Written Answers of 2 March 1995

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Child Care Facilities
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick on Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission what decisions have been taken by the House of Commons Commission following the debate on child care facilities on 12 January.

  Mr. Beith
  The Commission has now considered its policy on child care facilities, and has taken into account the survey of demand by Research Services Ltd., the claim for child care voucher scheme by the trade unions representing House staff, and the views expressed by hon. Members during the debate on 12 January.

  Since 1991, it has been the policy of the Commission as the employer of the staff of the House of Commons that, if a viable scheme for child care help could be devised, it would want it to go ahead. The Commission has concluded that a child care voucher scheme is immediately practicable and commands wide support. The Commission has decided to implement a voucher scheme in line with those currently in operation in the National Audit Office and the House of Lords. Vouchers will be available to employees of the Commission who work for at least 15 hours per week and who demonstrate that they need to pay someone other than their partner to look after their child or children. The scheme will cover children under the age of five or who are not yet attending full-time education, at a rate of £6 per day worked per family, which is taxable. It is hoped to have the new arrangements in place from 1 April. Further details will he issued to staff by the Establishments Office.

  The Commission, in seeking to follow best employment practice, has taken full account of the arguments for assistance with child care. It hopes that the voucher scheme will provide effective help to existing staff, and benefit future recruitment. The introduction of these arrangements also firmly underlines the House's commitment to a policy of equal opportunity.

  Divisions
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many Divisions of the House have taken place on Thursdays since the new procedures introduced on 19 December 1994 came into force.

  Mr. Newton
  Between 19 December 1994 and 1 March 1995 there were three Divisions on Thursdays. During the same period last year there were eight Divisions on Thursdays.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Lobby Organisations
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if Ministers in his Department have on any occasion in the last seven days met representatives of(a) Messrs. C. S. M. Parliamentary Consultants Ltd., (b) Dewe Rogerson Ltd., (c) Decision Makers Ltd., (d) G. J. W. Government Relations Ltd., (e) G.P.C., (f) G.J.W., (g) Ian Greer Associates Ltd., (h) Market Access Group, (i) Politics International, (j) Westminster Communications Group, (k) Westminster Strategy, (l) Good Relations, (m) Rowland Sallingbury Casy, (n) Low Bell, (o) People Corporate and Political Relations and (p) Shandwick Consultants Ltd., and discussed issues relating to the clients of these companies.

  Mr. Newton
  I have had no such meetings.

  Privy Council
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the duties and functions of the Privy Council.

  Mr. Newton
  The Privy Council advises the sovereign on the making of royal proclamations and Orders in Council, and on the grant and amendment of royal charters. It approves rules made by statutory registration councils responsible for the medical and certain other professions, and makes instruments of Government for higher education corporations. The Privy Council is also responsible for certain appointments to statutory councils and to the governing bodies of universities and colleges, and for the appointment of high sheriffs. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is the final Court of Appeal from courts of the United Kingdom dependencies and from courts of those independent Commonwealth countries which have retained the right of appeal. The committee also hears appeals from courts of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, and from the disciplinary and health committees of the medical and allied professions, together with some ecclesiastical appeals.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Civil Servants
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many employment vacancies in the civil service in grades 1 and 2 have been (i) externally advertised and (ii) filled by external applicants since the publication of the White Paper on the reform of the civil service.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  Since the publication of the civil service White Paper "The Civil Service: Continuity and Change" in July 1994, five vacancies at these levels or with equivalent pay rates have been externally advertised.

  So far, appointments have been made to three of these posts, of which one was an external applicant and one was an agency chief executive originally recruited as an external applicant.

  Lobby Organisations
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if Ministers in his Department have on any occasion in the last seven days met representatives of(a) Messrs C. S. M. Parliamentary Consultants Ltd., (b) Dewe Rogerson Ltd., (c) Decision Makers Ltd., (d) G. J. W. Government Relations Ltd., (e) G.P.C., (f) G.J.W., (g) Ian Greer Associates Ltd., (h) Market Access Group, (i) Politics International, (j) Westminster Communications Group, (k) Westminster 1Strategy, (l) Good Relations, (m) Rowland Sallingbury Casy, (n) Lowe Bell, (o) Profile Corporate and Political Relations and (p) Shandwick Consultants Ltd., and

  Cabinet Office (including No. 10)/CCTA

  RAS

  Chessington

  CS College

  OHSA

  COI

  HMSO

  Men

  1

  0

  1

  0

  0

  2

  0

  Women

  19

  2

  6

  5

  1

  3

  9

  No staff have had their employment terminated while on a career break.

  Publications
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list all White Papers, Green Papers and pamphlets issued by his Department, or agencies for which it is responsible, in 1994 giving, in each case the total cost to the Exchequer of their production, publication and distribution; and what was the equivalent cost in 1980.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  Two White Papers were produced by the Office of Public Service and Science in 1994. These were "The Civil Service: Continuity and Change" and "Next Steps Review 1994". All costs were borne by HMSO, which aims to recover these from sales revenue.

  The following pamphlets were issued by the Cabinet Office and Office of Public Service and Science in 1994:

  Publication

  Total cost £

  Response to Priorities for the Science Base

  904

  Science Connections

  17,633

  Key Events Leaflet

  2,090

  Technology Foresight Programme

  2,236

  The Context of Foresight

  1,725

  Innovation and Foresight

  3,250

  Turning Research into Wealth: The Japanese Way

  4,334

  Technology Foresight: An Information Technology Way

  4,830

  Proceedings of the Foresight Forum

  11,900

  Foresight No. 1

  3,115

  Foresight No. 2

  3,552

  LINK Newsletters (3 per annum)

  26,000

  Europe: Funding from the 4th Framework Programme—Collaboration in the 21st Century

  23,321

  The UK/Japan Relationship

  10,364

  The Zuckerman Lecture

  1,291

  The Rising Tide

  1,894

  The Human Genome

  3,592

  Innovation and the Tax System

  1,254

  Government response to The Rising Tide

  1,896

  Routes Response

  502

  638
  discussed issues relating to the clients of these companies.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  No.

  Career Breaks
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many(a) men and (b) women applied for career breaks in his Department or its agencies: and how many have had their employment terminated in the last five years.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  For the departments and agencies for which my right hon. Friend is responsible, and other areas which fall to the Cabinet Office vote, the information is as follows:

  Publication

  Total cost £

  Review of UK Culture Collections

  4,485

  Review of Fast Stream Recruitment

  7,200

  Responsibilities for Recruitment to the Civil Service

  2,100

  "The Facts You Need to Know"—Booklet for Prospective Executive Officer Candidates

  3,500

  Racial Equality in the Civil Service

  1,500

  Top Management Programme Brochure

  800

  Citizen's Charter Second Report 1994 (inclusive of audio, braille and large print versions)

  408,000

  Complaints Task Force (CTF) Interim Report

  6,882

  CTF Leaflet

  652

  CTF Effective Complaints Systems: Principles and Checklist

  2,083

  CTF Discussion Papers

  22,082

  CTF Literature Review

  12,161

  Open Government Code of Practice and Explanatory Leaflet

  18,522

  Total

  615,650

  Two minor pamphlets were also issued where production and distribution was 60 copies or less and the total cost negligible.

  The Department did not exist in its current form in 1980 and therefore no comparable information for that year is available.

  Contract Research Posts
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what proportion of contract research posts paid for from research council funds were for three years or less in each year from 1990–1994:

  (2) what proportion of contract researchers paid for by research councils left employment before completing their contracts in each year from 1990 to 1994;

  (3) how many contract researchers were paid for by the research councils in each year from 1990 to 1994.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  The information is not held centrally. Primary responsibility for employing contract staff, howsoever funded, rests with the individual universities as employers. The Universities' Statistical
  639
  Record collects staff data on behalf of the universities funded by the former University Funding Council, but has no separate category for "contract researchers".

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Children's Play
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what decision he has taken on future central support arrangements for children's play.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I am grateful to all those who submitted comments in response to our recent consultation on the implications of Sports Council restructuring for children's play. I am today inviting interested organisations to a meeting to discuss the new arrangements which we propose to introduce. Under these, existing bodies will he invited to hid for funds to carry out work in the areas of information dissemination, playground safety, playwork education and training, and policy advice. The new arrangements will take effect from October 1995 and will be based on a continuation of the existing level of funding of £400,000 per annum.

  Boxing
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will set up an investigation into reforming the rules of boxing to avoid injuries to the head but allow participants to demonstrate combative skills.

  Mr. Sproat
  No. It is for the boxing authorities to determine their own rules and regulations.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what proposals he has to reconsider any grants that are made in support of boxing and other activities with risks of injury and death to their participants.

  Mr. Sproat
  Most Government moneys specifically for sport are channelled through the Sports Council who allocate these funds according to their own policies and priorities. However, an important criterion in deciding which governing bodies are eligible for grant is for the council to satisfy itself that proper safeguards for the sport are in place.

  National Trust
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to commemorate the centenary of the National Trust; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I was pleased to join with the National Trust on 12 January, in the presence of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, to celebrate the trust's centenary. As the guardian of some of our most important historic buildings and landscapes, the trust has made an invaluable contribution towards the preservation of the nation's heritage for the enjoyment and understanding of this and future generations. The trust's work in safeguarding our heritage over the past 100 years has also played a major part in increasing the awareness of the value of our heritage for both the cultural and the economic well being of the country.

  Royal Fine Arts Commission
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he intends to publish the report of Sir Geoffrey Chipperfield into the Royal Fine Art Commission, and what was the final cost of the report.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I am giving careful consideration to Sir Geoffrey Chipperfield's report and will in due course place it in the Library of the House with my conclusions. The final cost of the report was £4,700.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage on what date Sir Geoffrey Chipperfield delivered to him his report on the Royal Fine Art Commission.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Sir Geoffrey Chipperfield delivered his report on 3 June 1994.

  Film Industry
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is his policy in respect of(a) tax incentives for European film producers and (b) levies on non-EU films; and what assessment he has made of the impact of levies on non-EU films on transnational distribution of European audio-visual products.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Tax arrangements are a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The rate of duty applied to non-EU films imported into the UK ranges between 0.28 and 1.9 ecu per 100 m, depending on the type of film. No assessment has been made of the impact duties on non-EU films may have had on transnational distribution of European products.

  Public Libraries
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment he has made of the Library Association poll relating to closures of branch libraries in the financial year 1995–96, a copy of which has been sent to him; if he will consider amending the guidelines of the national lottery funding agencies to help public libraries; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sproat
  My officials were already aware of some of the issues identified in the Library Association poll, and have already discussed them with several authorities. Where there is reason to believe an authority may he failing in its statutory responsibility, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will investigate in line with the requirements of the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964.

  The national lottery is not intended to fund projects which would normally be funded from existing public expenditure, such as core public library services, for which local authorities have a statutory responsibility. The national heritage memorial fund's guidelines to applicants for lottery funds state that grants can be made where library buildings or collections are of recognised importance to the heritage. Copies of the these guidelines are available in the Library of the House. The Arts Council of England has stated that it can make grants out of lottery funds for the enhancement of library facilities through the provision of space for activities such as readings, literary events, exhibitions, concerts and performances.

  Lobby Organisations
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if Ministers in his Department have on any occasion in the last seven days met representatives of(a) Messrs C. S. M. Parliamentary Consultants Ltd., (b) Dewe Rogerson Ltd., (c) Decision Makers Ltd., (d) G. J. W. Government Relations Ltd., (e) G.P.C., (f) G.J.W., (g) Ian Greer Associates Ltd., (h) Market Access Group, (i) Politics International, (j) Westminster Communications Group, (k) Westminster Strategy, (l) Good Relations, (m) Rowland Sallingbury Casy, (n) Lowe Belle, (o) Profile Corporate and Political Relations and (p) Shandwick Consultants Ltd. and discussed issues relating to the clients of these companies.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what role he envisages for projects to encourage the popular use of information technology in the distribution of the millennium fund.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: This is a matter for the Millennium Commission. I will write to the hon. Member in my capacity as chairman of the commission, placing a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

TRANSPORT

  Lobby Organisations
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if Ministers in his Department have on any occasion in the last seven days met representatives of(a) Messrs C. S. M Parliamentary Consultants Ltd., (b) Dewe Rogerson Ltd., (c) Decision Makers Ltd., (d) G. J. W Government Relations Ltd., (e) G.P.C, (f) G.J.W, (g) Ian Greer Associates Ltd., (h) Market Access Group, (i) Politics International Ltd., (j) Westminster Communications Group, (k) Westminster Strategy, (l) Good relations, (m) Rowland Sallingbury Casy, (n) Lowe Bell, (o) Profile Corporate and Political Relations and (p) Shandwick Consultants Ltd. and discussed issues relating to the clients of these companies.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No.

  Publications
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will list all White Papers, Green Papers and pamphlets issued by his Department or agencies for which it is responsible in 1994 giving in each case the total cost to the Exchequer of their production, publication and distribution; and what was the total equivalent cost in 1980.

  Mr. Norris
  My Department is compiling a list of publications issued in 1994. I will send the list to the hon. Member as soon as it is available and place a copy in the Library. Information is not available on the total costs involved or what was issued in 1980.

  ScotRail (Fort William Services)
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Ross, Cromarty and Skye, (Mr. Kennedy) on 6 February,Official Report, column 11, what form consultation on whatever railway proposal is or is not included in respect to Fort William will take; when it will take place; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Watts
  The Franchising Director will be consulting the Rail Users Consultative Committee for Scotland and Scottish regional councils in early summer on his draft passenger service requirement for the ScotRail franchise, including services to Fort William.

  Highway Access to Hospitals
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what rules govern the funding of major highway access works to hospital premises; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Watts
  The funding of access works to major highways is governed by sections 274 and 278 of the Highways Act 1980.

  Settle to Carlisle Railway
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the annual cost of maintaining(a) the track and (b) the viaducts on the Settle to Carlisle line.

  Mr. Watts
  Railtrack advises me that the costs on its maintenance contracts cannot be separated out to the level of detail requested. These costs will, anyway, be affected by negotiations now in progress.

  Railtrack has assured me that it has met and will continue to meet its maintenance obligations in respect of this route.

  Parcel Services
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account will be taken of potential job losses and the possible environmental impact of transferring parcel delivery from rail to road when deciding who will be successful in taking over Red Star parcel services; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  BR is the vendor of Red Star. In selling the business it will take account of the statutory objectives set out in section 113 of the Railways Act 1993.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures the Government intend taking to ensure that the purchasers of Red Star parcel service cannot pull out of rail delivery of parcels; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  Under BR ownership, Red Star turnover has declined significantly in recent years. It is in the commercial interests of Red Star that the purchaser should be able to develop the business without continuing restrictions imposed by Government.

  Advanced Motorists Test
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines his Department issues to drivers taking the advanced motorists test.
  643
  Mr.Norris
  None.

  Rail Privatisation
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funds he has made available to the office of the Rail Regulator to implement rail privatisation; and what is his estimate for the financial years 1995–96 and 1996–97 and 1997–98.

  Mr. Watts
  The Office of the Rail Regulator is a separate non-ministerial Government department funded by moneys voted by Parliament.

  The Rail Regulator informs me that the forecast outturn for expenditure by his Department until the end of 1994–95 is £10.8 million. Planned expenditure for 1995–96, 1996–97, and 1997–98 is £8.6 million, £7 million, and £7 million respectively.

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funds he has made available to the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising to implement rail privatisation; and what is his estimate for the financial years 1995–96, 1996–97 and 1997–98.

  Mr. Watts
  The Office of Passenger Rail Franchising is a separate non-ministerial Government department which is funded by moneys voted by Parliament.

  The forecast outturn for expenditure by the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising until the end of 1994–95 is £19.1 million. Planned expenditure for 1995–96, 1996–97, and 1997–98 is £10.6 million, £9.7 million and £9.7 million respectively.

  Access Grants
  Sir David Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many track access grants to reduce Railtrack charges have been made since the announcement of this facility.

  Mr. Watts
  [pursuant to his answer, 27 February 1995, c. 466]: No grants have been made, but eight are under consideration, one has been withdrawn and one has been rejected.

  Roads Programme
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 1994,Official Report, column 874, in respect of the roads programme, if he has changed the Highways Agency's 1994–95 published targets.

  Mr. Watts
  Yes. I have reduced the original target for the number of new publicly funded scheme starts to 13 and have today placed a revised version of the "National Roads Programme: Summary of Milestones for 1994–95" in the Library.

HEALTH

  Audit Reports and Management Letters
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health from which NHS authorities and trusts she has now received(a) the audit report and (b) the audit management letter for 1993–94.
  644
  Mr. Sackville
  At the end of each annual audit, the statutory auditor issues a management letter to each health authority and national health service trust. This summarises the audit findings over the year and is addressed to the authority or trust board rather than to the Secretary of State. Apart from this, auditors do not issue any other report on authorities and trusts on an annual basis.

  HIV and AIDS (Funding)
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of funds allocated by her Department for HIV and AIDS work in each year since 1985 has been devoted to the voluntary sector.

  Mr. Sackville
  The percentage of the Department's HIV-AIDS funding directly allocated to the voluntary sector through section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 is shown in the table. Actual expenditure is also shown. The percentage increases over time are as a result of substantial increases in the Department's total HIV-AIDS funding over the same period. Details of this total funding arc also shown.

  Government support for the voluntary sector is not confined to section 64 grants as we also provide funding for special projects from centrally administered funds. Thus, for example, in 1993–94 more than £100.000 was provided from these funds arid for 1994–95 funding from this source totalled £200,000.

  In addition to direct funding from the Department, voluntary organisations in the HIV-AIDS field receive funding from health and local authorities purchasing services for people with HIV-AIDS. This is in accordance with Departmental guidance which stresses that the voluntary sector's participation is vital to the efficient and effective delivery of care and support for people with HIV-AIDS.

  Section 64 Percentage

  £

  Total funding £

  1985–86

  19.23

  100,000

  620,000

  1986–87

  2.11

  160,000

  7,760,000

  1987–88

  3.58

  1,300,000

  37,610,000

  1988–89

  1.52

  1,090,000

  72,790,000

  1989–90

  1.13

  1,600,000

  143,400,000

  1990–91

  1.22

  1,800,000

  149,100,000

  1991–92

  1.2

  1,900,000

  160,400,000

  1992–93

  0.96

  1,987,000

  210,012,000

  1993–94

  0.81

  1,927,000

  240,233,000

  1994–95

  0.71

  1,789,000

  252,729,000

  1995–96

  0.56

  1,547,000

  1274,547,000

  1 Excludes allocation to HEA—helpline which has yet to be settled.

  Public Appointments
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what restrictions there are on a person being a member of more than one trust board or on a trust board and a health authority board;

  (2) what restrictions there are on a person being on a trust board or health authority board where they also are a provider for that trust or health authority.

  Mr. Malone
  Details of those disqualified for appointment as chairman of non-executive director of
  645
  national health service authorities and trusts are contained in the relevant membership and procedure regulations.

