Written Answers of 7 March 1995

HEALTH

  Termination Payments
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what termination payments have been made to(a) chairs and (b) non-executive directors of NHS authorities and trusts; and in what circumstances such payments are made.

  Mr. Malone
  No such payments have been made since the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Dr. Mawhinney) to my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, North-West (Mr. Stern) on 16 February 1993, column 164. Such payments may be made to the chairman of a national health service authority in exceptional circumstances by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. No such provision exists for non-executive members of authorities or for chairmen or non-executive members of NHS trusts.

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the procedures adopted in relation to in-contract settlements for former NHS trust chief executives.

  Mr. Malone
  The Department has issued guidance—TEL(94)3—which sets out what is expected of national health service trusts in providing for contractual termination settlements in respect of chief executives and senior managers.

  NHS Treatment of Prisoners
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what different arrangements exist for the billing and funding of the outside treatment of prisoners with(a) mental illness and (b) physical illness;

  (2) what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the purchaser-provider split between health authorities in respect of patients who are imprisoned; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  Responsibility for meeting the costs of treatment provided to prisoners in national health service accident and emergency units is met by the district in which the hospital is located. Otherwise responsibility for outside treatment falls to the health authority in the prisoner's usual district of residence, determined by the address at which they were resident immediately before detention. Where that cannot be determined satisfactorily, responsibility falls to the district in which the offence, or alleged offence, in respect of which the prisoner is detained was committed. There is no difference between the arrangements for funding treatment of mental and physical illness.

  Purchasing authorities are required in their strategic and development plans to take account of the health care needs of all those who are normally resident in their
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  district. This will include the needs of people who are in prison and who may require care and treatment in the NHS. These arrangements are subject to the normal monitoring process undertaken by the NHS Executive.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision the NHS provides for those prisoners suffering from mental illness too severe to be dealt with in prison but not severe enough to warrant incarceration in a Rampton-level unit.

  Mr. Bowis
  Prisoners who are transferred to national health service hospitals under provisions of the Mental Health Act 1983 may be admitted to general psychiatric hospitals, specialist medium-secure units, or one of the three special hospitals. My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary will name the hospital on a transfer direction following recommendations made to him by two medical practitioners who will have assessed the prisoner and advised on the level of security required.

  Health Care, Burton on Trent
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the improvements to health care provision in Burton on Trent and district since the introduction of the health reforms in 1991.

  Mr. Sackville
  I am aware of the excellent performance by national health service hospitals within the Burton on Trent area and I am sure that my hon. and learned Friend will wish to join me in congratulating them on their successes since the reforms were introduced in 1991. These include:
  Burton Hospitals NHS Trust being awarded the charter mark in October 1994 by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.12 new consultants employed at Burton Hospital NHS Trust, an increase of over 25 per cent., all funded from internally generated savings.In 1992 Premier Health NHS Trust opened a 10 place day unit for the mentally ill, the Horace Pritchard Home, in a joint project with social services.Burton Fundholding Group set up: fourth wave consortium of 13 practices in nine funds representing 85,000 patients in the Burton area. Total budget £14.5 million.Burton Hospitals NHS Trust continues to reduce waiting list. At the end of January 56 patients were waiting over nine months. This is expected to be nil by March.In April Premier Health NHS Trust are expecting to open the £700,000 Margaret Stanhope Centre on the Burton district hospital site to replace the old Harry Jones in-patient psychiatric unit and Belvedere resource centre.

  AIDS
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the item concerned with fostering a climate of understanding and compassion, discouraging discrimination and safeguarding confidentiality, as set out in section D.14 of "The Health of the Nation", 1992, has been dropped from the review of "The Health of the Nation"—"One Year On", 1993; and what policy changes underlie this change.

  Mr. Sackville
  When the AIDS epidemic began in the United Kingdom, the Government dedicated considerable efforts to combating discrimination, not least through the general anti-discrimination legislation. The UK's record is well respected internationally on this. From the London declaration of 1988 to the Paris summit of 1994, the Government have re-emphasised their continuing commitment to discouraging discrimination on this front.
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  That still underlies each element of the strategy which covers prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care, monitoring surveillance and research, and international action.

  Health and Inequality
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evaluation she has made of the report published by the department of social policy at the university of Newcastle on "Health and Inequality: the Northern Region 1981 to 1991".

  Mr. Sackville
  The issues raised in the report are under consideration by the Chief Medical Officer's sub-group looking at variations in health. The group is due to report in spring 1995 on how the Department of Health and the national health service can effectively tackle ethnic, geographical, socio-economic and gender variations in health in the five "Health of the Nation" key areas. Work is progressing in line with that timetable.

  Family Networks
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what non-governmental agencies supporting family networks are funded by the Government; and what initiatives they are undertaking.

  Mr. Bowis
  The Government grant-aid the following voluntary organisations who support family networks:

  Barnardos';

  The Childrens Society;

  Contact a Family;

  Exploring Parenthood;

  Family Centre Network;

  Family Rights Group;

  Family Support Network;

  Family Services Units;

  Family Welfare Association;

  Gingerbread;

  Grandparents Federation;

  National Children's Homes Action For Children;

  National Council for One Parent Families;

  Parent Line;

  Parent Link;

  Parent Network;

  Parents At Work;

  Pre-school Learning Alliance

  Save the Children Fund;

  The National Stepfamily Association.

  These organisations support self-help networks of families or parents, networks of family centres providing services to families and networks of research into family support. The Department of Health spends about £5 million annually supporting these and other family organisations which are not explicitly networks.

  "Take Our Daughters to Work"
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support(a) she and (b) the NHS is giving to "Take our Daughters to Work" campaign on 27 April.

  Mr. Sackville
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is participating in the "Take our Daughters to Work" campaign. She will be accompanied by a schoolgirl from her constituency on 27 April. As the largest employer of women in Europe, with good examples of women working successfully at all levels of the organisation, this initiative offers an opportunity positively to promote 100
  careers in the national health service to potential future employees and a number of NHS authorities and trust have indicated their support for the campaign.

  Solvent Abuse
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have died from solvent and volatile substance abuse in each year since 1985.

  Mr. Bowis
  The information is shown in the table:

  Years

  Deaths

  1985

  117

  1986

  102

  1987

  115

  1988

  137

  1989

  113

  1990

  151

  1991

  122

  1992

  79

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Keen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the categories of illnesses currently exempt from prescription costs.

  Mr. Malone
  People are exempt from national health service prescription charges if they hold a valid exemption certificate issued by a family health services authority on the grounds that they have one or more of the following medical conditions–
  Permanent fistula, including caecostomy, colostomy, laryngostomy, ileostomy or urostomy, requiring continuous surgical dressings or an appliance;Forms of hypoadrenalism, including Addison's disease, for which specific substitution therapy is essential;Diabetes insipidus and other forms of hypopituitarism;Diabetes mellitus except where treatment is by diet alone;Hypoparathyroidism;Myasthenia gravis;Myxoedema, or other conditions where supplemental thyroid hormone is necessary;Epilepsy requiring continuous anti-convulsive therapy;A continuing physical disability which prevents the patient from leaving home except with the help of another person.

  Occupational Asthma
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate her Department has made of the cost to her Department of the treatment of occupational asthma for each year since 1990.

  Mr. Sackville
  None. The Department's information does not distinguish between types of asthma.

  Basildon and Thurrock NHS Trust
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she received a copy of the letter from the medical director of the Basildon and Thurrock Hospital trust to all general practitioners, dated 7 February 1995, on difficulties experienced by hospitals recruiting doctors of SHO grade to staff accident and emergency departments; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not received a copy of such a letter.
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  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the establishment of the accident and emergency department at Basildon hospital; and which of these posts are vacant.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Ian MacPherson, chairman of the Basildon and Thurrock General Hospitals National Health Service trust, for details.

  Hospital Closures
  Sir John Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what mechanism there is within her Department centrally to collate information regarding the number of hospitals and accident and emergency departments that have been closed;

  (2) how many planned closures of accident and emergency units have been rejected by community health councils since 1991; and if she will list those that have subsequently not been put into effect;

  (3) how many hospital closures in England have taken place following objection to a proposed closure from a community health council since January 1993;

  (4) what information is provided to her Department by district health authorities, trusts, regional health authorities and the national health service executive on accident and emergency department closures;

  (5) how many accident and emergency departments are currently threatened with closure;

  (6) if she will list the hospitals or trusts in respect of which she has been formally consulted about partial or complete closure in the last two years.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department does not routinely collect information on hospital or accident and emergency department closures. Information is available centrally on proposals to close, or change the use of, health service facilities which are referred to Ministers for decision following objections from a community health council. A list of such proposed closures referred to Ministers in the period 1992–94 will be placed in the Library.

  Capital Projects
  Sir John Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the capital projects in the NHS with a works cost of over £1 million that have been completed since 1992 giving a brief description of each project.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information will be placed in the Library recording National Health Service capital building works projects with a works cost of over £1 million which have been completed since 1992.

  Formby Health Authority
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement clarifying the circumstances surrounding the resignation of Dr. McMinn from the chairmanship of Formby health authority.

  Mr. Malone
  The reason given to Sir Donald Wilson, chairman of North West regional health authority, by Dr. Alex McMinn for resigning as chairman of the Southport and Formby National Health Service trust was increased pressure of business commitments.

  Juice Plus
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 28 February,Official Report, column 497, if either of the two letters promoting Juice Plus were sent by hon. Members; and if any of the correspondence with officials at the Medicines Control Agency came from hon. Members.

  Mr. Sackville
  No.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Members of Parliament
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Attorney-General if the status of a victim of crime as a Member of Parliament is treated as a public interest consideration in deciding whether to bring a prosecution against the alleged offender.

  The Attorney-General
  Whether the fact that a victim of crime is a Member of Parliament bears upon the public interest in prosecution of the alleged offender in any particular case will depend upon all the circumstances of that case. The Crown Prosecution Service may have in mind among other factors the matters in paragraph 6.4 of the code for Crown prosecutors—namely, whether the offence was committed against a person serving the public, or whether it was motivated by any form of discrimination against the victim's political views.

TREASURY

  Manufacturing Exports
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what has been the change in the real exchange rate measured in terms of relative export unit values for manufacturing against the deutschmark since the lowest day's average in February 1993;

  (2) in what periods since 1975 British manufactures have been less competitive on price against those of the EEC than in the second quarter of 1994.

  Mr. Nelson
  Sterling exchange rates against the currencies of the EU can be found in "Financial Statistics", published monthly by the Central Statistical Office. Unit value export prices of goods for these countries can be found in "International Financial Statistics", published monthly by the International Monetary Fund. Unit value export prices of manufactures for the main manufacturing countries, which excludes some of the EU, can be found in the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics", published monthly by the Central Statistical Office. Data on unit value export prices of manufactures for all EU countries are not readily available.

  Together, these data can be used to calculate changes over time in relative export prices for goods against Germany and all other EU countries, and relative export prices for manufactures against some EU countries, including Germany.

  Exchange Rates
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy that the Bank of
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  England will not intervene in the foreign exchanges to prevent the pound sterling from falling against the deutschmark.

  Mr. Nelson
  The valuation of the pound is determined by transactions in the foreign exchange market. Movements in the exchange rate are considered as part of the general assessment of monetary conditions in setting monetary policy. The Government recognise the value of a stable exchange rate, but they do not set target rates. For good reasons of market management, the Government do not comment on intervention in foreign exchange markets.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the effect of the Government's exchange rate policies on the rate of unemployment since 1975.

  Mr. Nelson
  Levels of unemployment are influenced by a wide range of factors and it is not possible to isolate the effects of any single factor. The Government's policies are designed to promote sustained economic growth, secure jobs and rising prosperity, through structural policies to improve the long-term performance of the economy and a stable macroeconomic environment.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the nominal rate of exchange rose against the deutschmark between February 1993 and January 1994; what was the effect on the real exchange rate measured in terms of export unit values for manufactures; and what was the effect on the convergence criteria under Maastricht.

  Mr. Nelson
  The sterling-deutschmark exchange rate is determined by transactions in the foreign exchange markets. Data on the nominal exchange rate can be found in "Financial Statistics" published by the Central Statistical Office. Unit value export prices for the UK and Germany can be found in "International Financial Statistics" published monthly by the International Monetary Fund. Together, these data can be used to calculate the change in the real exchange rate with Germany between January 1993 and February 1994. It is impossible to quantify the effect on the change in the exchange rate on sterling export prices, and hence on to the real exchange rate. Movements in the sterling-deutschmark exchange rate over this period have no direct consequences for the Maastricht convergence criteria.

  Inflation and Growth
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has for relaxing his inflation targets to allow a faster rate of growth; and what is his estimate of the growth rate for 1995 and 1996 compatible

  Destination

  Duration

  Cost (£)

  Organisations/groups met

  Chancellor of the Exchequer

  1994

  Naples

  8–10 July

  3,316

  G7 Summit. Finance Ministers

  Brussels

  11 July

  1,726

  ECOFIN. EU Finance Ministers

  Brussels

  27 July

  1,844

  ECOFIN. EU Finance Ministers

  Germany

  9–11 September

  2,172

  Informal ECOFIN. EU Finance Ministers

  Malta

  26–28 September

  1,316

  Commonwealth Finance Ministers Mtg.

  Madrid

  28–30 September

  3,087

  Bretton Woods Conference. Ministers and Businessmen

  Madrid

  1–5 October

  2,910

  G7/IMF Meetings with Ministers

  Luxembourg

  10 October

  2,782

  ECOFIN. EU Finance Ministers

  Brussels

  21 October

  985

  ECOFIN. EU Finance Ministers

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  with an inflation target of 2.5 per cent. by the end of this Parliament.

  Mr. Nelson
  Permanently low inflation is the best way to ensure healthy growth in the economy. The Government's inflation target is designed to achieve this, and is set out in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96", together with forecasts for output and inflation.

  Retail Depositors
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, as a condition of the guarantee given to retail depositors, the Government will require the high street banks and other financial institutions to hive off their retail operators in such a way that they cannot be affected financially by liabilities incurred in other parts of the enterprise as at present constituted as a condition of the guarantee given to retail depositors.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Government do not give a guarantee to depositors. The statutory deposit protection scheme, which is financed by the banks themselves, is to compensate depositors in the event of their bank failing. The arrangements governing the supervision of banks are set out elsewhere in the Banking Act 1987.

  Financial Participation Schemes
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he intends to proceed with his proposal to make it obligatory for part-time directors as well as part-time employees to be included in tax-relieved employee financial participation schemes, included approved executive share option schemes.

  Sir George Young
  No. After further consideration, and in the light of representations from institutional investors, my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury proposes to introduce amendments at Report stage of the Finance Bill to ensure that the new provisions about the inclusion of part-time workers in tax-relieved employee financial participation schemes will apply only to part-time employees and not to part-time directors.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what overseas visits he or his Ministers have made since 1 July 1994; and what was the duration and cost of such visits and the organisations and groups that were met during the course of such visits.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 20 February 1995]: The overseas visits made since 1 July 1994 by Treasury Ministers, and the duration and cost of such visits and the organisations and groups that were met during the course of such visits, are as follows:
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  Destination

  Duration

  cost (£)

  Organisation/groups met

  Brussels

  7 November

  1,475

  ECOFIN.EU Finance Ministers

  Chateaudun

  18 November

  1,325

  Anglo-French Summit

  Brussels

  4–5 December

  1,383

  ECOFIN. EU Finance Ministers

  Essen

  9–10 December

  4,261

  European Council

  Malaysia

  30 December 1994– January 1995

  115,000

  Official Tour. Minister and Businessmen

  1995

  Thailand

  5–10 January

  Official Tour. Ministers and Businessmen

  Vietnam

  10–12 January

  Official Tour. Ministers and Businessmen

  Brussels

  16 January

  —2

  ECOFIN. EU Finance Ministers Winter Economic Forum. Ministers and Businessmen

  Davos

  26–29 January

  Brussels

  24–25 July 1994

  838

  Summer Budget Council Meeting

  Brussels

  15–16 November 1994

  838

  Winter Budget Council Meeting

  Minister of State

  south Africa

  18–23 September 1994

  5,701

  Various Businessmen

  Dubai

  23–25 October 1994

  143

  Various Businessmen

  New Your/Boston

  3–6 January 1995

  4,405

  Various Businessmen

  1 Estimate.

  2 Full details not yet available.

  Balance of Payments Deficit
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost to the United Kingdom economy of financing the deficit in the current account of the balance of payments since 1986; and if it is the Government's policy to move the current account back into surplus to enable the debt to be repaid.

  Mr. Nelson
  Figures for the current and capital accounts of the UK's balance of payments are published by the Central Statistical Office annually in the Pink Book, with quarterly data available on the CSO database. Both are available through the Library of the House. Latest figures for the third quarter 1994 show the current account in surplus, with net investment income at record levels and the UK a net creditor. The key to maintaining this good performance is for the Government to deliver permanently low inflation and companies to keep costs under control, thereby ensuring that British industry remains competitive.

TRANSPORT

  Light Dues
  Sir Anthony Durant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on light dues.

  Mr. Norris
  I am pleased to announce that light dues for 1995–96 will be frozen at the levels set in April 1993 for a second year in succession. I have decided to remove the supplementary roll-on/roll-off charge levied on tonnage in excess of 1,000 tonnes for any vessel whose liability is assessed by an international tonnage convention 1969 certificate. The surcharge will remain for any vessel unable for any reason to offer such a certificate. I have concluded that all other rates should remain unchanged.

  I commend the general lighthouse authorities on their continuing achievement of efficiency savings.

