Written Answers of 15 June 1995

DEFENCE

  Service Personnel (Deaths)
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have been killed while training or engaged on non-combat duties in the last 10 years. [28225]

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested is as follows:

  1985: 208

  1986: 178

  1987: 191

  1988: 207

  1989: 255

  1990: 218

  1991: 191

  1992: 167

  1993: 169

  1994: 152

  Skilled Tradesmen
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he is taking to ensure that skilled tradesmen in the armed forces have the opportunity to extend or maintain their skills by involvement in depot or major servicing and engineering where these are carried out by civilian businesses. [27915]

  Mr. Soames
  The armed forces continue to train and practise their tradesmen in the full range of skills required to support the operational task and deliver military capability. Where it is deemed essential that a number of these tradesmen attain and maintain depot level skills following the transfer of such work to the private sector, either an element of the work will be retained in service or appropriate contractual arrangements will be put in place with industry to second service personnel to enable them to receive the required skill enhancements.

  RAF Newton
  Mr. Hargreaves
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of RAF Newton. [29412]

  Mr. Soames
  As part of the wider changes to RAF ground training, a consultative document was issued on 28 March 1995 recommending the relocation of headquarters air cadets from RAF Newton to RAF Cranwell, its merger with headquarters university air squadrons and the reduction of RAF Newton to an enclave. My Department has consulted thoroughly with trade unions and relevant local authorities, and full and careful consideration has been given to all the representations received.
  596
  Following this work, I am satisfied that no issues have been raised which will call into question the viability of the proposals, which will achieve significant annual running costs savings. I have therefore decided that the proposals should now be implemented.

  Third-generation Anti-tank Guided Weapons System
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total Government expenditure on the TRIGAT long range anti-tank weapon. [28858]

  Mr. Freeman
  The total amount spent by the Ministry of Defence to 31 May 1995 on the TRIGAT long-range anti-tank programme is £210 million, at 1995–96 prices. This includes a proportion of the costs of the feasibility and project definition phases, which were combined for the long-range and medium-range TRIGAT programmes, as well as the costs of the current development programme.

  Defence Systems
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the Patriot missile defence system. [28857]

  Mr. Freeman
  The Patriot missile defence system is one of the options being considered as part of the pre-feasibility study which I announced to the House on 18 October 1994,Official Report, column 239, to provide advice on systems, capabilities, time scales, costs and technical risk.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the medium extended air defence system; and if he will make a statement. [28844]

  Mr. Freeman
  The medium extended air defence system is one of the options being considered as part of the pre-feasibility study which I announced to the House on 18 October 1994,Official Report, column 239, to provide advice on systems, capabilities, time scales, costs and technical risk.

  Eurofighter 2000
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what recent discussions he has had with his German counterpart concerning Eurofighter 2000; [28842]

  (2) what assessment his Department has made of political developments in Germany concerning the Eurofighter 2000; and if he will make a statement. [28843]

  Mr. Freeman
  My right hon. and learned Friend met his German opposite number on 28 May for discussions on a number of topics, including Eurofighter 2000. I am confident that Germany remains committed to the development of the Eurofighter 2000 aircraft.

  Crown Immunity
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all areas within(a) his Department, (b) agencies under his Department's control and (c) organisations for which he has ministerial responsibility to which Crown immunity applies; what consideration he has given to removing this; and if he will make a statement. [28653]
  597
  Mr. Freeman
  An Act of Parliament is presumed not to bind the Crown unless the contrary intention is clearly stated, or there is a necessary implication that the Crown is to be bound. Crown immunity is being progressively reduced, as legislative opportunities arise. However, even in circumstances where the Crown is not bound by legislation, it is Government policy that it should comply as though the requirements apply to it, wherever appropriate.

  To list all areas in which Crown immunity may apply would involve disproportionate cost.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civil servants in his Department are currently working on matters related to the Scott inquiry; if a dedicated unit has been established; and what is the estimated cost to date of civil servants dealing with matters relating to the Scott inquiry. [28865]

  Mr. Freeman
  A Scott inquiry unit was established in the MOD in December 1992. There are currently two civil servants working in the unit. The approximate direct cost of the unit to date, including the cost of the provision of papers, is estimated to be £190,000.

  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what legal advice he has sought from solicitors or barristers in respect of draft conclusions reached by the Scott inquiry; what is the estimated cost of such legal expenses to public funds, and if he will make a statement. [28896]

  Mr. Freeman
  The Government do not consider it right to publish the nature or cost of any advice which may have been given to individual witnesses to the Scott inquiry.

  This is a matter of confidence between them and any legal advisers they may have retained.

  Chinook Crash
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the findings of the inquiry into the Chinook crash on 2 June 1994.

  Mr. Rifkind
  I express to the widows and family members of those who died the Government's deep regret and condolences in their loss.

  I have this afternoon placed in the Libraries of both Houses a summary of findings of the inquiry into this tragic crash which claimed the lives of 29 people. After an exhaustive inquiry into all the circumstances, the possibilities of major technical or structural failure, hostile action or electromagnetic interference with navigation equipment were eliminated as possible causes. On all the evidence, it was concluded that the cause of the accident was that the two pilots had wrongly continued to fly towards the Mull of Kintyre below a safe altitude in unsuitable weather conditions. This constituted a failure in their duty and regrettably, therefore, it was concluded that both pilots had been negligent.

  I confirm that the MOD will pay compensation to the next of kin where this is due. Legal advice is that in the particular circumstances of this accident the
  598
  Government's legal liability to the passengers on board is limited by the terms of the Carriage by Air Acts (Application of Provisions) Order 1967 which derives from the relevant international conventions. The Government have, however, previously made clear their view that the limit of 100,000 special drawing rights—approximately £100,000—arising from these conventions is out of date. Accordingly the MOD will consider claims, in this case, above 100,000 SDR. In so doing, they will take account of the discussions already in progress within the civil airline industry about the right limit for airlines' liability. These discussions will inform, but not necessarily determine, the Government's decision on whether the Chinook passenger claims should be subject to an upper limit on compensation and, if so, at what higher figure.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is his Department's definition of an air transport undertaking. [28869]

  (2) if the Chinook helicopter involved in the crash in the Mull of Kintyre in June 1994 was partaking in an air transport undertaking; and if he will make a statement. [28868]

  Mr. Soames
  The Chinook was on an air transport task from RAF Aldergrove to Fort George barracks, Inverness. The Ministry of Defence's understanding of an air transport undertaking is the movement by air of personnel and cargo within and between theatres of operation. The compensation rights of the families concerned, however, are not dependent on how the Ministry of Defence chooses to describe any aspect of this tragic accident.

  Inhumane Weapons Review Conference
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his aims at the United Nations inhumane weapons review conference in September. [28230]

  Mr. Freeman
  At the UN weaponry convention review conference in September and October of this year, the UK's main aim will be to work towards strengthening protocol II of the convention to impose stricter controls on the use of land-mines. Specific measures which we will be pursuing include: an extension of the scope of the protocol to cover non-international armed conflicts; new provisions on self-destruct mechanisms in anti-personnel mines, detectable mines, and the marking and mapping of minefields; provisions on the transfer of anti-personnel mines; and an effective verification mechanism.

  Compensation Claims
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 7 June,Official Report, column 192, if he will list the dates, units involved, and the injuries leading to the cases of compensation claims made against his Department in the last five years arising from the negligent discharge of weapons. [28867]

  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.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many written parliamentary questions were tabled for answer by his Department in each of the past five years; how many of these were not answered because the information(a) could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, (b) was not held centrally and (c) was not normally disclosed; how many of these could now be answered due to computerisation, more effective and efficient operational systems or more open government; and if he will list each question along with the name and constituency of the right hon. or hon. Member who originally tabled it. [28520]

  Mr. Baldry
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of parliamentary questions, which would have been answered directly by him or his Ministers prior to the establishment of executive agencies, are now referred to the chief executive of such an agency. [28497]

  Mr. Baldry
  Ministers are accountable to Parliament for all matters concerning their agencies. Written parliamentary questions concerning matters which have been delegated to the chief executive of an executive agency in its framework document, normally receive a reply from the Minister to the effect that he or she has asked the chief executive to reply direct to the Member by letter. The chief executive's letter is published in Hansard after the Minister's reply.

  Bosnia
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to which areas in Bosnia it is(a) possible or (b) not possible to post items from the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [26885]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Due to operational difficulties caused by the conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Post Office is unable to accept items of mail for onward delivery to any part of that country.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many civil servants in his Department are currently working on matters related to the Scott inquiry; if a dedicated unit has been established; and what is the estimated cost to date of civil servants dealing with matters relating to the Scott inquiry. [28863]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Three civil servants in the FCO are working full time on matters related to the Scott inquiry. Other FCO officials are involved, but not on a full-time basis.

  A dedicated unit was established in December 1992, and continues to exist.
  600
  The estimated cost to date of the unit dealing full time with the Scott inquiry is £164,027. It is not possible to quantify a figure for the other officials.

  Locate in Scotland, North America
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidelines he has issued to United Kingdom diplomatic and consular staff concerning the activities and work of Locate in Scotland in north America; what communication there has been with the United States Government following the public comments of the United Kingdom consul general in San Francisco on the work of Locate in Scotland and other inward investment agencies; what clarification the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has issued on the role of the United Kingdom inward investment agencies following those comments; and what discussions have been held as a consequence regarding a new policy towards United Kingdom inward investment agencies. [28700]

  Mr. Goodlad
  All overseas commercial posts have guidelines on co-operation with Locate in Scotland as well as the equivalent organisations for Wales and Northern Ireland. Together with the Invest in Britain Bureau and English regional agencies, these organisations are members of the Committee on Overseas Promotion, which co-ordinates the promotion of inward investment into the United Kingdom.

  No clarification of those guidelines, nor a change of policy, is necessary. The question of a communication with the United States Administration does not arise.

  Sex Tourism
  Ms Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he has had with the Government of(a) the Phillippines and (b) Thailand concerning possible measures to arrest the growth of sex tourism in those countries. [28840]

  Mr. Goodlad
  We regularly take opportunities to raise the issue of sex tourism with the Governments of the Phillippines and Thailand. I discussed child prostitution legislation with the Thai Government during my visit to Thailand in May.

  We also regularly discuss practical forms of co-operation between our law enforcement authorities within the framework of Interpol.

  Indonesia
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Indonesian police officers have received training under the UK military training and assistance scheme. [28906]

  Mr. David Davis
  The details of training given under the United Kingdom military training assistance scheme are confidential between Governments.

  Committee of the Regions
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the names, together with the previous and present jobs, of the Committee of the Regions set up under the provisions of the treaty of Maastricht. [28702]
  601
  Mr. David Davis
  Biographies of all members of the Committee of the Regions may be obtained from the CoR press office, Rue Ravenstein 2, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the further measures which he proposes to take to demonstrate his concern about the abuse of democracy in Nigeria.

  Mr. Baldry
  We deplore the fact that there has been no progress towards democracy in Nigeria in the two years since the annulment of the presidential elections. We look to the regime to use the occasion of the presentation of the report of the national constitutional conference due on 27 June to initiate a credible timetable for a return to civilian democratic rule. We shall continue to keep our policy under review, together with our EU, Commonwealth and other partners.

PRIME MINISTER

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister what communications he has received from Lord Justice Scott over the evidence he gave to the inquiry into arms for Iraq; on what dates the communications were sent to him; and what were the dates of his replies. [28860]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Members for Wallsend (Mr. Byers) and for Thurrock (Mr. Mackinlay) on 12 June 1995,Official Report, column 373.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Prime Minister how many civil servants in his Department are currently working on matters related to the Scott inquiry; if a dedicated unit has been established; and what is the estimated cost to date of civil servants dealing with matters relating to the Scott inquiry. [28862]

  The Prime Minister
  Within the Cabinet Office, the number of civil servants working exclusively on matters relating to Sir Richard Scott's inquiry is five, all of whom are members of a dedicated unit. The cost of the unit since December 1992 has been approximately £400,000.

  Former Prime Ministers (Payments)
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Prime Minister what payments are available to former Prime Ministers; which of these cease immediately upon their death; which are phased out or continued for a fixed or indefinite period to allow their bereaved spouses to deal with duties following their death; and if he will make a statement. [28535]

  The Prime Minister
  Under the provisions of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991, former Prime Ministers are entitled to receive payment from the Consolidated Fund of half of the salary payable in respect of the office of the Prime Minister at the time of leaving office. This Act also increased the pensions of then former Prime Ministers to an amount equal to the new pension entitlement of the office of that time.602
  Payments cease on death, subject to arrangements for spouses and children based largely on the parliamentary pension scheme.

  On 1 April 1991, an allowance was introduced to assist former Prime Ministers with the continuing heavy burden of office and secretarial costs arising from their special position in public life. The allowance is similar in purpose and amount to the parliamentary office costs allowance but is paid in respect of public and not parliamentary duties. It ceases immediately on death, but a sum equal to one third of the annual amount is made available to the executors of the will to assist with the costs of winding up any office organisation.

  Terrorist Prisoners
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy that no terrorist prisoners will be given special treatment in respect of early release; and if he will make a statement. [28629]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government have already stated that prisoners convicted of terrorist offences are not political prisoners and must expect to serve their sentences in accordance with the law.

  Royal Family (Official Engagements)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library the official engagements programmes of members of the royal family who receive funds from the civil list. [28611]

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Prime Minister what advice is issued to Ministers by him and/or the Cabinet Office in respect of answering written questions tabled by right hon. and hon. Members which directly relate, appear to relate or which could be construed to relate, to their declared financial interests; and if he will make a statement. [28565]

  The Prime Minister
  I have no reason to believe that guidance is necessary on this matter.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 8 June,Official Report, column 271, regarding parliamentary questions, if he will list the dates on which his answers were subsequently clarified by means of written questions. [28852]

  The Prime Minister
  This is a matter of public record.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Amway
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many meetings he has had with representatives of Amway in the last three months. [28320]

  Mr. Heseltine
  None.

  Nigeria (Military Equipment)
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the non-lethal equipment which has been supplied to Nigeria by United Kingdom companies since December 1993; who was the United Kingdom supplier company of that equipment; what was the value of that equipment in current prices; what was the date an export licence was granted for that equipment; and under which military list specification the licence was granted. [26556]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  I can add nothing to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington) on 10 May,Official Report, columns 517–18. It has been the policy of successive Administrations not to disclose particulars of defence trade with other countries or details of export licences or applications for export licences.

  West African Countries (Defence Trade)
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade to which west African countries goods defined as ML 6 in group 1 of part III of schedule 1 of SI 1992 No. 3092 and group 1 of part III of schedule 1 of SI 1994 No. 1191 have been exported since December 1993. [26555]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  It has been the policy of successive Administrations not to disclose particulars of defence trade with other countries.

  Electronic Batons
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the companies to which export licences were granted for the export of electronic batons in 1992. [27660]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  No licences were granted for these goods in 1992.

  Water Rates
  Sir Terence Higgins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will refer to the Office of Fair Trading the practice of water utilities demanding payment of water rates in advance of water being delivered. [28712]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  I have drawn the right hon. Gentleman's question to the attention of the Director General of Water Services, who is responsible for regulating the commercial activities of the water utilities in England and Wales.

  Consumers in Europe Group
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the grant for the consumers in Europe group in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [28306]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The consumers in Europe group is funded by the Department of Trade and Industry via its grant in aid to the National Consumer Council. The grant allocation to the CEG in each of the last five years was:

  Year

  £

  1990–91

  156,466

  1991–92

  157,874

  1992–93

  175,749

  604

  Year

  £

  1993–94

  197,921

  1994–95

  1180,731

  Source:

  NCC annual reports—1 taken from NCC management accounts for 1994–95.

  Ms Clare Spottiswoode
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the current civil service grade and salary of Ms Clare Spottiswoode, the Ofgas regulator. [27664]

  Mr. Heseltine
  Ms Clare Spottiswoode is not a civil servant. Her salary as Director General of Gas Supply was determined under the provisions of the Gas Act 1986.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) when he intends to announce his decision as to the proposed new salary of Mrs. Clare Spottiswoode, the Ofgas regulator; [27665]

  (2) what (a) executive directorships, (b) potential executive directorships and (c) other financial interests the Ofgas regulator, Ms Clare Spottiswoode, has asked to be taken into consideration in making her application for a salary review. [27666]

  Mr. Heseltine
  Details of the revised remuneration package agreed with the Director General of Gas Supply, Ms Spottiswoode, were given in the answer to my hon. Friend the member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. Pawsey) on 13 June 1995,Official Report, columns 451–52.

  At present, Ms Spottiswoode does not hold any non-executive directorships.

  Private Mines
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will list all private mining companies which have received grant assistance for investment with permission granted by the European Union Energy Commission under decision No. 2064/86/ECSC; and on what dates the grants were paid; [28855]

  (2) on what date grant disbursement was made to United Kingdom private mines listed in the European Union press release on 13 December 1994

  Mr. Page
  Having consulted my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales, I confirm that all the private mining companies which have been authorised to receive investment aid under decision No. 2064/86/ECSC are given in the European Commission's press release dated 13 December 1994.

  Payments against the offers of grant are released by instalments depending upon the capital investment made and jobs created.

  Post Office (Crime Statistics)
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many(a) assaults on postal delivery workers and (b) thefts involving the Royal Mail took place in the SE3, SE7, SE10, SE13 and SE18 postal districts in each of the last five years. [27005]
  605
  Mr. Page
  In the interests of staff and mail security, it is Post Office policy not to disclose such information.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for South Hams, dated 27 February, about the inspection of radio equipment by British Telecom engineers; and what are the reasons for the time taken to reply. [27077]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The Department has no record of having received my hon. Friend's letter. I suggest that he writes to me again and I will ensure that the matter he raises is looked into as speedily as possible.

  Compliance Cost Assessment
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) which organisations and companies his Department has consulted with regard to directive 76/768/EEC, as amended by the sixth amendment 93/35/EEC; what was the nature of the consultation; and what discussions have taken place on the cost to the industry of implementing the directive as amended, and the effect it will have on jobs and profitability of the companies involved; [28547]

  (2) if he will ensure that the draft regulations to implement in the United Kingdom directive 76/768/EEC, amended by a sixth amendment, directive 93/35/EEC, do not impose obligations not required by the directive; and when he hopes to publish the draft regulation on the cost of enforcement and the result of the compliance cost assessment investigations. [28533]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Preliminary consultations on the implementation of directive 93/35/EEC have taken place with industry, trade associations, Government Departments and animal welfare groups. Full consultation on draft regulations to implement the directive, together with a compliance cost assessment is planned for the autumn. It is not my intention to impose any obligations on companies beyond those introduced by the directive.

  Export Credits
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the economic impact of the increased level of resources which he has made available for export credits. [27050]

  Mr. Needham
  Since 1992, the ECGD has issued around £11 billion of guarantees for project and capital goods exports. This compares with around £6 billion of guarantees issued in the previous three years.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Listed Buildings, Yorkshire
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many textile mills in Yorkshire are currently being considered for listing; and if he will name them. [27390]

  Mr. Dorrell
  There are currently no proposals before me concerning the listing of textile mills in Yorkshire. English Heritage is, however, undertaking a national 606
  thematic study of textile mills. It has recently published the results of the study for the Greater Manchester area for public consultation and work is well under way in respect of mills in Yorkshire.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many textile mills in Yorkshire are listed buildings; and if he will list them. [27391]

  Mr. Dorrell
  Until the statutory lists are computerised next year, a comprehensive list of textile mills in Yorkshire which are listed as being of special architectural or historic interest is not readily available. However, I have today placed in the Library a copy of a list of 106 mills and associated buildings in the country which are listed.

  Brodsworth Hall, Yorkshire
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list those who have been officially invited to attend the opening of Brodsworth hall, near Doncaster in July. [28279]

  Mr. Dorrell
  Brodsworth hall, South Yorkshire, is to be opened formally on Wednesday 5 July following five years' extensive restoration. I have today placed in the Library a copy of the list of those who have been invited to the official opening.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will give the net value and percentage of the civil legal aid budget spent on(a) personal injury claims, (b) multi-party actions and (c) industrial injury claims for each year since 1991. [27988]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Information on the cost of multi-party actions is not recorded separately and is, therefore, not available. The net cost and proportion of civil legal spent on personal injury claims and accidents at work in respect of all cases closed in each year since 1990–91 was as follows:

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  £ million

  All cases

  143.5

  198.3

  273.5

  363.8

  All personal injury

  cases

  8.6

  13.9

  22.3

  38.0

  Accidents at work

  2.9

  3.9

  5.4

  6.6

  Percentages

  Percentage of personal injury/all

  6

  7

  8

  10

  Percentage of accidents at work/all

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will refer legal aid claims for mucous membrane disease to the multi-party actions committee; and if he will make a statement. [27987]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  It is the responsibility of Legal Aid Board to decide whether a case is suitable for referral to the board's multi-party actions committee. The board has decided that this case is not suitable.
  607
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he last met the Legal Aid Board to discuss multi-party action. [27989]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I am in frequent contact with the board about various matters, including multi-party actions.

  Primary Legislation (Availability)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion of primary legislation is readily available(a) to hon. Members and (b) to the general public in its current amended form. [27658]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Approximately one third of primary legislation is available to hon. Members and to the general public in its current amended form.

