Written Answers of 10 July 1995

TREASURY

  Firearms and Ammunition
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were(a) found to be illegally importing firearms and ammunition and (b) prosecuted for illegal importation of firearms and ammunition in each year since 1992. [33247]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Customs and Excise does not hold central statistics on the number of people found to be illegally importing firearms and ammunition. The table shows, for 1992, 1993 and 1994, the number of detected irregularities in firearms importations; seized firearms; and resulting prosecutions. It is customs' policy to take offence action, either by prosecution or compound penalty, when there is sufficient evidence to show that those concerned were knowingly concerned in a fraudulent evasion of United Kingdom firearms and ammunition prohibitions and restrictions. In all other cases, action is restricted to seizure of the goods. As an alternative to criminal prosecution, the compound penalty procedure is used primarily in respect of non-commercial importations of CS gas canisters or undeclared firearms held for personal security reasons by visiting yachtsmen. These factors account for the low rate of prosecutions resulting from a large number of detections and seizures.

  Year

  Detections

  Firearms seized

  Prosecutions

  1992

  n/a

  1,427

  6

  1993

  276

  8,674

  4

  1994

  441

  6,821

  12

  Single Currency
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the European Commission(a) has spent and (b) is proposing to spend on propagating its proposals for a single currency and on the green paper on the subject. [28077]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Line A-3501 of the European Community budget sets out expenditure on technical preparatory work for economic and monetary union. An element of the expenditure under line B3–306 is attributable to the provision of information on economic and monetary union, while an element of the expenditure under line B5–600 covers relevant statistical information. These figures do not include Commission staff and publication costs, which are not broken down by function in the budget. Copies of the European Community budget for years to 1995, and of the preliminary draft budget for 1996, are available in the House of Commons Library.
  376

  Banknotes
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has proposed or considered arrangements under which banknotes would continue to be issued to Scottish and Northern Ireland banks under a single European currency. [30462]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  By the terms of the Maastricht treaty, provided the European Central bank was prepared to authorise them to do so, Scottish and Northern Ireland banks could continue to issue their own banknotes, though they would remain without legal tender status, as is currently the situation. Article 16 of the statute of the European system of central banks, a protocol to the Maastricht treaty, expressly provides that the European Central bank shall respect as far as possible existing practices regarding the issue and design of banknotes.

  Employee Share Ownership
  Mr. Keen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what statistics are held on employee share ownership plans established by companies over the last five years; how many companies and employees are covered by such plans; what is the level of control and ownership established by those plans; if he can give examples of plans establishing employee control of the running of their company; and if he will make a statement. [32426]

  Mr. Jack
  The law provides favourable tax treatment for employee share ownership trusts or plans—commonly known as ESOPs—which meet certain qualifying conditions set out in the legislation. In addition, "case law ESOPs"—as they are often called—which do not meet all the statutory requirements, may nevertheless qualify for one of the tax reliefs available to qualifying ESOPs, following principles established in case law. There is no requirement for qualifying ESOPs to be approved in advance by the Inland Revenue, so it is not possible to say how many have been established. Information about other arrangements which may be described as ESOPs is not held centrally. The other detailed information requested is not available.

  Public Sector Borrowing Requirement
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the breakdown of the public sector borrowing requirement in the last fiscal year between central and local government. [32819]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Central Government borrowing, on its own account, was £38.3 billion in 1994–95. Local authorities made a net payment of £1.1 billion and public corporations made a net repayment of £1.9 billion.

  House Builders Federation
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the House Builders Federation; and when he next expects to meet it. [32816]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Chancellor last met the president of the House Builders Federation on 22 September 1993. At present, the House Builders Federation has not requested a meeting this year.
  377

  Uncollected Tax
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the figures for uncollected tax in 1994 for(a) PAYE, (b) capital gains tax, (c) corporation tax, (d) schedule D and (e) VAT. [32828]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The amount of value added tax written off or remitted in the year ended December 1994 was approximately £550 million. The information requested on PAYE, capital gains tax, corporation tax and schedule D tax is not yet available.

  National Debt
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he estimates the national debt will reach £310 billion. [32826]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Net public sector debt is forecast to reach £310 billion by the end of March 1996, about the cyclical peak of the GDP debt ratio.

  Cheque Clearing
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set a date for the implementation of the cheque clearing system as set out in the 1990 White Paper "Banking Services: Law and Practice", Cm 1026. [33143]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Government have already said that they intend to introduce legislation as soon as an appropriate opportunity arises to allow the cheque clearing system described in the 1990 White Paper to be introduced. It is not possible to be more precise at the moment.

  Charities (VAT)
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of irrecoverable VAT paid by charities in the last year for which figures are available; and what proposals he has to compensate charities for lost revenue. [33022]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No official figures of charities' irrecoverable VAT are kept. I am currently studying proposals for a compensation scheme recently submitted to me by the charities tax reform group.

  Gilts and Bonds
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the taxation of gilts and bonds. [33978]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The Government have decided to proceed with the reform of the taxation of gilts and bonds outlined in the consultative document published by the Inland Revenue on 25 May 1995. However, these changes will not apply to the overwhelming majority of private investors.

  These proposals will produce a simpler and more sensible tax regime, and will pave the way for market innovations which would help to ensure that the United Kingdom maintains and enhances its competitive position
  378
  in world financial markets. The introduction of a strips market will be a further important step in the development of the gilt market, widening investor choice and helping to reduce funding costs.

  At the same time, the Government intend to protect the interests of private investors. There will be a threshold, set at nominal holdings of £200,000, below which private investors will continue to pay tax on interest on the present basis. In addition, the Government have decided that the existing regime should continue to apply to two issues of low coupon gilts—3.5 per cent. 1999/04 and 5.5 per cent. 2008/12. These gilts are widely held by private investors. The Government have also decided that all non-equity shares—including zero-coupon preference shares—should be outside the new regime, although the position may be reviewed if serious distortions result. These decisions mean that probably fewer than 4,000 private investor—0.5 per cent. of the total—will be within the new regime. Many of those affected will on balance gain, rather than lose, from the reform.

  There will be special rules to ensure that gilt and bond unit trusts are not disadvantaged, and that there is tax exemption for corporate bond Personal Equity Plans.

  The element in the return on indexed gilts due to indexation of the principal repayment will remain tax free.

  Many of those responding to the Inland Revenue's consultative document have expressed the wish for more time to discuss technical details with the Inland Revenue. At the same time, the Government are conscious of the difficulties which the markets and those having to make commercial decisions are facing because of uncertainty as to whether the reform will go ahead.

  The Government have, therefore, decided to delay the start of the new regime until 1 April 1996 for companies, and until 6 April 1996 for the few private investors with holdings of over £200,000. In the meantime, the Inland Revenue will continue technical discussions with interested parties.

  The Government have decided in principle to introduce an official gilt strips facility. It has also decided that gilts strippable through any such market should be exempt from withholding tax and the quarterly accounting arrangements to be introduced in connection with gilt repo. The introduction of a strips market will not take place before the second half of 1996. In the meantime, the Bank of England will be consulting further on the details.

  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what representations he has received to exclude zero dividend preference shares from the scope of the proposed changes to the taxation of gilts and bonds; and if he will make a statement; [33846]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the extent to which private investors holding zero dividend preference shares will be affected by the proposed changes to the taxation of gilts and bonds; [33847]

  (3) what steps he intends to take to avoid the potential for double taxation of gilts and bonds held by collective investment vehicles under the changes proposed to the treatment of these investments. [33845]
  379
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  I refer to the answer my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor is today giving to the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Banks).

  Oil Companies (Decommissioning)
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what information he has on the cost to the Exchequer of tax relief for decommissioning costs claimed by oil companies operating in the North sea in each financial year since 1985–86; [31226]

  (2) what is the size of the adjustment in the forecasts of tax revenue published in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96" to take account of relief claimed for decommissioning costs by oil companies operating in the North sea in 1995–96 and 1996–97 and any future years for which figures are available. [31227]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 28 June 1995]: The cost of decommissioning North sea oil installations is one of the costs of extracting oil in the North sea. As it is the profits of North sea oil companies that are taxed, it is right that tax relief should be given for relevant decommissioning costs.

  There were no decommissioning costs in North sea oil and gas fields before 1991. From 1991–92 to 1996–97, deductions in tax revenues—royalties, petroleum revenue tax and corporation tax—average about £5 million per annum due to relief claimed for decommissioning costs. They are then expected to rise substantially.

  Tax Relief
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue would be raised by limiting all tax relief to the basic rate of tax. [32531]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 5 July 1995]: Based on a projection of the 1993–94 "Survey of Personal Incomes" and other survey data in line with assumptions in the summer economic forecast, the estimated full year yield at 1995–96 income levels would be about £890 million.

  Bank of England, Leeds
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the long-term viability of the Bank of England branch in Leeds. [32545]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 6 July 1995]: This is a matter for the Bank of England. The Bank has recently completed a review of its branches and agencies. The Bank concluded that the economic liaison and representation work of its nine regional agents, including Leeds, had become increasingly important and should continue. It has, however, decided to cease branch banking operations and will discuss the branches' work on note distribution with the major clearing banks.

  Alcohol Taxation
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the relative tax rules on spirits and other alcoholic drinks in relation to units of alcohol; and what assessment he makes of revenue maximisation in determining the level of duty imposed on spirits. [32954]
  380
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 6 July 1995]: Excise duties on all alcoholic drinks are levied at specific, rather than ad valorem, rates on the end product. Duty on spirits is levied according to the litres of pure alcohol content, whereas that on beer is charged per hectolitre per cent. alcohol by volume. Cider is also taxed per hectolitre but subject to a maximum strength of less than 8.5 per cent. alcohol by volume. Duty per hectolitre on wine varies according to the nature and strength of the product: five duty bands cover a range of strengths from 1.2 per cent. up to 22 per cent. alcohol by volume and differentiate between still, sparkling and fortified wines.

  My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer takes into consideration a wide range of social, economic and health factors as well as revenue considerations when setting the level of taxation on spirits.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Drugs Misuse
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the criteria which he applies to reschedule drug substances under the terms of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; how temazepam relates to these criteria; and if he will make a statement. [31393]

  Mr. Maclean
  No rescheduling may occur under the 1971 Act except after consultation with, or on the recommendation of, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs; and the council is required to have regard to misused drugs which are having, or appear to them capable of having, harmful effects sufficient to constitute a social problem. The council has recommended that temazepam should be controlled under schedule 3 of the relevant regulations rather than schedule 4, the effects of which would be as the then Minister of State described in his reply of 19 April to the hon. Member,Official Report, column 196. The Government's careful consideration of this recommendation is continuing.

  Following consultation with the Department of Health the Home Office is taking steps to impose safe custody requirements on manufacturers and wholesalers, and the Department of Health is engaged in consultations with interested parties with a view to banning NHS prescribing by general practitioners of the soft gelatin gel-filled capsules. These measures were announced by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council on 10 May, Official Report, column 756.

  Racially Motivated Incidents
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many racially motivated attacks are estimated to have taken place within the Greater London area in each of the last 12 months. [31699]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information requested has been provided by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and is contained in the table. The data supplied relate to the number of racially motivated incidents as per the Association of Chief Police Officers definition and excludes the City of London.
  381

  Racial incident figures: Metropolitan Police District 1 April 1994–31 March 1995

  Month

  Number of racial incidents

  April 1994

  478

  May

  443

  June

  509

  July

  557

  August

  558

  September

  517

  October

  454

  November

  461

  December

  384

  January 1995

  379

  February

  379

  March

  361

  Total 1994–95

  5,480

  Association of Chief Police Officers definition: Any incident in which it appears to the reporting or investigative officer that the complaint involves an element of racial motive, or any incidents which include allegations of racial motivation made by any person.

  Penile Plethysmograph Tests
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the accuracy of penile plethysmograph tests as predictions of behaviour; what are the guidelines for the use of such tests; and what assessment he has made of the consequences of taking such tests in terms of prisoners' assumptions about one another. [32247]

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. George Howarth, dated 10 July 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about what assessment has been made of the accuracy of penile plethysmograph (PPG) tests as predictions of behaviour; what are the guidelines for use of such tests; and what assessments has been made of the consequences of taking such tests in terms of prisoners' assumptions about one another.
  The use of PPG by the Prison Service follows the guidelines published by the British Psychological Society and is only one element in the comprehensive assessment which forms part of the Prison Service's Sex Offender Treatment Programme (SOTP). Its use is based on relevant research findings and advice from international experts. This research indicates that sadistic and paedophilic sexual preferences, shown up by the PPG, are common among convicted sex offenders and rare among unconvicted men. In addition, convicted sex offenders, who show these preferences to a more marked degree appear more likely to re-offend.
  However, PPG assessment is not primarily used by the Prison Service to predict future behaviour. It is used with men who have already been identified as being at risk of committing sexual offences to assess one factor, sexual preferences, which may contribute to their offending.
  Since the PPG is used as part of a comprehensive package of assessment and treatment, it is difficult to isolate this particular element from the effect of the SOTP as a whole. Research has shown, however, that by the end of the SOTP, when PPG assessment is included, participants typically:

  accept responsibility for their offences rather than blaming other people.

  are more aware of the damage and distress caused to victims.

  are more aware of the factors which put them at risk of committing further offences.

  382

  have worked out ways of controlling these factors.

  behave in a less aggressive and impulsive way in relation to prison staff and other prisoners.

  are less emotional and angry.

  A careful and rigorous evaluation of its effects on prisoners is built into the SOTP. The programme is periodically revised in the light of evaluation results.

  Young Offender Institutions
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the approximate start-up cost of the two proposed young offender institutions in England and Wales. [32433]

  (2) what are the approximate costings of running experimental young offender institutions in England and Wales. [32435]

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. George Howarth, dated 10 July 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the approximate start-up cost of the two proposed young offender institutions and the approximate costings of running experimental young offender institutions in England and Wales.
  The Prison Service is currently working on proposals for two new types of regime for young offenders. Information about the projected costs of these ventures cannot be given until the proposals have been approved and an announcement made.
  There are no young offender institutions being run on an experimental basis in England and Wales at present.

  Advertising
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent on outside advertising agencies for each year since 1979; and if he will list the specific advertising campaigns undertaken by his Department, their purpose and their cost. [32482]

  Mr. Howard
  Expenditure on advertising by my Department for each year since 1979 is as follows:

  1979–80: £2,904,671

  1980–81: £1,649,605

  1981–82: £1,834,476

  1982–83: £1,957,304

  1983–84: £2,760,681

  1984–85: £3,262,700

  1985–86: £3,306,391

  1986–87: £5,000,000

  1987–88: £4,700,000

  1988–89: £5,400,000

  1989–90: £5,500,000

  1990–91: £5,728,000

  1991–92: £7,275,940

  1992–93: £7,344,635

  1993–94: £9,090,222

  1994–95: £10,912,000

  These figures include the 1.75 per cent. commission charged by the Central Office of Information for services associated with centralised purchasing.
  383
  The specific campaigns undertaken between 1990–91 and 1994–95 were as follows:

  £

  1990–91

  Crime Prevention

  To encourage more widespread crime prevention.

  2,890,309

  Electoral Registration

  To encourage un-registered but otherwise eligible citizens to register to vote.

  468,419

  Fire Service Recruitment

  To recruit retained fire fighters.

  22,387

  Special Constabulary

  To stimulate increased applications to join the Special Constabulary.

  1,176,645

  Fire Safety

  To encourage wider ownership, installation and maintenance of smoke alarms in domestic premises.

  1,165,831

  Miscellaneous Campaigns

  A range of small campaigns such as Police Graduate Recruitment and advice about Magistrates' Courts.

  4,409

  1991–92

  Crime Prevention

  3,637,514

  Dangerous Dogs Legislation

  To inform owners of dogs included in legislation of action they must take to comply with that legislation.

  262,719

  Electoral Registration

  627,336

  Absent Voting

  To advise eligible voters of absent voting rights

  512,062

  Fire Service Recruitment

  25,773

  Special Constabulary

  954,705

  Fire Safety

  1,244,000

  Miscellaneous Campaigns

  11,831

  1992–93

  Crime Prevention

  3,826,280

  Electoral Registration

  620,000

  Special Constabulary

  1,357,133

  Fire Safety

  1,534,522

  Miscellaneous Campaigns

  6,700

  1993–94

  Crime Prevention

  4,984,722

  Elections

  620,000

  Special Constabulary

  1,459,000

  Fire Prevention

  2,020,000

  Miscellaneous Campaigns

  6,500

  1994–95

  Partners Against Crime

  To encourage crime prevention and greater public co-operation with the police through Neighbourhood Watch, Street Watch and Neighbourhood Special Constables schemes.

  6,675,313

  Electoral Registration

  650,000

  Fire Safety recruitment

  30,094

  Fire Safety

  757,428

  Special Constabulary

  2,799,165

  Compaigns planned for 1995–96 are as follows:

  Partners Against Crime

  Electoral Registration

  Fire Safety

  Special Constabulary

  384
  This work is still being developed and it is not yet possible to give a precise budget for each campaign. The forest total spend for advertising in the current financial year is £7,300,000.

  A breakdown by campaign subjects in the years before 1990–91 could be provided only at disproportionate cost to public funds. However, the subjects listed for the past five years are broadly the same as those covered in previous years.

  Cannabis
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to allow experiments into the use of cannabis for medical purposes. [32493]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 makes specific provision for research relating to otherwise illegal drugs, such as cannabis, to be undertaken under license. Some licences for research into cannabis are already in existence; any future application for licences will be carefully considered as and when they are received.

  Police Cautions
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the percentage of persons cautioned for indictable, excluding motoring, offences as a percentage of persons found guilty or cautioned for each police force area in 1994. [32633]

  Mr. Maclean
  The latest available figures, which are for 1993, are published in table 5.4 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1993". The 1994 figures will be available in autumn 1995.

  Victims Helpline
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total cost of the victims helpline since its establishment; and what number of telephone calls have been received. [32634]

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Jack Straw, dated 10 July 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent question about the victim helpline.From its commencement on 5 December 1994 to 4 July this year, the Helpline had received 192 calls. The total cost over the same period is estimated to be in the region of £23,000 including the start up costs of £8,400.

  Police Cells
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total cost of keeping prisoners in police cells in 1994. [32636]
  385
  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Jack Straw, dated 10 July 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the total cost of keeping prisoners in police cells in 1994.The total cost for 1994 was £14,780,000.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Coventry, North-East will receive a reply to his letter to the Minister of State for the Home Department, the right hon. Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean), of 8 June. [32638]

  Mr. Maclean
  I wrote to the hon. Member on 5 July.

  Offences1 and punishments2 for possession of a controlled drug, Prison Service establishment, England and Wales, March-May 1995 (provisional figures)

  Number of proved offences

  Confined to cell/room

  Removal from activities

  Forfeiture of privileges

  Stoppage or reduction of earnings

  Caution

  Removal from wing or living unit

  Extra work

  Additional days awarded

  Exclusion from associated work

  All punishments

  All Establishments

  906

  86

  3

  325

  317

  14

  9

  26

  845

  23

  1,648

  Aylesbury

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Bedford

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  2

  Birmingham

  25

  1

  —

  21

  7

  —

  —

  —

  25

  —

  54

  Brinsford

  17

  —

  —

  16

  8

  1

  —

  1

  12

  —

  38

  Bristol

  37

  1

  —

  1

  5

  —

  —

  —

  32

  —

  39

  Brixton

  22

  3

  —

  3

  1

  —

  —

  —

  20

  2

  29

  Canterbury

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Castington

  1

  —

  —

  2

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  4

  Coldingley

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Dartmoor

  31

  4

  —

  2

  6

  1

  —

  —

  29

  4

  46

  Dorchester

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Dover

  4

  1

  —

  3

  1

  —

  1

  1

  4

  —

  11

  Elmley

  24

  2

  —

  6

  1

  —

  —

  —

  22

  —

  31

  Erlestoke

  10

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  10

  —

  11

  Exeter

  14

  1

  —

  —

  4

  1

  —

  —

  12

  —

  18

  Feltham

  91

  7

  —

  62

  60

  3

  —

  2

  87

  —

  221

  Ford

  21

  —

  —

  —

  6

  2

  —

  —

  21

  —

  29

  Gartree

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Glen Parva

  3

  —

  —

  2

  1

  —

  —

  —

  3

  —

  6

  Gloucester

  9

  —

  —

  3

  1

  —

  —

  —

  8

  —

  12

  Guys Marsh

  27

  2

  —

  3

  3

  1

  —

  —

  26

  —

  35

  Hatfield

  5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  —

  5

  Hewell Grange

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Highpoint

  5

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  5

  —

  7

  Hindley

  17

  1

  —

  14

  12

  —

  —

  —

  16

  —

  43

  Holme House

  11

  —

  —

  3

  3

  —

  —

  —

  11

  1

  18

  Hull

  4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  —

  4

  Kirkham

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Lancaster

  Farms

  25

  1

  —

  10

  7

  —

  1

  —

  25

  —

  44

  Leicester

  25

  2

  —

  2

  9

  1

  —

  —

  22

  —

  36

  Leyhill

  2

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  3

  Lincoln

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Lindholme

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Liverpool

  49

  —

  —

  14

  19

  1

  —

  —

  48

  1

  83

  Manchester

  40

  28

  —

  25

  8

  —

  —

  —

  37

  —

  98

  Moorland

  34

  5

  —

  16

  12

  —

  —

  —

  34

  —

  67

  Morton Hall

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  2

  New Hall

  3

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  4

  Northallerton

  33

  5

  —

  19

  28

  —

  —

  —

  33

  —

  85

  Onley

  24

  —

  3

  13

  20

  —

  4

  —

  23

  —

  63

  Parkhurst

  7

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  5

  1

  9

  Pentonville

  59

  2

  —

  15

  6

  —

  —

  —

  57

  —

  80

  Portland

  11

  5

  —

  5

  —

  —

  1

  —

  10

  —

  21

  386

  Drugs (Prisons)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the fines and penalties imposed on prison inmates for being in possession of drugs at each prison in England and Wales during the months of March, April and May. [32673]

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 10 July 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the fines and penalties imposed on prison inmates for being in possession of drugs during the months of March, April and May.Provisional figures for the number of offences and the number of punishments awarded for possession of a controlled drug are shown in the attached table, a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House, for each Prison Service establishment where it was proved that an offence was committed.387

  Offences1 and punishments2 for possession of a controlled drug, Prison Service establishment, England and Wales, March-May 1995 (provisional figures)

  Number of proved offences

  Confined to cell/room

  Removal from activities

  Forfeiture of privileges

  Stoppage or reduction of earnings

  Caution

  Removal from wing or living unit

  Extra work

  Additional days awarded

  Exclusion from associated work

  All punishments

  Preston

  3

  1

  —

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  3

  —

  8

  Reading

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Risley

  24

  5

  —

  6

  6

  —

  —

  —

  23

  —

  40

  Send

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Shrewsbury

  10

  1

  —

  7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  9

  1

  18

  Stafford

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6

  —

  6

  Stoke Heath

  14

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  15

  —

  15

  Styal

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  2

  Swaleside

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Swinfen Hall

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Thorn Cross

  40

  1

  —

  1

  28

  —

  2

  22

  41

  —

  95

  Usk/Prescoed

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  2

  Wakefield

  24

  —

  —

  17

  24

  —

  —

  —

  12

  7

  60

  Wandsworth

  36

  6

  —

  26

  13

  —

  —

  —

  35

  5

  85

  Wayland

  7

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  7

  —

  8

  Wetherby

  4

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  —

  6

  Winchester

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  2

  Wolds

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Wormwood

  Scrubs

  21

  —

  —

  3

  7

  1

  —

  —

  13

  —

  24

  Wymott

  4

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  —

  5

  1 Including incite or assist the possession of controlled drugs.

  2 The number of offences punished and the number of punishments awarded may not agree, it being the practice in some cases to award concurrently several forms of punishment for one offence.

