Written Answers of 9 March 1995

ENVIRONMENT

  Non-human Primates
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many non-human primates are imported to the United Kingdom annually; from which nation sources; which species are involved; and what information is held about distribution throughout the country.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  All species of primate are listed in the appendices to the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora, and are therefore subject to the import/export licensing controls contained in the convention, which is implemented throughout the European Union under regulations 3626/82 and 3418/83. In 1994, 1,999 live primates were recorded as imports to the UK under the CITES regulations. The species and countries of origin involved are shown in the table. The Department does not keep comprehensive information about the distribution of imported specimens within the UK as this is not required by CITES for most of the specimens concerned.

  Species

  Number imported

  Country of origin

  Golden lion Tamarin

  2

  Hong Kong

  (Leontopithecus rosalia)

  3

  Japan

  Chacma baboon

  7

  South Africa

  (Papio hamadryas ursinus)

  Olive baboon

  55

  Kenya

  (Papio hamadryus anubis)

  Crab-eating macaque

  989

  Mauritius

  (Macaca fascicularis)

  431

  Philippines

  234

  Israel

  40

  China

  Rhesus macaque

  191

  China

  (Macaca mulatta)

  40

  USA

  Cotton-top tamarin

  4

  Japan

  (Saguinus oedipus)

  Owl-faced monkey

  1

  Zaire

  (Cercopithecus hamlyni)

  Pileated gibbon

  1

  Switzerland

  (Hylobates pileatus)

  Black howler monkey

  1

  USA

  (Alouatta caraya)

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment what are his proposals for removing the current restrictions which apply to certain local authorities in the exercise of their economic development powers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  I have today laid before the House new regulations which will have the effect of removing from 1 April 1995 the current £10,000 limit on the amount of financial assistance which certain local authorities are able to provide to individual businesses each year under their economic development powers. All local authorities in England will now be free to decide, having regard to all their local circumstances including the resources available to them, the amount of any financial assistance which they provide to businesses.

  British Gas
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions there have been with British Gas about grant aid and the development of Foleshill gas work site; if he will make a statement.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I understand that British Gas has reached agreement with English Partnerships about the grant required to develop phase 1 of the site and that a survey will be completed this month for British Gas to establish ground conditions on phase 2 of the site. A formal submission to the board of English Partnerships will be made shortly after that about the offer of a grant to British Gas.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to make a submission to the European Commission under article 34 of the Euratom treaty in respect to the planned first shipment of high-level radioactive waste from Sellafield to Japan.

  Mr. Atkins
  None. Article 34 of the Euratom treaty relates to particularly dangerous experiments which are to take place in the territories of member states. The article will not apply to shipments of radioactive wastes from the UK, which will always comply with internationally agreed safety requirements.

  Sickness Absenteeism
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he is taking to combat sickness absenteeism in(a) Ordnance Survey, (b) the Planning Inspectorate and (c) his Department.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Line managers are required to monitor the level of sick leave taken by their staff and to take action where this gives cause for concern. Continuing failure to achieve the required standard of attendance can lead to medical retirement or dismissal. Where officers require help, the services of the welfare division are available. We can also call on specialist counselling services, and the civil service occupational health service to provide advice.

  The Department has also hosted exhibitions and publicised events such as the Health Education Authority's "Look After Your Heart" campaign, together with a health screening programme.

  Office of Water Services
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will permit Ofwat to make appropriate charges when asked to give advice in other countries on water privatisation and the role of the regulator; and if he will make a statement on the basis on which charges are permitted.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I understand that Ofwat, as an independent non-ministerial Government Department, follows the normal Treasury accounting guidance on charging practices for Government Departments.

  Bathing Water Directive
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will oppose a review and upgrading of the bathing water directive, as proposed by the European Commission.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Our objective in the forthcoming negotiations on the Commission's proposal will be to ensure that the revised bathing water directive concentrates on essential quality and health parameters, is cost-effective, based on up-to-date science and meets the requirements of subsidiarity.

  South West Water
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the projected cost of the reference by South West Water to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, following the limits imposed by Ofwat on water charging in the south-west.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The costs of the reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission of the determinations in respect of South West Water Services Ltd. will be borne by that company, in accordance with the terms of its appointment, but these costs cannot be taken into account in setting price limits. The MMC cannot at this stage estimate with any accuracy what those costs will be.

TREASURY

  Bank of England Profits
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much profit has been made by the Bank of England in each of the last four years; and what happens to such profits.

  Mr. Nelson
  The profits of the banking department of the Bank of England for the last four years were:

  1990–91 £ million

  1991–92 £ million

  1992–93 £ million

  1993–94 £ million

  161.8

  166.2

  88.3

  120.2

  The profits were accounted for as follows:

  (i) Tax

  18.1

  30.9

  12.1

  24.4

  (ii) Paid to the Treasury

  81.5

  67.7

  38.1

  48.4

  (iii) Retained by the Bank

  62.2

  67.6

  38.1

  47.4

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  In addition, the profits of the Bank's issue department from the issue of bank notes, which were all paid to the Treasury were:

  1990–91 £ million

  1991–92 £ million

  1992–93 £ million

  1993–94 £ million

  2,546

  1,875

  1,556

  1,117

  This information is published in the Bank's annual report and accounts, copies of which are in the Library of the House.

  Career Breaks
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. Nelson
  Figures relating to the number of staff who applied for career breaks over the last five years are unavailable. The number of staff from my Departments and agencies on career breaks during the period requested is 100 men and 2,224 women.

  The total number of staff from my Departments who have had their employment terminated in the last five years is 438. No staff on a career break had his or her employment terminated.

  Import Penetration
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of the last three increases in interest rates on import penetration.

  Mr. Nelson
  Import penetration depends on a variety of factors, including price competitiveness, domestic demand and capacity. Recent increases in interest rates were aimed at ensuring permanently low inflation and sustainable economic growth, thereby providing a stable climate within which British industry can compete successfully in both domestic and overseas markets.

  Tourism
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the numbers of jobs(a) lost or (b) gained by changes in the balance of payments in tourism between 1976 and 1993.

  Mr. Nelson
  HM Treasury has made no such estimate.

  Convergence Programme
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to update the convergence programme produced by the United Kingdom in February 1994.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  A revised convergence programme is today being submitted to the European Commission. Copies of the programme are available in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances it is envisaged that
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  people receiving incapacity benefit will be taxed at source; and how many people he estimates this will effect.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 3 March 1995]It is estimated that there will be over 300,000 new recipients of incapacity benefit in 1995–96, of whom about 200,000 are expected to have an income tax liability. Tax will be deducted under pay-as-you-earn in one of two ways. For most recipients—who have some taxable income other than their benefit—tax will be deducted by adjusting the tax code applied to that other source. For those who do not have another source of taxable income—about 10,000 recipients—tax will be deducted from their benefit by the Benefits Agency.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the Exchequer of raising the personal allowance by an amount equivalent to the blind person's allowance for people receiving disability living allowance at a rate equal to, or greater than, the middle rate of the care component of that allowance.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 3 March 1995]The estimated revenue cost in 1994–95 of such a change is £20 million.

  Allowances
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people currently receive(a) the married couple's allowance, (b) the additional person's allowance, (c) the widow's bereavement allowance and (d) the blind person's allowance.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 3 March 1995]Latest estimates are in the table:

  Numbers benefiting from allowances in 1994–95

  Thousands

  Married couple's allowance1

  10,500

  Additional personal allowance

  750

  Widow's bereavement allowance

  120

  Blind person's allowance

  30

  1 Number of married couples with one or both partners benefiting.

  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if related allowances such as the adult and child dependency allowance will be treated as part of the income of the recipient of incapacity benefit once the benefit becomes taxable; and in how many of these cases taxing the recipient of incapacity benefit will render that person eligible for income support.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 3 March 1995]Incapacity benefit, including age-related additions and adult dependency increases, paid to new claimants after 13 April 1995, will be liable to income tax. Child dependency increases will not be liable to income tax. It is not possible to make a reliable estimate of the number of recipients of incapacity benefit with an income tax liability who will be eligible for income support, as a result of taxing the recipient.

