Written Answers of 28 June 1995

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by how much Government spending has changed in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have been lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast of transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative. [30841]

  Mr. Goodlad
  Spending by the FCO, including the Overseas Development Administration, did not change during 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative. Savings will be achieved in 1995–96 if better value for money can be secured under the PFI; it is not possible to forecast the impact on employment.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long have they been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over(a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30840]

  Mr. Goodlad
  No schemes were approved under the private finance initiative in the FCO, including the Overseas Development Administration, during 1994–95. The FCO faces special considerations beyond its control (e.g. legal requirements overseas) and it is not yet possible to estimate the numbers or value of capital projects to which the PFI can be applied in 1995–96. Currently two overseas building projects are at the feasibility stage and expressions of interest have been invited for PFI options in up to five projects within the FCO's communications strategy. The projects have been under assessment as PFI schemes for less than six months.

  Capital Spending
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30882]

  Mr. Goodlad
  A total of £138 million and £149 million in 1994–95 and 1995–96 respectively.

  Common Agriculture Policy
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the reform of the 636
  common agriculture policy to permit the further enlargement of the European Union requires amendment of articles 38 to 47 of the EC treaty will be reviewed as part of the 1996 intergovernmental conference. [31264]

  Mr. David Davis
  No. Reform of the CAP is possible without treaty amendments, as the 1992 MacSharry reforms showed. We will continue to press in the appropriate fora for the further reform of the CAP needed to permit EU enlargement.

  UN Troops
  Mr. Grocott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries where troops under United Nations authority are currently stationed, including in each case the numbers and nationalities of the troops involved. [30762]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  There are currently 16 UN operations, involving the deployment of over 64,000 troops from 84 countries. A full list of troop contributions to current United Nations peacekeeping operations has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Inter-Parliamentary Union
  Dame Jill Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support the initiative of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in placing the topic of co-operation between the United Nations and the IPU on the agenda of the General Assembly of the United Nations. [30943]

  Mr. Baldry
  We broadly welcome closer co-operation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. We will carefully consider the draft resolution which Senegal has requested to be included in the next session of the General Assembly.

  Nuclear Testing
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the French Government concerning its resumption of nuclear testing in the Pacific. [31085]

  Mr. David Davis
  None. We have, however, close contacts with the French Government on a wide range of defence questions, including nuclear matters, and they are aware of our views.

  UN Conference on Women
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the adequacy of arrangements for the participation of non-governmental organisations in the United Nations fourth international conference on women. [31086]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Chinese authorities have accepted the criteria for arrangements at the conference set by the NGO facilitating committee. We are concerned that facilities should be consistent with those provided at other UN conferences and will continue to monitor progress made by the Chinese to meet their commitments.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations
  637
  concerning the Chinese Government's one child policy he made to the UN in connection with the choice of venue for the UN conference on women. [28948]

  Mr. Goodlad
  [holding answer 19 June 1995]: None. Peking was chosen in accordance with the UN practice that the venue of the world conference on women should rotate geographically. The Chinese Government are fully aware of UK concerns about their family planning policy and its implementation.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all the EC directives that he is asking the Gibraltar Government to implement. [31088]

  Mr. David Davis
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell) on 27 June 1995,Official Report, column 543.

  Kashmir
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussion he has had with the Indian Government to ensure that the International Red Cross and similar organisations are allowed free and unrestricted entry into the Indian-occupied area of Kashmir to administer help and aid to people in need of such services; and if he will make a statement. [31098]

  Mr. Baldry
  This is a subject that we have discussed regularly with the Indian Government. We welcome the signing of the memorandum of understanding on 22 June between the Indian Government and the ICRC, which will allow the latter to operate in Jammu and Kashmir.

  Diplomats
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which British ambassadors or high commissioners use Rolls Royce cars in connection with their official duties overseas; and what was the cost of purchasing and operating such vehicles in each of the last five years. [28319]

  Mr. Goodlad
  [holding answer 14 June 1995]: Rolls-Royce cars are in use at British diplomatic missions in:

  Bonn

  Paris

  Tokyo

  Washington

  Brasilia

  New York UKRep

  Peking

  Riyadh

  Canberra

  Purchasing and Operating Costs

  1990–91: 31.221

  1991–92: 37,085

  1992–93: 96.846

  1993–94: 133,317

  1994–95: 191.804

  638
  These figures include the cost of discreetly armoured vehicles whose conversion and running costs are far higher than those of normal cars. They also include the cost of cars no longer in use in Pretoria and Moscow.

TREASURY

  Bank of England
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the annual cost of operating the regional office of the Bank of England in Bristol; and what proportion of those costs is staffing costs; [30329]

  (2) what is the annual cost for recreational facilities for staff at the Bank of England. [30200]

  (3) what is the annual cost of operating the regional office of the Bank of England in Birmingham; and what proportion of those costs is staffing costs; [30328]

  (4) what is the annual cost of operating the regional office of the Bank of England in Newcastle; and what proportion of those costs is staffing costs; [30198]

  (5) what is the annual cost of operating the regional office of the Bank of England in Manchester; and what proportion of those costs is staffing costs; [30197]

  (6) what is the annual cost of operating the Roehampton recreational and sporting area of the Bank of England; [30201]

  (7) what is the annual cost of catering and hospitality (a) in the governor's and deputy governor's departments and (b) in the whole of the Bank of England; [30329]

  (8) what is the annual cost of operating the regional office of the Bank of England in Leeds; and what proportion of those costs is staffing costs. [30199]

  Mr. Nelson
  The annual operating expenses of the bank's branches are £8.6 million, of which £6.4 million relates to staff. The expenses of recreational facilities for staff at the Bank of England, including the Roehampton sports centre, and of catering and hospitality, are not separately available. The bank's total operating expenses in 1994–95 were £238 million, of which £140 million related to staff.

  Scotch Whisky
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the change in the amount of scotch whisky released for sale since the rise in duty imposed on spirits in the 1994 mini-budget, and on the loss to the Revenue. [30035]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The figures relating to spirits consumption since the increase in the rate of duty following the Budget should be read in the context of the cyclical nature of spirits sales. Little significance can be read into off season figures. The main season for spirits sales is the Christmas period, and the industry had a good Christmas in 1994. There was a greatly increased level of activity during late 1994 when the industry, quite understandably, took advantage of the delay between the announcement of the increase and the date of implementation to make substantial clearances during December.

  Prices Increases
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the non-food items listed in table 3 of the "CSO First Release" (95)91 in rank order of price increase since(a) May 1994 and (b) August 1992 indicating which increases he classifies as inflationary; and what is the basis for this classification. [30004]

  Mr. Nelson
  The information requested is given in the tables. Any increases over 12 months in the retail prices index component indices contributes to the all items' 12 monthly rate of inflation.

  (a) Retail Prices Index: Sections excluding food ranked by percentage increases May 1994 to May 1995

  Section

  Percentage change over May 1994 to May 1995

  Rank

  Mortgage interest payments

  19

  1

  Cigarettes

  7

  2

  Petrol and oil

  7

  3

  Personal services

  6

  4

  Canteen meals

  6

  5

  Other tobacco

  6

  6

  Water and other charges

  6

  7

  Rent

  6

  8

  Council Tax/Rates

  6

  9

  Household consumables

  6

  10

  Wines and spirits on sales

  5

  11

  Entertainment and other recreation

  5

  12

  Furniture

  5

  13

  Rail fares

  5

  14

  Pet care

  5

  15

  Beer on sales

  5

  16

  Chemists goods

  5

  17

  Take-away and snacks

  4

  18

  Beer

  4

  19

  Furnishings

  4

  20

  Restaurant meals

  4

  21

  Wines and spirits

  3

  22

  Bus and coach fares

  3

  23

  Domestic services

  3

  24

  Other clothing

  3

  25

  Wines and spirits off sales

  2

  26

  Other household equipment

  2

  27

  Television licences and rentals

  2

  28

  Dwelling insurance and ground rent

  2

  29

  Repairs and maintenance charges

  2

  30

  Beer off sales

  2

  31

  DIY materials

  2

  32

  Gas

  2

  33

  Children's outerwear

  2

  34

  Maintenance of motor vehicles

  2

  35

  UK holidays

  1

  36

  Fees and subscriptions

  1

  37

  Foreign holidays

  1

  38

  Books and newspapers

  1

  39

  Purchase of motor vehicles

  1

  40

  Other travel costs

  1

  41

  Postage

  1

  42

  Footwear

  0

  43

  Men's outerwear

  0

  44

  Electrical appliances

  0

  45

  Electricity

  0

  46

  Coal and solid fuels

  0

  47

  Gardening products

  0

  48

  Tapes and discs

  0

  49

  Women's outerwear

  -1

  50

  Toys photographic and sport goods

  -1

  51

  Vehicle tax and insurance

  -2

  52

  Telephones telemessages etc.

  -3

  53

  640

  (a) Retail Prices Index: Sections excluding food ranked by percentage increases May 1994 to May 1995

  Section

  Percentage change over May 1994 to May 1995

  Rank

  Oil and other fuel

  -4

  54

  Personal articles

  -5

  55

  Audio-visual equipment

  -5

  56

  Notes:

  1. Percentage changes for individual sections are given rounded to integers, reflecting the reduced accuracy of these disaggregated indices.

  2. Information for the Depreciation section is not available.

  (b) Retail Prices Index: Sections excluding Food Ranked by percentage increases August 1992 to May 1995

  Section

  Percentage change over August 1992 to May 1995

  Rank

  Cigarettes

  24

  1

  Water and other charges

  23

  2

  Other tobacco

  21

  3

  Petrol and oil

  20

  4

  Entertainment and other recreation

  20

  5

  Rent

  20

  6

  Canteen meals

  19

  7

  Rail fares

  17

  8

  Personal services

  15

  9

  Vehicle tax and insurance

  14

  10

  Take-aways and snacks

  13

  11

  Beer on sales

  12

  12

  Wines and spirits on sales

  12

  13

  Restaurant meals

  12

  14

  Beer

  11

  15

  Pet care

  11

  16

  Oil and other fuel

  11

  17

  Chemists goods

  11

  18

  Domestic services

  11

  19

  Coal and solid fuels

  11

  20

  Bus and coach fares

  10

  21

  Other clothing

  9

  22

  Maintenance of motor vehicles

  9

  23

  Fees and subscriptions

  9

  24

  Wines and spirits

  8

  25

  Repairs and maintenance charges

  7

  26

  Household consumables

  7

  27

  Footwear

  6

  28

  Furnishings

  6

  29

  Postage

  6

  30

  Furniture

  6

  31

  Books and newspapers

  6

  32

  Gas

  6

  33

  Other travel costs

  6

  34

  Other household equipment

  5

  35

  Men's outerwear

  5

  36

  Wines and spirits off sales

  5

  37

  Children's outerwear

  5

  38

  Personal articles

  5

  39

  Women's outerwear

  5

  40

  Beer off sales

  4

  41

  Electricity

  3

  42

  Tapes and discs

  3

  43

  Gardening products

  3

  44

  Purchase of motor vehicles

  2

  45

  DIY materials

  2

  46

  Television licences and rentals

  2

  47

  Electrical appliances

  1

  48

  Toys photographic and sport goods

  0

  49

  Dwelling insurance and ground rent

  0

  50

  Council Tax/Rates

  -1

  51

  641

  (b) Retail Prices Index: Sections excluding Food Ranked by percentage increases August 1992 to May 1995

  Section

  Percentage change over August 1992 to May 1995

  Rank

  Mortgage interest payments

  -2

  52

  Telephones telemessages etc.

  -7

  53

  Audio-visual equipment

  -10

  54

  Notes:

  1. Percentage changes for individual sections are given rounded to integers, reflecting the reduced accuracy of these disaggregrated indices.

  2. Information for the Foreign Holidays, UK Holidays and Depreciation sections is not available.

  Customs and Excise Information Systems
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to privatise, contractorise or give agency status to the VAT computer facilities at Shoeburyness and Southend-on-Sea. [30511]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  There are no plans to privatise the Customs and Excise information systems facility at Shoeburyness and Southend-on-Sea or to give it full agency status.

  The system development and service delivery aspects of the organisation were recently market tested. The in-house team was awarded the resulting service agreements because they demonstrated best value for money. The division that provides these services, and other functions in addition to those recently market tested, is an executive unit, in accordance with the Department's next steps strategy, but full agency status is not considered appropriate.

  PSBR
  Mr. Shore
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the public sector borrowing requirement from 1965–66 to 1994–95(a) in cash terms, (b) adjusted for inflation and (c) as a percentage of gross domestic product. [30796]

  Mr. Aitken
  The following table sets out the information requested.

  Public sector borrowing requirement (PSBR) in cash terms, real terms (1993–94 = 100) and as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP)

  PSBR in cash terms £ billion

  PSBR in real terms1 £ billion

  PSBR as a percentage of GDP

  1965–66

  0.9

  9.5

  2.6

  1966–67

  1.1

  10.9

  3.0

  1967–68

  2.0

  18.8

  5.0

  1968–69

  0.4

  3.2

  0.8

  1969–70

  -0.6

  -5.1

  -1.3

  1970–71

  0.8

  6.0

  1.5

  1971–72

  1.0

  6.9

  1.7

  1972–73

  2.4

  16.0

  3.7

  1973–74

  4.3

  26.8

  5.9

  1974–75

  8.0

  41.2

  9.1

  1975–76

  10.3

  42.1

  9.4

  1976–77

  8.3

  29.9

  6.5

  1977–78

  5.4

  17.1

  3.6

  1978–79

  9.2

  26.3

  5.4

  1979–80

  9.9

  24.4

  4.9

  1980–81

  12.5

  26.0

  5.4

  642

  Public sector borrowing requirement (PSBR) in cash terms, real terms (1993–94 = 100) and as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP)

  PSBR in cash terms £ billion

  PSBR in real terms1 £ billion

  PSBR as a percentage of GDP

  1981–82

  8.6

  16.3

  3.4

  1982–83

  8.9

  15.7

  3.2

  1983–84

  9.7

  16.3

  3.2

  1984–85

  10.1

  16.3

  3.1

  1985–86

  5.6

  8.6

  1.6

  1986–87

  3.6

  5.3

  0.9

  1987–88

  -3.4

  -4.8

  -0.8

  1988–89

  -14.7

  -19.3

  -3.1

  1989–90

  -7.9

  -9.8

  -1.5

  1990–91

  -0.4

  -0.5

  -0.1

  1991–92

  13.9

  14.9

  2.4

  1992–93

  36.2

  37.3

  6.0

  1993–94

  45.4

  45.4

  7.1

  1994–95

  35.3

  34.6

  5.2

  1 Real terms figures calculated using the GDP deflator.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 21 June,Official Report, column 262, what considerations underlie the change of his objective for fiscal policy from the policy of bringing the public sector borrowing requirement back to balance over the medium term, as set out in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96"; to the policy of bringing the PSBR back towards balance, as set out in his answer; and if he will make a statement. [31250]

  Mr. Aitken
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: There has been no change in the Government's fiscal objective. The answer of 21 June repeats what my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor said in his Mansion house speech on 14 June.

  National Lottery
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if grants made through funds derived from the national lottery are classified as public expenditure. [30997]

  Mr. Aitken
  These grants are classified as general Government expenditure in the national accounts. However, as my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor announced on 22 June, the grants are to be excluded from the definition of the public spending objective as well as from the public expenditure control total.

  Open Government
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Banks)Official Report, 19 June, columns 7–8 on the Customs and Excise open government policy, to whom notice 950 has been circulated; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [31149]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Notice 950 has been circulated to all Customs and Excise's open government contact points, inquiry offices and advice centres, and to the independent adjudicator's office and the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  Midwives' Allowances
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which allowances paid to midwives are tax deductible; what changes to the rules governing the deduction of tax from midwives' allowances have been made over the last year; and if she will make a statement. [30264]

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: Generally, any allowances paid to midwives are taxable in the same way as allowances paid to any other employee or office holder. The corollary is that midwives may claim certain tax deductions in connection with the performance of their duties, in the same way as employees and office holders generally. There have been no changes in the last year to the statutory rules governing the deduction of tax from midwives' allowances. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind he may like to write to me, and I shall be happy to look into it.

  Hotels (VAT)
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the current relevant level of VAT levied by hotels in each of the European Union countries in respect of(a) accommodation and (b) food purchase. [30499]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: The VAT rates applied in European Union member states to hotel accommodation and meals are shown in the table:

  VAT on Hotel Accommodation and Meals in the EU

  Country

  Hotel accommodation Percentage

  Hotel meals Percentage

  Austria

  10

  20

  Belgium

  6

  20.5

  Denmark

  25

  25

  Finland

  22

  22

  France

  5.5

  18.6

  Germany

  15

  15

  Greece

  8

  8

  Ireland

  12.5

  12.5

  Italy1

  9

  9

  Luxembourg

  15

  15

  Netherlands

  6

  17.5

  Portugal2

  5

  17

  Spain

  7

  7

  Sweden

  12

  21

  UK3

  17.5

  17.5

  Notes:

  1 The standard rate of 19 per cent. applies in both instances to luxury hotels.

  2 Lower rates of 4 per cent. and 13 per cent. respectively apply in Madeira and the Azores Archipelagoes.

  3 A rate of 5 per cent. applies to hotel accommodation in the Isle of Man.

  Competitiveness
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect of the Government's monetary and exchange rate policies since 1968 on the competitiveness of United Kingdom manufacturers relative to those of the EC 15 measured in terms of relative unit values. [29975]
  644
  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: It is not possible to isolate with any confidence the effects on competitiveness stemming from monetary and exchange rate policies. However, the Government's commitment to deliver permanently low inflation will provide a stable climate within which British manufacturing can compete successfully, in both world and domestic markets.

  Prosperity
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evidence he has on the extent to which Britain's prosperity depends on EU membership. [31107]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: I have nothing to add to the reply I gave on 21 April 1995, Official Report, column 295, in response to a very similar question from my hon. Friend.

EDUCATION

  Capital Spending
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the expected capital spending figure for her Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30885]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The figures requested are given:

  £ million

  Capital expenditure DFE and OFSTED

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Central Government's own expenditure

  694

  735

  Local Authorities

  708

  n/a

  Notes:

  1. Capital expenditure is given on a national accounts basis.

  2. For 1995–96, a functional split of local authority capital spending is not available as the allocation of spending between services is a matter for determination by individual local authorities.

  Source:

  Statistical Supplement to the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96, Cm 2821.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) by how much Government spending has changed in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have been lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast of transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative; [30849]

  (2) how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long they have been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over (a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30848]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  All expenditure on the staffing and work of the private finance units both in this Department
  645
  and at the funding councils have been contained within the resources already available for education spending. In 1994–95 this Department published its booklet "Education means business" about private finance in education. The total cost of designing and printing the 50,000 copies was £101,000 with estimated distribution costs of about £19,000 for the 1994–95 financial year. The Department is setting up a full-time private finance unit which will cost approximately £150,000 in the current financial year.

  The Department does not, in general, directly fund education institutions. Resources for the higher and further education sectors, grant-maintained schools and maintained schools are distributed by the funding councils and the local education authorities respectively. Although a great deal of private sector activity takes place in the higher and further education sectors, at present neither the Higher Education Funding Council nor the Further Education Funding Council collect the information requested. The Department is encouraging joint ventures between local authorities, schools and the private sector; legislative measures which came into effect on 1 April 1995 provide additional flexibilities for this area. Information about what has been achieved already by local education authorities and what is currently under consideration is not available centrally.

  Higher Education
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total number of school leavers entering higher education for each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement. [31147]

  Mr. Boswell
  Information on the numbers of young entrants to full-time HE is as follows:

  Full-time and sandwich home-domiciled undergraduate entrants to English FE and HE institutions

  Thousands

  Entrants aged1

  Academic year

  18 years and under

  19 years

  1989–90

  73.3

  41.3

  1990–91

  78.0

  48.5

  1991–92

  85.9

  55.7

  1992–93

  97.1

  60.4

  1993–94

  102.7

  61.3

  Note:

  1 Ages at 31 August during the academic year.

  Sources:

  "University Statistics", volume 1, 1989–90 to 1993–94; "Statistics of Education, Further and Higher Education", 1989–90 to 1993–94.

  Information on the numbers who entered full-time HE directly on leaving school is not readily available. In some cases, progression to HE will be direct from FE or tertiary college, and some students will enter after a year abroad or other sabbatical.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will make a statement on the assistance provided by the Department to help local authorities to provide nursery places where there is a demand by parents. [30763]
  646
  Mr. Forth
  At present, it is for local education authorities to determine their spending priorities including the level of pre-school education at the schools they maintain. My right hon. Friend will announce soon how the Prime Minister's commitment to provide, over time, a pre-school place for all four-year-olds whose parents wish to take it up will he fulfilled.

  English Test
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if the key stage 3 English tests were carried out and marked according to new Department guidelines; and if she will make a statement. [31150]

  Mr. Forth
  There is no hard evidence yet of a systematic problem with the marking of the English tests for 14-year-olds.

  The School Curriculum and Assessment Authority, which is responsible for developing the tests and organising the marking, has taken a number of steps to ensure that the system is robust and reliable; tests and the marking instructions were trialled extensively in schools; all the external markers were trained to national standards; and there were quality checks in place during marking process.

  If schools are not satisfied with the results their pupils received, there is a procedure for requesting a re-mark which schools should use.

  Head Teachers' Pay
  Ms Estelle Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list by local education authority area the average salary of the head teachers in each of the last four years in(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in the (i) local education sector and (ii) grant- maintained sector. [30700]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The table shows the average salary of head teachers in all maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools for the most recent years available. The average salary is derived from information provided by local authorities and grant-maintained school primarily for pensions purpose. Information may be incomplete in some cases.

  Separate figures for grant maintained schools are shown only at national level. This is to avoid both the disclosure of individual head teacher's salaries and the potential for distortion of average salaries where few head teachers are present. For the same reasons, some average salaries are not shown in the smaller LEA areas.

  Head teachers are paid on 51-point pay spine with ranges of points from different sizes of schools. There is no automatic progression up the spine, but a governing body may appoint a head teacher at a point above the minimum of the range, and may move the head teacher as far along the spine as they think appropriate.

  Average salary includes allowances such as London allowance.
  647

  Average salary of full-time head teachers in the maintained nursery, primary and secondary school sectors. Salary as at 31 March of each year shown.