  Wheelclamping
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to introduce proposals on wheelclamping on private land. [32822]

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on 20 April,Official Report, column 268.

  Prisoner Escape
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoner escapes from(a) establishments and (b) escorts there were in 1994–95 in (i) London and (ii) England and Wales. [32537]

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 10 July 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoner escapes form (a) establishments and (b) escorts in 1994/95 in (i) London and (ii) England and Wales.
  The information for the period 1 April 1994 to 31 March this year is shown in the attached tables.

  London

  Escapes from prison

  Escapes from escort

  sub total

  Escapes from court escort services (previously a police responsibility)

  Total

  5

  4

  9

  2

  11

  388

  England and Wales1

  Escapes from prison

  Escapes from escort

  sub total

  Escapes from court escort service (previously a police responsibility)

  Total

  151

  51

  202

  15

  217

  Figures exclude prisoners recaptured within 15 minutes provided that no further offence has been committed.

  1 Figures for England and Wales include those for London.

  Prisoners (Visits by Lawyers)
  Mr. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he plans to take to remedy the shortage of prison officers supervising visits to prisoners by lawyers. [32541]

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 10 July 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about visits to prisoners by lawyers.
  There is no general shortage of prison officers to supervise visits to prisoners by lawyers. Accommodation may sometimes become over-stretched and result in difficulty in agreeing to visits at short notice. Many prisons find that the best service can be offered by operating a booking system.

  Criminal Injury Compensation
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what date he intends to backdate the option of structured settlements for victims who are awarded large sums of criminal injury compensation under the existing scheme administered by the Criminal Injury Compensation Board; and whether the qualifying date will be(a) the date of injury, (b) the date of

  389
  application for compensation or (c) the date of award. [33103]

  Mr. Maclean
  As indicated in a Commons Committee, 27 June,Official Report, column 236, before applicants under the 1990 scheme, or an earlier scheme, can benefit from structured settlements it will be necessary, first, to amend the 1990 scheme to allow payment to be made by the purchase of annuities and, secondly, to make statutory provision to ensure that income from such annuities is exempt from income tax. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Bill which is currently being considered in another place provides an appropriate vehicle for this.

  It will not be possible to offer structured settlements to victims whose claims have already been settled. But once the 1990 scheme has been amended and the statutory provision has been enacted, victims whose claims have not then been finally settled will, in all appropriate cases, be offered the option of payment by structured settlement.

  EDS
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the contracts his Department has with the computer company EDS. [33169]

  Mr. Howard
  My Department has one contract, originally set up with the Inland Revenue, with EDS. It relates to the supply of microfiche for the Home Office pay service, the annual value of which varies according to the number of copies produced. The contract value for the period July 1994 to March 1995 was £20,000, excluding VAT.

  Inquests
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers a coroner has to ensure he sees all papers and documents relating to a death before him, and that all such papers and documents are placed before the relevant inquest. [31479]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  A coroner has no power to order the production of papers and documents which might be likely to afford assistance in his inquiry, but he can, where he considers it necessary to do so, compel such production by means of a Crown Office subpoena. The decision as to which papers and documents should be put in evidence at an inquest is a matter for the coroner.

  Probation Officers
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about his future plans for probation officer recruitment and training. [32848]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  My right hon. and learned Friend will make an announcement when he has completed his consideration of the responses to the consultative proposals which he published earlier this year.

  Prisoners (Drug Tests)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if tests on prisoners to check for illegal drug use will include checks simultaneously for cannabis, heroin and cocaine; [32749]
  390
  (2) what evidence he has of prisoners changing from cannabis use to heroin use to avoid detection in present drugs surveillance tests; [32750]

  (3) what is his calculation of the length of time residues of (a) alcohol, (b) cannabis, (c) heroin and (d) cocaine can be detected in the human body. [32751]

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 10 July 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the drug testing programme in prisons.
  All mandatory drug tests include simultaneous checks for cannabis, heroin and cocaine.
  There is no evidence from the initial phase of implementation of mandatory drug testing that prisoners are changing from cannabis to heroin use to avoid detection. We are aware that heavy users of cannabis may retain the drug in their bodies for longer than light users of cannabis or users of harder drugs such as heroin. This has been taken into account in the development of the drug testing policy and we are taking a number of precautions to ensure that prisoners are not encouraged to move from cannabis to harder drugs in the mistaken belief that they are more likely to escape detection.
  The period over which residues of different drugs remain detectable within the body depends not only on the drug type, but also on the metabolism and physical make-up of the individual and the frequency of and amount of drug taken. The detection period will also depend on the detection threshold set for the particular test.
  The attached table provides estimates on drug retention. The figures are based on the period of time that a drug remains detectable when a urine sample is used as the basis for the drug test.

  Drug type

  Typical maximun detection period

  Alcohol1

  12 to 24 hours

  Cocaine

  2 to 4 days

  Cannabis2

  Single use (once a week)

  1 to 4 days

  Moderate use (2 to 4 times a week)

  2 to 7 days

  Heavy use (daily use)

  7 to 14 days

  Chronic use (extreme daily use)

  up to 30 days

  Opiates (including heroin)

  2 to 4 days

  1 Tests for alcohol are not part of the Prison Service mandatory drug testing programme which covers controlled drugs only.

  2 The retention of cannabis in the body is highly dependent on the amount of the drug taken and the frequency of use; far more so than for other drug-types. For this reason a number of different "typical" scenarios have been provided in the table.

  Mr. Barry Gray
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he plans to take following the release of Barry Gray by Securicor guards after being given a prison sentence at Southwark Crown court. [32534]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 6 July 1995]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
  391
  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 10 July 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the release from custody of Mr. Barry Gray.
  A full enquiry by a senor governor is currently being conducted into all the circumstances surrounding Mr. Gray's release at Southwark Crown court on 19 June. Once it has been completed we will consider what further action, if any, needs to be taken.

  Prison Escorts
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are currently employed on prison escort work by Securicor in London. [32539]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 6 July 1995]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 10 July 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of staff employed by Securicor Custodial Services Limited.
  857 staff were employed by Securicor on prisoner escort work in London at the end of June 1995.

PRIME MINISTER

  Judicial Appointments
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions in the last 10 years he has declined to pass on to Her Majesty recommendation from the Lord Chancellor's Department in respect of senior appointments. [32861]

  The Prime Minister
  It is on the basis of the Lord Chancellor's advice that I make recommendations to Her Majesty the Queen for appointments to the senior judiciary, but the advice from the Lord Chancellor in respect of these appointments is a confidential matter, as is the I make of it.

  Bank of England
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister in which periods since 1965 there has been a trade union leader as a member of the court of the Bank of England; what plans he has to appoint a successor to Sir Gavin Laird; and if he will make a statement. [33273]

  The Prime Minister
  The following trade union leaders have been directors of the Bank of England since 1965; Sir William Carron, 1963 to 1969; Sir Sidney Greene, 1970 to 1978; Mr. Geoffrey Drain, 1978 to 1986; Sir Gavin Laird, 1986 to 1994. Members of the court are not appointed to represent particular institutions or organisations. The aim is always to appoint the best people to advise the Governor and other executive directors of the bank.

  Former Prisoners of War
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has made to the Japanese Government since his visit to Japan in 1993 about examining whether 392
  non-governmental measures would assist in the provision of compensation for British prisoners of war; and if he will make a statement. [33292]

  The Prime Minister
  I have been in contact with successive Japanese Prime Ministers about these matters, including my present counterpart, Mr. Murayama. Although our proposal for a non-governmental foundation did not prove to be feasible, we are pursuing our discussions with the Japanese Government about other possible approaches. Those efforts will continue.

  Air Strikes (Bosnia)
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister what consideration led to the decision not to carry out air strikes to protect the UN designated safe areas including the capital of Bosnia; what agreement has been reached with the Serbians regarding air strikes and the release of UN forces; and if he will make a statement. [33114]

  The Prime Minister
  As I told the House on 28 June,Official Report, column 905, we certainly made no deals with the Bosnian Serbs over the release of the hostages. The UN and other Governments have stated clearly that they made no deals either. Air power remains an important option available to the commanders on the ground for protecting UN forces and enforcing relevant UN resolutions.

  Ministerial Advisers
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister what part was played in the Conservative party leadership contest by advisers to Ministers; what were the official positions of such advisers; and if he will make a statement. [32838]

  Special Advisers
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Prime Minister what part(a) Gregor Mackay, (b) Sophie McEwen, (c) Rachel Whetstone and (d) Tim Collins have played as civil servants in the current Conservative party leadership campaign; and what restrictions apply to civil servants in these circumstances. [32839]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 6 July 1995]: The officials named are special advisers. Special advisers may take part in political activities of the sort described provided they do so during leave or in their own time in addition to fulfilling their normal duties.

  Ministerial Speeches
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 26 June,Official Report, columns 445–46, if he will list all publications, published by Government Departments at public expense, which contain a collection of a Minister's speeches, in the format recently produced by the Department of Transport—"Transport, the Way Ahead". [32110]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 5 July 1995]: "Transport: The Way Ahead" was published by the Secretary of State as a consultation document. It includes a series of six speeches by my right hon. Friend which address central issues of transport policy on which views are invited.
  393
  I am aware of two other recent departmental publications which include collections of ministerial speeches: "Progress through Partnership", published by the Department of Health in February 1995, includes four speeches by the Secretary of State for Health. "Purchasing for Health: A Framework for Action", published by the Department of Health in June 1993, includes three speeches by the right hon. Member for Peterborough (Dr. Mawhinney) as Minister of State together with one by the chief executive of the national health services.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Morocco
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Morocco's expressed intention to extend registration for the proposed referendum in Western Sahara to an additional 100,000 people. [33266]

  Mr. Hanley
  The additional applications in question were submitted by the Moroccans last October, before the deadline for multiple application. The Security Council has endorsed a proposal by a recent mission to the Western Sahara by some of its members that the Moroccans should conduct a preliminary vetting of the 100,000. Our ambassador in Rabat has raised the matter with the Moroccan Prime Minister.

  Access to Information
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures have been taken in accordance with the declaration on the right of access to information within the treaty on European Union by(a) the Commission and (b) the British Government. [33140]

  Mr. David Davis
  We have played a leading role in developing access to information in the Community. Following the Birmingham declaration an openness in October 1992, the Council and the Commission jointly agreed a code of conduct on public access to documents, which is now in operation. A number of Council debates have been televised. Council debates are preceded by comprehensive press briefing and followed by press releases giving details of votes on legislative acts. These press releases are made available to Parliament.

  Since the Maastricht declaration on the right of access to information the Government have extended their own procedures to take account of the creation of the European Union, and notably the new intergovernmental pillars. Key documents are deposited in Parliament. For legislative proposals, explanatory memoranda are made available to the public through libraries and information centres.

  Arms Exports
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions there have been in the EU Council of Ministers on the criteria governing arms exports agreed in June 1991 and supplemented in June 1992. [32407]
  394
  Mr. David Davis
  None. However, all member states of the European Union adhere to the existing criteria when considering potential arms exports.

  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions there have been on arms exports within the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe. [32408]

  Mr. Davis
  The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe held a seminar in Vienna on 20 and 21 June to exchange information amongst OSCE participating states about national procedures and policies governing arms exports.

  On the first day the seminar discussed export law, control lists, licences and enforcement practices and procedures. On the second day the seminar discussed increased transparency, improved international co-operation and combating illegal convention arms transfers.

  Mr Jamal Akkas Chowdhury
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the United Kingdom post in Doha Qatar intends to despatch the explanatory statement explaining why Mr. Jamal Akkas Chowdhury, ref. DOH/826/94/R, was refused entry clearance to join his wife in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [33293]

  Mr. Hanley
  I have asked the embassy at Doha for details and will arrange for the hon. Member to receive a substantive reply from the migration and visa correspondence unit as soon as possible.

  Nuclear Weapons Tests
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the potential environmental effects of French nuclear weapons tests at Mururoa upon the British dependent territory of Pitcairn; and whether the French Government have provided Her Majesty's Government with any assessment of the environmental consequences of its nuclear testing programme at Mururoa and Fangataufa in French Polynesia since 1966 upon British dependent territories in the Pacific. [33480]

  Mr. David Davis
  President Chirac has given an assurance that the planned tests will not cause any harm to the environment. He also issued an invitation to experts to visit the area to verify this for themselves. The French Government have made it clear that all the tests will take place underground. We are not in a position to conduct an independent assessment; the French Government have not provided the United Kingdom with environmental impact assessments of their previous tests in the south Pacific.

  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requirements exist for European Union member state countries to inform (i) the Council, (ii) the Commission and (iii) Euratom over plans to conduct nuclear tests in the territories of the European Union or overseas dependent territories of the Union; and what such notifications have been made in the last year. [32887]
  395
  Mr. Davis
  [holding answer 6 July 1995]: There is no requirement under the treaty on European Union or the Community treaties—including the Euratom treaty—for a member state to give notification of plans to carry out nuclear weapons tests. A member state could if it wished give such notification in the context of the common foreign and security policy. None has been given in recent years.

  Wilton Park
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the Wilton Park executive agency performed against the targets which were agreed for 1994–95; and if targets have yet been agreed for the current year. [33656]

  Mr. Hanley
  According to provisional figures which are subject to full audit, Wilton Park exceeded all four of the agreed targets set for 1994–95 financial year, for the number of conference participants, income, cost recovery and cost per head to the FCO overall.

  The Wilton Park departmental board met in April. We have agreed to the recommendation of the board that the following key targets be adopted for this financial year:
  To increase overall income from £1,157K in 1994–95 to £ 1,203,000K;
  To increase cost recovery from 78.2 per cent. in 1994–95 to 80.3 per cent.
  To increase the target for the overall number of Wilton Park conference participants from 1,260 in 1994–95 to 1,350;
  To reduce the average cost to the FCO of each participant from £237 in 1994–95 to £219;
  It has also been agreed that from 1995–96 Wilton Park will aim to recover 73 per cent. of the cost of Wilton Park conference—1994–95: 64 per cent.

  Government Papers
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the review of previously withheld papers for which he is responsible. [33903]

  Mr. Rifkind
  Since the review was announced in 1992, some 5,500 previously withheld papers have been released into the public domain. These represent some 80 per cent. of the total reviewed, and have included material on Rudolf Hess, the Russia Committee, the Special Operations Executive, SOE, Suez, the Cuban missile crisis and the Malayan emergency. A first tranche of papers relating to the information research department of the Foreign Office is about to be released.

  EU Council
  Mr. Dicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union. [33657]
  396
  Mr. David Davis
  The following is the information:

  MONTHLY FORECAST OF BUSINESS FOR JULY 1995

  The following meetings are planned:

  July 10: ECOFIN

  July 17/18: Foreign Affairs Council
  Agriculture Council

  July 24: Budget Council

  The following subjects are likely to be discussed:

  July 10: ECOFIN

  Cannes follow-up, probably:

  TENS

  Employment

  EMU Green Paper

  Broad economic guidelines (possible adoption following Cannes discussion)

  Recommendations to member states with excessive deficits

  Harmonised consumer price indices (agreement of Regulation as an "A" or "false B" point)

  Excise duty review (Presentation of expected Commission report by Commissioner Monti)

  Possible items include:

  Macrofinancial assistance to Georgia and Armenia

  Cross border payments directive (political agreement)

  VAT (agreement in principle on reduced rate for cut flowers, with pressure from some member states to broaden scope to other agricultural non-food products)

  July 17/18: Agriculture Council

  Bananas (possible)

  Wine (possible)

  Nectarine and peach grubbing scheme

  July 17/18: Foreign Affairs Council

  Agenda not yet available

  July 24: Budget Council

  First reading of draft 1996 Community Budget

  Commission financial management (possible)

  Queen's Messenger Service
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to end the Queen's messenger service. [30894]

  Mr. Goodlad
  None.

  East European Students
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what bursaries to English universities his Department is sponsoring from new eastern European democracies, at what cost to public funds; and if he will make a statement. [31156]

  Mr. Baldry
  In 1994–95 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office provided over 500 scholarships and awards to enable students from eastern and central Europe to come to study at universities and other academic institutions in the United Kingdom, at a cost of approximately £2.6 million.
  397

TRANSPORT

  Cycle Parking
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the buildings occupied by his Department which have provisions for the parking of cycles. [31829]

  Mr. Norris
  Copies of the list of DOT buildings with cycle provision will be placed in the House Library in due course.

  BR Research
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if BR Research will own as a private company intellectual property rights in innovations in railway technology developed by BR Research while in the public sector; if it will also carry liabilities resulting from litigation over any failures of such technological developments; and what compensation will he paid to other sections of British Rail which formerly had access to the use of such developments without payment of a licence fee. [32685]

  Mr. Watts
  The detailed terms of the disposal of BR Research, due to be agreed by the end of this financial year, will be a matter for the British Railways Board.

  Catford Road Scheme
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all the properties that have been acquired so far in connection with the A205-A21 Catford town centre road scheme, with the owners of those responsible for their management pending the start of the work, and any land or properties that still need to be purchased. [32675]

  Mr. Norris
  This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency.

  I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Jim Dowd, dated 10 July 1995:
  As you know, the Minister for Transport in London, Mr Steven Norris, has asked me to write to you about the question you asked in the House seeking information on the properties required for the improvement of the South Circular Road in Catford Town Centre.

  I enclose, as you requested, lists showing:

  (a) the properties already purchased in connection with the scheme and in the ownership of the Secretary of State with occupiers where appropriate and,

  (b) those yet to be acquired, with owners and occupiers.

  A205 Catford Town Centre Improvement Properties yet to be acquired in connection with the scheme

  Property or part thereof

  Owner or reputed owner

  Occupant

  Part of vault and car stand at the 'Copperfield' PH. Catford Road

  Courage (Eastern) Ltd., Anchor Brewhouse, Horselydown SE1 2LL

  —

  398

  A205 Catford Town Centre Improvement Properties yet to be acquired in connection with the scheme

  Property or part thereof

  Owner or reputed owner

  Occupant

  Part of public car park accessways and half width of Canadian Avenue at the Public car park, Canadian Avenue

  The London Borough of Lewisham, Town Hall, Catford SE6 4RU

  London & Provincial Posters Ltd, 78–86 Brigstock Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey.

  London Electricity Board, Templar House, 81–87 High Holborn, London WC1V 6NU

  Part of front garden accessways to 6 Bromley Road

  Mrs. Betty Irene Gillett, 17 Kingswood Avenue, Shortlands, Bromley, Kent BR2 0NT

  Albert Jones, Frank Seymour, Joseph Angel, Richard Turnall

  14 Plassy Road

  The London Borough of Lewisham

  —

  10 Brownhill Road

  National Bus Properties Ltd.

  Aubyn Graham, 55 Henlowe Road, SE22 and Lee Laing and Neville McGee both of 494 New Cross Road, SE14

  Forecourt of 8 Brownhill Road

  Mrs. Mary Scott-Smith and Miss Joan Scott-Smith both of 27 Culverley Road, Catford SE6 2LD

  Howard Nicholas Brennan

  Forecourt of 6 Brownhill Road

  Urbandale Investments Ltd., 42 Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

  Tonros Heating Ltd., 42 Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

  Forecourt & Vault of 147–149 (odd) Rushey Green

  Mrs. Phylis Audrey Griffiths, Brandon Lodge, Church Road, Lyminge, Folkestone, Kent

  Midland Bank Plc, 27–32 Poultry, London EC1P 2BX

  Forecourt of 151 Rushey Green

  Simon George Symeou and Mrs. Eleni Symeou both of 9 Newquay Road, Catford SE6

  —

  Forecourt of 153 Rushey Green

  Donovan Rupert, Horace Levette and James Clarke

  David T. Atkin, 292 Sangley Road, Catford SE6 4JT

  Forecourt of 155 Rushey Green

  National Westminster Bank Plc, 41 Lothbury, London EC2P 2BP

  —

  Forecourt of 157–159 (odd) Rushey Green

  National Westminster Bank Plc, 41 Lothbury, London EC2P 2BP

  —

  Forecourt, vaults and accessway at 'The Black Horse' PH (167–169) (odd) Rushey Green)

  Allied Breweries Ltd., 107 Station Street, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire

  Ijaz Ahmed, Choudhri AOT, Leisure Ltd., 19–21 Sylvan Grove, London SEI5 1PG

  399

  A205 Catford Town Centre Improvement Properties yet to be acquired in connection with the scheme

  Property or part thereof

  Owner or reputed owner

  Occupant

  Part of accessway to 175 Rushey Green

  National Travel (London) Ltd., 175 Rushey Green, Catford SE6

  —

  Electricity sub-station adjoining, 19 Sangley Road

  Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

  London Electricity Board

  105 sq mtrs part of forecourt, posts, vault and accessway to 6–12 (even) Sangley Road

  Finaware Ltd., 9 Henniker Mews, London SW3

  —

  Forecourt and vaults of ABC Cinema Bromley Road

  Associated British Picture Corp Ltd., 30–31 Golden Square, London W1

  —

  Forecourt and vaults of 3 Bromley Road

  Robert J. Lang Ltd., 6 Wellington Street, London SE18 6PE

  Jack Rochford Copeland, Richard James Pearson and John Ernest Sage

  Forecourt and vault of 5 Bromley Road

  Nombane Ltd., 116 High Street, Godalming, Surrey

  Gino Vincendo Plado, 28 Hazelwood Road, Chudham, Kent, Barry Christopher Martin, 16 Wegall Road, Lee SE12 and David Thomas Warnock, 27 Dunstable Court, St. John's Park, London SE3

  Forecourt and vault of 7 Bromley Road

  Nombane Ltd., 116 High Street, Godalming, Surrey

  John Faragher, 66 Coleridge Road, Ashburton Estate, Croydon, Surrey

  Forecourt and vault of 9 Bromley Road

  Nombane Ltd., 116 High Street, Godalming, Surrey

  Steven John Coleman, 132 Dowanhill Road, Catford, SE6

  Forecourt, vaults of and part of accessway to 11–13 (odd) Bromley Road

  Sydney Yearing, 44 Sandford Road, Bromley, Kent BR2 9AW

  Transave Ltd., 11–13 Bromley Road, Catford SE6 2TS

  Advertisement hoardings and forecourt on part sites of 2l–21a-23, Bromley Road.