  Court Service
  Sir Terence Higgins
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will examine the reply from the courts agency to the letter from the right hon. Member for Worthing regarding the Court Service; and if he will investigate why a copy of the court judgment has still not been produced. [28711]

  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 directly to the right hon. Member.

  Letter from M. D. Heubner to Sir Terrence Higgins MP, dated 14 June 1995:
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, has asked me to reply to your question about the reasons why a copy of a court judgment has not yet been produced.
  Judgment in the case of Fake-v-Jarvis will be delivered by the Registrar in the Court of Appeal (Civil Division) on Monday 19 June 1995.
  The Registrar very much regrets the delay which is due to a very heavy workload. As I explained when I wrote to you on 22 May I am currently considering ways in which the pressure on the Registrar can be alleviated.

  Local Courts Charter
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) how many copies of the publication "Looking at Local Court's Charter" were produced; [27431]

  (2) what was the cost to public funds of the publication "Looking at a Local Court's Charter". [27430]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The publication was developed by a group of senior managers in the Magistrates' Courts Service and 750 copies were produced at a cost of £11,241. Most have been distributed to the 105 magistrates' courts committees, who are responsible locally for the management of magistrates courts. The remainder is held by the Central Council for Magistrates' Court Committees against any further requests for copies.

  Civil Justice System
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when Lord Woolf's report on the civil justice system will be published. [29407]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Lord Woolf's interim report on his access to justice inquiry will be published tomorrow, and copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

ENVIRONMENT

  Rent Levels
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by region the average rent levels for local authority dwellings for each local authority in 1995–96; what were the increases on 1994–95 levels and the average figures for each region; and what was the average rent level for local authority dwellings for the whole of England for 1995–96 and the increase on the 1994–95 average level. [27011]

  Mr. Curry
  I have today placed in the Library a table showing provisional 1995–96 average weekly rents for each housing authority in England and averages for all regions and for England, together with the increases these represent on 1994–95 average rents.

  Sea Bathing (Hazard Notices)
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will bring forward proposals to improve hazard warning arrangements at privately owned bathing beaches and adjacent waters in England and Wales; [27255]

  (2) If he will bring forward proposals to improve hazard warning arrangements for bathers in waters close to shore where trawling with nets is known to occur. [27526]

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 6 June 1995]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has no powers to deal with these matters. Local authorities can, subject to the approval of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department make byelaws regulating boating activities within 1,000 m of the high water mark. Within the areas, for which they are responsible, harbour authorities can regulate navigation. Commercial fishing activities are regulated in England and Wales by local sea fisheries committees. Subject to the general law on liability, sea bathing is undertaken at the bather's own risk.

  Special Areas of Conservation
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the list of possible special areas of conservation for(a) rivers, (b) active raised bogs, (c) intertidal areas straddling the land sea divide, (d) otter, lutra lutra, (e) great crested newt, (f) fan moss and (h) oligotropic waters in medio European and perialpine areas with amphibious vegetation will be published for consultation. [28451]

  Mr. Atkins
  Additional SSSI notification work is required before we can consult on riverine possible special areas of conservation, further active raised bog and
  609
  blanket bog sites and some intertidal areas. Additional scientific and survey work is currently in progress to identify suitable sites for the otter, great crested newt, freshwater pearl mussel and fen moss. The nature conservation agencies are also considering whether more sites are required to represent oligotrpic waters in medio European and perialpine areas with amphibious vegetation in addition to those on which we have already consulted. I hope that a further consultation exercise will take place later this year.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans there are for Orton Brick pit site in Peterborough to be proposed for submission as a special area of conservation under the EU habitats and species directive. [28450]

  Mr. Atkins
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said in his reply to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) on 31 March 1995,Official Report, columns 834–35, the nature conservation agencies are in the process of carrying out further survey work before recommending possible special areas of conservation for the great crested newt to Government.

  National Rivers Authority (Powers)
  Mr. Temple-Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if all powers, including reserve powers, currently available to the National Rivers Authority, will be transferred fully to the Environment Agency. [28250]

  Mr. Atkins
  The Environment Agency, which will be established by the Environment Bill currently progressing through our House, will carry out all of the current functions of the National Rivers Authority, together with the functions of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and local waste regulation authorities. The powers available to the NRA will transfer to the agency subject to certain changes to reflect the broader functions of the agency, and to facilitate its effective operation through rationalisation of similar provisions between the existing regimes.

  Mr. Temple-Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the powers available to the National Rivers Authority under schedule 25 of the Water Resources Act 1991, to make bylaws on navigation without navigation authorities, will be transferred fully to the Environment Agency. [28249]

  Mr. Atkins
  Schedule 18 of the Environment Bill, which is currently before our House, transfers to the Environment Agency the byelaw-making powers of the NRA under schedule 25 of the Water Resources Act 1991 without change.

  Genetically Engineered Crops
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies are available to him on the environmental impact of genetically engineered crops designed to be resistant to herbicides; and what evidence there is of potential prejudice to the environment arising from their use. [28454]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Under the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992, the release or marketing of genetically modified organisms, including GM crops resistant to herbicides, is subject to 610
  prior consent. Advice is given on applications for consent by an independent committee of experts, the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment, which brings scientific knowledge to the Secretary of State on the impact of GM crops.

  Information is also available from research programmes on the release of GM crops carried out by the Department of the Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food and the Scottish Office of Agriculture and Fisheries Department.

  Current scientific information and our experience to date has not given cause for concern in terms of adverse effects on the environment from the release of GM crop plants resistant to herbicides. We will continue to use such information and the advice of ACRE in the review of applications to release GM organisms, including herbicide resistant crops, in order to assess their environmental impact.

  Contaminated Land
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he proposes to issue under part II of the Environment Bill [Lords] in respect of contaminated land as to (a) the extent of clean-up required, (b) who will set the standards, (c) determining who owns what, (d) determining who cleans up what and (e) determining who pays for what; and if he will make a statement. [28243]

  Mr. Atkins
  Clause 54 of the present draft of the Environment Bill which amends the Environmental Protection Act 1990 gives powers to the Secretary of State to issue guidance related to contaminated land as follows:(References are to draft sections of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 as introduced in the House of Commons and amended in Committee).
  S.78A(2) Guidance on the manner of determining whether land is "contaminated land" within the meaning of the Act.
  S.78A(8) Guidance on what harm is significant and whether pollution of controlled waters is being or is likely to be caused.
  S.78B(2) Guidance on the inspection of an area and on the identification of contaminated land and special sites.
  S.78D(6) Guidance on remediation—what is to be done, standards of remediation, "reasonableness" in relation to cost and seriousness.
  S.78E(4) Guidance on determining the "appropriate person" on whom to serve a remediation notice where there are two or more persons potentially liable.
  S.78J(2) Guidance on the recovery of remediation costs and on hardship in this context.
  S.78K(4) Guidance to the Agency on inspection of special sites and termination of special site status.
  S.78NN Guidance on the exercise of the Agency's powers and duties.

  A draft of the guidance on the definition and identification of contaminated land has already been issued. That guidance will be revised in the light of comments received and along with the rest of the guidance listed above will be subject to wide formal consultation as required by clause 54 in creating draft section 78R of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. In addition, section 78N provides for site-specific guidance from the appropriate agency.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will refer back the case for unitary status for South Hams to the Local Government Commission, following the referendum on the future of the district. [28545]

  Mr. Curry
  We are considering which districts should be reviewed afresh by the Local Government Commission and will announce our decision shortly.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of parliamentary questions which would have been answered directly by him or his Ministers prior to the establishment of executive agencies, are now referred to the chief executive of such an agency. [28493]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Ministers are accountable to Parliament for all matters concerning their agencies. Written parliamentary questions concerning matters 612
  which have been delegated to the chief executive of an executive agency in its framework document, normally receive a reply from the Minister to the effect that he or she has asked the chief executive to reply direct to the Member by letter. The chief executive's letter is published in Hansard after the Minister's reply.

  Housing and Homelessness
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was(a) the number of his Department's homelessness acceptances and (b) the number of houses in multiple occupation in each local authority area in England, in the most recent year for which figures are available. [28666]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  A table is in the Library giving the numbers reported by local authorities in England of homeless households for which they accepted responsibility to secure permanent accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act in 1994.

  Information on the numbers of houses in multiple occupation in each local authority is not available.

  Objective 1 Status, Merseyside
  Mr. Waring
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the increase in employment on Merseyside to date as a result of its objective 1 status within the European Union. [28701]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  It is too early to tell. We are only just starting to receive grant claims from those carrying out capital projects. Monitoring and evaluation systems to inform the objective 1 partnership are being designed and put in place to provide information on outputs, including jobs.

  Government Offices for the Regions
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the indicative allocations to Government offices for the regions in respect of the second round of the single regeneration budget challenge fund. [29083]

  Mr. Curry
  The indicative allocations to Government offices for the regions for the first two years of round 2 of the challenge fund are shown in the table, expressed in terms of bands. These figures relate to the current total provision of £240 million for 1996–97 and 1997–98—that is, for £40 million in 1996–97 and £200 million in 199798. The sums available to support approved round 2 schemes in later years are subject to annual public expenditure decisions. The final allocations will depend upon Minister's decisions on the bids submitted for support in response to the bidding guidance issued on 12 April 1995, copies of which are in the Library of the House.

  Region

  £ million

  London

  60–65

  South East

  12–15

  Eastern

  3–5

  South West

  6–8

  East Midlands

  9–12

  West Midlands

  20–24

  Merseyside

  14–17

  North West

  28–32

  Yorks and Humberside

  30–34

  North East

  28–32

  Property Services Agency
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out, on the latest available figures, by company(a) the money received from the sale of the Property Services Agency and (b) the cost of redundancy and early retirement following the sale of the agency. [28394]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  [holding answer 14 June 1995]: Six Property Services Agency businesses were sold. The information requested is as follows:

  (a) Money received from the sale1

  £ million

  Building Management businesses (BM)

  (i) From purchases (including some phased payments)

  (ii) From recovery of trade debts3

  PSA Projects

  2-49.6

  55.0

  SE/S and W

  10.4

  69.4

  Scotland

  3.5

  11.2

  614

  (a) Money received from the sale1

  £ million

  Building Management businesses (BM)

  (i) From purchases (including some phased payments)

  (ii) From recovery of trade debts3

  Manchester

  -11.5

  17.9

  North East

  8.0

  13.7

  1 The Building Management businesses were sold on the basis of a net value of -2. Following post sale completion audits, the cash assets in the businesses were subject to adjustment to achieve this. Adjusting payments made by Government:

  PSA Projects: (not yet agreed)

  BM SE/S and W: £5.9 million

  BM Scotland: £0.7 million

  BM Manchester: £3.6 million

  BM North East: £2.8 million

  2 This reflects an additional payment made on the first anniversary of the sale to compensate the purchaser for a shortfall in the transferred staff numbers.

  3 The assets represented by the debts owed to the businesses were not sold to the purchasers of the businesses but were released by the Department separately.

  (b) Redundancy costs incurred by Government to aate within the agreed limits of its liability under the severance sharing schemes agreed to sale

  £ million

  Building Management businesses (BM)

  (i) Costs in making seconded civil servants redundant at the end of their secondments

  (ii) Contributions made to the privatised companies' costs in making transferred employees redundant

  PSA Projects

  34.7

  2.9

  South East

  24.7

  0.4

  S and W

  23.9

  0

  Scotland

  13.2

  0.3

  Manchester

  17.4

  1.2

  North East

  25.1

  0.8

  International Bodies (Meetings)
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will report on the outcome of the meetings of the Commission on Sustainable Development in April this year and of the governing council of the United Nations Environment Programme in May. [29351]

  Mr. Gummer
  I attended the high level segments of both meetings. The Commission on Sustainable Development reached agreement on the establishment of an intergovernmental panel on the protection and sustainable management of the world's forests. The CSD also provided ample evidence of the efforts being made across the world at national and local levels to implement agenda 21. A number of countries, including the United Kingdom, made presentations of their experience in developing a national strategy for sustainable development. Copies of the United Kingdom's report to the CSD were presented and copies have been placed in the Library.

  The governing council of the United Nations Environment Programme approved a refocused work programme and agreed to continue its mandate as the world's environment voice. The United Kingdom was instrumental in setting in train a review of UNEP's
  615
  governing structure. The executive director has been given the responsibility to produce options for reform to be considered at the next governing council in 1997. The United Kingdom also took the initiative in sponsoring a decision which invites UNEP to introduce green housekeeping measures and to urge the remainder of the United Nations system to follow its example.

TRANSPORT

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library(a) copies of report produced as part of the prior options reviews of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the Driving Standards Agency and the Vehicle Certification Agency evaluating the performance of each agency during its first few years and (b) copies of the agencies' revised framework documents. [29349]

  Mr. Norris
  Copies of these documents have now been placed in the Library.

  Efficiency Scrutiny
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make an announcement about the report of the efficiency scrutiny of the Department of Transport's traffic area network. [29350]

  Mr. Norris
  The report of the efficiency scrutiny will be presented on 16 June. I will place a copy in the Library of the House.

  Traffic Congestion, Newbury
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the cost to the economy of traffic congestion in Newbury. [27051]

  Mr. Watts
  None.

  Rolling Stock
  Sir Keith Speed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the safety and structural integrity of the older rolling stock used on lines with third rail electrification following recent railway accidents in the south-east. [28321]

  Mr. Watts
  There is no question of older rolling stock being inherently unsafe. Part I of the report of the inquiry into the recent accident near Cowden, Kent, published last week, recommended a programme of research into the practicability of improving the crashworthiness of certain designs of rolling stock. British Rail is considering this recommendation and will respond to the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current position on the replacement of rolling stock on Network SouthEast. [28449]

  Mr. Watts
  Following the series of Networker and Networker Turbo orders of recent years, 164 Networker Express vehicles are currently under construction by ABB for replacement of rolling stock in the former NSE area. I understand that, in response to BR's recent 616
  invitation to tender for further replacement vehicles, non-compliant responses were received. The three passenger rolling stock leasing companies, which are to be sold later this year, will seek commercial opportunities for the further replacement of stock as it becomes life-expired.

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Ross, Cromarty and Skye (Mr. Kennedy) of 23 March,Official Report, columns 318–19, if he has yet received from the franchising director the proposed criteria for determining appropriate service specifications for loss-making services; and if he will arrange for their publication in due course. [28836]

  Mr. Watts
  The franchising director is developing these criteria. When they have been approved by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Catamarans
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the evacuation procedures for ro-ro ferries and high-speed catamaran passenger craft using British ports. [28709]

  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 15 June 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about the evacuation procedures for ro-ro ferries and high speed catamaran passenger craft using British ports.

  Evacuation procedures are, in principle, the same for all passenger ships. They commence with the general emergency alarm signal whereupon passengers and crew follow emergency instructions. For passengers these will include assembly at the muster stations and thereafter, if it is decided to abandon ship, further direction to the survival craft, wearing lifejackets. Thereafter, they will embark into survival craft—lifeboats and liferafts—in accordance with instructions.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passengers can be carried by the largest high-speed catamaran passenger craft operating from a United Kingdom port. [28708]

  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 15 June 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about the passenger capacity of the largest high speed catamaran operating from a United Kingdom port.

  The CONDOR II operates between Weymouth and the Channel Islands and can carry 674 passengers.

  Lorry Ban, London
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evaluation he has undertaken of the likely effects on(a) night-time noise levels and (b) levels of particulate matter in the ambient air of his

  617
  Department's proposals to abolish the London night-time and weekend lorry ban. [28667]

  Mr. Norris
  The clear intention of our proposals to enhance the London lorry ban is to improve noise and emission levels. The extent of any improvement has not been formally assessed.

  Crown Immunity
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all areas within(a) his Department, (b) agencies under his Department's control and (c) organisations for which he has ministerial responsibility to which Crown immunity applies; what consideration he has given to removing this; and if he will make a statement. [28645]

  Mr. Norris
  The Department and its executive agencies act on behalf of the Crown, and are therefore not bound except where there are statutory provision to this effect or necessary implication. Non-departmental public bodies for which I have responsibilities are not part of the Crown and do not benefit from Crown immunity.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many written parliamentary questions were tabled for answer by his Department in each of the past five years; how many of these were not answered because the information(a) could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, (b) was not held centrally and (c) was not normally disclosed; how many of these could now be answered due to computerisation, more effective and efficient operational systems or more open government; and if he will list each question along with the name and constituency of the right hon. or hon. Member who originally tabled it.

  Mr. Norris
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of parliamentary questions, which would have been answered directly by him or his Ministers prior to the establishment of executive agencies, are now referred to the chief executive of such an agency. [28495]

  Mr. Norris
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Motorway Barriers
  Sir Anthony Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what study his Department has made into the rival merits of steel and concrete as barriers in motorways; and if he will make a statement. [28295]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Sir Anthony Grant, dated 15 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 what study his Department has made into the rival merits of steel and concrete as barriers on motorways.
  618
  All steel safety fences and concrete safety barriers deployed on our network fully meet the performance requirements for vehicle restraints which are set down in the Manual for Contract Documents for Highway Works (MCHW). The criteria for their use are contained in Departmental Standards TD 19/85 and TD 32/93.
  A suitable design for concrete barriers which meets the performance requirements for high-speed motorways and trunk roads was not developed until 1989. There has not yet been sufficient length laid nor has sufficient time elapsed to enable a comprehensive appraisal to be made of their performance in service compared with steel. However, more concrete barriers are planned to be installed and we will continue to monitor their performance in service.

  Coastguard Service
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if incident reports of emergencies aboard North sea oil rigs have been marked not for public reference by(a) the Coastguard Agency or (b) his Department; [27891]

  (2) how many staff are employed at the auxiliary coastguard station in the Outer Skerries and how many of these staff are fully trained in cliff-rescue; [27879]

  (3) what assessment he had made of the improvements to safety which would be afforded by a dedicated operator covering the 2182 frequency if incidents involving man overboard are classified as a mayday situation; and if he will make a statement; [27889]

  (4) how the coastguard emergency trailer operated by the auxiliary coastguard station in the Outer Skerries is moved; and if the private vehicles owned by auxiliary coastguards are insured for moving the trailer; [27881]

  (5) if, during the incident off St. Kilda involving the vessel Aeolus there was an immediate scramble of search and rescue units; if the policy being advocated by Falmouth marine rescue co-ordination centre in respect of the number of hits validated was actioned; what delay occurred to the search and rescue response; if the mayday was received on the VHF distress frequency; and at what time the lifeboat was launched; [27885]

  (6) if he will list the incidents requiring coastguard assistance involving oil rigs in the North sea for each of the last five years; [27890]

  (7) what estimate he has made of how long it would take (a) to get a helicopter to the scene of the incident, (b) a lifeboat to get to the scene of the incident and be able to carry out a rescue and (c) for a qualified sector officer to arrive, following a vessel running around in the Outer Skerries; and what is the contingency plan when the helicopter cannot launch due to the severity of the weather; [27878]

  (8) whether the mayday message apparently received by a North sea oil rig in respect of the "Heather Bloom" incident off Shetland was passed on to the coastguard; and if he will make a statement; [27888]

  (9) how long it would take to muster a cliff rescue team for an incident that occurred in the Outer Skerries; [27880]

  Mr. Norris
  These are operational matters for the Coastguard Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
  619
  Letter from C. J. Harris to Ms Joan Walley, dated 15 June 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions as these questions deal with operational matters, for which I have responsibility as Chief Executive.
  PQ 1929/94/95 HM Coastguard's situation reports are official working messages to bodies dealing with maritime emergencies. They are normally copied to Lloyds casualty information service. It is usual practice for these messages to be headed "for information not for publication" if the subject is an offshore installation. This is to avoid causing unnecessary anxiety to the relatives of those working offshore.
  PQ 1933/94/95 Two Auxiliary Coastguards form a Coastguard Initial Response Unit on the Outer Skerries. Neither are trained in cliff rescue since there are no cliffs as such on the islands.
  PQ 1936/94/95 HM Coastguard instigate the same immediate and full search and rescue response when a person is reported overboard regardless of whether the word "Mayday" or other radio proword such as "Panpan" (the urgency signal) are used.
  From 1 July 1995, HM Coastguard will take over direct responsibility for the 2182khz distress watch from British Telecom Maritime Services (BT MRS). The Distress Watch will be maintained at ten designated Rescue Centres. In addition, a further ten Rescue Centres will carry out a similar watch, with instructions to respond to distress, urgency or safety calls if no response is heard from one of the designated rescue centres. These watch arrangements will be at least as effective as those currently provided by BT MRS.
  PQ 1938/94/95 There is no Coastguard emergency trailer in the Out Skerries.
  PO 1941/94/95 Attempts to contact vessels in the area and to scramble the Coastguard helicopter were made immediately. No vessels responded initially, and the appalling weather conditions delayed the helicopter's take-off.
  The policy advocated by Falmouth MRCC was not actioned.
  No Mayday was received on the VHF distress frequency. No lifeboat was launched: it would have been inappropriate to do so. The nearest lifeboat would have taken over four hours to arrive on scene.
  PQ 1944/94/95 HM Coastguard was involved in providing assistance to offshore oil installations as follows:

  Year

  Number of incidents

  1990

  57

  1991

  54

  1992

  62

  1993

  71

  1994

  66

  1995 up to 22 May

  32

  Details of these incidents could only be listed at disproportionate cost.
  PQ 1951/94/95 The Sumburgh Coastguard helicopter will arrive within a maximum of 35 minutes by day and 65 minutes by night. The Lerwick RNLI lifeboat would take about 80 minutes to arrive. A Coastguard Sector Officer would not normally be required at the scene of an offshore incident. If a Coastguard officer were to attend they would be transported by helicopter or lifeboat: timings would depend on the circumstances.
  In the event that the Sumburgh-based Coastguard helicopter could not get airborne due to exceptionally severe weather conditions other search and rescue units would be tasked. RNLI Lifeboats are based at Lerwick and Aith in Shetland; other helicopters are available at RAF Lossiemouth, and in the Brent Field.
  PQ 1953/94/95 The distress message was passed to HM Coastguard in the normal manner, but with a 55 minute delay—not in any way attributable to HM Coastguard. Immediately upon receipt of the distress message Aberdeen Coastguard commenced search and rescue action. Five members of the HEATHER BLOOM'S crew were rescued from liferafts, but the vessel's skipper was tragically lost.
  620
  PQ 1954/94/95 On the infrequent occasions that a back up response team might be required this would take forty minutes by day and eighty five minutes at night.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the distress frequency on 2182 kHz; and if he will make a statement; [28126]

  (2) what were the staffing levels of coastguard services and the total budget given to coastguard services for rescue services, including equipment allowances in each year since 1979; and what was the cost in each year per person assisted; [28125]

  (3) how many incidents at sea were reported; and how many people were rescued by coastguard services in each year since 1986. [28124]

  Mr. Norris
  These are operational matters for the Coastguard Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from C. J. Harris to Ms Joan Walley, dated 15 June 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions as these questions deal with operational matters, for which I have responsibility as Chief Executive.