  Financial Institutions
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if all individual traders in City financial 266
  institutions are required to have individual trading position limits set by their institutions, under Bank of England regulations, or under other regulations.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 6 March 1995]: Both the Bank and the Securities and Futures Authority require the management of relevant institutions to have limits on overall trading positions and, where appropriate, to monitor and record exposures against them.

  Barings
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his oral statement on Barings of 27 February,Official Report, column 693, what he has to add to his statement in respect of his comment that the unauthorised derivative positions in Barings Singapore were built up in a matter of days; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 6 March 1995]: I have nothing to add to what my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer told the House on Monday 27 February. He has asked the Board of Banking Supervision to investigate fully and urgently all aspects of the Barings episode and to report back to him.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the responsibilities of Mrs. Lisa Leeson within the back office of Barings Singapore; and if they included the settlement of derivative trades undertaken by traders within Barings Singapore.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 6 March 1995]: This is a matter for Barings.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to the trading limits imposed upon Mr. Nick Leeson of Barings Singapore by Barings.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 6 March 1995]: None at the moment, but as my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer told the House on Monday 27 February, he has asked the Board of Banking Supervision to investigate fully and urgently all aspects of the Barings episode and to report back to him.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the dates on which the large unauthorised derivative positions build up recently by a trader at Barings in Singapore first became known to(a) Barings managers in Singapore, (b) Barings managers in the far east, (c) staff in the London office, (d) Barings management in London, (e) staff at the Bank of England, (f) staff at Her Majesty's Treasury, (g) the Governor of the Bank of England, (h) himself and (i) the Prime Minister.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 6 March 1995]: I do not have the information on (a) to (d). For (e) to (i) the date in each case was Friday 24 February.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) on what occasions Barings London treasury department, or any other entity within Barings London, arranged funding for any of the recent unauthorised derivative positions initiated by a trade at Barings in Singapore;

  (2) on what date a team of staff from Barings in London flew to Singapore to investigate the large derivative positions which were recently taken by a trade in Barings Singapore and which resulted in the collapse of the bank.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answers 6 March 1995]: As my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the

  267
  Exchequer told the House on Monday 27 February, he has asked the Board of Banking Supervision to investigate fully and urgently all aspects of the Barings episode and to report back to him.

  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what regulations exist to control the percentage of contract open interest which may be accounted for by any one trader or entity, on the futures exchanges in(a) London, (b) Tokyo, (c) Singapore and (d) Chicago; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 6 March 1995]: The answers are as follows:

  London:
  there are no limits on the open positions that may be taken by persons dealing on recognised investment exchanges in London. Transactions on the London, International Financial Futures and Options Exchange, the London Commodity Exchange, LCE, the International Petroleum Exchange, IPE, and the London Metal Exchange, LME, are cleared through members of the London Clearing House, LCH, which regularly monitors its members' margin requirements against their capital. The LCH and the four exchanges also monitor large positions of their members at contract level. The OMLX exchange carries out a daily position and margin review of all its members.
  Chicago:
  two US futures exchanges based in Chicago are recognised as overseas investment exchanges under the Financial Services Act 1986. They are supervised by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission whose regulations have included provisions for limits on open positions for a number of years.
  Tokyo and Singapore:
  there are no exchanges operating in these centres which are recognised as overseas investment exchanges under the Financial Services Act 1986. Questions about the regulations applying to exchanges in these centres should be addressed to the relevant authorities.

  Civil Service
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he has taken to create a more efficient, modernised civil service without demoralising the staff with job insecurity and a reduction of living standards.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 8 March 1995]: "The Civil Service—Continuity and Change", Cm 2627, and "The Civil Service—Taking Forward Continuity and Change", Cm 2748, explain what measures have been taken, and will be taken, to create a more efficient civil service; emphasise the Government's intention to deal with staff reductions on a voluntary basis wherever possible; and make clear the Government's commitment to maintaining a predominantly career civil service, committed to the training and development of all staff, and to effective communication to maintain morale.

  In addition, the recent consultation paper "Better Accounting for the Taxpayer's Money: Resource Accounting and Budgeting in Government", Cm 2626, proposes potentially far reaching changes in the way Government Departments budget and account for all the resources they consume, and what they achieve with those resources, as part of the Government's commitment to improve the way that the public sector manages itself.

  Tobacco Products (Distance Selling)
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to prevent the promotion and 268
  distribution of tobacco products through distance selling; what measures are being or will be taken to publicise the penalties for engaging in this trade; and how many companies have been prosecuted for distance selling of tobacco products.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 8 March 1995]: Distance selling, in which duty is paid in the country of destination, is a recognised legitimate activity for which provision has been made in EC legislation, which is implemented in United Kingdom legislation in the Excise Goods (Holding, Movement, Warehousing and REDS) Regulations 1992. Certain schemes which are being marketed as distance selling are being investigated by HM Customs and Excise as tax avoidance devices.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Sudan
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on recent British initiatives to assist the peace process in Sudan;

  (2) when the next round in the Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development talks on Sudan is expected to take place;

  (3) what proposals are being considered at the United Nations to increase the pressure on all sides in the Sudanese war to find a peaceful solution.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We believe that the IGADD peace initiative offers the best hope of a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Sudan. We are in regular contact with the parties involved in the initiative and are encouraging them to negotiate in good faith. Consultations between the parties are continuing. No date for the next round of talks has yet been set.

  Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of(a) the progress of the CFE treaty implementation and (b) the prospects for implementation of all the obligations by all signatories by the November 1995 deadline.

  Mr. David Davis
  So far, progress on CFE treaty implementation has been good, with almost all states achieving the required 60 per cent. target by 16 November 1994. We are actively addressing outstanding problems and hope that the treaty will be fully implemented by all states at November 1995.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the number and the types of CFE treaty limited equipment which have yet to be destroyed in all CFE signatory states.

  Mr. David Davis
  The information is in the following table.
  269

  At November 1994, the following equipment had yet to be destroyed by CFE signatory states:

  Country

  Battle tanks

  Armoured Combat vehicles

  Artillery

  Attack helicopters

  Combat aircraft

  Armenia

  —

  159

  —

  —

  —

  Azerbaijan

  216

  727

  103

  —

  —

  Belarus

  570

  434

  —

  —

  50

  Bulgaria

  317

  92

  162

  —

  40

  Czech Rep

  132

  98

  147

  —

  —

  Denmark

  58

  —

  —

  —

  —

  France

  —

  171

  —

  16

  —

  Germany

  253

  810

  402

  —

  —

  Greece

  400

  —

  202

  —

  —

  Hungary

  193

  —

  70

  —

  —

  Italy

  53

  220

  82

  18

  —

  Norway

  24

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Poland

  380

  —

  281

  —

  7

  Romania

  636

  421

  981

  —

  31

  Russia

  1,041

  897

  2

  39

  312

  Slovakia

  173

  74

  271

  —

  2

  Spain

  26

  —

  24

  —

  —

  Turkey

  424

  —

  48

  —

  —

  Ukraine

  728

  321

  —

  —

  226

  United Kingdom

  62

  10

  —

  —

  —

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Russian request for a revision of the CFE treaty.

  Mr. David Davis
  Russia has called for revision of article V of the CFE treaty, which sets limits on the amount of treaty limited equipment in the northern and southern flank regions. We have urged Russia to use the flexibility within the treaty to meet her security concerns. We have also, with our NATO allies, stressed the importance of full implementation of the treaty's provisions.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the consequences of the Belarus decision to halt the destruction of weapons requested by the CFE treaty.

  Mr. David Davis
  We are most concerned by Belarus's announcement, which, if implemented, would have potentially serious consequences for the CFE treaty. We and other NATO allies have strongly urged Belarus to resume its destruction programme. We are also considering what assistance we might provide to help Belarus to fulfil its reduction obligations by the November 1995 deadline.

  Intergovernmental Conference
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the British Government will be pursuing the issue of an enhanced role for national Parliaments in contributing towards the accountability of EU institutions at the intergovernmental conference.