  Lobby Organisations
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if Ministers in her Department have on any occasion in the last seven days met representatives of(a) Messrs C. S. M. Parliamentary Consultants Ltd., (b) Dewe Rogerson Ltd., (c) Decision Makers Ltd., (d) G. J. W. Government Relations Ltd., (e) G.P.C., (f) G.J.W., (g) Ian Greer Associates Ltd, (h) Market Access Group, (i) Politics International, (j) Westminster Communications Group, (k) Westminster Strategy, (l) Good Relations, (m) Rowland Sallingbury Casy, (n) Lowe Bell, (o) Profile Corporate and Political Relations and (p) Shandwick Consultants Ltd., and discussed issues relating to the clients of these companies.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science gave him today.

  Publications
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list all White Papers, Green Papers and pamphlets issued by her Department or agencies for which it is responsible in 1994, giving, in each case the total cost to the Exchequer of their production, publication and distribution; and what was the total equivalent cost in 1980.

  Mr. Sackville
  All White Papers and Green Papers are published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

  In respect of those and other publications published by HMSO, all costs are borne by HMSO which aims to recover these from sales revenue. The estimated costs of copies of these publications purchased by my Department during 1994–95 are £73,000.

  Estimated costs for 1994–95 for leaflets, booklets, newsletters, issued by the Department and its agencies, excluding the Medicines Control Agency, including production and distribution are £5,678,000. This largely represents public health campaigns designed to improve health and information for the national health service, general practitioners and the medical professions.

  A full list of all White Papers, Green Papers and pamphlets can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Figures for 1980 are not available.

  GP LISTS
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will include in the patients charter a requirement for patients to be given the reasons in writing for their removal from a general practitioner's list.

  Mr. Malone
  No. The General Medical Services Committee issues advice in this context to all general practitioners.

  Ambulance Service (Salaries)
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the annual salaries of leading ambulance paramedics in each ambulance service.

  Mr. Malone
  Most ambulance services are now provided by national health service trusts, which are free to employ staff on such terms and conditions as they see 646
  fit. Information about the salaries of ambulance staff on locally determined terms is not available centrally, hut most staff are still engaged on pay and conditions of service negotiated in the ambulance Whitley council. The national salary rate for a leading ambulance man is £15,036 per year and, for extended trained staff required to use paramedical skills, further allowances of £208, £301, £509 or £707 per year may be payable according to the level of training and skill. Additionally, for staff in the London area, allowances of £188, £667 and £1,646 are payable depending on location. Since 1990, all ambulance authorities have within the national agreements had the ability to introduce further local payments to staff linked to improvements in efficiency.

  Electro-Convulsive Therapy
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were given electro-convulsive therapy in the national health service in each year from 1990 to 1994.

  Mr. Bowis
  The information requested is not held in the precise form requested, but data on finished consultant episodes where electro-convulsive therapy is given arc published in "Hospital Episodes Statistics", volume 1, finished consultant episodes by diagnosis, operation and specialty England, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidelines or protocols are in place in the national health service to prevent the misuse of electro-convulsive therapy;

  (2) what guidelines or protocols are in place in respect of the use of electro-convulsive therapy for patients under 18 years of age;

  (3) what guidelines or protocols are in place in the national health service to govern the use of electro-convulsive therapy for patients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983.

  Mr. Bowis
  Specific guidance on professional practice is a matter for the appropriate professional body. The Royal College of Psychiatrists recently approved revised guidelines for psychiatrists on electro-convulsive therapy. These will he published shortly. The guidelines will include recommendations on the use of electro-convulsive therapy in young people. For patients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983, the Act and the code of practice published in 1993 clearly state that electro-convulsive therapy may he administered only where the patient's consent or where a second opinion is given under section 58 of the 1983 Act.

  Boxing
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals she has to discourage participation in boxing or other activities that create risks of deaths and injuries to their participants and subsequent cost to the NHS.

  Mr. Sackville
  None. Individuals should have the freedom to participate in the activities of their choice so long as they are within the law and they are fully aware of the risks involved.

  Particulates
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been carried out by her Department into the health impacts of particulates of(a) vanadium and (b) nickel of less than 0.3 microns and between 0.31 microns and 10 microns.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department has not recently funded research into these specific areas.

PRIME MINISTER

  Lobby Organisations
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Prime Minister if Ministers in his Department have on any occasion in the last seven days met representatives of(a) Messrs C. S. M. Parliamentary Consultants Ltd., (b) Dewe Rogerson Ltd., (c) Decision Makers Ltd., (d) G. J. W. Government Relations Ltd., (e) G.P.C., (f) G.J.W., (g) Ian Greer Associates Ltd., (h) Market Access group, (i) Politics International, (j) Westminster Communications Group, (k) Westminster Strategy, (l) Good Relations, (m) Rowlands Sallingbury Casy, (n) Lowe Bell, (o) People Corporate and Political Relations and (p) Shandwick Consultants Ltd., and discussed issues relating to clients of these companies.

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minster if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 2 March.

  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 2 March.

  The Prime Minister
  This morning, I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

  Northern Ireland
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Prime Minister what arrangements he has made for the framework document on Northern Ireland to be available to the public in Great Britain.

  The Prime Minister
  Copies are issued by first class post in response to requests to the Northern Ireland Office freephone or freepost facilities. A full summary of the document is running on the teletext system nationally and the full text of the document is on the Internet system worldwide.

  Career Breaks
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Prime Minister, how many(a) men and (b) women applied for career breaks in his Department; and how many have had their employment terminated in the last five years.

  The Prime Minister
  For these purposes, my Department is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science.

EDUCATION

  Lobby Organisations
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if Ministers in her Department have on any occasion in the last seven days met representatives of(a) Messrs C. S. M. Parliamentary Consultants Ltd., (b) Dewe Rogerson Ltd., (c) Decision Makers Ltd., (d) G. J. W. Government Relations Ltd., (e) G.P.C., (f) G.J.W., (g) Ian Greer Associates Ltd., (h) Market Access Group, (i) Politics International, (j) Westminster Communications Group, (k) Westminster Strategy, (l) Good Relations, (m) Rowland Sallingbury Casy, (n) Lowe Bell, (o) Profile Corporate and Political Relations and (p) Shandwick Consultants Ltd. and discussed issues relating to the clients of these companies.

  Mr. Boswell
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science.

  Publications
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will list all White Papers, Green Papers and pamphlets issued by her Department or agencies for which it is responsible in 1994, giving in each case the total cost to the Exchequer of their production, publication and distribution; and what was the total equivalent cost in 1980.

  Mr. Forth
  The Department did not issue any White Papers or Green Papers in 1994. Information on pamphlets produced in 1994, and total equivalent costs in 1980, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The Department's agencies are responsible for their own expenditure on publications. Such information is not held centrally.

  Boxing
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proposals she has to discourage participation in boxing in schools and draw attention to the risks of long-term injury.

  Mr. Forth
  Boxing is not a part of the compulsory school curriculum and there are no plans to make it so. The revised national curriculum for physical education requires that proper regard is given to safety in all physical activity.

  Bedfordshire Education Budget
  Sir David Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what conclusions her Department has drawn from the consequences of the budget figures of Bedfordshire county council on 23 February as they affect school budgets and children's education in Bedfordshire; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  It is for the voters of Bedfordshire to draw conclusions from the priority given to schools in the county council budget.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Lobby Organisations
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Ministers in his Department have on any occasion in the last seven days met representatives of(a) Messrs C. S. M. Parliamentary Consultants Ltd., (b) Dewe Rogerson Ltd., (c) Decision Makers Ltd., (d) G. J. W. Government Relations Ltd., (e) G.P.C., (f) G.J.W., (g) Ian Greer Associates Ltd., (h) Market Access Group, (i) Politics International, (j) Westminster Communications Group, (k) Westminster Strategy, (l) Good Relations, (m) Rowland Sallingbury Casy, (n) Lowe Bell, (o) Profile Corporate and Political Relations and (p) Shandwick Consultants Ltd. and discussed issues relating to the clients of these companies.

  Mr. Goodlad
  I refer to the answer given today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science.

  Publications
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all White Papers, Green Papers and pamphlets issued by his Department or agencies for which it is responsible in 1994, giving in each case the total cost to the Exchequer of their production, publication and distribution; and what was the total equivalent cost in 1980.

  Mr. Baldry
  The major publications produced in 1994 by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, including the Overseas Development Administration, will be listed in the departmental report, Cm 2802, 1995, to be published on 8 March. In addition, a range of promotional booklets are published for distribution overseas.

  In respect of those White Papers, Green Papers and other publications published for the FCO by HMSO, all costs—apart from pre-production costs of £13,034 for the 1994 departmental report—are borne by HMSO which aims to recover these from sales revenue. The cost of publications promoting Britain abroad and of consular material for the 1994–95 financial year is £2,240,000 compared with £2,583,500 for 1984–85, the earliest year for which figures are available.

  Yugoslavia
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts are being made to extend the current four-month truce in Bosnia-Herzegovina beyond the 1 May deadline; what use of the remaining period before that date is being made in the peace process; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  UNPROFOR is continuing its efforts to extend the implementation of the cessation of hostilities agreement. The contact group remains actively engaged in the pursuit of a political settlement.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what pressure he is putting on the Croatian Government to permit the presence of UN forces in Croatia beyond 31 March; what pressure is being applied by the European Union and the contact group; what has been the response; and if he will make a statement.
  650
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Along with our EU partners and other contact group members, we have made clear our deep concern over the Croatian decision not to renew UNPROFOR's mandate in Croatia, and are pressing President Tudjman to reverse this decision. To date he has declined to do this.

  We remain concerned that the departure of UNPROFOR from Croatia will increase the tension in the United Nations protected areas and could lead to a renewal of the war in Croatia. We urge the Croatian Government to reconsider.

  Ethiopia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Oromo people in Ethiopia about their treatment by the Government of Ethiopia; and how he has responded.

  Mr. Baldry
  We have received representations from the Oromo Liberation Front and others about the treatment of Oromos by the transitional Government of Ethiopia. Together with our EU partners and other major aid donor countries, we have registered concerns about human rights in the Oromo and other regions.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Ethiopia about human rights abuses by that Government; and what were the areas of concern.

  Mr. Baldry
  We have made a number of representations to the transitional Government, both bilaterally and with our EU partners, particularly with regard to the arrest and detention of political figures.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action has been taken by the international community on human rights issues in Ethiopia.

  Mr. Baldry
  The members of the European Union and aid donors generally continue to monitor the human rights situation in Ethiopia. Concerns have been raised with the transitional Government of Ethiopia on a range of issues.

  Veal Crates
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Fisheries and Food what approaches he has made to the Government of EU member states to secure the same legislation in those states with regard to the prohibition of veal crates as is currently the case in the United Kingdom; if he has raised this matter within the Council of Ministers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Browning
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has been pressing hard for the abolition of the close confinement veal crate system across the Community. He raised the issue in the Agriculture Council on 23 January and again on 20 and 21 February and, with the support of many other member states, has secured the advancement to this year of the review of the current EU rules on welfare of calves. I have undertaken a programme of visits to EU capitals to enlist support for a Community-wide ban. Reactions to my visits have been most encouraging.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the number of refugees from Sierra leone now in Guinea; and what assistance is being given by the international community to deal with their humanitarian needs and with the causes of their flight from Sierra Leone.

  Mr. Baldry
  The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates the total number of refugees who have fled since January 1995 at 45,000, bringing the total to 206,000 Sierra Leonean refugees in Guinea since the outbreak of the civil war in 1991. UNHCR is dispatching food, blankets, shelter materials and a water engineer to the region and a World Food Programme chartered vessel is discharging 3,000 tonnes of rice in Conakry both for Liberian and for Sierra Leonean refugees. The United Nations department of humanitarian affairs is currently preparing a regional consolidated inter-agency appeal to cover humanitarian needs.

  The United Nations, the Commonwealth. the Organisation of African Unity and others are engaged in bringing about a peaceful solution to the conflict.

  Ethiopia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how well the Government of Ethiopia meet his criterion of good governance in respect of aid decisions; and what discussions he has had with the Government of Ethiopia on this matter.

  Mr. Baldry
  Since the transitional Government of Ethiopia came to power in 1991, progress has been made in establishing a legitimate, representative and accountable system of government. National elections are scheduled for 7 May 1995. A programme of economic reforms supported by the international financial institutions is also in place. We discuss these areas and human rights issues on a regular basis with the transitional Government.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Lobby Organisations
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Attorney-General if Ministers in his Department have on any occasion in the last seven days met representatives of(a) Messrs. C. S. M. Parliamentary Consultants Ltd., (b) Dewe Rogerson Ltd., (c) Decision Makers Ltd., (d) G. J. W. Government Relations Ltd., (e) G.P.C., (f) G.J.W., (g) Ian Greer Associates Ltd., (h) Market Access Group, (i) Politics International, (j) Westminster Communications Group, (k) Westminster Strategy, (l) Good Relations, (m) Rowland Sallingbury Casy, (n) Lowe Bell, (o) Profile Corporate and Political Relations and (p) Shandwick Consultants Ltd. and discussed issues relating to the clients of these companies.

  The Attorney-General
  There have been no such meetings.

  Publications
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list all White Papers, Green Papers and pamphlets issued by his Department or agencies for which it is responsible in 1994, giving in each case the total cost to the Exchequer of their production, publication and distribution; and what was the total equivalent cost in 1980.

  The Attorney-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service published the following pamphlets for the benefit of the general public in 1994:

  Statement of Purpose and Values/Datganiad

  Cost £

  o Bwrpas a Gwerthoedd

  2,542.92

  CPS Welsh Language Policy/Polisi iaith Gymraeg

  1,153.83

  The Crown Prosecution Service did not issue any White or Green Papers in 1994. There is no equivalent cost for 1980 as the Service was not then in existence.

  None of the legal secretariat to the Law Officers, the Treasury Solicitor's Department or the Serious Fraud Office issued White Papers, Green Papers or pamphlets in 1994 for the benefit of the general public. The Serious Fraud Office was not in existence in 1980 and information on equivalent costs in that year for the legal secretariat to the Law Officers and the Treasury Solicitor's Department is not available.

  Expenditure, Wales
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Attorney General if he will estimate the money his Department spent in Wales with respect to(a) the Crown Prosecution Service and (b) magistrates courts in the latest available year.

  The Attorney-General
  During 1993–94, the last full year of which figures are available, the Crown Prosecution Service in Wales spent a total of £14,652,000.

  Expenditure on magistrates courts is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Lord Chancellor. I understand that for 1993–94, the last year for which data are available, the money spent on magistrates courts in Wales was £17.698 million. This figure includes both revenue and capital expenditure.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Lobby Organisations
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Ministers in his Department have on any occasion in the last seven days met representatives of(a) Messers C. S. M. Parliamentary Consultants Ltd., (b) Dewe Rogerson Ltd., (c) Decision Makers Ltd., (d) G. J. W. Government Relations Ltd., (e) G.P.C., (f) G.J.W., (g) Ian Greer Associates Ltd., (h) Market Access Group, (i) Politics International, (j) Westminster Communications Group, (k) Westminster Strategy, (l) Good Relations, (m) Rowland Sallingbury Casy, (n) Lowe Bell, (o) Profile Corporate and Political Relations and (p) Shandwick Consultants Ltd. and discussed issues relating to the clients of these companies.

  Mr. Howard
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary
  653
  Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science in response to a similar question.

  Publications
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all White Papers, Green Papers and pamphlets issued by his Department, or agencies for which it is responsible, in 1994 giving, in each case, the total cost to the Exchequer of their production, publication and distribution; and what was the total equivalent cost in 1980.

  Mr. Howard
  The information requested is as follows:

  White Papers

  Home Office annual report 1994: the Government's expenditure plans 1994–95 to 1996–97 for the Home Office and the Charity Commission, HMSO, 1994—Cm 2508, ISBN 0101250827. The costs to the Home Office of production and distribution were £21,917.

  Green Papers

  Tackling drugs together: a consultation document on a strategy for England, 1995–98, HMSO, 1994—Cm 2678, ISBN 0101267827. This Green Paper was jointly produced with other Departments which bore the publication costs.

  Other Consultation papers

  All except the first and last papers listed were produced and distributed in-house and their costs are not separately identifiable.

  Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984: codes of practice: draft revisions for consultation. Home Office, 1994. The total costs to the Home Office of production and distribution were £2,407.

  Criminal appeals and the establishment of a criminal cases review authority: a discussion paper. Home Office, 1994.

  National standards for the supervision of offenders in the community: near final revised drafts. Home Office, 1994.

  Proposed changes to the law on greyhound totes. Home Office, 1994.

  Revised proposals for Fire Precautions (Places of Work) Regulations and associated guidance. Home Office, 1994. Distribution was contracted out at a cost of £9,500.

  A selective list of other publications is given in the Home Office annual report which will be published later this month. I shall be happy to provide further information to the hon. Member if he requires more details of papers listed there.

  Information on the cost of publications issued in 1980 could he assembled only at disproportionate cost.

  Food Safety
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 code of practice in respect of powers provided by the Food Safety Act 1990.

  Mr. Maclean
  Section 67(9) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 provides that persons other than police officers who are charged with the duty of investigating offences shall have regard to any relevant provisions of codes of practice issued under the Act.

  Code B, on the searching of premises and the seizure of property, sets down arrangements for obtaining search
  654
  warrants and for conducting searches with the consent of the property owner, including a requirement to inform him of the purpose of the search and to seek his consent before the search commences.

  An amendment to code B has been made to provide that the code does not apply to officers exercising statutory powers of entry and inspection, such as food safety inspectors, where the powers are not dependent on there being suspicion that an offence has been committed and the person exercising the power has no such suspicion. The order implementing the revised code has been approved by both Houses of Parliament and comes into effect on 10 April 1995.

  Football Violence
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange for the police to seek restriction orders to be placed on any British citizen(a) arrested, (b) charged and (c) convicted of any offence before, during or after the recent England v. Ireland football match in Dublin.

  Mr. Maclean
  Under the terms of section 22 of the Football Spectators Act 1989, courts in England and Wales may impose restriction orders on persons convicted of a football-related offence abroad, providing that there exists a bilateral agreement with the country concerned. There is no such agreement with the Republic of Ireland.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 23 February,Official Report, columns 329–30, what information has been provided as to why the second person subject to a restriction order did not comply with the restriction order on the day of the recent England v. Ireland match; and what action is being taken against the person concerned.

  Mr. Maclean
  The restriction orders authority is not yet in a position to confirm whether the second person subject to a restriction order breached the terms of that order. As indicated on 23 February, column 330, where an order is breached it is an operational matter for the police, and ultimately for the courts, to take action. It is not a matter in which Ministers can intervene.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) pursuant to his answer of 22 February,Official Report, column 226, what plans he has to introduce legislation or amending legislation to give powers to the police to remove a passport from a convicted troublemaker or any person the police reasonably believe to be seeking to travel overseas to engage in violence;

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 22 February, Official Report, column 235, what plans he has to introduce legislation or amend existing legislation to give powers to the police to stop convicted troublemakers from travelling outside the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maclean
  I shall consider what additional measures may be needed to deal with football hooligans travelling abroad in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage and in the light of the report of the inquiries being conducted by the English and Irish football authorities. As the hon. Member will be aware, part II of the Football Spectators Act 1989 already empowers the courts to impose restriction orders on those convicted of football-related offences to prevent them from attending key matches abroad. Those subject to restriction orders are required to
  655
  report to a police station—of their choice—roughly when an appropriate match is taking place. It is an offence to fail to do so.

