients

  Invalidity Benefit

  1,580,000

  Adult dependency increase

  457,000

  Additional pension

  1,384,000

  Invalidity allowance1

  584,000

  Family credit expenditure

  £million

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Family with one child

  129

  145

  178

  277

  335

  Family with two children

  141

  162

  212

  329

  390

  Family with three children

  88

  105

  131

  188

  219

  Family with four children

  41

  49

  61

  82

  92

  Family with five or more children

  27

  33

  44

  53

  55

  All families

  425

  494

  626

  929

  11,091

  1 Estimated outturn.

  Percentage

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Family with one child

  30

  29

  28

  30

  31

  Family with two children

  33

  33

  34

  35

  36

  Family with three children

  21

  21

  21

  20

  20

  Family with four children

  10

  10

  10

  9

  8

  Family with five or more children

  6

  7

  7

  6

  5

  All families

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  Source: Five per cent. sample of Family Credit awards and the Departmental Report 1994.

EMPLOYMENT

  Jobcentres
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list by region the location of every jobcentre in Scotland stating in each case if the jobcentre runs job clubs.

  Miss. Widdecombe
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 27 January 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the location of every Jobcentre in Scotland by region, stating in each case if the Jobcentre runs Jobclubs.
  428

  The number of Invalidity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance recipients in Great Britain on the 3 April 1993 (latest date for which information available)

  Benefit

  Number of recipients

  Severe Disablement Allowance

  316,000

  Adult dependency increase

  4,000

  Additional pension

  1,000

  Age related addition

  310,000

  Notes:

  1736,000 recipients entitlement to invalidity allowance is extinguished by their additional pension and/or guaranteed minimum pension.

  Source: Based on a one per cent sample of claimants within Great Britain, rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Family Credit
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much family credit expressed(a) in overall cash terms and (b) as a percentage of total expenditure on family credit, has been given to families with (i) one child, (ii) two children, (iii) three children, (iv) four children and (v) five or more children in each of the past five years.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The precise information is not available. Information derived on a pro-rata basis is set out in the tables:

  In Scotland, Jobclubs are run both directly by the Employment Service (ES) and on behalf of the ES by external contractors. The following table shows the location of Jobcentres by Regional and Island Council Authorities and those which run Jobclubs.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Regional Authority

  Jobcentre

  Strathclyde

  1Irvine

  1Kilbirnie

  1Kilmarnock A and B

  1Kilwinning

  Largs

  Saltcoats

  1Ayr

  1Cumnock

  Girvan

  Troon

  1Bridgeton

  429

  Regional Authority

  Jobcentre

  Cambuslang

  1Castlemilk

  Central

  1Langside

  1Laurieston

  1Rutherglen

  1Shawlands

  1South Side

  1Easterhouse

  1Shettleston

  1Parkhead

  1Cumbernauld

  1Kirkintilloch

  Kilsyth

  1Springburn

  1Govan A and B

  Hillington

  1Renfrew

  1Alexandria

  1Anniesland B

  1Clydebank

  1Drumchapel

  1Dumbarton

  Helensburgh

  1Maryhill A and B

  Oban

  1Partick

  Dunoon

  1Greenock A and B

  1Port Glasgow

  Rothsey

  Carluke

  1Lanark

  1Larkhall

  1Motherwell A and B

  Shotts

  1Wishaw

  1Airdrie

  1Bellshill

  Blantyre

  1Coatbridge

  1East Kilbride

  1Hamilton

  1Uddingston

  1Barrhead

  Campbeltown

  1Johnstone

  1Paisley

  Paisley A and B

  Lothian

  1Dalkeith

  1Haddington

  Loanhead

  1Musselburgh

  Penicuik

  1Edinburgh A, B and C

  1Leith

  1Portobello

  SOSTAS—Edinburgh, South St.

  Andrew Street

  1Wester Hailes

  1Bathgate A and B

  Broxburn

  1Livingston

  Borders

  Eyemouth

  1Galashiels

  1Hawick

  Kelso

  Peebles

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Annan

  Castle Douglas

  1Dumfries

  430

  Regional Authority

  Jobcentre

  Lockerbie

  Newton Stewart

  Sanquhar

  1Stranraer

  Fife

  1Cowdenbeath

  Cupar

  1Dunfermline

  1Glenrothes

  Inverkeithing

  1Kirkcaldy

  1Leven

  St. Andrews

  Central

  1Alloa

  Bo'ness

  1Denny

  1Falkirk

  1Grangemouth

  1Stirling

  Highland

  1Fort William

  1Portree

  1Thurso

  Wick

  Dingwall

  1Elgin

  Forres

  1Invergordon

  1Inverness A and B

  Nairn

  Grampian

  1Aberdeen A, B, C and D

  Banff

  1Buckie

  1Fraserburgh

  1Peterhead

  Tayside

  1Arbroath

  Blairgowrie

  1Dundee A, B, C and D

  Forfar

  Montrose

  1Perth

  Western Isle Island Council

  1Stornoway

  Shetland Islands Council

  Lerwick

  1 Denotes the Jobcentres which have linked Jobclubs.

  Recruitment
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much his Department spent during 1994 on recruiting staff to his Department and its executive agencies; and how many staff were recruited.

  Miss Widdecombe
  In 1994, the Employment Department group recruited 1,630 permanent staff. It is not possible to identify the cost separately from general expenditure on human resource management.

  Staff Safety
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what research has been carried out into the feasibility of safety screens for Employment Service staff dealing with the jobseeker's allowance; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment
  431
  Service under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Ian McCartney, dated 27 January 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about what research has been carried out into the feasibility of safety screens for Employment Service (ES) staff who would administer the proposed Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA).
  The ES is currently considering what safety measures will be appropriate as and when the proposed JSA is introduced.
  A generic risk assessment has concluded that most JSA processes can be handled in an open plan environment. Local risk assessments will be carried out in all of our local offices.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many assaults have been committed on staff in the Employment Service and Department of Employment in each year since 1979(a) nationally, (b) by region and (c) by individual office; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdercombe
  I am able to supply statistics for the period 1989 to September 1994. No earlier statistics are available. I am sorry that details at individual office level could be obtained only at disproportionate cost to the taxpayer.

  Employment Service 1989—September 1994 reported assaults (all types)

  Region

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  11994

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  46

  79

  112

  81

  126

  104

  North west

  125

  144

  170

  199

  185

  168

  London and south east

  695

  608

  520

  455

  593

  440

  Northern

  51

  86

  60

  72

  52

  102

  South west

  72

  117

  83

  131

  149

  113

  Wales

  21

  30

  45

  57

  41

  47

  Scotland

  56

  73

  67

  83

  85

  52

  East Midlands

  93

  118

  79

  103

  99

  148

  West Midlands

  50

  135

  98

  208

  115

  114

  Total

  1,209

  1,390

  1,234

  1,389

  1,445

  1,288

  This table includes statistics of all reported assaults. These include actual physical assaults, attempted physical assaults and verbal abuse. Of the 7,955 incidents reported during the period, 1,065 were actual assaults, 1,197 were attempted assaults and 5,693 were incidents of verbal abuse. Most of the actual assaults do not result in an injury and only a small proportion of injuries require any kind of medical treatment.

  1 This is a nine month figure

  Department of Employment Statistics: 1990–1994

  Department

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Health and SafetyExecutive

  6

  1

  7

  13

  ACAS

  nil

  nil

  nil

  1

  Employment Department

  nil

  nil

  nil

  nil

  All parts of the Department regard any assault as serious. Those parts of the group that experience assaults are keenly aware of the issues and take appropriate steps either to eliminate the risk or to reduce it, so far as is reasonably practicable. Such steps would include providing information on the risks, appropriate training and the issue of protective equipment such as attack alarms and mobile telephones.