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Nursery and primary

  Secondary

  Nursery and primary

  Secondary

  Nursery and primary

  Secondary

  Nursery and primary

  Secondary

  Corporation of London

  n/a

  n/a

  1—

  n/a

  1—

  n/a

  1—

  n/a

  Camden

  n/a

  n/a

  24,230

  34,416

  26,673

  38,385

  28,645

  41,600

  Greenwich

  n/a

  n/a

  24,177

  33,361

  26,927

  37,845

  29,094

  1—

  Hackney

  n/a

  n/a

  23,777

  33,892

  26,635

  37,291

  28,597

  39,986

  Hammersmith

  n/a

  n/a

  23,612

  1—

  26,366

  1—

  28,655

  1—

  Islington

  n/a

  n/a

  23,754

  30,954

  27,264

  35,215

  29,158

  36,872

  Kensington and Chelsea

  n/a

  n/a

  23,676

  1—

  26,180

  1—

  31,364

  1—

  Lambeth

  n/a

  n/a

  24,009

  29,935

  27,578

  35,233

  29,897

  36,638

  Lewisham

  n/a

  n/a

  24,283

  31,596

  27,191

  35,072

  29,626

  37,444

  Southwark

  n/a

  n/a

  24,113

  30,801

  27,318

  34,782

  29,553

  38,443

  Tower Hamlets

  n/a

  n/a

  24,818

  33,803

  28,682

  38,801

  31,247

  41,283

  Wandsworth

  n/a

  n/a

  23,482

  33,966

  26,657

  1—

  28,879

  1—

  Westminster

  n/a

  n/a

  25,883

  1—

  29,674

  1—

  32,275

  1—

  ILEA

  21,022

  28,496

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Barking

  21,327

  31,043

  23,716

  34,417

  27,376

  40,909

  29,873

  43,343

  Barnet

  20,596

  29,025

  22,906

  32,715

  26,066

  36,968

  28,252

  40,992

  Bexley

  21,031

  28,672

  23,178

  32,261

  26,154

  36,377

  28,348

  39,679

  Brent

  21,778

  28,964

  25,383

  32,690

  29,784

  36,952

  32,109

  39,597

  Bromley

  20,961

  28,834

  23,020

  32,518

  26,450

  38,919

  28,734

  n/a

  Croydon

  20,783

  28,705

  22,816

  31,454

  26,129

  36,128

  28,194

  38,744

  Ealing

  21,552

  31,604

  23,809

  34,329

  26,797

  38,776

  28,988

  n/a

  Enfield

  21,319

  27,212

  24,800

  31,877

  27,785

  36,435

  30,367

  39,649

  Haringey

  20,954

  29,684

  23,708

  33,568

  26,654

  37,528

  28,715

  41,822

  Harrow

  21,686

  26,558

  23,903

  30,365

  28,285

  35,089

  30,479

  38,183

  Havering

  21,043

  29,073

  23,126

  31,891

  26,514

  35,863

  28,696

  39,075

  Hillingdon

  20,761

  29,265

  22,806

  32,101

  26,536

  36,643

  29,074

  40,842

  Hounslow

  21,136

  29,570

  23,351

  32,551

  26,542

  37,049

  28,522

  41,412

  Kingston upon Thames

  20,674

  1—

  22,795

  1—

  25,801

  1—

  28,192

  1—

  Merton

  21,493

  25,787

  24,086

  30,398

  27,835

  34,397

  30,222

  36,855

  Newham

  21,634

  29,856

  24,006

  32,606

  27,204

  37,512

  29,383

  40,406

  Redbridge

  21,393

  28,329

  24,228

  31,577

  27,566

  36,626

  30,116

  39,850

  Richmond upon Thames

  20,635

  27,971

  22,708

  1—

  25,664

  1—

  28,133

  1—

  Sutton

  20,942

  27,554

  23,098

  31,245

  26,465

  35,474

  29,010

  38,849

  Waltham Forest

  21,260

  27,000

  23,375

  29,918

  26,426

  34,007

  28,648

  36,640

  Birmingham

  20,314

  26,295

  22,309

  29,226

  25,323

  33,881

  27,334

  35,810

  Coventry

  20,014

  29,166

  21,945

  32,962

  25,611

  37,189

  28,011

  40,001

  Dudley

  20,599

  25,629

  22,678

  28,736

  25,571

  32,289

  27,601

  35,498

  Sandwell

  19,769

  26,022

  21,878

  28,408

  24,816

  32,054

  27,086

  34,437

  Solihull

  20,171

  26,572

  22,126

  28,815

  25,492

  33,922

  27,663

  37,451

  Walsall

  19,716

  26,353

  21,692

  28,757

  24,663

  32,137

  26,779

  35,128

  Wolverhampton

  19,525

  26,275

  21,472

  28,812

  24,632

  33,221

  26,534

  36,025

  Knowsley

  19,804

  28,049

  21,971

  31,288

  24,878

  35,137

  26,756

  37,155

  Liverpool

  19,470

  25,858

  21,556

  28,565

  24,409

  32,184

  26,443

  35,133

  St. Helens

  19,621

  29,049

  21,551

  31,700

  24,537

  36,357

  26,658

  38,061

  Sefton

  19,785

  28,122

  21,939

  31,635

  25,292

  35,808

  27,339

  37,949

  Wirral

  20,093

  27,522

  22,234

  30,945

  25,031

  35,515

  26,991

  38,506

  Bolton

  19,531

  29,252

  21,493

  32,527

  24,548

  36,771

  26,519

  38,483

  Bury

  19,452

  26,945

  21,419

  29,320

  24,208

  33,565

  26,098

  35,784

  Manchester

  19,864

  27,386

  21,947

  30,116

  25,066

  35,178

  27,583

  37,653

  Oldham

  19,556

  27,822

  21,659

  31,060

  24,465

  34,167

  26,374

  37,061

  Rochdale

  19,794

  26,330

  21,756

  30,048

  24,667

  32,752

  26,672

  36,181

  Salford

  19,629

  26,445

  21,437

  28,450

  24,056

  33,365

  26,082

  35,971

  Stockport

  19,445

  27,667

  21,522

  31,230

  24,499

  35,882

  26,402

  38,948

  Tameside

  19,722

  27,238

  21,683

  29,703

  24,512

  33,417

  26,381

  36,028

  Trafford

  19,599

  25,747

  21,566

  29,058

  24,478

  33,416

  26,312

  36,502

  Wigan

  19,749

  26,166

  21,757

  28,922

  24,550

  32,797

  26,498

  35,398

  Barnsley

  19,205

  26,599

  21,177

  29,462

  24,097

  34,188

  25,954

  36,184

  Doncaster

  19,513

  25,208

  21,429

  27,554

  24,213

  30,918

  26,140

  33,222

  Rotherham

  19,404

  28,503

  21,366

  31,076

  24,134

  34,805

  25,856

  37,415

  Sheffield

  19,828

  27,767

  21,835

  30,268

  24,669

  34,790

  26,803

  37,395

  Bradford

  19,503

  23,304

  21,481

  25,669

  24,326

  28,925

  26,232

  31,158

  Calderdale

  19,363

  26,065

  21,363

  29,115

  24,136

  32,659

  25,815

  35,609

  Kirklees

  19,362

  26,025

  21,330

  28,935

  24,047

  32,506

  25,844

  35,275

  Leeds

  19,669

  24,037

  21,634

  26,420

  24,404

  29,742

  26,420

  36,526

  Wakefield

  19,346

  24,628

  21,246

  27,012

  23,979

  30,379

  25,768

  33,129

  Gateshead

  19,439

  27,019

  21,382

  30,210

  24,136

  34,689

  25,983

  37,499

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  19,844

  25,905

  21,827

  28,094

  24,526

  32,360

  26,393

  35,427

  North Tyneside

  19,634

  23,844

  21,654

  26,015

  24,373

  29,674

  26,241

  32,557

  South Tyneside

  19,292

  27,484

  21,294

  31,238

  24,216

  35,541

  26,322

  37,559

  Sunderland

  19,812

  28,838

  21,788

  31,590

  24,748

  35,303

  26,662

  37,926

  648 649

  Average salary of full-time head teachers in the maintained nursery, primary and secondary school sectors. Salary as at 31 March of each year shown.

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Nursery and primary

  Secondary

  Nursery and primary

  Secondary

  Nursery and primary

  Secondary

  Nursery and primary

  Secondary

  Isles of Scilly

  1—

  1—

  1—

  n/a

  1—

  n/a

  1__

  n/a

  Avon

  19,403

  26,817

  21,377

  29,636

  24,133

  32,919

  26,008

  35,466

  Bedfordshire

  19,051

  24,655

  21,097

  27,096

  24,107

  30,684

  26,058

  33,590

  Berkshire

  19,548

  25,021

  21,724

  28,222

  24,750

  32,784

  26,761

  35,399

  Buckinghamshire

  19,415

  25,982

  21,383

  29,383

  24,293

  33,245

  26,383

  36,114

  Cambridgeshire

  19,381

  26,992

  21,384

  30,380

  24,141

  36,484

  26,051

  38,957

  Cheshire

  19,242

  27,945

  21,275

  31,304

  24,450

  35,647

  26,452

  38,907

  Cleveland

  20,033

  27,057

  22,133

  29,414

  24,922

  33,681

  26,810

  36,374

  Cornwall

  18,739

  24,710

  20,792

  26,868

  23,516

  30,305

  25,407

  33,175

  Cumbria

  18,585

  26,322

  20,482

  28,178

  23,196

  31,744

  25,010

  34,361

  Derbyshire

  19,114

  27,527

  21,092

  30,421

  23,838

  34,366

  25,625

  37,465

  Devon

  18,962

  27,599

  21,011

  30,906

  23,971

  35,317

  26,018

  39,635

  Dorset

  19,254

  25,509

  21,333

  28,285

  23,985

  32,409

  25,884

  35,455

  Durham

  18,975

  28,079

  20,902

  31,092

  23,576

  35,102

  25,345

  38,009

  East Sussex

  19,369

  28,557

  21,420

  31,722

  24,676

  35,865

  27,028

  39,026

  Essex

  19,621

  27,245

  21,725

  29,619

  24,961

  34,685

  27,114

  38,551

  Gloucestershire

  18,926

  26,347

  20,899

  30,157

  23,560

  34,110

  25,562

  36,523

  Hampshire

  19,555

  28,211

  21,614

  31,761

  24,814

  36,232

  26,986

  39,037

  Hereford and Worcester

  18,933

  24,770

  20,995

  27,483

  23,931

  31,485

  25,792

  34,007

  Hertfordshire

  19,444

  27,410

  21,401

  30,277

  24,428

  33,942

  26,658

  36,791

  Humberside

  19,489

  27,668

  21,469

  30,492

  24,288

  34,136

  26,194

  36,743

  Isle of Wight

  18,764

  22,917

  20,668

  25,101

  23,355

  28,023

  25,209

  31,176

  Kent

  19,408

  26,814

  21,740

  30,381

  25,035

  35,141

  27,241

  38,583

  Lancashire

  19,225

  27,256

  21,165

  30,223

  23,913

  34,103

  25,772

  36,538

  Leicestershire

  19,727

  27,434

  21,706

  29,769

  24,647

  33,434

  26,765

  36,898

  Lincolnshire

  18,828

  24,923

  21,073

  29,087

  23,910

  33,076

  26,048

  36,000

  Norfolk

  18,840

  25,423

  20,814

  28,022

  23,569

  31,324

  25,443

  34,842

  North Yorkshire

  18,624

  25,508

  20,826

  28,198

  23,313

  31,743

  25,080

  34,548

  Northamptonshire

  19,109

  25,272

  21,014

  28,470

  23,720

  32,377

  25,596

  35,259

  Northumberland

  18,789

  23,765

  20,702

  25,949

  23,276

  29,435

  25,049

  31,608

  Nottinghamshire

  19,396

  26,850

  21,420

  30,065

  24,585

  34,130

  26,533

  35,949

  Oxfordshire

  18,948

  25,082

  20,967

  28,294

  23,935

  31,949

  25,958

  34,312

  Shropshire

  18,852

  24,485

  20,757

  26,515

  23,445

  30,144

  25,488

  33,577

  Somerset

  18,747

  25,820

  20,727

  29,324

  23,409

  33,883

  25,313

  35,626

  Staffordshire

  19,351

  25,955

  21,310

  28,757

  24,368

  32,805

  26,279

  35,292

  Suffolk

  18,968

  24,607

  20,898

  27,397

  23,888

  31,463

  25,716

  34,027

  Surrey

  19,750

  27,132

  21,856

  29,998

  25,053

  33,901

  27,120

  36,947

  Warwickshire

  19,239

  26,424

  21,181

  28,916

  23,885

  32,243

  25,689

  34,916

  West Sussex

  19,417

  28,794

  21,375

  32,344

  24,622

  37,346

  26,848

  40,352

  Wiltshire

  19,001

  25,993

  21,114

  28,753

  23,719

  32,058

  25,474

  35,110

  England

  19,521

  26,540

  19,814

  27,865

  24,561

  33,513

  26,573

  36,464

  Of which

  LEA

  19,521

  26,533

  21,538

  29,462

  24,561

  33,416

  26,565

  36,212

  GM

  1—

  28,190

  1—

  32,330

  24,695

  37,448

  28,729

  40,360

  Note:

  1 Average salary not shown because of small numbers of head teachers.

  n/a = not applicable.

  Source:

  Database of Teacher Records.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Royal Palaces
  Mr. Coe
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he will make available to the House the annual report on the maintenance of the occupied royal palaces. [31721]

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have today placed in the library copies of the annual report and accounts on the grant-in-aid for the maintenance of the occupied royal palaces in England, as promised in the Government's response to the 40th report of the Committee of Public Accounts. The annual report shows a significant reduction in the grant-in-aid 650
  since responsibility was transferred from the Department of the Environment to the royal household in 1991. The report also shows a continuation of the record of success which has already been noted by the Committee of Public Accounts.

  Galleries and Museums
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what information he has on the current level of admissions to national galleries and museums. [30981]

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: I list forecasts for the number of visits to the national museums

  651
  and galleries in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. More accurate figures for 1994–95 for the English and Welsh national museums and galleries will be available in July.

  Number of visits in 1993–94 (million)

  Forecast number of visits in 1994–95 (million)

  England

  British Museum

  6.03

  6.32

  Imperial War Museum

  1.19

  1.23

  National Gallery

  4.02

  4.00

  National Maritime Museum

  0.53

  0.54

  National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside

  1.34

  1.38

  National Portrait Gallery

  0.79

  0.85

  Natural History Museum

  1.74

  1.54

  National Museum of Science and Industry

  2.67

  2.48

  Tate Gallery

  2.75

  2.80

  Victoria and Albert Musemum

  1.58

  1.60

  Wallace Collection

  0.15

  0.16

  Northern Ireland

  Ulster Folk and Transport Museum

  0.18

  10.19

  Ulster Museum

  0.18

  10.26

  Scotland

  National Gallery of Scotland

  0.76

  10.89

  National Museums of Scotland

  1.09

  11.52

  Regional breakdown of lottery awards made

  Sport

  Arts

  Heritage

  Mill. Com

  Charities

  Total

  England

  North West

  28

  11

  2

  0

  0

  41

  North East

  16

  2

  1

  0

  0

  19

  Yorkshire

  29

  7

  3

  0

  0

  39

  Eastern

  27

  7

  3

  0

  0

  37

  East Midlands

  30

  7

  1

  0

  0

  38

  West Midlands

  19

  2

  1

  0

  0

  22

  South West

  49

  5

  4

  0

  0

  58

  South East

  70

  17

  4

  0

  0

  91

  Total

  268

  58

  19

  0

  0

  345

  Scotland

  34

  20

  4

  0

  0

  58

  Wales

  23

  18

  2

  0

  0

  43

  Northern Ireland

  28

  11

  1

  0

  0

  40

  Total

  353

  107

  26

  0

  0

  486

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department by how much Government spending has changed in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date and how many jobs have been lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative. [30837]
  652

  Number of visits in 1993–94 (million)

  Forecast number of visits in 1994–95 (million)

  Wales

  National Museums and Galleries of Wales

  0.96

  0.87

  1 These are actual figures. It is not possible to identify the number of visits to the Royal Armouries because at present it forms part of the Tower of London.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) how many grants have been provided from the income arising from the national lottery; and if he will state the number of these within each region of the United Kingdom; [30016]

  (2) what payments have been made to charities and good causes from the income arising from (a) the national lottery and (b) the associated scratch cards; and what proportion of the income such payments represent. [30029]

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 22 June 1995]: The national lottery distribution fund receives a payment from Camelot Group plc each week relation to the sale of both on-line and instant win tickets. A total of £673 million has been raised for the five good causes since the national lottery began in November last year. Of this, £95.5 million— per cent., has been awarded to 486 projects. The awards are listed according to region.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  For the Lord Chancellor's Department, including the Court Service and the Public Trust Office, there was no change in spending in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative, nor is there likely to be any change in 1995–96. No schemes have been approved to date. There has been no transfer of employment from the public to the private sector since the launch of the private finance initiative in November 1992.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private
  653
  finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long have they been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over (a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30836]

  Mr. Taylor
  For the Lord Chancellor's Department, including the Court Service and the Public Trust Office, no schemes were approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative. It is possible that one will be approved in the current financial year, though its value cannot be quantified accurately at the present time. Five schemes are being considered currently, but their value cannot yet be quantified accurately. Of those five schemes three have been under consideration and in the assessment process for over six months and two for less than six months.

  Civil Service (Retirement Packages)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 17 May,Official Report, column 232, if he will provide comparable details on civil service early retirement packages on grounds of efficiency. [29281]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  [holding answer 19 June 1995]: Inefficiency is a ground for dismissal. An immediate lump sum payment of up to two years' salary may be made where a Department judges payment of compensation to be appropriate. Where compensation is agreed and the person dismissed is over age 55, this may be forgone in favour of immediate payment of the accrued superannuation benefits which would otherwise be preserved for payment at retiring age. There have been 11 departures on inefficiency grounds in the past five financial years. Details are as follows:

  £

  Immediate lump sum compensation

  Annual pension from age 60 (rate per annum)

  Superannuation lump sum payable at age 60

  1990–91

  14,088.18

  2,437.65

  7,344.57

  1991–92

  —

  —

  —

  1992–93

  9,207.96

  1,969.84

  5,926.71

  1993–94

  2,682.34

  771.39

  2,314.71

  1994–95

  104,846.97

  19,629.52

  59,060.55

  Capital Spending
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30879]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Expenditure on capital in 199495 was £142,000,000. The latest budget figure—forecast of expenditure for 1995–96—is £108,000,000. The figures include expenditure by the Court Service Agency and the Public Trust Office Agency.

  Local authority capital expenditure on magistrates' courts was £56,000,000 in 1994–95. The latest local authority budget figure for 1995–96 is £74,000,000. The Lord Chancellor's Department pays grants to local authorities at a rate of 80 per cent. of approved expenditure of magistrates' courts.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Bicycles
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what steps are being taken to improve access and facilities for storage for the bicycles of hon. Members, staff and visitors in the Palace of Westminster.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  Racks are provided under cover for 12 bicycles in Star Chamber Court, for 32 bicycles in the colonnade in New Palace Yard, and for 15 bicycles in the 1 Cannon Row courtyard, for the use of hon. Members and staff. There are racks for a further 12 bicycles in the store at the exit to the underground car park. In random checks, the Serjeant at Arms has always found spare capacity available among the existing racks.

  There are no plans to increase the number, or to provide facilities for the storage of visitors' bicycles.

PRIME MINISTER

  Information Technology Security
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to paragraph 5 of the report by the National Audit Office into IT security in Government services if he will describe the liaison arrangements between the security services and GCHQ which ensure consistency of advice to Government Departments; who is the Minister responsible for such arrangements; what liaison arrangements with the CCTA relate to the implementation of IT security policy; and if he will make a statement. [29773]

  The Prime Minister
  Responsibility for co-ordinating policy and advice on IT security in government rests with an inter-departmental committee chaired by the Cabinet Office. The Foreign Secretary the Home Secretary and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster have responsibility for the work of GCHQ, the Security Service and CCTA respectively. Specialists in all three organisations work closely together.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to paragraph 5 of the report by the National Audit Office into IT security in Government Departments, if he will authorise detailed responses to parliamentary questions concerning the resources, and deployment of resources expended by the security services and GCHQ, which relate to the provision of IT security advice to Government Departments; if such responses do not jeopardise national security. [29772]

  The Prime Minister
  It has been the policy of successive Governments not to provide information in response to parliamentary questions on the operation of the security and intelligence agencies.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minster, pursuant to paragraph 5 of the report by the National Audit Office into IT security in Government Departments, if he has taken legal advice as to whether the functions of the security services in GCHQ which relate to the provisions of IT security advice to Government Departments are consistent with the functions outlined in the Security Service Act 1989 and Intelligence Services Act 1994; and if he will make a statement. [29771]
  655
  The Prime Minister
  Preventing the unauthorised disclosure of information held on Government computer systems is an important element in the protection of national security, and as such falls within the terms of the Security Service Act 1989 and the Intelligence Services Act 1994.

ENVIRONMENT

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long have they been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over(a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved; [30844]

  (2) by how much Government spending has changed in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have been lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast of transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative. [30845]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Department of the Environment and its sponsored bodies attracted around £4 million in private investment in support of its programmes in 1994–95 and expects to lever-in a similar amount in 1995–96. This will assist the delivery of a very large number of projects, most notably ones relating to housing, inner cities and regeneration. Moreover, regulations to encourage and facilitate private finance initiative schemes in the local authority sector were implemented by the Government with effect from 1 April 1995 and further PFI-related legislative changes for local authorities are imminent. It is not practicable for the Department to collect detailed information on each project being advanced under private financing arrangements. There have been no changes in the Department's spending directly attributable to the PFI.

  Capital Spending
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30883]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My Department's total capital expenditure for 1994–95 is expected to be £4,488,000,000. This includes central Government's own expenditure, and capital expenditure by local authorities and public corporations, on a national accounts basis. The latest estimate for 1995–96 is £1,767,000,000. This excludes local government spending, for which a departmental breakdown is not yet available. These figures are the latest published, and appear in the statistical supplement to the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96", Cm 2821.

  Housing Corporation
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the finance management and policy review of the Housing Corporation. [31650]

  Mr. Curry
  On 14 December 1994 I informed the House that as part of the Government's programme of regular five-yearly finance management and policy reviews—FMPRs—of non-departmental public bodies, my Department would be carrying out a review of the Housing Corporation in 1995.

  The prior options stage of the FMPR has been completed, and I have placed a copy of the report in the Library.

  The purpose of the prior options stage was to assess whether the corporation's functions remained necessary for the achievement of the Government's policies, and whether there was scope for privatising, contracting out or transferring all or part of its functions to another body.

  The Government's White Paper, "Our Future Homes", indicates the Government's commitment to a social rented sector, and sets out the Government's plans to enable a wider range of landlords to provide social rented housing, alongside housing associations. Systems for allocating Government subsidy, monitoring the provision of dwellings and overseeing the operation of social landlords therefore continue to be needed. Against this background, the Government accept the prior options review conclusions, that the Housing Corporation should continue to be responsible for the funding and regulation of housing associations in England; that the corporation should take on responsibility for payment of grant to and supervision of the proposed new social landlords, including landlords receiving transferred local authority stock; and that non-departmental public body status remains appropriate to the corporation's functions.

  The review also recommends that the Housing Association tenants' ombudsman service should be put on a statutory footing. As announced in the Housing White Paper, the Government accept this, and my Department will be consulting shortly on detailed proposals for legislation.

  The Housing Corporation accepts and will take forward a number of other operational recommendations in the report. In particular, it will review the work it does on promotion of housing associations and focus it further on promoting the efficient and effective use of housing resources; develop improved liaison with county councils on care in the community and other issues; and confine its future monitoring of housing associations' employment practices to matters in relation to which the corporation has a statutory duty, under the Race Relations Act 1976; and expose a number of activities to competition from the private sector, where this is found to be relevant.

  The review identifies a number of particular issues to be examined in the second stage of the FMPR, including the corporation's approach to registration and regulation in the context of the prospective introduction of new social landlords; the procedures for the appointment of corporation board members and for dealing with potential conflict of interest arising from board members' involvement in other housing-related activities;

  657
  arrangements for liaison between the corporation and Government regional offices; and the scope for contracting out or market testing support services within the corporation.

  I am grateful for contributions received in the course of the review from the local authority associations, the Chartered Institute of Housing, the National Federation of Housing Associations, individual housing associations, and many other bodies and individuals. The report contains a list of the contributions. Copies of individual contributions are available through the DOE central library.

  The review has underlined the importance of the corporation's work, and the effective way it is carried out. This is greatly to the credit of the staff of the corporation and to the chairman and members of the board, and I should like to place on record the Government's gratitude for this.

  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the board of the Housing Corporation. [31651]

  Mr. Curry
  Three members of the board of the Housing Corporation are due to retire in the next few months—the right Rev. Wilfred Wood, Mrs. Stella Clarke and Mr. David Cochrane, after nine, seven and 12 years of service respectively. I am extremely grateful to them for the energy and abilities which they have brought to the corporation.

  In appointing new members to the board, I wish to be able to consider the widest possible range of candidates. I should, therefore, welcome nominations and expressions of interest in being appointed to these posts.

  The Housing Corporation is responsible for the funding and regulation of over 2,000 registered housing associations, and has an annual budget of some £1,750 million. Membership of the corporation board calls for ability and judgment of the highest level. In making these appointments, I particularly wish to consider candidates with expertise also in the fields of urban regeneration, regulatory or other quasi-judicial processes, special needs housing, or academic study of housing issues. I will consider candidates with or without previous involvement in a housing association.

  Bedfordshire County Council
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has decided to take against Bedforshire county council following the notice served on them last year for anti-competitive behaviour in awarding a school and welfare catering contract in-house. [31857]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  On 8 November 1994, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, served a notice under section 13 of the Local Government Act 1988 on Bedfordshire county council, setting out his view that the authority had acted anti-competitively during a competition for school and welfare catering work.

  My right hon. Friend has given careful consideration to the response to that notice and has today given the authority a direction under section 14 of the Act which requires it to retender its school and welfare catering work by 1 September 1996. Its direct service organisation will be limited to undertaking 70 per cent. of the total value
  658
  of the work and it must seek the Secretary of State's consent before it assigns it any of the work in-house.

  Bedfordshire awarded six contracts for school and welfare catering to its direct service organisation when it had received substantially lower bids for them from a private company. In the Secretary of State's view it did not have well-founded reasons for doing so.

  European Pollution Directives
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made, or has been supplied to him by the local authority associations, of the effect on local authority services and local government finance of European directives dealing with bathing water and with clean air and emissions; and if he will make a statement. [30999]

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: The framework directive on ambient air quality assessment and management will have no direct effect on local authority services and local government finance. The effects of the subsequent daughter directives will be assessed when the proposals are adopted.

  The directives on bathing waters and on integrated pollution prevention and control may entail a slight increase in existing co-ordination or provision of information functions for the local authorities. No assessment of these functions has been supplied by the local authority associations.

  Ozone Air Pollution
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research he has conducted into which people suffer discomfort when ozone levels exceed 90 parts per billion; and if he will make a statement. [31033]

  Mr. Sackville
  I have been asked to reply.

