Written Answers of 6 June 1995

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Intervention Stocks
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which items from the national food stockpile remain to be liquidated. [26973]

  Mr. Jack
  Flour is the only commodity remaining in the stockpile. We expect that remaining stocks will be disposed of before the end of September.

  Departmental Performance
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what performance indicators and performance targets there are for measuring the performance of his Department in(a) answering letters from members of the public and (b) answering telephone calls from members of the public; how performance is monitored; and what are the latest figures for performance measured against the target set. [26242]

  Mr. Jack
  In accordance with the citizens charter initiative customer service standards have been published for the MAFF regional organisation, inspectorates, most agencies and public facing non-departmental public bodies. These standards include target times for responding to correspondence; they also make reference to the prompt answering of telephone calls.

  On performance, I refer the hon. member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Brigg and Cleethorpes (Mr. Brown) on 23 May 1995, Official Report, column 508, and also to the reply given to my hon. Friend the member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) on 20 July 1994, Official Report, column 356.

  Performance data on answering telephone calls are not currently held by MAFF and could not be collected without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Tobacco Fraud
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what date he expects the Italian and Greek authorities will have concluded their inquiries into alleged tobacco fraud related to the suicide of the former head of the tobacco sector. [26121]

  Mr. Jack
  This is a matter for the Italian and Greek authorities who, we understand, are liaising closely with the Commission.

  Central Science Laboratory
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to make a statement on the future organisation and location of his Central Science Laboratory. [26964]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Central Science Laboratory currently occupies five major sites at Slough, Berkshire; Worplesdon, Surrey; Harpenden, Hertfordshire; Norwich,2
  Norfolk and Tony, Aberdeen and a number of smaller sites including those at Luddington, Warwickshire and Cambridge, Cambridgeshire.

  CSL provides essential services within Great Britain to MAFF and other Government Departments to promote the safe and efficient supply of food and to protect the environment. In order to ensure that it continues to do so on a cost-effective basis and to overcome serious shortcomings in the buildings on the older CSL sites, a new laboratory complex is under construction near York. This will be available for occupation in the summer of 1996. It has been known for some time that the staff and facilities at the CSL sites apart from Norwich and Tony would relocate to York with the subsequent closure of the sites.

  I have announced today the financial and other targets that I have set for CSL in 1995–96. The CSL will not achieve cost recovery in 1995–96 and action needs to be taken to ensure that a deficit does not occur in future years.

  Accordingly, it is my intention that the CSL Tony laboratory will also relocate to York in September 1996. Unfortunately, the Torry site has very high overheads and the laboratory there has not been able to compete successfully in the research and development market and will operate at a loss in 1995–96.

  I have agreed with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland to transfer to the Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen, responsibility for a range of work on the monitoring of algal toxins in shellfish and water and the analytical capability for hydrocarbons, both areas of particular relevance to Scotland. I will also ask my officials to explore with the business, academic and research community in Aberdeen any future opportunities for the site. Much of the work which my Department commissions at CSL Tony is subject to open competition and I would welcome interest from scientific establishments in Scotland as well as elsewhere. Officials will explore the further in the light of any interest which emerges.

  All mobile staff at the Tony site will have the opportunity to relocate to York, and some are likely to be transfer to the Scottish Office marine laboratory at Aberdeen. I am hopeful therefore that closure can be managed without any compulsory redundancies among these staff. Arrangements for seeking job opportunities for non-mobile staff among other Government establishments in the area will be operated in the usual way.

  There are no plans to relocate the CSL Norwich laboratory which is competing successfully on a national and EU basis for science funding.

  Overall, my aim is to ensure that these changes will mean no diminution in the service provided to all parts of Great Britain, including Scotland.

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what targets have been set for the Central Science Laboratory in 1995–96. [26962]
  3
  Mr. Waldegrave
  I have set the Central Science Laboratory the following strategic targets for 1995–96:

  Financial:

  —97 per cent. recovery of full costs after allowing for relocation costs

  —1 per cent. improvement in utilisation of productive time

  —1 per cent. improvement of ratio of overhead to total costs

  Service delivery:

  —at least 90 per cent. of work completed to time and within budget

  —achieve a mean score of three on a scale of zero to five for the assessment of customer satisfaction using the established methodology.

  These are demanding targets which challenge the agency but reflect the considerable planning and disruption likely to arise from the relocation to a new purpose built laboratory in Yorkshire which will occur during 1996.

  Agriculture Council
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 29 and 30 May; and if he will make a statement. [26961]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  This meeting of the Council, at which I represented the United Kingdom, concentrated mainly on a proposal from the Commission for changes to the agri-monetary arrangements and on rules for the welfare of animals in transport.

  No decisions were reached. The Council will return to both subjects at its next meeting on 19 and 20 June, when it will also aim to decide farm prices and related measures for 1995–96.

  The Commission's proposal on agri-money would reduce the cost and scope of the compensatory measures accompanying any green rate revaluation that took place in 1995. It is the present rules on compensation which have led the Council and Commission to delay green rate revaluations that should have taken place, resulting in distortion of trade and excessive levels of support in the Community as a whole. I strongly supported the Commission's proposal. The German Minister, with some support from others, suggested alternative changes that would lead to permanent differences in payments to farmers in different member states. I made it clear that this would be wholly unacceptable.

  The discussion on animal transport showed that member states are broadly agreed on the main lines of new arrangements, but still differ on the key questions of maximum journey times and the length of breaks between journeys. I welcomed the assurance from the French presidency that it gives high priority to this issue, and urged all parties to make great efforts to reach an agreement in June.

  The Council formally adopted by majority vote, with Germans and Netherlands opposing, the measures necessary to implement the compromise decision on Italian, Spanish and Greek milk quotas, reached at the October meeting of the Economic and Finance Council. It also adopted unanimously a proposal fixing support prices for certain fruits and vegetables for June 1995.

  International Whaling Commission
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the International Whaling Commission held in Dublin from 29 May to 2 June 1995; and if he will make a statement. [26963]

  Mr. Jack
  The International Whaling Commission's 47th annual meeting was held in Dublin from 29 May to 2 June. The UK delegation was composed of officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, assisted by officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department of the Environment and representatives of environmental organisations. For the UK, the meeting was a satisfactory one, and we achieved virtually all our objectives. The meeting confirmed that the IWC remains the only effective international body for the conservation and protection of whales.

  I am pleased to report that the moratorium on commercial whaling, which has been in force since 1985–86, remains in force and unweakened. A request by Japan for an interim quota of 50 minke whales, to be taken by its coastal communities, was once again rejected.

  At last year's IWC meeting doubts were raised about the estimate of minke whale numbers in the north-east Atlantic produced by Norwegian scientists, and endorsed by the IWC's scientific committee as the best figures available. Detailed discussions on this complex issue took place over the year, but this year's meeting of the scientific committee was unable to resolve the differing views and concluded that there was currently no valid estimate for this stock. Despite this uncertainty about the number of minke whales present in the north-east Atlantic, Norway restarted its commercial whaling operations on 2 May.

  At the meeting of the IWC itself, Norway's behaviour was widely condemned. A strongly-worded resolution was adopted calling on Norway to reconsider its objection to the moratorium, under which it is legally able to continue commercial whaling, and to halt its whaling activities immediately. In supporting this resolution, we made it clear that we deplored Norway's continued refusal to observe the moratorium, which in our view weakened the credibility of the IWC.

  At the meeting, very widespread concern was also expressed about scientific whaling. A resolution was adopted calling for all scientific whaling within IWC sanctuaries and, in particular, the southern ocean sanctuary, to be halted. The IWC also adopted a general resolution on scientific whaling, initiated and introduced by the UK, which called for research on whales to be conducted, in principle, by non-lethal means, with the killing of whales for research purposes permitted only in the most exceptional circumstances. The resolution also requested the IWC's scientific committee to review all existing, and future, programmes for research involving the killing of whales against these criteria. This resolution received a very wide measure of support. Although it will not prevent countries from authorising scientific whaling, since this is expressly provided for under the IWC's parent treaty, it will enable the IWC in future to reach clear conclusions on whether it considers any lethal research to be justifiable and to condemn unnecessary scientific whaling.
  5
  Little progress was made on the revised management scheme, which is being devised to regulate all aspects of any future commercial whaling which might be permitted in the future. Discussion concentrated on the inspection and observation scheme which will be needed, as part of the RMS, to ensure that any new rules are properly observed. Positions on this scheme remain far apart; we are continuing to insist that the RMS must include a fully effective, comprehensive and enforceable inspection and observation scheme.

  The IWC meeting was preceded by a workshop on whale killing methods. The UK has consistently argued that if whales are to be killed, this is to be done humanely, and we were represented at the workshop by a strong team of scientists and veterinarians. The workshop agreed to a revision of the humane killing action plan agreed by the IWC in 1992, and this was subsequently adopted by the IWC itself.

  A particular topic of discussion at the workshop was secondary killing methods and, most notably, the use of the electric lance to kill whales wounded, but not killed, by explosive harpoons. Papers presented to the workshop indicating that the electric lance is ineffective and inflicts unnecessary suffering received considerable support, although the workshop was not able to reach definitive conclusions on this issue. In these circumstances, we did not seek a vote on a proposal to ban the use of the electric lance, which would have required a three quarters majority to pass, which UK and New Zealand had put forward earlier; instead we introduced a resolution calling on the IWC to re-examine the issue next year, with a view to reaching a decision and urging all countries to suspend the use of the electric lance in the meantime. This was adopted with widespread support.

  The UK delegation also put forward a resolution on killing methods used in the Faroese pilot whale drive hunt; this was adopted by consensus. This followed a discussion on this drive hunt in the workshop. The resolution encouraged the Faroese Government to continue work on introducing alternatives to the gaff and on other ways of improving the humaneness of the hunt. It is particularly helpful to have secured the commitment of the Faroese authorities to these improvements. Introducing this resolution, we emphasised our continuing concern at the welfare aspects of the drive hunt, and said that we hoped alternatives to the gaff would be introduced as soon as possible and the use of the gaff banned.

  Environmental threats to whales and other cetaceans again received attention. The scientific committee reviewed the results of a workshop held in March on the possible effects of pollution on cetaceans, and confirmed arrangements for the forthcoming workshop on the possible implications of climate change. In the IWC meeting itself, we helped promote a resolution carrying forward the recommendations of the pollution workshop and urging Governments to send experts to the climate change workshop. This is an important new topic for the IWC, and we look forward to making further progress at next year's meeting.

  At the meeting, the IWC made further progress on devising guidelines for whalewatching, another issue to which it will return next year, and adopted a resolution, following up the one it agreed last year, for improving mechanisms to prevent illegal trade in whale meat. This calls for stockpiles of whalemeat predating the moratorium to be disposed of domestically in the near
  6
  future, and encourages the development and use of DNA testing of whalemeat to establish the species of origin.

  The IWC's 48th annual meeting will be held in Aberdeen next June. The UK will, once again, be playing an active role, and I believe that, as a result of this year's meeting, we are well placed to make further progress on a wide range of issues.

  Spanish Fishing Subsidies
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much subsidy has been given to Spain in each of the last three years from the European Community for fishing; and what is the forecast of funding to Spain for each of the next three years. [24681]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 17 May 1995]: Prior to 1994, European Community aid to the fishing industry was financed under both the guidance and guarantee sections of the budget. Figures for 1992 and 1993 in the table relate only to certain parts fisheries guidance expenditure—these were extracted from the European Court of Auditor's annual report, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. Those for guarantee expenditure are set out in reply to my hon. Friend's related question about subsidies to Spanish agriculture.

  From 1994 onwards, the financial instrument for fisheries guidance came into force, amalgamating the various fisheries structures and marketing and processing regulations. The figures in the table for the years 1994–1998 show the amount of Community funding available for the fishery investment set out in the relevant Spanish programmes for objectives 1 and 5a.

  In addition, Spain is eligible to benefit from certain payments relating to third country fishery agreements, although we do not currently have detailed information about the allocation between member states.

  Elements of European Community financial assistance to the Spanish fishing industry (fisheries guidance only)

  Year

  Mecu

  £m

  19921

  11.20

  7.93

  19931

  12.80

  10.06

  1994

  154.13

  119.07

  1995

  165.28

  133.41

  1996

  175.92

  146.11

  1997

  186.92

  155.25

  1998

  201.64

  167.48

  1 Figures exclude fisheries guidance expenditure on redeployment, adaption and modernisation of fishing vessels, and restructuring of small scale fishing as well as fish marketing and processing awards under EC regulation 355/77, the majority of which were paid prior to 1994 and financed under the agriculture guidance fund.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  R. v. Field and Ghiassi
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the cost to public funds of the case R.v. Field and Ghiassi, at Liverpool Crown court in respect of which the defendants were acquitted on 22 May. [27192]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  It is too early to say how much has been spent from public funds in respect of the prosecution and the defence of this case. Costs to the legal
  7
  aid fund and to the prosecution will not be known until final bills have been submitted. It is not possible to identify separately the cost to the Court Service.

  Hale v. Wilson Dyer Gough
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for South Hams of 5 May regarding the case of Hale v. Wilson Dyer Gough. [27357]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 25 May.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when the judgment will be given in the case of Hale v. Wilson Dyer Gough; and if he will make a statement. [27356]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the Court Service is best placed to provide an answer and I have accordingly asked the chief executive to reply direct.

  Letter from Michael Huebner to Mr. Anthony Steen, dated 6 June 1995:
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, has asked me to reply to your Question about the judgment in the case of Hale v Wilson Dyer Gough. I can confirm that judgement in respect of the hearing on 28 November 1994 has now been given. A copy of the judgment has been sent, by first class post, to the solicitor for both parties today.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps are being taken to recover for public funds the legal aid funds made available to the Wilson Dyer Goughs, following the withdrawal of their legal aid certificate. [27358]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The administration of the civil legal aid scheme is the responsibility of the Legal Aid Board. In cases where the board has a right to recovery, the board's debt recovery unit takes such steps as are appropriate and justified, after the amount owed to the legal aid fund has been established.

EDUCATION

  Surplus Land
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list those sales involving surplus land and property in which her Department has inserted a clause in the sale contract allowing her Department to obtain a share of any future development gain; and if she will make a statement. [26321]

  Mr. Boswell
  All land and property occupied by the Department forms part of the civil estate and is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

  Assisted Places
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what studies have been conducted on the educational effect on schools of losing students to other schools under the assisted places scheme. [26430]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  There have been a number of independent studies on the assisted places scheme which caters for about 1 per cent. of the total secondary school population in England. None of the studies has demonstrated any significant adverse effect on educational provision in maintained schools which 8
  assisted pupils might otherwise have attended. On the contrary, the scheme helps to promote academic standards, choice and diversity; and it is the responsibility of maintained schools to seek the highest educational standards from and for their pupils.

  Retired Teachers
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will investigate the reasons behind changes in the numbers of teachers retiring on the grounds of infirmity. [26723]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  No. Teachers themselves take the initiative in applying for ill health retirement. It is granted if they submit satisfactory medical evidence to the Teachers Pensions Agency. Any detailed investigation into the reasons why teachers apply for ill health retirement would require specialist medical research into the background to each case. That would be expensive and, given the average of likely causes and the diverse nature of the teaching force, would probably not reach firm conclusions.

  Social Development Summit
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when she intends to issue a report on the implications for the United Kingdom of the commitment to the goals of universal and equitable access to education agreed at the world summit for social development in Copenhagen in March. [26761]

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

  Engineering Degree Course Funding
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proposals exist to extend engineering levels of course funding to apply to building services engineering degree courses in order to recognise the special laboratory and equipment needs; and if she will make a statement. [26769]

  Mr. Boswell
  Funding for courses is a matter for the Higher Education Council for England and I am asking the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  School Quality
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when she will issue proposals for the improvement of the quality of schools in low-income communities in conformity with the declaration and action programme agreed at the world summit for social development in Copenhagen in March. [26762]

  Mr. Forth
  Following on from the introduction of the national curriculum, the inspection cycle and performance tables, my right hon. Friend announced on 25 May a comprehensive programme of measures designed to improve the quality of schools throughout the country.

  Teachers (Sexual Offences)
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how long it takes to have a name added to list 99 after conviction of a person for child abuse. [26753]

  Mr. Forth
  The time taken varies. Under the Education (Teachers) Regulations 1993 the person concerned must be given an opportunity to make representations, and each case must be considered on its individual merits. My right hon. Friend is consulting on an amendment to the
  9
  regulations which would enable those convicted of sexual offences against children under 16 years of age to be barred from teaching as soon as the conviction is notified.

  Nursery Education Vouchers
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list the names of those organisations that have made representations to her favouring the introduction of vouchers for nursery education. [27108]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies that my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Education gave to the hon. Member for City of Durham (Mr. Steinberg) on 7 February,Official Report, columns 145–49 The concept of a voucher scheme was among the wide range of issues mentioned by the organisations listed there, and by others subsequently.

  Pre-school Education
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Eduction, pursuant to her answer of 18 May,Official Report, columns 307–308, what definition of participation in education by under-fives was used in the calculation of the figures shown in the answer. [26563]

  Mr. Forth
  The under-fives participation rates, for which the United Kingdom rate was 53 per cent., were based upon the number of pupils in schools who were aged three and four at 31 December in the 1991–92 academic year expressed as a percentage of the population aged three and four at that date. The UK rate of 68 per cent., also for 1991–92, quoted by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education in her reply of 23 May,Official Report, column 691, was higher because, as requested, those aged five were also included.

  In both cases, children attending playgroups or other forms of day care provision only, but not school, were excluded. International comparisons of nursery school provision only or of publicly funded provision only are not available. Both answers therefore covered pupils in all types of schools whether public or private.

  Free School Meals
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals in each year since 1989 in Hampshire, Dorset, West Sussex, East Sussex and Wiltshire.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The available information is shown in the table. Information prior to 1993 is not available on a comparable basis.

  Percentage of pupils in maintained schools who are known to be eligible for free school meals

  Position in January each year

  LEA area

  1993

  1994

  Hampshire

  14

  15

  Dorset

  9

  10

  West Sussex

  12

  13

  East Sussex

  19

  21

  Wiltshire

  13

  13

  University Teachers
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what has been the change in earnings in real terms for university teachers since 1986; and what is the actual average change for all occupations. [26534]
  10
  Mr. Boswell
  Between April 1986 and April 1994, university lecturers' pay rose by approximately 16 per cent. in real terms, and actual pay for all occupations increased on average by £155 per week, a real term increase of approximately 18 per cent. as measured by the new earnings survey.

  School Expenditure
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list each school in Northamptonshire for which capital spending approval has been granted in each year since 1987–88 together with the sum approved. [26372]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This information is not held centrally. It is for local education authorities to decide how capital resources are used for individual county and voluntary-controlled schools.

  Grants for Education Support and Training
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her answer of 19 April,Official Report, column 171, what is the average GEST funding for (a) local education authorities and (b) grant-maintained (i) primary schools, (ii) secondary schools and (iii) special schools.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This information is not available for local education authorities' maintained schools. GEST funding for LEAs is not allocated by different types of school.

  For grant-maintained schools, GEST activities are supported through the payment of a special purpose grant development. The calculation and payment of a special purpose grants is now the responsibility of the Funding Agency for Schools and I have asked the chairman of the funding agency to write to the hon. Member.

  School Tests
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what were the projected annual costs of assessing pupils of too low an academic standard to take the formal tests; and what have been the actual costs. [25958]

  Mr. Forth
  The projected and actual printing and distribution costs of the national curriculum tasks for less able pupils are as follows:

  £000

  Projected 1994–95

  Actual 1994–95

  7-Year-olds

  138.4

  135.3

  11-Year-olds

  390.0

  379.5

  14-Year-olds

  185.0

  167.6

  Totals

  712.4

  682.4

  The costs of developing the tasks are not separately identifiable.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much the total projected cost of funding supply cover during standard assessment test was (i) nationally and (ii) in Nottinghamshire schools for(a) seven-year-olds and (b) 11-year-olds. [25944]
  11
  Mr. Forth
  The projected costs for supply cover for teachers administering the national curriculum tests to seven-year-olds and tasks to seven and 11-year-olds are as follows:

  (i) (a) around £11 million (b) around £4 million

  (ii) (a) around £250,000 (b) around £90,000

  Each local education authority is responsible for apportioning its total allocation to its schools.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what has been the actual cost of funding supply cover during standard assessment tests (i) nationally and (ii) in Nottinghamshire schools for(a) seven-year-olds and (b) 11-year-olds. [25945]

  Mr. Forth
  This information is not available. Final figures on actual expenditure are not available until after the end of the financial year when the Department receives an audit certificate from local education authorities confirming expenditure for that year.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the total amount that has been accepted in Government grants by schools to subsidise the cost of standard assessment tests. [25959]

  Mr. Forth
  This information is not available at present. Under the GEST programme, allocations are made to LEAs. Under GEST grant 2 for 1995–96, LEAs have accepted £15.3 million expenditure for supply cover of which 60 per cent. is payable in Government grant.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the total amount that has been offered in Government grants to subsidise the cost of standard assessment tests. [25957]

  Mr. Forth
  The Department will provide about £9 million—60 per cent.— of the estimated £15 million needed for supply cover to support teachers administering the national curriculum tests to seven-year-olds and tasks to seven, 11 and 14-year-olds.

  Departmental Performance
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what performance indicators and performance targets there are for measuring the performance of her Department in(a) answering letters from members of the public and (b) answering telephone calls from members of the public; how performance is monitored; and what are the latest figures for performance measured against the target set.

  Mr. Boswell
  The Department has recently completed a review of its procedures for dealing with letters from members of the public. Enhanced performance targets are being set whereby 75 per cent. of all letters from members of the public should be responded to in three weeks and 100 per cent. in four weeks. Appropriate procedures for monitoring these new targets are currently being considered.

  Requests for general information are handled by a dedicated public inquiry unit. This unit aims to answer all letters within one week of receipt. In 1994, over 92 per cent. of replies met this target.

  The Department's switchboard operators have a target of answering 80 per cent. of calls within 20 seconds and 90 per cent. within 30 seconds. Performance is monitored on a monthly basis through automated call logging software. During 1994, 90 per cent. of calls were answered within 20 seconds, with 92 per cent. being answered within 30 seconds.

  Mathematics Standards
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations she has received about declining standards of mathematics in schools. [23155]

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend receives such representations from time to time. Among the actions taken to improve mathematics standards in schools has been the introduction of the national curriculum and its assessment. The revised curriculum, which takes effect in schools from September 1995, will contribute further to raising standards by increasing the emphasis on basic arithmetic skills.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Water Main Installations
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what water main installations have taken place in the constituency of South Down since 1 April 1990 to 31 March 1995, and of these, what road reinstatements have taken place. [25324]

  Mr. Ancram
  The water main schemes completed or under way between 1 April 1990 and 31 March 1995, and the road reinstatement position are as follows:

  Water Main scheme

  Road reinstatement position

  Rathfriland Watermain Replacement

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Attical Supply Area

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Mayobridge Area Distribution

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Deechommed Distribution Improvements

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Dromore Watermain Replacement

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Newcastle Watermain

  Replacement

  Permanent reinstatement

  complete

  St. Patrick's Road Raholp Watermain Replacement

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Oldtown Lane Annalong Watermain Replacement

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Church Road Ballynahinch Duplication of Watermain Replacement

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Seaforde Watermain Replacement

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Drumaroad Hill, Watermain Replacement

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Auglisnafin Road Dundrum Duplication of Watermain

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Downpatrick Road Crossgar Watermains Replacement

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Pillar Hill Ballynahinch Reinforcement of Distribution System

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  A24 Replacement Watermain

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Pound Lane Downpatrick Watermains Replacement

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Castleward Road Strangford Watermain Replacement

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  St. Patrick's Raholp Stage 2 Watermain Replacement and Upgrade

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Hillhead Outlet Main Replacement

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  13

  Water Main scheme

  Road reinstatement position

  Carnreagh Road Guiness Watermain Replacement and Upgrade

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Coilly Hill Road Killyeagh Watermain Replacement and Upgrade

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Crawfordstown Road Drumaness Watermain Replacement and Upgrade

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Stewarts Road Annalong Watermain Replacement

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Anthony's Road Ballymartin Watermain Extension

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Crossgar Road, Ballynahinch Watermain Replacement and Upgrade

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Tullykin Road, Killyeagh Watermain Replacement and Upgrade

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Hamiltons Folly Area Watermain Replacement and Upgrade

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Derryboye Road, Derryboye Watermain Replacement and Upgrade

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Ardtole Road, Ardglass Watermain Replace and Upgrade

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Ballykine Replacement Watermain Replacement

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Bannaghan Road, Raholp Watermain Replacement

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Guiness Road, Hamiltons Folly Replacement and Upgrade

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Manse Road, Raffrey Replacement and Upgrade

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Middle Road, Saintfield Watermain Replacement

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Ringhaddy Road, Watermain Replacement

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Roughal Park, Downpatrick Watermain Replacement and Upgrade

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  St. Patrick's Raholp Stage 3 Watermain Replacement and Upgrade

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Tullybrannigan ST Outlet Main Replacement Outlet Main

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Killyleagh Road, Darragh Cross Watermain Replacement and Upgrade

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Audleystown Road Watermain Replacement

  Permanent reinstatement complete

  Rathfriland to Ballyroney Trunk Main

  Permanent reinstatement under way

  Knock Area Distribution Improvements

  Permanent reinstatement under way

  Dromore Road, High Street, Lisburn St. Ballynahinch. Replacement and Upgrade (Scheme underway)

  Permanent reinstatement almost complete

  Dromore Road, Grove Road, Ballynahinch Watermain Replacement

  Permanent reinstatement almost complete

  Dundrum SR Outlet Main Replacement and Upgrade

  Permanent reinstatement under way

  Fofanny to Rathfriland Trunk Main

  Temporary reinstatement complete

  Knock to Tullymurry Trunk Main

  Temporary reinstatement complete

  Castlewellan Town Centre Mains Replacement

  Temporary reinstatement complete

  14

  Water Main scheme

  Road reinstatement position

  Ballymacarn Road, Ballynahinch Watermain Replacement (Scheme underway)

  Temporary reinstatement complete

  Ballymaglave Road, Ballynahinch Watermain Replacement (Scheme underway)

  Temporary reinstatement complete

  Downpatrick Road, Ballynahinch Watermain Replacement (Scheme underway)

  Temporary reinstatement complete

  Downpatrick Town Centre Watermain Improvements (Scheme underway)

  Temporary reinstatement complete

  Ballyroney to Deechommed Trunk Main (Scheme underway)

  Temporary reinstatement under way

  Fofanny Area Distribution Improvements (Scheme underway)

  Temporary reinstatement under way

  In addition, various works for repairs and small diameter mains replacements have been undertaken. Information on these is not held centrally and would be available only at disproportionate cost.

  Contracting Out
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what work has been contracted out(a) by his Department and (b) by agencies for which his Department is responsible in (i) 1993–94, (ii) 1994–95 and (iii) projected for 1995–96. [25660]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested is as follows:

  Work contracted out

  (a) Departments

  Environment

  1993–94

  Public Record Office of Northern Ireland Catering Services.

  Road Surface Dressing Work

  1994–95

  General Road Maintenance Activities

  Health and Social Services

  1993–94

  ICL MainFrame Computer Services

  Northern Ireland Office

  1993–94

  Maintenance of Hillsborough Castle Grounds

  Courier Service, Strormont Castle

  Prison Office Catering Services at four Prison Establishments, young Offenders Centre and the Prison Service College

  Air Charter

  Ministerial cars

  1994–95

  Hillsborough Castle Estate Management

  Hillsborough Castle Facilities Management

  Key Persons Protection Scheme

  Air Charter

  Ministerial cars

  Office cleaning

  15

  Work contracted out

  Northern Ireland

  1995–96

  Air Charter

  Office cont.

  Ministerial cars

  Office cleaning

  Security

  Civilian search arrangements

  (b) Agencies

  Child Support Agency

  1993–94

  Facilities Management

  Catering

  Typing

  Telephonists

  Receptionists

  Cleaning

  Security

  Post-Opening

  Messengerial

  Porterage

  Handyman

  1994–95

  In addition to the services contracted out in 1993–94 the following services have also been contracted out:

  Reprographic

  Stationery Store

  Off-Site File Store

  1995–96

  It is proposed that the services contracted out in 19934–94 and 1994–95 will also be contracted out in 1995–96

  Compensation agency

  1994–95

  Prior options study.

  In 1995–96, a number of work areas in the Northern Ireland Departments and agencies are being market tested but is not known if this will result in any work being contracted out.

  Staff
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, (1) what changes there have been in the number of staff in employment by grade in (i) the Northern Ireland Office and (ii) each agency for which the Northern Ireland Office is responsible in(a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95; and what are the projected figures for 1995–96; [25424]

  (2) what changes there have been in the number of staff employed by (a) his office and (b) each agency for which his office is responsible in (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 1994–95; and what are the projected figures for 1995–96; [25557]

  (3) how many staff of (a) the Northern Ireland Office and (b) agencies for which the Northern Ireland Office is responsible were employed on a casual or short-term basis in (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 1994–95; and what are the projected figures for 1995–96. [25502]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The numbers of permanent and casual staff employed by the Northern Ireland Office and each of its executive agencies in 1993–94, projected outturn for 1994–95 and plans for 1995–96 are published in "Northern Ireland Ependiture Plans and Priorities", copy of which is available in the Library of the House. No projections broken down by grade are available.

  Abortion
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Government expect to take a decision on the recommendations made by the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights pertaining to the abortion law in Northern Ireland. [23571]
  16
  Mr. Ancram
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridgeshire, North-East (Mr. Moss) to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaby (Mr. Robathan) on 24 May,Official Report, column 627.

  Consultants
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the level of expenditure on consultancy by(a) his office and (b) agencies for which his office is responsible for (i) 1993–94, (ii) 1994–95 and (iii) projected for 1995–96. [25646]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information is as follows:

  1993–94 Outturn £

  1994–95 Outturn £

  1995–96 Estimate £

  Compensation Agency

  2,055

  355

  1,000

  Northern Ireland Prison Service

  n/a

  n/a

  36,000

  Rest of Northern Ireland Office

  164,364

  382,764

  68,000

  Total

  166,419

  383,119

  105,000

  Note:

  The Northern Ireland Prison Service did not become an agency until 1 April 1995.

  Local Government Employees
  Mr. Clifford Forsythe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the public service offices, other than local government offices, and the number of persons employed in such offices in(a) Antrim borough council and (b) Magherafelt district council in (i) January 1992, (ii) January 1993, (iii) January 1994 and (iv) January 1995. [25400]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested is as follows:

  Office

  January 1992

  January 1993

  January 1994

  January 1995

  (a) ANTRIM BOROUGH COUNCIL

  Department of the Environment

  Caulside, New Lodge Road, Antrim1

  9

  9

  9

  9

  Ferrard, Railway Street, Antrim1

  5

  5

  4

  5

  Church Street, Antrim1

  3

  4

  8

  nil

  Fountain Street, Antrim1

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Steeple Road Industrial Estate, Antrim1

  25

  26

  18

  19

  Crown Buildings, Castle Street, Antrim

  nil

  nil

  nil

  8

  Roads Service, Station Road, Antrim

  44

  43

  42

  37

  Water Executive, Steeple Road Industrial Estate, Antrim

  44

  38

  37

  36

  Department of Economic Development

  Training and Employment Agency, Antrim

  15

  16

  18

  18

  Industrial Development Board, Regional Office

  4

  5

  5

  nil

  17

  Office

  January 1992

  January 1993

  January 1994

  January 1995

  Department of Finance and Personnel

  Antrim Social Security Office

  nil

  nil

  nil

  1

  Department of Health and Social Security

  Antrim Social Security Office

  93

  100

  94

  87

  Contribution Unit, North Area (based in Antrim SSO)

  11

  16

  16

  17

  Child Support Agency, Antrim

  —

  —

  6

  7

  Department of Agriculture

  Crown Buildings, Castle Street, Antrim

  5

  6

  6

  6

  Forest Office, Slemish Forest

  7

  7

  7

  6

  Greenmount College of Agriculture and

  106

  106

  105

  99

  Horticulture, Antrim1

  51

  52

  46

  42

  (b) MAGHERAFELT DISTRICT COUNCIL

  Department of the Environment

  Section Office, Station Road, Magherafelt1

  7

  10

  10

  6

  Crown Buildings, Station Road, Magherafelt1

  nil

  nil

  11

  10

  Queens Avenue, Magherafelt1

  nil

  nil

  nil

  8

  Magherafelt District Council, Ballyronan

  Road, Magherafelt1

  nil

  nil

  nil

  1

  Water Executive, Station Road, Magherafelt

  41

  40

  38

  34

  Roads Service, Station Road, Magherafelt

  41

  40

  38

  34

  Department of Economic Development

  Training and Employment Agency, Magherafelt

  14

  15

  15

  14

  Training Unit, Castledawson

  2

  nil

  nil

  nil

  Department of Health and Social Services

  Magherafelt, Social Security Office

  77

  79

  73

  76

  Department of Agriculture

  Rainey Street, Magherafelt

  16

  17

  17

  18

  Forest Office, Derrynoyd

  8

  9

  11

  11

  1 Figures apply to non-industrial staff in months of April.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the location of the inward investment projects promoted by the Industrial Development Board between 1 April 1990 and 31 March 1995 indicating the financial amounts in respect of each project. [25926]

  Mr. Ancram
  The inward investment projects secured by the IDB between 1 April 1990 and 31 March 1995 are set out. The 1994–95 figures do not include three investments for which formal announcements have still to be agreed with the companies. These investments total £16.8 million against which £5.8 million has been offered to secure 415 jobs.
  18

  Inward Investment Projects: 1990 to 1995

  Company Name Country of Ownership Location in NI Product

  New Jobs

  Assistance (£000)

  Investment (£000)

  1990–91

  G C McKeown & Co (NI) Ltd

  39

  465

  1,152

  ROI

  Antrim

  Computer Software

  Webtech (NI) Ltd

  63

  867

  2,571

  ROI

  Enniskillen

  Flexible Packaging

  National Inspection Council

  7

  30

  87

  Quality Assurance Ltd

  GB

  Ballymena

  Certification and Registration of Company Management Systems

  Avery Label (Northern Ireland) Ltd

  12

  161

  595

  GB

  Belfast

  Self-Adhesive Labels

  Delwyn Enterprises T/A Yardmaster, International

  22

  206

  718

  France

  Draperstown

  Metal Garden Sheds

  Inland Revenue

  410

  none

  not known

  GB

  Belfast

  Her Majesty's Customs and

  100

  none

  not known

  Excise

  GB

  Newry

  Child Support Agency

  500

  none

  not known

  GB

  Belfast

  1991–92

  Vision Information Consulting Ltd

  32

  90

  317

  ROI

  Belfast

  Design and Development of Software

  Audio Processing Technology Ltd

  12

  114

  441

  GB

  Belfast

  Establishment of a Facility for a Music Coding System

  The Prudential Assurance Co Ltd

  36

  227

  812

  GB

  Belfast

  Transfer and Processing of Life Assurance Claims

  Royal Mail

  300

  none

  not known

  GB

  Belfast

  19

  Inward Investment Projects: 1990 to 1995

  Company Name Country of Ownership Location in NI Product

  New Jobs

  Assistance (£000)

  Investment (£000)

  Customs and Excise

  40

  none

  not known

  GB

  Londonderry and Enniskillen

  Chambernet

  3

  none

  not known

  GB

  Belfast

  Mari Group

  7

  none

  not known

  GB

  Belfast

  1992–93

  Fulcrum Communications Ltd

  60

  821

  2,107

  GB

  Antrim

  Maintenance and Repair of Telecom Equipment

  Fruit of the Loom Manufacturing Co Ltd

  409

  9,895

  38,000

  USA

  Londonderry

  Textile Products

  CFM Group Ltd

  150

  3,018

  7,533

  GB

  Establishment of a Data Centre and Software Centre

  Daesung Circuits Ltd

  120

  2,020

  4,954

  Republic of S Korea

  Ballymena

  Printed Circuit Boards

  Pan European Textiles Ltd

  500

  14,085

  51,109

  Indonesia

  Antrim

  Manufacture of Micro Denier Fabrics

  Polystar (Ireland) Ltd

  25

  200

  577

  ROI

  Omagh

  Phenolic and Polyurethane Insulation Products

  McKechnie (UK) Ltd

  21

  303

  896

  GB

  Newtownard

  Fuel Line Components

  AVM Telecom Ltd

  19

  139

  531

  GB

  Londonderry

  Customised Software

  Seagate Technology (Ireland)

  506

  20,003

  60,852

  USA

  Londonderry

  Magnetic Recording Components

  20

  Inward Investment Projects: 1990 to 1995

  Company Name Country of Ownership Location in NI Product

  New Jobs

  Assistance (£000)

  Investment (£000)

  Norfil

  100

  none

  not known

  Indonesia

  Antrim

  Micro Denier Filament Yarn

  1993–94

  CCA Electronic Ltd.

  257

  4,360

  9,460

  Republic of South Korea

  Dungannon

  In Car Entertainment Systems

  The Training & Business Group (Overseas) Ltd.

  29

  150

  312

  GB

  Newry

  Training and Employment Service

  BCO Technologies (Northern Ireland) Ltd.

  347

  6,581

  15,139

  USA

  West Belfast

  Silicon Wafer Products and Services

  CFM Group Ltd.

  70

  1,198

  5,820

  GB

  Belfast and Whiteabbey

  Data and Software Operations

  Charles Bell (1963) Ltd.

  10

  130

  425

  ROI

  Belfast

  Window Blinds

  Valence Technology BVIO

  660

  25,625

  147,200

  USA

  Mallusk

  Batteries

  MKF (United Kingdom) Ltd.

  100

  2,815

  10,440

  Germany

  Newry

  PVC Film

  Seagate Technology (Ireland)

  46

  1,581

  3,514

  USA

  Londonderry

  Magnetic recording components

  Benelux Manufacturing (NI) Ltd.

  314

  10,440

  36,600

  Hong Kong

  Limavady

  CD jewel boxes

  Daewoo Electronics UK Ltd.

  250

  5,960

  17,000

  Republic of Korea

  Antrim

  Deck mechanisms

  21

  Inward Investment Projects: 1990 to 1995

  Company Name Country of Ownership Location in NI Product

  New Jobs

  Assistance (£000)

  Investment (£000)

  CIS Data Ltd.

  212

  4,739

  12,954

  Taiwan

  Belfast

  Floppy Discs

  1994–95

  Transtec Foundries Ltd.

  181

  4,518

  14,946

  GB

  Campsie

  Die Casting for the automotive industry

  ABC Laboratories (Europe) Ltd.

  60

  1,085

  2,937

  USA

  Coleraine

  Contract Laboratory Services

  Daehwa Metal (UK) Ltd

  240

  2,928

  7,004

  South Korea

  Antrim

  Metal Parts for Electronics Industry

  Real Software (NI) Ltd

  9

  138

  310

  Belgium

  Antrim

  Software Design and Support

  Daewoo Electro Components UK Ltd.

  255

  3,816

  9,218

  South Korea

  Carrickfergus

  Electronic Tuners

  Radix Telecom Ltd.

  509

  4,676

  19,084

  South Korea

  Craigavon

  Satellite Video Receivers

  Seagate Technology (Ireland)

  300

  11,200

  60,026

  USA

  Londonderry

  Magnetic Recording Components

  Irish Sea (Conservation)
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment has been made of the implications of the proposals in respect of the designation of special areas of conservation in the fishing grounds of the Irish sea. [25925]

  Mr. Ancram
  Two sites on the Irish sea have been proposed as qualifying for designation as special areas of conservation under the EU habitats directive, at Murlough and Strangford lough.

  There will be no practical implications for fishing interests arising from the designation of Murlough.

  Strangford lough has been selected because of its internationally important marine life. The Department is content that the proposed designation of Strangford lough
  22
  will not have any implications for the fishing industry apart from those imposed through the regulation of fishing and fish farming by the Department of Agriculture, and those arising from the proposed designation of the lough as a marine nature reserve.

  Local Government Wards
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the 55 electoral wards which have now been designated. [25933]

  Mr. Ancram
  Northern Ireland has a total of 582 local government wards. These were last designated following a review of local government ward boundaries in 1992. It is not clear which of these designated wards comprise the 55 to which the hon. Gentleman refers.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland following the report prepared by Gray and Heenan of the University of Ulster in relation to the system of public appointments in Northern Ireland, what action he will take to make the system more open, accessible and accountable; and if he will make a statement. [25943]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The system of appointments to public bodies in Northern Ireland is already open and accessible in that any member of the public can apply to have his or her name included on the central database which is maintained to assist Departments identify suitable people for appointments. The Government plan to make publicly available in the near future their guidelines to the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments on public appointments procedures.

  Public bodies are accountable to Ministers, who in turn are answerable to Parliament for the degree of independence, the usefulness, effectiveness and efficiency of non-departmental public bodies. With regard to financial accountability of public bodies, the Government are accountable to the Public Accounts Committee for their expenditure on these bodies, and they for their part are required to submit to proper audit.