  Mr. David Davis
  As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in the House on 1 March:
  "we shall present a range of our ideas at the conference…We shall set out ways of achieving a stronger role for national Parliament".— [Official Report, 1 March 1995; Vol. 255, c. 1063.]

  Ivory Coast
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the human rights situation in the Ivory Coast;270
  and if he will publish the representations made to the Government of the Ivory Coast.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 6 March 1995]: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to his question of 10 January, column 59.

  Code d'Ivoire is a multi-party democracy with functioning human rights institutions. The Ivorian authorities are well aware of the importance attached internationally to full respect for human rights.

EDUCATION

  Sickness Absenteeism
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what measures she is taking to combat sickness absenteeism in(a) the Teachers Pensions Agency and (b) her Department.

  Mr. Boswell
  Sickness absence in the Department, including the Teachers Pensions Agency, is monitored and reported monthly to heads of branch. Referrals are made to personnel and welfare officers when an individual's sick leave totals give cause for concern. In addition, the Department is about to launch an initiative to(a) remind staff of the procedures to follow if they are sick and (b) encourage line managers through briefings and training to take a leading role in managing sickness absence firmly but fairly.

  North Yorkshire County Council
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the number of employees in the education department of North Yorkshire county council in each of the last 15 years.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The employment of individuals in the education department of North Yorkshire county council is a matter for North Yorkshire local education authority. The Department does not collect such information.

SCOTLAND

  Incentive Prescribing Schemes
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made on the introduction of incentive prescribing schemes for non-fundholding practices; which health boards have incentive prescribing schemes already in place or definitely due to start on 1 April and how many practices and list patients will be covered.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The indicative prescribing scheme, introduced in April 1992, allows for incentive prescribing schemes to operate in each health board area. To date, no applications from health boards have been formally approved under the indicative prescribing scheme to set up incentive prescribing schemes.

  Allowances
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the (i) salary, honorarium or allowance payable to and (ii) number of days, or part days, on a weekly average devoted to the performance of public duties by(a) the chairman and members of Scottish Homes board, (b) the chairman and members of Argyll and Clyde health board, (c) the chairman and members of the Renfrewshire Healthcare NHS trust, (d) the chairman and members of the RAH trust, (e) the leader of Strathclyde regional council, (f) the chairpersons of committees of Strathclyde regional council, (g) other members of Strathclyde regional council, (h) the leader of Renfrew district council, (i) the conveners of committees of Renfrew district council and (j) other members of Renfrew district council; and if he will make a statement.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Details of allowances paid to individual members of local authorities are not held centrally. Each authority decides on its own scheme within the requirements of the Local Authorities Etc. (Allowances) (Scotland) Regulations 1991, as amended. Details of payments made to individuals are available for inspection by local electors at the appropriate council offices on request.

  The information requested for the chairman and members of the other bodies is provided in the table.

  Salary honorarium or allowance £

  Estimated time commitment

  Scottish Homes

  Chairman

  38,330

  3 days per week

  Members

  6,600

  2 days per month

  Argyll and Clyde Health Board

  Chairman

  17,700 per annum

  2-3 days per week

  Non-executive members

  5,000 per annum

  3 days per month

  Renfrewshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  Chairman

  19,285 per annum

  2-3 days per week

  Non-executive directors

  5,000 per annum

  3 days per month

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  Salary honorarium or allowance £

  Estimated time commitment

  Royal Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

  Chairman

  17,145 per annum

  2-3 days per week

  Non-executive directors

  5,000 per annum

  3 days per month

  Ian Greer Associates
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what items of correspondence were received by Ministers in his Department from Messrs. Ian Greer Associates in the last month.

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

  Forestry Commission
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will review the decision to keep closed until 2006 the Forestry Commission file No. F43/454 at the Public Record Office.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The file is now available for inspection by the general public at the Public Record Office.

  Abattoirs
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many abattoirs there were in 1993 and 1994; and how many of these met European Community standards.

  Sir Hector Monro
  At the end of 1993, there were 54 licensed red meat abattoirs in Scotland, of which 27 fully met European Community standards and were approved to trade throughout the EC. Of the remainder, 17 plants were operating under a temporary derogation while upgrading towards full EC status and 10 plants were low-throughput premises.

  At the end of 1994, 31 of the 49 licensed red meat abattoirs were up to the full EC standard. Ten plants continued to operate under a temporary derogation and eight plants had low-throughput status.

  Social Work Trusts
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of state for Scotland what consideration he has given to the establishment of social work trusts.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Guidance to local authorities has said that, in relation to community care, they should distinguish between their purchasing and providing functions. The establishment of social work trusts is one option which could assist social work authorities in developing their enabling functions.

  Care Services
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will issue detailed guidelines on the criteria to be used to determine whether a person is in need of health care or social care.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In his statement to the Scottish Grand Committee on 1 March,Official Report, Scottish Grand Committee, columns 1-12, my noble and learned Friend the Minister of State announced that as part of an on-going review of all aspects of

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  continuing care and care in the community the Scottish Office has continued to refine the guidance that is available in this respect.

  Consistent with the approach adopted by the Department of Health, to which the Scottish Office contributed, detailed guidance on the operational aspects of arranging and funding continuing care services is to be issued from the Scottish Office.

  A letter issued on 1 March from the Scottish Office on this matter to directors of social work, general managers of health boards and chief executives on NHS trusts in Scotland. A copy of this letter has been placed in the Library of the House.

  NHS Management Executive
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what examination the NHS management executive is giving to the merger of health boards and local authorities in Scotland.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  None.

  Salmon Roe
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he had to legalise the sale of salmon roe produced in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Interested parties will be consulted shortly on proposals which would permit trade in farmed, but not wild, salmon roe.

  European Regional Development Fund
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the allocation of the European regional development fund to each of the objective 1, 2 and 5b regions in Scotland for the current programming period.

  Mr. Kynoch
  The objective 1 and 2 single programming documents were approved on 29 July and 16 December respectively. Allocations from the European regional development fund are shown in the table.

  Approval of the Scottish objective 5b programmes is still awaited. However, the proposed allocation for each programme from the ERDF is also shown. All allocations are at 1994 prices.

  Designation

  Period

  Area

  ERDF mecu

  ERDF £million

  Objective 1

  1994–99

  Highlands and Islands

  180.000

  142.068

  Objective 2

  1994–96

  Eastern Scotland

  96.000

  75.770

  Western Scotland

  222.910

  175.935

  Objective 5b

  1994–99

  Borders

  20.400

  16.101

  Dumfries and Galloway

  33.900

  26.756

  North and West

  Grampian

  28.250

  22.297

  Rural Stirling/Upland Tayside

  16.875

  13.319

  * Exchange rate £ = 1.267 ecu.

  Each area is eligible to receive further ERDF resources from Community initiatives.

  Prisons (Drugs)
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many drug and related finds, broken down by type of drug, were made in gaols in Scotland in each year since 1990.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 9 March 1995:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your question on how many drug and related finds, broken down by type of drug, were made in jails in Scotland in each year since 1990.
  Any prisoner found in possession of illicit drugs or injecting equipment is guilty of a disciplinary offence under The Prison and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Rules 1994. The number of such recorded offences since 1990 are as follows:

  1990–91: 749

  1991–92: 845

  1992–93: 838

  1993–94: 895

  Detailed information for these years is not available on the type of drugs found but records indicate that most of the disciplinary offences involved cannabis.

  Water Authorities
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the proposed salaries and expenses for(a) the chairman, (b) the chief executives and (c) all other board members for the proposed new water authorities.

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 7 March 1995]: The chairman of the North and West water authorities will each receive £40,000 per annum while the chairman of the East of Scotland water authority will receive £24,000 per annum. The chief executives of new water authorities have yet to be appointed, but the salary of each will be around £80,000, plus a possible performance bonus to be settled each year. The other members of the new water authorities will normally receive £6,000 per annum. In all cases, expenses incurred on water authority business will be reimbursed.