  Fuel Duty
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of a rise in fuel duty of 5 per cent. per year above the rate of inflation on car use and congestion.

  Mr. Norris
  The strategy to raise fuel duty by a minimum of 5 per cent. per annum is an important part of the Government's climate change programme to reduce the UK's carbon dioxide emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000.

  The forecast for the growth rate of traffic up to 2000 with these increases is much the same as in the Department's current national road traffic forecasts. This reflects the fact that the real price of fuel assumed in those forecasts is similar to that now expected, as the duty increase is offset to a large degree by a lower forecast for real oil prices.

  The responsiveness of road use to fuel prices is believed to be low. As well as adjusting the mileage that they drive, road users have the choice of buying smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, and manufacturers have an incentive to supply them.

  North London Line
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what will be the effect of the postponement of the North London line modernisation project on the introduction, or operation, of passenger and freight trains from France for destinations north of London.

  Mr. Watts
  Railtrack advises me that there has been no postponement of work on the North London line which would affect channel tunnel services.

  Railtrack is currently carrying out a study to determine which of several route options through north London will be adopted for channel tunnel services north of London.

  Diesel Train Emissions
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what monitoring has taken place of emissions from diesel trains.
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  Mr. Watts
  Under section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, it is the duty of district councils and London borough councils to inspect their areas from time to time to detect any statutory nuisances, including emissions from railway engines but excluding steam locomotives.

  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to curb emissions from railway diesel engines.

  Mr. Watts
  It is a condition of the train operator's licence to produce an environmental policy, taking account of guidance from the rail regulator which I understand is in preparation. British Rail takes active steps to control exhaust emissions in sensitive locations. In some terminal stations and depots, provision of shore-based electrical supplies has greatly reduced the need for engines to idle. For new trains, better fuel consumption control has been incorporated in design specifications, together with automatic engine shut-off after a predetermined period.

  Concessionary Fares (Epileptics)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the local authorities in the United Kingdom which include people with epilepsy who cannot drive for medical reasons within their concessionary fare schemes.

  Mr. Norris
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Urban Congestion
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration his Department has given to measures to decrease the current level of use of private motor vehicles in cities and conurbations; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  Local authorities are already able to introduce a wide range of measures to reduce urban congestion which they can tailor to the particular circumstances of their areas: for example, traffic management schemes, bus priority lanes, park-and-ride schemes and parking controls, all of which are the subject of departmental advice notes.

  Two years ago, we introduced the "package approach" under which local authorities, individually or collectively, can obtain funding for strategic transport plans which encompass all forms of transport. Local authorities are now invited to bid for Government funds on the basis of multi-modal transport packages which take a strategic overview of transport needs and look beyond road-based options.

  Planning policy guidance note No. 13, published jointly by the Departments of the Environment and of Transport, offers advice on the role which transport and land use planning policies can jointly play in reducing the need to travel.

  Radioactive Fallout, Dounreay
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in full the results of the UK Atomic Energy Authority investigation into the radioactive fallout at Dounreay on 11 February; what assessment he has made of the effect of weather conditions on the level of risk; how far away any safety official was when exposed to radioactivity above the safe working level; whether any 108
  person sent to the contamination area wore respirators instead of sealed protective clothing; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 27 February 1995]: The incident is being investigated urgently. In line with normal practice, I understand that a report on the incident will be published in the Health and Safety Executive's quarterly statement of nuclear incidents at nuclear installations.

  The waste disposal authorisations granted to the Atomic Energy Authority under the Radioactive Substances Acts include limits designed to protect the public no matter what the weather conditions prevailing at the time of a discharge. Inspectors from HM industrial pollution inspectorate have carried out their initial inquiries into the circumstances leading to the incident and I understand that they are satisfied that it did not cause any of the permitted atmospheric emission limits to be exceeded.

  Investigation of workers' exposure issues lies with HM nuclear installations inspectorate. Its investigation will include such issues as whether the radiation exposure of individuals exceeded relevant limits and whether appropriate personnel protection was provided.

  Sponsorship of the UKAEA is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the blow-out of radioactive dust at the Dounreay reprocessing plant in February.

  Mr. Kynoch
  On 11 February 1995, at the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority Dounreay site, a process plant was shut down and evacuated because of abnormal concentration of radioactivity in working areas within the plant. A formal investigation has been carried out by the UKAEA. The incident is being investigated by the nuclear inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive and HM industrial pollution inspectorate.

  Nuclear Waste, Torness
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the cost to(a) his Department and (b) Scottish Nuclear of all aspects of the proposal to construct a dry store for waste nuclear fuel at Torness; and if he will give separately the figures for (i) the cost of designing the proposed installation and (ii) the public inquiry into the proposal.

  Mr. Kynoch
  The cost to the Scottish Office of arranging and conducting the public inquiry into the application by Scottish Nuclear Ltd. to construct a dry store at Torness was approximately £28,700. The cost to the company of the dry store project, including participation in the public inquiry, is a commercial matter for Scottish Nuclear.

  Natural Disasters
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1986 is applied in practice in Scotland; what further scope he has to take further action under the section; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kynoch
  Section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 allows the Secretary of State to establish a scheme to give, with Treasury consent, financial assistance to one or more local authorities which
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  have incurred expenditure in respect of immediate action to safeguard life or property, or to prevent suffering or severe inconvenience, arising from an emergency or disaster which involves destruction of or danger to life or property.

  The main application of section 155 in Scotland has been the Bellwin scheme, under which grant is payable at the rate of 85 per cent. on current expenditure above a set threshold incurred by local authorities in responding to natural emergencies.

  Nature Reserve Agreement
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for what reasons the management arrangement with Farquharson of Invercauld concerning Cairn Lochan estate fell into abeyance in 1986.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Negotiations took place between the Nature Conservancy Council and the estate about renewal of the nature reserve agreement which expired in 1986, but renewal could not be agreed. Details of negotiations are a private matter between the two parties involved.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each management arrangement in relation to national nature reserves, the person with whom the arrangement is made, the period of the arrangement and the cost.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The question could be answered only at disproportionate cost.

  Pay Awards
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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.

  Lord James Douglas Hamilton
  [holding answer 3 March 1995]: The School Teachers' Review Body is responsible only for teachers in England and Wales. Statutory responsibility for determination of pay and conditions of service for teachers in Scotland lies with the Scottish Joint Negotiating Committee. The Government have accepted the recommendations of the Review Bodies on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration and on Nursing Staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine. The 1995–96 settlement for the NHS in Scotland provides for a cash increase of £143.2 million, or 3.6 per cent. increase. The cost of pay increases will be dependent on the outcome of negotiations at local level.

  Hospital External Audits
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many external audits carried out upon hospitals by the Royal College of Surgeons or a similar body in(a) Renfrewshire, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland as a whole in each of the past 10 years have led to disciplinary measures being taken by him; and if he will make a statement;
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  (2) how many external audits have been carried out under the auspices of the Royal College of Surgeons or some similar body, upon hospitals in (a) Renfrewshire, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland in the past 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 March 1995]: The Secretary of State is not aware of any external clinical audits carried out under the auspices of the Royal College of Surgeons or a similar body in hospitals in Renfrewshire, Strathclyde or Scotland in the past 10 years. Clinical audit is an education process and there is quite a separate and distinct machinery for disciplinary procedures which are a matter for employing authorities. The Medical Royal Colleges carry out accreditation inspections of hospitals but these are solely for the purpose of approving training posts.

  School Examinations
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his letter of 27 February to the hon. Member for Linlithgow,(a) what proposals he has to make changes in the system of written work in relation to physical education examinations in schools and (b) what factors led him to reject the explanation put forward in relation to the two pupils accused of cheating from a school named in correspondence with the hon. Member for Linlithgow.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 March 1995]: The Scottish Examination Board keeps all its assessment arrangements under review and has decided that revised procedures will be in place for written work in standard grade physical education assignments for 1996 onwards.

  Responsibility for decisions in relation to assessment for awards under the Scottish Certificate of Education rests with the Scottish Examination Board, which carried out a thorough review of the case in question.

  Ayrshire Child Abuse Case
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the cumulative cost of all legal aid to date to the families in the Ayrshire child abuse case; what is his estimate of the likely total cost; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 6 March 1995]: Six legal aid certificates have been granted in respect of this case. Payments to date amount to £538,000. The total costs may be subject to scrutiny by the Auditor of Court and cannot yet be accurately assessed. The Scottish Legal Aid Board has, however, estimated that they may fall in the range £1.5 million to £2 million.

  Caledonian MacBrayne
  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what amount of revenue deficit grant he proposes to make available to Caledonian MacBrayne in 1995–96.

  Mr. Lang
  Subject to approval of the estimates, I propose to make available to Caledonian MacBrayne in 1995–96 revenue deficit grant amount to £8.3 million.

  The proposed amount reflects an increased requirement for grant compared with the 1994–95 level and takes into account the effect of the proposed closure of the company's Kyle of Lochalsh-Kyleakin service when the Skye bridge opens later in 1995. the costs associated with

  111
  the introduction, also later in 1995, of a major new vessel on the Ullapool to Stornoway service and the costs of compliance with additional safety requirements on vessels.

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 7 March.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 7 March 1995.

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

  Innovation and Technology Transfer
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Prime Minister what progress has been made with the review announced in the White Paper, "Scotland in Union", of the scope for transferring from the Department of Trade and Industry to the Scottish and Welsh Offices responsibility for measures which encourage industrial innovation and technology transfer in Scotland and Wales.

  The Prime Minister
  The review has been completed. It concluded that responsibility for the Smart and Spur schemes, which provide grants for the development of new products and processes and for design services in Scotland and Wales, should be transferred. In addition, it has now been agreed that responsibility for new measures to support innovation locally will be transferred to the Secretary of State for Scotland as soon as the administrative arrangements have been completed.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister whether he will instruct the Civil Service Commissioners to advertise for open competition at the previous rate of remuneration the post of any permanent secretary who wishes to take advantage of the recent pay award.

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation Conference
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will be attending the conference on the future of the non-proliferation treaty to be held in New York in April and May.

  The Prime Minister
  No. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary plans to attend on 18 April.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 1 March,Official Report, columns 580-581, if he will make a statement as to the grounds on which the charges incurred by individual airlines under the Immigration (Carriers'
  112
  Liability) Act 1987 are treated as commercially confidential.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  ; Administration of the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act involves the Home Office in sensitive discussions with individual carriers. These are conducted on a commercial in confidence basis. To disclose the nature of the discussions, including the level of charges, would represent a breach of that confidentiality, and could jeopardise both the carriers' commercial operations, and our own debt recovery programme.

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what police records still exist in relation to the security of the Pan Am Clipper, Maid of the Seas, at Heathrow airport on 21 December 1988.

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 6 March 1995]: The inquiries conducted by officers of the Metropolitan police concerning the security of the aircraft Maid of the Seas, at Heathrow airport on 21 December 1988 in relation to the Lockerbie case, and the records of those inquiries, form part of the case against the two Libyans who have been accused of this crime. It has been made clear that, as in any other case, it is not appropriate for the investigating or prosecuting authorities to give details of the evidence while criminal proceedings are pending.

  Ethnic Minority Funding
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the section 11(a) successful and (b) unsuccessful bids showing in the case of the approved figure as a percentage of the bid in each case.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  [holding answer 28 February 1995]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 22 February 1995 Official Report, columns 228-32, in which I set out the level of grant sought by each applicant under the recent section 11 bidding round, and to the reply which my right hon. and learned Friend gave to the hon. Member for Edmonton (Dr. Twinn) on 28 February 1995, Official Report, columns 541-45, in which he listed the grant budget allocation for 1995-96 for each successful applicant. Table (a) shows, in respect of each successful applicant, the level of budget allocation for 1995-96 expressed as a percentage of grant sought for that year, all on the basis of November 1994 prices which applicants were asked to use in preparing their bids, and subject in some instances to arithmetical adjustments to correct an applicant's original calculations. Table (b) lists those applicants whose bids were unsuccessful.

  (a) Successful applicants

  Local authorities etc

  Grant awarded as percentage of grant sought

  Avon

  96.1

  Barking and Dagenham

  96.2

  Barnet

  74.4

  Berkshire

  51.3

  Bexley

  40.0

  Birmingham

  8.9

  Bolton

  34.8

  Bradford

  96.0

  Brent

  19.9

  Bromley

  63.5

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  (a) Successful applicants

  Local authorities etc

  Grant awarded as percentage of grant sought

  Buckinghamshire

  76.8

  Cambridgeshire

  13.5

  Camden

  94.4

  Cardiff

  33.3

  Cleveland

  51.4

  Coventry

  51.6

  Croydon

  100.0

  Derbyshire

  39.8

  Devon

  42.8

  Dorset

  50.0

  Dudley

  94.7

  Ealing

  93.7

  East Sussex

  74.6

  Enfield

  74.6

  Essex

  21.1

  Gateshead

  94.5

  Gloucestershire

  80.7

  Greenwich

  80.2

  Gwent

  100.0

  Hackney

  27.4

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  91.0

  Haringey

  79.4

  Harrow

  100.0

  Havering

  100.0

  Hereford and Worcester

  100.0

  Hertfordshire

  100.0

  Hillingdon

  59.0

  Hounslow

  66.5

  Humberside

  13.3

  Hyndburn

  27.9

  Islington

  83.6

  Kent

  100.0

  Kirklees

  87.9

  Lambeth

  96.2

  Lancashire

  47.2

  Leeds

  13.3

  Leicester

  57.6

  Leicestershire

  70.0

  Lewisham

  69.3

  Lincolnshire

  100.0

  Liverpool

  77.1

  London Boroughs Grants Committee

  100.0

  Manchester

  100.0

  Merton

  91.5

  Middlesbrough

  12.2

  Milton Keynes

  46.3

  Newham

  48.2

  Norfolk

  55.4

  Northamptonshire

  38.7

  Nottingham

  70.6

  Nottinghamshire

  57.9

  Oldham

  43.6

  Oxford

  66.6

  Peterborough

  50.0

  Redbridge

  67.0

  Redditch

  100.0

  Rochdale

  27.8

  Rotherham

  80.6

  Salford

  75.8

  Sheffield

  23.4

  Shropshire

  71.3

  Somerset

  83.3

  South Tyneside

  58.3

  South Yorkshire FCDA

  100.0

  Southampton

  18.3

  Southwark

  74.8

  St. Albans

  100.0

  St. Helens

  75.8

  Staffordshire

  59.1

  Suffolk

  27.4

  114

  (a) Successful applicants

  Local authorities etc

  Grant awarded as percentage of grant sought

  Sutton

  56.2

  Tameside

  7.1

  Tower Hamlets

  10.0

  Wakefield

  90.2

  Walsall

  81.1

  Waltham Forest

  7.9

  Warwickshire

  87.3

  West Glamorgan

  100.0

  West Midlands FCDA

  100.0

  West Yorkshire FCDA

  100.0

  Westminster

  65.4

  Wigan

  71.3

  Wolverhampton

  88.6

  Grant-maintained schools and city technology colleges

  Ash Green

  73.7

  Beechview Middle

  50.0

  Bishop Challoner RC

  100.0

  Brentside High

  60.6

  Brushwood Middle

  100.0

  Castle Hall

  83.3

  Castlefield

  71.3

  Claremont

  100.0

  Copland Community

  100.0

  Deacon's

  83.3

  Desborough

  50.0

  Djanogly CTC

  85.7

  Dormers Wells Infants

  62.9

  Dormers Wells Junior

  100.0

  Drayton Manor

  100.0

  Dunraven

  63.8

  Francis Bacon

  100.0

  Graveney

  82.7

  Greenford High

  73.9

  Greenwood Dale

  100.0

  Hall Green

  100.0

  Hamilton Combined

  100.0

  Hendon

  75.8

  Holly Hall

  66.7

  Holy Trinty

  83.9

  John Kelly Girls

  100.0

  London Oratory

  76.7

  Myton

  100.0

  Northampton Boys

  90.9

  Northolt High

  87.5

  Prospect

  79.3

  Queens Park

  94.3

  Radcliffe

  50.0

  Reading Girls

  76.9

  Sacred Heart RC

  100.0

  Small Heath

  98.9

  St. Andrews RC

  50.0

  St. Marks West Essex

  100.0

  Stantonbury Campus

  100.0

  Stopsley High

  100.0

  Stratford

  99.9

  Surrey Square

  100.0

  Wood End Infant

  100.0

  Wood End Junior

  66.7

  Wrenn

  75.8

  Colleges of further education

  Arnold and Carlton

  78.6

  Bexley

  100.0

  Birmingham Consortium

  54.2

  Cambridge Regional

  100.0

  Charles Keene

  62.4

  City and Islington

  58.4

  Clarendon

  54.5

  115

  (a) Successful applicants

  Local authorities etc

  Grant awarded as percentage of grant sought

  Coventry Technical

  37.5

  Crawley

  100.0

  Croydon

  100.0

  Ealing Tertiary

  32.5

  Enfield

  100.0

  Greenhill

  43.9

  Hackney Community

  80.1

  Hendon

  100.0

  Huddersfield Technical

  34.0

  Kingsway

  28.8

  Language and Literacy Unit Southwark

  49.5

  Newham

  35.4

  Oaklands

  44.3

  Park Lane

  63.1

  Sheffield

  47.2

  South Nottingham

  82.4

  Southgate

  67.5

  St. Francis Xavier

  50.0

  Tameside

  100.0

  Thomas Danby

  15.3

  Tile Hill

  100.0

  Tower Hamlets

  38.3

  Uxbridge

  22.7

  West Herts

  65.8

  (b) Unsuccessful applicants

  Local Authority

  Bedfordshire

  Preston

  Burnley

  Reading

  Bury

  Richmond

  Calderdale

  Sandwell

  Clwyd

  Scunthrope

  Crew and Nantwich

  Sefton

  Doncaster

  South Glamorgan

  Gloucester

  Sunderland

  Hampshire

  Surrey

  Kensington and Chelsea

  Trafford

  Kingston

  Wansworth

  Luton

  West Sussex

  Newcastle

  Wiltshire

  North Tyneside

  Wirral

  Oxfordshire

  Working

  Portsmouth

  Grant-maintained schools, City Technology Colleges

  Alperton Common

  Kingsbury High

  Anglo European

  Merrill Community

  Avon Valley

  Montagu

  Beechen Cliff

  Notre Dame

  Billericay

  Oldfield

  Blessed Edward Oldcorne RC

  Raines Foundation

  Broomhill Infant

  Reay Primary

  Chadwell Heath

  Richard Challoner

  Dixons CTC

  St. Bartholomew's

  Durand Primary

  St. Benedict's Catholic High

  Gordon'

  St. Bernadette RC

  Hollingwood 1st

  St. Martin in Field

  Holy Cross Convent

  St. Thomas the Apostle

  Holywell

  The Gilberd

  Hopwood Hall

  Weavers

  Kelsey Park

  Woodnewton Junior

  Colleges of Further Education

  Amersham and Wycombe

  Manchester

  Barnet

  N E London

  Bilborough

  Newcastle

  Bolton

  Newham Sixth Form

  116

  (b) Unsuccessful applicants

  Local Authority

  Calderdale

  North Herts

  City College Manchester

  Northampton

  City of Westminster

  Oldham

  Dewsbury

  People's Tertiary Education

  Doncaster

  Rotherham

  Dudley

  Runshaw

  East Berkshire

  Southwark

  Gateshead

  Stoke on Trent 6th form

  Gateway 6th Form

  Stourbridge

  Gloscat

  Swindon

  Henley

  Tresham

  Huntingdonshire Regional

  Wakefield

  Joseph Chamberlain

  Walsall

  Keighley

  Wansworth Adult

  Kensington and Chelsea

  Woolwich

  Leyton 6th form

  Protection of Animals Legislation
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letter of 19 January from the hon. Member for Ealing, North regarding Government policy towards the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Bill; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  My right hon. Friend the Minister of State wrote to the hon. Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway) on 2 March.