  Brewster Estates Ltd., 40 Chastilian Road, Dartford, Kent

  View Point, Advertisements Ltd., 47 Chaple Street, London NW1

  A205 Catford Town Centre Improvements Properties acquired in connection with the scheme

  Property or part thereof

  Lessees

  Owned by Secretary of Stale for Transport

  10, 12 (rear only) and 14 Brownhill Road

  LB Lewisham Cong, of Jehovah's Witnesses Vacant

  12 Brownhill Road

  1st Floor Hall

  16–22 Brownhill Road

  Ground Floor, 16 Brownhill Road

  18–22 Brownhill Road

  Lewisham Old Peoples Welfare Association

  24 Brownhill Road

  Hyde Housing Association

  26 Brownhill Road

  CHISEL

  30A Brownhill Road

  Vacant

  30 Brownhill Road

  Vacant

  400

  A205 Catford Town Centre Improvements Properties acquired in connection with the scheme

  Property or part thereof

  Lessees

  Part of front garden, 366 Brownhill Road

  Vacant

  Part of front gardens, 347/355 Brownhill Road

  Vacant

  St. Mildred's sports ground Canadian Avenue

  Vacant

  Telephone Exchange, Canadian Avenue

  Vacant

  Land between Canadian Avenue, Bromley

  Vacant

  1 Engleheart Road

  Vacant

  3 Engleheart Road

  Vacant

  Land between London Road/Dartmouth Road

  Vacant

  2 Plassy Road

  Hyde Housing Association

  4 Plassy Road

  Hyde Housing Association

  6 Plassy Road

  Hyde Housing Association

  8 Plassy Road

  Vacant

  10 Plassy Road

  Vacant

  12 Plassy Road

  Lewisham Family Self Help Association

  16 Plassy Road

  London and Quadrant Housing Association

  18 Plassy Road

  Vacant

  20 Plassy Road

  London and Quadrant Housing Association

  22 Plassy Road

  Private

  24 Plassy Road

  Private

  26 Plassy Road

  CHISEL

  28 Plassy Road

  Vacant

  30 Plassy Road

  Hyde Housing Association

  32 Plassy Road

  Vacant

  34 Plassy Road

  London and Quadrant Housing Association

  36 Plassy Road

  Vacant

  201 Rushey Green

  Combined (Comfort) Force Trust

  203 Rushey Green

  Vacant

  205 Rushey Green

  Vacant

  1–3 Sangley Road

  Vacant

  1B Sangley Road

  Mr. Clements

  1A Sangley Road

  Vacant

  Land at rear of 1–19 Sangley Road

  Vacant

  5 Sangley Road

  Vacant

  7 Sangley Road

  Vacant

  9 Sangley Road

  Mr. Clements

  11 Sangley Road

  Vacant

  13 Sangley Road

  Vacant

  15 Sangley Road

  Vacant

  17 Sangley Road

  Vacant

  19 Sangley Road

  Vacant

  112–114 St. Mildred's Road

  Vacant

  Thames Strategy
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what progress has been made to increase the movement of goods by water rather than road as advocated by the Government office for London's document on Thames strategy; [32679]

  (2) what steps have been taken to encourage the use of the Thames for commercial river-borne traffic on the lines of the Government office for London's document on Thames strategy. [32678]

  Mr. Norris
  The report of the River Thames working group, which I chaired and which published its report last December, identified the potential for maximising the use of the Thames for commercial transport. I have
  401
  subsequently held a number of meetings with operators and potential operators on the Thames to discuss the scope for expanding freight and passenger services. This process will continue.

  The River Thames working group report has stimulated wider interest in transport on the river. The Thames strategy report and the Thames gateway planning framework, both published this year by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, recognise the benefits of maximising the Thames for commercial traffic and the need to safeguard essential river-related infrastructure.

  Financial assistance, in the form of freight facilities grant, is also available to operators to encourage the movement of goods by water or rail rather than by road.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many properties have been purchased in connection with the development of the channel tunnel rail link; and what has been the total cost of these purchases. [32857]

  Mr. Watts
  Two hundred and forty properties at a total cost of £42.6 million, including home loss and disturbance payments where appropriate, have been acquired by Union Railways Ltd. for the present channel tunnel rail link project.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the successful bidders for the construction of the channel tunnel rail link put in tenders which included the channel tunnel rail link with and without(a) a station at Stratford and (b) a long box at Stratford. [33243]

  Mr. Watts
  It was a requirement of the CTRL competition that bidders should submit a reference specification bid and a number of required alternative bids. The reference bid included only the short box at Stratford needed to accommodate a cross-over and to permit construction of a connection to the possible servicing and maintenance facilities at Temple Mills. The required alternative bids covered both an international only and a combined international and domestic station at Stratford, both of which require construction of a long box.

  New Vehicles
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of current vehicles in the United Kingdom are new cars built since 1993. [32870]

  Mr. Norris
  The most recent available information is for licensed stock at the end of 1994. It is estimated that, to the nearest half per cent., 13.5 per cent. of current vehicles are new cars built since the beginning of 1993, 10.5 per cent. are petrol driven new cars built since the beginning of 1993.

  Municipal Bus Companies
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his current policy towards the divesting of former municipal bus companies by local authorities;402
  what factors have led to changes in policy; and if he will make a statement. [32943]

  Mr. Norris
  There has been no change in our policy towards these companies: we are keen to see them move into the private sector.

  Vehicle Harmonisation Directive
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on developments in negotiations on the draft vehicle harmonisation directive. [32811]

  Mr. Norris
  An expert working group chaired by the European Commission is currently considering the extension of the whole vehicle type approval framework directive 70/156/EEC, as amended by directive 92/53/EEC, to categories of vehicle other than cars. No target has been set for the adoption of amending proposals.

  Road Pricing
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department plans to publish the full report on the feasibility of road pricing in London; and what the cost of that study is to date. [32734]

  Mr. Norris
  A full report on London research will be published as soon as practicable. To date the study has cost approximately £2.7 million.

  Catalytic Converters
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what tests have been carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory on the efficacy of catalytic converters at(a) 30,000 miles, (b) 40,000 miles, (c) 50,000 miles and (d) 60,000 miles; and if he will publish the results; [32867]

  (2) what research has been carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory on the problem of cold start emissions from catalytic converters; [32868]

  (3) what research has been carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory on the performance of catalytic converters in service in reducing harmful vehicle emissions. [32866]

  Mr. Norris
  None. However, the Government recognise that improving catalyst performance and maintaining it under all operating conditions are key factors in securing improvements in air quality. New vehicle standards already in place for 1996–97 will deliver improvements in catalyst warm-up time. As part of the EU discussions on standards for 2000, the Government have made proposals for a cold start test aimed at further reducing warm-up time to within a few seconds, a study of the case for extending durability requirements for new cars from 80,000 km to 160,000 km and the use of on-board diagnostics to monitor emissions performance throughout the life of the vehicle.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cars built since 1993 fitted with catalytic converters use super unleaded fuel. [32869]

  Mr. Norris
  As at April 1995, super unleaded petrol accounted for approximately 4.8 per cent. of total petrol
  403
  sales. The precise number of cars using super unleaded is not known, although since October 1990 all petrol cars have had to be designed to use premium unleaded petrol, which is universally recommended by manufacturers. Moreover, very few new cars currently on sale in the United Kingdom can derive any benefit from the use of super unleaded petrol.

  Driving Licence Fraud
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to reduce driving licence fraud. [32731]

  Mr. Norris
  We plan to introduce a new plastic card driving licence in July 1996 incorporating a photograph of the holder. This will help to eliminate misuse of licences and impersonation at driving tests.

  Orange Badge Scheme
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about councils refusing to recognise the orange badge disabled parking scheme; and what plans his Department has to ensure that the orange badge scheme is accepted throughout the country. [33223]

  Mr. Norris
  We receive a small but steady flow of representations about the fact that the orange badge scheme does not apply in central London, and about arrangements introduced by some local authorities elsewhere which have the effect of excluding orange badge holders along with other motorists, either absolutely or unless they have a special locally issued permit.

  The local authorities concerned with the central London area have, with the Department's encouragement, agreed limited parking concessions for orange badge holders and the possibility of extension is kept under review. We have issued advice to local authorities that are considering pedestrianising an area that the needs of disabled people must be fully taken into account; and we have made clear that we discourage local schemes requiring permits in addition to orange badges, although we have no power to prevent them.

  Cones Hotline
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the total number of calls received by the cones hotline; and how many resulted in remedial action being taken; [32752]

  (2) what is the total cost of the cones hotline. [33115]

  Mr. Watts
  The cones hotline began in June 1992 and by the end of June 1995 it had received 17,700 calls. Approximately half the calls concerned cones and traffic management, and half were requests for information about roadworks or general queries about roads, planning, policy, and so on. Where appropriate we have taken steps to alter the layout of cones, improve signposting at roadworks, review diversion routes, repaint road markings and investigate road lighting at roadworks as a result of comments and complaints from hotline callers. In five cases, this follow-up action required the complete removal of cones and traffic management measures which were no longer required. During the last financial year, 1994–95,404
  the cost of the dedicated service line was approximately £5,000. The cost of staffing the line was met from within existing establishment and budgets.

  Pollution Monitoring Centre
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many pollution monitoring centres are now operating in regard to vehicle emissions in each of the largest 20 cities in the United Kingdom. [32680]

  Mr. Clappison
  I have been asked to reply.

  The following table shows nitrogen dioxide, NO2, and volatile organic compounds, VOCs, monitoring sites where the results are representive of vehicle emissions for the 20 largest cities in the United Kingdom:

  City

  Automatic NO2 sites

  Automatic VOC's sites

  NO2 diffusion tube sites

  Greater London

  5

  2

  72

  Birmingham

  2

  1

  4

  Glasgow

  1

  —

  4

  Liverpool

  1

  —

  —

  Sheffield

  1

  —

  —

  Leeds

  1

  1

  4

  Manchester

  1

  —

  4

  Bristol

  1

  1

  4

  Edinburgh

  1

  1

  4

  Leicester

  1

  —

  —

  Kingston upon Hull

  1

  —

  4

  Coventry

  —

  —

  4

  Belfast

  1

  1

  4

  Bradford

  —

  —

  4

  Nottingham

  —

  —

  4

  Stoke on Trent

  —

  —

  4

  Cardiff

  1

  1

  —

  Wolverhampton

  —

  —

  4

  Plymouth

  —

  —

  —

  Derby

  —

  —

  4

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Television
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the Government's position on the European Parliament's amendments to the draft EC directive on the use of standards for the transmission of signals. [31914]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The Government are considering carefully the European Parliament's amendments to the draft EC directive on the standards for the transmission of television.

  Benchmarking
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how successful his Department has been at encouraging, the increased use of benchmarking within industry; and if he will make a statement. [33275]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  My Department recognises that benchmarking provides an important stimulus to improving competitiveness within United Kingdom companies, and has a number of related initiatives in this area. Full details of our activities were published in the recent competitiveness White Paper.
  405
  The benchmarking challenge was set up in 1993 to encourage trade associations to form benchmarking clubs. Twelve successful associations were supported under the challenge and their activities are progressing. We are also collaborating with an increasing number of trade associations on the implementation of benchmarking initiatives. These activities are designed to improve the competitiveness of the association members.

  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade announced at the CBI conference and in the competitiveness White Paper that the Department would establish a national benchmarking scheme, to provide a high-quality benchmarking service for business links and business support organisations. Discussions are taking place between the Department, CBI and business links on the introduction of such a scheme.

  Consequently, demand for DTI benchmarking publications has been high, with over 40,000 publications being distributed in two years.

  Teaching Company Scheme
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the proposed locations for the six extra teaching company scheme centres for small firms which his Department intends to open by the end of 1995. [33276]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Bids from universities for five TCS centres for small firms are currently being considered; decisions are likely to be announced next month.

  In addition, a proposal is being considered for a TCS centre for small firms on Merseyside to be assisted by the European regional development fund.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many businesses in the metropolitan borough of Barnsley are currently participants in the teaching company scheme. [33281]

  Mr. Taylor
  One business in the metropolitan borough of Barnsley, Ice Technology Ltd. of Penistone, is currently a TCS industrial partner.

  Growth Targets
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what growth targets for business investment his Department has set. [33280]

  Mr. Eggar
  Companies, not Governments, are best placed to take decisions about business investment. The best encouragement the Government can give companies to invest is a stable economic environment based on low inflation. With inflation staying low and the recovery proceeding steadily, business investment is expected to grow by 4.75 per cent. in 1995 and by 9.5 per cent. in 1996.

  Defence Industrial Base
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his Department's definition of the United Kingdom defence industrial base. [33233]

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department has not defined the United Kingdom defence industrial base. In conjunction with the 406
  Ministry of Defence and industry, my Department has commissioned a study on the value of the defence industry to the UK economy. The first phase is due to report in July. The key conclusions will be reported to the House.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the United Kingdom manufacturing output was accounted for by the defence industry sector in each of the last 10 years. [33232]

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department has produced the following broad estimates based on figures published by Central Statistical Office and the Ministry of Defence. Figures are available only up to 1992.

  Year

  Per cent.

  1982

  9

  1983

  8

  1984

  8

  1985

  8

  1986

  8

  1987

  7

  1988

  7

  1989

  7

  1990

  7

  1991

  7

  1992

  6

  Directors
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what distinction his Department draws between the role of executive and non-executive directors; and whether non-executive directors are expected to supervise the day-to-day work of the executive directors. [33013]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The distinction between executive and non-executive directors is not defined in company law. However, I agree with the recommendation in the Cadbury code of best practice that non-executive directors should bring an independent judgment to bear on issues of strategy, performance and resources, including key appointments, and standards of conduct.

  Bankruptcy
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many bankruptcy orders were made in the Great Grimsby county court in each of the last three years. [32510]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The total numbers of bankruptcy orders made in the Great Grimsby county court in each of the last three years were as follows:

  Year ended 31 March

  Number of bankruptcy orders

  1993

  132

  1994

  134

  1995

  94

  Company Officials (Prosecutions)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many directors were successfully
  407
  prosecuted by the Insolvency Service, indicating the relevant Act of Parliament and the section number, in 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994. [32603]

  Relevant statute

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Number of directors prosecuted (total for the year)

  116

  81

  65

  Nature of offence

  Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986

  Undischarged bankrupt acting in the management of a company

  Section 11

  29

  25

  23

  Persons acting in management of company whilst disqualified

  Section 13

  7

  5

  9

  Insolvency Act 1986

  Fraud in anticipation of winding up

  Section 206

  6

  1

  1

  Transaction in fraud of creditors

  Section 207

  —

  1

  1

  Misconduct in course of winding up

  Section 208

  2

  1

  2

  Material omission

  Section 210

  2

  2

  —

  False representation

  Section 211

  2

  —

  —

  Use of prohibited company name

  Section 216

  5

  4

  —

  Failure to cooperate

  Section 235

  —

  —

  2

  Non-disclosure

  Section 353

  1

  —

  —

  Concealment of property and failure to account

  Section 354

  —

  1

  —

  False statements

  Section 356

  —

  —

  1

  Undischarged bankrupt obtaining credit and trading under a false name

  Section 360

  6

  3

  —

  Failure to keep proper accounting records

  Section 361

  2

  1

  1

  Companies Act 1948

  Undischarged bankrupt taking part in management of company

  Section 187

  2

  —

  —

  Companies Act 1985

  Failure to deliver return of allotments

  Section 88

  —

  —

  1

  Public limited company carrying on business without a trading certificate

  Section 177

  —

  —

  1

  Failure to keep or maintain accounting records of a company

  Section 223

  91

  51

  28

  Persons acting in management of company whilst disqualified

  Section 295

  —

  3

  —

  Undischarged bankrupt taking part in management of company

  Section 302

  3

  —

  —

  Fraudulent trading by a company

  Section 458

  17

  24

  22

  Theft Act 1968

  Theft of property

  Section 1

  7

  7

  4

  Obtaining property by deception

  Section 15

  13

  7

  8

  Obtaining pecuniary advantage by deception

  Section 16

  —

  1

  —

  False accounting

  Section 17

  —

  4

  —

  Obtaining a valuable security by deception

  Section 20

  45

  —

  1

  Theft Act 1978

  Evasion of liability/obtaining services

  Section 1

  1

  —

  —

  Section 2

  1

  3

  3

  Section 20

  2

  —

  —

  Perjury Act 1911

  False statement by a witness

  Section 1

  —

  —

  1

  Making untrue statements

  Section 5

  1

  1

  3

  Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981

  Forgery

  Section 2

  1

  —

  —

  Forgery

  Section 3

  —

  —

  3

  Financial Services Act 1986

  Illegal investment business

  Section 4

  —

  —

  1

  Accessories and Abettors Act 1861

  Aiding and abetting

  Section 8

  8

  6

  5

  Criminal Attempts Act 1981

  Attempted criminal act

  Section 1

  1

  —

  —

  Criminal Law Act 1977

  Conspiracy

  Section 1

  4

  6

  —

  Conspiracy to Defraud

  —

  —

  8

  408
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The number of directors successfully prosecuted by the Insolvency Service in the last three and details of the offences concerned are as follows:
  409
  Information for the previous year could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many bankrupts were successfully prosecuted for offences under the Insolvency Act 1986 in 1994, identifying the relevant section, by the Insolvency Service. [32587]

  Mr. Evans
  In 1994 a total of 66 bankrupts were successfully prosecuted by the Insolvency Service for 128 offences under the Insolvency Act 1986 as a result of the Official Receiver's report. Details of the offences are as follows:

  Nature of offence

  Insolvency Act 1986 relevant section

  Number of convictions

  Misconduct in course of winding up

  208

  1

  Material omission

  210

  2

  False representations

  211

  1

  Non-disclosure

  353

  4

  Concealment of property and failure to account

  354

  13

  Concealment of books and papers; falsification

  355

  2

  Material omission and false statements

  356

  10

  Fraudulent disposal of property

  357

  2

  Undischarged bankrupt obtaining credit and trading under a false name

  360

  65

  Failure to keep proper accounting records

  361

  18

  Gambling

  362

  10

  Total

  128

  Astra Holdings plc
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were his Department's findings in respect of the care exercised by Mr. James and his colleagues on the main board of Astra in advising shareholders to subscribe to a rights issue for the acquisition of BMARC. [33108]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  As the opening paragraphs of the inspectors' report on Astra Holdings plc makes clear, the inspectors were asked to investigate in particular the circumstances surrounding the acquisition by Astra of PRB sa and the rights issue made in that connection. The inspectors also investigated a number of ancillary matters and reviewed the company's accounting policies. In relation to the acquisition by Astra of BMARC, the inspectors' report concentrates on the effect of this acquisition on the results of the Astra group.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will summarise the findings of his Department's inspectors concerning the manner in which the directors of Astra Holdings had performed its duties. [33050]

  Mr. Taylor
  I refer the hon. Member to the report of the inspectors on Astra Holdings plc, published by HMSO, ISBN 0115153514, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House.
  410

  Offshore Installations
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many oil and gas platforms in the North sea are estimated to he taken out of production by 2000; and of those how many are expected to be(a) brought ashore for dismantling; (b) toppled at site and (c) removed and sunk in a deep water location. [33536]

  Mr. Eggar
  Depending upon field performance and economic factors at the time, current estimates indicate that some 32 fixed offshore installations on the United Kingdom continental shelf could reach the end of their lives by the turn of the century. Of these, 19 are located in water depths of less than 75 m and in accordance with international guidelines will be totally removed. Their disposal will be considered on a case-by-case basis, but it is likely that they will be returned to shore. Decisions on those installations in deeper water, where under international guidelines partial removal is permitted, will be taken according to individual circumstances and in the light of a comparative assessment of the alternative options. This will have proper regard for environmental considerations and other users of the sea, as well as risk, technical feasibility and cost in order to arrive at the best practicable environmental option.

  Depressive Illnesses
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the President of the Boar of trade if he will introduce legislation providing safeguards to prevent persons suffering depressive illnesses from being discriminated against by insurance companies, and if he will make a statement. [33048]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  No. However, the Disability Discrimination Bill, currently before parliament, will give some protection to people suffering severe depressive illness.

  International Atomic Energy Agency Report
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the most recent safeguards implementation report was completed by the International Atomic Energy Agency; what comments were made in the report about the application of safeguards on United Kingdom facilities and materials exported from the United Kingdom; and if he will arrange for a copy of the report to he placed in the Library. [32876]

  Mr. Eggar
  The International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards implementation report for 1994 was issued to members of the agency's board of governors in May 1995. The detailed report is confidential to the board of governors, but its contents will be summarised in the IAEA annual report for 1994, a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House when it is published. In addition, the IAEA and its board of governors have recommended publication of an executive summary to the 1994 SIR, a copy of which will also be placed in the Library of the House when it becomes available.

  Post Office
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the external financing limit for the Post Office for 1995–96; and what was the figure for the two previous years. [32820]
  411
  Mr. Lang
  For 1995–96, the Post Office has been set a negative external financing limit of £213 million. For the two previous years, the figures were as follows:

  £ million

  Year

  Target

  Outturn

  1993–94

  -181

  -182

  1994–95

  -226

  -235

  Newspapers
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his oral answer of 14 June,Official Report, column 777, what response he has received from the Director General of Fair Trading regarding concerns about newspaper carriage charges. [32824]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  I understand that the Office of Fair Trading is monitoring carefully the effects of the recent changes in the newspaper industry, including their impact on carriage charges. The OFT will keep under consideration whether a further reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission would be justified.

  Ceramic Industry
  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the future employment potential of the ceramic industry in north Staffordshire. [33224]

  Mr. Eggar
  As with any other, the prospects for this sector—including employment—depend on the strength of its international competitiveness. The Department is working with the sector on competitiveness through initiatives such as a tableware strategy group, a manufacturing improvement club and regular discussions with the British Ceramics Confederation on a range of other issues which affect its future prospects.

  Mrs. Figoni
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if his Department intends to seek further medical evidence in the case of Mrs. Figoni of Glan Gors Fawr Rhosybol, Amlwch, Ynys Mon, Gwynedd, before announcing his decision on the application by British Gas for a compulsory purchase order in respect of land at Glans Gors Fawr; and when the expects to announce his decision. [32658]

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 6 July 1995]: Having considered the matter carefully, I do not intend to seek further medical evidence. I expect a decision to be announced shortly.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the procedure followed in the inquiry into the application for a compulsory purchase order by British Gas relating to land belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Figoni of Glan Gors Fawr Rhosybol, Amlwch, Ynys Mon, Gwynedd; and what assessment he has made of whether proper regard was given to the objections made to the location of the inquiry. [32659]

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 6 July 1995]: I am satisfied that the procedure followed at the inquiry and
  412
  the opportunities afforded for representations to be made subsequently were adequate to ensure that proper consideration could be given to all matters relating to British Gas's application and that proper regard was given to the one objection made with respect to the location of the inquiry.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the criteria used by his Department to identify regulations as suitable for repeal. [33279]

  Mr. Freeman
  I have been asked to reply.

  Under the deregulation initiative, Departments have reviewed all their regulations which impact on business to identify candidates for repeal or amendment. In so doing, each regulation is considered on a case-by-case basis to determine whether or not it still serves a useful need and whether it is unduly burdensome.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid (Inquests)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what studies have been initiated to discover the demand for legal aid in regard to inquests. [31470]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  None. However, this issue is raised in the legal aid Green Paper, on which the Government would welcome views.