  In 1991 the Department of Health advisory group on the medical aspects of air pollution episodes undertook a detailed review of the effects of ozone on health. Its report was published and is available in the Library.

WALES

  Mrs. A. Griffin
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will establish a public inquiry to ascertain the factors underlying the refusal to treat the two children of Mrs. A. Griffin whose case is currently before his Department at the Breakspear hospital. [30164]

  Mr. Richards
  This remains a matter for Clwyd district health authority. The authority is undertaking an investigation under independent chairmanship into the conduct of the officers concerned with the referral requested by Mrs. Griffin. I understand that Clwyd district health authority has made an offer to Mrs. Griffin, for an independent paediatrician appointment through an NHS consultant of her choice. That offer remains open.

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the revenue raised through prescription charges in Wales during (i) 1992–93, (ii) 1993–94 and (iii) 1994–95; and if he will make a statement. [29585]

  Mr. Richards
  The information for 1994–95 is not available. Figures for 1991–92 to 1993–94 are as follows:

  Financial year

  Total income from charge(£000s)

  1991–92

  13.372

  1992–93

  14.706

  1993–94

  16.008

  Capital Spending
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30871]

  Mr. David Hunt
  Consistent with the figures shown in table 1.7 of Cm 2821, the estimated outturn for 1994–95 for public sector capital expenditure within Welsh Office responsibilities is £1,433 million. This total includes an estimate of aggregate local authority capital spending; as explained in paragraph 1.9 of Cm 2821 no equivalent estimate is available for 1995–96. Excluding local authority spending, planned public sector capital expenditure for 1995–96 is £702 million.

  Accident and Emergency Services
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To as the Secretary of State 660
  for Wales (1) when he proposes to commence the statutory decision making procedure for determining the future of accident and emergency services in the Cardiff area; [31260]

  (2) what notification he has been given by South Glamorgan health authority of its disagreement with Cardiff community health council regarding the proposed switch of accident and emergency services from the Cardiff royal infirmary to the University hospital of Wales; [31262]

  (3) what public consultation he expects to carry out before reaching his decision concerning the future of accident and emergency services for Cardiff; and how long he estimates it will take him to announce his verdict; [31261]

  (4) what consultation's he has had with the chairman of South Glamorgan health authority concerning its failure to agree with Cardiff community health council about proposals for future accident and emergency services for Cardiff. [31263]

  Mr. Richards
  The future of accident and emergency services at the Cardiff royal infirmary is a matter for South Glamorgan health authority at this stage. Although the health authority has kept this Department closely in touch with developments, including the position of Cardiff Community health council and the independent review of accident and emergency provision in Cardiff, the matter has not been discussed with the chairman of the health authority at ministerial level.

  If the authority and the community health council are unable to agree on the way ahead, the proposals will be submitted to the Secretary of State for decision. If this happens, the Secretary of State's decision will be announced as quickly as possible, taking into account all the views presented.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Immigration Controls
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if people detained at immigration controls are now offered refreshments; [30769]

  (2) what has been the percentage change in the number of complaints against the immigration service from young travellers over the last five years; [30770]

  (3) what documentation is now required for a young traveller to be allowed entry into the United Kingdom; [30771]

  (4) if the review of complaint statistics for immigration service complaints has been completed; and what categories now replace the category of complaints that gave other reasons; [30772]

  (5) what progress has been made to improve the provision of interpreters for the immigration service: [30773]

  (6) what representations he has received alleging that black British citizens are facing lengthy delays at immigration controls; [30774]

  (7) what action he proposes to prevent black citizens being discriminated against at immigration control points; [30775]

  (8) what discussions have taken place between the immigration service and ports and airports to improve holding and interview areas; and what were the results; [30776]

  (9) what figures he has regarding the number and proportion of (a) black and (b) white citizens who experienced substantial delay at immigration control points. [30777]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of that letter in the Library.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by how much Government spending has changed in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have been lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast of transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative. [30835]

  Mr. Howard
  Capital spending in the Home Office did not change in 1994–95, nor is it expected to do so in 1995–96, as a result of the private finance initiative. In these two years my Department will have incurred no contractual payments associated with service delivery. Staff resources allocated specifically to overseeing and developing the initiative cost approximately £100,000 per annum.

  All Home Office capital expenditure proposals are examined to see if better value for money could be obtained through the private finance route. However, at present all Home Office schemes that have reached
  662
  detailed consideration for private finance are additional to, not a substitute for, existing public capital provision.

  It is not possible to assess how many jobs have been created so far in the private sector in response to the private finance initiative. However, in addition to those that will be created in construction of capital assets—for which public finance would not have been available-preliminary estimates suggest that around 1,000 operational long-term jobs could result from current private finance schemes. As these projects are new facilities, it is not envisaged that public sector jobs will be lost.

  Probation Officers
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library copies of responses to his consultation document on the recruitment and training of probation officers. [30818]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) on 6 June,Official Report, column 125.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long have they been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over(a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30834]

  Mr. Howard
  No private finance initiative contracts were approved in 1994–95. Planning took place on eight projects expected to be approved in 1995–96. These are projects estimated to have a capital value of approximately £150 million.

  All capital schemes are now considered for private finance. Eight further schemes are currently receiving more detailed consideration. The value is likely to be of the order of £1 billion.

  Capital Spending
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30880]

  Mr. Howard
  The Home Office, including Charity Commission capital expenditure is published in the statistical supplement to the "Financial Statement and Budget Report", Cm 2821. For 1994–95 the total figure recorded is £622 million. This includes local authority and Charity Commission expenditure. Planned central Government capital expenditure for 1995–96 is £369 million. There are no published figures for local authority capital expenditure.

  Hackney Council
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what considerations underlie his decision to decline to allow Hackney council to interview
  663
  Ms Jill Arnfield as part of an enquiry to identify an individual or individuals who have broken the law; [31228]

  (2) when his Department was informed by Hackney council that names and other information concerning council employees were unlawfully removed from council payroll records; and if he will publish the minutes of that meeting; [31229]

  (3) how Ms Jill Arnfield of the immigration and nationality division of the Home Office came to be in possession of details of employees of Hackney council; [31230]

  (4) for what reasons Ms Arnfield asked the Benefits Agency to carry out checks on employees of Hackney council; upon what evidence or allegations this request was made; what instructions she gave as to how widely this request was to be made known; and for what reasons; [31231]

  (5) what is his Department's policy on co-operation with Hackney council's investigation of alleged unlawful acts in relation to information from the council's payroll records; and what is the reason for this policy; [31232]

  (6) when information concerning employees of Hackney council was passed to his Department; who supplied the information; what steps the Home Office took to inform the council that it had received the information and for what reasons; and what lawful authority the Home Office had to act on the information. [31233]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Ms Arnfield is one of a number of immigration officers employed in the enforcement directorate of the immigration service. One of her main tasks is to investigate allegations and information, from whatever source, about persons who may be working and/or residing in this country illegally. All information alleging breaches of the immigration laws is thoroughly researched both within the Department and with other agencies and is discounted wherever it is possible to identify the person(s) concerned as being lawfully resident here.

  A number of allegations about persons from abroad working illegally at Hackney council have been received from various sources over a long period. It would not be appropriate to disclose these sources publicly, but the immigration service has never received a computer disk containing details of Hackney employees. Where it has been established that the subject(s) of the information was illegally in the United Kingdom, the council has been informed. So far, eight council employees—three finance officers, two teachers, an estate manager, a personnel officer and a cook—have been served with either notice of illegal entry or notice of intention to deport and three others were dismissed by the council after the immigration service asked to interview them.

  Discussion have taken place between representatives from Hackney council and members of the immigration service and a further meeting scheduled for 28 June has been postponed at the council's request. At a meeting on 10 March, the assistant chief finance officer of Hackney council suggested that an inquiry into an alleged breach of the Data Protection Act 1984 concerning the unauthorised
  664
  release of details of Hackney council employees was being considered. The draft minutes of this meeting were circulated to Hackney council on 17 March for approval, but the council has not responded.

  Alleged breaches of council security are for the local authority to pursue with the police and/or the Data Protection Registrar.

  The general question of disclosure of sources of information made available to the immigration service is a matter for the Home Office. In these circumstances, it has been made clear that the Home Office would be happy to respond to any written inquiries but not to allow individual immigration officers to be interviewed about matters which go beyond their responsibilities.

  Burglaries
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the nature of the information retrieval system used by the Metropolitan police to record burglaries; if information on burglaries is retrievable for(a) individual addresses, (b) persons or organisations burgled and (c) date of burglary; and if the information on crimes reported to individual police stations is recorded on a central database. [30950]

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the Metropolitan police currently use two systems for recording crime information. The first is a paper based, manual system, and the second, which is replacing the first, is the crime reporting and information system, which is computerised. Information about individual addresses, names of persons or organisations involved and date of incident is retrievable on both systems at local level. Certain details of reported crimes are forwarded to a central database for statistical purposes, but as this database does not contain personal information, retrieval is not possible centrally.

  Metropolitan Police (Race Relations)
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what force-wide strategy the Metropolitan police have for community and race relations training; what progress has been made in implementing this strategy especially at local level; to what extent and in what ways contributors from local minority ethnic communities are involved in such training; and what use is currently made by the Metropolitan police of the services of his Department's funded specialist support unit. [30723]

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that, to date, 73 police trainers and 13 training managers have attended the six-week course on these subjects at the Home Office specialist support unit and that a further nine officers have attended the condensed version of the course, enabling them to assist the trainers. Focused training sessions are held at the recruit school in Hendon, involving ethnic community representatives. In addition to this, local training is often organised at divisional or area level, involving members of local minority ethnic communities.

  Police Training
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) civilians and (b) lay

  665
  contributors are currently employed or were used in the last four trainers' courses at the central planning and training unit; what subject areas they covered; and what was their ethnicity. [30722]

  Mr. Maclean
  The last four trainers' courses held at the central planning and training unit were led by eight directors of study, one of whom was a white civilian. These courses are designed to train police officers to act as trainers generally but also include elements of equal opportunities and community and race relations training. In exploring these issues, 15 ethnic minority police officers were used as members of discussion groups or panels.

  Wheelclamping
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 6 June,Official Report, column 134, if he will introduce legislation to permit local authorities in areas affected by the activities of unscrupulous wheelclampers to introduce byelaws to ban or regulate their activities. [30440]

  Mr. Maclean
  Byelaws are generally used to regulate behaviour in public places and cannot apply to private land without the consent of the landowner. In the context of wheelclamping, therefore, byelaws are unlikely to provide an effective means of regulation.

  Post-natal Prisoners
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines are given to magistrates concerning imprisoning women who have just given birth. [30384]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government do not issue guidelines to the courts as to how they should use their discretion in dealing with individual cases. The Magistrates Association does issue guidelines to its members, but we are not aware that the association has provided any advice on the treatment of women who have just given birth.

  Privatisation
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [29417]

  Mr. Howard
  In the Prison Service, three new-built prisons and half the prisoner escort services have been contracted out to the private sector without an in-house bid since 1992 under the "Competing for Quality" initiative. This reflected a policy decision that such activities should in future be carried out by the private sector and consequently in-house bids were not invited. In-house bids were not prevented by any absence of expertise. The Prison Service intends to pursue this policy by contracting out further new-build prisons and the four remaining geographical areas of prisoner escort services; again in-house bids will not be invited.
  666
  Estate management in the Forensic Science Service has been contracted out to the private sector without an in-house bid. No such bid for this work was made, but, if one had been, it would have been considered on the same basis as bids from external contractors.

  The United Kingdom Passport Agency has invited outline proposals from service providers, including travel agents, banks and the Post Office with a view to these outlets receiving and checking completed passport applications. The aim is to enhance customer choice and convenience.

  As I announced in response to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge (Sir M. Shersby) on 8 February, Official Report, columns 254–55, a decision about the future management of the police national computer will be taken about the middle of 1996 when the likely nature, size and scope of the proposed new computer system is clearer.

  Elsewhere in the Home Office, activities reviewed under the "Competing for Quality" initiative have been contracted out to the private sector only where an external bidder has won in competition with the in-house team. "Competing for Quality" reviews are in progress or are planned across a range of functions, but there are at present no plans to contract out any further functions of the non-prisons Home Office without the in-house team having had the opportunity to bid for the work against the private sector.

  Organised Crime
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what form the November 1993 recommendation of the European ad hoc working group on organised crime for an annual report on the scale and trends of organised crime was fulfilled in respect of 1994; and how the information relating to the United Kingdom was compiled. [30053]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: The Justice and Home Affairs Council adopted a situation report on organised crime in the European Union in 1993 at its meeting on 9 and 10 March 1995. This confidential report was prepared for Ministers by the German presidency of the European Union drugs and organised crime working group on the basis of member states' responses to a presidency questionnaire.

  The United Kingdom contribution was compiled by the Home Office in consultation with the national criminal intelligence service. HM Customs and Excise and the Association of Chief Police Officers.

  Victims Charter
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to update the victims charter; and when he will do so. [27275]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 8 June 1995]: We are hoping to publish a charter-style statement of service standards for victims of crime later this year.

  Confiscation Orders
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will update the figures on
  667
  sums ordered to be confiscated and sums realised, given in his answer to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Byers) of 1 February, Official Report, column 679, to include the figures for 1994–95. [30056]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: The information requested will not be available until the Autumn 1995.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Arms Sales
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral statement by the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad), of 19 June,Official Report, column 93, if he will now meet representatives of the World Development Movement to discuss the basis of its allegations regarding alleged links between aid and arms sales. [30536]

  Mr. Goodlad
  I have no plans at present to meet World Development Movement representatives. Allegations regarding links between aid and arms sales are completely unfounded. Senior ODA officials met WDM representatives on 21 June to discuss recent WDM work on development issues. Discussions were useful and productive, and part of the process through which non-governmental organisations and the ODA regularly discuss help to the developing world.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Exports
  Mr. Brandeth
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what have been the results of the consultations that his Department has undertaken with the private sector about barriers to United Kingdom exports.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I set out in this year's competitiveness White Paper a new strategy for tackling barriers erected by other countries to our exports. Dossiers on 20 of our major markets have now been completed, and I have placed copies in the Library of the House. Copies are also being sent to the trade associations that have contributed to the study, and will be available from my Department on request. Dossiers on our other top markets will also be drawn up.

  Telecommunications Council
  Mr. Merchant
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Telecommunications Council on 13 June.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The Commission made a presentation on progress within the Commission on drawing up a draft legislative framework for the single market in postal services, and undertook to produce proposals by July. The presidency adopted conclusions on the principles of terminal dues for the delivery of international mail,668
  although there was no agreement at this stage within the Council.

  The Council agreed a resolution on a future regulatory framework for telecommunications, necessary to implement the full liberalisation of network infrastructure and services by 1 January 1998, agreed in principle at the last Council on 17 November 1994. A resolution on policy in the mobile and personal communications sector was also agreed.

  The Council also agreed a common position on the resubmitted directive applying open network provision to voice telephony. In addition, the Commission reported to the Council on the amendments made by the European Parliament at its second reading to the Council's 22 December 1994 common position on a directive on standards for digital television. The draft directive was referred back to the Committee of Permanent Representatives for further discussion.

  Following a short debate, the Council agreed conclusions on a draft Commission directive on the use of cable television networks for the provision of telecoms services already liberalised by the Community

  The Commission made representations on the progress of multilateral negotiations on basic telecommunications, and on its communication on the status and implementation of Commission directive 90/338/EEC on competition in the markets for telecoms services. There was also a Commission presentation and a short debate on a Commission communication on a methodology for implementation of the information society application areas identified by the Bangemann group, and a draft proposals for a decision on guidelines for the development of telecoms Trans-European networks.

  No formal vote was taken at this Council.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the minutes of the meeting of the Council of Telecoms Ministers in the week beginning 12 June. [30243]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The minutes of the Telecommunications Council have not yet been produced. The outcome of the Telecommunications Council is summarised in the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Beckenham (Mr. Merchant) and the Council secretariat press release giving an account of it has been deposited in the Library of the House. The procedures set down in Council decision 93/731/EC—printed in the Official Journal of 31 December 1993 also deposited in the Library of the House—provide for public access to Council documents. The hon. Member may request access to the minutes from the Council secretariat.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long they have been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over(a) six months and (b) 12 months; and

  669
  what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30820]

  Mr. Heseltine
  My Department has a number of major exercises underway which will involve the use of private sector finance in the delivery of services. Private finance is being used in the refurbishment of 1 Victoria street and the Radiocommunications Agency's relocation to docklands initiated in 1993–94 and 1994–95 respectively. No specifically PFI projects were approved during 1994–95. Procedures have recently been introduced to consider PFI for all DTI's capital projects but it is too early to estimate the number or value which may be approved in 1995–96. My Department is also pursuing a major programme of privatisation and contracting out involving almost all the executive agencies, which themselves account for around half of my Department.

  Offshore Installations
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the findings of his Department's oil and gas abandonment review body on the issue of the disposal of redundant installations; and if he will make a statement. [31251]

  Mr. Eggar
  The work of the review body is reflected in a consultation document entitled, "Guidance Notes for Industry—Abandonment of Offshore Installations and Pipelines under the Petroleum Act 1987" which was published by my Department on 4 May 1995. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Solar Technology
  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what studies have been undertaken on the potential for deploying solar photovoltaic technology and/or solar water heating on(a) Government buildings and (b) other public sector-buildings. [30081]

  Mr. Page
  No studies have been carried out specifically into the potential for solar technologies on Government or public sector buildings, although general potential resource estimates have been made. The potential for photovoltaics has been investigated by the University of Northumbria and published in ETSU S/1365; the potential for solar water heating has been investigated by Halcrow Gilbert Associates and published in ETSU S/1337. Copies of both publications are being placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. O'Neill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimates his Department has made of the maximum potential contribution to the United Kingdom's energy requirements from(a) solar photovoltaic technology and (b) solar water heating. [30080]

  Mr. Page
  Technical resource estimates, for photovoltaics and solar water heating were published in "New and Renewable Energy, future prospects for the UK", Energy Paper 62;"An Assessment of Renewable Energy for the UK (R.62)"; and "An Appraisal of UK Energy Research, Development Demonstration and Dissemination"—Energy Paper 61. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

  Nuclear Holding Company
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the Untied Kingdom nuclear holding company will be properly constituted and established in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [31257]

  Mr. Eggar
  The new nuclear holding company will be established to a timetable which will enable the Government to secure the privatisation of the United Kingdom's advanced gas-cooled reactor and pressurised water reactor stations during 1996.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade who is to be appointed chief executive of the new United Kingdom nuclear holding company; and if he will make a statement. [31256]

  Mr. Eggar
  Further appointments to the new nuclear holding company will be announced in due course.

  Magnox
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what is the reason underpinning the estimate of a 10 per cent. saving in total Magnox liability costs in the table setting out Magnox liabilities in his Departmental press notice P/95/310; [31119]

  (2) what discount rate was adopted to calculate the present value of the net cash receipts for further operations in the table on Magnox liabilities issued in his Departmental press notice P/95/310 of 9 May; and what is the justification for its use. [31120]

  Mr. Eggar
  The decision to assume a 10 per cent. figure for potential savings in the costs of Magnox liabilities was taken in the light of the views of advisers—KPMG—who looked at the specific question of nuclear liabilities for the nuclear review.

  A discount rate of 3.5 per cent. was used to calculate the present value of net cash receipts for further Magnox operations, and is based on the current yield from 25 year index-linked gilts.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much money Nigeria owes to the Export Credits Guarantee Department; which steps are being taken to recover this money; and what action is being taken to prevent further losses. [30435]

  Mr. Needham
  Amounts due to ECGD have been rescheduled under bilateral agreements between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Nigeria signed under the auspices of the Paris Club. This is the normal mechanism for the recovery of sovereign debt. Since 1986 three agreements have been signed with Nigeria. Nigeria is currently in substantial arrears under these agreements. The total amount outstanding, excluding delay interest, is £2.3 billion. The Paris Club collectively, and individual creditors including HM Government, continue to press Nigeria to adopt policies aimed at economic reform and to regularise its relations with the international financial institutions. Sustained
  671
  economic reform is regarded as the best method of promoting economic growth which in turn will allow Nigeria to meet its obligations under these agreements.

  The debts covered by these agreements relate to contracts signed before 1 October 1985. ECGD has been off cover for new medium term business since 1 February 1984.

  BMARC
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his oral statement of 13 June,Official Report, column 595–97, on what date his Department made available to Customs and Excise all the information which emerged from its inquiry into possible breaches of export control offences by BMARC. [29260]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 19 June 1995]: Information which emerged from our researches into BMARC export licences was passed to Customs and Excise as and when it became available over a period between late April and early June.

  Civil Service Retirement Packages
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 2 May,Official Report, column 132, if he will provide comparable details on civil service early retirement packages on the ground of inefficiency. [29295]

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 19 June 1995]: Inefficiency is a ground for dismissal. An immediate lump sum payment of up to two years' salary may be made where a Department judges payment of compensation to be appropriate. Where compensation is agreed and the person dismissed is over age 55, this may be foregone in favour of immediate payment of the accrued superannuation benefits which would otherwise be preserved for payment at retiring age. There have been six departures from the Department of established staff on inefficiency grounds in the past five financial years. None received an early retirement package, although five officers were awarded immediate compensation, totalling £30,890. There is one award pending. Details are as follows:

  Number of cases

  Total compensation £

  1990–91

  1

  86

  1991–92

  1

  21,212

  1993–94

  3

  9,592

  1994–95

  1

  1—

  1 Pending.

  Domestic Housing Market
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of retail sales and manufacturing output is attributable to the domestic housing market. [30416]

  Mr. Nelson
  I have been asked to reply.

  Information detailing annual retail sales is published in the CSO "Business Monitor SDA25—Retailing". In 1992 the percentage of retail turnover attributed to sales of
  672
  furniture, domestic appliances and other household goods was 16.8 per cent.

  The percentage of manufacturing output attributable to the domestic housing market is unavailable.

TRANSPORT

  A1
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when he expects to announce starting dates for the three dualling schemes on the A1 between Morpeth and Alnwick as set out in the roads programme; [30620]

  (2) when he expects consultants to be appointed to prepare for work on the Morpeth-Lanehead section of the A1. [30619]

  Mr. Watts
  Dualling of the section between Hitchcroft and Cawledge is due to start this year.

  A decision to proceed with dualling between Willowburn and Denwick was published on 5 June. Additional design work will be required to comply with the inspectors' report.

  The dualling proposals for Morpeth to Lanehead are in the early stages of preparation and will be taken forward as quickly as resources permit.

  Capital Spending
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30873]

  Mr. Norris
  The Department of Transport's capital spending figure for 1994–95 on a national accounts basis is expected to be £5,106 million. The latest capital budget figure available for 1995–96 is £3,592 million, excluding local authority capital which is a matter for determination by individual local authorities.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered, and at what value; for how long have they been considered, and how many have been in the assessment process for over(a) 6 months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30822]

  Mr. Norris
  The information is as follows:

  Schemes approved 1994–95

  Schemes

  Value £million

  Northern Line trains

  400

  673

  Expected to be approved 1995–96

  Schemes

  Estimated value (£ million)

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link

  2,700 (Q4 1992 prices)

  DBFOs

  500

  Croydon Tramlink

  160

  Midland Metro Line 1

  150

  Schemes under consideration

  Schemes

  Estimated value (£ million)

  Crossrail

  2,800

  Thameslink 2000

  Under assessment

  East London Line extension

  83

  WCML signaling

  50

  Leeds Supertram

  95

  LT global revenue strategy

  75

  LUL power supplies

  120

  LUL track repair maintenance machine

  0.5

  Manchester Metrolink extension to Salford Quays

  100

  New Scottish ATC Centre

  200

  Oceanic Flight Data Processing System

  25

  The wide diversity of scheme types and their expected procurement routes mean that figures for the length of time they have been under consideration could not be provided on a consistent basis. However, the average length of time taken to progress schemes so far approved from invitation to tender to award of contract was 16 months.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by how much has Government spending changed in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have been lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast of transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative. [30823]

  Mr. Norris
  There is no direct correlation between Government spending in a given year and the level of private capital levered in through the private finance initiative. Information on the employment consequences of private finance schemes is not available.