  Al Fayed Brothers
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many items of correspondence were received from the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Hamilton) by Ministers in his Department on issues relating to the interests of the Al Fayeds; on what dates they were received; and how many were replied to.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  It is not the practice to disclose information about communications between hon. Members and Ministers.

EDUCATION

  Administrative Costs
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what were the total administrative costs of her Department for 1993–94 and 1994–95.

  Mr. Boswell
  Total administrative costs, including capital, for the Department in 1993–94 were £88 million. The comparable forecast outturn figures for 1994–95 is £92 million.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total number of civil servants employed in her Department in 1993–94; and what is the expected figure for 1994–95.

  Mr. Boswell
  The actual outturn figure for 1993–94 was 2,101 full-time equivalent staff. The estimated figure for 1994–95 is 2,097.
  117
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many people were employed in the school curriculum branch of her Department in each year since 1992–93; and what were the total operating costs of the branch in each of those years.

  Mr. Boswell
  The school curriculum branch of the Department came into existence on 1 April 1994 as part of a wider reorganisation within the Department. For 1994–95 full-time equivalent staff in post are expected to average 81, with estimated running costs of £2.3 million. Because of the reorganisation, it is not possible to give comparable figures for earlier years.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total staff pay bill for her Department for 1993–94 and what is the expected amount for 1994–95.

  Mr. Boswell
  The total staff pay bill for the Department in 1993–94 was £51 million. The comparable forecast outturn figure for 1994–95 is £52 million.

  Ofsted School Inspections
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the average cost of Ofsted inspections for(a) secondary, (b) primary and (c) special schools for each group size of school in 1994–95.

  Mr. Forth
  This is a matter for Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools, who heads the independent Office for Standards in Education. I have asked Mr. Chris Woodhead to write to the hon. Member.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Decommissioning Scheme
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has for compensating fishermen who lose their jobs when fishing vessels are decommissioned under his scheme.

  Mr. Jack
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 6 March,Official Report, column 34.

  Milk Hygiene
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which division of his Department is responsible for the implementation of milk hygiene inspection.

  Mr. Jack
  ADAS, an executive agency of the Ministry and the Welsh Office, is responsible for hygiene inspections on dairy farms in England and Wales. This work is carried out under the terms of a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry's milk and milk products division and the relevant division in the Welsh Office.

  Fishermen (Retirement)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will support the Commission's proposal for an early retirement scheme for fishermen at the forthcoming council meeting.
  118
  Mr. Jack
  No such proposal has yet been made to the Council.

  Abattoirs
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he intends to implement the two-year extension to the deadline for abattoirs to meet EU structural requirements; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Browning
  The deadline for abattoirs to meet EU structural requirements remains 31 December 1995. The December Agriculture Council agreed in principle a package of amendments to the fresh meat directive which cannot be formally adopted until the European Parliament's opinion has been delivered and considered. That package would confirm the 31 December 1995 deadline, but would allow member states to extend it in exceptional circumstances where plants which are in the process of upgrading cannot complete the work for reasons outside their control. If these provisions are adopted, the Government will therefore consider exercising a small degree of flexibility only in exceptional circumstances.

  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the capacities for EU certified slaughterhouses in the United Kingdom.

  Mrs. Browning
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 16 January 1995 to the hon. Member for North Cornwall (Mr. Tyler),Official Report, column 364.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many abattoirs there were in 1993 and 1994; and how many of these met European Community standards.

  Mrs. Browning
  All abattoirs are licensed in accordance with the terms of European Community directives laying down the hygiene, operation supervision and structural conditions of abattoirs, so that they all meet European Community standards.

  At the end of 1993, there were 433 licensed red meat abattoirs in England of which 60 were fully approved to trade throughout the Community; 187 were full throughput premises with temporary derogations; and 186 were low throughput premises. At the end of 1994, there were 424 licensed red meat abattoirs in England of which 78 were fully approved; 154 had temporary derogations; and 192 were low throughput. Low throughput premises and premises with temporary derogations are approved to trade on the national market.

  Quarantine Kennels
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration he has given to permitting the independent inspection of quarantine kennels.

  Mrs. Browning
  Licensed quarantine kennels, all of which are privately owned, are already inspected quarterly by MAFF veterinary officers. They may be accompanied by another party authorised by them and assisting them in their duties.

DEFENCE

  Porton Down
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will outline the past and present procedures followed by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down to monitor the continued health of volunteers who have taken part in experiments;

  (2) for what period of time the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down continues to monitor the health of volunteers after the end of experiments in which they were involved.

  Mr. Soames
  These are matters for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, CBDE to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Derek Fatchett, dated 7 March 1995:
  1. Your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence asking if he will outline the past and present procedures followed by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down to monitor the continued health of volunteers who have taken part in experiments and for what period of time Porton Down continues to monitor the health of volunteers after the end of studies in which they were involved, have been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to ensure that the UK Armed Forces have effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. In order to carry out this work, it is necessary to use Service volunteers to:

  a. assess the ability of Service personnel to function with new equipment and procedures,

  b. develop medical countermeasures to protect Service personnel, and

  c. evaluate the effects of very low and medically safe concentrations of CW agents on the ability of unprotected personnel to operate normally.

  The purpose of the volunteer studies programme is to ensure that any protective measure is acceptable from a military point of view and is safe before it is recommended for introduction into service. Such measures need to be evaluated first in the safety of a laboratory or hospital environment, with full medical and scientific back-up at hand.3. The principles of how volunteer studies are to be conducted are enshrined by international agreement in the Helsinki declaration. Further detailed guidance has been issued by the Royal College of Physicians (London). Volunteer studies at CBDE Porton Down are overseen by an independent panel of experts who form the CBDE Ethics Committee. The role of the Ethics Committee is to ensure the safety of the subjects and to safeguard the scientific staff who carry out the human studies from criticism which may be informed or otherwise. They evaluate each protocol well in advance and only approve a protocol if they are satisfied that there will be no harm to the health of the volunteers. Human studies at CBDE are conducted with volunteers drawn from the three Armed Services, namely from amongst the men and women we seek to protect. The volunteers apply in response to requests officially promulgated months in advance.4. Before any exposure of volunteers to drugs or other substances takes place, it is explicit duty of the Medical Office (MO) assigned to each study to assess risks, and recommend a study design so as to minimise them. This is done by preparing a detailed protocol which is first scrutinised by an in-house Committee, and finally by the independent CBDE Ethics Committee. Exposure of volunteers where side effects last longer than the one or two weeks stay of the volunteer on site are never acceptable.120 5. Service volunteers on arrival at CBDE are first given a medical examination to determine if they are healthy and fit to take part in the study. The study is explained to them in lay terms by a military officer who is not involved in the study and it is made clear to the volunteer that they can withdraw from the study at any stage without any explanation being required. On leaving CBDE on completion of the study the volunteers are given a further medical examination.6. Service volunteers return to their units on completion of the study, where they are, medically, the responsibility of the unit Medical Officer. There is no history of Service doctors in their units seeking advice from CBDE Porton Down on any subsequent illnesses that may have been reported by volunteers who have been exposed to agent during studies at CBDE.7. Some volunteers have volunteered to return repeatedly to CBDE for different studies at irregular intervals. In such cases CBDE invariably refer to the volunteer's previous records. These opportunities, which are spontaneous and sporadic, to examine medically the volunteers have shown no evidence of any change to the health of the volunteers as a result of their earlier participation at CBDE, provides assurance that volunteers have not suffered any harm to their health.8. From time to time after specific studies, those volunteers that participated in them are called back to CBDE for a further set of tests or measurements in order to check on the consistency of the method used in the tests or measurement and to demonstrate its invariance with time. As an example, in one study six volunteers were recalled twice so that the consistency of the method used in a particular study could be checked and in another study seven volunteers were recalled for the same reason. Such recalls can take place as much as one or two years after the original study. In all these cases there was no evidence that the health of the volunteers had changed or been harmed as a result of their participation in the study at CBDE Porton Down.9. Health checks are carried out regularly on Service personnel and the frequency of such checks is determined by the age of the Serviceman or Servicewoman and if any need has arisen for more regular health review such as diagnosis of some pathological condition such as hypertension. Similarly, postings to military duties requiring a very high standard of physical and mental well-being such as tour of duty in the submarine service will necessitate further medical checks for the individual concerned. In addition, the Service medical records of some part volunteers have been scrutinised from time to time, and the conclusion drawn that their health and sickness record is in no way different from a control group.
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many human volunteers have been involved in experiments at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down since 1965; if he will give the number of volunteers for each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Derek Fatchett, dated 7 March 1995:
  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking how many human volunteers have been involved in experiments at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down since 1965; if he will give the number of volunteers for each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement, has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
  2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to ensure that the UK Armed Forces have effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. In order to carry out this work, it is necessary to use service volunteers to:

  121

  a. assess the ability of Service personnel to function with new equipment and procedures,

  b. develop medical countermeasures to protect Service personnel, and

  c. evaluate the effects of very low and medically safe concentrations of CW agents on the ability of unprotected personnel to operate normally.

  No studies involving volunteers are carried out unless there is a clear military need and a detailed protocol has been reviewed and approved by an independent Ethics Committee in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Royal College of Physicians.
  3. The number of Service volunteers who have participated in studies during the period 1965–1994 was about 5,400 and the number in each of the last five years for which figures are available were as follows:

  1990: 83

  1991: 50

  1992: 112

  1993: 64

  1994: 104

  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline the type of experiments carried out on human volunteers at Porton Down in the last three years for which information is available; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Derek Fatchett, dated 7 March 1995:
  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking if he will outline the type of experiments carried out on human volunteers at Porton Down in the last three years for which information is available, and if he will make a statement, has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to ensure that the UK Armed Forces have effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. In order to carry out this work, it is necessary to use Service volunteers to:

  a. assess the ability of Service personnel to function with new equipment and procedures,

  b. develop medical countermeasures to protect Service personnel, and

  c. evaluate the effects of very low and medically safe concentrations of CW agents on the ability of unprotected personnel to operate normally.

  No studies involving volunteers are carried out unless there is a clear military need and a detailed protocol has been reviewed and approved by an independent Ethics Committee in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Royal College of Physicians.3. The types of studies which have been carried out over the past three years have been to assess the performance of Service personnel whilst wearing individual protective equipment (IPE), the efficacy and effectiveness of experimental IPE using simulants, and the evaluation of possible side effects on military performance from the administration of improved medical countermeasures.
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the rates of payment for volunteers taking part in experiments at Porton Down in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, CBDE to write to the hon. Member.
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  Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr Derek Fatchett, dated 7 March 1995:
  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking if he will give the rates of payment for volunteers taking part in experiments at Porton Down in each year since 1979 has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to ensure that the UK Armed Forces have effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. In order to carry out this work, it is necessary to use Service volunteers to:

  a. assess the ability of Service personnel to function with new equipment and procedures,

  b. develop medical countermeasures to protect Service personnel, and

  c. evaluate the effects of very low and medically safe concentrations of CW agents on the ability of unprotected personnel to operate normally.

  No studies involving volunteers are carried out unless there is a clear military need and a detailed protocol has been reviewed and approved by an independent Ethics Committee in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Royal College of Physicians.3. Service volunteers receive compensation for the inconvenience associated with individual tests carried out within each study. The number of tests in any study vary between about a minimum of 100 to a maximum of 400 as studies vary between three days to four week in duration.4. The rates of payment per test over the past five years are as follows:

  1990: £1.34

  1991: £1.50

  1992: £1.60

  1993: £1.62

  1994: £1.66

  The current rate of payment per test is £1.70. The total amount of compensation ranges from about £170 to £500 and is subject to tax.5. Our records are not maintained in such a way as to easily provide the rates of payment for volunteers who have taken part in studies at Porton Down in each year since 1979 and to seek this information would involve disproportionate effort and cost.
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many deaths have been recorded as a direct result of experiments carried out on volunteers at Porton Down.

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

  Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Derek Fatchett, dated 7 March 1995:
  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking him how many deaths have been recorded as a direct result of experiments carried out on volunteers at Porton Down, has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to ensure that the UK Armed Forces have effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. In order to carry out this work, it is necessary to use Service volunteers to:

  a. assess the ability of Service personnel to function with new equipment and procedures,

  b. develop medical countermeasures to protect Service personnel, and

  c. evaluate the effects of very low and medically safe concentrations of CW agents on the ability of unprotected personnel to operate normally.

  123 No studies involving volunteers are carried out unless there is a clear military need and a detailed protocol has been reviewed and approved by an independent Ethics Committee in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Royal College of Physicians.3. Since the start of the Service Volunteer programme in the 1920s, there has been a single fatality in 1953 as reported in the Official Report (9 June 1953, Volume 516, Col 7-8 and 22 June 1953, Volume 516, Col 105) when Leading Aircraftsman Ronald Maddison died from the effects of asphyxia after taking part in a trial at the then Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment at Porton Down. A detailed inquiry was held into the circumstances and following this inquiry which was carried out by eminent independent scientists, new guidelines were laid down to ensure the safety of Service volunteers. In the subsequent 40 years, there has been no fatality nor has there been any evidence that any Service volunteers have suffered any deterioration in their health as a result of participating in studies at Porton Down.
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received regarding people who have suffered ill health subsequent to taking part in experiments at Porton Down in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Derek Fatchett, dated 7 March 1995:

  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what representations he has received regarding people who have suffered ill health subsequent to taking part in experiments at Porton Down in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement, has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.

  2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to ensure that the United Kingdom Armed Forces have effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. In order to carry out this work, it is necessary to use Service volunteers to:

  a. assess the ability of Service personnel to function with new equipment and procedures,

  b. develop medical countermeasures to protect Service personnel, and

  c. evaluate the effects of very low and medically safe concentrations of CW agents on the ability of unprotected personnel to operate normally.

  No studies involving volunteers are carried out unless there is a clear military need and a detailed protocol has been reviewed and approved by an independent Ethics Committee in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Royal College of Physicians.We have received enquiries from a variety of sources over the past year relating to the studies in which volunteers participated. We have received and responded to 13 Parliamentary Enquiries, 2 enquiries from General Practitioners, 10 from the War Pensions Agency and 9 direct from volunteers.There is no evidence over the past 40 years to suggest that Service volunteers who have participated in studies at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down have suffered any harm to their health. Indeed, some volunteers have volunteered to participate in studies at CBDE on more than one occasion and some have also been recalled so that measurements could be checked. volunteers are medically examined on arrival at CBDE Porton Down and are informed that they may leave the study at any stage without giving any explanation. They are also medically examined at the end of their stay at CBDE Porton Down to ensure that they are fit before they return to their units. In addition, there is no history of service doctors in their units seeking advice from CBDE Porton Down on any subsequent illnesses that may have been reported by volunteers who have been exposed to agent. There is therefore no
  124
  reason to suggest that volunteers have suffered any harm to their health.5. The medical records of the Servicemen are provided on request to their General Practitioner as is information from CBDE Porton Down on the studies in which they participated. This information is provided to the medical practitioners as they are best placed to judge if any of the experience throughout the Service career of the individual has any relevance to their current medical conditions.6. It is important to recognise that the human body is remarkably effective in dealing with toxic pollutants to which we are exposed in our daily lives and the participation in a study at CBDE Porton Down involving a short exposure to chemical warfare agent has to be considered in the context of whole life exposures to other toxic pollutants.7. Finally, the Ministry of Defence is very grateful to all Service personnel who have served as volunteers in studies at CBDE Porton Down as their participation has been vital to ensuring that the members of the UK Armed Forces are provided with the most effective protective measures possible against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. Such studies are vital to the defence of the realm and we are very grateful to the Servicemen who have helped achieve the high standards of protection that are available for the members of the UK Armed Forces.
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of state for Defence how many(a) prisoners of war, (b) physically disabled people, (c) people with learning difficulties and (d)> people with a mental illness have been used in experiments at (i) Porton Down or (ii) other MOD establishments since 1965; and if he will make a statement.

