Written Answers of 27 June 1995

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Majority Shareholdings
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those companies in which the holder of his office is a majority shareholder which(a) are currently in existence and (b) have been wound up in the past five years. [25716]

  Mr. Goodlad
  [holding answer 22 May 1995]: None.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which European directives he has requested the Government of Gibraltar to give effect to in the last 12 months; in which cases they have failed to do so; what have been the consequences of these failures and what sanctions are available to him in the case of these failures. [30457]

  Mr. David Davis
  As in any other part of the EU, the Government of Gibraltar must implement all applicable EU legislation. I welcome the Chief Minister of Gibraltar's recent public undertakings to implement by the end of this year the backlog of legislation which as arisen. We are providing help with that process.

  European Parliament
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the costs at current prices of the European Parliament for each of the last 10 years. [30500]

  Mr. David Davis
  The costs at current prices of the European Parliament for each of the last 10 years were:

  Sterling £ million

  ECU million

  ECU Exchange rate

  1994

  515

  666

  1.2924

  1993

  497

  638

  1.2845

  1992

  450

  614

  1.3620

  1991

  380

  545

  1.4284

  1990

  358

  497

  1.4000

  1989

  319

  465

  1.4886

  1988

  337

  486

  1.5051

  1987

  338

  449

  1.4190

  1986

  296

  409

  1.4946

  1985

  210

  336

  1.6981

  Former Yugoslavia
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received in respect of war crimes committed 544
  against the Serb population in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. [31138]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There have been allegations of war crimes committed against all sides in the conflict in former Yugoslavia. We regularly pass information on possible war crimes to the international tribunal in the Hague.

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 27 June. [29364]

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 15 June 1995. [29366]

  Mr. Newton
  I have been asked to reply.

  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is currently in Cannes attending the European Council.

  Prisoners of War
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister what was his response to the delegation which met him on 21 June concerning former British prisoners of war held by the Japanese; and if he will make a statement. [31135]

  Mr. Newton
  I have been asked to reply.

  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister expressed his very great sympathy for all that the former prisoners had endured. While recalling the Government's view of legal position, he said that he had discussed the matter with successive Japanese Prime Ministers and would continue to pursue it. He agreed to ask his Japanese counterpart if he would meet representatives of the former prisoners when they visit Japan next month.

  Northern Ireland
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Prime Minister, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland about the peace process; and if he will make a statement. [31140]

  Mr. Newton
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Prime Minister has frequent discussions about all aspects of the situation in Northern Ireland with my right hon. and learned Friend.

  Nuclear Testing
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what consideration was given during the G7 summit in Halifax, Canada to raising with the French President the matter of public concern over nuclear testing.

  Mr. Newton
  I have been asked to reply.

  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister discussed nuclear testing with President Chirac on other occasions. It was not considered necessary to do so at Halifax.

TRANSPORT

  East London River Crossing
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how he proposes to develop the options for additional Thames crossings in east London identified in the Thames gateway planning framework. [31492]

  Mr. Norris
  A Consultation Document, "River Crossings to the East of Tower Bridge", was published today by the Government office for London. This seeks the widest possible views on the form and priorities for crossings, with the aim of identifying buildable schemes which have a broad degree of consensus.

  I will place a copy in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Transport Council
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what was the result of the Transport Council in Luxembourg on 19th and 20th June. [31493]

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The Transport Council met in Luxembourg on 19 and 20 June. My right hon. Friend the former Secretary of State for Wales and I represented the United Kingdom.

  The Council adopted conclusions on aviation relations with the USA. At my insistence, these require the Commission to carry out a thorough analysis to show whether a better result for all member states could realistically be produced by negotiations at Community level and to define the common interest.

  The Council reached a common position on guidelines on trans-European networks in transport and on a draft directive on interoperability of the high-speed train network. In the case of the guidelines on trans-European networks, a unanimous decision was required in the face of objections by the Commission.

  The Council reached a common position on a regulation on implementation of the international safety management code on the safety and management of vessels. The regulation provides for early mandatory application of the code from 1 July 1996 to all roll-on roll-off passenger ferries using EU ports.

  The Council adopted a directive on the collection of harmonised statistics on the carriage of passengers and goods by sea and on vessel movements.

  The Council held an orientation debate on alternative proposals for more effective recording equipment in road vehicles, in the light of member states' commitment to improve the enforcement of legislation on drivers' hours. At the end of an inconclusive debate the presidency called for further work to be carried out to assess the relative costs and benefits of the alternatives.

  The Council discussed Commission proposals to relax the constraints on the hire of road haulage vehicles for international operations. Most member states saw substantial difficulties in the proposals as they stand. The Committee of Permanent Representatives was invited to carry out further work on them in the light of the Council's discussion.
  546
  The Transport Commissioner, Mr. Kinnock, made an interim progress report on the Commission's exploratory talks with Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria on possible road transport agreements with the Community.

  The Council discussed proposals by the Commission for liberalisation of ground handling services at Community airports. It agreed that the Committee of Permanent Representatives should continue work on the proposal in the light of the debate.

  The Council also agreed conclusions on research in the transport sector, on the mutual acceptance of aviation products and on maritime relations with third countries. A resolution was adopted calling for further work on the development of telematics and automatic tolling systems for use in road transport.

  Marine Safety
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 15 June,Official Report, column 618, what is the estimated time necessary for full evacuation in a real emergency from The Viking. [30301]

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: This is an operational matter for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 27 June 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about the estimated time to carry out a full evacuation in a real emergency from the roll on-roll off passenger ferry "The Viking".
  The vessel, now understood to be named "Peder Olsen", is not on the United Kingdom Register; the information requested is not, therefore, available. I can confirm, however, that agreed international provisions require the evacuation of all personnel to be accomplished within 30 minutes.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated time for evacuation from a roll-on roll-off ferry with carrying(a) 600, (b) 650 and (c) 700 passengers. [30233]

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: This is an operational matter for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 27 June 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about the estimated time for evacuation from a roll on-roll off ferry carrying 600, 650 and 700 passengers.
  I would refer you to the answer given on 9 May in a written reply to your Question reference PQ 1649/94/95. It is a requirement that all persons onboard a vessel could be evacuated within 30 minutes.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated time for evacuation from the CONDOR 11 catamaran when at full capacity; and what is the evacuation procedure. [30234]

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: This is an operational matter for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
  547
  Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 27 June 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about evacuation from the catamaran CONDOR 11.
  The CONDOR 11 is provided with marine evacuation systems. Following a decision to abandon ship, passengers will be directed to use these to enter the life-rafts. The estimated time for evacuation of all personnel is 12 minutes.

  Motorway Congestion
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is his Department's policy on restricting access to any motorway during episodes of traffic congestion; to which motorways this policy has been applied in practice in the last six months; and whether it is his intention to extend such a policy to the M25; [30657]

  (2) what is his Department's policy on restricting access to the M5 during episodes of traffic congestion; on how many occasions restrictions have been necessary in the last six months; and if he will list the junction numbers of the entry points which have been closed on each of the last three occasions. [30658]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Michael Meacher, dated 27 June 1995:
  The Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Questions asking about policy on

  Grade

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  CSO

  1

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  DCSO

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  4

  4

  4

  4

  3

  3

  4

  4

  SPSO

  11

  11

  14

  12

  11

  14

  16

  15

  17

  20

  22

  20

  18

  PSO

  45

  40

  41

  41

  44

  31

  28

  31

  53

  82

  86

  87

  93

  SSO

  56

  59

  59

  62

  66

  53

  52

  57

  71

  81

  80

  69

  70

  HSO

  60

  55

  57

  50

  47

  50

  49

  53

  60

  65

  61

  53

  50

  SO

  40

  32

  28

  28

  26

  31

  25

  25

  38

  35

  29

  26

  27

  ASO

  21

  20

  19

  19

  15

  17

  10

  13

  19

  19

  22

  18

  15

  G5

  7

  9

  9

  8

  9

  9

  9

  9

  9

  9

  9

  10

  8

  G6

  36

  44

  41

  41

  39

  40

  42

  42

  45

  48

  45

  49

  50

  G7

  35

  34

  34

  32

  32

  32

  36

  36

  36

  33

  35

  36

  32

  SEO

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  Total

  315

  308

  306

  296

  293

  282

  271

  285

  352

  395

  392

  373

  368

  Note:

  CSO Chief Scientific Officer (now Home Civil Service (HCS) Grade 4).

  DCSO Deputy Chief Scientific Officer (now HCS Grade 5).

  SPSO Senior Principal Scientific Officer (now HCS Grade 6).

  PSO Principal Scientific Officer (now HCS Grade 7).

  SSO Senior Scientific Officer.

  HSO Higher Scientific Officer.

  SO Scientific Officer.

  ASO Assistant Scientific Officer.

  G5 Home Civil Service Grade 5.

  G6 Home Civil Service Grade 6.

  G7 Home Civil Service Grade 7.

  SEO Senior Executive Officer.
  548
  restricting access to motorways during episodes of traffic congestion.
  My Department has no general policy of restricting access to motorways during episodes of traffic congestion. The police, who are responsible for the day to day operation of motorways, may control access from time to time, particularly to enable them to deal more effectively with the aftermath of accidents and incidents.
  A system of "ramp metering" as introduced on the southbound entry slip road to the M6 at junction 10 in 1986, and has since been extended to cover the northbound entry slips at junction 10, both entry slips at junction 9, and the southbound entry slips at junctions 5 and 7. Traffic signals control the rate at which traffic enters the motorway to smooth flows at peak periods.
  The southbound entry slip road at junction 16 on the M5 has been closed since mid-April because of major maintenance. It is due to reopen within the next two weeks. Appropriate diversion routes are in place.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Scientists
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many scientists were directly employed by the ODA in each year since 1983; [29864]

  (2) how many qualified scientists there are in each grade in the Overseas Development Administration. [30217]

  Mr. Baldry
  The number of ODA posts, including those in the Natural Resources Institute, requiring a natural science or social science qualification, by grade, since 1983 are:
  549
  In addition, ODA employs other scientists on short-term contracts to work on the overseas aid programme, figures for which are not collected centrally.

TREASURY

  Mortgage Tax Relief
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the value of the £30,000 mortgage tax relief if it had been increased in line with inflation from the time of its inception. [29638]

  Sir George Young
  As a result of lower mortgage interest rates the average mortgage holder is over £130 a month better off than five years ago. The £30,000 limit on mortgage interest relief was introduced in 1983–84. If this limit had been indexed in line with the change in the retail prices index, the limit for 1995–96 would be £53,000.

  Inflation
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he has decided to drop the Government's previous commitment to aim for a long-term rate of inflation of 2 per cent. or less. [30003]

  Mr. Nelson
  The Government's commitment to permanently low inflation is unchanged. In his Mansion House speech on 14 June my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor laid down precise guidelines for the day to day operation of policy. Interest rates will be set consistently to achieve inflation of 21/2 per cent. or less, which should ensure that inflation will remain within the range 1 to 4 per cent. This would put us on course to achieve one of the best performances in Europe.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what prior information he was given about the appeal by the Inland Revenue on the separate assessment for council tax purposes of annexes of houses set aside for elderly relatives; if the appeal was undertaken with his approval; what action he proposes to take as a result; and if he will make a statement. [30021]

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 22 June 1995]: Officials of the Valuation Office Agency briefed me on this issue earlier in the year. It is for the VOA and its legal advisers to consider whether to appeal to the High Court in council tax cases and the chief executive decided to do so in these cases.

  The Government will study the full text of the judgment as soon as it is available, in order to decide what action may be necessary. Our current understanding is that it affects only a small number of cases where there is an unresolved dispute as to whether a property contains one dwelling or more than one dwelling for council tax purposes. The ruling, as we understand it pending full examination of the transcript, does not mean that thousands of families caring for elderly relatives are likely to face additional back-dated council tax bills. The High Court has not said that either annexes generally or the particular annexes which were the subject of these cases are liable to separate council tax. It has merely said that
  550
  the valuation tribunals concerned took irrelevant factors into account in taking their decisions and has remitted the cases to the tribunals for reconsideration.

  The Government do not believe, and the judgment does not appear to suggest, that families should be penalised for sharing their home with an elderly relative or relatives.

  Housing Market and Retail Sales
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what studies his Department has carried out on the effect on retail sales of(a) an upturn, (b) a standstill and (c) a fall in the housing market. [30417]

  Mr. Nelson
  Treasury officials frequently review evidence on the relationship between consumer spending and real house prices. Most studies show a positive association, not least because factors such as actual and expected income and interest rates tend to drive both in the same direction.

  Gilt-edged Stock
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider extending the consultation period for the recent proposals to change the taxation of gilt-edged stock. [31248]

  Sir George Young
  We considered the timetable for consultation very carefully before announcing the proposals in the Revenue's consultative document, as my foreword makes clear. We concluded that the period proposed struck the best available balance between the need to allow scope for consultation and to minimise uncertainly. That remains our view.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to bring proposals to the House in relation to the reform of taxation of gilt-edged stock. [31247]

  Sir George Young
  My hon. Friend the Minister of State announced the publication of an Inland Revenue consultative document in reply to the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Banks) on 25 May 1995 Official Report, column 712. Copies were placed in the Library of the House. We will announce our decision whether to proceed shortly after the period for consultation closes at the end of this month. Any consequent legislative proposals will come before the House in the normal way.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he will take to protect personal investors in gilt-edged stocks from the retrospective tax consequences of the recent proposals to reform the taxation of gilt-edged stock; and if he will make a statement. [31249]

  Sir George Young
  The proposals would not have retrospective effect: they would apply only to gains or losses building up in the future.

  The consultative document on the possible reform of the taxation of gilts and bonds suggests that there should be a sizeable threshold for private investors below which only interest would be taxable. It seeks views on the size and form of this threshold. The Government envisage that the threshold would be set at a level high enough to ensure that the overwhelming majority of personal investors were below it.
  551
  Most current personal holders of gilts would, if anything, be likely to benefit from the reform: the accrued income scheme which taxes accrued interest on disposals of gilts, would be abolished; and in addition, for those above the threshold, losses on disposals of gilts would attract tax relief. We will, though, be carefully considering representations on how the transition to the new regime might best be handled if the reform goes ahead.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Civil Service Pension Fund
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if the proposed privatisation of the administration of the civil service pension fund will require secondary legislation. [31265]

  Mr. Horam
  The Government propose, following an efficiency scrutiny of administration of the PCSPS, to permit Departments to market test administration of the scheme. Parliamentary approval for this intended course of action will be sought. I expect shortly to make a statement on the matter. Occupational pension arrangements for civil servants will continue to be provided through the PCSPS.

  Civil Service College
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what key targets have been set for the Civil Service College for the current year. [31155]

  Mr. Horam
  I have set the following targets for the Civil Service College in 1995–96:

  1. to break even in accrual accounting terms without a central payment from Cabinet Office (OPSS);

  2. to earn £700,000 from consultancy;

  3. to attract 8,000 students at grade 7 and above;

  4. to attract 1,000 students from the private sector;

  5. to earn 80 per cent. of course evaluations in the two highest of six categories.

EMPLOYMENT

  Consultants
  Mr. Ian McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much money has been spent by the Health and Safety Executive in employing private sector consultants in support of its market testing and contracting out programme; and for what purposes. [29214]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  In the period from 1992 to 1993, the Health and Safety Executive has spent a total of £386,759 on private sector consultancy in support of its market testing and contracting out programme.

  These consultants have been used to support in-house teams in constructing their bids, and to advise the HSE on the various aspects of particular procurements.

  To date, the gross saving for market testing and contracting out is £2.68 million.

  Safety Regulations
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many prosecutions for infringement of safety regulations have been brought before the courts over the last five years in each region. [29358]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The number of prosecutions—measured by the number of informations laid—by the Health and Safety Executive's field operations division for infringement of safety regulations in each of the last five years in each HSE region is shown in the following table:

  Proceedings instituted by HSE's Field Operations Division Inspectorates for breaches of health and safety legislation

  Informations laid

  HSE Region

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Wales and South West

  266

  214

  193

  157

  113

  Home Counties

  315

  216

  265

  257

  223

  London and South East

  305

  256

  278

  235

  179

  Midlands

  571

  552

  635

  626

  531

  Yorkshire and North East

  458

  486

  526

  383

  326

  North West

  272

  301

  319

  234

  240

  Scotland

  360

  253

  191

  226

  158

  Total

  2,547

  2,278

  2,407

  2,118

  1,770

  A breakdown by region is not available in respect of other HSE inspectorates or local authorities.

  Food Industry
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many prosecutions for infringement of health and safety regulations related to the food manufacturing industry have taken place in each region in each of the last five years. [29918]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The number of prosecutions—measured by the number of informations laid—by the Health and Safety Executive for infringement of health and safety legislation by the food manufacturing industry as defined by standard industrial classification in each region in each of the last five years is shown in the following table:

  Informations laid

  HSE Region

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Wales and South West

  14

  6

  12

  3

  12

  Home Counties

  38

  1

  16

  17

  8

  London and South East

  16

  3

  11

  12

  21

  Midlands

  19

  12

  17

  16

  15

  Yorkshire and North East

  8

  32

  21

  14

  28

  North West

  12

  22

  10

  16

  15

  Scotland

  9

  9

  6

  16

  15

  Total

  116

  85

  93

  94

  114

  Youth Training
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people attended and left the YT programme in each year of its operation including those who left before the completion of the programme. [30034]

  Mr. Paice
  The information requested is given in the following table. Information on leavers is available only from 1992–93.

  Number of youth training programme starts and leavers

  Great Britain Financial year

  Starts

  Leavers

  1990–91

  347,800

  —

  1991–92

  290,400

  —

  1992–93

  286,700

  278,000

  1993–94

  290,300

  284,300

  1994–95

  303,700

  298,500

  Notes:

  1. Numbers include youth credits starts and leavers.

  2. Leavers information is not available for 1990–91 or 1991–92.

  Source:

  Employment Department, the Welsh Office and the Scottish Office.

  RJB Mining
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the sums paid by Barnsley/Doncaster TEC to RJB Mining for miners that have been re-employed for retraining purposes. [30471]

  Mr. Paice
  The information requested relates to a contract between a training and enterprise council and one of its providers and is therefore commercial in confidence. TECs are private companies limited by guarantee, funded by the Government to provide training which best meets the needs of the local community. TECs are free to decide with whom they contract, taking into account the needs of the local labour market.

  Redundancy Notifications
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of total notifications to his Department of impending redundancies under section 193 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 did not fully meet the requirements of that section in each of the last five years. [30705]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: The information is as follows:

  Year

  Per cent.

  1990

  27

  1991

  27

  1992

  31

  1993

  23

  1994

  22

  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what inquiries are considered to be appropriate for his Department to make when an employer 554
  is alleged to have failed to notify impending redundancies to the Department under the terms of section 193 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. [30703]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: The Department seeks details of proposals from an employer who is alleged to have failed to notify and, if appropriate, an explanation of the reasons for such failure.

  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many instances there have been of an employer failing on more than one occasion to comply with, or fully comply with, the notice requirements of section 193 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 in the last five years. [30706]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: This information is not available.

  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the six most common kinds of failure by employers to meet fully the requirements of section 193 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 concerning notification of impending redundancies to his Department in each of the last five years. [30704]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: Reasons for non-compliance are not separately recorded. The most common reason would be failure to give the minimum notice required by section 193(1) or (2) of the Act.

  Sick Building Syndrome
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the annual cost to the British economy of sick building syndrome. [29238]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Sick building syndrome is not a diagnosable disease. There is no reliable information on the numbers who might be affected by it and it is not possible, therefore, to estimate the annual cost to the British economy.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what research his Department is currently funding into the cause of sick building syndrome; and what will be the cost to public funds of that research. [29239]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Health and Safety Executive published a full review of sick building syndrome research in August 1992 and issued guidance for employers on 23 May 1995.

  Remploy
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what targets Remploy has been set in its 1995–96 annual performance agreement. [31483]
  555
  Miss Widdecombe
  I have written to the chairman of Remploy approving the 1995–96 annual performance agreement between the Department and the company. This agreement covers the year from 1 April 1995. It has been negotiated by the chief executive of the Employment Service on behalf of my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State. The targets are:the average number of disabled people employed by Remploy Ltd. will be at least 9,200;
  556
  of which more than 7,200 on average must be employed in factories;
  at least 125 disabled employees will move from Remploy factories to Interwork having been employed there for at least one year, or from Interwork or factories to open employment;
  the unit cost of Interwork should be no more than £4,500;
  Remploy Ltd. will keep within a unit cost target (operating deficit per disabled worker) of £10,400;
  Choices programme to be in place in every factory.