  Combat 18
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 February,Official Report, column 236, when he expects the Metropolitan police to complete its investigation of the publication and distribution of written material by Combat 18.

  Mr. Maclean
  I understand from the Metropolitan police that it is not yet possible to say when a report of this investigation will go to the Crown Prosecution Service; and that the American embassy has informed it that the Dixie Press has closed down.

  Immigration Detention Centres
  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the rules governing the running of Her Majesty's prisons are applicable to the running of the Campsfield and Harmondsworth detention centres.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The immigration detention centres at Campsfield house and Harmondsworth are not Prison Service establishments and are therefore not subject to Prison Service rules.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the manual which governs the administration of Campsfield and Harmondsworth detention centres.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Operating instructions for the management of immigration detention facilities, including Campsfield house and Harmondsworth, contain information which is sensitive from both commercial and security points of view. It would not therefore be proper to disclose their contents.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the lower age limit for the detention of asylum seekers at Campsfield and Harmondsworth;

  (2) how many children below the age of 18 years have been detained at Campsfield and Harmondsworth within the last five years; and from which countries they came to seek asylum in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  There is no lower age limit for detention at Campsfield or Harmondsworth. However, in practice unaccompanied young persons under the age of 18 are detained only in the most exceptional circumstances. Temporary admission is normally granted into the care of a suitable sponsor—usually a relative or close family friend—or the social services department.

  Since November 1993, when Campsfield house opened, nine people who were, or claimed to have been, under 18 have been detained there. Of these, five have been confirmed as asylum seekers. Their nationalities were Turkish, Ghanaian, Angolan, Chinese and Cote d'Ivoirean.

  The information requested is not available in relation to Harmondsworth and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of Judge Tumim's recent report on Campsfield detention centre.
  656
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The report by HM chief inspector of prisons, following his inspection of the detention facilities at Campsfield house, has not yet been finalised. Consideration to placing the report in the Library of the House will be given in due course.

  National Lottery
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to permit licensed bookmakers premises to sell national lottery tickets; if any review undertaken by him will apply to Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have been asked to reply.

  I have no plans to amend the regulations issued under section 12 of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 which prohibit the sale of national lottery tickets in licensed bookmakers premises. These regulations apply equally to all areas of the United Kingdom.

  Dangerous Dogs
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of dogs currently held in respect of charges under(a) the Dogs Acts and (b) the Dangerous Dogs Acts; what is the daily costs of keeping those animals in custody; how many of those animals are alleged to be pit bull or pit bull type; how many of those animals have been in custody for more than (a) three and (b) six months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  There are presently 133 dogs held in police custody in England and Wales under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. No dogs are being held under other dogs Acts. Ninety-seven dogs are alleged to he of the type known as the pit bull terrier.

  Thirty-one dogs have been held in custody for more than three months and 73 dogs for more than six months.

  The daily cost of keeping dogs in custody ranges between £1.76 and £9, depending on the police force concerned.

  Prevention of Terrorism
  Mr. Couchman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what conclusions he has reached on the recommendations of Mr. J. J. Rowe QC concerning the future of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989.

  Mr. Howard
  I have now considered Mr. Rowe's report, which was placed in the Library of the House on 17 February, and decided to accept his recommendation that the legislation should be renewed in its entirety for a further 12 months. A draft order to give effect to that is today being laid before the House.

  Crime Victims
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue a leaflet for victims who have suffered from criminal activities to instruct them on their rights; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The "Victims of Crime" leaflet is already available. It was first published in 1988 and a revised and augmented version was issued last October. The leaflet is given by the police to all victims of reported crime and tells them, among other things, how the crime
  657
  will be investigated, what will happen if the case goes to court, how they can apply for compensation, and what further sources of help and advice are available.

  Later this year, we shall build on the victims charter by publishing a statement to service standards for victims of crime. This new, charter-style, document will tell victims in greater detail what they can expect of the criminal justice agencies and how they can complain if they do not receive the level of service which it specifies.

  North East London Probation Service
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many offenders were being supervised by the North East London probation service on 30 June 1994;

  (2) how many court reports were completed by the North East London probation service during 1992 and 1993.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, North-East (Mr. Timms) on 28 February,Official Report, column 531.

  Vafi Sita Kamara
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Vafi Sita Kamara arrived in the United Kingdom; what was her age on arrival, when she first applied for asylum; what decisions were taken on her application and when; when she was detained; what was her age on detention; how long she has spent continuously in detention; and if he will make a statement on her current state of health.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  It is not our normal practice to give detailed information on individual cases. I will write to the hon. Member.

  Redundancies
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what(a) regulations or (b) guidelines govern his Department's accounting system in respect of the allocation of payments for redundancies in the data processing occurring in contract year one of the accounts and allocated over other years; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  It is assumed that this question relates to the contract with Sema Group plc awarded following the market test of Home Office administrative information technology services. The Home Office did not make any staff redundant as a consequence of this market test and the allocation of expenditure for such redundancies does not arise. All payments to the Sema Group in connection with this contract, including payments associated with their transitional and restructuring costs, will be allocated to the financial year in which the payments are made in accordance with the normal rules of Government cash accounting.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the longest time someone currently seeking asylum has been detained;
  658
  (2) what is the number of people seeking asylum who are presently detained, either awaiting a hearing or awaiting deportation.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  As at 23 February 1995, the longest currently detained person who had sought asylum has been held in detention since 14 August 1990. The individual concerned was detained following the Home Secretary's decision that his deportation would he conducive to the public good on grounds of national security. He subsequently applied for asylum, and his application was refused on 27 March 1991. My right hon. and learned Friend has given an undertaking that he should not be removed pending the exhaustion of rights of appeal before the domestic courts and the European Court of Human Rights, should the individual wish to exercise these rights.

  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member from Walthamstow (Mr. Gerrard) on 2 February 1995, Official Report, column 813, which gave the available information on the number of people detained pending an appeal or awaiting removal.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will publish a list of all the prisons and other establishments which people for asylum in the United Kingdom are being detained, and the numbers of detainees in each place;

  (2) how many of those people seeking asylum in United Kingdom and who are detained at Haslar prison have, in the past 12 months, (a) been given permission to remain in the United Kingdom as political refugees, (b) been deported to their country of origin, (c) died in detention, (d) committed suicide, (e) attempted to commit suicide, (f) applied for bail and (g) been granted bail;

  (3) how many people who are seeking asylum in Britain are currently held in prisons.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The majority of people detained under immigration powers are housed in immigration service detention centres at Harmondsworth and Campsfield house, or at Haslar, a Prison Service establishment run almost exclusively for this purpose. At 23 February 1995, 635 persons who had sought asylum were being detained. Of these, 268 persons were being detained in prison in the United Kingdom, including Haslar holding centre, and the remainder were being held in other immigration service detention centres. A list of the numbers of detainees in each place of detention is given in the table.

  Details on persons who had sought asylum and were detained at Haslar holding centre in 1994 are not available. There were no incidents of death by suicide or otherwise among the asylum detainees at Haslar holding centre in 1994, but one person attempted suicide.

  Number of persons detained who have claimed asylum as at 23 February 1995, by place of detention.

  Place of detention

  Number detained

  Prisons

  HMP Haslar

  77

  HMP Rochester

  71

  HMP Brixton

  17

  HMP Wormwood Scrubs

  7

  HMP Hull

  4

  HMP Pentonville

  4

  HMP Birmingham

  28

  HMP Horfield, Bristol

  4

  659

  Number of persons detained who have claimed asylum as at 23 February 1995, by place of detention.

  Place of detention

  Number detained

  HMP Bullingdon

  2

  HMP Billingdon

  1

  HMP Blunderston

  1

  HMP Winchester

  3

  HMP Wandsworth

  6

  HMP Belmarsh

  5

  HMP Chelmsford

  2

  HMP Dorchester

  1

  HMP Armley, Leeds

  4

  HMP Erlestoke

  1

  HMP Highdown

  1

  HMP Liverpool

  1

  HMP Norwich

  3

  HMP Crumlin Road

  1

  HMP The Mount

  1

  HMP Whitemoor

  1

  HMP Bullwood Hall

  1

  HMP Exeter

  1

  HMP Greenock

  4

  HMP Hindley

  1

  HMP Holme House

  1

  HMP Lewes

  1

  HMP Manchester

  3

  HMP Risley

  1

  HMP Wayland

  1

  HMRC The Wolds

  3

  HMYOI Brinsford

  5

  268

  Other places of detention

  Campsfield House

  151

  Harmondsworth

  95

  Beehive, Gatwick

  15

  Queens Building

  11

  Newhaven

  10

  Dover Harbour Board

  10

  Stansted

  5

  Others1

  70

  367

  Total

  635

  1 Includes other immigration service detention centres and police cells.

  Data Processing
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost to his Department of putting together the work in-house bid for his Department's data processing work.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I regret that the information is not available.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 9 February,Official Report, column 492, how many people were employed at Corby on data entry operation; how many were made redundant following its acquisition by Sema Group; and which organisation will be paying toward the redundancies.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Following the award of a contract to Sema Group for the supply of Home Office administrative information technology services, staff in the undertaking were transferred to Sema Group on 1 November 1994; this included 42 data entry staff employed at Corby.
  660
  Although subsequent redundancies by Sema Group are a matter for it, we understand from the company that all data entry staff in Corby were invited on 3 January 1995 to apply for voluntary redundancy, that as a result all 42 staff are to be made redundant by Sema Group; the costs of the redundancies will be paid by Sema Group. It is the intention of Sema Group to use a subcontractor for the provision of data entry services which is in accordance with the terms of its contract with the Home Office. We understand that the subcontractor is offering similar employment locally to all staff.

  Immigration (Overstayers)
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many overstayers have been removed from the United Kingdom in each of the past 10 years.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The information available relates to persons removed following deportation action in respect of a breach of conditions to enter or remain. Such persons comprise mainly overstayers but also include persons working in breach of conditions. Data on such persons removed, and those who departed voluntarily when served with a notice of intention to deport, in 1984–93 are given in table 7.3 of "Control of Immigration: Statistics, United Kingdom, 1993"—Cm 2637—a copy of which is in the Library. The corresponding numbers of removals and voluntary departures in 1994 were 1,264 and 199 respectively.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications have been received by the Metropolitan police for police recruitment in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Maclean
  The following is the information requested:

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Men

  4,425

  7,006

  2,174

  5,583

  10,254

  Women

  1,729

  2,470

  799

  1,989

  2,881

  Total

  6,154

  9,476

  2,973

  7,572

  13,135

  These figures exclude applications to join the special constabulary.

  Internet
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers are available(a) to Her Majesty's Government and (b) individual citizens to combat (i) criminals and (ii) pornographers using the Internet; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Users of the Internet are subject to the relevant provisions of the criminal law. Thus, for example, those who use the Internet to transmit obscene material will be liable to prosecution under the Obscene Publications Acts 1959 and 1964, while those who use the system to plan criminal activities may be liable to prosecution for conspiracy. Those who believe that the system may he being used for illegal purposes should report the matter to the police.

  Pop Festivals
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers Parliament has granted local authorities on the Isle of Wight(a) to refuse pop festivals and (b) to regulate pop festivals.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 enables district councils in England and Wales outside Greater London to adopt powers requiring the licensing of outdoor musical entertainments held on private land. The grant or refusal of a licence is at the discretion of the council. Licences may be issued subject to conditions concerning safety, public hygiene and prevention of unreasonable noise disturbance. I understand that each of the two district councils on the Isle of Wight has adopted these powers.

  Prisons (Television)
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his decision not to authorise in-cell television in new prison cells was a policy or operational matter.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The provision of in-cell television is something which has both operational and policy implications. It has operational implications for the way prisons are managed and it also has policy implications in terms of the privileges which are allowed to prisoners, which is properly a matter of policy concern.

  Parkhurst Prison (Geophones)
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the occasions since 1979 when the governors of Her Majesty's prison, Parkhurst requested the installation of geophones; and what action was taken in each case.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Chris Mullin, dated 2 March 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of occasions since 1979 when the Governors of Parkhurst have requested the installation of geophones and what action had been taken in each instance.
  Disproportionate cost would be incurred to fully answer your Question. The issue was first raised in 1987, but at this stage, it was felt that geophones should not be installed until the major redevelopment programme at the prison had been completed. Mr. Marriott, who became the Governor of Parkhurst prison in 1990, made a number of requests for geophones to be installed around the internal perimeter fence (geophones were already in place around the Special Secure Unit).
  At the time of the escape in January, geophones were being installed around the perimeter fence at Parkhurst. The Prison Service decided not to install geophones in the prison earlier because, as Ministers made clear at the time, the building work would have severely limited their effectiveness. It was those building works which dictated the timing of the installation. While building work, itself related to security, was going, on, it did not make sense to install geophones because they could not work effectively in those circumstances.
  Installation of geophones around the perimeter fence will be completed in April 1995.

  Fire and Civil Defence Authorities
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that financial arrangements and support will enable each fire and civil defence authority to achieve and to maintain Home Office minimum standards in 1995–96; and if he will list those authorities which on present estimates are unlikely to meet that requirement.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  [holding answer 27 February 1995]: It is for each fire and civil defence authority, in the light of the provisional criteria for council tax capping, to set a budget for 1995–96. The budget should allow it to comply with its statutory duties to provide fire cover. Where an authority is convinced that it cannot set a budget within the provisional capping limits, it can set a budget above the provisional cap and make a case to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment for those limits to be redetermined.

TREASURY

  Growth Rate
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current rate of growth of the economy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Gross domestic product grew by 3¾ per cent. in 1994.

  Neo-classical Endogenous Growth Theory
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what studies he has made of neo-classical endogenous growth theory; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what studies he has made of neo-classical endogenous growth theory; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Aitken
  The post neo-classical endogenous growth theory is receiving the study it deserves.

  Fund Flows, Japan
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of fund flows between the United Kingdom and Japan; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  Recent figures suggest that the UK current account with Japan for the first half of 1994 moved into surplus.

  Taxation
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has had from Opposition parties about current tax policies.

  Sir George Young
  Since the Budget, the Chancellor has received a very small number of written representations from the hon. Members on the Opposition Front Benches.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total taxation cost for an average manual worker currently; and what it was in May 1979.
  663
  Sir George Young
  'The tax paid by any particular individual depends on their income, household type and spending pattern. Real take-home pay is what matters. Real take-home pay for a one-earner couple on average earnings with two children has risen by 40 per cent.—over £80 a week—since 1978–79.

  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the plans the Government have to extend the 20 per cent. income tax band.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I refer to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for High Peak (Mr. Hendry) earlier today.

  Incomes
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the increase in real disposable income over the past 15 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir George Young
  Real household disposable incomes per head have risen by nearly £50 a week, or 47 per cent., since 1979. They rose by only £8 a week, or 9 per cent., between 1974 and 1979.

  Cash Machines
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has had about hole in the wall cash machines.

  Mr. Nelson
  The number of representations has declined in recent years. For example, in 1992 my colleagues and I received some 26 letters from other hon. Members on this issue. In 1993, we received 23 and in 1994 only one. So far this year, we have received none.

  Governor of the Bank of England
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to meet the Governor of the Bank of England to discuss prospects for the economy.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Chancellor's next monthly monetary meeting with the Governor of the Bank of England will take place on 8 March.

  Inequality
  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has in respect of inequality.

  Sir George Young
  Government policies provide a firm basis for lasting economic recovery and are the best way to safeguard living standards of all groups, including the least well-off. The best way to tackle inequality is, as the Government are doing, by ensuring increased opportunities, not by restricting choice and levelling everyone down.

  Demand
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the level of total demand in the economy.

  Mr. Aitken
  Total domestic demand grew by 1.2 per cent. in the fourth quarter of 1994.

  Football (Finances)
  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what inquiries he has made in respect of financial irregularities in English football.

  Sir George Young
  The Inland Revenue special compliance office is carrying out investigations into alleged financial irregularities in football clubs. These investigations are continuing and it is not appropriate to comment further until they are complete.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which countries have asked his Department for advice on privatisation over the past 12 months.

  Sir George Young
  In the last three months, the Treasury has talked privatisation to colleagues from Australia, Azerbaijan, Canada, China, Croatia, Cuba, Ethiopia, Hungary, Indonesia, Malaysia, Romania, Spain, Thailand, Trinidad, Turkey, the Ukraine, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.

  Home Help
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce tax relief on home help.

  Mr. Aitken
  The Government have no plans to introduce a tax relief on home help.

  Lobby Organisations
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Minister in his Department have on any occasion in the last seven days met representatives of(a) Messrs. C. S. M. Parliamentary Consultants Ltd., (b) Dewe Rogerson Ltd., (c) Decision Makers Ltd., (d) G. J. W. Government Relations Ltd., (e) G.P.C. (f) G.J.W., (g) Ian Greer Associates Ltd., (h) Market Access Group, (i) Politics International, (j) Westminster Communications Group, (k) Westminster Strategy, (l) Good Relations, (m) Rowland Sallingbury Casy, (n) Lowe Bell, (o) People Corporate and Political Relations and (p) Shandwick Consultants Ltd. and discussed issues relating to the clients of these companies.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  No such meetings have taken place involving Treasury Ministers.

  Tax Bulletin
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will request the Board of Inland Revenue to review its interpretation of section 360(3)(b) of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 as set out in the tax bulletin for December 1994, with special reference to the expressed interpretation of management as being of a company as a whole rather than of one particular area of the company's operations.

  Sir George Young
  It is for the Inland Revenue to apply existing law as voted by Parliament to the facts of individual cases, and it is not customary for Ministers to intervene in this. The tax bulletin article in question—in fact, published in November 1993—sets out the Revenue's understanding of the particular legislation considered. But the normal rights of appeal are of course available, as the tax bulletin always spells out, to any
  665
  taxpayer who wishes to take issue with the Revenue's view.

  Exchange Rates
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the annual cost of exchanges between sterling and other EU currencies for(a) exports and imports of goods and services, (b) stock exchange and banking transactions and (c) expenditure by (i) tourists and (ii) business travellers.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Government have not made any overall or detailed estimate of currency conversion costs between the pound sterling and other EU currencies. However, the European Commission estimates that currency conversion costs amount to 0.4 per cent. of gross domestic product for the EC as a whole.

  European Monetary Institute
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the annual cost to the European Monetary Institute of(a) wages, (b) benefits in kind, (c) travel allowances and (d) rent for its premises.

  Mr. Nelson
  Information on the running costs of the European Monetary Institute is expected to be published in its annual report in the spring.

  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons are currently employed by the European Monetary Institute.

  Mr. Nelson
  The European Monetary Institute currently employs around 150 people.

  Next Steps Agencies
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil service jobs are now performed by agencies, quangos, trusts and other bodies,(a) overall in the United Kingdom and (b) in each Government Department; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  The total number of civil servants employed in next steps agencies, or on next step lines, at 1 October 1994 was 331,956, of which 25,466 were employed in trading funds. The civil service staff in post summary gives details of the number employed in these Agencies, listed by Government Department. Posts in non-departmental public bodies, trusts and other bodies are outside the civil service. "Public Bodies 1994" gives details of those employed in non-departmental public bodies, listed by Government Department. The annual article on "Employment in the Public and Private Sectors" in the Central Statistical Office's publication "Economic Trends", January 1995, gives information on total numbers employed in general government and public corporations. The article also gives details of major changes between 1983 and 1994. All these publications are available in the Library.