  Court Practices
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will introduce legislation to modernise courts' practices. [31471]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Courts' practices are already being modernised through the increased use of information technology—for example, the use of closed circuit television links for child witnesses, lap-top computers and communication links for the judiciary, case tracking systems in various courts, infra-red hearing enhancement systems in courtrooms, and two widely used computerised bulk issue centres for summonses and warrants.

  Judicial Appointments
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many(a) women and (b) members of ethnic minorities are currently (i) high court judges, (ii) county court judges, (iii) circuit judges and (iv) chairpersons of industrial tribunals. [31474]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  On 1 June 1995 there were six female High Court judges, 31 female circuit judges and eight female full-time chairmen of industrial tribunals. On the same date there were, according to the best information we have available, no High Court judges of ethnic minority origin, four circuit judges of ethnic minority origin and two full-time chairmen of industrial tribunals of ethnic minority origin. Circuit judges sitting in the county court are included in the circuit judge figures.
  413

  Disabled People
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is his Department's policy concerning the accessibility of the judicial system to disabled people; and if he will make a statement. [31475]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Facilities for disabled people are continuously reviewed and every effort is made to improve them as necessary.

  Court Service (Delays)
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement regarding delays in the Court Service. [31476]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  While there will always be an element of delay in all court proceedings, the Court Service is taking active measures to keep it to the minimum.

  Legal Aid (Eligibility)
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what recent representations he has considered about eligibility for legal aid. [31478]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I receive many representations about legal aid eligibility. Recently there have been 50 responses to the consultation paper "Legal Aid for the Apparently Wealthy".

  Limitation Legislation
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects to complete his review of limitation legislation. [31473]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  As I informed the hon. Member on 13 March, the review is to be carried out by the Law Commission. It announced in its sixth programme that it hopes to have completed its work on limitation periods generally by the end of 1998.

  Law Commission
  Mr. Khabra
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects the Government to publish their response to the Law Commission's report on mental incapacity. [33057]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Government have set up an interdepartmental working group, chaired by the Lord Chancellor's Department, to consider the Law Commission report on mental incapacity. The group is to produce an initial report for consideration by Ministers by September 1 1995. The Government's initial response will he published once Ministers have had an opportunity to consider the working group's report.

  Small Claims
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects to implement Lord Woolf's recommendation that the small claims limit, other than for personal injury claims, should be raised to £3,000. [33111]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  No timetable has yet been set for the laying of a statutory instrument before the House.
  414
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to exclude all personal injury claims valued at under £1,000 from the small claims procedure. [33112]

  Mr. Taylor
  In his interim report on access to justice Lord Woolf recommended that, pending the introduction of a new "fast track" procedure, personal injury cases up to £1,000 should remain within the small claims jurisdiction, and the Lord Chancellor has accepted this recommendation.

  Internet
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to(a) allow or (b) compel HMSO to make available statutes, other official parliamentary publications from his Department and court judgments on the Internet; and if he will make a statement. [33113]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  These and related matters are kept under review but it would be premature to make a statement.

  Crown Office Liaison
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what liaison arrangements exist between his office and the Crown Office in Edinburgh. [31472]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor's Department and Crown Office consult each other on matters where they share a common interest.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  RMS St. Helena
  Sir David Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when it is anticipated that the report of consultants on the sailing schedule of RMS St. Helena will be published. [31580]

  Mr. Hanley
  The consultants' draft report is currently under consideration. It is hoped that the final report will be available in approximately three months' time when copies will be made available to the Libraries of the House.

  Population Control (China)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the amount of funding support given to the Chinese Family Planning Association by the Chinese Government. [32016]

  Mr. Hanley
  We have asked the International Planned Parenthood Federation whether it can obtain this information. Any information received will he placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on whether the UNFPA has changed its view on whether the Chinese population control programme is totally voluntary. [32014]
  415
  Mr. Hanley
  The United Nations Population Fund does not claim that the ways in which the Chinese family planning programmes are implemented are always voluntary. UNFPA has continuously voiced its concern to the Government of China over reports of coercion.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the prevalence of articles encouraging coercive population control in Chinese newspapers in the 1990s. [32010]

  Mr. Hanley
  We are not able to monitor all press publications in China. However, we understand that the press generally reflects official policy on population issues.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the sums given by the UNFPA to the construction of factories in China for the manufacture of intra-uterine devices; how many factories have been built; when they were completed; how many IUDs are manufactured each year; if such IUDs are inserted coercively; and if China now imports IUDs. [32018]

  Mr. Hanley
  The United Nations Population Fund has assisted in the upgrading of five copper IUD manufacturing facilities at a cost of approximately $7 million. China has at least one other such facility. We do not have information on the completion dates of these facilities, or the number of IUDs currently being manufactured in, or imported to, China. We have received reports that IUDs have sometimes been inserted coercively, and we totally condemn such practices.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the training given by the UNFPA for Chinese population control officials; and if such training is offered to officials from the national, state and prefectural levels of Chinese government; what computer hardware and software is provided by the UNFPA to(a) the Chinese State Family Planning Commission and (b) prefectural level population control offices; what systems this equipment was designed to run and to what use the equipment is now being put; and what information he has on the training offered by the UNFPA in the use of IT for population control purposes. [32006]

  Mr. Hanley
  The United Nations Population Fund's recent training has focused on interpersonal counselling and informed consent practices for family planning and health workers at local level.

  UNFPA supplied computers for both the 1982 and 1990 censuses, and it has supplied computers to 22 Chinese universities for teaching population science. The computers that were provided for censuses are now used for inter-census surveys and research.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on any statements made by the IPPF or UNFPA which specifically condemn the use of coercion in population control in China. [32012]

  Mr. Hanley
  Both the United Nations Population Fund and the International Planned Parenthood Federation make it clear in their policies and statements that they strongly oppose the use of coercion in population and 416
  reproductive health programmes. Neither organisation issues public statements criticising the population policies of any individual country. However, both have expressed their concern, in written and oral communications with the Chinese authorities, about reported incidents of coercion. We believe that both the UNFPA and IPPF are capable of making the right judgments about how best they can help towards improving population and reproductive health policies in individual countries.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the role played by the Chinese State Family Planning Commission in the drafting and dissemination of coercive family planning regulations to Chinese states since 1979, in organising coercive population control initiatives, and in the initiation and implementation of the responsibility system and the veto with one vote system in which cadres are judged by their results in keeping to the one child policy. [32008]

  Mr. Hanley
  We understand that the State Family Planning Commission has overall responsibility for policy on family planning, and that provincial people's congresses, municipalities and autonomous regions are responsible for establishing their own regulations relating to family size. Responsibility for programme implementation rests with provincial family planning commissions. We have no authoritative information on the "responsibility system".

  Philippines Cordillera
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of the European Union agricultural assistance programme in the Philippines Cordillera; and what changes he will be seeking in the next phase of this programme. [31845]

  Mr. Hanley
  The European Commission has not yet released the results of a recent evaluation of the Philippines Cordillera project. We understand, however, that it is likely to recommend the funding of a second phase of the project. We will seek to ensure the evaluation findings are fully reflected in the proposals for any such second phase.

WALES

  Departmental Policies
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he intends to continue with all the policies of his last two predecessors. [31451]

  Mr. Hague
  The Government's policies for Wales are clear and will continue.

  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary State for Wales what changes of policy he plans. [31454]

  Mr. Hague
  The Government's policies for Wales are clear and will continue.
  417

  Voluntary Sector
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he intends to take to encourage the work of the voluntary sector in Wales. [31438]

  Mr. Richards
  We shall continue to encourage, develop and maintain a strong, vigorous and independent voluntary sector.

  Caretakers
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide funding to improve the working conditions of caretakers in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [31439]

  Mr. Hague
  This is a matter for the employers involved.

  Departmental Priorities
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state his priorities for the next six months. [31441]

  Mr. Hague
  The Government's policies for Wales are clear and will continue.

  State Nursery Schools
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has of the percentage of children of the age of three and four years currently in state nursery schools; and if he will make a statement. [31442]

  Mr. Richards
  Some 5 per cent. of three and four-year-olds in Wales currently attend maintained nursery schools, either full or part time. Almost another 31 per cent. attend nursery classes in maintained primary schools, and a further 36.5 per cent. attend maintained schools' reception classes, again either full or part-time.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment announced on 6 July, Official Report, columns 517–32, our proposals to give all parents the opportunity to choose a publicly funded place in nursery education for their four-year-olds.

  Official Duties
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how he divides his time between his role as Secretary of State for Wales and his other official duties. [31443]

  Mr. Hague
  I have no other official duties.

  National Health Service (Dental Services)
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received on NHS dental cover in Wales during the past 12 months. [31445]

  Mr. Richards
  In the past 12 months, 218 representations on the question of dental cover have been received either from or on behalf of people living in Wales. Of these, 136 were for hon. Members.
  418
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made regarding the provision of NHS dental treatment in Wales. [31453]

  Mr. Richards
  There are presently 850 general dental practitioners in Wales, 36 per cent. more than in 1979. Some 1.7 million patients are registered with a dentist and some £68 million was spent on NHS dentistry in 1993–94.

  Earlier this year the then Secretary of State announced that he was making a further £2.5 million available in Wales to improve dental services in the community and an announcement will be made soon about how that money will be spent.

  Unitary Authorities
  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he plans to meet leaders of the new unitary authorities in Wales to discuss service provision. [31446]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I have already meet the leaders of two of the new unitary authorities and my colleagues and I look forward to meeting all of the other leaders in the future.

  Welsh Grand Committee
  Mr. John Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will renew the policies put forward in 1992 on the meetings and format of the Welsh Grand Committee. [31448]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  It is up to the Committee to determine when and where it meets and such things are arranged through the usual channels.

  Rural White Paper
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for a rural White Paper for Wales. [31450]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend and I have no plans to publish a rural White Paper for Wales.

  Civil Service (Jobs)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary or State for Wales how many full-time civil service jobs there are in Wales; and how many he expects there to be in two years time. [31452]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  There were 28,724 full-time equivalent civil servants in Wales at 1 April 1994. This figure includes part-time staff who are counted as half units. Information on full-time staff only is not held centrally. The civil service will remain a significant employer in Wales.

  Welsh Development Agency (Property Sales)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what effect he expects the sale of Welsh Development Agency property to have on future investment and job creation in Wales. [31455]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Receipts from the sale of Welsh Development Agency property will be reinvested in the economy of Wales to create more jobs and more investment.
  419

  Fire Service (Reorganisation)
  Mr. Touhig
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to visit Wales in the next month to discuss the response to the proposals to reorganise the fire service. [31457]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  No, the responsibility for fire brigades and their reorganisation in Wales rests with my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary.

  Countryside Council for Wales (Budget)
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will reverse the recent reductions in the budget of the Countryside Council for Wales. [31459]

  Mr. Hague
  The most recent adjustment to the budget of the Countryside Council for Wales was an addition of up to £525,000 to enable necessary new work to be undertaken in the current financial year.

  Landfill Sites
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning his policy on the tipping of contaminated soil and other substances in landfill sites. [31460]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Landfill sites for the disposal of waste must be licensed by waste regulation authorities. Individual licence conditions determine the types of waste which may be deposited at a site.

  The Government have provided guidance to waste regulation authorities in a series of waste management papers.

  Tuberculosis (Cattle)
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what advice he has received on the reason for the change in the number of positive tuberculosis tests for cattle in the last five years. [31735]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  There has been an increase incidence of the disease and investigations support the contention that much of the increase is due to infection from badgers. The Government are already carrying out research into ways of avoiding transmission of disease from badgers to cattle, including studies on the effects of badger removal operations on the badger population and their impact on the subsequent spread of disease within the badger population.

  A55
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated cost of building the dual carriageway A55 expressway between Chester and Bangor in current prices. [32931]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information is not available in the form requested. The improvements to the A55 between Chester and Bangor cost some £700 million.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the completion date of the dual carriageway from Menai Bridge to Holyhead. [32930]
  420
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Schemes to extend the A55 dual carriageway across Anglesy are included in the "programmed" pool, planned to start before April 1998, of the forward trunk road programme published in the Welsh Office's departmental report, Cm 2815, on 9 March 1995. Once started, the schemes will be completed, as soon as possible.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the cost of building the Conway A55 expressway tunnel. [32933]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The cost was £228,000,000.

  Housing
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new measures he will take to encourage local authority and housing association homes for single men; and if he will make a statement. [32936]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Cm 2901, "Our Future Homes", published on 27 June, set out the Government's proposals for meeting future housing need.

  Bypasses
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the cost of building(a) the Hawarden bypass (b) the Chester southerly bypass (c) the Norling bypass and (d) the Mold bypass in current prices. [32932]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information is not available in the form requested. The actual cost of each scheme was:(a) Hawarden bypass, £32,000,000; (b) Chester southerly bypass, £16,000,000; (c) Northop bypass, £14,000,000; (d) Mold bypass, £18,000,000.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to build the Alltami bypass; and if he will make a statement. [32934]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Proposals for an Alltami bypass form part of the A494 Mold-Ewloe improvement. This scheme is included in the longer-term consideration pool of the forward trunk road programme published in the Welsh Office's departmental report, Cm 2815, on 9 March 1995.

  Rail Services
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how he proposes to encourage passenger and freight traffic to move from road to rail; and if he will make a statement. [32929]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Government's programme for transferring the railways to the private sector will result in improved and more attractive services. Freight facilities grants are available to encourage the transfer of freight from road to rail or inland waterway where this would provide significant environmental benefits.

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to pay interest on
  421
  hill livestock compensatory allowances to farmers in the event of late payment. [32389]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Clwyd, South-West (Mr. Jones) on 27 June 1995,Official Report, column 614.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of farmers have now received hill livestock compensatory allowance payments for the current year. [32364]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Ninety-one per cent.

  Agricultural Claims
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of appeals against disallowance of claims for agricultural subsidies in the last complete year for which figures are available; and how many appeals succeeded on the grounds that the applicant had made a genuine mistake in providing the information. [32363]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This information is not recorded and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Nurses' Pay
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 4 July,Official Report, column 200, if he will list the dates on which each trust and directly managed unit in Wales employing nurses made a pay offer. [33288]

  Mr. Hague
  This information is not held centrally.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 3 July,Official Report, column 46, what special measures he proposes to assist those health authorities with out-patient waiting lists in excess of six months' waiting time to bring their lists into line with patients charter undertakings. [33290]

  Mr. Hague
  The second tranche of waiting times initiative moneys, some £6.7 million, was released to health authorities in April. All authorities have confirmed their commitment to the hospital waiting times measures in the patients charter for Wales. By the end of September it should be rare for anyone to have waited over six months for a first out-patient appointment.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 3 July,Official Report, column 46, how many patients on the waiting lists of general practitioner fundholders are included within the total given for health authorities in each of the two columns listed. [33289]

  Mr. Hague
  The information relating to waiting lists at 31 March 1995 is shown separately for patients of health authorities and general practitioner fundholders in the table:422

  Number waiting more than six months for out-patient appointment

  Number waiting more than 18 months for in-patient or day case treatment

  Health authority area

  Health Authority lists

  GP fundholder lists

  Health authority lists

  GP fundholder lists

  Clwyd

  477

  224

  74

  —

  Dyfed

  1,231

  63

  92

  17

  Gwent

  2,588

  433

  2

  —

  Gwynedd

  315

  270

  11

  11

  Mid Glamorgan

  3,091

  445

  184

  19

  Powys

  206

  —

  —

  —

  South Glamorgan

  2,612

  1,187

  132

  24

  West Glamorgan

  1,739

  1,643

  65

  35

  Wales

  12,259

  4,265

  560

  106

  National Parks
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of access agreements made in each national park in the most recent year for which figures are available. [33489]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information is not available centrally. I will obtain the information from the parks and write to the hon. Member.

SCOTLAND

  Co-operatives
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to ensure that Scottish Enterprise recognises the potential of co-operatives in Scotland; what joint activities it is undertaking with the Scottish Co-operative Development Committee to this end; and if he will make a statement. [32473]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The Government encourage Scottish Enterprise to work closely with other relevant organisations to create opportunities for enterprise, employment and self-employment in Scotland. Co-operatives have a role to play in this. Any joint activity involving Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Co-operative Development Committee is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have asked its chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  Women's Aid Groups
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will increase funding and assistance to women's aid groups; and if he will make a statement. [32607]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The majority of the funding for local women's aid projects is provided by local housing and social work authorities. Housing authorities have a statutory duty to assist people who are homeless or potentially homeless, including women who are fleeing domestic violence. Under the community care arrangements, local social work authorities can contract
  423
  with women's aid groups to provide support and accommodation to the victims of domestic violence. Local agencies are best placed to determine the requirement for such services in response to local needs and circumstance.

  A large majority of the local women's aid refuges in Scotland are affiliated to the national umbrella organisation, Scottish Women's Aid. Scottish Office grant funding to the SWA has increased by over 60 per cent. in the past three years and provides around 75 per cent. of the organisation's total income.

  The Scottish Office also assists local women's aid projects through the urban programme. The Scottish Office provides 75 per cent. of the urban aid grant, with local authorities meeting the balance. Urban programme funding for women's aid projects has also increased significantly in recent years.

  Quality Standards
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make all companies which supply Scottish Office and local authorities meet and attain BS5750 standards; and if he will make a statement. [32606]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  My Department is very conscious of the importance of a range of quality issues and gives these due weight in reaching procurement decisions. It is for the supplier to determine the quality management system to be used in providing goods or services, and my Department requires to be assured that there are such systems in place and it is normal practice to ask suppliers to describe these in their bid or at the pre-qualification stage. Accreditation to BS5750 is a helpful way for suppliers to demonstrate their quality systems, but we do not insist on this as it is not appropriate in all cases and there can be satisfactory alternatives.

  In relation to local authorities, it is for authorities themselves to determine the quality which they require. The question of whether or not a supplier has BS5750 accreditation is one factor which authorities may wish to take into account. For services subject to compulsory competitive tendering, we issued guidance to authorities on quality assurance in the Scottish Office Environment Department circular 13/93.

  Concessionary Travel Schemes
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce a national concession travel scheme in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [32608]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No. Regional and islands councils have discretionary powers under section 93 of the Transport Act 1985 which allow any local authority, or any two or more local authorities acting jointly, to establish a concessionary travel scheme for eligible categories of person. After local government reform, the new councils will retain these powers and the Strathclyde passenger transport authority will have the power to establish a scheme for its area. Decisions on the extent and administration of such schemes are entirely for the local authorities to consider, taking account of local needs and circumstances. The Government see no need to introduce a national concession travel scheme in Scotland.
  424
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on arrangements for concessionary travel for passengers over the age of retirement after April 1996. [32894]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  After local government reform the new councils will retain the discretionary powers under section 93 of the Transport Act 1985 which allow any local authority, or any two or more local authorities acting jointly, to establish a concessionary travel scheme for eligible categories of person including passengers over retirement age. The Strathclyde passenger transport authority will also have the power to establish a scheme for its area. Decisions on the extent and administration of such schemes are entirely for the local authorities to consider, taking account of local needs and circumstances.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those local authorities that currently operate concessionary travel rates for pensioners. [32895]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  All Scottish regional and islands councils operate a concessionary travel scheme, although the eligible categories and charges may vary between local authorities. The scheme operated by Orkney islands council is restricted to the inter-islands air service.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the current net real cost of allowing concessionary travel schemes for pensioners in the last three years for which figures are available. [32896]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Concessionary travel schemes are provided for different categories of person and separate figures are unavailable for pensioners. Local authority net expenditure on total concessionary fares in Scotland over the last three years is as follows:

  £ thousand

  Cash terms

  Real terms1

  1992–93

  38,868

  41,960

  1993–94

  41,518

  43,514

  1994–95

  45,735

  47,107

  1 Calculated from Her Majesty's Treasury GDP deflators dated 28 June 1995 converted to 1995–96 prices.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the cost of extending concessionary fare practices to other local authority areas that currently have no concessionary schemes. [32897]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  All regional and islands councils already operate concessionary fares schemes.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to meet local government representatives, pensioner organisations and the other interested parties to discuss concessionary travel schemes for retired people; and if he will make a statement. [32898]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No meetings are planned. Decisions on the extent and administration of such schemes are entirely for the local authorities to consider, taking account of local needs and circumstances.
  425

  Farm Thefts
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the number of cases of livestock theft for each of the last 10 years; [33130]

  (2) what was the number of cases of theft of produce from fields for each of the last 10 years; [33131]

  (3) what was the number of burglaries on farms and farm out-buildings for each of the last 10 years. [33132]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Travelling People
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance has been given to procurators fiscal concerning action to move on travelling people from unauthorised encampments in districts where official sites are available for travelling people; and if he will make a statement on the encampment by the A198 road at Prestongrange, East Lothian. [33060]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Since 1 April 1985, the toleration of unlawful encampment by travelling people has been linked to achievement by local authorities of provision of pitch targets set by the Secretary of State for Scotland on the basis of recommendations by his Advisory Committee on Scotland's Travelling People. My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate has issued instructions to procurators fiscal to the effect that, in considering the appropriateness of criminal proceedings in relation to unlawful encampment by travelling people, they need not have regard to the policy of toleration where the relevant local authority has met its pitch target. These instructions relate to the consideration of criminal proceedings where a report has been received from the police. The procurator fiscal at Haddington has yet to receive a report from Lothian and Borders police in relation to any encampment by the A198 road at Prestongrange, East Lothian.

  Private Finance Initiatives
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those projects incorporating private finance initiatives in Scotland specifying(a) the value of the private finance, (b) the region and (c) the type of industry. [29619]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 28 June 1995]: Details of projects involving the private finance initiative which are currently under way in Scotland are contained in the table. The value of each project is estimated since the investment has come from the private sector and thus falls outwith the responsibility of the Scottish Office.

  £ Million

  Project

  Estimated value £

  Skye Bridge

  23.6

  Ayrshire and Arran Health Boards:

  90 elderly care beds at Irvine

  3.8

  Lothian Health Board:

  Joint Venture on siting of Clinical Genetic Service

  0.8

  426

  £ Million

  Project

  Estimated value £

  Lothian and Forth Valley Trust Consortium:

  Waste collection and incineration

  5.0

  Northern Consortium Trusts and Health Boards:

  Waste collection and incineration

  5.0

  The Scottish Office document, "Private Finance Partnership in Scotland", published in March 1995 identified potential projects with a total value of £2.68 billion.

  Feudal Superiors
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on district councils' legal rights over feudal superiors of land on which houses are owned by district councils or the individual occupiers. [30662]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: In general, district councils' relationship with feudal superiors in respect of land is the same as that of any other owners. District councils have, for instance, the same right as other owners to apply to a lands tribunal to seek variation or discharge of feudal rights under section 1 of the Conveyancing and Feudal Reform (Scotland) Act 1970.

  District councils have no legal rights in relation to feudal superiors of land owned by individual householders.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what legislation has been enacted to ensure feudal superiors could not repossess council houses bought under the right-to-buy legislation; and if he will make a statement on the legal rights of feudal superiors over land on which a council house has been purchased by the occupier and on the legal rights of the occupiers of houses previously owned by the local council on the ownership of their homes in relation to their feudal superior. [30664]

  Mr. Robertson
  [holding answer 10 July 1995]: The legal position is unclear following a decision of the Court of Session on 3 March 1995 which indicated that the right to buy does not prevail over rights of pre-emption of feudal superiors. That decision, however, did not deal with any other feudal rights and did not address the question of whether the superior could exercise a right of irritancy in respect of past right-to-buy sales in contravention of a right of pre-emption.