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

  Letter from Graham Pearson to Mr. Derek Fatchett, dated 7 March 1995:
  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking how many (a) prisoners of war, (b) physically disabled people, (c) people with learning difficulties, and (d) people with a mental illness have been used in experiments at: (i) Porton Down, or (ii) other MOD establishments since 1965; and if he will make a statement, has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.2. The role of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment is to ensure that the UK Armed Forces have effective protective measures against the threat that chemical or biological weapons may be used against them. In order to carry out this work, it is necessary to use Service volunteers to:

  (a) assess the ability of Service personnel to function with new equipment and procedures,

  (b) develop medical countermeasures to protect Service personnel, and

  (c) evaluate the effects of very low and medically safe concentrations of CW agents on the ability of unprotected personnel to operate normally.

  No studies involving volunteers are carried out unless there is a clear military need and a detailed protocol has been reviewed and approved by an independent Ethics Committee in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Royal College of Physicians.3. Human studies at CBDE are conducted with volunteers drawn from the three Armed Services, namely from amongst the men and women we seek to protect. No prisoners of war, physically disabled volunteers, volunteers with learning difficulties or volunteers with a mental illness has participated in studies by the Ministry of Defence.4. In addition, to ensure that individual Service personnel are both physically and mentally fit before they participate in the human volunteer programme at Porton Down, their Service medical documents are reviewed at CBDE before the volunteers attend for studies. No volunteer is accepted for studies at CBDE with a medical history which indicates a physical disability, a mental illness or a learning difficulty. Finally, all volunteers on arrival at CBDE Porton

  125
  Down are given an initial medical examination to ensure that they are fit before they participate in the study.

  Boarding School Allowance
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the cost of private education for children of service men funded by his Ministry for each year since 1979.

  Mr. Soames
  The total cost of boarding school allowance paid by my Department in each year since 1979 is as follows:

  Date

  Amount £

  1979–80

  31,010,000

  1980–81

  47,240,000

  1981–82

  59,960,000

  1982–83

  66,380,000

  1983–84

  72,650,000

  1984–85

  77,870,000

  1985–86

  85,000,000

  1986–87

  93,600,000

  1987–88

  106,580,000

  1988–89

  107,100,000

  1989–90

  104,510,000

  1990–91

  105,610,000

  1991–92

  115,350,000

  1992–93

  116,720,000

  1993–94

  113,610,000

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost limit for each pupil cost per annum in respect of private education of children of servicemen funded by his Ministry.

  Mr. Soames
  Boarding school allowance is paid up to a maximum annual limit, and service parents in receipt are expected to make a contribution of 10 per cent. to the fees. The maximum annual limits admissible for 1994–1995 are as follows:

  Rate

  Per annum £

  Junior

  5,358

  Senior

  6,579

  SENA1

  8,772

  1 Special Educational Needs Allowance

  126
  Where fees are higher than these maximum rates of boarding school allowance, parents are expected to make up any shortfall themselves.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) the schools and (b) the number of pupils at each for whom his Department has paid fees for each year since 1990, and if he will give the total number of pupils thus funded in each year since 1990.

  Mr. Soames
  A copy of the most recently complied list of schools which are admissible for parents of service children to claim boarding school allowance was placed in the Library of the House on 16 January 1995. This list includes information on the number of service children attending each school in June 1994. This information is not collected annually, and is therefore not held in this format for each year since 1990. The only additional data available pertains to 1992 and the accuracy of this information can no longer be validated. The total number of pupils for whom boarding school allowance was claimed in each year since 1990 is as follows:

  1990–1991: 17,910

  1991–1992: 16,208

  1992–1993: 15,120

  1993–1994; 12,567

  Abortion
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what grounds for termination of pregnancy were assumed to exist when a service woman was told by the Army that this was one of three options open to her under which her pregnancy need not have required her to be discharged.

  Mr. Soames
  The provisions of the Abortion Act 1967 apply to service women as well as to their civilian counterparts; and grounds for termination of pregnancy must be within those specified under the Act, as certified by two medical practitioners in accordance with the procedures laid down under the Act. Before the services introduced maternity leave, a pregnant service woman would have had three options other than seeking termination of pregnancy. These were(a) choosing to leave the service on pregnancy, without returning in the near future; (b) seeking re-enlistment after giving birth, having made arrangements as a working mother for the care of her child; (c) seeking re-enlistment after giving birth, having had the child adopted.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Career Breaks
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage 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. Dorrell
  The Department of National Heritage was created only in April 1992 and the Royal Parks agency in April 1993. The Historic Royal Palaces agency was created in October 1989. Within these time frames, the latest available figures show that seven staff employed by my Department and its two agencies have applied for career breaks. All of those who applied were women and none have had their employment terminated.

  Tourism
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how he proposes to encourage the extension of tourism to areas of England which have not significantly benefited from it in the past.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The English tourist board will allocate £7 million in this financial year to the regional tourist boards, which are responsible for the promotion of tourism in their areas.

  Tourism projects are also eligible for support from the European regional development fund in selected areas and from the single regeneration budget.

  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the average annual rate of growth in expenditure on tourism in each of the member states of the European Union between 1980 and the latest year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Dorrell
  The available figures for the average annual growth of international tourism receipts in member states of the European Union between 1980 and 1992 is as follows:

  Percentage

  Austria

  7.2

  Denmark

  9.1

  Finland

  5.3

  France

  9.7

  Germany

  4.4

  Greece

  5.4

  Ireland

  10.8

  Italy

  8.4

  Netherlands

  9.6

  Portugal

  10.3

  Spain

  10.1

  Sweden

  10.2

  United Kingdom

  5.9

  Belgium and Luxembourg

  7.0

  Separate figures for Belgium and Luxembourg are not available.

  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he expects the publication of the European Union Green Paper on tourism.
  128
  Mr. Dorrell
  My Department has been informed that the European Commission plans to approve the text of the Green Paper during March. No publication date has yet been set.

  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment he has made of the potential of the Internet to promote international awareness of United Kingdom tourism.

  Mr. Dorrell
  My Department provides funding to the British Tourist Authority which is responsible for promoting international awareness of the United Kingdom as a tourist destination. The BTA undertakes detailed assessments of marketing opportunities abroad. That work has not as yet included an assessment of the potential of Internet.

  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment his Department has made of the loss to the tourism industry within Great Britain of the withdrawal of all Motorail trains and the loss of sleeping car services between London, Carlisle and Fort William, and between Plymouth and Glasgow.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 3 March 1995]: My Department has not made such an assessment. However, the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising will take into account representations on the economic benefits of all ScotRail services in his consultations on the passenger service requirement for ScotRail later this year.

  Digital Television
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he intends to set out the framework for the operation of digital television services; and if he will list those representations that he has received on this matter since 14 July 1994.

  Mr. Dorrell
  We hope to set out later this year the framework that we propose for the operation of digital television services. I have received no representations, but my officials are in touch with the major broadcasters and others who have expressed an interest.

  Independent National Radio Services
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how he plans to ensure quality in independent national radio from 2000 onwards, when the three existing licences will be re-awarded; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Under the Broadcasting Act 1990, the licensing of independent national radio services is a matter for the Radio Authority, which is required, with respect to the licensing of independent radio services, to facilitate the provision of licensed services, which taken as a whole are of high quality.

  Mr. Roy Tutty
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what salary Mr. Roy Tutty will receive for his secondment to the tourism division of the Department; and what will be the cost to the Exchequer of this appointment.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Mr Tutty's salary is a matter for Forte plc and Mr. Tutty to determine. My Department will make a contribution to his salary equivalent to the amount paid to a civil servant in the grade 5 pay range.

  Television Licences
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the total revenue from television licences in 1994 in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Scotland.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Total television licence revenue in the United Kingdom for the financial year 1993–94 was £1,640 million, of which an estimated £144 million was collected in Scotland.

  Children's Play
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has for his Department to fund directly the National Voluntary Council for Children's Play.

  Mr. Dorrell
  My Department currently has no budget for children's play. I understand that the NVCCP has submitted an application to the Sports Council trust company for an extension of its present grant in to 1995–96. In relation to funding for children's play from October 1995, I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) on 2 March 1995,Official Report, column 640.

  Budget Accommodation
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the progress of his study of budget accommodation.

  Mr. Dorrell
  My Department is drawing up plans for a benchmarking initiative, the objective of which is to help accommodation providers to raise both profitability and standards of service. We are working in close co-operation with the Confederation of British Industry on this project. The first step will be to discuss the outline plans with a number of industry representatives, following which I hope to be able to make an early announcement of the full details, including the timetable and methodology.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Grameen Trust
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for funding the Grameen trust training programme; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  We are currently considering the Grameen trust's request for funding for its training programme.

  World Bank
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further measures his Department has taken to ensure that the World bank abides by its own operational guidelines.

  Mr. Baldry
  We expect the World bank to maintain effective control systems—including internal review, internal audit, evaluation and the inspection panel—to ensure adherence to operational policies; and will continue to keep under review the scope for improvements in these systems.
  130
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the review of the World bank's revised disclosure of information policy took place as planned; what further improvements the review indicated were necessary; and what measures he is taking to implement improvements.

  Mr. Baldry
  A report reviewing the World bank's experience in implementing its revised information disclosure policy was completed in January 1995. The report concludes that the bank has made substantial progress, and notes that it is continuing to intensify its efforts in two areas in particular: (i) staff training; and (ii) ensuring that available information is accessible to people in borrowing countries, especially those in project areas. We shall monitor the bank's efforts and make suggestions for improvements as necessary. We welcome the fact that the bank is also drawing on the views of non-governmental organisations to help identify problem areas and possible solutions. The report "Disclosure policy retrospective" is available through the bank's public information centre.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions the Government have withheld funds from any part of the World bank because agreed conditions for disbursal had not been met; if he will give details; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Circumstances have not arisen in which we deemed it necessary to withhold funds on those grounds.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further steps the World bank is taking to evaluate the effectiveness of its poverty alleviation activities; whether the recommendations of previous evaluations have been implemented; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The World bank prepares an annual report on progress in implementing its poverty reduction strategy. The most recent report—"Poverty reduction and the World Bank: progress in Fiscal 1994", which is available through the bank's public information centre—summarises a wide range of activities designed to help the poor, based on the poverty reduction strategy outlined in the World Development Report 1990. The report notes that lack of effective poverty monitoring remains an issue, and outlines efforts under way to address this. It also acknowledges that slippage in the preparation of country poverty assessments needs to be reduced, without sacrificing quality or ownership by borrowers. We shall he reviewing proposals to strengthen the International Development Association's performance in these areas during the 11th replenishment negotiations.

  International Development Association
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to attach binding conditions for effectiveness in poverty alleviation to any future funding of the International Development Association.

  Mr. Baldry
  We shall be working closely with other donors during discussions on the 11th replenishment of the International Development Association to agree measures which will enhance IDA's effectiveness and strengthen its focus on poverty reduction, sound economic
  131
  management and environmentally sustainable development.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evaluation has been made by his Department of the effectiveness of the conditions attached to(a) the ninth and (b) the 10th replenishment of the International Development Association.

  Mr. Baldry
  The World bank prepared annual reports on progress in implementing IDA-9 objectives. It is doing the same for IDA-10, and the first year's review, "The first year of IDA-10: review of the FY94 programme" is available through the bank's public information centre. We consider these reports present a fair assessment of results achieved. They also note where performance has been mixed, for example, preparation of national environmental action plans and poverty assessments and effective poverty monitoring. We continue to work with other donors for more effective implementation by IDA of its policies.

  Nepal (Hydro Project)
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further assessment he has made of the World bank's appraisal of the Arun III hydro power project, including the economic analysis and justification; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  Before completing our assessment, including reviewing the outcome of the inspection panel's investigation, we need to await a decision by the new Nepalese Government on whether they wish to request International Development Association financing of the project.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will instruct the United Kingdom executive director of the World bank to press for the inspection panel consideration of Arun III to be extended to include proper consideration of alternative schemes.

  Mr. Baldry
  The World bank board has authorised investigation of the three areas recommended by the inspection panel, namely whether the International Development Association policies and procedures have been observed with respect to environmental assessment, indigenous peoples and involuntary resettlement. The panel did not recommend investigation of IDA's compliance with policies for the analysis of alternatives to Arun III. In the circumstances, we see no case for re-opening the board's decision.

  Multilateral Development Banks
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the task force on multilateral development banks was scheduled to start its work; when work started; what has been the ODA's contribution to the work of the task force; what has been achieved; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  At its meeting on 26 April 1994, the development committee decided to set up a task force to review the development role being played by the multilateral development banks. These are the World hank, the Asian development bank, the African development bank, the Inter-American development bank and the European hank for reconstruction and 132
  development. Achieving international agreement on the composition and other aspects of the task force took longer than anticipated. The first meeting was held on 6 to 7 December 1994 when a work programme was agreed. The task force will meet a number of times during 1995 and expects to produce its final report about 12 months from now. An interim report will be available to the development committee at its autumn 1995 meeting. The UK representative is a senior ODA official.

  Angola
  Mr. Wilshire
  : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to provide additional humanitarian aid to the people of Angola.

  Mr. Baldry
  : We have pledged £5 million for humanitarian assistance to Angola in response to the United Nations 1995 appeal.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he is giving to the statement by the second international affairs conference against the embargo on Iraq on 18 and 19 February, a copy of which has been sent to him.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The contents of the statement by the international affairs conference have been noted.

  Our position on sanctions is well known; we believe that there should be no question of lifting sanctions against Iraq until Iraq complies fully with its international obligations under all relevant Security Council resolutions.

  We will continue to press Iraq to put an end to its cynical exploitation of the suffering of its people by accepting UN offers of oil sales to finance the purchase of humanitarian supplies.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he has taken to reinforce the peace process in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  All parties to the conflict in Sri Lanka are well aware of our continued support for a negotiated settlement. We welcome the on-going peace process and stand ready to contribute to the reconstruction of the areas affected by the fighting.

  Council of Ministers
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union.

  Mr. David Davis
  The following meetings are planned:

  March 6–7: Foreign Affairs Council

  March 9: Justice/Interior Council, Environment Council

  March 10: Justice/Interior Council. Research Council

  March 13–14: Transport Council

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  March 20: ECOFIN

  March 27: Social Affairs Council

  March 27–28: Agriculture Council

  March 30: Consumer Council

  March 31: Education Council, Youth Council

  The following subjects are likely to be discussed:

  6–7 March: Foreign Affairs Council

  Provisional agenda:

  Racism and Xenophobia

  Council Report on the Study Group

  Stability Pact

  Former Yugoslavia/Croatia

  Nuclear Non-Proliferation

  Relation with Asia

  Relations with Republic of Korea

  Relations with Russia

  Relations with Slovenia

  Mediterranean policy. State of negotiations with Israel, Morocco, and Tunisia. Preparation for Euro-mediterranean Conference

  Relations with Turkey

  Relations with Malta and Cyprus

  Relations with Lebanon

  Middle East Peace Process

  Trade questions

  Rum

  9–10 March: Justice/Interior Council

  Provisional agenda:

  Adoption of provisional agenda

  Adoption of "A" points

  Fight against terrorism: conclusion of seminar on 17 February 1995, and follow up to the Ministerial debate at Informal council on 26 January 1995.

  EUROPOL

  Presidency oral report on the state of work on the Convention

  Article 2 and annex, remit and objectives

  Article 5, rights of access

  Burden sharing

  Racism and Xenophobia

  Convention on simplified extradition procedures (Presidency hopes it will be adopted)

  Brussels II Convention on enforcement and recognition of judicial decisions in matrimonial matters

  Protection of the financial interests of the communities (fraud) Customs
  Information Systems Convention

  EDU (Europol Drugs Unit)

  Minimum guarantees for Asylum seekers

  Uniform format for visas

  Title VI financing

  9 March: Environment Council

  IPPC (Integrated Pollution Prevention & Control)

  (common position)

  Directive on ambient air quality

  Revision to Birds Directive (orientation debate)

  Directive on ecological quality of water (orientation debate)

  Revision to Seveso Directive (orientation debate)

  Climate change (draft conclusions)

  Preparation for next meeting of the Commission on Sustainable

  Development (draft conclusions)

  Protection of the Mediterranean (draft conclusions)

  10 March: Research Council

  Research coordination

  Role of Crest

  INTAS

  IMS. Intelligent Manufacturing Systems Agreement Negotiating Mandate

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  "A" point. EC/Canada Scientific and Technological Agreement

  13–14 March: Transport Council

  Likely agenda:

  Promotion of rail and combined transport (draft resolution)

  High-speed train interoperability (political agreement)

  Harmonisation of national boatmasters' certificates (common position)

  Working time and training in road transport sector (draft resolution)

  Dangerous goods adviser (common position)

  Carriage of dangerous goods by rail (common position)

  Agreement of mandate for negotiations with Switzerland on road and air transport

  Ro-Ro ferry safety (ISM code) (political agreement)

  Maritime statistics (adoption)

  Maritime policy and external relations (orientation debate)

  Aviation—external relations (orientation debate)

  Aviation—flagging out (draft resolution)

  Trans-European Networks (general debate)

  20 March: ECOFIN

  Provisional agenda:

  Indirect taxation

  Financial services

  Court of Auditors report on 1993 budget

  27 March: Social Affairs Council

  Postal workers directive

  Memorandum on social clauses in trade agreements

  Resolution on implementation of legislation in the social field

  Resolution on the role of women in decision making

  Acquired rights directive (possible)

  27–28 March: Agriculture Council

  Sugar reform

  Price fixing proposals

  Plant Breeders Rights Office

  Set-aside/Agri-environment

  Report on milk quota implementations in Italy and Greece (possible)

  30 March: Consumer Council

  Follow up to Commission's Green Papers on Access to Justice and on Guarantees and After-sales service.