  Skills Training Agency
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his most recent assessment of the privatisation of the skills training agency.

  Mr. Paice
  The privatisation was completed in 1990 in line with the objectives set for it. The purchasers of skill centres have been responsible for the business since then.

  Training
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the Government will provide training, rehabilitation and assistance from the Employment Service to provide for those taken off invalidity benefit.

  Miss Widdecombe
  People whose claims to invalidity benefit are disallowed and who register with the Employment Service have immediate access to a 1E1111 range of provision to help them return to work. This help includes referral to training programmes run by training and enterprise councils and local enterprise companies as well as the advice, assessment and guidance, and where necessary specialist services for people with disabilities, which are available directly from the ES. These arrangements will continue and be expanded following the introduction, from April 1995, of incapacity benefit.

DEFENCE

  Departmental Employees
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. Freeman
  The number of women employed by my Department and its agencies over the past four years at the specified grade levels is set out below.

  Civilian women

  1 April 1991

  1 April 1992

  1 April 1993

  1 April 1994

  Non-Industrial women

  33,639

  33,914

  32,301

  30,602

  Industrial women

  9,251

  8,933

  7,285

  7,118

  Total women

  42,890

  42,847

  39,586

  37,720

  Grade levels1

  1 April 1991

  1 April 1992

  1 April 1993

  1 April 1994

  Grade 3

  1

  2

  2

  2

  Grade 7

  136

  148

  156

  157

  Executive officer

  4,252

  4,325

  4,185

  4,225

  Admin officer

  14,004

  14,160

  13,388

  13,532

  Admin assistant

  11,320

  11,156

  10,426

  10,007

  1 Non-Industrial staff only, including grade equivalents.

  Electro-shock Devices
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement regarding the payment arrangements for military, security and police equipment supplied by United Kingdom companies for
  433
  the A1-Yamamah contract with special reference to electronic batons.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave the hon. member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 17 January Official Report, column 452.

  Next Steps Agencies
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out for each of the next steps agencies in his Department, whether they have acquired their own headquarters buildings and, if so, at what purchase cost or annual rental; how many support staff they have required which were not required when their operations were within his Department; how many of them published 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 specially 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. Freeman
  These are matters for the chief executives of my Department's executive agencies. I have therefore asked them to reply.

  Letter from Mike Dymond to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 26 January 1995:

  1. As part of his co-ordinated reply to your question concerning the operation and costs of Next Steps Agencies, Minister of State (DP) has asked me to provide you with the details for the Defence Accounts Agency.

  2. The Agency was launched under the title of its predecessor organisation (Director General Defence Accounts) on 1 April 1991 and was restyled the Defence Accounts Agency on 1 July 1993.

  3. We occupy the same buildings as we did before becoming an Agency. No new buildings have been acquired.

  4. Staff numbers have been reduced steadily since the Agency's launch, from 2,184 on 1 April 1991 to an expected 1,808 on 31 March 1995. No additional staff have been required as a result of agency status.

  5. We continue to publish a monthly staff newsletter (Snapshot) which was originally introduced by the Director General Defence Accounts in September 1989 as a means of improving communication within the organisation.

  6. The Agency has no executive cars.

  7. The badge which we use as our logo is an amended version of that granted by the College of Heralds to the Director General Defence Accounts in 1980. The amendment, to reflect the Agency's change of title in July 1993, was made at a cost of £500.

  8. The Agency has no corporate clothing.

  9. The Agency does have a small stock of its own letterheaded paper. The letterhead was designed in-house; the cost of printing was £2,016.

  Letter from Paul Altobell to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 23 January 1995:
  PO NO. 5744G Dated 20 January 1995
  Minister of State (DP) has asked me to reply to your question about Next Steps Agencies and how this relates to my Agency.
  Taking the individual parts of your question in the order put to me:
  DASA has not acquired its own headquarters building.
  No additional support staff were employed since becoming an Agency. All work associated with our status was absorbed by
  434
  existing staff at a time when DASA was reducing its staff numbers by 10%.
  DASA publishes an Annual Report and Accounts. The main cost of this has been borne centrally by MoD. We estimate this cost to be about £15,000.
  We have no fleet cars.
  DASA's logo was designed and produced by our own staff at negligible cost.
  We have no corporate clothing.
  Since becoming an Agency in 1992 we have spent a total £3,028 on corporate stationery.

  Letter from A. C. Sleigh to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 23 January 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Defence has asked me to reply to your question on perquisites and other expenditure by Next Steps Agencies.
  This Agency has not acquired any additional land or buildings since it was launched as an Agency on 1 July 1992. The number of support staff has reduced by 14 since that date. The fleet of passenger vehicles has been reduced from 5 to 1, the annual operating cost being approximately £11,000. The design cost of the Agency logo was £2,000 and the cost of corporate stationery is £1.20 per 1000 sheets of paper.
  This Agency does not publish periodical journals, neither does it have corporate clothing.

  Letter from Keith Ellender to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 25 January 1995:
  I have been asked to reply to your written question to the Secretary of State for Defence on additional costs incurred, as they affect my Agency.
  I can tell you that:-

  a: No of HQ building has been acquired;

  b. No additional support staff have been required;

  c. No periodical journals are published;

  d. No cars have been acquired;

  e. No special logo has been designed;

  f. No corporate clothing has been acquired;

  g. No specially designed and printed corporate stationery has been purchased. New stationery to reflect the change of status was ordered through Ministry of Defence, Common Service channel, at negligible cost.

  Letter from J. R. Drew to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 27 January 1995:
  I am responding as Chief Executive of the Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO) to your Parliamentary Question about Next Steps Defence agencies.
  ABRO was launched on 1 April 1993 and consists of 9 workshops and 11 contract repair offices in various locations around the United Kingdom with a Headquarters in Andover, Hampshire. The Headquarters occupies exactly the same MOD building as the organisation which preceded it—Command Army Static Workshops.
  The increased delegations afforded to the Agency have necessitated an increase in support staff of 22.5 since launch date.
  In 1994 the Agency published its first Annual Report and Accounts at a cost of £33,746 inc. VAT. The Corporate Plan for 1994 was also published at a cost of £22,105 inc. VAT. These were given wide public and parliamentary distribution and copies are enclosed for you.
  ABRO has no fleet of executive cars. As Chief Executive I retain the use of the Army MT pool car for official business to which I was earlier entitled. This vehicle is also available to the rest of the Headquarters staff and is used extensively by them. Most of the

  435
  satellite workshops also have a car available but, again, it is used in a "pool" role rather than as dedicated Executive Car.
  ABRO does have its own logo which was designed in-house prior to launch, at no additional cost.
  There is no corporate clothing currently in use within the Agency. However the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency (DCTA) have undertaken to supply overalls for our workforce which will incorporate the ABRO logo on the back. This will be in place of the Army coveralls currently supplied by DCTA and will involve no additional cost.
  ABRO still uses normal MOD channels for its day to day stationery requirements however we are currently in the process of ordering a three year supply of specially designed and printed business cards for about 100 of our Headquarters staff at a cost of some £1400. We have many dealings with private companies and contractors for which these cards will prove invaluable.

  Letter from Richard Kirby to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 24 January 1995:

  PQ ON NEXT STEPS AGENCIES
  Your Ordinary Written question, tabled in Parliament on Thursday 19 January, sought specific information concerning the operation and expenditure of agencies.
  I am responding as the Chief Executive of the Defence Clothing & Textile Agency—a Tri Service organisation which was granted Defence Agency status on 22 November 1994. For ease of reference, I have tabled my responses in the attached Annex and I trust they meet with your requirements.

  Annex:
  A. Questions and Responses to the PQ.