  I have today arranged for the text of the annual performance agreement to be placed in the Library.

HEALTH

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health 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. [28486]

  Mr. Sackville
  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 below the Minister's reply.

  Residential Care
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 19 April 1995,Official Report, column 131, what is the information for England for 1993–94 for both income and expenditure in respect of the placement of old people in residential care and nursing homes. [28941]

  Mr. Bowis
  The data with which to update my answer of 19 April to 1993–94 have recently become available. I shall place an updated table in the Library shortly.

  Hypertension
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department carried out into hypertension intervention in high risk patients; what have been the findings; and if she will make a statement. [30002]

  Mr. Sackville
  The available research is summarised in the "Health of the Nation" publications. "Assessing the Options: CHD and Stroke" and "Key Area Handbook: Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke" and the publication "Health Care Needs Assessment" which contain information on hypertension and which have been placed in the Library.

  The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The MRC is an independent body deciding what research to support on its own expert judgment.

  Soya Milk
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans her Department has to make(a) soya milk infant formula feeds and (b) other foods with high oestrogen and phytoestrogen contents designed for under five-year-olds available by prescription only. [29991]

  Mr. Sackville
  None.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been(a) started and (b) completed on
  558
  phytoestrogen in soya milk following the 1992 recommendations of the committee on toxicity of foodstuffs. [29992]

  Mr. Sackville
  Since 1992, when the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment last considered phytoestrogens, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has commissioned two studies which include analysis of soya milk and infant formula. These have not been completed. In addition, a surveillance project measuring levels of oestrogens in the diets of infants, toddlers and young children will start shortly.

  Private Nursery Schools
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals she has received from Coventry's education department regarding the safety of children at private nursery schools with fewer than five pupils; and what action will be taken on those proposals. [30205]

  Mr. Bowis
  The chairman of Coventry's education and training committee and other councillors have recently jointly written to the Secretaries of State for Education and for Health about the registration of independent nursery schools. Registration of independent schools which have five or more pupils of school age is a matter for the Department for Education. The Department of Health is responsible for the framework for the registration with local authorities of other day care services for young children. The Secretaries of State for Education and for Health keep the arrangements for ensuring appropriate standards of child care and education in all settings under regular review.

  Peri-operative Deaths
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the paediatric cardiac unit doctors in Bristol have taken part in the National Confidential Inquiry into Peri-operative Deaths audit in each of the last 10 years. [30005]

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is not available. The National Confidential Inquiry into Peri-operative Deaths is an independent organisation.

  Blood Transfusions
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to develop a service of autologous blood transfusion. [30419]

  Mr. Sackville
  We recognise the value of autologous transfusion for those patients where the procedures are applicable. In appropriate cases it can provide a useful supplement to the supply of blood from voluntary donors which the National Blood Service supplies to our hospitals. The medical profession is aware of autologous transfusion and advice is available from medical staff of
  559
  the National Blood Service and hospital consultant haematologists. Selection of patients for this procedure has to be undertaken with extreme care to avoid any possible clinical risk to that patient.

  Heart Defect HCM
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been recorded as dying of the heart defect HCM. [30422]

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply that I gave the hon. Member for Thurrock (Mr. Mackinlay) on 20 December 1994,Official Report, column 1149.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which European countries have screening programmes for the heart defect HCM. [30423]

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Hospital Treatment Statistics
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many finished consultant episodes there were in each of the last five years. [30426]

  Mr. Sackville
  Information for the years 1989–90 to 1993–94 is available in Department of Health statistical bulletin 12/94, "NHS hospital activity statistics: England 1983 to 1993–94", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Infection in Hospitals
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department has carried out in respect of a national prevalence survey of infection in hospitals; and if she will make a statement. [30473]

  Mr. Sackville
  A national prevalence survey of infection in hospitals was carried out in 1993–94. The detailed results are expected later this year.

  The Department continues to fund a number of research and audit studies aimed at providing a basis for improving practice. Within the next three months we shall be placing a contract to set up a national surveillance system for hospital-acquired infection.

  Solihull Hospital
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will release funds to allow Solihull hospital to continue as a separate hospital with full facilities including children's wards and an accident and emergency unit. [30638]

  Mr. Sackville
  Allocation of funds to health authorities is a matter for the appropriate regional health authority. It is then the responsibility of health authorities to use this funding to purchase relevant and efficient local health services. Solihull health authority is responsible for ensuring effective provision of services for the people of Solihull. My hon. Friend may wish to contact Mr. Robert Fordham, chairman of Solihull health authority, for further information.

  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will discuss with the regional health authority the possibility of restoring Solihull hospital to full trust status in the near future; and if she will make a statement. [30637]

  Mr. Sackville
  We have no such plans.

  Male Reproductive Health
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research is being undertaken on male reproductive health and environmental chemicals with oestrogenic effects. [30539.]

  Mr. Sackville
  No research is being undertaken in this area by the Department.

  Health Promotion in Schools
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in setting up a pilot network of health-promoting schools as described in "The Health of the Nation;" and what her Department's budget has been for this project in the current year. [30545]

  Mr. Sackville
  England formally entered a European network of health-promoting schools in September 1993. The 16 pilot schools which make up the English network are currently involved in a wide variety of health education and health promotion activities, involving not only the school community but also external agencies. A number of schools have established European links with the wider European network of schools.

  The Department of Health will contribute approximately £400,000 to the project for the current year.

  Consultant Numbers
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the percentage change in full-time equivalent consultant numbers by region in 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94. [30454]

  Mr. Malone
  The available information is shown in the table. Data for 1993–94 are not yet available.
  561

  Consultants by region: annual percentage change (whole-time equivalent); England as at 30 September 1990–93

  Percentage

  Percentage change

  Annual average

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1990–93

  Northern

  3.3

  5.7

  -7.8

  0.2

  Yorkshire

  3.3

  12.7

  5.8

  7.2

  Trent

  1.9

  6.2

  1.9

  3.3

  East Anglia

  3.3

  -2.4

  4.6

  1.8

  North West Thames

  1.5

  -8.9

  -4.1

  -3.9

  North East Thames

  -0.3

  8.8

  -2.3

  1.9

  South East Thames

  2.7

  0.4

  2.0

  1.7

  South West Thames

  3.1

  -3.7

  9.4

  2.8

  Wessex

  4.1

  3.6

  4.4

  4.0

  Oxford

  1.8

  3.5

  6.8

  4.0

  South Western

  2.8

  3.1

  3.2

  3.0

  West Midlands

  2.9

  2.3

  1.2

  2.1

  Mersey

  1.6

  2.6

  7.9

  4.0

  North Western

  1.5

  -1.2

  4.3

  1.5

  Special health authorities and special hospitals

  5.4

  -6.9

  11.5

  3.0

  England

  2.4

  2.2

  2.5

  2.3

  Note:

  1. All percentages are rounded to the nearest decimal place.

  Junior Doctors' Hours
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence she has on whether any junior doctors are working such long hours for damage to their health to be foreseen. [30465]

  Mr. Malone
  None. The new deal on junior doctors' hours, a copy of which is available in the Library, sets limits on the maximum average weekly hours junior doctors can be both on duty and actually working.

  Significant progress has been made through the new deal to reduce hours. Latest returns from regional task forces show that 96 per cent. of all junior doctors are within the contracted hours limits.

  Hepatitis C
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when each EEC country brought in blood test screening for hepatitis C. [30467]

  Mr. Sackville
  European Community countries introduced testing for the hepatitis C virus at various times. We do not have information on the details. Screening was introduced in the United Kingdom in September 1991 when satisfactory kits became available, together with confirmatory tests.

  Child Abuse
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children who have been abused have been helped in each of the last five years. [30766]

  Mr. Bowis
  Information available centrally relates to children subject to initial stage child protection conferences and to children at risk placed on a child protection register. It does not give an indication of numbers abused. Available figures 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.

  Mental Health
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the review by the clinical standards advisory group of standards of care for people with schizophrenia will be published. [30191]

  Mr. Bowis
  Shortly.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients fell within the remit of the Mental Health Act Commission for each year since 1990. [30179]

  Mr. Bowis
  Information is not available in the form requested. The number of formal admissions to national health service facilities, private mental nursing homes and the three special hospitals is published in the bulletin "In-Patients Formally Detained in Hospitals under The Mental Health Act 1983 and Other Legislation, England: 1987–88 to 1992–93", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list, for the last five years, the total numbers of medical practitioners in England currently approved under section 12(2) of the Mental Health Act 1983 as having special skill and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorder, listing them, in England, by regional health authority area and distinguishing between general medical practitioners who are approved and specialist medical practitioners who are approved. [30181]

  Mr. Bowis
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) on 19 June at column 45.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the total number of patients admitted to hospital under sections 3, 37 and 37 to 41 of the Mental Health Act 1983, distinguishing between each of those sections and the classification of mental disorder from which the patient was judged to be suffering in each of the last five years. [30183]

  Mr. Bowis
  Information on the number of patients is not available centrally. Information on the number of formal admissions under sections 3 and 37, with section 41 restrictions, and section 37 without section 41 restrictions, of the Mental Health Act 1983, distinguishing between each of those sections and the classification of mental disorder for the years 1990–91 to 1992–93 is shown in the table. Figures for the last two years are not yet available.

  Formal admissions to NHS facilities, private homes and special hospitals under the mental health act 1988 and other legislation by legal status, England 1990–91 to 1992–93

  Mental Category1

  MI

  PD

  MIMP

  SMIMP

  NS

  1990–91

  Section 3

  4,074

  32

  41

  15

  39

  Section 37 (with section 41 restriction)

  228

  23

  24

  0

  6

  Section 37 (without section 41 restriction)

  612

  17

  26

  5

  13

  1991–92

  Section 3

  5,505

  35

  51

  18

  44

  Section 37 (with section 41 restriction)

  270

  26

  23

  1

  1

  Section 37 (without section 41 restriction)

  574

  13

  46

  3

  6

  563

  Formal admissions to NHS facilities, private homes and special hospitals under the mental health act 1988 and other legislation by legal status, England 1990–91 to 1992–93

  Mental Category1

  MI

  PD

  MIMP

  MIMP

  NS

  1992–93

  Section 3

  6,148

  39

  78

  24

  41

  Section 37 (with section 41 restriction)

  300

  27

  11

  0

  5

  Section 37 (without section 41 restriction)

  580

  12

  31

  2

  0

  1 MI—Mental Illness

  MI—Mental Illness

  PD—Psychopathic disorder

  MIMP—Mental impairment

  SMIMP—Severe mental impairment

  NS—Not specified

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what comments have been received by her Department on its draft "Guide to Arrangements for Inter-Agency Working for the Care and Protection of Severely Mentally Ill People" with particular reference to the after-care form contained in it; and when the guide will be published. [30185]

  Mr. Bowis
  We have received a number of comments in response to our wide consultation on the draft "Guide to Arrangements for Inter-Agency Working for the Care and Protection of Severely Mentally Ill People". The guide will be published later this year.

  We consulted separately on the after-care form before its introduction in February. More than 100 agencies and individuals responded and the form was broadly welcomed.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the cost of the Mental Health Act Commission for each of the last five financial years; and what is its projected cost for 1995–96 and 1996–97. [30187]

  Mr. Bowis
  Past and projected expenditure on commissioners' fees and expenses and staffing and administration is as follows:

  Financial year

  £000

  1990–91

  1,264

  1991–92

  1,485

  1992–93

  1,546

  1993–94

  1,730

  1994–95

  11,728

  1995–96

  21,960

  1996–97

  21,988

  1 Provisional.

  2 Projected.

  Equivalent information about expenditure on fees, expenses, and training of those appointed by the commission under sections 57 and 58 of the Mental Health Act 1983 to give second opinions about treatment is as follows:

  Financial Year

  £000

  1990–91

  424

  1991–92

  490

  1992–93

  598

  1993–94

  587

  564

  Financial Year

  £000

  1994–95

  1724

  1995–96

  2725

  1996–97

  2749

  1 Provisional.

  2 Projected.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she has taken to consider the contents and recommendations of the Law Commission's report No. 231 on mental incapacity; and if she will make a statement. [30189]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department is represented on the inter-departmental working group, chaired by the Lord Chancellor's Department, which is considering the Law Commission's report.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements her Department has made since August 1993 to provide better training for key workers under the care programme approach, including on the revised Mental Health Act code of practice and on new guidance on discharge from hospital, including what additional resources it has made available for such training, and an estimate of the numbers of staff trained as a result. [30193]

  Mr. Bowis
  Training for key workers on all appropriate issues under the care programme approach is primarily a matter for national health service provider units and social services departments and a wide range of local training is under way or planned. To support this process we have arranged a number of national conferences to improve training with further national and regional conferences planned; commissioned the Open university to develop an open learning pack for social services staff; and commissioned a development pack for local health and social services authorities which incorporates the outcome of a national key worker training conference.

  Information on the number of staff trained is not available centrally.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for the last five years the total number of patients who have been received into guardianship under sections 7 or 37 of the Mental Health Act 1983 listing them by social services authority and distinguishing between different classifications of mental disorder and between sections 7 and 37. [30190]

  Mr. Bowis
  The centrally available information on the number of new cases by local authority, classification of mental disorder and section for the years 1989–90 to 1993–94 will be placed in the Library. An England summary of the data was published in "Guardianship under the Mental Health Act (1983) Year Ending 31 March 1994, England", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements her Department has made to provide improved training to doctors approved under section 12(2) of the Mental Health Act 1983 including on the revised Mental Health code of practice, on the new guidance on discharge from hospital and on supervision registers, including the additional resources it has made available for such training; and what is her estimate of the numbers of doctors trained as a result. [30192]
  565
  Mr. Bowis
  Regional directors of public health are responsible, in association with professional and other bodies, for ensuring that suitable training is provided to doctors approved under section 12 of the Act. We have already recognised the potential value of a common core of training which would include the matters identified by the hon. Member and have been discussing with the Royal College of Psychiatrists the preparation of a training pack for this purpose. We expect to receive the college's detailed proposals shortly.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what arrangements exist to monitor and evaluate strict compliance by district health authorities, NHS trusts and local social services authorities with the requirements of HC(90)23/LASSL(90)11; how many district health authority areas she has assessed being fully complied with this guidance; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure compliance with the necessary arrangements in those remaining. [30178]

  Mr. Bowis
  We have been closely monitoring the introduction of the care programme approach in a survey of district health authorities earlier this year. From those responding it was clear that many districts were making rapid progress towards full implementation and over one third had already achieved this. We identified implementation of the care programme approach as a priority for the national health service in the priorities and planning guidance for 1995–96 and we have issued a revised "The Health of the Nation" mental illness key area handbook which contains further advice on implementing it. We have also commissioned an audit tool from the Royal College of Psychiatrists' research unit to enable district health authorities and trusts to monitor their performance. We are continuing to monitor the position closely to ensure that all districts achieve full implementation.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department is undertaking or funding into the impact and effectiveness of the Mental Health Act code of practice on decision making by those with powers under the Mental Health Act 1983, with particular reference to the effect of the revisions made to the code in November 1993 on the use of those powers to admit and detain patients in hospital for assessment or for treatment. [30180]

  Mr. Bowis
  None at present. We have given wide publicity to the 1993 revisions to the code clarifying the grounds on which a patient may be admitted to hospital under the Act, and have no reason to believe that they are not properly understood.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions she has been requested by the Mental Health Act Commission in accordance with section 121(4) of the Mental Health Act 1983 to direct it to keep under review the care and treatment of any patients other than those detained under the Act to which patients the requests related; and how she responded. [30182]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Commission made a request in 1986 for its remit to be extended to hospital patients other than those detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. Similar requests have been made with regard to patients subject to guardianship and those who would be receiving after-care under supervision. We have told the commission that we 566
  consider its overriding priority to be the protection of patients detained under the 1983 Act. This remains our view and we do not consider that an extension of its remit would be justified at this stage. We shall however keep this matter under review.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to amend the Mental Health Act code of practice; and when draft revisions will be published for consultation. [30184]

  Mr. Bowis
  We shall be proposing amendments to the code to cover the provisions of the Mental Health (Patients in the Community) Bill, if this receives parliamentary approval. They will be published for consultation after Royal Assent and when the necessary regulations have been laid.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what theoretical and practical training is received by general medical practitioners as part of their general syllabus in assessing the risk of harm which a person's mental disorder may pose to that person's health or safety or to the safety of others. [30186]

  Mr. Malone
  Training in psychiatry is an important part of the basic medical education common to all doctors. The body responsible for general practice vocational training—the joint committee on postgraduate training for general practice—expects general practitioners to be knowledgeable about the impact of psychological factors upon illness and of illness upon patients and their families and skilled in recognising and making appropriate decisions about all problems presented by their patients. The specific curricular arrangements are the responsibility of regional postgraduate organisations. Further training and experience are provided as part of the continuing education of practitioners.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the organisations and individuals which have made representations to her Department during the last two years requesting her to establish a review of the Mental Health Act 1983. [30188]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Mental Health Act Commission submitted proposals for a review of the Mental Health Act 1983 to my right hon. Friend in September 1993. This was followed by a joint representation by the commission, the Law Society and the Institute of Psychiatry. In her response, my right hon. Friend said that while the Act as a whole would need to be reviewed at some stage this would have to take account of the impact of the Government's proposals for supervised discharge and related initiatives in the field of mental health.

  Arguments for a review of the Act have been put forward by a number of other organisations and individuals including some of those who responded to our consultation on legal powers on the care of mentally ill people in the community and on Mental Health Act guardianship.

  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what arrangements exist to monitor and evaluate compliance by district health authorities and NHS trusts with the requirements of HSG(94)5; how many district health authority areas she has assessed as having fully and sufficiently implemented this guidance; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure that those remaining introduce the necessary arrangements. [30194]
  567
  Mr. Bowis
  The introduction of supervision registers has been closely monitored by the national health service executive. Registers have been established in all districts. We are continuing to monitor the position to ensure that the registers are operating effectively.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners there are in each region approved under section 12 of the Mental Health Act 1983; and what steps are taken to ensure that a section 12 approved doctor can be contacted in an emergency. [31050]

  Mr. Bowis
  Regional directors of public health are responsible for ensuring that there are sufficient suitably trained and experienced doctors approved under the Act, and that the necessary out-of-hours cover is available. We are satisfied that these requirements are being properly met.

  Protection of Young People at Work
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which groups and bodies she is consulting over her proposal to implement the EC directive on the protection of young people at work; when this consultation is due to end; what documents pertaining to this process have already been issued and to whom; what discussions she or her Department had with the Department of Employment over this issue; and if she will make a statement. [31023]

  Mr. Bowis
  We shall be consulting a wide range of groups and bodies in due course. We are in touch with all other Government Departments with an interest.

  Liverpool Blood Transfusion Centre
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations she has received opposing proposed changes to the Liverpool blood transfusion centre. [31137]

  Mr. Sackville
  Ministers have received 88 letters about the National Blood Authority's proposals for the Liverpool blood transfusion centre since August 1994. In addition, there have been two early-day motions and one parliamentary question relating to the proposals for the Liverpool centre. This is in addition to other representations covering wider areas which include Liverpool.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the proposed changes to, and the future of, the Liverpool blood transfusion centre. [31139]

  Mr. Sackville
  This is a matter for the National Blood Authority. We expect it to make its revised recommendations for the organisation to the National Blood Service shortly.

  Capital Expenditure
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the capital expenditure on(a) new hospitals, (b) other new medical centres or units and (c) repairing existing NHS building in each of the last 16 years, excluding private capital. [28641]
  568
  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 15 June 1995]: Information is not available in the form requested. Total capital expenditure in each of the last 16 years is shown in the table. The definition of capital has changed during the 16-year period; therefore comparisons between years cannot readily be made. For 1993–94, the threshold value for the definition of capital expenditure was increased from £1,000 to £5,000. This technical change to accounting policy reduced capital expenditure as money spent on tangible assets which was formerly classed as capital was in 1993–94 recorded as revenue. In 1993–94, over £100 million was transferred from capital to revenue to take account of the increase to the capital threshold.