  The need for clarification of the law to protect the rights of purchasers is being considered.

  Research Projects
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many research projects were commissioned by the Scottish Office for 1993–94 and 1994–95. [31890]
  427
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  [holding answer 3 July 1995]: The Scottish Office commissioned 706 research projects in 1993–94 and 712 in 1994–95.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will name the companies, and where they are based, which were commissioned by the Scottish Office to carry out research projects in 1993–94,1994–95 and from April 1995; what research project each company was commissioned to carry out in each period; and how much each research company was paid for each project in each period. [31893]

  Mr. Robertson
  [holding answer 3 July 1995]: Information is not readily available in the form requested. Where appropriate, details of research projects, and those commissioned to undertake them, are published, for example in the Scottish Office central research unit's "Register of Research", a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Most of the Scottish Office's research is commissioned with specialist research institutes or university departments rather than with companies.

  Child Care
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for future funding of out-of-school care projects and development work(a) where there is Scottish Enterprise involvement and (b) on any other basis. [32233]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 6 July 1995]: The current out-of-school child care initiative will continue to be delivered in Scotland by the enterprise network until March 1996. As in England, any further proposals will be made in light of the final evaluation of the scheme.

  Further Education (Capital Equipment)
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what examination is made of the system for disbursing capital equipment moneys following their transfer from individual further education colleges to the enterprise companies; to whom decisions on disbursement are accountable; what provision is made for publicising disbursement decisions; and what opportunities arise for students and other interested parties to influence the process. [32112]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  [holding answer 6 July 1995]: No funds have been transferred from individual further education colleges to local enterprise companies for disbursement to colleges for the acquisition of capital equipment.

  Blood Supplies
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of blood supplies in each region was supplied to private hospitals in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will indicate the number of units involved. [32991]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 July 1995]: The Scottish national blood transfusion service supplies blood and blood products from five regional transfusion centres. The latest information
  428
  available about the supply of blood to non-NHS hospitals is for 1993–94. This is as follows:

  Blood product units

  North RTC

  0

  North East RTC

  408

  East RTC

  169

  South East RTC

  637

  West RTC

  1,975

  Total

  3,189

  The units issued to non-NHS hospitals represented less than 1 per cent. of total issues by regional transfusion centres during this period.

  NHS (Moneys in Trust)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the value of moneys held in trust by individual NHS trusts and health authorities. [32973]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 July 1995]: This information is not held centrally.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Kensington Palace (Tours)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage who organises and sets the admission prices of summer evening tours of Kensington palace; and who receives the proceeds. [32945]

  Mr. Sproat
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has statutory responsibility for the funding, management and presentation to the public of the state apartments and royal ceremonial dress collection at Kensington palace. Day-to-day responsibility for admission prices, the receipt of the proceeds and opening arrangements is delegated to the chief executive of Historic Royal Palaces, which is an executive agency of the Department of National Heritage.

  Advertising
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much has been spent on outside advertising agencies for each year since 1979; and if he will list the specific advertising campaigns undertaken by his Department, their purpose and their cost. [32483]

  Mr. Sproat
  Since it was formed in April 1992, neither my Department nor the Royal Parks agency has commissioned any outside advertising agencies. However, the Historical Royal Palaces agency regularly undertakes advertising campaigns to promote the palaces for which it is responsible. The costs since April 1992 are as follows:

  1992–93: £205,089

  1993–94: £717,000

  1994–95: £548,000

  429
  The specific advertising campaigns, their purpose and individual costs are broken down as follows:

  1992–93

  (i) TOWER OF LONDON

  Purpose: To increase the number of visitors.

  Cost: £92,000

  (ii) HAMPTON COURT PALACE

  Purpose: To increase the number of visitors.

  Cost: £113,089

  1993–94

  (i) TOWER OF LONDON

  Purpose: To increase the number of visitors.

  Cost: £355,000

  (ii) HAMPTON COURT PALACE

  Purpose: To increase the number of visitors.

  To increase the ratio of domestic visitors to overseas visitors.

  To change the perceptions of Hampton Court palace to a place where history comes to life.

  Cost: £262,000

  (iii) CORPORATE SALES PROMOTION

  Purpose: To launch the royal pass entitling visitors to entry to all palaces for £15.

  Cost: £100,000

  1994–95

  (i) TOWER OF LONDON

  Purpose: To increase the number of visitors.

  To launch the re-presentation of the Crown jewels.

  Cost: £370,000

  (ii) HAMPTON COURT PALACE

  Purpose: To increase the number of visitors.

  Cost: £92,000

  (iii) CORPORATE SALES PROMOTION

  Purpose: To consolidate further the royal pass and develop a multi-lingual joint Palaces leaflet.

  Cost: £86,000

  Capital Spending
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30878]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 28 June 1995]: The information requested is as follows:

  £ million

  Department of National Heritage

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Central Government's own expenditure

  167

  188

  Public Corporations' expenditure

  155

  130

  Local authority expenditure

  261

  —

  Total

  583

  318

  There are no figures currently available giving the departmental breakdown of planned local authority capital expenditure in 1995–96. The total capital expenditure 1995–96 will not therefore be comparable with the figure for 1994–95.
  430

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Sheep Scab
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received, since I January, asserting that the incidence of sheep scab has increased since compulsory dipping was discontinued, and if he will make a statement on his policy towards(a) making sheep scab a notifiable disease, (b) making dipping compulsory on farms where scab has been found and (c) making testing for scab compulsory on neighbouring farms. [30271]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Department has received a number of representations on the subject of sheep scab since 1 January.

  In response to claims early last year that the incidence of sheep scab had increased, we carried out our own investigations in March 1994 into the level of scab at markets and in flocks treated by private veterinary surgeons. Although the results were not conclusive, they indicated that the number of infested sheep had increased. In co-operation with the industry, we conducted a publicity campaign to encourage farmers to treat their sheep for scab. In addition, the official veterinary presence at markets was significantly increased; infested animals are being withdrawn from sale and treated and the owners risk prosecution under animal welfare legislation.

  A second state veterinary service survey has indicated that the numbers of sheep affected by scab sent to markets and sales has declined. This is an encouraging sign and should help to reduce the spread of scab.

  However, reports from practising veterinary surgeons suggest that the number of infected farms is increasing. The veterinary surgeons also suggest that some farmers are not treating their sheep strictly in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions. This can lead to the temporary suppression of the disease which then re-establishes itself later.

  The full results of this years survey and those from last year are as follows:

  1994

  1995

  Market visits

  Number

  869

  867

  Batches with suspected scab

  177

  47

  Per cent. visits where scab found

  20

  5

  Serious welfare cases

  13

  6

  Other outbreaks of scab found by SVS

  Number

  53

  34

  Outbreaks of scab known to private veterinary surgeons

  Number

  254

  595

  The Government are concerned at the increasing spread of sheep scab and accordingly propose to carry out a publicity campaign to encourage good management practices, including the proper use of the available treatments. The newly established Meat Hygiene Service will be watching out for signs of scab infestation in sheep arriving at slaughterhouses and will report any welfare cases to the state veterinary service for follow-up action

  431
  on the farms concerned. Where necessary, appropriate action will be taken under farm animal welfare legislation. We will also be continuing our increased surveillance of sheep sales and taking follow-up action in connection with any welfare problems associated with scab infestation.

  In addition to the initiatives above, I have asked officials to consider what other options may be available for dealing with the disease.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reason the policy of compulsory sheep dipping was changed, and if he will make a statement. [31246]

  Mrs. Browning
  The decision to remove statutory controls for sheep scab, which included compulsory dipping, was mainly based on the failure of these arrangements to eradicate the disease and the view that they were unlikely to do so in the future. Given also the substantial demands placed on the state veterinary service and local authorities, the lack of EC interest in the disease—which would make it difficult to prevent scab being reintroduced again on imported animals—and the lack of commitment shown by a substantial minority of farmers, it was decided that Government involvement in the control of sheep scab could no longer be justified.

  This does not mean that the Government are no longer concerned about the threat posed by scab and I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson).

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the recorded levels of sheep scab in each of the last five years. [31244]

  Mrs. Browning
  The numbers of confirmed cases of sheep scab in Great Britain in 1991 and 1992 were as follows:

  1991: 116

  1992 (to 30 June): 94

  The collation of official records on the number of outbreaks of sheep scab was discontinued after deregulation in 1992.

  The official veterinary presence at sheep markets was increased between 1 September 1994 and 3 March 1995, during which time suspected sheep scab was detected in 49 out of 2,878 market visits. In total, 364 animals had to be withdrawn from sale and treated under the Welfare of Animals at Markets Order 1990 and a further 210 animals with suspected sheep scab were sent direct to slaughter.

  For further information on the amount of scab discovered during surveys conducted by the state veterinary service in March 1994 and March 1995, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson).

  Voluntary Oranisations
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many voluntary sector organisations his Department has(a) paid grants to or (b) entered into contracts in (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 1994–95; and what was the total value of these grants and contracts. [31314]
  432
  Mr. Baldry
  The information required to answer is not held centrally and can be collected only at disproportionate cost.

  Milk Testing
  Mr. Sykes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider establishing a national body to check standards of milk testing for British farmers. [31670]

  Mr. Baldry
  The Intervention Board executive agency, which is responsible for administering milk quotas throughout the United Kingdom, has already commissioned the Central Science Laboratory to check standards at laboratories which are approved to carry out butterfat tests on milk.

  Mr. Sykes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider establishing national calibration standards in respect of testing for butter fat, protein and total bacteria content in milk. [31668]

  Mr. Baldry
  The suggestion that a simple source for calibration standards be specified, whilst acceptable in principle to the Intervention Board executive agency and to those laboratories participating in milk testing, may be difficult to prescribe. It would, effectively, prevent those organisations currently supplying such standards from continuing to do so. In the current climate of deregulation within the United Kingdom dairy industry such action would need to be considered carefully and justified in terms of a clearly identified need.

  Tuberculosis (Cattle)
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has received on the reason for the change in the number of positive tuberculosis tests for cattle in the last five years. [31736]

  Mrs. Browning
  There has been an increased incidence of disease and approximately 90 per cent. of the cattle tuberculosis herd breakdowns in the south-west of England are attributed to infection by badgers after detailed epidemiological investigations. The Department is already carrying out research into ways of avoiding transmission of disease from badgers to cattle and is co-operating with university departments on studies on the effects of badger removal operations on the badger population and their impact on the subsequent spread of disease within the badger population.

  Integrated Administration and Control System
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received on the proposals to amend the system of field numbering on maps which are to accompany forms associated with the integrated administration and control system. [32362]

  Mr. Baldry
  A range of farming industry organisations has been consulted on proposals which, if adopted, would involve changing the system of issuing field numbers, for the purpose of applications under the integrated administration and control system. Officials are considering comments from those who have responded and meeting with organisations where appropriate.
  433
  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his Department has completed the exercise of standardising maps which are to accompany forms associated with the integrated administration and control system. [32361]

  Mr. Baldry
  My Department is not carrying out an exercise of standardising maps. However, a wide range of checks is carried out on applications under the integrated administration and control system. These include detailed checks of field data and maps submitted in support of area aid applications.

  Bull Calves
  Mr. Keen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to stimulate the domestic market for bull calves; if he is actively considering encouraging the establishment of alternative rearing systems or introducing tighter animal welfare systems; what help is being offered to United Kingdom farmers to assist in establishing a realistic animal friendly alternative that would help to end the continental trade in live animals for veal production; and if he will make a statement. [32425]

  Mrs. Browning
  The United Kingdom has since 1990 banned close confinement systems of veal rearing, and we are now working hard to achieve agreement to raise the less exacting minimum standards which apply at European Union level.

  Only a minority of bull calves born in the UK are exported live. None-the-less a move from live exports to the value added business of producing meat in the UK makes sense in the long run. The Ministry is encouraging this through research into improving the quality of dairy bread beef, and work with the Meat and Livestock Commission to promote beef exports.

  We are also funding a demonstration unit on welfare friendly veal at the ADAS research centre at Rosemaund, near Hereford. The aim of this unit, which opens later this month, is to show how to produce veal under systems which conform to the UK's high welfare standards.

  Fishing Incidents
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many incidents have taken place between British fishing vessels and fishing vessels of other European Union countries in each of the last three years. [32672]

  Mr. Baldry
  Incidents between fishing vessels can take place in varying circumstances and are not necessarily reported to fishery protection vessels or to the fishery inspectorates. Comprehensive records of such incidents are not kept.

  Fishing (Discussions)
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to meet representatives of the fishing industry to discuss access to the Irish box and western waters. [31160]
  434
  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 6 July 19951]: My predecessor met representatives of the fishing industry on a number of occasions recently at which this issue was discussed, and I propose to do so again as the need arises.

  Meat Levies
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 26 June,Official Report, column 528, on meat levies, what were the total levies for (a) sheep and (b) calves in each year since 1990; and what would be the total revenue raised for the Meat and Livestock Commission for (a) sheep, and (b) calves and (c) other in each year since 1992 if animal exporters had paid the levies on each animal exported in each year since 1992. [32388]

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding reply sent on 6 July 19951]: The information requested is as follows.

  (1) Total levy receipts

  £ million

  (a) sheep

  (b) calves

  1989–90

  8.6

  0.02

  1990–91

  9.8

  0.02

  1991–92

  10.1

  0.02

  1992–93

  10.0

  0.03

  1993–94

  9.8

  0.03

  (2) Total levy due

  £ million

  (a) Sheep

  (b) Calves

  (c) Others

  1991–92

  10.2

  0.02

  19.0

  1992–93

  10.3

  0.03

  18.7

  1993–94

  10.1

  0.03

  19.8

HEALTH

  NHS Loto
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of state for Health (1) what rules govern the use of the letters NHS in publicity for private companies' projects; [31353]

  (2) what discussions have taken place between his Department and the organisers of NHS Loto to discuss (a) the distribution of any funds generated, (b) advising on the re-launch of the NHS Loto and (c) departmental approval of the project; and if he will make a statement; [31354]

  (3) what permission was sought from his Department to use the letters NHS to promote the NHS Loto. [31352]

  Mr. Sackville
  The use of the letters NHS is not the subject of any express provisions in legislations.

  NHS Loto is run by the registered charity National Hospital Trust and operated on its behalf by Pascal and Co. The trustees of the National Hospital Trust sought the endorsement of Department of Health Ministers prior to the relaunch of NHS Loto on 1 June 1995. This was not forthcoming.
  435

  Centre for Epilepsy
  Sir Donald Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of the Centre for Epilepsy. [31862]

  Mr. Bowis
  I have the personal written assurance of the chairman of the King's Healthcare national health service trust, Mr. Stanley Kalms, that the trust will encourage the development of specialised multidisciplinary treatment and care for people with epilepsy and will help the centre to establish itself as the focus for this.

  At present, the Centre for Epilepsy is established at the Maudsley hospital site. Owing to the current reorganisation of neurosciences services at the Maudsley, the centre has recently moved into temporary accommodation. The chief executive of the trust, has assured me at a meeting on 26 June, that the centre will return to permanent accommodation within the Maudsley hospital during November this year.

  Research Grants
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which members of(a) the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy, (b) the Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food and (c) the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food receive research grants from his Department. [32419]

  Mr. Sackville
  Only Dr. S. Bingham and Professor M. Marmont of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy have research contracts funded through the Department's policy research programme or the nutrition research programme.

  Sensible Drinking
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to receive the findings of the review of the "Sensible Drinking" message; and if he will make a statement. [32815]

  Mr. Bowis
  I expect the interdepartmental group on sensible drinking to complete its work around the end of the year.

  Nutrition Task Force
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the estimated budget for 1995–96 and 1996–97 for the nutrition task force; [32720]

  (2) what future changes are planned for the nutrition task force and if he will make a statement. [32719]

  Mr. Sackville
  The nutrition task force, which was set up in November 1992 to bring together relevant interests and prepare a programme of action to achieve the diet and nutrition targets in The Health of the Nation" White Paper, published its programme in March 1994. The remit of the task force was extended by a further year to set in train the implementation of the programme. It will make a final report to Ministers by the end of the year. The task force's remit to develop the programme will then have been fulfilled. Action set in hand as a result of the task force's work will be completed by the relevant sectors within the wider community.
  436
  The nutrition task force does not have a specific budget. Expenses are paid to members under normal rules. A total of £250,000 has been allocated for expenditure in 1995–96 on publicity arising from the nutrition task force programme. A similar bid has been made for 1996–97.

  Child Abuse
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the local authority children's homes in England and Wales where child sex abuse is known to have taken place in each of the last three years. [32859]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Treatments
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he proposes to ensure that additional costs of metered water for essential water intensive health treatments, including hydro-therapy and renal dialysis, do not fall on(a) the health service and (b) patients. [32711]

  Mr. Sackville
  Since April 1994, local health authorities have been responsible for meeting the costs of water used in the course of home haemodialysis by patients whose water supply is metered by their local water company. I am not aware of other conditions which require equivalent volumes of water for treatment provided at home. These arrangements have been introduced relatively recently; there are no plans to review them at this stage.

  Nutrition Monitoring
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies on monitoring nutrition his Department plans to commission over the next two years. [32721]

  Mr. Sackville
  My Department plans to commission this year, jointly with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the national diet and nutrition survey of children aged four to 18 years.

  Elderly Patients, Wandsworth
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many national health service beds in hospitals in the London borough of Wandsworth are available for the nursing of elderly patients. [33107]

  Mr. Bowis
  Information is not available centrally in the form requested.

  Performance Tables
  Sir James Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the performance of(a) the Dorset Healthcare national health service trust and (b) the national health service as a whole; and if he will make a statement. [33699]

  Mr. Malone
  I would like to congratulate the Dorset Healthcare trust on its excellent performance in the national health service performance tables for the second year running. Not only has the trust improved its performance against the existing performance tables indicators but the new indicators introduced this year show that 100 per cent. of patients are seen in out-patient
  437
  clinics within 13 weeks of referral by their general practitioner. Copies of the NHS performance tables are available in the Library.

  The tables show yet another year of achievement for the NHS as a whole. Performance has improved so that:
  93 per cent. of patients are now assessed within five minutes in accident and emergency departments;
  88 per cent. of patients are now seen within 30 minutes of their appointment times;
  over half of hospitals admitted 95 per cent. or more of patients in the eight main surgical specialties within 12 months of going on a waiting list;

  The figures for day surgery also show substantial improvement. Over 60 per cent. of arthroscopies and laparoscopies, more than a quarter of inguinal hernia repairs and a third of cataracts are now done on a day surgery basis. This is a better option for many patients who prefer not to have to stay in hospital overnight.

  Information is included in the tables for the first time on the waiting time to see a consultant following referral by a GP:

  82 per cent. of patients are seen within 13 weeks of referral; and

  95 per cent. within 26 weeks of referral.

  These figures suggest that the NHS is well on course to meet the new patients charter standard, introduced on 1 April this year, of nine out of 10 patients being seen within 13 weeks and all patients being seen within 26 weeks.

  The tables also show that 64 per cent. of GP practices have produced charters for their patients.

  This is an impressive record of achievement. Trusts have earned more than 3,000 five-star ratings this year. But not every trust has performed well on every indicator and action is already under way to secure even better performance next year.

  Community Psychiatric Nurses
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many whole-time equivalent community psychiatric nurses were working in the NHS in each year since 1992; and how many of these CPNs have received training to implement the proposed power of supervised discharge. [32243]

  Mr. Sackville
  The number of whole-time equivalent qualified, unqualified and "other" nursing staff—excluding agency—working in the community psychiatric nursing area of work in the national health service hospital and community health services in each year since 1992 is as follows:

  1992: 4,210

  1993: 4,320

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten whole-time equivalents.

  2. Agency staff are excluded.

  3. Figures are for England as at 30 September each year.

  4. 1993 is the latest year for which figures are available.

  Source:

  PD(STATS)B Non-Medical Workforce Census.
  438
  Information on nursing staff in the community psychiatric area of work who have undertaken training to implement the proposed power of supervised discharge is not available centrally.

  Contracts (EDS)
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the contracts his Department has with the computer company EDS. [33175]

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department has no contracts with EDS.

  Committee Membership
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who are the present members of(a) the Committee on the Safety of Medicines, (b) the Medicines Commission and (c) the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment; by whom they are employed; what consultancies or directorships each holds with chemical or pharmaceutical companies; and which are engaged in research on behalf of chemical or pharmaceutical companies. [32899]

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

  Junior Doctors
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his Department's change of policy regarding the place of registrars' and senior registrars' contracts following the abolition of regional health authorities. [33227]

  Mr. Malone
  Subject to formal negotiation with the medical profession and following the abolition of regional health authorities, contracts for registrars and senior registrars will be held by national health service trusts with deans of postgraduate medicine overseeing their educational needs. The detail of the new arrangements has yet to be agreed but it will need to ensure that continuity and quality of training programmes are protected under the new arrangements.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures will be introduced to aid junior doctors within training rotations to negotiate new contracts every six months with NHS trusts; and if he will make a statement. [33231]

  Mr. Malone
  Detailed arrangements for the transfer of junior doctors' contracts to national health service trusts are being discussed with the medical profession. These discussions include a package of safeguards. The six elements of this are:national terms and conditions of service with a degree of local flexibility;
  a "lead trusts" scheme to ensure that doctors on rotations are not required to strike new employment contracts with each new posting;
  continuity of service via the Health Authorities Bill, now secured;
  a network of employment, educational and service-level contracts tying the deans, trusts and junior doctors into a relationship designed to safeguard educational standards and appropriate levels of training;

  439
  a review of the proportion of junior doctors' salary costs funded by the deans; and
  additional training of trust personnel staff to avoid some of the problems currently arising when trusts manage house officer and senior house officer contracts.

  Mr. Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he will take to ensure that NHS trusts will honour agreements on nationally negotiated packages for junior doctors with special reference to the new deal which limits their hours of work. [33226]

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are planned to ensure that NHS trusts implement national agreements limiting junior doctors' hours of work when NHS trusts are responsible for their contracts; and if he will make a statement. [33230]

  Mr. Malone
  National terms and conditions of service continue to apply to junior doctors including the limits on junior doctors' hours under the new deal which are set out in "Terms and Conditions of Service for Hospital Medical and Dental Staff (England and Wales)". All national health service trusts are required to comply with these limits.

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many additional staff will be required in each NHS trust to manage junior doctors' contracts when their contracts are held at trust level; and if he will make a statement. [33229]

  Mr. Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what will be the cost nationally of each NHS trust personnel department employing at least one additional member of staff to deal with junior doctors' contracts in the event of their being transferred to trust level after the abolition of regional health authorities. [33234]

  Mr. Malone
  It is for individual trusts to make decisions about staff numbers.

  Mr. Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made as to whether NHS trusts' personnel departments have staff with sufficient experience and knowledge to manage the complexities of junior doctors' contracts. [33228]

  Mr. Malone
  We are considering what training is necessary to ensure that registrar and senior registrar contracts are managed effectively.