  Questions and responses to the PQ from the Hon. G. Kaufman MP which relate to the defence clothing and textiles agency (DCTA)

  1. Q: Have they acquired their own headquarters buildings and, if so, at what purchase cost or annual rent?

  A: No acquisition has been made. Continuing use is being made of existing service facilities.

  2. Q: How many support staff they have acquired which were not required when their operations were within his Department?

  A: None, staff numbers are reducing in accordance with Defence Cost Studies and efficiency programmes.

  3. Q: How many of them published periodical journals and at what annual cost?

  A: None that are new—existing Corporate and Business plans are available and will continue to be produced.

  4. Q: How many have fleets of executive cars or single executive cars and at what annual cost?

  A: None that are special. Ministry of Defence Central Motor Transport services are used where appropriate.

  5. Q: How many have specially designed logos and at what cost?

  A: One DCTA logo, as depicted on my covering letter with no cash expenditure as it was designed in-house.

  6. Q: How many have corporate clothing and at what cost?

  A: There is no discrete corporate clothing within the DCTA excepting normal service uniforms for Service personnel.

  7. Q: What is the cost of specially designed and printed corporate stationery?

  A: No additional costs have arisen.

  Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 27 January 1995:

  QUESTION 27, ORDER PAPER 19 JANUARY 1995

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking if he will set out for each of the Next Steps agencies in his Department, whether they have acquired their own headquarters buildings and, if so, at what purchase cost or annual rental; how many support staff they have required which were not required when their operations were within his Department; how many of them published 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 specially designed logos and at what cost; how many have specially designed logos and at what
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  cost; how many have corporate clothing and at what cost; and what is the cost of specially designed and printed corporate stationery has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down.

  2. The Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment (CBDE) became a Defence Agency on 1 April 1991 at which time the opportunity was taken to change the Establishment name from the Chemical Defence Establishment in order to fully reflect the range of work carried out. As such there was no need to change the Establishment logo apart from modifying "CDE" to "CBDE".

  3. CBDE did not need to acquire additional or new headquarters buildings nor did it have to produce specially designed and printed corporate stationery. It does not have corporate clothing or a fleet of executive or single executive cars.

  4. CBDE does not publish periodical journals as such but as an Executive Agency is required by the Treasury to publish an Annual Report and Accounts which is available to the public through HMSO. We also publish much of our work in scientific and technical journals.

  5. Only one additional Higher Executive Officer was employed to deal with the additional delegations afforded to the Director General contained in the Framework Document.

  Letter from Andrew Roach to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 23 January 1995:
  I have been advised of your Parliamentary Question regarding Agencies, made on 17 January and my reply is set out below.
  The Defence Animal Centre (DAC) is a single military unit and very few infrastructural changes have been made in order to facilitate the move to Agency status. In particular:

  no additional HQ buildings have been acquired (in fact the number of buildings has reduced as a result of colocation of sites)

  no additional support staff have been employed

  no periodical journals have been published

  I have a military staff car which is also used for other purposes and is not an "Agency extra"

  the DAC logo was designed by one of my staff (at no cost)

  we do not have corporate clothing other than military uniform

  we do not have corporate stationary

  I hope that this answers your question satisfactorily. Please contact me if you require any further information. This reply has been sent initially to the MOD Framework Team.

  Letter from Tweedie M. Brown to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 25 January 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Defence has asked me to reply to your questions about the cost of various Defence Agency activities. In respect of the Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency the information is as follows:
  Purchase/Lease of HQ Buildings: None—Existing buildings retained.
  Support Staff: 4.
  But this would be offset within MOD from whom we took over the work.
  Periodical/Journals: None.
  Cars: None.
  Logo: Design produced in house. Reproduction costs £1,000.
  Clothing: Protective clothing with Corporate symbol—£1,500.
  Corporate Stationery: Produced in house. Cost not separately identifiable.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 25 January 1995:
  In today's written answer the Minister of State for Defence Procurement informed you that I would be replying to you on the operational and managerial issues regarding the Defence Research

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  Agency (DRA) as part of the overall response to your question concerning costs of Next Steps Agencies.
  No extra costs were incurred in providing a headquarters building when the DRA was formed as I and my staff were able to move into offices already available at our existing site at Farnborough previously occupied by the Royal Aerospace Establishment senior management which was being superseded by the Agency.
  Part of the change in establishing the Agency in 1991 involved amalgamating four separate establishments to form the DRA and disbanding the previous headquarters operation in London. We were able to reduce significantly the number of support staff in this process but, since we no longer have records of support from the previous establishments, I cannot give precise details.
  My two Managing Directors and I currently retain three cars for official business at a total annual running cost of £4,500. When not required all three vehicles are available for use by other senior staff in a pool system. The previous arrangements involved each of the four Directors of establishments having their own cars plus at least one car for the London headquarters.
  The DRA currently has one in-house journal, the DRA News, which has an annual printing cost of £86k. This replaced three pre DRA journals (RAE News, ARE News and RARDE News).
  Corporate clothing is worn by police and guards, DRA reception staff and messengers at all our sites. This is not fundamentally different from clothing worn by MOD messengers and similar staff. Costs are not held centrally and it would involve disproportionate effort to ascertain exactly what they are across the organisation.
  The DRA has its own logo to assist with developing and maintaining a corporate trading image which was designed as part of an in-house competition. The prize of a bottle of champagne was the only design cost involved!
  The DRA corporate stationery was mainly designed by our in-house staff at little extra cost and, although exact figures are not held centrally, I estimate the current annual printing cost is around £40k. Of course stationery used to be printed for all establishments separately at rather greater cost.
  I hope you find this information useful.

  Letter from G. H. Wilson to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 25 January 1995:

  The Secretary of State for Defence has asked me to reply to your PQ 5744G.
  HQ Building. We have occupied the same building since 1909.
  Support Staff. We have achieved a net reduction in staff.
  Journals. Our only externally published document is the annual report and accounts. For 1993/94 this was £1671.
  Cars. We have no executive cars.
  Logos. Our logo has remained substantially the same since 1892. There have been no design costs since then.
  Clothing. We do not have corporate clothing. The cost to the Department of school clothing has reduced since acquiring Agency status.
  Stationery. We have no specially designed stationery. Our letterheads which have remained unchanged for several years are produced in-house.

  Letter from M. R. Pack to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 27 January 1995:

  PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION - PQ S744G
  You recently asked The Secretary of State for Defence several questions relating to Next Steps Agencies within the Ministry of Defence. I am replying on behalf of the Hydrographic Office.
  The Hydrographic Office occupies the same buildings that it did prior to its becoming a Defence Agency in 1990. The most recent of these buildings was built 1968–69.
  No additional support staff have been employed since the HO became an Agency in 1990.
  The Hydrographic Office does not publish a journal but in common with all Agencies is required to publish an Annual Report and Accounts. Our last report, for the financial year 1993/94, was
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  published in July 1994 and laid in the House on 21 July 1994 (HC 482). The Report and Accounts were printed in-house. The costs are estimated to be in the region of £3,300.
  The Hydrographic Office one car for the use of staff on official business. The full cost amounts to approximately £27,000 a year.
  No extra costs have been incurred on specially designed logos, corporate clothing and specially designed and printed corporate stationery.

  Letter from A. W. Pollard to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 24 January 1995:
  I have been asked to reply to your question in the House on 17 January 1995 concerning setting up costs of Next Steps Agencies. You will be aware that the Logistic Information Systems Agency (LISA) is one of the newest within the Ministry of Defence having been launched on 21 November 1994.
  LISA inherits the organisation, accommodation, resources and commitments of the Directorate of Logistic Information Systems (Army) which it replaced. This resulted in a smoother transition and less upheaval to our activities and staff than can sometimes be the case (where, for example, collocation accompanies a move to agency status).
  Costs associated with LISA were kept to a minimum and met within current budget. Where possible, in-house resources were used in preference to contractors.