  Discussion of French memorandum on future areas for consumer policy

  Reviews of directives on consumer credit, toys, and cosmetic products
  Labelling of products

  Cross border payments

  Amendments of directives on unit pricing: possible adoption of common position as "A" point

  Distance Selling Directive: common position (likely)

  Precious metals directive

  31 March: Education/Youth Council

  Unconfirmed agenda:

  Decision adopting the European Year of Education and Training

  Resolution on improving and diversifying language learning and teaching within the EU

  Conclusion of Education/training co-operation agreements with the US and Canada

  Recognition of the academic and professional qualifications

  Postgraduate mobility

  Resolution on Youth Information

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will
  135
  make a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council on 6 to 7 February.

  Mr. David Davis
  The Council unanimously agreed the mandate to enable the Commission to open GATT article XXIV.6 negotiations with interested GATT contracting parties on compensation for tariff increases in Austria, Sweden and Finland following their accession to the European Union. No vote was taken. On EU-US relations, M. Juppe reported briefly on his recent visit with Sir Leon Brittan to the US.

  The Presidency and the Commission updated Ministers on preparations for the concluding conference to adopt the stability pact in Paris on 20 to 21 March.

  The Council agreed, without a vote, an EC position on trade policy measures for the mid-term review of the fourth Lomé convention, to present to the African, Caribbean and Pacific side in preparation for the EU-ACP ministerial meeting on 16 to 17 February. The Council also discussed the eighth European development fund, which will finance the second half of the Convention. The Presidency called a special meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on 15 February, the eve of the EU-ACP ministerial meeting to discuss the size of the EU offer for EDF VIII.

  The Council discussed current issues in the WTO, and possible new issues for WTO consideration. There was agreement on the importance of ensuring that the WTO was able to function effectively; and that outstanding sectoral negotiations were completed within the timetable agreed at the end of the Uruguay round. The Council asked the article 113 Committee and COREPER to prepare negotiating directives for the outstanding services negotiations for the Council to consider on 6 March. On new issues, the Presidency requested the Commission, in liaison with the Article 113 Committee, to produce discussion documents on the various subjects suggested for WTO consideration at the April 1994 Marrakesh meeting.

  The Council agreed on the need for the early appointment of the WTO Director-General, and decided to make further efforts to promote the candidature of Mr. Ruggiero.

  There was no substantive discussion on rum. The Commission proposals were referred to the working group for further discussion, before returning to the 6 March FAC. Lady Chalker restated UK support for the total abolition of all quotas on ACP and OCT rum by 1 January 1996.

  The Council discussed developments in Chechnya and issued a statement

  The Council discussed the implementation of the G7 action plan on nuclear safety to Ukraine.

  On the Mediterranean, the Commission reported on progress in the negotiations for new agreements with Israel, Morocco and Tunisia.

  The Council discussed the terms for customs union with Turkey and the forthcoming review of the Cypriot application for the EU membership.

  The Council reiterated support for a peaceful resolution of conflict in the former Yugoslavia. They stressed the importance of recognition between the states which emerged from the former Yugoslavia.

  On Croatia, the Council recalled its support for the international conference on the former Yugoslavia's plan for a political solution and called upon the parties to begin
  136
  negotiations. It reaffirmed its support for the presence of UNPROFOR in Croatia.

  The Council reached a political agreement on the data protection directive and accompanying minutes statements. The UK indicated that it would abstain when the directive came as an A point to a future Council.

  On relations with central and eastern Europe, the presidency outlined its plans for implementing the pre-accession strategy for central European associates agreed at the Essen European Council. There were linguistic scrutiny reserves from Finland and Sweden.

  The Council agreed the following unanimously as A points: a partnership agreement with Kyrgyzstan; negotiating positions in the WTO on non-preferential rules of origin; a decision giving continued support to the European Union Administration of the town of Mostar; amendments to the Council's rules of procedure following enlargement; Council regulations on certain imported wines and amendments to regulations on the important of wines, grape juice and grape must.

  Gibraltar Airport
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the British Government's policy as to the future of Gibraltar's airport.

  Mr. Norris
  I have been asked to reply.
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 22 November 1994,Official Report Column 108 by my hon. friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  HIV/AIDS
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the improvement likely to result from the new united secretariat of the WHO global programme on AIDS; and if he will make it his policy to keep the matter under review.

  Mr. Baldry
  The new joint and co-sponsored United Nations programme on HIV/AIDS—due to start in January 1996—will develop common policies and strategies to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic for the six co-sponsoring agencies: World Health Organisation, United Nations Children's Fund, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Population Fund, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, and the World hank. The programme aims to improve co-ordination of UN agency support for HIV/AIDS action at country level, to lead to more effective prevention of HIV infection, and better care for those infected. The progress of the new programme in meeting its objectives will be closely monitored.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what monitoring is undertaken of the human rights situation in Nigeria by the British high commission in Lagos; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 6 March 1995]: Our high commission follows developments in the human rights situation closely. We have regular contacts with a wide

  137
  range of Nigerian human rights organisations and other groups, and have made our concerns clear to the Nigerian Government.

  Zaire (Rwandan Refugees)
  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's policy on the UN decision to request units of the army of Zaire to police camps for displaced Rwandese in Zaire; what operational resources the UN has put in place to ensure that the Zairean military authorities comply with international standards, including the protection of the rights of refugees; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Baldry
  The United Kingdom has contributed £0.5 million towards the UNHCR's costs for the 50-man international camp security liaison group being set up to monitor the operation and liaise with the Zaire authorities under the agreement on camp security signed between the UNHCR and Zaire.

EMPLOYMENT

  Non-wage Labour Costs
  Mr. Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the effect of high non-wage labour costs on employment prospects.

  Mr. Portillo
  Non-wage labour costs are lower in the United Kingdom than in most countries of the European Union. Higher burdens imposed on employers make it more difficult for them to create jobs.

  Labour Statistics
  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of two-adult households have(a) two earners or (b) no earners.

  Mr. Oppenehim
  Latest estimates from the summer 1994 labour force survey show that, of two-adult households in which at least one person is of working age, 13 per cent. have neither adult in employment, while 56 per cent. have both adults in employment.

  Child Care
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has for improving child care to assist women into employment.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Wallasey (Ms Eagle).

  Wilton Carpet Workers
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what financial or other assistance he will make available to carpet workers in Wilton who may be offered alternative jobs in Bradford in the wake of the closure of the Wilton royal carpet factory.

  Mr. Paice
  It would be inappropriate for the Government to intervene in an individual's decision to relocate to another part of the country. For those members of staff who decide that they are unable to relocate, the Employment Service and Wiltshire training and enterprise 138
  council have set up a range of initiatives designed to help them secure alternative employment.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for unemployment; and what were the equivalent figures in June 1979.

  Mr. Portillo
  On the seasonally adjusted basis there were 2,389,700 people claiming unemployment-related benefits in January 1995 compared with 1,067,400 in June 1979.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what further measures he proposes to reduce unemployment in the next two years.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Government will continue with the policies which created 266,000 new jobs last year, and reduced unemployment by 582,000 since December 1992, and will resist measures which destroy jobs, such as the social chapter, the national minimum wage and a training levy.

  Industrial Relations
  Mr. Reddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is(a) the United Kingdom current strike record and (b) that in Germany; and what were the figures in 1979.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  In 1993, the United Kingdom and Germany each lost 600,000 days to labour disputes. In 1979, the United Kingdom lost 29.5 million days, over 50 times West Germany's total of 500,000 million.

  Youth Employment
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met his fellow EU Employment Ministers to discuss youth employment.

  Mr. Paice
  Employment matters naturally feature prominently in the discussions my right hon. and hon. Friends have had with their ministerial counterparts. I am pleased to say that, at 14 per cent., youth unemployment in the United Kingdom is much lower than the Community average of 19.6 per cent. This shows the benefits to young people of the Government's policy of promoting flexibility in the labour market.

  Workplace Nurseries
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many workplace nurseries are presently in operation.

  Miss Widdecombe
  We do not have the precise figures requested. However, in the 1990 British social attitudes survey, 5 per cent. of employees interviewed said they had an employer's nursery available to them.

  Redundancies, Merseyside
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies have been notified on Merseyside in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  According to the summer 1994 labour force survey, 22,000 people in the north-west had
  139
  been made redundant in the three months prior to interview. Information is not available for Merseyside.

  Single Employment Market
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if there is a single employment market in the European Union.

  Mr. Portillo
  In practice, there is a range of largely separate labour markets within the European Union and its member states.

  Part-time Jobs
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of part-time jobs are taken by women with an earning partner.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Latest estimates from the summer 1994 labour force survey show that 59 per cent. of people whose main job was part time were women with a partner in employment.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received about the targets proposed for training and enterprise councils in 1995–96.

  Mr. Paice
  Negotiations are currently taking place between the Department and individual training and enterprise councils about contracts for 1995–96. Discussions about targets form part of those negotiations.

  Women
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to improve the training opportunities available to women.

  Mr. Paice
  Women returners and lone parents may enter training for work without having to be registered as unemployed. They may train on a part-time basis and receive child care support. The Department is also promoting women's training and employment opportunities in England through the fair play initiative.

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the Government's policies for improving women's opportunities in the labour market and beyond.

  Miss Widdecombe
  By promoting a competitive, efficient and flexible labour market, the Government have widened choice and opportunities for everyone, men and women.

  There are 12.1 million women economically active, and women make up 45 per cent. of the work force in employment. Since 1984, there has been a 14 per cent. increase in women working full time and a 19 per cent. increase in women working part time.

  The number of self-employed women has risen by 80 per cent. since 1981. The proportion of women in management and professional jobs increased from 25 per cent. in 1984 to 30 per cent. in 1994.

  The pay gap between men and women continues to narrow and now stands at approximately 20 per cent.—the lowest it has ever been.
  140
  In 1992, the latest year for which data are available, the UK had the second highest female labour market participation rate in the European Union, as then constituted, after Denmark.

  In the EU, only the UK has a lower unemployment rate for women than men.

  To help this process of improvement, the Government have introduced specific policies and programmes. For example, workplace nurseries have been exempted from income tax since 1990.

  The Employment Department is channelling £45 million through training and enterprise councils and local enterprise companies to help create up to 50,000 new out-of-school child care places for the over-fives.

  From October 1994, help with child care charges is available to families receiving family credit, disability working allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit. Child care charges of up to £40 are offset against earning when benefit entitlement is calculated. In the longer term, an estimated 150,000 families are expected to benefit from this new measure, including 50,000 families who are expected to take up work as a direct result of this change.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education is consulting on ways to achieve my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's target to provide, over time, a pre-school place for all four-year-olds whose parents wish to take it up.

  In addition, "Fair Play for Women"—a joint Government/Equal Opportunities Commission partnership—was launched in April 1994 to tackle the barriers facing women in economic and social life. Regional consortia have been established in each of the 10 Government office regions in England and each consortium is developing and implementing an "Agenda for Action" based on local priorities. Chwarae Teg, set up in south Wales in 1992, now covers the whole of Wales in a programme to expand women's participation in the work force at all levels.

  In December 1994, the Government established a development unit on women in science, engineering and technology—SET—to promote the role of women in SET.

  In other fields, there has also been much progress. The proportion of public appointments held by women increased from 23 per cent. in 1990 to 30 per cent. in September 1994.

  In health, the NHS is now screening over 80 per cent. of eligible women nationally for cervical cancer.

  In 1992, more than two thirds of breast cancer screening programmes exceeded the 70 per cent. screening uptake target.

  On domestic violence, the Government have set up interdepartmental groups at official and ministerial level to co-ordinate Government action to tackle this serious issue. Government-funded publicity campaigns have been mounted in England, Scotland and Wales to increase awareness of domestic violence. In Northern Ireland a publicity campaign, jointly funded by the Northern Ireland Office, the Department of Health and Social

  141
  Services and the Northern Ireland Women's Aid Federation is due to be launched very shortly.

  Long-term Unemployed
  Mr. Merchant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the extent to which the Government's policies are helping long-term unemployed people to find jobs.

  Mr. Portillo
  I believe that Government policies, to improve the operation of the labour market and to help the unemployed into jobs, have contributed to the fall in the number of long-term unemployed.

  Training
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what further discussions he has had with the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress about provisions for training.

  Mr. Paice
  My colleagues and I regularly meet the CBI and the TUC to discuss employment and training issues.

  Labour Market Reforms
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the impact of the Government's labour market reforms on levels of unemployment in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Claimant unemployment in the United Kingdom has fallen by 582,000 since its peak in December 1992 and is now well below the EC average. I believe that Government policies to improve the operation of the labour market have been an important factor.

  Social Chapter
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met other EU Employment Ministers to discuss the social chapter; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  We have not discussed the matter directly in the Social Affairs Council, but the Government have reaffirmed that they will not accept the draft social chapter which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister refused to agree at Maastricht.

  Part-time Study
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the basis and source for the estimate that some 80,000 unemployed people are currently studying under the 21-hour rule; and how he intends to monitor the impact that the reduction to guided learning hours will have after April 1996; and if he will make a statement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The basis for the estimate that about 80,000 people are currently studying part-time while claiming unemployment benefits is information

  31 March 1990

  31 March 1991

  31 March 1992

  31 March 1993

  31 March 1994

  Remploy

  8,738

  8,630

  8,591

  8,576

  8,654

  Local Authority Workshops

  4,276

  4,132

  3,905

  3,639

  3,544

  Voluntary Workshops

  1,200

  1,177

  1,155

  1,199

  1,164

  Local Authority Placements

  3,010

  3,338

  3,438

  3,502

  3,602

  Voluntary Placements

  3,426

  3,500

  3,548

  3,708

  3,859

  142
  from claims and the labour force survey. The figure includes those studying under the 21-hour rule.

  This is not a reduction. Courses of up to 16 guided learning hours may, of course, be supplemented by private study as long as this does not affect the individual's availability for, or efforts to find work.

  Surveys will continue to be used to monitor the number of people studying part time while looking for work. We do not expect any change in the numbers of claimants helped or in the costs of the scheme.

  South Thames Training and Enterprise Council
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much money was not drawn by the South Thames training and enterprise council from his Department in respect of activity undertaken before period 9 in the year 1994–95.

  Mr. Paice
  South Thames training and enterprise council was given a budget by the Employment Department for the whole of 1994–95 to cover training and business support programmes. I expect that this budget will be totally drawn down by the end of the financial year.

  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what funds(a) from his Department, and (b) from European sources which were available to South Thames TEC prior to the appointment of receivers, had not been claimed at the time by the TEC.

  Mr. Paice
  South Thames training and enterprise council was given budgets for the whole of 1994–95 to fund Employment Department training and business support programmes and European social fund programmes. I expect that these budgets will be totally drawn down by the end of the financial year.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled people were employed in(a) Remploy, (b) local authority workshops, (c) voluntary run workshops, (d) local authority sheltered placements and (e) voluntary organisation sheltered placements in each of the last five years.

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

  Letter from M.E.G. Fogden to Mr. Peter Thurnham, dated 7 March 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the number of disabled people who were employed on the Supported (formerly Sheltered) Employment scheme during the last five years. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.The information you requested is shown in the table below. This shows the number employed at 31 March each year in each type of provision. The Remploy numbers shown relate to a yearly average.I hope this is helpful.143
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from employers and business organisations calling for firms employing fewer than 20 people to be exempted from a legislative requirement not to discriminate against disabled people; and if he will place such representations in the Library.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Seventy-two employers or employer associations responded to the Government consultative document "A Consultation on Government Measures to Tackle Discrimination Against Disabled People" on the issue of whether small firms should be excluded from the proposed employment right for disabled people. Of those that expressed a clear preference, six employer associations and one employer were in favour of exempting small firms and three employer associations and 10 employers were against.

  It is not our policy to publish particular responses to the consultation, but a copy of the analysis of responses has been placed in the Library.

  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many people who have a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities would be considered as(a) unsuitable for employment, (b) less suitable for employment than other people and (c) significantly impeded from performing their employment duties.

  (2) what estimate he has made of the number of people, (a) by type of disability and (b) by age who have a progressive condition which will lead to them (i) registering as disabled or (ii) having a physical or mental impairment which will have a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The labour force survey provides information about people who have a disability or health problem which they expect to last over 12 months and which affects the type of work that they can do. The available information from the summer 1994 LFS is shown in the following table.

  It is not possible to say how many people with a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities would be considered unsuitable for employment, or less suitable for employment than other people. This would depend on the particular circumstances of the individual, and the nature of the employment in question. Nor is it possible to estimate by type of disability and age the number of people who have a progressive condition and age the number of people who have a progressive condition which would lead them to registering as disabled. Registration under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1994 is voluntary and only a minority of disabled people choose to register.