  Sinn Fein (Benefits)
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the representatives of Sinn Fein who are currently engaged in talks with Her Majesty's Government are currently in receipt of state financial benefits. [26509]

  Mr. Moss
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Alec Wylie. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Alec Wylie to Mr. David Wilshire, dated 24 May 1995:
  I have been asked to reply to your recent question about members of Sinn Fein.
  I should first explain that information on a person's entitlement to social security benefits, including whether or not they are claiming or getting benefit, is confidential. I am therefore unable to comment on individual cases. However, I can assure you that all claims to benefit are assessed and regularly reviewed by independent adjudication officers, strictly in accordance with social security law and payment is made only where there is valid entitlement.
  I hope this letter sets out the position for you.

  GP Fundholders
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what external legal advice has been received in respect of parliamentary approval for the payment of practice management expenses by GP fundholders. [27017]

  Mr. Moss
  No external legal advice has been received. My Department's legal advisers are at present considering what, if any, action needs to be taken on this matter in Northern Ireland. I shall write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as the position has been clarified.

  Metal-framed Windows
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Housing Executive's recent plan to replace metal window frames with wooden frames on a needs only basis has cost; how much it is anticipated the full replacement course will cost; and for what reasons the scheme was upgraded from needs only to a full replacement programme. [27359]

  Mr. Moss
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I have been advised by the chief executive that the Executive adopted a policy to replace all metal-framed windows with wooden frames over a five-year period, in April 1994. Prior to this, metal-framed windows were replaced on a needs only basis, but information about how much the Housing Executive expended in this connection is not available. It is estimated that the full replacement course will cost £30 million over the five-year period. The reasons for the change in policy were the age and condition of the metal framed windows and the concerns expressed by tenants.

  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many sufferers of myalgic encephalomyelitis there are in Northern Ireland; and what proposals there are to provide a specialist clinic for ME patients. [27360]

  Mr. Moss
  The number of people in Northern Ireland currently diagnosed as having myalgic encephalomyelitis, a condition being increasingly referred to as chronic fatigue syndrome, is not known. There are no proposals at present to establish a ME clinic in Northern Ireland.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Translation Facilities
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee what facilities are available for translating proceedings of the House in Committee Rooms and in the Chamber from English into other languages.

  Mr. Waller
  Equipment, including interpreter booths, which enable simultaneous translation from English into other languages, can be provided for use in committee rooms. The Chamber is equipped with a single-channel system which enables simultaneous translation from English to one other language to be provided for up to 24 visitors in the Galleries.

PRIME MINISTER

  VJ Day
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will re-define VJ day as VP day, victory in the Pacific; and if he will make a statement. [26157]

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Churchill Papers
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister on which occasions the Churchill papers were offered for sale to the Government. [26843]

  The Prime Minister
  I cannot answer for previous Administrations. A formal offer of sale was made by the current trustees in 1991.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will instruct the national heritage fund to put the Churchill papers up for public tender without reservation. [26846]

  The Prime Minister
  No. The papers which constitute the Churchill archive are now the property of the Sir Winston Churchill archive trust, a charitable trust set up for the purpose of preserving the archive intact for the nation.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister what consideration he gave when deciding whether the Official Secrets Acts covered the Churchill papers in the case of Peter Wright; and if he will make a statement. [26862]

  The Prime Minister
  The case to which the hon. Member refers has little or no relevance to the question of the applicability of the Official Secrets Acts to the Churchill papers.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister if the national heritage fund is free to sell private papers acquired from the Churchill family; and what evidence he has as to their current market value, taking into account the copyright provisions. [26861]

  The Prime Minister
  The private papers sold by the Churchill family were bought on behalf of the specially constituted Sir Winston Churchill archive trust through the money allocated from the heritage lottery fund by the national heritage memorial fund. The only way the trust could dispose of the papers would be with the consent of the trustees of the national heritage memorial fund. As trustees of a charitable trust, they may not, in any case, dispose of the permanent endowment of the trust without the consent of the Charity Commissioners or of the courts. The independent advice on the value of the papers which the national heritage memorial fund received took into account the intended arrangements as to copyright ownership.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will take impartial professional advice as to the open market value, subject to the existing restrictions on copyright, of the private papers purchased by the national heritage fund from the Churchill family; [26867]

  (2) what account was taken of the value of the copyright when estimating the amount which might have been paid by purchasers of the Churchill memoirs. [27340]

  The Prime Minister
  The independent advice on the value of the papers which the national heritage memorial fund received took into account the intended arrangements as to copyright ownership.

  Ministers's Official Broadcasts
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister if drafts of Ministers' official broadcasts are classified as official papers. [26844]

  The Prime Minister
  If such drafts are created or acquired by Ministers by virtue of their office, they would be official papers.

  Living Standards
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Prime Minister what is his policy in respect of the state funding improvements in individuals living standards in old age. [26901]

  The Prime Minister
  Our policy on pensions remains unchanged. We will maintain the value of the basic state pension by increasing it in line with prices, encourage personal responsibility for additional pension provision through occupational and personal pensions and target extra resources on those with low incomes.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Prime Minister what provisions his Department has made to ensure that accommodation designed to provide care and support for vulnerable residents and those at risk, is fully covered under the proposed changes to housing benefit. [26537]

  The Prime Minister
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security has recently received the report of the Social Security Advisory Committee following its public consultation on the proposed changes to housing benefit. He will be considering carefully the position of sheltered and supported housing under the changes as part of the response to the report.

  Ministerial Documents
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister what classes of document relating directly or indirectly to the performance by Ministers and officials of their duties are still regarded as state papers which cannot be sold for personal gain by Ministers and officials. [26532]

  The Prime Minister
  Papers which are created or acquired by Ministers or officials, or other Crown servants, by virtue of the office they hold under, or in their service to, the Crown, are regarded as state papers which should not be sold for personal gain.

  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 4 May 1995, Official Report, columns 281–82 in respect of the convention relating to papers taken away by Prime Ministers on leaving office.

  Local Education Authorities
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 25 April, Official Report, column 65, where in the current edition of "Social Trends" can be found the information that education authorities employ two administrators for every three teachers; and if he will make a statement. [26897]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Mr. Fisher), on 27 April, Official Report, column 613.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Retirements and Redundancies
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people in(a) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and (b) agencies for which the FCO is responsible (i) took early retirement, (ii) took voluntary redundancy, (iii) took compulsory redundancy and (iv) were retired on medical grounds in (1) 1993–94 and (2) 1994–95; and what are the projected figures for 1995–96. [25481]

  Mr. Goodlad
  The information is as follows: Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  Early retirement

  Voluntary redundancy

  Compulsory

  Medical redundancy retirement

  1993–94

  63

  30

  0

  13

  1994–95

  134

  52

  0

  14

  1995–96

  69

  7

  140

  1

  1 Of these 40 redundancies it is not possible at this stage to state whether they will be voluntary or compulsory.

  Overseas Development Administration and the Natural Resources Institute

  Early retirement

  Voluntary redundancy

  Compulsory redundancy

  Medical retirement

  1993–94

  5

  0

  0

  5

  1994–95

  2

  0

  49

  4

  1995–96

  3

  1186

  0

  2

  1 This includes 130 targeted voluntary redundancies from the Natural Resources Institute.

  GCHQ
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications for security arising out of privatising individual services at GCHQ. [26454]

  Mr. Hurd
  GCHQ has used outside contractors on sensitive work in the past and the plan to contract certain logistic and engineering services to outside companies does not introduce any new security dimension. The procedures for security vetting announced in the House by the Prime Minister on 15 December 1994,Official Report, columns 764–66, will be applied by GCHQ as in Government generally so that we can be assured of the reliability of the personnel of the successful tendering company.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment Regulations) 1981 would apply to employees transferred under programmes of privatisation at GCHQ. [26456]

  Mr. Hurd
  If the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment Regulations) 1981 are deemed to apply, any employees transferred to a contractor would retain their existing contracts of employment. Any subsequent change to the contracts would be a matter for negotiation between the contractor and employees concerned. If there is no transfer of undertakings in accordance with these regulations, any employees leaving GCHQ as a result of outsourcing would have their existing contracts terminated on redundancy grounds, with payment of appropriate compensation. It would be for the contractor
  27
  to decide whether to recruit any ex-GCHQ staff and what their terms of employment should be.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what proposals he has for the privatisation of individual services at GCHQ; [26453]

  (2) to what extent privatisation of individual services at GCHQ will include contracts for employees providing (a) greater and (b) reduced employment rights relative to those enjoyed by existing GCHQ directly employed staff. [26455]

  Mr. Hurd
  None. In accordance with Government White Papers concerning the Government sector providing value for money, on 23 March 1995 the director of GCHQ announced proposals to outsource GCHQ's logistics and engineering services. There are no plans for further outsourcing at the moment.

  Government of Sudan
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions the Government of Sudan have breached the ceasefire negotiated in that country by President Carter; and what assessment he has made of the consequences of these breaches. [27327]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Despite violations by all sides, the two-month ceasefire agreed on 28 March helped to reduce military activity in southern Sudan, and to facilitate the Carter Centre Guinea Worm campaign. We welcome the decision of the Sudanese Government, and at least one southern faction, to extend the ceasefire to late July.

  East Timor
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 December 1994 to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn), Official Report, column 172, what were the reasons for the two Jakarta embassy staff visits to East Timor in May 1993; and why it was necessary to make two separate visits in that month. [27347]

  Mr. Goodlad
  The visits were made to attend sessions of the trial of the fretilin leader, Xanana Gusmao.

HEALTH

  NHS Staff Breaks
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to ensure that NHS staff receive statutory breaks. [25930]

  Mr. Malone
  Staff management matters, such as the observance of statutory breaks in the working day, are the responsibility of employing authorities and national health service trusts as autonomous employers. Like other employers, they are expected to observe any statutory requirements.

  GP Referrals
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information her Department has on the extent of the referral of patients to accident and emergency departments by(a) fundholding practices and (b) non-fundholding practices; and what differences there are between (a) and (b) [26283]
  28
  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library a list of the contracts for hospital and health services awarded so far under the competitive tendering process by each NHS trust in England. [26071]

  Mr. Sackville
  A list of contracts for clinical services awarded after competitive tender by national health service trusts in England from 1 April 1993, as notified to the NHS executive's market-testing database, will be placed in the Library.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which national health service trusts have formed commercial companies; how many trusts have set up joint businesses with private companies; what guidelines regulate such activity; and if she will make a statement. [25314]

  Mr. Sackville
  Guidance to national health service trusts on the setting up of companies limited by share or guarantee is given in TEL (93)4, copies of which are available in the Library, and in the NHS trusts finance manual. We are aware that Hillingdon NHS trust has been involved in setting up a private limited company. Guidance on joint venture arrangements is given in FDL(93)3, FDL (93)33 and FDL (93)61, copies of which are available in the Library. Information on NHS trusts which have entered into joint venture arrangements is not available centrally.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice she gives to NHS trusts concerning the advisability of purchasing without prior planning permission, property proposed to be used for medical purposes including out-patient treatment. [26954]

  Mr. Sackville
  Guidance to national health service trusts about land and property matters was given in the Estatecode series, in a document entitled "Property Transactions-a Management Guide for NHS Trusts". This was distributed with EPL (94)36, and copies are available in the Library.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the notional value she has assigned to the capital assets of the Newham Healthcare NHS Trust for each year since its inception, together with the related 6 per cent., or less, payment she has received; what reduction in asset value she would expect from the sale of St. Andrews hospital, Bromley-by-Bow; and what is the likely reduction such a sale would make in the annual payments mentioned above. [26383]

  Mr. Sackville
  The NHS executive has received no proposals for the sale of St. Andrews hospital, Bromley-by-Bow. The actual value of the net relevant assets which comprise the originating capital debt of the Newham Healthcare national health service trust at 1 April 1994 is given in Statutory Instrument 1995 No. 407 dated 20 February 1995 and is £37,777,298. Information on the current value of individual trust assets is not held centrally. One of the core financial duties of a trust is to make a 6 per cent. return on the average value of its net relevant assets in any year, but this is not paid to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. The actual return achieved by the trust in 1994–95 will be reported in its
  29
  annual accounts for the year which will be available following audit no later than 30 September 1995.

  GP Lists
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been struck off the registers of(a) fundholding general practitioners and (b) non-fundholding general practitioners in the latest year for which figures are available. [26118]

  Mr. Malone
  Information held centrally on patients removed from general practitioner lists does not identify the fundholding status of the general practitioner.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been struck off the registers of general practitioners in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [26119]

  Mr. Malone
  The information requested is available centrally only for 1992–93. The number of patients removed from registers at the request of general practitioners in 1992–93 was 78,993.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were struck off general practitioners' lists in each regional health authority during the last year for which figures are available. [26107]

  Mr. Malone
  The information is available for 1992–93 and is shown in the table.

  Region

  Patients removed from GP list at request of GP

  Northern

  3,318

  Yorkshire

  7,108

  Trent

  5,608

  East Anglia

  1,827

  North West Thames

  10,508

  North East Thames

  13,916

  South East Thames

  5,689

  South West Thames

  3,463

  Wessex

  1,392

  Oxford

  2,547

  South West

  2,186

  West Midlands

  10,798

  Mersey

  4,556

  North West

  6,077

  England

  78,993

  Note:

  Patients who die, emigrate, opt to register with another GP or are transferred on resignation or death of GP are not included in the above figures.

  Pay
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies have been carried out into the effect of offering identical staff differing rates of pay, both within the same organisation and between differing organisations. [26198]

  Mr. Malone
  None.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies have been undertaken by her Department into the effect of widening the gap between the pay of NHS managers and the pay of clinicians; what are the principal conclusions of the studies; and if she will make a statement. [26209]

  Mr. Malone
  None. Pay needs to be set at levels sufficient to recruit, retain and motivate staff of appropriate calibre, with the right skills, and within resources available.

  Mental Health
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if her Department has, within the last year, published an operational definition of serious mental illness to offer guidance to purchasers and providers on patients who should be prioritised for mental health services. [26074]

  Mr. Bowis
  We have not published a prescriptive definition of severe mental illness.

  We issued for consultation in October 1994 a "Draft Guide to Arrangements for Inter-agency Working for the Care and Protection of Severely Mentally Ill People". The draft guide contains a framework definition of severe mental illness on which local services can base their own more detailed operational definitions. Copies of the draft are available in the Library.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mentally ill people having come before a court with an offence punishable by imprisonment have been subject to a section 37 hospital order under the Mental Health Act 1983 for each year since 1989. [26645]

  Mr. Bowis
  The number of admissions to hospital under section 37 is published in the statistical bulletin "In-Patients Formally Detained in Hospitals Under The Mental Health Act 1983 and Other Legislation, England: 1987–88 to 1992–93", ISBN 1 85839 380 9. Copies of the bulletin are available in the Library.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made as to the number of mentally ill people who are currently homeless. [26650]

  Mr. Bowis
  Homelessness legislation and criteria for rehousing are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

  Healthy Eating
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list her Department's projects aimed at promoting healthy eating indicating the cost of each project her Department. [26299]

  Mr. Sackville
  The Government's nutrition task force published "Eat Well!", its programme of action for achieving the diet and nutrition targets of "The Health of the Nation", in March 1994, copies of which are available in the Library. Project teams are now taking forward the priorities of the programme and responsibility for the secretariat is shared by the Department of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

  The programme involves a wide range of interests—Government Departments, food producers, caterers, retailers, educators, the Health Education Authority, the national health service, health professionals' and, consumers—whose costs cannot be identified separately and not all of which fall on the Government. Direct costs to the Government are small and are not identifiable.
  The Department of Health has contributed from the section 64 general scheme to the funding of the following projects to promote healthy eating in line with the diet and nutrition targets:
  *"Get Cooking!"—£60,000 over 1992–93 and 1993–94 to the National Food Alliance—which aims to encourage children to learn basic cooking skills;
  *"Shopping for A Healthy Diet on A Low Income"—£15,000 in 1993–94 to the National Food Alliance—which produced a resource for people working with low-income families;

  31
  *"The Nutrition of Older People"—£10,000 in 1993–94 to the Caroline Walker Trust—which is aimed at producing nutritional guidelines for those providing food for older people.

  This is complemented and underpinned by the Health Education Authority's nutrition programme-£500,000 in 1995–96.

  Emergency Calls and Admissions
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) emergency calls to ambulance service, (b) admissions were made to casualty departments and (c) admissions were made to hospital from casualty in total and in each region in each of the last five years. [26316]

  Mr. Sackville
  Information on the number of emergency calls to ambulance services is published annually in a booklet entitled "Patient Transport Services, Summary information from form KA34", copies of which are available in the Library. Since 1992–93, this has been recorded as the total number of emergency calls resulting in an ambulance arriving at the scene of an incident, that is, discounting abortive calls.

  Information on the number of finished consultant episodes in the speciality of accident and emergency medicine is published annually in "Ordinary and day case admissions for England", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Information on the estimated number of finished consultant episodes, emergency admissions from accident and emergency departments, England 1989–90 to 199394 is shown in the table:

  Regional Health Authority

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Northern

  101,159

  100,733

  103,912

  110,392

  113,116

  Yorkshire

  126,076

  129,280

  128,297

  143,564

  153,771

  Trent

  117,932

  126,296

  127,196

  141,947

  147,826

  East Anglian

  47,244

  43,806

  40,635

  41,665

  45,691

  North West Thames

  143,858

  139,284

  145,579

  153,433

  144,304

  North East Thames

  226,545

  224,045

  221,837

  237,882

  243,064

  South East Thames

  163,144

  161,494

  164,113

  163,048

  167,180

  South West Thames

  121,935

  124,283

  131,916

  129,729

  143,344

  Wessex

  73,248

  73,927

  65,654

  72,626

  80,244

  Oxford

  67,044

  61,184

  62,543

  61,041

  65,419

  South Western

  81,995

  85,592

  85,843

  87,596

  92,172

  West Midlands

  144,125

  150,689

  150,981

  163,616

  183,665

  Mersey

  112,182

  115,335

  141,349

  146,929

  163,780

  North Western

  183,880

  185,278

  197,107

  195,442

  203,107

  SHAs

  19,504

  14,085

  15,402

  14,189

  16,679

  England

  1,729,873

  1,735,311

  1,782,366

  1,863,100

  1,963,361

  Source:

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

  Health and Social Services Care Programme
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were subject to a health and social services care programme for each regional health authority for each year since 1991. [26646]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Ebola Virus
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions are being held with the World Health Organisation on the subject of controlling the spread of the Ebola virus; and if she will make a statement. [26677]

  Mr. Malone
  My officials met officials from the World Health Organisation on 10 May 1995 following the first report earlier that day of the outbreak of viral haemorrhagic fever due to Ebola virus in Zaire, to obtain information about the outbreak and its extent, and the measures being taken to identify the cause and control the spread of infection. They have been in regular contact since then. The outbreak was confirmed by WHO on 11 May.

  On 11 May, the chief medical officer informed all directors of public health about the outbreak and provided extensive advice, copied to consultants in communicable disease, about Ebola virus infection and the measures required to manage any suspected cases and control the spread of infection. Information and advice was sent by the public health laboratory service on the same day to consultants in communicable disease control, regional epidemiologists and its laboratory directors.

  On 12 May, updated information and advice was sent to consultants in communicable disease and copied to port health authority medical officers and directors of public health.

  Further information and advice were distributed on 18 and 19 May. The distribution list was extended to include sea and airport authorities and infectious disease physicians. Directors of public health were asked to cascade the information to general practitioners, accident and emergency departments and nurses working in the community.

  There has been no case of Ebola virus infection in the United Kingdom since the outbreak in Zaire was reported.

  Dental Amalgam
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is issued to dentists in the handling and use of mercury amalgam; and if this guidance has changed since 1979. [26674]

  Mr. Malone
  Guidance on the handling and use of dental amalgam is primarily a professional matter for dentists. Guidance on the handling and use of mercury has been given by the British Dental Association in 1989, taking account of guidance note EH 17 "Mercury and Safety Precautions", 1977, and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988. The COSSH document is available in the Library, and copies of guidance note EH 17 will be placed in the Library.

  Private Medical Services (Advertising)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is issued to NHS trust managers concerning the advertisement of private hospitals and private health insurance within NHS establishments. [26678]

  Mr. Sackville
  None.

  Professor Hudson
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) who authorised the dismissal of Professor Hudson from the board of St. Bartholomew's hospital; and under what powers; [26984]

  (2) if she will make a statement on the reasons for the dismissal of Professor Hudson from the board of St. Bartholomew's hospital. [26983]

  Mr. Malone
  Professor Hudson has never been a member of the Royal Hospitals NHS trust board and therefore was not dismissed. He has attended board meetings, on an ex-officio basis, as chairman of the St. Bartholomew's medical council.

  Hospital Building Projects
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the major hospital building projects in Buckinghamshire completed since 1978–79 or now under construction or planned giving, in each case, the completion date and the amount of public money spent, expressed both in cash terms and in terms of today's prices. [26968]

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the tables.

  Completed Schemes

  Project/scheme

  Completion date

  Cash £

  At May 1995 prices £

  Amersham—Dermatology Unit

  21st January 1994

  2,581,694

  3,013,872

  Amersham Operating Theatres

  24th June 1983

  1,333,653

  1,767,090

  Amersham Phase 1

  22nd July 1991

  6,193,487

  6,896,109

  Buckingham—Phase 1

  16th February 1990

  1,263,502

  1,488,125

  Milton Keynes DGH —End Unit

  24th September 1992

  1,202,638

  1,350,420

  Milton Keynes DgH Ml Unit

  24th November 1988

  2,495,264

  3,005,659

  Milton Keynes DGH—OPD

  13th November 1989

  3,578,463

  4,035,288

  Milton Keynes DGH —Phase 1

  12th September 1983

  15,638,544

  18,837,337

  Milton Keynes DGH—.Phase 2

  21st August 1991

  17,810,043

  20,083,666

  St. Johns EMI

  1lth March 1991

  1,816,779

  1,738,074

  Stoke Mandeville—Maternity Unit

  5th May 1991

  6,030,648

  5,769,392

  Stoke Mandeville—OPD/Hospice

  18th July 1989

  1,598,049

  1,841,230

  Stoke Mandeville—Pathology

  5th May 1989

  1,545,574

  1,820,343

  Stoke Mandeville X-ray

  10th July 1987

  1,287,006

  1,593,722

  Tindal MI Development

  7th May 1991

  3,831,237

  3,275,090

  Tweed Drive—Nursing Home

  17th November 1989

  1,224,958

  1,143,007

  Wycombe Pathology

  5th July 1985

  1,314,300

  1,698,973

  Wycombe—X-Ray Extensions and Alterations

  16th September 1994

  2,074,436

  2,400,548

  Milton Keynes—Secure Unit Phase 2

  14th February 1995

  1,918,847

  2,101,217

  Totals

  74,739,122

  83,859,162

  DGH—District General Hospital EMI—Elderly Mentally Infirm

  OPD—Out Patients Department

  MI—Mental Illness
  34

  Scheme under construction

  Project/scheme

  Forecast completion date

  Estimated public expenditure1 £

  Aylesbury Manor House Rehabilitation Unit

  30 June 1995

  1,300,000

  Planned scheme

  Project/scheme

  Forecast completion date

  Estimated public expenditure1

  Stoke Mandeville Redevelopment

  1 February 1999

  £23,560,000

  This scheme has received full business case approval and is planned to start from 2 December 1995.

  Note:

  Information is not available for schemes before 1980.

  1Includes construction costs, fees and equipment. Information is not available centrally on total costs for schemes. For example, VAT and land purchase costs are excluded.

  Secure Residential Care
  Mr. Sykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will add the police to the list of those persons the local authority must notify before a child is placed in secure residential care under the Arrangements for Placement of Children (General) Regulations 1991, regulation 5. [26903]

  Mr. Bowis
  I remain to be convinced that this would be right, given that many children in secure accommodation are not offenders.

  Correspondence
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will now respond to the letter of 17 March from Roger and Michelle Gould regarding the medical treatment of their son Jo, their letters of 5 April and 17 April or the letter of 3 May from the hon. Member for Lewisham, East. [26910]

  Mr. Sackville
  I replied on 24 May.

  Stillbirths and Deaths (Inquiry)
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mattresses were examined in compiling the CESDI report; and how many of them had been used before. [26946]

  Mr. Sackville
  I understand that the results of the study, undertaken on behalf of the confidential enquiry into stillbirths and deaths in infancy and reported recently in The Lancet, are still being analysed and the researchers do not wish to release further information until the analysis is complete.

  British Fluoridation Society
  Mr. Sykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money from public funds the British Fluoridation Society has received in each year since it was established. [26904]

  Mr. Malone
  The table gives details of public funds allocated to the British Fluoridation Society by the Department of Health and the Health Education Authority since 1974. Additional funding has been provided by the Scottish Office, Welsh Office and Northern Ireland
  35
  DHSS. Information relating to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  British Fluoridation Society: Amount of public funding for the period from 1973 to 1995

  Year

  DOH £

  HEA £

  1973–74

  nil

  15,356

  1974–75

  nil

  nil

  1975–76

  4,500

  nil

  1976–77

  5,500

  nil

  1977–78

  5,500

  500

  1978–79

  5,500

  nil

  1979–80

  5,500

  nil

  1980–81

  11,000

  nil

  1981–82

  14,000

  nil

  1982–83

  15,000

  nil

  1983–84

  15,000

  nil

  1984–85

  15,000

  5,500

  1985–86

  30,000

  10,000

  1986–87

  20,000

  15,000

  1987–88

  20,000

  13,000

  1988–89

  30,000

  20,977

  1989–90

  31,000

  11,574

  1990–91

  45,784

  3,284

  1991–92

  51,491

  nil

  1992–93

  56,000

  nil

  1993–94

  62,247

  nil

  1994–95

  63,000

  nil

  Source:

  British Fluoridation Society

  DOH—Department of Health

  HEA—Health Education Authority

  Note:

  In 1987 the Health Education Council changed its name to the Health Education Authority.

  Surplus Land
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list those sales involving surplus land and property in which her Department has inserted a clause in the sale contract allowing her Department to obtain a share of any future development gain; and if she will make a statement. [26324]

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally as decisions of this kind are managed at local level.

  Health authorities follow Government procedures for the disposal of surplus land—DAO(GEN)13/92—which advise in appropriate circumstances a clawback provision allowing the authority to obtain a share of any increase in value arising from the grant of planning permission in the future.

  Health Authority Resources
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give the reasons for changes she proposes in the system of weighted capitation of expenditure on purchase of health care, or treatment, by district health authorities for the year 1996–97; what options for additional sums to be paid to them have been considered; from where they will come; and by what date representations should be received concerning her proposals. [26384]
  36
  Mr. Sackville
  The principle of resource allocation to health authorities is weighted capitation and a modified formula was announced in October 1994 following a major review. The modified formula will be used as the basis of allocations to health authorities, subject to the enactment of the Health Authorities Bill, in 1996–97.

  The formula is kept under continuous review in the light of comments from health authorities and others and some possible refinements are currently under consideration. Changes to the formula are self-financing: they increase the weighted population share of some health authorities and reduce that of others.

  Staff and Patient Ratios
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average staffing ratio for patients with hospital orders for manslaughter. [26094]

  Mr. Bowls
  The information is not available centrally, but the ratio will depend on each individual unit's operational policy and may vary with the number and mix of patients in the unit.

  Fostering Regulations
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library full copies of all the responses received to the local authority social services letter (95)4. [26632]

  Mr. Bowls
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Stockport (Ms Coffey) on 2 May, column 181. I expect to receive a summary shortly.

  GP Fundholders
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Clappison) of 22 May,Official Report, column 409 (1) if she will specify the total number of practice managers employed by general practitioner fundholders in each year between 1 April 1991 and 1995; and what was the total number of managers' support staff; [27141]

  (2) if she will give the aggregate level of general practitioner fundholders' practice managers' salaries costs which are deemed to have been unlawful between 1 April 1991 and 1995. [27142]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally.

  NHS Charges
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what would be the annual cost of abolishing NHS charges presently made for eye and dental checks.

  Mr. Malone
  [pursuant to his reply, 6 March 1995, c. 49]: I regret that there was an error in my previous reply.

  The annual cost at 1993–94 prices for dental examinations, assuming that the removal of the charge led to no increase in the number of dental examinations, should read approximately £60 million and not £70 million as previously quoted.

TRANSPORT

  Surplus Land
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those sales involving surplus land and property in which his Department has inserted a clause in the sale contract allowing his Department to obtain a share of any future development gain; and if he will make a statement. [26323]

  Mr. Watts
  This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Land which has potential for development will normally be sold with the benefit of planning permission. However, there will be cases where, in the light of professional advice it is decided that there are good reasons to dispose of surplus land or property with development potential without first obtaining appropriate planning permission, for example because it would take unusually long to establish the planning position. In such cases, in accordance with Treasury guidance, my Department considers the possibility of including in the terms of conveyance a clawback clause allowing it to share in any future development gain.

  Catamaran Passenger Craft
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the evacuation times of all high-speed catamaran passenger craft operating from United Kingdom ports. [26429]

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

  Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 6 June 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about the evacuation times of all high speed catamaran passenger craft operating from United Kingdom ports.
  Evacuation times range from 9 to 16 minutes and are therefore within the maximum allowable time of 17 minutes 40 seconds as required by the Code of Safety for High Speed Craft.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what considerations led him not to publish the evacuation trials on high-speed catamaran passenger craft. [26431]

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

  Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 6 June 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your further Question about publishing evacuation trials on high speed catamaran passenger craft.
  As part of its comprehensive approval, survey and inspection procedures, the Agency conducts or oversees a number of tests and trials to ensure that seagoing crafts of all types meet national and international safety standards, including evacuation requirements. There are no plans to publish the results of particular tests or trials, other than in the context of serious deficiencies where a ship is detained.

  Newbury Bypass
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made by the Highways Agency in reviewing the options for the Newbury bypass; what reports, including draft and preliminary reports, have been submitted by the Highways Agency to him; and when he will publish the contents of these reports. [26937]
  38
  Mr. Watts
  Substantial progress has been made by the Highways Agency in its review of this scheme. The Secretary of State has received preliminary findings on certain aspects of the review. Further work by the agency is required before its final report is submitted. For this reason, it is not appropriate to publish the preliminary papers.

  Biodiesel
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what research he has commissioned into the effects of converting road transport to burn biodiesel from crops; and if he will make a statement; [27091]

  (2) what research he has commissioned into the impact on atmospheric pollution of converting road vehicles to burn biodiesel from crops; and if he will make a statement. [27092]

  Mr. Norris
  In 1993, a bus run on biodiesel by Reading Buses was emissions tested by the Transport Research Laboratory. The conclusion of this work was announced in the answer by my right hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr. Freeman) to the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) on 21 October 1993, Official Report, column 298. Biodiesel is included in the current collaborative programme of trials of a range of alternative fuels announced by my hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key) to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) on 21 March 1994, Official Report, column 9.

  Railway Equipment Breakdowns
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many breakdowns of(a) rail track, (b) signalling equipment, (c) overhead lines and (d) other equipment and infrastructure occurred of (i) a major and (ii) a minor nature on the rail network in each year since 1970. [27152]

  Mr. Watts
  Railtrack advises me that this information is not held centrally and that it would involve a disproportionate cost to attempt to collect it.

  Integrated Public Transport
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the level of expenditure on integrated public transport and road schemes in the current year, indicating its percentage of the total transport budget; and what were the corresponding figures for each of the last 10 years. [27156]

  Mr. Norris
  There is no generally accepted definition of an integrated public transport and road scheme. It is not therefore possible to provide this information in the form requested.

  Railway Investment
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the level of railway investment in each EU country in the last year for which figures are available, calculated in sterling at current exchange rates; and what are those levels of railway investment per kilometre of rail track; [27155]

  (2) what was the level of railways investment per head of the population in each EU country calculated in sterling at current exchange rates, in each of the last 20 years; and if he will list these levels of investment expressed as an index where the United Kingdom rail investment equals 100. [27154]
  39
  Mr. Watts
  The information available is published in "Statistical Trends in Transport 1965–1989", prepared by the European conference of Ministers of Transport. Copies will be placed in the Library in due course.

  Pedestrian Casualties
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date he will publish the Transport Research Laboratory's report on pedestrian casualty rates among children. [26763]

  Mr. Norris
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newcastle under Lyme (Mrs. Golding) on 1 May 1995, Official Report, column 61.

  Gliders
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of glider flights on grazing animals. [26938]

  Mr. Norris
  None.

  Transport Supplementary Grants
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans he has to extend transport supplementary grant bids to expenditure on transport packages; [27193]

  (2) what progress he has made in implementing recommendation 42 of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution's 18th report on transport and the environment. [27194]

  Mr. Norris
  Section 88(3) of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 restricts the payment of transport supplementary grant in England to expenditure in connection with highways or the regulation of traffic. In order to provide greater flexibility for local authorities to switch resources between different types of expenditure, it was agreed with the local authority associations that works costing less than £2 million within transport package bids would be funded through supplementary credit approvals. The borrowing costs associated with the use of SCAs are reflected in the calculation of local authorities' entitlement to revenue support grant.

  We are still considering whether any change to the existing legislative framework, as suggested by the royal commission, is needed.

  Vehicle Owner Details
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are taken to ensure that the tracing facility relating to the disclosure of names and addresses of vehicle owners to organisations showing good cause for disclosure is not abused; what percentage of requests for disclosure have been refused over the last year; if he will list the tracing agencies using Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency data for tracing purposes; and if he will make a statement. [26410]

  Mr. Norris
  Individual written requests for personal details of vehicle keepers from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's vehicle record are vetted prior to processing. One and a half million were received during the last 12 months. Two per cent. were rejected.

  Five million requests from the police, local authorities and other approved organisations using a bulk inquiry facility were processed during the same period. These organisations, with the exception of the police, are bound
  40
  by agreements with DVLA to provide facilities to enable the agency to check that only bona fide requests are made.

  A list of organisations submitting written inquiries is not available. Arrangements have been made for a complete list of bulk inquiries to be lodged in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many disclosures of names and addresses of vehicle owners there were from Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency vehicle owner indexes over the last 12 months; how many of these were made to(a) the police, (b) local authorities and (c) organisations showing good cause for disclosure; and if he will make a statement. [26409]

  Mr. Norris
  Approximately 6.5 million requests for the names and addresses of vehicle keepers were processed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency during the period April 1994 to March 1995. The majority originated from the police and local authorities. Detailed statistics are not available.

  Aircraft Emergency Medical Equipment
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the emergency medical equipment that has to be carried on all scheduled flights by British-registered aircraft. [26508]

  Mr. Norris
  The Air Navigation Order 1995 requires all UK registered aircraft to carry first aid equipment of good quality, sufficient in quantity, having regard to the number of persons on board the aircraft, and including the following:Roller bandages, triangular bandages, adhesive plaster, absorbent gauze, cotton wool (or wound dressings in place of the absorbent gauze and cotton wool), burn dressings, safety pins;
  Haemostatic bandages or tourniquets, scissors;
  Antiseptic, analgesic and stimulant drugs;
  Splints, in the case of aeroplanes the maximum total weight authorised of which exceeds 5,700 kg;
  A handbook on first aid.

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the membership of the tender adjudication steering group that considered the bids for the construction of the channel rail link. [26574]

  Mr. Watts
  The steering group comprises officials from the Department of Transport and the other Government Departments concerned, together with senior representatives from the companies providing advice to the Department on the project.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the subsidy from public funds that will be required to ensure the completion of the channel tunnel rail link. [26451]

  Mr. Watts
  The precise amount of public sector support which the Government will make available for this project will depend on the outcome of the competition currently under way to select a private sector promoter. We anticipate that the contribution will be substantial.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce the name of the successful bidder for the channel rail link construction contract. [26575]

  Mr. Watts
  The Government intend to make an announcement towards the end of this year.

  Motorways
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which sections of motorways in each county currently have traffic levels which exceed on average 75,000 vehicles per day; and which sections of motorways in each county are expected to have such traffic levels by the year 2000. [26311]

  Mr. Watts
  The table lists the motorway sections in each county which, in 1994, has an estimated annual average daily traffic level—for both directions in total— of more than 75,000 vehicles. This information is derived from the national traffic census.

  Forecasts of traffic flows on individual sections of motorway are not made as a matter of routine.

  Motorway links with average daily traffic levels of more than 75,000 vehicles in 1994

  County1

  Road

  Start junction

  End junction

  Greater London

  M1

  4

  A411

  M25

  29

  30

  M4

  1

  4B

  A102M

  A102

  A2

  A40M

  M41

  A404

  Greater Manchester

  M6

  24

  25

  M6

  26

  27

  M62

  12

  14

  M62

  15

  M61(1)

  M62

  15

  21

  M63

  3

  4

  M63

  6

  9

  M63

  10

  A560

  M63

  12

  13

  M63

  A560

  A5145

  M56

  3

  6

  M61

  1

  2

  South Yorkshire

  M1

  31

  35A

  West Midlands

  M5

  M6(8)

  1

  M5

  1

  2

  M6

  4A

  9

  M6

  10

  10A

  A38M

  A4400

  M6(6)

  M42

  6

  7

  West Yorkshire

  M62

  25

  27

  M62

  27

  A62

  M62

  30

  31

  M621

  M62

  A62

  A58M

  A660

  A66

  Tyne and Wear

  A167M

  A186

  A187

  Avon

  M4

  19

  20

  M5

  17

  19

  M32

  1

  2

  Bedfordshire

  M1

  10

  13

  Berkshire

  M4

  4B

  6

  M4

  7

  11

  Buckinghamshire

  M1

  13

  15

  M25

  15

  17

  M40

  1A

  4

  42

  Motorway links with average daily traffic levels of more than 75,000 vehicles in 1994

  County1

  Road

  Start junction

  End junction

  Cheshire

  M6

  16

  23

  M6

  M56(9)

  20

  M62

  10

  12

  M56

  6

  7

  M56

  9

  10

  Derbyshire

  M1

  24

  26

  M1

  27

  29

  M1

  30

  31

  Essex

  M25

  25

  29

  Hampshire

  M27

  3

  4

  M27

  5

  8

  M27

  11

  12

  M27

  M275

  A27

  M3

  5

  6

  Hereford and Worchester

  M5

  4

  M42(4A)

  M5

  M42(4A)

  5

  M42

  2

  3

  Hertfordshire

  M1

  A411

  5

  M1

  9

  10

  M25

  17

  25

  Kent

  M20

  5

  6

  M25

  2

  5

  Lancashire

  M6

  30

  32

  Northamptonshire

  M1

  15

  17

  Nottinghamshire

  M1

  26

  27

  Oxfordshire

  M40

  9

  10

  Staffordshire

  M6

  10A

  16

  Surrey

  M25

  5

  15

  M23

  7

  9

  M23

  9

  10

  M3

  2

  3

  M3

  3

  4

  Warwickshire

  M6

  2

  4

  M42

  3

  3A

  M42

  5

  6

  1 Where motorway links cross county boundaries the link has been assigned to the county in which the traffic count was carried out.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons his Department will not consider installing acoustic fencing on motorways that have been completed. [26361]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 6 June 1995:
  As you know, the Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for what reasons his Department will not consider installing acoustic fencing on motorways that have been completed.

  43
  As I explained in answer to your earlier question, presented in the Official Report dated 9 May, column 351, it is not the Agency's policy to apply mitigation to existing roads. The statutory duty to provide noise reduction measures applies only to those new roads or improved roads opened since 17 October 1969. Owners of residential properties in the vicinity of these trunk roads and motorways will have had the opportunity of being considered for noise insulation and of claiming compensation for consequential loss of value of their property under the Land Compensation Act 1973.
  Any compensation provided under the Land Compensation Act 1973 will have taken account of the noise levels at affected properties, allowing where appropriate for the contribution of noise mitigation measures included as part of the scheme. We do not provide any further noise mitigation once compensation has been settled since this would incur double counting.
  I trust this explains the reason for it not being possible to consider installing acoustic fencing on motorways that have been completed.

  Lead Monitoring
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what continuous monitoring of blood lead levels in children is carried out by his Department; and if he will publish the reports for the last three years for which information is available. [26605]

  Mr. Norris
  Monitoring of levels of lead in children is a matter for the Department of Health. However, I understand that monitoring programmes have shown a continuing fall in blood lead levels. This is in part due to the Government's successful policy of encouraging the use of unleaded petrol.

  Departmental Performance
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what policy and procedure exist for dealing with complaints against his Department by members of the public; when his Department last updated its policy; what time limit and target for dealing with such complaints his Department has; and what follow—up procedure exists where complainants are not satisfied with his Department's response to a complaint; [26214]

  (2) what performance indicators and performance targets there are for measuring the performance of his Department in (a) answering letters from members of the public and (b) answering telephone calls from members of the public; how performance is monitored; and what are the latest figures for performance measured against the target set. [26230]

  Mr. Norris
  In June 1994 the Department launched the "Serving the Public" initiative, developed in response to the citizens charter and designed to improve its service to the public when answering letters, taking telephone calls and handling complaints. Departmental standards and procedures are contained in a leaflet "Serving the Public".

  There is a target of 15 working days for responding to letters and complaints from the public. A correspondence monitoring system has been put in place across the Central Transport Group to measure performance. Results for the first quarter of 1995 show that 91.5 per cent. were answered within the 15—day target.

  The Department is also currently working on methods of monitoring telephone performance across the whole central transport group. Performance figures for 1994 show that 95 per cent. of all calls to the Department's public inquiry unit were answered within 15 seconds.
  44
  The Department has recently reviewed its complaints handling procedures and is currently finalising details to provide for independent arbitration where complainants are not satisfied with the departmental response.