  PQ 1979/94/95

  Calender year

  Total number of incidents

  Total number assisted rescued

  1986

  5,300

  8,960

  1987

  5,563

  8,867

  1988

  6,261

  11,132

  1989

  6,835

  11,466

  1990

  7,076

  13,474

  1991

  7,212

  13,048

  1992

  8,533

  14,628

  1993

  9,592

  17,106

  1994

  10,409

  16,627

  "Assisted" here means those persons remaining on board a vessel until the end of the incident. Those taken off the vessel or recovered from the sea by SAR services are "rescued". The figures quoted also include the number of incidents reported and the number of persons rescued on the shoreline for which Coastguard also has responsibility.

  PO 1982/94/95

  The distress watch on 2182khz is at present carried out by British Telecom Maritime Radio Service (BT MRS) under contract to the Coastguard Agency. The watch is carried out entirely satisfactorily. From 1 July the watch will be taken over by HM Coastguard. An independent technical assessment of the Medium Frequency equipment HMCG will use for the 2182khz distress watch was carried out by GEC Marconi. This assessment found that HMCG could provide a service at least as good as that provided by BT MRS. Some modifications to the existing equipment to improve coverage are currently being undertaken by HMCG. I am satisfied that the high standard of distress watchkeeping in the UK will be maintained.

  PQ 1981/94/95

  The information requested for the staffing levels of coastguard services is only readily available from 1983 and is detailed below:

  Year

  HMCG uniformed staff

  1983

  543

  1984

  544

  1985

  533

  1986

  523

  1987

  523

  1988

  510

  621

  Year

  HMCG uniformed staff

  1989

  489

  1990

  469

  1991

  484

  1992

  485

  1993

  482

  1994

  477

  1995

  460

  The information requested for Her Majesty's Coastguard budgets is available for 1990–91 onwards from our own records. A search of records held by the Department of Transport indicates that the budget figures for earlier years are not readily available.

  Year

  Total HMCG budget £000

  1990–91

  29,874

  1991–92

  33,778

  1992–93

  37,864

  1993–94

  38,951

  1994–95

  38,328

  1995–96

  40,086

  Year

  £ cost per person assisted/rescued

  1990–91

  2,235

  1991–92

  2,513

  1992–93

  2,483

  1993–94

  2,293

  1994–95

  2,400

  These figures are calculated on a notional basis by dividing the number of persons assisted/rescued by the total costs of HMCG; they do not include those of the other rescue services such as the RNLI and MoD.

  Ferries
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many similar exercises have taken place following the FEREX 86 ferry exercise; how many passengers were involved in each exercise and what proportion of them were able-bodied; how long it took for all passengers to reach the lifeboats in each exercise; and how long it took for each evacuation to be completed; [28707]

  (2) how many passengers were evacuated in the ferry exercise FEREX 86; how many of these were able-bodied and how long it took (a) for all the passengers to reach the lifeboats and (b) for the evacuation to be completed. [28710]

  Mr. Norris
  These are operational matters for the Coastguard Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from C. J. Harris to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 15 June 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions as these deal with operational matters, for which I have responsibility as Chief Executive.

  PQ 2007/94/95 98 passengers were evacuated in the ferry exercise FEREX 86. All of the passengers were able-bodied.

  The controlled evacuation, testing a variety of exercise scenarios, took two hours to disembark the 98 passengers as each lifeboat and helicopter carried out detailed tasks in slow time in order to allow careful evaluation of the problems associated with the evacuation.

  Had the Master of "THE VIKING" been required to implement full evacuation procedures in a real emergency the evacuation could have been carried out in a shorter time.
  622
  PQ 2014/94/95 From records that are readily available the following ferry evacuation exercises have taken place since FEREX 86 (details of exercises from November 1992 were provided in reply to PQ 1811/94/95:

  FERREVAC

  SEALINK EXERCISE

  MANCHEX 88

  COMMON AIM 2

  SEAVAC

  MANCHEX 90

  LYONESSE 91

  MANCHEX 91

  CELTIC LIFT

  POLACAP

  SOLFIREX

  Information on these exercises is not available in the form requested.

  British Rail Rolling Stock
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of British Rail rolling stock was(a) less than five years old, (b) between six and 10 years old, (c) between 11 and 20 years old, (d) between 21 and 30 years old and (e) over 30 years old as of 1 January.

  Mr. Watts
  Information in the form requested is not readily available.

  British Rail Shares
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is his estimate of the loss of revenue to the Exchequer resulting from the special tax rules contained in paragraph 11, schedule 24 to the Finance Act 1994, as applied to the transfer of shares from the British Railways Board to a private franchise; [28668]

  (2) what is his estimate of the loss of revenue to the Exchequer resulting from the special tax rules contained in paragraph 8, schedule 24 to the Finance Act 1994, as applied to the transfer of shares from the British Railways Board capital gains tax group to a private franchise; [28669]

  (3) what is his estimate of the loss of revenue to the Exchequer resulting from the decision to exempt the transfer of shares from the British Railways Board to a private franchise from value added tax. [28670]

  Mr. Watts
  None.

  Shipping Companies
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the shipping companies in receipt of financial assistance from the Government. [27863]

  Mr. Norris
  This information is available only at disproportionate cost.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Central Office of Information
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what targets have been set for the Central Office of Information in 1995–96. [29536]
  623
  Mr. Horam
  The Central Office of Information has five key targets for the 1995–96 financial year. They are:

  (i) to break even in modified historical cost terms after recovering all costs, including interest on borrowings;

  (ii) to achieve a 3 per cent. reduction in unit cost of output in real terms, while maintaining suitable levels of quality;

  (iii) to equal or better the proportion of work delivered in accordance with client specification during 1994–95;

  (iv) to equal or better the proportion of work delivered on time during 1994–95; and

  (v) to achieve an average score of 7.9 out of 10 for the COI customer satisfaction index.

  Standards in Public Life
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to publish the Government's detailed response to the recommendations of the Nolan Committee on Standards in Public Life to which he referred in his oral answer of 12 June,Official Report, column 495. [29156]

  Mr. David Hunt
  Before the summer recess, as I told the House on 18 May,Official Report, column 493.

  Investment in Science
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what response the Government intend to make to the fourth report of the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee, "HL 36 Session 1993/4, on international investment in United Kingdom science". [29159]

  Mr. David Hunt
  The Government response to the House of Lords Select Committee's report is published today. Copies are available in the Libraries of both Houses. The Government are most grateful to the Committee for its thoughtful and detailed report.

HEALTH

  Health Visitors
  Sir Richard Body
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health visitors there were in England and Wales for each of the last three years; and what is her estimate of the number for the current year. [27331]

  Mr. Sackville
  The latest available information relating to England is shown in the table.

  Health visitors in England as at 30 September of each year

  Number of health visitors

  1991

  10,380

  1992

  10,250

  1993

  10,190

  Note: Figures are whole-time equivalents rounded to the nearest ten. Source: Non-Medical Workforce Census.

  Figures do not include health visitors who work as practice nurses.

  Information relating to Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Influenza Vaccination
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for each family health services authority area what is the percentage of the elderly in receipt of influenza vaccination each year for the last five years. [27922]

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures she is taking to ensure that general practitioners promote the highest possible take-up of influenza vaccination by elderly patients on their lists; and what target she has set for influenza vaccination coverage for this group of patients. [27923]

  Mr. Sackville
  The chief medical officer will be reminding general practitioners in the next edition of "CMO's Update", which is circulated to all doctors, of the groups of patients for whom annual influenza immunisation is recommended and that now is the time to start planning, if they have not already done so. Further information will be issued in September.

  Influenza immunisation is recommended for those of any age who are at especial risk by virtue of underlying disease such as chronic heart or lung disease, and for those in residential accommodation. The aim is to increase uptake year by year, but no specific target for influenza vaccine coverage has been set.

  Blood Transfusion Services
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list those blood transfusion services that have undertaken studies into the option of privatisation; what has been the result of their surveys; and if she will make a statement. [28258]

  Mr. Sackville
  The National Blood Authority, which is responsible for our blood services, has no plans to investigate the possibility of privatising any of its centres.

  NHS Authorities and Trusts
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons candidates for the post of(a) chairman, (b) non-executive director and (c) other management positions of health authorities and trusts are not obliged to disclose personal histories of (i) bankruptcy and (ii) criminal behaviour. [28255]

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies that I gave him on 26 April,Official Report column 552, and on 2 May, Official Report column 173. Candidates for appointment to national health service authority or trust boards are under an obligation to disclose information that might affect their eligibility for appointment, including any relating to bankruptcy and/or a criminal record.

  Temazepam
  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to implement the recommendations in the report of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, 1991, in respect of the control of the use of temazepam. [28282]
  625
  Mr. Bowis
  The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs made recommendations to Ministers regarding temazepam in July 1993 and I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council gave my hon. Friend the Member for Ayr (Mr. Gallie) on 10 May, column 756.

  Children in Care
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cinidren are currently in care because of the imprisonment of one or both of their parents. [28226]

  Mr. Bowis
  The most recent information available centrally relates to 31 March 1994, when it is estimated that 380 children were looked after by local authorities in England because one or both parents were in prison—on remand or sentenced.

  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library a list of all contracts for non-clinical services worth £100,000 or more that have been awarded by national health service trusts under the compulsory competitive tendering process. [28999]

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

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many prescriptions were issued in 1993 and 1994 for each of the top 100 items; [28908]

  (2) if she will publish the list of the top 100 prescription items as sent to the Chester and Ellesmere Port community health council and the provisional 1994 data in the same form. [28909]

  Mr. Malone
  Information on dispensing volumes and costs for individual preparations is not made public for reasons of commercial confidentiality. Data are shared within the national health service and with clinical and scientific researchers on the understanding that they will not put information into the public domain which breaches the confidentiality guidelines in anyway.

  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the increase in the total net ingredient cost for the top 100 prescription items; and if she will make a statement. [28910]

  Mr. Malone
  The total net ingredient cost of the 100 prescriptions with the largest number of prescription items in 1993 was £909 million, and of the 100 preparations with the largest numbers of items in 1994, based on provisional figures, was £941 million. The preparations which comprise the top 100 vary from year to year.

  Ovarian Cancer
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to set up regular screening for women at high risk of ovarian cancer. [28639]

  Mr. Sackville
  We have no immediate plans. A research programme at the Royal Hospitals national health service trust is currently being evaluated in a randomised trial involving 120,000 women which 626
  incorporates tumour markers as a primary screen followed by ultrasonography as a secondary test in women with abnormal tumour marker results. Another study is using ultrasound as a primary screening test. Any screening test must have high sensitivity and specificity and we welcome well designed trials of new and existing screening techniques which will help us decide upon appropriate national policies. When an effective test is available, we will consider the establishment of a national screening programme.

  Private Sector Employees
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many private sector employees have been seconded to work in(a) the NHS executive, (b) regional offices, (c) her Department and (d) elsewhere in the NHS. [28642]

  Mr. Sackville
  There are no private sector employees seconded to work in the national health service executive or regional offices. We do, however, have one such secondee elsewhere in the Department of Health. Statistics on private sector employees seconded to work elsewhere in the NHS are not available centrally.

  Children Act 1989
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for each year since the implementation of the Children Act 1989 the number of child abuse investigations undertaken in total and the outcomes broken down into(a) court action under provisions of the Act, (b) entries on an at risk register, (c) informal supervision and (d) no further action. [28894]

  Mr. Bowis
  Information collected centrally relates only to those child abuse investigations that result in an initial stage child protection conference. Figures on children placed on registers—and associated legal status including court orders for those on registers at 31 March—and on those subject to initial stage conferences which did not lead to registration are published annually in "Children and young people on child protection registers, year ending 31 March 19XX, England", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Adoption
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the adoptions in 1993 were adoptions by step-parents. [27845]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I have been asked to reply.

  The question concerns specific operational matter in 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 M. D. Huebner to Mrs. Helen Jackson, dated 14 June 1995:
  PQ: 95/592 STEP PARENT ADOPTIONS
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, has asked me to reply to your question about the number of step-parent adoptions in 1993.
  Of the 6,812 adoption orders made in 1993 in the magistrates courts, the county courts and the High Court, 3,202 (47%) were in favour of the step-parents.
  627
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many applications to adopt were made in 1993 in total; and how many of these were applications by step-parents. [27846]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I have been asked to reply.

  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 M. D. Huebner to Mrs. Helen Jackson, dated 14 June 1995:
  PQ: 95/591 ADOPTION APPLICATIONS
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, has asked me to reply to your question about the number of adoption applications made in 1993.
  The total number of adoption applications in the magistrates courts, the county courts and the High Court in 1993 was 7,813. Of these, 4,095 (52%) were made by step-parents.

TREASURY

  Exchange Rates
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the impact of changes in the pound/ecu exchange rate on payment into(a) the EU budget and (b) the European development fund budget since 1992. [27045]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Broadly speaking, exchange rate movements increased our payments into the Community budget in 1993 but reduced them in 1994. The effect in the present year is expected to be small.

  The impact of changes in exchange rates on our payments into the European development fund depends on the timing of these payments.

  Single European Currency
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions have been held about the implications of a single European currency for title in respect of foreign and gold reserves of individual EU member states; and if he will make a statement. [27046]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The treaty on European Union requires member states joining the monetary union to transfer part of their reserves to the European central bank, receiving in exchange an equivalent claim on the ECB. The precise arrangements for the ownership of foreign exchange reserves in stage three of economic and monetary union are among the many technical issues that will have to be decided during stage two.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to simplify VAT legislation. [27047]

  Mr. Heathcoat Amory
  I announced earlier today that Customs and Excise has set up a special team, as part of the Government's wider deregulation drive, to review its current legislation with a view to rationalising and simplifying it over the next three years.

  Personal Taxation
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are his plans for reform of personal taxation. [27048]

  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are his plans for the reform of personal taxation. [27055]

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are his plans for reform of personal taxation, and if he will make a statement. [27300]

  Sir George Young
  The Government remain committed to low rates of personal tax and will cut taxes again when economic conditions are right and public finances can afford it.

  Devaluation
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what percentage the pound has devalued since April 1992; and what assessment he has made of the adverse effects of the devaluation. [27049]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Sterling is currently 16 per cent. lower on a trade-weighted basis than it was in April 1992. Over the same period, the economy has grown by over 8 per cent. in real terms. But inflation has averaged just 3 per cent. This enviable combination of strong growth and low inflation is a result of the Government's sound monetary and prudent fiscal policies.

  Investment
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much investment by the machinery and equipment industries has changed within the past 12 months. [27052]

  Mr. Aitken
  Investment by machinery and equipment industries rose by almost 19 per cent. in real terms in the year to the first quarter of 1995.

  Personal Equity Plans
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the new regulations extending personal equity plans to corporate bonds will be introduced. [29408]

  Sir George Young
  The regulations extending PEPs to certain corporate bonds, preference shares and convertibles have been laid before Parliament today and will come into force on 6 July. [29408]

  Share Option Schemes
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the value for money provided by share option schemes for(a) the individuals, (b) the companies concerned and (c) the United Kingdom.

  Sir George Young
  The assessment of the value for money provided by share option schemes is best made by companies and their shareholders.

  Economic and Finance Council
  Mr. Enright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has held in ECOFIN on European monetary union. [27056]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  EU economic and finance Ministers discussed various aspects of the technical preparatory work for stage three of economic and monetary union at their informal meeting in Versailles on 8 April. The European Commission's Green Paper on the transition to a single currency was discussed over lunch at ECOFIN on 22 May.

  Government Borrowing
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the guidelines for Government borrowing. [27057]

  Mr. Aitken
  The guidelines for Government borrowing were set out in the debt management report published by HM Treasury on 30 March 1995, which included the gilt funding remit issued to the Bank of England for 1995–96, and in the remit to the department of national savings for 1995–96, announced on 31 March 1995,Official Report at column 866.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the general Government borrowing requirement defined so as to exclude revenues from sales of land and buildings and privatisation receipts, as a percentage of gross domestic product for each year since 1979 until 1997–98. [28159]

  Mr. Aitken
  The table sets out the information requested:

  General government borrowing requirement (GGBR) excluding privatisation proceeds and net sales of land and buildings, as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP)

  Percentage of GDP

  GGBR

  GGBR ex privatisation proceeds

  GGBR ex privatisation proceeds and net sales of buildings1 2

  1979–80

  5

  5

  5¼

  1980–81

  5¾

  5¾

  6

  1981–82

  3¼

  3¼

  4

  1982–83

  3½

  3½

  4¼

  1983–84

  3¼

  3¼

  3¾

  1984–85

  2¾

  3½

  4

  1985–86

  2

  2¾

  3¼

  1986–87

  1¼

  2½

  3

  1987–88

  -½

  ¾

  ½

  1988–89

  -2½

  -1

  0

  1989–90

  -1¼

  -½

  ½

  1990–91

  0

  ¾

  1½

  1991–92

  2½

  3¾

  4

  1992–93

  6¼

  7½

  7¾

  1993–94

  7¼

  8¼

  8½

  1994–95

  5½

  6½

  —

  1995–96

  3¼

  3½

  —

  1996–97

  2

  2½

  —

  1997–98

  1

  1¼

  —

  1 Outturn data for general government sales of land and buildings in 1994–95 is not currently available.

  22 Forecasts for sales of land and buildings by local authorities are not available.

  Housing Market
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further fiscal or other measures he plans to introduce to stimulate the housing market. [27059]

  Sir George Young
  We fully recognise the importance of encouraging a stable and health housing market. The best help that any Government can give the housing market is to deliver sustainable economic growth, based on low inflation and sound public finances. The Government are doing precisely that. Furthermore, the combined effect of changes in interest rates and mortgage interest relief since October 1990 has been to make the average mortgage holder £130 a month better off.

  Bank of England
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his relations with the Governor of the Bank of England. [27060]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The Governor and I are both committed to achieving permanently low inflation.

  Inflation
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out his strategy for maintaining low inflation over the next three years. [27061]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I will continue to set interest rates in order to ensure that inflation remains permanently low.

  Executive Pay
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about pay levels and share options for executives within privatised industry. [27058]

  Sir George Young
  Remuneration is a matter for companies and their shareholders. The Greenbury committee is reviewing best practice for companies and we will consider the need for any Government measures, if appropriate, in the light of its conclusions.

  Monetary Union
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he was previously aware of the letters circulated by the inquiry on Britain and the single currency, a copy of which has been sent to him, advising that Lord Kingsdown had been invited by him to chair the inquiry; and if he will make a statement; [28348]

  (2) on what basis persons were selected by the Kingsdown committee on a single currency to give evidence; and if he was consulted by the committee on its stated desire to aim to produce a report which would have public appeal. [28349]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  [holding answer 13 June 1995]: The Action Centre for Europe's main activity is to commission and publish original papers by independent academic and other experts on key topics relating to the European Union, with a view to stimulating public discussion. ACE set up a working group on the implications of monetary union for Britain and the Kingsdown report, published on 8 June, records its findings. As a member of ACE I suggested to Lord

  631
  Kingsdown that as a former Governor of the Bank of England he would be well placed to chair an ACE working group. I was in no way involved in the drafting of the report, which reflects solely the views of the authors.

  Self-employment
  Mr. French
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list the main groups of workers which, according to statute law, are treated for tax purposes as self-employed but for national insurance purposes as employed; [28333]

  (2) in what circumstances a taxpayer may assume that a determination by the Inland Revenue that, according to case law, a person is self-employed may be taken as applicable to tax liability and national insurance contributions. [28341]

  Sir George Young
  There is no statutory definition of self-employment. Both the Inland Revenue and the Department of Social Security use criteria derived from the case law of the courts. They operate a common approach to employment status. This means that where one department has made a written decision following a full investigation of the circumstances, this will normally be accepted by the other department provided all the relevant facts have been accurately and clearly disclosed and the circumstances remain the same.