  Year

  Total capital expenditure (£000)

  1993–94

  1,719,271

  1992–93

  1,809,021

  1991–92

  1,713,116

  1990–91

  1,485,404

  1989–90

  1,292,212

  1988–89

  1,087,936

  1987–88

  1,001,444

  1986–87

  936,291

  1985–86

  891,947

  1984–85

  795,404

  1983–84

  713,947

  1982–83

  686,386

  1981–82

  671,386

  1980–81

  563,174

  1979–80

  416,387

  1978–79

  367,352

  Note:

  1. The table shows figures for regional health authorities, district health authorities and the London Postgraduate Teaching Hospitals (SHAs). Figures post-1991–92 include NHS trusts.

  2. Figures for 1993–94 are provisional.

  3. The figures for 1991–92 to 1993–94 represent capital additions.

  4. The figures pre-1991–92 represent capital expenditure.

  Source:

  NHS (England) Summarised Accounts.

  Crown Immunity
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list all areas within(a) her Department (b) agencies under her Department's control and (c) organisations for which she has ministerial responsibility to which Crown immunity applies; what consideration she has given to removing this; and if she will make a statement. [28648]

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 15 June 1995]: The detail requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost, but the general position is as follows.

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

  Crown immunity was removed from those national health service bodies which had until then enjoyed it, by section 60 of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 with effect from 1 April 1991, subject to certain exemptions provided for in schedule 8 to that Act.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Brent Spar
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much public money has been spent to date on Shell's activities with regard to the proposed sinking of the Brent Spar oil platform. [30816]

  Mr. Eggar
  Consideration of Shell's proposals for disposal of the Brent Spar has taken three years and has involved a number of Government Departments and agencies. It is not practicable to quantify the cost in terms of public expenditure.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what requests for additional information about future options for the Brent Spar were made to Shell UK by Ministers or officials in his Department subsequent to the Department receiving the Brent Spar abandonment best possible environmental option analysis in early 1994; what date, and by whom and what method, such requests were made; what was the response of Shell UK; and if he will make a statement. [31082]

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: The decision to dispose of the Brent Spar at a deep-sea site was the best practicable environmental option. That decision was arrived at after three years of detailed work. Regular discussions with Shell throughout that time ensured that the Government were able to carry out a full assessment of the various alternatives. From 13 possible options, six were studied in detail and two exhaustively. It was concluded that deep-sea disposal was preferable to onshore dismantling. Any proposals that Shell now puts forward relating to land disposal will need to address the problems which led to the identification of deep-sea disposal at the best practicable environmental option.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he is currently making about the viability of relocating the Brent Spar oil rig to Brixham to form the northern arm of the harbour protection scheme; and if he will make a statement. [30990]

  Mr. Eggar
  None—it is for Shell UK Ltd. and Esso Exploration and Production UK Ltd. as owners of the installation, to come forward with proposals for its future.

  Iraq (Export Credit Guarantees)
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 30 March,Official Report, column 777, if he will identify which categories of military list goods were supported by the Export Credits Guarantee Department; and which companies were involved. [30868]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: The defence-related equipment supported by ECGD over the period 1985 to 1990 did not include armaments of any sort. It ranged from radio communications equipment to power supplies, video recording systems and diesel test equipment.

  It has been the policy of successive Administrations not to disclose details of exporters' Contracts unless the parties agree.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade pursuant to his answer of 21 March,Official Report, column 183, if he will list all those occasions on which he did not give prior warning to hon. Members. [30752]

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: As far I am aware, I always let hon. Members know when I visit their constituencies in an official capacity. If the hon. Member knows of occasions where this has not occurred, perhaps he could write to me.

  Car Imports
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his estimate of the relative effect of(a) the reduction in the tariff, (b) the removal of tariff protection against EEC countries and (c) the monetary and exchange rate policies of successive United Kingdom Governments on the increase in car imports since 1970; and if he will show the share of the United Kingdom market taken by the EEC, the other eight EEC countries and the rest of the world in 1968, 1972, 1979, 1990 and in the latest 12 months for which figures are available. [29948]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  My Department does not make such estimates, which would be very imprecise because of the large number of other factors affecting car production and trade.

  UK car production is at its highest for 20 years, with the number of cars exported running at over three times that of a decade ago, while the number imported has fallen by almost 20 per cent. in the last five years.

  Figures of UK registration by country of final assembly are in the table; comparable data for 1968 are not available.

  UK new car registrations by country of final assembly

  Per cent.

  1972

  1979

  1990

  1994

  Belgium

  0.0

  6.3

  5.5

  7.9

  Luxembourg

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  France

  7.5

  11.5

  11.1

  14.4

  Germany

  5.9

  13.5

  17.5

  10.8

  Italy

  3.0

  5.4

  3.0

  2.6

  Netherlands

  0.9

  0.6

  2.0

  1.3

  Ireland

  0.0

  0.7

  0.0

  0.0

  Denmark

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  Total above

  17.3

  38.1

  39.1

  36.9

  Rest of world

  6.2

  18.2

  17.7

  20.1

  Total imported

  23.5

  56.3

  56.7

  57.0

  United Kingdom

  76.5

  43.7

  43.3

  43.0

  Total

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  BMARC
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library copies of all board minutes and reports to the board of BMARC which were obtained to enable inspectors to carry out their report into the reasons for the collapse of the company and retained by his Department. [31008]
  571
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: No. Documents obtained by inspectors under statutory compulsory powers should in principle be used only for the purposes envisaged by the legislation. While I will always consider whether to release such documents for particular purposes where it is in the public interest to do so, it would not be appropriate for me to make information obtained during the course of an inspection generally available.

  Imports
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will publish for the industries which correspond most closely with those listed in table

  Per cent.

  Ratio 1

  Ratio 3

  Import penetration

  Export/sales

  Industry

  1971

  1979

  1988

  1993

  1971

  1979

  1988

  1993

  Leather and leather goods

  23

  40

  49

  62

  24

  29

  38

  42

  Non-metallic mineral products

  5

  10

  16

  18

  11

  14

  16

  18

  Medical, precision and optical instruments, watches and clocks

  37

  56

  58

  63

  46

  57

  53

  63

  Motor vehicles

  12

  41

  50

  55

  33

  38

  25

  42

  Source: Central Statistical Office Business Monitor MQ10.

  Industrial Output
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish output figures for the latest possible three months for the industries listed in table 15.10 of the monthly digest of statistics, c50 (95) 109 first release together with the change since 1988 and 1990 in the volume of output, imports and exports. [29448]

  Table 1: Index of production: seasonally adjusted 1990=100

  Percentage change since

  SIC 92 sub-section

  SIC 92 division

  Description

  IOP Q1 1995

  1988

  1990

  CB

  13, 14

  Other mining and quarrying

  71.7

  -34.3

  -28.3

  DA

  15, 16

  Food drink and tobacco

  103.9

  5.7

  3.9

  DB

  17, 18

  Textile and textile products

  90.4

  -14.6

  -9.6

  DC

  19

  Leather and leather products

  81.9

  -28.1

  -18.1

  DD

  20

  Wood and wood products

  85.8

  -16.0

  -14.2

  DE

  21,22

  Pulp, paper and paper products; printing and publishing

  101.9

  9.6

  1.9

  DF

  23

  Solid fuels and nuclear fuels; oil refining

  116.5

  17.3

  16.5

  DG

  24

  Chemicals and man-made fibres

  116.4

  21.8

  16.4

  DH

  25

  Rubber and plastic products

  113.9

  23.1

  13.9

  DI

  26

  Non-metallic mineral products

  95.5

  -6.9

  -4.5

  DJ

  27,28

  Basic metals and metal products

  86.6

  -14.1

  -13.4

  DK

  29

  Machinery and equipment

  87.1

  -7.2

  -12.9

  DL

  30, 31, 32, 33

  Electrical and optical equipment

  115.8

  24.4

  15.8

  DM

  34,35

  Transport equipment

  92.1

  3.5

  -7.9

  DN

  36,37

  Manufacturing nes

  86.3

  -7.5

  -13.7

  Source:

  CSDB Detailed Index of Production.
  572
  15.10 of the monthly digest statistics, figures for ratio 1 import penetration on the United Kingdom market for manufactures for the years (a) 1968, (b) 1971, (c) 1979, (d) 1988 and (e) 1993; [29945]

  (2) whether he will publish, for the industries which correspond most closely to those listed in table 15.10 of the monthly digest of statistics, figures for ratio 3 United Kingdom exports, United Kingdom sales of manufacturers for the years (a) 1968, (b) 1971, (c) 1979, (d) 1988 and (e) 1993. [29950]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The information is not available for 1968. Comparable data for all four remaining years are available for only four industries, as given in the table. Data for other industries are not available on a comparable basis and could be produced only in a limited number of cases, at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The index of production for the level of detail required is not yet available. Table 1 gives the most detailed information available for Q1 1995.

  Import and export figures by SIC(92) division are not available prior to 1990. Available figures at constant prices are given in table 2.
  573

  Table 2: Exports and Imports

  Percentage change since

  Quarter 1 1995

  Quarter 1 1990

  SIC 92 Division

  Description

  Exports £ million

  Imports £ million

  Exports

  Imports

  13

  Mining of metal ores

  4.0

  191.6

  -8.8

  13.6

  14

  Other mining and quarrying

  736.2

  673.0

  24.1

  -17.2

  15

  Manufacture of food products and beverages

  1,695.1

  2,186.5

  32.8

  -0.9

  16

  Manufacture of tobacco products

  268.5

  40.2

  86.8

  19.7

  17

  Manufacture of textiles

  641.1

  1,091.7

  2.8

  4.6

  18

  Manufacture wearing apparel; dressing fur

  401.7

  1,239.9

  29.8

  39.7

  19

  Leather tanning; manufacture luggages, etc.

  166.7

  451.4

  9.6

  2.9

  20

  Manufacture of wood and wood, cork, etc. goods

  44.2

  454.5

  13.1

  -21.8

  21

  Manufacture of pulp, paper and paper products

  546.4

  1,308.5

  44.1

  8.0

  22

  Publishing, printing and record media

  439.4

  314.7

  21.7

  12.8

  23

  Manufacture coke, petroleum, products and nuclear

  886.1

  418.1

  23.8

  -36.6

  24

  Manufacture chemicals and chemical products

  4,353.6

  3,461.9

  22.6

  23.7

  25

  Manufacture of rubber and plastic products

  710.3

  829.8

  17.7

  8.9

  26

  Manufacture other non-metal mineral products

  415.6

  352.2

  31.9

  -13.0

  27

  Manufacture Of basic metals

  1,934.1

  1,988.7

  35.8

  25.0

  28

  Manufacture fabricated metal, not machines

  547.3

  636.3

  3.8

  -0.8

  29

  Manufacture of machinery and equipment nec

  2,706.2

  2,218.8

  -8.5

  -23.3

  30

  Manufacture Of office machinery and computers

  2,774.8

  2,654.2

  73.7

  30.4

  31

  Manufacture of electrical machinery etc. Nec

  914.8

  1,051.5

  10.1

  20.9

  32

  Manufacture of Radio, Tv and equipment

  2,287.0

  1,959.1

  115.5

  42.3

  33

  Manufacture medical and precision instruments

  915.9

  807.6

  1.6

  -11.4

  34

  Manufacture Of motor vehicles, trailers etc.

  2,540.4

  3,006.9

  32.3

  -11.7

  35

  Manufacture of other transport equipment

  1,225.7

  775.1

  -20.6

  -52.1

  36

  Manufacture of furniture; manufacturing Nec

  561.5

  720.7

  32.2

  -5.3

  Plant-derived Fuel
  Mr. Spearinig
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what support is being given by his Department to research or development into internal combustion engines whose main source of fuel is from vegetable or cereal-based oils. [30809]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: The Department of Trade and Industry is part funding, through its renewable energy programme, a European Community project, led by Ormrod Diesels of Skelmersdale, to establish whether pyrolysis oils derived from wood and cereal straw have the prospect of providing an economically attractive and environmentally acceptable fuel for internal combustion engines.

  Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list(a) the bids that were successful under non-fossil fuel obligations 1 and 2, (b) those projects that are now operational and (c) those projects that are currently under construction. [29907]

  Mr. Page
  The status of individual contracts is a commercial matter for the parties to the contracts—the Non-fossil Purchasing Agency Ltd. as agent of the 12 regional electricity companies, and the generators. The Department does not hold information on projects under construction. Aggregate information on projects that were awarded contracts under the first and second renewables orders—SI 1990/1859 and SI 1991/2490 respectively—and on projects that were operational as at 31 March 1995, is as follows:
  574

  Contracted Projects

  Operational Projects

  Technology

  Number

  Capacity MW (DNC)

  Number

  Capacity MW (DNC)

  NFFO-1(1990)

  Hydro

  26

  11.851

  21

  10.001

  Landfill Gas

  25

  35.496

  20

  31.676

  MIW

  4

  40.63

  4

  40.63

  Other

  4

  45.48

  4

  45.48

  Sewage Gas

  7

  6.445

  7

  6.445

  Wind

  9

  12.211

  8

  11.703

  Total:

  75

  152.113

  64

  145,935

  NFFO-2(1991)

  Hydro

  12

  10.857

  7

  10.052

  Landfill Gas

  28

  48.449

  26

  46.393

  MIW

  10

  271.48

  2

  31.5

  Other

  4

  30.15

  1

  12.5

  Sewage Gas

  19

  26.859

  19

  26.859

  Wind

  49

  84.431

  25

  51.909

  Total:

  122

  472.226

  80

  179.213

  Total (NFFO-1+2):

  197

  624.339

  144

  325.148

  Source: Energy Technology Support Unit.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Firearms
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now received the report from Messrs Ernst and Young on the design of a recording and reporting system which would allow income and expenditure on the administration of firearms licensing to be monitored more closely; and if he will publish it. [29303]
  575
  Mr. Maclean
  The report was received by the Home Office in July 1992 and is publicly available on request to the Home Office. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make available the full report into firearms fees, including all supporting tables, provided to his Department in 1992 by Messrs Ernst and Young. [29310]

  Mr. Maclean
  A copy of the Ernst and Young report was placed in the Library on 20 July 1994.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces are currently processing firearms licensing at a cost below the level of fees charged; and if he will estimate the amount of excess contribution thereby made by firearms users to general police funds in these police areas. [29311]

  Mr. Maclean
  This information is not available.

  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) which police forces now have in place a mechanism for taking into account the views of the shooting public in respect of their administration of firearms licensing as recommended by Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary; [29312]

  (2) if he will list for each police force in England and Wales the average time taken from the receipt of an application for (a) a shotgun certificate and (b) a firearm certificate to the issue of that certificate; [29313]

  (3) if he will list for each police force in England and Wales how long before the due date for the renewal of a shotgun or firearm certificate a reminder is sent to the certificate holder. [29314]

  Mr. Maclean
  This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Child Prostitution
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers he has to prosecute British subjects who procure child prostitutes in other countries. [28738]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: The Government deplore the sexual exploitation of children, wherever it may occur. Our own law against such abuse is rightly severe. However, our courts' jurisdiction is territorially based rather than nationality based, and we therefore have no power to prosecute British nationals who commit offences against children in other countries.

  The United Kingdom is, however, willing to extradite its nationals to stand trial in the places where they are alleged to have offended, subject to the usual safeguards. We are also willing to provide legal assistance to foreign authorities who wish to prosecute British nationals, under the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990. In addition, we are currently considering ways in which it may be possible to improve liaison between our police and foreign enforcement agencies, and whether
  576
  there is any scope for further Government action to tackle the dreadful problem of child prostitution and sex tourism.

  Police Pensions
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the estimated cost to each police authority in the south-east of England of funding from revenue police pensions in the years 1995–96 and 1996–97; and what proportion these sums represent of each police authority's budget. [30260]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: The table sets out the budgeted net expenditure on police pensions in 1995–96, as estimated by police forces in the south-east of England.

  £ million

  Force

  Total revenue budget

  Budgeted net pensions expenditure

  Percentage of budget

  Metropolitan Police

  1,628.68

  133.74

  8.2

  City of London

  61.33

  4.68

  7.6

  Kent

  158.10

  16.63

  10.5

  Surrey

  84.10

  7.79

  9.3

  Sussex

  145.78

  14.44

  9.9

  Essex

  147.80

  13.68

  9.3

  Hertfordshire

  87.04

  6.06

  7.0

  Thames Valley

  194.41

  16.85

  8.7

  Equivalent budget information for 1996–97 is not available. It will be for the individual police authorities, in setting their budget requirements for 1996–97, to decide the appropriate provision to set aside to meet pension costs.

  Police Funding
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make available in the Vote Office copies of the report, "The Critical Analysis of the Police Funding Formula", prepared by Price Waterhouse, which was commissioned by his Department. [30261]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the losses to police authorities in the south-east of England that would arise from the removal of the area cost adjustment in police authorities' funding in the year 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [30262]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 26 June I995]: The table shows the effect, in 1995–96, of ceasing to pay the area cost adjustment to police authorities. The 1996–97 quantum will not be determined until later this year.

  The area cost adjustment reflects the extra costs incurred in providing a service in the more expensive areas of the south-east, and we have no plans to abolish it. My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will, however, consider the views of the police and local authority associations about any

  577
  refinements to the calculation of the area cost adjustment which may be put forward.

  Effect of removing area cost adjustment factor

  £ million

  With ACA

  Without ACA

  Percentage change

  Avon and Somerset

  147

  154

  5

  Bedfordshire

  55

  55

  -1

  Cambridgeshire

  62

  66

  5

  Cheshire

  93

  98

  5

  Cleveland

  70

  74

  5

  Cumbria

  54

  57

  5

  Derbyshire

  88

  92

  5

  Devon and Cornwall

  146

  153

  5

  Dorset

  62

  65

  5

  Durham

  68

  71

  5

  Dyfed-Powys

  46

  48

  5

  Essex

  146

  142

  -3

  Gloucestershire

  56

  59

  5

  Greater Manchester

  326

  343

  5

  Gwent

  49

  52

  5

  Hampshire

  168

  167

  -1

  Hertfordshire

  87

  81

  -6

  Humberside

  98

  103

  5

  Kent

  158

  155

  -2

  Lancashire

  155

  163

  5

  Leicestershire

  89

  94

  5

  Lincolnshire

  55

  58

  5

  Merseyside

  214

  225

  5

  Metropolitan Police

  1,529

  1,383

  -10

  Norfolk

  71

  75

  5

  North Wales

  66

  69

  5

  North Yorkshire

  66

  70

  5

  Northamptonshire

  55

  58

  5

  Northumbria

  178

  187

  5

  Nottinghamshire

  109

  115

  5

  South Wales

  152

  160

  5

  South Yorkshire

  146

  154

  5

  Staffordshire

  101

  106

  5

  Suffolk

  58

  61

  5

  Surrey

  80

  75

  -7

  Sussex

  145

  143

  -1

  Thames Valley

  192

  187

  -3

  Warwickshire

  47

  50

  5

  West Mercia

  97

  102

  5

  West Midlands

  327

  345

  5

  West Yorkshire

  248

  261

  5

  Wiltshire

  58

  61

  5

  City of London

  54

  35

  -35

  Total (including City)

  6,270

  6,270

  0

  Notes:

  1. The above estimates the effect of removing the area cost adjustment on distribution of the 1995–96 quantum.

  2. Allocations shown are the total of police SSA and grant i.e. without capital financing and other SSAs and SSA reduction grant.

  3. A special payment of £130 million to the Metropolitan police has been assumed, to cover their national and capital city functions.

  Border Controls
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have so far been taken by the European Commission in respect of its intention to bring forward a directive relating to the free movement of persons and possible abolition of internal border controls. [30054]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  In March this year, Commissioner Monti indicated his intention to bring forward proposals for Community legislation on the free 578
  movement of persons crossing the internal frontiers of the European Union. These proposals have not yet been published by the Commission. As we have frequently made clear, the Government will take whatever steps are necessary to maintain our frontier controls.