  Local Road Safety Schemes
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the allocation of funding for local road safety schemes in real and constant terms for(a) 1995–96, (b)1996–97 and 1997–98. [26172]

  Mr. Norris
  Some £50 million is allocated to local safety schemes in 1995–96. This is programmed to rise to £55 million in 1996–97 and £60 million in 1997–98. Based on the latest estimate of the GDP deflator, the figures—in 1995–96 prices—amount to £50 million in 1995–96, £53.66 million in 1996–97 and £57.25 million in 1997–98.

  Angel Junction
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to release or dispose of the properties owned by his Department at 353–359 Goswell road, London EC 1. [25964]

  Mr. Watts
  The Highways Agency will shortly be commissioning a study of the Angel junction to consider modest improvements, recognising the importance of striking an appropriate balance between safety, the environment and the needs of all road users, including pedestrians.

  The results of the study will be known in about six months and a decision about the release or disposal of 353–359 Goswell road will be taken shortly afterwards. Meanwhile, steps are being taken to ensure the properties are weathertight and secure.

  Buses
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers are available to traffic commissioners to restrict the routes and number of vehicles operating on local bus routes. [25908]

  Mr. Norris
  Powers are available to traffic commissioners under section 7 of the Transport Act 1985 whereby they may determine traffic regulation conditions to regulate, inter alia, the routes of services and to limit the number of vehicles which may be used in the provision of a local service.

  Commissioners may determine traffic regulation conditions only at the request of a traffic authority and only if satisfied that such conditions are required in order to prevent danger to road users or reduce severe traffic congestion.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by traffic area office the number of staff employed specifically on bus monitoring and the number of hours spent on this task for each of the last 12 months. [25909]

  Mr. Norris
  The only staff employed specifically by traffic area offices on this task are casual—often retired staff—working part time. These are used to varying degrees depending on local arrangements. Precise staff numbers and the breakdown of hours spent per month are not easily available, but the total annual number of hours by all staff, including permanent traffic area office and vehicle inspectorate staff, in 1994–95 is given.
  45

  Annual number of hours worked on bus monitoring by each traffic area

  Traffic area office

  Total number of hours 1994–95

  North Eastern (Leeds)

  740

  North Western (Manchester

  525

  West Midland (Birmingham)

  900

  Eastern (Cambridge)

  257

  South Wales (Cardiff)

  840

  Western (Bristol)

  398

  South Eastern & Metropolitan (Eastbourne)

  0

  Scottish (Edinburgh)

  936

  Total

  4,596

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action(a) his Department and (b) the north-eastern traffic commissioner have taken in respect of predatory behaviour by bus companies in Darlington. [25910]

  Mr. Norris
  It is not for the Department to take action in respect of predatory behaviour by bus companies. Anti-competitive conduct is a matter for the competition authorities.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the penalties available to traffic commissioners for dealing with public service vehicle operators who fail to operate local bus services in a proper manner. [25913]

  Mr. Norris
  The penalties are set out in sections 26 and 111 of the Transport Act 1985. In summary, they are as follows:A traffic commissioner may attach to the operator's licence a condition prohibiting the operator from using vehicles under the licence to provide any local service of a description specified in the condition or one prohibiting him from so using vehicles to provide local services of any description.
  A traffic commissioner may make a determination that an operator has failed to operate a local service as registered and notify the Secretary of State accordingly. The Secretary of State will then reduce by 20 per cent. any fuel duty rebate payable to the operator for the previous 3 months in respect of all his local service operations.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by traffic area for each of the last five years the number of staff employed in sections dealing with the registration of local bus services and public service vehicle operator licensing. [25914]

  Mr. Norris
  The numbers of staff years in each of the last five years were:

  Traffic Area Office: Staff working in PSV and bus registration sections

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  North Eastern (Newcastle)

  1.20

  —

  —

  —

  —

  North Eastern (Leeds)

  7.90

  8.36

  9.74

  9.71

  8.20

  North Western (Manchester)

  8.50

  9.78

  11.14

  10.54

  10.80

  West Midlands (Birmingham)

  5.20

  5.21

  5.79

  5.38

  4.68

  Eastern (Nottingham)

  3.60

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Eastern (Cambridge)

  4.10

  6.80

  5.99

  4.58

  4.86

  South Wales (Cardiff)

  3.60

  3.82

  4.82

  4.63

  3.61

  Western (Bristol)

  5.50

  7.84

  8.19

  7.30

  7.01

  Metropolitan (London)

  4.90

  0.31

  —

  —

  —

  46

  Traffic Area Office: Staff working in PSV and bus registration sections

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  South Eastern and Metropolitan (Eastbourne)

  3.40

  6.11

  5.56

  5.93

  5.71

  Scottish (Edinburgh)

  7.50

  8.39

  9.15

  9.04

  8.52

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the amount spent by his Department publicising the fact that members of the public can complain to traffic commissioners regarding the operation of local bus services. [25915]

  Mr. Norris
  No specific funds are allocated for this purpose.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what extra resources have been provided in the traffic area offices to deal with the new regulations relating to the registration of local bus services; and what assessment he has made of the additional resources required. [25917]

  Mr. Norris
  No additional resources have been provided to traffic area offices. The Department's assessment is that the resources currently available will be sufficient to deal with enforcement of the new regulations.

  Traffic Regulation Conditions
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by traffic area office for each of the last five years the traffic regulation conditions imposed by traffic commissioners indicating the reasons for their imposition. [25916]

  Mr. Norris
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Traffic regulation conditions imposed since 1990

  Traffic area

  Locality

  Reasons

  1990

  NWTA

  Oldham Severe roads in Shaw

  Danger to the public

  1991

  NWTA

  Traffod Ayres Road and Henrietta St Restricted size of vehicle to no more than 7.04 m in length and 2.21 m in width

  Severe congestion and danger to the public

  1992

  NWTA

  Bolton Glengarth Drive

  Severe congestion and danger to the public

  NETA

  Sheffield Various central streets and part of Ecclesall Rd

  Severe congestion

  NETA

  Barnsley Kendray St and Pontefract Rd

  Severe congestion

  1993

  SCOTTA

  Edinburgh St. Andrew's, Sq, South St. Davids St and York Place Waiting times at bus stops controlled

  Severe congestion

  47

  Traffic regulation conditions imposed since 1990

  Traffic area

  Locality

  Reasons

  NWTA

  Liverpool Sir Thomas St (part), Victoria St (part)Whitechapel, Crosshall St, Hood St, Roe St Brythen St, Dawson St ie area known locally as the Gyratory

  Danger to the public and severe congestion

  1994

  NETA

  Sheffield Church St and part of High Street No new registrations will be accepted on this route

  severe congestion

  WMTA

  Birmingham Priory Queensway, Corporation St, Lower New St, St. Martins Circus, Hill St, Paradise St, Dale End, Upper Bull Street Waiting times at bus stops controlled

  severe congestion

  1995

  NWTA

  Manchester Wilmslow Road between Willowbank and Old Hall Lane, Fallowfield Waiting times at bus stops controlled and use of bus stops restricted to buses on specified services

  severe congestion

  Staff
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what changes there have been in the number of staff employed by grade in(a) his Department and (b) each agency for which his Department is responsible in (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 1994–95; and what are the projected figures for 1995–96; [25556]

  (2) what changes there have been in the number staff in employment by grade in (a) his Department and (b) each agency for which his Department is responsible in (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 1994–95; and what are the projected figures for 1995–96. [25631]

  Mr. Norris
  The numbers of staff—permanent and casual—employed by my Department, and each of its executive agencies, in 1993–94, projected outturn for 1994–95, and plans for 1995–96 are published in my Department's annual report, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many posts were lost in(a) the Department of Transport and (b) agencies for which the Department of Transport is responsible, listing the total lost posts by agency in (i) 1993–94 (ii) 1994–95 and (iii) projected posts lost for 1995–96. [25070]

  Mr. Norris
  My Department does not keep a central record of posts. The number of staff employed by my Department and each of its executive agencies in 1993–94, the projected outturn for 1994ߝ95 and the plan for 1995–96 are published in my Department's annual report, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  Ferries
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his assessment of the evacuation exercise conducted by Sally Line in Ramsgate seven years ago; and what lessons may be drawn from that exercise for plans for evacuation of ferries operating from United Kingdom ports. [24921]

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 18 May 1995]This is an operational matter for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Paul Flynn dated 6 June 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about the evacuation exercise conducted by Sally Line in Ramsgate seven years ago.
  A ferry exercise "FEREX '86" was carried out from the Sally Line ferry, "THE VIKING", one mile off Broadstairs in January 1986. The exercise was arranged by the RNLI in co-operation with the Sally-Line, the Director of Naval Operations and Trade, Royal Marines Deal, RAF Manston and HMCG Dover. All agreed that FEREX '86 proved to be a most useful exercise. As a result of this operation, which was the first of its kind in UK waters, similar exercises have been conducted since, whenever the opportunity has arisen.

  Consultants
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the level of expenditure on consultancy by(a) his Department and (b) agencies for which his Department is responsible for (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 1994–95; and what are the projected figures for 1995–96. [25650]

  Mr. Norris
  The figures requested are as follows:

  Department

  Agencies

  1993–94

  23,016,700

  11,200,800

  1994–95

  20,956,100

  18,093,100

  1995–962

  20,000,000

  10,000,000

  1 The Highways Agency, Marine Safety Agency and Coastguard agency were formed 1 April 1994. Figures for these three agencies move from the Departmental figure to the agencies figure in the year 1994–95. The totals exclude expenditure by the Highways Agency on road schemes.

  2 Estimated.

  Bilateral Air Service Agreements
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the Government will undertake to impose a veto on any attempt by the European Commission to extend its authority in the field of civil aviation to include negotiations with the United States and other countries on landing rights or any other matter which is now dealt with by him direct with the countries concerned. [25380]

  Mr. Norris
  It is the Government's policy that member states should remain free to negotiate bilateral air service agreements, except in those cases, for example with Switzerland, where a mandate has been agreed in the Council of Ministers.

  Fishing Vessels
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are taken to check that the engine capacity registered for fishing vessels is accurate; whether torque meters are used to check reported capacity; and what checks are made with the engine manufacturers. [25386]
  49
  Mr. Norris
  This is an operational matter for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Austin Mitchell, dated 6 June 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about the steps taken to check that the engine capacity of fishing vessels is recorded accurately. In view of the reference to torque meters I have assumed that the Question refers to engine power rather than capacity.
  Vessels to be placed on the United Kingdom Register are subject to survey by a Marine Safety Agency Surveyor, or a Surveyor of one of the Classification Societies acting on behalf of the MSA. He must ensure that the information being recorded accurately reflects that vessel, since the information will subsequently be forwarded to the Registry.
  The power of the engine is normally furnished by the shipbuilder who should be in possession of the engine test-bed specification as provided by the engine manufacturer. Where there are serious grounds for concern that the recorded details of engine power may no longer be accurate, then a further survey will be required to ascertain that the details are indeed correct.

  Empty Dwellings
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total number of houses owned by his Department that have been empty for(a) more than six months and (b) more than 12 months; and what action his Department is taking to reduce the numbers. [25858]

  Mr. Watts
  As at the end of April 1995, my Department held 324 dwellings which had been standing empty for more than six months and a further 504 had been standing empty for more than 12 months.

  Regular monitoring of the situation on empty dwellings takes place to try and ensure that tenants are found as quickly as possible for those dwellings which are vacant but lettable. We also constantly monitor all the properties in our portfolio so as to identify at the earliest possible opportunity those which are required for road schemes and therefore need to be demolished and those which can be declared surplus and sold. As at the end of April, of the 828 dwellings identified above, 250 were vacant because they were either awaiting sale or demolition.

  M4
  Mr. Gamier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the September 1993 plans for M4 improvements to junction 4B-8/9 were most recently updated; and if he will place copies of the updated plans in the Library. [25995]

  Mr. Norris
  The Highways Agency held public consultation in October 1993 about proposals for increasing capacity in this corridor. The responses to the consultation are still being considered in preparation for a decision by the Secretary of State on the preferred option. There has been no revision of the proposals since consultation.

  Railways Investment
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the levels of investment in the rail network, excluding channel tunnel and European passenger services, for each year since 1970, expressed at constant 1995 prices. [27153]
  50
  Mr. Watts
  The information, expressed in 1994–95 prices, is as follows:

  Year

  Investment £million

  1970

  702

  1971

  746

  1972

  775

  1973

  777

  1974

  839

  1975

  969

  1976

  946

  1977

  937

  1978

  941

  1979

  967

  1980

  951

  1981

  810

  1982

  695

  1983

  767

  1984–851

  786

  1985–86

  855

  1986–87

  819

  1987–88

  993

  1988–89

  970

  1989–90

  1,085

  1990–91

  1,009

  1991–92

  1,059

  1992–93

  1,004

  1993–94

  663

  1 15-month year due to an accounting change from calendar years to financial years.

  M66
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 15 May,Official Report, column 2, if the M66 has lighting along its entire length. [26370]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated 6 June 1995:
  As you know, the Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 15 May, Official Report, column 2, if the M66 has lighting along its entire length.
  The M66 is a dual 2 lane (and in places dual 3 lane) motorway and 14 of its 16 miles are lit.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Churchill Papers
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if the recently acquired Churchill papers are insured against fire or other loss. [26366]

  Mr. Dorrell
  This is a matter for the Sir Winston Churchill archive trust, the new owners of the papers which are housed at Churchill college, Cambridge. I understand the trustees will be meeting shortly to consider, among other things, arrangements for insurance of the papers.
  51
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 24 May,Official Report, column 647, on the cataloguing of the Churchill archive, if he will estimate the number of items and the percentage of the collection that are state papers. [26965]

  Mr. Dorrell
  The state papers in the Churchill archive are, in the main, those listed in the classes shown as "Official" in the outline catalogue which is available at Churchill college, Cambridge and at the national register of archives, Chancery lane. When the detailed catalogue, to which I referred in my rely to the hon. Member on 24 May is available it will be possible to say precisely how many items these classes comprise.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage who initiated the negotiations for the sale of Winston Churchill's private papers to the national heritage memorial fund. [26866]

  Mr. Dorrell
  Cambridge university and Churchill college, Cambridge submitted a lottery application to fund the purchase of the non-state papers. The papers are now the property of the Sir Winston Churchill archive trust, which was specially constituted for the purpose.

  Surplus Land
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list those sales involving surplus land and property in which his Department has inserted a clause in the sale contract allowing his Department to obtain a share of any future development gain; and if he will make a statement. [26320]

  Mr. Dorrell
  Since its inception in 1992, neither my Department nor its agencies have been involved in the sale of any surplus land or property.

  Digital Terrestrial Television
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what criteria will be used to allocate the additional channels which will become available in 1997 with the introduction of digital terrestrial television. [26576]

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Government are considering their policy for the introduction of digital broadcasting, including licensing and ownership questions, and will later this summer be issuing a policy document setting out their proposals.

  West Midlands Arts Council
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what funding the west midlands arts council has received in each of the last five years. [25254]

  Mr. Dorrell
  Central Government funding for the regional arts boards is delivered through three non-departmental public bodies: the Arts Council of England, the British Film Institute, and the Crafts Council. The funding from each of these bodies for the West Midlands arts board in each of the past five years is as follows:

  Ace

  BFI

  Craft Council

  1990–91

  2,811,908

  109,250

  49,000

  1991–92

  3,161,366

  127,444

  55,500

  52

  Ace

  BFI

  Crafts Council

  1992–93

  13,644,064

  130,970

  64,900

  1993–94

  3,878,697

  112,292

  67,200

  1994–95

  25,588,887

  130,970

  73,000

  1This figure includes £95,000 as a result of the delegation of funding responsibility to West Midlands Arts Board for clients from the Arts Council.

  2 This figure includes £1.6 million as a result of the delegation of funding responsibility to West Midlands Arts Board for four theatres in the region from the Arts Council.

  Archaeological Sites
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is his Department's current expenditure devoted to the preservation of archaeological sites. [25251]

  Mr. Dorrell
  Setting aside expenditure on properties which are the direct responsibility of my Department and its sponsored bodies, and which will include sites of archaeological importance, my Department's resources for the preservation of archaeological sites are channelled primarily through English Heritage. In 1994–95, English Heritage spent £2.6 million on grants to owners for the preservation, maintenance and management of ancient monuments and £8 million on archaeological investigations, including excavation and preservation by record.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many archaeological sites known to his Department have been(a) listed and (b) not listed by his Department. [25250]

  Mr. Dorrell
  At the end of April 1995, there were 15,489 entries on the schedule of ancient monuments, representing some 22,250 individual sites. There are about 500,000 archaeological sites in England, but of these less than 10 per cent. are likely to be of national importance and therefore eligible for consideration for scheduling.

  Theatre Admissions
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what discussions he has had with theatre production promoters to encourage admission for people on low incomes. [25252]

  Mr. Dorrell
  This subject comes up regularly in discussions with a wide variety of interlocutors. My Department, the Arts Council and regional arts boards attach a high priority to encouraging the widest possible access to the arts. To that end, the council and RABs pay particular attention to the access policies, including seat pricing arrangements, of the performing arts organisations which they support.

  Channel 4
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, how Channel 4 can use or dispose of Channel 4 surpluses. [26445]

  Mr. Dorrell
  It is for Channel 4 to determine how it uses or disposes of its surpluses, within the terms of its remit set out in the Broadcasting Act 1990 and its licence conditions established by the Independent Television Commission.
  53
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if Channel 3 bidders indicated the expected levels of money transfers to or from Channel 4. [26443]

  Mr. Dorrell
  The business plans of the Channel 3 bidders are confidential to the Independent Television Commission, which was responsible for awarding the Channel 3 licences.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if Channel 4 is treated by his Department as a nationalised business. [26446]

  Mr. Dorrell
  Channel 4 became a self-governing statutory corporation on 1 January 1993, under the terms of the Broadcasting Act 1990.

  Community Television
  Mr. Barry Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what action he is taking to assist the development of local community television services. [26536]

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Broadcasting Act 1990 increased the scope for broadcasting in the UK, including opportunities for local television services delivered by cable. The introduction of digital terrestrial television services may open up further prospects. The Government intend to publish proposals for digital broadcasting this summer.

  Television Productions
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much was earned in exports of television productions in the last year for which figures are available. [25257]

  Mr. Dorrell
  Data published by the Central Statistical Office for 1993, the latest year for which figures are available, show the overseas earnings of UK television companies as totalling £113 million. Total earnings will have been higher than this, because some of the record £236 million overseas earnings of the UK film industry for transmission rights, royalties and sales will have been generated by their television productions, but this component is not separately identifiable.

  BBC
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage by what mechanisms the BBC is accountable to Government in relation to the economy and efficiency of its expenditure. [25256]

  Mr. Dorrell
  Responsibility for ensuring economy and efficiency falls ultimately on the BBC's governors, who are appointed by Her Majesty the Queen on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The BBC is required by its royal charter to lay its annual report and accounts before Parliament.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what recent representations he has received relating to reductions in the BBC's output. [25255]

  Mr. Dorrell
  We regularly receive representations about the changes to the BBC's programmes and services.

  National Lottery
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement concerning 54
  the distribution of national lottery funds to voluntary organisations in (a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland. [23344]

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 16 May 1995]: The following voluntary organisations have received awards from national lottery proceeds in Strathclyde:

  Voluntary organizations

  £

  Strathclyde

  Tobermory Centre, Island of Mull

  85,000

  Hopscotch Theatre Company, Glasgow

  20,358

  Four Acres Charitable Trust, Glasgow

  9,500

  The Arts is Magic, Glasgow

  7,000

  Bellshill and Mossend YMCA, Bellshill

  37,000

  Ardrossan Academicals Rugby Football Club, Ardrossan

  24,000

  Scotland

  Grampian Arts Hospital Trust, Elgin

  14,200

  The Saltire Society, Edinburgh

  12,095

  Plockton Village Hall, Kyle of Lochalsh

  62,435

  Melvin Hall Management Committee, Tarves

  7,965

  Haddo Arts Trust, Aberdeen

  28,955

  Orkney Camarata, Orkney

  6,000

  Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Pitlochry

  7,500

  MacRobert Arts Centre, Stirling

  9,000

  Dance Base Ltd., Edinburgh

  3,875

  Deeside Gliding Club, Aboyne

  49,800

  Loch Ness and Highland Horizons, Inverness

  760,000

  Northern Sports Development Trust, Shetland

  45,000

  Priestfield Tennis and Sports Association, Edinburgh

  24,700

  Jed Forest Rugby Football Club, Jedburgh

  37,700

  Cononbridge and Maryburgh Bowling Club, Ross and Cromarty

  28,300

  Highland Gliding Club, Elgin

  22,000

  Deeside All Weather Training Area, Banchory

  40,000

  Findhorn Bowling and Tennis Club, Morayshire

  10,700

  Stewarty Unit 558 Sea Cadet Corps, Kirkcudbright

  4,500

  West Linton Tennis Club, West Lothian

  29,900

  Corstorphine Lawn Tennis Club, Edinburgh

  27,800

  Hawick Bowling Club, Hawick

  26,600

  Loch Tay Racing Club, Kenmore

  16,000

  West Calder Bowling Club, West Lothian

  9,606

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Contingency Budget
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the size of the Overseas Development Administration's contingency budget for each of the last five years. [25733]

  Mr. Baldry
  The information is as follows:

  1991–92: £70 million

  1992–93: £70 million

  1993–94: £70 million

  1994–95: £75 million

  1995–96: £68 million

  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times the ODA's contingency budget was drawn on in 1994–95; and for what purpose. [25737]

  Mr. Baldry
  The ODA's contingency budget was drawn on 29 times in 1994–95. It was used for the following purposes:
  55

  Aid Programme Contingency Reserve Allocations: 1994–95

  Approved claims

  Amount £000

  European Investment Bank (EIB) loan defaults: 7 claims

  829

  Food Aid

  Rwanda

  1,250

  Malawi

  1,440

  Rwanda: (4 claims)

  20,000

  Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC): to cover cost of interest payments pending an amendment to the CDC Act permitting the waiving of interest charges

  5,860

  Financial support for the newly formed Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF)

  30

  Mozambique-Matola Jetties

  2,250

  Turks and Caicos Islands: environmental and infrastructure improvements

  250

  Further work on Economic and Social Research

  300

  Macedonia balance of payments support

  2,000

  Commonwealth of Learning

  300

  United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): UK contribution to Capacity 21

  647

  United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA): further support for population projects

  1,500

  Skillshare Africa

  65

  Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC): increased contribution due to progress on reforms

  400

  Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD): finance participation of indigenous people in CSD meetings

  20

  British Council: to cover in-year Overseas Price Movements (OPM)

  733

  Bosnia

  20,000

  Evaluation

  150

  Total approved

  58,024

  Disaster Relief: funds earmarked at start of FY

  12,000

  Balance of Contingency Reserve at end of FY

  4,976

  Ministerial Visits
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all projects to be visited by the Minister for Overseas Development in Indonesia. [26789]

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development visited the following projects:

  Active Learning and Professional Support project

  Kampung Improvement project

  Flight simulator project

  Samarinda Combined Cycle Power Plant project

  Tropical Forestry Management project

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Minister for Overseas Development will be visiting Indonesia; what plans the Minister has to sign a concessional loan agreement and for what amount; what projects are to be funded by it; and which British-funded aid projects the Minister will visit. [26764]

  Mr. Baldry
  My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development visited Indonesia from 22 to 26 May. She visited the following British funded aid projects:

  Active Learning and Professional Support project

  Flight Simulator project

  Samarinda Combined Cycle Power Plant project

  Tropical Forestry Management project

  56
  My right hon. and noble Friend signed a new concessional loan arrangement for £80 million. Projects to be funded under this arrangement are to be identified.

  Indonesia
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 February,Official Report, column 289–94, if he will list ATP agreements with Indonesia, concluded in 1993 and 1994, in each case specifying the same detail as in his answer and details of the Indonesian Government Departments or other Indonesian body responsible for overseeing each project. [26776]

  Mr. Baldry
  Concessional lending arrangements for £65 million and £80 million were signed in April 1993 and April 1994 respectively. There were no specific ATP project agreements concluded with the Government of Indonesia in 1993 and 1994.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 February,Official Report, column 289, if he will list in respect of each ATP project in Indonesia since 1980 the Indonesian Government Department or other Indonesian body responsible for overseeing the project. [26775]

  Mr. Baldry
  The table gives the Indonesia Government Department or the Indonesian body responsible for each project listed in my answer of 8 February.

  Project

  Department or body responsible

  Mrica Hydro Project

  Ministry of Mines and Energy

  Jambu Aye Dam Study

  Ministry of Mines and Energy

  Ombilin Coal Mine

  Ministry of Mines and Energy

  AIS Submarine Cable

  Ministry of Tourism Post and Telecomms

  Education Equipment Study

  Directorate General of Higher Education

  Jabatobek Railway Study

  Ministry of Communication

  Bengkulu Oil Palm Study

  Ministry of Agriculture

  Isolated Diesels

  Ministry of Mines and Energy

  Bukit Asam Rail Bridges

  Ministry of Communications

  Offshore Supply Vessels

  Ministry of Communications

  Ombilin Coal Mine Training

  Ministry of Mines and Energy

  Jabatobed Feasibility Study

  Ministry of Communications

  Railway Track Turnouts

  Ministry of Communications

  Steel Bridging

  Ministry of Public Works (Bina Marga)

  Navigational Aids

  Directorate General of Sea Communications

  Coal Fired Power Station Training

  Ministry of Mines and Energy

  Marine Diesel Engines

  Ministry of Communications

  Batam Island Power Develop. Study

  Ministry of Mines and Energy

  Bandung TV Studios

  Directorate General of Radio, TV and Film

  Radio Studios Rehab (ATP/TC)

  Ministry of Information (DEPPEN)

  Cigading Port

  Pt Krakatau Steel

  Radio Studios (ATP/TC)

  Ministry of Information (DEPPEN)

  Satellite Remote Sensing

  Ministry of Tourism, Posts and Telecomms

  Scattered Diesels

  PLN (Indonesian Electricity Authority)

  Ombilin Coal Mine I

  Ministry of Mines and Energy

  Citayam/Cibinong Railway

  Indonesian State Railway

  Cigading/Serpong Railway

  Indonesian State Railways

  Forestry Radios

  Ministry of Forestry

  Radio Studios Rehabilitation

  Ministry of Information (DEPPEN)

  57

  Project

  Department or body responsible

  Shortwave radio Transmitters

  Ministry of Information (DEPPEN)

  Flight Simulator Consultancy

  MERPATI Airlines via Directorate General of Air Communications

  Western Universities Equipment

  Directorate General of Higher Education

  Bali/Medan Airport Security

  Directorate General of Air Communications

  Jambi Power Station

  PLN (Indonesian Electricity Authority)

  Flight Simulator

  MERPATI Airlines—via Direcorate General of Air Communications

  Steel Bridging II

  Ministry of Public Works (Bina Marga)

  Toll Road (ATPITC)

  Pt Jas Marga—the Toll Road Authority of the Government of Indonesia

  Automotive Industry Study

  Ministry of Industry

  Western Universities Training

  Directorate General of Higher

  Centre

  Education

  Flight Simulator Consultancy

  MERPATI Airlines—via Directorate General of Air Communications

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 28 March,Official Report, column 545, whether the consultancy unit established by the Indonesian national police with the help of the Overseas Development Administration's police management training project is available to advise and assist the East Timorese police authorities if required. [26777]

  Mr. Baldry
  Yes.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 February,Official Report, columns 289–94, in respect of the Cikampek-Padalarang toll road project agreed with Indonesia in 1991, what was the purpose of the project, the nature of the work involved in it and the equipment supplied under the project; which Indonesian companies were involved in the project; what proportion of the funding for the project related to technical co-operation; what was the nature of that technical co-operation; and who will operate the completed toll road and receive the tolls. [27353]

  Mr. Baldry
  We have agreed to provide a total of £16.85 million towards the cost of designing and constructing a toll road from Cikampek to Padalarang in Indonesia. Of this, £4.7 million has been provided from technical co-operation funds. It was spent on surveys, detailed design and geological investigations. The remainder will be provided as a mixed credit towards the cost of construction. Road construction is expected to start later this year. The Indonesian companies involved are PT Jasa Marga—the Indonesian Highways Corporation—and PT Citra Lamtoro Gung Persada. The toll road will be operated by a joint venture comprising these two companies and Trafalgar House Construction Ltd. to be known as PT Citra Granesha Marga Nusantara. This company will receive the tolls.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 February,Official Report, columns 289–94, what was the nature of the equipment supplied under the Bali and Medan airport security aid and trade provision project
  58
  concluded with Indonesia in 1991; to whom the equipment was supplied and what security function it fulfils. [27351]

  Mr. Baldry
  This project provided the directorate general of air communications with security and communications equipment and an associated training programme.

  The purpose of the project was to reduce security risks to civil aviation in Indonesia, and so to help promote the tourist industry.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 February,Official Report, columns 289–94, what is the nature of the equipment supplied under the navigational aids aid and trade provision project concluded with Indonesia in 1987; what are the functions of the equipment; to whom it was supplied; and for what purpose it is being used. [27349]

  Mr. Baldry
  Equipment funded under this project was supplied to the directorate general of communications. It consisted of lighthouses, lightbeacons and lightbuoys to improve safety for shipping through the islands of Indonesia as well as to extend the number of routes which could be used safely.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 February,Official Report, columns 289–94, what is the nature of the equipment supplied under the satellite remote sensing aid and trade provision project concluded with Indonesia in 1989; what are the functions of the equipment; to whom it was supplied; and for what purpose it is being used. [27352]

  Mr. Baldry
  These funds part financed a seminar describing the applications of satellite remote sensing technology relevant to the requirements of the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry. The technology was being considered for use in the detection and monitoring of forest hazards.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much aid the Government expect to pledge to Indonesia at the forthcoming consultative group on Indonesia meeting in July; and if the Government will raise with the representatives of the Government of Indonesia at that meeting the issue of human rights and of Indonesia's occupation of East Timor. [27348]

  Mr. Baldry
  We are currently considering the size of the aid pledge we will announce at the consultative group in mid-July. It is expected to be about the same level as in 1994.

  Human rights and East Timor are not on the agenda for the consultative group, but we shall continue to raise these issues in our frequent bilateral contacts with the Indonesian Government.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 February,Official Report, columns 289–94, what was the nature of the equipment supplied under the isolated diesels and scattered diesels aid and trade provision projects concluded with Indonesia in (a) 1985 and (b) 1989; what were the functions of the equipment; to whom it was supplied; and for what purpose it is being used. [27350]

  Mr. Baldry
  The 1985 isolated diesel project consisted of the supply of 45 diesel generating sets each with a
  59
  capacity of between 5 and 6 mW. These were used to expand the generating capacity at 14 sites serving small urban centres in Indonesia.

  The 1989 scattered diesels project supplied six 2.5 mW diesel generating sets to increase capacity at three sites. Both projects were implemented by the Indonesian State Electricity Authority.

  Desertification
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he will take to combat desertification in third world countries; and if he will allocate funds as part of the Overseas Development Administration's budget to such countries. [26642]

  Mr. Baldry
  We are providing significant resources through the aid programme to assist developing countries affected by desertification. We have signed the desertification convention and shall ratify it in due course.

  Angola
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what total funds from the Government have been(a) pledged and (b) disbursed to the 1995 United Nations consolidated inter-agency appeal for Angola; and if he will make a statement. [26772]

  Mr. Baldry
  We have pledged £5 million in response to the 1995 appeal, of which some £2.5 million has been disbursed. We are supporting UN agencies and NGOs with assistance for seeds and tools, demining, primary health, relief supplies and logistics.

  Mr. Robert Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funds the Government have(a) pledged and (b) disbursed in support of demining in Angola in each of the last three years. [26774]

  Mr. Baldry
  The information is as follows:

  Pledged£

  Disbursed£

  1993–94

  0

  0

  1994–95

  1,955,068

  1,851,498

  1995–96

  0

  0

  World Bank
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the United Kingdom has contributed bilaterally and within the European Union to the World bank debt reduction facility for each year since it was first implemented. [26869]

  Mr. Baldry
  The IDA debt reduction facility was established in 1989, with funding from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development's net income, to assist low-income countries in reducing or restructuring their commercial debts. To date, the United Kingdom has supported only one operation bilaterally, Sierra Leone, with a contribution of £3 million earlier this year. The EC contributed £4 million to the Uganda operation completed in February 1993; and is planning a contribution towards the Sierra Leone operation.

  Job Creation
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of British jobs in the United Kingdom and abroad, which have been secured as a result of ODA-funded projects in the most recent period for which figures are available. [23925]

  Mr. Baldry
  [pursuant to his reply, 22 May, c. 397]: The reply should have read:
  "An indirect benefit of aid and the economic development that this promotes is indeed that jobs can be created in this country and abroad but there is no ready means of assessing how many or at what cost."

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Accounting Procedures
  Mr. Thomason
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures he is taking to simplify companies' statutory accounting procedures. [27003]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  As part of the deregulation initiative we have looked hard at the accounting requirements in the Companies Act 1985. We have been helped by all the suggestions that we have received from business and others about areas where compliance is particularly difficult or expensive.

  We published a consultative document on 31 May seeking views on what needs to be changed. The document contains:
  50 proposals for simplification of specific Companies Act accounting disclosure requirements.
  A proposal to increase by up to 50 per cent. the financial ceilings which govern whether companies are small or medium-sized for accounting purposes.
  An invitation to contribute views on the level of accounting disclosure required for small companies. In particular:

  (i) could the amount of information in small companies' accounts be reduced further while still satisfying the needs of users?

  (ii) should shareholders in certain companies be allowed to opt out of receiving copies of statutory accounts?

  (iii) should the level of detail in published accounts (the ones sent to Companies House) be changed?

  (iv) should accounts have to be published?

  (v) should there be further concessions for accounts of dormant companies?

  (vi) is the volume of accounting concessions confusing?

  (vii) should there be a standard format in which to give accounting information to Companies House and the Inland Revenue?

  (viii) what should such a standard format be?

  (ix) comments on the costs of preparing statutory accounts and on any potential cost savings;

  (x) any other suggestions for reform.

  This consultation provides an opportunity to influence the Government's thinking on how best to minimise the burden of accounting disclosure on companies, while at the same time ensuring that the information provided meets the reasonable needs of users of accounts, such as shareholders, banks, the Inland Revenue, creditors and others dealing with the company.

  The consultative document has been placed in the Library of the Houses. Replies are invited by 4 September.

  Patent Office
  Mr. Thomason
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what targets he has set the Patent Office executive agency for 1995–96. [27004]

  Mr. Heseltine
  In the light of the announcement I made on 14 December 1994,Official Report, column 305, on the outcome of the review into the future options for my Department's Patent Office, I have set it the targets listed below for 1995–96. These are designed to encourage the Patent Office to contract out activities wherever this is compatible with its statutory role and good value for money as a means of continuing to improve efficiency and quality of service to its users.

  Efficiency

  To increase output in relation to total staff numbers by 2 per cent.

  To increase output in relation to total staff costs by 2 per cent.

  To increase output in relation to current expenditure by 2 per cent.

  Quality of Service

  To issue patent search reports within 12 weeks of receipt of a request in the Patent Office.

  To issue patent examination reports within 18 months of publication.

  To confirm payment of patent renewal fees within 7 working days of receipt in the Patent Office.

  To issue initial search and examination reports on design application within 12 weeks of receipt of request.

  To confirm payment of design registration renewal fees within 7 working days of receipt in the Patent Office.

  To issue trade mark examination reports within 2 months of data capture in the Patent Office.

  To advertise within 7 months of examination trade mark applications which attract no substantive objection at the examination stage.

  To register within 4 months of advertisement trade mark applications which are not formally opposed.

  The Patent Office's steering board will monitor performance against these targets and, in relation to those dealing with quality of service, will establish performance indicators aimed at incremental improvement on current standards.

  In addition, I expect the chief executive of the Patent Office to continue to reply within 10 working days to all letters from Members of Parliament delegated to him for reply.

  Power Generation Schemes
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those applications for power generation schemes under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 that were considered by a public inquiry, the date his Department referred them to an inquiry and the date on which his Department announced its decision. [27319]

  Mr. Eggar
  The information requested is as follows:

  Public inquiries under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989

  Station

  Referred

  Decision

  Hinkley Point C

  21 March 1988

  6 September 1990

  Didcot B

  6 September 1991

  23 September 1993

  Ryedale

  13 September 1991

  25 March 1993

  Staythorpe C

  29 October 1991

  26 May 1993

  Belvedere

  30 June 1992

  12 April 1994

  Attack Helicopters
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the benefits to British industry for those British firms winning contracts to supply attack helicopters to the British Army. [26298]

  Mr. Eggar
  The assessment of the criteria for the British Army attack helicopter competition, of which proposals for United Kingdom industrial participation is one, is the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence, which is running the competition. However, my Department has received briefings from the UK prime contractors bidding for the contract, as well as from the Ministry of Defence. My Department is studying this information and is contributing to the decision-making process.

  Surplus Land
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those sales involving surplus land and property in which his Department has inserted a clause in the sale contract allowing his Department to obtain a share of any future development gain; and if he will make a statement. [26322]

  Mr. Heseltine
  None, because it has not, so far, been appropriate. My Department does keep the possibility in mind.

  Complaints
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what policy and procedure exist for dealing with complaints against his Department by members of the public; when his Department last updated its policy; what time limit and target for dealing with such complaints his Department has; and what follow-up procedure exists where complainants are not satisfied with his Department's response to a complaint. [26215]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  All DTI executive agencies and management units which have significant contact with members of the public and businesses have published charter standard statements which underpin their service delivery. Charter standard statements, which include details of the complaints procedures in place and the steps which should be taken in pursing a complaint, have been produced by the following:

  Companies House

  The Insolvency Service

  Patent Office

  Radiocommunications Agency

  Overseas Trade Services

  In addition, certain DTI agencies and management units are signatories to the code for enforcement agencies which brings together both deregulation and citizen's charter principles. Under the code the following have established complaints procedures in line with the charter.

  Engineering Inspectorate

  Export Control Organisation

  Gas Examiners, Gas Meter Examiners

  National Weights and Measures Laboratory

  Details of the complaints procedures contained in the document have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Steel Industry
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the level of employment in the steel industry in each of the last three years. [26391]
  63
  Mr. Eggar
  The level of employment in the steel industry in each of the last three years was:

  Thousand

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Number of employees

  41.2

  39.7

  38.1

  Source:

  ISSB

  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent representations he has received on the levels of overtime currently being worked in the special steel industry at the present time. [26393]

  Mr. Eggar
  None.

  Newsagents' Carriage Charges
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will refer the principle of newsagents' carriage charges to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; and if he will make a statement. [26512]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  This is a matter for the Director General of Fair Trading who, under the competition legislation, is responsible for keeping markets under review, and has independent powers to make a reference to the MMC.

  Defence Diversification
  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he last visited Yorkshire to discuss defence diversification; and if he will make a statement. [25099]

  Mr. Eggar
  Neither my right hon. Friend nor I have visited Yorkshire for the purpose of discussing defence diversification. It is a matter for companies to decide whether, and into which markets, they should diversify. However, my Department monitors how the defence industry is responding to the defence downturn and has produced a manual, "Changing Tack: New Perspectives for Defence Suppliers", which provides guidance and advice on diversification. It is also participating in a NATO advanced studies institute on defence diversification which will be held in Scotland this July and has contributed £5,662 in support of costs. Some companies are eligible for assistance to help them adjust to changing markets, through non-sector specific UK schemes and some projects may qualify for European Community funding through the KONVER scheme.

  Crown Post Offices
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many Crown post offices there were in(a) Lancashire and (b) England in 1994 and at the current date. [26730]

  Mr. Page
  I understand from the Post Office that the numbers of Crown post offices in(a) Lancashire and (b) England as at 1 April 1994 and 1995 is as follows:

  Lancashire

  England

  1 April 1994

  13

  677

  1 April 1995

  11

  592

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the number, grade and destination of civil servants in his Department who have been seconded to manufacturing industry in each year since 1992. [26573]

  Mr. Eggar
  The number of DTI staff who were on long-term secondment to business organisations, including manufacturing industry, in each calendar year since 1992 is as follows:

  1993: 54

  1994: 53

  1995: 41 (to date)

  Additional details on each of these secondments cannot be provided other than at disproportionate cost.

  Energy Council
  Llewellyn Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what matters were discussed, what matters were decided, and what votes were taken at the Energy Council meeting on 1 June. [26698]

  Mr. Eggar
  The Council considered several issues and received reports from the Commission on matters of interest. I represented the United Kingdom. Progress was made in a number of areas. In particular, the Council reached a common position on both the guidelines and the favourable context decisions in respect of trans-European energy networks.

  I expressed concern at the lack of progress made on the proposals to liberalise the electricity market, which had been under discussion for over two years. I also stressed the UK's commitment to opening up the energy markets and emphasised the importance of access to networks and of allowing distributors, as well as large industrial users, to choose suppliers. Satisfactory conclusions were agreed which noted the result of the Commission study, produced at the request of the November 1994 Energy Council, which sets the conditions to be met by the single buyer approach before it could be regarded as being equivalent to negotiated third party access. The conclusions acknowledged that agreement had been reached on a number of these conditions, notably on the need for authorisation of independent power producers outside the tendering procedure, but a number of issues remained to be discussed, including the definition of independent power producers and the definition of consumers eligible to seek alternative supplies. The conclusions also set the agenda for the continuing work on this dossier during the Spanish presidency with the aim of reaching a common position by the end of the year.