  Statistics are not available on people who have a progressive condition which will lead to them having a physical or mental impairment which will have a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
  144

  Numbers of people of working age who have a health problem or disability which limits the king of paid work they can do, and which they expect to last more than 12 months by type of disability and age

  Great Britain—Summer 1994

  Thousands

  All ages

  16-24 year olds

  24-49 year olds

  50—59-64 year olds1

  All

  3,696

  384

  1,610

  1,703

  Arms, legs, hands, feet, back and neck

  2,196

  120

  930

  1,146

  Difficulty in seeing

  155

  32

  69

  55

  Difficulty in hearing

  114

  14

  44

  56

  Skin conditions, allergies

  162

  51

  78

  32

  Chest and breathing problems

  356

  80

  156

  120

  Heart, blood, pressure and circulation

  222

  –2

  67

  151

  Stomach liver, kindey and digestion

  80

  –2

  44

  29

  Diabetes

  75

  14

  34

  27

  Depression and bad nerves

  96

  –2

  59

  30

  Epilepsy

  51

  10

  35

  –2

  Severe or specific learning difficulties

  48

  23

  20

  –2

  Mental illness, phobia and panics

  46

  –2

  28

  13

  Other problems or disabilities

  92

  16

  44

  31

  1 Women aged 50–59 Men aged 50–64

  2 Estimates below 10,000 are not shown.

  Source:

  Labour Force Survey

  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people registered under section 6 of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 are(a) below pension age, (b) pension age to 74, (c) 75 to 84 and (d) 85 years and older, by type of disability and sex.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The register of disabled people established by the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 is kept locally, by the Employment Services's placing assessment and counselling teams. The number of names in the register is counted annually, in April. On 18 April 1994, there were 374,182 registered disabled people: of these, 277,294 were male and 96,888 were female.

  I regret that information is not collected centrally on the numbers of registered disabled people by type of disability, or by age band. There is no upper age limit for registration. Disabled people who intend to remain in the labour market after reaching pension age may continue to be registered as disabled if they meet the eligibility criteria. However, the majority of registered disabled people are likely to be below pension age.

  Sir Andrew Bowden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in the register of disabled persons maintained under section 6 of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 would be considered to he(a) unsuitable for employment, (b) less suitable for employment than other people and (c) significantly impeded from performing their employment duties.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I regret that information is not available in the form requested. The eligibility criteria for registration as disabled under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Acts include being capable of some form of employment, under either open or supported conditions. However, the register does not classify
  145
  registered disabled people in terms of their relative suitability for employment or the extent to which they may be impeded in performing particular employment duties.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for employment what role will be played by adjudication officers in deciding whether a claimant's application to undertake guided learning in further education complies with clause 7(8) of the proposed jobseeker's agreement.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The jobseeker and the employment officer will seek to draw up a jobseeker's agreement. If they are unable to agree, either party can refer the proposed terms and conditions of the jobseeker's agreement to an adjudication officer.

  The adjudication officer will determine if the proposed terms and conditions of the agreement—including any part-time study—would allow the jobseeker, if he complied with them, to meet the conditions of jobseeker's allowance. In making his determination, the adjudication officer will expect to have regard to the legislation and any relevant case law. He will also be assisted by any guidance issued by the chief adjudication officer.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how employment officers will evaluate whether or not private study periods undertaken by claimants within their jobseeker's contract in support of part-time guided learning interferes with attempts to seek employment.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The jobseeker will be asked to provide the employment officer with evidence that he is available for, and actively seeking, employment. This will normally happen when the jobseeker attends the jobcentre for an interview. If, in the employment officer's opinion, the evidence is insufficient, he will refer the matter to an independent adjudication officer for a determination.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to encourage employment officers to build in literacy training into the jobseeker's contract in cases where it is evident the claimant of benefit has fared poorly in genuine attempts to secure employment due to illiteracy or poor literacy.

  Miss Widdecombe
  The jobseeker's agreement will record the steps that a jobseeker will take to get back to work. It is not a contract. If the employment officer and the jobseeker identify that a jobseeker's jobsearch would benefit from help with his reading or writing, this can be noted on the agreement and appropriate action taken. Help can be provided, if appropriate, through supportive job clubs, special restart courses and training for work.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for employment, pursuant to his letter of 16 February to all hon. Members, what evaluations were made using what database and what projections, in coming to the conclusion that there would be no reduction in the number of benefit claimants entitled to benefit under the new proposals for people enroling on part-time courses while claiming jobseeker's allowance.

  Miss Widdecombe
  Calculations were based largely on the results of a survey carried out by the Further Education Funding Council in 1993–94. This provided separate details of the distribution of student's guided learning hours for students on courses classified as full time and part time. Currently, students pursuing full-time 146
  courses cannot qualify for social security benefits, while those studying part time may do so, subject to meeting the other benefit conditions.

  From these data, it is possible to deduce the number of students on courses classified as full time whose weekly guided learning hours were up to 16, relative to the number formerly classified as part time whose weekly hours were more than 16. The new threshold, based on this information, is designed to allow the same number of people to study while receiving benefit as do so currently.

  "Breathe Freely" Campaign
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans his Department has to evaluate the effectiveness of the Health and Safety Executive "Breathe Freely" awareness campaign of occupational asthma; what consideration he has given to extending it beyond April 1995; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  In May 1995, the Health and Safety Executive will be launching a major new three to four-year campaign to help improve employers' management of health risks. The first year will include a major emphasis on respiratory sensitisers. This campaign will therefore build on work of the "Breathe Freely" campaign.

  During the autumn, the HSE intends to commission an independent evaluation of the impact of the "Breathe Freely" campaign. In the longer term, the HSE will continue to monitor the incidence of occupational asthma to determine the effectiveness of the campaigns.

  Occupational Asthma
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate his Department has made of the total cost to industry of occupational asthma.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  In 1992, the Health and Safety Executive estimated that occupational asthma accounted for £53 million annually in lost output.

  Hazardous Substances
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employers have been prosecuted for failing to protect workers from exposure to hazardous substances that include respiratory sensitisers under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  None. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994 came only into force on 16 January 1995. Under the COSHH Regulations 1988, from October 1989 until December 1994 there were a total of 282 prosecutions of which 103 were under regulation 7 of COSHH, which specifically requires employers to prevent or control exposure to substances hazardous to health.

  Coal Mine Accidents
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many accidents have occurred in coal mines(a) in each month of 1994 and (b) since the beginning of 1995; and how many of them in each period have resulted in serious injury or death.
  147
  Mr. Oppenheim
  The information is not yet available for the whole period.

  However, information is available for the period January to March 1994 and is shown in the following table.

  Total accidents

  Fatalities

  Major injuries

  January

  75

  0

  24

  February

  61

  0

  19

  March

  57

  0

  8

  Figures for the year April 1994 to March 1995 have not been validated and will not be confirmed until the Health and Safety Commission's annual report is published in November 1995.

  The statistics will be available by month from that date.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Defence Exports
  Mrs. Ann Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what special facilities are available from the Export Credits Guarantee Department to British exporters of defence equipment over and above the support granted to British exporters of other goods and services.

  Mr. Needham
  None.

  Coal Subsidies
  Mr. Stern
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the subsidy outlined in the White Paper "Prospects for Coal", Cm 2235, will end; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Page
  Since the coal subsidy was announced in March 1993, 10 offers have been made. To date, £9,053,711 has been paid in respect of almost 800,000 tonnes of coal delivered since April 1993. The majority of offers have been to the private sector, most helping to sustain new production from pits where British Coal had ceased operations.

  It was envisaged at the time of the White Paper that the subsidy would only be temporary. The Government indicated then that the scheme would finish at about the time of privatisation. The "Guidelines for Applicants" explain that the subsidy is available only for the period up to the end of March 1995. Only deliveries made before then could be eligible for subsidy. Any applications which remain outstanding should be submitted to my Department no later than 31 March 1995.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will identify the key issues arising out of the G7 conference on the information society; and what steps his Department will be taking to address them.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Dover (Mr. Shaw) on 2 March 1995,Official Report, columns 715–16. The main area of follow-up to arise from the G7 conference will be the implementation of the 1 1 collaborative pilot projects
  148
  which were launched by the G7 Ministers to demonstrate the potential of the information society. The UK will be playing an active role in the implementation of these projects. I shall be asking the multi-media industry advisory group—which I established to advise me on multi-media and information highways—to advise on how best to take this work forward. I am also in contact with other Government Departments.

  The DTI will be looking in more detail at standards, interconnection and intellectual property issues raised at the conference.

  Export Credits Guarantee Department
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the aggregate payments made to the Ministry of Defence, Defence Export Services Organisation or IMS Ltd. in each year since 1979 in respect of claims arising from contracts with ECGD support.

  Mr. Needham
  It has been the policy of successive Governments not to disclose information about the commercial relations between the ECGD and individual third parties unless the relevant parities have agreed to this. I can, however, inform the hon. Member that the ECGD has made no payments to the Ministry of Defence, of which DESO forms a part, in respect of claims on ECGD-supported contracts.

  Konver
  Mr. Dover
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the spending to date on Konver I funding within the United Kingdom with particular reference to the possibility of reallocating unspent funding to other UK regions.

  Mr. Eggar
  Konver I projects are, generally, progressing well. Some underspends have been identified, as is normal with such programmes, and where possible recommitment of grant will be made. The Konver monitoring committee will consider the position at its next meeting.

  EU Funding
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade in respect of the information about European regional development fund and European social fund contained in the Official Report, 19 January, columns 593–94, if he will break down the figures for each local authority in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Page
  The information requested is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Manufactures
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the change in the volume of United Kingdom exports of manufactures(a) to third countries and (b) to the EEC in each year between 1989 and 1992 when the deutschmark appreciated against non-ERM currencies.
  149
  Mr. Needham
  The information is as follows.

  Change in volume of United Kingdom exports of manufactures

  Year

  (a)to countries outside the EU Per cent.

  (b)to EU countries Per cent.

  1989

  +5

  +11

  1990

  +2

  +12

  1991

  -6

  +9

  1992

  +1

  +2

  Source:

  Tables A 17 and A 18 of "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics", Central Statistical Office.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the value, volume and unit value of imports and exports of manufacturers in each of the main manufacturing countries.

  Mr. Needham
  The information on the main manufacturing countries' value of trade in manufactures is given in the table. Information on the volume of imports and exports of manufactures for the UK, Germany, Sweden, and Japan is regularly published in "OECD Monthly Statistics of Foreign Trade", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. Corresponding information for the other main manufacturing countries is not readily available and could be produced only at disproportionate cost. Unit value indices for exports of manufactures for the main manufacturing countries are regularly published by the Central Statistical Office in "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. Corresponding information on import unit values of manufactures is not readily available, and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

  Main manufacturing countries' trade in manufactures1 1993

  US $ millions

  Country

  Imports

  Exports

  United Kingdom

  162,087

  146,670

  Belgium-Luxembourg2

  88,597

  97,029

  France

  160,960

  170,705

  Germany

  249,097

  329,165

  Italy

  102,449

  159,473

  Netherlands

  92,859

  88,754

  Sweden

  36,846

  46,817

  Switzerland

  53,204

  61,270

  United States

  475,052

  341,238

  Canada

  109,601

  90,638

  Japan3

  125,150

  354,804

  Notes:

  1 Manufactures are defined as sections 5 to 8 of the standard international trade classification.

  2

  3 Includes Section 9.

  Source:

  OECD series A, OECD series C, UN series D, CSO.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assistance his Department gives to 150
  businesses developing closed circuit television and other kinds of support for disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The normal range of industry support schemes is available to firms developing products for this market. The Department does not keep statistics in a form which would indicate the numbers of firms which may have benefited from assistance with projects involving products for the disabled.

  Brewing Industry
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to receive the report of the Director of Fair Trading on the brewing industry.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  [holding answer 3 March 1995]: My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade expects to receive the report when the inquiry has been completed to the satisfaction of the Director General of Fair Trading. When announcing the inquiry on 7 February, the Office of Fair Trading indicated that it expected it to last three months, although this is dependent on receiving the full co-operation of the industry.

  Coal Privatisation
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the consultants retained by his Department in connection with the sale of British Coal giving in each case the fees paid.

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms Walley) on 21 July 1994,Official Report, columns 522–23.

WALES

  Career Breaks
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. Redwood
  Eighty-five women and no men in my Department—including Cadw—have applied for career breaks in the last five years. None of these has had her employment terminated.

  Community Areas and Councils
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for each county and district council area in Wales and for Wales as a whole the number of(a) community areas, (b) community and town councils and (c) community or town councils which have (i) ceased to exist or (ii) been established during each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  [pursuant to his reply, 16 February 1995, c.763–64.]: Unfortunately, some district councils have provided inaccurate information. The correct figures are set out in the following table:
  151

  Numbers of community areas and town/community councils in Wales

  County councils

  District/borough councils

  Number of community areas

  Number of town/community councils

  Clwyd

  127

  122

  Alyn and Deeside

  13

  13

  Colwyn

  19

  16

  Delyn

  21

  21

  Glyndwr

  35

  35

  Rhuddlan

  10

  8

  Wrexham Maelor

  29

  29

  Dyfed

  202

  202

  Carmarthen

  41

  41

  Ceredigion

  51

  51

  Dinefwr

  23

  23

  Llanelli

  9

  9

  Preseli

  Pembrokeshire

  52

  52

  South Pembrokeshire

  26

  26

  Gwent

  98

  67

  Blaenau Gwent

  9

  5

  Islwyn

  12

  0

  Monmouth

  32

  32

  Newport

  29

  14

  Torfaen

  16

  16

  Gwynedd

  122

  122

  Aberconwy

  18

  18

  Arfon

  17

  17

  Dwyfor

  17

  17

  Meirionnydd

  30

  30

  Ynys Mon

  40

  40

  Mid Glamorgan

  85

  50

  Cynon Valley

  11

  3

  Merthyr Tydfil

  12

  1

  Ogwr

  22

  22

  Rhondda

  16

  0

  Rhymney Valley

  14

  14

  Taff Ely

  10

  10

  Powys

  108

  108

  Brecknock

  36

  36

  Montgomeryshire

  45

  45

  Radnorshire

  27

  27

  South Glamorgan

  54

  28

  Cardiff

  30

  5

  Vale of Glamorgan

  24

  23

  West Glamorgan

  69

  43

  Port Talbot

  12

  0

  Llim Valley

  15

  15

  Neath

  14

  14

  Swansea

  28

  14

  Total for Wales

  865

  742

  Industrial Output
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the estimate total output of production industries in Wales at(a) factor cost and (b) current prices for (i) 1993, (ii) 1990 and (iii) 1987; and if he will make a statement.
  152
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Total output of production industries in Wales at factor cost and current prices if estimated by the Central Statistical Office to have been (i) £7,111 million in 1993, (ii) £6,702 million in 1990 and (iii) £5,420 million 1987.

  Minority Languages Charter
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects Her Majesty's Government to signify their approval of the Council for Europe charter of minority languages; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Government Departments with an interest in the European charter for regional or minority languages are still considering its implication for the United Kingdom. The decision on whether to sign the charter must take into account the situation of each of the indigenous minority languages spoken within the United Kingdom.

  Llanrwst Bypass
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which figures are being used by his Department for the cost-benefit analysis for the proposed Llanrwst bypass; if he will recalculate the cost-benefit analysis using the current figures submitted by a local group to his Department on 8 December 1994, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The cost-benefit analysis displayed at the 1993 public consultation on the proposed A470 Llanrwst bypass was based on a 1988 traffic survey. A further traffic survey is to be undertaken shortly and the results of that survey will be used in any recalculation of the analysis. The traffic information supplied by the local group is not statistically robust enough to be used in that way.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations have taken place with local authorities in Wales on their opinion on the proposals contained in paragraph 128 and 129 of the Government consultation paper on radioactive waste policy.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  These proposals were included in the Government's recent consultation document "Review of Radioactive Waste Management Policy—Preliminary Conclusions". It was sent to all local authorities in Wales and representations were received from South Glamorgan and Gwynedd county councils and Ynys Môn borough council.

  NHS Administrative Costs
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the administrative costs of the NHS in Wales for each year since 1979 in(a) cash prices and (b) current prices.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information is not available in cash terms. The following table shows the reported costs in
  153
  column 1 and those amounts converted to 1993–94 prices in column 2.

  Administrative costs of the NHS in Wales

  (1) £000

  (2) £000

  1991–92

  67,495

  72,330

  1992–93

  68,298

  70,388

  1993–94

  65,579

  65,579

  Source:

  Annual accounts of district health authorities, Welsh Health Common Services Authority, Family health services authorities, NHS trusts and Health Promotion Wales.

  Notes:

  1. The figure for the cost of administration is taken to be that covering authority administration and purchasing expenses. This represents the total revenue expenditure on the pay and accommodation costs of staff of all disciplines and their support staff employed at headquarters levels together with the costs of the purchaser function. They exclude administration support in hospital departments and at other local levels which is regarded as operational expenditure.

  2. 1993–94 figures are provisional and the latest available. It is not possible to provide information on a consistent basis for the years prior to 1991–92 because of changes to the format of accounts as a consequence of the NHS reforms.

  Local Environment Charter
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the response he has received from county and district councils to the model charter, "Your Council and the Environment", issued on 25 November 1994; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales sent copies of the local environment charter to all the county and district councils in Wales at the end of November 1993. Feedback received suggests that the document was generally well received; and many councils in Wales have developed their own environmental charters.

  Training for Work
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what is the expected outturn for each training and enterprise council in Wales for training for work with respect to training weeks used by those training after finding work.