  Voluntary Bodies (Grants)
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has reached a decision on the allocation to voluntary bodies of grant under the special grants (environmental) programme in 1995–96.

  Sir Hector Monro
  I am pleased to have been able to offer 51 individual grants totalling £429,930 to 46 voluntary bodies in Scotland to assist them in carrying out their valuable environmental conservation, improvement and education work. The sums available in the special grants (environmental) programme in 1995––96 represent an increase of some 12 per cent. over 1994–95. This increase demonstrates both the value that the Government place on the work carried out by the voluntary sector, and its role in taking forward the Government's environmental objectives.
  275

  Organisation

  Grant £

  Association for the Protection of Birds

  4,500

  Association of Deer Management Groups

  5,000

  Biological Recording in Scotland Campaign

  5,000

  Buchan Countryside Group

  3,000

  CSV Scotland

  18,000

  Council for Scottish Archaeology

  16,000

  Easter Ross Rights of Way Society

  800

  Friends of the Earth Scotland

  5,000

  Game Conservancy Trust

  5,000

  Garden History Society

  4,000

  Glasgow Building Preservation Trust

  10,000

  Heartland FM

  2,000

  Heather Trust

  8,000

  Heatwise Glasgow

  5,000

  Highlands and Islands Forum

  18,000

  Landwise Glasgow

  4,000

  Lothian and Edinburgh Environmental Partnership

  5,000

  National Society for Clean Air and Environmental Protection

  4,400

  Planning Aid for Scotland

  19,000

  Plantlife

  3,500

  Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

  20,000

  Rural Forum Scotland

  16,000

  Rural Forum Scotland/Reforesting Scotland

  10,000

  Scottish Bat Groups

  1,730

  Scottish Conservation Projects Trust

  42,000

  Scottish Ecological Design Association

  8,000

  Scottish Environmental Education Council

  37,000

  Scottish Environmental Forum

  8,000

  Scottish Farm and Countryside Education Trust

  5,000

  Scottish Historic Buildings Trust

  11,700

  Scottish Landowners Federation

  4,000

  Scottish Native Woods Campaign

  6,000

  Scottish Rights of Way Society

  7,000

  Scottish Scenic Trust

  1,000

  Scottish Wildlife and Countryside Link

  12,000

  Scottish Wildlife Trust

  39,500

  Strathclyde Greenbelt Company

  10,000

  Sustrans (Sustainable Transport Scotland)

  8,000

  Treewise

  5,500

  Touchstone

  1,500

  Venture Scotland

  3,300

  Vision 21

  4,000

  Water of Leith Conservation Trust

  4,500

  West Galloway Fisheries Trust

  4,000

  Woodland Trust

  5,000

  Youth Clubs Scotland

  10,000

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has yet determined the level of fee remission grant which will be available to parents under the assisted places scheme in school session 1995–96.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend is making £10.656 million available for fee remission in 1995–96. Fifty-five schools across Scotland will participate in the scheme. This funding should enable the number of pupils currently benefiting to be maintained at slightly above 3,000.

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce the income scale which will apply to the assisted places scheme in Scotland in school session 1995–96.
  276
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  For school session 1995–96, I propose to lay regulations before the House in due course providing for progressive parental contribution for one assisted pupil in relation to family income as follows:

  Part of relevant income to which the specified percentage applies

  Parental contribution (percentage)

  That part (if any) which exceeds £9,545 but does not exceed £10,378

  9

  That part (if any) which exceeds £10,378 but does not exceed £11,226

  12

  That part (if any) which exceeds £11,226 but does not exceed £12,909

  15

  That part (if any) which exceeds £12,909 but does not exceed £15,494

  21

  That part (if any) which exceeds £15,494 but does not exceed £18,872

  24

  That part (if any) which exceeds £18,872

  33

  The relevant income scale is open ended, but the remission can, of course, be given only where the parental contribution is less than the school tuition fee.

  Cable Television Franchises
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those areas of Scotland which are covered by cable television franchises.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  I have been asked to reply.

  Fourteen franchises, covering 1,123,000 homes have been awarded in Scotland to date, in the following areas:

  Aberdeen

  Dundee and Carnoustie

  Perth

  Glenrothes and Kirkaldy

  Edinburgh

  Falkirk and Livingston

  Cumbernauld, Airdie and Coatbridge

  Motherwell and East Kilbride

  Greater Glasgow

  North West Glasgow and Clydebank

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  Dumbarton

  Paisley and Renfrew

  Greenock and Port Glasgow

  The ITC is considering further local delivery operator franchises in Scotland.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Framework Document
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what complaints he has received about the non-availability of the framework document; how many copies of the document had been distributed by Tuesday 28 February; and what proposals he has to make the framework document readily available to all the people of Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Ancram
  There was enormous public interest in this document and, as a result, there was some initial difficulty in quickly meeting immediate demand.
  277
  At 28 February, approximately 60,000 copies had been distributed through post offices and approximately 40,000 through the freephone and freepost mechanisms.

  The Government recognise the importance of everyone in Northern Ireland having an opportunity to consider the proposals. Copies continue to be available in the 30 main post offices and are still being issued in response to requests to the freephone and freepost systems.

  Fair Employment
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the J. Hawthorne listed as a consultant in the fair employment small firms employment scheme in his answer of 15 February,Official Report, columns 679-80, is the same person as James Hawthorne CBE, the head of the Community Relations Commission and the former controller of BBC Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Ancram
  Yes.

  Abattoirs
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many abattoirs there were in 1993 and 1994; and how many of these met European Community standards.

  Mr. Ancram
  All abattoirs in Northern Ireland are approved in accordance with the terms of European Community directives, laying down the hygiene, operation, supervision and structural conditions of abattoirs, so that they will meet European Community standards.

  At the end of 1993, there were 16 approved red meat abattoirs, of which 15 were fully approved to trade throughout the Community and one was a full throughput premises with a temporary derogation. At the end of 1994,

  Spend 1993–94 £000s

  Forecast 1994–95 £000s

  Planned 1995–96 £000s

  Planned 1996–97 £000s

  A.

  Probation Service

  10,097

  10,496

  10,087

  10,374

  B.

  Training Schools

  12,017

  13,173

  12,316

  12,540

  C.

  Grants to Voluntary Bodies

  812

  712

  690

  690

  D.

  Crime Prevention

  121

  239

  158

  165

  E.

  Victim Support

  197

  267

  270

  298

  F.

  Civil Defence

  -1,154

  473

  368

  145

  G.

  Civil Emergencies

  -1,154

  473

  368

  145

  H.

  Elections

  1,243

  1,255

  1,254

  1,232

  I.

  Services in support of the Security Forces (PANI non police pay expenditure plus NIO Security Responsibility Centre)

  133,890

  133,797

  137,971

  133,164

  J.

  Legal Services Crown Solicitor's Office

  684

  1,014

  927

  990

  Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions

  7,054

  7,170

  7,134

  7,203

  K.

  Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights

  227

  289

  254

  261

  L.

  Information Services

  1,259

  1,285

  1,410

  1,425

  M.

  Northern Ireland Office Administration

  756,983

  755,735

  715,816

  718,766

  This includes:

  a.

  RUC Pay

  478,139

  480,198

  477,913

  499,768

  b.

  Compensation Agency Costs

  106,689

  95,338

  65,257

  45,287

  c.

  Prison Costs

  141,130

  147,485

  143,813

  144,365

  278
  there were 15 approved red meat abattoirs, of which 14 were fully approved and one had a temporary derogation. Premises with temporary derogations are approved to trade on the national market.

  Portaferry-Strangford Bridge
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans there are to build a bridge linking Portaferry and Strangford village; what is the estimated cost of such a bridge; and what EU funding could be available for such a scheme.

  Mr. Moss
  There are no proposals to build such a bridge, which, in the absence of detailed costings, is estimated to cost between £15 million and £20 million. It is not possible to say whether European Union funding could be available without first considering a full economic and financial appraisal.

