Written Answers of 3 March 1995

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Sita Kamara
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he took to ensure the care and welfare of Sita Kamara while she was in the custody of the immigration service; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The immigration service monitors closely the performance and standards of service provided under contract by Group 4 Total Security Ltd for the care of detainees at Campsfield house. The steps taken to ensure Miss Kamara's well-being while at Campsfield house were fully in accordance with the requirements of the contract.

  Bridgewater Four
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent consideration has been given to the case of the Bridgewater Four; and when he expects to be able to announce a decision on reference to the Court of Appeal.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Inquiries by the Merseyside police in relation to the most recent representations about this case are nearing completion. When the police report has been received, and it has been considered along with all other relevant information and any further inquiries, my right hon. and learned Friend will make known his conclusions about the case.

  Fire Service College
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the terms of reference and the timetable of the review of options for the future of the Fire Service College; if he will name the consultants carrying out the review; and if they were appointed after a tender process.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  On his appointment in May 1994, the newly appointed chief executive of the Fire Service College was asked to carry out a fundamental review of the college's corporate and business strategy which would include an examination of options for the future basis of the college's operations. There were no formal terms of reference. The chief executive will be presenting his finding to the Department shortly. In the course of the review, the chief executive has drawn on advice from the college's solicitors, Veale Wasbrough of Bristol. They were appointed in July 1994 after competitive tender. Following a competitive tender exercise run by Veale Wasbrough but overseen and approved by the college, the consultants Coopers and Lybrand were asked to provide advice on certain aspects of the review.
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  Suresh Kumar
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the initial date of arrival in the United Kingdom of Suresh Kumar, currently held in Campsfield house detention centre: and if he will make a statement on the intervening circumstances.

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

HEALTH

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals she has for supporting general practitioners in their administrative commitments.

  Mr. Malone
  A total of £552.4 million was directly reimbursed to general practitioners in 1993–94 to assist them towards the cost of computing and staff they employ, including those who carry out administrative tasks. We are also carrying out an efficiency scrutiny of bureaucracy in general practice and a report will be delivered to the Department in April.

  Statistics (Ethnic Information)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if it is the policy of her Department to break down statistics by ethnic origin.

  Mr. Sackville
  Yes, where the necessary source information is available and subject to confidentiality of information about individuals.

  In Vitro Fertilisation and Surrogacy
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are currently taken by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to monitor and initiate research into(a) handicaps in babies conceived by in vitro fertilisation, (b) the number of abortions, miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnancies conceived by in vitro fertilisation, (c) the long-term psychological effects on babies conceived by in vitro fertilisation, (d) the long-term psychological effects on surrogate mothers of their surrogacy arrangements; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority monitors the incidence of miscarriage and stillbirth in pregnancies conceived by in vitro fertilisation, and abnormalities in babies born as a result of IVF, through its register of licensed treatments. Details are published in the authority's annual reports, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Long-term research is being undertaken by Professor Susan Golombok at City university into the psycho-social development of children born as a result of assisted conception.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps are taken by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to ensure that mothers agreeing to participate in surrogate pregnancies are made aware of their right not to hand over the baby following its birth;
  721
  (2) what steps are taken by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to ensure that mothers agreeing to participate in surrogate pregnancies are offered psychological counselling both during the pregnancy and on a long-term basis following the birth;

  (3) how many babies have so far been born to surrogate mothers; in how many of the cases the mother was actually given psychological counselling both during the pregnancy and on a long-term basis following the birth; and in how many of those cases the natural mother exercised her right not to hand over her baby after birth;

  (4) what steps are taken by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to ensure that babies (a) conceived by in vitro fertilisation and (b) born through surrogacy arrangements receive specialist psychological counselling throughout their childhood; and for how many and what percentage of all children in each category such counselling has been made available to date;

  (5) what steps are taken by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to ensure that the siblings of (a) babies conceived by in vitro fertilisation or (b) born through surrogacy arrangements receive specialist psychological counselling throughout their childhood; and in how many and what percentage of children in each category such counselling to date has been made available.

  Mr. Sackville
  It is a requirement of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 that people seeking licensed treatment or consenting to the use or storage of embryos, or to the donation or storage of gametes, must be given a"suitable opportunity to receive proper counselling about the implications of taking the proposed steps"
  before they consent. Comprehensive guidance on this matter is included in the code of practice for centres issued by the authority. This includes information on the additional factors to be considered where it is the intention that the child will not be brought up by the carrying mother. These provisions apply only where the surrogacy arrangements involve a centre licensed under the 1990 Act.

  Information about the number of births to surrogate mothers or about counselling arrangements is not available.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what ways the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is currently assisting(a) Dr. Valerie Beral or (b) other qualified individuals with research projects into the high perinatal mortality rate associated with in vitro fertilisation babies.

  Mr. Sackville
  The authority has received no such requests for assistance. The authority is monitoring the incidence of perinatal mortality where licensed treatment has been given.

  Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to discuss with the chairman of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority that authority's answerability to Parliament.

  Mr. Sackville
  Ministers hold regular meetings with the authority's chairman. There are no plans at this time to discuss accountability.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for 722
  Health if she will list the current members of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, with the remuneration that each receives in connection with that membership.

  Mr. Sackville
  Members of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority are:

  Ruth Deech - Chairman

  Lady Diana Brittan - Deputy Chairman

  Professor R.J. Berry

  Professor Ian Cooke

  Jane Denton

  Liz Forgan

  Joan Harbison

  Professor Stephen Hillier

  The Most Reverend Richard Holloway

  Professor Martin Johnson

  Richard Jones

  Penelope Keith

  Dr. Brian Lieberman

  Dr. Caroline Lindsey

  Angela Mays

  Dr. Anne McLaren

  Dr. Jeanette Naish

  Rabbi Julia Neuberger

  David Shilson

  Lady Julia Tugendhat

  John Williams

  The chairman is paid £8,210 per year. The deputy chairman receives payment of £136 for each day of attendance and preparation in respect of the work of the authority. Other members receive £128 a day on the same basis.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals are currently paid on either(a) a full time-time or (b) a part-time basis by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority; and if she will identify the numbers of individuals in each category who also derive income in any way from clinics licensed by that authority.

  Mr. Sackville
  Twenty-one of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority executive are paid full-time. One official and legal adviser are paid part-time. No person in either category derives income from clinics licensed by the authority.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the total running costs of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority in each of the years since it was established; and what percentage of those costs were generated by fees for licences in each of those years.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  Total gross expenditure £000s

  Income from licence fees as a percentage of total gross expenditure

  1990–91

  109

  1(no licence fees)

  1991–92

  811

  8.7

  1992–93

  1,027

  66.8

  1993–94

  1,146

  66.1

  1 The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority did not assume its full responsibility until 1 August 1991.

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  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what specific action she has now taken in pursuance of the oral statement of the Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Sackville) of 14 February 1995,Official Report, column 910, undertaking further to examine possible conflicts of interests on the part of those remunerated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

  Mr. Sackville
  A member of the authority who is in any way directly or indirectly interested in a licence granted or proposed must declare such an interest. In such cases, the nature of the interest would be recorded by the authority and the member would be prohibited from participating in any deliberation or decision of the authority or of any licence committee with respect to the licence. In the case of their inspectors, the authority has issued guidance which clearly sets out a requirement for inspectors to inform the authority if they feel that it would be inappropriate for any reason to attend an inspection.

  Pay Beds
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of NHS hospital and trust beds were operated as paybeds to the private sector in the last year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available. Bed numbers are considered to be an inadequate measure of private patient activity. Private patient activity is measured by information based on income from the annual accounts of national health service trusts and directly managed units.

  Community Care Charter
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health from what organisations and individuals her Department sought advice when compiling the community care charter.

  Mr. Bowis
  The consultation document for the framework for local community care charters was sent to all local social services departments, health authorities, national health service trusts and housing authorities, as well as community health councils and a large number of voluntary organisations and provider representatives. All comments were carefully considered when the final document was drawn up.

  Patients Charter
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health from what organisations and individuals her Department sought advice when compiling the patients charter.

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply that I gave to the right hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on 16 February 1995 at columns 814–15.

  Management Courses
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total annual NHS expenditure on management courses; and if she will list the amount spent per course in the latest available year.
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  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mental Illness
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the role of voluntary bodies in providing assistance to the mentally ill and their relationship to statutory bodies.

  Mr. Bowls
  Voluntary organisations make a very important contribution to the support of people with mental illness and we encourage local health and social services to work closely with them.

  Mr. Alex Carlilie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her Department's estimate of the total annual financial assistance to the mentally ill by voluntary bodies in London.

  Mr. Bowls
  This is a matter for the large number of such organisations.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of people in England and Wales who did not consult a dentist in 1994; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Malone
  We have no such estimates. Information relating to Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Patient Discharge
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health with whom in a NHS hospital or trust the final decision rests concerning the discharge of a patient after surgery.

  Mr. Sackville
  Hospital consultants must decide when their patients are clinically fit to be discharged following surgery.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were discharged from Guy's and St. Thomas' Trust on 23 December 1994; and what measures were taken to ensure that sufficient care was provided for them over the Christmas period.

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally. The hon. and learned Member may wish to contact Lord Hayhoe, the chairman of the trust, for details.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Indonesia
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration has been given to including the aid programme to Indonesia financial support to the trade union movement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Within the resources available for supporting good government in Indonesia, we have judged the highest priorities to be assistance to the Indonesia national police and support for the Indonesian Government in financial decentralisation.

  Mrs Clywd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of
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  8 February, Official Report, columns 289–95, if any Indonesian police officers who have received scholarship awards involving training paid for by his Department have subsequently served in East Timor.

  Mr. Baldry
  According to the Indonesian national police, none of the police officers has subsequently served in East Timor.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 8 February,Official Report, columns 289–95, how many Indonesian police officers have received scholarships awards in each year since 1990 involving training of less than one month, in each case specifying the recipient's rank and the cost of the scholarship.

  Mr. Baldry
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  Name and Bank

  Cost/Study/Tour/Year £

  1990–91

  Mr. C.H.M. Waskito, Colonel

  3,100

  Mr. F. Sumampow, Lt. Colonel

  3,100

  Mr. H. Rasyid, Colonel

  3,100

  Mr. Soebariliyono, Lt. Colonel

  3,100

  Mr. Suryaningprang, Lt. Colonel

  3,100

  Mr. Y. Y. Laoli, Lt. Colonel

  3,100

  Mr. D. Rustadi, Lt. Colonel

  3,100

  Mr. M. Thoyib, Captain

  3,100

  Mr. N. Eko, Captain

  3,100

  Mr. Lihawa, Bridgadier General

  3,100

  1991–92

  Mr. G. Sumampow, Lt. Colonel

  3,000

  Mr. H. Rasyid, Colonel

  3,000

  Mr. Soebarliyono, Lt. Colonel

  3,000

  Mr. M. Suryaningprang, Lt. Colonel

  3,000

  Mr. Y. Y. Laoli, Lt, Colonel

  3,000

  Mr. D. Rustadi, Lt. Colonel

  3,000

  Mr. M. Thoyib, Captain

  3,000

  Mr. N. Eko, Captain

  3,000

  Mr. Soekamid, Major

  3,000

  Mr. Y Ermiady, Captain

  3,000

  1992–93

  Mr. C. H. M. Waskito, Colonel

  2,865

  Mr. F. Sumampow, Lt Colonel

  2,865

  Mr. H. Rasyid, Colonel

  2,865

  Mr. Soebarliyono, Lt. Colonel

  2,865

  Mr. M. Suryaningprang, Lt. Colonel

  2,865

  Mr. Y. Y. Laoli, Lt Colonel

  2,865

  Mr. D. Rustadi, Lt. Colonel

  2,865

  Ms Hemawati, Major

  2,865

  Ms M. Simanjuntak, Major

  2,865

  Ms R.P. Gaut, Major

  2,865

  Mr. M. Thoyib, Captain

  2,865

  Mr. N. Eko, Captain

  2,865

  Mr. M. B. Hutagalung, Major General

  2,865

  Mr. R. Lihawa, Brigadier General

  2,865

  Mr. Karyoso,Brigadier General

  2,865

  1993–94

  None

  0

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the projected cost of consultancy visits to Indonesia by British specialists working with the Indonesian police force in 1994–95.
  726
  Mr. Baldry
  On present plans we expect to spend some £80,000 on consultancy visits in 1994–95.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answers of 8 February,Official Report, columns 289–95, what impact his Department's spending on scholarships and consultancy visits to benefit the Indonesian national police force is having in terms of reducing human rights abuses; and what his future spending plans are with regard to these programmes.

  Mr. Baldry
  The project aims to improve the quality of service of the Indonesia national police. It does this through the establishment of a consultancy unit within the INP's headquarters which advises senior management on strategic change and solving management and organisation problems. Improving the quality of service is an important means of encouraging correct policing procedures and the observance of human rights.

  The present project is due to end in March 1996. We shall be considering over the coming months whether there is a need for further support for the INP after that date.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 February,Official Report, columns 289–95, which companies were used to make the consultancy arrangements, and in each case to which British police forces consultants were connected.

  Mr. Baldry
  Johnston and Ladd International was used. Before his retirement, one consultant used to be at Bramshill staff college and before that, the Kent constabulary. Another served with the Surrey constabulary.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the projected cost of scholarship awards in Britain for Indonesian police officers in 1994–95.