  Departmental Reports
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the 1995 departmental reports to be published.

  Mr. Aitken
  [pursuant to his answer, 23 February 1995, c. 275–76]: The departmental report for HM Treasury and the Chancellor of the Exchequer's other
  666
  small departments and net payments to EC institutions will now be published on 9 March.

SCOTLAND

  Health Service Contacts
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what health service contracts have been awarded to(a) Hospital Design Consortium and (b) IDC Ltd., by the Scottish health boards or trusts in the past five years; and if these contractors remain on current contractors' lists for Scottish health service contractors.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I have no information about either Hospital Design Consortium or IDC Ltd. being awarded a health service building contract in Scotland.

  Learning Difficulties
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons with learning difficulties were looked after in the community in 1993–94.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  As at 31 March 1993 there were 2,535 people being cared for in residential care homes for people with learning disabilities. At the same date, there were 8,439 people attending day centres for people with learning disabilities. The number of people with learning disabilities who are being cared for at home is unknown. Complete information for 1994 is not yet available.

  Scottish Enterprise
  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the equity partners of Scottish Enterprise in projects supported by them over the past three years;

  (2) if he will list the number of occasions 3i has acted as equity partners in Scottish Enterprise projects.

  Mr. Kynoch
  Equity participation in projects that it supports is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have asked the chairman of Scottish Enterprise to write to the hon. Member.

  Quarry Proposal, Elderslie
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to be able to announce his decision in respect of the application by Scottish Aggregates to develop a quarry at Windyhill farm, Elderslie; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kynoch
  The reporter appointed to hear evidence at the public local inquiry into the proposed quarry will very shortly circulate to parties, for comment, part I of her report containing the summary of evidence and her findings of fact. The reporter will, thereafter, complete the report and submit it to my right hon. Friend with her recommendation. A decision is expected towards the end of the summer.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the budgeted expenditure per head of population of each of the Scottish(a) regional and (b)

  667
  district councils in 1994–95 and 1995–96; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kynoch
  The information requested for 1994–95 is given in the table. The comparable information for 1995–96 is not yet available.

  Total 1994–95 budgeted expenditure per head of population

  £

  Regional Councils

  Borders

  1,064

  Central

  964

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1,052

  Fife

  972

  Grampian

  918

  Highland

  1,170

  Lothian

  960

  Strathclyde

  1,026

  Tayside

  1,008

  District Councils

  Berwickshire

  152

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  153

  Roxburgh

  164

  Tweeddale

  159

  Clackmannan

  203

  Falkirk

  168

  Stirling

  227

  Annandale and Eskdale

  148

  Nithsdale

  160

  Stewartry

  136

  Wigtown

  197

  Dunfermline

  163

  Kirkcaldy

  173

  North East Fife

  185

  Aberdeen

  213

  Banff and Buchan

  157

  Gordon

  153

  Kincardine and Deeside

  127

  Moray

  163

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  179

  Caithness

  167

  Inverness

  151

  Lochaber

  210

  Nairn

  152

  Ross and Cromarty

  219

  Skye and Lochalsh

  239

  Sutherland

  213

  East Lothian

  198

  Edinburgh

  276

  Midlothian

  177

  West Lothian

  166

  Argyll and Bute

  295

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  166

  Clydebank

  268

  Clydesdale

  201

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  172

  Name

  Occupation

  Date of appointment

  Period of current appointment

  Salary £

  Sir James Mellon KCMG (Chairman)

  Former Diplomat

  1.4.89

  1.4.93–31.3.96

  38,330

  Mrs. Frances McCall MBE

  Member, Management Committee, Calvay Co-operative

  1.12.88

  1.4.91–31.3.951

  6,660

  Professor Duncan Maclennan MA MPhil FRSA

  Director of the Centre for Housing Research at Glasgow University

  1.12.88

  1.4.93–31.3.97

  6,600

  Dr. Tom Begg OBE JP BA PhD

  Lecturer in Economics at Queen Margaret College, Edinburgh

  1.12.88

  1.4.91–31.3.95

  6,600

  668

  Total 1994–95 budgeted expenditure per head of population

  £

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  188

  Cunninghame

  203

  Dumbarton

  210

  East Kilbride

  177

  Eastwood

  136

  Glasgow

  318

  Hamilton

  235

  Inverclyde

  221

  Kilmarnock and Loudon

  202

  Kyle and Carrick

  206

  Monklands

  238

  Motherwell

  213

  Renfrew

  221

  Strathkelvin

  203

  Angus

  157

  Dundee

  251

  Perth and Kinross

  177

  Notes:

  1. The total 1994–95 budgeted expenditure is taken from figures returned by local authorities in March/April 1994.

  2. The population figures used were the latest available from the General Register Office of Scotland dated 29 April 1994.

  Councillors' Allowances
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to increase the level of councillors' allowances; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kynoch
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that my hon. Friend the Member for Eastwood (Mr. Stewart) gave on 19 January,Official Report, columns 665–66, which covered allowances for all councillors. In respect of the existing scheme, which continues to apply to the members of the regional and district councils until 31 March 1996, the usual annual review is currently under way.

  Scottish Homes
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the(a) names, (b) employment or previous employment, (c) date of appointment, (d) date for reappointment and (e) salary, honorarium and/or allowance payable to each member of the board of Scottish Homes, including the executive and non-executive directors; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information requested is set out in the table. Appointments and reappointments are considered by my right hon. Friend in terms of the most effective mix of expertise required by Scottish Homes at the appropriate time.
  669

  Name

  Occupation

  Date of appointment

  Period of current appointment

  Salary £

  Mrs. Heather Sheerin OBE

  Co-director family-owned retail carpet business

  1.12.88

  1.4.93–31.3.97

  6,600

  Mrs. Daphne M.W. Sleigh

  Freelance Market Researcher

  14.9.90

  14.9.90–31.3.951

  6,600

  Cameron Parker OBE

  Non-executive Vice Chairman, Lithgows Ltd.

  1.4.92

  1.4.92–31.3.96

  6,600

  Professor John R. Small CBE

  Deputy Principal, Heriot Watt University and Professor of Accountancy and Finance

  1.4.93

  1.4.93–31.3.97

  6,600

  Alistair Dempster

  Chief Executive, TSB Bank Scotland plc; Deputy Chairman TSB Bank Channel Islands Limited

  1.10.93

  1.4.93–31.3.98

  6,600

  Peter McKinlay (ex-officio)

  Chief Executive, Scottish Homes

  7.10.91

  7.10.91–6.10.97

  76,599

  1 Mrs. Frances McCall and Mrs Daphne Sleigh have been offered and have accepted re-appointment for a period from 1.4.95–31.3.98 and 1.4.95–31.3.99 respectively.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set out the precise duties and responsibilities of(a) the chairman and (b) the chief executive of Scottish Homes.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The chairman of Scottish Homes is responsible to my right hon. Friend for its overall direction and management within the policy framework set by him. He is the principal spokesman for Scottish Homes and the main contact with Ministers, raising issues with them as appropriate. The chief executive is designated as accounting officer and is personally responsible for the proper stewardship and expenditure of public funds and the day-to-day operation and management of Scottish Homes.

  Community Councils
  Mr. Mcmaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what new powers, duties or responsibilities will he given to community councils under the provisions of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1994; what plans he has to give local authorities a statutory duty to consult community councils on matters of local interest, planning applications and community planning policy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kynoch
  Following local government reorganisation, community councils will have a statutory right to be consulted on planning issues if they so wish and on the decentralisation schemes which the new authorities will draw up for their area. Local authorities will also be encouraged to keep community councils fully informed about local licensing issues.

  Fox Hunting
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the policy of the Scottish Office in relation to fox hunting.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Government have consistently adopted a position of neutrality towards field sports. We believe that participation in these activities, including fox hunting, is a matter on which people should make their own decision according to their conscience.

  Carpet Industry
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the importance of the carpet manufacturing industry to the local economy of Renfrewshire; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kynoch
  The carpet manufacturing industry makes a valuable contribution to the economy of Renfrewshire. It currently employs about 440 people, who represent approximately 2 per cent. of Renfrewshire's total manufacturing employment.

  Scottish Homes
  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of state for Scotland if the prior options study of Scottish Homes which he announced on 12 July 1994 has yet been completed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I am pleased to announce that the prior options study, undertaken as the first stage of the five-yearly policy and financial management review of Scottish Homes, has now been completed.

  The study was carried out by my Department under the guidance of a steering group chaired by the Secretary of the Scottish Office Environment Department. My announcement on 12 July included an invitation to interested parties to submit comments and the Department wrote to a number of individuals and bodies with a clear interest in the functions of Scottish Homes. I am grateful to all those who took the trouble to respond. A total of 36 responses were received and the views expressed were taken into account. The majority of respondents saw a continuing need for a strong national housing agency.

  I have accepted the overall conclusions of the study. Scottish Homes will continue as a single national housing agency playing a major role in taking forward the Government's housing policies in Scotland and supporting local authorities in their role as statutory housing authorities. It will continue to provide development funding to housing associations and other housing providers, promote housing research and innovation and carry out the statutory function of registration and monitoring of housing associations. It will, however, become a more focused organisation as it

  671
  sheds its landlord role in line with the Government's policy to diversify the rented sector in Scotland.

  The second stage of the review, which will examine Scottish Homes's performance and financial management in detail, will now get under way. Many of the comments submitted as part of the prior options study will be relevant to the second stage.

  Separately, the Government will be examining the issue of housing associations wishing to operate in more than one part of the United Kingdom.

  Copies of the report of the prior options study will be placed in the Library and can be obtained from the Scottish Office Environment Department, room 423B, St Andrew's house, Edinburgh, EH1 2DG, Tel. 0131 244 2234.

  Housing Associations
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if a housing association which was not a co-operative housing association subsequent to 2 January 1989 granted a tenancy to an individual, either alone or jointly with others, who immediately prior to being granted tenancy had held, alone or with others, the secure tenancy of a different house from the same housing association if(a) the new tenancy would be secure, (b) the new tenancy would be subject to the provisions of the part IV of the Rent (Scotland) 1984, and (c) that house would be subject to the right to purchase under section 61 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 and related provisions.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 28 February 1995]: While it is not for the Government to interpret statute, it is the Government's view that housing legislation provides that where a secure tenant of a housing association transfers to another property owned by the same landlord, the tenancy remains a secure tenancy and is subject to the provisions of the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984. It is also the case that under section 61 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 a secure tenant has a statutory right to purchase this home, subject to certain exemptions.

  Raves
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to implement the recommendations made by Sheriff Neil Gow following the fatal accident inquiry on Hanger 13; and if he will make a statement on the outcome.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 1 March 1995]: The determination in this fatal accident inquiry has underlined the dangers of taking drugs such as Ecstasy and helpfully complements the recommendations in the report of the ministerial drugs task force led by my noble and learned Friend the Minister of State. Particular consideration is being given to Sheriff Gow's recommendation that model conditions in licences for raves should be prepared in legislative form. The task force made a similar recommendation, while recognising that responding to the problems associated with rave events through the licensing system was not straightforward. Consultations are now taking place with
  672
  the police and local authorities, in the light of which we shall consider what action is appropriate, including possible legislative amendment.

  Medical Negligence Proceedings
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average length of time needed to bring to a conclusion legal proceedings concerned with a claim of negligence against medical practitioners employed in(a) general practice and (b) hospital posts; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 27 February 1995]: Information on general medical practitioners is not collected centrally. They are independent contractors and as such insure themselves independently. For hospital practitioners, the length of time taken to settle claims on medical negligence will vary depending on the nature of the case. If agreement is reached before the case goes to court, it can be settled within six to nine months of the claim being lodged. Where the claim is determined by the courts, the average time taken to reach a conclusion is around five years.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many legal cases involving negligence on the part of medical practitioners have been brought to a conclusion in each of the past 10 years; what were the sums of compensation paid to complainers who were found by the courts to have suffered from such negligent conduct; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 27 February 1995]: The information collected centrally on the compensation paid on medical negligence claims makes no distinction between agreed out of court settlements and damages awarded by the courts.

  Information on the costs of settlements and the number of cases concerned can he provided only from 1 January 1990 when financial responsibility for medical negligence was assumed by health boards. The costs, as recently updated and including claimants' costs, for this period were as follows:

  Year

  Settlements {court and out of court) £

  Number of cases

  1989–90

  957,956

  22

  1990–91

  1,327,080

  50

  1991–92

  1,143,151

  49

  1992–93

  1,215,627

  40

  1993–94

  646,038

  27

  Cervical Smear Tests
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he can make concerning the percentage of women being offered cervical smears on a three-yearly basis or less in(a) Inverclyde, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: All women throughout Scotland in the age range 20 to 60 years are offered cervical screening on

  673
  a three-yearly basis. The only ineligible women are those who have had a total hysterectomy.

  Disabled Employees
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce further legislation to encourage employers to recruit more disabled employees; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Disability Discrimination Bill is currently being considered by Parliament and the Government have no
  674
  plans to introduce further legislation relating to the employment of disabled people.

  The Government encourage the recruitment of disabled employees through their long-standing programme aimed at educating and persuading employers to recognise the abilities of disabled employees and to adopt good employment practices. We will also continue to provide effective and practical help both to employers and to disabled individuals. More than 53,000 disabled people were helped to find work last year by Employment Service advisers and we are aiming to help more than 56,000 this year.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Lobby Organisations
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if Ministers in his Department have on any occasion in the last seven days met representatives of(a) Messrs. C. S. M. Parliamentary Consultants Ltd., (b) Dewe Rogerson Ltd., (c) Decision Makers Ltd., (d) G. J. W. Government Relations Ltd., (e) G.P.C., (f) G.J.W., (g) Ian Greer Associates Ltd., (h) Market Access Group, (i) Politics International, (j) Westminster Communications Group, (k) Westminster Strategy (l) Good Relations, (m) Rowland Sallingbury Casey, (n) Lowe Bell, (o) Profile Corporate and Political Relations, and (p) Shandwick Consultants Ltd. and discussed issues relating to the clients of these companies.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  There have been no such meetings.

  Expenditure, Wales
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the expenditure of his Department in Wales in the most recent available year.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Expenditure by the higher courts and central Government grants to local authorities in support of magistrates courts in Wales in 1993–94 was £39.7 million. This figure included preparatory work on the parking enforcement centre, which is attached to Cardiff county court and was completed in 1993–94.

  In addition, £4.9 million of legal aid payments were made through the Crown court in Wales. Expenditure from the legal aid fund cannot be identified separately for Wales because the Legal Aid Board's area offices administer applications and bills from parts of both England and Wales.

  Small Claims Limit
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will raise the £1,000 limit for claims within the small claims court; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what plans he has to make special arrangements for the recovery of costs by successful plaintiffs in small personal injury cases if the small claims limit is raised;

  (2) what plans he has to raise the small claims limit; by what amount; and when he plans to introduce the rise.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  This issue, among others, is within the scope of Lord Woolf's comprehensive review of civil justice. The Lord Chancellor is awaiting the first report of this review, and any decisions will be taken in that context.

  Publications
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list all White Papers, Green Papers and pamphlets issued by his Department or agencies for which it is responsible in 1994, giving in each case the total cost to the Exchequer of their 676
  production, publication and distribution; and what was the total equivalent cost in 1980.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Department published no White or Green Papers during 1994, but two leaflets were published and are listed with their costs. There were also reports and consultation documents apparently outwith the scope of the question. Information regarding the equivalent costs of White and Green Papers and leaflets produced by the Department in 1980 is not held centrally.An Introduction to the Lord Chancellor's Department £985.75
  An Introduction to the Lord Chancellor's Department
  (An Italian version for British Week in Milan) £5,543.00

  The Lord Chancellor has responsibilities for three agencies, HM Land Registry, the Public Record Office and the Public Trust Office. As the question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executives of the agencies are best placed to provide an answer I have accordingly asked them to reply direct.

  Letter from John Manthorpe to Mr. Roland Boyes, dated 1 March 1995:
  I have been asked by the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, to reply to your recent question concerning the white papers, green papers and pamphlets issued by the Registry in 1994.
  The Land Registry produces a wide range of explanatory literature containing advice for practitioners and the general public on various aspects of land registration practice and procedure and on the services that it provides. No white papers or green papers were issued in 1994.
  There is no cost to the exchequer of production, publication or distribution as the Agency meets all of its costs from fees.
  I do hope that this answers the points raised with the Parliamentary Secretary but please contact me if I can be of any further assistance.

  Letter from Sarah Tyacke to Mr. Roland Boyes, dated 1 March 1995:
  I have been asked by the Lord Chancellor's Parliamentary Secretary to reply to your question about white papers, green papers and pamphlets issued by the Public Record Office.
  The Public Record Office did not issue any white or green papers in 1994. It produced the following guidance:

  Beyond the PRO: Public Records in Places of Deposit

  Author: S. Shaw

  Printing costs: None

  Authorial costs: None

  In 1980 the Public Record Office did not issue any white or green papers or pamphlets.

  Letter from Julia Lomas to Mr. Roland Boyes, dated 1 March 1995:
  The Parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to you as part of the Lord Chancellor's Department's response to your parliamentary question, listed on 22 February 1995, regarding a list of the white papers, green papers and pamphlets issued and the cost of their production, publication and distribution.
  The Public Trust Office did not issue any white or green papers in 1994.
  The cost of producing and publishing pamphlets in 1994 (including Charter Statements explanatory booklets and leaflets sent to our customers) was £37,500. The cost of distribution will have formed part of the Public Trust Office's total postal budget and has not been separately costed.

  677
  The Public Trust Office is required to cover its running costs from fees levied on its clients and the cost of producing, publishing and distributing these pamphlets will, therefore, have been recovered from these fees.
  No equivalent figures are available for 1980 as the relevant information is only retained for seven years.

  Court Service
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which public relations company was hired by his Department to advise on the logo and other public relations matters for the launch of the new Court Service agency on 3 April; how long the contract with the company is set to last; and what the total cost to the Department of the company's service will be.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  No public relations company has been engaged to advise on matters relating to the launch of the Court Service as an executive agency. Following a competitive tender exercise, the Epps Partnership has been retained to design a logo, guidelines for its use and the layout of the documents which will be published attendant on the launch of the agency and also in respect of the courts charter. The contract will come to an end in July 1995. The cost to the Department at 28 February 1995 is £32,741.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Electricity
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what considerations underlay the absence of competition in respect of the invitation for tenders for the supply of electricity to Northern Ireland, prior to the signing of heads of agreement between Scottish Power and Northern Ireland Electricity.

  Mr. Ancram
  I understand that Northern Ireland Electricity initially approached a number of generating companies including National Power plc, PowerGen plc, Electricity de France and Scottish Hydro Electric plc in addition to Scottish Power plc before entering into detailed negotiations with the last named.

  Lobby Organisations
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if Ministers in his Department have on any occasion in the last seven days met representatives of(a) Messrs C. S. M. Parliamentary Consultants Ltd., (b) Dewe Rogerson Ltd., (c) Decision Makers Ltd.,(d) G. J. W. Government Relations Ltd., (e) G.P.C., (f) G.J.W., (g) Ian Greer Associates Ltd., (h) Market Access Group, (i) Politics International, (j) Westminster Communications Group, (k) Westminster Strategy, (l) Good Relations, (m) Rowland Sallingbury Casy, (n) Lowe Bell, (o) Profile Corporate and Political Relations and (p) Shandwick Consultants Ltd. and discussed issues relating to the clients of these companies.