  Buses
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations have been made to the traffic commissioners with regard to bus companies failing to fulfil their established timetables; which companies have been involved; and in which areas of the country. [30858]

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

  A3
  Mr. Peter Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of(a) the justification and (b) the management of restrictions to traffic during the last five years by roadworks on the A3 as it bypasses Guildford; [30803]
  674
  (2) what assurances have been received by his Department from (a) the Highways Agency, (b) the county council and (c) other bodies of free passage for vehicles during the next three years when the current roadworks on the A3 where it bypasses Guildford are completed; [30806]

  (3) what estimate his Department has made of the economic cost in the last five years to businesses in the Portsmouth travel-to-work area of delays caused by roadworks on the A3 as it bypasses Guildford; [30805]

  (4) during how many days in the last five years has free passage for vehicles been restricted by roadworks on the A3 as it bypasses Guildford. [30807]

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

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Peter Griffiths, dated 18 June 1995:
  The Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr John Watts, has asked me to write to you in reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about roadworks on the A3 at Guildford.
  The works that have been carried out on the A3 over the past 5 years have been necessary because much of this 20–30 year old and heavily used road has reached the end of its design life and therefore requires urgent attention. Left too long, structural damage would have occurred and would have been much more costly and difficult to rectify.
  Restrictions to traffic during the works have been necessary in the interests of both the workforce and road users. I am satisfied that the restrictions have been managed as efficiently as possible bearing in mind the difficulty of operation on this busy road.
  No assessment has been made of the economic cost of these works on businesses in Portsmouth.
  Data showing daily lane restrictions on the A3 in the Guildford area for the past 5 years is not available. However, major maintenance was undertaken between Burpham and Wisley during the period November 1993—May 1994 and between Abbotswood and the A31, work started in January this year and is due for completion in July. In addition, some lane restrictions and local diversions were necessary for about six weeks last Summer whilst temporary supports for the A31 bridge over the A3 were put in place.
  The Agency has given no assurance that there will be no further roadworks on the A3 in the vicinity of Guildford over the next 3 years. Major maintenance is planned next year between Burpham and Abbotswood. Strengthening work is also planned for around the end of this year on the bridge which carries the A3 southbound slip road to the A31 Hogs Back, although we do not expect this to cause undue disruption to A3 traffic.
  When the A3 roadworks are complete we do not expect the road to require major maintenance for another 15–20 years from completion of each section. Some routine maintenance will of course be required from time to time, but this can be dealt with at off-peak periods with little disruption to traffic.
  I hope this is helpful.

  London Fort William Sleeper
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations have been received by(a) his Department, (b) the Rail Regulator and (c) the Office of the Passenger Rail Franchising Director in support of the retention of the London-Fort William sleeper. [31087]

  Mr. Watts
  The Department of Transport has received 178 representations in support of retention of the Fort William sleeper. A number of letters to the Department
  675
  of Transport were also transferred to Opraf for reply. Opraf has received 875 representations, including letters transferred by the Department of Transport. The Rail Regulator has received 1,525.

  Rail Fares
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to limit increases by private operators in the rail system in cases where he assesses increases to be unjustified; and if he will make it his policy to cap future increases to the rate of inflation. [30652]

  Mr. Watts
  The franchising director proposes to limit annual increases in key rail fares to retail prices index for three years from 1 January 1996 and to RPI -1 per cent. for the subsequent four years.

  Unlicensed Trucks
  Sir Donald Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent results have been obtained from checks for unlicensed trucks; and if he will now consider introducing measures to seize unlicensed operators' trucks. [30732]

  Mr. Norris
  We have no reliable estimate of the number of vehicles operated illegally. A special series of roadside checks by the vehicle inspectorate in 1993 indicated that up to 9 per cent. of vehicles checked were not on an operator's licence. In a similar exercise in 1994 in the south-east, 7 per cent. of vehicles checked were suspected of being operated illegally outside the operator licensing system. However, these exercises, as is normal for such checks, were targeted on areas where offenders were thought most likely to be and vehicles stopped were also those thought most likely to be offending. These figures cannot, therefore, be taken as representative of the commercial vehicle population as a whole.

  In a recent cross-check of goods vehicles involved in accidents recorded by the police, no operator's licence could be traced for 24 per cent. of the vehicles. But this figure also cannot be taken as representative as the total included many vehicles below the limit for operator licensing, and also others exempt from operator licensing for another reason. It may also include vehicles "on the margin", that is, being used legally under the arrangements whereby operators have up to one month to notify licensing authorities of newly acquired vehicles.

  We are currently looking at ways to obtain a better indication of the extent of the problem. We are also keeping under review a number of possible new measures against illegal operations, including impounding of vehicles.

  Port and Harbour Police
  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which local authorities are legally empowered to establish or operate ports or harbour police; and what is the statutory basis for each force. [30093]

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

  Rail Track Closures
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of rail track were closed in each year since 1980; and what percentage this represented of the total track network in each year. [30451]

  Mr. Watts
  Information on miles of track closed since 1980 is not available.

  Ferry Evacuations
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 15 June,Official Report, column 614, what is the difference in procedure for passengers embarking on to survival crafts from roll-on roll-off ferries and catamarans. [30302]

  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 28 June 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about differences in evacuation procedure between roll-on-roll-off ferries and catamarans.
  The evacuation procedures for passengers embarking into survival craft are governed by the systems in place. For roll-on-roll-off ferries, the main systems are davit launched liferafts or lifeboats, or marine evacuation systems. On some vessels, overside ladders may also be used to reach inflated liferafts if access cannot be gained directly from lower decks.
  In the case of catamarans, the same options are available, but, due to lower deck levels, it is unlikely that davit launched liferafts or lifeboats would be used.

  A40-M40 Link
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce the start date and the completion date of the work on the A40–M40 link between Shepherd's Bush and Ealing Acton. [31152]

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: This is a operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Clive Soley, dated 28 June 1995:
  As you know, the Minister for Transport in London, Mr. Steven Norris, has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects to announce the start date and the completion date of the work on the A40/M40 link between Shepherd's Bush and Ealing Acton.
  We have assumed you are referring to the improvements of the A40 trunk road at Gypsy Corner in the London Borough of Hounslow and at Western Circus in the London Borough of Ealing. These schemes are expected to start in 1996 and take 30 months to complete.
  Until tenders are received and have been assessed, it will not be possible to announce a more exact start date.

  Road Construction
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies his Department has made into the possibility of using channel tunnel construction methods to build roads in urban areas; and if he will make a statement. [30958]
  677
  Mr. Watts
  This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. David Marshall, dated 28 June 1995:
  Mr. John Watts has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the possibility of using Channel Tunnel construction methods for building roads in urban areas.
  The notable success of the civil engineering construction on the UK side of the Channel Tunnel project included the performance of the full-face boring machines that were used to excavate and line the main running tunnels and the service tunnel that link the UK with mainland Europe, the construction of a huge underground cross-over chamber by means of excavation and ground support techniques known as the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) and extensive cut and cover construction at the terminals. The full-face boring machine techniques and cut and cover construction are well established and already used to construct urban roads where appropriate.
  NATM is a relatively new, very flexible and economic form of tunnelling that promises to be of particular benefit in the construction of the comparatively short lengths of tunnel required in most urban developments (i.e. less than 1 km long). The technique has been a topic of research and development commissioned by the Agency. NATM has already been adopted for two recently constructed twin trunk road tunnels (A20 Round Hill 390 m and A27 Southwick 490 m) both of which were constructed in chalk. Experience gained from studies carried out at both of these projects has shown that NATM could be well suited to the demands of underground construction in urban areas. Work is continuing to justify this assumption.

DEFENCE

  Duke of York's Royal Military School
  Mr. Sykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Duke of York's Royal Military School in 1995–96. [31905]

  Mr. Soames
  The key targets for the Duke of York's Royal Military School in 1995–96 are as follows:

  Curriculum
  To achieve at least 98 per cent. of GCSE passes at grades A to G in August 1995. To achieve at least five GCSE passes at grades A to C for 74 per cent. of pupils in August 1995. To achieve 85 per cent. of A-level passes at grades A to E in August 1995. To achieve 3 A-level passes at grades A to E for 80 per cent. of candidates in August 1995. To achieve 20 per cent. of A-level passes at grades A and B in August 1995. To achieve 100 per cent. award rate for BTEC national diploma courses in August 1995. To implement key stage 3 modifications to national curriculum programmes of study by September 1995. To achieve places in higher education for 70 per cent. of sixth form leavers by October 1995. To extend staff appraisal of all teaching staff in a two-year cycle by September 1995.

  Pastoral
  To ensure Marlborough house is prepared as a girls' senior house by September 1995. To ensure Kitchener house is prepared as a boys' senior house by September 1995. To expand involvement of girls in representative games by September 1995. To develop a school concert band—on-going.

  Finance and Administration
  To reduce pupil per capita costs to £11,081—at 1994 prices—by April 1996. To generate income of £400,000 by April 1996. To introduce phase 2 of new pupil billing system by September 1995.
  678
  Review
  To assist MOD with agency review during 1995. To achieve 200 applicants for September 1996 intake by April 1996. To update school prospectus and poster by July 1995.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary for Defence if he will make a statement on senior appointments in the Territorial Army. [31904]

  Mr. Soames
  Territorial Army officers regularly command TA units at lieutenant colonel level and there are at present 39 TA officers at colonel level in staff appointments. At brigadier level, there is currently one dedicated TA post at Headquarters Land Command. Following consultation with senior military advisers, we intend that in future suitably qualified TA officers should have the opportunity to be considered for a range of staff and certain command appointments at brigadier level. Specifically, and subject to the availability of candidates of the appropriate calibre, we shall be establishing a post of brigadier (TA) development and doctrine within the Army's directorate of development and doctrine from 1996, to be filled by a TA officer. We also intend, probably from 1997, and subject again to the availability of suitable candidates, that the post of director reserve forces and cadets in the central staff of the Ministry of Defence, currently filled by a regular officer, should be filled by a one-star officer from the volunteer reserves of one of the three services.

  I know that this will be welcomed by all reservists as further evidence of our commitment to the reserve forces.

  Departmental Property
  Ms Maddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a list of the sites of his Ministry's residential properties in the counties of(a) Dorset, (b) Hampshire, (c) Isle of Wight, (d) Berkshire and (e) Wiltshire; and if he will give for each site both the total number of properties and the number which are currently unoccupied. [30220]

  Mr. Soames
  As at 31 March, my Department owned the following properties in the areas shown:

  Stock

  Vacancies

  Dorset

  1,631

  327

  Hampshire

  8,880

  1,162

  Isle of Wight

  1

  0

  Berkshire

  1,625

  303

  Wiltshire

  6,819

  1,103

  Of the vacant properties, 86 in Dorset, 25 in Hampshire, 72 in Berkshire and 168 in Wiltshire were in the process of being sold. Many of the vacant properties were undergoing or awaiting major maintenance work, held for unit deployments, already allotted to families due to move in shortly or formed part of the management margin needed to ensure that accommodation is available for entitled service families.

  Information on individual sites is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Royal Navy Trainees
  Mr. Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State of Defence if he will outline the sequence of events that occurred on 15 June involving two Royal Navy sea helicopters which dropped and later collected a party of Royal Navy trainees at the China Fleet Club, Saltash; what was the training purpose of this exercise; what the total cost involved; how long the Royal Navy trainees stayed at the club; what they did there; and if he will make a statement. [30017]

  Mr. Soames
  RN Sea King aircraft of 848 squadron based at RNAS Yeovilton are used for the training of operational aircrew. Two of these aircraft were tasked to carry out operational training on 15 June involving low level navigation and formation flying.

  To enhance the training value, the opportunity was taken to load the aircraft to operational all-up-weight with a group of off-duty maintenance ratings. These individuals were dropped at the China Fleet Club in Saltash from where they were retrieved five hours later by aircraft with different crews who were also carrying out operational training. No additional cost to public funds were incurred as a result of these individuals being transported.

  Insurance
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the application of personal insurance schemes for military personnel who are killed or injured on or while travelling in military property. [30603]

  Mr. Soames
  It is a matter for individuals as to whether they take out insurance and what company, policy and level of cover they choose. My Department will refund a proportion of a life premium loading for hazardous duty. Application to travelling in military property would depend on the terms and conditions of the insurance policy chosen by the individual.

  Isle of Lewis
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military personnel were present on the Isle of Lewis on 20 June; whether any were members of the special forces; and if the presence of any military personnel was connected to the attempt to dump the Brent Spar at sea. [30696]

  Mr. Soames
  The following military personnel were present on the Isle of Lewis on 20 June:

  Elements of the Territorial Army company based in Stornoway.

  The permanent RAF detachment based at RAF Stornoway.

  Personnel manning the permanent RAF transmitter station at Aird Uig.

  Personnel from the sub-aqua clubs at RAF Lyneham an RAF Leuchars, carrying out adventurous training.

  None of these personnel was connected in any way with the disposal operation for the Brent Spar oil platform.

  French Nuclear Tests
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications of the French decision to resume nuclear testing for the successful negotiation of a comprehensive test ban treaty. [30518]
  680
  Mr. Soames
  The decision by France to undertake a short programme of tests before signature of a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty is not incompatible with the goal of an indefinite CTBT. The Government believe that it should be possible to conclude negotiations on such a treaty by the end of 1996 and will continue to work actively for that end. All the nuclear weapons states—including France—have expressed similar sentiments.

  Research and Development
  Mr. Colvin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his budget for the current financial year for industrial research and development. [30523]

  Mr. Freeman
  This year, we plan to spend some £630 million on research and £1.6 billion on development, the greater part of the latter being with industry. The annual publication "UK Defence Statistics" analyses expenditure by recipient sectors over recent years. The 1995 edition is planned for publication this July.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the figures at current prices for Government-funded defence research and development over each of the last 10 years. [31258]

  Mr. Freeman
  The figures at constant 1993–94 prices for Government-funded defence research and development based on table 3.2 of "Forward Look 95" are as follows:

  Year

  Total amount £million

  1985–86

  2900.5

  1986–87

  2847.2

  1987–88

  2802.4

  1988–89

  2584.4

  1989–90

  2632.6

  1990–91

  2462.2

  1991–92

  2372.2

  1992–93

  2139.0

  1993–94

  2299.0

  1994–951

  2431.4

  1 Estimate only.

  These figures update those previously published in "UK Defence Statistics 1994" by retrospectively applying to the earlier years' statistical—including Frascati—adjustments made in 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  Trident
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give a breakdown of the estimated lifetime decommissioning costs of(a) Trident and (b) Polaris. [30624]

  Mr. Freeman
  As part of an exercise to determine the lifetime operating and support costs, the comprehensive costs of both decommissioning and eventual disposal of the Trident submarines were estimated—at 1992–93 prices—at £150 million. No revision of this estimate has been made pending greater experience of Trident operations. Although no similar estimates are available for the Polaris submarines, the approximate decommissioning cost—covering defuelling, decommissioning and lay-up preparations—of HMS Revenge, the one Polaris
  681
  submarine fully to have undergone this process, was £18.7 million. The cost does not include the costs of final disposal.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the costs of the Trident works programme at Faslane and Coalport. [30645]

  Mr. Freeman
  The latest estimate of the cost of the Trident works programme, including projects at the Clyde submarine base, Faslane, and the royal naval armament depot, Coulport, is £1.956 billion.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent(a) inflation and (b) the exchange rate have been taken into account in estimating the current costs of the Trident programme. [30622]

  Mr. Freeman
  The current estimate of the cost of the Trident programme, where past expenditure is included at the prices and exchange rates incurred, with future spend expressed at today's prices and exchange rates, is £9,770 million. With past expenditure revalued to current levels, the current Trident cost estimate is £11,682 million, which also takes into account inflation and exchange rate variations since the original 1981 estimate.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what disciplinary action(a) has been taken and (b) is proposed to be taken against individuals as a result of cost overruns of the Trident works programme; and if he will make a statement. [30623]

  Mr. Freeman
  The original 1984 estimates for the Trident works programme were based on the best advice available at the time. The subsequent increase in costs is much regretted, but neither the Ministry of Defence's own internal review nor the Comptroller and Auditor-General's report suggested any culpability by individuals which would warrant disciplinary action.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the estimated original cost of all the works at AWE Aldermaston for the Trident programme; and what are the present estimated costs of these works. [30643]

  Mr. Freeman
  The information is not readily available in the format requested. However, the current estimated total of the major programme of capital works at AWE Aldermaston which includes work in support of Trident is £1.2 billion compared to the original estimate of £974 million at 1987 economic conditions.

  Devonport Nuclear Refit Facility
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the concerns that the nuclear installations inspectorate have expressed over the siting and construction of the new works at the Devonport nuclear refit yard. [30631]

  Mr. Freeman
  Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate has expressed no concerns over the siting or construction of the new works at Devonport.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances construction would take place in respect of the new Trident refit facility at Devonport, before a design has been agreed with all regulatory bodies, including the nuclear installations inspectorate. [30628]
  682
  Mr. Freeman
  Construction will not commence until both Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate and the MOD nuclear safety authority are satisfied that the proposed design is safe and meets all the current standards and regulations.

  Mutual Defence Agreement
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times employees of the Atomic Weapons Establishment have travelled to the United States under the auspices of(a) the 1958 mutual defence agreement and (b) the Trident sales agreement in each of the last five years. [30630]

  Mr. Freeman
  The following table gives the number of occasions on which one or more employees of the Atomic Weapons Establishment have travelled to the United States under the aegis of the 1958 mutual defence agreement in each of the last five financial years.

  Financial years

  Visits

  1990–91

  110

  1991–92

  129

  1992–93

  127

  1993–94

  129

  1994–95

  136

  These figures include visits on duties relating to the Trident sales agreement as these are invariably arranged through 1958 agreement channels.

  Explosives and Propellants
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the explosives, propellants and related products agreement with Royal Ordnance. [30507]

  Mr. Freeman
  The explosives, propellants and related end products agreement between the Ministry of Defence and Royal Ordnance plc—now the Royal Ordnance division of British Aerospace Defence Ltd.—was signed on 28 July 1988. Under EPREP, the Ministry of Defence had to purchase 80 per cent. of its requirements for certain natures of ammunition and explosives from Royal Ordnance during the five-year period from 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1993.

  The agreement was part of the arrangements for the sale of the Royal Ordnance factories to British Aerospace. The guarantee of a core work load over the five-year period assisted in establishing the newly privatised company as an efficient competitor and provided a guaranteed source of supply to the Ministry of Defence during what would otherwise have been a period of instability.

  The value of the orders placed with Royal Ordnance under the EPREP agreement was £560 million and covered over 40 types of ammunition.

  BMARC
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date General Donald Isles passed a copy of the BMARC contract agreement for naval guns for Chartered Industries Singapore to his Department. [30089]
  683
  Mr. Freeman
  In the absence of any specific HEALTH information, my Department is unable to find any trace of such a contract being passed to it.

  Capital Spending
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30888]

  Mr. Freeman
  The present estimated capital spending for defence for 1994–95 is £759 million for central Government's own expenditure and £46 million for public corporations' expenditure. The planned capital spending for defence in 1995–96 is £110 million for central Government's own expenditure and £42 million for public corporations' expenditure.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) by how much Government spending has changed in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have been lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast of transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative; [30853]

  (2) how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long they have been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over (a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30852]

  Mr. Freeman
  The Ministry of Defence is fully committed to the private finance initiative and is actively pursuing potential opportunities. To this end, we have identified a range of prospects with potential for private finance including a number of PFI "Pathfinder" projects in areas such as information technology, works and logistics. It would be premature at this stage to attempt to predict spending or the impact on employment, which will be determined by the development of individual projects.

  Attack Helicopters
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he had made of the financial cost of attack helicopter marinisation; and if he will make a statement. [31259]

  Mr. Freeman
  The ability to sustain continuous operations in a harsh maritime environment was not a requirement of the attack helicopter competition invitation to tender. However, bidders were asked a range of questions designed to establish their contender's ability to operate occasionally from ships in support of amphibious operations, together with costs for a number of specific modifications. Their responses have been considered together with many other factors as part of the overall assessment process. It would not be appropriate to comment on the details of individual bids.

HEALTH

  School Nurses
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many school nurses there were in each of the last five years. [30420]

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the table.

  School nursing staff (excluding agency), England 1989–1993 as at 30 September each year

  Whole-time equivalents

  1989

  2,440

  1990

  2,510

  1991

  2,460

  1992

  2,440

  1993

  2,470

  Source:

  PD(STATS)B Non-Medical Workforce Census.

  Note:

  Figures are rounded to the nearest ten whole-time equivalent.

  GP Fundholding
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the average expenditure per fundholding practice on purchasing care from the private sector in each year since 1990–91. [30436]

  Mr. Malone
  The first wave of fundholders took responsibility for their own budgets on 1 April 1991. The average expenditure per fundholding practice on purchasing care from non-national health service providers is shown in the table.

  Number of fundholding practices

  Expenditure on health-care from non-NHS providers per GP fundholding practice £000s

  1991–92

  306

  12

  1992–93

  587

  22

  1993–94

  1,235

  24

  Notes:

  The figures for 1993–94 are provisional: the summarised accounts for 1993–94 are subject to audit by the National Audit Office.

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 20 June,Official Report, columns 209–10, in respect of discrepancies in answers on prescriptions if she will make a statement on the steps she has taken to eliminate such errors; what are the implications that the corrected information will have on her assessment of the level of fraud in the NHS; and what are the differences between the data she placed in the Library on 15 June and the information provided to the Chester and Ellesmere Port community health council which make the latter commercial-in-confidence. [31049]

  Mr. Malone
  The Department is reviewing internal procedures and use of the database package to minimise the risk of such errors reoccurring. The data supplied to the Chester and Ellesmere Port community health council
  685
  have not been used within the Department and so have no implications for any other analyses.

  The information provided to the community health council included details of the numbers of prescription items and net ingredient cost for each preparation, which are considered to be commercial-in-confidence. The data placed in the Library on 15 June included only the names of the preparations, in alphabetical order.

  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her estimate for the cost of administering the present prescription and exemption charges system in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement. [29584]

  Mr. Malone
  The available information for England is shown in the table.

  Administration cost of the National Health Service prescription system1 and the prescription charge exemption and remission arrangements in England in 1994–95

  Item

  Cost £ Million

  Purchase of prescription forms for supply to doctors and dentists2

  1.3

  Pricing of prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists, appliance contractors and doctors3

  28.0

  Operation of the NHS Low Income Scheme in England and Wales3

  5.2

  Total

  34.5

  Notes:

  1 Excludes fees paid to doctors, dentists and pharmacists for professional services and expenditure on the drugs bill.

  2 Expenditure by Family Health Services Authorities. Other FHSA administration costs associated with the NHS prescription system and the charge exemption and remission arrangements are not separately identified.

  3 Expenditure by the Prescription Pricing Authority. The costs of operating the NHS Low Income Scheme in England and Wales are not separately identified. The scheme provides remission of prescription charges and help with other NHS costs to eligible claimants and their dependents.

  Information relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the revenue raised through prescription charges in the United Kingdom in (i) 1992–93, (ii) 1993–94 and (iii) 1994–95; and if she will make statement. [29586]

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the right hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on 9 December 1994 at column 397. Figures for 1994–95 are not yet available. Information relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the cost of prescription charges since 1965 indicating the figure as a percentage of(a) average earnings, (b) the cost of living, (c) basic state pensions and (d) taxable pensions. [30501]
  686
  Mr. Malone
  Prescription charges since 1965 are shown in the table. Details of average gross weekly earnings are contained in the "New Earnings Survey", a copy of which is in the Library. Everyone of state retirement pension age is entitled to free prescriptions, as are people of working age on low incomes who qualify for full remission of charges under the national health service low income scheme. In 1994, about 83 per cent. of prescribed items were dispensed free of charge compared with some 42 per cent. in 1968 when prescription charges were reinstated.

  Prescription charges at 1 April 1965–1995

  Year

  Prescription charges £

  1965

  0.00

  1966

  0.00

  1967

  0.00

  1968

  0.00

  1969

  0.13

  1970

  0.13

  1971

  0.20

  1972

  0.20

  1973

  0.20

  1974

  0.20

  1975

  0.20

  1976

  0.20

  1977

  0.20

  1978

  0.20

  1979

  0.20

  1980

  0.70

  1981

  1.00

  1982

  1.30

  1983

  1.40

  1984

  1.60

  1985

  2.00

  1986

  2.20

  1987

  2.40

  1988

  2.60

  1989

  2.80

  1990

  3.05

  1991

  3.40

  1992

  3.75

  1993

  4.25

  1994

  4.75

  1995

  5.25

  Waiting Times Fund
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on the waiting list initiative in total, by region, in the NHS sector and the private sector in each of the last five years; and how many patients have been treated in the NHS and private sectors under the waiting list initiative, by region and in total. [30767]

  Mr. Malone
  The central waiting times fund operated from 1987–88 to 1993–94 during which time the number of patients waiting more than one year for treatment fell from 209,440 to 64,508, and has since fallen further to 31,635. The table shows allocations from the fund to regional health authorities. Information is not available centrally on spending of these funds between the national health service and the private sector, or on the number of patients treated in the NHS and the private sector under the waiting times initiative.
  687

  £ thousands

  Allocations

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Total

  Northern

  1,737

  1,798

  1,665

  2,216

  3,002

  10,418

  Yorkshire

  2,538

  2,017

  2,178

  2,659

  3,562

  12,954

  Trent

  2,489

  2,923

  2,779

  3,307

  3,988

  15,486

  East Anglian

  1,327

  1,135

  2,099

  1,846

  1,939

  8,346

  North West Thames

  2,428

  1,690

  2,768

  3,549

  5,230

  15,665

  North East Thames

  3,400

  3,808

  4,769

  3,169

  4,083

  19,229

  South East Thames

  2,653

  2,738

  3,909

  3,562

  5,220

  18,082

  South West Thames

  1,674

  2,138

  2,938

  2,332

  3,172

  12,254

  Wessex

  1,518

  2,024

  2,217

  2,317

  2,875

  10,951

  Oxford

  992

  1,638

  1,733

  2,056

  2,604

  9,023

  South Western

  1,665

  1,546

  2,137

  2,773

  3,537

  11,658

  West Midlands

  3,250

  4,472

  4,440

  3,424

  4,780

  20,366

  Mersey

  1,925

  1,515

  2,300

  2,272

  2,579

  10,591

  North Western

  2,407

  2,860

  2,735

  3,344

  4,311

  15,657

  Total

  30,003

  32,302

  38,667

  38,826

  50,882

  190,680

  North West Regional Health Authority
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received from the British Medical Association relating to the impact of the waiting list initiative on clinical care in the North West regional health authority; and if she will make a statement. [30768]

  Mr. Malone
  None.