  Mr. Baldry
  On present plans we expect to spend some £37,000 on scholarship awards in 1994–95.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 8 February,Official Report, column 293, what were the costs in terms of administration and Crown servant time spent in supporting work with the Indonesian police force in each year since 1990, and whether these costs were included in the totals given in his answer.

  Mr. Baldry
  Project management costs, which were included in my answer of 8 February,Official Report, column 293 were:

  Year

  Costs £

  1990–91

  26,950

  1991–92

  16,375

  1992–93

  16,735

  1993–94

  20,620

  The Crown servant costs are not available.

  Aid
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to which projects and programmes he has allocated the funding no longer allocated to the Pergau dam in the current year.
  727
  Mr. Baldry
  In the current financial year, we are using the reallocated amounts for additional emergency aid, primarily in Bosnia, Rwanda and Chechnya; for additional contributions to multilateral organisations in the field of health and population; and for additional country programme expenditure including mine clearance in Cambodia.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to allocate the funding no longer allocated to the Pergau dam in 1995–96 to low-income countries in Africa and South Asia.

  Mr. Baldry
  The poorest countries of Africa and South Asia will remain a priority for aid programme funds in 1995–96. In 1993–94, nine of the 10 largest recipients of our bilateral country programme funds were low-income countries in Africa and Asia.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Leon Patterson
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer of 27 February 1995,Official Report, column 686, (1) if he will publish the reply that he received from the Director of the Crown Prosecution Service concerning the case of Leon Patterson;

  (2) if he will publish the report sent to him by the Director of Public Prosecutions into the circumstances surrounding the death of Leon Patterson;

  (3) on what date he expects the new inquest into the death of Leon Patterson to take place.

  The Attorney-General
  The report by the Director of Public Prosecutions referred to in my answer of 27 February 1995,Official Report, column 686 was prepared and submitted as briefing to enable the hon. Member's question to be answered. Such briefing, like the report to the director for the purpose of the decision whether or not to prosecute, is confidential.

  The conduct of inquests is a matter for the coroner concerned. The further inquest to which the hon. Member refers is to be held pursuant to an order of the divisional court. The date is for the coroner to determine in his judicial capacity.

  Racist Propaganda
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Attorney-General what directions he has issued following the passing of papers to him by the Metropolitan police serious and organised crime branch concerning the printing and distribution of race hate material; and if he will make a statement.

  The Attorney-General: I understand that the hon. Member's question relates to the investigation by the Metropolitan police into the activities of Combat 18. That inquiry is on-going. The Crown Prosecution Service expects to receive a report once the police inquiries have been concluded. I shall be kept informed. If the Crown Prosecution Service considers that proceedings may be appropriate for an offence which is subject to a statutory requirement that my consent be obtained, the papers will be referred to me.
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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Palestinian Elections
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made towards Palestinian elections and towards the redeployment of Israeli defence forces.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We understand that the elections negotiations in Cairo are making steady progress. The talks on redeployment have made no significant progress.

  Career Breaks
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. Goodlad
  Information on applications for career breaks is not collated centrally. The numbers of officers beginning unpaid career breaks in each of the last five years are:

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Male

  12

  11

  11

  5

  10

  Female

  44

  68

  65

  65

  59

  In the same period the numbers of officers who have had their employment terminated on disciplinary and poor performance grounds are:

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Male

  3

  5

  3

  1

  4

  Female

  —

  2

  3

  2

  1

  Staff whose applications for career breaks are not accepted do not have their employment terminated.

  Turkey
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government will take to encourage the Government of Turkey to ensure the preservation of the Suryani community in south-eastern Turkey.

  Mr. David Davis
  Our ambassador in Ankara has discussed the concerns of the Suryani community with the Turkish authorities and stressed that it is their duty to investigate and stamp out cases of harassment and kidnapping. We shall continue to take a close interest in the Christian communities in Turkey.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Her Majesty's Government are doing to encourage the Turkish authorities to allow the Syrian Orthodox Church in Turkey to have its own theological seminary and to teach the Syriac language in schools.

  Mr. David Davis
  We take a close interest in the Christian communities in Turkey in the context of our wider concerns on human rights. Our ambassador and other members of the embassy take advantage of their
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  visits outside the capital to meet with community leaders and to discuss their concerns with the local Turkish authorities.

  National Minorities
  Sir Donald Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when he expects to ratify the Council of Europe framework convention for the protection of national minorities; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will make a statement about the preparation of a draft protocol to the European convention of human rights concerning the protection of the rights of minorities in the cultural field.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Council of Europe summit in October 1993 called for the drawing up of a framework convention for the protection of national minorities, together with a draft additional protocol"complementing the European Convention on Human Rights in the cultural field by provisions guaranteeing individual rights, in particular for persons belonging to national minorities".

  The summit gave work on the framework convention the higher priority. The convention was drawn up during 1994 and opened for signature on 1 February 1995, when 21 states including the United Kingdom signed. We intend to ratify the convention in due course.

  The United Kingdom was fully involved in the drawing up of the convention, and is similarly engaged in the work which is in progress on the proposed additional protocol.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Chessington Computer Centre
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) how he will ensure the same confidentiality and security of highly sensitive data in the event of the work handled by the Chessington computer centre being transferred to the private sector.

  (2) what steps he is taking to ensure continued accountability and to guarantee commitment to correct and punctual payment of employees in the event of the Chessington computer centre being privatised.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  If work handled by Chessington computer centre is transferred to the private sector, the confidentiality and security of data, and accountability and commitment to correct and punctual payments, would be matters on which I should need to be satisfied that adequate safeguards are in place. The detail would be for the new operator and its customers to agree on a contractual basis.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to protect the ownership and copyright of software written in-house in the event of the Chessington computer centre being privatised.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  The treatment of software developed in-house in the event of the privatisation of Chessington computer centre is one of the issues on which I shall be advised by the review that I announced on 17 November 1994.

  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if the review of the Chessington computer centre included an impartial and thorough analysis of all 730
  the options; and on what grounds the terms of reference did not contain an analysis of Chessington's record as a Government agency.

  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  When Chessington computer centre was launched as an agency in 1993, the then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced that it was a definite candidate for privatisation but that it was not being privatised immediately due to a lack of a commercial track record and of direct competition. The current review is addressing those issues. Chessington's performance as an agency is being considered as a part of the review of its commercial track record.

TRANSPORT

  Bus and Airport Privatisation
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to encourage the privatisation of local authority owned airports and bus companies.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Three public airport companies have been privatised in recent years, and discussions are at various stages in relation to some of those still in the public sector. Similarly, 28 bus companies, including the eight largest, have moved successfully into the private sector.

  We welcome these developments, and we are continuing to encourage other airport and bus company owners to consider seriously the options for privatisation. We have therefore decided that, for a two-year period beginning on 1 April, the set-aside rate for receipts by local authorities from sales of shares in public airport companies will be reduced from 50 per cent. to 25 per cent. We have also decided that the set-aside rate for receipts from sales of bus companies should be reduced to 25 per cent. for a one-year period from 1 April. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Wales will be making amending regulations later this month.

  Fort William Rail Services
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what the cost per passenger carried on the London-Fort William sleeper/Motorail train would be, based only on the net costs saved by Railtrack and BR together, within the first year of its withdrawal;

  (2) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Clappison) on 20 February, Official Report, column 1, if he will set out the net costs, taking account of revenue losses, redundancy and relocation costs, expected to be saved in 1995–96 and 1996–97 by the withdrawal of the sleeper and Motorail service between London and Fort William to (a) British Rail and its subsidiaries and (b) Railtrack.

  Mr. Watts
  British Rail expect to save about £7 million from the proposed reduction in London to Scotland sleeper and Motorail services. The saving from withdrawing the Fort William service alone is estimated at £2.6 million. These figures do not include redundancy and relocation costs, which are non-recurring costs
  731
  estimated at less than £300,000 for the withdrawal of the Fort William service. There are unlikely to be any savings to Railtrack.

  On the basis of passengers carried in 1993–94 the cost net of revenue excluding infrastructure changes is £180 per passenger. The figures are based on British Rail's best estimate, using the 1994–95 price base.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evaluation he has made of the conclusions of the Director of Rail Passenger Franchising in respect of the economy and efficiency of the London to Fort William sleeper.

  Mr. Watts
  No final conclusions have been reached by the franchising director, who has indicated his preliminary view of which services he is minded to include in the ScotRail PSR on which consultation will take place later this year.

  Marine Rescue
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when the vehicles currently allocated to the auxiliary coastguard stations and marine rescue sub-centres are due to be replaced;

  (2) how many incidents were dealt with by the Marine Rescue Sub-centre at Swansea and at Liverpool in each year since 1988 which would formerly have been dealt with by the Hartland and Ramsay Centres.

  (3) how many individuals have been assisted by the marine rescue sub-centres at (a) Swansea and (b) Liverpool in each year since 1988; and how many fatalities occurred in each year in the sectors covered by (i) Swansea and (ii) Liverpool;

  (4) if he will list the type of vehicle stationed at Swansea, Milford Haven, Holyhead and Liverpool auxiliary stations and marine rescue sub-centres and when those vehicles were first registered;

  (5) how many auxiliary coastguard stations there are around the United Kingdom coast; and how many are equipped with one or more vehicles of their own;

  (6) at what rate sector officers are paid when required to cover staff shortages on marine rescue sub-centres;

  (7) how many (a) fatalities occurred and (b) individuals were assisted in the sectors covered by the Milford Haven and Liverpool coastguard stations in each year from 1988 to 1994;

  (8) how many times serious incidents have occurred when marine rescue sub-centres were understaffed at Swansea, Milford Haven, Holyhead and Liverpool; and what action was taken to overcome the shortage of staff;

  (9) how many times sector officers have been withdrawn from their offices to provide cover in marine rescue sub-centres at (a) Swansea, (b) Milford Haven, (c) Holyhead and (d) Liverpool since 1988;

  (10) when actual staffing levels have fallen below the guideline staffing levels at Swansea and Liverpool marine rescue sub-centres since 1988; and by how much on each occasion in staff hours;

  (11) what were the staffing levels at a (a) the Swansea marine rescue sub-centre and (b) Liverpool marine rescue sub-centre in each year from 1985 to 1994.

  Mr. Norris
  These are operational matters for the Coastguard Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
  732
  Letter from C. J. Harris to Mr. Nick Ainger, dated 3 March 1995:

  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions as these questions deal with operational matters, for which I have responsibility as Chief Executive.

  PO 1017/94/95 Casualty information prior to 1 January 1990 is not available in the format requested. Since then the number of occasions when the following rescue centres were understaffed during a serious incident are listed below:

  Centre

  Incidents

  MRCC Swansea

  Nil

  MRSC Milford Haven

  Nil

  MRSC Holyhead

  Nil

  MRSC Liverpool

  Nil

  Contingency plans exist to reinforce Operations Room manning in the event of a serious incident, firstly by the management and subsequently with off duty watch officers.

  PQ 1018/94/95. Casualty information prior to 1 January 1990 is not available in the format requested.

  Milford Haven

  Liverpool

  (a) Fatalities

  1990

  8

  9

  1991

  6

  11

  1992

  10

  6

  1993

  3

  15

  1994

  6

  14

  (b) Assisted/Rescued

  1990

  693

  469

  1991

  422

  491

  1992

  638

  1,014

  1993

  614

  620

  1994

  509

  581

  PQ 1019/94/95. There is no change to a Sector Officer's rate of pay when on watchkeeping duties.

  PQ 1020/94/95. There are 396 coastal response teams, 277 of which are equipped with one or more vehicles of their own.