  Answers to your specific questions are as follows in respect of LISA:

  a. Acquisition of Headquarters Buildings. No extra buildings were required.

  b. Additional Support Staff Required. LISA is committed to meeting the Options for Change and other manpower reductions to which its predecessor Directorate was working. While the Agency does call for some different skills these have generally been met by re-classifying existing posts and commencing a programme of re-training with costs being met within existing training funds.

  c. Periodic Journals. I have no current plans to introduce a periodic journal. The cost of publishing the necessary Framework Document, Corporate Plan and Key Targets was £7,750.

  d. Executive Cars. All executive travel is met by Departmental transport. I have no current plans for fleet or single executive cars.

  e. Logo. LISA's logo appears on this letterhead. Its cost was kept to the minimum commensurate with the importance of establishing a corporate identity which our staff could share and our customers recognise. It was designed in-house by the Department's Common Services (Graphics) staff. £2,000 of civil service overtime was incurred for this and the graphic design of the documents in sub-paragraph c above. The cost was met from my budget.

  f. Corporate Clothing. I have no current plans to introduce corporate clothing.

  g. Corporate Stationery. Expenditure on corporate stationery is no greater than that normally required by Departments and Branches. Stocks of the predecessor Directorate's stationery were deliberately run down in anticipation of the transition to Agency status.

  I hope that the above information answers your questions. Please contact me if you require any more detail.
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  Letter from J. C. R. Hunt to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 25 January 1995:
  The Defence Secretary has asked me to reply in respect of the Meteorological Office to the questions you recently asked about Next Steps agencies.

  In brief:
  the translation of the Meteorological Office to agency status did not require us to acquire a new HQ building
  some 22 extra staff were needed to support the changed organisation but overall staff numbers have fallen by 113 since Vesting Day
  no new journals have been produced. The Meteorological Office publishes only one periodical, 'Outlook', a customer magazine, at a cost of £40,000
  no additional cars have been provided. I make use of a car and driver as part of RAF MT support, at an estimated cost of £24,000
  the Meteorological did not change its logo when it became an agency
  no corporate clothing was introduced
  no corporate stationery was specially designed or printed; the Meteorological Office continued to use its existing logo.
  I hope this gives you the information you need.

  Letter from M. Wilson to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 27 January 1995:

  PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION ON NEXT STEPS AGENCIES
  I am replying in respect of the Military Survey Defence Agency to your recent question reference PQ5744G on additional costs arising from our status as a Next Steps agency.

  Taken in the order of your question, the answers are:
  a. Headquarters Building The Military Survey headquarters is accommodated in the building occupied prior to agency launch. No expenditure on land or buildings has been incurred as a result of agency status.

  b. Support Staff
  The need to produce agency accounts has resulted in the establishment of two additional Management Accountant posts: 1 Senior Executive Officer and 1 Executive Officer with 2 supporting Administrative Officers. However, agency requirements aside, it is likely that the Management Accountancy posts would be needed in the future to support Treasury's resource accounting and budgeting initiatives.

  c. Journals
  A quarterly publication is produced to inform staff on policy and internal developments affecting Military Survey, but not specifically in the agency context. Whilst some copies are distributed outside Military Survey, it is intended principally as a house magazine. Editorial and publication costs are as follows:

  Staff: £15,200 per annum

  Production: £8,800 per annum

  d. Transport
  As a 2-star serving officer, the Director General has access to a Grade 1 staff car. This entitlement is not related to his capacity as an agency chief executive.

  e. Logo
  Military Survey acquired its logo some 50 years ago. No money has been spent on a corporate image since agency launch.

  f. Corporate Clothing
  None.

  g. Corporate Stationery
  Military Survey uses standard MOD-style letter headings. No special stationery has been designed.

  Please let me know if you require further information. I am copying this letter to Minister (Defence Procurement).
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  Letter from Captain W. Graham to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 24 January 1995:
  The response to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence concerning questions on specific costings. Our responses are itemised below:

  a. The NARO has not created a Headquarters building.

  b. Two additional staff have duties directly attributable to Agency functions.

  c. All Annual Reports and Accounts are produced at a cost of £8,000 per annum. A Corporate Plan and Framework Document were produced when the Agency was launched, at a cost of £9,000 each.

  d. No executive vehicle has been acquired as a consequence of the NARO's existence.

  e. The NARO logo was designed using in-house Agency resources at no additional cost.

  f. A NARO logo has been added to workforce overalls at a cost of £941.

  g. NARO headed stationery has replaced MOD stationery at no additional cost.

  Letter from Brian Raine to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 25 January 1995:

  PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION
  I have been asked to reply to your Question on various matters concerning the Agency.
  Queen Victoria School has not acquired any additional headquarters buildings since the introduction of Agency status. We have recruited one full time and one part time support staff to manage additional agency responsibilities.
  The only periodical journal published is the annual School magazine at no cost to public funds.
  The school has no executive cars, specially designed logos, corporate clothing or specially designed and printed corporate stationery.
  I hope this answers your Questions satisfactorily, but if there is anything on which you wish me to elaborate, please do not hesitate to contact me.

  Letter from R. H. Kyle to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dared 27 January 1995:
  You asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he would set out for each of the Next Steps Agencies in his Department, whether they have acquired their own headquarters buildings and, if so, at what purchase cost or annual rental; how many support staff they have required which were not required when their operations were within his Department; how many of them published periodical journals and at what annual cost; how many have fleets of executive cars or single executive cars and at what annual costs; how many have specially 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. As Chief Executive of the RAF Maintenance Group Defence Agency, I have been asked to reply with regard to my Agency.
  The RAF Maintenance Group Defence Agency has not acquired a new HQ building since achieving Agency status in 1991. The Agency's Headquarters staff still occupy offices in their parent Command's Headquarters building at Headquarters Logistics Command, RAF Brampton, Cambridgeshire. However, the space the Group occupies has reduced since the Agency formed in 1991.
  Staff numbers were not increased as a result of adopting Agency status. Indeed, the overall number of HQ staff has been reduced significantly since launch and further reductions are planned as part of a rationalisation programme following the formation of Logistics Command. Any new posts that might be considered to exist solely because of Agency tasks and status were created by reorganising existing posts and activities.
  The Agency does not publish a periodic journal, but it does publish its Annual Report and Accounts. Copies of this document are used for internal and external publicity purposes, as well as to meet the statutory reporting and accounting requirements. The cost

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  to the Department for the printing of the 1993/94 Report was £12,673, including HMSO's management and handling charges.
  The Maintenance Group's requirement for executive cars has not been affected by Agency status. If anything, the actual requirement has decreased in line with the decrease in the number of executive staff.
  The Agency has not incurred any additional expense for headed stationery or specially designed logos as a result of attaining Agency status. Neither has the Agency adopted any form of corporate clothing.
  Since its formation as a Defence Agency, the Maintenance Group has consistently achieved its Key Management Targets. Detailed reports against these targets are contained in the Agency's Annual Report and Accounts, the latest copy of which I have enclosed with this letter.

  Letter from Peter Ayee to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 24 January 1995:

  NEXT STEPS AGENCYS
  I WRITE, AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE ROYAL Am FORCE SIGNALS ENGINEERING ESTABLISHMENT (RAFSEE), WHICH WAS LAUNCHED AS A NEXT STEPS DEFENCE AGENCY ON 22 NOVEMBER 1994, IN RESPONSE TO YOUR WRITTEN QUESTION OF 19 JANUARY 1995 TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE.
  RAFSEE, WHICH REMAINS PART OF THE LOGISTICS COMMAND OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE, IS BASED AT RAF HENLOW AND HAS A DETACHED GROUP AT RAF WYTON. THE AGENCY OCCUPIES THE SAME BUILDINGS THAT IT DID BEFORE LAUNCH AND HAS NOT ACQUIRED ANY ADDITIONAL STAFF, VEHICLES OR CORPORATE CLOTHING. MOREOVER, IT HAS NOT SO FAR PUBLISHED ANY JOURNALS, CREATED A LOGO OR HAD ANY STATIONERY SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED OR PRINTED FOR THE DEFENCE AGENCY.