  Expenditure
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent from the law, order, protective and miscellaneous services programme on(a) the probation service, (b) training schools, (c) grants to voluntary bodies concerned with the rehabilitation of offences, (d) crime prevention, (e) victim support, (f) civil defence, (g) civil emergencies, (h) elections (i) services in support of the security forces, (j) legal services, (k) the Standing Advisory Committee on Human Rights, (l) information services and (m) Northern Ireland Office administration in 1993–94 and 1994–95; and what is the estimated expenditure in 1995–96 and 1996–97.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The amount spent in 1993–94, forecast spend for 1994–95 and planned expenditure for 1995–96 and 1996–97 from the law, order protective and miscellaneous services programme are as follows:
  279
  Ms Mowlam
  To aks the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the amount of money spent under the law and order, protective and miscellaneous services programme on criminal damages and injuries compensation in(a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95; and what is the estimated expenditure in (i) 1995–96 and (ii) 1996–97.

  Sir John Wheeler
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Compensation Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Denis Stanley. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from D. A. Stanley to Ms Mowlam, dated 8 March 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply, on behalf of the Compensation Agency, to your recent Question regarding criminal injuries compensation.The following table details how much was spent on criminal damage and criminal damage and criminal injuries compensation in 1993–94, the forecast for 1994–95 and the current estimate for 1995–96 and 1996–97:

  Year

  Criminal damage compensation £ Million

  Criminal injuries compensation £ Million

  1993–94

  67.9

  29.6

  1994–95 (forecast)

  55.0

  31.7

  1995–96 (estimate)

  26.0

  33.8

  1996–97 (estimate)

  9.0

  30.8

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Television Licence Fee
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he expects to seek parliamentary authority for an increase in the television fee.

  Mr. Dorrell
  On 1 December 1994,Official Report, column 805, I announced that, from 1 April 1995, the fee for a colour television licence would increase to £86.50 and that for a monochrome licence to £28.50. I have today laid before the House the regulations necessary to bring these fees into force.

  Whitehall Study
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what brief and limits he set for the study he has commissioned on the future of Whitehall and of its urban design consequences;

  (2) what is the cost of the study of the future of Whitehall and of its urban design consequences will be published;

  (3) when he expects the study of the future of Whitehall and of its urban design consequences will be published.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I have been asked to reply.

  Property Holdings commissioned a portfolio review last year to examine the scope for rationalising the Whitehall estate and for reuse of surplus space. Property Holdings with the Department of National Heritage also commissioned an urban design study of the Government estate in the Whitehall conservation area, which will provide day-to-day best practice advice to Departments carrying out maintenance and alterations affecting the
  280
  external appearance of their Whitehall buildings. Copies of the reference for both studies will be placed in the Library of the House.

  The portfolio review is on-going and the initial report was received in October 1994. It is estimated to cost up to £75,000 plus VAT, but it will not be published as it includes market-sensitive information that could affect any property negotiations resulting from the study. The design is expected to be completed by July 1995 and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House. It is estimated to cost £40,000 plus VAT, including the printing and production costs of the guide.

  Children's Play
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage which organisations he has invited to bid for funds to carry out work under his new arrangements for children's play.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I will shortly be meeting a number of organisations to discuss the new arrangements which we propose to introduce and will then invite bids for funds from these and other interested organisations.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what steps he has taken to ensure that all children's play activities are recognised by the Sports Council for the purposes of national lottery funding.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Under the National Lottery etc. Act 1994, it is for the Sports Council to consider the eligibility of projects submitted to it in the light of the Act and the directions which I have issued to it. I understand that the council is considering this matter in the light of the announcement which I made on 2 March about new arrangements for children's play,Official Report, column 640.

  National Lottery
  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to conduct research into the effect that the introduction of an instant win game by the operators of the national lottery will have on fund raising by charities, sports clubs and other organisations, especially through the medium lotteries.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have no such plans.

  Mrs. Jane Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what consultations he has had with the Director General of the National Lottery with regard to placing a limit on the first prize payable in respect of any single winning ticket.

  Mr. Dorrell
  I have had no such consultations.

  Tourism Promotion
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what steps he takes to establish the accuracy of local claims regarding the origins of historical figures used in terms of tourism promotion; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 7 March 1995]It is not my function to check the accuracy of traditional associations of historical figures with specific localities.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Election Law Breaches
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Attorney-General how many allegations of(a) fraudulent voting,(b) misuse of proxies, (c) breach of financial limits and (d) other breaches of election law and been (i) received by the police or the Crown Prosecution Service, (ii) investigated and (iii) prosecuted, and with what result, for each year since 1992.

  The Attorney-General
  The number of cases reported to the CPS with a view to investigation for election offences between 1992 and 1995 and covering both parliamentary and local government elections is a follows:
  1992 101 cases 1993 30 cases (between 1 April and 31 December) 1994 61 cases 1995 (to date)3 cases
  There are no accurate figures for the first three months of 1993.

  Categorisation of the cases in the manner requested by the hon. Member could be effected only through recovery from archives and scrutiny of each individual file. This would involve disproportionate cost. In 1992, there were five successful prosecutions for the personation of those entitled to vote; two of double voting; and one case of a person convicted on an eight-count indictment of theft and forgery of ballot papers and personation.

  In 1993, there was one successful prosecution for a failure to return a declaration of expenses; one of making a false statement of fact about the personal character or conduct of a candidate; and one case of two offences of falsification of proxy forms. There was also an acquittal in a case of incurring unauthorised expenses.

  In 1994, a case of falsification of a nomination of candidate form was commenced. The case has been committed for trial but no trial date has yet been fixed.

  There is no central record of allegations received by the police but not submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service.

  Sickness Absenteeism
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Attorney-General what measures he is taking to combat sickness absenteeism in(a) the Treasury Solicitor's Department, (b) the Serious Fraud Office, (c) Government Property Lawyers and (d) the Crown Prosecution Service.

  The Attorney-General
  The departments for which I am responsible are concerned about the well-being of their staff and monitor closely and investigate both individual cases and overall trends. They make every effort to control the level of sickness absences through preventive measures which include the provision of:

  (a) health screening programmes;

  (b) free eye tests and where necessary allowances to purchase spectacles for users of visual display units;

  (c) stress awareness and management seminars;

  (d) health and safety advice; and

  (e) the services of a welfare officer.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Overseas Aid Policy
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Minister for Overseas Development will be publishing a statement about the United Kingdom proposals for improvements in its overseas aid policy at the time of the world summit for social development.

  Mr. Baldry
  Our objectives, policies and achievements are reviewed annually with a view to maintaining and improving the quality and effectiveness of the aid programme.

  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, including the Overseas Development Administration, published its 1995 departmental report on 8 March and copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Sickness Absenteeism
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he is taking to combat sickness absenteeism in the Overseas Development Administration.

  Mr. Baldry
  Established guidelines are in place for the management of sick absence, including welfare, medical, disciplinary and inefficiency procedures which accord with best practice as recommended by the National Audit Office.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Domestic Committees
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission what recent changes have been made to the responsibilities of domestic committees.

  Mr. Beith
  Following discussions between Committees, the House of Commons Commission has now approved the following modifications to the responsibilities of domestic Committees which take account of the Information Committee's primary responsibility for the parliamentary data and video network and the latter's endorsement by the House:
  the distribution of the clean feed within the House—from the Broadcasting Committee to the Information Committee;annunciator services and the provision of television, video and radio channels—from the Administration Committee to the Information Committee.

  Internet
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee what factors are contributing to the delay in connecting hon. Members to the Internet.

  Mr. Waller
  The Information Committee considered the proposed experimental connection to Internet on 16 and 30 January. Before the system is operational, it is necessary to finalise and award the contract, arrange certain security measures and install a dedicated link.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee what assessment the Committee has made of whether it would be technically feasible to identify
  283
  electronic mail sent by hon. Members from the parliamentary data and video network via the Internet to domestic addresses and those sent to the international addresses.