  Press and Public Relations Officers
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on press and public relations by(a) the NHS Executive, (b) regional offices, (c) regional health authorities, (d) district health authorities, (e) family health service authorities and (f) trusts in each of the last five years; and how many press and public relations officers were employed by (a) to (f). [30783]

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 3 May,Official Report, column 241. Information about the costs of press and public relations in the national health services is not available centrally.

  NHS Communications
  Mr. Trend
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is being taken to improve the standard of communications in the NHS; and if she will make a statement. [31821]

  Mr. Malone
  The National Health Service Executive's business plan for 1995–96, copies of which are available in the Library, reflects the priority now given to improving communications in the NHS. Improved communications will assist the accountability of the NHS to those it serves. It will now also enhance responsiveness to patients and ensure that the NHS is better able to promote good health. The NHS Executive is taking action both to improve its own communications and to encourage best practice within the service.

  The executive has taken steps to improve the quality of information it supplies to both the NHS and the public. The volume of publications issued is being reduced and printed communications are being targeted more precisely to ensure resources are used to best effect. Information is now supplied through:
  688

  regular briefings on service developments for NHS staff;

  a guide to the NHS for the public;

  quarterly reviews of the most up to date performance data;

  annual reports; and

  more clearly targeted newsletters including "NHS Magazine".

  The NHS Executive has ceased production of six NHS newsletters and is seeking a more cost-effective approach. The new quarterly "NHS Magazine" replaced an old monthly publication and its production costs are met in part by advertising. The magazine is projected to cost £130,000 in its first year, against an estimated annual saving of £227,000 from discontinued publications.

  The executive is working with the NHS to develop measurable standards for communication to improve the clarity and accessibility of information for the public. Such standards would ensure a consistent approach to communication throughout the NHS. It is also working on training and development packages opportunities covering NHS communications. These explain the benefits to be gained from promoting open communications with staff and include material on the importance of clear, jargon-free communication. The executive is working closely, where appropriate, with other health organisations, such as the National Association of Health Authorities and Trusts, on projects to develop higher standards in NHS communications.

  Health Service Expenditure
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will express health service expenditure in the United Kingdom as a proportion of United Kingdom gross domestic product for (i) 1990–91, 1993–94 and (iii) 1994–95; and if she will make a statement. [29587]

  Mr. Sackville
  National health service expenditure in the United Kingdom as a whole has increased from the equivalent of 4.7 per cent. of gross domestic product in 1978–79 to 5.3 per cent. in 1990–91, 5.9 per cent. in 1993–94 and an estiamted 5.8 per cent. in 1994–95.

  Medical Cost Inflation
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 20 June,Official Report, column 206, on medical cost inflation, what are her estimates of the inflation rate for the hospital and community health services for each year from 1979–80 to 1992–93; and what components of national health service spending are covered by this inflation measure. [31056]

  Mr. Sackville
  Estimates for hospital and community health services inflation are shown in the table. The inflation measure covers HCHS expenditure on staffing and the purchase of goods and services.

  HCHS inflation 1979–80 to 1992–93

  Year

  HCHS inflation estimate

  1979–80

  20.5

  1980–81

  28.0

  1981–82

  8.2

  1982–83

  6.5

  1983–84

  5.1

  1984–85

  5.8

  1985–86

  4.9

  1986–87

  7.0

  1987–88

  8.5

  1988–89

  10.6

  1989–90

  6.3

  1990–91

  8.7

  1991–92

  10.1

  1992–93

  6.9

  Capital Spending
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the expected capital spending figure for her Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30881]

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the table.

  Capital expenditure1 2

  £ million

  1994–95 estimated outturn

  1995–96 plan

  Public Corporations3

  1,582

  1,702

  Central Government's own expenditure4

  318

  120

  Total

  1,900

  1,822

  Notes:

  1 These figures are consistent with the Statistical Supplement to the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96, Cm 2821.

  2 Figures are not available for local authority capital expenditure in 1995–96. Estimated outturn for 1994–95 is £165 million.

  3 NHS trusts and the Medicines Control Agency.

  4 Includes health authorities.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health by how much Government spending has changed in 199495 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast of transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative. [30843]
  690
  Mr. Sackville
  Capital made available as a result of the private finance initiative is additional to publicly-funded capital. I refer the hon. Member is to the reply I have the right hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on 2 May at cols 175–76 for information on spending in 1994–95 and 1995–96 on the National Health Service Executive private finance unit.

  Information on numbers of public and private sector jobs affected by the private finance initiative in the NHS is not available centrally.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long they have been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over(a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30842]

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) on 24 May at column 594, for the available information.

  Health Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 20 June,Official Report, column 205, on health expenditure, if she will specify the monetary sum relating to local authorities' new community care responsibilities for 1996–97, which is at present held in the Department of the Environment's local government programme. [31057]

  Mr. Bowis
  A sum of £2,256 million is at present held in the Department of Environment's local government programme for local authorities' new community care responsibilities for 1996–97. Part of this sum will form the special transitional grant for 1996–97 and will be transferred to this Department's programme. The amount is not yet decided.

  Health and Housing Policy
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on which dates in the last three years she has met her ministerial colleagues responsible for housing to discuss the co-ordination of the Government's health and housing policies; and if she will make a statement. [31027]

  Mr. Sackville
  Ministers in the Department of Health hold frequent meetings with Ministers in other Government Departments to discuss a variety of matters, which will sometimes include health and housing.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Phytoestrogens
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the approved levels of oestrogen and phytoestrogen in food and drinks given to babies and toddlers. [29990]
  691
  Mrs. Browning
  There are no United Kingdom advisory limits or regulations controlling levels of phytoestrogens in foods specially prepared for infants and toddlers.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research has been(a) started and (b) completed on phytoestrogen in soya milk following the 1992 recommendations of the Committee of Toxicity on Foodstuffs. [29993]

  Mrs. Browning
  Two MAFF-funded studies are currently in progress. These studies include an analysis of soya milk and infant formula. In addition, a surveillance project measuring levels of oestrogens in the diets of infants, toddlers and young children will start shortly. None of these projects has been completed.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what levels of oestrogen or phytoestrogen are normally found in soya-based cooking oil and spread. [29997]

  Mrs. Browning
  Information available to the Ministry indicates that phytoestrogens are not present in soya-based cooking oil and spread.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what monitoring his Department undertakes on the levels of oestrogenic chemicals in food; and what is the budget and total full-time staff for this study. [30541]

  Mrs. Browning
  Several chemicals claimed to have oestrogenic properties are included in MAFF's food chemical surveillance programme. It is not possible to separate out the costs and staff allocated to this group of chemicals.

  Sheep Dips
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what representations were made to him or to farming organisations by the French authorities before benzene hectochlorine sheep dip was banned in the United Kingdom; and if such dip is currently used in France; [30273]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the circumstances which led him to ban the sheep dip containing benzene hectochlorine. [30274]

  Mrs. Browning
  Following expressions of concern from the French authorities in the 1980s, about levels of lindane residues in sheep meat, United Kingdom manufacturers ceased to use benzene hexachloride in treatments for sheep scab. The decision to make this change was taken by the manufacturers; there has not been a ban. I am not aware if benzene hexachloride is still used in France.

  Mr. Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice, in view of the report entitled "CULS 50/93, Diazinon: post-Dipping Exposure in Humans", he gives to those handling sheep which have been dipped with this compound; for how long after dipping this advice applies; and when this advice was issued. [30269]

  Mrs. Browning
  Advice on various aspects of using sheep dips, including the handling of sheep that have been dipped with diazinon, or with any other organophosphorus 692
  product, is contained in the free leaflet AS29, available from the Health and Safety Executive. This leaflet, which was sent to sheep farmers in 1994, includes advice to observe the label withdrawal periods for the product used. It also advises that it is good practice not to shear sheep for three months after dipping.

  Mr. Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he takes to ensure that sheep are effectively dipped against scab, with particular reference to a repeat treatment at a specific time after the first dipping. [30275]

  Mrs. Browning
  All treatments for sheep scab must be approved by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate under the provisions of the Marketing Authorisations for Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulations 1994, S.I. 1994/3142. As part of the authorisation process, consideration is given to the safety quality and efficacy of the product. The instructions, including any necessity for repeat applications, are clearly printed on the containers and should always be carefully followed. Most sheep scab treatments do not require repeat applications.

  General advice on dealing with sheep scab is given in the Ministry's current publicity leaflet—PB 1927—which advises consulting a veterinary surgeon if farmers are in doubt about treatments. Advice on dipping procedures is given in the leaflet "Sheep Dipping"—AS29—available from the Health and Safety Executive.

  Mr. Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has that particular working conditions, weather conditions, and existing medical conditions among those handling sheep which are, or have been, dipped with organophosphorus compounds, exacerbate reactions to exposure to the compounds; and if he will make as statement on the particular advice he gives in these circumstances. [30268]

  Mrs. Browning
  Information on reported suspected adverse reactions is collected by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate but details provided on individual reports vary inequality and would be very unlikely to lead to any meaningful conclusions. Extracting the specific information requested could not in any case be done readily.

  Leaflet AS 29 (rev), "Sheep dipping", issued by the Health and Safety Executive includes the joint advice of the HSE, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and the Department of the Environment to those involved in sheep dipping on protecting their health.

  Mr. Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has issued to those shearing sheep, regarding shearing within(a) one week (b) two weeks and (c) up to five weeks after dipping. [30276]

  Mrs. Browning
  The leaflet "Sheep Dipping"—(AS29)—which was sent to sheep farmers in 1994, includes the advice that"It is good practice not to shear sheep for three months after dipping."

  The leaflet, which is available from the Health and Safety Executive, gives advice on various aspects of sheep dipping. It was prepared jointly by the Health and Safety Executive, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and the Department of the Environment.
  693
  Mr. Nicholson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research he has evaluated, and what(a) representations or (b) claims he has received suggesting that there is a link between the numbers of suicides among farmers and the mental and physical effects of reactions to exposure to organophosphate sheep dips. [30272]

  Mrs. Browning
  I am aware that a recent report by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys on suicide deaths in England and Wales, 1982–92 indicates that farmers are among the occupational groups with the highest rate of suicide. The reasons for this are not clear, but factors such as access to the means of suicide, firearms for example, and physical and social isolation are likely to play a part.

  Anti-androgens
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department is undertaking on anti-androgens in food. [30538]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Department is not carrying out any specific research on anti-androgens in food.

  Nutritional Labelling
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what additional nutritional labelling regulations have been made since 1991. [30544]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Food Labelling (Amendment) Regulations 1994, S.I. 1994 No. 804, implemented EC directive 90/496 on nutritional labelling for foodstuffs. These regulations set out the format for nutrition labelling when given and require it to be given if a claim is made on the label about a particular nutrient.

  DDT
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the approved level of DDT in food; and what checks are undertaken on the levels of DDT in imported foods. [30540]

  Mrs. Browning
  Maximum residue levels for DDT in a wide range of foodstuffs are included in schedule 2, part 2, to the Pesticides (Maximum Residues Levels in Crops, Food and Feeding Stuffs) Regulations 1994. Generally, the MRL is 0.05 mg/kg. As part of the Govenment's food surveillance programme for pesticide residues, imported foodstuffs are checked selectively for residues of DDT. The results of this programme are published annually in reports of the working party on pesticide residues, copies of which are available from HMSO.

  Organic-based Fertilisers
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research is being funded into organic based fertilisers. [30543]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will be spending around £1 million in 1995–96 on research on organic-based fertilisers. The main emphasis of this work is to improve our understanding of the behaviour of the nitrogen and phosphorus in animal manures and to develop practical methods and improved 694
  recommendations to enable farmers better to utilise the fertiliser value of manures.

  The project titles, contractors and estimated costs for 1995–96 are as follows:

  On-farm monitoring of nitrate leaching from organic rotations Elm Farm Research Centre

  £54,000

  Phosphorous losses to surface water following organic manure applications to agricultural land

  ADAS

  £36,000

  Phosphate loss from drained clay soils receiving organic manures

  ADAS

  £65,000

  Use of injectors and low trajectory spreaders

  ADAS/Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research

  £47,000

  To improve guidelines on waste management practices which will minimise the short and long term risk of nitrate leaching from animal manures applied to land

  ADAS

  £103,000

  Improving the conservation of nitrogen during storage of slurries and manures

  Silsoe Research Institute

  £65,000

  Grassland manuring: Nitrogen loss and efficiency from use of organic manures

  ADAS

  £124,000

  Nitrogen losses from organic manures

  ADAS

  £66,000

  Nitrogen losses from drained clay soils receiving organic manures

  ADAS

  £19,000

  Effective utilisation of animal manures in fertilising forage

  Levington Agriculture

  £44,000

  Development of user-friendly systems for on-farm estimation of the available nitrogen content in solid manures and slurries

  ADAS/Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research

  £26,000

  Utilisation of slurry on grazed and silage areas during the growing season

  Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research

  £51,000

  Nitrate leaching from livestock manures

  Harper Adams Agricultural College

  £54,000

  Improved prediction of nitrogen availability and losses following land application of organic manures

  ADAS

  £20,000

  Development and evaluation of a rapid paper test strip method for determining the nitrogen supplying power of slurries and manures

  Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research

  £25,000

  695

  Improved precision of manure and slurry application

  ADAS

  £20,000

  Improved precision of manure application

  Silsoe Research Institute

  £65,000

  Fate of nitrogen from organic manures

  ADAS/Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research

  £61,000

  Effect of organic manures on medium-term N cycling and nitrate leaching

  ADAS

  £93,000

  The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is also spending about £1 million every year, in England and Wales, on a programme of research and development into economic and practical questions concerned with organic agriculture and horticulture.

  Genetically Modified Organisms
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 13 June,Official Report, column 511, if he will list foods cleared for sale in the United Kingdom produced using genetically modified organisms. [30535]

  Mrs. Browning
  Ministers have accepted the advice of the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes and cleared, on food safety grounds, a genetically modified baker's yeast; three chymosin enzymes; used in cheese production, derived from GM micro-organisms; a GM brewer's yeast; tomato paste from a GM tomato; processed food products derived from a GM soya bean; and two oils derived from GM oilseed rapes. To our knowledge, only the chymosins are currently in commercial use.

  Capital Spending
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30889]

  Mr. Jack
  The Ministry's expected capital figures—as published in the statistical supplement to the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96 Cm 2821"—are £118 million for 1994–95 and £144 million for 1995–96. The 1994–95 figure includes net receipts of £22 million from local authorities, but there is no equivalent figure available for 1995–96 and the totals for the two years are not comparable.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, by how much Government spending has changed in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have been lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast of transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative. [30857]
  696
  Mr. Jack
  The Ministry's spending in 1994–95 was not affected by the private finance initiative. The position may be similar in 1995–96. No schemes have yet been approved and as a consequence no jobs have been created or lost as a result of the private finance initiative.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long they have been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over(a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30856]

  Mr. Jack
  No schemes have been approved to date under the private finance initiative and it is thought unlikely that any will reach the approval stage in 1995–96.

  The whole of the Ministry's capital expenditure is currently being assessed for its possible application to the private finance initiative with eight schemes being considered. An estimate of the value of the schemes is difficult to make as there are often several private finance and other options for each scheme. Two of the schemes under consideration have been in the assessment process for between six and 12 months.

  ADAS
  Mr. Deva
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has reached any conclusions as to the future of the ADAS agency; and if he will make a statement. [31861]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Secretary of State and I have now agreed that a number of ADAS's functions are suitable for privatisation. We have however concluded that certain of the non-research and development functions that ADAS carries out for MAFF and Welsh Office—about two thirds of this work in all, including most of that in connection with the agri-environment schemes—should remain in the public sector. We have accordingly agreed to prepare for eventual privatisation a body which comprises all the ADAS commercial consultancy services, its laboratory services and the remainder of the non-research and development work performed for Departments. As to the present ADAS research centres, ownership of the sites and their facilities and arrangements for future access to both by the privatised body will be further considered. We expect, however, that the privatised body would continue to manage a proportion of our Departments' existing programmes at those sites.

  ADAS has met all its financial targets since it was launched as an agency. We have concluded that the precise timing for privatisation of such a body should be determined in the light of continuing improvements in its financial performance, particularly as regards its commercial consultancy services. We have accordingly decided that ADAS will be required to recover 100 per cent. of its costs for advisory services in 1996–97 through charges to its commercial customers. If this and other

  697
  objectives are met in 1996–97, we shall proceed to privatisation in the course of 1997. We do not exclude an earlier disposal if the agency's performance warrants it.

  A management team has indicated that it would be interested in preparing a management and employee buy-out of a business similar to that described above. We welcome this signal from the agency's staff of their confidence in its future but will, of course, consider all bids that may be forthcoming for that business or for parts of it.

  Mr. Mark Robinson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what performance targets he has set for ADAS for 1995–96. [31860]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The Secretary of State and I have decided that for 1995–96, ADAS will be asked to recover 73 per cent. of its costs for advisory services through charges to commercial customers; the balance will be met by my Department. The other financial, efficiency and service delivery targets for ADAS for 1995–96 will be:

  to achieve full cost recovery from all other work;

  to reduce the total cost per hour in contract delivery in real terms by 2 per cent.:

  to maintain average debtor days at or better than 55 days:

  to meet 90 per cent. of Research and Development project milestones;

  to continue to achieve customer satisfaction as measured by customer surveys.

  Salmon
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action the Government are taking to implement the recommendations in the Salmon Advisory Committee's report "The Run Timing of Salmon". [31942]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Secretary of State and I have carefully studied the Salmon Advisory Committee's report. In our view, it makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of the factors that determine the age at which salmon return to their native rivers to spawn and of the various possible reasons for the recent decline in the number of early running, spring salmon that spend more than one winter at sea. The report concludes that changes in environmental conditions in the sea are likely to be a major factor in the current low abundance of spring fish, but that it is also likely that heavy selective exploitation of older sea-age classes and early running fish is implicated.

  The report makes a number of recommendations. The majority of these are for further research, and the fisheries departments will take particular account of the SAC's views when reviewing their existing research programmes on salmon and commissioning further research.

  The report also recommends that consideration be given to protection, and perhaps enhancement, of early running fish, particularly in stocks where spring runs have suffered the most acute decline. Actions that it suggests might be appropriate include protection, rehabilitation and development of habitat; additional control of exploitation in both commercial and sport fisheries; and protection of stocks from illegal fishing. It further recommends that for
  698
  such fisheries management action should be undertaken on a river-by-river basis.

  My right hon. Friends and I are drawing these recommendations for management action to the attention of the National Rivers Authority and the district salmon fisheries boards in Scotland and, asking them, in particular, to consider urgently whether, and if so what, action is needed to conserve the runs of spring fish in the fisheries for which they are responsible. We will take full account of the SAC's views in considering any proposals for further action that they make.

  In this context, I am asking the National Rivers Authority to reconsider the recommendation, in the report on salmon net fisheries presented to Parliament in 1991, that the opening date for the drift net fisheries of Northumbria and Yorkshire should be postponed until 1 May so as to reduce the level of exploitation of spring running salmon. The NRA decided not to implement this recommendation, on the grounds that any action on spring fish needed to be part of a wider programme embracing rod and net fisheries in both England and Scotland. In the light of the Salmon Advisory Committee's report, and in the expectation that appropriate action will be taken in other fisheries, there is now an opportunity for a postponement of the opening of the drift netting season until I May to form part of such a wider programme.

  Barley
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what quantity of barley has been sold to Spain for pigfeed and other purposes from intervention stocks in each of the past three years for which figures are available. [30487]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: The information requested is not available. United Kingdom intervention barley sold onto the Community market can go to any member state; barley for export must go to third country.

  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at what figure below the intervention price available to United Kingdom pig farmers barley from intervention stocks is being sold to Spain. [30488]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: The sale of UK intervention barley to Spain will be by tender starting on 29 June. Tenderers will bid to buy grain out of intervention and ship it to a store in Spain. They will he required to cover transportation and shipping costs—excluding the cost of transferring grain from UK intervention stores to the nominated port of exit which will on this occasion be met by the ELT. It is not possible to predict the cost at which barley will be resold onto the Spanish market which is a commercial decision for the Spanish trade.

  Sows
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ask the Farm Animal Welfare Council to investigate claims of welfare advantages for sows confined to sow stalls for the first 35 days. [31015]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: Claims of welfare advantages for sows confined to sow stalls for the first 35 days of pregnancy have not been

  699
  supported by scientific evidence. I see no basis therefore on which the Farm Animal Welfare Council could be asked to investigate them further.

  Eastern European Fishing Fleets
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the honourable Member for Great Grimsby, (Mr. Mitchell) of 25 May,Official Report, column 684–85, (1) what changes he expects to make to the common fisheries policy when the entry of (a) Poland, (b) Hungary, (c) the Czech Republic, (d) Slovakia, (e) Romania, (f) Bulgaria, (g) Slovenia, (h) Lithuania, (i) Latvia and (j) Estonia begin negotiations for entry into the EU; [28919]

  (2) what benefits he expects to come to the British fishing fleet when (a) Poland, (b) Hungary, (c) the Czech Republic, (d) Slovakia, (e) Romania, (f) Bulgaria, (g) Slovenia, (h) Lithuania, (i) Latvia and (j) Estonia are admitted to the common fisheries policy. [28918]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 19 June 1995]: All the countries listed, with the exception of Slovenia, have signed Europe agreements with the EU—Slovenia's has been negotiated and is now awaiting signature). These agreements contain the prospect of eventual EU accession. Only Poland and Hungary have formally applied to join the EU although a number of other central European states have indicated their wish to follow suit by the end of 1995.