  Letter from John May to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 27 January 1995:

  PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION No. PQ5744G—TRAINING GROUP DEFENCE AGENCY REPLY
  I WRITE IN REPLY TO YOUR QUESTION OF THURSDAY 19 JANUARY, IN WHICH YOU SOUGHT INFORMATION ABOUT CONSEQUENTIAL COSTS OF NEXT STEPS AGENCIES.
  I AM ABLE TO TELL YOU THAT THE LAUNCH OF TRAINING GROUP DEFENCE AGENCY HAS NOT BEEN ACCOMPANIED BY UNWARRANTABLE OR UNNECESSARY EXPENDITURE IN ANY OF THE FIELDS COVERED BY YOUR QUESTION. THE AGENCY'S HEADQUARTERS DOES NOT HAVE ITS OWN BUILDING OR EXECUTIVE CARS; IT SHARES THE BUILDINGS AND POOL OF CARS ESTABLISHED FOR HEADQUARTERS ROYAL AIR FORCE PERSONNEL & TRAINING COMMAND, OF WHICH IT IS AN INTEGRAL PART. THE AGENCY HAS NOT INTRODUCED ANY CORPORATE CLOTHING OR ANY SPECIALLY DESIGNED STATIONERY AND HAS NO PLANS TO DO SO; SIMILARLY, THE AGENCY HAS NO PLANS TO ADD TO THE LIST OF JOURNALS IT HAS TRADMONALLY PUBLISHED FROM TIME TO TIME AS A ROYAL AIR FORCE GROUP.
  THE AGENCY HAS NOT ACQUIRED ANY SUPPORT STAFF BEYOND THE SPECIALISTS REQUIRED TO OPERATE THE MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL REGIME REQUIRED BY 'ME NEXT STEPS INITIATIVE; THE POSTS IN QUESTION WERE ESTABLISHED BEFORE THE AGENCY WAS VESTED ON 1 APRIL 1994.
  THE AGENCY SOMETIMES MAKES USE OF A SIMPLE LOGO TEAT WAS DEVELOPED IN-HOUSE AT NO EXTRA COST TO THE AGENCY'S BUDGET. THIS ARTWORK WAS REQUIRED TO IDENTIFY THE AGENCY'S CORPORATE DOCUMENTATION THAT WAS LODGED IN THE LIBRARIES OF THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT AT THE TIME OF VESTING, AND WILL SIMILARLY IDENTIFY FUTURE ANNUAL REPORTS AND ACCOUNTS.
  I AM COPYING THIS LETTER TO ME AGENCY'S OWNER, THE AIR OFFICER COMMANDING IN CHIEF HEADQUARTERS PERSONNEL AND TRAINING COMMAND.

  Letter from Ian Mitchelson to Mr. Gerald Kaufman, dated 27 January 1995:

  PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION NEXT STEPS AGENCIES
  Service Children's Schools (North West Europe) was formed as a Defence Agency in April 1991 within the Ministry of Defence to provide an educational service to dependent children residing with MOD personnel in North West Europe. The Agency's Headquarters
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  is collocated with among other formations Headquarters United Kingdom Support Command (Germany) and Headquarters 2 Group Royal Air Force at Rheindahlen and shares their accommodation. As part of the civilian component, which supports our Forces in Germany, the arrangements for the Agency's accommodation is covered by the Status of Forces Agreement which provides the basis for the stationing of Sending States Forces in Germany. Under this Agreement buildings are owned by the German Government and made available for use of the British Forces without charge. Therefore the Agency occupies accommodation under the same arrangements as that prior to its acquisition of Agency status.
  Prior to its formation, some 28 support staff (ie non-professional, non-educational staff), were employed directly in support of the provision of education to service children in Service Children's Schools (Germany), the forerunner of the Agency. These were employed at the Headquarters at Rheindahlen and in two Area Headquarters Offices.
  In addition, Service Children's Schools received a significant degree of support (i.e. Financial, Budgetary, Contractual, Personnel, Legal, Property Management etc) from a multitude of sources both within BAOR and more widely from the Department. The organisation also received much administrative and professional support from the Service Children's Education Authority based in the United Kingdom.
  On formation at the outset of FY 1991/1992, the Agency's support staff increased to 36, in direct relation to the additional responsibilities that accompanied the change in status. Corresponding and no doubt greater savings in staff will have been made by those areas of the Department that were relinquishing their duties in respect of the new Agency.
  In the period since the formation of the Agency, the support staff has increased in size to a current figure of 41. This has occurred partly as further responsibilities have been delegated to the Agency, but mainly in response to the demands placed upon SCS(NWE), by the need to manage the Agency's response to Drawdown, (ie, the reduction in Troop deployment in North West Europe and the consequent closure of schools). Some 40 schools have been closed over the period since September 1992.
  With the conclusion of the Drawdown process later this year, the Agency has planned for FY 1995/1996 a rationalisation programme, to reduce the level of its support staff. This will include, for example, the closure of the two Area Education Offices and the loss of the associated staff. Whilst plans have yet to be finalised, it is expected that the Agency's support staff will reduce in number to about 36, the number with which it was originally formed. Further efficiency improvements may well prove possible as part of the Department's and Agency's continuing drive for value for money.
  SCS(NWE) produce one in-house journal for the benefit of parents and staff 3 times per year. It is compiled and edited in-house and published by HMSO at an annual cost of £7000.00 pa.
  The Agency does not have any cars on its books at all. In order to meet travel needs for individual journeys the Agency does have access to a pool of cars operated by the Army in Germany on a self-drive basis. This arrangement also applies to the Chief Executive.
  The Agency does have a logo, again this was designed in-house at no additional cost. The Agency does use its logo and letterhead on paper which is produced locally alongside all the other headed stationery used by UKSC(G) and HQ 2 Gp RAF (as was the case in the pre-Agency days) at no additional cost compared to other like stationery; however a notional cost can be provided if this would be helpful. I attach an example of the headed letters in use.
  The Agency does not have any corporate clothing apart from discretionary ties which may be obtained by staff as a private transaction.

  A1-Yamamah Fund
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what types of equipment have been funded from the A1-Yamamah fund.

  Mr. Freeman
  Equipment supplied under the A1-Yamamah programme includes Tornado and Hawk
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  aircraft and naval minesweepers, along with associated equipment, support and infrastructure. Further orders for Tornado and training aircraft have been announced since January 1993.

  Bullying
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance is given to senior armed forces personnel regarding investigation of allegations of bullying.

  Mr. Soames
  The armed forces take a very serious view of bullying and senior armed forces personnel are aware that all allegations of bullying should be referred promptly for formal investigation. Guidance in the form of policy letters has been issued by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy to remind all personnel of the policy on bullying. The Royal Air Force also produced orders specifically covering bullying to be read and signed annually by officers. The Royal Air Force's policy on bullying and initiation ceremonies is also repeated in quarterly standing orders, which all Air Force personnel are required to read. In 1993, the Army published a discipline and standards paper, which included instructions to counter bullying.

  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions since 1991 no disciplinary action has been taken against soldiers who went absent without leave when on their return it was established that the absence was because of bullying.

  Mr. Soames
  This information is not recorded centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary to State for Defence what guidance is given to all levels of armed forces personnel regarding procedures for reporting incidents of bullying.