  PQ 1021/94/95. The information requested in this PQ is detailed below:

  Swansea District Vehicle Data

  Station

  Vehicle type

  When registered

  Penarth

  4 wheel drive (4WD)

  1981

  Replaced by 4WD

  1995

  Hartland

  4WD

  1983

  Replaced by 4WD

  1995

  Llantwit Major

  4WD

  1984

  Croyde

  4WD

  1985

  Westward HO

  4WD

  1986

  Chepstow

  4WD

  1990

  Mumbles

  4WD

  1990

  Burnham on Sea

  4WD

  1990

  Rhossili

  4WD

  1990

  Countisbury

  4WD

  1990

  Portishead

  4WD

  1991

  Pembrey

  4WD

  1991

  Weston super Mare

  4WD

  1992

  Ilfracombe

  4WD

  1992

  Porthcawl

  4WD

  1992

  Porlock

  4WD

  1993

  Barry Island

  Saloon

  1993

  Oxwich

  Saloon

  1993

  Minehead

  Saloon

  1993

  Morthoe

  Saloon

  1993

  733

  Swansea District Vehicle Data

  Station

  Vehicle type

  When registered

  Instow

  Saloon

  1993

  Port Talbot

  Saloon

  1993

  Clevedon

  Estate

  1994

  Watchet

  4WD

  1994

  Milford Haven District Vehicle Data

  Station

  Vehicle Type

  When registered

  Gwbert

  4WD

  1984

  Aberystwyth

  4WD

  1985

  St. Davids

  4WD

  1986

  Replaced by 4WD

  1995

  Tenby

  4WD

  1986

  Broadhaven

  4WD

  1986

  Aberdovey

  4WD

  1990

  St. Govans

  4WD

  1990

  Dale

  4WD

  1991

  Fishguard

  4WD

  1993

  Manobier

  Saloon

  1993

  Moylegrove

  Saloon

  1993

  Borth

  Saloon

  1993

  New Quay

  4WD

  1994

  Wooltack Point

  Saloon

  1994

  Milford Haven MRSC

  Saloon

  1994

  Holyhead District Vehicle Data

  Station

  Vehicle type

  When registered

  Criccieth

  4WD

  1983

  Replaced by 4WD

  1995

  Barmouth

  4WD

  1984

  Abersoch

  4WD

  1985

  Rhosneiger

  4WD

  1986

  Porthdinllaen

  4WD

  1986

  Saloon

  1993

  Rhyl

  4WD

  1990

  Bangor

  Van

  1990

  Replaced by Estate

  1995

  Penmon

  4WD

  1991

  Saloon

  1993

  Holyhead

  4WD

  1992

  Llandwrog

  Van

  1992

  Llandudno

  4WD

  1993

  Moelfre

  4WD

  1994

  Holyhead Mrsc

  Saloon

  1994

  Liverpool District Vehicle Data

  Station

  Vehicle type

  When registered

  Knott End

  4WD

  1984

  Replaced by 4WD

  1995

  Bootle

  Van

  1985

  Portling

  4WD

  1986

  Fleetwood

  4WD

  1990

  Saloon

  1993

  Whitehaven

  4WD

  1990

  Arnside

  4WD

  1990

  Maryport

  Van

  1990

  Kirkcudbright

  4WD

  1991

  Saloon

  1993

  Burgh by Sands

  4WD

  1991

  Hoylake

  4WD

  1991

  Liverpool MRSC

  Saloon

  1991

  Isle of Whithorn

  4WD

  1992

  Millom

  4WD

  1992

  Lytham St. Annes

  4WD

  1992

  Walney

  Saloon

  1993

  Workington

  Saloon

  1993

  Formby

  4WD

  1994

  734
  PO 1026/94/95. Casualty information prior to 1 January 1990 is not available in the format requested.

  Assisted/Rescued

  Fatalities

  (a) MRCC Swansea

  1990

  641

  26

  1991

  1,043

  19

  1992

  762

  7

  1993

  966

  10

  1994

  1,686

  5

  (b) MRSC Liverpool

  1990

  469

  9

  1991

  491

  11

  1992

  1,014

  6

  1993

  620

  15

  1994

  581

  14

  PO 1027/94/95 casualty information prior to 1 January 1990 is not available in the format requested.

  Incidents in the former Hartland District dealt with by MRCC Swansea

  Year

  Number

  1990

  117

  1991

  163

  1992

  144

  1993

  187

  1994

  232

  Incidents in the former Ramsay District dealt with by MRSC Liverpool

  Year

  Number

  1990

  36

  1991

  53

  1992

  60

  1993

  53

  1994

  78

  PO 1028/94/95 The vehicle replacement programme is flexible and decided annually depending on the condition and expected future repair costs.

  PO 1054/94/95 Basic Watch Levels were introduced on 14 February 1994. Since then the Basic Watch Levels at Swansea and Liverpool rescue centres were:

  Number

  Number

  MRCC Swansea

  1 Senior Watch Officer

  3 Watch Officers

  MRSC Liverpool

  1 Senior Watch Officer

  2 Watch Officers

  To fulfil this level of watchkeeping there are currently 4 SWOs and 13 WOs at MRCC Swansea, 4 SWOs and 10 WOs at MRSC Liverpool.

  PQ 1055/94/95. Information on watch rosters is only available from 1 January 1993.

  MRCC Swansea

  1993: 5 occasions of 12 hours each

  1994: 217 occasions of 12 hours each

  MRSC Liverpool

  1993: 194 occasions of 12 hours each

  1994: 153 occasions of 12 hours each

  On the occasions above where availability of regular staff fell below the Basic Watch Level the shortfall was made up by the use of operations rooms assistants in compliance with extant Coastguard instructions.
  735
  PQ 1056/94/95. Such details arc unavailable. As part of their normal duties Sector Officers are required to undertake watchkeeping duties in a rescue centre, to retain competency in these duties and to provide a cross-fertilisation of local knowledge to regular operations room staff.

  Railways (Debt)
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the amount of indebtedness of Railtrack; and what plans he has to write it off.

  Mr. Watts
  As at 1 January 1995 the outstanding principal owed by Railtrack to the national loans fund was £1.53 billion, excluding temporary borrowing.

  I have no plans at present to write off this debt.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the cost to British Rail of servicing its accumulated debts at today's prices in each of the past 20 years.

  Mr. Watts
  This information is available in cash prices in British Rail's annual report and accounts.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning the writing off of Railtrack's debts.

  Mr. Watts
  None

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what basis debt was apportioned at the time of Railtrack's separation from the British Railways Board on 1 April 1994.

  Mr. Watts
  Decisions on debt apportionment between British Rail and Railtrack were made bearing in mind the future financial plans of the two organisations.

  Office of Passenger Rail Franchising
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising is expected to employ at 1 April, taking account of those currently employed and posts which have been advertised.

  Mr. Watts
  Seventy.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those premises occupied or due to be occupied by the office of Passenger Rail Franchising, stating the principal terms of ownership or lease.

  Mr. Watts
  The Office of Passenger Rail Franchising currently occupies 26–28 Old Queen street, London SW1, in its entirety and occupies a floor at 29–35 Old. Queen street. Both properties are leased. The terms of the leases are commercial and confidential.

  Track Access Charges
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has relating to track access charges in(a) each European Union country, (b) the United States of America and (c) Japan.

  Mr. Watts
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 10 February 1995,Official Report, column 633. Actual track access charges in these countries are not readily identifiable or comparable with those made by Railtrack.
  736

  British Rail Finance
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the level(a) of rebate paid by British Rail to the Treasury for each year it has been paid since 1965, and (b) of British Rail capital investments for each of those years; and what are the estimated figures for (a) and (b) for next year.

  Mr. Watts
  Between 1976 and March 1994 British Rail had an annual external finance requirement met by subsidy from the Government in the form of grant and borrowing, mostly from the national loans fund. Since April 1994 the railway industry has continued to receive Government support in the form of grants, but has a different financial structure in which British Rail and Railtrack have negative external finance requirements or external finance contributions, which are used to repay debt to the national loans fund.

  The outturn external finance requirements from 1979–80 to 1993–94, external finance limits and contributions for 1994–95 and 1995–96 and figures for capital investment in the railways from 1965, in current prices, are as follows:

  Year

  Investment£ million1994–95 prices

  1965

  1.396

  1966

  1.200

  1967

  976

  1968

  890

  1969

  608

  1970

  702

  1971

  746

  1972

  775

  1973

  777

  1974

  839

  1975

  969

  1976

  946

  1977

  937

  1978

  941

  1979

  967

  1980

  951

  1981

  810

  1982

  695

  1983

  767

  1984–851

  786

  1985–86

  855

  1986–87

  819

  1987–88

  993

  1988–89

  977

  1989–90

  1.119

  1990–91

  1.216

  1991–92

  1.442

  1992–93

  1.552

  1993–94

  1.188

  1994–95

  1.000

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

  2 Forecast outturn.

  External Finance Requirements

  BR/RTEFR£ million 1994–95 prices

  UR/EPS EFR£ million 1994–95 prices

  Industry EFR£ million1994–95 prices

  1979–80

  1791

  —

  1.791

  1980–81

  1672

  —

  1.672

  1981–82

  1853

  —

  1.853

  1982–83

  1528

  —

  1.528

  1983–84

  1396

  —

  1.396

  1984–85

  1713

  —

  1.713

  737

  External Finance Requirements

  BR/RT EFR£ million1994–95 prices

  UR/EPS EFR£ million1994–95 prices

  Industry EFR£ million1994–95 prices

  1985–86

  1414

  —

  1.414

  1986–87

  1172

  —

  1.172

  1987–88

  781

  —

  781

  1988–89

  505

  —

  505

  1989–90

  811

  82

  892

  1990–91

  1065

  186

  1.251

  1991–92

  1241

  360

  1.600

  1992–93

  1688

  481

  2.170

  1993–94

  1054

  437

  1.490

  External Finance limits and contributions

  BR/RT EFC

  UR/EPS EFL

  Grant1

  Industry EFL

  1994–95

  —645

  217

  1,924

  21,496

  1995–96

  —945

  120

  1,800

  3975

  Notes:

  1 Estimated grant support to passenger services from 1994–95 includes Franchising Director grant and metropolitan railway grant for PTE services.

  2 Industry external finance limit for 1994–95 may increase by a further £64 million to £1,560 million.

  3 1995–96 industry external finance limit does not include privatisation effects and includes an estimated £70 million of grant paid by Scottish Office via PTEs to BR.

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funds he has made available to British Rail as part of the public service obligation in 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, and 1994–95; and what funds he expects to make available to British Rail or any other rail operator to subsidise socially necessary services in 1995–96, 1996–97, and 1997–98.

  Mr. Watts
  The information is as follows:

  Public service obligation grant

  Cash £ million

  1994–95 prices £ million

  1990–91

  602

  699

  1991–92

  892

  975

  1992–93

  1.155

  1,214

  1993–94

  930

  949

  1994–951

  1,700

  1.700

  1 Estimate of support to passenger services, which from 1994–95 is paid by the Franchising Director. It excludes metropolitan railway grant, estimated to be £224 million, paid by the Department of Transport to passenger transport authorities.

  In 1995–96 estimated total grant to support passenger services is £1,800 million. Of the £1,800 million, an estimated £1,610 million will be paid by the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising to British Rail and franchisees, and £190 million will be paid by the Department of Transport to passenger transport authorities.

  Estimates of the level of grant support for 1996–97 and 1997–98 are not yet available.

  Rail Privatisation
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funds his Department has spent, or is estimated to spend on preparations for rail privatisation, excluding funds made available to(a) British Rail,
  738
  (b) Railtrack plc, (c) the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising and (d) the Office of the Rail Regulator, in (i) 1992–93, (ii) 1993–94, (iii) 1994–95, (iv) 1995–96 and (v) 1996–97.

  Mr. Watts
  The information is as follows:

  Year

  £ million

  (i)

  1992–93

  6.7

  (ii)

  1993–94

  13.5

  (iii)

  1994–95

  14.2

  (iv)

  1995–96

  24.6

  (v)

  1996–97

  5.3

  Figures for 1994–95 onwards are current estimates and exclude main sale costs for the flotation of Railtrack, yet to be determined.

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates were given to him by British Rail for costs arising from the restructuring of British Rail for rail privatisation in(a) the current financial year and (b) the forthcoming financial year; what funds he has made available to British Rail for reorganisation in preparation for privatisation; what funds he has made available to Railtrack to implement privatisation in 1994–95, and what is his estimate for 1995–96.

  Mr. Watts
  British Rail expects to spend some £78 million on reorganisation and privatisation in 1994–95. Railtrack has so far spent less than £0.5 million in 1994–95 on activities solely concerned with privatisation. A precise figure cannot be given because it is impossible to differentiate between such activities and those concerned with developing and establishing Railtrack as a separate business from British Rail. Planned expenditure in 1995–96 is a matter for BR and Railtrack.

  Ferry Safety
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cases his Department has recorded in the last five years of passenger ferries which use(a) the English Channel and (b) the North sea routes from United Kingdom ports violating international regulations in respect of the minimum distance between bow doors; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr Martin Redmond, dated 3 March 1995:

  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of passenger ferries, using the North Sea and Channel, that have been found violating international regulations in respect of the distance between bow doors.

  In the past five years five ferries operating in the Channel, and two operating in the North Sea, have been found, by the Marine Safety Agency, not to comply with the provisions of international regulations regarding the position of the collision bulkhead and the extension above the car deck. All have now been modified to comply.

  Passenger Information Systems
  Mr. James Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to implement the TRUST programme—currently being introduced in Birmingham—to other bus routes in and around London.
  739
  Mr. Norris
  London Transport's "Countdown" system, currently on trial on 25 bus routes in London, provides passenger information at bus stops in a similar way to TRUST.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in what circumstances legal aid is available to criminals already serving a sentence.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The legal aid scheme provides legal advice, assistance and representation to those who might otherwise be unable to obtain it on account of their means, regardless of whether they are currently serving a prison sentence.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make it his policy that a person serving a prison sentence who has not fully disclosed the whereabouts of the proceeds of the crime of which they were convicted should not be allowed legal aid.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  In assessing an individual's entitlement to legal aid, all the assets to which the individual can reasonably he expected to have access are taken into account.

  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what legal aid is available to prisoners wishing to appeal against sentence; and what restrictions there are on the number of appeals a prisoner may launch.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Criminal legal aid may be granted to a convicted person for proceedings in respect of a sentence, provided that it is desirable in the interests of justice and that his or her financial resources are such that he or she requires help in meeting his or her costs.

  A person convicted by a magistrates court has the right to appeal against sentence to the Crown court. Where an appeal is dismissed by the Crown court, a person may apply to the High Court for judicial review of that decision.

  A person wishing to appeal against a sentence imposed in the Crown court must initially seek leave to appeal from a single judge in the Court of Appeal, criminal division.

  If leave to appeal is granted, the matter will then be heard by the full court. If leave is refused, the application may be renewed to the full court. If the full court determines that leave to appeal should not be granted, a case can be referred back to the Court of Appeal by the Home Office, in exceptional circumstances.

  Myra Hindley
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if Myra Hindley is in receipt of a civil legal aid certificate.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I am not aware of any civil legal aid certificate currently in effect in respect of Ms Hindley.
  740
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what forms of publicly funded assistance Myra Hindley receives to enable her to retain a solicitor or counsel.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I am not aware of any publicly funded legal assistance currently being received by Ms Hindley, though it is possible that she may be receiving legal advice under the "green form" scheme.