  Mr. Redwood
  The information requested is provided in the following table:

  Number of employed status training weeks expected to be delivered in 1994–95

  Number

  Gwent

  10,285

  Mid-Glamorgan

  11,435

  North-East Wales

  11,058

  Powys

  2,882

  South Glamorgan

  3,505

  Targed

  1,451

  West Wales

  6,262

  Wales

  46,878

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Rateable Values
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to carry out a general revaluation of rateable values in Northern Ireland.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The current valuation list was published on 31 December 1975 and came into effect on 1 April 1976. Since that time, major shifts in rental patterns have taken place in Northern Ireland and these are not reflected in the net annual values appearing in the list. The relative antiquity of the present list has given rise to many anomalies between different areas and between different classes of property, particularly in the non-domestic sector. A revaluation of the whole of the non-domestic sector will, therefore, be undertaken by the Valuation and Lands Agency and work on this will commence immediately. The domestic sector is not being reviewed at this time but the situation will be kept under review.

  The new valuation list will be published on or before 31 December 1996 and will come into effect on 1 April 1997. Any ratepayer who is aggrieved by his or her valuation will have a statutory right of appeal.

  Turf Lodge Area, Belfast
  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many people in the Turf Lodge area of west Belfast are currently receiving social security benefits of any kind;

  (2) how many people in the Turf Lodge area applied for (a) disability living allowance and (b) attendance allowance in each of the last three years up to the end of 1994.

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

  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in the Turf Lodge area have been unemployed for longer than three years.

  Mr. Ancram
  The information requested is not available. However, the Turf Lodge area falls within the boundaries of the Upper Springfield ward and at January 1995, the latest date for which information is available, 355 people in this ward had been unemployed for longer than three years.

  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in the Turf Lodge area are currently in receipt of(a) disability living allowance, (b) attendance allowance and (c) housing benefit.

  Mr. Moss
  Statistics on social security benefits administered by the Social Security Agency cannot he broken down into small geographic areas without incurring disproportionate costs.

  The number of people in the rented sector in the Turf Lodge area who are currently in receipt of housing benefit is 586. The number of owner-occupiers in the area in receipt of housing benefit cannot be provided as this information is only kept at district council level.

  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people from the Turf Lodge area are currently employed on action for community employment schemes.
  155
  Mr. Ancram
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Ian Walters. I have asked him for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Ian Walters to Dr. Joe Hendron, dated 3 March 1995:
  Your recent parliamentary question to the Secretary of State regarding the number of people from the Turf Lodge area currently employed under ACE has been passed to me for reply.In the absence of statistical information specifically relating to the Turf Lodge area, this response is based on ACE participants resident in the BT11 postal code area which, as your know, encompasses Turf Lodge. On 1st March 1995, 433 persons from the BT11 area were employed by 46 separate ACE Sponsors. Of course ACE Sponsors are not restricted to geographical areas from which they may recruit and it is therefore difficult to provide data which relates strictly to Turf Lodge.You will be interested to know also that one of the organisations funded by the Agency under ACE is Turf Lodge Enterprise Scheme Ltd which primarily serves the Turf Lodge area. Although its employees are not recruited exclusively from the Turf Lodge area, the company currently receives funding to employ 70 people and can attract annual funding of more than £376,000.I hope you find this information helpful.

  Career Breaks
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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.

  Sir John Wheeler
  In the last five years, 338 males and 773 females in the Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office have applied for career breaks. Eleven of those individuals have had their employment terminated.

  Framework Document
  Mr. Boyes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is yet in a position to announce the result of his Department's inquiry into who was responsible for leaking parts of the framework document to The Times; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir John Wheeler
  A senior member of the Northern Ireland Office who has had no previous involvement in the work of the joint framework document is conducting an inquiry into the source of the leak. A confidential report will be sent to the permanent under-secretary at the Northern Ireland Office upon completion of the inquiry and further action will be taken as necessary.

  Punishment Beatings
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many punishment beatings have been recorded since the announcements of the ceasefires in 1994.

  Sir John Wheeler
  Since 31 August 1994 to 26 February 1995 there have been 88 punishment beatings recorded.

  Prior Options Studies
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has for a further programme of prior options studies to be undertaken by Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office.
  156
  Sir John Wheeler
  I have decided, following an examination of the remaining executive activities being undertaken within the Northern Ireland civil service and the Northern Ireland Office, that prior options studies would be appropriate for each of the areas listed. These studies will determine for each area whether agency status or other options would be appropriate. Comments from interested parties will be welcome when commencement of the prior options studies is announced.

  Area

  Study completion date

  DANI

  Forestry Service

  December 1995

  DANI

  Agricultural Colleges

  June 1996

  DANI

  Agricultural Development Service

  June 1996

  DANI

  Veterinary Service

  December 1996

  DFP

  Government Purchasing Service

  May 1995

  DFP

  Recruitment

  June 1995

  In addition, the study previously announced of possible agency status for the superannuation branches of the Department of Finance and Personnel and the Department of Health and Social Services will now be extended to embrace the teachers' superannuation branch of the Department of Education of Northern Ireland. The proposed completion date for this enlarged study is June 1995. A prior options study of the urban affairs area in the Department of the Environment was completed in December and is under consideration, and a prior options study of the Department of Economic Development's companies registry has been similarly completed. These two studies are in addition to those included in the announcement made on 18 January 1994, Official Report, columns 521–22.

ENVIRONMENT

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list each site of special scientific interest for which development permission has been given(a) by a local authority and (b) by his Department

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My Department maintains no central record of planning permissions in sites of special scientific interest.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many times development permission on a site of special scientific interest has been refused by(a) local authorities and (b) his Department, for each year since 1979.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My Department maintains no central record of planning permissions refused in sites of special scientific interest.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many development plans on sites of special scientific interest have been refused by local authorities and consequently given permission on appeal to his Department, for each year since 1979.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My Department maintains no central record of planning permissions given on appeal in sites of special scientific interest.

  Local Government Finance
  Mrs. Currie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list in rank order the metropolitan councils outside London showing the totals held in reserves at the latest available date;

  (2) if he will list in rank order the London boroughs showing the totals held in reserves at the latest available date.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The latest available estimates of the level of reserves as at 1 April 1994 are given below. The authorities are ranked by order of reserves excluding those held by schools, non-LMS; schools' reserves are shown separately, LMS. The first column, "Non-LMS reserves", includes funds, which may be substantial, held for specified purposes which may not be available to the council for general use—for example, funds to finance capital projects to which the authority is committed; and insurance funds where the authority is bearing its own insurance risk. These estimates are subject to amendment as authorities finalise their accounts. Compatible data on the use of balances in 1994–95 which would be needed to derive an estimate of the level of reserves at 1 April 1995 are not yet available.

  Estimated level of reserves at 1 April 1994

  Non-LMS £000

  LMS £000

  London boroughs

  Islington

  –5,773

  2,548

  Brent

  –214

  4,545

  Lewisham

  1,278

  7,993

  Hounslow

  2,576

  4,884

  Kingston upon Thames

  2,694

  1,803

  Merton

  2,717

  2,441

  Lambeth

  3,050

  450

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  3,948

  2,390

  Richmond upon Thames

  4,205

  2,116

  Camden

  4,690

  4,757

  Waltham Forest

  5,284

  5,330

  Sutton

  7,643

  1,808

  Bexley

  7,704

  4,699

  Hillingdon

  10,117

  2,675

  Greenwich

  10,950

  5,729

  Tower Hamlets

  11,911

  4,200

  Hackney

  12,521

  2,179

  Havering

  13,734

  3,676

  Haringey

  14,332

  4,312

  Barnet

  14,744

  4,508

  Southwark

  15,152

  2,723

  Redbridge

  15,417

  3,385

  Newham

  18,505

  4,695

  Westminster

  18,659

  3,722

  Harrow

  22,191

  2,699

  Enfield

  23,742

  5,527

  Kensington and Chelsea

  24,231

  1,382

  Croydon

  28,307

  5,606

  Ealing

  40,891

  2,791

  Barking and Dagenham

  41,766

  3,136

  Wandsworth

  54,547

  2,811

  Bromley

  74,093

  3,154

  City of London

  204,706

  73

  Metropolitan districts

  Bradford

  –2,139

  12,287

  Sefton

  3,034

  5,610

  Wirral

  3,992

  3,687

  Walsall

  4,262

  4,033

  Tameside

  4,977

  1,303

  North Tyneside

  5,269

  373

  Knowsley

  6,066

  1,817

  158

  Estimated level of reserves at 1 April 1994

  Non-LMS £000

  LMS £000

  Manchester

  7,253

  2,912

  Sheffield

  7,326

  5,014

  St. Helens

  7,932

  4,262

  Bury

  8,000

  2,225

  Liverpool

  8,337

  9,486

  South Tyneside

  8,593

  1,859

  Doncaster

  9,373

  7,197

  Wigan

  9,774

  4,197

  Calderdale

  10,045

  2,311

  Rochdale

  10,582

  211

  Bolton

  10,850

  2,291

  Stockport

  11,183

  2,613

  Coventry

  11,194

  4,305

  Wakefield

  13,614

  3,686

  Rotherham

  14,342

  3,128

  Salford

  15,919

  2,476

  Gateshead

  16,636

  1,625

  Wolverhampton

  17,299

  4,301

  Solihull

  19,218

  4,581

  Barnsley

  19,412

  3,081

  Kirklees

  21,833

  4,214

  Sandwell

  23,093

  5,756

  Trafford

  26,964

  2,169

  Dudley

  27,066

  1,493

  Sunderland

  29,592

  2,053

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  31,659

  4,271

  Oldham

  33,508

  2,381

  Leeds

  41,207

  4,728

  Birmingham

  89,526

  16,696

  Source:

  Level of reserves (outturn) at 1/4/93 + / - appropriations to/withdrawals from reserves 1993–94 (RS return for 1993–94).

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to relax constraints on spending for local authorities and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The Secretary of State announced his provisional capping criteria for local authorities on 1 February. He will announce his final criteria once authorities have set their budget requirements for 1995–96.

  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the value of reserves for the core cities of Birmingham, Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield, Manchester and Leeds; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Under-Secretary, the hon. Member for Hertfordshire, West (Mr. Jones) to my hon. Friend, the Member for Derbyshire, South (Mrs. Currie) earlier today. This provided data on the level of reserves held by each metropolitan district.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what extra finance would be available to local authorities in 1995–96 if the capping level for all local authorities was set at 3.2 per cent. above their 1994–95 budgets.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  If the capping limits for 1995–96 were set at 3.2 per cent. above local authorities' 1994–95 budgets—net of a local precepts and adjusted for various changes of function, boundary and financing—they would claw a little under £600 million of additional public expenditure compared to the cap limits implied by the current provisional capping criteria.

  Government Cars (Palace of Westminster)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take to stop Government drivers within the Government car pool parking their vehicles with their engines running within the precincts of the Palace of Westminster.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Government car service drivers are under clear instructions while parked within the precincts of the Palace of Westminster to keep their vehicles engines to a minimum consistent with passenger and security requirements. That instruction has been re-inforced recently by GCS management.

  Coalfields Communities Campaign
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration was given to the attendance of his Ministers at the launch by the Coalfields Communities Campaign of its campaign on pollution of rivers by water from abandoned mine workings.

  Mr. Atkins
  The invitation to attend was given the usual careful consideration. We were aware of the views of the Coalfields Communities Campaign in its response to the consultation paper "Paying for our Past" and in subsequent correspondence.

  Council House Sales, Westminster
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council houses were sold in each of the wards within the borough of Westminster in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Tables showing the available information on total council house sales for each English local authority for every financial year since 1979–80 and a cumulative total to March 1994 are in the Library.

  Information about disposals at ward level is not collected by the Department.

  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he had made to the district auditor's interim report on Westminster city council's designated sales policy; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  No response has been made. This is a matter for the local authority and its appointed auditor.

  Ferro-Alloys Chimney (Emissions)
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what have been the results of the monitoring that has been carried out by his Department of the emissions from the Ferro-Alloys chimney in Glossop, Derbyshire for the last 12 months for which figures are available, giving the average and maximum levels for each month.

  Mr. Atkins
  My Department has not carried out any monitoring itself. However, the company has supplied information about sulphur dioxide releases over the 12-month period to the end of February 1995. Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution is writing to the company to seek its consent to release this information, and I will be writing to the hon. Member.

  Single-tier Local Authorities
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many single-tier local authorities have 160
  formally merged their housing and social services departments.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Single Regeneration Budget
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the single regeneration budget has a designated fund for promoting the development of electronic village halls and cyber skills by local councils.

  Mr. Curry
  No.

  Ms Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the ratio of the single regeneration budget to the housing association-approved development programme in(a) the west Midlands and (b) London; and what considerations underlie the variation between (a) and (b).

  Mr. Curry
  Planned single regeneration budget expenditure for 1994–95 is some £175 million in the west midlands and £374 million in London. Allocations made at the start of 1994–95 from the Housing Corporation's approved development programme were some £126 million and £465 million respectively.

  The ratios sought are thus (a) 1.4: 1 and (b) 0.8:1. As the two programmes have different objectives, outputs and areas of operation there is no reason why there should be any relationship between these ratios.

  Non-hazardous Waste
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) for what reason the planned European Commission timetable for the development of the proposed draft directive on the incineration of non-hazardous waste has been delayed beyond that originally proposed by Directorate General XI;

  (2) what is the current status of the proposed draft EU directive on the incineration of non-hazardous waste; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) what representations have been made by his Department regarding the lack of cost-benefit analysis contained in the draft EU proposal for a directive on the incineration of non-hazardous waste.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Commission tabled a first draft of this proposed directive in April 1994 and a second draft in August 1994. Three meetings of Government experts have been held, two of which included representatives of trade associations and environmental bodies, and there has also been a meeting of a technical sub-group. I believe that the Commission is currently considering the proposal in the light of the adoption last December of the hazardous waste incineration directive—94/67/EC—and the proposal for a directive on integrated pollution prevention and control.

  My Department has made a number of written and verbal representations concerning the importance of assessing both costs and benefits in coming forward with proposals for new standards for non-hazardous waste incineration.

  Housing Stock Transfers
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment pursuant to his answer of 7 February,Official Report, column 132–36, if he will publish a list

  161
  showing the date on which each local authority conducted a ballot on proposed large-scale voluntary transfer of their housing stock.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The 64 local authorities which have balloted tenants on proposed large-scale voluntary transfers are listed below, together with the month and the year in which each ballot took place.

  Successful ballot results

  Local authority

  Date of ballot

  Chiltern

  September 1988

  Sevenoaks

  December 1988

  Newbury

  April 1989

  South Wight

  June 1989

  Medina

  July 1989

  Richester

  July 1989

  Swale

  October 1989

  North Bedfordshire

  October 1989

  Mid Sussex

  December 1989

  Broadland

  January 1990

  East Dorset

  January 1990

  South Buckinghamshire

  July 1990

  Tonbridge and Malling

  July 1990

  Ryedale

  August 1990

  Suffolk Coastal

  November 1990

  Christchurch

  November 1990

  Tunbridge Wells1

  April 1991

  June 1991

  Bromley

  October 1991

  East Cambridgeshire

  April 1992

  Surrey Heath

  June 1992

  Breckland

  August 1992

  West Dorset

  October 1992

  Hambleton

  December 1992

  Epson and Ewell

  June 1993

  Havant

  June 1993

  Hart

  July 1993

  Leominster

  September 1993

  South Ribble

  October 1993

  Hertsmere

  October 1993

  Penwith

  October 1993

  South Shropshire

  November 1993

  North Dorset

  November 1993

  Thanet

  November 1993

  Wychavon

  November 1993

  Mid Bedfordshire2

  December 1993

  Basingstoke and Deane2

  April 1994

  Windsor and Maidenhead2

  June 1994

  Vale of White Horse

  June 1994

  Maldon

  July 1994

  Malvern Hills

  August 1994

  Kennet

  November 1994

  Rushmoor

  December 1994

  1 Held two consecutive ballots.

  2 Proposed split transfer to two housing associations. Two ballots held.

  Unsuccessful ballot results

  Local authority

  Date of ballot

  Torbay

  october 1988

  Rochford

  November 1988

  Salisbury

  December 1988

  Arun

  January 1989

  Three Rivers

  March 1989

  Canterbury

  November 1989

  Brentwood

  November 1989

  Redbridge

  December 1989

  Bournemouth

  January 1990

  Wokingham

  April 1990

  South Holland

  July 1990

  North Kesteven

  December 1990

  Hillingdon

  July 1992

  162

  Unsuccessful ballot results

  Local authority

  Date of ballot

  Kingston

  August 1992

  Woodspring

  August 1992

  Mendip

  July 1993

  Rother

  October 1993

  Westminster

  October 1993

  Maidstone1

  November 1993

  Poole1

  November 1993

  Thanet1

  November 1993

  Mid Bedfordshire1

  December 1993

  Cherwell1

  April 1994

  Castle Point

  September 1994

  1 Proposed split transfer to two housing associations. Two ballots held.

  Government Environmental Policy
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what role the meetings of all Green Ministers play in the integration of environmental considerations into all aspects of Government policy.