  The Council also reached agreement on a resolution on the Green Paper on energy policy, which is intended to help steer the Commission in its preparation of a White Paper expected later in the year. The resolution identified observations and principles to be taken into account in the consideration of energy policy including competitiveness, security of supply and the environment. I stressed the need for completion of the internal energy market as the most important aspect of energy policy at European level.

  The Council held a discussion on THERMIE II programme on the basis of a presidency compromise proposal. I expressed strong misgivings the UK had about the proposal, but offered to consider a programme limited to dissemination. Discussion will continue in the working group.
  65
  The Commission gave an oral report on the progress of the proposed directive on energy efficiency requirements for fridges and freezers, which aims to improve the average efficiency of domestic electrical appliances by removing the most inefficient appliances from the market.

  The Commission also gave an oral report on its review of Community legislation in the energy sector, which was in the course of preparation in response to a request by last November's Energy Council. The Council urged the Commission to produce its report as soon as possible.

  In addition, progress reports were received on the establishment of the energy charter treaty secretariat and the energy dimension of the Barcelona Euro-Mediterranean conference to be held in November.

  No formal votes were taken at the Council.

  Brent Spar Platform
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which body will be responsible for any pollution arising from the removal of the wreck of the Shell Brent Spar platform; and to what extent liability will reflect the polluter pays principle. [26692]

  Mr. Eggar
  The owners—Shell UK Ltd. and Esso Exploration & Production UK Ltd.—will be responsible. Any residual liabilities will remain with the owners in perpetuity.

  Courage Ltd.
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he hopes to be able to announce his decision on the proposed take over of Courage Ltd. by Scottish and Newcastle plc. [26507]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Director General of Fair Trading at the Office of Fair Trading is currently considering this proposed takeover and he will advise my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade in due course. A decision on whether it should be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission will be taken once that advice is received.

  Nuclear Electric
  Mr. Brian Wilson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those aspects of the proposed privatisation of Nuclear Electric which will require parliamentary approval. [27260]

  Mr. Eggar
  The Government's White Paper "The Prospects for Nuclear Power in the UK", Cm 2860, stated in paragraph 7.30 that no primary legislation is required to privatise the nuclear generators.

  Nuclear Holding Company
  Mr. Brian Wilson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade under what process the chairman of the proposed new nuclear holding company was appointed; and if he will list those bodies or individuals which were consulted about his suitability for the position. [27251]

  Mr. Eggar
  Mr. Robb was appointed as chairman designate of the proposed new nuclear holding company following consultation with the relevant Government 66
  Departments including the public appointments unit of the Cabinet Office.

  Electricity Privatisation
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a comparison between the consumer price of electricity and the retail prices index in the periods before and after privatisation on annual and other relevant bases. [25758]

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 24 May 19951: The information expressed as index numbers with 1990 = 100, is set out in the table:

  Year

  RPI (all items)

  RPI (excluding fuels)

  Domestic electricity index

  1985

  75.0

  74.0

  80.5

  1986

  77.6

  77.2

  82.2

  1987

  80.8

  80.6

  81.8

  1988

  84.8

  84.8

  86.2

  1989

  91.4

  93.9

  92.5

  1990

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  1991

  105.9

  105.7

  110.1

  1992

  109.8

  109.7

  115.8

  1993

  111.6

  111.6

  115.4

  1994

  114.3

  114.0

  1112.5

  Notes:

  1Excluding VAT payable at 8 per cent. from 1 April 1994.

  Source:

  Table 28 of Energy Trends and Table 56 of the Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics, 1994. Data for these tables are obtained from the Central Statistical Office.

  Heysham 2
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what funds were provided by the European Commission for the building of Heysham 2 nuclear power station; and what terms were applied to the provision of the funds. [25492]

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 25 May 1995]: Governmental approval was given to the CEGB in January 1978 and capital sanctions for Heysham 2 were approved by the CEGB in 1981. Checks made by Nuclear Electric, CEGB's successor company, have revealed no record of European Commission funding for this project.

  Gas Licences
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his reply of 22 May,Official Report, column 418, if he will give the dates and the parties involved in the later stages of consultation over the draft licences following the introduction of competition into the domestic gas market. [26287]

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 25 May 19951: As part of the preparation for public consultation, my Department and the Office of Gas Supply held a meeting on 9 March to discuss the draft conditions with Alliance Gas Ltd., Bell Gas Ltd., Eastern Electricity plc, Mobil Gas Marketing Ltd., National Power PLC, and Vector Gas Ltd. My Department sent some earlier draft material to Amerada Hess Gas Ltd. on 27 January. Draft conditions were also discussed on various occasions with British Gas plc.
  67
  Information gained in these discussions helped in preparing the technical aspects of the drafts which were issued for public consultation on 20 and 27 March. My Department is considering the responses to the draft licences.

  Long-stay Tourists (Italy)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will send a mission to Italy to examine the reasons for the level of long-stay tourist arrivals. [26540]

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have been asked to reply.

  My proposals for action by the Government, the statutory tourist boards and the industry to improve the competitive performance of UK tourism were published in March. The work programme I then announced was based on a careful analysis of the UK tourism industry and the opportunities and threats it faces.

  While the experience of other countries such as Italy is of interest, the lessons are not always easy to transfer to the domestic context, where very different conditions apply. I have therefore no plans to send a mission to Italy.

WALES

  Heart Surgery
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in(a) Clwyd, (b) Gwynedd and (c) Powys travelled to England for heart surgery in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement. [25161]

  Mr. Richards
  The number of completed consultant episodes for residents of Clwyd, Gwynedd and Powys for heart surgery, as reported by hospitals in England to the Mersey clearing house service, are given in the table:

  1991–92

  1992–95

  Clwyd

  326

  304

  Gwynedd

  131

  193

  Powys

  47

  61

  Note:

  Reliable information for 1990–91 and 1993–94 is not available. Figures may understate the true position in that no all hospitals supply complete medical details. Figures include all operative procedures on the heart as defined in Chapter K of the OPCS Classification of Surgical Procedures with the exception of Angioplasties (K49, K50, K51 and K63).

  Baglan Hospital
  Mr. John Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made in the financing of the new Baglan hospital, Port Talbot; and when he expects the first main contracts for construction to be awarded. [25405]

  Mr. Richards
  The Glan-y-mor NHS trust expects to be able to submit its outline business case for the new Baglan hospital by June 1995. It will include the costs of a public sector option and detail how the trust intends to explore sources of finance from the private sector. In 68
  order to meet the planned completion date of financial year 1998–99, the trust aims to award main contracts by about the end of 1996.

  Consultants
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the level of expenditure on consultancy by(a) his Department and (b) agencies for which his Department is responsible for (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 1994–95; and what is projected for 1995–96. [25545]

  Mr. Redwood
  Expenditure on management and other consultants engaged by the Welsh Office was £1,454,000 in 1993–94 and £805,000 in 1994–95. Contracts for 1995–96 have not yet been finalised, but I have asked that expenditure should not exceed the reduced level recorded in 1994–95.

  Information for non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money was spent on management consultants in(a) his Department and (b) NHS organisations in Wales in the current year and for each of the last 10 years. [26201]

  Mr. Redwood
  Details of expenditure on management and other consultants engaged by the Welsh Office is as follows:

  £000

  1985–86

  243

  1986–87

  308

  1987–88

  345

  1988–89

  479

  1989–90

  342

  1990–91

  229

  1991–92

  1,109

  1992–93

  1,416

  1993–94

  1,454

  1994–95

  805

  Information for NHS organisations in Wales is not held centrally.

  Drug Abuse
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his Department's policy concerning measures to halt drug abuse in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [25672]

  Mr. Richards
  I hope to publish a Welsh drug and alcohol strategy for consultation in the next few weeks.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many hectares of land(a) are eligible to be entered into each environmentally sensitive area in Wales and (b) have been entered into each tier of each environmentally sensitive area in Wales. [25797]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is as follows:
  69

  Original schemes: Table 1

  (a)

  (b)

  Environmentally sensitive area

  (i)

  (ii)

  (iii)

  (iv)

  (v)

  Cambrian Mountains (Original)

  54,244

  20,853

  105

  278

  13

  16

  Cambrian Mountains (Extension)

  64,536

  20,393

  162

  92

  2

  2

  (i) Semi-natural rough grazing;

  (ii) Hay Meadows;

  (iii) Broad-leaved woodland;

  (iv) Archaeological features;

  (v) Lakes, ponds and streams.

  Original schemes: Table 2

  (a)

  (b)

  Tier 1

  Tier 2(1)

  Tier 2(2)

  Lleyn Peninsula

  41,304

  28,048

  3,589

  54

  Tier 1: All land;

  Tier 2(1): Roughland;

  Tier 2(2): Haymeadows.

  Revised schemes: Table 3

  (a)

  (b)

  Tier 1A

  Tier 1B

  Tier 1C

  Tier 2A

  Cambrian mountains

  Original (revised)

  54,244

  16,532

  38

  215

  3,060

  Tier 1A: Semi-natural rough grazing; Tier 1B: Haymeadows;

  Tier 1C: Broad-leaved woodland;

  Tier 2A: Heather management.

  Revised schemes: Table 4

  (a)

  (b)

  Tier 1

  Tier 1A

  Tier 2A

  Tier 2B

  Cambrian Mountains extension (revised)

  64,536

  3,382

  2,169

  856

  6

  Lleyn Peninsula (revised)

  41,304

  775

  323

  130

  0

  Tier 1: All land;

  Tier 1A: Habitat management;

  Tier 2A: Habitat management (voluntary);

  Tier 2B: Reversion tier.

  New schemes: Table 5

  (a)

  (b)

  Tier 1

  Tier 1A

  Tier2A

  Tier2B

  Clwydian Range

  25,724

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Preseli

  113,878

  2,320

  538

  403

  8

  Radnor

  91,770

  12,606

  5,082

  479

  63

  Ynys Mon

  66,063

  6,599

  1,215

  346

  38

  Tier 1: All land;

  Tier 1A: Habitat management;

  Tier 2A: Habitat management (voluntary);

  Tier 2B: Reversion tier.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many farms(a) are eligible to have land entered into each environmentally sensitive area in Wales and (b) have had land entered into each environmentally sensitive area in Wales. [25798]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is as follows:

  Environmentally sensitive area

  (a)

  (b)

  Cambrian Mountains Original

  450

  184

  Cambrian Mountains Original (Revised)

  450

  95

  Cambrian Mountains Extension

  660

  258

  Cambrian Mountains Extension (Revised)

  660

  24

  Clwydian Range

  619

  0

  Lleyn Peninsula

  960

  588

  70

  Environmentally sensitive area

  (a)

  (b)

  Lleyn Peninsula (Revised)

  960

  23

  Preseli

  2,300

  42

  Radnor

  1,035

  152

  Ynys Mon

  1,576

  147

  Welsh European Centre
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the dates when he has visited the Welsh European Centre in Brussels; and if he will make a statement. [25929]

  Mr. Redwood
  I have not visited the Welsh European Centre.

  Residential Accommodation
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many people in Wales aged over 64 years live in(a) private residential homes, (b) private nursing homes, (c) local authority residential homes and (d) national health service nursing homes; and of these, how many have the cost of their care paid wholly or partly by (i) their local authority, (ii) their health authority and (iii) the Department of Social Security; and how many pay for their care wholly from private resources. [25975]

  Means of Support

  Accommodation

  Number of residents aged 65 and over at 31 March 19941

  Local authority1

  Health authority

  Department of Social Security

  Private means

  Private residential homes

  6,672

  1,047

  —

  2,859

  1,980

  Private nursing homes

  10,047

  2,086

  28

  4,714

  1,790

  Local authority residential homes

  4,902

  4,902

  —

  —

  —

  1. There are no NHS nursing homes in Wales.

  1The total number of residents includes residents whose means of support is not known.

  2Includes those reported as partly funded by the Department of Social Security and partly financed by the local authority.

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will introduce an order requiring the privatised utilities to develop comprehensive bilingual policies in Wales as empowered by the Welsh Language Act 1993; and if he will make a statement. [25946]

  Mr. Redwood
  I refer the hon. and learned Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) on 23 May,Official Report, column 556, by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary.

  Complaints
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what policy and procedures exist for dealing with complaints against his Department by members of the public; when his Department last updated its policy; what time limit and target for dealing with such complaints his Department has; and what follow-up procedure exists where complainants are not satisfied with his Department's response to a complaint. [26213]

  Mr. Redwood
  The Welsh Office is committed to handling any complaints promptly and fairly. Specific procedures for dealing with complaints under the code of access to Government information were set up, and published, in April 1994. These make clear that a review should normally be conducted by the line manager of the official who dealt with the case. The official considering the complaint must not have been involved in the original decision. A decision on an appeal should be given in writing within 20 working days of receiving the complaint. Complainants are advised that they may ask the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, through a Member of Parliament, to investigate their complaint.

  Departmental Performance
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what performance indicators and performance targets there are for measuring the performance of his Department in(a) answering letters from members of the
  72
  (2) how many people in Wales aged over 64 years live in (a) private residential homes, (b) private nursing homes, (c) local authority residential homes and (d) NHS nursing homes; and of these, how many have the cost of their care paid wholly or partly by (i) their local authority, (ii) their health authority and (iii) the Department of Social Security; and how many pay for their care wholly from private resources. [25980]

  Mr. Richards
  Information on the numbers of people aged 65 and over living in residential accommodation at 31 March 1994 and their means of support is shown in the table.

  public and (b) answering telephone calls from members of the public; how performance is monitored; and what are the latest figures for performance measured against the target set. [26229]

  Mr. Redwood
  The Welsh Office aims to(a) reply within 15 working days to letters from members of the public; and (b) answer calls through the main switchboard in 12 seconds. Line managers monitor the handling of correspondence; records are not held centrally. The latest figures indicate that over 90 per cent. of calls are answered in the target time.

  Residential Accommodation
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in Wales aged over 64 years living in(a) private residential homes, (b) private nursing homes, (c) local authority residential homes and (d) national health service nursing homes have a spouse living elsewhere. [25976]

  Mr. Richards
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  University Hospital of Wales Healthcare Trust
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the secretary of state for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the University Hospital of Wales Healthcare NHS trust concerning the first-year deficit of the trust; what representations he has received from the trust concerning(a) short-term and (b) long-term loans; and if he will make a statement. [26600]

  Mr. Redwood
  None. But I expect the trust to meet its targets by 31 March 1996. One short-term loan has been made and repaid. No requests for long-term loans have been received.

  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what procedures he undertook to establish the financial viability of the University Hospital of Wales Healthcare NHS trust before its final approval as a trust with effect from 1 April 1995. [26598]
  73
  Mr. Redwood
  All trust applications are subjected to financial scrutiny including an assessment by independent external assessors.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which consultations were appointed to carry out the appraisal of the business plan for the formation of the University Hospital of Wales NHS trust; and on what date the consultants commenced and completed their work; if they were appointed by competitive tender; and how much they were paid. [26599]

  Mr. Redwood
  Secta Consultation Ltd. was appointed on 26 September 1994, under competitive tender arrangements, to undertake the financial appraisal of five applications for NHS trust status received during 1994–95, including that from the University Hospital of Wales. It was paid a total of £17,625 for 23 days' work, which concluded in December 1994.

  GP Fundholding
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the answer of the Secretary of State for Health to the hon. Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Clappison) of 22 May,Official Report, column 409, if special provision will be made to cover retrospective management allowance payments by GP fundholders via the authorisation of extra-statutory payment; and what will be the level of payments for each relevant financial year. [26594]

  Mr. Redwood
  I refer the hon. member to the answer I gave my right hon. Friend, the member for Conwy (Sir Wyn Roberts) on 22 May,Official Report, column 460.

  Healthy Eating
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list his Department's projects aimed at promoting healthy eating indicating the cost of each project to his Department. [26300]

  Mr. Richards
  Projects aimed at promoting healthy eating are carried out in Wales by a variety of health and other organisations, and details are not held centrally. National projects such as the "Healthy Shopping Basket", "A Handbook for School Governors" and the "Heartbeat Awards", as well as the provision of advice, guidance and information are provided by the Health Promotion Authority for Wales. In 1994–95 its budget for this service was some £150,000.

  Direct Labour Organisations
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list, by authority and service area, as defined by the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980, surpluses achieved by local authority direct labour/service organisations in Wales for the financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94. [26418]

  (2) if he will list by authority and service area the recorded deficits made by local authority direct labour/service organisations in Wales that have failed to meet the rate of return requirements under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988 for the financial years 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94 expressed in absolute and percentage terms. [26403]

  (3) if he will list, by authority and service area, as defined by the Local Government Act 1988, surpluses achieved by local authority direct labour/service
  74
  organisations in Wales for the financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94. [26420]

  (4) if he will list, by authority, the surplus achieved on trading accounts for the financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94 for (a) refuse collection, (b) street cleaning, (c) building cleaning, (d) school and welfare catering, (e) other catering, (f) vehicle maintenance, (g) grounds maintenance and (h) sports and leisure maintenance, delivered by local authorities; direct labour/service organisations in Wales under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988. [26419]

  (5) if he will list by authority and service area the recorded deficits made by local authority direct labour/service organisations in Wales that have failed to meet the rate of return requirements operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 for the financial years 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94 expressed in absolute and percentage terms. [26402]

  (6) if he will list for each authority the surplus achieved on trading accounts for the financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94 for (a) general highways work, (b) construction and maintenance of sewers, (c) works of new construction and (d) maintenance work, delivered by local authorities' direct labour/service organisations in Wales under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980. [26417]

  Mr. Redwood
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list by authority and service area the number of full time equivalent job losses experienced by local authority direct labour/service organisations in Wales operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 for the financial years 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94; [26405]

  (2) if he will list by authority and service area the number of full time equivalent job losses experienced by local authority direct labour/service organisations in Wales operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988 for the financial years 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94. [26406]

  Mr. Redwood
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many and what proportion of local authority direct labour/service organisations in Wales operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988 have achieved the required rate of return for the financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94; [26401]

  (2) how many and what proportion of local authority direct labour/service organisations in Wales operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 have achieved the required rate of return for the financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94. [26400]

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department received a total of 285 reports in respect of work carried out by local authority direct labour/service organisations for the financial year 1992–93 under the terms of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 and the Local Government Act 1988. The required rate of return was achieved in respect of 241–84.56 per cent.—of the reports received.
  75
  My Department has not yet completed its analysis of the reports submitted by local authorities in respect of the financial year 1993–94. Consequently the information requested by the hon. Member is not yet available.

  Special Education Needs
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he proposes to improve the opportunities for children with special needs. [26352]

  Mr. Richards
  The Education Act 1993 introduced a range of measures designed to improve provision for children with special needs, including a code of practice containing guidance and criteria for the identification, assessment and other arrangements for such pupils.

  Local Government
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many councillors in Wales have been surcharged or prosecuted as a consequence of taking decisions in relation to the Local Government Act 1988; [26422]

  (2) how many councillors in Wales have been surcharged or prosecuted as a consequence of taking decisions in relation to the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980. [26421]

  Mr. Redwood
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by service area the local authorities in Wales that have been challenged by his Department under regulations issued under section 9 of the Local Government Act 1992 in relation to their internal arrangements for establishing client-contractor splits. [26404]

  Mr. Redwood
  None.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many complaints his Department received in the financial years 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94 alleging anti-competitive behaviour by local authorities in Wales under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980; and, as a result, how many local authorities where subsequently issued with a section 19a notice or 19b direction; [26407]

  (2) how many complaints his Department received in the financial years 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94 alleging anti-competitive behaviour by local authorities in Wales under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988; and, as a result, how many local authorities were subsequently issued with a section 19a notice or 19b direction. [26408]

  Mr. Redwood
  The Department received the following number of complaints alleging anti-competitive behaviour by local authorities in Wales under the terms of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 and Local Government Act 1988:

  1990–91: 6

  1991–92: 8

  1992–93: 19

  1993–94: 11

  Seven notices were served under section 13 of the Local Government Act 1988 and one notice under section 19A of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980. Four directions were given under section 14 of the Local Government Act 1988 and one direction was given under section 19B of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980.

  Premature Retirements
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many teachers took early retirement in the school years 1993–94 and 1994–95; and if he will make a statement. [26356]

  Mr. Richards
  The number of teachers taking premature retirement was 723 in 1993–94 and 742 in 1994–95. The definition of premature retirement excludes retirement on health grounds and also excludes all teachers aged under 50. The data are provided by the Teachers' Pension Agency.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many children have been given assisted places at private schools in Wales in each of the years since the assisted places scheme was inaugurated. [26358]

  Mr. Richards
  The information is as follows:

  Assisted places scheme: Total number of new pupils each academic year since 1981–82

  Academic year

  Number of new pupils

  1981–82

  114

  1982–83

  113

  1983–84

  120

  1984–85

  118

  1985–86

  115

  1986–87

  123

  1987–88

  115

  1988–89

  126

  1989–90

  104

  1990–91

  123

  1991–92

  130

  1992–93

  131

  1993–94

  127

  1994–95

  1130

  1Provisional.

  GP Patients
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many patients have been struck off the registers of(a) fundholding general practitioners and (b) non-fundholding general practitioners in the last year for which figures are available; [26424]

  (2) how many patients have been struck off the registers of general practitioners in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [26423]

  Mr. Richards
  The information requested is not collected routinely for Wales. However, information supplied by family health services authorities indicates that in 1993–94 just over 3,500 patients were transferred at the request of general medical practitioners or removed from GP lists because of an act or threat of violence. Separate details for fundholding and non-fundholding GPs are not available.

  Further Education Colleges
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make available extra cash for further education colleges in Wales. [26354]

  Mr. Richards
  Since they became autonomous on 1 April 1993 we have provided substantial additional
  77
  resources for further education colleges in Wales. The 1995–96 provision is 57 per cent. greater in cash terms than in 1992–93. Funding for the further education sector in the current financial year and planned funding for the next two years is as follows:

  £ million

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  Recurrent

  154.612

  158.947

  162.547

  Capital

  15.971

  19.833

  18.733

  Less FEFCW running costs

  (2.558)

  (2.558)

  (2.558)

  Total available to FE sector

  168.025

  176.222

  178.722

  The figures for 1996–97 and 1997–98 are for planning purposes and will be reviewed in the next public expenditure survey.

  Employment
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his Department's estimate of the percentage of people in rural Wales who have problems finding permanent employment, and what statistics his Department published on these data. [26499]

  Mr. Redwood
  Most of those who become unemployed leave the register within six months. Latest available figures for those remaining on the register in rural Wales for more than a year are shown in the following table:

  Long term unemployment in rural Wales1

  Travel to work

  Persons

  Rate

  Aberystwyth

  177

  1.2

  Brecon

  214

  1.9

  Cardigan

  249

  2.1

  Dolgellau and Barmouth

  173

  2.7

  Lampeter and Aberaeron

  198

  2.1

  Llandrindod Wells

  218

  1.6

  Machynlleth

  114

  1.9

  Newtown

  89

  0.7

  Portmadoc and Ffestiniog

  253

  2.9

  Welshpool

  129

  1.1

  Wales

  37,414

  2.9

  1Rural Wales is defined as those travel to work areas with at least 5 per cent. of their population within the Development Board for Rural Wales boundary.

  In each of the travel-to-work areas long-term unemployment rates are at or below the Welsh average.

  The labour force survey also provides estimates at an all-Wales level of the number of temporary workers. In the period September to November 1994 4.9 per cent. of the work force described themselves as having temporary jobs, of whom about half were seeking permanent employment. No estimates are available at a more local level.

  "Lifestyles in Rural Wales"
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place a copy in the Library of the document, "Lifestyles in Rural Wales", commissioned by his Department. [26491]

  Mr. Redwood
  Yes. I have arranged to do so.
  78
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make a statement on the date of the(a) submission and (b) publication of the report "Lifestyles in Rural Wales", and if he will list the costs of (i) providing and (ii) publishing the report; and if he will make a statement on its contents and. [26501]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the conclusions of the report, "Lifestyles in Rural Wales". [26497]

  Mr. Redwood
  The final version of the document "Lifestyles in Rural Wales: A study of four areas" was submitted to the Welsh Office on 8 April 1994. My Department disagreed with the methodology in a number of respects, and wrote to the authors on

  9 November 1994 expressing its disappointment and informing them that the Welsh Office had no objection to their publishing the document. The report cost approximately £65,000, with some £51,000 provided by the Development Board for Rural Wales and the Welsh Development Agency, and the balance by the Welsh Office.

  The report was based largely on a questionnaire exercise in four areas of rural Wales. My Department was not satisfied that the evidence supported some of the report's conclusions.

  Grant-Maintained Schools
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the grant-maintained schools in Clwyd. [26353]

  Mr. Richards
  There are six grant-maintained schools in Clwyd and these are as follows:

  Derwen Primary School, Higher Kinnerton

  Ysogol Pen-y-Bryn, Colwyn Bay

  Eirias High School, Colwyn Bay

  Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan, Abergele

  The Maelor School, Wrexham

  Ysgol Bryn Elian, Colwyn Bay

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the grant maintained schools in each unitary authority indicating the percentage of schools that are grant maintained and the percentage of pupils attending them. [26511]

  Mr. Richards
  The information requested is as follows:

  Unitary authority

  School

  Anglesey

  Ysgol Gynradd Caergeiliog

  Aberconwy and Colwyn

  Ysgol Pen Y Bryn

  Ysgol Emrys Ap IwanEirias

  High School

  Ysgol Bryn Elian

  Flintshire

  Ysgol Derwen

  Wrexham

  The Maelor School

  Powys

  Llanerfyl G M School

  Swansea

  Bishop Vaughan R C School

  Vale of Glamorgan

  Stanwell Comprehensive

  St Cyres Comprehensive School

  Caerphilly

  Cwmcarn G M School

  Blaenau Gwent

  Brynmawr Comprehensive

  Torfaen

  St Alan's R C Comprehensive School

  Monmouthshire

  Our Lady and St Michael's School

  Cardiff

  Mary Immaculate R C High School

  79

  Unitary authority

  1Number of grant maintained schools as a percentage of all maintained schools

  2Percentage of pupils attending grant maintained schools

  Anglesey

  1.8

  2.3

  Caemarfonshire and Merionethshire

  —

  —

  Aberconwy and Colwyn

  5.4

  22.2

  Denbighshire

  —

  —

  Flintshire

  1.1

  0.8

  Wrexham

  1.2

  2.6

  Powys

  0.8

  0.1

  Cardiganshire

  —

  —

  Pembrokeshire

  —

  —

  Carmarthenshire

  —

  —

  Swansea

  0.9

  2.5

  Neath and Port Talbot

  —

  —

  Bridgend

  —

  —

  Vale of Glamorgan

  3.3

  12.5

  Rhondda, Cynon, Taff

  —

  —

  Merthyr Tydfil

  —

  —

  Caerphilly

  0.9

  1.2

  Blaenau Gwent

  2.2

  4.5

  Torfaen

  2.0

  3.5

  Monmouthshire

  2.0

  1.8

  Newport

  —

  —

  Cardiff

  0.8

  1.2

  Wales

  0.8

  2.1

  1The percentage of schools that are grant maintained as at January 1995.

  2Based on January 1994 pupil numbers from the Schools Census.

  Nursery Schools
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of three to five-year-olds attend nursery schools in Wales(a) full time and (b) part time. [26355]

  Mr. Richards
  The information requested is as follows:

  Percentage of three to five-year-olds1 who were:

  At maintained

  Full-time pupils

  Part-time pupils

  Total

  Nursery schools

  0.8

  1.9

  2.7

  Primary Schools:

  Nursery classes

  3.9

  14.4

  18.3

  Ordinary classes

  66.9

  1.0

  67.8

  Total in primary schools

  70.8

  15.4

  2 86.2

  Total in nursery and primary schools

  71.6

  17.3

  88.9

  Notes:

  1Ages at 31 August 1993.

  2The slight discrepancy between the sum of constituent items and total shown is due to rounding.

  Source:

  January 1994 Schools Census.

  Nu-Kote International, Deeside
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he has taken to persuade NK International, on Deeside Park, to remain in production; and if he will make a statement. [26359]
  80
  Mr. Redwood
  I regret the decision by Nu-Kote International to cease production on Deeside. This is, however, a commercial decision for the company.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency concerning the implications of(a) the recently issued and (b) the previously applicable urban development guidelines in relation to the frustration of third party private sector urban redevelopment; and if he will make a statement. [26597]

  Mr. Redwood
  The urban development guidelines, issued in March this year, include specific provisions covering situations where the agency's support for one development may lead to the frustration of another. The guidelines were discussed in draft by my officials and staff of the agency.

  Cardiff Bay
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 22 May,Official Report, column 461, if he will place a copy in the Library of the site options study for the new £5.8 million bird reserve on the Gwent Levels to be paid for by the Cardiff Bay development corporation. [26593]

  Mr. Redwood
  As I made clear in my reply to the hon. Member on 22 May more detailed investigations are now being undertaken to determine which sites considered in the study present the best options. When these detailed investigations have been completed an announcement will be made and I will make arrangements for a copy of the final report to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Integrated Administration and Control System
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has received on the complexity of integrated administration and control system forms; what plans he has to simplify their form, and if he will make a statement. [26551]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Several. This year's forms have again been kept as straightforward as is consistent with the need to gather detailed information from farmers. Further help has been provided for farmers this year; the majority received a print out showing the key details from their 1994 returns. This enabled them to update last year's information, rather than have to complete fresh forms. The explanatory booklet was also improved this year with further clarification to the text and greater use of cross-references.

  Suggestions for further improvement are welcomed. Every participating farmer has been invited to comment on the scheme literature to assist in the preparation of the documentation from 1996. However, the extent to which the forms and literature can be simplified further is constrained by the need to meet the requirements for the collection of detailed information. These requirements are prescribed in the governing regulations and are necessary in order to enable the system to achieve its overall objective and to ensure that the substantial payments which farmers receive are made on a proper basis.
  81

  GP Fundholders
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Conwy (Sir W. Roberts) of 22 May, column 460, relating to GP fundholders' practice management expenses, what departmental provision he proposes to assist him in making his calculations; and what work will be (a) deferred and (b) not done within his Department, consequent on such provision. [27013]

  Mr. Redwood
  No calculations are required in relation to the payments which have been made to GP fundholder practices in respect of management expenses.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners what considerations underlie his decision on whether to link questions for oral answers; and how many questions he assumes will be answered in the period allocated for reply by him.

  Mr. Alison
  Questions are linked if they relate to the same subject area. The commissioners are allotted five minutes for oral questions every six weeks when the House is in Session. On average, the first two or three questions are reached. More may be reached if all the questions to the Lord Chancellor's Department, which follow immediately after ours, are answered in less than the allotted time, in which case the House reverts to Church Commissioner's questions.

TREASURY

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what forecast he has made for the debt write-off in rail privatisation. [19973]

  Basic and higher rate taxpayers 1992–93

  Taxpayers liable at basic rate but not higher rate

  Taxpayers liable at higher rate

  Thousands

  Percentage1

  Thousands

  Percentage1

  Lancashire

  428

  72.3

  27

  4.6

  United Kingdom

  19,500

  76.0

  1,720

  6.7

  1 Of total number of taxpayers including those liable only to the lower rate of tax.

  Manufacturing Companies
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will bring up to date the table in the answer of 7 July 1980,Official Report, column 71, showing the undistributed income of companies after depreciation and stock appreciation; and if he will add figures for manufacturing companies; [25680]

  (2) if he will bring up to date the table in the answer of 29 January 1982, Official Report, column 447, concerning saving, depreciation and related matters; and if he will now add figures for manufacturing. [25682]

  Mr. Nelson
  Information on corporate savings, depreciation, and stock appreciation is published in tables
  82
  Sir George Young
  No decisions have yet been taken about the form of Railtrack's capital structure on sale and accordingly it is not yet possible to forecast the impact of rail privatisation on the structure of debt in the industry.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate for(a) 1995–96 and (b) for a full year, the revenue cost/yield of altering the top rate of income tax and the top rate of capital gains tax from 40 per cent. to (a) 30 per cent. and (b) 50 per cent. on gross income and capital gains over (i) £30,000, (ii) £70,000, (iii) £80,000 and (iv) £100,000, assuming that (1) where the new top rate is lower than 40 per cent. the 40 per cent. band is abolished and (2) where it is higher, the 40 per cent. band remains in place; [25012]

  (2) if he will estimate or (a) 1995–96 and (b) for a full year, the revenue/cost yield of altering the top rate of income tax from 40 per cent. to (a) 30 per cent. and (b) 50 per cent. on gross income over (i) £30,000, (ii) £70,000, (iii) £80,000 and (iv) £100,000 assuming that (1) where the new top rate is lower than 40 per cent. the 40 per cent. band is abolished, and (2) where it is higher, the 40 per cent. band remains in place. [25013]

  Sir George Young
  Estimates covering this range of options were given in my reply to the hon. Member on 25 May 1995,Official Report, columns 713–14. Separate figures on capital gains tax were given in my reply to the hon. Member on 11 May 1995, Official Report, column 259.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the number and percentage of basic rate and higher rate tax payers in(a) Lancashire and (b) the United Kingdom for the most recent year for which figures are available. [26569]

  Sir George Young
  The table provides estimates for 1992–93, the latest available year for which information can be provided below the United Kingdom level.

  3.6, 5.6 and 5.9 of the Central Statistical Office Blue Book 1994 edition, United Kingdom national accounts, which is available in the Library of the House. The corresponding data for manufacturing are not available, other than depreciation which is published in table 14.1 of the CSO Blue Book. More up-to-date information, including that for 1994, will be published in the 1995 edition of Blue Book, on 3 August 199.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring up to date the table in the answer dated 31 July 1981,Official Report, column 600, showing the net rate of return at current replacement cost of manufacturing companies. [25685]
  83
  Mr. Nelson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given him on 12 January 1995,Official Report, column 191. The data have not been updated since. More up to date information will be published in the CSO's "First Release", "Profitability of UK companies", which will next be issued on 11 July 1995.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring up to date his answer of 19 July 1983,Official Report, column 81, showing the net rate of return at historic cost of manufacturing companies. [25616]

  Mr. Nelson
  The data are not yet available at historic cost under the new definition of manufacturing. For rates of return at current replacement cost, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given him on 12 January 1995,Official Report, column 191.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring up to date the table in the answer of 11 February 1980,Official Report, columns 436–38, concerning profits of large manufacturing companies and the money supply. [25681]

  All companies

  Manufacturing

  Financial institutions

  Number of companies 000

  Losses £ million

  Number of companies 000

  Losses £ million

  Number of companies 000

  Losses £ million

  1985

  120

  8,800

  25

  2,500

  10

  1,600

  1986

  120

  10,100

  25

  3,000

  10

  2,000

  1987

  120

  12,700

  25

  3,100

  10

  4,200

  1988

  130

  13,700

  25

  2,900

  10

  2,500

  1989

  140

  20,000

  25

  3,900

  10

  5,600

  1990

  160

  23,700

  30

  4,800

  10

  9,200

  1991

  160

  29,500

  30

  5,400

  10

  9,200

  1992

  160

  26,200

  30

  4,700

  10

  8,400

  Losses are "Gross Case I" losses, i.e. after deducting short-term interest and before deducting depreciation.

  Bank Profits
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the increase in the profitability before exceptionals of the retail banks in 1993 and 1994. [25477]

  Mr. Nelson
  A comprehensive estimate embracing all retail banks could be provided only at disproportionate cost. But part III of the Bank of England's Banking Act report for 1994–95, laid before the House on 24 May, includes a table showing the operating profits before bad debts; together with the pre and post-tax profits, of the larger United Kingdom banks for each year from 1990 to 1994.

  Consultants
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the level of expenditure on consultancy by(a) the Treasury and (b) agencies for which the Treasury is responsible for (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 1994–95; and what are the projected figures for 1995–96. [25647]

  Mr. Nelson
  The level of expenditure for the years 1993–94 and 1994–95 and the estimate for 1995–96 for the Treasury are given in the table. The Treasury is not responsible for any agencies.

  Expenditure on consultancy

  £ million—ex VAT

  1993–94

  5.9

  1994–95

  1.0

  1995–961

  1.0

  1 Estimate.

  84
  Mr. Nelson
  The manufacturing industry figures shown in the table are no longer available. The production of the data that were published in the CSO's "Business Monitor," MA3: "Company Finance", has since been discontinued. Issue 23, the final issue, was published in, 1992 and contains data on large companies for 1988, 1989 and 1990. This publication is available from the Library of the House.

  Deflated money supply figures are not published. Money supply figures are published in tables 3.1C and 3.1D of the CSO's "Financial Statistics".

  Trading Losses
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring up to date his answer date 7 March 1983,Official Report, column 286, on trading losses. [25618]

  Sir George Young
  Available information is as follows. Data for years before 1985 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. All figures are estimates and subject to error.

  Retail Sales Index
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors are used to obtain the retail sales index; what representations he has received concerning the retail sales index in the last year; and what plans he has to reform it. [25918]

  Mr. Nelson
  The monthly retail index is based on a statutory inquiry which collects figures of retail sales from a sample of 5,000 retailers. All types of retailer are included in the sample. Detailed price indicators from the retail price index are used to convert the sales index to constant 1990 prices and the X11 seasonal adjustment routine, widely used within government and by statistical offices in other countries, applied to remove normal seasonal variations.

  During 1994, representations were received from the then Minister for Industry concerning the format of the Central Statistical Office's "First Release." It has also been the subject of one parliamentary question and one Minister's case.

  The inquiry has recently been reviewed as a result of the Prime Minister's instructions on the control of statistical surveys. Copies of the report of the review of the short period retailing inquiries are available from the House of Commons Library.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what range in size of companies is used for the formulation of the retail sales index. [25919]
  85
  Mr. Nelson
  The size of the businesses used in the formulation of the retail sales index extends from the VAT threshold of £58,000 turnover per annum upwards.

  Industrial and Commercial Borrowing
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring up to date his answer dated 15 March 1983,Official Report, column 96, concerning bank advances to industry. [25617]

  Mr. Nelson
  The company accounts analysis, which was the basis of the previous reply, is no longer conducted. Alternatively, information from the national accounts is given in the table; data for earlier years are not available on a consistent basis and there is no separate information for manufacturing companies. The source series are published in table 10.6c of "Financial Statistics".

  Industrial and commercial companies' borrowing

  £ million

  Borrowing from UK banks1

  Net borrowing requirement (NBR)2

  Borrowing from UK bank as per cent. Of NBR

  1984

  7,082

  3,044

  233

  1985

  7,454

  10,620

  70

  1986

  9,084

  12,538

  72

  1987

  12,224

  27,033

  45

  1988

  32,032

  49,743

  64

  1989

  33,816

  54,683

  62

  1990

  19756

  37,275

  53

  1991

  -822

  25,851

  -3

  1992

  -1,794

  27,187

  -7

  1993

  -11,371

  15,285

  -74

  1994

  -5,289

  8,348

  -63

  1 Comprises bank lending and the Bank of England's issue department's transactions in bills. A positive sign means an increase in net borrowing; a negative sign means net repayment of borrowing.

  2 In addition to borrowing from UK banks, includes capital issues of shares and bonds, borrowing from overseas, and transactions in liquid and other financial assets.

  Contracting Out
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what work has been contracted out(a) by his Department and (b) by agencies for which his Department is responsible in (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 1994–95; and what is projected for 1995–96. [25648]

  Mr. Nelson
  The following table shows the work contracted out by the Treasury, under the "Competing for Quality" initiative, and the year it was contracted or is likely to be contracted out.

  Contract

  Year

  Library Services

  1993–94

  Internal Audit Services (2 Contracts)

  1993–94

  Security Guarding Services

  1994–95

  Computer Support Services (under construction)

  1995–96

  Customs and Excise
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the future location of(a) management functions and (b) operational functions of the Customs and Excise currently located in
  86
  Newcastle upon Tyne; and if he will make a statement on the future for the Customs and Excise Newcastle headquarters and the employment impact of the proposed reorganisation. [26210]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  One of the outcomes of the fundamental expenditure review of Customs and Excise was a reduction in the number of regional offices, collections, from 21 to 14. The former Northern England, which had its headquarters in Newcastle, and Leeds collections were merged with effect from 1 April 1995 to form a new collection retaining the title of Northern England. The new collection will be managed from Leeds.

  The headquarters support functions will be split between Newcastle and Leeds so that staff reductions are shared. In the short term the Newcastle headquarters building will be retained, but the longer-term position has not yet been decided.

  There will continue to be Customs staff in the Tyne and Tees areas. The VAT and Excise functions in the Newcastle area will be combined in offices in Newcastle, Washington and Middlesbrough.

  Collection staff levels will reduce overall by about 16 per cent. as a result of the FER with the majority of the reductions spread over a four year period. Specific figures for the impact on Newcastle are not available yet. However, it is intended that, as far as is practicable and reasonable, the impact of the cuts will be spread evenly across the new collection. The Department has a clearly stated policy to avoid compulsory redundancy wherever possible.