  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if Myra Hindley is in receipt of a criminal legal aid certificate.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I am not aware of any criminal legal aid order currently in effect in respect of Ms Hindley.

TREASURY

  Knight Williams
  Mr. Robert Wareing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received in respect of the financial advisers, Knight Williams; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  A number of representations have been received recently from hon. Members. The Government's role under the Financial Services Act has been to establish the framework within which the regulators work. A statement on an individual firm is a matter for the regulators. The Securities and Investments Board has made two public statements on this firm.

  VAT on Food
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the effect on the level of eating out in hotels, restaurants and pubs, of the difference of 17.5 per cent. between the applicable rate of VAT on food consumed in these locations and at home.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  If the standard rate of VAT were removed from eating out in hotels, restaurants and pubs, demand for this service would increase by an estimated 15 per cent.

  Interest and Exchange Rates
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what economic role he assigns to(a) the rate of interest and (b) the rate of exchange in the conduct of economic policy.

  Mr. Nelson
  It is the role of monetary policy to deliver low inflation. Since monetary policy influences inflation with a lag, interest rate decisions are based on an assessment of the prospects for underlying inflation in one to two years' time. This assessment is based on a wide range of information including movements in the exchange rate.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the effect of the rise in the rate of exchange against the Deutschmark between February 1993 and January 1994 on the standard of living of manual workers in manufacturing industry relative to those of white-collar workers in the private sector.
  741
  Mr. Nelson
  It is not possible to isolate the effects of nominal exchange rate changes on standards of living.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the effect of the Government's exchange rate policies on the distribution of incomes since 1979.

  Mr. Nelson
  The distribution of income depends on a number of different factors. It is not possible to identify the effect of any single factor.

  Hotels (VAT)
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the rates of VAT applicable to(a) budget and (b) luxury hotel accommodation in each of the member states of the European Union.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The VAT rates applied in EU member states to budget and luxury hotel accommodation are shown in the table:

  VAT rates on hotel accommodation in the EU

  Country

  Rate: budget accommodation Per cent.

  Rate: luxury accommodation Per cent.

  Austria

  10

  10

  Belgium

  6

  6

  Denmark

  25

  25

  Finland

  22

  22

  France1

  5.5

  5.5

  Germany

  15

  15

  Greece

  8

  8

  Ireland

  12.5

  12.5

  Italy

  9

  19

  Luxembourg

  15

  15

  Netherlands

  6

  6

  Portugal2

  5(4)

  5(4)

  Spain

  6

  6

  Sweden

  12

  12

  UK3

  17.5 (5)

  17.5 (5)

  Notes:

  1 The following rates apply generally in Corsica: 0.9 per cent., 2.1 per cent., 8 per cent. and 13 per cent.

  2 The rates in brackets apply in Madeira and the Azores Archipelagoes.

  3 The five per cent. shown in the UK list applies to hotel accommodation in Isle of Man as from 1 October 1994.

  Sources:

  VAT in Europe (International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation), EU member states' embassies in London.

  Monetary Policy (Employment Goal)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to set an employment goal rather than a prices target for monetary policy.

  Mr. Nelson
  The role of monetary policy is to deliver low inflation. Keeping inflation low creates the right conditions for sustainable growth and a continuing rise in secure jobs.
  742

  Goods and Services (Prices)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the years since 1975 in which the percentage increase in the retail price of goods has exceeded the increase in the price of services.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The information requested is not available at present as there are no unique definitions of goods or services in the retail prices index. However, the central statistical office is currently working on a goods and services breakdown of the RPI and hope to be able to publish such a breakdown dating back to 1987 in the February 1995 RPI business monitor, MM23.

  Council or Ministers
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the most recent Council meeting of the Economic and Finance Ministers of the European Union.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I represented the UK at the Economic and Finance Council of the European Union in Brussels on 20 February.

  The President of the Commission presented the Commission's work programme for 1995. He suggested that the main tasks facing the Ecofin Council were: contributing to stable and sustained growth, employment and preparations for economic and monetary union. He stressed that structural reform efforts to combat unemployment should not be slackened as a result of the economic recovery. He also summarised the Commission's activities and plans on competitiveness, the internal market and preparation for central and eastern European enlargement and stressed the importance attached by the Commission to the fight against fraud.

  I said that the work programme should be judged by its effects on jobs and investment. The key to this was to ensure competitiveness. On EMU, I repeated the policy the Government have followed since Maastricht and recently reaffirmed by the Cabinet.

  Commissioner Gradin presented the Commission's programme of anti-fraud activity for 1995. She said that fraud against the Community's financial interests had to be seen in a broad political context. European citizens were concerned that the Community's resources were spent properly and Community institutions and member states could demonstrate that the problem of fraud was being tackled effectively.

  The Council discussed preparations for the meeting with Finance Ministers of the associated countries of central and eastern Europe, scheduled to take place in accordance with the conclusions of the Essen European Council. The Council took note of the Commission's paper on preparing the dialogue and agreed that further work was needed. The Council agreed to postpone the meeting until May.

  The Council agreed to hold a meeting with the EFTA countries during the Spanish presidency.

  Sir Leon Brittan gave a report on progress in the GATS financial services negotiations.

  No formal votes were taken at the Council meeting.
  743

  Publications
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. Nelson
  [holding answer 2 March 1995]: The Treasury and the agencies responsible to the Chancellor issued four White Papers, one Green Paper and 28 pamphlets in 1994. In respect of those white papers, green papers and other publications published by the HMSO all costs were borne by the HMSO, who aim to recover these from sales revenue. Production, printing and distribution costs of pamphlets printed externally are set out below. Production and distribution of pamphlets produced in-house or pamphlets printed externally are handled by staff as part of their normal work, and therefore disaggregated costs are not available. Information on costs in 1980 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  White papers

  CSO annual report 1993–94 (HCP 521)

  Departmental report of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Departments (Cm 2517)

  RPI Advisory Committee. Housing costs (Cm 2717)

  RPI Advisory Committee. New and used car prices (CM 2716)

  Green papers—

  Better accounting for taxpayer's money (Cm 2626)

  Pamphlets1

  Pamphlets produced externally

  Cost (£)

  Brief guide to sources (CSO)

  19,731.00

  Budget in brief (HMT)

  21,004.00

  Civil service statistics (HMSO for HMT)

  0.00

  CSO Databank (CSO)

  10,181.00

  Economic briefing (HMT)

  66,911.00

  Government procurement: progress report (HMSO) for HMT

  0.00

  Government statistical service annual report (CSO)

  14,800.00

  Key figures on civil service staffing (HMT)

  715.00

  Paymaster newsletter (PGO)

  24,435.42

  Producer prices—how they work (CSO)

  5,320.00

  Statistics for students (CSO)

  6,472.00

  Summer economic forecast 1994 (HMSO for HMT)

  0.00

  United Kingdom coinage review (Royal Mint)

  4,917.37

  United Kingdom coinage review (braille) Royal Mint)

  2,641.00

  UK in figures (CSO)

  10,058.00

  Pamphlets produced in-house

  Civil service staffing 1979–1994 (HMT)

  Code of best practice for board members of public bodies (HMT)

  Crest: the legal issues (HMT)

  Government economic forecasts 1969–1993 (HMT)

  Help with fuel bills (HMT)

  Implementation of the deposit guarantee directive (HMT)

  Implementation of the investment services directive and capital adequacy directive (HMT)

  Minutes of the monthly monetary meeting (HMT)

  Open government: how to obtain information from the Treasury (HMT)

  Public offer of securities regulations (HMT)

  Review of Building Societies Act 1986 (HMT)

  744

  Review of Building Societies Act 1986: background papers (HMT)

  Revised implementation of the EC prospectus directive (HMT) Winding up directive (HMT)

  1Pamphlets are defined for the purposes of this answer as booklets of more than one sheet originated and distributed generally to the public for the first time in 1994 or made available to the public for purposes of discussion for the first time in 1994 and do not include reprints of earlier published material.

EMPLOYMENT

  European Works Councils
  Mr. Macshane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the voluntary creation of European works councils by leading British firms as a contribution to harmonious employee relations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  It is too early to make any such assessment. We are in favour of greater worker consultation and involvement. This may take many forms, which are best left to the judgment of individual companies. But we are against the prescriptive, inflexible, top-down approach to greater worker consultation and, on that basis, I do not believe that European works councils will make any significant contribution to genuine employee involvement.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if unemployed people receiving the job seeker's allowance will be able to participate in(a) postgraduate courses, (b) degree courses, (c) courses in preparation for a degree, (d) diploma of higher education courses, (e) higher national diploma courses, (f) A-level courses, (g) GCSE courses, (h) teaching qualification courses and (i) other courses of a similar nature; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  People on full-time courses will not be able to claim jobseeker's allowance.

  People claiming JSA will be able to take part-time courses provided that they remain available for and actively seek employment. In the case of courses funded by the Further Education Funding Council, part-time courses will be defined as courses of up to 16 guided learned hours a week. This definition will not extend to higher education and other sectors, where we expect the definition of a part-time course to remain essentially unchanged. Similar arrangements will apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if unemployed people claiming the job seeker's allowance will be able to study part-time higher education courses for up to 21 hours a week; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  People on full-time courses will not be able to claim jobseeker's allowance.

  People claiming JSA will be able to take part-time courses provided that they remain available for and actively seek employment. That will include part-time higher education courses, where we expect the definition of a part-time course to remain essentially unchanged.
  745
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment in what circumstances when the jobseeker's allowance is introduced the Employment Service client advisers will accept that participation in a part-time education or training course is a positive outcome and an active step in looking for work; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  A course of up to two weeks' duration will be accepted as an active step in seeking employment if it will help improve the jobseeker's chances of getting work. Longer courses, whether part-time or full-time, will not be accepted as an active step in substitution for job search activity.

  Starting a course of education or training which takes the jobseeker out of unemployment is treated as a positive outcome of an Employment Service advisory interview and we propose to continue this.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the maximum number of hours that unemployed people claiming the jobseeker's allowance will be allowed to participate in courses run by voluntary organisations and local authorities which are partly funded by the European social fund; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  People on full-time courses will not be able to claim jobseeker's allowance.

  People claiming JSA will be able to take part-time courses provided that they remain available for and actively seek employment. In the case of courses funded by the Further Education Funding Council, part-time courses will be defined as courses of up to 16 guided learning hours a week. This definition will not extend to higher education and other sectors, where we expect the definition of a part-time course to remain essentially unchanged. Similar arrangements will apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  These rules will apply to all courses, including those funded by the European social fund.

  Career Breaks
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, 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.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Forty men and 1,020 women started a career break in the five years up to 1 January 1995. None have had their employment terminated.

  Advertising
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total expenditure on all forms of advertising by his Department and its agencies for each year since 1979 in 1994 prices.

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 13 February 19951: The information requested is shown in the following table:

  Cost of advertising since 1979 on all forms of advertising in 1994 prices (£)

  Year

  £

  1979–80

  1 2175,296

  1980–81

  26,867,309

  1981–82

  24,395,776

  746

  Cost of advertising since 1979 on all forms of advertising in 1994 prices (£)

  Year

  £

  1982–83

  26,186,195

  1983–84

  24,754,533

  1984–85

  23,254,828

  1985–86

  20,621,583

  1986–87

  53,241,911

  1987–88

  40,706,040

  1988–89

  30,229,606

  1989–90

  21,797,896

  1990–91

  12,293,720

  1991–92

  14,039,415

  1992–93

  5,584,560

  1993–94

  8,441,609

  Notes:

  1 The 1979–80 total does not include expenditure by the former Manpower Services Commission as the figure is not available.

  2 The 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84 and 1984–85 totals do not include expenditure by the Health and Safety Executive as figures are not available.

  The total advertising budget for the Department in 1994–95 is £11,250,000 and for HSE £1,200,000.

  During the period from 1985 to 1990, the Department launched a number of major campaigns, including the promotion of youth training, employment training, restart and enterprise allowance by the Manpower Services Commission; and action for jobs by the Department.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Prevention of Terrorism Acts
  Ms. Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of people arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Acts In Northern Ireland in the past five years were subsequently released without charge.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information requested is as follows:

  Year

  No. of persons detained

  No. released without charge

  Percentage without charge

  1990

  1,549

  1,177

  76

  1991

  1,680

  1,294

  77

  1992

  1,795

  1,335

  74

  1993

  1,641

  1,259

  77

  19941

  1,328

  1,009

  76

  1 January-September inclusive only. Figures are not yet available for the final quarter of 1994.

  Pay Increases (Cost)
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the cost to his Department's budget, and to local authorities' self-financed expenditure in 1995–96 of implementing in full the recommendations of(a) the School Teachers Review Body; (b) the Review Body on Doctors and Dentists Remuneration; and (c) the Review Body on Nursing Staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine, assuming no changes in staff numbers.
  747
  Mr. Moss
  The remit of the School Teachers Review Body does not extend to Northern Ireland, where the pay and conditions of service of school teachers are dealt with in local negotiating machinery.

  Estimated costs of implementing the recommendations of the other review bodies are as follows:

  Main pay increase Per cent.