  Contraceptives
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he has given for the provision of Norplant free by family planning clinics. [33271]

  Mr. Sackville
  A full range of contraceptive services should be available to those who wish to use them. It is a matter for local health authorities to decide how best to use their resources to provide comprehensive and accessible services that meet the needs of local users.

  NHS Pension Scheme
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the average amount contributed by the NHS to their pension fund prior to retirement of(a) female and (b) male doctors; [33237]
  440
  (2) what is the average amount paid in by comparable female and male doctors into the NHS pension scheme prior to retirement and the average amount female and male doctors receive in pension after retirement; [33236]

  (3) for how many years female and male doctors have put the same contribution into NHS pension schemes; and for which years payments can be taken into account in calculation of widowers' pensions. [33272]

  Mr. Malone
  National health service employers contribute 4 per cent. of pensionable earnings to the national health service pension scheme in respect of their employees. Female and male doctors contribute 6 per cent. of their pensionable earnings to the scheme and contribution rates in every year have been the same for both sexes. Information is not available centrally about the amounts contributed, and average pension received, by staff groups. Widowers' benefits are based upon service accrued after 6 April 1988 unless cover for earlier service has been purchased.

  NHS Appointees (Payments)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information is held by his Department or the NHS executive on expenditure on trust board and health authority member's allowances. [33249]

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) on 16 February,Official Report, column 808, which gives the latest information available centrally about payments to members of health authorities and national health service trust boards.

  Tendering
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 21 June,Official Report, column 259, what information his Department or the NHS executive holds on the costs associated with (a) market testing and (b) compulsory competitive tendering in the NHS. [33158]

  Mr. Sackville
  Information is held on the value of a large number of individual service contracts which have been notified to the national health service executive by NHS trusts and other Units. Individual contract values are not released except with the prior agreement of the two parties concerned. It is not yet possible to access the information on contract values by numbers above or below a given size without detailed scrutiny of the full list of contracts.

  NHS Contracts
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS organisations entered into contracts with either(a) Touche Ross or (b) Arthur Anderson Chartered Accountants in the period from December 1993. [33145]

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is not available centrally.

  St. Bartholomew's Hospital
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he is prepared to examine proposals to keep St. Bartholomew's hospital at Smithfield open. [33504]
  441
  Mr. Malone
  The recent decision on the future of St. Bartholomew's hospital was right for patients and for the future of hospital services in east London. Alternative options for the future of the Smithfield site are currently being examined by a task force chaired by Sir Ronald Grierson.

  Pay Review Body
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has appointed the new chair of the Pay Review Body for Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors; and if he will list the criteria for selection. [33270]

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 4 July,Official Report, column 102, on this subject. An appointment will be made in due course by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

  Hip Replacement Operations
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the percentage of hip replacement operations that required(a) one revision and (b) more than one revision in each of the past 12 years. [29268]

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 21 June 1995]: The information is not available in the form requested. The information in the table shows the proportion of the total number of hip operations in each of the last six years that were revisions. Comparable figures for earlier years are not available.

  Hip operations

  Revisions

  Percentage revisions

  1988–89

  46,490

  2,882

  6.2

  1989–90

  50,790

  3,555

  7.0

  1990–91

  50,725

  3,449

  6.8

  1991–92

  55,642

  3,895

  7.0

  1992–93

  57,437

  3,963

  6.9

  1993–94

  58,439

  3,740

  6.4

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics—Estimate from 25 per cent. sample.

  Hip operation codes—shortlist code WC1 and WC3.

  OPCS4R codes W37-W39, W46-W48.

  Revision code—37.3, 38.3, 39.3 46.3, 47.3 and 48.3.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Voluntary Organisations
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many voluntary sector organisations his Department has(a) paid grants to or (b) entered into contracts with in (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 1994–95; and what was the total value of these grants and contracts. [31306]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested is as follows:

  Voluntary sector organisations

  Voluntary sector organisations

  Year

  Paid grants

  Value of grant £

  Awarded contracts

  Value of contract £

  1993–94

  1,342

  77,597,234

  326

  68,086,243

  1994–95

  1,373

  71,404,810

  321

  69,608,550

  442
  Some payments due under the letters of offer were made in the same financial year.

  Dungiven Bypass
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he now expects work to begin on the Dungiven bypass. [32447]

  Mr. Moss
  The Dungiven bypass is not included in the Department's current five-year major road works programme.

  Bridge Strengthening
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sums have been expended to date on the bridge strengthening programme; and how long it will he and at what cost before the programme is complete. [32446]

  Mr. Moss
  In the last three years, approximately £13.2 million has been expended on the bridge assessment and strengthening programme. Information prior to 1992–93 is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The provision allocation for the 1995–96 financial year is £5 million.

  It is planned that the assessment programme will be completed by 31 December 1998. The cost and the timing of the completion of the associated strengthening works will depend on the volume of work identified and the availability of finance.

  Limavady Bypass
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he now expects work to begin on the construction of the Limavady bypass. [32448]

  Mr. Moss
  Work on the first stage of the Limavady bypass is due to commence in the 1997–98 financial year, subject to the availability of finance.

  Further Education
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of capital expenditure on education has been devoted to further education in each of the past 10 years. [32904]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  Percentage

  1984–85

  3

  1985–86

  3

  1986–87

  4

  1987–88

  5

  1988–89

  9

  1989–90

  10

  1990–91

  9

  1991–92

  6

  1992–93

  8

  1993–94

  7

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the proposed five-year building programme for further education colleges in Northern Ireland. [32906]
  443
  Mr. Ancram
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 13 June,Official Report, column 466.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which further education colleges he has visited; and if he will make a statement on the physical condition of those colleges. [32903]

  Mr. Ancram
  I have visited Fermanagh, Omagh, Limavady, North-West, Magherafelt, North-East, Upper Bann and East Tyrone colleges.

  The physical condition of these colleges varies from excellent to some instances where provision is poor.

  Belfast Institute of Further Education
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will visit the Ormeau road premises of the Belfast Institute of Further Education; and what actions he proposes to take to bring its facilities up to modern standards. [32902]

  Mr. Ancram
  I always try to respond positively to invitations to visit schools and colleges.

  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 13 June, Official Report, column 466.

  Emergency Legislation
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to start a full-scale independent review into the emergency legislation; and what will he its timetable. [32692]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The timing of the independent review of the continuing need for the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991 and the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 has yet to be decided. The Government will take a number of factors into account before initiating the review and deciding upon its timetable. These will include assessing the security situation in Northern Ireland to see if confidence in a lasting peace has been clearly established.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if it is his policy that internment should not feature in the proposed successor legislation to the Emergency Powers Act 1964. [32693]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Provision for the detention of terrorists—in section 34 of and schedule 3 to the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991—are currently

  Less than 24 hrs

  24 hrs-47 hrs 59 mins

  48 hrs-71 hrs 59 mins

  72 hrs-119 hrs 59 mins

  120 hrs-167 hrs 59 mins

  1994

  January

  24

  99

  3

  43

  0

  February

  17

  101

  10

  26

  7

  March

  20

  110

  3

  31

  2

  April

  27

  77

  4

  29

  24

  May

  30

  55

  7

  58

  4

  June

  42

  96

  7

  22

  5

  July

  43

  69

  3

  14

  1

  August

  25

  89

  5

  27

  5

  September

  8

  44

  2

  7

  0

  October

  10

  54

  1

  0

  0

  November

  10

  55

  0

  0

  2

  December

  14

  32

  0

  0

  0

  444
  not in force. The Government will carefully consider the continuing need for such provisions in the context of preparing the successor legislation to replace the existing Act which expires next year.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussion he has had with the Chief Constable of the RUC on the desirability of using Police and Criminal Evidence Act powers rather than emergency legislation wherever possible; and what was the response. [32695]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Discussions between Ministers and the Chief Constable on security matters remain confidential. However, it is hoped that a changing and improving security situation will mean that the use of the powers contained in the emergency legislation will continue to decrease to the point where they are no longer needed.

  Detainees
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were held in each holding centre in each month of 1994 and each month of 1995 to date. [32694]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested is as follows:

  1994

  Castlereagh

  Gough

  Strand Road

  January

  128

  37

  4

  February

  114

  44

  3

  March

  129

  35

  0

  April

  132

  22

  7

  May

  118

  32

  4

  June

  150

  15

  7

  July

  111

  17

  2

  August

  99

  39

  13

  September

  47

  9

  5

  October

  56

  6

  3

  November

  51

  13

  3

  December

  36

  9

  1

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many detentions under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1985 were made in each month of 1994 and each month of 1995 to date; and for what lengths of time detainees were held. [32697]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested is as follows:
  445

  Less than 24 hrs

  24 hrs-47 hrs 59 mins

  48 hrs-71 hrs 59 mins

  72 hrs-119 hrs 59 mins

  120 hrs-167 hrs 59 mins

  1995

  January

  6

  26

  2

  0

  0

  February

  10

  40

  1

  0

  0

  March

  17

  26

  4

  2

  0

  April

  17

  19

  0

  0

  0

  May

  6

  21

  0

  0

  0

  Figures for June 1995 are not yet available.

  Diplock Courts
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to phase in more trials with jury rather than continuing the use of Diplock courts over the coming year. [32698]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The Government have no plans to amend schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991, which lists those substantive offences that are dealt with on indictment by the Crown court without a jury in accordance with section 10 of the Act. The future independent review of the legislation will address the continuing need for all aspects of counter-terrorist law.

  Collegiate Court
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his response to the proposal by the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights that consideration should be given to the establishment of a collegiate court pending full restoration of jury trials. [32699]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The Government are not presently persuaded that multi-judge courts are desirable to deal with scheduled offences. There is no evidence to show that a change to multi-judge courts would necessarily produce better justice, or significantly enhanced confidence in the court system. Any person convicted of a scheduled offence in a single-judge court has an automatic right of appeal to the Court of Appeal which itself comprises three judges, and there is an important safeguard in that the trial judge is required to produce a written judgment setting out his reasons for any conviction.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which projects have been selected by the Water Executive for the private finance initiative; what is the estimated cost of these projects; when they were due to go out to tender; and what is the estimated delay caused by these projects being included in the private finance initiative. [32823]

  Mr. Moss
  The Water Executive has a major capital construction programme designed to ensure compliance with national standards, incorporating those of the EC, over the next 10 years. This programme has significantly increased the executive's capital demands and it is appropriate that we explore the use of private finance in this context. It is a normal method of funding infrastructure projects internationally, as well as in the United Kingdom, and I am anxious that the potential for 446
  its application to the Water Executive's capital programme should be tested.

  Government recognise that using private finance must provide genuine value for money. I have therefore agreed that, as a first step the Water Executive should select two pilot schemes to test the viability of the private sector financing, building, owning and operating such facilities on a long-term basis. In order to assist with this work a consortium comprising Mott MacDonald Ltd., and NatWest Markets have been appointed to act as a manager and financial advisor of the pilot scheme.

  I am presently considering the final selection of the schemes to be included in the pilot project. They will probably have a combined capital value of over £20 million and I will announce the details in due course.

  I do not anticipate that the private finance initiative will cause any significant delays in these schemes.

  Students
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of Northern Ireland domiciled students leave to study at higher education institutions in Great Britain; and what percentage return to work in Northern Ireland. [32908]

  Mr. Ancram
  In 1993–94, the latest year for which information is available, 24 per cent. of all Northern Ireland domiciled new entrants to higher education left to study at institutions in Great Britain, including 34 per cent. of full-time undergraduate new entrants. In the same year, 11 per cent. of Northern Ireland domiciled first-degree graduates from Great Britain universities returned to Northern Ireland to take up employment.

  Electronic Surveillance
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he proposes to implement electronic surveillance of interviews with suspects in holding centres; and what form this will take. [32700]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The Government have said that they will give consideration to the introduction of an electronic recording scheme for the police offices, in the context of the successor legislation to the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991 if it still appears necessary to do so in the light of the developing security situation.

  Holding Centres
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to close any holding centres. [32701]

  Sir John Wheeler
  None at present.
  447

  Coroners Courts
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what response he has had from the Lord Chancellor to the recommendations by the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights on the reform of coroners courts in Northern Ireland. [32702]

  Sir John Wheeler
  In Northern Ireland, coroners courts and inquest procedures are the responsibility of the Lord Chancellor. The Lord Chancellor has confirmed to the Secretary of State that he has no present plans to change the current system of inquests in Northern Ireland.

  Forensic Science Laboratory
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals there are for the future use of the site of the former forensic science laboratory at Newtownbreda; when he expects to make a decision; and if he will make a statement. [32994]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The former site at Newtownbreda of the Northern Ireland forensic science laboratory is no longer required by Government. In accordance with standing policy it will be sold and it is intended to arrange a public auction for this purpose as soon as possible.

  Human Rights
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to cease using derogation under article 5(3) of the European convention on human rights and article 4 of the international covenant on civil and political rights. [32696]

  Mr. Howard
  I have been asked to reply.

  Limited derogations under article 15 of the European convention on human rights and article 4 of the international covenant on civil and political rights cover detention by the police on the Secretary of State's authority under the prevention of terrorism Act of persons suspected of involvement in Northern Irish terrorism. The Government continue to keep the need for the derogations under review but it is too early to be satisfied that they could safely be withdrawn.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Family Credit
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for each month since December 1994 the percentage of family credit claims taking five working days to be dealt with from the time of the claim being received by his Department and the figures for each subsequent day up to 30 working days. [31678]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The administration of family credit is a matter for Mr. Ian Magee, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Ian Magee to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 6 July 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the clearance of claims to Family Credit.
  448
  I enclose, at annex A, a table which details the proportion of claims cleared within 5 days and up to 30 days, from December 1994 to the end of May 1995.
  I hope you find this useful.

  Annex A: Clearance times for Family Credit claims—December 1994—May 1995.

  Days

  December 1994

  January 1995

  February 1995

  March 1995

  April 1995

  May 1995

  5

  31.1

  33.6

  39.2

  42.6

  45.6

  42.2

  6

  33.7

  36.0

  42.3

  46.3

  50.7

  46.9

  7

  38.6

  40.0

  48.4

  52.9

  53.3

  50.9

  8

  40.9

  42.3

  51.3

  55.8

  56.2

  57.5

  9

  43.4

  45.1

  54.2

  58.8

  62.7

  61.0

  10

  49.5

  50.3

  60.7

  65.0

  65.8

  65.5

  11

  52.8

  52.6

  63.7

  67.9

  70.5

  67.4

  12

  58.1

  56.3

  68.4

  72.4

  72.7

  69.4

  13

  60.6

  58.4

  70.6

  74.2

  74.7

  74.7

  14

  63.0

  60.4

  72.6

  76.1

  78.8

  76.7

  15

  67.9

  64.3

  76.7

  79.7

  80.7

  79.2

  16

  70.1

  66.0

  78.4

  81.3

  83.5

  80.5

  17

  73.7

  68.9

  80.9

  83.6

  84.6

  82.0

  18

  75.1

  70.4

  82.1

  84.6

  85.7

  82.0

  19

  76.5

  72.0

  83.3

  85.6

  87.9

  85.2

  20

  79.7

  74.9

  85.7

  87.7

  89.0

  86.3

  21

  81.1

  76.2

  86.7

  88.6

  90.4

  87.9

  22

  83.4

  78.5

  88.3

  90.1

  91.0

  88.7

  23

  84.4

  79.6

  89.0

  90.7

  91.7

  89.7

  24

  85.3

  80.9

  89.7

  91.3

  93.0

  91.4

  25

  87.3

  83.0

  91.2

  92.5

  93.5

  92.0

  26

  88.4

  83.9

  91.8

  93.1

  94.4

  92.8

  27

  89.8

  85.6

  92.6

  93.9

  94.7

  93.3

  28

  90.3

  86.4

  93.0

  94.2

  95.1

  93.9

  29

  90.8

  87.2

  93.4

  94.6

  95.8

  94.8

  30

  92.1

  88.8

  94.3

  95.3

  96.1

  95.1

  The figures provided indicate the cumulative total percentage cleared in each working day.

  Mortgage Interest
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to commission further research into the exclusion of certain categories of borrowers from mortgage protection insurance policies. [32045]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  We have no such plans. However, we have already worked closely with the Association of British Insurers in developing guidelines to best practice which addresses many of the concerns about existing mortgage protection insurance. We continue to have on-going discussions with the Association of British Insurers and the Council of Mortgage Lenders and, as with any new policy, we will be monitoring carefully the changes to the provision of income support help with housing costs.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the dates of all meetings held by himself or his Department with(a) the Association of British Insurers, (b) representatives of individual insurance companies and (c) other individuals connected with the insurance industry to discuss the reduction of mortgage interest protection by income support prior to the initial announcement of this policy. [32047]

  Mr. Evans
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had meetings with the Association of British Insurers. Ministers and officials in this Department have had regular, and on-going, discussions with the Association of British Insurers, representatives of individual insurance
  449
  companies and other individuals connected with the insurance industry.

  Habitual Residence Test
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were refused income support due to the habitual residence requirement in March; and how many of these were(a) British nationals, (b) European economic area nationals and (c) others. [32718]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is in the table:

  British nationals

  EEA nationals

  Others

  Total

  March 1995

  492

  802

  730

  2,024

  Note:

  "Others" include asylum seekers who had the habitual residence test applied to them but were paid benefit under other provisions.

  State Pension
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) divorced and (b) widowed pensioners are receiving a full state pension based on their spouse's national insurance contribution record; and of these how many are also in receipt of (i) income support or (ii) other state benefits. [32074]

  Mr. Heald
  [pursuant to the reply, 3 July 1995, c. 82]: The information given was incorrect. The correct information is as follows:

  The figures for widowed and divorced pensioners are not available separately. The total number in March 1993 was 1,783,000. It is not possible to identify how many of these people were receiving income support or other benefits.

  Source:

  Retirement Pension Statistics Biannual inquiry 31 March 93.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many women are in receipt of the married women's pension of £35.25; and what is the Government's estimate of how this figure will change over the next 10 years. [32075]

  Mr. Heald
  [pursuant to the reply, 3 July 1995, c. 83]: The information given was incorrect. The correct information is as follows: the number of women in receipt of the married woman's pension of £35.25 at 31 March 1994 is 1,905,140.

  An estimate of how this figure will change over the next 10 years is not available. However, over the next 10 years the total of category BL and ABL pensioners is likely to remain approximately stable. Within this group the numbers with category ABL will rise and the numbers with category BL will fall.

  In the longer term, due to the effects of home responsibilities protection and the abolition of the married women's reduced rate option, more women will become entitled to a category A pension at over 60 per cent. The numbers with category A pensions will rise and the numbers with category BL and ABL pensions will fall.
  450
  Note:

  Category BL pension is payable to a married woman on her husband's contributions at up to 60 per cent. of the standard Category A rate, provided she and her husband have both reached pension age.

  Category ABL Pension is payable to a married woman and is a combination of Category A and Category BL. Where a married woman's own Category A entitlement is less than 60 per cent. of the standard rate, the pension is supplemented up to that level with Category BL pension based on her husband's contributions.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many Benefits Agency district offices received increases in their budgets between I April 1994 and 31 March 1995 for(a) social fund loans and (b) community care grants. [32846]

  Mr. Burt
  All Benefit Agency districts received increases to their social fund budget allocations for both grants and loans at 1 April 1994. Details of the initial social fund budget allocations and additional allocations by district for the financial year 1994–95 are in the Library.

  Income Support
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 27 April to the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Mr. Streeter),Official Report, column 641, what progress has been made in implementing the joint statement of intent negotiated between his Department and the fuel and water industries concerning procedures for direct payment of fuel and water bills from income support. [32847]

  Mr. Burt
  The joint statement of intent aims to facilitate proper use of the direct payment scheme for fuel and water charges. Copies have been sent to fuel and water companies, the fuel and water regulators, and to all Benefits Agency district offices. It is for the Benefits Agency and the utility companies at local level to follow the agreed procedures.

  State Pension Age
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he plans to increase the state pension age of women from 60 to 65 years. [33235]

  Mr. Heald
  Our proposal to move state pension age for women from 60 to 65 was set out in the White Paper "Equality in State Pension Age", Cm 2420, a copy of which is in the Library. The change will be phased in over a 10-year period, commencing April 2010.

  Income Distribution
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the percentage contribution of social security to the incomes of those in the bottom 10 per cent. through to 50 per cent. of the income distribution, by decile. [33474]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly.
  451

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Student Awards
  Mr. Bryan Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will publish a table showing the latest available figures for the number of students in each local authority in England and Wales undertaking courses of further education aged(a) 16 to 18 years and (b) 19 years and over; and what proportion of these age groups was not in receipt of any discretionary award. [33146]

  Mr. Paice
  The number of students in each LEA in England who are undertaking further education(a) aged 16 to 18 years and (b) 19 years and over; and the estimated proportion of each of these age groups who do not receive an award under section 2 of the Education Act 1962, are shown in the following table.