  Departmental Performance
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what policy and procedures exists for dealing with complaints against his Department by members of the pubic; when the policy was last updated; what time limit and target for dealing with such complaints his Department has; and what follow-up procedures exists where complainants are not satisfied with his Department's response to a complaint. [26226]

  Mr. Nelson
  The Treasury has a complaints procedure in line with the "Open Government" code of practice on government information.

  Any complaint against the Treasury by a member of the public would be given very careful consideration, up to the most senior levels if necessary. If the member of the public was dissatisfied with how the complaint had been dealt with, he or she could ask a Member of Parliament to submit his or her complaint to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration for investigation and review.

  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what performance indicators and performance targets there are for measuring the performance of his Department in(a) answering letters from members of the public and (b) answering telephone calls from members of the public; how performance is monitored; and what are the latest figures for performance measures against the target set. [26237]

  Mr. Nelson
  The Treasury has performance targets for replying to letters from the public but not for answering telephone calls. Wherever possible, information requested over the telephone is given at the time of the call.

  The Treasury's targets for Ministerial replies to letters from the public forwarded by Members of Parliament are

  87
  15 working days for those matters solely relating to the Treasury; 18 working days for those matters relating to the Chancellor's other departments and 23 working days for those requiring a report from a local office. The targets are monitored by the Treasury's ministerial correspondence unit and published in the Department's annual report, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. In 1994, 14,901 replies were sent, 54 per cent. of which were within the targets set.

  The targets for replies from officials on behalf of Ministers are 10 to 15 working days.

  Competitiveness
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the relationship between international competitiveness and purchasing power parities. [26543]

  Mr. Nelson
  Improving price competitiveness tends to be associated with appreciating purchasing power parity exchange rates for any given nominal market exchange rate. In general, the concept of competitiveness embraces much more than relative prices. Among other factors, relative costs, product quality, marketing and after-sales service are also important.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what priority he accords to the need for British goods to compete on price at home and abroad in evaluating advice he receives on monetary policy from the Governor of the Bank of England. [27018]

  Mr. Nelson
  Economies function most effectively in conditions of low and stabled inflation. Low inflation also helps to keep British goods and services competitive. Interest rates are set to deliver low inflation. Underlying inflation has now been below 3 per cent. for 19 consecutive months, the longest such period since 1961.

  Imported Manufactures
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the items in table 18.2 of the "Monthly Digest of Statistics" which have risen in price as a result of the increase in the price of imported manufactures since 1992; and if he will make a statement on the relationship between falling exchange rates and inflation. [26542]

  Mr. Nelson
  Changes in the prices of imported manufactures and the exchange rate are two of many factors which influence the prices of different categories of goods and services.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 3 April,Official Report, column 907 (1) concerning import penetration, if he will list the data he holds at the available level of desegregation, giving details of significant changes of coverage during the period specified; [26558]

  (2) relating to manufacturing output, if he will list the levels of disaggregation in any available form. [27073]

  Mr. Nelson
  The data published in table 15.10 of the April "Monthly Digest of Statistics" are based on the classification used in the standard industrial classification 1980. Output data on the same basis are available for 1979 and 1994 and can be accessed by the House of Commons Library. Comparable data for 1973 are not available.

  The CSO has recently reinstated the import penetration series. The data appear in table 15.10 of the April 1995
  88
  "Monthly Digest of Statistics" and are based on the classifications used in SIC 1992. Output data on the same basis for 1973, 1979 and 1994 are available and can be accessed by the House of Commons Library.

  The output data covering periods 1983 to 1993 are also published in table 2.5 of the publication United Kingdom national accounts—the CSO Blue Book, 1994 edition. Data for the periods 1984 to 1994 will be published in the 1995 issue later this year.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Government are taking to reduce the import share of the United Kingdom market for manufactures. [26557]

  Mr. Nelson
  The Government aim to help British industry compete successfully both at home and abroad by providing a stable macro-economic climate and promoting structural policies to improve the long-term performance of the economy, including manufacturing industry.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if detailed figures on import penetration will be available to hon. Members after the contracting out of data collection and analysis to the private sector. [26547]

  Mr. Nelson
  In the event of contracting out of data collection and analysis to the private sector, detailed figures on import penetration would continue to be available.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors underlie the rate of import penetration of the United Kingdom market for manufactures since the third quarter of 1994. [27074]

  Mr. Nelson
  Import penetration depends on a variety of factors, including international specialisation, price and non-price competitiveness, domestic demand, and domestic capacity.

  Investment
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the factors underlying the amounts invested in increased capacity by United Kingdom firms(a) overseas and (b) in the United Kingdom. [26544]

  Mr. Nelson
  An assessment of the main factors influencing recent developments and prospects for domestic investment was published in the November 1994 "Financial Statement and Budget Report".

  Alcohol Excise Duty
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total revenue collected from(a) beer, (b) wine and (c) spirits for each year since 1985. [26494]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The information requested is given in the table. The receipts cover excise duty and VAT, calculated from Central Statistical Office figures for consumers' expenditure:

  £ million

  Total receipts Beer

  Total receipts Wine

  Total receipts Spirits

  1985–86

  3,050

  1,050

  2,000

  1986–87

  3,150

  1,100

  2,000

  1987–88

  3,250

  1,150

  2,100

  1988–89

  3,400

  1,250

  2,150

  1989–90

  3,450

  1,250

  2,100

  89

  £ million

  Total receipts Beer

  Total receipts Wine

  Total receipts Spirits

  1990–91

  3,750

  1,350

  2,350

  1991–92

  4,250

  1,600

  2,550

  1992–93

  4,350

  1,650

  2,450

  1993–94

  14,300

  1,800

  2,550

  1994–95 provisional

  4,550

  1,950

  2,600

  Figures rounded to the nearest £50 million.

  1 Beer duty receipts were reduced by some £200 million in 1993–94 due to the change in duty point.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the revenue collected per pint of beer for each year since 1985. [26492]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The information requested is given in the table:

  Revenue per pint (pence)

  1985–86

  28.1

  1986–87

  28.7

  1987–88

  28.7

  1988–89

  29.9

  1989–90

  30.5

  1990–91

  33.1

  1991–92

  38.3

  1992–93

  40.8

  1993–94

  44.0

  1994–95 (provisional)

  43.8

  Self-employment
  Mr. French
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what ways the criteria applied by the Inland Revenue in deciding whether a person is employed or self-employed differ from those applied by the Contributions Agency. [26390]

  Sir George Young
  The criteria applied by the Inland Revenue and the Contributions Agency in deciding whether a person is employed or self-employed are based on the same body of general case law. They are set out in the Inland Revenue leaflet IR56/N139. An updated version of this leaflet is to be published shortly. There are a very limited number of groups of workers where statutory provisions may result in different tax and national insurance treatment.

  Prices
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which increases in prices since September 1992 of the categories listed in table 18.2 of the "Monthly Digest of Statistics" he assesses to be inflationary. [26530]

  Mr. Nelson
  Any price increase adds to the 12-month inflation rate for 12 months.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors underline the relative rates of increases in the price of(a) services and (b) goods since 1979; and what effect the Government's exchange rate policy has had on such price increases. [26545]

  Mr. Nelson
  The relative rates of increase in the prices of goods and services depend on a number of factors such as the relative changes in costs, competitive pressures and the exchange rate.
  90

  Bank of England
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will instigate an inquiry into briefings given to journalists by Bank of England personnel within the period 15 May to 22 May on the recommendations on monetary policy actions which will be made by the Governor of the Bank of England at the next monthly monetary policy meeting; and if he will make a statement. [26452]

  Mr. Nelson
  I have no reason to believe that the Bank has given briefings to journalists on the advice it intends to give at the next monthly monetary policy meeting; or indeed that the Bank would have formulated its advice so far in advance of the next meeting. The Bank has made it clear, as has the Chancellor, that such advice is confidential until released in the published minutes.

  Tourism
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the trade surplus or deficit on tourism in each year since 1970 at 1994 prices; and what assessment he has made of the contributions to the variations made by the monetary and exchange rate policies of successive Governments. [26541]

  Mr. Nelson
  Figures for the balance of trade in tourism are available on the Central Statistical Office database, which can be accessed through the Library of the House.

  The balance of trade in tourism is influenced by many factors, and it is not possible to isolate with any confidence the effects stemming from monetary and exchange rate policies.

  Casinos
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates have been made regarding the loss of revenue to the Exchequer from casinos as a result of the 48-hour rule on admission; and if he will make a statement. [26586]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No such estimates have been made. The 48-hour rule is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary.

  Vehicle Excise Duty
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the proposed rates of new vehicle excise duty for(a) tower waggons, (b) street cleansing vehicles and (c) vehicles used in the construction industry. [26495]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  From 1 July 1995 tower wagons and street cleansing vehicles will pay the full rates of vehicle excise duty as set out in paragraphs 6 and 14 of schedule 4 of the Finance Act 1995. These can vary from £125 to £5,000 per annum, depending on weight and other considerations such as axle configuration. Copies of the Finance Act 1995 are held in the House of Commons Library. All vehicles used in the construction industry that weigh less than 3,500 kg will pay £135 VED per annum. Mobile cranes, works trucks, digging machines and road rollers that weigh more than 3,500 kg will pay £150. Other construction industry vehicles will pay the full rates of VED set out in the Finance Act 1995.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated new revenue arising from the changes in vehicle excise duty; and if he will make a statement on their impact on costs to industry. [26493]
  91
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Finance Act 1995 introduced a number of changes to vehicle excise duties that produced new revenue:

  £ Million

  Increase in excise duty on cars

  55

  Changes to the exemptions and concessions from VED

  25

  Changes to the definition of goods vehicles

  5

  Other changes

  30

  The freezing of duty on lorries cost £10 million in revenue.

  The projected costs to industry of complying with the changes to vehicle excise duty can be found in the compliance cost assessment prepared and published by the Department of Transport.

  Extra-statutory Payments
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the total level of extra-statutory payments authorised by all spending departments in each financial year since 1983–84. [26601]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  This information is not held centrally.

  Fuel Excise Duty
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what are the current duty rates per tonne for(a) coal, (b) orimulsion and (c) heavy duty fuel oil. [26780]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The current excise duty rates are as follows:

  Rate

  Coal:

  nil

  Orimulsion:

  nil

  Heavy fuel oil:

  £16.70 per tonne

  Retail Prices Index
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has to change his target for underlying inflation from the RPIX to the RPIY measure, [26704]

  (2) whether the policy indicated by his predecessor to the Treasury Select Committee to keep RPIX inflation below 2 per cent. remains Government policy; and what is his target for underlying inflation beyond the end of the current Parliament. [26703]

  Mr. Nelson
  The Government's aim is to keep underlying inflation in the range 1 to 4 per cent., and to bring it down into the lower half of this range by the end of the present Parliament. I have no plans to change the objective for that period.

  Council Tax Appeals
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many appeals are outstanding in(a) Pendle, (b) the north-west and England in respect of the valuation of properties for council tax.
  92
  Mr. Nelson
  The number of council tax appeals outstanding as at 3 April 1995 is:

  (a) Pendle: 189

  (b) North-west: 12,701

  (c) England: 143,712

  VAT-registered Businesses
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses registered and deregistered for VAT in(a) Pendle and (b) the north-west for each year since 1991. [26728]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Customs does not have information concerning the number of businesses registered and deregistered in the Pendle constituency. The local VAT office at Blackburn covers, in addition to Blackburn, the towns of Bolton, Burnley, Accrington and Clitheroe. Figures for the north-west cover Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside. The numbers of registrations and deregistrations for VAT since 1991 are as follows:

  Year

  Registration at Blackburn Office

  Deregistration at Blackburn Office

  Registration in the North-west

  Deregistration in the North-west

  1991

  2,298

  2,911

  18,644

  21,484

  1992

  2,114

  2,369

  17,326

  21,370

  1993

  2,099

  2,523

  16,412

  20,752

  1994

  1,904

  2,339

  15,174

  18,600

  19951

  395

  561

  3,776

  4,352

  1 To end March.

  Central Statistical Office
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what account he took of the proposed merger between the Central Statistical Office and the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys announced in his answer of 25 April to the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Banks),Official Report, columns 407–08, of the responsibilities for the preparation and analysis of data about absolute and overall poverty agreed at the world summit for social development in March 1995, with particular reference to articles 18 to 41. [26770]

  Mr. Nelson
  The purpose of the proposed merger between the Central Statistical Office and the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys is to meet a widely perceived need for greater coherence and compatibility in Government statistics, for improved presentation and for easier public access. In making his announcement about the proposed merger by right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor took no specific account of the responsibilities for the preparation and analysis of data about absolute and overall poverty agreed at the world summit for social development in March 1995. The CSO and OPCS are, however, contributing to development of the statistical response to the social summit in the context of the merger proposals.

  European Community Budget
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons the words "by command of Her Majesty" did not appear on the front cover of this year's statement on the European Community budget, Cm 2824. [27076]
  93
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The information requested was given in the House of Lords in the reply Lord Henley gave to Lord Stoddart of Swindon on 23 May,Official Report, House of Lords, column 52.

  Biodiesel Fuel
  Mr Ainger
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what investigations he has carried out into the effect of not announcing the rate of excise duty on biodiesel produced from crops on the development of those fuels under section 11 of the Finance Act 1993. [27089]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  No such investigations have been instituted since those few businesses involved in the production of biofuels have had regular meetings and correspondence with officials in Customs and Excise and are fully aware of the Government's intentions.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the proposed commencement order for excise duty on biodiesel fuels. [26658]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The House will be aware of our obligation to impose excise duty on mineral oil substitutes, such as DERV substitutes from rape methyl ester, which arises from the mineral oil structures directive 92/81/EEC.

  A draft of the necessary Treasury order to implement the charge to duty will be set to the interested parties before the House rises for the summer recess. Subject to comments received in response to that draft, the Government's intention is to make the order effective from early autumn.

  Balance of Trade
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors contributed to changes in the balance of trade with(a) France and (b) Germany since 1991. [26873]

  Mr. Nelson
  The balance of trade with France and Germany is affected by a variety of factors, including price and non-price competitiveness, domestic demand, and overseas demand.

  Output
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information the Governor of the Bank of England has provided to him in the last year in respect of(a) a shortage of productive capacity and (b) overheating in any of the import-competing and export industries. [27079]

  Mr. Nelson
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor meets regularly with the Governor to discuss the prospects for inflation and the current state of the economy. The Governor's views are reported in the published minutes of the monthly monetary meetings. The Bank also publishes its views in its quarterly inflation report.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the current capacity working of each of the principal importing-competing and export industries. [27084]

  Mr. Nelson
  Direct quantitative measures of capacity output by industry are not available. However, business survey indicators, for example from the CBI, suggest that capacity utilisation has been rising. This is to be 94
  welcomed, provided companies are able to invest when they need to expand capacity.

  Churchill Papers
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what value was placed on Sir Winston Churchill's papers at the time of his death; and if duty was paid thereon. [26863]

  Sir George Young
  As with any such matter, the normal rules concerning taxpayer confidentiality prevent me from giving details of the tax affairs of a particular individual.

EMPLOYMENT

  International Labour Organisation
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the United Kingdom's annual subscription to the International Labour Organisation. [26849]

  Mr. Portillo
  The UK's contribution to the ILO for 1994 amounted to £7,921,651.

  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much the International Labour Organisation's annual meeting will cost(a) the International Labour Organisation and (b) the United Kingdom. [26851]

  Mr. Portillo
  The ILO has made provision in its budget of ․5.4 million to cover the costs of this year's international labour conference in Geneva. The UK contributes to those costs through its subscription to the ILO. The cost of sending UK delegation to the conference is estimated to be about £58,000.

  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what will be the cost to public funds of trade unions' attendance at the International Labour Organisation annual meeting. [26852]

  Mr. Portillo
  The cost to public funds is estimated to be £18,000.

  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the benefits to the United Kingdom of membership of the International Labour Organisation. [26853]

  Mr. Portillo
  In recent years, the ILO's purchase of goods and services for its technical co-operation programmes has provided consultants and others in the United Kingdom with financial benefits of about £2.25 million per annum.

  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total budget of the International Labour Organisation. [26854]

  Mr. Portillo
  The ILO's total budget for 1995 is 334,214,933 Swiss francs, which represents about £176.8 million at current exchange rates.

  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the impact of the United Kingdom's membership of the International Labour Organisation on the rate of United Kingdom unemployment. [26859]

  Mr. Portillo
  The United Kingdom's membership of the ILO has no impact on the rate of unemployment in the United Kingdom.
  95
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the format and purpose of the International Labour Organisation's annual meeting. [26860]

  Mr. Portillo
  The ILO's annual conference takes place every June and lasts for three weeks. National delegations consist of trade union, employer and Government representations. All the costs are met by Governments. Each year, the conference aims to adopt new conventions which, if ratified, apply to labour markets throughout the world.

  International Labour Organisation
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will list the steps the Government have taken to denounce convention 101 of the International Labour Organisation; if he will set out the date on which the Government took each step to denounce convention 101; and if he will list all remaining steps that have to be taken in order for convention 101 to be fully denounced by the United Kingdom Government; [27164]

  (2) if he will list the steps the Government has taken to denounce convention 99 of the International Labour Organisation; if he will set out the date on which the Government took each step to denounce convention 99; and if he will list all remaining steps that have to be taken in order for convention 99 to be fully denounced by the United Kingdom Government. [27163]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The opportunity to denounce ILO conventions arises only once in every 10 years. There is a 12-month period during which each convention can be denounced. In the case of convention 99, that period began on 23 August 1993. In accordance with the procedure provided under ILO convention 144, the Government wrote to the CBI and TUC to seek their views on 1 July 1993. The Government announced their decision to denounce the convention on 20 July 1994 and formally notified the ILO on 16 August 1994. The denunciation was registered by the ILO on 16 August 1994 and will take effect on 16 August 1995, one year after registration.

  Staff
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many posts were lost in(a) the Employment Department and (b) agencies for which the Employment Department is responsible, listing the total lost posts agency by agency in (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 1994–95; and how many posts are proposed to be lost in 1995–96. [25083]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The information is not available in the form requested. Figures for the Employment Department group's overall staff numbers are contained in the Department's annual report, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Fair Pay
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the Council of Europe's policy on fair pay. [25000]
  96
  Miss Widdecombe
  The Council of Europe's social charter includes provisions calling for "fair remuneration". The Council of Europe's Committee of Experts is responsible for interpreting the social charter. However, the experts' view of what constitutes fair remuneration has never been endorsed by any member state within the Council of Europe, and the experts are currently reviewing their policy on this matter.

  Part-time Workers
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many(a) males and (b) females were employed part time in each year since 1987; and what percentage of total employment this represents. [26282]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The information requested is provided in the following table:

  Part-time employment1 in Great Britain at spring of each year

  Thousand

  Year

  Males

  Per cent. of total employment2

  Females

  Per cent. of total employment

  1987

  643

  2.6

  4,587

  18.8

  1988

  710

  2.8

  4,689

  18.6

  1989

  719

  2.8

  4,823

  18.5

  1990

  772

  2.9

  4,834

  18.4

  1991

  784

  3.1

  4,842

  18.8

  1992

  978

  3.9

  4,920

  19.5

  1993

  1,004

  4.0

  4,967

  19.9

  1994

  1,081

  4.3

  5,036

  20.0

  1 This comprises of employees, self-employed, participants on Government employment and training programmes and unpaid family workers.

  2 Male and female employment.

  All figures are adjusted for seasonal variation.

  Source:

  Labour force survey.

  Contracting Out
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment for each piece of work subject to a building process under the auspices of(a) his Department and (b) agencies for which his Department is responsible (i) who the successful bidders were where work was contracted out and (ii) which contracts were won by in-house bidders in (1) 1993–94, (2) 1994–95 and (3) 1995–96. [25543]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The following table provides details of completed market tests undertaken by the Department and its agency, the Employment Service, as part of the Government's "Competing for Quality" programme for 1993–94,1994–95 and 1995–96.

  1993–94 competing for quality programme

  Activity

  Outcomes

  Employment Department

  Office Services: Records Management

  Contracted out (Rockall Data Services)

  Design Studio

  Retained in-house

  Journals and three facility houses

  Retained in-house

  Information Systems Services

  Retained in-house

  97

  1993–94 competing for quality programme

  Activity

  Outcomes

  Employment Department cont.

  Office Services: Post and Messengers

  Retained in-house

  Management Services

  Retained in-house

  Library Services

  Retained in-house

  Training and Development (London)

  Retained in-house

  Training and Development (Sheffield)

  Retained in-house

  Employment Service

  Field Staff Training: First Aid

  Contracted out (British Red Cross)

  Buildings Maintenance and New Works

  Contracted out (Simons Facilities Management PLC Graham and Stibbald Peter, Fall Cowie Associate HSB Partners Drivers, Jonas WS Atkins Procord Ltd Watts and Partners)

  Field Staff Training: Procedural Training

  Retained in-house

  Internal Audit

  Retained in-house

  Recruitment (London and South East Region)

  Retained in-house

  Management Services

  Retained in-house

  IT Small Systems

  Retained in-house

  Field Staff Training: Management and People Development

  7 regions—retained in-house 2 regions—contracted out (Manchester College of Art and Technology)

  Regional Office Support Services

  6 regions—retained in-house 3 regions—contracted out (Burns International)

  Health and Safety Executive

  Library and Information Services

  Retained in-house

  1994–95

  Health and Safety Executive

  Field Support, Norwich

  Contracted out (Manpower PLC)

  1995–96

  Tests not yet completed

  Graduate Unemployment
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for City of Durham (Mr. Steinberg) of 9 May,Official Report, columns 437–38, on training and employment, if he will break down the information by region.
  98
  Mr. Paice
  Regional information on graduate unemployment, on the ILO definition, is given in the following table. Information on the proportion of trainees on government training programmes who move from their training into related areas of employment is not available at regional level.

  ILO Unemployed Graduates of working age by region

  Autumn 1994 (Great Britain, not seasonally adjusted)

  Great Britain: 185,000

  North: N/A

  Yorks and Humber: 19,000

  East Midlands: 12,000

  East Anglia: N/A

  South East: 73,000

  South West: 14,000

  West Midlands: 10,000

  North West: 17,000

  Wales: N/A

  Scotland: 17,0000

  Source: Labour force survey.

  N/A—not available, estimate below 10,000.

  Departmental Performance
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what performance indicators and performance targets there are for measuring the performance of his Department in(a) answering letters from members of the public and (b) answering telephone calls from members of the public; how performance is monitored; and what are the latest figures for performance measured against the target set. [26239]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Performance commitments for responses to inquiries from the public are included in statements of service standards issued by the main providers of services to the public within the Employment Department group. These commitments and the methods of monitoring performance against them vary according to the nature of the service provided. Particular commitments, and the latest available figures for achievement against those commitments, are as follows:

  Employment Service

  Commitment: responses to letters within five working days

  Achievement: achieved in 98.7 per cent. of cases

  Commitment: telephone calls answered within 30 seconds

  Achievement: achieved in 99.4 per cent. of cases—in sample survey

  Health and Safety Executive

  Commitment: responses to all enquiries or complaints within 10 working days

  Achievement: achieved in 96 per cent. of cases

  Redundancy Payments Service

  Commitment: responses to letters within five working days

  Achievement: achieved in 100 per cent. of cases.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were employed in(a) manufacturing and (b) service industries in each year since 1987. [26197]
  99
  Mr. Oppenheim
  The information requested is provided in the following table:

  Employees in United Kingdom: December of each year (thousands1)

  Year

  Manufacturing Industries

  Service Industries

  1987

  5,191

  14,904

  1988

  5,224

  15,423

  1989

  5,190

  15,819

  1990

  4,976

  15,948

  1991

  4,607

  15,723

  1992

  4,366

  15,608

  1993

  4,353

  15,795

  1994

  4,369

  15,906

  1 Seasonally adjusted.

  Source:

  Workforce in Employment series.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number and proportion of (i) men and (ii) women in each region who were unemployed or economically inactive aged(a) 16 to 19, (b) 20 to 24, (c) 25 to 34 and (d) 35 to 49 years; and if he will also give the figures for (i) women between 30 and 59, (ii) men between 50 and 64, (iii) women over 60 and (iv) men over 65 years in each year since 1979. [26086]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 25 May 2995]: For years 1984 onwards, this information is available from the labour force survey and can be obtained via the Quantime LFS service available in the Library.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people receive from full-time work(a) £30,000 to £35,000, (b) £35,000 to £50,000,

  Service

  Title of statement

  Last Updated

  Follow-up Procedure

  Employment Service

  Jobseeker's Charter

  June 1994

  Write to Chief Executive

  Health and Safety Executive

  HSE and You

  January 1994

  Write to Director General

  HSE—Working for Employers

  January 1994

  Write to Director General

  Redundancy Payments Service

  Redundancy Payments Service Charter

  February 1994

  Write to manager of relevant office

  Responses to complaints are dealt with according to the time scales applying to other forms of inquiry from members of the public, as described in my reply to the hon. Member today.

  Investors in People
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employers currently holding Investor in People status employ(a) people with disabilities, (b) members of ethnic minorities and (c) women, indicating if each category forms (i) zero to 25 per cent., (ii) 26 to 50 per cent., (iii) 51 to 75 per cent. and (iv) 76 to 100 per cent. of the workforce (1) for each of his Department's regions and (2) nationally. [26506]

  Mr. Paice
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employers, and of what size, currently hold Investor in People status; and what these constitute as a percentage of all employers of that size in 100
  (c) £50,000 to £75,000, (d) £75,000 to £100,000 and (e) over £100,000 a year; and what are (a) to (e) as a percentage of the employed population. [26148]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 25 May 1995]: Estimated numbers of full-time employees are given in the following table:

  £

  Estimated Number Full-time Employees

  Per Cent. of Full-time Employed Population

  30,000 to 35,000

  452,000

  3.0

  35,000 to 50,000

  460,000

  3.0

  50,000 to 75,000

  145,000

  0.7

  75,000 to 100,000

  29,000

  0.2

  over 100,000

  19,000

  0.1

  Source:

  New earnings survey April 1994 and employees in employment March 1994.

  Complaints
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what policy and procedures exist for dealing with complaints against his Department by members of the public; when the policy was last updated; what time limit and target for dealing with such complaints his Department has; and what follow-up procedure exists where complainants are not satisfied with his Department's response to a complaint. [26223]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Complaints procedures are set out in individual statements of service standards published by organisations with the Employment Department group which provide services to the public. The main such statements, the date at which they were last updated and the nature of the follow-up procedures where complainants are not satisfied are as follows:

  the area (a) for each of his Department's regions and (b) nationally. [26502]

  Mr. Paice
  At 26 March 1995, over 1,453 employers in England were recognised as Investors in People. Of these, 446 were companies with over 200 employees; 1,007 with under 200 employees. In excess of 16,000 further employers are committed to achieving IiP status.

  The percentage of organisations with over 200 employees in England recognised as IiP is 6 per cent. of the target groups agreed with training and enterprise councils. The regional breakdown is shown in the following table:

  Region

  Per cent.

  Eastern

  5

  East Midlands

  7

  London

  2

  Merseyside

  7

  North East

  8

  North West

  6

  Employment Service Barnoldswick
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what facilities are available at the local library in Barnoldswick for persons wishing to use the services of the Employment Service and which have been added or withdrawn since the closure of the town's jobcentre. [26564]

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

  Letter from A. G. Johnson to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated 6 June 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me, in the absence of the Chief Executive, to reply to your question regarding the provision and withdrawal of services provided by the Employment Service (ES) at Barnoldswick library.
  Since the closure of the town's Jobcentre, the ES has provided a vacancy display facility and a Freephone service connected to Come Jobcentre at the local library. The facility was initially staffed on a part-time basis between 9.30 am and 11.30 am on Mondays and Wednesdays. This was reduced to Wednesdays some two years ago.
  The facility has not been used to any significant extent and the decision was recently taken to withdraw the part-time staff presence from the library, with effect from 10 May.
  The vacancy display which is updated twice a week and Freephone service are still available to people using the library. The Freephone number is available for use by the public outside the library's opening hours.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Sheep dipping
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the Health and Safety Executive will recommend appropriate personal protective equipment for sheep farmers to give full protection against organophosphate chemicals. [26490]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Government's guidance in its free "Sheep Dipping" leaflet recommends both what personal protective equipment is appropriate for farmers when dipping sheep with organophosphate products and the steps for its proper use.

  Wearing personal protective equipment is, of course, only one of the measures to protect farmers and others against exposure to hazardous substances. Those include only dipping when necessary; and, where dips have to be used, planning carefully the design and siting of the facilities, using appropriate engineering controls; and, where protective clothing becomes heavily contaminated, washing and putting on clean clothes.

  Atomic Weapons Establishments
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will place in the Library copies of all improvement or prohibition notices served by the Health and Safety Executive on the atomic weapons establishments at Aldermaston, Burghfield, Cardiff and Foulness; and if he will continue to ensure that all future notices serviced on these establishments are placed in the Library as and when they are served. [26371]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Entries for all the notices served by the Health and Safety Executive on the atomic weapons establishments are in the public register at HSE's south 102
  area office at Basingstoke. Exceptionally I have asked HSE to forward copies of these entries to the Library. The public register entries consist of a copy of the notice. Some material has been removed for reasons of national security. Information about further notices will be available at that office.

  Pathfinder Careers Services
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he intends to publish the findings, referred to on page 6, paragraph 107 of the "Impact of New Management Arrangements in New Pathfinder Careers Services" report, of his investigation into the management of the contractual relationship between his Department and the pathfinders; and if he will make a statement. [26503]

  Mr. Paice
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to publish the information referred to. The published report contains the main findings. Publication of findings concerning the contractual relationship between the Employment Department and the pathfinder careers services would be inappropriate.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the proposed commencement date of the 16 guided learning hours provision embraced in the Jobseekers Bill. [26610]

  Miss Widdecombe
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy in the Library.

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if employment service officials will have the power between 1 April 1996 and the implementation date of jobseeker's allowance to issue a jobseeker's direction to claimants. [26612]

  Miss Widdecombe
  No; but claimants will continue to be subject to sanction if they refuse or fail to carry out an official recommendation given with a view to assisting them find a particular type of employment.

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if new claimants between 1 April 1996 and the implementation date of jobseeker's allowance will have to sign a jobseeker's agreement as a condition of benefit or if they will continue to be issued with the advisory back-to-work plan. [26611]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The jobseeker's agreement will be introduced when jobseeker's allowance is implemented in October 1996. The voluntary back-to-work plan will continue to be used until then. Different versions and processes will be tested in a small number of offices on a voluntary basis within the existing legislation in order to help plan the smooth introduction of JSA.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what targets he has set for the rate of unemployment. [26533]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Government pursue policies designed to achieve high levels of employment and low inflation. However, I do not believe that it is sensible to set a particular rate of unemployment as a target for these policies.
  103
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many(a) full-time and (b) part-time jobs would have to be created in the absence of special Government measures to reduce unemployment to the same level as in the fourth quarter of 1973 on the same definition. [27025]

  Work-force in employment and claimant unemployment, United Kingdom, seasonally adjusted

  Workforce in employment

  Of which

  Claimant Unemployed1

  Unemployment rate

  Date

  000's

  Part time employees2 000's

  Work related govt training programmes3 000's

  000's

  Percentage

  June l9734

  25,209

  3,891

  1—

  534

  2.1

  June 19744

  25,280

  4,183

  1—

  513

  2.0

  December 1994

  25,604

  6,222

  304

  2,419

  8.6

  April 1995

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  2,328

  8.3

  Source: "Employment Gazette"

  n/a: not available

  Notes:

  1 Consistent with the current definition.

  2 There are also part-time self-employed workers but for the UK figures are available only for employees. Participants in work related government training programmes are all considered to be part-time members of the workforce in employment.

  3Includes participants on government training and employment programmes who receive some work experience on their placement but who do not have a contract of employment. Participants with a contract are included as employees.

  4 Figures that are comparable and consistent with the current coverage of the "Workforce in Employment" statistics are not available on a quarterly basis before 1978. Therefore, the figures for June 1973 and June 1974 are given to provide the most comprehensive information available for the last quarter of 1973.

  Industry Training Organisations
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to(a) increase and (b) reduce the number of (i) industry training organisations, (ii) lead bodies, (iii) awarding bodies and (iv) occupational standards councils; and if he will make a statement. [26505]

  Mr. Paice
  The Department has no plans to change the numbers of industry training organisations, lead bodies, awarding bodies or occupational standards councils.

  It is for groups of employers to decide whether to apply to the Department for recognition as an ITO. Equally, it is for groups of employers or others to decide whether they wish to act as a lead body or to participate in an occupational standards council.

  The Department does not have powers to recognise awarding bodies. The National Council for Vocational Qualifications sets strict criteria for organisations wanting to award national vocational qualifications.

  Job Insecurity
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he will introduce to alleviate job insecurity among United Kingdom employees. [26360]

  Miss Widdecombe
  To alleviate job insecurity, businesses must be able to create jobs and individuals must be able to adapt to structural and technological change. The Government's economic policies provide the framework for sustained growth in jobs, and our employment and training measures help individuals find jobs and develop their skills and aptitudes. It is also important to remove unnecessary burdens on employers which deter them from creating new jobs as sales and
  104
  Mr. Oppenheim
  There is not a simple relationship between the number of jobs and the level of unemployment, because of changes in the population of working age and activity rates. The following table shows that claimant unemployment is higher than in 1973, but the number in employment is also larger.

  output rise. The Uk now has one of the most flexible and deregulated labour markets in Europe. It also has:
  a higher proportion of its adult population in work than in any other major European country;
  fewer people out of work and claiming benefits than any other major European country; and
  one of the lowest proportions of temporary workers in Europe.

  We shall continue to resist measures such as the social chapter, a national minimum wage and a compulsory training levy which would put jobs at risk and add unnecessarily to job insecurity.

  Sewer Maintenance
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what monitoring arrangements are in place to ensure safe working practices for operatives engaged in sewer maintenance. [26718]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Primary responsibility for setting up and monitoring safe working practices for operatives engaged in sewer maintenance rests with the employers of operatives. The Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 requires all employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of their employees. Health and Safety Executive inspectors enforce health and safety legislation in the water industry.

  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when the Health and Safety Executive last issued guidance for safe working practices for operatives engaged in sewer maintenance. [26717]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Health and Safety Executive issued updated guidance in August 1994 on safe working practices in all confined spaces, including sewers and enclosed drains. A guidance package on occupational health risks for sewage is in preparation.
  105
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many inspections were made last year by health and safety inspectors of contractors working on sewer maintenance. [26719]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, provisional figures indicate that inspectors made some 104 visits to sewage disposal activities in 1994–95.

  Disabled People
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what additional steps to enlarge opportunities for persons with disability are needed to conform with the declaration and action programme agreed at the Copenhagen world summit for social development in March, with particular reference to article 62. [26760]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The preambles to both the declaration and the programme of action make clear that the implementation of the summit recommendations at national level is subject to national legislation and priorities. United Kingdom policies and programmes to enlarge employment opportunities for people with disabilities are already kept under review to ensure that they respond quickly and effectively to changing national needs and circumstances.

  The Department has a wide range of employment and training services, programmes—including supported employment—and initiatives, which help enhance the employment opportunities for people with disabilities and assist disabled people to obtain and retain employment.

  The Disability Discrimination Bill introduced by the Government, will, when enacted, make it unlawful for employers, with 20 or more employees to discriminate against disabled people in any area of employment. Employers will also be under a duty to make a reasonable adjustment to working conditions or to the workplace where a disabled person would otherwise be at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled people.

  Worker Co-operatives
  Mr. Purchase
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number of jobs that have been created in worker co-operatives in the UK since the passing of the Industrial Common Ownership Act 1976; and what research he has conducted on the survival rate of new start worker co-operatives and on comparisons with the survival rates of traditional forms of small new start business. [26924]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I regret that this information is not available.

ENVIRONMENT

  Consultants
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the level of expenditure on consultancy by(a) the Department of the Environment and (b) agencies for which the Department is responsible for (i) 1993–94, (ii) 1994–95 and (iii) projected for 1995–96. [25525]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Expenditure on consultancies by my Department and its agencies, excluding IT consultancies, is £10.394 million in 1993–94, £10.882 106
  million in 1994–95, and is forecast to be £13.875 million in 1995–96.

  Departmental Performance
  Mr Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what performance indicators and performance targets there are for measuring the performance of his Department in(a) answering letters from members of the public and (b) answering telephone calls from members of the public; how performance is monitored; and what are the latest figures for performance measured against the target set. [26328]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Department has a target of replying to all letters from the public, including individuals, businesses and local authorities, within 15 working days of the letter being received by the department. Since April 1994, the Department has been developing procedures for monitoring performance against that target, which are overseen by the management board of the Department.

  The Department has no quantitative target for the answering of telephone calls by all departmental staff and performance data are not centrally monitored. The Department's public inquiry unit has targets for several aspects of their answering of telephone calls and their performance against these targets is monitored daily and reported on annually to senior management.

  Business Rates
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what percentage of business premises in England as a whole and in each local authority in England have qualified for transitional uniform business rate relief continuously, each year, since the 1987 business rates revaluation; [25967]

  (2) what was the percentage of business premises in England as a whole and in each local authority in England that qualified for transitional uniform business rate relief following the (a) 1987 and (b) 1992 revaluation; and if he will list the local authorities in order according to the percentage qualifying for transitional relief at each revaluation; [25970]

  (3) what was the average percentage increase in rateable values for business premises in England as a whole and in each local authority in England following the (a) 1987 and (b) 1993 revaluation; and if he will list the local authorities in order according to the average percentage increase at each revaluation. [25969]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  There were no revaluations in 1987 or 1992. The 1990 revaluation of non-domestic property was based on rents in 1988. The 1995 revaluation, which came into force on 1 April, is based on rents in 1993. The tables, copies of which will be placed in the Library, show:the percentage of non-domestic properties moving to higher bills which have qualified for transitional relief continuously since 1990;
  the average percentage increase in rateable value of non-domestic properties following each of the revaluations; and,
  the percentage of non-domestic properties moving to higher bills which qualified for transitional relief in the first year after each of the revaluations.

  Underground Car Parks
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals there are to include benzene and particulates in the regulations concerning ventilation in underground car parks; and if he will make a statement. [26173]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  On 1 July this year, new building regulations for the ventilation of non-domestic buildings including underground car parks come into force. Guidance is contained in the 1995 edition of the approved document for part F of the Building Regulations. The provisions are based on the amount of ventilation needed to reduce the level of pollutants generally, rather than setting specific limits for individual pollutants such as benzene or particulates. The guidance is kept under review and research is being undertaken to monitor the effectiveness of the provisions in reducing such pollutants.

  Occupational exposure limits for benzene and other constituents of vehicle exhaust emissions are controlled by the Health and Safety Commission. The current occupational exposure limits are considered adequate to control the risk of ill health to employees in underground car parks. If appropriate measures are taken to control employees' exposure to the main constituents of vehicle exhaust emissions below the relevant occupational exposure limits, their exposure to other substances hazardous to health in the emissions are also likely to be controlled to levels below which there is unlikely to be any risk to their health.

  Air quality is one of the Government's environmental priorities. In January this year, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment published "Air Quality: Meeting the Challenge", which sets out the Government's strategic policies for air quality management, including a pledge to set air quality standards for nine major pollutants, among which are benzene and particulates.

  Complaints
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what policy and procedures exists for dealing which complaints against his Department by members of the public; when the policy was last updated; what time limit and target for dealing which such complaints his Department has; and what follow-up procedure exists where complainants are not satisfied with his Department's response to a complaint. [26222]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Department's complaints handling procedures were revised in April 1994. A departmental service commitment explains what steps are open to members of the public to wish to make a complaint. These steps include the opportunity to refer a complaint to the departmental complaints unit.

  The Department's target for responding to letters of complaint is, as for all letters from the public, that a reply should be sent within 15 working days of the letter being received.

  Any member of the public who is dissatisfied with the way the Department has dealt with their complaint may ask a Member of Parliament to submit their complaint to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration for investigation and review.

  Inheritances
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average value of inheritance other than of surviving spouses and excluding all inheritances of under £1,000 in England since 1990. [26568]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  I regret that the information is not available.

  Green Belt
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to prevent damage to the green belt by intrusive agricultural development. [26535]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The visual amenities of the green belt should not be injured by proposals for development which, although they would not prejudice the purposes of including land in green belts, might be visually detrimental by reason of their siting, materials or design. This is a material factor which local planning authorities should take into account in considering planning applications. For smaller agricultural buildings which do not require a planning application, local planning authorities have discretion to control siting, design and external appearance.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures are available in circumstances where local authorities fail to provide adequate details of potential sites for development in urban areas when consideration is given to the use of green belt land for development purposes. [26672]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  If a proposed development is inappropriate to a green belt, it is for the applicant to show why permission should be granted.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary for Environment if he will make a statement on the reasons used to decide whether to link questions for oral answer. [26427]

  Mr. Gummer
  Questions are usually linked when they are on closely related issues in very close proximity in the order paper, and the hon. Members concerned do not object.