  Estimatedpay bill cost'1£ million

  DDRB (doctors and dentists)2

  2.5–3.0

  4.4

  NPRB (nurse and midwives)

  1.5–3.03

  3.9–7.9

  (PAM's)

  1.5–3.03

  0.5–0.9

  1 Pay bill costings include employers' national insurance and superannuation payments.

  2 Plus up to 2.5 per cent, on average salaries for consultants under transitional local pay arrangements.

  3 Comprising 1 per cent, on national pay scales and the NPRB estimate of additional amounts likely to result from local pay negotiations.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Fire Safety
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what financial costs and benefits and other effects on business concerns in the United Kingdom are expected as a result of the transfer of the role of the fire authorities in determining fire safety standards in new and altered or extended buildings to the building control authorities, as recommended in the interdepartmental review of fire safety legislation and enforcement; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Field) on 24 February 1995,Official Report, column 369.

  EU Structural Funds
  Mr. Garrett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what criteria are used in appointing members to objective 5b monitoring committees; and if he will list those appointments already made and the interests they represent.

  Mr. Eggar
  The structural funds regulations require monitoring committees to be set up within partnerships established between the member state, the competent authorities and bodies designed by the member state at national, regional, local or other level, and the European Commission. So far four of the 11 objective 5b United Kingdom monitoring committees have met.

  In addition to representatives of central Government, training and enterprise councils or local enterprise companies, and local authorities, the Government have designated or will designate to each committee other organisations following local consultation. They could be from, for example, the private sector, tourism and development organisations, further and higher education, rural bodies and the voluntary sector.
  748
  The following is a full list of organisations represented on the committee for the East Anglia objective 5b area, the one closest to the hon. Member's constituency:

  Chairman

  The regional director of the Government office.

  Members

  One representative each from:

  Department of the Environment

  Employment Department

  Department of Trade and Industry

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  Norfolk and Waveney TEC

  Standing Conference of East Anglian Local Authorities

  Rural Development Commission

  Further Education Funding Council

  English Nature

  East Anglian Cooperative Development Association

  Two private sector bodies.

  Civil Servants
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of those accepted for fast-stream entry for which his Department is responsible(a) in 1991, (b) 1992, (c) in 1993 and (d) in 1994 were women.

  Mr. Heseltine
  For the years 1991 and 1992, I refer the hon. Member to the annual report of the Civil Service Commissioners for those years, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Successful candidates for the fast-stream entry competitions assigned to the Department of Trade and Industry in 1993 and 1994 were as follows:

  Total assigned

  Women

  Per cent, women

  1993

  Administration trainee/higher executive officer (development)

  11

  3

  27

  1994

  AT/HEO(D)

  9

  2

  22

  1993

  Science management trainee/higher scientific officer (development)

  3

  1

  33

  1994

  SMT/HSO(D)

  2

  1

  50

  1993

  Economic assistants

  7

  3

  43

  1994

  Economic assistants

  7

  2

  29

  1993

  Assistant statisticians and trainee statisticians

  6

  2

  33

  1994

  Assistant statisticians and trainee statisticians

  4

  0

  0

  Foreign Takeovers
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is Her Majesty's Government's
  749
  policy in respect of the takeover of United Kingdom industry by foreign firms with particular reference to those from the east Asian region.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  In examining acquisitions of UK firms under the Fair Trading Act 1973, we do not discriminate between UK and foreign acquirers, including those from the east Asian region.

  Inntrepreneur Estates Ltd.
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what communications he has received from the European Commission in respect of the activities of Inntrepreneur Estates Ltd; how many communications have been in respect of the firm's application for exemption from EU regulations under article 85 of the treaty of Rome; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has not received any communication from the European Commission in respect of the activities of Inntrepreneur Estates Ltd. However, he has been kept fully informed of the Commission's concerns with regard to the discounts offered by the major brewers, and the Commission's decision to allow the Director General of Fair Trading to investigate the issue before coming to a decision regarding the Inntrepreneur application for individual exemption of its standard lease.

  Floating Platform Systems
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to help ensure that floating platform systems built in UK yards are in a position to compete effectively for orders in UK sector waters.

  Mr. Eggar
  My Department established a working group on floating production systems last year and the group has now made positive proposals which when implemented will strengthen the competitiveness of UK yards and other suppliers in this sector. The group's report has now been published and its recommendations are being pursued with the industry.

  Publications
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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. Heseltine
  [holding answer 2 March 1995]: In 1994, my Department, with the exception of its agencies, produced 361 external publications. As there is no generally accepted definition of the term "pamphlet", I have placed a list of all these publications in the Library of the House, along with the estimated cost—£2.2 million—for the nine months to December for which data is available. The list includes White Papers and a Green Paper published for my Department by HMSO. Equivalent information for 1980 is not available.

  In respect of White Papers, Green Papers and other publications published by HMSO, HMSO aims to recover their costs from sales revenue.

  As regards DTI agencies, the production of publications is an operational matter for the chief executives.
  750

DEFENCE

  Staff Cars
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many two-star officers and above are entitled to a dedicated staff car and driver; where the officers are based; what make of car is provided; and what is the total annual cost in salaries, maintenance and car replacement.

  Mr. Soames
  [pursuant to his answer, 22 February 1995, Official Report, c. 252–55]: At two-star rank and above, there are currently 109 posts in the armed forces and my Department, including civilians, who are entitled to a dedicated staff car and driver. These are:

  Number

  Post

  Location

  Posts open to more than one service

  5* posts

  1

  Chief of the Defence Staff

  London

  2

  Chair of the Military Committee

  Brussels

  4* posts

  3

  Vice Chief of Defence Staff

  London

  3* posts

  4

  United Kingdom Military Representative

  Brussels

  5

  Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Commitments)

  London

  6

  Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel and Programmes)

  London

  7

  Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Systems)

  London

  8

  Chief of Defence Intelligence

  London

  9

  Surgeon General

  London

  10

  Commandant Royal College of Defence Studies

  London

  2* posts

  11

  Commander of British Forces Cyprus

  Episkopi

  12

  Head of British Defence Liaison Staff

  Washington

  13

  Assistant Chief of Staff (Policy)

  Mons

  ROYAL NAVY

  4* posts

  14

  Chief of the Naval Staff

  London

  15

  Chief Naval Home Command/2nd Sea Lord

  Portsmouth

  16

  Commander in Chief Fleet

  North wood

  3 * posts

  17

  Controller of the Navy

  London

  18

  Chief of Fleet Support

  Bath

  19

  Deputy Commander in Chief Fleet

  Northwood

  20

  Flag Officer Plymouth

  Plymouth

  21

  Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland

  Pitreavie

  22

  Flag Officer Surface Flotilla

  Portsmouth

  23

  Commandant General Royal Marines

  Portsmouth

  24

  Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic

  Virginia

  25

  Chief of Staff NAVSOUTH

  Naples

  751

  Number

  Post

  Location

  2* posts

  26

  Director General Naval Personnel Strategy and Plans

  Portsmouth

  27

  Flag Officer Submarines

  Northwood

  28

  Flag Officer Portsmouth

  Portsmouth

  29

  Flag Officer Training and Recruiting

  Portsmouth

  30

  Commander British Forces

  Gibraltar

  31

  Flag Officer Sea Training

  Portland

  32

  Flag Officer Naval Aviation

  Yeovilton

  33

  Naval Secretary

  Portsmouth

  34

  Commander United Kingdom Task Group

  Portsmouth

  35

  Medical Director General(Naval)

  Gosport

  ARMY

  4* posts

  36

  Chief of General Staff

  London

  37

  Adjutant General

  Upavon

  38

  Commander in Chief United Kingdom Land Forces

  Wilton

  39

  Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe

  Mons

  40

  Master General of the Ordnance

  London

  3* posts

  41

  Quartermaster General

  Andover

  42

  Inspector General Doctrine and Training

  Upavon

  43

  Deputy Commander in Chief United Kingdom Land Forces/Inspector General Territorial Army

  Wilton

  44

  General Officer Commanding Southern District

  Aldershot

  45

  General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland

  Lisburn

  46

  Commander ACE Rapid Reaction Corps

  Rheindahlen

  2 * posts

  47

  Director General Military Survey

  Feltham

  48

  Engineer in Chief (Army)

  Minley

  49

  Director General Land Warfare

  Upavon

  50

  Director General Army Training

  Upavon

  51

  Commandant Staff College

  Camberley

  52

  Commandant Royal Military College of Science

  Shrivenham

  53

  Commandant Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

  Camberley

  54

  Director Royal Armoured Corps

  Bovington

  55

  Director Royal Artillery

  Larkhill

  56

  Director of Infantry

  Warminster

  57

  Director Army Air Aviation

  M. Wallop

  58

  Military Secretary

  London

  59

  Chief of Staff HQ Adjutant General Corps

  Upavon

  60

  Director General Logistics Support (Army)

  Andover

  61

  Director General Equipment Support (Army)

  Andover

  62

  Director General Army Medical Service

  Mychett

  752

  Number

  Post

  Location

  63

  General Officer Commanding Eastern District

  York

  64

  General Officer Commanding London District

  London

  65

  General Officer Commanding Wales and Western District

  Shrewsbury

  66

  General Officer Commanding Scotland

  Edinburgh

  67

  Commander 3rd (UK) Division

  Bulford

  68

  Commander United Kingdom Support Command Germany

  Rheindahlen

  69

  Commander 1st Division (UK) Armoured Division

  Herford

  70

  Chief of Staff HQ ACE Rapid Reaction Corps

  Rheindahlen

  71

  Chief Combat Support ACE Rapid Reaction Corps

  Rheindahlen

  72

  Director Support Land Centre

  Heidelberg

  73

  Commander British Forces

  Hong Kong

  74

  Commander Land Forces Northern Ireland

  Lisburn

  75

  Chief of Staff HQ Quartermaster General

  Andover

  ROYAL AIR FORCE

  4* posts

  76

  Chief of the Air Staff

  London

  77

  Air Officer Commanding in Chief HQ Personnel and Training Command

  Innsworth

  78

  Air Officer Commanding in Chief HQ Logistic Command

  Brampton

  79

  Air Officer Commanding in Chief HQ Strike Command

  High Wycombe

  80

  Deputy Commander in Chief Central Europe

  Brunssum

  81

  Controller Aircraft

  London

  82

  Commander HQ Allied Air Forces North West Europe

  High Wycombe

  3* posts

  83

  Chief of Staff HQ Strike Command

  High Wycombe

  84

  Chief of Staff HQ Logistic Command

  Brampton

  85

  Director General Saudi Armed Forces Project

  Riyadh

  86

  Air Officer Commanding 18 Group

  Northwood

  2* posts

  87

  Air Secretary

  Innsworth

  88

  Chief of Staff HQ Personnel and Training Command

  Innsworth

  89

  Deputy Commander Messtetten

  Messtetten

  90

  Air Officer Commanding Information Systems and Signals Unit

  Brampton

  91

  Air Officer Engineering and Supply

  High Wycombe

  92

  Air Officer Commanding 1 Group

  Benson

  93

  Air Officer Commanding 2 Group

  Rheindahlen

  753

  Number

  Post

  Location

  94

  Air Officer Commanding 11 Group

  B. Priory

  95

  Air Officer Commanding

  High

  38 Group

  Wycombe

  96

  Air Officer Training

  Innsworth

  97

  Air Officer Maintenance and Air Officer Commanding Maintenance Units

  Brampton

  98

  Commandant RAF Staff College Bracknell

  Bracknell

  99

  Commandant RAF College Cranwell

  Cranwell

  100

  Director General Medical Services (RAF)

  Innsworth

  101

  Director General Policy and Plans

  London

  102

  Air Officer Administration and Air Officer Commanding Directly Administered Units

  High Wycombe

  103

  Director General Support Management (RAF)

  Brampton

  MoD CIVILIANS

  104

  Permanent Under Secretary of State

  London

  105

  Chief Scientific Adviser

  London

  106

  2nd Permanent Under Secretary of State

  London

  107

  Chief of Defence Procurement

  London

  108

  Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser

  London

  109

  Head of Defence Export Services

  London

  The total estimated cost of the driver posts for the financial year 1993–94 is approximately £2.2 million. Entitled officers normally have the use of a Rover 800 car, although particular local circumstances, security requirements, command roles and topography might necessitate additional vehicles being used. The total costs of car maintenance are not separately identifiable, however the available data suggests that the likely annual cost is in the region of £300 per vehicle per annum. The total annual cost of car replacement for the last three years is as follows:

  1992–93: 131 vehicles bought costing £1.7 million

  1993–94: Seven vehicles bought costing £100,000

  1994–95: no vehicles bought.

  Malaysia (Bases)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department or companies and organisations controlled by his Department began discussions with the Malaysian Government on advice, support, contracts or consultancy relating to the construction of naval or air bases in that country; and if the construction of such bases has commenced.

  Mr. Freeman
  Discussions conducted on Government-to-Government basis are confidential.

  Defence Sales Agents
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries in which, either by legal 754
  requirement or convention, defence export sales are generally conducted through agents or consultants.

  Mr. Freeman
  The British Government do not employ business agents in the negotiation of Government-to-Government defence export contracts. I cannot comment on other countries' requirements or conventions on the use of agents or consultants in defence export sales.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what United Kingdom military forces or personnel are based in Hong Kong; and if all such units or personnel will return to the UK after 1997.

  Mr. Soames
  At present the Hong Kong garrison comprises 2,087 United Kingdom military personnel and 788 locally engaged military personnel supported by 101 UK based civilians and 631 locally engaged civilians. All locally engaged military personnel and civilians will be discharged from Crown service by 30 June 1997. All UK-based military personnel and civilians will return to the UK.