  Mr. Soames
  Information about making complaints under the redress of complaints procedure provided for in the Service Discipline Acts is given to all new recruits on joining. Advice on making complaints about bullying is also included in the leaflet "The Armed Forces. Your Rights and Responsibilities" given to new recruits_ Details of the redress of complaints procedures are also set out in Queen's regulations, which are available in every ship and service establishment. Advice on making complaints about bullying is also repeated in policy letters and other documents.

  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many courts martial there have been in each of the last five years; in how many of these the charge was related to some form of bullying; and in how many there was a guilty verdict.

  Mr. Soames
  The number of courts martial recorded in the last five years is as follows:

  1990: 1,030

  1991: 900

  1992: 887

  1993: 857

  1994: 813

  Bullying is not an offence under the Services Discipline Acts, but is dealt with under charges such as conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline, ill-treatment of subordinates, common assault and actual bodily harm. To identify the cases relating to bullying among all courts
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  martial records for the last five years would entail disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress made by his Department in preventing bullying and brutality in the armed forces.

  Mr. Soames
  The armed forces take a very serious view of bullying. It has been made clear throughout he services that bullying will not be tolerated and various measures have been taken by the services to counter bullying.

  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many serious individual cases of bullying have been referred to his Department each year since 1990.

  Mr. Soames
  My Department regards all cases of bullying as serious and service personnel are aware that all complaints of bullying will be vigorously investigated and the perpetrators punished. Details of the seriousness of individual cases are not recorded centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Yachts
  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when and at what cost his Department purchased yachts from a Swedish company; whether the proposed purchase was announced in his Department's "Contracts Bulletin"; what consideration was given to the purchase of British-built yachts; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The yachts in question were bought by the British Kiel Yacht Club in Germany, from its private funds; no costs were incurred by my Department.

  Mull of Kintyre Cairn
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on whom the cost fell for the cairn on the Mull of Kintyre at the site of the recent crash of a helicopter transporting personnel from Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Soames
  The building of the cairn was a local community initiative. The cairn stones were laid by members of the rescue services and subsequently cemented together to create a permanent fixture. I understand that local lighthouse employees paid for the brass plaque, which was mounted on the cairn

  David Hart
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 17 January,Official Report, column 451, (1) what formal undertakings will be made of Mr. David Hart in respect of his work as special adviser in the next phase of the privatisation of the married quarters estate;

  (2) if any of the independent advisers used in the development of plans for the next phase of the privatisation of the married quarters estate will be permitted to purchase properties included in that sale.

  Mr. Soames
  The undertakings required of independent advisers on the future of the married quarters estate will be designed to ensure that there is no conflict of interests between that role and possible business interests. No independent adviser assisting in consideration of the way ahead will be permitted to have a financial stake in the outcome of the transaction.

  Married Quarters Estate
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those individuals or companies who have shown an interest in the purchase of the married quarters estate in any future privatisation.

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested is commercially confidential.

  Land Mines
  Mr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy concerning the export of land mines which possess a self-destruct mechanism.

  Mr. Freeman
  The United Kingdom has declared an indefinite moratorium on the export from the UK of all anti-personnel land mines which do not have self-destruct or self-neutralising mechanisms. We are also in the forefront of efforts to establish international measures to regulate the transfer of anti-personnel land mines. Any application for an export licence for a land mine which did possess a self-destruct mechanism would be assessed carefully in the light of these and other factors.

  Mr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy concerning the export of components which can be used in the manufacture of land mines.

  Mr. Freeman
  Any application for an export licence for specially designed land mine components would be subject to strict controls, and would be considered case by case in the light of the indefinite moratorium which the United Kingdom has declared on the export from the UK of anti-personnel land mines which do not have self-destruct or self-neutralising mechanisms, and other established criteria.

  Cazalet Report
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if his Department has instructed those named in Sir Peter Cazalet's report into perks for officers not to speak publicly about the report;

  (2) if his Department has instructed those officers named in Sir Peter Cazalet's report to consult legal advisers about their position.

  Mr. Soames
  Sir Peter Cazalet's report on the requirement for representational entertainment is expected to be submitted to my Department in February. Ministers are separately currently considering KPMG Peat Marwick's report into the circumstances surrounding expenditure on the official service residence known as Haymes Garth. Before that report was finalised, those named in it were shown, in confidence, draft extracts to enable them to comment on the passages that dealt with their involvement. They were not instructed to seek legal advice.

  Haymes Garth
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what limit was placed on expenditure for fixtures and fittings at Haymes Garth; and who granted permission for this money to be spent.

  Mr. Soames
  An allocation of £60,000 for carpets, curtains and interior decoration was included in a budget agreed by RAF support command for work on Haymes Garth in January 1993.

  Former Yugoslavia
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department has provided military intelligence to the international tribunal for the prosecution of persons responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in the territory of the former Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The Defence debriefing team has provided unevaluated information via the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the tribunal on matters relating to alleged war crimes activity in the former Yugoslavia.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what actions his Department has taken to assist the international tribunal for the prosecution of persons responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in the territory of the former Yugoslavia

  Mr Soames
  We continue to assist the efforts of the tribunal. This assistance has included passing to the tribunal information acquired by the defence debriefing team on alleged human rights violations and war crimes committed in Bosnia, and arranging interviews with British military personnel who have returned from theatre for the purposes of collecting eyewitness statements.

  Anti-personnel Mines
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions his Department has had with representatives of the United Nations concerning the banning of the export of anti-personnel mines; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  No such discussions have taken place, although there has been a considerable amount of discussion between the United Kingdom and other states concerning the export of anti-personnel land mines, in the context of the review of the UN weaponry convention and other initiatives.

  Recruitment
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent during 1994 on recruiting staff to his Department and its executive agencies; and how many staff were recruited.

  Mr. Freeman
  A total of 9,261 permanent and temporary UK-based civilian staff were recruited by my Department and its executive agencies during the calendar year 1994. Of this total, 5,400 were non-industrial and 3,861 industrial staff. Information on the total cost of recruitment is not held centrally and could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Naval Staffing
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the current staffing levels for his Department's Guard Service of HMS Caledonia; what changes are proposed; how far the proposal to reduce Rosyth to a naval support establishment took account of these costs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  At present, 54 Ministry of Defence guard service personnel are in the Rosyth area, of whom five are deployed at HMS Caledonia. The total number is planned to reduce to 38 when Rosyth becomes a royal
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  naval support establishment, 15 of whom will be deployed at the HMS Caledonia site. All manpower costs were included in the investment appraisal, on which the decision was based.

  Southwick House
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the regulations concerning the use of the riding school at Southwick house naval establishment; if people who are not employed in the armed forces are permitted to use the riding school; what groups of people are permitted to use the riding school; how many people use the riding school each year; and what is the total cost of the establishment.

  Mr. Soames
  The naval riding centre evolved from the HMS Dryad saddle club, which was started when the Navy moved to Southwick house in 1942. Although it is constituted primarily to provide equitation facilities for the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines, the regulations allow the facilities to be made available to service dependants, the local community, including disabled groups, schools, colleges and youth schemes; on average the centre is used by 100 people per day. The club is self-financing and there are no costs to public funds.

  Records (Police Access)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 18 January,Official Report, column 548, on how many occasions in each of the past five years the civilian police have requested access to the records of service personnel; and on how many occasions this access has been denied.

  Mr. Soames
  My Department does not maintain a central record of the number of requests from the civilian police for access to the records of service personnel.

  Gulf War
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department was in possession of plague vaccine manufactured in the United States of America by Cutter Laboratories, Miles Inc; and whether this vaccine was administered to British members of the armed forces during the Gulf war.

  Mr. Soames
  Details relating to biological warfare medical counter measures available to British forces remain classified.