  Sewerage Services
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it a requirement that sewerage undertakers publish and enforce guidance for safe working practices in their operations in their areas. [26720]

  Mr. Atkins
  Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 requires every employer of more than five employees to prepare and keep up to date a written statement of his general policy with respect to the health and safety at work of his employees and arrangements for carrying out that policy, and to bring that statement and any revision of it to the notice of all his employees.

  Mrs Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure that where sewerage work is contracted out by the statutory undertakers the undertaker retains responsibility for enforcing safe working practices within their contract specifications. [26721]
  109
  Mr. Atkins
  The Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 requires all employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of their employees. The Health and Safety Executive is responsible for enforcing health and safety legislation in the water industry.

  Noise
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further steps his Department proposes to take to deal with the problem of noise nuisance by neighbours; and what plans he has to present legislation on the issue. [26771]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  We continue to encourage informal resolution of neighbour noise problems, wherever possible, while recognising that in some cases formal enforcement action is necessary. The conclusions and recommendations of an interdepartmental working party on neighbour noise set up to review the effectiveness of controls under the current law were issued as a consultation paper at the end of March. The recommendations include proposals for a specific power of temporary confiscation of noise-making equipment and a new nighttime noise offence based on World Health Organisation guidelines. We will consider the comments on these proposals before deciding whether to proceed with legislation.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what plans he has to introduce legislation for construction contracts; [26687]

  (2) what steps he will take to assist and protect construction industries prior to a legislative response to the Latham report. [26688]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Coventry, North-East (Mr. Ainsworth) on 16 May 1995,Official Report, column 176.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the costs to construction industries arising out of late payment; and if he will make a statement on the implications this has for employment and training.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  I am not aware of any estimate by the construction industry of these costs.

  Proposed Development, Wakefield
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration was given to the complaints raised by Crigglestone parish council prior to the decision to remove green belt land designation for development purposes at junction 39, M1 motorway, in Wakefield. [26747]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The parish council's objections were considered at the public local inquiry into the Wakefield unitary development plan. The Secretary of State has no records of complaints being made prior to the adoption of the plan on 6 December 1994.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information was provided about alternative sites for proposed development in the case of land at junction 39, M1 motorway, in Wakefield. [26673]
  110
  Sir Paul Beresford
  This is a matter considered during the preparation of, and at the public local inquiry into, the Wakefield unitary plan. The Secretary of State has been fully consulted about the plan and has been satisfied with the information given.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of the inspector's investigation into an application to remove land from the green belt for development at junction 39, M1 motorway, in Wakefield. [26651]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The cost of the public local inquiry into objections to the Wakefield unitary development plan is a matter for Wakefield metropolitan council and the Planning Inspectorate Agency. I have asked the agency's director to write separately to the hon. Member.

  Letter from J. Greenfield to Mr. David Hinchliffe, dated 2 June 1995:
  The Secretary of State for the Environment has asked me to reply to your question about the cost of the Inspector's report on objections to the removal of land from green belt for development at junction 39 of the M1 in Wakefield. This formed part of the public inquiry into objections to the Wakefield Unitary Development Plan, which closed on 27 January 1993 after 61 sitting days.
  Unfortunately, it is not possible to say what was the exact cost of the Inspector's consideration of these particular objections. I understand that approximately 1.5 inquiry days were occupied in hearing representations on this objection also, and additional time would have been spent in producing the Inspector's report. The fee charged per Inspector day was £285, plus some £85 per day in travel and subsistence costs where appropriate.
  On the basis of the then current Planning Inspectorate guideline of 3 reporting days per inquiry sitting/site visit day, the Inspector would have spent some 4 to 5 days reporting on the oral and written representations relating to the site. The total cost would thus have been some £1,800.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the information on potential development sites, outside of green belt, in urban areas, when consideration was given to development proposals at junction 39 of the M1 motorway in Wakefield. [26669]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The matter was considered at the public local inquiry into objections to the Wakefield unitary development plan. The Secretary of State has been fully consulted at every stage of the plan's preparation. He has scrutinised the proposals, having regard to national and regional policy advice, and was content with the plan at the time of adoption.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of state for the Environment if it will be necessary to hold elections for a shadow council for those unitary authorities whose boundaries are coterminous with the boundary of the existing district councils.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Where an authority gaining unitary status is coterminous with an existing county or district council, it will be a continuing authority and there will be no need for a shadow council. There is no statutory requirement for fresh elections to an authority in this position, other than as part of the normal electoral cycle, but it is our policy to require fresh elections to be held for the whole council in the year before reorganisation, to ensure that planning and implementation of unitary functions is done on the basis of a fresh mandate.

  Water Authorities
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities are served by more than one water authority. [26705]

  Mr. Atkins
  This information is not held centrally.

  Sefton Park Palm House
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on the future of the Sefton Park palm house, Liverpool; [26908]

  (2) what European regional development fund funding and English Heritage funding is available towards the restoration of the Sefton Park palm house.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The works carried out in 1993 under the urban programme funded rescue package—£254,000—secured the structure in the short term, allowing time for detailed proposals to be drawn up for future sustainable use as part of an overall tourism strategy.

  The Government office for Merseyside has received an application for ERDF grant assistance for a development study and business plan. This application is currently being appraised.

  I understand that English Heritage has made an offer of funding towards eligible works on the palm house.

  Local Investment Fund
  Mr. Purchase
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what investment in small businesses has resulted since the launch of the local investment fund in 1994; what action has been taken to publicise the existance of the local investment fund; what steps the Government are taking to increase investment in the fund; and if he will make a statement. [26914]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  This is a matter for the management of the local investment fund. The local investment fund was established by means of a £1 million grant from the Department of the Environment matched by £2 million from the private sector in grants and loans. It is a registered charity operating independently of Government.

  North Sea
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to extend his commitments on protection of the North sea to all waters around the UK. [26870]

  Mr. Atkins
  It is long-standing Government policy to apply obligations under successive North sea conferences to all our waters. This commitment will apply equally to any steps agreed by the fourth North sea conference on 8 and 9 June, within the framework for implementing measures for the north-east Atlantic under the 1992 OSPAR convention.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what commitment he plans to make to protect the North sea beyond the 200-mile limit of territorial waters. [26871]

  Mr. Atkins
  All the North sea is within 200 nautical miles of the coasts of one or other of the North sea states: their jurisdictions over the area between the 12-mile limit to territorial waters and the 200-mile limit—which are recognised by international law—therefore provides a major underpinning for measures to protect the North sea 112
  agreed through the North sea conferences. We have also signed the convention for the protection of the marine environment of the north-east Atlantic which provides a comprehensive framework for protecting the seas north of 36°N, the latitude of the straits of Gibraltar, and east of 42°W, the longitude of the southern tip of Greenland, as far as the straits between Denmark and Sweden.

  Mr. Mackinley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to raise the issue of controlling pollution from ships at the forthcoming North sea ministerial conference; what policy proposals he has to suggest; and if he will make a statement. [26361]

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 24 May 1995]: Pollution from shipping is one of the issues which the conference will consider. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in the House on 16 May, Official Report, column 183, what we hope the conference will achieve in all of the areas it will cover, including shipping. A UK note on the conference was placed in the Library of the House.

  Proposed Theatre, Ilfracombe
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what representations he has received urging him to call in the planning application for a new pavilion theatre and winter garden at Ilfracombe, North Devon; [26907]

  (2) if he will take into consideration the time scale pressure on funding opportunities for the construction of a new pavilion theatre and winter garden at Ilfracombe, North Devon, in deciding whether to call in the planning application for the development. [26906]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Secretary of State has given careful consideration to the representations received from English Heritage about the design and impact of the proposals for a new theatre and winter garden at Ilfracombe. He has decided to leave the planning decision to North Devon district council and appropriate notification was issued by the Government office for the south-west on 2 June.

  Direct Labour and Service Organisations
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take against those local authorities whose direct labour and direct service organisations failed to meet their statutory financial objectives in 1993–94. [27024]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  On 28 February this year, 38 statutory notices were served on 19 local authorities concerning the failure of their direct labour and service organisations to meet the required financial objective in 1993–94.

  My right hon. Friend has now considered the responses to those notices, and has today given directions to Bradford city council, highways and sewers; Brent LBC, highways and sewers; Calderdale MBC, building maintenance; Charnwood borough council, building maintenance and grounds maintenance; Durham county council, grounds maintenance, other catering and building maintenance; Great Grimsby borough council, highways and sewers; Hammersmith and Fulham LBC, grounds maintenance, Lambeth LBC, building cleaning; Liverpool city council, highways and sewers, grounds maintenance and other cleaning; Newham LBC, grounds maintenance; North Devon district council, building maintenance;

  113
  South Northamptonshire district council, building maintenance, other cleaning and sports and leisure management; Southend-on-Sea borough council, highways and sewers; Waltham Forest LBC, building maintenance and grounds maintenance; and Wigan MBC, building maintenance.

  These directions take five different forms:

  preventing the authority from carrying out the work from 1 April 1996: Bradford city council, highways and sewers.

  Requiring an authority to retender all or part of the work, and to seek the Secretary of State's prior consent should they wish to award the work in-house. The work would need to be retendered or a new contract would need to have been awarded by specific dates: Calderdale, building maintenance; Durham, grounds maintenance and other catering; Hammersmith and Fulham, grounds maintenance; Lambeth, building cleaning; Newham, grounds maintenance; and South Northamptonshire, building maintenance and sports and leisure management.

  preventing the authority from carrying out the work if it fails to meet the required financial objective a specified financial year or years:

  1994–95: Brent, highways and sewers.

  1995–96: Charnwood, building maintenance; Waltham Forest, grounds maintenance, and Wigan, building maintenance.

  1995–96 and 1996–97: Liverpool, highways and sewers and grounds maintenance, and Waltham Forest, building maintenance.

  requiring an authority to retender the work if it fails to meet the required financial objective in a specified financial year, and to seek the Secretary of State's prior consent where the work has to be retendered and where the authority subsequently wish to award the work in-house:

  1994–95: Charnwood, grounds maintenance and North Devon, building maintenance.

  1995–96: Durham, building maintenance; Grimsby, highways and sewers; South Northamptonshire, other cleaning, and Southend-on-Sea, highways and sewers.

  requiring an authority to submit quarterly monitoring reports up to March 1997: Liverpool, other cleaning.

  The Secretary of State has also decided to take no further statutory action in respect of financial failure in 1993–94 by:
  Bournemouth, building maintenance, vehicle maintenance; Durham, new construction over £50,000; Grimsby, refuse collection/other cleaning; Havering, building cleaning; Hillingdon, building maintenance; Lambeth, grounds maintenance; Liverpool, other catering; Merton, sports and leisure management; North Devon, other cleaning; Southend-on-Sea, building maintenance, and Waltham Forest, building cleaning and other catering; Waltham Forest, sports and leisure management; and Brent, sports and leisure management.

  This is the first of four announcements that I shall be making between now and October about the action that is being taken against local authorities that failed to meet their financial objectives in 1993–94.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration has been given to the dispersal of low-level radioactive waste at sites in(a) the Sherwood constituency and (b) Nottinghamshire; and if he will make a statement. [26876]

  Mr. Atkins
  At present no low-level radioactive waste is authorised for disposal at any landfill site in Nottinghamshire, and my Department has no knowledge of any future plans in this regard.

  The Radioactive Substances Act 1993 regulates the disposal of all radioactive waste. Before anyone disposes of this waste, other than under the terms of an exemption order, he must apply to Her Majesty's inspectorate of
  114
  pollution for authorisation under the Act, and the application is made public. HMIP will grant authorisation only if it is fully satisfied that the public is properly protected.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made towards the 15 per cent. energy saving target for the Government estate; and when he intends to publish the Government's latest review of progress on a Department-by-Department basis. [27158]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, East (Mr. Ainsworth) on 17 May 1995,Official Report, columns 260–62.

  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what target date he has set for the achievement of the 15 per cent. energy saving target for the Government estate. [27157]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The answer is 31 March 1996.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure that asbestos-based products are not used in construction. [25865]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I have been asked to reply.

  The use of products containing the most dangerous types of asbestos, brown and blue, and many construction products containing white asbestos is prohibited. The few remaining uses of white asbestos based products in construction are subject to the provisions of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987, as amended in 1992. Those require employers to prevent exposure to asbestos, where it is practicable, by substituting products containing asbestos for less harmful products.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Home Visits
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the purpose of proposed home visits by Benefits Agency staff; [26249]

  (2) what instructions he has given to Benefits Agency staff regarding proposed home visits; [26247]

  (3) how many home visits by Benefits Agency staff are proposed in the current year. [26248]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The purposes of home visits by Benefits Agency staff are to clarify and verify details of benefit claims which cannot be easily, or satisfactorily confirmed by post, ensuring that benefit entitlement is expedited accurately and speedily.

  Long-standing advice exists for Benefits Agency staff on how to conduct business away from the office. This includes guidance on interview techniques and personal safety. All visiting staff attend specialised training courses, which include a session on how to deal with potentially aggressive situations. In addition, guidance is due to be issued advising how to select, perform and record, new and repeat and "review claim" visits.
  115
  There is no overall numerical target set for home visits. Details of the number of visits carried out last year, 1994–95, are set out in the table.

  Number of visits to customers in financial year ending March 1995

  Number

  New claims visits

  57,000

  Initial case check (follow up)

  32,500

  Subsequent case check

  64,000

  Specialist visits (e.g. by CSA staff)

  80,000

  Other (may include some fraud related visits)

  250,000

  Total

  483,500

  Residential Care and Nursing Homes
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in Great Britain aged over 64 years living in(a) private residential homes, (b) private nursing homes, (c) local authority residential homes and (d) national health service nursing homes have a spouse living elsewhere. [25977]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in England aged over 64 years live in(a) private residential homes, (b) private nursing homes, (c) local authority residential homes and (d) NHS nursing homes; and, of these, how many have the cost of their care paid wholly or partly by (i) their local authority, (ii) their health authority and (iii) the Department of Social Security; and how many pay for their care wholly from private resources. [25978]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.

  Number of Income Support Cases in England where the recipient is aged over 64 in May 1994

  Residential Care

  76,000

  Nursing Homes

  71,000

  LA Residential Accommodation

  6,000

  Including Residential Allowance

  42,000

  Total Cases

  194,000

  Source: Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry: May 1994.

  Notes:

  All figures rounded to nearest thousand.

  Residential care and nursing homes may be either private or voluntary homes.

  Cases under the community care scheme cannot be split between residential care and nursing homes.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidelines his Department plans to issue to local authorities concerning rent referrals to local rent officers under the proposed changes to housing benefit. [26538]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  In March this year we issued to all local authorities a circular, HB/CTBA6/95, and a summary of our proposals to take effect from October. Following formal consultation, we are currently considering the report from the social security advisory 116
  committee, and the representations from local authority associations, before reaching final decisions. We will then issue further guidance to all local authorities and will keep the need for additional material under review, in line with our normal practice.

  Benefit Payment Card
  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by what date the five consortia bidding to act as prime contractors for the automated benefit payment system must submit their proposals; when the Department of Social Security will make its decision; and when he expects the system to be operational. [26369]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The five consortia must submit their proposals by 8 June and the Department will make its decision around the end of the year. The first benefit payment cards are expected to be issued in 1996 and the whole implementation process is expected to take up to three years.

  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will place in the Library a copy of the automated benefit payment card statement of system requirement. [26368]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  No. The statement of service requirement is part of the contractual negotiations between the Department and potential service providers, and as such is commercially confidential.

  National Insurance Numbers
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many national insurance numbers are in existence; how many national insurance numbers relate to people now deceased; how many national insurance numbers have been issued in each of the past 10 years, other than automatically to 16-year-olds; what are the categories into which those applying for national insurance, other than automatic issue to 16-year-olds, are placed; how many national insurance numbers have been issued in each of those categories in each of the past 10 years; how many prosecutions have been made in each of the last 10 years for fraudulent claims for national insurance numbers; and how many national insurance numbers have been cancelled in each of the last 10 years. [26457]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  There are 65,329,198 national insurance numbers held on the departmental central index.

  Approximately 8.8 million records relate to people now deceased.

  It is possible to state only how many national insurance numbers have been issued in three of the past 10 years in cases other than automatically to 16-year-olds.

  1986: 142,964

  1987: 155,571

  1988: 174,902

  This information is not available from 1989 onwards because of changes to the way in which the Department's computer systems operate.

  In addition to those national insurance numbers issued automatically to 16-year-olds, applications may come from customers who have arrived from abroad and never been in the UK before or have not been included in the automatic registration process—for example, if child benefit has not been in payment.

  It is not possible to state how many national insurance number allocations fall into each category as current

  117
  processes do not provide for the collection of this information.

  Since records began in 1991 there have been approximately 500 to 550 prosecutions a year involving conspiracy to obtain benefit fraudulently from the Department by the misuse of identity details and national insurance numbers.

  The numbers of national insurance numbers cancelled in the past 10 years are as follows:

  1986: 7,576

  1987: 6,719

  1988: 13,763

  1989: 10,827

  1990: 11,924

  1991: 8,878

  1992: 13,230

  993: 13,458

  1994: 9,344

  1995: 5,163 (to date).

  Income Support
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if new claimants with a partner who satisfy the contribution conditions between 1 April 1996 and the implementation date of jobseeker's allowance will be eligible for the dependant's addition. [26614]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Yes.

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if claimants subject to benefit sanctions between 1 April 1996 and the implementation date of the jobseeker's allowance will be eligible for income support hardship payments including during the first two weeks of such a sanction. [26613]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The current rules will apply until jobseeker's allowance is introduced in October 1996.

  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if new claimants aged under 25 years and satisfying the contribution conditions between 1 April 1996 and the implementation date of jobseeker's allowance will be entitled to the same rate of benefit as those aged over 25 years. [26615]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Yes.

  Living Standards
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the statement on page 71, paragraph 6.22 in the Government's White Paper, "Competitiveness—Forging Ahead", in respect of the state not funding improvements in the living standards of individuals in old age represents a change in Government policy; and if he will make a statement. [26902]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Our policy on pensions remains unchanged. We will maintain the value of the basic state pension by increasing it in line with prices, encourage personal responsibility for additional pension provision through occupational and personal pensions and target extra resources on those with a low income.

  Child Support Agency
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in Scotland have been identified by the Child Support Agency as absent parents;118
  what is the average length of stay away from the family home; and how many of the above have (a) given no financial support to the family and (b) given amounts of money irregularly. [24602]

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

  Letter from Tony Ward to Mrs. Maria Fyfe, dated 31 May 1995:
  In the absence of Miss Chant, the Chief Executive, I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about details of the absent parents in Scotland.
  From a one per cent sample of the Agency's cases, it is estimated that as at 11 March 1995, 42,200 people living in Scotland had been identified as absent parents (APs). Of these, 29,900 had been assessed to pay child maintenance, 24,200 agreeing to pay through the CSA collection service, and the remaining 5,700 arranging to pay direct to the parent with care (PaWC). In these last cases, the Agency assumes that unless the PaWC advises to the contrary, child maintenance is paid in full.
  Of those APs using the collection service, 1,300 had paid child maintenance in full; 2,400 had paid part of the maintenance due; and 12,800 had paid no child maintenance in the previous 13 weeks. Action on the collection accounts had not been completed in the remaining 7,700 cases.
  No information is available on the average length of time that an AP stays away from the family home.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Telephones
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what costs his Department has incurred during the last 12 months as a result of cloning of mobile telephones being utilised by his Department, with particular reference to the making of unauthorised calls. [23497]

  Mr. Hague
  [holding answer Tuesday 9 May]: The Department of Social Security recovers all costs when cloning is detected. The supplier VODAC Ltd. monitors and reports on instances of cloning and credits the DSS for any losses occurring from unauthorised usage.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Manslaughter Detainees
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 11 May,Official Report, column 554, on restricted patients with a hospital order sentenced for manslaughter, where each patient is or was detained. [26153]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Information on all the hospitals in which each patient was detained would involve disproportionate cost. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 23 May 1995 at column 487, detailing the hospitals to which the patients convicted of manslaughter and given a hospital order were initially admitted. The following table shows the current whereabouts of those patients who were still detained in hospital in December 1994.
  119

  Patients detained in hospital in December 1994 under a hospital order with restrictions on discharge following a conviction for manslaughter in 1985–94 by hospital

  Number

  Broadmoor

  48

  Rampton

  48

  Ashworth1

  48

  Arnold Lodge

  3

  Bexley

  2

  Bracton Clinic

  1

  Brookwood

  1

  Calderstones

  1

  Camlet Lodge

  3

  Caswell Clinic

  4

  Doncaster Gate

  2

  East Glamorgan

  1

  Edenfield Centre

  1

  Fieldhead

  1

  Friern

  1

  Glanryhd

  1

  Hackney

  5

  Kneesworth

  3

  Knowle

  1

  Marlborough House

  2

  Middlewood

  1

  Moorgreen

  1

  Napsbury

  1

  Newton Lodge

  2

  North Wales Hospital

  1

  Northgate

  1

  Northwick Park

  1

  Parkside

  1

  Pastures

  1

  Rainhill

  1

  Reaside

  5

  Runwell

  1

  Scott Clinic

  2

  St. Bernard's, Ealing

  1

  St. James'

  1

  St. Augustine's

  1

  Stockton Hall

  1

  Three Bridges

  10

  Trevor Gibbens Unit

  1

  Whittingham

  1

  Winterton

  2

  Total

  214

  1 Moss Side and Park Lane merged to become Ashworth in February 1990.

  Prison Staff (Suicides)
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prison staff committed suicide in each of the last 15 years. [26091]

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 6 June 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about prison staff suicides in each of the last 15 years.
  Staff suicides in the last five years were as follows:

  1990: 4

  1991: 2

  1992: 5

  1993: 4

  994: 11

  1995: 2 (to date)

  120
  Records of the cause of staff deaths before 1990 are not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  The increased number of staff suicides in 1994 is a matter of great concern to the Prison Service. The causes of each suicide have been carefully examined, but in no case does the cause appear to be related to work in the Prison Service.

  Ebola Virus
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice has been issued to immigration officials dealing with persons entering the United Kingdom directly or indirectly, from Zaire, with particular reference to individuals who may have travelled through areas with Ebola virus cases. [26631]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Information and advice about the Ebola virus issued by the Department of Health has been given to immigration officers who are instructed to refer to the port medical inspector any passenger seeking entry who appears to be unwell. The Immigration Service is closely monitoring the position as necessary with the Department of Health.

  Royal Life Saving Society
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial support is currently being provided by his Department to the Royal Life Saving Society. [26748]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The Royal Life Saving Society (UK) does not receive any financial support from my Department.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he has with the Royal Life Saving Society relating to information required in responding to hon. Members questions concerning(a) coastal safety and (b) coastal lifeguard services. [26652]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  My Department has no standing arrangements for obtaining information from the Royal Life Saving Society (UK) on coastal water safety issues. But we would, of course, be ready to seek information from the society if we had reason to believe that it might be able to assist the preparation of a reply to a question from an hon. Member.

  Mentally Ill Offenders
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many mentally ill people having come before a court with an offence punishable by imprisonment have been subject to a section 37 hospital order under the Mental Health Act 1983 for each year since 1989. [26644]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information, which is published annually in a Home Office Statistical Bulletin "Statistics of Mentally Disordered Offenders England and Wales", copies of which are in the Library, is given in the table. The figures for 1994 are not yet available.

  Mentally disordered offenders made subject to section 37 Hospital Orders, England and Wales, 1989–1993

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Persons admitted to hospital under a hospital order (section 37) with a restriction order (section 41)

  170

  154

  156

  213

  218

  121

  Mentally disordered offenders made subject to section 37 Hospital Orders, England and Wales, 1989–1993

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Persons receiving a hospital order without a restriction order(1)

  756

  789

  730

  717

  670

  Total

  926

  943

  886

  930

  888

  1Source: sentencing statistics.

  Licensed Premises
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to issue guidelines on the number of people that any licensed premises that does not have a public entertainment licence can safely allow on the premises. [26694]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Home Department's "Guide to Fire Precautions in Existing Places of Entertainment and Like Premises", issued to fire authorities in 1990, included guidance on occupancy capacity for licensed premises. These guidelines are also applicable to premises which do not require a public entertainment licence. We have no plans to issue further guidance on this subject.

  Electric Shock Weapons
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a company was last granted authority specifically to possess electric shock weapons in or before 1991; if he will name the company; and for how long that permission was given. [26754]

  Mr. Maclean
  This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Police (Personal Data)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to remove the United Kingdom derogations to principles 2.2 and 2.4 of the Council of Europe recommendation on the use of personal data in the police sector [R(87) (15)1; if he will list those member states who have not entered such a derogation; and if he will make a statement. [27008]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The UK has reserved its right to comply or not with principles 2.2 and 2.4 of the Council of Europe recommendation. There are no plans to lift these reservations.

  No other Member state entered identical reservations when the recommendation was adopted, although the Republic of Ireland entered a general reservation to comply or not with the recommendation as a whole and Switzerland abstained.

  Third Country Nationals
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimates have been made of the increase in immigration to the United Kingdom and of the likely effect on public funds of permitting any third country national lawfully resident in one European Union country freely to enter and to remain in the United Kingdom. [27027]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  None. The Government have no intention of allowing third country nationals lawfully resident in another member state to enter and remain freely in the United Kingdom.

  Europol
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement concerning progress towards agreement on the draft convention to establish Europol; and if he will make a statement on United Kingdom objections to the current version of the draft. [27006]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In Essen on 9 and 10 December 1994 the European Council asked for work on the draft convention to be completed before its meeting in Cannes on 26 and 27 June this year. Good progress has been made under the French presidency. The Justice and Home Affairs Council will consider the outstanding issues on 20 and 21 June.

  A copy of the current draft of the convention was sent to the appropriate parliamentary committees on 31 May under cover of an explanatory note. The United Kingdom is general content with the draft. We have reservations recorded against the text of articles 13 and 21 relating respectively to:

  (i) a Belgian proposal to amend the text so as to use the Europol Convention as a vehicle for extending to paper files, for the first time, particular data protection measures previously agreed only in respect of automatic data processing. This is not a reservation against the convention text itself;

  (ii) drafting aspects of the test relating to the role of national data protection authorities and the joint supervisory body.

  A number of outstanding articles in the current text are blank—these relate to data protection and institutional questions. Intensive negotiations are underway to reach agreement between member states on these issues.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement concerning the status of the Council of Europe recommendation on the use of personal data in the police sector [R(87) (15)1 with respect to the draft convention to establish Europol. [27002]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Article 13 of the draft convention requires member states and Europol to take account of the Council of Europe recommendation.

  Drugs, Holloway
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of mandatory drug tests have thus far been positive in HM prison Holloway; and what were the main drugs detected. [26889]

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 6 June 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question concerning the results from the drug testing programme at Holloway prison.
  Holloway has only recently started their drug testing programme. The first results from the prison are not yet available.

  Schengen Agreement
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies have been made of the likely consequences for the United Kingdom of its accession to the Schengen agreement. [27029]
  123
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  None. The United Kingdom is not a party to the Schengen agreement and has no intention of applying for membership, which would be inconsistent with the maintenance of our system of frontier controls.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimates have been made of any changes in the net migration flows between those European Union countries which have implemented the Schengen agreement. [27028]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The United Kingdom has made no such estimates.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures have been taken to strengthen the European Union's external frontiers following the implementation of the Schengen agreement by seven member states. [27026]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The Schengen agreement is not an agreement of the European Union and its provisions relate only to the external frontiers of the Schengen area, not to those of the Union.

  Female Prisoners
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the female prison population at HM prison, Holloway and HMP Styal on 31 December 1993, 30 June 1994, 31 January 1995 and for the latest date for which figures are available. [26893]

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 6 June 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the female prison population at Holloway and Styal prisons on 31 December 1993, 30 June 1994, 31 January 1995 and for the latest date for which figures are available.
  The information requested is given in the table below:

  Female population at HMP Holloway and HMP Styal on 31 December 1993, 30 June 1994, 31 January 1995 and 26 May 1995

  Prison Service establishment

  Date

  HMP Holloway

  HMP Styal

  31 December 1993

  448

  201

  30 June 1994

  483

  226

  31 January 1995

  530

  244

  26 May 1995

  518

  239

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sentenced female prisoners in England and Wales were granted parole on(a) their first application and (b) their second application; and what percentage this represented of all applications in each of the last three years. [26892]

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

  Letter from A.J. Butler to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 6 June 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question asking how many sentenced female prisoners in England and Wales were
  124
  granted parole on (a) their first application and (b) their second application; and what percentage this represented of all applications in each of the last three years.
  New early release arrangements were introduced by the Criminal Justice Act 1991 which were implemented on 1 October 1992 and which apply to those sentenced on or after 1 October 1992. Prisoners now sentenced to less than four years are released automatically at the mid point of their sentences. This has led to a progressive reduction in the parole caseload from 1993 onwards.
  The information requested is given in the attached table.

  Determinate sentence cases considered and those recommended for parole at first or second reviews 1992–94

  Number of reviews/percentage

  Females, England and Wales

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Total considered

  713

  284

  73

  Recommended at first review

  396

  142

  20

  Recommended at second review

  86

  46

  14

  Percentage of total considered

  recommended at first or second review

  67.6

  66.2

  46.6

  Nigerian Nationals
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Nigerian nationals convicted of a drug offence in England and Wales and subsequently deported have been re-arrested on their arrival in Nigeria since 1 January 1994. [26688]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  None that we are aware of.

  Holloway and Styal Prisons
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the catchment area for sentenced and remand prisoners in(a) HM Prison Holloway and (b) HMP Styal. [26890]

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 6 June 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the catchment areas for sentenced and remand prisoners in Holloway prison and Styal prison.
  Holloway prison holds female prisoners committed by the courts from the following areas:
  Greater London (including City of London)

  Bedfordshire

  Berkshire

  Buckinghamshire

  Cambridgeshire

  Essex

  Hampshire

  Hertfordshire

  Isle of Wight

  Kent

  Norfolk

  Northamptonshire

  Oxfordshire

  Suffolk

  Surrey

  East and West Sussex

  Styal prison is a training establishment and accommodates sentenced female prisoners allocated from local prisons under the criteria and procedures set out in Circular Instruction 2/1991, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. As a contingency

  125
  arrangement, it can take a limited number of unsentenced female prisoners from Risley, if this becomes necessary, because of population pressures in the region. Risley serves the courts in the North West of England, North and Mid Wales, Staffordshire and Shropshire.

  Identity Cards
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek the opinions of the Governments of(a) the USA, (b) Canada, (c) Australia, (d) New Zealand, (e) Denmark and (f) Norway on the reasons they do not have compulsory ID cards. [27346]

  Nr. Nicholas Baker: The Green Paper on identity cards published on 24 May 1995, Cm 2879, sets out information on the use of identity cards and other methods of identification in a number of different countries including those specified. We have no plans at present to seek further information on international experience.

  Probation Officers
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the representations he has received from representatives of professional bodies concerning his proposals to change the nature of the qualifications and training of probation officers. [27318]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  We have received a large number of responses to the consultative proposals concerning probation officers' recruitment and qualifying training published earlier this year. It would not be appropriate for the to place copies of individual submissions in the Library, although when announcing the conclusions we expect to give an account of the nature and balance of the overall response. It is of course open to the hon. Member to approach directly those professional bodies in whose responses he has an interest, to establish whether they would be willing to make them available to him.

  African National Congress (Bombing)
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 17 May,Official Report, column 289, if the police have interviewed former British Telecom security officer, Mr. George Alton, in connection with the bombing of the London offices of the African National Congress in 1982. [27306]

  Mr. Howard
  The detailed conduct of a criminal investigation is a matter for the chief officer of police concerned. If anyone has information which might be relevant to this investigation it should be passed to the Metropolitan police.

  Boundary Commission Report
  Mr. Trend
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take in respect of the fourth periodical report of the Boundary Commission for England. [27374]

  Mr. Howard
  I have today laid before Parliament the fourth periodical report of the Boundary Commission for England together with a draft Order in Council for giving effect, without modifications, to the recommendations contained in the report.

  Volunteering Report
  Mr. Trend
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the report of the "Make A Difference" team on volunteering in the United Kingdom will be published, and if he will make a statement. [27375]

  Mr. Howard
  The report prepared by the "Make a Difference" team— "Make A Difference: An Outline Volunteering Strategy for the UK" was published today. Copies have been placed in the Library. I attended the launch of the report this morning. I am very grateful to the members of the "Make A Difference" team for their hard work and commitment in producing such a thorough report, with a wide range of recommendations.

  Together with the report's publication, I announced the Government's response to the key recommendations it contained.

  I have today set out an action plan:
  we will fund the creation of local volunteer development agencies in those parts of the country where no equivalent bodies exist now; our intention is to ensure country-wide coverage before the end of the century;
  the establishment of a new national body in England, the Volunteering Partnership; its key tasks will be to advise me on promoting volunteering especially by young and older people, to stimulate the development of the local agencies and to ensure the development of opportunities for young people;
  we are putting in place youth challenge, a scheme to ensure that by the end of 1997 there will be volunteering opportunities for all 15 to 25-year-olds who wish to volunteer;
  individual applications have been invited for grants of up to £30,000 for 50 imaginative projects to promote volunteering by young and older people;
  a new UK-wide "Make A Difference" award to recognise outstanding contributions by volunteering organisations;
  a publicity campaign to promote volunteering.

  Volunteers make a contribution of immeasurable value to this country. People who give up their time to help others greatly enrich their communities. Many millions already volunteer in this country, and many organisations support them. But there remains great untapped potential in those who could volunteer but choose not to. Our announcement today, which stresses "Every Hour Makes A Difference", will directly help to realise that potential.

  Police Discipline
  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make it his policy to permit disciplinary procedures to be pursued against a police officer even if that officer is unable to attend the hearing due to sickness; [26294]

  (2) if he will change police discipline regulations and the regulations governing sickness so that the latter may not prevent proceeding with the former. [26295]

  Mr. Maclean
  The present provisions governing police discipline do not prevent discipline procedures from being pursued in respect of an officer who is sick and allow a disciplinary hearing to take place, if necessary, in the absence of a sick officer, subject to certain safeguards.

  Mr. Butcher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the names of the private consultants who have certified the inability of an officer of the West Midlands police to attend disciplinary hearings; [26293]
  127
  (2) how many officers from the West Midlands police force who have retired on sick pension in the last two years did so when they were subject to disciplinary investigation or charges; [26296]

  (3) how many police officers have retired on sick pension from the West Midlands police force in the last two years. [26297]

  Mr. Maclean
  Under the terms of the Police Pensions Regulations 1987, medical retirement provisions are administered locally by police authorities. A record is not kept centrally of a police officer's medical consultants nor of the number and circumstances of ill-health retirements.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to stop police facing disciplinary charges from retiring early on medical grounds in order to avoid the completion of disciplinary proceedings. [25741]

  Mr. Maclean
  A police officer may retire from the service on grounds of disablement only if he or she is required by the police authority concerned to do so. This applies whether or not the officer faces disciplinary charges.

  Casinos
  Mr. Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to end the 48-hour rule on admission to casinos, to allow casinos limited advertising, to allow casinos to accept cheques and credit cards and to establish the right of appeal against decisions of the Gaming Board; and if he will make a statement. [26585]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  As part of the Government's deregulation initiative we have been reviewing the controls on gambling, including casino gaming. We hope to issue a consultation paper soon.

  Custody Deaths
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people aged 25 years and under have died(a) in prison and (b) in police custody in England in (i) 1993, (ii) 1994 and (iii) so far this year. [26374]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is provided in the table:

  Year

  Prison Custody

  Police Custody

  1993

  23

  12

  1994

  32

  10

  1995 to date

  9

  3

  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people aged 25 years and under have died(a) in prison and (b) in police custody in Wales in (i) 1993, (ii) 1994 and (iii) so far this year. [26375]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information requested is provided in the table:

  Year

  Prison Custody

  Prison Custody

  1993

  0

  0

  1994

  3

  0

  1995 to date

  0

  0

  Remand Prisoners
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many male prisoners were received on remand during 1993 and 1994; and how many were eventually(a) given a custodial sentence, (b) given a non-custodial sentence and (c) acquitted or not proceeded with. [26196]

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated May 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many male prisoners were received on remand during 1993 and 1994, and how many were eventually (a) given a custodial sentence, (b) given a non-custodial sentence and (c) acquitted or not proceeded with.
  Information on the number of males received on remand into a Prison Service establishment in England and Wales in 1993 and 1994 is shown in table 1. Information on the court outcome is available for 1993 from court remand statistics and is given in table 2.

  Table 1: Receptions1 into Prison Service establishments of untried and convicted unsentenced male prisoners in 1993 and 1994

  Males

  21993

  21994

  Untried prisoners

  50,918

  53,796

  Convicted unsentenced prisoners

  28,593

  30,919

  All remand prisoners

  59,914

  64,189

  1 "All remand prisoners" describes those prisoners received firstly as an untried prisoner then subsequently as a convicted unsentenced prisoner. They are included only once in the figure.

  2 Provisional figures.

  Table 2: Final court outcome for males remanded in custody at some stage in magistrates' court proceedings1 in 1993

  England and Wales

  Estimated percentages Males

  Final court outcome2

  Acquitted not proceeded with etc

  22

  Non-custodial sentence:

  36

  Community sentence3

  20

  Fine

  7

  Absolute or conditional discharge

  6

  Other non-custodial sentence

  3

  Custodial sentence

  42

  Total

  100

  1 Includes persons remanded in custody by magistrates during proceedings or on committal.

  2 Includes estimated outcome at the Crown Court for those committed for trial or sentence.

  3 Includes CSO, probation, supervision orders, attendance centre orders.

  Smoke Alarms
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to allow metropolitan fire authorities to distribute and install smoke alarms free of charge. [26312]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Fire authorities are not required to obtain the permission of my right hon. and learned Friend to distribute and install smoke alarms free of charge. But it has recently been suggested that there may
  129
  be a legal impediment to this practice. The Department is currently looking into this.

  Aids
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prisons currently operate viral infectivity restrictions for prisoners with HIV/AIDS; and what proportion this represents of the total number of prison establishments within England and Wales. [26412]

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 6 June 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the operation of viral infectivity restrictions for prisoners with HIV and or AIDS.
  Of those prisons which currently hold inmates known to have HIV infection, none operates viral infectivity restrictions.
  When the last survey was carried out in December 1993 7 prisons said that they would apply VIR to HIV positive prisoners. However at that time, as at present, none of these prisons hold inmates with HIV infection.

  Video Evidence
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to implement the principal recommendations of the Pigot committee on the taking of evidence from very young children; and what review he has undertaken of the present working of the law in this area. [26205]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Criminal Justice Act 1991 implemented most of the recommendations made by the

  Area

  Time

  (i) Early retirement2

  (ii) Voluntary redundancy

  (ii) Compulsory redundancy

  (iv) Medical grounds

  Home Office (main)

  1993–94

  22

  1

  52

  32

  1994–95

  28

  1

  10

  56

  11995–96

  4

  0

  3

  3

  Prison Service

  1993–94

  16

  3

  2

  381

  1994–95

  8

  2

  4

  271

  11995–96

  1

  0

  0

  5

  United Kingdom Passport

  1993–94

  0

  0

  0

  11

  Agency

  1994–95

  2

  0

  0.

  7

  11995–96

  0

  0

  0

  3

  Forensic Science Service

  1993–94

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1994–95

  6

  0

  0

  6

  11995–96

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Fire Service College

  1993–94

  0

  2

  0

  9

  1994–95

  0

  0

  0

  1

  11995–96

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1 To 23 May 1995.

  2 Excludes redundancy and retirement on medical grounds.

  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the annual cost to the Department of staff leaving under redundancy—early retirement schemes to incorporate (i) added years lump sum payments, (ii) redundancy payments, (iii) pension payments including enhancements (iv) any other special arrangements for(a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95 and projected for (c) 1995–96 and (d) 1996–97. [25641]
  130
  advisory group on video evidence. The only significant recommendation which has not been implemented concerns the pre-trial cross-examination of child witnesses. This remains under consideration. We are not yet persuaded that such a system would be in the best interests of the child.

  We commissioned a major research study by Professor Graham Davies of Leicester university into the effectiveness of the child evidence provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1991. The report of this study entitled "Videotaping children's evidence: an evaluation", was published on 18 May. I am sending a copy to the hon. Gentleman.

  Special Constables
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he has taken to enable more special constables to be recruited in north Wales; and if he will make a statement. [25673]

  Mr. Maclean
  The recruitment of special constables in north Wales is a matter for the chief constable. But north Wales is benefiting from the national advertising campaign launched last October. I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 24 November at column 288.

  Departmental Staff
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff of(a) the Home Office and (b) agencies for which the Home Office is responsible (i) took early retirement, (ii) took voluntary redundancy, (iii) took compulsory redundancy and (iv) were retired on medical grounds in (1) 1993–94 and (2) 1994–95; and what are the projected figures for 1995–96. [25509]

  Mr. Howard
  The information is set out in the table. All agencies are part of the Home Office.

  Mr. Howard
  The costs to the department of early retirement and redundancies are borne from the Department's running costs provision.

  A detailed breakdown of the various costs could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The total costs borne on the Department's running costs, in respect of early retirements and redundancies, in 1993–94 and 1994–95 were £3,191,837 and £2,573,353.

  131
  Projected costs for 1995–96 are not yet available, and projections for 1996–97 will be determined during the coming public expenditure survey.