  Sir John Wheeler
  No.

  Cardiac and Orthopaedic Survey
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the waiting list for cardiac and 678
  orthopaedic surgery in each of the area health and social services boards for the last three years for which figures are available.

  Mr. Moss
  The information is not available in the form requested. The table shows the total number of patients in Northern Ireland waiting for treatment in the cardiac surgery and trauma and orthopaedic specialties at 31 December in each of the last three years.

  Trauma and Orthopaedic surgery

  Cardiac surgery (Ordinary admissions)

  (Ordinary-Admissions)

  (Day cases)

  1992

  797

  3,902

  n/a

  1993

  701

  3,190

  n/a

  1994

  443

  2,493

  517

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the number of cardiac operations purchased by Northern Ireland GP fundholders and area boards in the last three years for which figures are available in the Royal Victoria hospital, in Great Britain hospitals, in the private sector and the Republic of Ireland.

  Mr. Moss
  The information is not available in the form requested. The table shows the total number of patients who have had cardiac operations at the Royal Victoria hospital in each of the last three years.

  Year

  Number

  1991–92

  726

  1992–93

  994

  1993–94

  1,140

  Cardiac surgery is not undertaken in any of the private sector hospitals or clinics in Northern Ireland and information about operations performed outside Northern Ireland is not collected centrally.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the number of orthopaedic operations purchased by GP fundholders and area boards for the last three years for which figures are available in Musgrave Park hospital, the Royal Victoria hospital and the private sector.

  Mr. Moss
  The information is not available in the form requested. The table shows the total number of patients who had operations within the specialty of trauma and orthopaedics at the Royal Victoria hospital and Musgrave Park hospital in each of the last three years.

  Year

  Royal Victoria hospital

  Musgrave Park hospital

  1991–92

  1,160

  4,386

  1992–93

  1,130

  4,039

  1993–94

  1,351

  5,452

  Information about orthopaedic operations undertaken in private sector hospitals or clinics is not collected.

  Single Programming Document
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the members of the working groups created to support the monitoring committee on the single programming document for Northern Ireland, their organisations and the planned dates of the meetings of the working groups; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Wheeler
  In addition to Government and European Commission officials, the working groups, or sub-programme working committees, also include outside members drawn from various key sectors. Meetings will normally be held twice a year. Details of the outside members and the planned dates for the inaugural meetings of the committees are set out.

  Name

  Organisation

  Economic Development—Meeting 24 March

  Mr. B. Johnston

  First Trust bank

  Professor I. Allen

  NI Neuropathology Service, Royal Victoria hospital

  Mr. P. Gorecki

  NI Economic Council

  Mr. J. McKinney

  Society of Local Authority Chief Executives

  Tourism—Meeting 23 March

  Mr. D. Fallows

  Society of Local Authority Chief Executives

  Mr. D. Broderick

  Tourism and Hospitality Training Council (NI)

  Ms P. Morris

  Glenavon House Hotel

  Mr. A. Goan

  Belleek Pottery Ltd.

  Mr. I McQuiston

  National Trust

  Physical and Social Environment—Meeting 22 March

  Dr. D. Stephens

  Irish Council of Churches

  Mrs. A. McGinley

  Fermanagh District Council

  Ms M. McWilliams

  University of Ulster

  Mr. S. McAleavey

  NI Council for Voluntary Action

  Mr. J. Redpath

  Community Leader

  Investment in the Development of People—Meeting 23 March (provisional)

  Ms S. McKee

  Cantrell and Cochrane Ltd.

  Ms A. Kilmurray

  NI Voluntary Trust

  Mr. L. Hasson

  Austin and Co. Ltd., Londonderry

  Mr. N. McBride

  Job Link Training Scheme, Coleraine

  Transportation—Meeting 31 March

  Mrs. M. Bell

  NI General Consumer Council

  680

  Name

  Organisation

  Mr. J. Irvine

  NI Transport Holding Company

  Energy—Meeting 3 March

  Mr. W. Napier

  Tyrone Brick Ltd.

  Mr. M. Smyth

  University of Ulster

  Ms M. McCloskey

  Neighbourhood Energy Action

  Agriculture—Meeting 13 March

  Representative to be confirmed

  Ulster Farmers Union

  Representative to be confirmed

  NI Agricultural and Producers Association

  Rural Development—Meeting 14 March

  Mr. J. Armstrong

  Rural Development Council

  Professor F. Gordon

  Agricultural Research Institute for NI

  Fisheries—Meeting 10 to 11 April

  Mr. G. Golligher

  Industrial Development Board

  Mr. P. McCardle

  Local Enterprise Development Unit

  Mr. F. Ledwidge

  NI Seafoods

  Environmental Services and Protection—Meeting 16 March

  Professor A. Long

  Queen's University, Belfast

  Dr. C. Carter

  University of Ulster

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the members of the monitoring committee in respect of the single programming document for Northern Ireland, their organisations and the planned dates of the meetings of the committee; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Wheeler
  In addition to Government and European Commission officials, the Northern Ireland single programme monitoring committee also includes five outside members drawn from various key sectors. These are Mr. Sean Curran, industry sector; Professor Wallace Ewart, training sector; Ms Avila Kilmurray, voluntary sector; Mr. Desmond Mitchell, district councils; and Mr. Norman Shaw, agriculture sector. The monitoring committee's inaugural meeting was held on 1 December 1994 and the next meeting is provisionally scheduled for 18 May 1995. The committee will normally meet twice a year.

  Publications
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all White Papers, Green Papers and pamphlets issued by his Department, or agencies for
  681
  which it is responsible, in 1994 giving, in each case, the total cost to the exchequer of their production, publication and distribution; and what was the total equivalent cost in 1980.

  Sir John Wheeler
  No White Papers issued by the NI Departments and NIO during 1994.

  The following Green Papers were issued:

  1. Social Services (NI)—draft codes of practice on conduct and accountability for the health and personal social services in NI, costing £550.

  2. A strategic analysis of the education service. Costing £17,569 for production and publication only.

  3. Small schools policy statement, costing £2,710 for production and publication only.

  4. Policing in the community, costing £6,300.

  Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office issue a wide range of pamphlets, broadly covering the services and facilities provided and outlining statutory requirements. To list the pamphlets and associated costs for those issued in 1994 would incur disproportionate costs.

  Total equivalent costs for 1980 are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Framework Document
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many copies of the framework document have been produced and distributed in Northern Ireland; and at what cost.

  Mr. Ancram
  Between 22 February and 1 March, almost 150,000 copies were printed, of which about 100,000 are already in circulation.

  The total cost of printing and distribution over the same period is estimated at £216,000.

  The importance of the document and the need to secure wide and informed public debate requires widespread distribution to the public. Printing will continue until the demand for copies is met.

  Abortions
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the total number of abortions carried out on residents of Northern Ireland in England and Wales since 1968;

  (2) what is the estimated number of abortions on women from Northern Ireland which are included in the notifications of abortions in England and Wales since 1968.

  Mr. Moss
  Official estimates are not made of the number of abortions on women from Northern Ireland carried out in England and Wales. Since 1970, a total of 33,255 abortions have been notified under the Abortion Act 1967 as having been carried out in England and Wales on residents in Northern Ireland. Information is not available on abortions by country prior to 1970.

  Private Lee Clegg
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date the process began for the 682
  release on licence of Private Lee Clegg; and on what dates the meetings were held with (a) the trial judge, (b) the Lord Chief Justice and (c) the parole board.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The internal review of Private Clegg's case commenced on 20 January 1995, immediately following the dismissal of his appeal to the House of Lords. The purpose of this review is to determine when the case should be considered by the Northern Ireland life sentence review board; there is no parole board in Northern Ireland.

  The power to release a Northern Ireland life sentence prisoner on licence rests with the Secretary of State who is advised on such matters by the life sentence review board. Consultation with the Lord Chief Justice for Northern Ireland and the trial judge, if available, has not yet taken place as it is the final step before Ministers decide on release.

  Ulster Paper Products
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will set out all the public money used to assist Ulster Paper Products, now known as Smurfit Paper Products, since September 1992 and any assistance known to be given by the International Fund for Ireland.

  Mr. Ancram
  Financial assistance from public funds to Smurfit Corrugated Cases (Lurgan) Ltd., formerly Ulster Paper Products Ltd., since September 1992 is as follows.

  Between June 1993 and June 1994, Ulster Paper Products Ltd. received £14,838 from the Training and Employment Agency towards training costs.

  In April 1994, the Industrial Development Board offered Smurfit Corrugated Cases (Lurgan) Ltd. assistance of £3 million towards a £16.08 million investment by the company of which £946,000 has been drawn down.

  In June 1994, the Training and Employment Agency offered further assistance of £214,800 to the company under the company development programme.

  With regard to the International Fund for Ireland, this is an international organisation which is administered by an independent board appointed jointly by the two Governments. All disbursements by the fund are a matter for that board and questions regarding disbursements should be directed to the fund's chairman, Mr. William T. McCarter, PO Box 2000, Belfast, BT4 3SA.

DEFENCE

  Iraqi Soil Samples
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soil samples from Iraq have been studied by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment; and how many of these samples show evidence of the use of chemical or biological weapons.

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down under its
  683
  framework document. I have asked the chief executive, CBDE to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 2 March 1995:

  QUESTION 12, 22 FEBRUARY 1995

  1. Your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence of 22 February 1995 asking how many soil samples from Iraq have been studied by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment and how many of these samples show evidence of the

  Site

  Date sample collected

  Date analysed

  No of samples

  Finding

  Triangle area northern Iraq

  November 1998

  December 1998

  3

  All contained traces of CW agent, mustard and its decomposition products.

  Various sites in northern Iraq

  August 1992

  September, October 1992

  16

  No traces of CW agent found.

  Birjinni northern Iraq1

  June 1992

  February 1992

  12

  Six samples from two bomb craters contained mustard and its decomposition products. Six samples from the other two bomb craters contained nerve agent decomposition products and one contained traces of the nerve agent, Sarin.

  1 The bomb craters from which these samples were taken resulted from an attack in 1988; the samples were over four years old when CBDE carried out its analysis.

  4. CBDE has also played a key role in assisting the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) on Iraq. Over 200 soil samples were analysed by CBDE staff in Iraq and a few at CBDE in support of inspections of the Muthanna site and of another site in Iraq. These analyses were not carried out to determine if chemical or biological weapons had been used.

  Lethal Equipment
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what modifications or additions he has made to the definition of lethal equipment given in his answers of 2 May 1990,Official Report, column 602, and 23 July 1990, Official Report, column 72.

  Mr. Freeman
  None.

  Export Sales Agreements
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what written guidelines exist to decide whether the advice of the Foreign Office or the Department of Trade and Industry should be obtained before approvals are given to defence export sales under Government-to-Government defence export agreements to which normal export licence procedures do not apply.

  Mr. Freeman
  All applications for defence exports under a Government-to-Government arrangement to which normal export licence procedures do not apply are circulated for advice to the FCO as laid down in an internal MOD manual. The DTI, in these cases, is not consulted because an export licence is not involved.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which of the defence export agreements memoranda of understanding contain a no-transfer without prior approval provision; and which do not.
  684
  use of chemical and biological weapons has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to ensure that the UK Armed Forces have effective protective measures against the threat that chemical and biological weapons may be used against them.

  3. The Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment has analysed a total of 31 soil samples from Iraq collected on three occasions. Details of the dates on which these samples were collected, of their analysis and the findings are set out as follows:

  Mr. Freeman
  Details of Government-to-Government memoranda of understanding are confidential. However, it is normal practice to provide for a "no-transfer without prior approval" clause when they cover the sale of defence equipment.

  Defence Contractors
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if staff seconded from defence contractors at the time mentioned in his answer to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Byers) of 1 March 1994,Official Report, column 670, are still in post; and what additional staff have been seconded from defence contractors.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 30 November to the hon. Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Simpson),Official Report, column 778.

  Debt Collection Visits
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 December 1994,Official Report, column 1167, if the expenditure or transactions giving rise to the debt collection visits was incurred in the countries listed or in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Freeman
  This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Accounts Agency. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Michael Dymond to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 28 February 1995:
  You asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, pursuant to his answer of 20 December 1994 (Official Report column 1167), the expenditure or transactions giving rise to the debt collection visits was incurred in the countries visited or in the United Kingdom. This

  685
  matter falls to me as Chief Executive of the Defence Accounts Agency for reply.
  The debt collection visits were in respect of debts incurred both in the countries visited and in the UK.
  It was necessary to visit the countries in order to facilitate efficient liaison with the individuals holding the authority to either pay or clear the debt situation.

  International Military Services Ltd.
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the testing facilities built to designs supplied by International Military Services Ltd., are still available for use in Iraq.

  Mr. Freeman
  International Military Services Ltd. supervised the construction of a reinforced testing and servicing facility in Iraq between 1981 and 1987. As my predecessor made clear to the hon. Member on 12 March 1992,Official Report, column 607, we have no record of the precise location of this facility and so cannot say whether it is still available for use.

  Military Attachés
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 February,Official Report, column 87, if he will list for each overseas post (a) the number of attachés, (b) the number of supporting staff and (c) the cost of residences for attachés and support staff.

  Mr. Soames
  A table showing the number, location, service and rank of service attachés, defence advisers and support staff is being placed in the Library of the House. The cost of residences for attachés and support staff is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 20 February,Official Report, column 87, if he will give the strategic purpose of each posting.

  Mr. Soames
  Service attachés are appointed by the Ministry of Defence, subject to the concurrence of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. They serve the Ministry of Defence by supporting the sale of British defence equipment and related services; aiding defence co-operation, including military assistance overseas, performing representational and liaison duties; and providing advice to the head of mission and diplomatic staff.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 20 February,Official Report, column 87, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Goddard study.

  Mr. Soames
  Due to the classification of the report, I am unable to place a copy in the Library of the House.

  Lobby Organisations
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Ministers in his Department have on any occasion in the last seven days met representatives of(a) Messrs C. S. M. Parliamentary Consultants Ltd., (b) Dewe Rogerson Ltd., (c) Decision Makers Ltd., (d) G. J. W. Government Relations Ltd., (e) G.P.C., (f) G.J.W., (g) Ian Greer Associates Ltd., (h) Market Access Group, (i)
  686
  Politics International, (j) Westminster Communications Group, (k) Westminster Strategy, (l) Good Relations, (m) Rowland Sallingbury Casy, (n) Lowe Bell, (o) Profile Corporate and Political Relations and (p) Shandwick Consultants Ltd. and discussed issues relating to the clients of these companies.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science.

  Publications
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all White Papers, Green Papers and pamphlets issued by his Department, or agencies for which it is responsible, in 1994 giving, in each case, the total cost to the Exchequer of their production, publication and distribution; and what was the total equivalent cost in 1980.

  Mr. Freeman
  No central record is kept of all the White Papers, Green Papers and pamphlets produced, published and distributed by my Department. The central cost of printing such documents, among others, in 1994 was £12.56 million, but no record is held of the comparable figure for 1980. In addition to this, budget holders have considerable freedom and are able to pay for the cost of printing and distributing documents from their own budgets; these costs could not, however, be separately identified. In respect of those White Papers, Green Papers and other publications published by HMSO, all costs are borne by HMSO which aims to recover them from sales revenue.

  Staff Cars
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 22 February,Official Report, columns 252–55, regarding staff cars for officers in the armed services, what the annual mileage of their dedicated staff car was the for latest year for which the information is available for the posts numbered 11, 12, 31, 47, 76, 79 and 90.

  Mr. Soames
  The mileage of the cars in question during the latest 12-month period for which information is available is as follows:

  Miles

  Serial 11, Commander British Forces Cyprus

  16,318

  Serial 12, Commander British Forces Falkland Islands

  10,046

  Serial 31, Commander British Forces Gibraltar

  6,283

  Serial 47, General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland

  12,000

  Serial 76, Commander British Forces Hong Kong

  11,968

  Serial 79, Governor of Gibraltar

  2,175

  Serial 90, Director General Saudi Armed Forces Project

  13,500

  In some cases, topographical and security reasons may necessitate additional vehicles or other methods of transport being used. The serial numbers will have changed in the pursuant question which I answered yesterday.

  Sonobuoys
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is his policy to retain a manufacturing capacity for sonobuoys in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Freeman
  All sonobuoy requirements are subject to competition where this is feasible, and foreign competitors are not excluded. Our policy is to obtain best value for money in defence procurement while satisfying the requirements of the armed forces.

  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place the same restrictions on foreign companies bidding for United Kingdom defence contracts as would apply to British companies bidding for similar contracts in those countries; and what the present position is in this respect with regard to sonobuoys and bidders from France and the United States of America.

  Mr. Freeman
  The Government's policy when procuring defence equipment is to aim for best value for money, wherever possible through the use of international competition for defence contracts. We prefer not to impose restrictions on potential bidders, not least because, if we were to protect our own defence market, this would undoubtedly invite retaliation damaging to United Kingdom defence exporters. Therefore, there are no restrictions on French and United States companies bidding for UK sonobuoy contracts. We continue to strive, through bilateral and multilateral channels, for greater mutual access to defence markets and, where appropriate, seek proposals for UK industrial participation in work let to overseas companies. We take into account a refusal to expand reciprocal rights.

  Phoenix Aircraft
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 17 February,Official Report, column 885, what are the alternative systems under consideration concerning the purchase of remote-controlled surveillance aircraft.

  Mr. Freeman
  I have nothing further to add to my reply of 17 February,Official Report, column 885.

  RAF St. Athan
  Mr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost of the damage done to Tornado aircraft at RAF St. Athan since 1990; arid how many aircraft involved in a contract with Airwork Ltd., are no longer suitable for operational use.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers which I gave him on 12 December 1994,Official Report, column 460, and 14 December 1994, column 668.

  Peacekeeping
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it is his Department's policy to make a distinction between(a) peacekeeping operations and (b) peacemaking operations.

  Mr. Soames
  My Department recognises a spectrum of potential peace support operations ranging from preventative military deployments, through peacekeeping operations of varying degrees of complexity and intensity, to peace enforcement. The critical distinction is, however, whether such operations take place with the consent of all the parties involved, since this determines whether a peace 688
  support force is recognised by all sides to be impartial. In practice, decisions on whether to participate in particular operations are taken case by case in the light of the circumstances and other commitments.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy concerning joint international peacekeeping training; and if he will specify the dates, units involved and countries which have worked with British forces on joint international peacekeeping training.

  Mr. Soames
  The preparation of individuals and units for peacekeeping operations is a national responsibility and, particularly in view of the differing training requirements of the armed services of different states, should remain so. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Defence favours international cooperation over peacekeeping training where this can usefully be done, and we have supported and contributed to the United Nations' efforts to harmonise national training programmes in this area. To date, co-operation has included joint seminars and map exercises, participation by foreign personnel in British peacekeeping training courses and peacekeeping field exercises. Co-operation has involved a wide range of allied and friendly nations, including activities under the auspices of "Partnership for Peace". There is no central record of the countries and units involved, or the dates on which joint training took place.