  Money Laundering
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the countries with which the United Kingdom has signed(a) bilateral agreements to supplement the 1990 Council of Europe convention on laundering, search, seizure and confiscation of the proceeds of crime and (b) other bilateral agreements to facilitate mutual assistance in respect of money laundering and confiscation. [30052]

  Mr. Maclean
  The United Kingdom has concluded one bilateral agreement under article 39(2) of the 1990 convention, with the Netherlands. It entered into force on 2 June 1994. Other bilateral confiscation agreements have been concluded as follows:

  All crime agreements in force

  Country

  Date in Force

  1. Sweden

  1 April 1992

  2. Canada

  17 September 1993

  3. Nigeria

  30 October 1993

  4. Italy

  8 May 1994

  5. India

  1 May 1995

  All crime agreements to enter into force

  Country

  Date of signature

  1. United States of America

  6 January 1994

  2. Thailand

  12 September 1994

  Drug agreements in force

  Country

  Date in force

  1. United States of America

  11 April 1989

  2. Switzerland

  21 June 1990

  3. Australia

  12 September 1990

  4. Mexico

  1 October 1990

  5. The Bahamas

  24 October 1990

  6. Spain

  15 December 1990

  7. Saudi Arabia

  20 September 1991

  8. Bahrain

  1 January 1992

  9. Ecuador

  1 March 1993

  10. Barbados

  1 June 1993

  11. Colombia

  25 November 1993

  12. Uruguay

  19 January 1994

  13. Argentina

  1 June 1994

  14. Panama

  1 September 1994

  15. Malaysia

  1 January 1995

  Drug agreements to enter into force

  Country

  Date of signature

  1. Guyana

  17 July 1991

  2. South Africa

  2 September 1992

  3. Paraguay

  6 July 1994

  4. Bolivia

  25 August 1994

  5. Grenada

  6 February 1995

  Organised Crime
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes have taken place in the arrangements for co-ordination of the work of United Kingdom Government bodies concerned with fighting organised crime from those set out in paragraphs 40 to 43 of his Department's November 1993 memorandum to the Home Affairs Committee on organised crime, HC 18-II if this Session. [30055]

  Mr. Howard
  None.

  Drug-related Crimes
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children and

  Table A Total number of persons aged 10 to under 14 years cautioned and prosecuted for indictable drug offences by region 1984–1993

  Region

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  North West

  3

  2

  5

  7

  4

  15

  26

  33

  46

  55

  North East

  1

  1

  1

  2

  1

  7

  11

  14

  23

  27

  Midlands

  1

  1

  1

  —

  3

  3

  14

  14

  12

  12

  Eastern

  2

  —

  —

  1

  —

  2

  4

  3

  10

  22

  South East

  13

  11

  5

  6

  26

  38

  56

  44

  54

  73

  Metropolitan Police

  11

  7

  5

  5

  21

  35

  44

  27

  32

  44

  City of London

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Other

  2

  4

  —

  1

  5

  3

  11

  17

  22

  29

  South West

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  10

  10

  18

  Wales

  —

  —

  4

  1

  3

  —

  4

  10

  7

  17

  England and Wales

  20

  16

  16

  17

  37

  65

  118

  128

  162

  224

  Table B Total number of persons aged 10 to under 14 years cautioned and prosecuted for indictable drug offences by police force area, 1984–1993

  Police Force Area

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Avon and Somerset

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  Bedfordshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cambridgeshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  Cheshire

  —

  —

  —

  3

  —

  —

  1

  5

  4

  3

  Cleveland

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  3

  3

  Cumbria

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  1

  2

  8

  Derbyshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  2

  3

  Devon and Cornwall

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  5

  5

  7

  Dorset

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  2

  Durham

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Essex

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  4

  5

  5

  Gloucestershire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  3

  3

  Greater Manchester

  —

  —

  2

  2

  2

  5

  13

  13

  27

  22

  Hampshire

  1

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  2

  3

  4

  10

  Hertfordshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  3

  4

  Humberside

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  —

  1

  5

  Kent

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  4

  —

  1

  2

  Lancashire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  5

  8

  16

  Leicestershire

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  Lincolnshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  1

  3

  City of London

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Mersey side

  3

  2

  3

  2

  2

  8

  10

  9

  5

  6

  Metropolitan Police

  11

  7

  5

  5

  21

  35

  44

  27

  32

  44

  Norfolk

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  2

  2

  Northamptonshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  Northumbria

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  1

  —

  2

  5

  North Yorkshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  6

  1

  Nottinghamshire

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  4

  South Yorkshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  3

  1

  6

  2

  5

  Staffordshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Suffolk

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  3

  Surrey

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  1

  —

  Sussex

  —

  1

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  3

  1

  2

  580
  young people under the age of 14 years were arrested in connection with drug-related crimes for each of the last 10 years; how many were subsequently charged; and what is the breakdown of these figures (a) by local authority, (b) region and (c) police authority area. [30741]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: As detailed information on arrests and on the number of people charged is not collected centrally, cautioning and court data is given in the tables.

  It is possible to distinguish centrally only offenders who have committed drug offences as opposed to drug related offences. It is also not possible to identify the date by local authority area.
  581

  Table B Total number of persons aged 10 to under 14 years cautioned and prosecuted for indictable drug offences by police force area, 198–1993

  Police Force Area

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Thames Valley

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  2

  6

  1

  6

  Warwickshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  1

  West Mercia

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  2

  West Midlands

  1

  1

  1

  —

  3

  3

  12

  14

  8

  8

  West Yorkshire

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  2

  6

  7

  9

  7

  Wiltshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  —

  4

  Dyfed Powys

  —

  —

  4

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Gwent

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  1

  5

  North Wales

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  3

  4

  5

  South Wales

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  —

  1

  4

  2

  7

  England and Wales

  20

  16

  16

  17

  37

  65

  118

  128

  162

  224

  Secure Units
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out the criteria for applications for secure units; and if he will make a statement. [29986]

  Mr. Maclean
  The documents which made up the invitations to tender for the design, construction/refurbishment, management and finance of secure training centres at Cookham Wood and Gringley set out the requirements and the criteria that bidders are to meet.

  Copies of schedules 2, design and build specification; 2A, note to tenderers on design and build; 2B, maintenance specification; 3, operational specification; 3A staff selection, training, qualifications and certification; appendix 1, administrative paper on secure training centre rules; and guidance by the Department of Health and the Department for Education have been placed in the Library.

  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications he has received for the establishment of secure units; and if he will list the areas concerned. [29987]

  Mr. Maclean
  Invitations to tender for the design, construction/refurbishment, management and finance of secure training centres at Cookham Wood, Kent and Gringley, Nottinghamshire were issued on 31 March to nine companies/consortia:

  Group 4 Rebound ecd Ltd./Tarmac Construction

  Ltd./Panton Sargent

  Shepherd Construction Ltd./Greystone House School

  Henry Boot Management Ltd./Secure Training Centres Ltd.

  UK Detention Services Ltd./John Mowlam/Correction

  Corporation of America

  Premier Prison Services Ltd./Serco/Wackenhut Ltd.

  MANcare Ltd.

  Castle Homes/Taylor Woodrow

  Higgs and Hill Construction Ltd./Rebound!

  Team Management Services (UK) Ltd.

  Bids were submitted by 12 June and are currently being assessed. Contracts will be awarded as soon as possible on completion of the tender process.

  Invitations to tender will be issued as soon as the necessary planning consents have been granted for the three remaining sites serving the midlands, south-west and
  582
  central England plus south Wales, and north-west and north-east England plus north Wales.

  Special Constables
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables were on establishment in(a) England and Wales and (b) each constabulary in England and Wales in 1994. [30010]

  Mr. Maclean
  Special constables are volunteers and as such are not included as part of the permanent police establishment but are members of the special constabulary.

  The number of special constables as at 31 December 1994 is given in the table.

  Special constabulary strength as at 31 December 1994

  Force

  Total strength

  Avon and Somerset

  678

  Bedfordshire

  198

  Cambridgeshire

  289

  Cheshire

  320

  City of London

  92

  Cleveland

  230

  Cumbria

  259

  Derbyshire

  445

  Devon and Cornwall

  1,113

  Dorset

  234

  Durham

  220

  Dyfed-Powys

  306

  Essex

  690

  Gloucestershire

  307

  Greater Manchester

  741

  Gwent

  124

  Hampshire

  620

  Hertfordshire

  306

  Humberside

  406

  Kent

  575

  Lancashire

  578

  Leicestershire

  365

  Lincolnshire

  328

  Merseyside

  395

  Metropolitan

  1,520

  Norfolk

  349

  Northamptonshire

  318

  Northumbria

  507

  North Wales

  315

  North Yorkshire

  403

  Nottinghamshire

  564

  South Wales

  488

  South Yorkshire

  458

  Staffordshire

  720

  Suffolk

  409

  583

  Special constabulary strength as at 31 December 1994

  Force

  Total strength

  Surrey

  233

  Sussex

  531

  Thames Valley

  669

  Warwickshire

  354

  West Mercia

  582

  West Midlands

  845

  West Yorkshire

  731

  Wiltshire

  281

  Total

  20,096

  Parks and Market Police
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which local authorities are legally empowered to establish and operate(a) parks police and (b) market police; and what is the statutory basis for each force. [30094]

  Mr. Maclean
  A full list of all such authorities is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [28496]

  Mr. Howard
  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 Minster 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 below the Minister's reply.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Market Testing
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list those parts of his Department or departmental agencies which were privatised without an in-house bid; if he will indicate the expertise which was absent in his Department or departmental agencies which prevented an in-house bid taking place; which future parts of his Department or departmental agencies he intends to privatise; and which of them do not have the necessary in-house expertise to mount an in-house bid. [29423]

  Mr. Hague
  The following areas of work have been contracted out without an in-house bid:

  Benefit Agency:
  Accommodation and Office services at the Quarry House site in Leeds;
  Travel services;

  Information Technology Services Agency:
  Service Delivery.
  584
  An in-house bid was not invited for travel services or IT service delivery because it was considered that the private sector was better equipped to deliver these services, had a better understanding of the market needs and a capacity to invest in new technological support. In the case of accommodation and office services at Quarry house, Leeds, too few staff were prepared to re-locate with the work transferred from London to Leeds to be able to mount an in-house bid.

  The Benefits Agency has decided to contract out quantity surveying work, in which four staff are currently employed.

  The Contributions Agency has decided to contract out elements of estates work in which some 24 staff are currently employed. The CA considers that staff do not have the necessary technical, professional estates management expertise to compete with the private sector.

  Incomes
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the real terms cash value of the 62 per cent. increase in income between 1987 and 1993 for the top 10 per cent. of earners shown in appendix 10 of the latest Households Below Average Income statistics. [30381]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is in the table. The 62 per cent. increase in income is between 1979 and 1992–93 for the top 10 per cent. of incomes after housing costs.

  Median equivalised income of the top 10 per cent. of the UK income distribution after housing costs in March 1995 prices

  1979

  1992–93

  Increase from 1979 to 1992–93

  Equivalised income (£ per week)

  321

  520

  199

  Notes:

  1. Income is equivalised to allow meaningful comparisons between the incomes of households of different sizes and composition. The income values here represent the cash amounts (adjusted only for inflation) for a couple with no children. Appendix 4 of HBAI contains further information.

  2. 1992–93 is the amalgamation of the calendar years 1992 and 1993.

  3. Income after housing costs is defined in appendix 2 of HBAI.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the figures for real income changes referred to in table A2 of the latest Households Below Average Incomes statistics, including self-employed earners both before and after housing costs. [30383]

  Mr. Burt
  The real income changes in table A2 of the latest households below average income are presented as percentage changes in table A1 of HBAI. Absolute income changes can be obtained by subtracting the 1979 income values from the 1992–93 values in table A2.

  Mortgage Interest
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what support with mortgage interest payments will be available to existing borrowers after October 1995 if they are presently receiving income support help with mortgage interest payments and they accept a job on a short-term contract that will return them to unemployment after October 1995; and what type of insurance policy he
  585
  expects people in these circumstances to take out to cover their mortgage interest repayments. [30515]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Under our proposals for changes to the rules on income support help with mortgage interest payments, an existing borrower who is currently receiving help with his mortgage interest payments and who takes a short-term contract before October this year will be treated as if his claim for income support had been continuous if, when he re-claims income support after 1 October, his break in entitlement had been for 12 weeks or less.

  If the break in their entitlement was for more than 12 weeks and a new claim is made after 1 October, existing borrowers will get no help with interest payments for two months—eight weeks—and 50 per cent. for the next four months-18 weeks. The full amount, calculated using the standard interest rate, will be payable thereafter.

  It is a matter for the individuals concerned to decide how best to meet their mortgage commitments in the initial period of an income support claim. The Association of British Insurers is addressing many of the issues of concern about the interface between benefit and insurance, including the treatment of contract workers, in its forthcoming guidelines to best practice.

  Students
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost of restoring university student benefit entitlement to income support and housing benefit. [30313]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Motability
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what powers his Department has to prevent the transfer of funds by way of gift aid from Motability Finance Ltd. into Motability's charitable funds; and if he will make a statement. [31051]

  Mr. Hague
  The transfer of funds from Motability Finance Ltd. to Motability, an independent charity, is a matter of discussion between the two organisations. The Department is consulted about such donations.

  Mr. Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 19 June 1995,Official Report, columns 98–100 on Motability, if he will make available in the Library the financial memorandum to which he refers. [31052]

  Mr. Hague
  I will place a copy in the Library shortly.

  Pensioners' Organisations
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his oral answer of 19 June 1995,Official Report, column 616 if he will list the organisations seen by a Minister; and if he will give a breakdown of the correspondence referred to. [31134]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Ministers have held many meetings, both formal and informal, with parties interested in the 586
  Pensions Bill. They have met hon. Members, noble Lords, pressure groups and employers.

  In the past eight months, Ministers have met and discussed pensions' issues with the following organisations:
  The Law Society, The Pension Trustees Forum, The ABI, British Airways, The Association of Pensioner Trustees, The Fawcett Society, The National Federation of Sub-Postmasters, The Captains of Industry, The PMI, The CBI, The National Federation of Post Office and BT Pensioners, The Pensions Ombudsman, The EOC, Royal Insurance, OPAS, The Campaign for Pension Fund Democracy, The Consumers Association, Bacon and Woodrow, The Prudential Corporation, The Society of Pension Consultants, The TUC, Pensioners Voice, The National Association of Pension Funds, Scottish Widows, Hill Samuel, Greig Middleton and Co and The Occupational Pensions Board.

  A breakdown of the 900 items of ministerial correspondence dealt with since the beginning of the year is given in the table. Some covered more than one topic and therefore the total is more than 900.

  Description of Subject

  Number

  Christmas Bonus

  13

  Pension Age

  198

  Over 80's Pension/Age Addition

  40

  Earnings Rule/Retirement Condition

  1

  Concessions

  14

  Benefit Levels

  203

  Uprating

  145

  RPI

  23

  Restoration of link with earnings

  19

  Means Test/Abolish RP

  7

  EC Comparison

  24

  VAT on Fuel

  84

  Delays

  3

  Individual Benefit Position

  122

  Home Responsibilities Protection

  4

  Increments

  1

  Graduated Pension

  4

  Dual Title/Topping Up

  20

  SERPS

  22

  Additional Pension Queries

  10

  Public Service Pension Queries

  4

  Pension Paydays

  34

  ACT Invitation Exercise

  2

  Divorce

  9

  Widower's Benefit

  8

  Method of Payment

  2

  Procedures

  2

  Publications

  2

  Forms

  2

  Ax Stat Awards

  1

  Alleged Misdirection

  3

  Compensation

  7

  Bank Charges

  1

  Miscellaneous

  151

  Income Support
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 21 June, 1995,Official Report, column 253, how much was recovered by claimants by way of arrears of supplementary benefit in the area covered by the Wrexham and North Wales Coast Benefits Agency office in June 1994. [31154]
  587
  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many income support live load(a) E cases, (b) P cases, (c) A cases and (d) total cases there were in each quarter since January 1991 by (i) district and (ii) area directorate. [29329]

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

  Letter from Ian Magee to Mr. Alan Milburn, dated 26 June 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking about Income Support live load statistics since January 1991.
  Complete information is available only from May 1991 which was the first quarter in which the Benefits Agency collected information by District Office and Area Directorate. Information in table 1 is for each Area Directorate and in table 2 for the District offices. Copies of these tables have been placed in the Library.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Compensation Recovery Unit
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 29 November 1994,Official Report, column 625, if he will update the table given in his answer to give the latest available information on the operation of the compensation recovery unit for the financial year 1994–95. [29262]

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

  Letter from Ian Magee to Mr. Frank Field, dated 26 June 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking for information relating to the operation of the Compensation Recovery Unit during the 1994/95 financial year.

  The information is provided in the table below:

  Period

  Number of cases

  Total amount recovered £ million

  Operating costs £ million

  1 April 1994–31 March 1995

  39,915

  1110.1

  2.8

  1 This figure includes monies recovered from both final and interim settlements.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Education and Library Boards
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what savings on administration costs he estimates will be achieved by reducing the number of education and library boards; and if he will itemise these savings. [29495]

  Mr. Ancram
  The initial estimate of savings in administrative costs arising from the proposals for change is £2 million. This is of necessity an overall estimate 588
  since, with the exception of the Western board, the education and library boards declined to take part in the appraisal of options for change. It would not, therefore, be appropriate to attempt to itemise any savings.

  Economic Development
  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total expenditure by the Department of Economic Development in each of the parliamentary constituencies of Northern Ireland for each of the last 10 years. [29971]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information is not held in the form requested. The total expenditure by the Department of Economic Development for the last 10 years was as follows:

  Financial year

  Expenditure (rounded to nearest £ million)

  1985–86

  437

  1986–87

  454

  1987–88

  441

  1988–89

  1742

  1989–90

  1723

  1990–91

  477

  1991–92

  454

  1992–93

  438

  1993–94

  431

  1994–95

  434

  1 Includes expenditure incurred on privatisations of Shorts and Harland Wolff.

  Small and Medium-size Businesses
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) small businesses and (b) medium-size businesses were started up in each of the last 10 years; and if he will break these figures down by gender of the entrepreneur. [29579]

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding reply 21 June 1995]: There is no fully comprehensive means of counting the number of business start-ups in Northern Ireland. However, VAT registrations give a useful indication of the number of new businesses created in any period. The figures set out in the table show the number of VAT registrations during the period 1985–93. Data for 1994 are not yet available. It is not possible to break this information down by gender.

  Table 1: Number of VAT registrations in Northern Ireland

  Thousands

  Year

  Number of registrations

  1985

  3.8

  1986

  3.4

  1987

  3.5

  1988

  3.7

  1989

  4.0

  1990

  4.3

  1991

  3.7

  1992

  3.7

  1993

  4.0

  Notes:

  Details of Northern Ireland VAT figures are included in VAT Registration and Deregistrations, County and District Analyses 1980–91 and VAT Registrations and Deregistrations, County and District Analyses 1992–93, copies of which are available in the Library.
  589
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what initiatives his Department has to assist and encourage women who want to start their own business; and how the success of any initiative is monitored and assessed. [29582]

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding answer reply 21 June 1995]: The local enterprise development unit funds a series of business start programmes aimed specifically at women throughout Northern Ireland and a women's enterprise programme in the Greater Belfast area. These initiatives are monitored through periodical reviews and the overall success is assessed by the number of participants, the number of business plans which result from the programmes, the percentage of participants starting their own businesses and the number who enter other employment.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the cost in the current year of restoring the value of the student maintenance grant to its real 1979 level. [30371]

  Mr. Ancram
  In view of the major changes made to the student support system in the intervening period, including the introduction of student loans in 1990, the cost would very much depend on whether the changes were to be reversed.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the university or polytechnic total student population for each year from 1974–75; and what it will be in each year to 1998–99.