  Numbers of FE Students by home LEA showing proportion of students not receiving grants under section 2 of the 1962 Education Act

  England 1993–94

  Total Numbers of FE Students by LEA of Domicile

  FE Students Not in Receipt of Section 2 Discretionary Awards Percentage of Age group

  LEA

  Aged 16–18

  Aged 19+

  Aged 16–18

  Aged 19+

  City of London

  32

  183

  97

  99

  Camden

  1,206

  7,243

  100

  100

  Greenwich

  1,690

  3,178

  68

  98

  Hackney

  2,654

  11,757

  72

  99

  Hammersmith

  1,161

  3,682

  99

  99

  Islington

  1,981

  8,857

  66

  100

  Kensington

  798

  6,306

  46

  99

  Lambeth

  2,463

  7,107

  100

  100

  Lewisham

  1,987

  5,014

  71

  96

  Southwark

  2,367

  7,091

  99

  99

  Tower Hamlets

  2,579

  3,879

  49

  99

  Wandsworth

  2,455

  22,646

  59

  100

  Westminster

  1,061

  4,424

  100

  96

  Barking

  1,296

  1,539

  45

  91

  Barnet

  2,597

  12,866

  97

  99

  Bexley

  2,187

  2,267

  92

  94

  Brent

  2,759

  7,422

  100

  98

  Bromley

  2,254

  2,980

  78

  98

  Croydon

  2,766

  4,065

  73

  99

  Ealing

  3,835

  8,948

  99

  99

  Enfield

  2,819

  9,124

  79

  100

  Haringey

  2,329

  8,465

  100

  100

  Harrow

  3,657

  8,772

  100

  100

  Havering

  2,623

  3,622

  62

  92

  Hillingdon

  2,133

  3,378

  100

  100

  Hounslow

  2,055

  4,330

  79

  94

  Kingston upon Thames

  1,114

  1,773

  82

  96

  Merton

  1,606

  3,163

  73

  97

  Newham

  2,590

  6,389

  60

  98

  Redbridge

  2,269

  4,493

  76

  96

  Richmond upon Thames

  2,093

  13,057

  93

  99

  Sutton

  1,658

  8,480

  96

  99

  Waltham Forest

  2,027

  4,756

  79

  98

  Birmingham

  11,063

  26,389

  87

  95

  Coventry

  3,480

  8,393

  84

  97

  Dudley

  4,501

  10,368

  92

  99

  Sandwell

  3,180

  6,283

  98

  98

  Solihull

  2,156

  9,858

  99

  97

  Walsall

  2,295

  4,483

  94

  95

  Wolverhampton

  2,641

  7,249

  98

  100

  Knowsley

  1,752

  3,342

  68

  88

  Liverpool

  3,524

  13,603

  71

  94

  St. Helens

  2,189

  5,057

  74

  97

  Sefton

  3,056

  8,107

  83

  93

  Wirral

  2,806

  11,579

  78

  96

  Bolton

  2,465

  4,471

  21

  89

  Bury

  2,537

  3,244

  75

  91

  Manchester

  3,883

  11,004

  38

  87

  Oldham

  2,030

  2,506

  53

  87

  Rochdale

  2,648

  4,457

  65

  70

  452

  Numbers of FE Students by home LEA showing proportion of students not receiving grants under section 2 of the 1962 Education Act

  England 1993–94

  Total Numbers of FE Students by LEA of Domicile

  FE Students Not in Receipt of Section 2 Discretionary Awards Percentage of Age group

  LEA

  Aged 16–18

  Aged 19+

  Aged 16–18

  Aged 19+

  Salford

  1,582

  6,752

  87

  97

  Stockport

  1,892

  4,223

  46

  88

  Tameside

  2,190

  6,127

  68

  96

  Trafford

  2,645

  8,870

  79

  98

  Wigan

  3,983

  6,275

  59

  98

  Barnsley

  4,305

  4,795

  100

  98

  Doncaster

  2,773

  9,188

  60

  96

  Rotherham

  2,489

  8,930

  46

  94

  Sheffield

  6,917

  19,851

  99

  80

  Bradford

  5,111

  21,833

  99

  96

  Calderdale

  2,100

  4,489

  95

  97

  Kirklees

  4,402

  14,692

  35

  94

  Leeds

  7,305

  27,359

  85

  97

  Wakefield

  3,158

  8,936

  77

  100

  Gateshead

  1,961

  4,254

  67

  89

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  2,005

  4,544

  76

  92

  North Tyneside

  1,583

  3,364

  58

  81

  South Tyneside

  2,177

  3,674

  82

  97

  Sunderland

  4,218

  8,119

  61

  97

  Avon

  8,852

  26,609

  75

  97

  Bedfordshire

  5,576

  12,270

  87

  88

  Berkshire

  8,156

  23,118

  91

  98

  Buckinghamshire

  6,101

  9,123

  94

  99

  Cambridgeshire

  6,968

  12,668

  98

  99

  Cheshire

  10,928

  32,930

  88

  91

  Cleveland

  6,556

  16,033

  67

  100

  Cornwall

  7,287

  28,016

  56

  97

  Cumbria

  4,720

  8,976

  84

  79

  Derbyshire

  11,911

  19,509

  83

  100

  Devon

  11,833

  15,624

  83

  99

  Dorset

  6,997

  9,924

  81

  52

  Durham

  6,776

  16,164

  100

  89

  East Sussex

  5,745

  23,531

  57

  95

  Essex

  15,584

  23,153

  87

  91

  Gloucestershire

  6,221

  19,439

  77

  96

  Hampshire

  17,556

  34,740

  82

  92

  Hereford and Worcester

  7,104

  21,489

  57

  94

  Hertfordshire

  11,243

  41,102

  89

  97

  Humberside

  9,808

  19,952

  80

  93

  Isle of Wight

  1,282

  3,636

  100

  100

  Kent

  15,222

  16,060

  55

  75

  Lancashire

  19,921

  59,776

  61

  99

  Leicestershire

  7,908

  17,412

  81

  80

  Lincolnshire

  6,967

  9,383

  90

  90

  Norfolk

  7,537

  8,746

  71

  88

  North Yorkshire

  7,612

  20,396

  49

  90

  Northamptonshire

  6,276

  20,170

  100

  97

  Northumberland

  2,561

  4,941

  61

  84

  Nottinghamshire

  10,789

  43,615

  84

  98

  Oxfordshire

  5,973

  13,010

  99

  98

  Shropshire

  4,786

  17,041

  93

  97

  Somerset

  6,621

  13,698

  80

  94

  Staffordshire

  11,865

  25,914

  90

  99

  Suffolk

  6,490

  22,790

  90

  97

  Surrey

  8,722

  11,470

  47

  94

  Warwickshire

  5,871

  15,716

  100

  100

  West Sussex

  6,824

  11,063

  45

  96

  Wiltshire

  7,499

  19.918

  100

  91

  England total

  492,317

  1,205,682

  78

  94

  16-year-olds
  Mr. Bryan Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the latest available figures for(a) the number and (b) the percentage of 16-year-olds in full-time education in (i) school sixth forms, (ii) sixth form colleges and (iii) colleges of further education in each local education authority. [33147]
  453
  Mr. Paice
  The number and percentage of 16-year-olds in full-time education in the 1993–94 academic year in

  16-year-olds in full-time education Student numbers and participation rate

  Student numbers

  Participation rate (percentage)

  Local Education Authority

  Further education institutes

  Sixth form colleges

  School sixth forms

  Total

  Further education institutes

  Sixth form colleges

  School sixth forms

  Total

  Inner London

  6,258

  1,254

  8,628

  16,140

  29

  6

  39

  74

  Barking

  302

  0

  658

  960

  20

  0

  44

  65

  Barnet

  631

  195

  1,916

  2,742

  19

  6

  59

  84

  Bexley

  681

  19

  1,094

  1,794

  28

  1

  45

  74

  Brent

  748

  125

  1,100

  1,973

  27

  5

  40

  72

  Bromley

  638

  20

  1,840

  2,498

  21

  1

  60

  82

  Croydon

  834

  1,019

  1,068

  2,921

  25

  30

  31

  86

  Ealing

  1,113

  44

  1,007

  2,164

  38

  1

  34

  73

  Enfield

  696

  44

  1,517

  2,257

  25

  2

  55

  82

  Haringey

  601

  68

  840

  1,509

  30

  3

  41

  74

  Harrow

  1,329

  158

  451

  1,938

  55

  7

  19

  81

  Havering

  838

  717

  562

  2,117

  31

  27

  21

  79

  Hillingdon

  560

  25

  1,283

  1,868

  23

  1

  53

  77

  Hounslow

  564

  31

  1,189

  1,784

  25

  1

  52

  79

  Kingston upon Thames

  298

  105

  864

  1,267

  22

  8

  65

  95

  Merton

  407

  261

  558

  1,226

  26

  17

  36

  79

  Newham

  719

  694

  253

  1,666

  28

  27

  10

  65

  Redbridge

  567

  9

  1,674

  2,250

  21

  0

  62

  84

  Richmond upon Thames

  702

  70

  448

  1,220

  49

  5

  31

  85

  Sutton

  418

  20

  1,090

  1,528

  24

  1

  62

  87

  Waltham Forest

  492

  788

  330

  1,610

  23

  36

  15

  74

  Birmingham

  3,006

  1,483

  3,725

  8,214

  26

  13

  32

  70

  Coventry

  839

  7

  1,515

  2,361

  25

  0

  45

  70

  Dudley

  1,485

  371

  176

  2,032

  45

  11

  5

  62

  Sandwell

  905

  303

  570

  1,778

  29

  10

  18

  56

  Solihull

  633

  868

  605

  2,106

  27

  36

  25

  88

  Walsall

  523

  1

  1,419

  1,943

  17

  0

  47

  65

  Wolverhampton

  587

  20

  1,353

  1,960

  21

  1

  47

  69

  Knowsley

  494

  32

  226

  752

  27

  2

  12

  41

  Liverpool

  675

  16

  2,613

  3,304

  13

  0

  52

  66

  St. Helens

  413

  420

  576

  1,409

  20

  20

  27

  67

  Sefton

  863

  351

  1,362

  2,576

  26

  11

  42

  79

  Wirral

  459

  460

  1,808

  2,727

  12

  12

  46

  69

  Bolton

  661

  602

  736

  1,999

  22

  20

  24

  66

  Bury

  901

  354

  220

  1,475

  44

  17

  11

  72

  Manchester

  1,200

  1,019

  911

  3,130

  25

  22

  19

  66

  Oldham

  572

  552

  606

  1,730

  22

  21

  23

  65

  Rochdale

  890

  117

  392

  1,399

  35

  5

  16

  56

  Salford

  457

  857

  38

  1,352

  19

  35

  2

  56

  Stockport

  503

  1,555

  303

  2,361

  15

  47

  9

  71

  Tameside

  625

  736

  55

  1,416

  26

  30

  2

  59

  Trafford

  813

  95

  660

  1,568

  33

  4

  27

  65

  Wigan

  1,170

  598

  265

  2,033

  33

  17

  8

  58

  Barnsley

  1,069

  4

  93

  1,166

  47

  0

  4

  51

  Doncaster

  551

  8

  1,446

  2,005

  17

  0

  44

  62

  Rotherham

  614

  395

  886

  1,895

  21

  14

  31

  66

  Sheffield

  2,276

  14

  892

  3,182

  43

  0

  17

  61

  Bradford

  835

  1

  2,821

  3,657

  14

  0

  46

  60

  Calderdale

  428

  107

  1,046

  1,581

  20

  5

  48

  73

  Kirklees

  1,149

  744

  1,052

  2,945

  25

  16

  23

  65

  Leeds

  1,489

  286

  3,264

  5,039

  20

  4

  43

  66

  Wakefield

  954

  334

  925

  2,213

  29

  10

  28

  67

  Gateshead

  441

  0

  675

  1,116

  21

  0

  32

  54

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  409

  0

  1,508

  1,917

  14

  0

  53

  68

  North Tyneside

  363

  392

  744

  1,499

  17

  19

  36

  72

  South Tyneside

  721

  0

  120

  841

  45

  0

  7

  52

  Sunderland

  1,413

  0

  432

  1,845

  42

  0

  13

  54

  Avon

  2,166

  475

  4,907

  7,548

  21

  5

  47

  72

  Bedfordshire

  1,398

  805

  2,809

  5,012

  22

  12

  43

  77

  Berkshire

  2,372

  63

  5,098

  7,533

  27

  1

  57

  85

  Buckinghamshire

  1,509

  3

  4,595

  6,107

  18

  0

  56

  74

  Cambridgeshire

  2,137

  1,008

  2,713

  5,858

  27

  13

  34

  74

  Cheshire

  2,644

  1,245

  4,205

  8,094

  24

  11

  38

  73

  Cleveland

  1,558

  2,181

  466

  4,205

  23

  32

  7

  62

  Cornwall/Isles of Scilly

  2,831

  0

  1,437

  4,268

  52

  0

  27

  79

  454
  England for each local education authority are shown in the table.
  455

  16-year-olds in full-time education Student numbers and participation rate

  Student numbers

  Participation rate (percentage)

  Local Education Authority

  Further education institutes

  Sixth form colleges

  School sixth forms

  Total

  Further education institutes

  Sixth form colleges

  School sixth forms

  Total

  Cumbria

  1,088

  340

  2,206

  3,634

  20

  6

  40

  66

  Derbyshire

  3,824

  37

  3,023

  6,884

  37

  0

  29

  66

  Devon

  3,822

  0

  4,495

  8,317

  34

  0

  40

  74

  Dorset

  2,245

  0

  3,411

  5,656

  33

  0

  50

  83

  Durham

  1,858

  389

  1,660

  3,907

  27

  6

  24

  57

  East Sussex

  1,645

  1,426

  2,364

  5,435

  24

  21

  35

  80

  Essex

  5,287

  2,362

  5,343

  12,992

  30

  13

  30

  74

  Gloucestershire

  1,743

  1

  2,852

  4,596

  29

  0

  47

  76

  Hampshire

  5,955

  5,291

  1,901

  13,147

  34

  30

  11

  75

  Hereford and Worcester

  1,917

  968

  3,224

  6,109

  23

  12

  39

  75

  Hertfordshire

  2,864

  96

  7,111

  10,071

  25

  1

  62

  88

  Humberside

  2,575

  1,662

  2,268

  6,505

  25

  16

  22

  64

  Isle of Wight

  298

  3

  729

  1,030

  22

  0

  53

  75

  Kent

  4,952

  5

  9,362

  14,319

  28

  0

  52

  80

  Lancashire

  6,223

  1,552

  2,876

  10,651

  38

  10

  18

  66

  Leicestershire

  1,997

  1,417

  4,339

  7,753

  19

  13

  40

  72

  Lincolnshire

  2,218

  105

  2,433

  4,756

  33

  2

  36

  71

  Norfolk

  2,439

  495

  3,041

  5,975

  30

  6

  37

  73

  North Yorkshire

  2,071

  842

  3,213

  6,126

  26

  11

  40

  77

  Northamptonshire

  1,678

  2

  3,568

  5,248

  24

  0

  51

  75

  Northumberland

  507

  0

  1,811

  2,318

  14

  0

  50

  64

  Nottinghamshire

  2,522

  818

  3,839

  7,179

  23

  7

  34

  64

  Oxfordshire

  1,672

  168

  3,624

  5,464

  25

  2

  54

  81

  Shropshire

  1,312

  820

  1,367

  3,499

  27

  17

  28

  72

  Somerset

  2,241

  410

  1,727

  4,378

  39

  7

  30

  77

  Staffordshire

  3,431

  801

  3,484

  7,716

  29

  7

  30

  66

  Suffolk

  1,554

  26

  3,876

  5,456

  21

  0

  52

  73

  Surrey

  2,386

  2,133

  4,785

  9,304

  21

  19

  42

  81

  Warwickshire

  1,660

  330

  2,126

  4,116

  30

  6

  39

  75

  West Sussex

  1,978

  1,523

  3,031

  6,532

  25

  19

  39

  83

  Wiltshire

  2,493

  2

  2,288

  4,783

  38

  0

  35

  73

  England

  145,852

  48,572

  192,015

  386,439

  27

  9

  36

  72

  Older Students Allowance
  Mr. Bryan Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to ensure that those students currently studying part-time access courses will be eligible for the older students' allowance after 1 September. [33151]

  Mr. Paice
  Students who are currently studying on full-time access courses will remain eligible for the older students' allowance if they undertake a follow-on course of higher education which begins on or after 1 September 1995. Students must be aged 26 or over at the start of their new course and meet the relevant earning threshold.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 21 June,Official Report, column 282, if he will give the date that the refined inspection rating system, to determine the level of priority of a workplace visit from a Health and Safety Executive inspector, is to be implemented; and if the new inspection rating system will be published. [32318]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I have been asked to reply.

  The refined inspection rating system has been in use in offices in the north-west region since 26 June 1995 and was implemented in offices in Wales on 3 July 1995. The system will be implemented in other offices in the near future, although dates have yet to be agreed.
  456
  There are no plans to publish details, because the system is an internal planning tool.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 21 June,Official Report, column 281, if he will define higher risk premises and low hazard, low risk premises. [32317]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I have been asked to reply.

  Health and Safety Executive inspectors use their professional judgment to assess the degree of hazard and risk posed to employees and the public when they visit premises. In the field operations division this assessment is formalised in the inspection rating system, which enables premises to be compared according to the assessed hazards and risks. "Higher risk premises" are those towards the top of this scale. "Low hazard, risk premises" are those at the lower end.

ENVIRONMENT

  Leicestershire Museums, Arts and Records Service
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to safeguard the future on a country-wide basis of the Leicestershire museums, arts and records service; and in what circumstances he will use his powers under section 21 of the Local Government Act 1992. [30669]
  457
  Sir Paul Beresford
  The decision on how best to provide services for arts, museums and records must be for the authorities concerned. On the use of section 21 of the Local Government Act 1992, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Evennett) by my right hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, West (Mr. Jones) on 5 July,Official Report, columns 219–20.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many families with children aged 18 years or under were accepted as homeless in (i) York, (ii) North Yorkshire, (iii) Yorkshire and Humberside and (iv) England in each year since 1979. [31581]

  Mr. Clappison
  The available data relate to homeless households with dependent children in priority need for which local authorities accept responsibility to secure permanent accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 and the Housing Act 1985. The table sets out the reported data for York: 1979 and 1980 data are not available. The table also gives the data readily available for North Yorkshire, Yorkshire and Humberside and England: returns are not submitted by all authorities and it would involve disproportionate cost to provide figures, including estimates for missing data, other than for the years shown.

  York

  North Yorks

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  England

  1981

  310

  —

  —

  —

  1882

  178

  —

  —

  —

  1983

  128

  —

  —

  —

  1984

  100

  —

  —

  —

  1985

  138

  —

  —

  —

  1986

  180

  —

  —

  —

  1987

  1104

  —

  —

  —

  1988

  132

  —

  —

  —

  1989

  132

  —

  —

  —

  1990

  211

  —

  —

  84,120

  1991

  2103

  1583

  15,220

  88,950

  1992

  112

  720

  8,900

  85,300

  1993

  80

  580

  8,150

  76,390

  1994

  53

  570

  6,680

  69,300

  1 April to December only.

  2 January to June and October to December only.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people aged under 18 years were homeless(a) in 1988 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available. [32831]

  Mr. Clappison
  Data on the numbers of young people for which local authorities in England accept responsibility to secure permanent accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act have been collected since the second quarter of 1991. The numbers accepted in the 12-month periods ending March 1992 and March 1995 were as follows:

  Homeless households in priority need with a vulnerable young person

  Young single people not in priority need

  1991–92

  3.460

  2,360

  1994–95

  3,600

  2.060

  458

  Underground Car Parks
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 6 June,Official Report, column 107, if the research being undertaken into the reduction of the pollutants benzene and particulates with regard to ventilation in underground car parks takes into account their relationship with unleaded petrol and catalytic convertors. [32370]

  Mr. Clappison
  The research referred to in my hon. Friend's answer of 6 June is monitoring the actual levels of these pollutants found in car parks in use. Car park usage reflects the types of vehicles currently being driven, including vehicles using unleaded petrol and fitted with catalytic convertors.

  Advertising
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been spent on outside advertising agencies for each year since 1979; and if he will list the specific advertising campaigns undertaken by his Department, their purpose and their cost. [32486]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Figures are readily available for the past five financial years only. To go back further would involve disproportionate costs.

  Campaign subjects and the advertising costs for each of the past five years are as follows:

  £

  1990–91

  Nil

  1991–92

  Duty of care—waste disposal

  680,873

  1992–93

  Helping the earth—global warming Council tax Duty of care—waste disposal Flats above shops Right to buy Watch your waste week Eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS)

  5,965,992

  1993–94

  Helping the earth—global warming Rents to mortgages DIY self ownership Environment roadshows

  4,381,914

  1994–95

  Wasting energy costs the earth Eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS)

  3,765907

  Thames Strategy
  Miss Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken to encourage local authorities to adopt river-borne options for the transport of waste along the lines of the Government office for London's Thames strategy document; and how many London local authorities have contracted to move their waste by river rather than road. [32687]

  Mr. Clappison
  The advantages of using the river for transport of bulk materials such as waste are highlighted in several items of guidance relating to both waste issues and planning. Planning policy guidance note 23 on "Planning and Pollution Control", states in 2.3 that, where
  459
  waste cannot be disposed of reasonably close to its source, priority should be given to the use of rail or water transport where this would reduce the overall environmental impact and is economically feasible. "A Waste Strategy for England and Wales" published as a consultation document in January 1995 refers to the advantages of river transport for waste in paragraph 1.61. The need to safeguard relevant riverside sites is an important issue. This message is set out in the Thames strategy report, the Thames gateway planning framework and the report by the River Thames working group. Copies of these documents are in the Library. Local authorities are encouraged to take full account of environmental factors in reaching decisions on the award of waste transport and disposal contracts but such decisions are matters for authorities alone.

  I understand that, currently, seven London local authorities have contracts in place for the movement of waste by river.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many landfill sites for the disposal of waste have opened in each of the last five years, and how many have closed; and if he will list this information by region; [32649]

  (2) what guidance his Department has issued concerning consultations and investigations to be undertaken by each relevant authority in relation to applications for permission to create new landfill sites for the disposal of waste; [32643]

  (3) what priority he gives to each category of land use in determining the criteria for permission to create new landfill sites for the disposal of waste; [32644]

  (4) what was the previous use of each new landfill site for the disposal of waste created (a) since 1 January and (b) in each of the preceding four years; [32645]

  (5) what is his policy on the use for waste disposal of (a) greenfield sites, (b) agricultural land, (c) derelict industrial land and (d) contaminated land for (i) landfill (ii) other types of waste disposal; [32646]

  (6) what alternative means to the landfill disposal of waste have been considered by his Department; and what conclusions have been reached on each; [32647]

  (7) what is the average size of landfill sites for the disposal of waste in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) each region; [32648]

  (8) what is the number of landfill sites for the disposal of waste in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) each region; and what were the numbers in each of the last five years; [32650]

  (9) what is his policy on the creation of new landfill sites for the disposal of waste; [32652]

  (10) how many applications for permission to create new landfill sites for the disposal of waste have been refused in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) each region (i) since 1 January and (ii) in each of the preceding four years. [32654]

  Mr. Clappison
  Policy and guidance on waste disposal operations are included in the draft waste strategy for 460
  England and Wales published earlier this year, the planning policy guidance note on planning and pollution control—PPG23—and the series of waste management papers produced by the Department.

  The strategy contains details of the Government's waste management policies, which are directed towards the minimisation of waste and its reuse and recovery wherever possible. It is recognised, however, that successful policies in this area will not eradicate waste. As a nation, we will continue to produce large quantities of waste for which final disposal is the only economic and environmentally sound option. The Government's policy is to set in place the necessary controls to ensure that waste disposal takes place without endangering either the environment or human health.

  In order to operate a landfill site in England, it is necessary to obtain planning permission under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and a waste management licence under section 35 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Planning permission for landfill sites is granted by the relevant waste planning authority. Waste management licences are granted by the relevant waste regulation authority.

  Guidance on the consideration of planning applications for landfill sites is contained in PPG23. More generally, circular 15/92 and appendix B of circular 9/95 provide guidance for planning authorities on publicity and consultation arrangements in respect of applications for planning permission.

  A proposal to establish a new landfill site for the disposal of waste may require an environmental impact assessment. Guidance on the consultations to be undertaken, and on the form of the assessment is published in the booklet "Environmental Assessment—A Guide to the Procedures" and is also provided in DOE circular 15/88. Waste regulation authorities are likely to be consulted on any environmental assessment undertaken as part of a planning authority's consideration of a planning application for a site.

  Decisions on planning application for landfill sites must be made in accordance with the provisions of the development plan, unless material consideration indicate otherwise. The criteria adopted by waste planning authorities in their consideration of landfill proposals will depend on the terms of the policies, and the proposals for land uses, set out in the development plan. The assessment of applications for landfill sites must also take into account the objectives of the EC framework directive on waste, insofar as these are relevant, and the Government's planning policy guidance, including the guidance on waste management facilities in PPG23. Planning policies for the countryside and agricultural land, open space and green belts are set out in PPGs 7, 17 and 2 respectively.

  Details of the numbers of applications for planning permission for new landfill sites in England granted and refused over the last five years are as set out in the table.