  Bosnia-Herzegovina
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received from UNPROFOR in respect of military aircraft flights into west Tuzla air force base; what breaches of the arms embargo such reports have revealed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The activity of aircraft over Bosnia-Herzegovina is primarily a matter for the UN and NATO. We understand, however, that a transport aircraft may have been in the vicinity of Tuzla on the night of 10 February, but we have no knowledge of its intentions or whether the arms embargo was breached.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what obstacles have been placed in the way of UNPROFOR forces freedom of manoeuvre in(a) Vitez, (b) Tuzla, (c) Sarajevo, (d) Gornji Vakuf and (e) Gorazde in recent weeks; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  Bosnian Government forces have established vehicle check points on routes into Sarajevo, Tuzla and Gornji Vakuf which are causing minor freedom of movement problems for UNPROFOR. At Gorazde, Bosnian Serb army forces continue to prevent UNPROFOR from using a direct route into the town. There are no reported problems at Vitez. Despite these localised restrictions, the freedom of movement both for UNPROFOR and the aid agencies has improved significantly throughout most of Bosnia since the cessation of hostilities agreement came into effect on I January.
  689
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to maintain Britain's contribution to UNPROFOR in Bosnia-Herzegovina if UN forces are withdrawn from Croatia in response to President Tudjman's request; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Soames
  The Government remain concerned at President Tudjman's decision not to renew the UNPROFOR mandate in Croatia after 31 March 1995 and we hope that international pressure will persuade him to change his mind. We do not intend to withdraw our contingent from Bosnia but we continue to monitor the situation closely.

  Expense Claims
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many investigations into the expense claims of service personnel have lasted more than six month, in each of the last eight years.

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

  BA2000
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what future plans he has for the Scottish regiments in his project BA2000.

  Mr. Soames
  BA2000 is an internal and conceptual document addressing in general terms the requirements of the Army at the beginning of the next century; it will not be addressing the Army's regimental system. We have no intention of changing the number or organisation of British Army regiments.

ENVIRONMENT

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Allason
  to ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to require all local authorities to highlight or otherwise identify non-statutory expenditure when their budgets are published.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  None. It is for individual local authorities to decide what budgetary information to publish about their discretionary expenditure under section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972.

  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the standard spending assessments of each district council in England and Wales as a sum per head of population numbered in descending order.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The requested information for English non-metropolitan districts has been placed in the Library. The standard spending assessments for authorities in Wales are the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list(a) the outstanding non-housing capital debt and (b) outstanding housing capital debt for each (a) shire county, (b) metropolitan borough and (c) London borough.
  690
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The available information on total longer-term debt is as follows. It is not possible to separate housing and non-housing debt.

  Long-term debt in shire counties, metropolitan districts and London boroughs as at 31 March 1994

  Authority

  Total long-term borrowing at 31March 1994 £000's

  Shire counties

  Avon

  114,600

  Bedfordshire

  143,485

  Berkshire

  144,742

  Buckinghamshire

  148,150

  Cambridgeshire

  48,996

  Cheshire

  124,415

  Cleveland

  206,651

  Cornwall

  120,442

  Cumbria

  129,007

  Derbyshire

  239,643

  Devon

  183,017

  Dorset

  0

  Durham

  75,513

  East Sussex

  133,419

  Essex

  195,049

  Gloucestershire

  135,935

  Hampshire

  135,587

  Hereford and Worcester

  82,474

  Hertfordshire

  82,585

  Humberside

  180,347

  Isle of Wight

  39,689

  Kent

  394,074

  Lancashire

  370,188

  Leicestershire

  192,529

  Lincolnshire

  7,000

  Norfolk

  76,553

  Northamptonshire

  144,138

  Northumberland

  54,168

  North Yorkshire

  127,230

  Nottinghamshire

  163,241

  Oxfordshire

  73,454

  Shropshire

  113,325

  Somerset

  28,444

  Staffordshire

  245.818

  Suffolk

  0

  Surrey

  64,261

  Warwickshire

  115,454

  West Sussex

  0

  Wiltshire

  38,821

  Isles of Scilly

  2,654

  Metropolitan districts

  Barnsley

  174,356

  Birmingham

  1,178,683

  Bolton

  144,575

  Bradford

  402,724

  Bury

  59,095

  Calderdale

  120,925

  Coventry

  381,318

  Doncaster

  171,571

  Dudley

  259,391

  Gateshead

  248,009

  Kirklees

  233,504

  Knowsley

  167,678

  Leeds

  648,201

  Liverpool

  756,618

  Manchester

  1,227,649

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  425,449

  North Tyneside

  163.949

  Oldham

  241,554

  Rochdale

  201,452

  Rotherham

  227,188

  Salford

  376,104

  691

  Long-term debt in shire counties, metropolitan districts and London boroughs as at 31 March 1994

  Authority

  Total long-term borrowing at 31 March 1994 £000's

  Sandwell

  300,577

  Sefton

  147,769

  Sheffield

  749,612

  Solihull

  65,975

  South Tyneside

  385,728

  St Helens

  199,788

  Stockport

  102,675

  Sunderland

  258,385

  Tameside

  182,404

  Trafford

  82,409

  Wakefield

  324,042

  Walsall

  257,039

  Wigan

  236,142

  Wirral

  210,709

  Wolverhampton

  320,468

  Inner London boroughs (including City)

  City of London

  0

  Camden

  603,513

  Greenwich

  457,643

  Hackney

  707,097

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  311,559

  Islington

  889,837

  Kensington and Chelsea

  214,461

  Lambeth

  802,670

  Lewisham

  494,997

  Southwark

  855,585

  Tower Hamlets

  650,464

  Wandsworth

  220,296

  Westminster

  301,597

  Outer London boroughs

  Barking and Dagenham

  0

  Barnet

  122,400

  Bexley

  85,935

  Brent

  498,585

  Bromley

  8

  Croydon

  131,254

  Ealing

  273,314

  Enfield

  125,747

  Haringey

  559,779

  Harrow

  185,864

  Havering

  51,590

  Hillingdon

  142,372

  Hounslow

  215,685

  Kingston upon Thames

  88,630

  Merton

  225,095

  Newham

  514,688

  Redbridge

  65,881

  Richmond upon Thames

  85,465

  Sutton

  70,143

  Waltham Forest

  207,098

  Gloucestershire County Council (Budget)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment under what provisions the budget set by Gloucestershire county council on 22 February is deemed illegal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The power to designate authorities in accordance with capping principles determined under section 54 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 can be exercised only after an authority has set its budget. The announcements on 1 December and 1 February made clear that the statements relating to 692
  capping principles were statements of Ministers' current intentions and that the criteria remain provisional. Authorities are not required to set a budget within the limits implied by the provisional criteria and they are not acting illegally if they do not do so. My right hon. Friend will take account of all the circumstances when he decides whether to designate any authority which fixes a budget above the level implied by the criteria which he in due course adopts. Designated authorities have 28 days within which to accept their cap or to make representations. If any right hon. Friend then requires an authority to reduce its budget he will place an order before the House.

  Lobby Organisations
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if Ministers in his Department have on any occasion in the last seven days met representatives of(a) Messrs. C. S. M. Parliamentary Consultants Ltd., (b) Dewe Rogerson Ltd., (c) Decision Makers Ltd., (d) G. J. W. Government Relations Ltd., (e) G.P.C., (f) G.J.W., (g) Ian Greer Associates Ltd., (h) Market Access Group, (i) Politics International, (j) Westminster Communications Group, (k) Westminster Strategy, (l) Good Relations, (m) Rowland Sallingbury Casy, (n) Lowe Bell, (o) Profile Corporate and Political Relations and (p) Shandwick Consultants Ltd., and discussed issues relating to the clients of these companies.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply from my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science today.

  Publications
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all White Papers, Green Papers and pamphlets issued by his Department or agencies for which it is responsible in 1994, giving in each case the total cost to the Exchequer of their production, publication and distribution; and what was the total equivalent cost in 1980.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  A list of White Papers, Green Papers and pamphlets issued by my Department in 1994 has been placed in the Library of the House. The entries for agencies are incomplete as some relevant infirmation is not readily available. With regard to cost, this information cannot be provided within the acceptable cost limits.

  Energy Management Assistance Scheme
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement regarding the actual savings made under the energy management assistance scheme, and the original estimates provided by him in his answer of 24 May 1993,Official Report, column 617; whether the savings identified from investments undertaken to date under this scheme have remained at the level reported to the House in his answer of 30 June 1993, Official Report, columns 522–23; and what plans he has to expand the scheme.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The energy management assistance scheme was launched in February 1992 and was to be reviewed after three years. It was designed to encourage small industrial and commercial enterprises to reduce their energy costs and so contribute to a reduction in the UK's emission of carbon dioxide. The number of
  693
  applications has been higher than expected, but generally from relatively small commercial enterprises, so the overall effect of the scheme now seems likely to be much less than the projection of £250 million savings by the year 2000 given in the answer of May 1993. Those enterprises which used the scheme achieved cost savings of between 10 and 40 per cent., thus maintaining the average reported in June 1993.

  In reviewing the scheme, it was decided to take the opportunity to widen it to include other environmental matters. I announced plans to adapt EMAS in my recent answer to a question from the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) on 15 February, Official Report, column 676. The existing EMAS will be phased out during the next year and the small company environmental and energy management scheme will be introduced.

  Vanadium and Nickel
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average annual concentration in nanogrammes per cubic metre at each of the Atomic Energy Authority monitoring sites for(a) vanadium (b) nickel.

  Mr. Atkins
  Airborne concentrations of trace elements are measured at five urban locations in the United Kingdom operated by AEA Technology. The most recent measurements available for nickel and vanadium are for the year 1992–93. The mean annual concentrations of nickel at the five sites were 14.3 ng m-3—nanogrammes per cubic metre—at Motherwell, 11.3 ng m-3 at Glasgow, 18.4 ng m-3 at Leeds, 11.4 ng m-3 at Brent, and 5.2 ng m-3 at central London. The mean annual concentration for vanadium at the central London site, the only site where vanadium is measured, was 12 ng m-3.

  Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the health risk level accepted by his Department for ground level concentrations of(a) vanadium and (b) nickel in nanogrammes per cubic metre.

  Mr. Atkins
  My Department has no air quality standards for these substances but the World Health Organisation guidelines are as follows:

  vanadium—1 nanogramme per cubic metre, averaging time 24 hrs;

  nickel—4 X 10-4 cancer risk estimate for lifetime exposure to a concentration of 1 nanogramme per cubic metre.

  Crown Buildings, Cardiff
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has had from NCM Credit Insurance concerning an extension of the lease on the floors it occupies at the Crown buildings, Cathays park; what consultations he has had concerning the corresponding extension on the waiver on the covenant debarring commercial activities in Cathays park; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer given to his earlier question on 28 February 1995,Official Report, column 475.

  NCM Credit Insurance has asked for, and been granted, a short-term extension of its lease at Cathays park until 31 March 1995, pending completion of its new accommodation within the Cardiff hay development area. A corresponding extension on the waiver has been
  694
  obtained. NCM has now asked for a further extension and negotiations are in progress.

  Northumberland National Park
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to remove the areas used for military training from the Northumberland national park.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government have no plans to remove the areas used for military training from the park.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest position on the reorganisation of local government in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and County Durham.

  Mr. Gummer
  On Bedfordshire, I have concluded that the balance of evidence lies in favour of accepting the commission's recommendations for a unitary Luton, but rejecting the recommendations for unitary status elsewhere so that the remainder of the county will continue as two tier. I am satisfied that this solution best reflects the identities and interests of the local communities concerned and best secures effective and convenient local government.

  Although there were unanimous support of an all unitary solution among the districts, I am not persuaded that this is the best solution for the county as a whole. There is a very strong case, which few would challenge, for a unitary Luton, given its size, population density and former county borough status. However, for the remainder of the county I consider that the balance of the evidence points to retaining the present two-tier structure. The districts of Mid and South Bedfordshire, which would be merge in the commission's proposals, have no particular focus or strong identity. On the issues of service delivery and viability, considerable doubts whether the relatively small authorities proposed in the commission's recommended structure could deliver effectively, entailing some risk to local taxpayers. An all unitary solution would also lead to higher transitional costs, as well as greater disruption.

  I am accepting the commission's recommendations on other matters, namely police and fire services, land use planning, ceremonial matter and electoral arrangements, with minor modification to take account of the decision on structure.

  With regard to Buckinghamshire, having weighed all the arguments I have accepted part of the commission's structural recommendations—a unitary authority for Milton Keynes—but rejected the rest so that the remainder of the county would remain two tier. Again, I am satisfied that this solution best reflects the identities and interests of the local communities concerned and best secures effective and convenient local government.

  There is a strong case for a unitary Milton Keynes, which is now also accepted by the county council. The town has a strong and distinct community identity and is in many ways different from the rest of the county. Its

  695
  population is already large and we have little doubt that it would be able to provide all local authority services, particularly with further substantial growth expected.

  However, it seems to us that the position in the rest of the county is much less clear. Popular opinion is finely balance and doubts have been expressed about the fragmentation of services. We are also conscious that it is likely that an all unitary solution would give rise to considerably higher transitional costs.

  I am accepting the commission recommendations on police and fire services, land use planning, ceremonial matters and electoral arrangements, with minor modification to take account of the decision on structure. I am still considering the commission's recommendations for parishing Aylesbury and High Wycombe.

  In the case of County Durham, I have decided to accept the commission's recommendation that there should be a unitary authority based on the present borough area of Darlington and that there should be no change to the existing two-tier arrangements in the rest of County Durham. I agree with the commission that this solution will best reflect the identities and interests of the local communities concerned and best secures effective and convenient local government.

  The case for a unitary Darlington is strong. Darlington is based on a former county borough and has a population in excess of 100,000. The commission has identified a strong sense of community identity with the borough council area.

  Its natural and communications links are with the unitary authorities which are to be established in Cleveland—it shares with Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Stockton, a dependence on the infrastructure based on the Tees port, the A66—A1 road connection, the east coast main line railway and Teeside airport. Therefore I also propose to accept the commission's recommendation that Darlington should establish joint structure planning arrangements with the proposed unitary authorities of Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and east Cleveland and Stockton on Tees for the whole of their areas.

  I also propose to accept the commission's recommendations for the police and fire services, and for electoral arrangements. I am still considering the commission's recommendations for ceremonial arrangements and for parishing in the county.

  Birds (Illegal Imports)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 20 February,Official Report, columns 89–90, how many birds listed as (a) threatened and (b) subject to limited trade he estimates were imported illegally into Britain in each year since 1987.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I have been asked to reply.

  There is no reliable method of estimating the numbers of birds imported illegally if the figures are required to
  696
  include birds which were smuggled in successful evasion of import controls. However, the numbers of CITES-listed birds detected by customs as being in breach of CITES controls and therefore seized as illegal are given in the table. As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Environment explained on 20 February, Official Report, columns 89–90, CITES appendix I equates with "threatened" and appendices II and III with "subject to limited trade":

  Year

  Appendix I

  Appendices II-III

  19891

  Nil

  24

  1990

  4

  72

  1991

  11

  32

  1992

  3

  102

  1993

  Nil

  228

  1994

  1

  45

  1 Data for earlier years are not available.

WALES

  Cardiff Wales Airport
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set out the statutory provisions which allow him to require the residuary authority to sell Cardiff Wales airport.

  Mr. Redwood
  I have decided that any shares in Cardiff Wales Airport Company which remain in the ownership of any of the three Glamorgan county councils immediately prior to 1 April 1996 should vest in the residuary body for Wales. This would he achieved automatically under paragraph 11(1) of schedule 13 to the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994.

  I have the power in paragraph 12 of the same schedule to direct the residuary body in respect of the exercise of its functions. It would be open to me to issue a direction requiring it to dispose of certain property, rights or liabilities.

  I was delighted to learn recently that the three Glamorgan county councils are now agreed that the disposal of their shares before local government reorganisation is the most appropriate course.

  Learning Disabilities
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 21 February,Official Report, column 125, how much of the £61 million expenditure by health authorities on services for individuals with a learning disability was spent solely on hospital care.

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

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what amount was held by each local authority and in total in each of the last five years, with respect to receipts from council house and property sales.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information requested is given in the following table.
  697

  Usable cash backed accumulated receipts at 31 March1

  £000

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Alyn and Deeside

  1,774

  768

  24

  0

  967

  Colwyn

  1,177

  802

  627

  452

  924

  Delyn

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Glyndwr

  1,261

  1,083

  1,023

  350

  283

  Rhuddlan

  711

  510

  485

  634

  334

  Wrexham Maelor

  3,244

  3,123

  62

  110

  981

  Carmarthen

  1,750

  606

  609

  1,120

  1,857

  Ceredigion

  1,873

  479

  137

  371

  2,069

  Dinefwr

  871

  719

  746

  761

  370

  Llanelli

  242

  292

  0

  0

  1,056

  Preseli Pembrokeshire

  3,183

  1,745

  1,365

  1,910

  2,725

  South Pembrokeshire

  1,476

  1,791

  1,591

  1,741

  1,641

  Blaenau Gwent

  1,718

  766

  1,129

  1,406

  2,876

  Islwyn

  2,548

  46

  0

  648

  359

  Monmouth

  794

  329

  872

  2,248

  4,905

  Newport

  10,375

  9,349

  7,742

  5,250

  8,125

  Torfaen

  3,758

  14

  0

  1,634

  3,271

  Aberconwy

  2,274

  1,884

  1,109

  1,223

  1,793

  Arfon

  2,533

  357

  346

  141

  207

  Dwyfor

  81

  120

  71

  144

  314

  Meirionnydd

  368

  15

  0

  0

  0

  Ynys Mon

  1,559

  57

  166

  71

  60

  Cynon Valley

  1,267

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Merthyr Tydfil

  604

  298

  170

  781

  1,072

  Ogwr

  1,978

  1,377

  2,712

  3,453

  3,326

  Rhondda

  405

  0

  0

  0

  1,570

  Rhymney Valley

  1,468

  1,155

  878

  949

  1,107

  Taff Ely

  1,673

  177

  469

  91

  3,003

  Brecknock

  1,850

  1,046

  892

  996

  1,769

  Montgomeryshire

  2,462

  1,746

  1,370

  1,016

  1,574

  Radnorshire

  1,029

  761

  402

  125

  450

  Cardiff

  10,523

  1,357

  749

  2,601

  20,363

  Vale of Glamorgan

  9,378

  6,575

  6,436

  5,659

  5,716

  Port Talbot

  616

  1,176

  1,209

  1,794

  550

  Lliw Valley

  1,508

  1,054

  1,406

  1,778

  2,211

  Neath

  1,251

  102

  758

  77

  481

  Swansea

  3,658

  1,719

  2,178

  1,514

  268

  Clwyd

  1,037

  0

  0

  0

  2,216

  Dyfed

  21

  296

  267

  549

  1,318

  Gwent

  7,337

  6,792

  7,080

  5,877

  7,205

  Gwynedd

  82

  95

  333

  382

  2,615

  Mid Glamorgan

  325

  415

  414

  1,266

  3,915

  Powys

  123

  143

  27

  213

  431

  South Glamorgan

  100

  2,290

  1,551

  328

  2,563

  West Glamorgan

  765

  137

  236

  1,140

  1,971

  Dyfed Powys Joint Police Authority

  138

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North Wales Joint Police Authority

  50

  48

  26

  0

  846

  South Wales Joint Police Authority

  0

  0

  99

  0

  437

  Total Wales

  93,216

  53,614

  47,766

  50,803

  102,094

  Source:

  Local authority returns

  1 Receipts from all sales of capital assets including repayments of grants and advances.

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Temple-Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library copies of the April 1992 edition of his Department's urban development guidelines as issued to the Welsh Development Agency for the exercise of the urban development function.