  Mr. Ancram
  The information is available in the form requested only from the year 1975–76 and is as follows:

  Year

  Total student population

  1975–76

  13,060

  1976–77

  13,939

  1977–78

  14,416

  1978–79

  14,786

  1979–80

  15,377

  1980–81

  15,759

  1981–82

  16,258

  1982–83

  17,005

  1983–84

  17,566

  1984–85

  19,163

  1985–86

  19,571

  1986–87

  20,089

  1987–88

  20,871

  1988–89

  21,526

  1989–90

  22,403

  1990–91

  24,340

  1991–92

  26,645

  1992–93

  28,873

  1993–94

  31,272

  1994–95

  35,965

  Note:

  Projected Northern Ireland student numbers are published in "Northern Ireland Expenditure Plans and Priorities", a copy of which is available in the Library. Figures are not presently available for 1998–99.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list the changes to university and polytechnic student maintenance grant entitlement since 1974; [30368]
  590
  (2) what has been the value of the full university student grant for each year since 1974–75 in 1994 prices. [30366]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information is as follows:

  Value of the standard maintenance grant and loan in Northern Ireland

  £

  Year

  Standard maintenance grant 1(cash terms)

  Standard maintenance grant plus loan 2(cash terms)

  Standard maintenance grant 3(real terms)

  Standard maintenance grant plus loan 3(real terms)

  1974–75

  605

  —

  3,056

  —

  1975–76

  740

  —

  2,945

  —

  1976–77

  875

  —

  3,041

  —

  1977–78

  1,010

  —

  3,033

  —

  1978–79

  1,100

  —

  3,062

  —

  1979–80

  1,245

  —

  2,996

  —

  1980–81

  1,430

  —

  2,997

  —

  1981–82

  1,535

  —

  2,875

  —

  1982–83

  1,595

  —

  2,783

  —

  1983–84

  1,660

  —

  2,753

  —

  1984–85

  1,775

  —

  2,832

  —

  1985–86

  1,830

  —

  2,766

  —

  1986–87

  1,901

  —

  2,778

  —

  1987–88

  1,972

  —

  2,784

  —

  1988–89

  2,050

  —

  2,752

  —

  1989–90

  2,155

  —

  2,733

  —

  1990–91

  2,265

  2,685

  2,624

  3,111

  1991–92

  2,265

  2,845

  2,483

  3,119

  1992–93

  2,265

  2,980

  2,387

  3,141

  1993–94

  2,265

  3,065

  2,311

  3,128

  1994–95

  2,040

  3,190

  2,040

  3,190

  1 The standard maintenance grant rate is that applicable to students living away from home and studying outside London.

  2 Since 1990–91 student support has included grant and loan: the grant was frozen at the 1990–91 level (ie £2,265) until 1994–95 when it was reduced to £2,040. Figures for 1990–91 and subsequent years include grant plus full year loan for students living away from home.

  3 Based on the retail price index (excluding mortgage interest payments) in September of each academic year.

  4 Up to and including 1983–84 students claimed and were individually reimbursed, full travelling expenses; from 1984–85 most students had to meet their travel costs from within their main rate of grant.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the staff to student ratio at universities and their forerunners in each year from 1974–75 to 1997–98. [30364]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information is available for Northern Ireland universities only from 1981–82 to 1993–94 and is as follows:

  Year

  Staff: student ratio

  1981–82

  8.7

  1982–83

  9.1

  1983–84

  9.5

  1984–85

  12.0

  1985–86

  12.1

  1986–87

  12.2

  1987–88

  13.0

  1988–89

  13.9

  1989–90

  13.8

  591

  Year

  Staff: student ratio

  1990–91

  14.4

  1991–92

  15.5

  1992–93

  15.5

  1993–94

  16.5

  Expenditure and funding in higher education in Northern Ireland

  Mandatory award holders

  Recipients (academic years)

  Expenditure (financial years)

  Thousands

  Fees£ million

  Maintenance£ million

  Average student loan per (academic years)4£

  Recurrent average grant and income from tuition fees per student (financial years)5£

  1984–85

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  3,400

  1985–86

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  4,000

  1986–87

  17.6

  10.1

  21.8

  —

  4,100

  1987–88

  18.9

  11.3

  23.6

  —

  4,300

  1988–89

  19.7

  12.0

  25.4

  —

  4,500

  1989–90

  21.0

  13.6

  28.5

  —

  4,800

  1990–91

  22.6

  124.7

  31.8

  370

  4,900

  1991–92

  228.5

  2253.0

  238.2

  500

  4,900

  1992–93

  30.5

  67.7

  43.2

  610

  4,900

  1993–94

  33.9

  369.9

  47.3

  690

  4,800

  1994–95

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  —

  4,600

  1 Shift in institutional funding towards the fee introduced from September 1990.

  2 Includes teacher training and EC students from September 1991.

  3 Shift of fees towards institutional funding from September 1993.

  4 Based on Loan Holders studying in Northern Ireland.

  5 Figures have been rounded to the nearest £100.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the drop-out rate for university and polytechnic courses in each year since 1979. [30303]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is his estimate of the annual cost of providing the full maintenance grant to all university students. [30307]

  (2) what would be the annual cost of paying (a) all fees for, and (b) the full maintenance grant to, all part-time university students. [30306]

  Mr. Ancram
  It is not possible to provide an estimate of these costs since it would depend upon such factors as the eligibility of courses, their duration, the maximum payable fee and maintenance grant, and the account to be taken of the personal circumstances of potentially eligible students.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what would be the cost of restoring university student benefit entitlement to income support and housing benefit. [30305]

  Mr. Malcolm Moss
  This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what would be the cost of reducing the level of university fees paid by non-European Community country students to the fee levels paid by students from European Community countries. [30309]
  592
  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the average cost to the Exchequer of each student in university education for each year from 1984–85, broken down by(a) maintenance grant; (b) fees; and (c) other.[30372]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information is not available in the form requested. The available information is as follows:

  Mr. Ancram
  Information on fees for overseas students, which are set separately by each university, is not available.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the percentage of university or polytechnic students entitled to(a) full maintenance grant and (b) no maintenance grant in each year since 1979. [20369]

  Mr. Ancram
  This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the backlog of building repair and maintenance work at universities. [30365]

  Mr. Ancram
  The current backlog of building repair and maintenance work for academic buildings in the two Northern Ireland universities is estimated to cost £76 million. This figure is derived from an accommodation condition survey conducted in early 1992.

  The Department of Education in Northern Ireland has spent £7 million during the past three years on grants for backlog maintenance, and universities themselves have spent £8 million during the same period. It is planned to continue to provide support towards £18 million of further work over the next three years. The remaining less urgent work will need to be funded by institutions themselves.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the(a) average cost and (b) marginal cost, of university students in 1995–96. [30373]

  Mr. Ancram
  The average recurrent grant and income from tuition fees per university student in Northern
  593
  Ireland for the financial year 1995–96 is estimated to be approximately £4,570. No information is available on the marginal costs.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the number of students in higher education in 2000. [30304]

  Mr. Ancram
  Figures for students in Northern Ireland institutions of higher education are not available for academic years beyond 1997–98.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the average level of student loan for university students in 1994–95. [30308]

  Mr. Ancram
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given him by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Further and Higher Education earlier today.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the total Government expenditure on university and polytechnic maintenance grants, for each year since 1974–75 in 1994 prices. [30367]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information is not available in the form requested. The available information is as follows:

  Government expenditure on maintenance grants to mandatory award holders and on student loans in Northern Ireland

  £ million (real terms)1

  Student Maintenance Grant2 (Financial Year)

  Student Loans3(Academic Year)

  1986–87

  31.9

  —

  1987–88

  33.3

  —

  1988–89

  34.1

  —

  1989–90

  36.1

  —

  1990–91

  36.8

  1.5

  1991–92

  41.8

  3.0

  1992–93

  45.5

  4.5

  1993–94

  48.3

  6.2

  1 In 1994–95 prices based on the retail price index (excluding mortgage interest payments) in September of each academic year.

  2 Expenditure in grants to mandatory award holders normally domiciled in Northern Ireland.

  3 Expenditure on loans to higher education students studying in Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the total number of university students with a student loan, in each year from 1987–88 to 1997–98. [30310]

  Mr. Ancram
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given him by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Further and Higher Education earlier today.

ENVIRONMENT

  Negative Equity
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many households in each local authority area in England are estimated to have had negative equity as of(a) the end of September 1994 and (b) the end of March. [28713]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  [holding answer 15 June 1995]: Estimates of negative equity are not calculated by local authority area. For the latest national estimates, I refer the
  594
  hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn), Official Report, column 138.

  Homelessness
  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of providing accommodation for the homeless in Kirklees in(a) bed and breakfast hotels and (b) hostels in each of the last five years. [29092]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The net costs of housing homeless households in bed-and-breakfast accommodation, as reported by Kirklees on its revenue outturn returns, for the years 1990–91—the first year in which this information was collected on the revenue outturn return—to 1993–94 were as follows:

  £000s

  1990–91

  464

  1991–92

  248

  1992–93

  177

  1993–94

  126

  Data on local authorities' expenditure on bed and breakfast and on hostel accommodation are also published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy in its annual "Homelessness Statistics Actuals" publication. Copies of these publications, which are available for all years since 1989–90 are in the Library

  Microlight Aircraft
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the proposal by Aylesbury Vale district council to give permission for microlight aircraft to operate from Merrymead farm, College road, Aston Clinton. [30415]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Secretary of State has received a number of letters concerning this proposal and on 15 June 1995 served an article 14 direction on Aylesbury Vale district council which prevents it from granting planning permission without his consent.

  This action provides the Secretary of State with the opportunity to look at the proposal and to judge whether or not he would be justified in using his powers of call-in in this case.

  As this matter is under consideration, I am sure that the hon. Member will understand that I cannot comment upon the merits, or otherwise, of the proposal.

  Birmingham Northern Relief Road
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how long the inquiry into the Birmingham northern relief road has now lasted; and what is the average time taken for major road inquiries. [30606]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Since 21 June 1994, when it opened in Walsall. It is not possible to give an average time for major road inquires. Each is dependent on the complexity of the issues involved and the level of representations received.

  Sellafield
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what request Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has made of Nirex UK Ltd. to make public HMIP's safety assessment of Nirex's capability to prepare a full safety case for the proposed nuclear waste disposal facility at Sellafield; with what result; and if he will make a statement. [30606]

  Mr. Atkins
  HMIP has made no assessment of Nirex's capability to prepare a full case for the post-closure safety of an underground repository. Nirex has not submitted an application for such a facility.

  Under an agreement with Nirex, HMIP has reviewed information which that company has provided voluntarily and has classified as commercial in confidence. Nirex has a right of confidentiality regarding such material. HMIP continues to press Nirex to review its position concerning the restrictions the company has placed on the release of such reports.

  Montreal Protocol
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to ratify the Copenhagen amendments to the Montreal protocol. [31034]

  Mr. Atkins
  The United Kingdom ratified the Copenhagen amendment to the Montreal protocol on 4 January 1995.

  Water
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the responses to his consultation paper "Using Water Wisely". [30457]

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government's response to "Using Water Wisely" will be published within the next week or so.

  Mrs. Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider extending additional safeguards to protect low-income households, large families and people with disabilities requiring high use of water, who live in properties which are compulsorily metered. [30460]

  Mr. Atkins
  Such customers are safeguarded by a code a practice for customer and a code of practice and procedure on disconnections which are part of every water company's instrument of appointment.

  Mrs. Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider setting up a special body in conjunction with the industry and other interested parties to promote the installation of water-saving devices in domestic homes. [30459]

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government have tabled an amendment to the Environment Bill that places a duty on water companies to promote the efficient use of water by its customers, and provides the Director General of Water Services with powers to determine and publish standards of performance.

  Mrs. Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has had from the industry or other interested parties with regard to the installation of water-saving devices in domestic homes. [30458]
  596
  Mr. Atkins
  My right hon. Friend has received no such representations. My officials have from time to time received suggestions about the installation of water-saving devices in the home.

  Mrs. Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the organisations that have submitted responses to his consultation paper "Using Water Wisely". [30456]

  Mr. Atkins
  I have today deposited a list of the organisations that submitted responses to the consultation paper "Using Water Wisely" in the House Library.

  Mrs. Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy that people in new homes may choose whether to pay for their water and sewerage by metered charge. [30504]

  Mr. Atkins
  It is for water companies to decide the most appropriate method of charging in their areas.

  Security Services
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment for what reason the final regulations laying down the compulsory competitive tendering by local authorities for security services have not yet been published; and what advice he gives to local authorities in the interim. [31136]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  I explained to the House on the 2 November,Official Report, column 1608–609, that we intend to exclude from security work CCT work entailing the enforcement of byelaws which cannot be undertaken by private contractor staff. It is important to get the scope of the exemption right, and to that end we have consulted the local authority associations in framing a suitable draft. We intend to lay the order shortly.

  Local authorities have been aware of our intention to bring forward an exemption since guidance was published last December, over a year in advance of the contract start date for security work CCT of 1 January 1996. Authorities ought therefore to have been preparing, and to continue to prepare, for CCT on that basis.

  Building Research Establishment
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the current key performance targets for the Building Research Establishment. [31480]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The Building Research Establishment is working to the following key targets for 1995–96:
  £90,000 net contribution to the Exchequer
  income to cover full economic costs on a trading basis gross non-Exchequer income of £3.5 million
  the average daily cost of commissions to be at 1994–95 levels,
  with costs of major management initiatives met through efficiency savings.

  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on the application of compulsory competitive tendering to those authorities he has selected for a further review by the Local Government Commission. [31481]
  597
  Mr. Jones
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on Thursday 22 June 1995,Official Report, column 353, that the Local Government Commission has been asked to carry out further reviews of 21 shire districts in 12 separate counties. Their selection for a further review should not of itself affect the continued operation of CCT, and I would urge all to continue to operate contracts for blue collar services already subject to CCT, and to continue with preparations for the extension of CCT to housing management and white collar services.

  In the event of Ministers accepting a recommendation made by the Commission for a change in an authority's structure or function, I intend that our existing policy for authorities changed following review should apply to both the district and county council concerned. In summary this means that:
  the "except window" which suspends the re-tendering of blue collar work and the implementation of housing management CCT will apply to both the district and county council from the date at which the Order providing for reorganisation comes into force until 18 months—or, in some cases, 24 months-after the changes have taken effect;
  the timetable for the extension of CCT to white collar services in the district and county councils concerned will be determined by the date on which changes take effect. I anticipate that this will be 1 April 1997. On this basis, CCT for the first of the new white collar services will bite from 1 April 1999; and
  the extension of CCT to the further manual services—security work, management of vehicles and management of on-street parking—will take effect from 1 October 1998, again on the basis of changes in structure or function taking effect from 1 April 1997.

  Authorities which remain unchanged following the further review will be expected to follow the timetable I announced on 29 March of this year, Official Report, column 644.

  These exemptions are designed to provide space for reorganised authorities to rethink the way in which they deliver local services, and to adopt the model of an enabling authority. This will provide new opportunities in due course for external contractors to make an effective contribution to local services, and offset the short-term disadvantages which the temporary suspension of CCT brings.

  Volatile Organic Compounds
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Government will issue its response to the first report of 1994–1995 from the Environment Committee on volatile organic compounds, House of Commons paper No. 39. [31494]

  Mr. Atkins
  I have now sent a memorandum to the Select Committee setting out the Government's response to their report on volatile organic compounds.

  The Government have welcomed the Committee's report as a thorough and thoughtful analysis of a complex subject. The report makes a valuable contribution to the development of policy and to influencing the further development of the strategy which the Government have in place for tackling the adverse health and economic effects of these substances.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Royal Opera House
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what sum has been made available from public funds directly or indirectly to the Royal Opera House since 1980 in 1994 prices; what was the amount per seat; and what research he has carried out as to the beneficiaries of this expenditure. [29998]

  Mr. Dorrell
  Details in the form requested of annual grants from the Arts Council to the three Royal Opera House companies—the Royal Opera, the Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet—are set out in the table. In addition, the Royal Opera House has received £259,000 under the national heritage arts sponsorship scheme—formerly the business sponsorship incentive scheme—since 1984. Neither my Department nor the Arts Council has carried out audience research, although the Royal Opera House itself undertakes such research on a regular basis.

  Grants to Royal Opera House Year

  Grant total £ million

  Grants at 1994 prices £ million

  Attendances Thousands

  Grants attendances 1994 £ million

  1980–81

  7.711

  17.92

  724

  24.75

  1981–82

  9.535

  19.02

  678

  28.06

  1982–83

  10.578

  19.00

  706

  26.91

  1983–84

  11.527

  19.24

  686

  28.05

  1984–85

  11.505

  18.34

  734

  24.69

  1985–86

  13.475

  20.41

  621

  32.86

  1986–87

  13.097

  18.76

  674

  27.83

  1987–88

  13.227

  18.22

  601

  30.32

  1988–89

  13.991

  18.18

  580

  31.35

  1989–90

  14.382

  17.34

  658

  26.35

  1990–91

  16.397

  18.02

  565

  31.89

  1991–92

  18.702

  19.62

  606

  32.38

  1992–93

  19.88

  20.22

  706

  28.64

  1993–94

  20.396

  20.40

  644

  31.67

  1994–95

  20.421

  19.83

  699

  28.37

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make it his policy that money provided by the national lottery will not be used directly or indirectly to subsidise the Royal Opera House. [29999]

  Mr. Dorrell
  It is for the distributing bodies to decide on the allocation of the proceeds of the national lottery.

  National Lottery
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if grants made under the auspices of the national lottery can be used for matching purposes for grants made to organisations and projects by government departments. [30998]

  Mr. Iain Sproat
  Grants from national lottery proceeds are made by 11 independent distributing bodies in response to individual applications. Applicants are required to provide an element of partnership funding which can come from a variety of sources, including public funding.
  599
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what has been the total cost of the establishment and administration of the national lottery and the related scratch card competition to date; and what proportion of the income this represents. [30026]

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 22 June 1995]: Total costs associated with the establishment of the national lottery fall (a) to Camelot Group plc, (b) to the Office of the National Lottery, (c) to my Department and (d) to lottery distributors.

  Details of costs incurred by Camelot Group plc are a matter for Camelot. I have asked the Director General of the National Lottery to write to the hon. Gentleman with information about the costs of establishing and administering Oflot and to place copies of his response in the Library of the House.

  The cost of setting up and administration of the national lottery distribution branch, within the Department of National Heritage, was £247,000 to 31 March 1995. This cost was met from the national lottery distribution fund. Other costs of national lottery division were met from the Department's administration vote. For the year ending 31 March 1995, these come to approximately £251,000.

  Funds drawn down from the NLDF by the 11 lottery distributors to cover administration costs totalled £5.049 million for the period to 31 March 1995.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what percentage of the revenues collected from ticket sales for the national lottery came from outlets in Wales. [28123]

  Mr. Dorrell
  Figures are not currently available for the individual countries of the United Kingdom. I have asked the Director General of the National Lottery to write to the hon. Gentleman to explain the position more fully.

  Dramatic Arts, Manchester
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he last visited the Greater Manchester area to discuss funding for the dramatic arts. [30979]

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: On Friday 23 June 1995.

  Museums and Galleries
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how he intends to meet the need for the repair and refurbishment of museums and art galleries. [30978]

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: The museums and galleries sponsored by the Department of National Heritage have now all submitted their corporate plans to my Department. The information in these plans, including any information on proposed repair and refurbishment, will be considered in the course of the current public expenditure round. The Government's spending plans will be announced on Budget day.

  Leicestershire Museums, Arts and Records Service
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will ensure that the Leicestershire museums, arts and records service will be maintained as an integrated operation after the coming into effect of local government reorganisation in Leicester. [30672]

  Mr. Dorrell
  The decision on how best to provide services for arts, museums and records is for the authorities concerned. However, my Department will shortly be issuing guidance to all authorities involved in reorganisation on the provision of suitable services in all these fields.

  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the future on a country-wide basis of the Leicestershire museums, arts and records service is not adversely affected by any orders presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for the Environment concerning the reform of local government in Leicestershire and the city of Leicester. [30668]

  Mr. Dorrell
  My officials are in close contact with the Department of the Environment about issues affecting services in which my Department has an interest. My Department is issuing guidance to all authorities involved in the reorganisation.

  Women's Football
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what new proposals he has to promote women's association football. [30033]

  Mr. Sproat
  Responsibility for the development of women's football rests with the Football Association. The FA is committed to the development of female football and has recently produced a strategy document which sets out its aim to"increase the involvement of women in football at all levels, and in all functions and roles".

  The England women's football team is to be congratulated on reaching the quarter-final stage for the second women's world cup which took place recently in Sweden.

  Leeds Parish Church
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assistance his Department is giving to restore the parish church of Leeds, West Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement. [30475]

  Mr. Dorrell
  Government funding for repairs to historic buildings is channelled through English Heritage, which is currently considering an application for grant aid to assist with repairs to the roof of Leeds parish church.