  It is too early to say when any of these countries will join the EU, nor is it yet possible to predict what changes may be made to the common fisheries policy or what benefits there would be to the British fishing fleet consequent upon their joining. In any negotiations on changes to the common fisheries policy consequent upon the accession of further countries to the EU, we will have uppermost in our minds the interest of the UK fishing industry.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Roger Levitt Case
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) if he consulted Mr. David Cocks QC on the wording of his answer to the hon. Member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall) on 9 December 1993,Official Report, columns 332–33; and if the specific wording of the answer was given prior approval by (a) Mr. George Staple and (b) the Solicitor-General; [30375]

  (2) whom he consulted on the wording of the answer before giving answers to the hon. Member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall) on 9 December 1993, Official Report, columns 332–33 on the case of Roger Levitt. [30397]

  The Attorney-General
  The wording of my answer on 9 December 1993 to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, South was prepared on the basis of information provided by the Serious Fraud Office. The specific wording was checked for accuracy by the case controller at the Serious Fraud Office and by leading counsel for the prosecution, Mr. David Cocks QC, but not by the director of the Serious Fraud Office personally. The answer was shown to the Lord Chief Justice, who did not ask for any 700
  change, so that he could see how references to the trial judge and the question of sentence were being handled. It was cleared by the Solicitor-General.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Attorney-General on how many occasions a person has been convicted of misleading FIMBRA; and on each occasion what was the sentence imposed for that charge. [30374]

  The Attorney-General
  In the case of R v. Levitt the misleading of FIMBRA was pleaded as a particular to the count of fraudulent trading, as set out more fully in my answer to question No. 30405. The misleading of FIMBRA can give rise to a variety of offences. No central record is kept of such convictions and a complete check would involve disproportionate cost.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Swansea, East (Mr. Anderson) 19 June 1995,Official Report, columns 68–70, what other discussions took place between the director of the Serious Fraud Office and counsel for the prosecution of Roger Levitt before 22 November 1993; in what circumstances; what was their content and place; and if he will place the notes or records of those discussions in the Library. [30398]

  The Attorney-General
  The director of the Serious Fraud Office and counsel discussed aspects of the case other than possible pleas at conferences on 24 February 1993 at 5 King's Bench Walk and 8 June 1993 and 19 November 1993, both at the Serious Fraud Office. It is not my practice to disclose the content of such discussions which concerned the general conduct of the case. To do so would be prejudicial to the proper administration of justice.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will place in the Library copies of the record or notes of meetings or conversations between the Serious Fraud Office and prosecution counsel in the case of Roger Levitt between September 1993 and 27 November 1993 which refer to(a) possible pleas to be entered by Levitt and (b) possible sentence which might arise from those pleas. [30399]

  The Attorney-General
  Neither the Serious Fraud Office nor prosecuting counsel has any record or notes as to the substance of meetings or conversations with counsel referring to these matters. There is a worksheet prepared by junior prosecuting counsel, Mr. Jonathan Fisher, for cost purposes which merely lists "conf with SFO re: pleas" on 5 November 1993 among other matters.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) if he will list the dates on which he was informed that his answer to the hon. Member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall) of 9 December 1993,Official Report, columns 323–33, may not have been full or correct in all particulars; by whom he was so informed and in what form; what action he took as a result of being so informed; and when he took it; [30400]

  (2) when he was informed that authorised plea discussions described in his answer to the hon. Member for Swansea, (Mr. Anderson) of 19 June, Official Report, columns 68–70, had taken place; when he initiated inquiries to ascertain what discussions had taken place on pleas in respect of Mr. Roger Levitt; what has been the outcome of those enquiries; and if he will make a statement; [30409]
  701
  (3) whom he consulted before giving his reply to the hon. Member for Swansea, East of 19 June 1995, columns 68–70, on the case of Roger Levitt; and when; [30410]

  (4) what information he received from Mr. Jonathan Goldberg QC in respect of his answer to the hon. Member for Hendon, South on 17 December 1993, Official Report, columns 1054–46; what account he took of it in his answer to the hon. Member on 16 December, Official Report, column 1049; what action he took in response to the representations of Mr. Goldberg; and when he took it. [70411]

  The Attorney-General
  Mr. Jonathan Goldberg QC copied to me a letter from himself dated 13 December 1993 to Mr. David Cocks QC in which he suggested that my answers on 9 December 1993 to my hon. Friend the member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall) were misleading as the result of the information provided to me by prosecuting counsel and/or the Serious Fraud Office. The letter was considered with the Deputy Director of the SFO, the case controller and prosecuting counsel at a meeting chaired by my hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor General on 16 December 1993 to consider the terms of answers subsequently given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, South on 17 December 1993. He was assured by prosecuting counsel and representatives of the Serious Fraud Office that the answers given on 9 December and the answers to be given were accurate and not misleading.

  The fact that there were differences of view between the prosecution and defence about the case was referred to incidently but unspecifically at a meeting which I had with My hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, South, on the conduct and outcome of the case generally on 12 January 1994.

  Mr. Goldberg wrote a further letter on 21 February 1994 again asserting that prosecuting counsel had offered a plea deal prior to the case being opened before the jury which was only marginally less favourable than the plea Mr. Levitt finally entered. He enclosed copies of letters to him written by other defence counsel in the case in the context of a complaint under consideration by the professional conduct committee of the Bar Council. I replied to Mr. Goldberg, saying that the correspondence confirmed the degree of difference between counsel in the case but that the Law Officers were not in a position to resolve those differences. Nor, although it was helpful to be kept informed, would it be right for them to try to do so, particularly since the matter was being considered by the professional conduct committee.

  On 31 May 1995 my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, South wrote to me and drew attention to the programmes on BBC Radio 5 on plea bargaining. In that letter and at a subsequent meeting with me and the Solicitor-General on 6 June 1995 he asked that I re-examine the replies given to him on 9 December 1993. In the light of that letter and meeting, and a question tabled by the hon. Member for Swansea, East and media reports, the Serious Fraud Office and prosecuting counsel were asked to re-examine the events that led up to Mr. Levitt's plea. My hon. and learned friend the Solicitor-General chaired further meetings on 12 June, 14 June and 15 June with the director and other members
  702
  of the SPTO, prosecuting counsel and my own officials. Following the meeting on 12 June the Solicitor-General asked to see the SFO files and counsel's notebooks for the period I to 22 November 1993. The SFO files were sent to my office on the evening of 13 June under cover of a letter from the deputy director. The Solicitor-General was given the notebooks of Mr. Cocks and junior prosecuting counsel's—Mr. Fisher's—worksheet during 14 June and the notebooks of both prosecuting junior counsel on 23 June. The Solicitor-General examined the material supplied but, with the exception of the worksheet to which I refer in my answer to question No. 30399, and Mr. Cock's note of the mitigation advanced on behalf of Mr. Reed could find no reference to possible pleas.

  Following his appearance before the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee the director considered in detail with prosecuting counsel and the case controller the letter from the solicitor for Mr. Levitt—Mr. Goldkorn—to his client, which had been handed to him during his appearance He also recovered his diary from storage and from that it was apparent that a meeting had taken place at the SFO at 8.45am on 5 November 1993 between prosecuting counsel and the director and the case controller. The deputy director's letter referred to this meeting and the possibility that pleas had been discussed between prosecuting counsel and the director of the SFO. Mr. Cocks and the director spoke to my office about his on 14 June prior to the meeting later that day. At that meeting the director explained that it had become apparent that a meeting had taken place on 5 November 1993. As was set out in my written answer to the hon. Member for Swansea, East given on 15 June, Official Report, 19 June 1995, columns 68–70, the joint recollection of all present was that the director had been then informed of possible pleas which leading counsel for the Crown advised should, in the event that they were tendered, be accepted. I was informed of the 5 November 1993 meeting on 14 June 1995 and joined the 15 June meeting. Prosecuting counsel and the director of the SFO confirmed to me personally that the terms of the proposed answer to the hon. Member for Swansea, East were accurate.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Attorney-General what were the fees paid to each prosecution counsel by the Crown in respect of the trial of Rover Levitt; and at what hourly rate. [30401]

  The Attorney-General
  Fees inclusive of VAT and excluding expenses, paid to prosecution counsel were as follows:

  £

  Leading counsel

  128,639.88

  Junior counsel

  155,890.73

  Second junior counsel

  165,118.71

  Total

  449,649.32

  Hourly and daily rates as shown in the following table agreed for each stage of the case and were increased in annual reviews on the dates shown in the left-hand column.
  703

  Date of engagement or annual review

  Pre transfer (up to 15 April 1992)

  Post transfer (from 16 April 1992)

  Daily rate

  Leading counsel

  15 March 1991

  150

  165

  600

  15 March 1992

  161

  177

  642

  15 March 1993

  —

  183

  662

  Junior counsel

  15 March 1991

  90

  100

  300

  15 March 1992

  96

  107

  321

  15 March 1993

  —

  110

  331

  Second junior counsel

  15 March 1991

  60

  66

  165

  15 March 1992

  64

  71

  177

  15 March 1993

  —

  74

  182

  My answer of 23 May 1995 to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Byers), Official Report, column 520, stated that the fees paid to leading counsel in this case were earned from January 1991 and amounted to £137,405. Mr. Cocks was in fact formally instructed on 15 March 1991 and the amount given in my previous answer erroneously included a payment relating to another case. The total amount paid to Mr. Cocks is as set out in the table.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Attorney-General what inquiries he made about the availability of Mr. David Cocks in relation to the trial of Mr. Roger Levitt; what account was taken of the probable length of the trial if contested; and what assessment he has made as to the availability of Mr. Cocks in respect of a contested trial. [30402]

  The Attorney-General
  The prosecution was brought by the Serious Fraud Office. I am informed by the Serious Fraud Office that it formally instructed Mr. David Cocks QC on 15 March 1991 on the basis that he would advise in relation to the Levitt case and subsequently conduct any proceedings which the director of the SFO decided to institute. The terms on which prosecuting counsel are instructed by the SFO require them to give a high degree of priority to the conduct of the case. The estimated length of any trial varied, but Mr. Cocks was at all stages expected to be available to conduct a contested trial. The SFO was at no stage given any reason to doubt his availability for as long as was necessary and Mr. Cocks has assured me that he was indeed available to conduct the trial for as long as necessary.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Swansea, East of 19 June,Official Report, columns 68–70, on discussions between counsel for the Crown and for Roger Levitt, precisely what pleas were in issue at each discussion and specifically when the Crown decided for the purposes of discussions or plea that it was appropriate for Levitt not to admit to actual theft by himself; [30403]

  (2) what indications as to the acceptability of possible pleas had been made by the defence to the Crown before the judge discussed sentence on Mr. Roger Levitt on 22 November 1993. [30407]

  The Attorney-General
  In June 1992 counsel for Mr. Reed approached leading counsel for the Crown, Mr. David Cocks QC, with an offer of a plea of guilty by Mr. Reed to the offence of fraudulent trading involving the 704
  failure to invest funds in accordance with investors' instructions and the sending of false investor valuations. This approach was repeated on a number of occasions. On each occasion Mr. Cocks said the plea would not be acceptable.

  Shortly before 2 November 1993, leading counsel for Mr. Price approached Mr. Cocks and asked whether the Crown would be prepared to accept a plea to fraudulent trading on the basis of the FIMBRA particular from Mr. Levitt, Mr. Reed and Mr. McNamara. Mr. Cocks said that, if such discussions were to be pursued, they must involve counsel for all the defendants. On 2 November 1993 Mr. Cocks told counsel for all the defendants that the proposed pleas were insufficient but that if Mr. Levitt and Mr. Reed would plead guilty to the FIMBRA particular of fraudulent trading and "something sensible" on the investor side such as counts 3 and 5 of the indictment—specimen counts of sending false valuations to investors, he thought that serious consideration would be given to such an approach. On 4 November there were further discussions between counsel, other than counsel for Mr. Levitt, about possible pleas. In a discussion believed to have taken place on 5 November Mr. Cocks repeated to leading counsel for Mr. Levitt—Mr. Goldberg—what he had said about possible pleas on 2 November but no such indication of a plea was forthcoming. There was further discussion arising from the suggestion made by leading counsel for Mr. Price when both junior prosecuting counsel spoke to Mr. Goldberg, and his junior, on 9 November 1993 and said that although they had no firm instructions, if Mr. Levitt offered to plead guilty to the false investor valuations not as separate counts but as particulars of fraudulent trading, as well as pleading guilty to the particular alleging the deception of FIMBRA, this might be acceptable to the Crown. Mr. Goldberg informed Mr. Cocks on 11 November 1993 that Mr. Levitt would not be offered a plea of guilty to any part of the indictment.

  The trial thereafter proceeded and I refer the hon. Member to my answer to question No. 30405.

  On Sunday 21 November 1993 junior counsel for Mr. Levitt telephoned first junior prosecuting counsel and said that Mr. Levitt was considering entering a plea of guilty on the FIMBRA part of the fraudulent trading count, on the strict understanding that all other counts would be left on the file. Mr. Fisher replied that prosecuting counsel would need to have a conference with the SFO. About half an hour later junior counsel for Mr. Levitt again telephoned Mr. Fisher and said that she had forgotten to mention that, if the plea was acceptable to the Crown, Mr. Goldberg would seek to seek to see the trial judge to ask for an indication as to sentence.

  On Monday 22 November 1993 Mr. Goldberg made his offer in writing to Mr. Cocks of the plea that was finally entered. He wrote that if the offer was acceptable to the Crown he was instructed to seek an indication from the trial judge on sentence and that Mr. Levitt would then decide what to do.

  There were no counts of theft against Mr. Levitt included in the indictment.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Attorney-General what charges and how many were originally brought against Mr. Roger Levitt; what was the sequence of events by
  705
  which (a) their number and (b) their gravity was reduced; if he will give the date on which each charge was dropped; and what assessment he has made as to the extent to which the sequence of events conformed to the highest standards of conducting cases. [30405]

  The Attorney-General
  The proceedings against Mr. Levitt were transferred to Southwark crown court on 15 April 1992 on the basis of 62 charges, consisting of five charges of conspiracy to defraud and 56 substantive offences of dishonesty, including certain charges of theft, relating to private investors or institutions, and a further charge of fraudulent trading which was intended to embrace all aspects of the alleged fraudulent conduct. Most of these charges were alternatives.

  When the indictment was preferred it was necessary to reduce the number of charges to facilitate presentation of the case to the jury. The indictment, signed on 12 June 1992, contained 22 counts. Count 1 alleging fraudulent trading by TLG Ltd. was fully particularised and included a particular alleging:
  "producing and causing to be produced to officers of FIMBRA documents, viz: a profit and loss schedule of income, schedules and a balance sheet, fee notes, invoices, letters, and minutes of a meeting of the Board of Directors of Levitt Group (Holdings) plc, which were false, misleading and deceptive in that they purported to show that fees of £20,738,321 had been received by Levitt Group Limited as a result of personal advisory work carried out by the said ROGER JOSEPH LEVITT during the 18 month period to 30 June 1990."

  Counts 2 to 5 related to investor funds prior to the period of fraudulent trading and comprised two specimen counts, 2 and 4 of obtaining investors' funds by deception and two specimen counts, 3 and 5, of false accounting in relation to false valuations sent to investors. Count 6 alleged the dishonest obtaining of funds from an investor during the period of fraudulent trading. The remaining counts of 7 to 22 were alternatives to count 1 and involved the sale of shares and options, the obtaining of loans by Mr. Levitt and misleading FIMBRA.

  After the indictment had been preferred the Court of Appeal on 28 July 1992 gave guidance in Blue Arrow about the drafting of indictments in serious fraud cases. This caused the prosecution during the preparatory hearing held between 23 and 25 February 1993 to seek to clarify further the issues for the jury by relying on the count of fraudulent trading alone and reducing the number of particulars specified in that count. Counts 2 to 5—the specimen investor counts relating to the period which preceded the alleged fraudulent trading—were severed so as to be the subject of a separate trial. The allegations particularised in counts 6 to 22 formed part of the allegations particularised in count 1. On 25 February 1993 the trial judge ruled that count 1 was
  "properly drawn and fairly represents the thrust of the criminality alleged by the Crown"

  On 19 May 1993, following an application by Mr. Goldberg, the trial judge ruled inadmissible on count- 1 the evidence of the dishonest way in which the moneys drip-fed into TLG Ltd. by Mr. Levitt had been obtained. I am informed by prosecuting counsel that Mr. Goldberg's application was presented on the clear understanding that Mr. Levitt would not place in issue the circumstances in which the money was obtained and that the trial of Mr. Levitt proceeded on this basis.
  706
  After Mr. Cocks had opened the case for the prosecution Mr. Goldberg made an opening speech on 15 November 1993 in the course of which he asserted that the funds drip-fed into TLG Ltd by Mr. Levitt were his own money. The Crown applied to discharge the jury on the basis that Mr. Goldberg had misled them and undermined the basis of the earlier rulings in the case. The trial Judge declined the application. He said that the Mr. Goldberg's opening speech had
  "largely subverted the necessary and acknowledged basis of my earlier rulings"
  and had
  "gravely misrepresented the true position".

  The Crown intended to renew its application to discharge the jury on 22 November 1993, and notice of this intention was communicated to the defence on 19 November 1993. This application was not made because on 22 November 1993 Mr. Levitt offered to plead guilty to count 1 of the indictment on the basis that he would admit the particular of the indictment alleging that he had misled FIMBRA. The acceptability of that plea was discussed by prosecuting counsel with the director of the Serious Fraud Office the same day. Counsel advised that the plea should be accepted having taken account of all the circumstances. The director instructed counsel to accept this plea.

  It is the duty of the SFO as an independent prosecuting authority to act with the due diligence and complete propriety. It is the duty of prosecuting counsel to act as ministers of justice and to conduct the case in accordance with their proper professional judgment, having regard to all the circumstances. I am satisfied that they did so.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Attorney-General on what date and in what circumstances it was communicated to Queen's Counsel for the Crown or his junior that Mr. Roger Levitt would agree to plead only to a charge which would result in a non-custodial sentence. [30406]

  The Attorney-General
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Swansea, East given on 15 June 1995,Official Report, 19 June 1995, columns 68–70. I have been consistently assured by prosecuting counsel that there was no such communication.

  Mr. O'Brien
  To ask the Attorney-General, what assessment he has made of whether the reported comments of Queen's counsel for the Crown after the Mr. Roger Levitt trial in respect of(a) the hearing of fraud cases by judges and (b) the sentence passed on the defendant were appropriate for a Crown prosecutor; and if he will make a statement. [30408]

  The Attorney-General
  Such issues are governed by the code of conduct for the Bar of England and Wales. Counsel appearing for the Crown are not subject to any special restrictions.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Attorney-General (1) by how much Government spending has changed in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have been lost as a consequence in the
  707
  public sector; and what is the forecast of transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative; [30855]

  (2) how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long they have been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over (a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30854]

  The Attorney-General
  The private finance initiative is considered as one of the options for all major capital projects in the Departments for which I am responsible. Expenditure plans within those Departments for 1994–95 and 1995–96 have not been affected by the private finance initiative. No proposals to award contracts under the initiative have been submitted for approval. The question of effects on employment does not therefore arise.

  Capital Spending
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Attorney General what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30887]

  The Attorney-General
  The information is given in the table.

  £ Thousand

  Capital expenditure 1994–95

  Planned capital expenditure 1995–96

  Crown prosecution service

  5,000

  4,000

  Treasury solicitor's department

  600

  600

  Serious Fraud Office

  400

  400

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the Attorney-General how many cases were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service in the last year where successful private prosecutions have subsequently been brought forward. [28317]

  The Attorney-General
  [holding answer 14 June 1995]: Since the information sought by the hon. Member is not separately recorded, senior staff in the Crown Prosecution Service who might reasonably be expected to recall cases coming within the terms of the hon. Member's question were asked to identify them. The answer cannot be regarded as definitive, but they have been unable to identify any successful private prosecution which arose from a case in which discontinuance had been effected during the past year.

  Treasury Counsel
  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.
  708
  The Attorney-General
  [pursuant to his reply, 21 June 1995, c. 260]: The figures given for fees paid to Treasury counsel based at the central criminal court by the Crown Prosecution Service are being checked 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.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Report and Accounts
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, to which hon. Members the Church Commissioners' annual report and accounts have been distributed.

  Mr. Alison
  The Church Commissioners' 1994 report and accounts have been sent to the Secretary of State for the Home Department as directed by the Church Commissioners Measure 1947. Copies have also been sent to all hon. Members.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Dundonald Primary School
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils were enrolled in Dundonald primary school in each of the past five years; how many applicants were refused places at the school in each of these years; what plans there are to increase the size of the school; and if he will make a statement about the future facilities for primary school education in the Dundonald area. [30534]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  Number of pupils enrolled

  Number of applicants refused places

  1990–91

  530 (January 1990)

  n/a

  1991–92

  537 (January 1991)

  n/a

  1992–93

  558 (October 1992)

  None

  1993–94

  563 (October 1993)

  14

  1994–95

  547 (October 1994)

  5

  Provision of controlled primary schools places in Dundonald is the responsibility of the South-Eastern education and library board. I understand that the board has no plans to increase the size of Dundonald primary school at present but it is reviewing demand for primary school places in the Dundonald area and is monitoring residential development and planning applications for residential development as part of its consideration of future primary school provision.

  Health and Social Services Contracts
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 25 May 1995,Official Report, column 756, if he will outline the procedure for awarding tenders for contracts in health and personal social services. [30439]

  Mr. Moss
  In selecting tenderers for a particular service HPSS bodies first seek expressions of interest by advertising the intention to invite tenders in the local, national or trade press and where appropriate the Official Journal of the European Community. All companies responding to these advertisements are then subjected to vetting procedures which have regard not only to financial viability, technical competence and performance elsewhere but also list for future reference the size of a particular company and the volume of business it is capable of discharging. This is to ensure that contractors are not invited to tender for contracts they are unable to deliver.

  Where a potential contractor is proposing to use his own plant and equipment the vetting procedure requires that these be checked to ensure that there is sufficient capacity and that such facilities are adequate to cope with the workload which will be placed on them or that any necessary upgrading will be undertaken

  A list of potential contractors who satisfy the above criteria is then submitted to the HPSS Management Executive for approval. Tenders can be invited only from potential contractors who have been approved by the HPSS Management Executive.

  In-house teams are not required to go through these vetting procedures.

  Education Building Programme
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland further to his press notice of 8 February, how much of the £63 million building programme for education will be spent directly on construction. [30516]

  Mr. Ancram
  An estimated £45.3 million will be spent directly on construction work.

  Deprivation
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the 55 electoral wards which were recently designated as deprived according to the study undertaken by the university of Manchester. [30602]

  Sir Wheeler
  The university of Manchester study ranked all Northern Ireland electoral wards on measures of multiple deprivation. However, the study did not classify individual wards as deprived or non-deprived.

  Education and Library Boards
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what changes he has made in his policy on a reduction from five education and library boards to four such boards since the publication of the document, "Accountability through Partnerships." [30455]
  710
  Mr. Ancram
  There is no record of a document called "Accountability through Partnerships" but the document "Educational Administration in Northern Ireland" published in 1993, to which we presume that the hon. Member refers, contained a number of options for change to the present arrangements for educational administration and analysed the advantages and disadvantages of a rationalisation of the present five-board system.

  Following consultation on that document, all these options were reappraised and the Government have been consulting on a proposal that the number of education and library boards should be reduced from five to four. The consultation period has recently ended and the Government will wish to take account of all comments received before making any final decision.

  Health Survey
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent research his Department has commissioned in respect of a health survey for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [30476]

  Mr. Moss
  A departmentally commissioned report on a "Survey Strategy for the Health and Personal Social Services (1994–2004)" was published in January 1994 and recommended the commissioning of a regular regional survey of health and social well-being. The Department of Health and Social Services, Northern Ireland, has accepted that there should be a survey at approximately three-yearly intervals and planning is under way for an initial survey in early 1996.

  Enler House, Ballybeen
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many residents there are in Enler house, Ballybeen; if new residents are being accepted; what proposals there are for the future use of the building; and if he will make a statement. [30600]

  Mr. Moss
  The last resident left Enler house on 15 June 1995 and no new residents are being accepted. Discussions have taken place between the Department of Health and Social Services and Dundonald Community Projects on the future use of the building and DCP has been offered a licence to use the premises as a community resource centre for a three-month period pending further negotiations. At this time the DCP is considering the terms of the licence and are expected to occupy the premises.

  Capital Spending
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30877]

  Sir John Wheeler
  I refer the hon. Member to table 12.4 of the Government's "Expenditure Plans 1995–96 to 1997–98", Cm 2816, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by how much Government spending has changed in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs
  711
  are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have been lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast of transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative. [30829]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Planned Government spending has not changed as a result of the private finance initiative in either 1994–95 or 1995–96. Information on jobs created or lost in the public sector as a consequence of the PFI is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long have they been considered, and how many have been in the assessment process for over(a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30828]

  Sir John Wheeler
  No schemes were approved for 1994–95. A number of areas, including two pilot projects covering sewage treatment plants in the Water Executive with an estimated value of £20 million to £25 million are under consideration in Northern Ireland. It is too early, however, to put a total value on these projects. On average, these schemes have been under consideration for 12 months.

  Community Attitudes Survey
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to publish the second community attitudes survey report, "A Continuous Survey of Public Attitudes and Views on Crime, Law and Order, Policing and Security Issues", for the period November 1993 to October 1994 and if he will make a statement. [31858]

  Sir John Wheeler
  I have today arranged for a copy of the full report to be placed in the Library. The report details results from field work completed between November 1993 and October 1994 involving a representative sample of adults aged 16 and over living in Northern Ireland. As most of the survey was conducted before the declaration of the two paramilitary ceasefires in August and October 1994, many of the results reflect the security situation in Northern Ireland before the ceasefire. A third round of the survey, which omits a number of questions on security matters which have ceased to be relevant following the ceasefire, is currently underway.