  Alcohol Abuse
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent initiatives he has taken to address the problems of alcohol abuse in the armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The armed forces have on-going programmes to combat the problems of alcohol abuse. All service personnel are warned of the dangers of the misuse of alcohol and are made aware of the punishments which may be awarded for alcohol-related offences. A comprehensive system of education and treatment, together with deterrent administrative and disciplinary action, has been developed. A series of alcohol education programmes, making use of pamphlets, films and lectures, have been produced to make all personnel aware of the 448
  dangers of abuse. The services' policies on alcohol abuse are kept under constant review.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces serving in(a) the Army, (b) the Royal Navy and (c) the Royal Air Force have been disciplined in each of the past five years for alcohol-related offences.

  Mr. Soames
  The numbers of service personnel convicted of alcohol-related driving offences of drunkenness between 1988 and 1992, the latest years for which figures are available, are as follows:

  Royal Navy

  Royal Marines

  Army

  Royal Air Force

  1988

  248

  26

  1,476

  609

  1989

  300

  52

  1,362

  525

  1990

  260

  40

  1,340

  682

  1991

  226

  35

  1,093

  544

  1992

  200

  34

  1,012

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  Chemical Weapons
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement about the existence of chemical weapons in the sea surrounding the British Isles following the end of the second world war;

  (2) how many chemical weapons remain deposited in the sea surrounding the British Isles; what types of weapons are involved; what chemicals were contained in these weapons; in what locations they are; when the chemical weapons were first deposited in the sea; when the weapons deposited were last inspected; what evidence there is of chemical leakage; and what steps he is taking to ascertain the circumstances of their disposal.

  Mr. Soames
  Between 1945 and 1949, the United Kingdom disposed of approximately 120,000 tonnes of chemical weapons, munitions, bombs and shells, mainly filled with mustard and phosgene gas, by deep-sea dumping; an additional 25,000 tons of residual United Kingdom munition stocks and ex-German world war two aerial bombs, containing the nerve agent Tabun, were sea dumped in the Atlantic between 1955 and 1957. Dump sites were located between 50 and 100 miles west of Hebrides, 80 miles north-west of Northern Ireland, 250 miles south-west of Lands End in the western approaches and in Beauforts dyke in the north channel. Sea dumping was considered to be the safest and most practical disposal method at the time. The majority of munitions were sealed within redundant cargo vessels which were then scuttled. No subsequent monitoring of the dump sites has been undertaken in view of the depth. Current scientific evidence indicates that such CW dump sites present no significant risk to human health or to the marine environment.

  Atomic Weapons Establishment, Cardiff
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to conduct a defence diversification study for the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Cardiff; and if he will consult(a) the Welsh Development Agency, (b) South Glamorgan county council, (c) Cardiff city council and (d) Hunting-Brae Ltd. in this respect.
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  Mr. Freeman
  Hunting-BRAE Ltd. will continue to seek suitable non-defence work which can be carried out at AWE Cardiff during the period up to 1997 alongside the Trident system. Once the work on Trident components is concluded, no other defence work can be directed to AWE Cardiff. My Department will be happy to consider any proposals for the use of the facility, including proposals from the bodies listed in the question.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will issue instructions to the management of the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Cardiff, that it should utilise the remaining period of its activity to pursue diversification of the rare earth metals engineering expertise at the plant into civilian uses.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 26 January 1995,Official Report, column 293.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the possible alternative uses for the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Cardiff.

  Mr. Freeman
  Once the work on Trident components is completed, no other defence work can be given to AWE Cardiff. My Department is prepared to consider any proposals for alternative future uses of the site.

  Indonesia (Hawk Aircraft)
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the sale of Hawk aircraft to Indonesia.

  Mr. Freeman
  It is Government policy to support the sale of British defence equipment overseas wherever this is compatible with our political, strategic and security interests, and does not conflict with our international obligations. In the case of the Hawk sales to Indonesia, an important factor in our consideration was the assurances that we received from the Indonesian Government that the aircraft will not be used for purposes of internal security.

  Equipment (Exports)
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) at what interest rate defence equipment was sold to Jordan under the British-Jordanian defence sales agreement; and what was the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development consensus interest rate at the relevant time;

  (2) what payments were made towards the financing of the contracts for defence equipment sold to Jordan under the terms of the British-Jordanian defence sales agreement.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 25 January 1995]: The details of the financial arrangements applied to the 1985 Jordan defence package remain confidential.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Diplomats (Expulsion)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many diplomats officially accredited to missions in London and of what nationality have been expelled from the United Kingdom in each year since 1965.
  450
  Mr. Baldry
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 18 January Official Report, column 498, which detailed the number and nationality of expelled accredited diplomats between 1979 and 1995.

  The information requested was not centrally recorded before 1972, but the number of diplomats officially accredited to missions in London who were expelled between 1972 and 1978 is as follows:

  1972: Yemen 1

  1973: Cuba 1

  1974: nil

  1975: nil

  1976: nil

  1977: nil

  1978: Iraq 7

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many United Kingdom diplomats officially credited to missions in foreign countries have been expelled from(a) Libya, (b) the former Soviet Union, (c) Czechoslavakia, (d) Bulgaria, (e) Cuba, (f) Vietnam, (g) Iraq, (h) Iran, (i) South Africa, (j) Sudan and (k) Iran since 1979; and on what dates and for what stated reasons.

  Mr. Goodlad
  It will take some time to gather this information. I will write to the hon. Gentleman when it has been compiled.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons the Foreign Office expels diplomats officially accredited to missions in London.

  Mr. Baldry
  The rules governing the expulsion, or requests for withdrawal, of diplomats officially accredited to missions in London are set out in paragraph 69 of the 1985 White Paper on diplomatic immunities and privileges, Cmnd 9497, dated April 1985.

  Recruitment
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent during 1994 on recruiting staff to his Department and its executive agencies; and how many staff were recruited.

  Mr. Goodlad
  My Department and its executive agencies, including the aid and diplomatic wings, spent £887,175.85 externally in 1994 on recruitment, and recruited 295 members of staff. In addition, 92 people transferred to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as a result of inter-departmental trawls; the cost of these is included in the above figure.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the number of East Timorese killed by the Indonesian Army since its occupation.

  Mr. Goodlad
  There is no reliable source of information about the number of people killed in East Timor.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Hawk aircraft manufactured in the United Kingdom and supplied to Indonesia are used for counter-insurgency purposes.
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  Mr. Goodlad
  The Hawk aircraft supplied to Indonesia in the 1980s are trainer aircraft. We have no evidence that they have been used for counter-insurgency purposes.

  East Timor
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the violence in Dili in East Timor in 1991.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Along with our EU partners, we strongly condemned the violence in Dili in 1991. We received reports of what happened from various sources, including a report of the Indonesian national commission of inquiry. These differed widely in their accounts of the numbers killed or missing. The United Nations special rapporteur on extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary executions has recently produced a new report which will be considered by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights at its next session.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether Hawk aircraft have been used against civilians in East Timor.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We have no evidence to support allegations that Hawk aircraft have been used against civilians in East Timor.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Fishing
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask thee Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in what circumstances other Community countries could apply conservation measures similar to those granted to Portugal and Spain under article V-I (a) of the Fisheries Council agreement.

  Mr. Jack
  The agreement reached by the Fisheries Council in December 1994 provides that the Council will incorporate into Council regulation 3094/86, dealing with technical conservation measures, a ban on fishing for tuna species with drift nets or purse seine nets in certain Spanish and Portuguese waters; some of these measures previously operated on an annual basis.

  This agreement is in accordance with the provision of article 4 of the basic common fisheries policy, Council regulation No. 3760/92. The Commission can propose new technical conservation measures for Council decision at its own initiative or in the light of member states' requests.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has about the amount of aid paid to fishing in each of the other EEC fishing nations in the form of(a) building grants, (b) fuel or operating support, (c) market support and (d) unemployment support when not fishing; and for each form of support, what representations he has made to the Commission or to the Government concerned to get the subsidy ended.