  Police Research Group
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has made of the report of the Home Office police research group on policing and neighbourhood watch; and if he will make a statement. [25210]

  Mr. Maclean
  I welcome the publication of the police research group report on policing and neighbourhood watch and its proposals for extending neighbourhood watch as part of the overall strategy for developing effective and efficient use of police resources. The report has been discussed with the Association of Chief Police Officers' sub-committee on crime prevention and Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary. The report and its implications will now be given careful consideration.

  Police (Protective Clothing)
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when every police officer in London will be provided with a bullet-proof or knife-proof vest; [25069]

  (2) how many bullet-proof vests have been issued in London to police officers. [25068]

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that, at present, approximately 5,500 protective vests are available for use by officers in the Metropolitan police district. The Commissioner is considering various options relating to the issue of protective clothing to all police officers and expects to make proposals to us shortly.

  Stolen Vehicles
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the recovery rate for stolen vehicles in 1994(a) in total and (b) by constabulary. [26178]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 25 May 1995]: Revised figures for 1994 are given in the table. They up-date the figures given in the reply to the hon. Member on 1 May at columns 96–98. These figures remain provisional and finalised data will be published in the command paper, "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1994", later this year.

  Notifiable offences of theft of a vehicle recorded by the police, 1994 percentage of vehicles recovered by police forces area1

  Police Force area

  Percentage recovered

  Avon and Somerset

  19

  Bedfordshire

  62

  Cambridgeshire

  43

  Cheshire

  53

  Cleveland

  55

  Cumbria

  67

  Derbyshire

  62

  Devon and Cornwall

  85

  Dorset

  63

  Durham

  49

  Essex

  73

  Gloucestershire

  67

  Greater Manchester

  64

  Hampshire

  51

  132

  Notifiable offences of theft of a vehicle recorded by the police, 1994 percentage of vehicles recovered by police forces area1

  Police Force area

  Percentage recovered

  Hertfordshire

  68

  Humberside

  85

  Kent

  53

  Lancashire

  81

  Leicestershire

  72

  Lincolnshire

  82

  City of London

  86

  Merseyside

  73

  Metropolitan Police

  —

  Norfolk

  50

  Northamptonshire

  53

  Northumbria

  71

  North Yorkshire

  60

  Nottinghamshire

  61

  South Yorkshire

  57

  Staffordshire

  57

  Suffolk

  66

  Surrey

  47

  Sussex

  50

  Thames Valley

  62

  Warwickshire

  73

  West Mercia

  75

  West Midlands

  70

  West Yorkshire

  60

  Wiltshire

  46

  Dyfed-Powys

  —

  Gwent

  61

  North Wales

  75

  South Wales

  65

  England and Wales

  622

  1 Provisional.

  2 Excluding the Metropolitan Police and Dyfed-Powys.

  Immigration Detainees
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons are currently detained under Immigration Act powers in(a) Immigration Service detention centres and (b) Prison Service establishments. [26290]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  [holding answer 25 May 1995]: The latest available data is given in the table.

  Persons in detention under Immigration Act powers1

  Category of person

  Date to which data relate

  Immigration Service detention centres

  Prison Service establishments

  Port asylum applicants2

  10 May 1995

  228

  50

  Other port cases3 and persons subject to enforcement action

  23 May 1995

  153

  204

  381

  254

  1 Excluding persons held in police cells.

  2 Figures exclude 45 persons for whom the place of detention is not recorded in the statistics.

  3 Excluding passengers refused leave to enter at the ports who have been in detention for less than a month; these statistics are not held centrally.

  Irish Terrorist Prisoners
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners convicted of IRA offences held in prisons on the mainland; and how many have been approved for transfer to prisons in Ireland and Northern Ireland. [25402]

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 22 May 1995]: A total of 35 prisoners convicted of Irish terrorist offences are currently held in prisons in England and Wales. The transfer of one prisoner to Northern Ireland has been approved subject to the outcome of further criminal proceedings. No prisoners have been approved for transfer to the Republic of Ireland.

  Wheelclamping
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the assessment by the Association of Chief Police Officers of(a) the extent of problems associated with wheelclamping on private land and (b) the practicality of proposals to overcome these. [25867]

  Notifiable offences recorded by the Local Authority Borough or District

  Metropolitan Police District 1994

  Number of offences

  Borough/District

  Total

  Violence against the person

  Sexual offences

  Robbery

  Burglary and going equipped

  Theft and handling stolen goods

  Fraud and forgery

  Criminal damage

  Other offences

  Theft of vehicle

  Theft from vehicle

  Burglary in a dwelling

  Burglary in another building

  Barking

  14,938

  677

  124

  202

  3,558

  6,471

  513

  3,288

  105

  1,045

  2,095

  1,962

  1,591

  Barnet

  24,524

  778

  169

  389

  5,046

  11,326

  868

  5,794

  154

  1,085

  4,885

  3,912

  1,898

  Bexley

  17,831

  794

  181

  173

  3,502

  8,266

  518

  4,296

  101

  1,105

  2,740

  2,208

  1,205

  Brent

  26,149

  1,527

  209

  1,875

  4,985

  10,778

  987

  5,590

  198

  805

  3,307

  3,119

  1,245

  Bromley

  27,893

  1,297

  180

  264

  5,593

  13,080

  791

  6,518

  170

  1,131

  4,765

  3,752

  1,765

  Camden

  35,746

  1,491

  158

  1,176

  6,313

  19,612

  1,267

  5,443

  286

  1,163

  5,597

  3,633

  2,635

  Croydon

  32,520

  2,187

  286

  632

  6,116

  14,829

  1,232

  7,009

  229

  1,217

  4,859

  4,038

  2,066

  Eating

  28,127

  1,434

  222

  749

  4,566

  12,943

  1,232

  6,806

  175

  1,367

  4,123

  3,196

  1,366

  Enfield

  20,996

  1,380

  160

  373

  4,039

  9,404

  805

  4,712

  123

  876

  4,165

  2,795

  1,828

  Greenwich

  32,519

  1,902

  408

  471

  7,021

  13,784

  872

  7,774

  287

  1,461

  4,457

  4,944

  2,046

  Hackney

  29,263

  1,529

  265

  2,251

  7,364

  11,708

  1,075

  4,750

  321

  498

  1,721

  2,816

  984

  Hammersmith

  23,332

  1,201

  142

  823

  4,249

  11,877

  641

  4,239

  160

  897

  4,967

  2,882

  1,353

  Haringey

  22,313

  1,363

  197

  1,184

  4,393

  9,888

  779

  4,325

  184

  1,259

  2,972

  3,161

  1,183

  Harrow

  14,591

  653

  101

  255

  3,140

  6,164

  578

  3,633

  67

  378

  2,216

  2,154

  966

  Havering

  17,637

  532

  299

  110

  3,652

  8,802

  623

  3,557

  62

  1,658

  2,461

  2,039

  1,581

  Hillingdon

  23,316

  1,190

  133

  183

  4,169

  10,791

  674

  6,074

  102

  988

  4,127

  2,413

  1,489

  Hounslow

  27,476

  1,854

  306

  423

  5,371

  10,882

  1,125

  6,976

  539

  816

  3,296

  2,467

  1,482

  Islington

  27,682

  1,895

  191

  1,098

  4,913

  13,125

  758

  5,339

  363

  984

  4,002

  2,778

  1,588

  Kensington and Chelsea

  27,706

  1,072

  153

  956

  4,408

  16,346

  959

  3,570

  242

  702

  3,058

  2,931

  630

  Kingston

  19,499

  1,158

  109

  251

  4,438

  8,258

  621

  4,322

  342

  325

  2,542

  1,933

  1,541

  Lambeth

  30,418

  2,223

  292

  2,236

  5,866

  12,605

  898

  5,940

  358

  978

  3,160

  5,459

  1,503

  Lewisham

  30,532

  2,076

  297

  1,096

  7,474

  12,702

  887

  5,607

  393

  1,527

  3,995

  5,395

  2,080

  Merton

  18,474

  967

  135

  451

  3,466

  8,309

  903

  4,106

  137

  676

  2,319

  1,700

  1,013

  Newham

  30,157

  1,748

  617

  1,040

  6,606

  13,189

  1,042

  5,695

  220

  1,718

  3,752

  3,303

  2,329

  Redbridge

  20,294

  1,002

  140

  266

  3,811

  10,112

  1,002

  3,817

  144

  1,183

  1,566

  1,539

  727

  Richmond

  15,292

  903

  124

  260

  3,693

  6,364

  436

  3,301

  211

  323

  1,873

  1,604

  981

  Southwark

  40,836

  2,840

  353

  2,292

  7,734

  18,008

  1,312

  7,810

  487

  1,953

  6,117

  5,040

  2,710

  Sutton

  13,881

  819

  126

  112

  3,429

  6,071

  436

  2,800

  88

  606

  1,706

  2,166

  1,220

  Tower Hamlets

  25,084

  1,345

  192

  532

  4,938

  12,009

  700

  5,118

  250

  1,090

  3,705

  1,708

  2,405

  Wandsworth

  36,889

  2,234

  323

  1,353

  6,905

  15,480

  1,457

  8,152

  986

  1,238

  5,024

  3,137

  1,510

  Waltham Forest

  20,309

  1,119

  106

  649

  3,815

  9,749

  745

  4,025

  101

  1,279

  2,654

  2,353

  1,433

  Westminster

  56,796

  2,020

  252

  2,051

  6,950

  36,560

  2,837

  5,642

  484

  636

  4,629

  2,611

  3,443

  Broxbourne (part)

  3,413

  265

  8

  23

  448

  1,756

  102

  800

  11

  90

  849

  345

  303

  Elmbridge (part)

  2,269

  167

  25

  177

  141

  1,138

  81

  514

  26

  0

  17

  7

  7

  Epping Forest (part)

  4,306

  305

  21

  24

  605

  2,206

  150

  959

  36

  304

  701

  364

  229

  Epsom and Ewell

  5,937

  293

  41

  41

  1,432

  2,432

  198

  1,459

  41

  154

  771

  746

  418

  Hertsmere

  5,219

  161

  30

  43

  732

  2,634

  179

  1,419

  21

  161

  1,060

  369

  335

  Reigate and Banstead (part)

  2,607

  144

  9

  5

  519

  1,106

  116

  689

  19

  71

  459

  334

  177

  Spelthome

  8,817

  596

  65

  53

  1,971

  3,631

  257

  2,110

  134

  187

  1,460

  514

  784

  Welwyn Hatfield (part)

  55

  3

  1

  0

  6

  27

  7

  7

  4

  1

  10

  7

  4

  Heathrow Airport

  4,640

  66

  7

  69

  53

  3,473

  415

  325

  232

  50

  375

  4

  20

  Thames

  93

  0

  0

  0

  1

  61

  0

  31

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Central Cheque Squad

  1,376

  0

  0

  0

  0

  68

  1,226

  80

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  MPD total

  871,752

  47,210

  7,157

  26,611

  167,431

  408,024

  32,304

  174,421

  8,594

  33,985

  118,557

  97,828

  54,074

  134
  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 24 May 1995]: The assessment was made by the Association of Chief Police Officers as part of the process of developing and considering possible policy options and it would not therefore be appropriate to publish it. I can, however, say that it indicated that the problems arising from the activities of unscrupulous operators are confined to a few force areas and that there is not considered to be a significant problem in other forces.

  Notifiable Offences
  Mr. Michael
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were recorded in each borough by the Metropolitan police within each category of crime in 1994; how may incidents of theft or unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle and of theft from a motor vehicle were recorded in each borough; and how many of the burglaries recorded in each borough were(a) in a dwelling and (b) in another building. [23877]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 18 May 1995]: The information requested has been supplied by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and is contained in the following table:

  Detainees
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 May,Official Report column 364, how the overall weekly cost of detaining a person under Immigration Act powers in accommodation for which the Immigration Service is responsible is calculated. [26271]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  [holding answer 25 May 1995]: The overall cost of detention in the Immigration Service estate is calculated by adding together the costs for custodial and escorting services, running costs, accommodation charges, staff costs and capital costs. This is then divided by the average daily number of detainees to give a unit cost per detainee day, from which the weekly figure is calculated.

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 May,Official Report, column 364, how the average cost of detaining a person under Immigration Act powers, in accommodation for which the Immigration Service is responsible, has been reduced between 1993–94 and the current cost. [26272]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  [holding answer 25 May 1995]: The reduction in costs is largely due to a reduction in the use of expensive ad hoc accommodation. This is a consequence of an increase in the number of places available within the Immigration Service detention estate.

  Arrests
  Mr. Bendall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many operations have been mounted to enforce section 167 of the Criminal Justice 136
  and Public Order Act 1994; how many arrests have been made; how many prosecutions have been initiated; how many convictions obtained; and what sentences were given in consequence. [26183]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 25 May 1995]: Information on the number of operations mounted and arrests made is not collected centrally. Information on court proceedings under section 167 of the Act will not be available until autumn 1996.

  "Tomorrow's Job"
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces have co-operated with the Metropolitan police in the "Tomorrow's Job" investigation; when the investigation started; what was the main focus of the investigation; how many people have been interviewed; how many premises have been visited; if he will list the charges which have been laid indicating, in each case, the outcome; and if he will make a statement. [25985]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 25 May 1995]: I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that all forces who received copies of the publication "Tomorrow's Job" have co-operated fully with the Metropolitan police in the inquiry, which started immediately after distribution of the publication in early March of this year. The main focus of the investigation is to establish who published the paper; what was the purpose of publication; and who was involved in its distribution. The investigation is still in progress and to date two arrests have been made. It would not be right for me to give further details at this stage.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Science Budget
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the work of the scientific document centre based in Dunfermline in developing the European resource of serials projects with particular reference to the preparation of Union list databases; and what is his Department's policy in respect of provision of public funds to rival companies in this area. [27307]

  Mr. Horam
  My Department's science budget is used to provide grant-in-aid to the research councils, the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering and for a programme on the public understanding of science. It does not fund any work in this area.

  Government Policy
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many hours per week he spends co-ordinating the presentation of Government policy. [26015]

  Mr. David Hunt
  I spend as much time as necessary on all my responsibilities.

  Citizens Charter
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to publish new citizens charters; and if he will list the areas to be covered. [26571]

  Mr. Horam
  We are hoping to publish new charters for further and higher education in Northern Ireland in the autumn. We also have a programme for publishing revised charters. A revised contributors charter for national insurance payers was published in April and we will be shortly following this up with revised charters for council tenants, court users and people travelling through Customs points.

  Duchy Affairs
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many hours per week he spends on Duchy affairs. [26726]

  Mr. David Hunt
  I spend as much time as necessary on all my responsibilities.

  Archway Tower
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what discussions he has had with the Property Services Agency on the future use by Government Departments of the Archway tower, Junction road, London N19; and if he will make a statement. [26978]

  Mr. Horam
  The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has not had any discussions about the future use of Archway tower.

  Information Superhighways
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when will CCTA report on their work on information superhighways in general and the Internet in particular. [24875]

  Mr. Horam
  In accordance with the undertaking given by the then Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science, on 24 January,Official Report,
  138
  columns 116–17, I have placed in the Library of the House copies of the first report on CCTA's work on information superhighways. This includes progress and future plans for the Government world wide web server "www.open.gov.uk". The report will also be available over the Internet via the CCTA Government information service.

  Civil Service Posts
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the number of civil service posts, including positions in executive agencies but excluding technical appointments at grades 1 to 6 which have been advertised, together with the number of applicants, interviewees and appointees broken down to show(a) civil servants and (b) non-civil servants for each year from 1 January 1990 to 31 December as a whole in England. [26945]

  Mr. Horam
  Full information is not available in the form requested. The Office of the Civil Service Commissioners has been able to provide the following figures for all open competition appointments at grades 1 to 5 approved by the commissioners for the period 1 July 1993 to 30 June 1994. Further analysis could be undertken only at disproportionate cost.

  Grade

  Number of posts

  Applicants of which (): civil servants

  Interviewed of which (): civil servants

  Appointees of which (): civil servants

  1

  1

  37 (3)

  5 (0)

  1 (0)

  2

  7

  435 (36)

  30 (3)

  7 (1)

  3

  9

  731 (80)

  42 (15)

  9 (4)

  4

  17

  801 (94)

  75 (32)

  16 (9)

  5

  25

  2,332 (175)

  169 (21)

  24 (3)

  Total

  59

  4,336 (388)

  321 (71)

  57 (17)

  Further details on senior appointments approved by the Civil Service Commissioners following open competition are provided in the Civil Service Commissioners' annual reports, copies of which are placed in the Library of the House.

DEFENCE

  Northern Ireland
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has for redeployment of the Army from Northern Ireland should circumstances and the peace process permit it. [25108]

  Mr. Soames
  Our deployment of the Army in Northern Ireland depends on the security situation in the Province.

  Bosnia
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts concerning the future withdrawal of the UN from Bosnia. [25109]

  Mr. Soames
  My right hon. and learned Friend has regular discussions with NATO colleagues on a range of issues concerning Bosnia, including contingency planning for an operation to withdraw UN forces, should that become necessary.
  139
  Mr. Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops would be required to facilitate a UN withdrawal from Bosnia. [25113]

  Mr. Soames
  At the request of the UN Secretary General, NATO is continuing with contingency planning for an operation to withdraw UN forces from Bosnia, should that become necessary. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on the details of the plan, which are a matter for NATO.

  Mr. Wicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will report on the latest situation regarding the shelling of Sarajevo. [25110]

  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement about the deployment of British forces in Bosnia. [25117]

  Mr. Soames
  We deplore the continued fighting between Bosnian Government and Bosnian Serb forces in and around Sarajevo. We condemn in the strongest terms the indiscriminate attacks on civilians and the deliberate targeting of UNPROFOR troops in the city, and call on the parties to refrain from further military action.

  Attack Helicopters
  Mr. Mark Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to strengthen Britain's front line attack helicopter capability. [25111]

  Mr. Freeman
  My Department is currently assessing bids for an attack helicopter for the Army, to replace Lynx in the anti-armour role.

  We expect to announce a decision on the choice of attack helicopter this summer.

  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the successful bidder to supply attack helicopters to the British Army. [26304]

  Mr. Freeman
  We hope to announce a decision on the purchase of attack helicopter before the summer recess.

  Equipment Purchases
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of defence equipment purchases is manufactured in the United Kingdom. [25112]

  Mr. Freeman
  Figure 13 in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1995"—CM 2800—shows that, over the past five years, my Department has spent some 79 per cent. of its equipment budget with United Kingdom industry, 12 per cent. on collaborative projects but placed in the UK and 9 per cent. with overseas companies. However, equipment bought from UK prime contractors is likely to include some components which have been manufactured overseas; similarly, equipment bought from overseas contractors may contain components which originated in the UK. The sourcing of components is a matter for the prime contractor, and so my Department is unable to estimate the percentage of equipment purchases which is manufactured in the UK.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action his Department has taken to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons. [25114]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department supports a wide range of measures including work leading to the successful indefinite extension of the nuclear non-proliferation 140
  treaty; playing a positive and constructive part in negotiations on a comprehensive test ban treaty; supporting international efforts for a convention banning production of fissile material for military explosive purposes; scrutinising export licence applications for nuclear-related goods; and contributing to the work of international organisations such as the Zangger committee and nuclear suppliers group.

  RAF Burtonwood
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy on the sale of the RAF Burtonwood air base. [25115]

  Mr. Soames
  The RAF Burtonwood site has been declared surplus to defence requirements. Officials are in consultation with interested parties on the future of the site in order to prepare sale particulars in due course.

  Meteorological Office
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the performance of the Meteorological Office. [25116]

  Mr. Freeman
  The Meterological Office's annual report and accounts for 1993–94 includes an assessment of performance against key business plan targets, on pages 11 and 12. Copies of the report are available in the Library of the House.

  Defence Industry
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations she has received about future prospects for the British defence industry. [25118]

  Mr. Freeman
  Ministers and officials of my Department regularly receive many and varied representations about future prospects for the defence industry, from hon. Members, representatives of industry and others.

  Parachute Contracts
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the awarding of parachute maintenance and supply contracts for the British Army. [25119]

  Mr. Freeman
  Contracts for the maintenance and supply of parachutes for the British Army are awarded, where practicable, through competition.

  Bovington and Lulworth
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future use of his Department's facilities at Bovington and Lulworth in Dorset. [25120]

  Mr. Soames
  At present, my Department's facilities at Bovington are occupied by the Royal Armoured Corps centre training regiment and the Army base repair organisation Bovington. The Gunnery school at Lulworth is part of the RAC centre and comprises an RAC wing and infantry wing. A detachment of ABRO is also located at Lulworth. These activities will continue at Bovington and Lulworth in the future. It is our intention further to develop Bovington as the centre of all armoured fighting vehicle driving, gunnery and signals training; and to move naval gunfire support training from Lulworth to Dodman point in Cornwall from this autumn. Bovington and
  141
  Lulworth are also being considered as a possible location, alongside the RAC training centre, for the third armoured reconnaissance regiment.

  Trident
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the presumed targets for missiles on the Trident fleet in the light of the outcome of the non-proliferation treaty. [25093]

  Mr. Rifkind
  Our strategic missiles have not been routinely targeted since 30 May 1994.

  Hurricane Nuclear Weapons Test
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what continued monitoring is conducted by his Department on the equipment, materials and other technology which was brought back to the United Kingdom from ships returning from the Hurricane nuclear weapons test; and if his Department retains records of the present location of radioactively contaminated materials arising from this test. [26702]

  Mr. Soames
  No records have been kept of the fate of contaminated equipment and other items brought back from the Hurricane nuclear weapons test.

  Fissile Materials
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the total quantities of(a) plutonium and (b) highly enriched uranium, in the dedicated defence stockpile. [25294]

  Mr. Soames
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement on 14 June 1994,Official Report, column 536, to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen).

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what happens to the fissile material in pre-existing nuclear weapons that are de-commissioned; to what extent it is available for use in new weapons; and if he will make a statement. [26912]

  Mr. Freeman
  Fissile material from redundant nuclear weapons is reprocessed for use in new weapons.

  Construction Projects
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide a list of all construction projects proposed, planned or at present underway at Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston and Burghfield following the Health and Safety Executive's recommendations and Hunting BRAE' s review of the infrastructure at the atomic weapons establishments; and if he will make a statement. [26347]

  Mr. Freeman
  The Health and Safety Executive review was primarily directed at safety management arrangements rather than construction schemes. Five such schemes were recommended, however, related to waste management. They were the design and procurement of a mobile real time radiography unit for waste assay purposes; the conversion of an existing building to provide a drum inspection facility for intermediate level waste; the construction of a radioactive waste size reduction facility; the construction of a further intermediate level waste store with modern drum stacking densities; and improvements to the facilities at Aldermaston and Burghfield for handling toxic waste.
  142
  These schemes are now in progress in accordance with the timescales that the Health and Safety Executive and the establishments have agreed with my Department.

  In addition, the Hunting-BRAE review identified a large number of relatively minor alterations and improvements to facilities, some of which are directed at meeting evolving safety standards.

  Weapons Establishment
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in implementing each of the recommendations made by the Health and Safety Executive to improve health and safety at the Atomic Weapons Establishment. [26351]

  Mr. Freeman
  All but one of the Health and Safety Executive's recommendations in its report of October 1994 were for implementation by the Atomic Weapons Establishment. Agreed acceptance criteria for completion of the work have been established with the HSE, and from time to time AWE report progress both to my Department and to the executive. One recommendation was for my Department, and concerned licensing of the AWE sites at Aldermaston and Burghfield under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965. As I announced on 23 March,Official Report, column 215, we are moving towards achievement of this during 1997.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for public consultation exercises on whether or not the Atomic Weapons Establishment should be granted a nuclear site licence. [26345]

  Mr. Freeman
  Before deciding upon the appropriateness of issuing a nuclear site licence, the Health and Safety Executive will follow its normal consultation procedures. As well as consulting relevant regulatory authorities it is open to the executive, in accordance with the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, to consult local authorities and other relevant public bodies.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the reasons for the delay in placing full details of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution's authorisations for radioactive discharges from the Atomic Weapons Establishment on the public register. [26348]

  Mr. Freeman
  Authorisations in respect of Atomic Weapons Establishment sites cannot be placed on the public register because they contain classified information. What information can be disclosed is published annually by AWE in its reports on discharges and environmental monitoring and health and safety.

  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Radioactive Waste Management advisory committee's investigation at the Atomic Weapons Establishments will start. [26346]

  Mr. Freeman
  The Radioactive Waste Management advisory committee has conducted a review of radioactive waste management practices within the Ministry of Defence. As part of this review the chairman and other members visited the Atomic Weapons Establishments at Aldermaston and Burghfield on 17 and 18 January 1995. The review is complete and no further visits are planned. The committee's report is awaited.

  North Ponds, Aldermaston
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans are being discussed with Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to improve facilities for the
  143
  collection and eventual discharge of water that accumulates in the North Ponds area of the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston; what the estimated cost of improvements will be; and when he expects work will be completed. [26349]

  Mr. Freeman
  Improvements in the water management arrangements in the North Ponds area of the Aldermaston site have been devised in consultation with Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and other regulatory bodies. The work is expected to cost several million pounds and be completed in 1997.

  Weapons Transportation
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many times during 1995 MOD weapons and ammunition have been transported on scheduled services of civil airlines; and which airlines have been used; [25569]

  (2) how long the munitions transported from Hong Kong to London by British Airways on 4 April were left at Heathrow airport; and what factors led to their not being collected immediately on arrival. [25570]

  Mr. Soames
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Royal Navy (Universities)
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which universities have Royal Navy units; where they are located; in each case, what is the annual cost; and how many students are members and how many were recruited to the Royal Navy for the latest year for which figures are available. [26722]

  Mr. Soames
  The information sought is as follows:

  Name

  Cost (£) FY

  Number of Students

  Students entering RN in1994–95

  Aberdeen

  461,053

  50

  5

  Birmingham1

  261,648

  33

  0

  Bristol

  356,282

  50

  4

  Cambridge1

  285,907

  36

  1

  Cardiff1

  361,911

  33

  0

  Glasgow

  409,195

  50

  5

  Hull1

  284,064

  35

  0

  Liverpool

  346,956

  50

  2

  London

  365,847

  50

  4

  Manchester

  357,160

  50

  0

  Newcastle1

  240,252

  33

  0

  Oxford1

  251,017

  31

  0

  Southampton

  346,671

  50

  2

  Sussex

  385,320

  50

  0

  1Established in September 1994.Greenpeace

  Greenpeace
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many files the Ministry of Defence police confiscated following their raid on Greenpeace headquarters in London; how many related to Aldermaston; when he expects these files to be returned; and if he will make a statement. [26510]

  Mr. Soames
  Ministry of Defence police removed a small number of documents after their search of Greenpeace headquarters on 17 May 1995, all of which were relevant to Aldermaston, including drainage pit No. 20. No relevant document will be returned until after the conclusion of any court proceedings.

  Waste Management
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what improvements are being proposed, planned or are at present being made to the radioactive waste management area of the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston, aside from the construction of A91; what the estimated costs of these improvements will be; and when he expects any work will be completed. [26350]

  Mr. Freeman
  There is a continuing programme of improvements to facilities at the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston. This includes those in the so-called radioactive waste management area, although waste management as an activity is conducted at various parts of the site. It has been the practice of successive Governments not to disclose the cost of constituent elements of the nuclear warhead programme, although construction of building A91 is the largest single capital cost associated with waste management at AWE.

  MEADS
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy towards United Kingdom participation in the medium extended air defence system project; and if he will make a statement. [26092]

  Mr. Freeman
  We are currently assessing whether we have a national requirement for ballistic missile defence and, as I announced to the House on 18 October 1994,Official Report, column 239, we have placed a contract with a consortium led by British Aerospace to provide advice on options, capabilities, timescales, costs and technical risk. MEADS is being assessed as one of the candidate options within this study.

  D5 Missiles
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Tayside, North (Mr. Walker)Official Report, 9 May, column 406, how many D5 missiles HMS Vanguard picked up from Kings bay prior to her deployment; how many D5 missiles are currently held at Coulport; and what means, other than transport by Trident submarine, his Department employs to transfer D5 missiles from King's bay to Coulport. [26093]

  Mr. Soames
  HMS Vanguard collected 16 unarmed Trident II D5 missiles from Kings bay prior to deployment; none are held at the Royal Naval armament depot, Coulport. Vanguard class SSBNs are the only means by which these missiles are transported from the Us to the United Kingdom.

  Surplus Land
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those sales involving surplus land and property in which his Department has inserted a clause in the sale contract allowing his Department to obtain a share of any future development gain; and if he will make a statement. [26325]

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

  Greenham Common
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received concerning the future use of the site of the former airbase at Greenham common for the purpose of exporting livestock. [26608]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department has received no representations about the use of Greenham common for exporting livestock.

  RAF Welford
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what options are being considered for the future use of RAF Welford. [26609]

  Mr. Soames
  RAF Welford has been used by the United States Air Force since the second world war as a conventional weapons storage and maintenance area. The RAF took over spare capacity at the site on 1 April for long-term use as a centralised conventional weapons storage facility. At present, no other options are being considered for the future use of RAF Welford.

  Russia
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 22 May,Official Report, column 392, what factors apart from the progress of reforms in Russia informs his Department's assessment that Russia currently poses no direct military threat to the United Kingdom. [26755]

  Mr. Soames
  Whilst placing great importance on the further progress of reform in Russia, we believe that the restructuring and reductions in Russia's military capabilities and procurement programmes over the past five years, the dissolution of the Warsaw pact and the transformed political map of Europe, mean that the warning time of a credible strategic threat re-emerging can now be measured in years.

  Boscombe Down
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are currently employed at A and AEE Boscombe down in each of the categories(a) military personnel, (b) civilian staff, (c) contractors and (d) others. [26640]

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency DERA—under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, DERA to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Robert Key, dated 6 June 1995:
  In todays written answer the Secretary of State for Defence informed you that I would be replying to your question concerning the number of people currently employed at Boscombe Down since I am now responsible for the day to day running of the Defence
  146
  Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA), which includes the Defence Test and Evaluation Organisation (DTEO) site at Boscombe Down, formerly A&AEE.
  The numbers of people in their respective categories are currently as follows:

  Civilians

  Military

  Contractors

  Others

  Total

  1060

  497

  450

  42

  2049

  I hope this is helpful.

  Film Badges
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what comparisons have been made between film badges of the type used in British nuclear tests in the 1950s and 1960s and those used in the nuclear industry currently, with particular reference to sensitivity to temperature and humidity. [26664]

  Mr. Soames
  In terms of sensitivity to temperature and humidity, there is little fundamental difference between the film badges used during the United Kingdom's atmospheric nuclear test programmes and those that remain in use today.

  University of Wales Air Squadron
  Mr. Peter Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the activities and value of the University of Wales squadron at Royal Air Force, Saint Athan. [26695]

  Mr. Soames
  The aim of the University of Wales Air Squadron is to encourage air mindedness within the university and to attract entrants of good quality and education into the RAF. The activities of all university air squadrons are pursuant to this aim: generally, a full three-year training syllabus for each individual comprises 99 hours tuition on the Bulldog aircraft.

  In the past, the University of Wales air squadron has produced a higher than average number of pilot entrants to the RAF. However, the increased competition for places over the last three years due to the low RAF recruiting targets has resulted in poor recruitment from the squadron during this time.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. member for Linlithgow of 25 May,Official Report, column 158, when he expects to draw conclusions about Gulf war syndrome. [25098]

  Mr. Soames
  Investigations into the alleged Gulf war syndrome are continuing in the United Kingdom and in North America. To date, no convincing medical or scientific evidence has emerged for a Gulf related syndrome from any of this work.

  Departmental Complaints
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what policy and procedures exists for dealing with complaints against his Department by members of the public; when the policy was last updated; what time limit and target for dealing with such complaints his Department has; and what follow-up procedure exists where complainants are not satisfied with his Department's response to a complaint. [26225]

  Mr. Freeman
  There is no single point of contact in my Department which deals with complaints from members of the public. Complaints against my
  147
  Department are referred in the first instance to the appropriate secretariat for answer. As with all correspondence, my official are required to deal with the matter within 20 days. Although complex cases may take longer, in all instances an initial response should be sent out in 20 days. Any dissatisfied complainant may, of course, refer the matter to their Member of Parliament.

  Market Testing
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work has been contracted out(a) by his Department and (b) by agencies for which his Department is responsible in (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 1994–95; and what is projected for 1995–96. [25553]

  Mr. Freeman
  Details of activities contracted out by the Ministry of Defence, including defence agencies, under the Government's "Competing for Quality" initiative, in the years 1993–94 and 1994– 95 are set out in the table. It is not yet known what work will be contracted out in 1995–96; this will depend upon the outcome of feasibility studies which determine how activities can best be exposed to competition from the private sector, and the results of the subsequent competitions.

  £million

  Contracted out following market test

  1 April 1993–31 March 1994

  Airfield services, RAF Gibraltar

  1.44

  1 April 1994–31 March 1995

  Industrial mess (catering and stewardship Function) Mill Hill

  0.68

  2nd line engineering support, Flag Officer Naval Aviation, Yeovilton

  6.20

  Nimrod Major Servicing Unit, RAF Kinloss

  7.49

  15.81

  Contracted out without Market Test

  1 April 1993–31 March 1994

  British Forces Hong Kong school bus service

  0.42

  British Forces Hong Kong furniture repair

  0.43

  AWE Aldermaston

  275.00

  Combat systems information management team

  0.03

  Catering strategy study, UK Land Forces

  22.10

  Data entry, Met Office Bracknell

  0.12

  Government Pipeline and Storage System

  9.66

  Repair of Defence Accommodation Store, Quedgeley

  1.40

  1 April 1994–31 March 1995

  Parachute transport flight, RAF Hullavington

  0.32

  Electronic Warfare training tasks, 360 Sqn, RAF Wyton

  18.50

  British Forces Hong Kong food supply

  1.52

  British Forces Hong Kong curtain manufacture

  0.01

  British Forces Hong Kong Support Services

  4.90

  Station Engineering management Aid, (Maintenance Analysis and Computing Division)—RAF Swanton Moreley

  0.72

  NAAFI food study

  25.49

  Air weapons range, Rosehearty

  0.32

  Support Services, Akrotiri, Cyprus

  4.18

  The Queens Flight, (engineering support) RAF Northolt

  2.29

  Wireless stations, (operation and maintenance) Inskip and Crimond

  2.84

  Support for Parachute Training

  3.05

  Mobile Civilian Artisan Groups, Germany

  5.70

  Freight Services, Germany

  2.20

  381.20

  Total

  397.01

  Departmental Performance
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what performance indicators and performance targets there are for measuring the performance of his Department in(a) answering letters from members of the public and (b) answering telephone calls from members of the public; how performance is monitored; and what are the latest figures for performance measured against the target set. [26241]

  Mr. Freeman
  My Department aims to reply fully to all letters from members of the public within 20 days. Letters are referred to the appropriate secretariat, which is responsible for ensuring that this target is met. Central records are therefore not kept and could not be provided without disproportionate cost.

  Telephone calls to my Department's switchboard are logged automatically and should normally be answered within 15 seconds. Data on the number of telephone calls and the time taken to answer is recorded. The latest information is as follows:
  Number of calls received (May 1995): 101,129
  Percentage answered within 15 seconds: 99.3 per cent.

  Rosyth Dockyard
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on when he will meet the trade union representatives for Rosyth dockyard to discuss the impact of privatisation on the arrangements for pension and redundancy entitlements. [27247]

  Mr. Freeman
  I have met representatives of the employees of Rosyth Royal Dockyard plc during recent visits to Rosyth and am, subject to time constraints and other commitments, prepared to do so again during any future visits. I am also prepared to meet the relevant national trades union officers as and when appropriate as part of my Department's wider commitment to inform and consult about the proposed privatisation of Rosyth dockyard, as I and my predecessor have in the past.

  Companies
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those companies in which the holder of his office is a majority shareholder which(a) are currently in existence and (b) have been wound up in the past five years. [25721]

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 22 May 1995]: The only company currently in existence in which my right hon. and learned Friend is a majority shareholder is IMS Ltd. No such companies have been wound up in the past five years.

  Republic of Ireland (Sea Boundary)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to meet his counterpart in the Republic of Ireland with a view to delimiting the territorial sea boundary between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. [25928]

  Mr. Hurd
  I have been asked to reply.

  There are no plans to hold a ministerial meeting to discuss this matter.

  Diversification
  Mr. David Young
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last visited the north-west of England
  149
  to discuss defence diversification and if he will make a statement. [25231]

  Mr. Eggar
  I have been asked to reply.

  I have not visited the north-west for the purpose of discussing defence diversification. It is a matter for companies to decide whether, and into which markets, they should diversify. However, my Department monitors how the defence industry is responding to the defence downturn and has produced a manual, "Changing Tack: New Perspectives for Defence Suppliers", which provides guidance and advice on diversification. It is also participating in a NATO advanced studies institute on defence diversification which will be held in Scotland this July and has contributed £5,622 in support of costs. Some companies are eligible for assistance, to help them adjust to changing markets, through non-sector specific UK schemes and some projects may qualify for European Community funding through the KONVER scheme.

SCOTLAND

  Conservative Party Conference
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost to public funds of hosting the recent Conservative party conference in Scotland; and how much was borne by(a) Strathclyde regional council—Strathclyde police—and (b) any other bodies involved in expenditure for this conference. [25044]

  Mr. Kynoch
  I understand from the chief constable of Strathclyde police that, although full details of all the costs incurred are not yet available, it is likely that additional costs of around £22,800 will have been incurred in policing the conference. Details of costs of any other public sector bodies involved with the conference are not held centrally.

  Housing (Energy Efficiency)
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to improve the energy efficiency of Scottish housing. [25133]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Substantial resources of nearly £1 billion have been made available to local authorities and new town development corporations and Scottish Homes respectively in 1995–96 for investment in housing. These allocations are generally not earmarked for specific purposes and it is for local authorities, new town development corporations and Scottish Homes to invest in energy efficiency measures in accordance with their assessment of local housing needs and priorities.

  In addition, the Scottish building regulations are currently being revised to set more demanding standards for energy efficiency in new build.

  Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he concluded his consultation on the area of the Strathclyde passenger transport authority; what was the final total number of representations; how many of those favoured the present Strathclyde regional council boundary; when he expects to announce the outcome of his consideration; and if he will make a statement. [25620]
  150
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The consultation concluded on 31 January, though some responses were received after that date. The final total number of responses received, which contained a wide range of views, was 147.

  Consideration of the responses is continuing, and we shall announce the result in the near future.

  Patients
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients were struck off general practitioners' lists in each health board during the last year for which figures are available. [26109]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information as set out in the table relates to the period April 1994—March 1995.

  Health board

  Number

  Argyll and Clyde

  489

  Ayrshire and Arran

  374

  Borders

  10

  Dumfries and Galloway

  82

  Fife

  206

  Forth Valley

  261

  Grampian

  262

  Greater Glasgow

  2,375

  Highland

  42

  Lanarkshire

  659

  Lothian

  969

  Orkney

  0

  Shetland

  2

  Tayside

  503

  Western Isles

  5

  Total

  6,239

  Asthma Medication
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the expenditure on general practitioner prescribed anti-asthma medication and preparations in each health board in Scotland giving the figures for(a) net ingredient costs and (b) net ingredient cost per capita for 1994–95. [25961]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information by health board and Scotland for the financial year 1994–95 is set out in the table. The costs shown are based on the value of ingredients before the addition of dispensing fees or deduction of any discount or patient charges.

  The costs relate only to inhaled and oral adrenoceptor stimulants, inhaled steroids, inhaled antimuscarinic bronchodilators and theophylline preparations.

  Cost ofmedication £ million

  Cost per patient on GP lists (£)

  Health Board

  Argyll and Clyde

  3.570

  8.06

  Ayrshire and Arran

  3.966

  10.12

  Borders

  0.948

  8.80

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1.193

  7.80

  Fife

  2.623

  7.44

  Forth Valley

  2.272

  7.83

  Grampian

  3.954

  7.22

  Greater Glasgow

  8.087

  8.13

  Highland

  1.400

  6.58

  Lanarkshire

  5.067

  8.68

  151

  Cost of medication £ million

  Cost per patient on GP lists (£)

  Lothian

  5.643

  7.03

  Orkney

  0.130

  6.47

  Shetland

  0.111

  4.82

  Tayside

  3.930

  9.58

  Western Isles

  0.172

  5.77

  Unallocated prescriptions

  0.062

  —

  Scotland

  43.128

  8.03

  Rooflessness
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how he has defined(a) homelessness and (b) rooflessness for the purposes of current research into rooflessness in Scotland; and what distinction he draws between the two definitions; [26587]

  (2) what policy options he had developed in preparing a response to the current Scottish Office research into rooflessness in Scotland; and what additional resources he has earmarked to tackle rough sleeping in preparing his expenditure plans for 1996–97; [26590]

  (3) what is the total cost of the Scottish Office research project into rooflessness in Scotland; what proportion is being met by Scottish Homes and what proportion by the Scottish Office; and what proportion of the Scottish Office research budget for housing is taken up by the Scottish Office share of costs for the rooflessness research. [26589]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The total planned cost of the rooflessness project is £91,666. The Scottish office and Scottish Homes will contribute 28 per cent. each of the cost, and the European Commission 44 per cent. The Scottish Office contributions account for 5 per cent. of its 1994–95 housing research budget, and an estimated 6 per cent. of the 1995–96 budget.