  Construction Services
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the recommendations of the Latham report for works services contracts placed by his Department.

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for Tooting (Mr. Cox) by my colleague the Minister of State for the Armed Forces on 30 November 1994,Official Report, column 775. He said that as a major customer of the construction industry the Ministry of Defence is keen to pursue any initiatives which may improve the efficiency of the industry and deliver better value for money. My Department constantly aims to be a best practice client and we therefore welcomed Sir Michael's report. Officials in my Department are actively involved in the follow-up work to the Latham report which is being co-ordinated by the Department of the Environment, and also the efficiency scrutiny into construction procurement announced by the Prime Minister on 13 September last year, which inform the Government response to Sir Michael's recommendations.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the minimum population of towns over which RAF pilots are advised to avoid while low flying.

  Mr. Soames
  Towns listed for low-level avoidance are generally those with 10,000 or more inhabitants. All other populated areas are to be avoided wherever possible.

  Starstreak
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the next tranche of orders for Starstreak.

  Mr. Freeman
  A decision on the need for more Starstreak will be taken as soon as possible after the successful introduction into service of the current tranche of equipment.
  755

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

  Mr. Freeman
  Since 1 March 1990, 13 men and 788 women in my Department have applied for and been granted a career break. Of the men, six are still on their break, five have been reinstated and two terminated after the career break. Of the women, 603 are still on their break, 147 have been reinstated and 38 terminated after the career break.

  Nigeria
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the date of the memorandum of understanding with Nigeria.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer on 9 February 1995]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave her on 1 March 1995, Official Report, column 509.

  Chechnya
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what further discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts about Chechnya.

  Mr. Soames
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence discussed Chechnya with a number of his NATO counterparts, most recently at the Wehrkunde conference in Germany on 4 to 5 February.

ENVIRONMENT

  Protected Birds (Sale)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information his Department requires from a potential seller in considering whether or not to grant an exemption certificate to sell a bird listed in appendix I of the convention on international trade in endangered species;

  (2) what methods his Department uses to monitor the sale of the species of birds listed in appendix I of CITES and annex C I of EC regulation 3626/82; and if his Department regularly monitors the bird trade journals.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  When considering an application for an individual exemption my Department normally seeks the following key information:

  details of the vendor, including where appropriate any convictions under wildlife legislation;

  details of the specimen to be sold, including any identifying marks or rings;

  details about the origin and date of acquisition of the specimen, including any information relating to captive breeding;

  The applicant must also sign a declaration to state that the information provided is correct and complete to the best of the applicant's knowledge and belief.

  The police are primarily responsible for enforcing controls on the sale of wildlife within Great Britain. They monitor relevant trade and local publications selectively to identify potential offences. My Department checks
  756
  advertisements in several national journals and passes details of any potential offences to the police. The Department's wildlife inspectorate also looks out for any evidence of sales offences.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many exemption certificates have been issued for the sale of Livingstone's Turacos—Tauraco livingstonii—in each of the last four years, including 1995 to date; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many Livingstone's Turacos—Tauraco livingstonii—have been imported into the United Kingdom in each of the last four years including 1995; and if he will indicate the origins of such birds.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Department's records show that in the last four years we did not issue any sales exemptions for this species and that we did not grant any permits to import specimens to Great Britain from countries outside the European Community. We understand that some confusion may exist about the rules concerning several species in the genus Tauraco, and we shall be issuing advice to traders shortly.

  Environmentally Adjusted Accounts
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken in the United Kingdom under the EU's fifth environmental action programme to develop pilot systems of environmentally adjusted national accounts.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My Department is to participate in a project led by the Central Statistical Office to develop a pilot system of satellite accounts linked to the input/output framework of national accounts. This work is broadly consistent with the proposals in the fifth environmental action programme but is not being carried out specifically in response to it. The programme is not itself a legislative instrument and therefore does not automatically create binding legal obligations on member states.

  Railway Noise
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, what consideration he has given to the report of the Mitchell committee on noise.

  Mr. Watts
  I have been asked to reply.

  My predecessor responded to the committee's main recommendations on 28 November 1991, Official Report column 577, accepting that the proposed noise insulation regulations for new railway lines should include separate daytime and night time standards derived from the single standard already provided in the Noise Insulation Regulations 1975, as amended in the case of new roads. Other issues identified by the committee were further examined with the assistance of Dr. Mitchell and other experts and draft noise insulation regulations for new railways were issued for consultation in October 1993. Draft regulations will be laid before Parliament as soon as decisions have been taken on the response.
  757

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Habitual Residence Test
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the essential differences between the habitual residence test and the residence qualification rejected by the Government in 1986.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The 1986 proposal would have prevented the payment of income-related benefits until the claimant had been resident for 12 months. This would have discriminated in favour of British citizens who did not leave the United Kingdom, would have excluded citizens of the Irish Republic and would probably have been in breach of our international obligations.

  The habitual residence test does not impose an absolute ban on the payment of benefit for a fixed period, does not discriminate on grounds of nationality and does not breach our international obligations. It is based on individual circumstances which take into account the following factors: the claimant's intentions; the claimant's reasons for coming to the United Kingdom; the claimant's employment record; the length and continuity of residence in another country and the claimant's centre of interest.

  Annex A: Newham district by branch office habitual residence test August 1994-January 1995

  Number of Customers Refused IS

  Month

  Number ofcustomers subject tothe HRT

  British Nationals

  EU Nationals

  Others

  Stratford

  August 1994

  6

  0

  5

  0

  September1994

  21

  0

  20

  0

  October 1994

  20

  0

  20

  0

  November 1994

  42

  0

  29

  0

  December 1994

  54

  15

  10

  3

  January 1995

  33

  4

  6

  3

  Plaistow

  August 1994

  0

  0

  0

  0

  September 1994

  18

  3

  12

  0

  October 1994

  28

  10

  10

  0

  November 1994

  43

  9

  12

  2

  December 1994

  20

  4

  3

  1

  January 1995

  26

  3

  3

  0

  Canning Town

  August 1994

  13

  1

  5

  0

  September 1994

  13

  5

  2

  0

  October 1994

  24

  8

  2

  2

  November 1994

  13

  3

  2

  1

  December 1994

  15

  7

  3

  0

  January 1995

  12

  1

  0

  0

  Career Breaks
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security 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. Hague
  The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Those staff on career breaks remain employed by the Department during their absence and would only have
  758
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 7 February,Official Report column 213–14, if he will list for each of the three Benefits Agency offices within the Newham Benefits Agency district (a) the number of people to whom the habitual residence test has been applied and (b) the number of people who have been refused income support as a result of the habitual residence test in each month since its introduction, broken down to show the number of British nationals, EU nationals, and others refused.

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

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr Stephen Timms, dated 2 March 1995:

  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking for the number of people who have been refused Income Support as a result of the habitual residency test in the three offices of the Benefits Agency's Newham District.

  The information provided in the Official Report Vol 254 col 213–4 has since been updated and I have therefore provided data at Annex A for the period up to 31 January 1995. Information has been given in respect of the three offices located at Stratford, Canning Town and Plaistow in the Newham District.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  their employment terminated in exceptional circumstances, for example, on grounds of misconduct.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the criteria for receiving assistance from the social fund and the community care grant system.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Social fund payments are awarded under sections 138 to 140 of the Social Security
  759
  Contributions and Benefits Act 1992. Regulated payments are made for maternity expenses, funeral expenses and heating in cold weather. Discretionary payments can be made in other cases, which comprise community care grants, budgeting loans and crisis loans.

  The precise criteria for determining regulated payments are contained in the Social Fund Maternity and Funeral Expenses (General) Regulations 1987 and the Social Fund Cold Weather Payments (General) Regulations 1988.

  The Secretary of State gives directions to social fund officers listing the criteria for determining discretionary payments, and guidance on how these directions should he applied. The directions and guidance are published in the social fund guide. Copies of this legislation and publications are in the Library.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if voluntary bodies are included among the potential sources to which people should apply before they become eligible for social fund assistance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Under section 140(1) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992, a social fund officer determining a discretionary payment should have regard to: the nature, extent and urgency of the need; the existence of resources from which the need may be met; and the possibility that some other person or body may wholly or partly meet it. It is for a social fund officer to decide how these questions apply in each individual application to the social fund.

  In deciding whether a crisis loan should be awarded, social fund officers are advised in the Secretary of State's guidance in the social fund guide to take into account any help which might be available from any other source to meet or partly meet the need, if there is a realistic expectation that help would be available in time. Possible sources of help might be charities and benevolent funds which are known to be likely to provide the required assistance. Copies of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 and the social fund guide are in the Library.

  National Insurance Credits
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes had been made in the system of national insurance credits by 1965; what changes have been made since that date; and if he will estimate the impact of these changes on the number of people who have lost national insurance cover.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Between its inception in 1948 and the advent of RNI in 1975, the scope and operation of the credits system remained broadly unchanged.

  The National Insurance (Contributions) Amendment Regulations 1960 provided for unemployed persons to have a part-time job compatible with their availability for full-time employment and continue to receive unemployment credits.

  No other significant changes were made prior to 1965 or between 1965 and 1975.

  The Social Security (Credits) Regulations 1975 made adaptations to the credits systems to accommodate the revised national insurance scheme. The revised system was based on tax years and reliance on credits was considerably diminished since the earnings-related contributions payable by employed earners meant that
  760
  many people could achieve a qualifying year for future benefit purposes in a comparatively short period.

  Apart from credits awarded for long-term benefit purposes only—class 3—all credits previously awarded at a class appropriate to the contributor's employment status became class 1 credits.

  Other specific changes were as follows:

  Special short-term benefit credits awarded to recent entrants into the national insurance scheme were extended to provide future cover for maternity allowance in addition to unemployment benefit and sickness benefit.

  Credits in respect of education, training and unpaid apprenticeship up to age 18 were extended to cover all young people for the tax years containing their 16th, 17th and 18th birthdays.

  The conditions for eligibility for credits in respect of approved training were eased by removing the qualification that the trainee would otherwise have become or remained unemployed and reducing the amount of contributions which needed to have been paid before the course commenced.

  The special provision whereby class 3 contributions paid by a mature student during his course could be converted to class 1 or 2 for short-term benefit purposes only was removed.

  Special credits available to a young person for short-term benefit purposes on termination of a period of small income exception were not replaced by a similar provision in respect of small earnings exception because of the anomalies that this would create.

  Class 3 credits previously awarded to widows for specified weeks were extended to cover the whole of the tax year. Credits were also made available for the year of widowhood and in some circumstances the following year regardless of whether widows benefit was in payment.

  The credits provisions of the Social Security (Credits) Regulations 1975 and the Social Security (Benefit) (Married Women and Widows Special Provisions) Regulations 1974 together with information about subsequent significant changes are as follows:

  Class 3 starting credits

  Introduced 1948. Count for basic retirement pension and widows' benefits. Awarded for the years in which the individual reaches the ages of 16, 17 and 18. Still current.

  Class 1 starting credits

  Introduced 1953. Counted for unemployment benefit, sickness benefit and maternity allowance. Awarded for the year in which the age of 17 was reached or any previous year. Abolished from 2 October 1988 to coincide with the tightening of the contribution conditions for sickness and unemployment benefits.

  Starting credits for maternity grant purposes

  Introduced 1948. Abolished from 6 April 1988 when maternity grant was abolished.

  Approved training credits

  Introduced 1948. Count for all benefit purposes. Available to those over 18 in full time training. Still current. From 4 September 1988, the requirement to have one qualifying year for benefit purposes in the three years preceding the course was abolished.
  761
  Termination of full time education, training and apprenticeship credits

  Introduced 1953. Count for unemployment and sickness benefit. Available to those over 18 providing the course did not start after the individual reached the age of 21 and the course has actually finished. Changes from 2 October 1988 were as follows:

  (a) Credits for maternity allowance purposes were abolished.

  (b) Credits were no longer available to the individual for the tax year before he was 18.

  (c) Credits were made available for one of the two relevant tax years for benefit purposes providing that the other year was a qualifying year. Change coincided with the tightening of the contribution conditions for sickness and unemployment benefits.

  Credits for unemployment and incapacity

  Introduced in 1948. Count for all benefit purposes. Available for each week of unemployment or sickness. In the case of unemployment credits, a small amount of work can be disregarded. Changes since 1975 are as follows:

  (a) From 29 May 1977, provisions were put in place to prevent the use of severe disablement allowance credits to gain entitlement to higher rate contributory incapacity benefits.

  (b) From 8 March 1982, the scope of disregarded work for unemployment credit purposes was extended to include work done for a charity.

  (c) From 10 May 1987, the scope of incapacity credits was extended to include periods when the individual was working as a councillor.

  (d) From 6 April 1988, the scope of incapacity credits was extended to include days in receipt of statutory sick pay.

  (e) From 6 April 1992, the scope of unemployment credits was extended to include periods covered by a PILON—payment in lieu of notice.

  Special credits on termination of marriage

  Introduced 1948. Abolished 18 May 1989. For women whose marriage has terminated by reason of the death of their husband or otherwise to assist them in satisfying the contribution conditions for unemployment and sickness benefits and maternity allowance. Award for any relevant week in which the marriage subsisted provided that certain contributions have been paid since the marriage ended.

  Widow's "running start" credits

  Introduced January 1957. For the purposes of entitlement to sickness benefit, unemployment benefit or maternity allowance, where entitlement to WMA or WA ends other than by remarriage or cohabitation. Still current.