  Mr. Jack
  Under European Union law, member states are permitted to pay certain types of aid to the fishing industry, provided these are approved by the Commission in its sectoral plans. These may include vessel modernisation and construction grants, aid for fishing port facilities and for the processing and marketing of fishery products. It is the Commission's responsibility to ensure 452
  that no unauthorised payments are made. Details of the amounts paid by individual member states are not notified directly to us, but we will always follow up any allegations of illegal support.

  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how may Spanish-owned ships in Britain's fishing fleet applied for United Kingdom decommissioning grants in the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Jack
  Under the Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning) Scheme 1993 we received seven applications for grant in respect of vessels upon which Spanish nationals held at least a 25 per cent. interest; only one was successful.

  Following the introduction of the Merchant Shipping (Registration of Shipping) Regulations 1993—SI 1993 No. 3138—the registrar general of shipping and seamen no longer collects details of shareholdings in United Kingdom companies owning British-registered fishing vessels.

  Farm and Conservation Grants
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he sought advice from the National Rivers Authority, the Countryside Council for Wales and the Nature Conservation Council on the effects of ending the farm and conservation grants.

  Mrs. Browning
  Far from ending the farm and conservation grant scheme, grants for conservation measures are still available, although the land improvement and waste handling grants were withdrawn at the end of 1994. We did not seek advice on the closure of the plan side of the farm and conservation grant scheme as the scheme legislation provided for this part of the scheme to close on 31 December 1994. Neither did we seek advice on the withdrawal of grants for waste handling facilities. We hold regular meetings with the National Rivers Authority and with English Nature. These meetings include discussions on a wide range of issues. Meetings with the Countryside Council for Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Harvesting Restrictions
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 18 January,Official Report, column 545, if he will make it his policy to waive the harvesting restriction to prevent food going to waste.

  Mr. Jack
  No. However, we will examine the rules for planting crops on set-aside land for harvest in the next cropping year to ensure farmers do not have to choose between receiving set-aside payments and harvesting edible crops.

  Cormorants
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the number of cormorants in England and Wales during each of the years 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94; how many licences to shoot cormorants in the interests of the protection of inland fisheries were issued by his Department in each of those years; and how many birds are known to have been shot under these licences.
  453
  Mrs. Browning
  No figures are readily available of the number of cormorants in England and Wales during each of the last three years. However, a report by the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology estimates that the population of cormorants over-wintering in Britain has been increasing at a rate of 4 per cent. per year and currently stands at approximately 20,000 birds. Research on the population and distribution of cormorants is a part of the research and development programme currently being discussed by this Department and the Department of the Environment.

  Details of the number of licences granted by this Department in England and the number of birds shot under licence are as follows:

  Year

  Number of licences issued

  Number of cormorants shot under licence

  1991

  3

  18

  1992

  4

  13

  1993

  20

  72

  1994

  30

  128

  1 Some licences extend into 1995. The figure given is for the number of birds shot up to 31 December 1994.

  Animal Exports
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what independent legal advice he has now received concerning the export of veal calves from the United Kingdom to other EU member states; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I have made it clear that I shall set out the Government's view of the legal position, and I hope to be able to do so in the near future.

  Vessel Decommissioning
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what impact on Britain's multi-annual guidance programme he expects to achieve with the addition of £28 million to his vessel decommissioning programme.

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 25 January 1995]: As I explained in my reply on 25 January, Official Report, column 217, it is not possible to say in advance how many vessels will be decommissioned as a result of the additional funding. On the basis of experience with previous schemes, however, I would expect the results to make significant further contributions towards meeting the targets for capacity reduction in our multi-annual guidance programme.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Departmental Staff
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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)
  454
  at executive officer level, (iv) at administrative officer level and (v) at administrative assistant level.

  Mr. Howard
  In November 1991, 11,247 members of staff in the Home Office were women. Of these, three were at grade 3 level, 131 were at grade 7 level, 2,052 were at executive officer level, and 5,094 were at administrative officer level and 3,072 were at administrative assistant level.

  In October 1992, 12,366 members of staff were women. Of these, six were at grade 3 level, 117 were at grade 7 level, 2,363 were at executive officer level, 5,709 were at administrative officer level and 3,210 were at administrative assistant level.1

  In September 1993, 13,035 members of staff were women. Of these, seven were at grade 3 level, 141 were at grade 7 level, 2,427 were at executive officer level, 5,834 were at administrative officer level and 3,355 were at administrative assistant level.2

  In September 1994, 13,417 members of staff in the Department were women. Of these, six were at grade 3 level, 179 were at grade 7, 2,749 were at executive officer level, 5,928 were at administrative officer level and 3,195 were at administrative assistant level.

  1 The figures for grades 3 and 7 level are as at June 1992.

  2The figures for grades 3 and 7 are as at March 1993.

  Police Exhibition
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a list of exhibitors and country delegations that attended the police scientific development Branch conference-exhibition held recently at Bramshill college, organised by the Association of Police and Public Security Suppliers.

  Mr. Maclean
  The police scientific development branch equipment exhibition at the Police Staff college, Bramshill, in October 1994 attracted some 130 exhibitors, a list of which has been placed in the Library.

  The exhibition was attended by visitors from police agencies in Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa and Sweden.

  Mobile Phone Thefts
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mobile phones have been reported stolen in each month for the past two years; what measures he is taking to apprehend the criminals involved; and what steps he intends to take to make illegal the reprogramming of mobile phones.

  Mr. Maclean
  From information collected centrally, it is not possible separately to identify offences of thefts of mobile phones. The investigation of criminal offences and the allocation and deployment of resources are operational policing matters and, as such, the responsibility of the chief officer of the force concerned. A number of forces have established specialist squads to tackle the problem of mobile phone theft.
  455
  The Government have no plans, at present, to make the reprogramming of mobile phones a criminal offence.

  Animal Experiments
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 January,Official Report, column 528, if he will explain the delay in the publication of Statistics of "Scientific Procedures Performed on Living Animals","Great Britain", 1993; and what measures he is taking to ensure that it does not recur.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The delay in the publication of the annual Command Paper was caused by problems with the computer systems upon which the collection of data for this publication is dependent, and by a need to investigate possible omissions in the data. With these statistics, completeness is more important than timeliness. I am pleased to say that the problems have been resolved satisfactorily. Arrangements for handling the annual returns issued to persons licenses to perform scientific procedures have been modified to ensure more timely publication in future years.

  Sexual Offences (Children)
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many British citizens have been prosecuted for sexual offences involving children outside the United Kingdom for each year since records have been kept.
  456
  Mr. Maclean
  Information on the number of British citizens prosecuted abroad is not collected centrally by my Department.

  Electric Shock Equipment
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 January,Official Report, column 535, what were the terms of the authority granted to Royal Ordnance under section 5(1)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968, with particular reference to the stocking of or trading in any form of electro-shock equipment and to what extent Royal Ordnance has dealt in such equipment in the last 10 years.

  Mr. Maclean
  The specific authority referred to allows Royal Ordnance to possess, purchase, acquire, sell and transfer no more than 100 weapons to which sections 5(1)(a), 5(1)(ab) or 5(1)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968 apply, in the course of their business as registered firearms dealers. The authority makes no reference to electric shock equipment. I have no information about dealings by them in such equipment.

  Right of Settlement
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how may immigrants were granted the right of settlement in British during(a) 1993 and (b)

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The available information, which is for 1993 and the first six months of 1994, was published in table 1.1 of Home Office statistical bulletin "Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom, First and Second Quarters 1994", issue 25/94, a copy of which is in the Library.