  Welsh Fourth Channel
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the subsidies made available annually from public funds to S4C by source and amount. [30522]

  Mr. Dorrell
  S4C receives an annual payment from my Department. The level of the payment is fixed by a formula set out in the Broadcasting Act 1990 guaranteeing S4C an annual payment equivalent to 3.2 per cent. of the
  601
  total terrestrial television revenues from advertising, sponsorship and subscription in the previous year. The amount paid for 1995 was £63.8 million.

  Concessionary Television Licences
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what representations he has received from residents of St. Tydfil Court, Merthyr Tydfil, regarding concessionary television licences; and if he will make a statement; [30779]

  (2) if he will review the regulations governing concessionary television licences to cover cases in which the warden does not live on the same floor as the residents. [30780]

  Mr. Dorrell
  There are no plans for any changes to the regulations governing the concessionary television licence scheme. The regulations require qualifying accommodation to have a person whose function is to care for the needs of the residents and who either lives in one of the dwellings within the group or works on site for at least 30 hours per week. There is no requirement for this person to live on the same floor as the residents. Details of representations from members of the public about specific sheltered housing schemes are not recorded separately.

DEFENCE

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the policy of his Department towards the export of missiles which have a nuclear version; and when the guidelines were introduced. [30114]

  Mr. Freeman
  Our policy is to control the export of missiles which are capable of delivering nuclear weapons. The missile technology control regime, of which the UK is a founding member, has established guidelines covering the transfer of nuclear capable missiles, and related equipment and technology. The guidelines were agreed by MTCR partners in 1987.

  Faldingworth Range
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what grants or other assistance were provided to the Faldingworth range and storage area by his Department between 1986 and 1992. [30112]

  Mr. Soames
  We can find no trace of any grants or other assistance being provided to the Faldingworth range and storage area between 1986 and 1992.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those countries which had personnel trained at the Faldingworth range of Astra/BMARC between 1980 and 1992; and if he will give the dates of the residency of the trainees within the United Kingdom in each case. [30395]

  Mr. Soames
  Since the range was a purely commercial one, this is not a matter for my Department.

  RAF Donna Nook
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those countries which used the Donna Nook 602
  range between 1980 and 1992; and for what purpose in each case. [30396]

  Mr. Soames
  There are two separate range facilities at RAF Donna Nook, the air weapons range which is operated by my Department to provide training for aircrews of the Royal Air Force and other NATO nations, and the ammunition and test range. Since 1975, my Department has licensed BMARC and its successor companies to carry out trials of their weapon systems at the ammunition and test range at Donna Nook. Although my Department does not hold records relating to range use prior to 1990, from the company records made available to us for the period in question, representatives from the following countries visited the site to observe and record the performance of ammunition firings:

  Abu Dhabi

  Argentina

  Bahrain

  Belgium

  Chile

  Ecuador

  Egypt

  Finland

  Republic of Ireland

  Israel

  Italy

  Kuwait

  Malaysia

  Nigeria

  Pakistan

  Saudi Arabia

  Singapore

  Spain

  Switzerland

  Tunisia

  Turkey

  United States

  Cambridge Military Hospital
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will specify the element of total running costs at the Cambridge military hospital proportionate to the percentage of patients treated on behalf of the NHS in each of the last five years. [30552]

  Mr. Soames
  The figures are as follows:

  1990–91: £7,800,000

  1991–92: £7,800,000

  1992–93: £12,000,000

  1993–94: £15,400,000

  1994–95: £15,000,000.

  These figures include fixed costs which would in any case have been incurred in the treatment of service patients. In addition, because of changes in budgetary responsibility and accounting procedures during the period, the costs are not entirely comparable year on year.

  Porton Down
  Mr. Derek Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will agree to the release of relevant individual
  603
  medical records directly to the Porton Down Volunteers Association, in those cases where individuals have given their consent; and if he will make a statement. [30498]

  Mr. Soames
  Service medical records could be released to the Porton Down Volunteers Association where there is a right of individual access to those records under the Access to Health Records Act 1990 and the individual concerned has given his or her written authorisation. Such right of individual access applies only to medical records compiled after 1 November 1991. With regard to service medical records not covered by the provisions of the Act and for which there is no right of individual access, release can be made to an individual's doctor or solicitor only when required for the management of a particular case.

  IMS Iran Ltd.
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on which dates data relating to IMS Iran Ltd. were placed before Ministers. [30091]

  Mr. Freeman
  The accounts of IMS Iran Ltd. were consolidated with those of International Military Services Ltd. which are submitted to the Secretary of State for Defence each year for approval.

  Sir John Bourn
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the period of service with, and nature of duties performed for, his Department by Sir John Bourn. [30062]

  Mr. Freeman
  Sir John Bourn joined the Air Ministry in 1956. He held a variety of posts in the Ministry of Defence and on loan to other Government Departments culminating in his appointment as deputy under-secretary of state for defence procurement from 1985 until 1988.

  RAF Institute of Pathology and Tropical Medicine
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary for Defence what assessment has been made in the consideration of possible co-location of the RAF Institute of Pathology and Tropical Medicine with the School of Aviation Medicine of the implications of co-location for support services, appropriate levels of financial resourcing and the need for appropriately trained and qualified personnel. [31025]

  Mr. Soames
  The Institution of Pathology and Tropical Medicine is planned to close as a separate establishment on 31 March next year, when the bulk of its functions will transfer to the new core service hospital at Haslar. The future location of the institute's aviation pathology and toxicology department is at present the subject of an investment appraisal which will, as a matter of course, take account of all relevant factors.

  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 June,Official Report, column 234, on employees at the RAF Institute of Pathology and Tropical Medicine, how many of those employed are pathologists with a specific responsibility for aircraft investigation; and how many of the others are support staff engaged in aviation pathology. [31024]
  604
  Mr. Soames
  At present, the Institute of Pathology and Tropical Medicine employs one full-time civilian pathologist with a specific responsibility for aircraft accident investigation. He is assisted, as circumstances require, by four RAF pathologists and six support staff, two of whom are civilians.

  Royal Naval Stores Depot, Portsmouth
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what area of storage facilities at MOD Portsmouth remains unused; and if he will make a statement as to its future use. [30039]

  Mr. Soames
  The storage facilities of the royal naval stores depot at Portsmouth comprise of some 123,000 cubic metres. Of this, an estimated 51,000 cubic metres is currently unused, while the various transfers and refurbishments involved in the "Front Line First" rationalisations are taking place. When this process is completed in 1997, all the depot's storage capacity, except that in the heritage area, will comprise of modern efficient facilities which will be fully utilised. Details of the unused area of storage facilities in the whole of MOD Portsmouth are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Astra plc
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those occasions on which his officials met with directors of Astra plc; [30106]

  (2) if he will list those occasions on which representatives of Astra plc or its subsidiaries met with officials of his Department in connection with PRB of Belgium; [30110]

  (3) if he will list those occasions on which representatives of Astra plc or its subsidiaries met with officials of his Department in connection with Mr. Gerald Bull. [30111]

  Mr. Freeman
  Aside from the meetings between MOD officials and representatives of Astra plc about which evidence was given to the Trade and Industry Select Committee in February 1992, MOD officials would have had routine contacts with directors of Astra. It is not possible to list all these routine contacts.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Treasury Counsel Fees
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Attorney-General pursuant to his answer of 22 May,Official Report, column 451, how much each Treasury counsel retained for civil work received in fees from public funds in 1994–95; of the Treasury counsel based at the central criminal court, how many received between (i) £250,000 to £300,000, (ii) £300,000 to £350,000, (iii) £350,000 to £400,000, (iv) £400,000 to £500,000, (v) in excess of £500,000 from the Crown Prosecution Service for financial year 1994–95.

  The Attorney-General
  [pursuant to his reply, 21 June 1995, c. 260] Official Report, The figures given for fees paid to Treasury Counsel based at the central criminal court by the Crown Prosecution Service are being checked

  605
  and a revised table will be made available as soon as possible. However, contrary to the original information provided by the Crown Prosecution Service as set out in the table of 21 June, it is clear from information that has since been made available to me that no Treasury counsel based at the central criminal court received more than £400,000 in payments from the Crown Prosecution Service during the financial year 1994–95.

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Attorney-General when he expects to lay before Parliament and to publish an annual report of the Crown Prosecution Service for the year 1994–95. [31083]

  The Attorney-General
  The annual report for the Crown Prosecution Service was laid before Parliament at 11 am today and then published.

  Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Colin Cockram (Sentence)
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Attorney-General when representations were received alleging leniency in the sentence passed against Colin Cockram following his conviction in Bristol crown court for wounding Mr. Barry Warne; and by whom, and on what date, a decision to refer the matter to the Court of Appeal was first made public. [31133]

  The Attorney-General
  On 10 March 1995, following his conviction for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, Colin Cockram was sentenced to perform 80 hours community service. The Crown Prosecution Service, after taking the advice of trial counsel, decided to forward the papers to me so that I could consider applying for leave to refer the sentence to the Court of Appeal for reconsideration. The papers were received in this Department from the Crown Prosecution Service on 30 March. Treasury Counsel's advice was received on 3 April.

  The victim, Mr. Warne, wrote to the Home Secretary on 13 March, complaining about the sentence. The Home Office replied on 30 March and sent a copy of the correspondence to this Department, drawing the sentence to my attention. The correspondence was received here on 31 March. Both the Solicitor-General and I considered the papers and on 6 April, in my absence abroad, the Solicitor-General signed the reference applying for leave to refer the case to the Court of Appeal.

  On the same day, officials from my Department lodged the reference with the criminal appeals office and notified the Crown Prosecution Service and the solicitors acting for Mr. Cockram of the Solicitor-General's decision. On the same day, an official of my Department attempted to speak to Mr. Warne at his place of work and a message was left. Mr. Warne later returned the call and was told of the decision. He was also later written to.
  606
  By a letter dated 31 May, which arrived at this Department on 7 June, the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms Primarolo) wrote to me enclosing a copy of the Home Office reply to Mr. Warne's original letter of 13 March. The Solicitor-General replied to her on 9 June.

  I understand that the Bristol branch of the Crown Prosecution Service received written representations from the local police on the 24 March, after the decision to refer the papers to Crown Prosecution Service headquarters had already been made, and that one other item of correspondence has also been received by another Government Department and is in the process of being transferred to my office.

SCOTLAND

  Prisoners (HIV)
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many prisoners have been infected with HIV while in prison in Scotland; [28462]

  (2) how many cases of HIV and AIDS have been reported in Scottish prisons for each year since 1986; [28463]

  (3) how many inmates in prisons in Scotland are currently HIV-positive or have AIDS. [28464]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 14 June 1995]: The subject of the questions 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. Archy Kirkwood, dated 27 June 1995:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your questions about the number of prisoners who have been infected with HIV whilst in prison in Scotland; how many cases of HIV and AIDS have been reported in Scottish prisons for each year since 1986; and how many inmates are currently HIV positive or have AIDS in prisons in Scotland.
  The only known incidence of HIV transmission inside a Scottish prison occurred at Glenochil in 1993. A group of prisoners. including a number who were HIV positive, shared syringes and needles to inject drugs. Evidence gathered during the medical response to an outbreak of acute, clinical Hepatitis B and HIV, which resulted from this reckless behaviour, indicated that 8 prisoners had become infected with the HIV virus whilst in Glenochil.
  Information is not available centrally on how many prisoners had HIV or AIDS in each year since 1986. In 1989, however, the number of prisoners identified as being HIV positive averaged 90. In December 1994, 56 prisoners were known to be HIV positive but not all prisoners will be aware of their HIV status or will choose to disclose it.
  Voluntary anonymous saliva tests were carried out in a number of prisons between 1991 and 1995 in order to assess the extent of HIV infection. The results are given in the enclosed table.
  607

  Screening prisoners for HIV +: Results of voluntary anonymous saliva tests

  Year

  1991

  1992

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1994

  1994

  1995

  1995

  Prison

  Edinburgh

  Edinburgh

  Polmont YOI

  Glenochil

  Glenochil

  Glenochil YOI

  Barlinnie

  Perth

  Cornton Vale

  Prisoners taking part

  363

  236

  421

  227

  296

  162

  978

  304

  136

  HIV +

  17

  8

  0

  12

  7

  0

  10

  6

  2

  Percentage HIV +

  5

  3

  0

  3

  2

  0

  1

  2

  1

  Stornoway Sheriff Court
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent on renovation and refurbishment of Stornoway sheriff court since 1990.

  [29316]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Court Service. I have asked its chief executive, Michael Ewart, to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Michael Ewart to Mr. Calum Macdonald, dated 27 June 1995:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your question about how much was spent on renovation and refurbishment at Stornoway Sheriff Court since 1990.
  Work on the complete restoration and refurbishment of the B Listed, 19th Century Courthouse began in the autumn of 1993. The cost to date is £668,000. This includes £130,000 which is the subject of a claim following the liquidation of the original principal contractor.

  Environmentally Sensitive Area
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of the total land area of Scotland was designated as environmentally sensitive; what financial provision his Department allocated to environmentally sensitive areas in each of the years 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96; what percentage of the total land area of Scotland will be designated as environmentally sensitive; and what financial provision his Department will allocate to environmentally sensitive areas in each of the years 1996–97. [29324]

  Sir Hector Monro
  About 20 per cent. of Scotland's land area has been designated under the environmentally sensitive areas scheme and there are no plans to designate any further areas. The table sets out the financial provision for the schemes for 1993–94,1994–95 and 1995–96.

  The supply estimate provision for 1996–97 will be decided later this year in the light of forecast demand under the scheme.

  £ million

  1993–94 Supply estimate provision

  1994–95 Supply estimate provision

  1995–96 Supply estimate provision

  5.283

  4.5

  5.5

  Mink
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those islands in Argyll and Bute which contain a wild mink population. [29622]

  Sir Hector Monro
  It is known that there are wild mink populations on Mull and Iona.

  Sonic Repellants
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what protection there is for marine animals in United Kingdom coastal waters against the adverse effects of underwater sonic repellants employed by fish farmers in Scotland. [29842]

  Sir Hector Monro
  Sonic repellants have been brought into use as a non-lethal means of preventing predation of farmed fish. I am not aware of any evidence that they pose a threat to marine mammals which approach, but which then can retreat from, fish cages where such devices are in operation.

  Women in Business
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what initiatives his Department has to assist and encourage women who want to start their own businesses; and how the success of any initiative is monitored and assessed. [29568]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 21 June 1995]: The Scottish Office Industry Department and its associated economic development agencies, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, have in place a wide range of measures to assist men or women who wish to start up businesses. The impact of these measures is monitored and periodically evaluated against the objectives set for them.

  With regard to the specific needs of women who wish to start their own businesses, Scottish Enterprise published a report in 1994 "Women Starting Businesses—Making It Happen" which summarised its research into the problems and issues in this area. This was followed in December 1994 by the publication of an action plan to implement the recommendations of that report. This action plan, which is in the process of being implemented, sets out a number of specific tasks related to each of the following strategic issues, as set out in the plan:
  "Releasing potential-encouraging more women to embrace the notion of becoming entrepreneurs and persuading more of them to 'have a go'.
  Education and training—improving the contribution that schools and universities make to nurturing entrepreneurship among women.
  The media—using TV, radio and the press to provide more positive encouragement, including promoting realistic role models, for women thinking about setting up in business.
  Encouraging more growth companies—addressing the weakness highlighted in research whereby women seem to set up businesses with low aspirations and low growth prospects.
  Access to finance—finding ways of improving access to loan and equity finance for women business founders, and improving the encouragement given to women business founders by banks and equity funders.

  609
  Informal networking—encouraging women entrepreneurs to make more effective use of their business, social and family networks to develop their businesses.
  Support from formal networks-improving the support given to women business founders by local enterprise companies, enterprise trusts and other business advisers in both the private and public sectors."

  A range of programmes aimed specifically at promoting business creation by women in their areas has already been put in place by individual local enterprise companies.

  I will send the hon. Member copies of both publications referred to and have arranged for them to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will issue guidance to general practitioners in Scotland relating to the issuing of private prescriptions to NHS patients in line with guidance FHSL (94) 26 issued by the Department of Health; and for what reasons the Scottish Office has not previously done so. [29597]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 21 June 1995]: My officials are considering the nature and content of guidance to be issued to general practitioners in Scotland.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 29 March 1995,Official Report, column 702, which further NHS trusts have approached his Department regarding the involvement of private finance in the provision of facilities within their trust; what specific provision within each of these NHS trusts is being considered for private financed initiatives; what companies have been consulted on the possible provision of these facilities in each of the trusts; and what is the value of the services being considered under the private finance initiative for each trust and the current position as regards the formal conclusion of contracts between the NHS trust and the potential investor in the facilities in the case of each NHS trust. [29679]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 21 June 1995]: An exploration of the opportunities under the private finance initiative must be undertaken in relation to all capital projects currently being proposed in the NHS in Scotland. The following is a list of schemes currently in the process of exploration. Within each trust the schemes proposed consist of new clinical facilities and/or equipment. Under the private finance initiative, the trusts will be exploring possibilities for the provision of non-clinical support services in addition to the capital element of the schemes. The value of these services will not be known until proposals come forward from potential private sector partners. Consultation between trusts and private sector companies takes place following the placement of an advertisement in the Official Journal of the European Community. At present, no further trusts have reached the stage of consultation, although many are in the process of preparing and placing advertisements. At present, no contracts have been concluded between the trusts listed and potential private sector partners. The
  610
  Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Hairmyres Hospital and Greater Glasgow Community and Mental Health trusts have all drawn up shortlists of consortia with which a final tendering procedure will be undertaken.

  Health Survey
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent research his Department has commissioned in respect of a health survey in Scotland. [30477]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  As foreshadowed in our policy statement "Scotland's Health—A Challenge to Us All", a Scottish health survey, commissioned and funded by the Scottish Office, is now under way. The survey focuses particularly on cardiovascular disease and the associated risk factors such as smoking, diet, drinking and exercise. The results, which will be published, will inform the development of policy and action in this priority area of health in Scotland.

  Enterprise Zones
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people are employed(a) full-time and (b) part-time in each enterprise zone. [30702]

  Mr. Kynoch
  There are currently 2,138 full-time and 52 part-time employees working in the Inverclyde enterprise zone and 1,974 full-time and 226 part-time employees working in the Lanarkshire zone.

  Rights of Audience
  Mr. Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to consult the Lord President of the Court of Session on the implementation of section 25 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990; and what considerations underlie the timing of the consultation. [30479]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I will consult the Lord President shortly. We undertook not to implement section 25 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990 until the provisions of section 24 had time to become established.

  Edinburgh Royal Infirmary
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what services in the proposed new Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh will be operated by the private sector. [30813]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: The Royal Infirmary trust has yet to finalise details of services to be provided. In the information provided by the trust to prospective private sector partners, the following services are indicated as being those in which proposals for operation are sought:

  Catering services

  Estates Management

  Buildings and equipment maintenance, equipment replacement

  Domestic and housekeeping services

  Management of residential accommodation

  611

  Portering and security services, car parking

  Transport services

  Supplies services

  Grounds and gardens

  Laundry and linen services

  Switchboard and reception services and other administration

  Sterile services

  Medical records and information technology

  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the revenue consequences of annual charges to a private sector owner of the proposed new Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. [30812]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: The Royal Infirmary trust has yet to proceed to final tender stage and thus on-going revenue consequences are unknown. Charges specified by the private sector consortia will be compared against those arising from a publicly funded option so that best value for money can be achieved.

  Mental Health
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which organisations concerned with the needs of citizens with mental illness, or their families, have made representations voicing(a) support for and (b) opposition to those clauses in the Mental Health (Patients in the Community) Bill [Lords] which relate to Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [30708]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Office consulted widely in December 1993 about limiting long-term leave of absence from detention in hospital. A further consultation took place in December 1994 on the basis of detailed proposals for community care orders. A consultation was carried out in March 1994 about the proposals for the return of patients absent without leave. The organisations consulted were as follows:

  Age Concern

  Alzheimers Scotland

  Association of Directors of Social Work

  Association of Scottish Local Health Councils

  British Association of Social Workers

  British Medical Association (Scottish office)

  British Psychological Society

  Central Legal Office, Common Services Agency

  Committee of Users Representatives, Glasgow1

  Community Psychiatric Nurses Association

  Convention of Scottish Local Authorities

  Dementia Services Development Centre

  Directors of Social Work—Regional and Island Councils

  Enable (Scottish Society for the Mentally Handicapped)

  Faculty of Advocates

  Health Boards

  Law Society of Scotland

  Link (Glasgow Association for Mental Health)1

  Manic Depressive Society

  Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland

  612

  National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Scotland

  National Schizophrenia Fellowship (Scotland)

  NHS Trusts

  Penumbra

  Psychiatric Nurses Association

  Richmond Fellowship

  Royal College of General Practitioners

  Royal College of Nursing

  Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh

  Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow

  Royal College of Psychiatrists (Scottish Division)

  Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

  Scottish Action on Dementia

  Scottish Association for Mental Health

  Scottish Council for Civil Liberties

  Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

  Scottish Hospital Advisory Service (now Scottish Health Advisory Service)

  Scottish Law Commission

  Scottish Users Network

  Sheriffs' Association2

  United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (UKCC)

  Notes:

  1 Consulted only about the return of patients absent without leave.

  2 Consulted only about the detailed proposals for community care orders.

  Except where there was a request for confidentiality, copies of the responses are being placed in the Library. A variety of views were expressed. Some of the organisations consulted did not make a response.