  Mr. Redwood
  The 1992 urban development guidelines were superseded by a revised version issued in July 1994, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. I shall, however, arrange for a copy of the 1992 guidelines to be sent to my hon. Friend.

  Lobbying Organisations
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if Ministers in his Department have on any occasion in the last seven days met representatives of(a) Messrs. C. S. M. Parliamentary Consultants Ltd., (b) Dewe Rogerson Ltd., (c) Decision Makers Ltd., (d) G.J.W. Government Relations Ltd., (e) G.P.C.. (f) G.J.W., (g) Ian Greer Associates Ltd., (h) Market Access Group, (i) Politics International, (j) Westminster Communications Group, (k) Westminster Strategy, (l) Good Relations, (m) Rowland Sallingbury Casy, (n) Lowe Bell, (o) People Corporate and Political

  699
  Relations and (p) Shandwick Consultants Ltd. and discussed issues relating to the clients of these companies.

  Mr. Redwood
  Neither I nor my Ministers have met representatives from these companies, to the best of our knowledge.

  Publications
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all White Papers, Green Papers and pamphlets issued by his Department, or agencies for which it is responsible in 1994 giving, in each case, the total cost to the Exchequer of their production, publication and distribution; and what was the total equivalent cost in 1980.

  Mr. Redwood
  A list of all White Papers and consultation papers which my Department issued last year, together with a preliminary list of other documents issued last year, has been placed in the Library of the House. When the preliminary list is finalised and printed, later this year, it will be placed in the Library of the House.

  In respect of White Papers, Green Papers and other publications published by HMSO, all costs are borne by

  Project

  Location

  Funding

  1995–96 £

  1996–97 £

  To assess the costs and benefits of a system which allows X-ray pictures to be transmitted electronically around a hospital.

  Ysbyty Glan Clwyd

  36,000

  26,000

  To understand why people with a high risk of developing a serious inherited disease either choose or refuse genetic tests.

  University of Wales College of Medicine

  15,000

  15,000

  To assess an education scheme designed to raise the take-up of cervical screening by women at high risk and to reduce anxiety among those at low risk.

  University of Glamorgan and University of Wales, College of Medicine

  45,000

  45,000

  To evaluate a new approach to preventing depression recurring in patients

  University of Wales Bangor

  46,000

  46,000

  To find out whether a rehabilitation programme for patients with chronic respiratory disease can reduce hospital admissions and improve quality of life.

  University of Wales College of Medicine and Llandough NHS Trust.

  22,000

  23,000

  To assess the benefits for residents and staff of a training scheme for people with learning disabilities living in supported housing.

  University of Wales College of Medicine

  34,000

  26,000

  To test a new approach to helping people stop smoking based on their readiness to change.

  University of Glamorgan and University of Wales College of Medicine.

  26,000

  16,000

  To assess an intensive schools-based programme to reduce smoking based on a successful American model.

  University of Wales Cardiff

  17,000

  15,000

  To evaluate the effectiveness of using patients' own blood for transfusion in routine surgical operations.

  University of Wales Swansea, University Hospital of Wales and the Morriston NHS Trust.

  46,000

  42,000

  To develop a reliable questionnaire for assessing levels of mental health in the community and for measuring the extent to which treatment for mental health problems works.

  University of Wales. Bangor

  38,000

  37,000

  700
  HMSO, which aims to recover these from sales revenue. The costs of producing and distributing other documents is not held centrally.

  Health Research Projects
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will announce his adjudication on the health research project applications submitted to his Department for 1995–96 funding; and if he will give the title of the successful application for funding and their total estimated cost(a) in 1995–96 and (b) in 1996–97;

  (2) what guidance was given to applicants for funding on health research projects in 1995–96; on what date the invitation to apply for financial assistance was advertised and in what media and in what terms; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Professor Ian Russell, the director of research and development, wrote to a wide range of research interests in Wales in May 1994 seeking bids for health research funding. Guidance on the priority areas and the criteria against which bids would be assessed were provided at a series of meetings convened throughout Wales and details were circulated to all those who expressed an interest. I have agreed that the following projects should be funded from the R and D budget:
  701

  Project

  Location

  Funding

  1995–96 £

  1996–97 £

  To produce a reliable measure of how sensitive GPs are lo patients' expectations, fears and concerns as a means of improving the effectiveness of primary care.

  University of Wales, College of Medicine.

  19,000

  18,000

  To develop guidance on which patients are most likely to benefit from being referred to a dermatology clinic by their GP.

  Wrexham Maelor NHS Trust and University of Wales, College of Medicine

  41,000

  34,000

  To evaluate improvements in the quality of information on cancer in Wales that could result from better reporting guidelines and the use of computer-based reports.

  Llandough NHS trust and the NHS Cancer Registry.

  33,000

  25,000

  To assess a new package of treatment for the most severely disordered children.

  University of Wales, Bangor and Gwynedd Community NHS Trust.

  53,000

  47,000

  To evaluate orthotic therapy for diabetic patients to reduce the risk of development of serious foot problems.

  Cardiff Institute of Higher Education and Royal Gwent Hospital.

  24,000

  18,000

  To review how patient care and nursing practice is affected by the way information on patient care is recorded by nurses.

  University of Wales, Aberystwyth and Swansea.

  33,000

  —

  To assess the benefits of screening patients at home for severe breathing problems during sleep, which can result in serious health problems.

  University of Wales, Swansea and Prince Philip Hospital.

  50,000

  36,000

  To evaluate the reliability of a method of identifying patients at risk of developing pressure sores.

  University of Wales, Bangor and Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

  2,000

  —

  Cardiff Bay Development Corporation
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what notification his Department receives on stage payments on the urban investment grant paid to Grosvenor Waterside by Cardiff Bay development corporation for the purpose of the development of a headquarters building for NCM Credit Insurance; how many such stage payments have already been notified to his Department; what is their aggregate value; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  None. The staging of payments is an operational matter for the Cardiff Bay development corporation. The total grant offer is £2.5 million.

  A48
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date he received representations from Cardiff city council concerning the availability of funding for the proposed dedicated flyover connecting the Eastern avenue A48 trunk road and the University hospital of Wales, Heath, Cardiff; and on what date he replied.

  Mr. Redwood
  A request was received from Cardiff city council on 20 January 1995 to meet my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State. Arrangements for the meeting are in hand.

  Welsh Health Common Services Authority
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list each principal non-clinical function of the Welsh Health Common Services Authority, stating the guidelines issued by his Department to the authority with respect to(a) market testing, (b) contractorisation, (c) management/employee buyout and (d) privatisation: and
  702
  if he will list the dates on which such written guidance was issued formally to the authority.

  Mr. Redwood
  The principal non-clinical functions of the Welsh Health Common Services Authority are: procurement; information and information technology; building design; project management; and specialist engineering and surveying services provided to the NHS in Wales.

  When the outcome of the review was announced to the authority, it was asked to start the process of market testing.

  No guidance has been issued that is specific to the authority. However, information and guidance on this subject already exists and the process is being undertaken in accordance with established practice.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many NHS patients have been waiting(a) six months, (b) nine months, (c) one year, (d) 18 months and (e) two years or more for specialist treatment in Wales.

  Mr. Redwood
  The latest information available on the number of Welsh residents waiting for in-patient or day case treatment is given in the following table:

  Waiting more than

  Number of patients at 31 December 1994

  one year

  6,376

  18 months

  1,659

  two years

  1

  703
  Information on the number of NHS patients waiting more than six or nine months for in-patient or day case treatment is not collected centrally.

  NHS Security
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent annually on security for national health service hospitals in Wales in each year from 1990 to 1994.

  Mr. Redwood
  These figures are not held centrally.

  Valuation Tribunals
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for valuation tribunals in Wales in view of the reorganisation of local government on 1 April 1996.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  A consultation paper has been issued today by the Welsh Office seeking comments on proposals for changes to the organisation of valuation tribunals to match the boundaries of the new unitary authorities. Views are also sought on changes to the arrangements for the appointment of tribunal members and the number of tribunal offices. Comments are invited by 18 April 1995. Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the Library of the House and sent to Members of Parliament for Welsh constituencies.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Fish-eating Birds
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what criteria he intends to apply towards applications to control the number of cormorants threatening the viability of Stillwater fisheries in England, pending the findings of the research on fish-eating birds which he is commissioning.

  Mrs. Browning
  Cormorants are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as amended, although the Act does allow for the issuing of licences to permit the killing or taking of these birds in order to prevent serious damage to fisheries. Pending the findings of the research programme, MAFF, as a licensing authority, will continue to issue licences to shoot a limited number of birds as an aid to scaring where: there is evidence that serious damage is being or is likely to be caused to the fishery; other non-lethal anti-predation measures have been shown to be ineffective or impractical, and not just difficult to implement; and there are no other evident causes of the serious damage, and shooting will contribute to preventing any damage that might be being caused.

  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the five sub-topics on which his Department, the Department of the Environment and the National Rivers Authority propose to commission research on fish-eating birds; what account will be taken in this research of information already publicly available in the United Kingdom and elsewhere; and for what reasons this project is expected to run for up to three years.

  Mrs. Browning
  A copy of the specifications for the five research projects currently being advertised has been 704
  placed in the Library of the House. These specifications make it clear that the results of previous research, both in this country and elsewhere, must be taken into account. The projects will run for between six months and three years, depending on the nature and complexity of the issues being researched.

  Lobby Organisations
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if Ministers in his Department have on any occasion in the last seven days met representatives of(a) Messrs. C. S. M., Parliamentary Consultants Ltd., (b) Dewe Rogerson Ltd., (c) Decision Makers Ltd., (d) G. J. W. Government Relations Ltd., (e) G.P.C., (f) G.J.W., (g) Ian Greer Associates Ltd., (h) Market Access Group, (i) Politics International, (j) Westminster Communications Group, (k) Westminster Strategy, (l) Good Relations. (m) Rowland Sallingbury Casy, (n) Lowe Bell, (o) People Corporate and Political Relations and (p) Shandwick Consultants Ltd. and discussed issues relating to the clients of these companies.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science today.

  Fish Conservation
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money was allocated to the United Kingdom Government by the EU under projects relating to fish conservation in each year since 1989; and how these moneys were allocated to the fishing industry.

  Mr. Jack
  The Community funds, or contributes to the funding of, a number of measures in the fisheries sector concerning, for example, decommissioning, enforcement and research projects which ultimately benefit fish conservation. However, no EU funds have been allocated to the United Kingdom Government specifically for projects relating to fish conservation.

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 23 January,Official Report column 71, if any of the 6,314 cattle exported for immediate slaughter to Northern Ireland were over six months of age; and how many of them subsequently went from Northern Ireland to another EU state;

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 12 January, Official Report, column 210, and 23 January, Official Report, column 71, if the 6,662 cattle exported for immediate slaughter were all under six months of age.

  Mrs. Browning
  Information on the age of the 6,314 cattle exported to Northern Ireland is available only at disproportionate cost. There is no recorded evidence of movement of these cattle to another member state.

  Information entered into the ANIMO database is provisional and subject to amendment. As regards the remainder of the 6,662 cattle referred to, more detailed comparison of the ANIMO database with copies of the available export health certificates has revealed that the 83 cattle exported to France and originally recorded as being for immediate slaughter were, in fact, certified as calves of under 42 days of age, and thus most likely

  705
  destined for further production; the 233 animals exported to the Netherlands were certified as calves of less than six months of age; and the 32 cattle exported to the Republic of Ireland originated in the Netherlands, were being transhipped through Great Britain, and should therefore not have been entered into ANIMO as exported from Britain.

  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if provision was made for the individual feeding of calves during the shipment of calves from Brightlingsea to Nieuwpoort, Belgium on 10 February; how many of the crew were trained in the handling and/or feeding of animals; and if his Ministry vets treated the ship as a floating lairage.

  Mrs. Browning
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Glanford and Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley) on 23 February,Official Report, column 311. The veterinary officer accompanying the shipment confirms that there was an experienced animal attendant accompanying the calves who supervised their on-board feeding. The ship was a fitted livestock vessel with satisfactory arrangements for the penning of the calves so that all could like down and rest during the voyage.

  Arctic Fox Farms
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 20 February,Official Report, column 54, what is his estimate of the number of Arctic fox fur farms there have been in each of the last five years.

  Mrs. Browning
  As the keeping of arctic fox is not subject to control in Great Britain, the information requested is not available.

  Ian Greer Associates
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what items of correspondence were received by the Ministers in his Department for Messrs. Ian Greer Associates in the last month.

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 28 February 1995]: None.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Habitual Residence Test
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what basis in his answer of 3 November 1994 to the hon. Member for Bow and Poplar (Ms Gordon),Official Report, column 1369, the estimate of the annual income support saving from the habitual residence test was arrived at;

  (2) if the estimated cost of administering the habitual residence test from 1 August 1994 to 1 August 1995 mentioned in his answer to the hon. Member for Bow and Popular (Ms Gordon) of 3 November 1994, Official Report, column 1369, included the £800,000 allocation referred to by the chief executive of the Benefits Agency in his answer of 12 December 1994 to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) Official Report, column 538.
  706
  Mr. Roger Evans
  The estimated income support savings were based on the assumption that at least 5,000 single claimants aged 25 and over receiving benefit for 13 weeks would not qualify because of the habitual residence test. This calculation leads to a saving of about £3 million rather than "excess of £7 million" incorrectly stated in the earlier answer, which represented the estimated full savings including housing benefit and council tax benefit.

  Before the test was introduced, initial annual administrative costs for the period 1 August 1994 to I August 1995 were estimated to be £368,000. Management information has since identified a shortfall for the current financial year. This is because the numbers subject to the test were greater than initially projected. On 21 November 1994 a secondary allocation of £521,787 was made. The figure quoted in the Official Report of 12 December 1994, column 538, was the rounded, estimated administrative costs of the Benefits Agency for 1994–95. The actual figure will be available shortly. On the current level of claims being processed, the eventual costs for 1994–95 are likely to be substantially higher than £800,000.

  Income Support (Parents with Care)
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to reduce the amount of the reduced benefit direction for parents with care in receipt of income support from 20 per cent. of the income support personal allowance for 26 weeks and 10 per cent. for a further 52 weeks to an amount broadly in line with other deductions from benefit.

  Mr. Burt
  We have no plans to change the policy on the amount or duration of reduced benefit directions for parents with care.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average time currently taken by the Child Support Agency from the issue of a maintenance inquiry form to the completion of a maintenance assessment.

  Mr. Burt
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for East Kilbride (Mr. Ingram) by the chief executive of the Child Support Agency on 8 February 1995,Official Report, columns 299–300.

  Lobby Organisations
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if Ministers in his Department have on any occasion in the last seven days met representatives of(a) Messrs. C. S. M. Parliamentary Consultants Ltd., (b) Dewe Rogerson Ltd., (c) Decision Makers Ltd., (d) G. J. W. Government Relations Ltd., (e) G.P.C., (f) G.J.W., (g) Ian Greer Associates Ltd., (h) Market Access Group, (i) Politics International, (j) Westminster Communications Group, (k) Westminster Strategy, (l) Good Relations, (m) Rowland Sallingbury Casy, (n) Lowe Bell, (o) People Corporate and Political Relations and (p) Shandwick Consultants Ltd. and discussed issues relating to the clients of these companies.

  Mr. Hague
  No.

  Publications
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list all White Papers, Green Papers and
  707
  pamphlets issued by his Department or agencies for which it is responsible in 1994, giving in each case the total cost to the Exchequer of their production, publication and distribution; and what was the total equivalent cost in 1980.

  Mr. Hague
  The cost of production, publication and distribution of White Papers, Green Papers and pamphlets produced by this Department in 1994 is as follows:

  £

  Headquarters publications

  White Paper on pensions

  17,349

  White Paper summary

  6,215

  Pensions catalogue (PEC1)

  7,476

  "Measures to tackle discrimination against disabled people"

  47,620

  Summary of the above

  17,936

  "You and disability"

  75,973.50

  "Help with childcare charges"

  9,308

  "Incapacity Benefit"(IB200)

  53,358.18

  Incapacity Benefit: Medical Assessment consultation document

  8,822.13

  "Taking the Plunge": booklet to accompany DWA video

  4,740

  Departmental Annual Report

  49,843.63

  Benefits Agency

  Business Plan

  37,595

  Annual Report

  28,271

  Catalogue

  32,240

  Pensions information for women (pack)

  3,829

  Deduction from compensation

  72,764

  Evidence of identity

  8,027

  Tell us about it

  54,437

  BEL leaflet

  5,510

  Child Support Agency

  Annual Report

  6,543

  Charter inserts

  7,229.78

  Contributions Agency

  Business Plan

  26,180

  Framework Document

  13,954

  Annual Report

  42,006

  "Useful contracts" CA 46

  89,540

  NI News

  855

  War Pensions Agency

  Charter Standard Statement

  18,171

  Business Plan

  11,318

  Framework Document

  7,294

  Annual Report

  5,904.04

  Notes:

  1. These figures do not include the costs of producing reprints and revised editions of existing leaflets, the costs of which cannot be apportioned to a particular calendar year.

  2. Distribution costs are included where possible and appropriate. However, for many campaigns distribution covers a variety of material, including claim packs, and this cannot be broken down.

  The Department does not hold information about total costs to the Exchequer other than the costs given in the table.

  A total equivalent cost for 1980 cannot be provided because the Department of Social Security did not exist until 1988.

  Income Support (Pensioners)
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what was the total number of(a) single women over retirement age, (b) single men over retirement age and (c) couples over retirement age in receipt of income support (i) in each region and (ii) nationally, at the latest date for which figures are available;

  (2) what was the total number of (a) single women, (b) single men and (c) couples in receipt of income support in each region and nationally, at the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is in the tables.

  Income Support Recipients

  Single men aged 65+

  Single women aged 60+

  Couples over retirement age

  Great Britain

  202,000

  1,183,000

  224,000

  Scotland

  19,000

  119,000

  20,000

  Wales

  10,000

  69,000

  12,000

  England:—South

  173,000

  995,000

  192,000

  Western—North

  15,000

  91,000

  18,000

  Eastern

  31,000

  184,000

  34,000

  —Midlands—North

  35,000

  193,000

  41,000

  Western—London

  32,000

  173,000

  29,000

  North—London

  31,000

  183,000

  40,000

  South

  29,000

  171,000

  30,000

  Single men

  Single women

  Couples

  Great Britain

  1,849,000

  2,911,000

  1,031,000

  Scotland

  188,000

  289,000

  81,000

  Wales

  96,000

  163,000

  57,000

  England:

  1,565,000

  2,459,000

  893,000

  —South Western

  128,000

  206,000

  77,000

  —North Eastern

  262,000

  427,000

  156,000

  —Midlands

  278,000

  450,000

  181,000

  —North Western

  263,000

  421,000

  127,000

  —London North

  333,000

  504,000

  194,000

  —London South

  302,000

  452,000

  158,000

  Notes:

  1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest thousand. Due to rounding figures may not total.