  ICA credits

  Introduced 12 April 1976. Count for all benefit purposes. Still current. Available for periods when invalid care allowance is payable.

  Autocredits

  Introduced 6 April 1983. Count for all benefit purposes. Still current. Awarded automatically to men for the tax years in which they reach the ages of 60 to 64 inclusive provided they are not liable to pay contributions.
  762
  SMP credits

  Introduced 6 April 1987. Count for all benefit purposes. Still current. Awarded for periods when statutory maternity pay is available.

  Jury service credits

  Introduced 6 April 1988. Count for all benefit purposes. Still current. Awarded for periods of jury service.

  DWA credits

  Introduced 6 April 1992. Count for all benefit purposes. Still current. Available for periods when disability working allowance is payable.

  Widows benefit credits

  Introduced 1948. Counted for retirement pension purposes only. Awarded for each week for which widow's benefit was payable or a claim was pending. Abolished 1978.

  It is not possible to estimate the impact of these changes on the number of people who have lost national insurance cover. Since the majority of changes have been favourable, there will be more gainers than losers in benefit terms.

  EU Nationals
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what checks are made by his Department on the validity of EU documents before benefit is paid to EU nationals.

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

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. John Spellar, dated 2 March 1995:

  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what checks are made on the validity of EU documents before benefit is paid to EU nationals.

  If there are grounds to doubt the authenticity or validity of documentation such as EU national ID cards, for example if there are signs of alteration or the information is inconsistent with the customer's benefit claim details, staff will consider all the evidence presented and may refuse to accept the documentation.

  Staff have access to guidance on how to deal with suspect documentation provided in support of a benefit claim, in particular when attempting to establish a customer's identity. They are also able to seek advice from the Document Examination Unit of the Benefits Agency's (BA) Overseas Benefits Directorate.

  I should add that in the case of a claim to a contributory benefit from a person from abroad, any EU documentation tendered would only initiate a claim; entitlement would need to be established by the BA's Overseas Benefits Directorate. The steps taken in processing such a claim would require corroborative documentation from sources other than the customer.

  In addition, customers who have entered the UK within the last five years have, since 1 August 1994, had to show the adjudicating authorities that they are habitually resident in the UK to qualify for Income Support, Housing or Council Tax Benefits.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  War Pensions
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the average time now taken to deal
  763
  with appeals against disability assessment for war pension purposes; and what was the average time 12 and 24 months earlier;

  (2) how many appeals against disability assessment for war pension purposes are currently waiting to be dealt with, and what were the figures 12 and 24 months earlier;

  (3) how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time staff are employed in handling appeals against disability assessment for war pension purposes; and what were the numbers 12 and 24 months earlier.

  Mr. Hague
  These are matters for Mr. Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the War Pensions Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Robin Corbett, dated 2 March 1995:

  I have been asked by the Secretary of State to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about appeals against the assessment of claims to War Pension.

  At 31 January 1995 the War Pensions Agency (WPA) had 8,337 assessment appeals on hand. The equivalent figures for 31 January 1994 and 1993 were 7,325 and 2,511 respectively.

  The average time taken to clear an assessment appeal is currently 220 days compared with 183 days and 247 days 12 and 24 months earlier.

  The work of WPA is organised so that staff deal with all aspects of a claim be it the initial claim, any review or deterioration or an ensuing appeal. As such it is no possible to be specific about the number of staff employed on dealing with assessment appeals.

  The majority of resources have been used to clear the high number of claims that have been received and this is demonstrated by a clearance of nearly 240,000 first claims in the last two years compared to 98,000 in the previous two year period. The balance of first claims has been reduced from a peak of 88,000 at April 1993 to 25,000 at January 1995.

  This activity on claims has led to a consequent increase in the number of appeals received and hence an increase in the total on hand. However the Agency has responded with a very large increase in output as can be demonstrated by the fact that in 1994 a total of 9,589 assessment appeals were cleared compared to 5,075 in 1993 and 3,194 in 1992.

  I hope you find my reply helpful.

  Burnley Benefit Office
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if it is his policy that the Burnley Benefits Agency office is to continue to operate as an independent office;

  (2) when he expects to announce the name of the new district manager of the Burnley Benefits Agency office.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The appointments of district managers and the operations of district offices are both matters for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Peter Pike, dated 2 March 1995:

  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the appointment of a new District Manager to, and the continued independent operation of, the Burnley Benefits Agency office.

  We will shortly be advertising the post of District Manager at Burnley with a view to announcing the name of the successful applicant as soon as possible.

  There are no plans to change the way the Burnley office operates.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.
  764

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many parents with care have made eligible applications to have maintenance assessed; and if he will express this figure as a percentage of parents with care.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. Donald Dewar, dated 3 March 1995:

  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about eligible applications for child maintenance.

  For the period April 1994 to January 1995 the number of parents with care who have made eligible applications and had maintenance assessed was 194,291. This figure represents 38.64% of the maintenance application forms received to date in 1994/95 by the Agency from parents with care.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many reduced benefit directions have been issued by the Child Support Agency in each month from April 1993 to the latest available date.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. Donald Dewar, dated 3 March 1995:

  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the number of reduced benefit directions (RBDs) issued by the Child Support Agency.

  April 1993 to March 1994

  RBDs issued

  April

  0

  May

  0

  June

  1

  July

  0

  August

  8

  September

  13

  October

  20

  November

  39

  December

  79

  January

  162

  February

  42

  March

  263

  April 1994 to January 1995

  RBDs issued

  April

  205

  May

  258

  June

  892

  July

  1,143

  August

  1,726

  September

  2,846

  October

  3,791

  November

  2,969

  December

  1,285

  January

  973

WALES

  Prescription Pricing Service
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what inquiries he has had from(a) the Philippines,

  765
  (b) Mauritius, (c) other non EU and (d) other EU countries expressing interest in the market testing exercise for administering the prescription pricing service currently provided by the Welsh Health Common Services Authority.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 2 March 1995]: Of 38 organisations which have so far asked for a copy of the authority's market testing information pack, 37 are companies with a UK address and one is a company based elsewhere in the European Community. This would not preclude any links with the Philippines or Mauritius. However, the closing date for the submission of outline proposals is not until 24 March 1995, and invitations to tender will be issued on 28 April 1995. All information relating to companies tendering will be treated in confidence.

  Flyover, Cardiff
  Mr. Rhodri Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had concerning the funding of the proposed dedicated flyover connecting the Eastern avenue A48 trunk road and the University Hospital of Wales, Health, Cardiff, if he will set out the rules relating to the funding by(a) health authorities (b) highway authorities or (c) the private sector of such dedicated highway structures; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 2 March 1995]: I have received a number of representations. A contribution by the NHS towards the overall cost of off-site road works may in certain cases be appropriate, provided that the hospital involved is the main beneficiary of the proposals. The A48 Eastern avenue is not a trunk road and is the responsibility of South Glamorgan county council. It is for the council to determine what, if any, priority it attaches to such a structure. Any proposals from the private sector must offer value for money and a transfer of risk from the public sector.

  Ministerial Accommodation, Cardiff
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the annual cost of providing accommodation in Cardiff for Welsh Office Ministers with particular reference to the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Mr. Redwood
  Because the accommodation for Welsh Office Ministers and officials in Cardiff is an integral part of the main headquarters office complex at Cathays Park, costs are not collected separately. There is not separate accommodation for the Secretary of State.

  Pay Awards (Cost)
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the cost to his Department's budget and to local authorities' self-financed expenditure in 1995–96 of implementing in full the recommendations of(a) the School Teachers Review Body, (b) the Review Body on Doctors and Dentists Remuneration and (c) the Review Body on Nursing Staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine, assuming no changes in staff numbers.

  Mr. Richards
  On the recommendation of the School Teachers Review Body, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) on 23 February 1995,Official Report, columns
  766
  300–01. The estimated costs to the NHS in Wales in 1995–96 of implementing the review bodies' pay awards are:

  Main pay increases Per cent.

  Pay bill costs £ million3

  DDRB (doctors and dentists)1

  2.5–3.0

  7.1

  NPRB (nurses and allied professions)2

  1.5–3.0

  8.0–16.0

  Notes:

  1 Includes hospital medical and dental (2.5 per cent. award), local pay for consultants (average 2.5 per cent. awards) and GPs (3 per cent. award).

  2 The award for NPRB groups was of a 1 per cent. increase in national salary rates to be supplemented by local negotiations on pay and, where appropriate, leads and allowances and/or conditions. The review body has said that it expects that, in the majority of cases, the outcome of local negotiations would provide improvements for the staff concerned totalling between 1.5 and 3 per cent., including the 1 per cent. increase in national rates.

  3Includes employers' national insurance and superannuation.

  The costs of pay awards are to be met from existing budgets.

  Local Research Ethics Committees
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what proposals he has for ensuring the appropriate training and qualification for(a) membership and (b) chairmanship and vice-chairmanship of local research ethics committees;

  (2) if he will list the names of the chairmen, vice-chairmen and members of local research ethics committees and the date on which they were appointed;

  (3) what consultations he has had with the chairman of the South Glamorgan health authority concerning the application of his Department's circular (91) 75 in relation to the independence of the local research ethics committee;

  (4) what recent representations he has received in relation to the chairmanship of the South Glamorgan local research ethics committee; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The only representations I have received in relation to the local research ethics committee in South Glamorgan were from its two vice-chairmen. I have not had consultations on the role of the ethics committee with the chairmen of the health authority.

  Guidance on the establishment, operation and guiding principles of local research ethics committees was issued by the Department in a Welsh health circular in 1991. Chairmen of all ethics committees received detailed guidance on standards and operating procedures in October 1994. Members of committees in Wales attended a series of training workshops organised by the Department of Health late in 1994.

  Information on the membership of each local research ethics committee in Wales is not held centrally, but can be obtained from the health authorities concerned.

  Village Halls
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what has been the total amount of funding from the Welsh
  767
  Office towards the improvement of village halls in Wales in each of the last five years, including the current financial year; and what is the financial allocation for this purpose for 1995–96.

  Mr. Richards
  Improvements to village halls are funded under the voluntary youth services, village halls and community centres programme, and under the strategic development scheme (prior to 1994–95, the urban programme and the rural initiative).

  Expenditure under the voluntary youth services, village halls and community centres programme is as follows:

  £

  1990–91

  Outturn

  528,000

  1991–92

  Outturn

  724,000

  1992–93

  Outturn

  551,000

  1993–94

  Outturn

  399,000

  1994–95

  Estimated outturn

  493,000

  1995–96

  Plans

  472,000

  Approvals under the strategic development scheme, and previously the urban programme and the rural initiative, are as follows:

  Urbanprogramme£

  Rural initiative£

  1990–91

  Approvals

  225,225

  —

  1991–92

  Approvals

  400,500

  154,500

  1992–93

  Approvals

  1,518,432

  185,000

  1993–94

  Approvals

  1,293,529

  343,344

  Strategic development scheme

  £

  1994–95

  Approvals to date

  2,648,808

  1995–96

  Planned approvals

  1,174,000

  Figures are for approved capital projects only for each year. Projects funded include improvements to community centres, welfare halls and village halls.

  Cardiff Bay (Birds)
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what action is being taken by the Cardiff Bay development corporation to implement its plans for mitigation measures for birds that will be displaced from Cardiff bay on completion of barrage construction in 1988.

  Mr. Redwood
  The corporation, acting on the advice of the Countryside Council for Wales, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Land Authority for Wales, is reviewing the options for suitable site locations along the south Wales coastline between the Burry inlet and the Gwent levels. I hope to make an announcement about site acquisition within the next two to three months.
  768

SCOTLAND

  Payment of Invoices
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the average time lapse between receipt and payment of invoices in his Department in each year since 1985; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington) on 10 May 1994 which provides information about payment performance in the financial year 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94. Information for earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Provisional figures for the current financial year indicate a further improvement whereby 93 per cent. of payments were made on or before the due date. This is normally 30 days from receipt of goods/services or receipt of invoice, whichever is the later.

  A formal statement of payment performance for 199495, giving final figures, will be included in my Department's annual report to be published in March.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he issues to the chairpersons and members of quangos, trusts, agencies and other bodies appointed by him as to the need for political independence in the public execution of their duties; what advice he issues to the chief executives of such bodies relating to political independence and the need to ensure rectitude in the exercise of their functions; when this advice was last given to the chairman, board members and chief executive of Scottish Homes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Lang
  There are long-standing rules on participation in political activities which members of public bodies are expected to observe and which are drawn to their attention on appointment. Additionally, a code of best practice for board members of public bodies was issued to executive non-departmental public bodies in Scotland, including Scottish Homes, in September 1994. Separate codes of conduct and accountability were issued to NHS bodies in Scotland, including NHS trusts, in April 1994. Nationalised industries and certain non-governmental trading bodies will normally apply the Cadbury code.

  I do not issue specific advice to chief executives of non-departmental public bodies, most of whom are not appointed by me but by the board of the body concerned. However, those chief executives—including the chief executive of Scottish Homes—who are appointed accounting officers for their NDPBs receive a formal letter of designation from the departmental accounting officer setting out the responsibilities of an NDPB accounting officer. In some cases the contract of employment of a chief executive may cover political activities and the management statement of the body will cover the conduct of staff generally.