WALES

  Patients Charter
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to send the embargoed letter to the chief executives of Welsh health authorities, family health service authorities, national health service trusts and the unit general managers relating to the publication of the NHS patients charter performance tables, ready for Charter Week. [29235]

  Mr. Rod Richards
  [holding answer 19 June 1995]: There are no plans to issue such a letter. Chief executives and general managers have been notified by Welsh Office officials.

  School Funding
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received from school governors in(a) Swansea, (b) West Glamorgan and (c) Wales about (i) school funding for 1995–96 and (ii) further funding. [29510]

  Mr. Richards
  The Department has received many representations concerning school funding in 1995–96, and future funding, from many parties, including school governors.

  Health Authority Appointments
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when and by whom authorisation was given for advertisements to be placed for appointments to the proposed new health authorities in Wales. [29435]

  Mr. Richards
  The then Secretary of State decided in December 1994 to ask officials to arrange advertisements concerning appointments to the proposed authorities.

  Fatal accidents in Wales occurring in the workplace as reported to the Health and Safety executive's field operations division inspectorates and local authorities, 1988–89–1993–941

  County

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Clwyd

  7

  9

  6

  7

  2

  1

  Dyfed

  3

  3

  5

  5

  6

  2

  Gwent

  3

  8

  5

  1

  8

  5

  Gwynedd

  3

  8

  3

  1

  5

  5

  Mid Glamorgan

  6

  4

  6

  5

  6

  5

  Powys

  2

  1

  6

  3

  2

  3

  South Glamorgan

  1

  3

  4

  3

  4

  3

  West Glamorgan

  3

  4

  2

  1

  4

  3

  Total

  34

  40

  37

  26

  37

  27

  Source:

  HSE.

  1 Year commencing 1 April. Geographical location is determined by the employment base of the injured person which is not necessarily the geographical location of the injury. The figures exclude the small number of injuries reported to other relevant enforcing authorities, chiefly mines, railways and explosives inspectorates, for which a regional breakdown is not readily available. Data shown in the table prior to 1990–91 exclude reports made to the quarries inspectorate.

  Regional Emergency Committee
  Mr. Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the names and designation of the members of the Regional Emergency Committee in Wales, together with the dates on which the committee has met in each of the past three years. [29988]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Regional Emergency Committee is convened in the event of a serious emergency. This has not happened in the last three years. Members meet informally from time to time to keep in contact. The committee is chaired by the Welsh Office and the organisations represented on it include appropriate Welsh Office divisions, the police, the fire service, the Army, other Government Departments, the Post Office and the telecommunications industry. Other organisations are represented should circumstance require.

  Mortgage Repossessions
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his latest estimate of the number of homes repossessed in Wales in the last five years. [30162]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  In the first quarter of 1995, county courts in Wales made 444 mortgage possession orders together with 647 suspended orders, whereby the mortgagees are given an opportunity to clear their debts. Information is not recorded centrally on the number of cases in which mortgage possession orders led to warrants to have the defendants evicted.

  Alzheimer's Disease
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how he proposes to help people who suffer

  Fatal Accidents
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many fatal accidents have occurred in workplaces in Wales in each of the last six years giving the figures by Welsh county. [29632]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is shown in the following table.

  from Alzheimer's disease; and if he will make a statement. [30166]

  Mr. Richards
  Local and health authorities have responsibility for assessing the needs of their residents and to plan services with the resources available to them. This includes individuals who have Alzheimer's disease.

  Grant Payments
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what provision for compensation in respect of the late payment of grants is available to farmers. [29994]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Claims for compensation are dealt with on their merit in the light of the circumstances of each case.

  Apprenticeships
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many apprenticeships exist in Wales. [30163]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Estimates from the labour force survey for winter 1994–95 indicate that in Wales some 321,000 people have completed apprenticeships and 13,000 are still doing apprenticeships.

  Noise Nuisance
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to deal with(a) noise nuisance and (b) other forms of anti-social behaviour by neighbours. [30165]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Proposals to help tackle neighbour noise nuisance were included in the Government's recent consultation document "Review of the Effectiveness of
  615
  Neighbour Noise Controls". The comments received on these proposals will be considered before deciding whether to proceed with legislation. As for anti-social behaviour by neighbours, local authorities already have a number of powers to help them deal with the problem. In terms of anti-social council tenants, the Welsh Office recently consulted interested parties on the possibility of giving councils a new discretionary power to introduce probationary tenancies.

  Negative Equity
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of homes deemed to suffer negative equity in Wales. [30161]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  An estimated 11,000 households in Wales, representing 1.3 per cent. of the owner-occupied stock, were affected by negative equity in the first quarter in 1995. These estimates are prepared by the Department of the Environment on the basis of a house price index. The estimates are sensitive to the assumptions made and are intended only to provide a broad indication of the level of negative equity.

  Welsh Health Survey
  Mr. Redmond
  To as the Secretary of State for Wales what recent research his Department has commissioned in respect of a health survey for Wales, and if he will make a statement. [30478]

  Mr. Richard
  The Welsh health survey was launched at the end of April 1995. It is a postal survey using a sample of 50,000 of the adult population drawn from the electoral register, and is designed to provide an accurate picture of the health of the people of Wales, the way the NHS is used, and areas where services could be improved.

  The main aim of the survey is to collect information on representative samples of the population with a range of illnesses and disabilities and information on comparable groups of healthy people, without using any medical records. The information will help those responsible for the NHS in Wales to develop services more finely attuned to the needs of the general population, to carry out further improvements in services, and to inform the development of the patients charter for Wales.

  The results of the survey will be published towards the end of this year. Copies of the questionnaire have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the ratio of unemployed persons for each vacant job for each county in Wales. [30604]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is shown in the following table. The figures relate to the numbers of claimant unemployed and the number of unfilled vacancies at jobcentres. The vacancy figures do not represent the total number of vacancies in the economy. Latest estimates suggest that nationally about one third of all vacancies are notified to jobcentres.
  616

  Number of claimant unemployed persons for each unfilled vacancy, May 19951

  County

  Number

  Clwyd

  6.6

  Dyfed

  6.6

  Gwent

  8.7

  Gwynedd

  6.2

  Mid Glamorgan

  9.4

  Powys

  6.0

  South Glamorgan

  10.5

  West Glamorgan

  5.9

  Source

  NOMIS.

  1 Claimant unemployed divided by number of unfilled vacancies at jobcentres.

  Mentally Ill (Accommodation)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for each of the health authorities in Wales and for Wales as a whole the number of places available in accommodation schemes for people with severe mental illness; what proposals he has to promote high level support accommodation schemes for the severely mentally ill; and if he will make a statement. [28728]

  Mr. Richards
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: The required information is not available on a health authority basis nor is it possible to isolate information in respect of severe mental illness.

  A large proportion of accommodation schemes for people with mental illness are the responsibility of local authorities. Places available in residential care homes—private, voluntary and local authority—as at 31 March 1994 are as follows:

  Local authority

  Places

  Clwyd

  117

  Dyfed

  134

  Gwent

  50

  Gwynedd

  82

  Mid Glamorgan

  69

  Powys

  51

  South Glamorgan

  83

  West Glamorgan

  144

  Wales

  730

  Notes:

  These figures exclude small homes—ie less than four residents.

  The assessment of need, provision of appropriate accommodation and the monitoring of the quality of care is a matter for local determination.

  Regional Enterprise Grant
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the companies awarded regional enterprise grant, investment project in the counties of Gwynedd and Clwyd for each year since 1988. [30256]

  Mr. Richards
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: Since 1988, 29 companies in Gwynedd and 328 companies in Clwyd have received offers of regional enterprise grant, investment. A complete list of these companies has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Private Prescriptions
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning the use of private prescription forms by(a) general practitioners and (b) pharmacists at the request of patients for those prescription items whose cost of production and distribution is lower than the standard prescription charge; and if he will make a statement. [30666]

  Mr. Richards
  [holding answer 26 June 19951: None.

  Millennium Commission
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to notify the Millennium Commission of the priority rating for the projects shortlisted by the Commission for Wales. [31007]

  Mr. Richards
  [holding answer Monday 26 June 1995]: Decisions on the selection of projects for funding are entirely a matter for the millennium commissioners, who are independent of Government. We have been invited by the Secretary of State for National Heritage to let us have any comments on the short list of major projects to help him inform his contribution to the deliberations of the commission.

  School Leavers
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many young people in Wales who reached the school leaving age in 1994(a) stayed at school to seek qualifications higher than GCSEs or equivalent, (b) stayed at school to take further GCSEs (c) left school to take courses of further or higher education and (d) are not in training, education or employment. [31019]

  Mr. Richards
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: The available information is contained in the following table. The figures relate to pupils on school rolls in LEA-maintained, grant-maintained and independent schools at the time of the January 1994 census, who would have attained school leaving age by 31 August 1994. The available information does not distinguish, in relation to those staying at school, between those proposing to do further GCSEs and those undertaking higher qualifications.

  Intended destinations of pupils of school leaving age

  Pupils continuing full time education at:

  School

  13,535

  Further or Higher Education College

  9,850

  Pupils entering into full time employment or Youth Training

  4,720

  Other (including part time education, part time employment, unemployment or unknown)

  3,915

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many young people in Wales reached the school leaving age in 1994. [31017]

  Mr. Richards
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: Some 32,339 pupils on school rolls at the time of the January 1994 schools census would have attained school leaving age by 31 August 1994.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was Welsh Office expenditure on TEC programmes for each of the years since their inception. [30965]

  Mr. Richards
  As the information requested will take some time to collate, I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

  Suicides
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many suicides there have been in Wales in each of the last 10 years. [30984]

  Mr. Richards
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: The latest available information for Welsh residents is in the following table:

  Year

  Suicides ICD E950–E959

  1984

  249

  1985

  194

  1986

  234

  1987

  232

  1988

  241

  1989

  190

  1990

  221

  1991

  245

  1992

  262

  19931

  224

  Source:

  OPCS.

  1 In 1993 OPCS made changes to the coding and data collection system which may have affected the numbers of deaths for many causes (including suicides).

  Higher Education
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, (1) what has been the total Government expenditure on university and polytechnic maintenance grants, for each year since 1974–75 in 1994 prices; [30338]

  (2) what has been the value of the full universities student grant for each year since 1974–75 in 1994 prices; [30337]

  (3) if he will list the changes to university and polytechnic student maintenance grant entitlement since 1974; [30339]

  (4) what is his estimate of the annual cost of providing the full maintenance grant to all university students; [30323]

  (5) what would be the cost of reducing the level of university fees paid by non-European Community Country students to the fee levels paid by students from European Community countries; [30325]

  (6) what was the percentage of university or polytechnic students entitled to (a) a full maintenance grant and (b) no maintenance grant for each year since 1979; [30340]

  (7) what is his estimate of the number of students in higher education in the year 2000; [30320]

  (8) what was the average level of student loan for university students in 1994–95; [30324]
  619
  (9) what is his estimate of the cost in the current year of restoring the value of the student maintenance grant to its real 1979 level; [30342]

  (10) what would be the annual cost of paying (a) all fees for and (b) the full maintenance grant to all part-time university students. [30322]

  (11) what is his estimate of the total number of university students with a student loan, in each year from 1987–88 to 1997–98. [30326]

  Mr. Richards
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Further and Higher Education.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the staff to student ratio at universities, and their forerunners, for each year from 1974–75 to 1997–98. [30335]

  Mr. Richards
  Information available on the staff/student ratio in the constituent colleges of the university of Wales and at other institutions providing higher education in Wales from 1986–87 to 1993–94 can be found in the following table. Comparable information for years prior to 1986–87 is not available for both sectors. Data for the year 1994–95 have not yet been collected. There are no projected figures.

  Ratio of full-time equivalent student numbers to full-time equivalent academic and academic related staff numbers in Wales.

  Academic year

  University of Wales1

  Other institutions2

  1986–87

  6:4

  10:4

  1987–88

  6:4

  10:2

  1988–89

  6:7

  10:1

  1989–90

  7:0

  11:4

  1990–91

  7:1

  12:5

  1991–92

  7:7

  13:9

  1992–93

  8:4

  15:7

  1993–94

  9:0

  316:7

  Notes:

  1 As at December of each year.

  2 Full academic year. Includes higher education provision at further education institutions.

  3 Provisional data pending publication.

  Sources:

  Universities Statistical Record and the Welsh Office Annual Monitoring Survey.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average cost to the Exchequer of each student in university education for each year since 1984–85 broken down by(a) maintenance grant, (b) fees and (c) other. [30343]

  Mr. Richards
  The information is not available in the form requested. The average maintenance grants received by mandatory award holders domiciled in England and Wales in the academic years 1984–85 to 1993–94 are shown in the table set out in the answer given today by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for further and Higher Education.

  In Wales, the estimated income from tuition fees and average recurrent grant from the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales since its inception in 1992 per student is around £4,500 in each of the financial years 1993–94 to 1995–96.
  620
  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the drop-out rate for university and polytechnic courses in each year since 1979. [30319]

  Mr. Richards
  Information relating to drop-out rates for Welsh institutions is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are his estimates of the university or polytechnic total student population for each year from 1974–75 to 1998–99. [30341]

  Mr. Richards
  Information on the number of student enrolments on higher education courses at publicly funded institutions in Wales from 1974–75 to 1997–98 can be found in the following table. Comparable 1998–99 figures will be available later in the year as a direct consequence of this years public expenditure survey.

  Enrolments on higher education courses at publicly funded institutions in Wales1

  Year

  University of Wales2

  Other publicly funded institutions3

  1974–75

  16,681

  7,569

  1975–76

  17,762

  9,345

  1976–77

  18,784

  10,643

  1977–78

  19,692

  12,885

  1978–79

  20,508

  12,959

  1979–80

  20,879

  13,142

  1980–81

  21,667

  13,890

  1981–82

  21,300

  15,135

  1982–83

  20,888

  15,824

  1983–84

  20,050

  17,617

  1984–85

  20,486

  18,181

  1985–86

  21,520

  19,240

  1986–87

  22,674

  19,861

  1987–88

  22,886

  20,331

  1988–89

  23,167

  21,393

  1989–90

  24,577

  22,579

  1990–91

  26,170

  24,076

  1991–92

  29,487

  27,949

  1992–93

  33,112

  33,085

  1993–944

  36,390

  37,133

  1994–955

  35,500

  38,300

  1995–965

  35,800

  38,800

  1996–975

  35,800

  38,700

  1997–985

  36,100

  38,900

  Notes:

  1 Excludes Open University students.

  2 At December. Excludes institutions gaining university status in 1992–93.

  3 At November. Includes institutions gaining university status in 1992–93.

  4 Provisional data pending publication.

  5 Projected figures, based on 1994 student counts. Overseas students, other than EC, are excluded.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the backlog of building repair and maintenance work at universities. [30336]

  Mr. Richards
  Surveys undertaken in the early 1990s of the higher education estate in Wales showed a backlog of maintenance and repair which would cost just over £90 million to correct. Work to the value of £30 million has already been undertaken, including all work necessary to meet health and safety requirements. The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales has a target to eliminate the remaining backlog of work by 1999 at the latest.
  621
  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the(a) average cost and (b) marginal cost of university students in 1995–96. [30344]

  Mr. Richards
  The average funding council grant and income from fees per higher education student in Wales for the financial year 1995–96 is estimated at around £4,500. No information is available for marginal costs.

  Local Government and Housing Act 1989
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what responsibilities his Department has for ensuring that local authorities in Wales comply with the regulations of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989; and if he will make a statement on the steps he has taken during the past two years with regard to such compliance. [30867]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  A large number of powers are vested in the Secretary of State under provisions in the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. They cover a number of different subject areas, including local authority membership, economic development, local government finance, local authority companies, housing and housing finance. If the hon. Member would indicate those parts of the 1989 Act that he is particularly interested in, or has concerns about, I will write to him.

EDUCATION

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the number of pupils who currently attend grant-maintained schools in the United Kingdom. [29122]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  We estimate that about 670,000 pupils are currently being educated in grant-maintained schools throughout the United Kingdom.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when she last met the National Union of Teachers to discuss grant-maintained schools. [29124]

  Mr. Squire
  My right hon. Friend has not had a meeting with the NUT at which grant-maintained schools were the principal subject for discussion.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will a make a statement about the progress and performance of grant-maintained schools. [29135]

  Mr. Squire
  For three successive years, GM comprehensive schools have, on average, achieved better GCSE results than their local education authority counterparts. Similarly, in 1994—the first year for which adequate data are available—GM primary schools achieved better key stage 1 results than LEA primary schools. These comparisons remain true even if account is taken of socio-economic differences in the schools' intakes.

  Mature Students
  Mr. Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what forms of public maintenance support are available to mature students in higher education. [29123]
  622
  Mr. Boswell
  Mature students, like other students, are generally eligible for a variety of forms of public support. These include mandatory awards and student loans for most full-time first higher education courses, discretionary awards from local authorities, and various postgraduate bursaries.

  Religious and Minority Schools, Harrow
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent representations she has received for new religious and minority schools in the London borough of Harrow. [29125]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend has received no formal representations recently. The Department is in contact with representatives of the United Synagogue Board of Education about its proposals to establish a new Jewish voluntary-aided primary school in Harrow.

  School Buildings
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate she has made of the cost of outstanding repairs to schools. [29126]

  Mr. Squire
  Estimates based on a 1991 National Audit Office report suggested that the cost of structural repairs and maintenance to local authority school buildings was around £1.4 billion at current prices, but since 1990–91, some £3.5 billion has been made available from all sources for capital work in schools.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will make a statement on the standards of school buildings. [29127]

  Mr. Squire
  The main standards for school buildings are set out in the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981. Building work at schools is covered by the Department's construction standards.

  School Discipline
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what measures she is taking to help schools enforce firm discipline. [29128]

  Mr. Forth
  In May 1994, guidance on pupil behaviour and discipline was sent to all schools, as part of the "Pupils with Problems" pack. The guidance aims to help schools maintain and improve discipline. In September 1994, the Department published an anti-bullying pack to help schools combat bullying. We are now considering what more might be done to support schools on discipline and behaviour, building on previous guidance.

  Higher Education
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate she has made of how many students will he entering higher education this autumn. [29129]

  Mr. Boswell
  Our spending plans have allowed for overall funded student numbers in England to rise by 22,000 between the 1994–95 and 1995–96 financial years. This should enable approaching one in three young people to enter full-time higher education this autumn.
  623
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is her estimate of the backlog of building repair and maintenance work at universities. [30346]

  Mr. Boswell
  The current backlog of building repair and maintenance work for academic buildings is estimated to cost £900 million. This figure is derived from accommodation condition surveys conducted in the early 1990s.

  The Higher Education Funding Council for England, and its predecessor bodies, have spent £386 million over the past five years on grants for backlog maintenance, and HE institutions themselves have spent £216 million during the same period. The HEFCE plans to spend a further £100 million on grant aid for projects over the next three years to which it expects institutions to contribute an additional £300 million. The remaining less urgent work will need to be funded by institutions themselves.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is her estimate of the(a) average cost and (b) marginal cost of university students in 1995–96. [30354]

  Mr. Boswell
  The average funding council grant and income from tuition fees per higher education student for the financial year 1995–96 is estimated as around £4,500. No information is available on the marginal cost.