  The exceptions are as follows:

  (i) Section 314 Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 deems that certain divers are treated as self employed for tax purposes. The normal case law approach applies for National Insurance.

  (ii) The Social Security (Categorisation of Earners) Regulations provide that particular groups of workers should be treated as employees whilst the Inland Revenue follow the normal case law approach. In these cases it may mean that the national insurance treatment differs from the tax treatment. The following groups of workers are affected:

  Office Cleaners

  Ministers of Religion

  Part time or visiting lecturers, teachers or instructors

  Persons employed by their spouse

  Mr. French
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the differences between Inland Revenue leaflet IR56/N139 and previous leaflets since 1979 as they relate to the criteria for determining whether a person is employed or self-employed. [28340]

  Sir George Young
  Leaflet IR56/N139 has been updated on a number of occasions since its introduction in 1985. The latest version was published on 31 May 1995 and contains additional criteria relating to short-term engagements in the light of recent case law

  Public Sector Borrowing
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the impact on his forecasts of the public sector borrowing requirement in(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97 and (c) 1997–98 of a 0.25 per cent. annual reduction in the Treasury forecast of the rate of growth of United Kingdom gross domestic product for the aforementioned years. [28157]
  632
  Mr. Aitken
  [holding answer 14 June 19951: Tables 4.10 and 4.11 in the 1995–96 "Financial Statement and Budget Report" illustrate the sensitivity of projections for the public sector borrowing requirement to alternative growth paths.

  Retirements and Redundancies
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff of(a) the Treasury and (b) agencies for which the Treasury is responsible (i) took early retirement, (ii) took voluntary redundancy, (iii) took compulsory redundancy and (iv) were retired on medical grounds in (a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95; and what are the projected figures for 1995–96. [25418]

  Mr. Nelson
  The information for the Treasury is as follows:

  Voluntary redundancy

  Early retirement

  Severance

  Other early retirement

  Compulsory redundancy

  Medical

  1993–94

  5

  2

  11

  2

  3

  1994–95

  6

  10

  11

  0

  11

  1995–96

  114

  13

  11

  10

  11

  1 Figures for 1995–96 are those known at 1 May 1995. The Treasury is not responsible for any agencies.

  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the annual cost to the Department of staff leaving under redundancy or early retirement schemes to incorporate (i) added years lump sum payment (ii) redundancy payments (iii) pension payments including enhancements and (iv) any other special arrangements for(a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95, and projected for (c) 1995–96 and (d) 1996–97. [25637]

  Mr. Nelson
  Staff leaving the Treasury under redundancy or early retirement schemes are eligible for compensation payments under the principal civil service pensions scheme. The scheme distinguishes between early retirement, with immediate payments of pensions benefits, and early severance, with immediate payment of lump sum compensation and pension benefits preserved for payment at age 60. Individual payments are age, salary and service related.

  The cost to the Department of staff leaving under these schemes are a mixture of benefits payable immediately, which may include compensation lump sum and/or pension, plus cost arising over a longer term—for example, the annual compensation to staff under the age of 60. The table separately identifies these immediate and longer-term costs, so far as they can be determined.

  1993–94£

  1994–95£

  1995–96£

  Immediate costs

  Lump sum compensation

  130,302

  432,195

  827,534

  Enhancement to lump sum

  49,983

  64,050

  235,266

  Longer term costs

  Enhancement to pension1

  16,659

  21,346

  78,420

  Cost of paying pension per-age 60

  729,789

  949,143

  2,933,485

  1£ rate p.a.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Indonesia
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the nature of the work involved in the steel bridging (phase 1) aid and trade provision project in Indonesia; what equipment and materials were supplied under the project; what is the location of the bridging; which Indonesian companies were involved; and what date the project was completed. [28298]

  Mr. Baldry
  Phase 1 of the steel bridging project was undertaken to help meet Indonesia's requirements for steel bridging on major roads.

  The equipment and materials supplied under the project consisted of 397 spans of 30.5m Bailey bridging, 80 tool kits, 397 sets of spare components, 30 sets of jacking equipment and 30 sets of erection equipment.

  The bridging is located in the following provinces: Irja, Maluku, Sulsel, Sulteng, Sultera, Sulut, DKL, Jakarta, Jabar, Jateng, Sumut, Sumbar, Sultra, Riau, Jatim, Aceh, Bengkulu, Kalbar, Kalsel, Kalteng, Kaltim and Sumsel.

  The roads and highways department of the Ministry of Public Works BINA MARGA—was responsible for project implementation.

  The project was completed in July 1988.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 1 March,Official Report, column 574, on what date the case for the shortwave radio transmitters project in Indonesia was submitted by the Department of Trade and Industry to the sub-committee for aid and trade; on what date the project was approved by the sub-committee for aid and trade; and on what date the project was approved by the Minister for Overseas Development. [28330]

  Mr. Baldry
  The project was submitted to the sub-committee for aid and trade in November 1990. It was approved in the same month by both the SCAT and my right hon. and noble Friend, the Minister for Overseas Development.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the nature of the work involved in the steel bridging (phase 2) aid and trade provision project in Indonesia; what equipment and materials were supplied under the project; what is the location of the bridging; which Indonesian companies were involved; and on what date the project was completed. [28299]

  Mr. Baldry
  Phase II of the steel bridging project supplied demountable steel bridging for an on-going bridge repair programme. Approximately 5,000m of steel bridging and spares were supplied.

  The bridging is located in the following provinces: South Sulawesi, North Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, East Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, North Sumatera, South Sumatera, West Sumatera, Bengkulu, Riau, West Java, Irian Jaya and Maluku.
  634
  The roads and highways department of the Ministry of Public Works—BINA MARGA—was responsible for project implementation.

  The project was completed in April 1992.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 1 February,Official Report, column 704, to the hon. Member for Eccles (Miss Lestor), regarding the Indonesian tropical forest management project: sub 4, how many persons were trained at each of the training centres listed in his answer; what private sector bodies submitted personnel for training under the project; and who the Government engaged to carry out the training. [27833]

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 14 June 1995]: Sub-project 4 (training) trains teachers who work at regional centres. One hundred and seventy five teachers have received basic instruction in methodology and curriculum development in Indonesia while a further 37 have received advanced training in the UK.

  Member companies of APHI—Indonesia Association Forest Business—also sent personnel for training under the project.

  The training of teachers is undertaken by LTS International Ltd in association with the University of Wolverhampton.

  Sarawak
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what help he gives to schemes developing the use of rattan in Sarawak. [26335]

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 13 June 1995]: Under the aid programme, we are helping the Government of Malaysia to develop a better understanding of the use of rattan in two main ways. Our support for the Forestry Research Institute of Malaysia includes research on the mapping and conservation of rattan. Under the UK/Malaysia memorandum of understanding on forestry, we are helping to establish forest management systems that include rattan and other non-timber forest products.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Homelessness
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons presented themselves as homeless to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in each district council area in each of the last five years. [28217]

  Mr. Moss
  This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive whose chief executive has advised me that the figures are as shown in the table.

  Persons presenting as homeless to Northern Ireland Housing Executive

  Council Area

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Antrim Borough

  65

  44

  140

  181

  211

  Ards Borough

  481

  461

  478

  412

  488

  Armagh District

  173

  147

  134

  241

  271

  Ballymena Borough

  237

  265

  286

  356

  389

  Ballymoney Borough

  113

  148

  127

  142

  103

  Banbridge District

  157

  139

  118

  133

  153

  635

  Persons presenting as homeless to Northern Ireland Housing Executive

  Council Area

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Belfast City

  2,501

  2,656

  2,558

  2,310

  2,428

  Carrickfergus Borough

  99

  148

  193

  161

  201

  Castlereagh Borough

  364

  350

  364

  290

  272

  Cookstown District

  166

  213

  131

  183

  146

  Coleraine Borough

  150

  142

  181

  199

  275

  Craigavon Borough

  265

  318

  303

  263

  266

  Derry City

  832

  771

  710

  858

  920

  Down District

  363

  491

  589

  439

  476

  Dungannon District

  152

  199

  186

  200

  197

  Fermanagh District

  192

  209

  224

  250

  304

  Lame Borough

  173

  191

  263

  267

  203

  Limavady Borough

  197

  222

  145

  206

  184

  Lisburn Borough

  803

  1,104

  968

  848

  860

  Magherafelt District

  96

  70

  91

  124

  129

  Moyle District

  65

  59

  57

  45

  59

  Newry and Mourne District

  421

  467

  656

  618

  551

  Newtonabbey Borough

  561

  567

  552

  452

  355

  North Down Borough

  211

  322

  239

  221

  222

  Omagh District

  223

  314

  318

  240

  277

  Strabane District

  127

  64

  88

  92

  128

  Total

  9,187

  10,081

  10,099

  9,731

  10,068

  Council for Catholic Maintained Schools
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the total cost to public funds in each of the past three years of the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools; and what proposals he has to reduce this cost. [28219]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information is as follows:

  1992–93: £922,906

  1993–94: £1,110,986

  1994–95: £1,260,932

  I am satisfied that the council's allocation are essential to enable it to carry out its responsibilities and I do not have any proposals at present to reduce its level of funding.

  Mental Patients
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to bring Northern Ireland legislation on the compulsory detention of mental patients into line with that in Great Britain following the Brian Doherty case; and if he will make a statement. [28221]

  Mr. Moss
  There are no plans at present to amend the Northern Ireland legislation relating to the compulsory detention of mentally disordered people. The Western health and social services board has set up an independent inquiry into the Brian Doherty case and its report will be studied closely to see what action may be necessary to prevent similar recurrences.

  HIV
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent on programmes in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years aimed at preventing the spread of HIV; what proportion of these amounts was aimed specifically at homosexuals, bisexuals and lesbians; what plans he has to review the overall budget 636
  in the light of the increase in foreign tourism to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [28223]

  Mr. Moss
  The information is not available in the form requested. Measures to prevent HIV/AIDS are undertaken as part of a wider effort to promote sexual health.

  Expenditure by the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland on the promotion of sexual health and the prevention of HIV/AIDS, and grants from the Department of Health and Social Services to voluntary agencies working in this area, were as follows in each of the past five years.

  1990–91: £140,703

  1991–92: £175,786

  1992–93: £242,100

  1993–94: £313,095

  1994–95: £279,752

  The Department of Health and Social Services published its strategy on HIV and AIDS in 1994. The strategy will be kept under review in the light of changing circumstances.

  Primary School Closures
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the decision first was taken to close Clare and Ballydougan primary schools and to replace Bleary primary school. [28366]

  Mr. Ancram
  A scheme to close Ballydougan primary school was approved in April 1966 and the school closed in August 1966. A scheme to close Clare primary school was approved in December 1970 and the school closed in April 1971. A proposal to provide a new replacement school for Bleary primary school was approved by my Department in November 1982.

  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the proposal that a new Bleary primary school to cater for those previously served by Clare and Ballydougan primary schools ceased to be classed as a rationalisation scheme. [28367]

  Mr. Ancram
  The capital scheme for the replacement of Bleary primary school has never been classified as a rationalisation scheme within my Department's school capital planning arrangements which were introduced in 1991.

  School Meals
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number and percentage of children receiving(a) free school meals and (b) parentally paid-for school meals in each of the last 10 years. [28378]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  Pupils taking meals

  Pupils receiving free meals (percentage of pupil meals)

  Pupils receiving free meals (percentage of pupil meals)

  1984–85

  161,096

  93,974 (58)

  67,122 (42)

  1985–86

  160,435

  94,891 (59)

  65,544 (41)

  1986–87

  164,756

  98,233 (60)

  66,523 (40)

  1987–88

  165,387

  100,144 (61)

  65,243 (39)

  1988–89

  153,638

  73,458 (48)

  80,180 (52)

  1989–90

  155,769

  74,416 (48)

  81,353 (52)

  637

  Year

  Pupils taking meals

  Pupils receiving free meals (percentage of pupil meals)

  Pupils receiving free meals (percentage of pupil meals)

  1990–91

  164,194

  77,005 (47)

  87,189 (53)

  1991–92

  167,582

  80,882 (48)

  86,700 (52)

  1992–93

  178,271

  83,761 (47)

  94,510 (53)

  1993–94

  181,116

  85,327 (47)

  95,789 (53)

  Information Services
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all the gifts declared by(a) the head of information services at the Northern Ireland Office and (b) all other press officers at the Northern Ireland Office. [28368]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information is as follows:

  (a) A Panasonic RF B65D portable radio presented in July 1993 by Downtown Radio to the director. It is for official use within the information service and is held on the inventory of office equipment.

  (b) None.

  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what request has been made by the head of information services, Northern Ireland Office, for the monitoring of journalists' telephones. [28369]

  Sir John Wheeler
  None.

EDUCATION

  Education Assistance
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the total current annual cost to public funds of the various Government schemes for sending children to private or independent schools. [27054]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department's expenditure on the assisted places scheme and the music and ballet schools scheme—which provide means-tested fee remission for certain pupils attending participating independent schools—in England in the financial year 1994–95 was £101.5 million and £6.8 million respectively. Outturn capital and recurrent expenditure in the same year on the 15 city technology colleges—which are also independent schools—was £50.1 million. These figures do not include the purchase of places by local authorities, whether for pupils generally or for those with special educational needs, in independent schools or in nursery establishments. Questions about comparable provision elsewhere in the United Kingdom, or for the children of service men and diplomatic staff, are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State responsible for those areas.

  Minority Languages (GCSE)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps she is taking to ensure that examining boards continue to offer minority languages at GCSE level, with particular reference to eastern European languages. [28478]
  638
  Mr. Forth
  GCSEs in modern foreign languages for courses starting in September 1996 will be subject to regulations and subject criteria published by the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority in March 1995 and designed to align the GCSE with the requirements of the national curriculum.

  The Government have been mindful of the implications of the new GCSE criteria for the availability of syllabuses in the less-commonly studied languages, including those from Eastern Europe. The Secretary of State therefore agreed in principle that special arrangements could be made in certain cases, to give the examining groups scope to continue to offer a suitably wide range of language syllabuses.

  The SCAA is discussing with the examining groups the detailed arrangements that could be made for individual languages. The decision on what syllabuses to offer is ultimately one for each examining group. An announcement will be made shortly about the range of languages to be offered at GCSE.

  Christian Primary School, Croxteth
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State if she will make a statement on the current situation in respect of the proposals to provide a Christian primary school on the Croxteth county park estate in Liverpool. [28704]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend hopes to be able to announce a decision on these proposals in the near future.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list the fees charged by each independent school for post-16 years education under the assisted places scheme in 1994–95; and what were the comparable figures for LEA schools, grant-maintained schools and Further Education Funding Council-funded colleges. [28706]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Tuition fees for sixth-form pupils supported by the Department's assisted places scheme in each participating school in the academic year 1994–95 are shown a table drawn from the Department's records, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. Comparable unit costs are not separately available for pupils aged 16 to 19 in local education authority maintained schools, grant-maintained schools or Further Education Funding Council-funded institutions.

  Advisory Group on School Improvement
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what will be the membership of the new advisory group on school improvement; and if she will make a statement. [29477]

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 25 May a wide-ranging programme designed to raise standards in all our schools. The programme brings together the work of Government Departments and other agencies of central and local government, and also the resources of universities and schools. I will chair an advisory group which will carry this work forward. Its membership will be as follows:
  639

  Mr. Sandy Adamson—Director of Planning at the Funding Agency for Schools

  Professor Michael Barber—Professor of Education, Keele University

  Ms Julie Barton—Headteacher, Cambridge Special School, Hammersmith

  Mrs. Patricia Clarke—Headteacher, Avondale Park Primary School, Kensington

  Mrs. Pat Collarbone—Headteacher, Haggerston School, Hackney

  Mrs. Heather Du Quesnay—Director of Education, Hertfordshire

  Mr. Jim Rose—Director of Inspection, Office for Standards in Education.Mr. Brian Stevens—Director of External Relations at the British Bankers' Association.

  Ms Frankie Sulke—Head of Policy, Teacher Training Agency

  The group will assist in co-ordinating the work of the different agencies, and advise the Secretary of State on possible further action to improve schools. The members are appointed for one year, at which point the Secretary of State will review progress made.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of parliamentary questions, which would have been answered directly by her or her ministers prior to the establishment of executive agencies, are now referred to the chief executive of such an agency. [28487]

  Mr. Boswell
  Ministers are accountable to Parliament for all matters concerning their agencies. Written parliamentary questions concerning matters which have been delegated to the chief executive of an executive agency in its framework document normally receive a reply from the Minister to the effect that he or she has asked the chief executive to reply direct to the Member by letter. The chief executive's letter is published in Hansard after the Minister's reply.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many written parliamentary questions were tabled for answer by her Department in each of the past five years; how many of these were not answered because the information(a) could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, (b) was not held centrally and (c) was not normally disclosed; how many of these could now be answered now due to computerisation, more effective and efficient operational systems or more open government; and if she will list each question along with the name and constituency of the right hon. or hon. Member who originally tabled it. [28506]

  Mr. Boswell
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the total cost and the average cost per student of the BEd/BAQTS in(a) year one, (b) year two, (c) year three and (d) year four on courses in England and Wales. [27994]
  640
  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 12 June 1995]: The Teacher Training Agency has notified institutions in England of allocations totalling £104.9 million for the provision of courses of undergraduate initial teacher training in the 1995–96 academic year. This represents an average allocation of £2,610 for each full-time undergraduate place the institutions are contracted to provide. In addition, institutions receive course fees, covered for most students by mandatory awards. In 1995–96, classroom-based undergraduate courses will attract a fee of £750 and laboratory-based courses £1,600. Total fee income for undergraduate courses of initial teacher training is estimated to be £45.5 million, an average fee of £1,140. Courses are funded on the same basis for each year of study.

  These figures do not include the costs of student support.

  Questions about the funding of initial teacher training in Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the total cost and the average cost per student of the PGCE courses in England and Wales. [27995]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 12 June 1995]: The Teacher Training Agency has notified institutions in England of allocations totalling £48.6 million for the provision of courses of full-time postgraduate initial teacher training in the 1995–96 academic year. This represents an average allocation of £2,850 for each full-time postgraduate place the institutions are contracted to provide. In addition, institutions receive course fees, covered for most students by mandatory awards. In 1995–96, postgraduate courses will attract a fee of £1,600. Total fee income for postgraduate courses of initial teacher training is estimated to be £27.2 million, an average fee of £1,600.

  These figures do not include the costs of student support.

  Questions about the funding of initial teacher training in Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Attorney-General how many civil servants in his Department are currently working on matters related to the Scott inquiry; if a dedicated unit has been established; and what is the estimated cost to date of civil servants dealing with matters relating to the Scott inquiry. [28864]

  The Attorney-General
  Work on matters related to the Scott inquiry is undertaken by staff in my Department as part of their normal duties and it is not, therefore, possible to estimate the overall cost. The costs of staff in the Treasury Solicitor's Department providing legal services to client departments in connection with the inquiry are included in charges invoiced to departments. No dedicated units have been established in my Department.
  641
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Attorney-General what legal advice he has sought from solicitors or barristers in respect of draft conclusions reached by the Scott inquiry; what is the estimated cost of such legal expenses to public funds; and if he will make a statement. [28897]

  The Attorney-General
  The Government do not consider it right to publish the nature or cost of any advice which may have been given to individual witnesses to the Scott inquiry. This is a matter of confidence between them and any legal advisers they may have retained.

  Crown Immunity
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list all areas within(a) his Department, (b) agencies under his Department's control and (c) organisations for which he has ministerial responsibility to which Crown immunity applies; what consideration he has given to removing this; and if he will make a statement. [28643]

  The Attorney-General
  The reference to Crown immunity in the question is understood to refer to legislation which does not apply to the Crown. There are no areas covered by such legislation for which I have responsibility.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Pets
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice was given by Her Majesty's Government during the consideration of policy relating to the Council of Europe proposals in regard to pet animals; and what is official policy on this matter. [27916]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The United Kingdom is not a party to the Council of Europe convention for the protection of pet animals, and no decisions have been taken on whether it would be right to accede to the convention. In deciding this issue, the Government will take full account, among other considerations, of the potential consequences of the resolutions agreed at the recent multilateral consultation of parties to the convention.

  Nuclear Bunkers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by location the nuclear bunkers that are still waiting to be disposed of; what is the estimated value of each bunker; and if he will list the money raised for each nuclear bunker that has been disposed of. [28264]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Regional government headquarters still to be disposed of and their values, assessed by the appropriate district valuer's office, are as follows:

  Assessed value £

  Shipton, North Yorkshire

  50,000 to 200,000

  Bedford

  270,000

  Ashdown Forest, East Sussex

  200,000

  Soar, Devon

  40,000

  Chilmark, Wiltshire

  District valuer's report awaited

  Bridgend, South Wales

  District valuer's report awaited

  642
  Sites at the following locations have been sold on the open market for the prices indicated:

  £

  Lincoln

  57,000

  Loughborough

  150,000

  Norwich

  165,000

  Brentwood, Essex

  151,001

  Wrexham, North Wales

  42,000

  Preston

  110,010

  Nantwich, Cheshire

  151,000

  A site in Staffordshire and a property in Basingstoke were returned to the Ministry of Defence and to Property Holdings respectively, at no cost. A property at Rugby has been auctioned by the Ministry of Defence for £250,584 and the sale of a property at Hexham, Northumbria, for £1,200,000 has been agreed but not yet completed.