  Details of the previous use of new landfill sites granted planning permission within the last five years are not held centrally.

  The information relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland and my

  461
  right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  The Department has published guidance to waste regulation authorities on the discharge of their responsibilities concerning waste management licensing, including consultation procedures and initial investigations on licence applications, in waste management papers 4 and 26 and in DOE circular 11/94.

  Under section 36 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, a waste regulation authority must consult the National Rivers Authority, the Health and Safety Executive and, where appropriate, the relevant nature conservation body, before it approves a licence application.

  Before an application can be determined, the applicant is required to provide to the waste regulation authority a working plan which shows how the applicant proposes to prepare and develop, operate, monitor and control pollution, and restore and complete the facility. The working plan should contain the operator's plans

  Application for new landfill sites refused and granted 1991–1994 and January to March 19951

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  January to March 21995

  Granted

  Refused

  Granted

  Refused

  Granted

  Refused

  Granted

  Refused

  Granted

  Refused

  North West

  22

  5

  51

  26

  43

  15

  16

  15

  5

  0

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  13

  2

  23

  16

  30

  7

  25

  7

  65

  North-East

  7

  4

  15

  5

  8

  1

  9

  2

  3

  0

  West Midlands

  47

  11

  23

  12

  22

  11

  5

  11

  6

  0

  East Midlands

  22

  14

  39

  9

  24

  7

  17

  6

  1

  1

  Eastern

  40

  12

  37

  8

  24

  7

  26

  3

  7

  0

  South-West

  68

  46

  91

  19

  68

  13

  49

  16

  12

  7

  South-East

  67

  42

  44

  15

  40

  12

  27

  11

  6

  1

  London

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  England

  286

  136

  323

  110

  259

  73

  175

  71

  46

  14

  1 From 1 April 1992, statistics related to applications decided by county councils, metropolitan districts, London boroughs, urban development corporations and national park authorities. Data for earlier periods relate to decisions by county councils only.

  2 Figures for 1995 are available for the period 1 January to 31 March.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what criteria his Department uses to assess appeals on applications for permission to create new landfill sites for the disposal of waste; [32651]

  (2) how many appeals he has received (a) for the United Kingdom and (b) for each region (i) since 1 January and (ii) in each of the preceding four years concerning a decision to (1) grant and (2) refuse permission to create new landfill sites for the disposal of waste. [32653]

  Mr. Clappison
  There is a right of appeal to the Secretary of State against a refusal by a planning authority to grant planning permission, and also against a refusal by a waste regulation authority to grant a waste management licence for a landfill site.

  Section 54A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1991 requires that every planning application must be determined according to the devlopment plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. This
  462
  for the management of gas and leachate and for capping and restoration.

  Information on the number of applications for waste management licences granted or refused in each year is not held centrally. Waste regulation authorities hold information about the number of landfill sites in their areas, and the numbers opened and closed, as well as the size of each site. The total number of licences in force for landfill sites in England for the years since 1991–92 is set out in the table:

  year

  Number of licences

  1991–92

  3,330

  1992–93

  3,186

  1993–94

  2,618

  1994–95

  2,541

  The information relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  requirement applies to local planning authorities determining a planning application, and to the Secretary of State determining a planning appeal.

  The first criteria for the assessment of landfill planning proposals are therefore those contained in the development plan. In particular, structure plans and waste local plans contain policies governing development for waste disposal purposes, but the policies of district local plans will also be considered.

  The Secretary of State gives guidance in planning policy guidance notes, PPGs and minerals planning guidance notes MPGs. Of particular relevance is part 5 of PPG23 "Planning and Pollution Control" and, where an old mineral working is to he filled, MPG7 "The Reclamation of Mineral Workings".

  Pollution control agencies will be consulted on every waste landfill planning application, and their advice will be an important consideration in determining planning applications and appeals.
  463
  Technical aspects of waste management are the subject of advice in waste management papers, published by the Department, parts of which may be relevant to the consideration of planning proposals for landfilling; parties to a planning appeal may refer to other published technical papers of standing, which may be material to a planning decision.

  The Secretary of State has received planning appeals relating to landfill sites in England as set out in the table. The information relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Landfill-related planning appeals received by the Secretary of State

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  19951

  Appeals against refusal of planning permission

  18

  26

  14

  9

  4

  Appeals against non-determination of planning permission

  0

  1

  3

  3

  1

  Appeals against conditions in planning permission

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  1 Covers period 1 January to 30 June 1995.

  Section 43(1)(a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 provides specified persons with a right of appeal to the Secretary of State against a decision of a waste regulation authority to reject an application for a waste management licence. The Act, together with regulations 6 to 9 of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994, sets out the procedure for making and determining appeals. Guidance on the regulations is provided in DOE circular 11/94 and guidance on determining licence applications is provided in waste management paper No. 4. The Secretary of State's decision on individual cases is dependent upon the specific issues brought before him by the parties involved.

  Since 1 May 1994, in England, three appeals have been made under section 43(1)(a) of the Environmental Protection Act against the refusal of a waste regulation authority to grant a waste management licence for a new landfill site. One of these appeals has been made since 1 January 1995. The appeals are before the Secretary of State for consideration. A new monitoring system was introduced on 1 May 1994 when the new licensing system came into force. Prior to 1 May 1994, the information was not kept in a form that can now provide comparable figures for the preceding four years. The information relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications for permission to create new landfill sites for the disposal of waste have been granted in(a) England and (b) each region (i) since I January and (ii) in each of the preceding four years. [33127]

  Mr. Clappison
  I refer the hon. Member to my earlier reply about landfill sites.
  464

  Local Government and Housing Act 1989
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when part V of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 will come into effect; and what has been the cause of the delay. [32676]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Part V of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 has already been brought into effect, except for certain sub-sections relating to the control of minority interests in certain companies which in keeping with the principles of the private finance initiative it is not now intended to bring into force.

  Energy from Waste
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration has been given to the promotion of energy from waste schemes in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) each region in line with the national waste strategy; and what future consideration is planned. [32642]

  Mr. Clappison
  "A Waste Strategy for England and Wales", published as a consultation document in January 1995, sets out the means by which we can aim to manage waste in a more sustainable way and, in contributing to this, the role which energy from waste can play in recovering value from waste. The draft waste strategy highlights ways in which central and local government, working with industry, can further encourage its take-up. The Government are currently considering the many responses they have received on the draft strategy, and expect to publish the final version towards the end of the year.

  Stray Dogs
  Mr. Khabra
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the requirement on local authorities to check for any microchip carried by a stray dog. [33102]

  Mr. Clappison
  There is no requirement on local authorities to check for any microchip carried by a stray dog.

  Chancery Lane Public Record Office
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the future use of the Chancery lane public record office. [31477]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Public Record Office is moving to greatly enlarged premises on its Kew site at the end of 1996 and, as a result, it will vacate Chancery lane by this date.

  This important historic building is part of the Government estate and responsibility for its future rests with Property Holdings. Extensive discussions have been held with English Heritage and the City of London Corporation, the relevant planning authority, about its future use and a number of options are being explored, including retention for other Government purposes. If the building is not needed by Government, a number of private uses are being considered. One of these is a

  465
  continuation of the legal nature of the building which would include barristers' chambers, other legal users, perhaps with some attendant residential use. It would also be suitable for educational/institutional use.

  Property Holdings will shortly be opening discussions with potential private sector operators who might implement one of these uses that is acceptable to English Heritage and the planning authority. Interested parties would be welcome to contact the agents, BH2 at their City of London offices.

  National Parks
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many representations he has received from members of the public in support of the amended national park purpose of promoting opportunities for quiet enjoyment and understanding in(a) March, (b) April, (c) May and (d) June of this year; and if he will place copies of these representations in the Library; [33482]

  (2) how many representations he has received from organisations in support of the amended national park purpose of promoting opportunities for quiet enjoyment and understanding in (a) March, (b) April, (c) May and (d) June of this year; and if he will place copies of these representations in the Library. [33481]

  Mr. Clappison
  The following number of representations has been received:

  Organisations

  Members of the public

  March

  13

  56

  April

  4

  11

  May

  1

  15

  June

  4

  7

  As these representations were not made in response to a public consultation exercise, it is not appropriate to place copies in the Library.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of access agreements made in each national park in the most recent year for which figures are available. [33490]

  Mr. Clappison
  This information is not held centrally. I have asked officials to seek details and will write to the hon. Member.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is now the status of the commitment to quiet enjoyment as set out in the Government response to the Edwards report "Fit for the Future", page 26, paragraph 12.1(i), in January 1992. [33483]

  Mr. Clappison
  We considered very carefully the consequences of introducing into the revised and updated national park purposes set out in the Environment Bill the phrase "quiet enjoyment". We concluded that the disadvantages outweighed the advantages in doing so. Subsequent debates on the Bill have reinforced our belief that this conclusion was correct.
  466

DEFENCE

  Explosives and Propellants
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 28 June,Official Report, column 682, what account was taken of the sale of explosives propellants and related end products to countries abroad in reaching the explosives, propellants and end products agreement. [32437]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  One of the objectives of the EPREP agreement was to assist Royal Ordnance in becoming an efficient competitor. This objective related to both the national and international markets.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 28 June,Official Report, column 682, what explosives, propellants and related end products were supplied to countries abroad under the EPREP agreement; and if he will list the relevant countries and products. [32436]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The EPREP agreement, signed on 28 July 1988, concerned the requirements of the United Kingdom armed forces. It did not cover supplies to countries abroad.

  Naval Bases
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all the foreign submarines which have visited the Faslane submarine base since 1993 and the candidates on which they visited the bas. [32488]

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested is as follows:

  Date

  Vessel

  Nationality

  1993

  8–9 January

  USS BALTIMORE

  USA

  19–22 February

  HNLMS ZELLEEUW

  Netherlands

  6–13 April

  HNLMS TIJGERHAAI

  Netherlands

  19–20 April

  HNLMS TIJGERHAAI

  Netherlands

  21–23 April

  HNLMS TIJGERHAAI

  Netherlands

  10–17 May

  USS SAN JUAN

  USA

  21–24 May

  HNLMS ZWAARDVIS

  Netherlands

  25–28 May

  HNLMS DOLFIJN

  Netherlands

  27–29 May

  HNLMS BRUINVIS

  Netherlands

  31 May-1 June

  HNLMS ZWAARDVIS

  Netherlands

  31 May-2 June

  HNLMS DOLFIJN

  Netherlands

  2–3 June

  HNLMS ZWAARDVIS

  Netherlands

  3 June

  HNLMS DOLFIJN

  Netherlands

  3–7 June

  HNLMS BRUINVIS

  Netherlands

  4 June

  HNLMS DOLFIJN

  Netherlands

  20–22 August

  USS ALEXANDRIA

  USA

  30 August

  FS AMETHYSTE

  France

  13 September-5 October

  FS AGOSTA

  France

  14–16 October

  USS DALLAS

  USA

  14–18 October

  HNLMS DOLFIJN

  Netherlands

  19–22 October

  USS DALLAS

  USA

  25–28 October

  HNLMS DOLFIJN

  Netherlands

  31 October-1 November

  USS DALLAS

  USA

  23–30 December

  USS ALBANY

  USA

  1994

  18–22 February

  HNLMS TIJGERHAAI

  Netherlands

  13–17 March

  USS PHOENIX

  USA

  31 March-1 April

  HNLMS WALRUS

  Netherlands

  11–12 April

  HNLMS WALRUS

  Netherlands

  23–27 May

  HNLMS ZEELEEUW

  Netherlands

  3–6 June

  KNM UTSIRA

  Norway

  467

  Date

  Vessel

  Nationality

  10–13 June

  KNM UTSIRA

  Norway

  23–25 June

  USS WHALE

  USA

  6–11 July

  USS DALLAS

  USA

  16–19 August

  USS DALLAS

  USA

  21–22 August

  USS BALTIMORE

  USA

  1–2 September

  USS BALTIMORE

  USA

  22–27 September

  USS CINCINNATI

  USA

  4–7 October

  HNLMS BRUINVIS

  Netherlands

  12–19 December

  USS PHOENIX

  USA

  1995

  16–17 February

  HMCS OKANAGAN

  Canada

  21–26 February

  USS AUGUSTA

  USA

  10–13 March

  HMCS OKANAGAN

  Canada

  20–24 March

  USS AUGUSTA

  USA

  8–12 May

  USS NEBRASKA

  USA

  22–26 May

  FS RUBIS

  France

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual running cost of(a) RNAD Coulport and (b) CSB Faslane. [32489]

  Mr. Soames
  As explained in this year's "Statement on the Defence Estimates", in 1994 the Department's running cost regime was replaced by a much broader operating costs limit covering all front-line and support expenditure. The provisional outturn figures, representing total operating costs for these establishments, for financial year 1994–95 are as follows:

  RNAD Coulport: £57,889,000

  CSB Faslane: £107,363,000

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide a list of all United Kingdom and foreign submarines which have visited and the dates on which they have visited(a) Portland naval base, (b) Portsmouth naval base and (c) the naval base at Plymouth. [32491]

  Mr. Soames
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Advertising
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on outside advertising agencies for each year since 1979; and if he will list the specific advertising campaigns undertaken by his Department, their purpose and their cost. [32476]

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Nuclear Defence Industry
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for an audit of the nuclear defence industry. [32474]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Financial and safety audit of the nuclear defence industry is a matter for the organisations concerned, together with relevant external regulatory bodies. Activities directly managed by the Ministry of Defence are additionally subject to scrutiny by the National Audit Office. There are at present no plans to augment these arrangements.
  468

  Mutual Defence Agreement
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if any information on the implementation of the 1958 Anglo-American mutual defence agreement on atomic energy matters has been withheld under sections 3(4) or 5(1) of the Public Records Act 1958. [32490]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  A number of papers relating to the early years of the UK nuclear programme are closed under the Public Records Acts. It is likely that many of these involve matters relating to the 1958 UK-US mutual defence agreement, but to establish exactly what is held would involve disproportionate cost.

  Trident Project (Faslane)
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how and to what extent the lessons learned from the Trident project at Faslane have been implemented. [32487]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Experience gained during the Trident works programme informed the new procedures adopted by my Department in 1990 when it was untied from the Property Services Agency for new works projects. The procedures have been reviewed in the light of experience and are reflected in guidance subsequently distributed throughout Government by the Treasury.

  Firearms (Sales)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many small arms, rifles and hand guns, which were no longer of use to the armed forces, have been sold(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) overseas in each of the last 10 years. [33154]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Sales records are not available for the last 10 years. In the last three years 40,000 small arms, rifles and hand guns have been sold to firearms dealers licensed under section 5 of the Firearms Act to meet overseas orders and 700 rifles have been sold on a Government-to-Government basis.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from chief constables on his policy for the sale of small arms no longer required by the armed forces. [33156]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I am not aware of any recent representations from chief constables about the sale of small arms no longer required by the armed forces.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy on(a) the sale and (b) the destruction of small arms, rifles and hand guns, no longer of use to the armed forces. [33153]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Under current policy, sales may be made direct to an acceptable overseas Government or to a firearms dealer licensed under section 5 of the Firearms Act in the United Kingdom to meet an order from an overseas customer. MOD will sell only to a UK dealer who has a firm order from an overseas purchaser which meets end user and export control requirements. Dealers are not allowed to buy for stock. Only a small number of inquiries are received each year in either of these categories. Other surpluses for which no export market exists are fragmented first by crushing into granules and subsequently smelting. The majority of surplus weapons are disposed of in this way.
  469
  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many small arms which were no longer of use to the armed forces he has destroyed in each of the last 10 years. [33155]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Disposal records are not available for the last 10 years. In the last three years some 93,000 small arms have been destroyed and the current rate of destruction is about 90,000 small arms per annum.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with chief constables in the United Kingdom about the sale of small arms, rifles and hand guns. [33157]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Discussions on the sale of small arms, rifles and hand guns have taken place in the past with the Home Office, who are responsible for representing the views of the chief constables. Liaison with chief constables is effected by the chief constable of the Ministry of Defence police in his operations.

  Defence Statistics
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date his Department will publish the 1995 edition of "United Kingdom Defence Statistics". [33159]

  Mr. Soames
  On Friday 14 July 1995.

  Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's aim during the negotiations for a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty. [33160]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Our aim in the negotiations of a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty is to establish an effective and verifiable treaty commanding universal adherence as soon as practicable.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of whether Britain still has a requirement to use underground testing in order to maintain the stock of nuclear weapons. [33161]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  We do not have any current plans for further underground tests of nuclear weapons. However, we are still considering what activities might be necessary to ensure the safety and reliability of our nuclear weapons under a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty.

  Dog Training
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 4 July,Official Report, column 183, what is the number taking part for each course for the latest year available; and what is the annual cost and the location of each course. [33282]

  Mr. Soames
  My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon. Member and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Ministry Property Sales
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department holds on former MOD houses that have subsequently been resold. [33308]
  470
  Mr. Soames
  My Department does not monitor what may happen to properties once they have been sold by the Ministry of Defence, except where there is a specific reason for doing so.

  Contracts
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contracts his Department has placed and to what value with(a) BT, (b) Rolls-Royce, (c) Alfred McAlpine plc, (d) Racal Electronics and (e) British Aerospace in the last five years. [33244]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Details of the number and value of contracts placed with individual defence companies are a matter of commercial confidentiality between the Ministry of Defence and those companies. The Department does, however, give broad information on contractors paid £5 million or more in table 1.16 of the annual publication "UK Defence Statistics" which is placed in the Library. The 1995 edition will shortly be available and the contractors listed in the question are included in those statistics.

  BMARC
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what investigations he has initiated since 18 June within his Department to locate all outstanding BMARC documents. [30520]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 29 June 1995]: The deputy chief constable of the MOD police ordered a thorough re-sort of the seized property held by them and is now satisfied that all outstanding documents which were seized by the MOD police from Astra holdings and its subsidiaries, during the course of an investigation into corruption involving those companies, have been located and have been returned to their rightful owners.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 4 April,Official Report, column 1098, what investigations his Department undertook to determine which documents had been returned to the receivers of Astra in June 1993. [30050]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 22 June 1995]: The documents returned to the receivers of Astra in June 1993 were listed on the seized property forms which related to them and these are the record of the seized property which was returned at that time.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how additional documents were located by his Department's police relating to the arms companies BMARC and Astra. [30051]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 22 June 1995]: I have nothing to add to my answer of 19 June, Official Report, column 31, to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the action taken in connection with the files referred to in Detective Inspector Berry's letter to Cork Gully of 27 January 1993. [30103]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: No reply was received from Cork Gully by Detective Inspector Berry to his letter of 27 January 1993. After a further letter from Detective Inspector Berry, dated 15 June 1993, and subsequent telephone conversations, a large number

  471
  of documents were delivered to Cork Gully. It was believed at the time that these were all of the property seized by the Ministry of Defence police from Astra holdings and its subsidiaries, during the course of an investigation into corruption involving those companies.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on which occasions Ministers in his Department communicated with Ministry of Defence police concerning the letter from Detective Inspector Berry to Cork Gully of 27 January 1993. [30105]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: None before it was sent.

  Portland Naval Base
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the level of expenditure over the last three financial years on(a) the Ward room, (b) tennis courts and (c) medical and dental centres at Portland naval base and HMS Osprey. [31542]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 3 July 1995]: The information requested is as follows:

  1992–93 £

  1993–94 £

  1994–95 £

  Wardroom

  96,290

  101,550

  95,020

  Tennis Courts

  nil

  nil

  nil

  Medical Centre1

  17,000

  5,200

  3,860

  Dental Centre2

  2,000

  2,000

  2,000

  1 Reducing costs reflect the rundown of the existing medical centre2 Approximate average costs for minor maintenance items which are not recorded separately.

  Royal Ordnance
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 29 June,Official Report, columns 751–52, (1) what factors underlay the recent research in relation to export licences; if the research that uncovered the fact that Singapore Technologies was a consignee of exports from Royal Ordnance was conducted on pre-1992 records; and if he will make a statement on exports from Royal Ordnance to which he refers; [32912]

  (2) what inquiries he has made regarding the onward re-export and final use of munitions exported by Royal Ordnance to Singapore since 1980; [33025]

  (3) if he has anything further to add to his answer on Royal Ordnance and Iran to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark), of 14 January, Official Report, columns 345–46. [33177]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  [holding answer 6 July 1995]: I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours) on 4 July, Official Report, column 180, except to confirm that the research underlying the answer to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent on 29 June, Official Report, columns 751–52, as it relates to Royal Ordnance was based on DTI computerised records which date from 1992.
  472

  Arms Embargoes
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many representations his Department has made to overseas companies based in the European Union which have breached export embargoes on military equipment and weapons agreed by the European Union. [32877]

  Mr. David Davis
  I have been asked to reply.

  It is not our policy to make representations to overseas companies. If we were concerned at the activities of an overseas company an approach would be made to the Government of the country in which the company was based.

  No such approaches have been made.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Rents
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners what new proposals he has to increase rents from Church lands. [31464]

  Mr. Alison
  We have no new proposals to increase rents from our agricultural land.

  Current practice on rental increases flows from the commissioners' ownership of good agricultural land, the provision of the fixed equipment needed for profitable farming and a constructive relationship with our tenants. There are no proposals to depart from this policy.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Civil Servants
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, following his oral answer to the hon. Member for Linlithgow of 3 July,Official Report, column 15, if the civil servant in question was on paid or unpaid leave. [33297]

  Mr. Freeman
  The gentleman in question was on paid leave.

  Staff (Shareholdings)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many staff in his Department or its agencies have(a) declared any company shareholdings they hold or (b) been advised to dispose of shareholdings in the last five years, indicating the companies concerned. [33425]

  Mr. Horam
  This information is not held centrally.

  Chessington Computer Centre
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what targets have been set for the Chessington Computer Centre trading fund for the current financial year. [33220]
  473
  Mr. Horam
  I have set the following targets for Chessington Computer Centre in 1995–96:

  (1) to achieve an operating surplus of £1.137 million;

  (2) to increase pay clerk productivity by 7 per cent. over 1994–95 performance;

  474

  (3) to increase use of the on-line data capture system (SPIRE) to 85 per cent.;

  (4) to maintain the minimum on line service availability at 98.5 per cent.;

  (5) to improve the range of services available to customers, in particular, to meet their needs on pay delegation.

  Domestic Violence: Women Sentenced for Murder
  Domestic Violence: Women Sentenced for Murder
  DOMESTIC VIOLENCE—DATES AND LOCATIONS OF APPEALS
  DOMESTIC VIOLENCE—DATES AND LOCATIONS OF APPEALS
  DOMESTIC VIOLENCE—WOMEN SENTENCED FOR MURDER
  DOMESTIC VIOLENCE—WOMEN SENTENCED FOR MURDER
  DOMESTIC VIOLENCE—TRANSCRIPTS OF TRIALS
  DOMESTIC VIOLENCE—TRANSCRIPTS OF TRIALS
  NHS Meeting and Lecture: Costs
  NHS Meeting and Lecture: Costs
  East London Underground Line
  East London Underground Line
  Education Statistics
  Education Statistics
  European Year of Lifelong Learning
  European Year of Lifelong Learning
  School Books: Spending
  School Books: Spending