  Expenditure and funding on higher education in England and Wales: 1984–85 to 1994–95

  £ (cash terms)

  England and Wales Academic Years

  England only Financial Years

  Average maintenance grant per mandatory award holder1

  Average fees per mandatory award holder1 2

  Average student loan per loan holder3

  Estimated average funding council grant and income from tuition fees per student2 4 5

  1984–85

  1,240

  580

  —

  4,000

  1985–86

  1,170

  610

  —

  4,100

  1986–87

  1,220

  620

  —

  4,200

  1987–88

  1,240

  640

  —

  4,400

  1988–89

  1,320

  670

  —

  4,700

  1989–90

  1,390

  710

  —

  4,900

  1990–91

  1,480

  1,700

  390

  4,800

  1991–92

  1,550

  2,250

  540

  4,800

  1992–93

  1,610

  2,310

  660

  4,600

  1993–94

  1,670

  2,100

  740

  4,600

  1994–95

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  4,600

  n/a = Not available.

  1 Based on award holders normally domiciled in England and Wales.

  2 The fee element per student of the funding council grant plus tuition fee income is not directly comparable with the average fee per mandatory award holder.

  3 Based on loan holders studying in England and Wales.

  4 Based on higher education students studying in England.

  5 Figures estimated using the real terms unit public funding index published in successive DM departmental reports, copies of which are available in the Library. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £100.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are her estimates of the university or polytechnic total student population for each year from 1974–75 to 1998–99. [30351]

  Mr. Boswell
  Projections of the student population for home full-time and sandwich students in GB institutions are presently not available for years beyond 1997–98. However, comparable 1998–99 projections will be
  624
  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is her estimate of the staff-student ratio at universities and their forerunners for each year from 1974–75 to 1997–98. [30345]

  Mr. Boswell
  Information on the student-staff ratios in former English UFC and PCFC funded institutions was presented in table G of the Department's annual report, Cm 2810, published in March this year, a copy of which is in the Library. This table provides information for both sectors for the academic years 1990–91 to 1992–93. Information for earlier years, calculated on a different basis, is available in previous departmental reports.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the average cost to the Exchequer of each student in university education for each year from 1984–85 to 1994–95, broken down by(a) maintenance grant, (b) fees and (c) other. [30353]

  Mr. Boswell
  The information is not available in the form requested. The average maintenance grants received by mandatory award holders domiciled in England and Wales in the academic years 1984–85 to 1993–94 are shown in the table. Since 1990–91, most students in full-time education up to first degree level have had access to student loans. The average loan to students studying in England and Wales in the academic years 1990–91 to 1993–94 are also shown.

  In England, the estimated average funding council grant and income from tuition fees per student for the financial years in question are also provided.

  available later in the year as a direct consequence of this years public expenditure survey.

  Outturn data for the years 1974–75 to 1993–94, provisional data for 1994–95 and projections for 1995–96 to 1997–98 are shown in the table, which shows figures underlying the 1994 budget settlement.

  In addition, the number of students in English institutions is published in the Department for Education and Office for Standards in Education departmental

  625
  report, copies of which are held in the Library. Following is table G: Higher Education student and staff numbers, England 1989–90 to 1997–98, from the March 95 edition.

  Table: 1994 Budget Settlement. Home full-time and sandwich higher education student numbers in Great Britain

  Thousands

  Academic year

  Total

  1974–75

  447

  1975–76

  456

  1976–77

  459

  1977–78

  451

  1978–79

  448

  1979–80

  455

  1980–81

  467

  1981–82

  492

  1982–83

  507

  1983–84

  515

  Table G: Higher education student and staff numbers, England 1989–90 to 1997–98

  Academic year

  1989–90 actual

  1990–91 actual

  1991–92 actual

  1992–93 actual

  1993–94 provisional

  1994–95 projected

  1995–96 projected

  1996–97 projected

  1997–98 projected

  Home full-time and part-time students (thousands)

  Full-time and sandwich students

  484

  527

  599

  686

  749

  798

  800

  793

  792

  Part time students3

  339

  359

  380

  402

  407

  423

  434

  442

  452

  Total full and part-time

  823

  887

  980

  1,088

  1,157

  1,220

  1,234

  1,235

  1,244

  Total full-time equivalent students of which students funded by TTA

  603

  653

  732

  826

  892

  945

  952(61)

  948(60)

  950(59)

  Age Participation Index (GB)per cent.4 5

  17

  19

  23

  28

  30

  30–31

  30–31

  30–31

  30–31

  EC Students' (thousands)

  Total full—time equivalent students

  16

  20

  24

  27

  33

  33

  34

  35

  36

  Other Overseas Students

  Total full-time equivalent students

  46

  48

  51

  53

  59

  60

  60

  61

  61

  Total full-time equivalent students (FTEs)

  664

  721

  807

  907

  984

  1,038

  1,047

  1,044

  1,047

  Academic Staff (thousand FTEs) Universities7

  24.9

  24.9

  25.6

  26.1

  26.6

  Former PCFC funded institutions

  n/a

  22.8

  23.6

  24.9

  n/a

  Student: Staff Ratio8

  Universities7

  11.1

  11.7

  12.4

  13.2

  14.0

  Former PCFC funded institutions

  n/a

  15.3

  17.1

  18.7

  n/a

  Notes:

  Totals based on unrounded figures, therefore may not always equal sum of the omponents

  1 Covers undergraduates and postgraduates.

  2 Higher education students in higher education institutions and further education colleges

  3 Includes a small number of OU full-time postgraduate students.

  4 The Age Participation Index (API) is defined as the number of initial home entrants to HE aged under 21 expressed as a percentage of the average number of 18 and 19 years olds in the population.

  5 The Age Participation Index (API) over the protection period will depend upon universities recruitment policies to maintain total numbers within DFE 'guidelines': depending upon these factors, the API may fall outside the forecast range.

  6 Includes Finland, Austria and Sweden from 1995–96.

  7 Excludes OU Covers former UFC funded institutions.

  8 Student numbers used in the calculation of SSRs are on a different basis to those appearing in the table.

  n/a Not available.

  Sources:

  DFE surveys Further Educatin Statistical Record, Form 618G and Annual Monitoring Survey, Universities' Statistical Record, Open University, PCFC Surveys PARISS and Staff Record.
  626

  Table: 1994 Budget Settlement. Home full-time and sandwich higher education student numbers in Great Britain

  Thousands

  Academic year

  Total

  1984–85

  521

  1985–86

  530

  1986–87

  540

  1987–88

  549

  1988–89

  565

  1989–90

  600

  1990–91

  650

  Actual

  1992–93

  841

  Provisional

  1993–94

  930

  Projected

  1994–95

  990

  1995–96

  995

  1996–97

  984

  1997–98

  983

  627
  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what is her estimate of the annual cost of providing the full maintenance grant to all university students; [30331]

  (2) what would be the annual cost of paying (a) all fees for, and (b) the full maintenance grant to, all part-time university students. [30330]

  Mr. Boswell
  The cost in either case would depend upon the decisions taken about eligible courses, their duration, the maximum payable fee and maintenance grant, and the account to be taken of the personal circumstances of potentially eligible students.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what has been the value of the full university student grant for each year since 1974–75 in 1994 prices; [30347]

  (2) if she will list the change to university and polytechnic student maintenance grant entitlement since 1974. [30349]

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

  Value of the standard maintenance grant and grant plus loan in England and Wales: 1974–75 to 1994–95

  Standard maintenance grant (cash terms) £1

  Standard maintenance grant plus loan (cash terms) £2

  Standard maintenance grant (real terms) £3

  Standard maintenance grant plus loan (real terms) £3

  1974–754

  605

  —

  3056

  —

  1975–764

  740

  —

  2,945

  —

  1976–774

  875

  —

  3,041

  —

  1977–784

  1,010

  —

  3,033

  —

  1978–794

  1,100

  —

  3,062

  —

  1979–804

  1,245

  —

  2,996

  —

  1980–814

  1,430

  —

  2,997

  —

  1981–824

  1,535

  —

  2,875

  —

  1982–834

  1,595

  —

  2,783

  —

  1983–844

  1,660

  —

  2,753

  —

  1984–85

  1,775

  —

  2,832

  —

  1985–86

  1,830

  —

  2,766

  —

  1986–87

  1,901

  —

  2,778

  —

  1987–88

  1,972

  —

  2,784

  —

  1988–89

  2,050

  —

  2,752

  —

  1989–90

  2,155

  —

  2,733

  —

  1990–91

  2,265

  2,685

  2,624

  3,111

  1991–92

  2,265

  2,845

  2,483

  3,119

  1992–93

  2,265

  2,980

  2,387

  3,141

  1993–94

  2,265

  3,065

  2,311

  3,128

  1994–95

  2,040

  3,190

  2,040

  3,190

  1 The standard maintenance grant rate is that applicable to students living away from home and studying outside London.

  2 Since 1990–91 student support has included grant and loan; the grant was frozen at the 1990–91 level (ie: £2,265) until 1994–95 when it was reduced to £2,040. Figures for 1990–91 and subsequent years include grant plus full year loan for students living away from home.

  3 Based on the Retail Price Index (excluding mortgage interest payments) in September at the beginning of each academic year.

  4 Upto and including 1983–84 students claimed, and were individually reimbursed, full travelling expenses; form 1984–85 most students had to meet travel costs from within their main rate of grant.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the drop-out rate for university and polytechnic courses in each year since 1979. [30327]
  628
  Mr. Boswell
  Full-time and sandwich first degree drop-out rates for each year from 1982–1983 to 1992–1993 are shown in the table. The figures are published in the 1995 and 1994 departmental annual reports.

  Academic year

  Percentage drop-out rate

  1982–83

  13

  1983–84

  14

  1984–85

  15

  1985–86

  14

  1986–87

  16

  1987–88

  17

  1988–89

  14

  1989–90

  16

  1990–91

  15

  1991–92

  17

  1992–93

  17

  Sources:

  Universities' Statistical Record leavers and enrolment records

  CNAA enrolment records England and Wales (1982–83 to 1990–91)

  DFE Further Education Statistical Record (1991–92 to 1992–93)

  The figures show that drop-out rates have fluctuated but they appear low by international standards.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what would be the cost of reducing the level of university fees paid by non-European Community country students to the fee levels paid by students from European Community Countries. [30333]

  Mr. Boswell
  Information on fees for overseas students, which are set separately by each university and college, is not available.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is her estimate of the cost in the current year of restoring the value of the student maintenance grant to its real 1979 level. [30352]

  Mr. Boswell
  The cost would depend on whether or not the changes made to the student support system since 1979, including the major changes made in 1990 when loans were introduced, were to be reversed.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what was the average level of student loan for university students in 1994–95. [30332]

  Mr. Boswell
  The average level of loan for all borrowers in the academic year 1993–94, the latest year for which data are available, was £736. Separate figures for university students are not available.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what has been the total Government expenditure on university and polytechnic maintenance grants, for each year since 1974–75 in 1994 prices. [30348]

  Mr. Boswell
  The information requested for England and Wales is shown in the table.
  629

  Government expenditure on maintenance grants to mandatory award holders and on student loans in England and Wales: Academic years 1974–75 to 1993–94

  £ million (real terms)1

  Student maintenance grants2

  Student loans3

  Total expenditure

  1974–75

  n/a4

  —

  n/a

  1975–76

  631

  —

  631

  1976–77

  653

  —

  653

  1977–78

  700

  —

  700

  1978–79

  757

  —

  757

  1979–80

  799

  —

  799

  1980–81

  834

  —

  834

  1981–82

  830

  —

  830

  1982–83

  824

  —

  824

  1983–84

  833

  —

  833

  1984–85

  766

  —

  766

  1985–86

  692

  —

  692

  1986–87

  701

  —

  701

  1987–88

  710

  —

  710

  1988–89

  734

  —

  734

  1989–90

  774

  —

  774

  1990–91

  826

  68

  894

  1991–92

  942

  129

  1,072

  1992–93

  1,102

  204

  1,306

  1993–94

  1,227

  275

  1,502

  1 In 1994–95 prices based on the Retail Price Index (excluding mortgage interest payments) in September at the beginning of each academic year.

  2 Expenditure on grants to mandatory award normally domiciled in England and Wales.

  3 Expenditure on loans to higher education England and Wales.

  4 Information on expenditure on maintenance award holders in 1974–75 is not available.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is her estimate of the number of students in higher education in the year 2000. [30328]

  Mr. Boswell
  Projections for students in Great Britain institutions of higher education are not available for academic years beyond 1997–98.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is her estimate of the total number of university students with a student loan in each year from 1987–88 to 1997–98. [30334]

  Mr. Boswell
  The information is not readily available in the format requested. The Student Loans Company first issued loans in the academic year 1990–91. The total numbers of loans issued in each academic year to students in higher education are:

  1990–91: 180,000

  1991–92: 261,000

  1992–93: 345,000

  1993–94: 430,000

  The latest forecast of the number of student loans that will be issued in 1994–95 is 525,000.

  The forecast of student loan numbers, as used in calculating the figures for the supply estimates, was:

  1995–96: 672,000

  1996–97: 731,000

  1997–98: 768,000

  630
  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the percentage of university/polytechnic students entitled to(a) full maintenance grant and (b) no maintenance grant in each year since 1979. [30350]

  Mr. Boswell
  The information requested on this topic which the Department collects relates only to mandatory award holders domiciled in England and Wales. The available information is shown in the table.

  Mandatory award holders receiving full and nil maintenance grants in England and Wales: 1979–80 to 1993–94

  Percentages

  Full maintenance grant

  Nil maintenance grant

  1979–80

  39

  —1

  1980–81

  40

  —1

  1981–82

  40

  —1

  1982–83

  37

  —1

  1983–84

  36

  —1

  1984–85

  35

  —1

  1985–86

  35

  22

  1986–87

  37

  22

  1987–88

  37

  25

  1988–89

  37

  25

  1989–90

  36

  25

  1990–91

  37

  25

  1991–92

  39

  25

  1992–93

  42

  24

  1993–94

  44

  22

  Note:

  1 Up to 1984–85 all mandatory award holders received at least a non-zero minimum maintenance grant (£335 in 1979–90 and £410 in 1983–84).

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education to what extent maintenance for younger children assessed under the Child Support Act 1991 is taken into account in assessing parental contributions towards grants for students in higher education; and if she will make a statement. [31213]

  Mr. Boswell
  Certain payments which are made by others for the benefit of a student are treated as part of the gross income of the parent in assessing that parent's contribution to the student's grant. These payments include any made under a trust deed or other enactment or instrument for or towards the maintenance, education or other benefit of the student, or of any person dependent on the student's parent, and include payments assessed under the Child Support Act. Where a parent makes such payments in respect of his children, other than the student whose grant is being assessed, and those children are wholly or mainly financial dependent on him, his contribution to the student's grant is reduced by £75.

  Unemployed Graduates
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of first degree graduates where unemployed in the December following graduation in the latest year for which figures are available. [29130]

  Mr. Boswell
  Short-term graduate unemployment increased during the recession. But 1993 provisional figures for England show increased numbers going
  631
  straight into employment and a fall in the proportion believed unemployed in the December following graduation to 12 per cent. As the economy improves, graduates should be well placed to find jobs.

  Class Sizes, Barnsley
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment she has made of class sizes in schools in Barnsley in the current financial year. [29131]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Information on class sizes is derived from returns made by individual schools to the Department in January each year. This will include class size information for maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in Barnsley. In January 1994 the average size of one-teacher classes in Barnsley was 27.4 for maintained primary schools and 22.9 for maintained secondary schools. Information for January 1995 will be available in the autumn.

  Science
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of 16-year-olds last year went on to study an A-level science subject. [29132]

  Mr. Boswell
  This information is not held centrally in the required form. In 1993, at the end of the academic year, 10.7 per cent. of 18-year-olds had at least one science GCE A-level compared with 8 per cent. in 1980.

  University Fees
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans she has to redistribute the student top-up tuition fees for Oxbridge colleges to all British universities. [29133]

  Mr. Boswell
  There are no plans to redistribute Oxbridge college fees in this way. A college fee is paid in recognition of the tuition and other facilities that the colleges provide to their students. The Higher Education Funding Council for England takes account of the Oxbridge colleges' fee income in determining the level of grant payable to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge and abates those universities' grants accordingly.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will make a statement on the progress to date on the extension of nursery education provision. [29134]

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when she expects to make a statement on Government plans to widen the availability of nursery education; what is the estimated cost of these proposals, and if she will make a statement. [29365]

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend and I have been considering a range of options for implementing the Prime Minister's commitment to provide, over time, a pre-school place for every four-year-old whose parents wish to take it up. An announcement will be made as soon as the details have been finalised.

  Bradford (Ministerial Visit)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for 632
  Education when she intends next to visit Bradford for discussions with the local education authority. [29136]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend enjoyed visiting schools in Bradford on 1 March. There are no immediate plans for a return visit.

  Music Teaching
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment she has made of musical instrument teaching in schools and changes since 1985. [29263]

  Mr. Forth
  The Office of Standards in Education is responsible for reporting on the standards of music teaching in schools. It has recently published a review of its inspection findings in music in 1993–94, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Sixth-form and Further Education
  Ms Tessa Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of 16-year-olds stay on at school or further education colleges in(a) Southwark, (b) Lambeth, (c) Camden, (d) Hammersmith, (e) Birmingham, (f) Leeds, (g) Newcastle, and which of these authorities provide assistance with their travel cost.

  Mr. Boswell
  The proportions of 16-year-olds in full-time and part-time education in inner London, Birmingham, Leeds and Newcastle in the 1993–94 academic year are shown in the table:

  Percentage

  Full-time

  Full and part-time

  Inner London

  74

  78

  Birmingham

  70

  77

  Leeds

  66

  78

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  68

  75

  Figures for individual inner London boroughs cannot be estimated reliably.

  Information on authorities providing assistance with travel costs is not held centrally.

  Further Education Institutions
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what are the total units of activity done or estimated to be done at further education institutions in(a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95 and 1995–96; [31216]

  (2) what is the percentage change in the average level of funding per unit at further education institutions, using 1993–94 as a base, in (a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96; [31215]

  (3) what are the figures for the average level of funding per unit of activity at further education institutions in (a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1995–96. [31214]

  Mr. Boswell
  Details of the allocations of the funding to colleges are matters for the Further Education Funding Council. I am therefore asking the council's chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  School Leavers
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total number of school leavers in the United Kingdom for each of the last five years. [31148]

  Mr. Boswell
  Data on school leavers in England, and hence the United Kingdom, were collected only up to 1991–92. The table shows the available information.

  Pupils leaving school in the United Kingdom, 1988–89 to 1991–92

  Thousands

  Year

  School leavers

  1988–89

  753

  1989–90

  706

  1990–91

  661

  1991–92

  636

  Sources:

  Education Statistics for the United Kingdom, 1993 and 1992 editions, HMSO.

  Table 1

  Category of correspondent

  Number submitting comments

  Number supporting contracting

  Number opposing contracting

  Other

  Bodies representing teachers

  12

  0

  12

  0

  Teachers in schools and other educational institutions

  40

  1

  35, and 1 petition with 18 names

  3

  Employers of teachers, and bodies representing teachers' employers

  25

  1

  11

  13

  Civil service unions

  3

  0

  3

  0

  Staff of the Department for Education, including the TPA

  39

  0

  36, and 3 petitions with 831, 80 and 8 names respectively1

  0

  Members of Parliament, writing on their own behalf

  1

  0

  1

  0

  Members of the European Parliament, writing on their own behalf

  1

  0

  1

  0

  Local councils

  1

  0

  1

  0

  Potential contractors

  4

  1

  0

  3

  Members of the public

  2

  0

  2

  0

  Other

  3

  0

  1

  2

  Total

  131

  3

  103 and 4 petitions

  21

  1 Certain names appear on more than one of the petitions.

  Teachers' Pensions Agency
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many representations were received to her proposals to privatise the administration of the Teachers' Pensions Agency; and how many were opposed to it. [31266]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I refer the hon. Member to table 1 of the paper "The Future of the Teachers' Pensions Agency (TPA): Results of the Government's consultation exercise", which I placed in the Library of the House on 7 June 1995.

  We had made no proposals, either before or during that consultation exercise, to let a contract to administer the teachers' superannuation scheme. My announcement of 7 June, Official Report, columns 205–7, said that we shall invite expressions of interest for a contract, but that we shall let such a contract only if it would provide better value for money than keeping the administration of the scheme in the public sector.