  These arrangements do not apply to next steps agencies which operate within a different framework of accountability and control. Agency chief executives are

  769
  civil servants whose conduct is covered by the civil service pay and conditions code.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how the additional borrowing consent allocated by him to(a) Renfrew district council and (b) Strathclyde regional council following the floods of December 1994 impact on their budgets for 1994–95; how will consent for general services borrowing impact on future years' revenue expenditure on loan debt charges; how additional housing borrowing consent for Renfrew district council will impact on future years' housing revenue account expenditure on loan debt charges; how the additional loan charges will be taken into account in allocations of aggregate external finance to each authority in future years; how this formula is likely to impact on (i) the council tax and (ii) the annual rent levels of chargepayers and tenants; how it will impact on successor unitary authorities; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will define the concept of top-slicing as it is applied to the (a) capital and (b) revenue budgets of Scottish local authorities, in relation to the general services, specific services and housing services grants awarded to regional and district councils; how this concept will apply to the proposed unitary authorities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kynoch
  Any additional borrowing required to fund the extra flood-related housing capital expenditure by Renfrew district council approved by my right hon. Friend will result in loan charges which will require to be met from income generated through the housing revenue account, primarily from rents. The precise impact will depend on the decisions taken by Renfrew district council in managing its housing debt which at 1 April 1994 totalled some £134.4 million. In accordance with the formula agreed with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, expenditure on loan charges arising from housing investment is taken into account as relevant expenditure when determining the amount and distribution of housing support grant. However, given that Renfrew district council's debt per house is well below the Scottish average and that the council has generated a healthy surplus on its housing revenue account in each of the last four years while holding rents below the Scottish average, it is unlikely that the council or its successor authority will qualify for housing support grant.

  The impact of any additional borrowing to fund the extra flood related non-housing capital expenditure by Strathclyde regional council approved by my right hon. Friend will in the period up to 31 March 1996 be a matter for the council itself to determine. From 1 April 1996, the loan charges arising from any additional borrowing by the regional council will be taken into account in calculating the loan and leasing charges of its successor councils which are supported by aggregate external finance. The provision to support loan charges on borrowing to fund non-housing capital expenditure is effectively top-sliced from the AEF total.

  artnership Areas
  . McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will consider the Glenburn area of Paisley, or any part of it, as a priority partnership area
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  under his progress in partnership policy; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will consider (a) the Johnstone/Elderslie area, (b) the Foxbar area of Paisley, (c) the south end of Paisley or (d) the Hunterhill/Lochfield Dykebar area of Paisley, or any part of those areas, as a priority partnership area under his progress in partnership policy; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Following the publication on 26 January 1995 of the Scottish urban regeneration policy statement, "Programme for Partnership", the Scottish Office plans further consultation on the implementation of the new proposals. A consultation paper on implementation arrangements will be circulated shortly to the bodies concerned and this will set out proposals on the way in which priority partnership areas will be selected. There will be a key role for local authorities and their regeneration partners in this process. As the consultation paper will focus on processes rather than the identification of areas, it is too early to say which areas will be designated as priority partnership areas. It is likely that the first such areas will be designated later this year.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider the(a) existing Renfrew district and/or (b) proposed Renfrewshire unitary authority for a city/district-wide initiative under his programme for partnership policy; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Following the publication on 26 January 1995, of the Scottish urban regeneration policy statement, "Programme for Partnership", The Scottish Office plans further consultation on the implementation of the new proposals. A consultation paper on implementation arrangements will be circulated shortly to the key bodies concerned and this will set out proposals on those areas which might be served by the city/district—wide partnerships proposed in the policy statement. Decisions on the areas in which the Scottish Office will encourage the formation of such partnerships will be taken in the light of the responses to this consultation paper and so it is too early to say where these will be. It is, however, open in any event to local authorities and other bodies to establish partnerships of this kind on their own initiative.

  Burns Bicentenary
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans his Department has to commemorate the bicentenary of the death of Robert Burns in 1996; how he intends to involve Burns clubs throughout the world in marking the year, and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  My right hon. Friend has already campaigned successfully with others for the issue by the Royal Mail of a set of Burns commemorative postage stamps, and a number of bodies sponsored by the Scottish Office, such as the National library, museums and gallery and the Scottish tourist board, will play prominent roles in the staging and promotion of commemorative events in Scotland.

  A registered charity, Burns Festival Ltd. has been set up to co-ordinate a year-long Burns international festival focused on the south-west of Scotland and a comprehensive programme of activities is in the final stages of preparation. The world-wide network of Burns

  771
  clubs will make their own arrangements for marking their special anniversary, as will groups such as the Burns Federation, which among other events is planning a week of celebrations in Dumfries in July 1996.

  Highlands and Islands Enterprise
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if Highlands and Islands Enterprise operates discretionary training budgets in addition to its youth training and training for work programmes;

  (2) what has been the level of spending by Highlands and Islands Enterprise on discretionary training outwith its youth training and training for work programmes in 1992–93,1993–94 and 1994–95 to date.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 2 March 1995]: Apart from youth training and training for work, Highlands and Islands Enterprise operates a number of training schemes in pursuance of its obligation under the Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990 to assist persons to enhance skills which are relevant to employment in the Highlands and Islands.

  Outturn expenditure by Highlands and Islands Enterprise on training-related programmes other than youth training, training for work and its predecessor employment training, in each year since 1992–93 is set out in the table:

  £ million

  Programme

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95 (toend January1995)

  Enterprise training

  0.833

  2.095

  1.118

  Training and Education support

  0.116

  0.166

  0.082

  Business advisory services and skills training

  5.13

  6.113

  3.736

  Total

  6.079

  8.374

  4.936

EDUCATION

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what letters she sent to selected hon. Members concerning the priority to be accorded to the Government's policy of expanding nursery education; what was the purpose of these letters; and what assessments she has made of the consequences from any request made therein;

  (2) what advice she has sent by letter to members of local education authorities concerning their priorities in educational expenditure for the year 1995–96; and what priority Her Majesty's Government now give to the expansion of nursery education.

  Mr. Forth
  My right hon. Friend has not written to hon. Members or to local education authorities about the Government's policies for nursery education. She has however, written to her hon. Friends about local authority spending priorities in 1995–96. The letter invited Members to examine the priorities set by individual LEAs, in particular those which complain of pressures on budgets for the compulsory period of education. This must be their first priority, though in general there is no reason 772
  why councils should be cutting discretionary nursery education. The Government remain committed to providing, over time, a pre-school place for all four-year-olds whose parents wish to take it up, making a start within the lifetime of this Parliament.

  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list those proposals for nursery classes in maintained or grant-maintained schools of which her Department has been informed since September 1991, showing in each case(a) whether they are for determination by her and (b) whether the proposals have been determined, approved and funded by her Department or implemented.

  Mr. Forth
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list for the core cities of Birmingham, Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield, Manchester and Leeds the percentage of under-fives in maintained nursery and primary schools; if she will list the equivalent figure for 1978; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Information on pupils under five being taught in maintained nursery schools and primary schools in Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield local education authority areas is shown in the table.

  Percentage of children under 5' in maintained nursery and primary schools in 1978 and 1994.

  Position in January each year

  Local education authority

  1978

  1994

  Birmingham

  38

  66

  Leeds

  20

  75

  Liverpool

  33

  87

  Manchester

  37

  73

  Newcastle

  61

  72

  Sheffield

  26

  63

  1 Numbers of pupils under five years of age expressed as a percentage of the estimated population aged three and four at 31 December in the previous year.

  Croxteth Country Park Estate
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when she expects to make a decision on the proposal to provide a Christian primary school on the Croxteth country park estate in Liverpool; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend hopes to make a decision on these proposals shortly.

  Liverpool Community College
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations she has received about the future of Liverpool Community college; if she will institute an inquiry in to its management; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Boswell
  Ministers have received six letters from three hon. Members this year about the future of Liverpool Community college. The hon. Member's letters covered representations from 21 students and/or college staff. In addition three letters from two other hon. Members and six letters from members of the public have been received about the proposed closure of the college's
  773
  higher national diploma course in theatre wardrobe. The Secretary of State sees no need for an inquiry into the management of the college.

  Difficult Children
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how long on average is taken to produce special educational assessments for children who are disruptive at school; and what plans she has to accelerate the process.

  Mr. Forth
  Since September 1994 local education authorities have been required to complete special educational assessments within 10 weeks of giving notice to a child's parents of their decision to carry out an assessment. The Government have no present plans to change this requirement.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will provide training and funds for schools to deal with children considered to be difficult; and what assessment she has made of the extent to which doing so would offset costs faced by other departments looking after these children.

  Mr. Forth
  Under the truancy and disaffected pupils programme of the grants for education support and training scheme, the Department is already making funds available both for the in-service training of teachers, and to establish and train LEA teams to support schools in their management of difficult and disruptive pupils. In 1994–95 the programme is supporting expenditure of £14 million on more than 80 locally devised projects in LEAs in England; in 1995–96 expenditure of £15.6 million on 90 projects will be supported.

  The programme is being independently evaluated, and the lessons to be learnt will be made available to LEAs, schools and other interested parties.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans she has to liaise with her ministerial and local authority colleagues, to ensure a tighter framework to help troubled children; and what plans she has to use this framework to support the families of these children.

  Mr. Forth
  Regular contact is maintained with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.

  Joint guidance by my Department and the Department of Health on the education of children with emotional and behavioural difficulties was issued in May last year as part of the "Pupils with Problems" pack.

  The guidance highlighted the need for collaborative working between education, health and social services and the crucial need for establishing a partnership between parents and the schools.

  A copy of the pack is in the Library.

  School Funding
  Mrs. Gorman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education on what date in each year since 1988 announcements were made for the subsequent financial year on(a) the level of each special purpose grant, (b) the determination of capital bids, (c) the invitation to submit capital bids, (d) the level of formula capital allocation, (e) the local management of schools add-on figure appropriate for each local education authority and (f) any other annual announcements relating to grant-maintained schools.
  774
  Mr. Robin Squire
  This is now a matter for the Funding Agency for Schools. I have asked the chairman of the Funding Agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Swimming
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans she has to monitor the implementation of school swimming in respect of the national curriculum requirements relating to key stage 2.

  Mr. Forth
  The regular cycle of four yearly Ofsted inspections will look, among other things, at each school's effectiveness in implementing the national curriculum, including the national curriculum for physical education, of which swimming is a part.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education who is directly responsible for ensuring that schools meet the basic requirements of the national curriculum in respect of swimming.

  Mr. Forth
  Head teachers are directly responsible for implementing the national curriculum in schools. This includes the requirements related to swimming.

  Education Assets Board
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many cases the Education Assets Board has dealt with since its inception; and if she will give in each case the two sides, indicating (i) the complainant, (ii) the disputed land and its value and (iii) the decision made and the successful side.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I regret that the information is not available in the form requested. Since it began work in 1988, the Education Assets Board has completed the transfer of property, rights and liabilities from local authorities to 65 higher education corporations, 163 further education corporations and 489 grant maintained schools. The board is currently considering such transfers at 13 higher education corporations, 317 further education corporations and 568 grant-maintained schools.

  Career Breaks
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many(a) men and (b) women applied for career breaks in her Department and its agencies; and how many have had their employment terminated in the last five years.

  Mr. Boswell
  The Department has no comprehensive record of the numbers of staff who have applied for career breaks in the last five years. The numbers of career breaks granted have been:

  Men

  Women

  Total

  1990–1991

  4

  17

  21

  1991–1992

  6

  17

  23

  1992–1993

  8

  34

  42

  1993–1994

  5

  39

  44

  1994–1995

  11

  41

  52

  Nine staff have had their employment terminated in the last five years.
  775

  Child Care Costs
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list the number of(a) applications, and (b) successful claims for (i) family credit and (ii) each of the other income-related benefits for each month since October 1994 in respect of parents claiming up to £40 child care cost which can be offset against earnings when claiming family credit and other income related benefits; if she will detail by each £10 the size of the child care costs offset; and if these data could be divided between two and one parent families.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  [holding answer 23 February 1995]: I have been asked to reply.

  Available information on family credit for the four-month period to 31 January 1995, the latest date for which figures are available, is set out in the tables. It does not include claims made by 31 January but decided after that date. Figures for individual months are not reliable at this level of disaggregation. Information is not available for disability working allowance, housing benefit or council tax benefit.

  Family credit: Help with child care charges: number of families

  Lone parents

  Couples

  Total

  Families receiving higher family credit awards as a result of the help with childcare charges

  10,200

  300

  10,500

  Families not eligible because they did not satisfy the qualifying conditions

  1—

  1—

  6,780

  776

  Family credit: Help with child care charges: number of families

  Lone parents

  Couples

  Total

  Families not receiving help with childcare charges because they were already receiving the maximum family credit1

  1—

  1—

  2,380

  1Notes:

  These families may receive help through housing benefit and council tax benefit.

  Family credit: amount of child care charges offset against earnings

  Amount of child care charges offset

  Number of families1

  Up to £10

  1,620

  £10.01–£20.00

  1,820

  £20.10–£30.00

  2,000

  £30.01–£40.00

  5.0602

  All cases

  10,500

  Notes:

  1 Information broken down by lone parents and couples is not reliable at this level of desegregation.

  2Includes 3,300 families where child care charges were in excess of the £40 maximum offset.

  Source:

  Five per cent. sample of family credit awards made between 1 October 1994 and 31 January 1995.

  It will take some time before the new help with child care charges takes full effect as existing family credit recipients can claim only the child care help when their current 26-week award expires, while many potential beneficiaries need to find work of 16 hours or more and to make appropriate child care arrangements.