  Among the key findings of the survey are:
  The majority of people believe that crime, particularly crime against the person, is relatively uncommon in their area and that they are unlikely to be a victim. In particular, 90 per cent. believed that it was unlikely, that they would be a victim of terrorist violence.
  The majority of people consider that the police are polite (81 per cent.) helpful (78 per cent.) and fair (72 per cent.) In each of these aspects Protestants gave higher ratings than Catholics. (Protestants: polite 83 per cent; helpful 81 per cent.; fair 77 per cent.—Catholics: polite 78 per cent.; helpful 75 per cent;. fair 63 per cent.) Taking everything into account, most (77 per cent.) thought that the police in their
  712
  area did a good job, while fewer than one in 10 (9 per cent.) thought that they did a poor job.
  Almost one third (30 per cent.) of respondents had not heard of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland. More than half of those who had heard of PANI (56 per cent.) thought it to be part of the police. Protestants tended to be better informed than Catholics.
  Over one third of respondents (35 per cent.) did not know who was responsible for looking into complaints made against the police. The preferred means (63 per cent.) of making a complaint about a police officer was by contacting the local police station. This was by far the most favoured means for both Protestants (68 per cent.) and Catholics (54 per cent.)
  While most respondents (63 per cent.: Protestants, 68 per cent.; Catholics, 57 per cent.) believe the police try equally hard to recruit from both sections of the community, most (57 per cent. Protestants, 48 per cent.; Catholic, 72 per cent.) thought there were too few Catholic members of the police. The most common reason given for Catholics not joining the force was fear of intimidation or attack on them or their relatives.
  The great majority (93 per cent.) disagreed with the use of force or violence by paramilitary groups, either for political ends or in retaliation for attacks by other paramilitaries. Only 3 to 4 per cent. agreed that it was justifiable.
  Most people considered the police to be polite (80 per cent.) and fair (77 per cent.) in dealing with the security situation. As before, Protestants gave a higher rating than Catholics. The Army as also considered by most to be polite (70 per cent.) and fair (68 per cent.), again with higher ratings form Protestants.
  Ninety-two per cent. of respondents felt is was important to understand the way in which the courts work, although only 33 per cent. felt they did understand.
  Seventy-five per cent. expressed confidence in the criminal justice system, although nine out of ten agreed that miscarriages of justice could occur.
  Almost 70 per cent. of respondents felt that penalties handed out by courts should be stiffer that at present although Protestants felt this more strongly (82 per cent.) than Catholics (48 per cent.). Almost four in ten thought that those sentenced to life imprisonment should spend the rest of their lives in prison (Protestants; 46 per cent., Catholics; 28 per cent.).

  Foyle Bridge
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average volume of traffic on the Craigavon and Foyle bridges in Londonderry has been per day since the Foyle bridge was built. [23659]

  Mr. Moss
  The estimated average daily traffic flow on the two bridges for each year since the Foyle bridge was opened to traffic are as follows:

  Year

  Craigavon Bridge vehicle per day

  Foyle Bridge

  1994

  32,519

  16,213

  1993

  30,920

  17,570

  1992

  29,910

  16,700

  1991

  28,810

  15,240

  1990

  27,820

  13,500

  1989

  26,450

  13,670

  1988

  25,630

  11,350

  1987

  25,740

  11,160

  1986

  25,900

  10,700

  1985

  26,300

  10,200

  1984

  26,410

  9,560

  Socialist Workers Movement Posters
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the Government's policy with regard to the removal of fly posters put up by the Socialist Workers movement and others on main thoroughfares in Belfast. [23660]

  Mr. Moss
  The Department has no specific policy with regard to fly posting by the Socialist Workers movement or other individual groups. Where sufficient evidence is established current policy allows enforcement proceedings to be taken against any group or individual responsible.

  I am concerned generally about the impact of fly posting, not only in Belfast but elsewhere in Northern Ireland, and propose to review current policy and practice. I will write further to the right hon. Gentleman in due course.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Information Leaks
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list all the inquiries into all forms of information leaks from Government Departments, agencies and public bodies which have taken place since 1989, giving(a) the nature of the leak, (b) the duration of the leak inquiry, (c) the cost of the leak inquiry, (d) the result of the leak inquiry and (e) the number of individuals against whom action was taken as a result of the leak inquiry. [30819]

  Mr. David Hunt
  No.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster by how much Government spending has changed in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have been lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast of transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative. [30851]

  Mr. Horam
  The 1994–95 expenditure of the Cabinet Office, including the Office of Public Service and Science, HMSO and the Central Office of Information did not change as a result of the private finance initiative. The same is likely to be true in 1995–96. Although no schemes within the scope of my responsibilities have been approved under the initiative to date, the involvement of private finance is explored wherever possible.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long they have been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over(a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30850]
  714
  Mr. Horam
  The Cabinet Office, including the Office of Public Service and Science, HMSO and COI did not approve any schemes under the private finance initiative in 1994–95; and it is unlikely that any will be approved in 1995–96. However, the involvement of private finance is explored wherever possible. Two schemes are currently being considered, with a total expected value of at least £10 million. Both have been in the assessment process for less than two months.

  Capital Spending
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30886]

  Mr. Horam
  Figures for capital spending in 1994–95 and 1995–96 for the Cabinet Office, including the Office of Public Service and Science and executive agencies, are as follows:

  1994–95 Provisional outturn £'000

  1995–96 Estimate £'000

  Cabinet Office (including OPSS)

  12,060

  8,010

  OPSS Executive Agencies

  2,290

  2,530

  Science1

  152,500

  135,800

  COI

  630

  600

  1994

  1995

  Actual

  Estimate

  £'000

  £'000

  HMSO2

  8,340

  18,560

  Notes:

  1 Covers capital spending by the Research Councils.

  2 HMSO's figures are based on their accounting year 1 January—31 December.

SCOTLAND

  Tree Diseases
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research is taking place into tree diseases and their cause. [29390]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The Forestry Commission carries out a wide range of research into all aspects of tree health, including the status and biology of disease organisms and insect pests, in order to assess risk and, where appropriate, to develop strategies for control.

  New Town Development Corporation
  Mr. Norman Hogg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the effect on inward investment to Scotland of the closure of the new town development corporation. [29391]

  Mr. Kynoch
  In July 1993 my right hon. Friend set up a task force to consider the impact on inward investment of the wind-up of the new town development corporations. The issues examined by this task force included the continued availability within the new towns
  715
  of suitable properties for inward investors, the marketing of the new towns to prospective inward investors and the aftercare of existing investors.

  Appropriate steps have been taken in the light of the task force's work to ensure that the momentum of inward investment in the new towns is maintained.

  Water and Sewerage
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to improve the water and sewerage systems serving Scotland. [29392]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The Government have introduced a number of regulations relating to the quality of water to be supplied and the standards to be met by sewage discharges. These are The Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations 1990 and The Urban Waste Water Treatment (Scotland) Regulations 1994. It is for the regional and islands councils, and from April 1996 the new water authorities, to bring forward programmes of works to comply with the prescribed standards in specified timescales. Progress is monitored by the Scottish Office.

  Manufacturing Exports
  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he is planning to help increase the capacity of Scottish manufacturing industry to expand exports to the European market; and if he will make a statement. [29393]

  Mr. Kynoch
  Scottish manufactured exports are breaking all records. This clearly indicates that the opportunities presented by a competitive currency, low interest rates and stable low inflation have been grasped by Scottish industry.

  Over the last two years Scottish manufactured exports have risen by almost 30 per cent. to reach their highest-ever level of £11.5 billion. Exports to Western Europe account for some 65 per cent. of that figure. Later in the year, I hope to launch a Scottish export strategy which will help focus efforts to further increase Scotland's manufactured exports.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Eric Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to meet the Scottish Trades Union Council to discuss employment and unemployment. [29394]

  Mr. Kynoch
  My right hon. Friend meets representatives of the Scottish TUC from time to time to discuss a range of matters concerning the Scottish economy. The next meeting is being planned for July.

  Torry Food Science Laboratory
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met trade union representatives from the Torry food science laboratory to discuss alternative proposals to closure. [29395]

  Mr. Kynoch
  As the staff of the Tony food science laboratory are employed by the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food it would not be appropriate for me to meet their trade union representatives. However, my 716
  officials are involved in current discussions with the Aberdeen Research Consortium which is preparing proposals for alternatives to the relocation of Tony's work to York.

  Housing Expenditure
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of Scottish Office expenditure was spent on housing in(a) 1978–79 and (b) 1994–95. [29396]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Expenditure on all housing including subsidies as a percentage of the Secretary of State's total net programme was 15.8 per cent. in 1978–79 compared with 4.9 per cent. in 1994–95; but such comparisons are misleading, since transfers of responsibility to the Secretary of State have significantly increased the overall size of the Scotland programme sine 1978–97. Support through subsidies has reduced and is principally provided through housing benefit which is now £834 million. Receipts applied to the programme have increased substantially, enabling total capital investment in housing last year to be greater than in 197897 in real terms.

  St. Andrew's College, Bearsden
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the job losses at St. Andrew's college, Bearsden, by 1998–99; and what factors will contribute to their losses. [29397]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council is responsible for the allocation of funds to higher education institutions in Scotland. It has asked St. Andrew's college of education to draw up plans relevant to its future funding. It is premature to speculate on what the outcome will be, whether in terms of jobs or otherwise, until the college has submitted its plans and SHEFC has had the opportunity to consider these.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library those documents, produced by his Department, relating to staffing and quality standards for courses at St. Andrew's college, Bearsden. [30470]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My Department produces no documents directly related to staffing and quality standards in the teacher education sector. The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council published on 20 June its "Report of a Quality Assessment in Teacher Education" covering, among other institutions, St. Andrew's college. A copy of this has been placed in the Library.

  Road Safety
  Mr. Graham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to improve road safety in Scotland. [29398]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Office is taking forward a number of road safety initiatives covering engineering, education, publicity and enforcement which are designed to contribute towards achievement of the Government's target for reducing casualities by one-third by the year 2000. These include
  717
  measures to reduce vehicle speeds, to encourage more responsible driving and to lessen the accident risk to vulnerable road users.

  Social Issues
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet representatives of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to discuss social issues in Scotland. [29399]

  Mr. Kynoch
  My right hon. Friend meets COSLA routinely as part of the normal consultation on local government finance matters. Other topics are on occasion raised at such meetings, but my right hon. Friend presently has no plans to discuss specifically social issues with the convention.

  Further Education Colleges
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what meetings he has had with representatives of Scottish further education colleges about their budgets; and if he will make a statement. [29400]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend met representatives of the Employers' Association for Scottish Further Education Colleges, the Association of Principals of Colleges and the Association for Colleges on 5 June to discuss a number of issues of interest to Scottish colleges of further education. The wide ranging discussion covered funding. My right hon. Friend congratulated the sector on its efficiency gains and emphasised the need for close control of public expenditure. He suggested that FE colleges should continue to explore the opportunities offered by the private finance initiative. Officials in the Scottish Office education department have been asked to continue to liaise with representatives of the sector.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial guidance he gives to the boards of colleges of further education about financial information(a) is available to the public or (b) is confidential. [30209]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Further education colleges are required to publish an annual report, which may be either combined with or separate from their annual accounts. One of the obligations of colleges' charitable status registration is that annual accounts should be made available to anyone who requests them.

  No guidance has been issued to colleges of further education regarding the publication of financial information which they should consider confidential.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which colleges of further education in Scotland have financial deficits; and what action they are taking to remove these deficits. [30207]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The latest available audited annual accounts are for the financial year 199394. In that year the following five colleges showed a deficit balance on income and expenditure account reserve:

  The Barony College

  James Watt College of Further and Higher Education

  718

  Motherwell College

  North Glasgow College

  Stevenson College

  The colleges are examining all areas of expenditure to identify possible savings.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will keep central statistics of the number of further education college staff who will be made redundant this year. [30204]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  No. Staffing numbers and levels are the responsibility of the board of management of each college.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much financial support he has given to each further education college in Scotland in this financial year; and what was each college's budget for the last year. [30208]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Table A indicates the grant support provided to Scottish colleges of further education in 1995–96 by my right hon. Friend. In addition, a further £2.7 million is available to colleges to assist in the restructuring of college staff in 1995–96. Table B provides college budgeted gross expenditure, including all income, for 1994–95.

  Table A

  Grant support £

  Aberdeen College

  13,547,850

  Angus College

  3,317,583

  Anniesland College

  4,221,847

  Ayr College

  4,882,025

  Banff and Buchan College of Further Education

  3,332,900

  The Barony College

  1,569,850

  Bell College of Technology

  5,870,227

  Borders College

  4,016,053

  Cambuslang College

  4,168,630

  Cardonald College

  7,041,675

  Central College of Commerce

  4,748,578

  Clackmannan College of Further Education

  2,500,315

  Clydebank College

  7,276,418

  Coatbridge College

  3,793,381

  Cumbernauld College

  2,856,666

  Dumfries and Galloway College

  5,347,452

  Dundee College

  10,787,243

  Elmwood College

  3,170,133

  Falkirk College of Technology

  8,344,238

  Fife College of Further and Higher Education

  7,631,275

  Glasgow College of Building and Printing

  5,972,191

  Glasgow College of Food Technology

  3,697,425

  Glasgow College of Nautical Studies

  4,030,127

  Glenrothes College

  5,070,135

  Inverness College

  6,578,400

  James Watt College of Further and Higher Education

  7,843,488

  Jewel and Esk Valley College

  7,642,868

  John Wheatley College

  3,667,525

  Kilmarnock College

  5,382,855

  Langside College

  7,032,661

  Lauder College

  5,329,375

  Lews Castle College

  2,481,389

  Moray College

  5,078,738

  Motherwell College

  7,323,203

  North Glasgow College

  6,461,706

  Oatridge Agricultural College

  2,258,026

  Perth College

  5,812,713

  Reid Ken-College

  8,422,413

  Stevenson College

  10,206,838

  719

  Table A

  Grant support £

  Stow College

  4,521,435

  Telford College

  13,189,850

  Thurso College

  3,134,648

  West Lothian College

  5,222,427

  Total

  244,784,775

  Table B

  Total expenditure £

  Aberdeen College

  18,813,000

  Angus College

  3,877,415

  Anniesland College

  5,045,000

  Ayr College

  6,580,191

  Banff and Buchan College of Further Education

  3,622,826

  The Barony College

  2,099,600

  Bell College of Technology

  9,743,546

  Borders College

  4,837,500

  Cambuslang College

  5,255,000

  Cardonald College

  8,441,500

  Central College of Commerce

  6,609,000

  Clackmannan College of Further Education

  3,189,860

  Clydebank College

  8,805,735

  Coatbridge College

  4,896,917

  Cumbernauld College

  3,406,803

  Dumfries and Galloway College

  6,527,947

  Dundee College

  14,259,090

  Elmwood College

  4,337,770

  Falkirk College of Technology

  10,759,850

  Fife College of Further and Higher Education

  10,575,000

  Glasgow College of Building and Printing

  9,272,060

  Glasgow College of Food Technology

  5,115,788

  Glasgow College of Nautical Studies

  5,838,736

  Glenrothes College

  6,870,562

  Inverness College

  8,996,312

  James Watt College of Further and Higher Education

  9,611,100

  Jewel and Esk College

  11,375,000

  John Wheatley College

  3,511,350

  Kilmarnock College

  6,215,304

  Langside College

  7,420,930

  Lauder College

  7,285,019

  Lews Castle College

  2,719,799

  Moray College

  6,218,000

  Motherwell College

  9,344,731

  North Glasgow College

  8,266,277

  Oatridge Agricultural College

  3,634,407

  Perth College

  7,794,710

  Reid Kerr College

  9,426,455

  Stevenson College

  13,315,895

  Stow College

  5,992,517

  Telford College

  16,837,564

  Thurso College

  3,232,098

  West Lothian College

  6,882,263

  Total

  316,860,427

  European Regional Fund
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total value of grants that Scotland has received from the European regional fund since the fund's inception. [29401]

  Mr. Kynoch
  Since the inception of the European regional development fund in 1975, Scotland has benefited from awards totalling almost £1.5 billion.

  Whisky
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of Scottish Enterprise to discuss domestic sales of Scotch whisky. [29402]

  Mr. Kynoch
  My right hon. Friend and I maintain close and regular contact with Scottish Enterprise on a wide range of economic issues.

  Owner-occupation
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest estimate of the level of owner-occupation in Scotland. [29403]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  At the end of December 1994, the owner-occupation level in Scotland reached 57 per cent., compared with 35 per cent. in 1979. This shows that the Government's policies have significantly increased the level of home ownership in Scotland and extended choice to many people who would otherwise have had to continue renting.

  Gibraltar Island Games
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many islands of Scotland will be represented at the island games in Gibraltar this July; and what support competitors are receiving from Her Majesty's Government. [29404]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Scotland will be represented by competitors from the Orkney and Shetland islands. All competing teams pay to participate in the island games. There is no central Government funding.

  Electricity Industry
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the chairman of Scottish Nuclear to discuss the future of the electricity industry. [29405]

  Mr. Kynoch
  My right hon. Friend meets the chairman of Scottish Nuclear, Mr. James Hann, from time to time to discuss a range of matters concerning the company.

  Flood Prevention
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to meet Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to discuss future plans for flood prevention in those areas previously affected by flooding. [29406]

  Mr. Kynoch
  My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State meets COSLA regularly when a range of issues may be discussed. The next meeting will be on 24 July.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to meet the Scottish Trades Union Congress to discuss the Scottish manufacturing industry. [29370]

  Mr. Kynoch
  My right hon. Friend meets representatives of the Scottish TUC from time to time to discuss a range of matters, including the Scottish
  721
  manufacturing industry. The next meeting is scheduled for July.

  A-Level Science
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total uptake of A-level science subjects at schools and colleges for each year since 1987. [30216]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In Scotland students are generally presented for the Scottish certificate of education at higher level rather than for A-levels. Data on students at further education colleges is not held in a form that would identify those students studying A-level science subjects. The uptake of A-level science subjects in Scottish education authority secondary schools is collected biennially in the September school census. Similar data are not collected for independent schools. The uptake shown in the census is as follows:

  Year

  Pupils

  1987

  309

  1989

  198

  1991

  158

  1993

  118

  Clydebank College
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how large is the financial deficit of Clydebank college; and how it was incurred. [30206]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The latest available audited annual accounts are for financial year 1993–94 and show a surplus retained in the income and expenditure reserve of £54,000.

  Clydebank college's expenditure exceeded income for the year by £132,000 after charging depreciation on the value of the land and buildings transferred from its local authority. This depreciation amounted to £186,000 and was met from a revaluation reserve leaving the surplus of £54,000 retained.

  Catholic Schools
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what projections he has made of the demographic trends in attendance at Catholic schools over the next 10 years. [30468]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend makes no separate projections of pupil numbers at Roman Catholic schools.

  Green Tourism
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what initiatives his Department has undertaken to encourage green tourism in the highlands and islands. [30447]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish tourism co-ordinating group which I chair and on which the Scottish Office industry department is represented has produced the strategic plan for Scottish tourism, which identifies green tourism as a source of opportunity for the Scottish tourism industry. The co-ordinating group has 722
  also set up the tourism and environment task force, which has provided detailed guidance for tourism operators. The task force is overseeing a number of local pilot projects looking at various aspects of environmentally sustainable tourism. Around half of these projects are in the highlands and islands.

  Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd.
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what weight he will give to public opinion as expressed during the consultation process on the future of Highlands and Islands Airport Ltd; [30449]

  (2) what plans he has to publish the views of all those consulted on the future arrangements for Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd. [30450]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Consultants are being appointed to carry out the study of options for the involvement of the private sector in Highlands and Islands Airports. As part of their work the consultants will need to consult interested parties; but the primary purpose of their work is not to conduct a consultation process. I am sure that views expressed by them will take into account in preparing their report; but there is no presumption that the report will include a full statement of all views expressed to them. No decision has yet been taken on whether or not to publish material arising out of the study.

  Firearms Incident
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what occasions Her Majesty's Government made representations to the police in relation to a firearms incident involving Mr. Stefan Kock in Scotland in January 1990. [30506]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Strathclyde police have received no representations from any Government Department in relation to this incident.

  Teachers
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers he estimated were necessary for Catholic(a) secondary and (b) primary schools in Scotland; and how many (i) BEd and (ii) PGCE students were estimated to be necessary in each of the last 10 years. [30498]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The annual estimates of future teacher requirements, including the requirements of Catholic schools, are based upon information relating to the schools sector as a whole. It is for the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council to determine the allocation of funded places to individual teacher education institutions.

  Roads
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what economic and social improvements he foresees by the de-trunking of roads in Argyll and Bute. [30448]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The de-trunking of the A816 Lochgilphead-Oban and the A828 Connel-Ballachulish are part of a wider review of the Scottish trunk road network. Benefits of this review will
  723
  be to ensure the high-quality access required by commerce and industry, tourism and agriculture in each of the new unitary authorities and to provide an efficient and effective trunk road network serving Scotland well into the next century.

  Where responsibility for management and maintenance of routes is transferred to local roads authorities future priorities will be set in the context of local needs, which should help ensure that local economic and social benefits are maximised.

  Catholic Schools
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children are in each year group in catholic schools in Scotland. [30469]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The latest available information is given in the table:

  Number of pupils in education authority Roman Catholic primary and secondary schools by year stage, September 19941

  Primary stage

  Primary schools

  Secondary stage

  Secondary schools

  P1-P7

  278,251

  S1-S6

  53,184

  P1

  11,025

  S1

  10,346

  P2

  11,442

  S2

  10,553

  P3

  11,367

  S3

  10,897

  P4

  11,349

  S4

  10,171

  P5

  11,343

  S5

  7,486

  P6

  10,921

  S6

  3,731

  P7

  10,802

  —

  —

  1 Provisional.

  2 Includes a small number of pupils in separate classes for learning difficulties.

  Emergency Telephones
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to improve emergency telephone facilities for motorists whose vehicles break down on Scotland's trunk road system; and if he will make a statement. [30957]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Office industry department has no plans to provide emergency telephone facilities on all purpose trunk roads. The emergency telephones on motorways in the Glasgow area are being upgraded as part of a larger contract to enhance and extend driver information and control.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the implementation of the legal aid system in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [29374]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend is considering what proposals might be brought forward to improve the arrangements for legal aid in Scotland, in 724
  the light of the policy and financial management review of the Legal Aid Board which has recently been completed. I am also taking account of the proposals of my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor to improve the system in England and Wales.

  Non-domestic Rates
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has regarding the number of unoccupied properties in each islands and district council area which are now liable for non-domestic rates as a result of the implementation of the Non-Domestic Rates (Unoccupied Property) (Scotland) Regulations 1995. [31054]

  Mr. Lang
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate his Department has made of the revenue from non-domestic rates accruing in each district and islands council area in Scotland as a result of the implementation of the Non-Domestic Rates (Unoccupied Property) (Scotland) Regulations 1995 in the financial year 1995–96. [31055]

  Mr. Lang
  It is estimated that the additional rates income due to changes in unoccupied property relief will be £23.5 million in 1995–96. This was taken fully into account in determining the level of unified business rate for 1995–96, so there is no additional burden on business ratepayers in aggregate as a result of this measure. A further breakdown by local authority is not available.

  Capital Spending
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30876]

  Mr. Lang
  Consistent with table 1.7 of the statistical supplement to the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96" (Cm 2821), the total expected capital spending figure for 1994–95 for the Scottish Office and associated departments is £2,291 million.

  The latest budget figure for planned capital expenditure excluding local authorities for 1995–96 is £1,301 million. As explained in paragraph 1.9 of the statistical supplement there are no figures available for later years for total planned local authority capital expenditure, therefore the figures for 1994–95 and 1995–96 are not comparable.

  Housing, East Kilbride
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the transfer of East Kilbride's housing stock to alternative landlords. [29371]

  Mr. Kynoch
  We are pleased that nearly nine out of 10 tenants took the opportunity to vote for their successor landlord in the ballot held by East Kilbride development corporation. Subject to satisfactory conclusion of negotiations on the final purchase price, the homes will transfer to East Kilbride district council towards the end of this year.

  Lord Advocate
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions the Lord Advocate has held with his Swiss counterpart about the investigation of potentially criminal matters affecting both countries. [29380]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate has not had any recent discussions with his Swiss counterpart.

  Students
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the percentage of university-polytechnic students entitled to(a) full maintenance grant and (b) no maintenance grant in each year since 1979. [30360]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: The information requested is set out in the table. It covers all Scottish domiciled award holders attending full-time courses of higher education.

  Academic year

  Percentage of applicants receiving full maintenance grant

  Percentage of applicants receiving no maintenance grant

  1979–80

  38.2

  9.3

  1980–81

  39.9

  7.0

  1981–82

  38.6

  7.7

  1982–83

  34.6

  9.3

  1983–84

  34.3

  10.6

  1984–85

  34.1

  17.3

  1985–86

  34.6

  22.7

  1986–87

  36.4

  23.8

  1987–88

  35.9

  26.6

  1988–89

  36.1

  26.4

  1989–90

  35.7

  26.8

  1990–91

  35.4

  27.9

  1991–92

  38.7

  26.2

  1992–93

  40.9

  25.1

  1993–94

  43.0

  24.1

  1994–951

  44.2

  25.1

  1 Provisional.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the changes to university and polytechnic student maintenance grant entitlement since 1974; [30359]

  (2) what has been the value of full university student grant for each year since 1974–75 prices. [30357]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: The information requested in relation to Scottish domiciled students is set out in the table.