  Rape
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of rape were(a) reported to the police, (b) reached court and (c) resulted in a guilty verdict in (i) 1985 and (ii) 1993. [28247]

  Mr. Maclean
  The available information shows that in England and Wales some 1.842 rape offences were recorded by the police in 1985, and there were 844 prosecutions and 430 convictions for rape offences in that year. The corresponding figures for 1993 are 4,589 offences, 1,704 prosecutions and 465 convictions. Information for Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Police Complaints
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to repeal section 98 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984; and if he will make a statement on his assessment of the impact of section 98 on the building of public confidence in the Police Complaints Authority. [28331]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government have already announced their intention to amend section 98, when a suitable legislative opportunity arises, to allow the Police Complaints Authority discretion to publish such information as is reasonably necessary to inform the public of the outcome of investigations, without derogation from the principle of confidentiality between the authority, complaints and those that provide information.

  Driving without Insurance
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those people convicted of driving without insurance in each of the past three years have been(a) under 20 years of age, (b) between 20 and 30 years of age and (c) over 30 years of age; [28335]

  (2) how many people have been convicted of driving without insurance in each of the last three years. [28336]
  643
  Mr. Maclean
  The following table gives the available information which relates to the number of convictions for "using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks" in England and Wales for the years 1991 to 1993. Figures for 1994 are not yet available.

  Convictions for using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks

  Persons aged

  Year

  Total convictions

  Under 21

  21 and over

  1991

  225,910

  65,093

  160,817

  1992

  246,054

  62,434

  183,620

  1993

  281,136

  65,813

  215,323

  Television Licences
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost of imprisoning television licence defaulters in the years 1985 to 1995. [28227]

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

  Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. David Hanson, dated 15 June 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the cost of imprisoning television licence defaulters in the years 1985 to 1995.
  Information on the cost of prisoners, according to their type of offence, is not collected centrally. On the basis of the number normally in custody —under 10—we estimate the costs of imprisoning these defaulters to be up to £200,000 a year.

  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were imprisoned in each of the last 10 years for the non-payment of fines relating to a television licence offence. [28228]

  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 B. Landers to Mr. David Hanson, dated 15 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 people were imprisoned in each of the last 10 years for the non-payment of fines relating to a television licence offence.
  The information requested is given in the table. No information is available for the period before 1991 because the offence was not separately identified in the prison statistics.

  Receptions into Prison Service establishments in England and Wales, for non-payment of fine imposed for using a television without a licence, 1991 to 1994

  Year

  Offence

  1991

  1992

  19931

  19941

  Non-payment of fine for using a TV without a licence

  394

  568

  825

  763

  1 Provisional information.

  Prison Assaults
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what ministerial approval was given to the Director General of the Prison Service to change the current indicator used for recording assaults by prisoners on prison officers and other inmates from one based on adjudications for disciplinary offences to one based on the seriousness of the assault; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the change on the assault figures. [28103]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The current key performance indicator for assaults in the Prison Service has not been changed. The Prison Service's business plan for 1995–96, which was approved by my right hon. and learned Friend, explains that the Prison Service is developing proposals for new indicators of its performance for introduction in 1996–97. These will include a new measure of serious assaults as a possible replacement for the current indicator which is based on proven adjudications for disciplinary offences relating to assault. Under the terms of the Prison Service's framework document, any such change in the service's key performance indicators will be subject to agreement by the Home Secretary, the director general, the Treasury and the Office of Public Service and Science. The Prison Service will, in any event, continue to collect information about all reported assaults on staff and prisoners and disciplinary proceedings relating to such assaults.

  Prison Accommodation
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors underlie the absence of a key target for the number of prisoners held two to a cell in cells designed for one person. [28080]

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

  Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. Mike O'Brien, dated 15 June 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the absence of a key target for the number of prisoners held two to a cell designed for one person.
  When the Prison Service became an Agency in April 1993, it was agreed that the most serious problem relating to overcrowding was the practice of 'trebling', which involved three prisoners sharing a cell designed for one person. As recently as 1987, over five thousand prisoners were 'trebling'.
  The targets set in relation to overcrowding have therefore been to eliminate trebling—which was achieved in March 1994—and to continue to avoid trebling.
  However, against the background of the rapid increase in the prison population—from a low of 40,600 in December 1992 to around 51,000 now—and the need to hold unconvicted and unsentenced prisoners close to the courts—which can result in sudden uncontrollable fluctuations in the prison population in local prisons—it is neither feasible nor realistic currently to set a target for reducing the number of prisoners held two to a cell designed for one person. It is, however, a continuing priority to keep overcrowding to a minimum and to eliminate it wherever practicable.

  Prisoners (HIV and AIDS)
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of HIV and AIDS have been reported in prisons in England and Wales in each year since 1986. [28005]

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

  Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. Neil Gerrard, dated 15 June 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the number of cases of HIV and AIDS that have been reported in prisons in England and Wales in each year since 1986.
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  Cases of HIV (including AIDS)

  Cases of AIDS

  1986

  148

  1

  1987

  75

  3

  1988

  61

  3

  1989

  54

  5

  1990

  59

  7

  1991

  26

  1

  1992–932

  51

  7

  1993–94

  27

  2

  1994–95

  23

  —

  1995–963

  3

  —

  1
  Figure understates position since 27 other cases were reported in the two years 1985 and 1986, but it is not possible to assign them to a single year.

  2 15 month period January 1992—March 1993 (to bring table in line with financial year).

  3 Figures for 1995–1996 are as at 30 May 1995.

  The table represents the number of new cases of HIV infection confirmed and reported by prison medical officers. The average number of cases in the prison system in England and Wales at any one time has varied between 30 and 70. There are currently 54 prisoners known to have HIV, confirmed and reported by medical officers in the system.
  These figures do not represent the totality of HIV infection in the prison system. Testing for HIV infection, as in the community, is carried out only with the consent of the prisoner.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Students
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to make students living on student grants and loans eligible to receive a full council tax and rent rebate on the same basis as people on income support. [27939]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  In general it is the educational maintenance system which is designed to provide support for students, not the social security system, and we have no plans to change this. However, council tax benefit and housing benefit are available to students in specified vulnerable groups such as students with dependant children and those who are disabled.

  Income Support
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 5 April,Official
  646
  Report, column 1224, in respect of evidence of estrangement in the payment of income support to 16 and 17-year-olds, what changes his Department has requested in the practices operated by Benefits Agency officers; and what liaison he has had with the Department of Health in this respect. [28328]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Expanded guidance on dealing with claims under the severe hardship provision is expected to be issued to Benefits Agency offices shortly. The purpose of the guidance is to ensure consistency across the country in respect of the proper verification of claims. The guidance is being developed in consultation with the Department of Health.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to reintroduce a mortgage benefit to assist low-income owner occupiers who are not eligible for social security help with mortgage interest payments. [28302]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  There has never been a mortgage benefit for low-income owner occupiers and we have no plans to introduce one.

  Crown Immunity
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list all areas within(a) his Department, (b) agencies under his Department's control and (c) organisations for which he has ministerial responsibility to which Crown immunity applies; what consideration he has given to removing this; and if he will make a statement. [28651]

  Mr. Hague
  Crown Immunity applies to the Department of Social Security and all its next steps agencies in all instances where the Crown is not included in a particular piece of legislation. Examples of this occur in the Employment Protection Consolidation Act 1978 in respect of redundancy and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in respect of prosecution. Where the Crown is not so included it always endeavours to follow the legislation. The Crown is included in much legislation—for example the Data Protection Act 1984—and much employment legislation. The Department also has duties by virtue of social security legislation. Whenever a new piece of legislation is drafted, the question of whether the Crown should be included is always considered.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the implications of the proposed revisions to housing benefit entitlement to those with special needs; and if he will make a statement. [28895]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) on 12 June,Official Report, column 420.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his Department's latest calculation of the proportion of GDP that will be spent on his Department in 1998, 2000 and 2005, assuming no change in DSS eligibility. [27041]
  647
  Mr. Hague
  The proportion of GDP that will be spent by the Department of Social Security is forecast to be:

  1997–98: 11.7 per cent.

  2000–2001: 11.5 per cent.

  The information is not available for 2005.

  (i) These figures assume constant unemployment and Departmental administrative costs and are in 1994–95 prices.

  (ii) Source: Financial Statement and Budget Red Book The 1995 Social Security Departmental Report The Growth of Social Security

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what legal advice he has sought from solicitors or barristers in respect of draft conclusions reached by the Scott inquiry; what is the estimated cost of such legal expenses to public funds; and if he will make a statement. [28898]

  Mr. Lilley
  The Government do not consider it right to publish the nature or costs of any advice which may have been given to individual witnesses to the Scott inquiry. This is a matter of confidence between them and any legal advisers they may have retained.

  Self-employment
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidelines, excluding case law, are used by the Contributions Agency to determine whether a person is employed or self-employed. [28339]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Liability to pay a particular class of national insurance contribution is determined by reference to the law on national insurance, which generally distinguishes between employees and self-employed persons by reference to contract of service. However, the law does not define contract of service. The Contributions Agency has no legal power to determine employment status, but will investigate, consider and advise individuals and business as necessary. When doing so the agency relies on tests which have emerged from the case law of the courts over many years and applies these to the facts of the individual case concerned. These are the only guidelines which the agency uses formally to advise whether someone is employed or self-employed.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Non-human Primates
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the maximum number of non-human primates which may be quarantined within a facility; and what is the ratio of trained staff to primates at any given location and time who are capable of dealing with a filovirus outbreak. [26670]

  Mrs. Browning
  The maximum number of non-human primates which may be quarantined within a facility depends on the size of the facility. Each facility has a superintending veterinary surgeon or doctor who is required to inspect the animals at least once a week and to report any deaths in quarantine to the Ministry. Guidance on how to handle non-human primates safely has been prepared by the Medical Research Council and has been issued to all quarantine facilities authorised to 648
  keep non-human primates. I have placed a copy of the guidance, which is entitled "The Management of Simians in Relation to Infectious Hazards to Staff", in the Library.

  Fishing Industry
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on catches in each International Council for the Exploration of the Seas sub-region by each EU member's fishing fleet for each of the last five years. [27218]

  Mr. Jack
  Information on the uptake of quota by each member state, by stock, is provided monthly by the Commission to member states. This information is broken down by total allowable catch for each stock, whether it be by ICES sub-area or group of sub-areas. Copies of recent end year figures, as compiled by the Commission, are being placed in the Library.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what catch records were decided when catch shares were allocated in the ICES sub-regions; if the United Kingdom submitted catch estimates for each EU nation; if each nation submitted its own estimates; and how differences in estimates were reconciled. [27217]

  Mr. Jack
  The allocation keys for member states were established by reference to the catch records for the years 1973 to 1978. Each member state was responsible for its own catch records. The keys were finally established in 1983 after six years of negotiation.

  Food Safety
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what money is available to each local authority to cover the expense of implementing EC directive 93/99; and from which fund it is provided; [28374]

  (2) what is the average cost of retraining an unqualified trading standards officer to the level required by EC directive 93/99; [28376]

  (3) what is the estimated total of (a) retraining costs and (b) redundancy costs for environmental health officers and trading standards officers affected by EC directive 93/99; [28372]

  (4) how much money was (a) available to and (b) used by each local authority from the revenue support grant specifically aimed at food safety in each of the last five years; [28375]

  (5) what is the average cost of retraining an unqualified environmental health officer to the level required by EC directive 93/95; [28377]

  (6) what is the estimated number of environmental health officers and trading standards who will be affected by EC directive 93/99. [28373]

  Mrs. Browning
  Following the passage of the Food Safety Act 1990, £30 million which was indexed-linked, was added to the revenue support grant on a continuing basis to cover the extra costs arising to local authorities in discharging their responsibilities under the Act. The duties arising from the implementation of EC directive 93/99 are part of those responsibilities. The sum is not
  649
  ring-fenced and it is therefore for each local authority to decide upon the exact allocation of its share of the sum towards food law enforcement activities. Directive 93/99 does not impose any new training requirements for trading standards officers and environmental health officers engaged on food work. The level of training required for their assistants who are also authorised officers under the Food Safety Act, and the associated costs, will be determined by their individual employing local authority. It is not envisaged that there will be any redundancies in either profession. The exact numbers of officers in each profession involved in food control are not held centrally.

  Sheep Dip
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the research funded by his Department in developing alternatives to organophosphorus sheep dip in each of the last 10 years. [28300]

  Mrs. Browning
  The information requested is as follows:1985–86 to 1991–92
  Nil
  1992–93 to 1994–95
  Immunological approach to the control of sheep scab. Pesticide reduction by developing tests to monitor resistance in sheep scab mites and other ectoparasites.
  1995–96
  Immunological approach to the control of sheep scab. Non-chemical methods for the control of ectoparasites.

  Genetically Engineered Crops
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies are available to him of the environmental impact of genetically engineered crops designed to be resistant to herbicides; and what evidence there is of potential prejudice to the environment arising from their use. [28453]

  Mrs. Browning
  Under the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992, the release or marketing of genetically modified organisms, including GM crops resistant to herbicides, is subject to prior consent. Applications for consent are required to be accompanied by a risk assessment. Scientific advice is given on applications by an independent committee of experts "The Advisory Committee on Releases into the Environment".

  Information is also available from research programmes on the release of GM crops carried out by a number of Departments.

  Available scientific information, experience to date and independent expert advice have not raised concern in terms of adverse effects on the environment from the release of GM crop plants resistant to herbicides. We will continue to rely on such information and the advice of ACRE in the review of applications to release GM organisms, including herbicide resistant crops, in order to assess their environmental impact.

  Scott Inquiry
  Mr. Bermingham
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what legal advice he has sought from solicitors or barristers in respect of draft conclusions reached by the Scott inquiry; what is the estimated cost of such legal expenses to public funds; and if he will make a statement. [28899]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Government do not consider it right to publish the nature or costs of any advice which may have been given to individual witnesses to the Scott inquiry. This is a matter of confidence between them and any legal advisers they may have retained.

  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what communications he received from Lord Justice Scott over the evidence he gave to the inquiry into arms for Iraq; and what were the dates and the dates of his replies. [28866]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Members for Wallsend (Mr. Byers) and for Thurrock (Mr. Mackinlay) on 12 June,Official Report, column 373.

EMPLOYMENT

  Job Creation Schemes
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many people attended and left the enterprise allowance scheme in each year of its operation, including those who left before the completion of the scheme; [27455]

  (2) if he will list the numbers leaving the youth training programme as an actual number and as a percentage of total leavers for each year of its operation, including those who left before completion of the scheme; if he will indicate those who went into work, those who went into further employment schemes and those who became unemployed; and, of these, if he will list the type and level of qualification each leaver obtained, including those who failed to obtain any qualification at all; [27516]

  (3) if he will list the numbers leaving the community enterprise programme and community programme as an actual number and as a percentage of total leavers for each year of that operation, including those who left before completion of the schemes; if he will indicate those who went into work, those who went into further employment schemes and those who became unemployed; and of these, if he will list the type and level of qualification each leaver obtained, including those who failed to obtain any qualification at all; [27524]

  (4) how many people attended and left the training opportunity scheme, in each year of its operation, including those who left before the completion of the scheme; [27445]

  (5) how many people attended and left the job training programme, in each year of its operation, including those who left before the completion of the scheme; [27447]

  (6) how many people attended and left the training for work scheme, in each year of its operation, including those who left before the completion of the scheme; [27449]
  651
  (7) how many people attended and left the youth training scheme, in each year of its operation, including those who left before the completion of the scheme; [27451]

  (8) how many people attended and left the business start-up scheme in each year of its operation, including those who left before the completion of the scheme; [27457]

  (9) if he will list the numbers leaving the youth opportunities programme as an actual number and as a percentage of total leavers for each year of its operation, including those who left before completion of the scheme; if he will indicate those who went into work, those who went into further reemployment schemes and those who became unemployed; and, of these, if he will list the type and level of qualification each leaver obtained, including those who failed to obtain any qualification at all; [27514]

  (10) if he will list the numbers leaving the business enterprise support scheme as an actual number and as a percentage of total leavers for each year of its operation, including those who left before completion of the scheme; if he will indicate those who went into work, those who went into further employment schemes and those who became unemployed; and, of these, if he will list the type and level of qualification each leaver obtained, including those who failed to obtain any qualification at all; [27530]

  (11) if he will list the numbers leaving the employment training scheme as an actual number and as a percentage of total leavers for each year of its operation, including those who left before completion of the scheme; if he will indicate those who went into work, those who went into further employment schemes and those who became unemployed; and, of these, if he will list the type and level of qualification each leaver obtained, including those who failed to obtain any qualification at all; [27526]

  (12) how many people attended and left the business enterprise support scheme in each year of its operation, including those who left before the completion of the scheme; [27456]

  (13) if he will list the numbers leaving the training for work scheme as an actual number and as a percentage of total leavers for each year of its operation, including those who left before completion of the scheme; if he will indicate those who went into work, those who went into further employment schemes and those who became unemployed; and, of these, if he will list the type and level of qualification each leaver obtained, including those who failed to obtain any qualification at all; [27513]

  (14) if he will list the numbers leaving the enterprise allowance scheme as an actual number and as a percentage of total leavers for each year of its operation, including those who left before completion of the scheme; if he will indicate those who went into work, those who went into further employment schemes and those who became unemployed; and, of these, if he will list the type and level of qualification each leaver obtained, including those who failed to obtain any qualification at all; [27529]

  (15) how many people attended and left the youth training scheme in each year of its operation, including those who left before the completion of the scheme; [27452]
  652
  (16) if he will list the numbers leaving the job training programme as an actual number and as a percentage of total leavers for each year of its operation, including those who left before completion of the scheme; if he will indicate those who went into work, those who went into further employment schemes and those who became unemployed; and, of these, if he willlist the type and level of qualification each leaver obtained, including those who failed to obtain any qualification at all; [27525]

  (17) how many people attended and left the community enterprise programme and community programme in each year of their operation, including those who left before the completion of the scheme; [27446]

  (18) how many people attended and left the employment training scheme in each year of its operation, including those who left before the completion of the scheme; [27448]

  (19) how many people attended and left the youth opportunities programme, in each year of its operation, including those who left before the completion of the scheme; [27450]

  (20) if he will list the numbers leaving the youth training scheme as an actual number and as a percentage of total leavers for each year of its operation, including those who left before completion of the scheme; if he will indicate those who went into work, those who went into further employment schemes and those who became unemployed; and, of these, if he will list the type and level of qualification each leaver obtained, including those who failed to obtain any qualification at all; [27515]

  (21) if he will list the numbers leaving the training opportunity scheme as an actual number and as a percentage of total leavers for each year of its operation, including those who left before completion of the scheme; if he will indicate those who went into work, those who went into further employment schemes and those who became unemployed; and if he will list the type and level of qualification each leaver obtained, including those who failed to obtain any qualification at all; [27523]

  (22) if he will list the numbers leaving the business start-up scheme, as an actual number and as a percentage of total leavers, for each year of its operation, including those who left before completion of the scheme; if he will indicate those who went to work, those who went into further employment schemes and those who became unemployed; and, of these, if he will list the type and level of qualification each leaver obtained, including those who failed to obtain any qualification at all. [27505]

  Mr. Paice
  As the information is contained in a large number of tables, I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Library.

  Employment Subsidy Schemes
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will list the numbers leaving the temporary employment subsidy scheme as an actual number and as a percentage of total leavers, for each year of its operation, including those who left before completion of the scheme; if he will indicate those who went to work, those who went into further employment schemes and those who became unemployed; and, of these, if he will list the type and level of qualification
  653
  each leaver obtained, including those who failed to obtain any qualification at all; [27506]

  (2) if he will list the numbers leaving the temporary short-time working compensation scheme, as an actual number and as a percentage of total leavers, for each year of its operation, including those who left before completion of the scheme; if he will indicate those who went to work, those who went into further employment schemes and those who became unemployed; and, of these, if he will list the type and level of qualification each leaver obtained, including those who failed to obtain any qualification at all; [27508]

  (3) if he will list the numbers attending and leaving the temporary short-time working compensation scheme, for each year of its operation, including those who left before completion of the scheme; [27518]

  (4) how many people attended and left the temporary employment subsidy scheme in each year of its operation, including those who left before the completion of the scheme. [27458]

  Mr. Paice
  The temporary employment subsidy scheme and the temporary short-time working compensation scheme provided subsidies to firms with the objective of preventing redundancies. It was not paid in respect of individual workers, so it is difficult to identify people directly supported by the programme. Given the objective of the scheme, there was no evaluation carried out of particular individuals who were subsidised, and there is no information available on what happened when the subsidy ended. I will write to the hon. Member to give further information on the programme.