  Mr. Waller
  While it would be technically feasible to monitor Members' Internet e-mails, there are no plans to do so. It is a long-standing tradition of the House that hon. Members' parliamentary communications are not monitored by the House authorities. Since there are no charges for Internet e-mail, there would be no bar to Members receiving and sending either domestic or international e-mail messages.

  Word Processors (Training)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee what facilities exist for training hon. Members on the use of word processors.

  Mr. Waller
  Training for hon. Members in all aspects of IT including word processors was considered by the Committee in its report "The Provision of Members' Information Technology Equipment, Software and Services"—first report, Session 1992–93, HC737—which was approved by the House on 30 June 1994. The report recommended, inter alia, the provision of a modest amount of basic on-site training which would be paid for by Members from their office costs allowance. Training in the use of the parliamentary data and video network is provided without charge to Members' office cost allowances.

  Parliamentary Channel
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chairman of the Broadcasting Committee what are the current arrangements for parliamentary charging for the Parliamentary Channel; when these arrangements are subject to review; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  The licences from the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Clerk of the Parliaments which underpin the arrangements for parliamentary broadcasting run for five years until the summer of 1996, when they will fall due for renewal. PARBUL—Parliamentary Broadcasting Unit Ltd.—which is the company charged with producing the signals on behalf of Parliament, is funded by shareholdings from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, BSkyB and the Parliamentary Channel. Funding is on a per-channel basis and the Parliamentary Channel therefore provides one sixth of the costs of the equipment and staff involved in the creation of the signals. The original agreement between Parliament and the broadcasters, which was approved by the House, provides for the broadcasters to make a contribution, via PARBUL, of roughly 50 per cent. towards the costs of the televising operation, in return for the right to make use of the signals for broadcasting purposes. No question arises therefore of any charge being payable to Parliament by the Parliamentary Channel.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chairman of the Broadcasting Committee what steps the Committee is taken to ensure that the Parliamentary Channel is made available free to all electors who are connected to satellite; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  The Parliamentary Channel is a cable channel and is available at no extra charge as part of the basic package of channels to all subscribers to broadband 284
  cable systems. The Select Committee on Broadcasting, in its first report of Session 1990–91 on "The Arrangements for the Permanent Televising of the Proceedings of the House", recommended that the United Artists proposals for the Parliamentary Channel offered the most promising prospect for the provision of a dedicated channel. It also noted that the proposal should not be regarded as the last word, nor as excluding or pre-empting any other proposals for a dedicated channel which might come forward in the future. I am not aware of any plans for the establishment of a dedicated Parliamentary Channel receivable by owners of satellite dishes. In any case, because of the high start-up and operating costs of such a channel, it could be provided free of charge only either at a commercial loss or on the basis of a large and continuing public subsidy.

  Audio-visual Resources
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will promote or fund a CD-ROM on how Parliament and British democracy works for use by schools and electors; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Waller
  I have been asked to reply.

  The question of a multi-media presentation is at present under discussion between the officers of the two Houses, and other interested parties. Various audio-visual resources on Parliament are already available from the education officer.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

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

  Mr. Newton
  No member of the Privy Council Office's staff has applied for a career break in the last five years.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Gas Licences
  Sir Michael Grylls
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish further information about the licences which would be granted pursuant to the Gas Bill, once enacted.

  Mr. Eggar
  I am today publishing further information about proposed gas licences, in advance of the Second Reading of the Gas Bill next Monday. These outlines will give a clearer idea of the measures and safeguards that would be established for the operation of a fully competitive market in domestic gas supply.

  The principal standard conditions are likely to include:
  for supply licences, an obligation to supply all prospective domestic customers within their area, subject to certain technical exceptions; to publish charges; to offer a reasonable range of methods of payment to customers; to supply gas where directed to do so by the Director General of Gas Supply, to ensure the continuity of supply to customers; to make financial arrangements, such as a bond, to cover the costs which would be involved if another company had to take over supplying their

  285
  customers; to offer consumers reasonable rights to terminate contracts; to provide special services for disabled customers or pensioners free of charge; to adopt suitable methods for dealing with customers who have genuine difficulty paying their bills; to advise customers on energy efficiency; to check the background of officers authorised to enter customers' premises and provide them with official identification.for transportation licences, requirements to keep separate accounts for transportation and storage business; to furnish the director with details of charges, and both the director and the Gas Consumers Council with other information; to establish standards of performance and provide compensation if they are not met; to establish a "network code" under which others may use the pipeline system; to make effective arrangements for the provision of emergency services to the public; to raise a levy, if necessary, to compensate any suppliers with disproportionate social obligations; and to obtain the director's approval before disposing of key assets.for shipper licences, obligations as regards the use of pipeline systems; to assist the transporter during an emergency; to supply the director with appropriate information.

  Gas Market (Competition)
  Sir John Hannam
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 24 January,Official Report, columns 125-27, if he has reached any conclusions in relation to the consultation on the initial areas for domestic gas competition; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  The area for the first phase of the transition to a competitive gas market will cover some 500,000 gas consumers in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset.

  The south-west has received by far the most support—nearly a third of all responses to our consultation document suggested the south-west as the most suitable area.

  The responses demonstrated widespread enthusiasm for competition in gas supply from all over the country. Local authorities and other organisations from all parts of the country—from Clydesbank to Carrick, from Devon to Dover, from Rotherham to Rugby—requested that they should be the first to benefit from competition in the domestic gas market.

  The south-west fulfils the criteria set out by the Trade and Industry Select Committee and the consultation document:
  it will be one of the areas that might be relatively disadvantaged by the higher transportation charges applicable;it has a mix of rural and urban areas and a representative cross-section of types of consumers;it is suitable for testing and necessary technical systems;it is a clearly defined area with clear natural boundaries.
  Because of the need for further consideration of technical factors, no decision regarding the second phase of the transition to competition has yet been made.

  The Gas Bill published last week would provide the legislative and regulatory framework for the extension of competition in supply to 18 million domestic gas consumers in Great Britain. We have proposed that, subject to parliamentary approval of the Bill, the introduction of competition should be phased from 1996 to 1998, with the first phase in April 1996 covering some 500,000 homes, which would be extended to 2 million homes in 1997, before nationwide competition in 1998.

  European Regional Development Fund
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which EC member states permit European regional development fund grant to be accessed using wholly private sector match funding; and what are the reasons for Her Majesty's Government not permitting the same procedure.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Government do permit European regional development fund grant to be "accessed using wholly private sector match funding"—projects to be financed by the fund and the private sector alone. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Broadgreen (Mrs. Kennedy) on 20 February 1995,Official Report, columns 31-32.

  Mr. Alton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the details of the models which the Government have developed and submitted to the Commission for facilitating objective 1 funding.

  Mr. Eggar
  I take it that the hon. Member is referring to the Government's proposals, mentioned in the reply I gave him on 20 February 1995,Official Report, column 31, for facilitating private sector contributions to projects to which the European regional development fund makes grants.

  I do not intend to make these proposals public in advance of the Commission's response.

  They relate not only to objective 1 grants but to ERDF grants generally.

  Departmental Filing Arrangements
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether filing arrangements in his Department include indexing under the names of individual hon. Members.

  Mr. Heseltine
  Correspondence between hon. Members and Ministers in the Department is recorded in their respective private offices in the name of the hon. Member.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether filing arrangements in his Department include indexing under named lobbying companies.

  Mr. Heseltine
  There is no such index in the Department.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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. Heseltine
  [holding answer 7 March 1995]: It is not the normal practice to disclose information about communications between hon. Members and Ministers.

  Network Marketing
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what inquiries are going on into the activities of companies involved in network marketing.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 7 March 1995]: Since June 1994, the Department has successfully applied to the

  287
  High Court to wind up 12 companies engaged in the promotion of money-making schemes with a pyramid recruitment structure similar to that used in network marketing. However, as a matter of policy, I cannot disclose whether any current inquiries are taking place.