  2. Regions are DSS administrative regions are used by the Department prior to 1988.

  3. Couples are cases where either the claimant and/or partner is over retirement age.

  4. Source: Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry February 1994, 5 per cent. sample.

EMPLOYMENT

  Lobby Organisations
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if Ministers in his Department have on any occasion in the last seven days met representatives of(a) Messrs. C. S. M. Parliamentary Consultants Ltd., (b) Dewe Rogerson Ltd., (c) Decision Makers Ltd., (d) G. J. W. Government Relations Ltd., (e) G.P.C., G.J.W., (g) Ian Greer Associates Ltd., (h) Market Access Group, (i) Politics International, (j) Westminster Communications

  709
  Group, (k) Westminster Strategy, (l) Good Relations, (m) Rowland Sallingbury Casy, (n) Lowe Bell, (o) Profile Corporate and Political Relations and (p) Shandwick Consultants Ltd. and discussed issues relating to the clients of these companies.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science.

  Publications
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list all White Papers, Green Papers and pamphlets issued by his Department or agencies for which it is responsible in 1994, giving in each case the total cost to the Exchequer of their production, publication and distribution; and what was the total equivalent cost in 1980.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Department and its agencies produced one White Paper, one Green Paper and about 530 pamphlets between 1 April 1994 and mid-February 1995. The total cost of production and publication of these items was £2,600,000, rounded. Distribution costs are not identifiable by item.

  The full information will be contained within a large list which I will send to the hon. Member and a copy of which I will place in the Library.

  Figures are not available for the total equivalent cost in 1980.

  Public Holidays
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many hank holidays there are in 1995 in(a) Scotland and (b) Wales and England; and what are the reasons for the difference.

  Miss Widdecombe
  There are eight permanent bank and public holidays in all parts of Great Britain. For 1995 only, the early May bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland has been moved from the first to the second Monday in May—from 1 to 8 May 1995—to link with commemorative events for the 50th anniversary of VE day.

  In Scotland, 8 May will be a bank holiday in addition to 1 May 1995; unlike other parts of the United Kingdom, the first Monday in May in Scotland, which is specified as a hank holiday in schedule 1 to the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, has a long tradition going back to 1871. In practice, however, bank holidays have less general significance in Scotland where various local and traditional holidays tend to be observed instead. It seems unlikely that most employers in Scotland will observe both the 1 May and the 8 May 1995 bank holidays.

  The law does not give employees a right to a holiday on those days and all holiday entitlement is a matter for agreement between employers and employees.

  Adjudication Officer
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many cases have been referred to the adjudication officer; and of these, what number had their benefit disallowed for each three-month period since the actively seeking work requirement was introduced.
  710
  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. Fogden to Mr. Stephen Byers, dated 2 March 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the number of cases referred to the adjudication officer and of these how many had benefit disallowed, following the introduction of the requirement to actively seek work.
  The actively seeking employment condition was introduced in the 1989 Social Security Act. Unfortunately we do not collect information on the number of cases referred to the adjudication officer or number of decisions to disallow income support claims. We do however record the number of decisions and disallowances issued to unemployment benefit claimants, including those in respect of the definition of actively seeking work. This is contained in the quarterly summary entitled "Analysis of Adjudication Officers' Decisions", copies of which are held in the Library of the House. This information covers the period from 1 October 1989, when the actively seeking work condition was introduced, to the quarter ending December 1994.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment to what period a jobseeker's allowance will be backdated in instances in which the claimant believes the jobseeker's agreement to be unreasonable; and what criteria apply in making this decision.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]: The independent adjudication officer will have power to direct when a jobseeker's agreement is to be treated as having effect, if such conditions as he considered appropriate are satisfied. Each case will be decided on its own merits, though regulations may prescribe matters which are to be taken into account by the adjudication officer when making such a direction.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if, where there is right of appeal for claimants seeking entitlement to jobseeker's allowance, allowance or benefit will be paid at the full rate until the adjudicating officer gives a decision.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]: Questions arising in connection with a claim to jobseeker's allowance will be submitted for decision by an adjudication officer. Claimants will have a right of appeal to a social security appeals tribunal against any adverse decision by the adjudication officer.

  Payment of benefit will not be made clear or will be suspended pending a decision on one of the basic conditions of entitlement—whether the claimant is available for work or is actively seeking it, or whether the proposed terms of a jobseeker's agreement are satisfactory. Claimants in defined vulnerable groups will, however, be able to receive reduced rate income-based payments during the suspension, if they can show that they or a member of their household would otherwise suffer hardship. Other claimants will be able to claim on this basis after the first two weeks of the suspension.

  Disputes during a claim over the terms of a variation of a jobseeker's agreement will generally also involve doubts about availability and actively seeking. Benefit will, in such circumstances, be suspended pending the decision of an adjudication officer. If, however, availability and actively seeking are not in doubt the

  711
  agreement remains in force, and in these circumstances benefit will continue to be paid in full unless or until the adjudication officer brings the agreement to an end when the claimant has failed to comply with a direction given by him.

  Claimants who otherwise satisfy the conditions of entitlement will continue to receive benefit in full pending a decision on whether to impose a sanction under clause 15 of the Jobseekers Bill for instance, for leaving employment voluntarily without just cause or failing to carry out a jobseeker's direction.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment in cases where the jobseeker's allowance appeal tribunal decides in the claimant's favour and an amended agreement is signed, if entitlement to jobseeker's allowance will be backdated; and if the tribunal decides against the claimant and he then signs the original agreement, if benefit will be backdated.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]: In cases where the social security appeals tribunal decides in the jobseeker's favour, the jobseeker's agreement will be backdated and payments of jobseeker's allowance will be backdated, provided that the claimant satisfies the other conditions of receipt of JSA.

  If the tribunal finds against the claimant, he will not receive payments of JSA until a satisfactory agreement has been signed by both parties.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what guarantees will be provided to ensure that where a claimant for the jobseeker's allowance has not yet signed the agreement for the purposes of administration or adjudication, payment of benefit will be backdated to cover this delay.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]: The employment officer and the jobseeker will seek to draw up a jobseeker's agreement. If they cannot reach an agreement, the proposed terms and conditions of the agreement will be referred to an adjudication officer. The jobseeker will not be entitled to jobseeker's allowance unless he is in a prescribed vulnerable group and can apply for JSA hardship payments. If there is no decision after two weeks, however, all jobseekers will be entitled to apply for hardship payments.

  The adjudication officer will be able to make a direction about when the agreement is to be treated as having come into force. If he decides the agreement should be backdated, payments of JSA will be backdated, providing the jobseeker meets the other conditions of receipt of JSA.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what guarantees in respect of time scales will be given to ensure that waiting times will not be detrimental to the financial well-being of the claimant while he or she is waiting for an outcome of the assessment undertaken for the purposes of entering into the jobseeker's agreement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]: If a reference on the terms and conditions of a jobseeker's agreement is made to an adjudication officer and no decision is made within two weeks, the jobseeker will be able to apply for hardship payments. Certain vulnerable groups will be able to claim hardship payments from the date of claim.
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  When the adjudication officer makes a determination on the agreement, he will also be able to direct when it is to be treated as having effect.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what procedures will apply when a claimant thinks that the jobseeker's agreement is unreasonable; what minimum standards will apply in respect of time scales for referral; and if benefit will continue to be paid during this or any subsequent period of appeal.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]: If the jobseeker and employment officer are not able to agree a jobseeker's agreement, either may refer it to an independent adjudication officer to determine whether it is reasonable to expect the jobseeker to comply with the terms and conditions, and if he does comply, whether he will satisfy the availability and actively seeking work conditions.

  The proposed agreement will be referred for adjudication as quickly as possible. If no decision has been made within two weeks, the jobseeker will be able to apply for hardship payments. Certain groups of jobseekers will be able to claim from the date of their claim.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority has produced a third response to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report on the service provided by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Page
  I have today placed in the Library of the House the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's third response to the report by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission which was published in May 1992.

  I am pleased that the UKAEA has now implemented almost all of the MMC's 58 recommendations and that excellent progress is being made with the remainder.

  Information Super-highways
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will set out the conclusions arising from the G7 conference on information super-highways.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  I represented the Government at the G7 conference on the information society in Brussels from 24 to 26 February. Ministers discussed three broad topics—regulatory issues, infrastructure issues and the social and cultural impact of the information society—on the basis of a theme paper prepared by the European Commission.

  The conference adopted a series of positive conclusion reflecting a variety of United Kingdom priorities.

  These emphasise the importance of:

  promoting dynamic competition,

  encouraging private investment,

  defining an adaptable regulatory framework,

  providing open access to networks,

  while ensuring universal provision of and access to services,

  promoting equality of opportunity to the citizen,

  promoting diversity of content, including cultural and linguistic diversity,

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  recognising the necessity of worldwide cooperation with particular attention to less-developed countries.

  The G7 undertook to:

  promote interconnectivity and interoperability,

  develop global markets for networks, services and applications,

  ensure privacy and data security,

  protect intellectual property rights,

  co-operate in research and development and in the development of new applications,

  monitor the social and societal implications of the information society.

  I am placing copies of the theme paper, the conclusions and my main intervention in the Library of the House.

  The conference made a welcome commitment to the importance of reaching a successful conclusion to the World Trade Organisation negotiations on basic telecommunications by April 1996. I was also glad that United States Vice-President Gore announced to the conference the United States' intention to reform its legislation which currently restricts foreign investment in certain United States telecommunications services, which the Government have been pressing the United States to change for some time. I noted that the United States Government have indicated that they would expect reciprocity, but this is not likely to be a problem for United Kingdom industry.

  The conference also agreed to launch 11 collaborative pilot projects to demonstrate the potential of the information society. The Government will be taking an active role in the implementation of these projects, as part of a process of demonstrating how the new technologies can benefit society as a whole.

  The conference was preceded by a round table discussion by business leaders from the G7 countries, who strongly advocated one of the central themes of my speech to the conference—the importance of light and flexible regulation and liberalisation of telecommunications infrastructure as spurs to enable private sector investment to realise the benefits of the information society.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about exports of armoured vehicles to Indonesia.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I have today authorised the issue of a licence to Alvis to export armoured vehicles to Indonesia. In reaching this decision, I have taken advice from the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and the Secretary of State for Defence. The decision has been made in the light of the established and internationally agreed criteria for military exports. It has included a thorough assessment of the likelihood of these vehicles being used for internal repression in Indonesia or East Timor. This assessment has concluded that it is not likely that these vehicles would be so used. The Indonesian Government have given assurances that the vehicles will not be deployed in East Timor or used in any form of repression of civilians anywhere in Indonesia.

  Premium Trust Deeds
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the request from Lloyd's of London for his approval for variations and amendments to the premium trust deeds.
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  Mr. Heseltine
  On 8 February the council of Lloyd's sought my approval for certain variations and amendments to the premiums trust deeds, as announced to members of Lloyd's in the chairman's letter of 3 February. It first notified me of the draft proposals last October, and the proposals were subsequently refined.

  I have considered this request carefully in accordance with my responsibilities for policyholder protection under the Insurance Companies Act 1982, and in particular section 83(2).

  I have concluded that the variations and amendments proposed, and thus the deeds in their amended form, maintain and enhance the protection offered to policyholders. They therefore continue to meet the requirements for my approval under section 83(2), and thus for the continued exemption of members of Lloyd's from regulation under part II of the Act.

  The council of Lloyd's has consulted the members of Lloyd's about the proposals, and considered the results of that consultation prior to seeking approval, as announced in the chairman's letter of 3 February.

  I am aware that arguments have been raised as to whether clause 22 of the premiums trust deeds empowers the council of Lloyd's to make the proposed variations and amendments. It is not part of my function to adjudicate between the council and members of Lloyd's on that issue, which is governed by private law. In that connection, I note the provision in the proposals put to me to test the validity of the proposed variations and amendments in the courts, and to hold any moneys affected in a suitably secure form to ensure that affected members of Lloyd's will not have their rights prejudiced, pending the outcome of the proceedings. Were the court to find any or all of the variations and amendments invalid, my approval extends to the remainder of them, or the premiums trust deeds in their current form, as appropriate.

  I have also considered whether any arguments based on EC law, of the kind raised in the Clementson case, could be directed at these amendments. My legal advice is that the EC arguments raised in that case are unlikely to succeed. Nevertheless, I have received an undertaking from Lloyd's which will have the effect that, pending a determination of those arguments by the courts, recoveries which are attracted by the amendments will not be called into the central fund without my consent.

  On this basis, I have therefore notified the council of Lloyd's of my approval of the variations and amendments proposed.

  Cable Franchises
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his policy towards the Office of Telecommunications being required to obtain figures for houses cabled by old franchises in the same way as is the practice of the Independent Television Commission for new franchises; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Oftel is responsible for monitoring and enforcing compliance with the build obligations contained in the Telecommunications Act 1984 licences for those cable franchises awarded under the Cable and Broadcasting Act 1984. The ITC has enforcement responsibility for the build timetables of local delivery franchises awarded under the Broadcasting Act 1990.

  Conditional Access
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards conditional access at European level.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The Government aim to secure early agreement at European level to the necessary technical standards for the development and introduction of digital television. A common position on a directive on standards for the transmission of television signals, reached at the November Telecommunications Council, includes provisions for digital conditional access systems for pay television services, and is now being considered by the European Parliament.

  The Government are also following industry discussions on commercial arrangements to underpin the introduction of digital television, including digital conditional access systems. In 1994, discussions in the European digital video broadcasting group led to limited agreement on a voluntary code of conduct to govern access to conditional access systems by broadcasters. Not all broadcasters support the code. Further discussions are taking place. The Government consider that the principal means of regulation for the emerging digital conditional access television market lies in the proper application of the relevant competition law rules at both European and National level.

  Lobby Organisations
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if Ministers in his Department have on any occasion in the last seven days met representatives of(a) Messrs C. S. M. Parliamentary Consultants Ltd.,(b) Dewe Rogerson Ltd., (c) Decision Makers Ltd., (d) G.J.W. Government Relations Ltd., (e) G.P.C., (f) G.J.W., (g) Ian Greer Associates Ltd., (h) Market Access Group, (i) Politics International (j) Westminster Communications Group, (k) Westminster Strategy, (l) Good Relations, (m) Rowland Sallingbury Casy, (n) Lowe Bell, (o) People Corporate and Political Relations and (p) Shandwick Consultants Ltd. and discussed issues relating to the clients of these companies.

  Mr. Heseltine
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science today.

  United Nations Special Commission
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what inquiries have been made at Davy Morris Cranes or Amersham International arising out of information from the United Nations special commission; and what was the result.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The names of many companies have been brought to notice by UNSCOM, many of which were engaged in legitimate trade with Iraq before the imposition of UN sanctions. All cases have been thoroughly investigated. It is, however, the policy of this and previous Administrations not to comment on individual cases unless public interest outweighs the need for confidentiality.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many investigations of wrongdoing have been carried out by the UN special investigators commission; and what subsequent action has been taken arising out of 716
  the provision of technology to Iraq discovered by UNSCOM.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The UN special commission and the International Atomic Energy Authority were tasked by the Security Council in 1991 to destroy, remove or render harmless all chemical, biological and nuclear weapons in Iraq, and all ballistic missiles with a range of more than 150 km. Over 110 missions have been carried out in Iraq covering hundreds of sites, at some of which British-made equipment has been found. But it is not our practice to comment in detail on information given to us by UNSCOM and the IAEA on companies which have traded with Iraq; particularly since many of them would have done so quite legitimately before the introduction of sanctions. Any evidence of wrongdoing will be investigated and, if substantiated, will be a matter for the courts.

  Business Links
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what financial assistance his Department or its agencies has given to the Business Link Wirral since its inception.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The Department has offered £932,500 to the Chester, Ellesmere Port and Wirral training and enterprise council to assist Business Link Wirral, Chester and Ellesmere Port over their first three years. In addition, the Department is also providing funding totalling £604,250 to the TEC for a number of business support services delivered through the business links. No separate offers of assistance have been made to Business Link Wirral alone.

  Single European Market
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is planning towards the further development of a single European market.

  Mr. Needham
  I am continuing to take every opportunity to ensure even and effective enforcement of the single market. This includes the work of the single market compliance unit in my Department, which defends the interests of British business where single market rules are believed to have been broken, as well as support for European Community efforts to step up contacts between enforcement officials and to promote mutual recognition of national arrangements. I am pressing for further progress towards securing a full single market in telecommunications and energy.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has for the 1996 intergovernmental conference for the further development of a single European market.

  Mr. Needham
  The Government will continue to take every opportunity to ensure even and effective enforcement of the single market.

  ROM Data
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what inquiries his Department undertook into the background of the directors of ROM Data computer firm in Cornwall before making it a grant.

  Mr. Page
  A range of inquiries were undertaken by the Department and others into the background of ROM Data, including checks on the directors of the company through the Companies House and insolvency service databases.
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  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he intends to take against the directors of ROM Data computer firm in Cornwall; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Page
  We are currently awaiting the liquidators' report and are keeping under review the action which may be appropriate.

  Sizewell B
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he list will list all subventions from the nuclear levy towards the capital cost of Sizewell B nuclear power station.

  Mr. Page
  Nuclear Electric's income from the fossil fuel levy is not hypothecated to any particular activities.

  Coal Authority
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the Coal Authority's budget for dealing with pollution from mine workings; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Page
  The Coal Authority's financial provision for 1994–95 takes full account of current work to prevent or control water pollution from mine workings, including the cost of pumping operation transferred from British Coal. The provision for 1995–96 is under discussion.

  Nuclear Accidents
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to introduce legislation to provide for the environmental clean up of commonly owned land and water resources following an accident at a nuclear power plant involving radioactivity contamination.

  Mr. Atkins
  I have been asked to reply.

  There are no such plans. The introduction of further legislation to provide for environmental clean-up in the unlikely event of an accident at a nuclear power plant is unnecessary.

  European Works Councils
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the President of Board of Trade if he will list the United Kingdom-based companies whose size and operations in Europe will render them liable to set up European works councils when the European works council directive comes into force.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government have no information other than published research, for example, by the university of Warwick, about which United Kingdom-based companies have employees above the threshold levels in the states to which the European works councils directive applies.

  Guinness Case: Disclosure of Evidence Investigation
  Guinness Case: Disclosure of Evidence Investigation
  Frontier Controls
  Frontier Controls
  Coach Standardisation: Draft Directive
  Coach Standardisation: Draft Directive
  GEST Grants: Take-up by Schools
  GEST Grants: Take-up by Schools
  Human Rights Convention and Scots Law
  Human Rights Convention and Scots Law
  Gypsy and Traveller Children
  Gypsy and Traveller Children
  Hospitals for Mentally Handicapped: Opposition to Closure
  Hospitals for Mentally Handicapped: Opposition to Closure
  Local Government Reorganisation: Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and County Durham
  Local Government Reorganisation: Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and County Durham
  MoD Document BA2000
  MoD Document BA2000
  NATO Costs
  NATO Costs
  Army Administrative Services: Relocation
  Army Administrative Services: Relocation