  Job Release Scheme
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will list the numbers leaving the job release scheme, as an actual number and a s a percentage of total leavers, for each year of its operation, including those who left before completion of the scheme; if he will indicate those who went to work, those who went into further employment schemes and those who became unemployed; and, of these, if he will list the type and level of qualification each leaver obtained, including those who failed to obtain any qualification at all; [27507]

  (2) if he will list the numbers attending and leaving the job release scheme, for each year of its operation, including those who left before the completion of the scheme. [27517]

  Mr. Paice
  The aim of the job release scheme was to reduce the labour supply by subsidising the early withdrawal from the labour force of people who were approaching state pension age. As the objective was early retirement, no consideration was given to what happened to people after their allowance ended. I will write to the hon. Member to give further information on the programme.

  Sixteen and Seventeen-year-olds
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons aged 16 and 17 years were(a) not in full-time education training or employment in each quarter since January 1988, (b) in full-time employment in each quarter since January
  654
  1988 and (c) in full-time training in each quarter since January 1988. [28120]

  Mr. Paice
  The information is contained in the following table. Figures are not available on a quarterly basis before spring 1992. Annual figures are available from spring 1988 to spring 1991, but they are not on the same basis as those from spring 1992 onwards.

  16 and 17 year olds in Great Britain—1988–941

  Not seasonally adjusted, thousands.

  (a) Not in employment, training or full-time education2

  (b) In full-time employment excluding government employment and training programmes3

  (c) Government employment and training programmes4

  Spring 1992

  116

  141

  129

  Summer 1992

  173

  161

  125

  Autumn 1992

  127

  148

  135

  Winter 1992–93

  103

  132

  123

  Spring 1993

  102

  108

  118

  Summer 1993

  156

  132

  111

  Autumn 1993

  129

  122

  127

  Winter 1993–94

  106

  120

  128

  Spring 1994

  103

  111

  106

  Summer 1994

  137

  138

  95

  Autumn 1994

  106

  132

  102

  Source: The Labour Force Survey.

  1 All estimates relate to young people aged 16 and 17 at the time of the survey.

  2 The figures comprise all those aged 16 and 17 who were not in full-time employment, not on a government employment or training programme, mainly youth training and who were not full-time students.

  3 Includes unpaid family workers.

  4 The labour force survey is known to undercount those on Government employment and training programmes.

  Training Expenditure
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total expenditure on(a) employment training and (b) youth training in the year 1994–95 within the Yorkshire and Humberside area; and how many (i) males and (ii) females were on such schemes. [28256]

  Mr. Paice
  The latest figures available show that the total expenditure in Yorkshire and Humberside for 1994–95 for(a) training for work was £40,262,235 and for (b) youth training youth credits was £70,599,174.

  Employment training was replaced by training for work in April 1993.

  The latest figures available for 1994–95 show that the number of (i) males who participated in training for work was 24,925 and in youth training youth credits was 16,649; the number of (ii) females who participated in training for work was 9,516 and in youth training youth credits was 13,096.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish each month a set of employment figures analysed in the same way as the monthly unemployment figures. [28338]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I have no plans to extend the range of information about employment which is currently published monthly.

  Barnsley and Doncaster Training and Enterprise Council
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the administration cost of the Barnsley and Doncaster TEC for the year 1994–95; and what the figures were in previous years. [28272]

  Mr. Paice
  The administration costs of the Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council in 1994–95 will be stated in the TEC's annual accounts, which will be published shortly. Its administration costs were £1,903,000 in 1993–94 and £1,820,000 in 1992–93.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to award the Barnsley/Doncaster TEC a three-year licence; and if he will make a statement. [28257]

  Mr. Paice
  As I informed the House and the hon. Member by letter on 29 November 1994,Official Report, column 639, the Barnsley and Doncaster training and Enterprise Council was one of the first 12 TECs to complete the process of meeting the rigorous standards set for the award of a three-year licence. The TEC's licence is effective from April 1995.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many successful placements the Barnsley and Doncaster TEC achieved for the year 199495; if he will give the number by trade; and what the figures were for previous years. [28273]

  Mr. Paice
  Information is not available on the number of short-term work placements trainees undertake as part of training. However, the training and enterprise council's information on the number of job outcomes from both youth and adult training shows: 3,734 job outcomes in 1994–95; 2,855 in 1993–94 and 2,937 in 1992–93. This information is not collected by trade.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage change in the proportion of women as(a) chairs, (b) chief executives and (c) board members since the inception of the Barnsley and Doncaster TEC; and if he will make a statement. [28259]

  Mr. Paice
  The Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council board has had one female director throughout its existence, apart from the period February to August 1992. TECs are private limited companies and are free to appoint directors, including chairmen, as long as they meet the criteria set out in the agreement between the TEC and the Employment Department.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the names he holds of potential(a) chairmen and (b) chief executives for Barnsley and Doncaster TEC. [28263]

  Mr. Paice
  The appointment of a chairman or chief executive for the Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council would be a matter for the TEC board, and the Department does not hold names of potential candidates.

  International Labour Organisation
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when the United Kingdom's affiliation fee to the International Labour Organisation is normally paid; and when he expects it to be paid in the current year. [28580]
  656
  Miss Widdecombe
  The United Kingdom's subscription to the International Labour Organisation is normally paid before the end of the calendar year to which it applies. The current year's subscription should normally therefore be paid by December 1995.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what will be the cost to public funds of the Confederation of British Industry delegation attendance at the International Labour Organisation annual meeting in the current year. [28581]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The cost to public funds is estimated to be £18,000.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what will be the cost to public funds of the Government delegation's attendance at the International Labour Organisation annual meeting in the current year. [28582]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The cost of sending the Government delegation to the International Labour conference this year is estimated to be £22,000.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the 16 hours per week that students on benefit are allowed to study while being supervised by a tutor under the jobseeker's allowance can be averaged out over a number of weeks. [28160]

  Miss Widdecombe
  People claiming jobseeker's allowance will be able to undertake part-time courses provided they remain available for, and actively seeking, employment. In the case of courses funded by the Further Education Funding Council, the threshold will be 16 guided learning hours per week. This is designed to allow the same number of people to study while claiming benefit as do so now.

  A number of detailed issues are still being considered. One of these is the question of whether the number of guided learning hours will be averaged out over a period. Our proposals will be laid before the House in regulations.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list(a) the profits or losses incurred and (b) the reserves of each training and enterprise council in each of the last three years. [28859]

  Mr. Paice
  The following tables list(a) the profits or losses incurred and (b) the accumulated reserves of each English training and enterprise council at the end of the financial years 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  The figures are those shown in the audited statutory accounts lodged at Companies House.

  The turnover of individual TECs varies considerably therefore comparison between TECs is not possible.

  Post tax operating surplus

  £000

  TECs by region

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Northern

  County Durham

  2,818,075

  2,595,107

  1,263,515

  Northumberland

  1,262,703

  1,233,752

  1,453,797

  Teesside

  3,838,000

  3,388,000

  1,554,000

  657

  Post tax operating surplus

  £000

  TECs by region

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Tyneside

  2,818,000

  (883,000)

  (989,000)

  Sunderland (Wearside)

  293,924

  512,381

  370,585

  Merseyside

  CEWTEC

  1,974,732

  603,311

  (411,813)

  Merseyside

  3,012,181

  1,191,532

  428,632

  QUALITEC

  741,670

  312,509

  201,263

  North West

  Bolton/Bury

  1,720,642

  847,848

  1,772,780

  Manchester

  2,936,887

  (880,942)

  1,433,075

  METRO

  188,000

  108,000

  (141,000)

  Oldham

  570,321

  83,406

  (259,844)

  Rochdale

  399,262

  597,651

  578,626

  South and East Cheshire

  1,124,823

  420,244

  (197,045)

  Stockport and High Peak

  1,833,580

  655,247

  45,430

  Cumbria

  1,187,739

  110,772

  (198,587)

  ELTEC

  370,271

  1,338,587

  238,653

  LAWTEC

  3,150,027

  (236,657)

  1,180,674

  NORMID

  1,511,822

  (418,902)

  777,119

  Yorks and Humber

  Barnsley/Doncaster

  2,688,055

  1,012,208

  (821,000)

  Bradford

  1,773,485

  1,524,888

  (297,068)

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  465,421

  (1,574)

  834,291

  Humberside

  2,952,198

  2,258,408

  (143,476)

  Leeds

  2,352,648

  2,160,436

  112,973

  North Yorks

  2,104,000

  936,000

  917,000

  Rotherham

  1,485,797

  1,134,336

  602,442

  Sheffield

  2,340,235

  883,000

  1,144,000

  Wakefield

  2,118,035

  668,301

  746,481

  Eastern

  Bedfordshire

  1,335,932

  220,801

  (456,586)

  CAMBS

  560,998

  34,280

  341,593

  Essex

  3,037,484

  742,805

  (794,405)

  Greater Peterborough

  754,539

  661,071

  (70,137)

  Hertfordshire

  863,034

  1,199,133

  (242,716)

  Norfolk and Wavemey

  1,279,837

  (411,789)

  789,939

  Suffolk

  1,234,110

  473,259

  (1,455,366)

  East Midlands

  Greater Nottingham

  844,000

  98,000

  314,000

  Leicester

  2,709,000

  1,888,317

  895,230

  Lincolnshire

  1,225,370

  1,328,872

  1,225,284

  Northamptonshire

  1,867,401

  109,609

  (736,276)

  North Derbyshire

  653,113

  87,828

  259,345

  North Nottinghamshire

  1,494,000

  (376,000)

  839,556

  South Derbyshire

  3,510,586

  611,343

  (431,000)

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  2,217,000

  (1,606,000)

  (281,000)

  Central England

  992,591

  347,027

  (80,710)

  Coventry/Warwick

  9,899

  7,122

  (463,109)

  Dudley

  411,480

  801,744

  65,377

  HAWTEC

  978,862

  702,859

  (653,609)

  Sandwell

  917,391

  788,829

  (67,510)

  Shropshire

  598,942

  703,807

  321,804

  Staffordshire

  1,399,654

  1,717,636

  1,297,000

  Walsall

  988,580

  941,491

  (1,036,329)

  Wolverhampton

  1,032,122

  379,147

  (512,000)

  South West

  Avon

  1,925,855

  1,647,961

  1,303,000

  Devon/Cornwall

  3,187,000

  121,000

  (1,956,000)

  Dorset

  1,171,204

  53,973

  (276,063)

  Gloucester

  1,574,830

  666

  294,534

  Somerset

  388,152

  711,143

  446,747

  Wiltshire

  849,313

  251,265

  1,044,849

  London

  AZTEC

  1,289,656

  411,486

  832,308

  CENTEC

  148,575

  757,876

  1,530,114

  CILNTEC

  550,812

  1,610,046

  227,611

  LETEC

  (483,267)

  1,138,517

  2,604,868

  North London

  1,153,445

  1,851,198

  (259,730)

  North West London

  438,984

  424,679

  548,329

  SOLOTEC

  896,400

  2,530,966

  1,631,150

  South Thames

  1,292,463

  2,318,842

  (1,292,021)

  West London

  162,104

  1,000,929

  348,466

  658

  Post tax operating surplus

  £000

  TECs by region

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  South East

  Hampshire

  1,884,488

  1,430,483

  (185,061)

  Isle of Wight

  479,142

  161,087

  134,138

  Kent

  3,542,667

  2,231,284

  (836,301)

  Milton Keynes/North Bucks

  360,889

  99,326

  218,407

  Heart of England

  962,649

  860,611

  72,551

  Surrey

  693,092

  967,259

  1,164,642

  Sussex

  3,253,000

  1,875,000

  14,000

  Thames Valley Ent.

  2,719,118

  643,002

  1,175,025

  Grand total

  109,389,029

  56,704,639

  20,050,441

  Accumulated reserves

  £000

  TECs by region

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Northern

  County Durham

  3,987

  6,582

  7,845

  Northumberland

  2,463

  3,696

  5,150

  Teesside

  5,796

  9,186

  10,738

  Tyneside

  5,369

  4,486

  3,497

  Sunderland City (Wearside)

  2,002

  2,514

  2,885

  Merseyside

  CEWTEC

  1,976

  2,579

  2,167

  Merseyside

  3,018

  4,210

  4,638

  QUALITEC

  743

  1,055

  1,257

  North West

  Bolton/Bury

  2,013

  2,861

  4,633

  Manchester

  4,258

  3,377

  4,810

  METRO

  411

  519

  378

  Oldham

  1,373

  1,456

  1,196

  Rochdale

  489

  1,087

  1,665

  South and East Cheshire

  1,999

  2,419

  2,222

  Stockport and High Peak

  2,126

  2,782

  2,827

  Cumbria

  2,888

  2,999

  2,800

  ELTEC

  2,122

  3,364

  3,602

  LAWTEC

  3,154

  2,917

  4,098

  NORMID

  1,512

  1,093

  1,870

  Yorks and Humber

  Barnsley/Doncaster

  2,981

  3,993

  3,172

  Bradford

  1,907

  3,432

  3,135

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  830

  828

  1,662

  Humberside

  2,934

  5,193

  5,049

  Leeds

  3,564

  5,724

  5,837

  North Yorks

  3,417

  4,353

  5,270

  Rotherham

  1,731

  2,865

  3,467

  Sheffield

  3,274

  4,157

  5,301

  Wakefield

  2,441

  3,110

  3,856

  Eastern

  Bedfordshire

  1,335

  1,556

  1,099

  CAMBS

  588

  622

  964

  Essex

  4,294

  5,037

  4,243

  Greater Peterborough

  871

  1,532

  1,462

  Hertfordshire

  1,442

  2,641

  2,398

  Norfolk and Waverney

  2,573

  2,161

  2,951

  Suffolk

  2,511

  2,984

  1,529

  East Midlands

  Greater Nottingham

  846

  944

  1,258

  Leicester

  2,709

  4,597

  5,492

  Lincolnshire

  1,225

  2,553

  3,779

  Northamptonshire

  1,867

  1,977

  1,355

  North Derbyshire

  661

  749

  1,008

  North Nottinghamshire

  1,644

  1,289

  2,129

  South Derbyshire

  3,494

  4,106

  3,675

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  2,818

  1,212

  931

  Central England

  993

  1,340

  1,259

  Coventry/Warwick

  2,195

  2,203

  1,739

  Dudley

  412

  1,214

  1,279

  HAWTEC

  976

  1,679

  1,025

  Sandwell

  917

  1,706

  1,639

  Shorpshire

  600

  1,304

  1,625

  659

  Accumulated reserves

  £000

  TECs by region

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Staffordshire

  4,071

  5,789

  7,086

  Walsall

  1,398

  2,340

  1,303

  Wolverhampton

  1,032

  1,411

  899

  South West

  WESTEC Avon

  1,926

  3,071

  4,374

  Devon/Cornwall

  7,286

  7,407

  5,451

  Dorset

  2,794

  2,848

  2,572

  Gloucester

  1,575

  1,575

  1,870

  Somerset

  1,035

  1,746

  2,193

  Wiltshire

  862

  1,110

  2,155

  London

  AZTEC

  1,521

  1,932

  2,765

  CENTEC

  149

  906

  2,437

  CILNTEC

  551

  2,161

  2,388

  LETEC

  (483)

  655

  3,260

  North London

  1,153

  3,005

  2,745

  North West London

  439

  864

  1,412

  SOLOTEC

  908

  3,439

  5,070

  South Thames

  1,292

  3,611

  2,319

  West London

  162

  1,163

  1,511

  South East

  Hampshire

  3,248

  4,679

  4,493

  Isle of Wight

  718

  879

  1,014

  Kent

  3,543

  5,774

  4,938

  Milton Keynes/North Bucks

  578

  677

  896

  Heart of England

  1,563

  2,424

  2,496

  Surrey

  696

  1,663

  2,828

  Sussex

  3,281

  5,230

  5,244

  Thames Valley Ent.

  3,327

  3,970

  5,145

  Grand total

  150,374

  206,572

  226,730

WALES

  Welsh Language
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of the Welsh population speaks Welsh. [28442]

  Mr. Richards
  Some 21.5 per cent. spoke Welsh in 1992 according to the 1992 Welsh social survey. Further information is available in "1992 Welsh Social Survey: Report on the Welsh Language", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will lay before Parliament guidelines for the preparation of language schemes under the Welsh Language Act 1993, and if he will make a statement. [28475]

  Mr. Richards
  My right hon. Friend has approved the draft guidelines prepared by the Welsh Language Board without amendment and they were laid before Parliament on Friday 9 June.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many written parliamentary questions were tabled for answer by his Department in each of the past five years; how many of these were not answered because the information(a) could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, (b) was not held centrally or (c) was not normally disclosed; how many of these could now be answered now due to computerisation, more effective and efficient operational systems or more open government; and if he will list each question along with
  660
  the name and constituency of the right hon. or hon. Member who originally tabled it. [28505]

  Mr. Redwood
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of parliamentary questions, which would have been answered directly by him or his Ministers prior to the establishment of executive agencies, are now referred to the chief executive of such an agency. [28485]

  Mr. Redwood
  Ministers are accountable to Parliament for the policy of their agencies and accounting officer for financial regularity. Written parliamentary questions concerning matters which have been delegated to the chief executive of an executive agency in its framework document, normally receive a reply from the Minister to the effect that he or she has asked the chief executive to reply direct to the Member by letter. The chief executive's letter is published in Hansard after the Minister's reply.

  Special Areas of Conservation
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the amount of public funds spent in promoting the designation and protection of special areas of consultation in coastal and intertidal areas for the last three years in constant prices; what is his estimate for such spending during the next three financial years; if funding for special areas of consultation within coastal and intertidal areas will permit the United Kingdom to adhere to the European habitats and species directive; and if he will make a statement. [28211]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Marine and intertidal special areas of conservation have not been separately funded. For the purpose of disseminating information relating to these areas, the Countryside Council for Wales had convened meetings of relevant authorities and interested parties and has issued a separate information booklet about marine areas during the recent consultation exercise.

  The funding is sufficient to enable the UK to adhere to the European habitats directive.

  Tir Cymen
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what public funds are spent on the Tir Cymen for each available year since its inception; and what is the planned spending for the next three available years, giving the figures in constant prices. [28212]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The spending on Tir Cymen since its inception in 1992 is as follows:

  1992–93: £600,000

  1993–94: £2,100,000

  1994–95: £3,400,000

  1995–96: £4,000,000 (estimated)

  It is not possible at this stage to estiamte levels of expenditure on the scheme after the current financial year.

  Mr. Cynog Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the results of the Tir Cymen scheme; if all farmers in Wales will be eligible to take part in the Tir Cymen scheme once responsibility is transferred from the Countryside Council for Wales to the Welsh Office; and if he will make a statement. [28213]
  661
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The pilot phase was launched in July 1992 and is planned to run for five years. A decision on the future of the scheme will follow a thorough evaluation exercise later in its term.

  Conservation Sites
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will indicate what person or body will be given the responsibility for identifying and overseeing the conservation of sites of international importance following implementation of reorganisation plans for the Countryside Council for Wales. [28214]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  This function will continue to be the responsibility of the Countryside Council for Wales, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales recently made available an additional £100,000 for this purpose.

  Wet Grassland
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the area of wet grasslands in Wales for the latest available five years; what estimates he has made of the area of wet grassland for the next five years; what plans he has to encourage farmers to(a) conserve existing wet grassland and (b) recreate former grasslands; and if he will make a statement. [28215]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Annual statistics are not available, but figures can be derived from the Welsh phase 1 habitat survey and from a vegetation survey of the Welsh uplands carried out in the 1980s. Marshy grassland is generally widely distributed throughout lowland and upland Wales where soil moisture levels permits the development of juncus and molina pastures. There are approximately 24,000 hectares of this habitat present in lowland Wales, with a further 40,000 hectares in the uplands. Farmers are encouraged to conserve and recreate wet grassland through entry into an environmentally sensitive area, Tir Cymen or habitat scheme.

  First impression of the numbers of farmers applying to join the habitat scheme indicate that large areas of wet grassland habitat will be both maintained and enhanced in future.

  Agricultural Land
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made in(a) hectares and (b) acres of the amount of rural land lost to agriculture or conservation since 1965 at five-yearly intervals, indicating this as a percentage of (i) the area of land used for agriculture and (ii) the total land surface of Wales. [28216]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  No estimates of the amount of rural land lost to agriculture or conservation are available centrally. Estimates of the change in the total amount of land used for agriculture are shown in the following table:662

  Net change in agricultural land

  Net change in

  Net change as a percentage of

  (a) hectares

  (b) acres

  (i) land used for agriculture

  (ii) the total area of Wales

  1965–70

  -35,425

  -87,534

  -2.1

  -1.7

  1970–75

  -11,100

  -27,430

  -0.7

  -0.5

  1975–80

  17,130

  42,329

  1.0

  0.8

  1980–85

  1,323

  3,269

  0.1

  0.1

  1985–90

  -658

  -1,626

  -0.0

  -0.0

  1990–941

  -4,206

  -10,393

  -0.2

  -0.2

  1 Figures for 1995 are not yet available.

  Countryside Council for Wales
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations have been made to him by the board of the Countryside Council for Wales requesting additional moneys to ensure it meets its statutory obligations; and if he will make a statement. [28476]

  Mr. Redwood
  I am satisfied, as is the Countryside Council for Wales, that it has sufficient funds to fulfil its statutory duties. Written requests for additional funding were made on 27 February and 9 March. These requests were discussed fully in a meeting I held on 24 May with the chairman and chief executive of the Countryside Council for Wales. At the meeting, I asked the council to further reduce its overheads and to come forward with imaginative schemes using new technology to encourage home working. I have said that £325,000 of capital is available for a suitable scheme. In addition, I have also made available an extra £200,000 for new work to be undertaken on the EC habitats directive and on a study into the effects of overgrazing in Wales. The council has agreed to reduce its overheads by £1.96 million this year.