  Pneumoconiosis Compensation Scheme
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many payments were made under the coal industry pneumoconiosis compensation scheme in(a) 1980, (b) 1986 and (c)

  Mr. Page
  The numbers of lump sum payments awarded by British Coal under the pneumoconiosis compensation scheme in the nearest financial years were as follows:

  Year

  Number of lump sum awards

  1980–81

  521

  1986–87

  295

  1993–94

  263

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the average level of payment made under the coal industry pneumoconiosis compensation scheme in(a) 1980, (b) 1986 and (c)

  Mr. Page
  Average levels of lump sum payments awarded and loss of earnings allowances paid by British Coal under the pneumoconiosis compensation scheme in the nearest financial years were:

  Average lump sum payments£

  Average loss of earnings allowances £

  1980–81

  781

  1,183

  1986–87

  914

  2,330

  1993–94

  1,640

  5,850

  Progression payments—supplement payments to lump sums—were introduced in 1988 and averaged £378 in 1993–94.

  The estimate for average loss of earnings allowances in 1993–94 is provisional.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many payments have been made under the coal industry pneumoconiosis compensation scheme since 1974.

  Mr. Page
  The numbers of lump sum payments awarded by British Coal under the pneumoconiosis compensation scheme since 1974 are as follows:

  Period

  Number of lump sum awards

  1 October 1974 to 2 December 1976

  62,617

  25 March 1979 to 31 December 1994

  13,465

  Figures for the period 3 December 1976 to 24 March 1979 are not readily available.

  Civil Servants
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many civil servants since 4 May 1979 have 288
  left the Export Credits Guarantee Department and have within two years joined companies engaged in contracts with the Ministry of Defence.

  Mr. Needham
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her to the same question on 8 February 1995,Official Report, column 314.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which permanent secretaries have left his Department's employment in the last five years; and which public positions they have been appointed to subsequently.

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 8 March 1995]: Mr. J. R. S. Guinness left the employment of the Department of Energy as permanent secretary during the five years from 1 March 1990. Mr. Guinness was appointed as part-time chairman of British Nuclear Fuels plc. No permanent secretary left the Department of Trade and Industry in the same period.

  Regional Selective Assistance Grants
  Mr. Hutton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were the total values of all regional selective assistance grants paid to businesses in the Barrow and Furness parliamentary constituency in 1993–94 and 1994–95; and what was the average grant paid in each year.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The regional selective assistance grants which were made and accepted in the Barrow and Furness parliamentary constituency totalled £2,222,800 in 1993–94 and £135,500 in 1994–95. These projects are at a variety of stages of payment, although the average value of each offer made was £202,000 in 1993–94—this figure is influenced by one particularly large grant—and £22,600 in 1994–95.

  Career Breaks
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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. Heseltine
  My Department does not hold details on the number of staff who applied for career breaks over the past five years. However, between 1990 and 1994 the Department granted career breaks to 13 men and 263 women. None of these staff has had his or her employment terminated.

  American Deregulation Initiative
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what reports have been sent by the embassy in Washington concerning the US Administration's deregulation initiative and the Bill introduced by the Republican party; and when these reports were despatched.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The British embassy in Washington has sent two reports, dispatched on 9 and 18 January 1995, concerning the "Congressional Republicans' Contract with America". The embassy brought to our attention two of the 10 proposed pieces of legislation, which collectively make up the contract, that may have deregulatory or competitiveness implications. These are the Job Creation and Enhancement Act and the Common Sense Legal Reforms Act.

  Deregulation (Reporting)
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what instructions have been sent to overseas posts on the reporting of developments relevant to the Government's deregulation policies.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  As part of the Government's strong commitment to raising the profile of deregulation at the Community level, overseas posts were updated in February on deregulatory developments. Posts were requested to report on member states' current deregulation initiatives.

  Libyan Sanctions
  Mr. Stewart
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has had from Babcocks of Renfrew on the issue of Libyan sanctions and the export of boilers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 6 March 1995]: None.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Sickness Absenteeism
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what measures he is taking to combat sickness absenteeism in(a) the Public Trust Office, (b) the Public Record Office, (c) HM Land Registry and (d) his Department.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The question partly concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executives of the three agencies concerned are best placed to provide an answer. I have accordingly asked each of them to reply direct.

  Absenteeism in my Department is taken seriously by managers at all levels in the organisation. All staff are issued with a handbook which explains the Department's policy on sick absence and details what will happen if poor attendance prevents an individual from giving regular and reliable service. Managers are required to tackle sick absence constructively and promptly and this includes conducting a "return to work" interview with staff after any period of sick absence. Levels of sick absence are monitored both locally and centrally and initiatives designed to tackle areas where sick absence is highest have been introduced. In particular, my Department is currently conducting research into the incidence and causes of stress in the Department and the linked problem of stress-related sick absence.

  Letter from Julia C. Lomas to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 9 March 1995:
  The Parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to you as part of the Lord Chancellor's Department's response to your parliamentary question, listed on 28 February 1995, regarding measures being taken to combat sickness absenteeism.The Department's central guidance is available to all Public Trust Office staff. On return from sick leave, all staff are interviewed by their managers. Managers are responsible for monitoring sick absence levels, and for taking action if these are unacceptable.I am in the process of issuing new written guidance to managers, and a comprehensive refresher training programme is to be run shortly to support this.290
  Letter from John Manthorpe to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 9 March 1995:
  I have been asked by the Parliamentary Secretary for the Lord Chancellor's Department to reply to your recent question concerning the measures being taken by HM Registry to combat sickness absenteeism. I can provide the following information.

  1. Periodic health screening is carried out to assist in identifying potential health problems and providing information on healthy living.

  2. Appropriately trained line managers at all levels are involved in managing attendance. Local Personal Managers oversee the operation and effectiveness of procedures.

  3. There is close liaison with the Occupational Health Service over cases of concern and the Registry's own Welfare Service play an active supportive part in the well being of staff.

  4. The Registry has developed a customised Personnel Information System which provides detailed information on sickness absence and its causes. This information is used to inform line managers and to further develop the Agency's sickness absence policy.

  5. All staff in the Land Registry have a personal copy of the Agency's policy on staff attendance and this is publicised on a regular basis.

  I do hope that this answers the point raised with the Parliamentary Secretary but please contact me if I can be any further assistance.
  Letter from Sarah Tyacke to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 8 March 1995:
  I have been asked by the Lord Chancellor's Parliamentary Secretary to reply to your question about measures being taken to combat sickness absenteeism in the Public Record Office.
  In October 1993 the Public Record Office put in place a plan of action to combat sickness absenteeism. This included:
  drafting a revised sick absence policy which has now been circulated to all staff;
  Personnel Management Department providing managers with monthly reports about staff whose sick absence is a cause for concern, agreeing what action should be taken and ensuring that subsequent attendance is monitored regularly and;
  Statistical data on sick absence is now compiled and analysed by Personnel Management Department and this information is circulated to managers on a regular basis. This enables managers to identify and deal with problems at an early stage.

  Specific action which has been taken since February 1994 is as follows:
  64 staff have been asked to discuss sick absence with their manager and agree a plan of action to improve it. Their attendance is then monitored at least quarterly and further action taken if appropriate. Personnel Management Department work closely with managers throughout this process;
  17 referrals have been made to the Occupational Health Service (OHS);
  8 medical retirements have been requested (6 already actioned);
  4 verbal warnings have been given;
  1 written warning has been given; and
  3 staff have been dismissed.

  International Information Super-highway
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what plans he has to ask the Law Commission to investigate the impact on British law of the international information super-highway;

  (2) what efforts his Department is making to liaise with (a) the Governments of the other member states of the European Union, (b) the institutions of the European Union and (c) the American Government with regard to possible law reform as a result of the impact of the international information super-highway;
  291
  (3) what plans he has to increase the number of his officials working on the impact on British law of the international information super-highway;

  (4) how many of his officials, at which grades and in what departmental groups, are engaged in research into the impact on British law of the international information super-highway;

  (5) what research his Department is doing into the impact on British law that the international information super-highway is currently having and is likely to have in the future; and what plans he has to publish this research;

  (6) what plans he has to introduce legislation to make changes to British law in the light of the impact on it of the international information super-highway.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I currently have no plans to ask the Law Commission to investigate the impact on British law of the international information super-highway. However, the Law Commission's business law team is taking part in examination, being conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry, as to whether formal requirements in English law would inhibit the use and effectiveness of electronic data interchange in its commercial application.