  Year1

  Maintenance grant2

  1994–95 prices3

  Student loan4

  1994 prices5

  1974–75

  605

  3,056

  n/a

  —

  1975–76

  740

  2,944.9

  n/a

  —

  1976–77

  875

  3,041.4

  n/a

  —

  1977–78

  1,010

  3,033.4

  n/a

  —

  1978–79

  1,100

  3,062.1

  n/a

  —

  1979–80

  1,245

  2,995.5

  n/a

  —

  1980–81

  1,430

  2,996.7

  n/a

  —

  1981–82

  1,535

  2,874.5

  n/a

  —

  1982–83

  1,595

  2,783.4

  n/a

  —

  1983–84

  1,660

  2,752.7

  n/a

  —

  1984–85

  1,725

  2,752.6

  n/a

  —

  726

  Year1

  Maintenance grant2

  1994–95 prices3

  Student loan4

  1994 prices3

  1985–86

  1,775

  2,682.7

  n/a

  —

  1986–87

  1,846

  2,697.6

  n/a

  —

  1987–88

  1,915

  2,703.4

  n/a

  —

  1988–89

  1,990

  2,671.2

  n/a

  —

  1989–90

  2,090

  2,650.5

  n/a

  —

  1990–91

  2,200

  2,548.8

  420

  486.6

  1991–92

  2,200

  2,411.7

  580

  635.8

  1992–93

  2,200

  2,318.6

  715

  753.5

  1993–94

  2,200

  2,245

  800

  816.4

  1994–95

  1,975

  1,975

  1,150

  1,150

  1 The figures relate to academic years September-August.2 The rate used is the maximum rate payable to a student who lives outwith the parental home other than in London during term-time with no allowance for parental or other contributions.

  3 1994–95 prices have been calculated using the Retail Prices Index for the appropriate financial year.

  4 With effect from academic year 1990–91 student maintenance support was provided by a combination of grant and loan.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the university-polytechnic total student population for each year from 1974–75; and what it will be in each year to 1998–99. [30361]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: The full-time equivalent number of students studying higher education courses in higher education institutions in Scotland, for the years 1980–81 to 1994–95 is given in the table:

  Full-time equivalent number of students studying Higher Education courses at Higher Education Institutions in Scotland

  Year

  Number

  1980–81

  70,663

  1981–82

  71,945

  1982–83

  72,115

  1983–84

  74,042

  1984–85

  74,454

  1985–86

  76,058

  1986–87

  77,791

  1987–88

  78,495

  1988–89

  80,831

  1989–90

  85,238

  1990–91

  91,699

  1991–92

  100,066

  1992–93

  109,679

  1993–94

  116,668

  1994–951

  122,152

  1 Provisional.

  Information about the student population in the years before 1980–81 is not readily available.

  My right hon. Friend set out the number of places he expects to be eligible for funding by SHEFC in the years 1995–96 to 1997–98 in "Serving Scotland's Needs" (Cm 2814). These are set out in the table. These figures are not comparable with those in the table above as they exclude overseas students and include students following courses of further education at the HEIs funded by SHEFC, and do not include students and the Scottish agriculture college.
  727

  Full-time equivalent places at SHEFC—funded Higher Education Institutions

  Year

  Number

  1995–96

  118,200

  1996–97

  118,000

  1997–98

  119,000

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the drop-out rate for university and polytechnic courses in each year since 1979. [30311]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: Comprehensive information on rates of non-completion by students studying at Scottish higher education institutions has not been collected centrally in previous years. The Higher Education Statistics agency will be collecting the information in future, commencing with the current academic year.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is his estimate of the annual cost of providing the full maintenance grant to all university students; [30315]

  (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. [30314]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: The cost in either case would depend upon the decisions taken about eligible courses, their duration, the fee payable, the level of 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 Scotland what is his estimates of the staff-student ratio at universities and their forerunners in each year from 1974–75 to 1997–98. [30355]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: The student-staff ratio at universities previously funded by the Universities Funding Council, for the years 1985–86 to 1993–94, is shown in the table:

  Student staff ratio at universities in Scotland1

  Year

  1985–86

  7.3

  1986–87

  7.1

  1987–88

  7.2

  1988–89

  7.4

  1989–90

  7.4

  1990–91

  7.6

  1991–92

  8.0

  1992–93

  8.7

  1993–94

  9.1

  Source:

  University Statistics Volume 3.

  1 The student/staff ratio was calculated by comparing full-time equivalent students against full-time equivalent staff.

  Information for the years prior to 1985–86 and after 1993–94 is not readily available.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [30363]
  728
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: Not all the information is available in the form requested. The table sets out the average cost of student maintenance and tuition fee payments for Scottish domiciled students up to academic year 1993–94, the latest period for which complete figures are available.

  Academic year

  Average maintenance cost (including loan) £

  Average tuition fee £

  1984–85

  11,101

  538

  1985–86

  1,041

  557

  1986–87

  1,086

  568

  1987–88

  1,097

  583

  1988–89

  1,157

  618

  1989–90

  1,210

  650

  1990–91

  21,662

  31,567

  1991–92

  2l,902

  32,219

  1992–93

  22,088

  32,327

  1993–94

  22,251

  32,074

  1 The information provided for the period 1984–85 to 1988–89 is not strictly comparable with that for the period 1989–90 to 1993–94 due to minor changes in recording procedures.

  2 Includes student loan payments at the appropriate average rate.

  3 The changes in average fee payments over the later years reflect shifts in the balance of funding tuition costs as between institutional grant-in-aid and individual tuition fees.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [30317]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: Fee levels for students from non European Union countries are set by higher education institutions themselves at their discretion. Information on these levels is not held centrally.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the total Government expenditure on university and polytechnic maintenance grants for each year since 1974–75 in 1994 prices. [30358]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: The information requested in respect of Scottish domiciled award-holders for academic year 1980–81 onwards is set out in the table. Information for early years is not readily available in this form.

  Academic Year

  Maintenance Expenditure £ million

  1994–95 prices

  1980–81

  60.63

  127.1

  1981–82

  64.93

  121.6

  1982–83

  65.27

  113.9

  1983–84

  68.27

  113.2

  1984–85

  64.07

  102.2

  1985–86

  60.98

  92.2

  1986–87

  63.21

  92.4

  1987–88

  64.78

  91.5

  1988–89

  71.22

  95.6

  1989–90

  79.70

  101.1

  1990–91

  90.13

  104.4

  1991–92

  110.52

  121/2

  729

  Academic Year

  Maintenance Expenditure £ million

  1994–95 prices

  1992–93

  128.67

  135.6

  1993–94

  150.55

  153.6

  1994–95 (provisional)

  148.56

  148.6

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [30362]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: 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 or not these changes were to be reserved.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of students in higher education in the year 2000. [30312]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: There is no such estimate at present. My right hon. Friend's latest expenditure plans, for the financial years up to 1997–98, are set out in the Department's report, "Serving Scotland's Needs" (Cm 2814).

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average level of student loan for university students in 1994–95. [30316]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: The average level of loan for all borrowers throughout the United Kingdom in 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 Scotland, what is his estimate of the(a) average cost and (b) marginal cost of university students in 1995–96. [30404]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council estimates that the average recurrent cost per student place at the Scottish higher education institutions it funds will be £4,019 in the academic year 1995–96. This calculation takes account of SHEFC recurrent grant for teaching and estimated tuition fees, but takes no account of SHEFC funding for research or capital purposes.

  It is estimated that the average costs of maintenance paid by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland for Scottish domiciled students in higher education in 1995–96 will be £1,500 per student.

  Estimates of marginal costs per student for 1995–96 are not available.

  Mr. Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the total number of university students with a student loan, in each year from 1987–88 to 1997–98. [30318]
  730
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: The information is not readily available in the format requested. The Students Loans Company Ltd. first issued loans in the academic year 1990–91. The total numbers of loans issued in each academic year to students in higher education throughout the United Kingdom are:

  1990–91 180,000

  1991–92 261,000

  1992–93 345,000

  1993–94 430,000

  The latest forecast figure for 1994–95 is 525,000

  The forecast figures for future years which underlie the Supply Estimates are:

  1995–96: 672,000

  1996–97: 731,000

  1997–98: 768,000

  Universities
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the backlog of building repair and maintenance work at universities. [30356]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: Condition surveys of accommodation of the higher education institutions in Scotland conducted in 1992–93 identified some £280 million of expenditure, including building repair and maintenance, which would be required to bring the buildings up to a standard compatible with their original use and value. Decisions on the urgency and priority of work are a matter for individual institutions to determine in the light of their changing needs and resources.

  The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council has contributed an additional £16 million over the past two years towards the cost of essential health and safety work in institutions. The amount of building repair and maintenance work funded from other capital and recurrent grants allocated by formula, or from institutions' other sources of income are determined by the institutions themselves. The institutions are expected to contribute to the costs of major building projects which are supported with capital grant to SHEFC.

  Council Houses
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of land in Scotland is covered by council housing or houses purchased from the council; what percentage of this land has a feudal superior other than the local authority; and how many houses are on land that has a feudal superior other than the local authority. [30663]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total value, in current prices, of council houses bought in Scotland since the right-to-buy legislation was introduced; and how many council houses have been purchased from local authorities since the right-to-buy legislation was introduced. [30665]
  731
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: The estimated total value before discount of local authority dwellings in Scotland sold under right-to-buy legislation up to the end of 1994 at 1994 prices, calculated using the dwelling prices index, is £7,580.8 million. A total of 228,791 local authority dwellings were sold under right-to-buy legislation up to the end of 1994. These figures include a small number of voluntary sales.

  Tourism
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total financial earnings to the Scottish economy by(a) domestic, (b) EU and (c) international tourism in each of the past five years. [30493]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: The information is as follows:

  Domestic

  £ million EU

  Other International

  1990

  1,035

  176

  375

  1991

  1,190

  203

  298

  1992

  1,220

  246

  372

  1993

  1,420

  238

  427

  1994

  1,310

  245

  450

  Note:

  Figures are compiled from the International Passenger Survey (for overseas visitors) and from the United Kingdom Tourism Survey (for domestic visitors).

  Mrs Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what current funding is made by his Department to the promotion of tourism in Scotland; and if he will list the Scottish office contribution for each of the past five years. [30494]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: Funding provided by the Scottish Office Industry Department to the Scottish tourist board for the promotion of tourism in Scotland is as follows:

  Financial year

  Expenditure £ million (cash)

  1990–91

  12.3

  1991–92

  12.8

  1992–93

  13.6

  1993–94

  13.7

  1994–95

  17.5

  Note:

  Total expenditure shown, which incudes salary and administration costs, is provided by the Scottish Office industry department to the Scottish tourist board, for the discharge of its statutory function of promoting Scotland as a tourist destination, both within the UK and overseas, and encouraging investment in tourism infrastructure.

  Higher Education Funding Council
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the request made by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council to universities and colleges that their governing bodies should make contingency plans for action in the event of unforeseen and highly adverse financial circumstances; and what plans he has to ensure that the universities continue to enjoy adequate secure funding. [30532]
  732
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 26 June 1995]: The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council advises my right hon. Friend on the needs of the higher education institutions in Scotland. The council's advice is taken into account in the annual public expenditure survey.

  Contingency plans to deal with adverse circumstances are a standard element of good management practice. It is up to the council to decide what information it requires from institutions.

  Plans for funding of the higher education institutions in Scotland up to the 1997–98 financial year were set out in the Departmental Report, "Serving Scotland's Needs" (Cm 2814).

EMPLOYMENT

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what money was spent by the Health and Safety Executive in the period 1 April 1994 to 1 April 1995 on refurbishing or re-equipping its offices; and what consideration was given to employing more staff instead. [29223]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Health and Safety Executive spent £5.2 million in the last financial year 1994–95 on refurbishing or re-equipping its offices, £3.1 million of which was spent on relocating to the new HSE headquarters in London. A significant part of the £3.1 million was spent on project management, switchboard and ancillary equipment, mail handling and distribution systems, fire and security protection, and furniture and storage units. This type of expenditure is periodically necessary to meet business needs for existing and anticipated staffing levels.

  HSE's resources are allocated against agreed aims and priorities to achieve efficiency and value of money.

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how often the Health and Safety Executive has met to oversee the safety of nuclear weapons and military production or propulsion matters since 1992; if he will list the specific areas covered; and if he will place in the Library copies of unclassified versions of any reports, guidance or recommendations produced by the executive arising from these meetings. [31062]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Since 1992 the Health and Safety Executive has discussed health and safety matters relating to activities at the Atomic Weapons Establishment premises during seven of its regular programmed meetings. Information on the specific areas covered in the course of those meetings is exempt from the code of practice on access to Government information (Exemption 2—Internal discussion and advice).

  Two unclassified documents relating to health and safety at Atomic Weapons Establishment premises, "The Management of Health and Safety at Atomic Weapons Establishment premises—A Review by the Health and Safety Executive Part 1—An overview" and "Part 2 Detailed Findings", are already available in the Library.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he has taken to obtain a list of the companies used by Barnsley-Doncaster TEC who are members of the CBI; and if he will make a statement. [31091]

  Mr. Paice
  The information requested is not recorded by the Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council. TECs are private companies limited 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.

  Training for Work Report
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he intends to publish the Coopers and Lybrand report on the training for work funding pilots. [31114]

  Mr. Paice
  The report was published last week. A copy has been placed in the Library.

  Bottle Factory Workers
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what research and findings his Department carried out into bronchial reactivity in bottle factory workers versus control subjects measured by methacholine challenge testing; and if he will make a statement. [31211]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Health and Safety laboratory, an agency of the Health and Safety Executive, in collaboration with the division of respiratory medicine, University of Sheffield, is investigating a small group of bottle factory workers for respiratory illness. These workers are being compared with a group of locally-recruited control subjects. The results from this study are presently being evaluated.

  Training
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the figures for those taking part in the training for work programme for the last three available years for(a) each of the standard regions of the United Kingdom and (b) the United Kingdom as a whole. [29347]

  Mr. Paice
  The information requested is given in the following tables. As training for work began only in April 1993, the March 1993 figures are for employment training and employment action. Information is not available by standard regions, so a combination of different regional definitions has been used.

  Employment training and employment action—Number of people participating in the programmes—March 1993

  Great Britain and Employment Service Regions

  Employment training

  Employment action

  London and South East

  29,000

  9,500

  South West

  9,300

  2,700

  West Midlands

  11,700

  2,900

  East Midlands

  10,400

  3,000

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  15,400

  3,300

  734

  Employment training and employment action—Number of people participating in the programmes—March 1993

  Great Britain and Employment Service Regions

  Employment training

  Employment action

  North West

  18,700

  4,600

  Northern

  11,000

  1,900

  Wales

  9,800

  2,000

  Scotland

  15,500

  3,400

  Great Britain

  134,700

  33,400

  Note:

  The Great Britain total for Employment Training includes an estimate of those with employed status which is not included in regional figures.

  Source:

  Employment Service.

  Table 2: Training for work Number of people participating in the programme

  Great Britain and TEED regions

  March 1994

  March 1995

  South East

  8,600

  7,400

  London

  20,900

  15,700

  Eastern

  7,400

  6,600

  South West

  11,000

  7,400

  West Midlands

  13,800

  10,600

  East Midlands

  9,400

  7,800

  Yorks and Humberside

  19,000

  13,400

  Merseyside

  6,900

  8,600

  North West

  13,700

  10,900

  North East

  13,600

  10,400

  Wales

  8,700

  8,600

  Scotland

  14,700

  14,400

  Great Britain

  147,800

  121,900

  Source:

  TEC Management Information returns, the Welsh Office, The Scottish Office.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy to introduce more flexibility into training for work programmes where trainees find it impossible to obtain sponsoring employers in sparsely populated rural areas. [29348]

  Mr. Paice
  Training for work is a very flexible programme and training and enterprise councils have a considerable discretion over its design and implementation. Where employer placements are harder to find, training may be delivered by other means, including training providers, project work and open or distance learning.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long they have been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over(a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30846]
  735
  Miss Widdecombe
  No schemes were approved under the private finance initiative in 1994–95. In the current financial year one scheme has been approved at a value of £2 million and a further five schemes are under consideration at a value of £5.3 million. Full approval of the completed project took over 12 months from the feasibility study to agreement of the contract. All projects currently under consideration have been in the assessment process for over six months.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by how much Government spending has changed in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have been lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative. [30847]

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him today in respect of the private finance initiative. One private finance initiative project has been approved within the Department to date. This project will avoid the need for capital expenditure of £10 million in 1995–96. No jobs will be lost as a consequence in the public sector. I have no information about the implications of the project for the size of the supplier's workforce.

  Access to Work Programme
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, what is the annual cost of the access to work programme; and for how many people it secures employment. [31224]

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

  Letter from M. E. G. Fodgen to Mr. Roger Berry, dated 28 June 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the annual cost of the Access to Work programme and for how many people it secures employment.
  The Access to Work programme was introduced in June 1994 to provide support to help disabled people overcome work-related obstacles caused by their disability so that they are able to compete for and in employment on an equal basis with non-disabled colleagues.
  In the first year of operation, Access to Work programme expenditure, including transitional and in-year expenditure from the previous schemes, was £15.7 million. Final statistical information on the number of people who received support will not be available until August, but interim figures show that over 7,500 disabled people were helped through Access to Work in the period, together with over 1,300 on transitional arrangements from previous schemes.
  Monitoring information is not kept centrally on the number of unemployed people who received help and secured employment as a result. However, we are undertaking a review of Access to Work, and research to support the review will examine in detail the operation of the programme. A report of the research will be published in the normal way.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what are the target timescales for placing, assessment and counselling teams, dealing with a request for specific support under the access to work 736
  scheme; what percentage of cases were dealt with within this target-time; how this policy operates in respect of identification of particular need; and what percentage of people requesting specific types of support actually have their needs met. [30659]

  (2) how many deaf and hard of hearing people have been provided with personal notetakers since the new employment support measures were introduced to cover this kind of support; what was the average time taken to provide assistance; and how many cases are outstanding. [30660]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: Responsibility for the subject of the questions has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 28 June 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about how effectively Placing, Assessment and Counselling Teams (PACTs) identify and provide support through the Access to Work programme and how many deaf and hearing people were helped by PACTs through this programme.
  The Access to Work programme was introduced in June 1994 to provide support to help disabled people overcome work-related obstacles caused by their disability so that they are able to compete for and in employment on an equal basis with non-disabled colleagues.
  PACTs work with disabled people to identify the specific help they need, taking specialist and technical advice when necessary. PACTs complete an action plan, which is agreed with the client, recording the details of the support the PACT will provide and specifying what the PACT is doing to provide it. I have set PACTs a target of completing action plans for 80% of Access to Work clients within 3 weeks of their applying. If the actual provision of the support is likely to take some time, PACTs seek alternative ways of helping the client.
  Provisional figures for the period 6 June 1994 to March 1995 show that PACTs helped 2476 deaf and hard of hearing people through Access to Work. Some of these people will have had more than one disability. Help included the provision of aids and equipment, adaption of premises, assistance with fares to work and help at job interviews. Of these, 221 people specifically had the help at work of a support worker provided through the programme.
  Local managers are responsible for monitoring the operation of Access to Work and for achieving the set targets. This level of detail of monitoring information is not kept centrally, and I cannot therefore say what percentage of applications are dealt with within the target time, or what percentage of applicants get what they ask for. However, we are undertaking a comprehensive review of Access to Work that will examine in detail the operation of the programme. The review will be completed by December and will be published in the normal way. Research to support the review is currently in the field with a first report due in September.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what additional resources are likely to be given to placing assessment and counselling teams in order to meet increased demand arising from the introduction of the current anti-discrimination legislation; what training is given to team members in respect of quality standards within their service; and how quality is monitored. [30661]
  737
  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 28 June 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent question about what additional resources are likely to be given to Placing Assessment and Counselling Teams (PACTs) in order to meet increased demand arising from the introduction of the current anti-discrimination legislation; the training given to team members in respect of quality standards within their service; and how quality is monitored.
  On the future resourcing of PACTs, it might be helpful if I explain that the resource for PACTs, or any other part of ES, is subject to discussions within the current Public Expenditure Survey. Any changes in resources will not be known until the budget statement in November.
  Turning to PACT training, Disability Employment Advisers (DEAs) undertake a programme of key skills training covering induction and basic disability service skills. The programme includes three weeks of centrally provided training in addition to individually structured induction and learning plans.
  The Key Skills programme is supported by a Training and Development Record and Learning Support Officers to ensure that learning is validated and embedded into work practices. DEAs receive one to one coaching and mentoring from experienced staff in a range of disciplines: for example, from occupational psychologists and managers. Managers work closely with DEAs to enable them to perform to locally agreed standards. The programme is available for use by other PACT staff. All PACT staff are encouraged to acquire additional knowledge and skills and enhance existing skills in line with the ES commitment to Investors in People.
  The quality of our specialist services for people with disabilities is monitored by line managers, by the annual customer satisfaction survey and by a more detailed satisfaction survey available locally specifically to support Access to Work, and by the ultimate success of PACTs in helping people to get or keep jobs.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the cost to the Exchequer if those employed as a result of the access to work programme were in receipt of benefit instead of in work. [31223]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information requested is not available. Any estimate of the benefit costs would require details of the personal circumstances of the individual concerned.

  Employment Service
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met the chief executive of the Employment Service to discuss the provision of employment services and programmes in rural areas; and if he will make a statement. [31053]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 27 June 1995]: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State and I meet the chief executive of the Employment Service most weeks and we discuss a range of issues concerning Employment Service business. We regard the provision of Employment Service programmes and services in rural areas as a matter of great importance.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Personal Pension Schemes
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to ensure that personal pension schemes allocate minimum contributions to investors' accounts without delay. [31859]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The Personal Pensions Schemes (Appropriate Schemes) Regulations 1988 require providers to ensure that national insurance minimum contributions received from the Department of Social Security are used to provide money purchase benefits for the individual investor. However, there is no requirement on them to do so within a set period of time. I have today laid before Parliament amendment regulations which require the rules of all appropriate personal pensions schemes to provide for the allocation of minimum contributions to individual investors' accounts within three months of receipt from this Department. The Occupational Pensions Board has decided to reinforce this requirement by a change in its own rules.

  War Widows
  Sir George Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the predicted cost to public funds of the decision to award a war widow's pension to those who have since remarried and whose second husband is still alive. [31029]

  Mr. Burt
  The war widow's pension is withdrawn on re-marriage. Our intention is to restore the pension where the marriage has terminated as a result of the death of the husband, dissolution or annulment or when the parties have been judicially separated. The net cost is estimated at about £45 million in a full year.

  To award a war widow's pension to all those former war widows whose second, or subsequent, husband is still alive would cost an additional estimated £60 million in a full year.

  Sir George Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the predicted cost to public funds of the decision to award a war widow's pension to those who have since remarried but have been widowed again or are divorced. [31028]

  Mr. Hague
  The net full-year estimated cost is about £45 million.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by how much Government spending has changed in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have been lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast of transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative. [30833]

  Mr. Hague
  The administrative cost of taking forward the private finance initiative in this Department in 199495 is estimated at around £2 million. The estimated cost for 1995–96 is around £8 million. One contract has so far been awarded by the Department under the PFI at a cost
  739
  estimated to be more than 30 per cent. cheaper than the public sector alternative. The award of this contract will result in 151 staff being transferred from public to private sector under the transfer of undertaking of pensions entitlement—TUPE—arrangements from 1 November this year.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long have they been considered, and how many have been in the assessment process for over(a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30832]

  Mr. Hague
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced the first award by this Department of a private finance initiative contract for the development and replacement of the national insurance recording 740
  system on 27 April this year. The total value of the project was estimated to be £150 million. Two further major schemes are being considered with an estimated combined value of £160 million. Both of these schemes have been in the process of assessment for more than six months but less than 12. PFI is an option that is considered for the whole of the Department's capital programme. A number of small schemes are in the initial stages of consideration and it is too early to provide a reliable estimate of their value. The time taken to assess the one scheme so far approved was 10 months.

  Capital Spending
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30875]

  Mr. Hague
  The expected capital spending figures for this Department for 1994–95 is £317 million; planned capital expenditure for 1995–96 is £227 million.

  Escape from Custody, 5 June
  Escape from Custody, 5 June
  Southend Pier: Fire
  Southend Pier: Fire
  Law on Murder: Review
  Law on Murder: Review
  Tritium
  Tritium
  Nuclear Test Ban: Negotiations
  Nuclear Test Ban: Negotiations
  Territorial Army: Senior Appointments
  Territorial Army: Senior Appointments
  Missile Defences: Israeli-Arab Relations
  Missile Defences: Israeli-Arab Relations
  Bosnia-Croatia: Military Support
  Bosnia-Croatia: Military Support
  China: Care of Orphans and Abandoned Children
  China: Care of Orphans and Abandoned Children
  Child Support: Reduced Benefit Directions
  Child Support: Reduced Benefit Directions
  Dounreay Explosion in 1977: Effects
  Dounreay Explosion in 1977: Effects