  Welsh Assembly
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment his Department has made about the likely costs of a Welsh Assembly; on what assumptions such work has been based; and if he will place a copy of all studies in the Library. [28892]

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department did not work out the costs of the proposals for a Welsh Assembly—I did. The Welsh Office has told me what the costs of employing people at the Welsh Office are.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what work the Welsh Office has undertaken on a Welsh Assembly since 1979; and if he will place a copy of all studies in the Library. [28891]

  Mr. Redwood
  No studies or other substantive work on the possibility of a Welsh Assembly have been carried out by the Welsh Office since 1979.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place a copy of his calculation of the cost of a Welsh Assembly in the Library. [28893]
  663
  Mr. Redwood
  I refer the hon. Gentlemen to the information I put out in my press notice last Friday, 9 June 1995.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what independent advice his Department has sought on the costs of a Welsh Assembly. [28890]

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department has taken no independent advice on the costs of the current proposals for a Welsh Assembly.

  EstateCare Group
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the proposed feasibility study for the privatisation of the EstateCare Group of the Welsh Health Common Services Authority was submitted to him; and if he will make a statement. [28635]

  Mr. Redwood
  The report by Touche Ross was submitted to my Department on 1 June 1995.

  NHS Performance Tables
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the cost of(a) the publication and (b) the official launching of the NHS performance tables on 4 July. [28636]

  Mr. Redwood
  The estimated expenditure on publishing and launching the 1995 NHS performance tables is £23,000.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 8 June,Official Report, columns 289–90, what representations he has had from the Member of the European Commission responsible for regional development concerning the use of (a) grant-in-aid and (b) the regional development fund in resourcing the Welsh Development Agency; if he will place a copy of the correspondence between the Commission, the Welsh Development Agency and himself on this issue in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [28664]

  Mr. Redwood
  The chairman of the Welsh Development Agency has received a letter from an official of the European Commission asking a number of questions about the agency's participation in European development programmes. The Commission has been informed that my Department will be replying to these inquiries in due course. Subject to the agreement of the Commission, I shall arrange for a copy of its letter to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Crown Immunity
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all areas within(a) his Department, (b) agencies under his Department's control and
  664
  (c) organisations for which he has ministerial responsibility to which Crown immunity applies; what consideration he has given to removing this; and if he will make a statement. [28647]

  Mr. Redwood
  An Act of Parliament is presumed not to bind the Crown unless the contrary intention is clearly stated, or there is a necessary implication that the Crown is to be bound. Ministers and civil servants will not necessarily share the Crown's immunity from criminal prosecution.

  The Government policy on Crown immunity, as set out in Cm 1599, "The Citizen's Charter—Raising the Standard", is that Crown immunity is being progressively reduced as legislative opportunities arise. In the meantime, Crown bodies are expected to behave as though they were bound by regulations.

  Prescription Pricing
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the corporate structure and legal basis proposed under the bid by the Prescription Pricing Authority (England) to supply the prescription pricing service in Wales via the current market testing exercise. [28856]

  Mr. Redwood
  The Welsh Health Common Services Authority has invited the Prescription Pricing Authority and four other organisations to submit bids to supply prescription pricing and checking services in Wales. Bids are expected later this month. It is for the PPA to satisfy WHCSA that it has the legal basis to take on this work and I understand that WHCSA has asked the PPA to confirm this.

  Psychiatric Services
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date each of the health authorities and trusts responsible for community services last supplied information to him pertaining to the regular medical audit of psychiatric services. [28659]

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department does not monitor audit activity to this level of detail. Medical audit is a professionally led activity, and is an issue for NHS trusts and local purchasers.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how frequently he requires the psychiatric services of each community health care trust and health authority in Wales to be submitted to medical audit; and how frequently he requires each trust and authority to apply comprehensive information to his Department for that purpose. [28660]

  Mr. Redwood
  Hospital doctors are required to regularly review and audit their activities. In addition, health authorities and NHS trusts can agree on programmes of audit and reflect that agreement in their contracts. NHS trusts are not required to submit information of this kind to the Department, although the Department does support projects that promote effective audit.

  University Hospital of Wales—A48 Link Road
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements he has made for meeting councillors and officers of South Glamorgan and Cardiff city council to discuss the funding arrangements for the Eastern avenue flyover access directly into the University hospital of Wales site, Heath, Cardiff. [28661]

  Mr. Redwood
  My officials are continuing discussions with the relevant parties.

  EC Urban Initiative
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has had concerning the number of applications he will be forwarding from Wales to the European Commission under the urban initiative; when he expects a further round of urban initiative applications; and if he will make a statement. [28638]

  Mr. Redwood
  None. At present, I have no plans to invite additional applications for the urban initiative. The European Commission requested one bid for Wales and I have selected Swansea city council's application for Townhill. Negotiations have commenced and approval is currently scheduled for July.

SCOTLAND

  Antanas Gecas
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what factors led the Lord Advocate not to pursue the prosecution of Antanas Gecas. [25621]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  It is not the normal practice of my noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate to disclose the names of individuals who may have been under investigation. Allegations that persons living in Scotland were responsible for war crimes committed during the second world war were investigated by a specialised Crown Office unit formed in 1991. The results of those investigations were reported to Crown counsel, who decided in 1994 that there was not at that time sufficient available evidence for a criminal prosecution in any of the cases reported to it. That remains the position.

  GP Fundholders
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what external legal advice has been(a) sought and (b) received in respect of parliamentary approval for the payment of practice management expenses by GP fundholders. [27016]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 June 19951: No such advice was sought or received.

  A76
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the volume of traffic on each identifiable stretch of the A76 for comparable periods during the past five years. [27377]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is set out in the following table. It has been supplied from records extracted from various automatic traffic counters 666
  located on the route in question. Due to the nature of the counting "regimes" of Dumfries and Galloway regional council and of Strathclyde regional council, which manage the counters on behalf of the Scottish Office, there is little continuous counting. The table therefore does not contain data for all stretches for all years and reflects some seasonal variation. However, examination of some of the more permanent sites suggest that the variation is not significant. The Scottish Office published in October of last year a pamphlet on the on-going A76 route action plan.

  Annual average daily flows

  "Route "and Counter location

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Dumfries-Thomhill

  A76 north of A75

  —

  17,776

  —

  18,258

  18,929

  A76 Newbridge

  —

  —

  —

  —

  8,011

  A76 Monks Lodge

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5,499

  A76 N/W of Auldridge

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5,632

  Thornhill-Carronbridge

  A76 S/E of Carronbridge

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4,807

  Carronbridge-Cumnock

  A76 Mennock

  —

  —

  2,737

  3,401

  2,111

  A76 Reyhill Farm

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4,017

  A76 Gateshead Cottages

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4,899

  A76 Polshill

  3,653

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cumnock-Kilmarnock

  A76 Little Heateth

  7,532

  7,005

  —

  —

  —

  A76 Cumnock bypass (S of A70)1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4,701

  A76 Cumnock bypass (N of A70)1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5,371

  A76 south of Mauchline1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  8,856

  A76 north of Mauchline1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  8,438

  A76 Bellfield to A7191

  —

  —

  —

  —

  9,127

  1 Figures based on 12 hour counts (factored up to provide annual average daily flows) carried out in October 1994.

  Prisons
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of receptions of young people to prison for 1994 shown by(a) sex, (b) age, (c) offence, (d) institution and (e) whether remand or sentenced. [27673]

  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.

  Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mr. Michael Connarty dated 15 June 1995:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of receptions of young people to prison for 1994 by sex, age, offence, institution and whether remand or sentenced.
  Table 1 enclosed with this letter shows remand receptions by sex and by establishment. Information on the types of offences allegedly committed by—or the individual ages of—those received on remand is not collected centrally.

  667
  Information on sentenced receptions is shown in the age groups under 16, 16–17 and 18–20 (where appropriate). Tables 2A and 21 set out information in relation to direct receptions from court and Tables 3A to 3L in respect of receptions for final default. As regards Tables 2A and 3A on females, the only all female establishment is Cornton Vale. In addition to the female receptions shown in these tables there were five others: one direct and three fine defaulter receptions to Dumfries and one fine defaulter reception to Inverness. Sentenced receptions are defined as follows. Where a person has several custodial sentences imposed on him by one court in one day this is counted as a reception. However, where custodial sentences are imposed on a person by two or more courts in one day, two receptions are recorded. Also, if a person is reconvicted while serving a custodial sentence and a further custodial sentence is imposed, this is also regarded as a reception.
  Remand and sentenced receptions cannot be added together to produce a total receptions figure due to some double-counting. For example, if an individual is first received untried or convicted awaiting sentence and is subsequently awarded a custodial sentence, there will be two receptions relating to this individual's time in prison—appearing both as a remand and sentenced reception.
  As the information requested is rather lengthy I have arranged for a copy of the tables to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of prison receptions in each year from 1990 by sex and offence. [27670]

  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.

  Direct receptions to Scottish penal establishments by crime and offence, 1990–19941

  Crime/offence

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  19941

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Total crimes and offences

  9,751

  519

  9,729

  578

  11,022

  562

  11,818

  678

  11,491

  713

  Total crimes: sub total

  7,038

  427

  7,099

  479

  7,880

  464

  8,511

  561

  8,131

  603

  Non-sexual crimes of violence: sub total

  1,001

  32

  933

  24

  1,134

  18

  1,361

  25

  1,241

  25

  Homicide

  66

  5

  56

  1

  74

  4

  76

  4

  77

  5

  Serious assault etc.

  557

  20

  560

  16

  682

  6

  717

  15

  612

  11

  Handling offensive weapons

  14

  0

  17

  1

  19

  0

  56

  0

  126

  4

  Robbery

  340

  4

  275

  4

  335

  4

  489

  4

  396

  3

  Other

  24

  3

  25

  2

  24

  4

  23

  2

  30

  2

  Crimes of indecency: sub total

  203

  9

  176

  8

  162

  8

  186

  9

  210

  6

  Sexual assault

  78

  1

  67

  0

  68

  0

  69

  0

  64

  0

  Lewd and libidinous practices

  98

  0

  84

  1

  75

  1

  90

  0

  129

  0

  Other

  27

  8

  25

  7

  19

  7

  27

  9

  17

  6

  Crimes of dishonesty: sub total

  5,021

  351

  5,110

  406

  5,594

  402

  5,654

  476

  5,487

  498

  Housebreaking

  1,858

  11

  1,823

  16

  1,842

  14

  1,878

  15

  1,782

  17

  Theft by opening lockfast places

  262

  2

  358

  1

  352

  2

  409

  1

  551

  1

  Theft of a motor vehicle

  368

  0

  435

  3

  596

  0

  648

  0

  594

  0

  Other theft

  1,871

  307

  1,800

  351

  2,018

  355

  2,029

  416

  1,852

  433

  Fraud

  209

  9

  192

  14

  171

  7

  181

  22

  163

  31

  Other

  453

  22

  502

  21

  615

  24

  509

  22

  545

  16

  Fire-raising, vandalism etc.: sub total

  149

  9

  118

  6

  149

  7

  162

  6

  173

  2

  Fire-raising

  29

  2

  27

  1

  31

  3

  38

  2

  43

  1

  Vandalism etc.

  120

  7

  91

  5

  118

  4

  124

  4

  130

  1

  Other crimes: sub total

  664

  26

  762

  35

  841

  29

  1,148

  45

  1,020

  72

  Crimes against public justice

  356

  10

  385

  20

  441

  15

  643

  20

  481

  33

  Drugs offences

  297

  16

  368

  14

  375

  14

  493

  25

  521

  38

  Other

  11

  0

  9

  1

  25

  0

  12

  0

  18

  1

  Total offences: sub total

  2,713

  92

  2,630

  99

  3,142

  98

  3,307

  117

  3,360

  110

  668
  Letter from Mr. E. W. Frizzell to Mr. Michael Connarty, dated 15 June 1995:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of prison receptions in each year from 1990 by sex and offence.
  I attach two tables which provide the information in relation to sentenced receptions, showing direct receptions from court and receptions for fine default separately. Sentenced receptions are defined as follows. Where a person has several custodial sentences imposed on him by one court in one day this is counted as a reception. However, where custodial sentences are imposed on a person by two or more courts in one day, two receptions are recorded. Also, if a person is reconvicted while serving a custodial sentence and a further custodial sentence is imposed, this is also regarded as a reception.
  Information on the types of offence allegedly committed by those received on remand is not collected centrally, but remand receptions were as follows:
  Remand and sentenced receptions cannot be added together to produce a total receptions figure due to some double-counting. For example, if an individual is first received untried or convicted awaiting sentence and is subsequently awarded a custodial sentence, there will be two receptions relating to this individual's time in prison—appearing both as a remand and sentenced reception.

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  19941

  Male

  14,323

  12,360

  12,722

  12,478

  13,985

  Female

  845

  767

  824

  934

  937

  Total

  15,168

  13,127

  13,546

  13,412

  14,922

  1 Information for 1994 is provisional.

  669

  Direct receptions to Scottish penal establishments by crime and offence, 1990–19941

  Crime/offence

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  19941

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Miscellaneous offences: sub total

  2,063

  88

  1,939

  99

  2,274

  96

  2,388

  114

  2,366

  108

  Petty assault

  566

  24

  560

  25

  566

  36

  681

  36

  749

  36

  Breach of the peace

  1,290

  59

  1,214

  70

  1,541

  58

  1,496

  74

  1,391

  71

  Drunkenness

  91

  2

  68

  0

  88

  1

  124

  0

  123

  0

  Other

  116

  3

  97

  4

  79

  1

  87

  4

  103

  1

  Motor vehicle offences: sub total

  650

  4

  691

  0

  868

  2

  919

  3

  994

  2

  Reckless and careless driving

  43

  2

  24

  0

  59

  0

  63

  0

  67

  0

  Drunk driving

  85

  1

  133

  0

  145

  0

  119

  0

  110

  0

  Speeding

  1

  0

  2

  0

  3

  0

  7

  0

  5

  0

  Unlawful use of vehicles

  505

  0

  518

  0

  650

  2

  720

  3

  807

  1

  Vehicle defect offences

  2

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Other

  14

  1

  13

  0

  11

  0

  10

  0

  4

  1

  1Information for 1994 is provisional.

  Fine defaulter receptions to Scottish penal establishments by crime and offence, 1990–19941

  Crime/offence

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  19941

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Total crimes and offences

  6,455

  380

  7,295

  614

  7,792

  547

  8,878

  738

  8,174

  701

  Total crimes: sub total

  3,104

  273

  3,434

  427

  3,649

  395

  3,895

  543

  3,502

  473

  Non-sexual crimes of violence: sub total

  42

  1

  41

  3

  63

  3

  63

  3

  89

  4

  Homicide

  0

  0

  0

  1

  3

  0

  2

  0

  2

  0

  Serious assault etc.

  17

  1

  12

  0

  29

  1

  27

  0

  39

  3

  Handling offensive weapons

  14

  0

  18

  0

  12

  0

  14

  2

  30

  0

  Robbery

  9

  0

  6

  0

  15

  0

  15

  0

  15

  0

  Other

  2

  0

  5

  2

  4

  2

  5

  1

  3

  1

  Crimes of indecency: sub total

  10

  99

  14

  151

  15

  143

  12

  242

  8

  162

  Sexual assault

  0

  0

  1

  0

  2

  0

  1

  0

  4

  0

  Lewd and libidinous practices

  8

  1

  4

  0

  5

  0

  3

  0

  3

  0

  Other

  2

  98

  9

  151

  8

  143

  8

  242

  1

  162

  Crimes of dishonesty: sub total

  2,538

  160

  2,753

  233

  2,805

  219

  2,937

  270

  2,456

  257

  Housebreaking

  510

  1

  573

  4

  484

  5

  511

  5

  428

  9

  Theft by opening lockfast places

  184

  3

  205

  2

  191

  2

  195

  2

  198

  0

  Theft of a motor vehicle

  135

  1

  172

  4

  227

  2

  198

  3

  169

  3

  Other theft

  1,302

  129

  1,397

  183

  1,439

  180

  1,586

  213

  1,240

  194

  Fraud

  148

  12

  121

  25

  132

  11

  134

  22

  125

  45

  Other

  259

  14

  285

  15

  332

  19

  313

  25

  296

  6

  Fire-raising, vandalism etc.: sub total

  175

  3

  203

  6

  208

  7

  218

  7

  260

  3

  Fire-raising

  7

  0

  6

  0

  6

  1

  2

  1

  2

  0

  Vandalism etc.

  168

  3

  197

  6

  202

  6

  216

  6

  258

  3

  Other crimes: sub total

  339

  10

  423

  34

  558

  23

  665

  21

  689

  47

  Crimes against public justice

  184

  9

  230

  31

  299

  18

  297

  16

  365

  29

  Drugs offences

  150

  1

  187

  3

  257

  5

  261

  4

  318

  18

  Other

  5

  0

  6

  0

  2

  0

  7

  1

  6

  0

  Total offences: sub total

  3,351

  107

  3,861

  187

  4,143

  152

  4,983

  195

  4,672

  228

  Miscellaneous offences: sub total

  2,486

  102

  2,856

  170

  2,856

  138

  3,393

  180

  2,928

  202

  Petty assault

  495

  14

  492

  23

  463

  17

  621

  26

  505

  26

  Breach of the peace

  1,710

  69

  2,011

  102

  2,102

  95

  2,469

  132

  2,103

  152

  Drunkenness

  161

  6

  177

  4

  136

  3

  180

  3

  168

  2

  Other

  120

  13

  176

  41

  155

  23

  123

  19

  152

  22

  Motor vehicle offences: sub total

  865

  5

  1,005

  17

  1,287

  14

  1,590

  15

  1,744

  26

  Reckless and careless driving

  72

  1

  74

  0

  87

  1

  74

  0

  86

  0

  Drunk driving

  155

  1

  193

  2

  244

  1

  220

  2

  250

  0

  Speeding

  10

  0

  9

  0

  14

  1

  25

  1

  23

  0

  Unlawful use of vehicles

  579

  2

  652

  13

  864

  9

  1,177

  10

  1,308

  25

  Vehicle defect offences

  14

  0

  19

  0

  15

  0

  20

  0

  29

  0

  Other

  35

  1

  58

  2

  63

  2

  74

  2

  48

  1

  1Information for 1994 is provisional.

  670 671
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the prison population in Scotland in each year since 1990 by sex and offence. [27674]

  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.

  Letter from Mr. E. W. Frizzell to Mr. Michael Connarty dated 15 June 1995:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your Question about the prison population in Scotland in each year since 1990 by sex and offence.
  Information by offence is not available in relation to the average daily prison population. Details of offence type are only collected on reception following sentence. The table below provides information on the average daily prison population by sex for the years 1990–1994.

  Average daily population in Scottish penal establishments by sex

  Year

  Male

  Female

  Total

  1990

  4,587

  137

  4,724

  1991

  4,696

  143

  4,839

  1992

  5,099

  158

  5,257

  1993

  5,466

  171

  5,637

  1994

  5,408

  177

  5,585

  Miscarriages of Justice
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of alleged miscarriages of justice his Department has considered in each of the last 10 years; and what action has been taken in each case. [27990]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The number of cases in respect of which representations were received by my right hon. Friend are as follows:

  1984: 54

  1985: 43

  1986: 61

  1987: 61

  1988: 46

  1989: 60

  1990: 39

  1991: 54

  1992: 58

  1993: 52

  1994: 30

  Eighteen cases are at present under consideration. Seven cases were referred by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the Court of Appeal under section 263(1) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975. Petitions were refused in all other cases.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of alleged miscarriages of justice he has referred to the Court of Appeal in each of the past 10 years; and with what result. [277991]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend has referred seven cases, relating to eight persons, to the Court of Appeal during the past 10 years. The number of cases in each year and the outcome of the subsequent appeals are set out in the table:672

  Year of referral

  Number of cases referred (persons)

  Outcome of appeal

  1984

  —

  —

  1985

  —

  —

  1986

  1(1)

  Conviction quashed

  1987

  —

  —

  1988

  1(1)

  Conviction quashed

  1989

  1(1)

  Conviction quashed

  1990

  —

  —

  1991

  1(2)

  Appeals dismissed

  1992

  1(1)

  Amended verdict of guilty Substituted

  1993

  2(2)

  Appeal dismissed/appeal Abandoned

  1994

  —

  —

  Rape
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of rape were(a) reported to the police, (b) reached court and (c) resulted in a guilty verdict in (i) 1985 and (ii) 1993. [28245]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information on the number of cases of rape reported to the police is not collected centrally. The available information is given in the following table:

  Number of offences of rape recorded by the police, persons called to court where the main charge was rape and those with a main charge of rape proved in Scotland1

  Year

  Number of offences recorded by the police

  Persons called to court2

  Persons with a charge proved2

  1985

  248

  76

  39

  1993

  339

  78

  40

  1 Cases of attempted rape are included in the above table but cases of assault with intent to rape or ravish are not included.