  Mr. Atkins
  Meetings of Green Ministers provide a valuable opportunity to discuss collectively aspects of environmental integration of common interest, such as energy conservation, environmental management and the forthcoming Environment White Paper. The meetings do not replace the individual responsibility of each Green Minister to ensure that environmental considerations are integrated into the strategies and policies of his or her Department.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response was received to the consultation paper on arrangements for local taxation appeals and disputes in the event of a structural or boundary change in respect of any local government area in England; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  The list of responses received has been placed in the Library of the House; copies of individual responses may be obtained through the Library. Regulations will he introduced shortly to give effect to the following measures to be applied in respect of all local taxation appeals and disputes in the event of a structural or boundary change:
  if an authority has been abolished, and the corresponding listing officer, valuation officer or valuation tribunal ceases to exist, the case is to be handled by the successor bodies;if the case has been listed for hearing by a valuation tribunal, and notice of the hearing has been served, or it has been agreed that it should be disposed of on the basis of written representations and notice thereof has been served, there is to be no change in arrangements;in all other circumstances, the acquiring authority, listing officer, valuation officer and valuation tribunal, as the case may be, is to assume responsibility for the case; and if the case relates in part to the period before the structural or boundary change, the relinquishing billing authority (if it elects to do so), listing officer and valuation officer should be a party to the proceedings.

  Bathing Water Monitoring
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of recent incidents at Oxwich hay, Wales; and what plans he has
  163
  to increase the monitoring of viruses in bathing water as a result.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 6 March 1995]: An investigation, carried out by the West Glamorgan health authority, and published 28 February, concluded that there was no evidence of a link between illnesses and bathing or visiting Oxwich bay. I have no present plans to require increased monitoring of viruses in bathing waters.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment what monitoring of viruses in Britain's bathing water is currently carried out; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 6 March 1995]: Monitoring for viruses in United Kingdom bathing waters is carried out in accordance with the EC bathing water directive. UK monitoring is the most extensive of any member state.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the effect of viruses in sewage and chemical discharges on(a) human health and (b) bathing water quality.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 6 March 1995]: In January 1994, I announced and placed in the Library the results of a four-year study, funded by the Department of the Environment, the Department of Health, the Welsh Office and the National Rivers Authority, into health and bathing water quality. A detailed summary of the results of UK bathing water quality monitoring is placed in the Library each year. The results for 1994 were placed on 20 January 1995.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in how many instances water-borne viruses have been thought to be the cause of illness contracted by bathers in British waters in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 6 March 1995]: I understand from the Department of Health that there is no conclusive evidence that any serious illness has been contracted by bathers in UK bathing waters during this period. The four-year study to assess the health risks of sea bathing published last year suggested that there is only a minimal risk of illness from British bathing waters.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest figure for reported benefit savings accrued by the Child Support Agency, giving in each case(a) the amount represented by pre-existing maintenance arrangements carried over by the Child Support Agency, (b) the amount represented by cases in which benefit ceased following action by the agency, (c) the amount represented by cases in which maintenance exceeds the amount of benefit payable and (d) the amount represented by consequential savings in council tax benefit and housing benefit.
  164
  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 6 March 1995:
  I am replying to your recent Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the benefit savings scored by the Child Support Agency.

  Benefit savings by category

  £ million

  1994–95

  Existing maintenance agreements before CSA assessments

  Paid direct by absent parent to parent with care—existing

  101.65

  Paid through pre-Agency collection service—existing

  6.96

  Sub total

  108.61

  New maintenance as a result of CSA assessments

  Paid direct by absent parent to parent with care—new

  10.48

  Paid through Agency collection service to Secretary of State—new

  32.45

  Absent parent—Income Support deductions

  1.55

  Sub total

  44.48

  Benefit ceases following action by the Agency

  Non-maintenance cessations

  165.95

  Maintenance cessations

  20.43

  Sub total

  186.38

  Total

  339.48

  Savings arising from maintenance paid in Family Credit/DWA cases. and the consequential savings arising in Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit from cases where benefit has ceased are scored retrospectively after the end of the financial year, and figures are not currently available.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many parents with care at each Child Support Agency reporting centre have ceased to receive income support after receiving payments of child maintenance; and how many have ceased to receive income support and are receiving family credit after receiving child maintenance.

  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 front Ann Chant to Mr. Donald Dewar, dated 7 March 1995:
  I am replying to your recent Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the number of parents with care (PWCs) who have ceased to claim income support (IS); or who have ceased to claim IS, but are receiving family credit (FC) after receiving child maintenance.

  Agency centre

  1 2PWCs no longer receiving is

  Belfast

  1,688

  Birkenhead

  490

  Dudley

  1,176

  Falkirk

  1,186

  Hastings

  1,182

  Plymouth

  1,317

  1 Year to date from April 1994 to January 1995.

  2 Child maintenance may not have been the only income received. Information is not available on the number of clients who have ceased to claim IS, but are receiving FC.

  165
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are currently employed by the Child Support Agency; and what was the figure in April 1993.

  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 7 March 1995:
  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the number of staff employed by the Child Support Agency.In April 1993, there were 2,937 established staff in the Agency. In addition there were 160 Northern Ireland civil servants based at the Child Support Agency Centre in Belfast who were engaged in work relating to parents with care who live in Great Britain.In January 1995 there were 5,799 established staff in the Agency, and 645 Northern Ireland civil servants engaged in work relating to parents with care who live in Great Britain.This increase in staffing reflects both the anticipated build up in staff, and the additional staff deployed as part of the recovery plan.
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the basis for his estimate of the cost of taking account of travel-to-work costs in the child support formula.

  Mr. Burt
  The costs of the proposed allowance were estimated using data from the 1991 census about the distribution of distances travelled to work.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what will he the cost of each of the proposed changes to the Child Support Agency referred to in his oral statement of 23 January 1995,Official Report, columns 19–21.

  Mr. Burt
  The cost, in terms of reduction in anticipated savings in benefit expenditure, of each of the proposed changes is estimated as follows:

  1995–96 £ million

  1996–97 £ million

  1997–98 £ million

  Formula changes

  Property/capital settlements

  5

  10

  10

  Travel to work costs

  10

  15

  20

  Provision for full housing costs

  5

  10

  10

  Deferral of liability by eight weeks

  10

  10

  10

  30 per cent. cap on payments

  10

  10

  10

  Changes requiring primary legislation

  Departure orders

  —

  10

  10

  Maintenance credit

  —

  —

  15

  Totals

  40

  65

  85

  Note:

  All figures in £ million, rounded to nearest £5 million.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects the Child Support Agency to deal with all cases involving child maintenance; and if he will set out the Government's revised programme for the phased take-on of cases.

  Mr. Burt
  It was never the intention that the Child Support Agency would deal with all cases of child maintenance. Where there is a maintenance order in force with which both parents are content, and no benefit is 166
  being paid to the parent with care, the agency will not become involved.

  Where such an order is currently in force, but one party is dissatisfied, the courts will continue to exercise jurisdiction until such time as the Child Support Agency takes over jurisdiction. This was intended to be in 1996, but the Government have announced plans to defer this date until the agency is in a position to take on the cases efficiently and to a high standard.

  The agency expects to resume the take-on of those cases deferred as a result of the measures announced on 20 December 1994 by the end of 1995.

  Lone Parents
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the Government's policy on encouraging all lone parents into employment and on providing incentives to that end; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Burt
  It is our policy to encourage lone parents to take up and stay in work. Improving work incentives is the most effective way of ensuring that lone parents leave benefit dependency; this offers the best long-term prospects for the families involved and produces savings for the public purse. Research indicates that most lone parents want to work. We have been very successful in encouraging lone parents to move from dependency on income support to work supplemented by family credit. In 1988, there was one working lone parent on family credit for every 10 on income support; by 1994, the proportion was almost one for every four.

  In April 1992, we changed the qualifying hours of work for family credit from 24 hours to 16 hours a week. Currently, 120,000 lone parents work between 16 and 24 hours a week and receive family credit; many of these had previously been dependent on income support. Last October, we introduced the child care disregard to remove a stumbling block preventing some parents returning to work. This is worth up to £28 a week extra in family credit. In the long term, we expect that 150,000 families, mostly lone parents, will benefit from this change. The work incentives package announced last November includes measures to help people returning to work, such as the four-week extension of housing benefit, the national insurance contribution holiday for employers, and the hack to work bonus. All of these will apply to lone parents and unemployed people. In January 1995, the child support White Paper announced a new scheme giving a credit for maintenance received by parents with care on income support. This scheme—the child maintenance bonus—will provide further help on returning to work through a lump sum of up to £1,000.

  Mr. Butterfill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many lone mothers receive means-tested benefits; and what proportion of these are(a) tuner married, (b) separated wives, (c) divorced women and (d) widows and wives of pensioners.
  167
  Mr. Burt
  The information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is in the tables:

  Table 1: Numbers of lone mothers in receipt of family credit, disability working allowance or income support in May 1993

  Numbers in receipt of

  Total

  Family credit

  200,000

  Disability working allowance

  —

  Income support with no family credit or disability working allowance

  987,000

  Table 2: Numbers of lone parents in receipt of housing benefit/council tax benefit but not in receipt of family credit, disability working allowance or income support, in May 1993

  Numbers in receipt of

  Total

  Housing benefit

  46,000

  Council tax benefit

  44,000

  Sources:

  Income Support Annual Statistical Enquiry May 1993.

  Family Credit Statistical System. This is a 5 per cent. sample of awards made.

  Disability Working Allowance Statistical System.

  Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit MIS annual 1 per cent. sample.

  Notes:

  1. The figures refer to Great Britain and have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  2. There will be considerable overlap in table 2 as many cases receive both HB and CTB, but due to the collection procedure these cannot he identified.

  3. For HB and CTB it is not possible to distinguish lone mothers horn lone fathers. This information refers to lone parent rather than lone mother.

  The marital status breakdown is only available for the income support data and is shown in the following table:

  Table 3:

  Marital status

  Total

  (a) never married

  463,000

  (b) separated

  313,000

  (c) divorced

  192,000

  (d) widowed

  16,000

  Source:

  Income Support Annual Statistical Enquiry May 1993.

  Habitual Residence Test
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Dr. Jones), of 19 December 1994 Official Report,column 930, if he will consider making some assessment of the ethnic origin of claimants who have failed the habitual residence test to check whether particular ethnic groups are disproportionately affected by the test.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  We have no plans to do so.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary 01 State for Social Security if a claimant can appeal against a Benefits Agency medical services doctor's failure to provide (i) a certificate under regulation 10(2)(e) and (ii) an opinion under regulation 27 of the Social Security (Incapacity For Work) (General) Regulations 1995.
  168
  Mr. Hague
  A claimant cannot appeal against a Benefits Agency medical services doctor's failure to provide a certificate or opinion. He can appeal against an adjudication officer's decision on capacity for work. That decision will take into account whether the claimant is certified as being in an exempt category under regulation 10(2)(e), whether he has satisfied the all work test and whether any of the prescribed exceptional circumstances apply under regulation 27.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security at what intervals and on what basis a claimant of incapacity benefit will be re-tested after April 1995.

  Mr. Hague
  After the initial application of the all work test, a Benefits Agency medical services doctor will provide advice to the adjudication officer as to whether and, if so, at what interval, the question of the claimant's capacity should be reviewed. The interval will depend on the individual circumstances of each case.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people he estimates will sign on as available for work pending an appeal against a decision that they are capable of work; and how many will claim income support.

  Mr. Hague
  No estimate has been made of the number of people who will choose to make themselves available for work pending an appeal. Estimated numbers expected to claim income support are not broken down between those appealing against a decision and those not making an appeal.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest estimate of the number of people who will move from incapacity benefit and sign on as unemployed in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97; (iii) 1997–98.

  Mr. Hague
  The estimated number of people who will move from incapacity benefit, including new claimants after April 1995, and sign on as unemployed earlier than would otherwise have been the case, as a result of the new medical test, is as follows: 160,000 in 1995–96, 120,000 in 1996–97 and 60,000 in 1997–98. It is estimated that the average increase in the unemployment count as a result of the reform of incapacity benefit provision will he 90,000 in 1995–96, 195,000 in 1996–97 and 200,000 in 1997–98. These figures include people joining the unemployment count who will previously have been receiving income support with disability premium as well as those who will have been receiving incapacity benefit.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people who are expected to leave incapacity benefit in 1995–96 to sign on as unemployed he estimates will he aged(a) under 45 years, (b) between 45 and 54 years old, (c) 55 years or over; and how many in each category are estimated to receive an occupational or private pension amounting to (i) less than £35 per week, (ii) between £35 and £50 per week and (iii) between £50 and £75 per week;

  (2) how many people who are expected to leave incapacity benefit in 1996–97 to sign on as unemployed he estimates will he aged (a) under 45 years, (b) between 45 and 54 years and, (c) 55 years or over; and how many in each category are estimated to receive an occupational or private pension amounting to (i) less than £35 per week, (ii) between £35 and £50 per week and (iii) between £50 and £75 per week.
  169
  Mr. Hague
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of new claimants of both(a) incapacity benefit and (b) severe disablement allowance who will (i) be found capable of work under the all work test and (ii) how many and what proportion he expects will lodge an appeal against this decision.

  Mr. Hague
  It is estimated that in 1995–96, approximately 45,000 and in subsequent years 55,000 new incapacity benefit claimants will be found capable of work earlier than would otherwise have been the case, as a result of the new medical test. It is estimated that 60 per cent. of these claimants will appeal against the decision of capacity for work. No estimates have been made of the number of new severe disablement allowance claimants expected to he found capable of work.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the number and proportion of appeals against a decision of capacity for work which are frivolous.

  Mr. Hague
  None.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he consulted (i) the Independent Tribunal Service, (ii) the Council on Tribunals and (iii) the Social Security Advisory Committee about the benefit reduction for people appealing against a decision that they are capable of work.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The Secretary of State referred the proposed income support regulations to the Social Security Advisory Committee under section 172(1) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 on 3 and 16 February 1995. The Social Security Advisory Committee agreed on 16 February 1995, under section 173(1)(b) of the same Act, that the regulations need not be formally referred to it.

  There is no statutory requirement in these circumstances to consult either the Independent Tribunal Service or the Council on Tribunals.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Howarth) on 30 January 1995 Official Report, column 520, if the normal control dates based on form MF213 will be the basis for reviewing the estimated 220,000 people who will fail the new incapacity test.

  Mr. Hague
  Under the existing invalidity benefit system, when a claim is considered by the Benefits Agency medical services—the doctor gives advice on if and when the case should be reviewed. In cases with a review date, the new all-work test will he applied for the purpose of the first planned review after 13 April this year. We expect that all such cases will be reviewed in the first two years of the new benefit. The remaining cases will then also be reviewed under the new test.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average number of weeks between the date an appeal was lodged against a decision that a person is capable of work to the date of the hearing.

  Mr. Hague
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, the average clearance time for 170
  all invalidity benefit appeals in the quarter ending June 1994 was 26.6 weeks.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of housing benefit claimants are currently in receipt of additional help with rent under regulation 11(3) of the Housing Benefit General Regulations.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not held centrally.

  National Insurance Credits
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if people claiming income support pending an appeal against a decision that they are capable of work will be credited for national insurance purposes for the period between lodging an appeal and the hearing.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  To ensure that credits are available for the period pending an appeal against a decision that a person is capable of work, he should register as available for employment. If he fails to do this, incapacity credits will be awarded only for the period if his appeal succeeds.

  Registering as available for employment will not prejudice the outcome of his appeal.

  Mortgage Interest
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (i) what assessment his Department has made of the implications for income support claimants of the changes to income support mortgage interest to he implemented in October 1995;

  (2) what assessment the Government have made of the impact on the rate of repossession of the changes to income support for mortgage interest to be implemented in October 1995;

  (3) what estimate he has made of the number of (a) monthly and (b) annual repossessions that will arise from October 1995 as a result of the Government's reduction in help for unemployed home owners.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  We believe that our proposals will result in the development of comprehensive quality insurance and will provide better protection for all home owners, not just those who currently get help from income support mortgage interest.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the estimated additional housing costs(a) to local authorities in England and Wales and (b) to housing associations in England and Wales of the changes to income support for mortgage interest to he implemented in October 1995.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  There should not he any additional housing costs of this nature.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants in receipt of income support for mortgage interest payments had their homes repossessed in(a) 1993–94 and (b) each of the five preceding years.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the percentage of private rented
  171
  sector tenants who are currently in receipt of housing benefit in each local authority in England and Wales.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information requested is not available. It is estimated that the proportion of tenants of 172
  private landlords who receive housing benefit in England is 49 per cent. and 61 per cent. in Wales.

  Source: Housing Benefit Management Information Statistics February 1994 and Housing and Construction Statistics September 1994.

  World Summit for Social Development
  World Summit for Social Development
  Rights of the Child Convention, Hong Kong
  Rights of the Child Convention, Hong Kong
  Light Dues
  Light Dues
  M.25, Junctions 12 to 15: Improvement
  M.25, Junctions 12 to 15: Improvement
  Traffic Flow Predictions: Inputs
  Traffic Flow Predictions: Inputs
  World Summit for Social Development
  World Summit for Social Development
  Postgraduate Courses: State Bursary Support
  Postgraduate Courses: State Bursary Support
  Prisons: Prevention of Drug Misuse
  Prisons: Prevention of Drug Misuse
  Probation and Bail Hostels: Weekly Costs per Place
  Probation and Bail Hostels: Weekly Costs per Place
  Congenital Limb Defects, Isle of Wight
  Congenital Limb Defects, Isle of Wight
  Guinness plc: Investigation
  Guinness plc: Investigation
  EU Anti-sex Discrimination Legislation
  EU Anti-sex Discrimination Legislation
  Trident: Operational Control
  Trident: Operational Control
  Burmese Military Personnel: Training in UK
  Burmese Military Personnel: Training in UK
  European Commission Members: Pensions
  European Commission Members: Pensions
  Single European Currency: Advantages to Britain
  Single European Currency: Advantages to Britain