  Homelessness is a wider category than rooflessness and the Department publishes annual homelessness statistics based on the definition in the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987. However this research is confined to rooflessness which is generally equated with sleeping rough, but the research includes the development of an instrument to allow consistent measurement of rooflessness across a range of statutory voluntary agencies, covering such aspects as the time spent roofless and the number of continuous periods of rooflessness.

  The study's figures on the prevalence of rooflessness in Scotland will be taken into account in policy and expenditure decisions, together with other sources on the needs of roofless people.

  Rough Sleepers
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the additional capital allocations for homelessness made available to housing authorities since 1991 has been specifically targeted on people sleeping rough. [26378]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Additional resources totalling almost £30 million were made available to local authorities for homeless projects from 1991 to 1994. Of this over £7.5 million, or 25 per cent., related to the provision of temporary accommodation which would particularly benefit people who were sleeping rough.
  152
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the current level of services to people sleeping rough. [26379]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information is not available centrally on rooflessness services provided by statutory and voluntary bodies, and moreover services will often be used by other categories of homeless people as well as roofless people. However, we would expect local housing authorities, which have both the primary statutory responsibility for tackling homelessness, and also a duty to assess housing needs for their areas, to take account of the needs of roofless people in preparing their housing programmes. These programmes will inform authorities' capital allocations. At national level, we are undertaking research to produce during 1996 estimates of the prevalence of rooflessness in Scotland.

  Police National Computer
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has as to the number of accesses made to the police national computer by each constabulary over the last year; and what was the proportion of access requests made to the vehicles indexes of the police national computer. [26397]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  Police forces

  Accesses

  Percentage vehicles

  Central Scotland

  178,710

  48.0

  Dumfries and Galloway Fife

  171,484

  60.4

  Fife

  171,149

  52.7

  Grampian

  323,399

  47.0

  Lothian and Borders

  830,210

  63.1

  Northern

  148,029

  42.4

  Strathclyde

  1,477,896

  42.8

  Tayside

  311,142

  47.4

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many accesses were made to each index of the police national computer over the last year, indicating the number of access requests that involved searching more than one index. [26396]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Data on the police national computer are stored on five databases. The number of transactions made by Scottish police forces, including transactions involving additional or retrial of information or both, undertaken on each database in the 12 months to 30 April 1995 is shown in the table. It is not possible to confirm whether transactions undertaken on separate databases are linked, with the exception of those undertaken on both the names and the fingerprint databases. There were 8,994 transactions which involved the use of both of these databases.

  Number

  Vehicles

  1,780,205

  Stolen property

  18,205

  Names

  1,655,442

  Fingerprints

  9,748

  Crime Pattern Analysis

  0

  Scottish Natural Heritage
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current system at Scottish Natural Heritage for dealing with inquiries from hon. Members. [26380]

  Sir Hector Monro
  When enquiries relate to day-to-day management and individual cases hon. Members are encouraged to communicate directly with Scottish Natural Heritage. Where questions arise involving broader policy or strategic issues hon. Members are advised to write to the Secretary of State or the appropriate junior Minister.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set up a system at Scottish Natural Heritage to provide hon. Members with information and advice; and if he will make a statement. [26381]

  Sir Hector Monro
  The system which Scottish Natural Heritage presently uses was established in 1992 following a scrutiny of ministerial correspondence undertaken by the efficiency unit of the Cabinet Office. There are no plans to introduce a new system.

  Healthy Eating
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list his Department's projects aimed at promoting healthy eating, indicating the cost of each project to his Department. [26302]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  As foreshadowed in "Scotland's Health—A Challenge To Us All", the policy statement issued in 1992, a number of experimental projects have been mounted in selected urban partnership areas to explore ways of encouraging healthy eating. These are as listed with the respective costs of each:

  Area

  Cost £

  Wester Hailes, Edinburgh

  37,580

  Castlemilk, Glasgow

  42,000

  Ferguslie Park, Paisley

  11,095

  Whitfield, Dundee

  9,000

  Assistance totalling £11,200 has also been made available to the Barri Grubb good food project in Pilton, Edinburgh, while the following projects have received funding under the urban programme:

  Area

  Cost

  Govan Healthy Eating Project, Glasgow

  268,680

  Castlemilk Foodstore Project, Glasgow

  162,000

  The promotion of healthy eating is among the priority topics for the Health Education Board for Scotland and, in 1994–95, the board spent some £347,000 on initiatives in this area.

  In addition to these specific activities, the Scottish Diet Action group, led by my noble and learned Friend, the Minister of State, is engaged in the preparation of an action plan for delivering the dietary targets announced by my right hon. Friend in November 1994.

  Custodial Deaths
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people aged 25 years and under have 154
  died (a) in prison and (b) in police custody in Scotland in (i) 1993, (ii) 1994 and (iii) so far this year. [26377]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information on the number of deaths in(a) prison and (b) police custody of those aged 25 years and under for the years 1993, 1994 and to date in 1995 is set out in the table:

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Prison Custody

  3

  10

  1

  Police Custody

  1

  2

  0

  Total

  4

  12

  1

  Light Pollution
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to address the problem of light pollution. [26319]

  Sir Hector Monro
  Officials of the Scottish Office Environment Department wrote to all district and islands councils in April of this year to ask about their experiences of dealing with complaints about light pollution. Local authorities' responses are now being considered by the Department. However, preliminary findings suggest that light pollution is a minor problem in Scotland with the majority of complaints being dealt with on an informal basis by local authorities.

  Anti-competitive Behaviour
  Mr. George Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many complaints his Department received in the financial years 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94 alleging anti-competitive behaviour by local authorities in Scotland under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988; and, as a result, how many local authorities were subsequently issued under a section 19a notice or 19b direction. [26711]

  Mr. Lang
  In 1990–91, we received six complaints of anti-competitive behaviour under the Local Government Act 1988: these resulted in one notice—under section 13 of that Act—and one direction—under section 14 of that Act—being issued. In 1991–92, we received five complaints: these resulted in four notices and four directions being issued. In 1992–93, we received four complaints: these resulted in two notices. In 1993–94, we received 10 complaints: these have resulted in six notices.

  Cashmere Goats
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will extend the hill livestock compensatory allowances and sheep annual premium payments to include cashmere goats; [26685]

  (2) what is his policy in respect of subsidised cashmere production in less favoured areas of Scotland. [26686]

  Mr. Lang
  The Government are keen to encourage the development of alternative land uses such as cashmere goat production where they can be shown to have a profitable future without a continuing dependence on subsidy. It is therefore not the Government's policy to seek to extend the coverage of livestock subsidies to include cashmere goats.

  Local Government Surpluses and Deficits
  Mr. George Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list, by authority and service area, as defined by the Local Government Act 1988, surpluses achieved by local authority direct labour—service organisations in Scotland for the financial years 1992–1993 and 1993–1994; [26768]

  (2) if he will list, by authority, the surplus achieved on trading accounts for the financial years 1992–1993 and

  Surpluses/deficits on DLO/DSO activity in 1992–93 in £s

  Local Authority

  Refuse collection1

  Building cleaning

  Other cleaning 1

  School and welfare catering

  Other catering

  Ground maintenance

  Vehicle maintenance

  Leisure management

  Aberdeen DC

  8,822

  17,446

  591,314

  86,550

  443,877

  Angus DC

  127,622

  17,266

  81,572

  194,384

  18,111

  16,139

  Annandale and Eskdale DC

  93,432

  20,734

  120,687

  29,294

  Argyll and Bute DC

  2,000

  25,000

  95,331

  11,318

  3,000

  Badenoch and Strathspey DC

  23,746

  28,981

  Banff and Buchan DC

  22,965

  2,876

  113,165

  12,647

  Bearsden and Milngavie DC

  52,378

  98,020

  5,749

  Berwickshire DC

  49,950

  44,906

  6,122

  Borders RC

  -172,000

  -51,000

  78,000

  Caithness DC

  52,580

  13,729

  Central RC

  556,453

  163,181

  6,292

  51,680

  Clackmannan DC

  40,000

  96,000

  16,000

  Clydebank DC

  132,473

  42,045

  Clydesdale DC

  74,391

  20,041

  96,830

  58,788

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth DC

  33,969

  5,198

  15,154

  7,787

  Cumnock and Doon Valley DC

  40,420

  18,755

  16,753

  2,973

  Cunninghame DC

  26,092

  19,254

  18,829

  106,047

  3,780

  71,252

  Dumbarton DC

  27,165

  -135,002

  50,749

  -175

  96,553

  100,322

  Dumfries and Galloway RC

  406,000

  157,000

  20,000

  59,000

  Dundee DC

  317,932

  2,924

  143,412

  250,551

  72,000

  Dunfermline DC

  21,000

  98,428

  7,926

  0

  East Kilbride DC

  56,939

  50,313

  51,648

  12,627

  401,280

  East Lothian DC

  97,577

  10,158

  60,093

  134,658

  Eastwood DC

  23,272

  1,142

  24,720

  24,881

  27,187

  Edinburgh DC

  79,111

  63,097

  86,771

  -34,966

  199,140

  100,524

  35,170

  Ettrick and Lauderdale DC

  67,822

  54,235

  66,748

  Falkirk DC

  77,000

  4,000

  134,000

  305,000

  6,000

  65,000

  Fife RC

  522,000

  205,000

  2,000

  19,000

  Glasgow DC

  914,896

  90,994

  265,576

  148,629

  1,116,950

  129,212

  195,021

  Gordon DC

  10,000

  102,000

  57,000

  Grampian RC

  -10,000

  204,000

  5,000

  108,000

  187,000

  Hamilton DC

  231,782

  135,682

  246,906

  Highland RC

  295,722

  465,010

  391,917

  Inverclyde DC

  186,367

  131,010

  3,504

  66,154

  77,138

  Inverness DC

  122,433

  81,067

  66,633

  39,393

  77,582

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun DC

  125,000

  2,000

  63,000

  6,000

  58,000

  32,000

  11,000

  Kincardine and Deeside DC

  9,529

  73,537

  21,893

  Kirkcaldy DC

  96,192

  15,048

  59,105

  229,085

  142,143

  156,093

  Kyle and Carrick DC

  30,408

  38,993

  12,963

  159,246

  Lochaber DC

  6,533

  12,394

  Lothian RC

  166,945

  47,344

  12,125

  69,701

  290,516

  Midlothian DC

  78,000

  -2,000

  154,000

  6,000

  28,000

  Monklands DC

  67,717

  23,028

  135,366

  157,920

  27,410

  Moray DC

  22,025

  54,647

  61,418

  31,030

  Motherwell DC

  6,937

  516,884

  21,208

  134,065

  55,824

  219,195

  Nairn DC

  -2,567

  Nithsdale DC

  700

  200

  2,550

  64,899

  North East Fife DC

  45,000

  203,000

  93,000

  54,000

  Orkney IC

  22,000

  60,000

  8,000

  14,000

  9,000

  Perth and Kinross DC

  21,106

  26,349

  105,626

  53,207

  147,714

  Renfrew DC

  325,000

  8,000

  80,000

  401,000

  42,000

  Ross and Cromarty DC

  34,000

  -42,000

  28,726

  Roxburgh DC

  11,980

  3,831

  76,574

  4,545

  30,180

  Shetland IC

  10,000

  8,000

  30,000

  78,000

  77,000

  34,000

  Skye and Lochalsh DC

  3,771

  4,705

  17,145

  5,830

  -12,007

  Stewartry DC

  31,598

  63,443

  Stirling DC

  71,200

  1,300

  9,600

  84,800

  8,900

  4,700

  Strathclyde RC

  237,407

  237,808

  11,243

  41,818

  84,377

  156
  1993–1994 for (a) refuse collection, (b) street cleaning, (c) building cleaning, (d) school and welfare catering, (e) other catering, vehicle maintenance, (g) grounds maintenance and (h) sports and leisure maintenance delivered by local authorities' direct labour-services organisations in Scotland under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988. [26767]

  Mr. Lang
  The following tables show the surpluses, and deficits, returned by authorities for 1992–1993 and 1993–94:
  157

  Surpluses/deficits on DLO/DSO activity in 1992–93 in £s

  Local Authority

  Refuse collection1

  Building cleaning

  Other cleaning1

  School and welfare catering

  Other catering

  Ground maintenance

  Vehicle maintenance

  Leisure management

  Strathkelvin DC

  202,000

  91,000

  22,000

  Sutherland DC

  16,223

  43,554

  7,238

  Tayside RC

  6,000

  363,000

  102,000

  Tweeddale DC

  14,000

  10,000

  17,000

  Western Isles IC

  3,000

  16,000

  73,000

  44,000

  -43,000

  19,000

  West Lothian DC

  99,547

  205,916

  4,135

  122,874

  Wigtown DC

  23,908

  141,701

  156,222

  Cumbernauld NT

  77,000

  East Kilbride NT

  Glenrothes NT

  133,000

  Irvine NT

  43,038

  Livingston NT

  38,000

  1The accounts for refuse collection an other cleaning may have been combined by some authorities.

  1. The absence of an entry, therefore, does not necessarily indicate that the DSO has not carried out the activity in question.

  Surpluses/deficits on DLO/DSO activity in 1992–93 in £s

  Local Authority

  Refuse collection1

  Building cleaning

  Other cleaning1

  School and welfare catering

  Other catering

  Ground maintenance

  Vehicle maintenance

  Leisure management

  Aberdeen DC

  35,938

  2,747

  41,002

  968,329

  50,353

  678,929

  Angus DC

  227,756

  32,732

  81,518

  173,254

  15,769

  112,629

  Annandale and Eskdale DC

  104,174

  16,279

  31,190

  25,170

  Argyll and Bute DC

  20,000

  20,000

  17,000

  8,000

  15,000

  Badenoch and Strathspey DC

  11,665

  6,142

  18,990

  Banff and Buchan DC

  30,748

  1,706

  164,143

  26,640

  Bearsden and Milngavie DC

  232,081

  91,133

  900

  Berwickshire DC

  41,532

  36,044

  1,424

  Borders RC

  -91,000

  91,000

  Caithness DC

  Central RC

  659,419

  29,375

  9,010

  87,336

  Clackmannan DC

  20,000

  0

  37,000

  13,000

  Clydebank DC

  61,130

  34,463

  175,472

  4,827

  Clydesdale DC

  87,365

  92,000

  11,854

  19,221

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth DC

  -46,240

  4,094

  4,855

  23,832

  Cumnock and Doon Valley DC

  54,578

  25,472

  3,362

  4,857

  Cunninghame DC

  27,683

  16,309

  19,676

  42,206

  15,565

  54,793

  Dumbarton DC

  -61,590

  -96,333

  18,579

  132,985

  168,874

  Dumfries and Galloway RC

  36,000

  194,000

  40,000

  92,000

  Dundee DC

  218,797

  23,674

  29,912

  172,402

  72,000

  Dunfermline DC

  99,592

  16,000

  23,428

  9,687

  0

  East Kilbride DC

  113,453

  106,160

  85,836

  28,263

  360,149

  East Lothian DC

  67,358

  2,120

  116,018

  50,945

  Eastwood DC

  40,708

  7,864

  39,382

  8,954

  Edinburgh DC

  118,904

  80,676

  139,245

  -8,474

  174,214

  155,095

  0

  Ettrick and Lauderdale DC

  73,985

  87,549

  44,243

  Falkirk DC

  81,000

  5,000

  147,000

  301,000

  13,000

  95,000

  Fife RC

  128,000

  162,000

  1,000

  76,000

  Glasgow DC

  685,835

  191,972

  218,187

  64,354

  1,155,537

  94,588

  262,309

  Gordon DC

  11,000

  127,000

  79,000

  Grampian RC

  -155,000

  290,000

  12,000

  184,000

  440,000

  Hamilton DC

  67,337

  175,132

  18,459

  287,894

  Highland RC

  251,003

  218,028

  Inverclyde DC

  170,413

  106,002

  35,587

  300,068

  95,784

  Inverness DC

  214,720

  106,245

  73,205

  3,829

  24,633

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun DC

  53,000

  2,000

  52,000

  5,000

  46,000

  15,000

  1,000

  Kincardine and Deeside DC

  9,529

  73,537

  21,893

  Kirkcaldy DC

  144,537

  4,405

  118,477

  304,100

  127,056

  188,408

  Kyle and Carrick DC

  70,905

  3,897

  29,699

  7,523

  122,624

  Lochaber DC

  12,756

  31,105

  7,832

  Lothian RC

  38,975

  75,051

  10,580

  88,915

  -259,690

  Midlothian DC

  81,000

  0

  117,000

  46,000

  177,000

  Monklands DC

  12,850

  12,070

  62,472

  21,373

  93,091

  70,836

  Moray DC

  19,262

  7,380

  87,987

  35,834

  73,800

  Motherwell DC

  7,633

  355,485

  5,689

  36,624

  43,558

  Nairn DC

  17,140

  11,014

  2,393

  Nithsdale DC

  500

  200

  1,757

  24,221

  North East Fife DC

  20,000

  136,000

  47,000

  40,000

  Orkney IC

  -17,000

  56,000

  36,000

  17,000

  41,000

  Perth and Kinross DC

  26,343

  11,094

  48,741

  44,134

  227,964

  Renfrew DC

  264,000

  18,000

  68,000

  2,000

  313,000

  72,000

  108,000

  158 159

  Surpluses/deficits on DLO/DSO activity in 1992–93 in £s

  Local Authority

  Refuse collection1

  Building cleaning

  Other cleaning1

  School and welfare catering

  Other catering

  Ground maintenance

  Vehicle maintenance

  Leisure management

  Ross and Cromarty DC

  2,000

  7,000

  16,731

  Roxburgh DC

  13,244

  18,761

  79,528

  2,253

  22,831

  Shetland IC

  453,000

  54,000

  14,000

  82,000

  92,000

  67,000

  Skye and Lochalsh DC

  497

  1,599

  9,252

  Stewartry DC

  58,901

  44,053

  Stirling DC

  105,600

  18,100

  46,500

  50,600

  3,000

  35,300

  Strathclyde RC

  500,331

  100,043

  11,671

  57,830

  42,959

  Strathkelvin DC

  142,000

  144,000

  27,500

  Sutherland DC

  20,513

  38,278

  525

  Tayside RC

  58,000

  408,000

  45,000

  Tweeddale DC

  Western Isles IC

  67,000

  23,000

  62,000

  24,000

  4,000

  6,000

  West Lothian DC

  178,996

  167,428

  12,976

  117,160

  Wigtown DC

  23,602

  92,963

  59,405

  Cumbernauld NT

  190,000

  East Kilbride NT

  Glenrothes NT

  119,000

  Irvine NT

  35,576

  Livingston NT

  14,000

  1The accounts for refuse collection an other cleaning may have been combined by some authorities.

  1. The absence of an entry, therefore, does not necessarily indicate that the DSO has not carried out the activity in question.

  Mr. George Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list, by authority and service area, as defined by the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980, surpluses achieved by local authority direct labour-services organisations in Scotland for the financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94; [26766]

  (2) if he will list, by authority, the surplus achieved on trading accounts for the financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94 for (a) general highways work, (b) construction

  Surpluses/deficits on DLO/DSO activity in 1992–93 in £s

  Local authority

  New construction under £50,000

  New construction over £50,000

  Building maintenance

  General highways work

  General water and sewerage work

  Aberdeen DC

  —

  —

  276,110

  —

  —

  Angus DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Annandale and Eskdale DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Argyll and Bute DC

  —

  —

  57,391

  —

  —

  Badenoch and Strathspey DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Banff and Buchan DC

  —

  —

  1,761

  —

  —

  Bearsden and Milngavie DC

  —

  —

  28,915

  —

  —

  Berwickshire DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Borders RC

  —

  —

  —

  169,000

  —

  Caithness DC

  —

  —

  37,606

  —

  —

  Central RC

  1,378

  3,667

  49,703

  224,586

  24,535

  Clackmannan DC

  —

  —

  23,000

  —

  —

  Clydebank DC

  —

  —

  219,498

  —

  —

  Clydesdale DC

  —

  —

  34,381

  —

  —

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth DC

  —

  —

  57,918

  —

  —

  Cumnock and Doon Valley DC

  —

  —

  55,143

  —

  —

  Cunninghame DC

  —

  —

  366,000

  —

  —

  Dumbarton DC

  —

  —

  150,857

  —

  —

  Dumfries and Galloway RC

  —

  —

  7,619

  109,780

  —

  Dundee DC

  4,667

  15,208

  430,356

  —

  —

  Dunfermline DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  East Kilbride DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  East Lothian DC

  —

  —

  67,271

  —

  —

  Eastwood DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Edinburgh DC

  —

  —

  -8,750

  —

  —

  Ettrick and Lauderdale DC

  —

  —

  19,104

  —

  —

  Falkirk DC

  —

  —

  325,000

  —

  —

  Fife RC

  10,000

  -358,000

  311,000

  1,000

  5,000

  Glasgow DC

  —

  —

  9,274,493

  —

  —

  Gordon DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  160
  and maintenance of sewers, (c) works of new construction and (d) maintenance work, delivered by local authorities' direct labour-services organisations in Scotland under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980. [26765]

  Mr. Lang
  The following tables show the surpluses, and deficits, returned by authorities for 1992–93 and 1993–94 in relation to the categories of account laid down under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980:
  161

  Surpluses/deficits on DLO/DSO activity in 1992–93 in £s

  Local authority

  New construction under £50,000

  New construction over £50,000

  Building maintenance

  General highways work

  General water and sewerage work

  Grampian RC

  —

  —

  —

  501,000

  31,000

  Hamilton DC

  —

  —

  162,653

  —

  —

  Highland RC

  —

  —

  —

  2,128,575

  —

  Inverclyde DC

  —

  —

  304,594

  —

  —

  Inverness DC

  —

  —

  94,194

  —

  —

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun DC

  —

  —

  247,000

  —

  —

  Kincardine and Deeside DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Kirkcaldy DC

  —

  —

  68,224

  —

  —

  Kyle and Carrick DC

  —

  —

  60,454

  —

  —

  Lochaber DC

  —

  —

  64,113

  —

  —

  Lothian RC

  —

  —

  174,313

  451,113

  161,662

  Midlothian DC

  —

  —

  44,000

  —

  —

  Monklands DC

  —

  —

  51,000

  —

  —

  Moray DC

  —

  —

  95,100

  —

  —

  Motherwell DC

  —

  —

  200,159

  —

  —

  Nairn DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Nithsdale DC

  —

  —

  45,222

  —

  —

  North East Fife DC

  —

  —

  50,000

  —

  —

  Orkney IC

  —

  —

  6,000

  269,000

  2,000

  Perth and Kinross DC

  —

  —

  67,703

  —

  —

  Renfrew DC

  —

  —

  748,622

  —

  —

  Ross and Cromarty DC

  —

  —

  96,000

  —

  —

  Roxburgh DC

  —

  —

  10,000

  —

  —

  Shetland IC

  —

  —

  166,000

  595,000

  —

  Skye and Lochalsh DC

  —

  —

  -45,022

  —

  —

  Stewarty DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Stirling DC

  —

  —

  92,500

  —

  —

  Strathclyde RC

  174,602

  7,734

  787,281

  339,025

  60,302

  Strathkelvin DC

  —

  —

  149,000

  —

  —

  Sutherland DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tayside RC

  —

  —

  36,000

  1,497,000

  —

  Tweeddale DC

  —

  —

  64,000

  —

  —

  Western Isles IC

  —

  —

  3,000

  54,000

  —

  West Lothian DC

  —

  —

  169,954

  —

  —

  Wigtown DC

  —

  —

  118,208

  —

  —

  Cumbernauld NT

  —

  —

  144,000

  —

  —

  East Kilbride NT

  —

  —

  125,000

  —

  —

  Glenrothes NT

  —

  —

  77,000

  —

  —

  Irvine NT

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Livingston NT

  —

  —

  89,000

  —

  —

  Surpluses/deficits on DLO/DSO activity in 1993–94 in £s

  Local authority

  New construction under £50,000

  New construction over £50,000

  Building maintenance

  General highways work

  General water and sewerage work

  Aberdeen DC

  —

  —

  259,953

  —

  —

  Angus DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Annandale and Eskdale DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Argyll and Bute DC

  —

  —

  75,000

  —

  —

  Badenoch and Strathspey DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Banff and Buchan DC

  —

  —

  74,711

  —

  —

  Bearsden and Milngavie DC

  —

  —

  37,375

  —

  —

  Berwickshire DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Borders RC

  —

  —

  —

  742,000

  —

  Caithness DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Central RC

  8,241

  3,853

  262,192

  276,991

  30,861

  Clackmannan DC

  —

  —

  137,000

  —

  —

  Clydebank DC

  —

  —

  82,059

  —

  —

  Clydesdale DC

  —

  —

  38,636

  —

  —

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth DC

  —

  —

  55,548

  —

  —

  Cumnock and Doon Valley DC

  —

  —

  13,064

  —

  —

  Cunninghame DC

  —

  —

  395,000

  —

  —

  Dumbarton DC

  —

  —

  77,207

  —

  —

  Dumfries and Galloway RC

  —

  —

  -32,795

  84,539

  —

  Dundee DC

  7,682

  21,837

  142,208

  —

  —

  Dunfermline DC

  22,996

  37,715

  47,676

  —

  —

  East Kilbride DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  East Lothian DC

  —

  —

  27,346

  —

  —

  Eastwood DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Edinburgh DC

  —

  42,837

  188,515

  —

  —

  162 163

  Surpluses/deficits on DLO/DSO activity in 1993–94 in £s

  Local authority

  New construction under £50,000

  New construction over £50,000

  Building maintenance

  General highways work

  General water and sewerage work

  Ettrick and Lauderdale DC

  —

  —

  59,920

  —

  —

  Falkirk DC

  —

  —

  47,000

  —

  —

  Fife RC

  4,000

  11,000

  172,000

  1,166,000

  78,000

  Glasgow DC

  —

  —

  8,966,109

  —

  —

  Gordon DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Grampian RC

  —

  —

  —

  1,195,000

  -137,000

  Hamilton DC

  —

  —

  20,790

  —

  —

  Highland RC

  —

  —

  —

  3,096,908

  —

  Inverclyde DC

  —

  —

  76,110

  —

  —

  Inverness DC

  —

  —

  30,373

  —

  —

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun DC

  —

  —

  158,000

  —

  —

  Kincardine and Deeside DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Kirkcaldy DC

  —

  —

  139,452

  —

  —

  Kyle and Carrick DC

  —

  —

  65,408

  —

  —

  Lochaber DC

  —

  —

  72,706

  —

  —

  Lothian RC

  —

  —

  120,668

  352,354

  127,135

  Midlothian DC

  —

  —

  13,000

  —

  —

  Monklands DC

  —

  —

  120,622

  —

  —

  Moray DC

  —

  —

  53,999

  —

  —

  Motherwell DC

  —

  —

  485,189

  —

  —

  Nairn DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Nithsdale DC

  —

  —

  7,697

  —

  —

  North East Fife DC

  —

  —

  66,000

  —

  —

  Orkney IC

  —

  -22,000

  81,000

  615,000

  -6,000

  Perth and Kinross DC

  —

  —

  103,290

  —

  —

  Renfrew DC

  —

  —

  714,378

  —

  —

  Ross and Cromarty DC

  —

  —

  11,000

  —

  —

  Roxburgh DC

  —

  —

  27,000

  —

  —

  Shetland IC

  —

  —

  261,000

  662,000

  —

  Skye and Lochalsh DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Stewarty DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Stirling DC

  —

  —

  -74,100

  —

  —

  Strathclyde RC

  4,669

  11,303

  819,583

  278,092

  151,325

  Strathkelvin DC

  —

  —

  59,000

  —

  —

  Sutherland DC

  —

  —

  30,000

  —

  —

  Tayside RC

  —

  —

  —

  1,292

  —

  Tweeddale DC

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Western Isles IC

  —

  —

  19,000

  43,000

  —

  West Lothian DC

  —

  —

  120,538

  —

  —

  Wigtown DC

  —

  —

  59,065

  —

  —

  Cumbernauld NT

  —

  —

  68,000

  —

  —

  East Kilbride NT

  —

  —

  306,000

  —

  —

  Glenrothes NT

  —

  —

  133,000

  —

  —

  Irvine NT

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Livingston NT

  —

  —

  72,000

  —

  —

  Mr. George Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by authority and service area the recorded deficits made by local authority direct labour-services organisations in Scotland that have failed to meet the rate of return requirements under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988 for the

  Year

  Local Authority

  Deficit £

  Percentage (related to income)

  Building Cleaning

  1990–91

  Dumbarton DC

  -7,299

  -83.4

  1990–91

  East Lothian DC

  -3,000

  -2.1

  1990–91

  Shetland IC

  -13,000

  -2.6

  1991–92

  Dumbarton DC

  -66,438

  -59.6

  1992–93

  Borders RC

  -172,000

  -55.7

  1992–93

  Dumbarton DC

  -135,002

  -137.8

  1992–93

  Grampian RC

  -10,000

  -0.2

  1992–93

  Midlothian DC

  -2,000

  -1.4

  1993–94

  Grampian RC

  -155,000

  -3.6

  1993–94

  Dumbarton DC

  -96,333

  -99.5

  164
  financial years 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94 expressed in absolute and percentage terms. [26707]

  Mr. Lang
  The following table shows the deficits recorded and how these related, in percentage terms, to the DLO/DSO's income:
  165

  Year

  Local Authority

  Deficit £

  Percentage (related to income)

  Grounds Maintenance

  1990–91

  Strathkelvin DC

  -58,708

  -12

  1990–91

  Stirling DC

  -7,005

  -2.3

  1990–91

  Moray DC

  -122,476

  -24.7

  1990–91

  Highland RC

  -84,375

  -5.5

  1991–92

  Stirling DC

  -245,779

  -49.3

  1992–93

  Ross and Cromarty DC

  -42,000

  -4.1

  1992–93

  Wester Isles IC

  -43,000

  -9.8

  Leisure Management

  1992–;93

  Lothian RC

  -290,516

  -49.3

  1992–93

  Nairn DC

  -2,567

  -4.1

  1992–;93

  Skye and Lochalsh DC

  -12,007

  -7.4

  1993-94

  Lothian RC

  -259,690

  -47.7

  Other Catering

  1990–91

  Central RC

  -17,156

  -4.4

  1992–93

  Dumbarton DC

  -175

  -0.3

  1992–93

  Edinburgh DC

  -34,966

  -6.4

  1993–94

  Edinburgh DC

  -8,474

  -1.3

  Other Cleaning

  1991–92

  Annandale and Eskdale DC

  -24,223

  -9.4

  Refuse Collection

  1990–91

  Kincardine and Deeside DC

  -2,484

  -0.7

  1991–92

  Kincardine and Deeside DC

  -13,113

  -3.3

  1991–92

  Orkney IC

  -6,000

  -2.5

  1991–92

  North East Fife DC

  -24,000

  -2.7

  1993–94

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth DC

  -46,240

  -5.2

  1993–94

  Dumbarton DC

  -61,590

  -4.5

  1993–94

  Orkney IC

  -17,000

  -5.7

  School and Welfare Catering

  1992–93

  Borders RC

  -51,000

  -3.0

  1993–94

  Borders RC

  -91,000

  -8.5

  Vehicle Maintenance

  1990–91

  Inverness DC

  -65,733

  -33.9

  1990-91

  Inverclyde DC

  -7,521

  -2.5

  1990–91

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth DC

  -38,495

  -29.3

  1991–92

  Stirling DC

  -670

  -0.2

  1991–92

  Clackmannan DC

  -2,000

  -0.7

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the conformity with local government legislation and procedures of(a) a district council's housing officer to serve as secretary to the board of the local housing association and (b) a district council and local housing association retaining the same legal advisers when housing stock is to be transferred between them; and if he will make a statement. [26683]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  It is common and accepted practice for a local authority sponsoring a new housing association in its area to provide services in kind to the association until it becomes a viable organisation. As to the question of conflict of interest in the case of legal advisers, it is up to both parties and their legal advisers to ensure that such a problem does not arise. If the ballot of tenants results in a vote in favour of transfer to the association, I would expect the parties to engage separate legal advisers to negotiate terms and conditions.

  Local Government Contracts
  Mr. George Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many and what proportion of local authority direct labour-services organisations in Scotland,166
  operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980, have achieved the required rate of return for the financial year 1992–93 and 1993–94. [26708]

  Mr. Lang
  In 1992–93, 74 DLOs-DSOs, in an individual service area, met the prescribed financial objective. This represented 94.9 per cent. of the total returns received. In 1993–94, 75 met the prescribed financial objective: this represented 92.6 per cent of the total returns received. The figures for both years include a small number of returns from new town development corporations.

  Mr. George Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by authority and service area the number of full time equivalent job losses experienced by local authority direct labour-services organisations in Scotland operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988 for the financial years 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94. [26716]

  Mr. Lang
  My Department does not hold this information.

  Mr. George Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by authority and service area
  167
  the recorded deficits made by local authority direct labour-services organisations in Scotland that have failed to meet the rate of return requirements operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 for financial years 1990–91, 1991–92,

  Year

  Local Authority

  Deficit £

  Percentage (related to income)

  Water and sewerage

  1990–1991

  Central RC

  -3,332

  -3.6

  1993–1994

  Orkney IC

  -6,000

  -3.4

  1993–1994

  Grampian RC

  -137,000

  -8.2

  Roads

  Nil

  New construction under £50,000

  1990–1991

  Central RC

  -32,574

  -8.2

  New construction over £50,000

  1991–1992

  Orkney IC

  -16,000

  -21.1

  1992–1993

  Fife RC

  -358,000

  -50.9

  1993–1994

  Orkney IC

  -22,000

  -6.7

  Building maintenance

  1990–1991

  Argyll and Bute DC

  -81,000

  -8.3

  1990–1991

  Clydesdale DC

  -37,555

  -3.1

  1990–1991

  Dumfries and Galloway RC

  -50,075

  -33.5

  1990–1991

  Hamilton DC

  -770,649

  -11.0

  1990–1991

  Kirkcaldy DC

  -234,472

  -3.5

  1990–1991

  Orkney IC

  -47,000

  -2.9

  1991–1992

  Bearsden and Milngavie DC

  -17,095

  4.7

  1991–1992

  Edinburgh DC

  -708,635

  -7.7

  1991–1992

  North East Fife DC

  -176,000

  -14.4

  1991–1992

  Kirkcaldy DC

  -563,702

  -8.5

  1991–1992

  Nithsdale DC

  -21,364

  -1.1

  1991–1992

  Dumfries and Galloway RC

  -102,137

  -64.1

  1991–1992

  Dumbarton DC

  -119,072

  -3.6

  1992–1993

  Edinburgh DC

  448,750

  -5.5

  1992–1993

  Skye and Lochalsh. DC

  -45,022

  -49.0

  1993–1994

  Dumfries and Galloway RC

  -32.795

  -28.7

  1993–1994

  Stirling DC

  -74,100

  -1.3

  Mr. George Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland out of the total number of accounts recorded, how many and what proportion of, local authority direct labour-services organisations in Scotland, operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988, have achieved the required rate of return for the financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94. [26709]

  Mr. Lang
  In 1992–93, 258 DLOs/DS0s, in an individual service area, met the prescribed financial objective. This represented 94.9 per cent. of the total returns received. In 1993–94, 267 met the prescribed financial objective: this represented 96.7 per cent. of the total returns received. The figures for both years include a small number of returns from new town development corporations.

  Surcharges
  Mr. George Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many councillors in Scotland have been surcharged or prosecuted as a consequence of taking decisions in relation to the Local Government Act 1988. [26713]

  Mr. Lang
  No councillors in Scotland have been surcharged as a consequence of taking decisions in 168
  1992–93 and 1993–94 expressed in both absolute and percentage terms. [26706]

  Mr. Lang
  The following table shows the deficits recorded and how these related, in percentage terms, to the DLO-DSOs income:

  relation to the Local Government Act 1988. Figures on prosecutions are unavailable but I am not aware of any that have taken place.

  Mr. George Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many councillors in Scotland have been surcharged or prosecuted as a consequence of taking decisions in relation to the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980. [26712]

  Mr. Lang
  No councillors in Scotland have been surcharged as a consequence of taking decisions in relation to the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980. Figures on prosecutions are unavailable but I am not aware of any that have taken place.

  Client-contractor Splits
  Mr. George Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by service area the local authorities in Scotland that have been challenged by his Department under regulation issued under section 9 of the Local Government Act 1992 in relation to their internal arrangements for establishing client-contractor splits. [26714]
  169
  Mr. Lang
  My Department has not taken statutory action against any authority in relation to their internal arrangements for establishing client-contractor splits.

  Wigtown Housing Association
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has about the registered offices of Wigtown housing association. [26684]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information is currently available about the Wigtown housing association's aims and objectives, standard terms and conditions for tenants—which includes details of the rights of tenants following transfer—and the intended composition of the board of management; names of 11 out of 16 members are known. All this information has been provided to tenants in the district's formal consultation on the transfer of council housing to the Wigtown housing association. The Department does not have any additional information about the association's offices.

  Job Losses
  Mr. George Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by authority and service area the number of full-time equivalent job losses experienced by local authority direct labour-services organisations in Scotland operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 for the financial years 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94. [26715]

  Mr. Lang
  My Department does not hold this information.

  Departmental Complaints
  Mr. George Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many complaints his Department received in the financial years 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94 alleging anti-competitive behaviour by local authorities in Scotland under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980; and, as a result, how many local authorities were subsequently issued with a section 19a notice or 19b direction. [26710]

  Mr. Lang
  In 1990–91, we received two complaints of anti-competitive behaviour under the Local Government Planning and Land Act 1980; neither of these cases resulted in statutory action. In 1991–92, we received six complaints: a notice was served in relation to one of these. In 1992–93, we received four complaints: two of these resulted in a notice and one in a direction. In 1993–94, we received three complaints: these have resulted in two notices being issued.

  AIDS (Prisons)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, which prisons currently operate viral infectivity restrictions for prisoners with HIV/AIDS; and what proportion this figure represents of the total number of prison establishments in Scotland. [26955]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.
  170
  Letter from Mr. E. W. Frizzell to Mr. Archy Kirkwood, dated 6 June 1995.
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your question about which prisons currently operate viral infectivity restrictions for prisoners with HIV/AIDS and what proportion this figure represents of the total number of prison establishments in Scotland.
  The answer is none: the policy in Scotland has always been not to segregate HIV positive prisoners.

  Crofts
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many whole crofts have been bought, by convenient geographical area, under the terms of the Crofting Reform Act (Scotland) in each year since 1976. [27249]

  Sir Hector Monro
  The information requested is set out in the table. Figures are not available for the years 1976, 1977 and 1978.

  Year

  Number of whole crofts purchased

  1979

  216

  1980

  260

  1981

  308

  1982

  199

  1983

  176

  1984

  173

  1985

  149

  1986

  178

  1987

  104

  1988

  91

  1989

  96

  1990

  66

  1991

  139

  1992

  121

  1993

  150

  1994

  122

  Companies
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those companies in which the holder of his office is a majority shareholder which(a) are currently in existence and (b) have been wound up in the past five years. [25709]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 22 May 1995]: The information is as follows:

  Companies currently in existence

  Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd.

  David MacBrayne Ltd.

  Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd.

  Scottish Electricity Ltd.1

  Scottish Electricity (No. 1) Ltd. 1

  Scottish Electricity (No. 2) Ltd. 1

  Scottish Nuclear Ltd.

  The Student Loan Company Ltd2

  Companies wound up in the past five years

  None.

  1 Formed as part of the electricity privatisation process to handle monetary transactions.

  2 Wholly owned by the Secretary of State for Education and the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Procurator Fiscal Service
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will describe the structure of the Procurator Fiscal Service in(a) Scotland, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Paisley; if he will list the names and posts of the Paisley procurator fiscal's office to third-tier level or below; and how long each named member of staff has been employed in that office. [24059]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 23 May 1995]: The structure of the Procurator Fiscal Service is described in the 1991 to 1994 annual reports of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. At the time of publication copies of the reports were sent to all Members of Parliament for Scottish constituencies, and copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate will write to the hon. Member with the other information requested.

  Waverley Court, Paisley
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the amount of revenue from rents lost to Scottish Homes since Waverley court in Paisley was emptied of tenants; how this has been calculated; how much was spent by Scottish Homes on reports, development briefs, consultancies and other outgoings; what plans Scottish Homes has for the building; if he intends to take disciplinary action against any member of the board or management team of Scottish Homes for negligence or incompetence; and if he will make a statement. [24102]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 23 May 1995]: The information requested is a matter for Scottish Homes and I have asked its chairman, Sir James Mellon to write to the hon. Member.

  War Crimes Act 1991: Prosecution Decisions
  War Crimes Act 1991: Prosecution Decisions
  MAFF and DoE: Merger Proposal
  MAFF and DoE: Merger Proposal
  Nolan Report: Implementation of Recommendations
  Nolan Report: Implementation of Recommendations
  Youth Training Courses
  Youth Training Courses
  Volunteering
  Volunteering
  Boundary Commission Report
  Boundary Commission Report
  Social Security Budget
  Social Security Budget
  Social Security Advisory Committee Recommendations on Regulations
  Social Security Advisory Committee Recommendations on Regulations