  1 For persons called to court and with a charge proved only those cases where the main charge was rape are included in the table; all recorded cases of rape are counted even where rape is not the main offence.

  Sheriff Courts
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the current position in relation to the review committee chaired by Sheriff Principal Gordon Nicholson into how the programming of business in the sheriff courts could be improved. [28574]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Following an initial report on the programming of business in the sheriff courts, a number of pilot schemes have been introduced and the results of these, with the implications for court programming of new legislative provisions, are shortly to be reviewed by the group under the chairmanship of Sheriff Principal Gordon Nicholson QC.

  Hire Vehicles
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what legislation and regulations govern the operation of public hire vehicles at Scotland's airports; what measures are in place to ensure that operators and/or
  673
  drivers cannot, by whatever means, refuse to transport passengers on the grounds that the journey is too short or too local; and if he will make a statement. [28527]

  Mr. Kynoch
  Taxis and private hire vehicles operating at airports may require a licence from the appropriate district or islands council under sections 10 to 23 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and a permit under airport byelaws drawn up by the airport operator. The terms and conditions of the licences and permits may vary accordingly to area. If the hon. Member has a particular area in mind he may wish to pursue the matter with the relevant authorities. In the case of Glasgow airport, the authorities would be Renfrew district council and the British Airports Authority.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the amount of(a) revenue support grant and (b) aggregate external finance allocated to each district council on a per capita basis in the current financial year; if he will explain the formulae which resulted in this calculation; and if he will make a statement. [28537]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The information requested is set out in the following table. An explanation of how the amounts payable to each authority in 1995–96 were determined is set out in the report to the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 1995, copies of which are in the Library.

  1995–96 RSG1 Per capita £

  1995–96 AEF1 Per capita £

  Berwickshire

  120.26

  121.82

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  110.93

  112.38

  Roxburgh

  127.58

  129.46

  Tweeddale

  127.89

  129.34

  Clackmannan

  137.42

  139.62

  Falkirk

  127.10

  128.91

  Stirling

  161.04

  162.64

  Annandale and Eskdale

  97.95

  99.33

  Nithsdale

  111.59

  113.17

  Stewartry

  95.82

  97.07

  Wigtown

  131.55

  133.85

  Dunfermline

  116.86

  118.50

  Kirkcaldy

  127.98

  129.96

  North-East Fife

  130.78

  131.85

  Aberdeen City

  134.25

  135.70

  Banff and Buchan

  119.12

  120.35

  Gordon

  111.20

  111.90

  Kincardine and Deeside

  105.90

  106.55

  Moray

  131.08

  132.43

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  135.23

  137.02

  Caithness

  132.16

  133.69

  Inverness

  113.16

  114.61

  Lochaber

  167.18

  168.88

  Nairn

  111.98

  113.56

  Ross and Cromarty

  172.68

  174.32

  Skye and Lochalsh

  206.15

  207.69

  Sutherland

  177.94

  179.46

  East Lothian

  134.24

  135.82

  Edinburgh City

  181.59

  183.88

  Midlothian

  124.24

  125.58

  West Lothian

  134.32

  135.80

  Argyll and Bute

  228.63

  230.58

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  95.62

  96.05

  Clydebank

  155.73

  158.51

  Clydesdale

  136.71

  138.12

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  120.99

  121.91

  674

  1995–96 RSG1 Per capita £

  1995–96 AEF1 Per capita £

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  138.82

  140.96

  Cunninghame

  147.82

  149.67

  Dumbarton

  127.01

  128.82

  East Kilbride

  126.97

  127.43

  Eastwood

  77.07

  77.53

  Glasgow City

  221.66

  225.40

  Hamilton

  146.23

  148.10

  Inverclyde

  175.00

  177.35

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  129.27

  131.22

  Kyle and Carrick

  124.75

  126.46

  Monklands

  159.27

  161.74

  Motherwell

  146.96

  149.23

  Renfrew

  136.72

  138.68

  Strathkelvin

  118.29

  119.20

  Angus

  112.93

  114.34

  Dundee City

  163.97

  166.75

  Perth and Kinross

  126.87

  128.32

  1 The per capita figures have been calculate General for Scotland's mid-1993 estimates of total population.

  Scottish Homes
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last discussed Her Majesty's Government's policy on the concepts of democracy and accountability with the chairman and chief executive of Scottish Homes; what was the result of these discussions; and if he will make a statement. [28569]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend and I meet the board of Scottish Homes from time to time to discuss a range of issues. I shall next be meeting the board on 4 September. Scottish Homes is accountable to my right hon. Friend and, through him, to the House.

  Johnstone Bypass
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many road accidents have occurred on the Johnstone bypass since it was opened; how many of these accidents have been fatal; how many have involved serious or critical injury; what assessment he has made of the reasons for the incidence of accidents on this stretch of road; what plans he has to take measures to reduce the potential accident risk; what discussions he has had with Strathclyde regional council on this subject; and if he will make a statement. [28528]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There have been 10 accidents, involving 15 casualties, on the Johnstone bypass since it opened to traffic in May 1993. Four accidents resulted in six fatalities and five accidents resulted in nine serious or slight injuries. Responsibility for the Johnstone bypass, including all road safety matters, rests with the local roads authority, in this case Strathclyde regional council. I understand that the regional council is actively monitoring the route and has already made a number of modifications to reduce the risk of accidents on the road.

  Health Trusts and Boards
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what age restrictions exist on membership of health trusts and boards. [27596]
  675
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There are no formal age restrictions on membership of health boards and NHS trusts.

  Public Offices
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to set uniform age limits for the holding of all public offices appointed by him. [27597]

  Mr. Lang
  I have no such plans. Appointments are made on merit and suitability, regardless of age.

  Gateside School for the Deaf
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the importance of the role performed by the Gateside school for the deaf in Renfrewshire and its future. [28556]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Gateside school makes a valuable contribution to provision for the special educational needs of hearing-impaired children in Strathclyde region. The management of all its schools, including Gateside school, is in the first instance a matter for Strathclyde regional council. After local government reorganisation, it will be for the new Renfrewshire council, and for the other two councils whose schools are currently served by the staff based at Gateside school, to determine how to discharge their statutory duties towards children with special educational needs resulting from hearing impairment in their areas. I am sure that the new councils will recognise the advantages offered by existing and new opportunities for effective and efficient co-operation.

  Raymond Gilmour
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of the application on behalf of Raymond Gilmour for the exercise of the prerogative of mercy; and when he expects to reach his conclusion. [28557]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to my replies of 6 March,Official Report, columns 86–87 and of 21 April, Official Report, column 215. Inquiries into the matters raised on Mr. Gilmour's behalf are continuing.

  Ferguslie Park Partnership
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the(a) names, (b) civil service posts, (c) designations and (d) specific duties of each member of staff who (1) is or (2) has been seconded by the Scottish Office on a whole-time or part-time basis to the Ferguslie park partnership or any of its offshoots or associated companies, trusts, bodies or organisations since its establishment; and if he will make a statement. [28560]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Two members of Scottish office staff are presently on secondment to the Ferguslie park partnership and a further two have completed period of secondment at the partnership. Their details are as follows:676

  1.

  (a) D. R. Dickson

  (b) Unified Grade 5

  (c) Chief Executive of the Partnership from 1 August 1989 to 31 August 1992

  (d) to manage the implementation of the regeneration strategy for Ferguslie Park

  2.

  (a) A. M. Burnside

  (b) Unified Grade 5

  (c) Chief Executive of the Partnership from 28 August 1992 and continues in post

  (d) continuing management of the implementation of the regeneration strategy for Ferguslie Park

  3.

  (a) A. C. M. Baker

  (b) Senior Executive Officer; Unified Grade 7

  (c) Depute Executive from 26 March 1990 to 15 November 1992; Economic Director from 16 November 1992 to 24 October 1994

  (d) implementing strategies for regeneration of Ferguslie Park; managing and developing the Partnership Training and Employment Initiative

  4.

  (a) J. M. Mitchell

  (b) Higher Executive Officer

  (c) and (d) No specific designation. Short term assignment from February to July 1995.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of States for Scotland if he will list all contracts awarded by(a) Ferguslie park partnership and (b) his Department or any other body to which he appoints, to FCB Securities, or its parent, associated or predecessor companies since 1988, or for the latest year for which the information is available; if he will specify the projected and actual value of each contract; and if he will make a statement. [28563]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Details of the contracts are as follows:

  Awarding body

  Company contracted and nature of contract

  Projected value of contracts in 1995–96 (excluding VAT) £ Thousand

  The Ferguslie Park Training, Economic and Enterprise Development Company Ltd.

  FCB Securities security services (since 1989)

  25.0

  (a) Ferguslie Park Community Centre Ltd.

  FCB Securities security services (since spring 1995)

  50.5

  (b)

  FPCH Limited accountancy services (since autumn 1993)

  3.0

  (a) Craigielea Pre-5 Centre Limited

  FPCH Limited wage administration (since spring 1993)

  1.0

  (b)

  FCB Securities security services (since spring 1993)

  4.0

  Scottish Hospices
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the impact of the national lottery on fund raising by Scottish hospices; and if he will make a statement. [28558]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish partnership agency for palliative and cancer care is keeping this under review. A representative of the Scottish Office attends meetings of the agency.

  Security Companies
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received(a) supporting and (b) opposing the registration of security companies; and if he will make a statement. [28559]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend has received no specific representations on this issue. As

  Chief Executives of the New Councils

  New Council

  Salary 1 April 1995 £

  Chief Executive

  Current position

  Aberdeen City

  80,000

  Mr. Douglas Paterson

  Director of Education, Grampian Regional Council

  Aberdeenshire

  80,000

  Mr. Alan Campbell

  Chief Executive, Grampian Regional Council

  Angus

  73,000

  Mr. Sandy Watson

  Chief Executive, Tayside Regional Council

  Argyll and Bute

  68,000

  Mr. James McLellan

  Director of Administration, Argyll and Bute District Council

  Clackmannanshire The

  58,000

  Mr. Robert Allan

  Chief Executive, Clackmannan District Council

  Dumbarton and Clydebank

  73,000

  Mr. Michael Watters

  District Secretary and Director of Legal and Administrative Services, Dumbarton District Council

  Dumfries and Galloway

  80,000

  Mr. Ian Smith

  Chief Executive Dumfries and Galloway Regional Council

  Dundee, City of

  80,000

  Mr. Alex Stephen

  Chief Executive, City of Dundee District Council

  East Ayrshire

  73,000

  Mr. David Montgomery

  Senior Deputy Director of Education, Strathclyde Regional Council

  East Dumbartonshire

  73,000

  Mr. Cornelius Mallon

  Chief Executive, Strathkelvin District Council

  East Lothian

  65,000

  Mr. John Lindsay

  Depute Chief Executive and Director of Finance, East Lothian District Council

  East Renfrewshire

  65,000

  Mr. Peter Daniels

  Chief Executive, Clydesdale District Council

  Edinburgh, City of

  93,000

  Mr. Tom Aitchison

  Chief Executive, Lothian Regional Council

  Falkirk

  76,000

  Mr. Walter Weir

  Chief Executive, Falkirk District Council

  Fife

  89,000

  Dr. John Markland

  Chief Executive, Fife Regional Council

  Glasgow, City of

  96,000

  Mr. John Anderson

  Depute Chief Executive, Strathclyde Regional Council

  Highland

  84,000

  Mr. Arthur McCourt

  Assistant Chief Executive, Tayside Regional Council

  Inverclyde

  68,000

  Mr. Graeme Bettison

  Senior Depute Director of Administration, Grampian Regional Council

  Midlothian

  62,000

  Mr. Trevor Muir

  Chief Executive, Midlothian District Council

  Moray

  62,000

  Mr. Anthony Connell

  Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Administration, Grampian Regional Council

  North Ayrshire

  76,000

  Mr. Bernard Devine

  Chief Executive, Cunninghame District Council

  North Lanarkshire

  89,000

  Mr. Andrew Cowe

  Managing Director, Renfrew District Council

  Orkney Islands

  58,000

  Mr. Ronald Gilbert

  Chief Executive, Orkney Islands Council

  Perthshire and Kinross

  73,000

  Mr. Harry Robertson

  Chief Executive, Perth and Kinross District Council

  Renfrewshire

  80,000

  Mr. Thomas Scholes

  Senior Depute Director of Finance, Strathclyde Regional Council

  Shetland Islands

  58,000

  Mr. Malcolm Green

  Chief Executive, Shetlands Islands Council

  Scottish Borders

  73,000

  Mr. Alastair Croall

  Depute Chief Executive, Borders Regional Council

  South Ayrshire

  73,000

  Mr. George Thorley

  Assistant Chief Executive, Strathclyde Regional Council

  South Lanarkshire

  89,000

  Mr. Alastair J. H. MacNish

  Depute Director of Social Work, Strathclyde Regional Council

  Stirling

  65,000

  Mr. Keith Yates

  Assistant Chief Executive, Central Regional Council

  West Lothian

  76,000

  Mr. Alex Linkson

  Chief Executive and Director of Finance, West Lothian District Council

  Western Isles

  58,000

  Mr. Brian Stewart

  Chief Executive, Western Isles Islands Council

  Sources:

  Local Government Staff Commission and Scottish Joint Negotiating Committee for Local Authority Services.
  678
  the hon. Gentleman will know, the Home Affairs Select Committee has recently published a report on the private security industry. Although the report applies only to the security industry in England and Wales, we will give careful consideration to its conclusions and recommendations.

  Unitary Authorities (Chief Executives)
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the (i) name, (ii) salary and (iii) previous occupation of each chief executive so far appointed by unitary authorities in Scotland; if he will list those unitary authorities which have still to appoint; and if he will make a statement. [28561]

  Mr. Kynoch
  Chief executives—strictly speaking, heads of paid service—have now been appointed to all of the new Scottish councils. The information requested, including that for the three islands areas, is listed in the following table:

  Illicit Drugs
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what immediate action he proposes to take to deal with the introduction of new forms of illicit drugs; what resources he will make available to the relevant authorities to stop the use of such drugs at an early stage; what action will be taken against these convicted of dealing in this trade; and if he will make a statement. [28562]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 provides a framework for controlling new or existing drugs liable to be misused. Substantial resources are being committed to action against drug misuse across a range of services, thus facilitating the concerted and vigorous response recommended in the report of the Scottish drugs task force, led by my noble and learned friend the Minister of State. Those convicted of trafficking in drugs will be sentenced by the courts according to the nature of the offence and the class of drug involved.

  Trunk Roads
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about progress on construction of trunk road schemes during 1994–95 and those schemes the Government propose to start in Scotland in the next three years. [29410]

  Mr. Lang
  We continue to make good progress towards the achievement of a safe, high quality trunk road network providing benefits to the whole of Scotland. The programme I am announcing today continues our strategy of upgrading the key routes of major economic importance to Scotland's future and the emphasis we have directed to upgrading the A74 to motorway, the completion of the central Scotland motorway and near-motorway network, and the upgrading of the A1.

  The schemes with an estimated cost of more than £3 million each which, subject to schemes satisfying the usual value-for-money criteria, with satisfactory completion of statutory procedures and the necessary preparatory work, are expected to start between April 1995 and March 1998 are:

  M6: Paddy's Rickle to Cleuchbrae

  M8: Newhouse to Shotts

  M8: Bailiston to Newhouse phase 1

  A9: Logie Easter to Garrick Bridge

  A830: Loch Nan Uamh to Polnish Bridge

  A96: Kintore bypass

  M8: Newbridge interchange

  Al: Haddington to Dunbar

  A830: Arisaig to Kinsadel

  A68: Dalkeith bypass

  M77: Fenwick to B764 (Floak)

  M90: Halbeath interchange

  This is an ambitious programme requiring substantial levels of investment. The schemes have a total cost of more than £330 million. The Government see an increasing role for private sector finance and management skills in the trunk road business and, accordingly, I have decided that the M6 Paddy's Rickle to Cleuchbrae project will be subject to a tender competition to identify a private consortium to design, build, finance and operate this scheme, which will include taking over the maintenance
  680
  responsibility for the entire length of upgraded road between Millbank and the Scottish border. That tender competition will start in the summer and it will be a major opportunity for the private sector to increase its involvement in the trunk road business. It shall ensure that the full upgrade of the motorway will be complete by 2000. I am exploring with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport how this strategy might also address the completion of the remaining section of the M6 south of the Scottish border.

  My decision to invite the private sector to design, build, finance and operate the scheme is a significant example of how the attraction of private finance can complement public provision. We shall continue actively to explore the potential for further opportunities.

  We shall also seek tenders for the first phase of the Baillieston-Newhouse project on the M8 to upgrade and widen the sole remaining non-motorway section of the Edinburgh to Glasgow route in line with long-standing commitments. The three successive phases of the scheme will be complete by 2002. The M8 is the principal link between Scotland's two major cities, and several areas of significant industrial and commercial importance are situated along it. The overall condition of this vital artery must be considered most carefully to ensure that it continues to be able to cater for the ever increasing demands made of it. We shall in the course of this year initiate a detailed study to examine a robust strategy for its refurbishment and upgrading. As a first step in this process, we shall shortly seek tenders for a major contract to reconstruct and upgrade the section between Shotts and Newhouse.

  Our programme now includes the commitments I made in relation to the network around the firth of Forth in my announcement earlier this year on the "Setting Forth" proposals—the improvements to the junctions at M8 Newbridge and M90 Halbeath.

  Our major construction activity is directed by our primary objective to upgrade Scotland's internal and external motorway links, which are vital to the continuing success of our economy. This is complemented by our continuing commitment to the improvement of the trunk road network elsewhere. During the next three years, I shall devote resources totalling well over £200 million to a range of improvements and continuing maintenance, which will improve the service offered to travellers and increase road safety. The interests of local communities near trunk roads are also being directly addressed in this programme. During the coming year, the work will see important local improvement schemes on the Al south of Dunbar, the A90 between Perth and Dundee and the A7 south of Hawick, all as part of route action plans carefully designed to put resources where they will secure the greatest benefit. The A76 Kilmarnock to Dumfries route and the A77 will also benefit from such improvements, including traffic calming measures and village gateways. We continue to develop schemes and measures to address urgent needs throughout the network including the A75 and the A96.

  I wish also to report on the substantial progress we have made during 1994–95. Fifteen schemes—each with a cost of more than £3 million—were either completed or under way, representing a total investment in excess of £380 million. They include nine separate schemes contributing

  681
  to the upgrade of the A74. More than two thirds of the upgraded M74 will be open to traffic by the end of this year. Construction of the M8 extension between Newbridge and the Edinburgh city bypass scheme is also well advanced and should be open this year. Construction also continues on the privately financed Skye bridge, scheduled to open in the autumn, the M77 and the A1 Tranent to Haddington.

  The schemes completed in 1994–95, and their costs, were as follows:

  M74—Maryville to Fullarton road: £44 million

  A830—Morar bypass: £9 million

  M6—Cleuchbrae to Dinwoodie Green: £24 million

  M6—Dinwoodie Green to Muirhouse: £19 million

  M6—Muirhouse to Water of Milk: £39 million

  M6—Water of Milk to Ecclefechan: £27 million

  M6—Ecclefechan to Eaglesfield phase 1: £15 million

  As I announced recently, we are also proceeding with the proposals set out in "Competing For Better Roads", which aim to improve the delivery of maintenance across the trunk road network, through the introduction of private sector management expertise, financial skills and innovative contractual methods.

  Taken altogether, this package is very good news indeed for Scotland's road industry and for the users of Scotland's trunk roads.

  Sewerage Charges
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if any assistance will be given to domestic consumers when separate charges for domestic sewerage are introduced in 1996–97. [29411]

  Mr. Kynoch
  At present, local authority expenditure on domestic sewerage is one of the items which make up a householder's council tax bill. It is not easy for householders to work out how much they pay towards the service. That is why we are publishing a leaflet about water and sewerage costs in 1995–96, following the leaflet sent out last year. The leaflet will be distributed to all householders during the next few weeks.
  682
  The cost to households for domestic sewerage will be clearer from 1 April 1996, when there will be a separate charge set by the new water and sewerage authority that delivers the service. Only those connected to the public sewerage system will be liable to pay.

  As stated during the passage of the Local Government Etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, we intend to see that the change in the financing of domestic sewerage will not of itself produce any increase in the aggregate of council tax and water services bill between 1995–96 and 1996–97. Accordingly, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will make regulations under section 81 of the 1994 Act to reduce charges for domestic sewerage set by the three new public water and sewerage authorities in 1996–97. This transitional relief scheme will be financed by an adjustment to the level of aggregate external finance funding of local authority expenditure. The amount of help we will give will be shown on individual consumers' bills. The full charge will be phased in over a period of time.

  Medical Negligence
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all current alleged medical negligence cases against the NHS by(a) type of allegation and (b) length of time waiting for settlement. [23303]

  Lord James Douglas Hamilton
  [holding answer 16 May 1995]: The number of medical negligence cases against the NHS currently totals 1,195. Information on the type of allegation is not collected centrally.

  The length of time since the currently outstanding cases were lodged is as follows:

  Time period

  Number of cases

  Within the last 17 months

  412

  2 years

  298

  3 years

  198

  4 years

  106

  5 years

  83

  6 years

  46

  7 years

  26

  8 years

  8

  9 years

  8

  10 years

  9

  12 years

  1

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