  At present, my Department is not engaged in any liaison with the Governments of the other member states of the European Union, the institutions of the European Union or the American Government on the possibility of law reform as a result of the impact of the international information super-highway. No officials in my Department are currently involved in research into this issue. I have no immediate plans to change this situation, nor to introduce legislation to make changes to British law. However, any issues raised by the existence of the international information super-highway are being assessed, and discussed with other interested Departments, as the need arises.

  Defamation
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to reverse the burden of proof in cases of innocent dissemination in defamation cases and when he plans to publish a Bill on this subject.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  A Bill putting the defence of innocent dissemination of a statutory footing, and making the defence available to a wider category of defendants, is in an advanced state of preparation and a draft will be published very shortly. It is not proposed that the burden of proof should be reversed.

  Judiciary (Performance Appraisal)
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. Wardell) of 1 March,Official Report, column 572, if he intends to introduce performance appraisal for the judiciary.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Royal Commission on criminal justice recommended the creation of a formal system of performance appraisal for the judiciary. That recommendation remains under active consideration by the Lord Chancellor, who will respond in due course.

  Gerry Adams
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the case of Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein and the European Court of Justice; what United Kingdom public expenditure this has entailed to date; what estimate he has made of the potential future expenditure from public funds; and in what circumstances and under whose authority public funds are allocated in respect of this case.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Legal aid has been granted to Mr. Adams in support of his application for a judicial review of the Home Secretary's decision excluding him from entering Great Britain under the prevention of terrorism Act. The matter has now been referred by the High Court to the European Court of Justice for an interpretation of the relevant European Union law. Where a reference is made by the High Court to the European Court of Justice, legal aid automatically covers work done for the European Court of Justice element of the case.

  To date, a total of £9,234 has been paid on account from the legal aid fund. No estimate has been made of the final cost to legal aid, nor do I consider it appropriate to speculate as to what the final cost might be.

  In dealing with his application for legal aid, Mr. Adams was assessed on the same means and merits criteria as any other applicant for legal aid, in accordance with the appropriate regulations.

  Immigration
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the current waiting time for appeals to be hear against refusal of settlement visa applications from spouses and fiancees in India and Pakistan.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Statistics are not kept by the country of origin, but where parties have indicated readiness for the appeal to be heard, cases are now being listed for hearing by the immigration appellate authorities at the hearing centres as follows:

  Centre

  1995

  Glasgow

  March

  Birmingham

  April

  Leeds

  April

  Manchester

  April

  Hatton Cross, London

  June

  Thanet House, London

  November

  In view of the current lengthy waiting times in the south-east, the chief adjudicator has indicated that when notices of hearing are sent from London, the immigration appelate authorities will offer the parties the opportunity of an earlier date at one of the regional centres, if the parties are willing to travel to that centre.

  Wills
  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary. Lord Chancellor's Department what safeguards are available to protect a bereaved person who does not wish the deceased person's will published for security or other reasons; and what is the status of the Data Protection Act 1984 in this respect.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Under section 124 of the Supreme Court Act 1981, a will is a public document.
  293
  However, anyone may apply to a district probate registrar to prevent inspection of a will. The registrar may grant the application if, in his opinion, inspection would be undesirable or otherwise inappropriate. A record of every will administered by the probate registry is kept on a computer system; the general public do not have access to this computer system and the system is fully registered under the Data Protection Act 1984.

  Mr. Bryce Taylor
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 1 March,Official Report, column 573, who is now paying Mr. Bryce Taylor's costs.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Since there are no cost implications for the legal aid fund, the question of costs is entirely a matter for the parties concerned.

  Assault Compensation
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received urging, and what plans he has to ensure, that when magistrates courts award sums in compensation to be paid to victims of assault by their assailants that those amounts are paid by the court and received from the assailant by them.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Representations to this effect are received from time to time. However, if compensation were paid to compensatees directly from court funds, this would create a free loan for offenders at taxpayers' expense. If offenders defaulted, it would result in a new burden on the public purse. The proposal would also remove the element of restitution from the court's sentence. We believe that it is important for offenders to be required to repay their victims.

  Magistrates
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) on 24 February,Official Report, column 346, if he will list the current political balance of magistrates for each (a) metropolitan borough, (b) London borough and (c) non-metropolitan district in England.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  This information can be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what arrangements exist to ensure the Benefits Agency treats in a confidential manner the financial information required of claimants appealing against reduced invalidity benefit on grounds of hardship; and what arrangements exist for protecting confidentiality in respect of the agency's use of a private firm to open claimants' letters containing such information.
  294
  Mr. Roger Evans
  The administration of the Benefits Agency is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated 8 March 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question regarding the confidentiality aspect of claims to Invalidity Benefit and the opening of Benefits Agency post by private sector companies.
  All information received within Benefits Agency offices concerning the financial and other circumstances of customers is held in strict confidence. All Agency staff have an overall duty to protect any information that is held and to ensure it is not disclosed to anyone without the customer's consent. Any post received in connection with appeals on Invalidity Benefit entitlement will be treated in this manner.
  As you may know, the Government's Competing for Quality initiative subjects public functions to competition from the private sector. As part of this initiative the Benefits Agency has market tested its accommodation and office services, which includes post opening operations. In some areas this has resulted in the Agency's post being opened by private sector contractors.
  The contract specifications drawn up contain all the necessary safeguards to ensure confidentiality of information is maintained to the high standards required by the Civil Service. All staff directly involved in post opening are bound by the same stringent security and confidentiality rules. This includes each member of staff involved in post-opening being required to sign a declaration acknowledging the provisions of section 123 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992, which makes it a criminal offence to disclose personal information provided for Social Security purposes.
  I am sure you will appreciate that these arrangements present many opportunities for enhanced customer service, in terms of the Agency's business as a whole.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 13 February,Official Report, column 536, how many of the invalidity benefit recipients are (a) males and (b) females; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hague
  The information is in the table.

  Number of invalidity benefit recipients in Great Britain and Wales, at a particular time, by sex

  Great Britain

  Wales

  Year

  Males

  Females

  Males

  Females

  1979

  504,000

  106,000

  58,000

  11,000

  1983

  593,000

  144,000

  70,000

  17,000

  1987

  754,000

  213,000

  93,000

  29,000

  1993

  1,156,000

  424,000

  125,000

  47,000

  Notes:

  1. The number of recipients figure is at June for 1979, and April for 1983, 1987 and 1993.

  2. The Welsh 1979 figure may contain a small number of claimants not in receipt of benefit.

  3. Figures based on a 1 per cent. sample of claimants, rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Mortgage Interest
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was(a) the total cost of paying income support for mortgage interest in Scotland in each year since 1982–93 and (b) the total number of households in Scotland receiving income support for mortgage interest in each of these years.
  295
  Mr. Roger Evans
  The available information is set out in the table.

  Year

  Number of households1

  Estimated annual cost2 £ million

  1989

  15,000

  19.3

  1990

  14,000

  24.6

  1991

  18,000

  33.1

  1992

  19,000

  32.4

  1993

  22,000

  32.6

  Notes:

  1 Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  2 Estimated annual expenditure on mortgage interest is calculated as total numbers multiplied by average weekly amount multiplied by 52.

  Source:

  Income support statistics annual inquiries 1989 to 1993.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 1 March,Official Report, column 623, what estimate has been made of the housing benefit payable to the 41,960 asylum seekers receiving income support in February 1994.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Asylum seekers who are liable for housing costs can claim housing benefit in the normal way. They are not, however, separately identified in the statistical information gathered by local authorities. Accordingly, it is not possible to estimate the housing benefit payable to asylum seekers.

  War Pensions
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many of those service personnel who served in Northern Ireland are currently in receipt of a war pension.

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

  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of war widows currently in receipt of pensions qualified for payment after 14 August 1945; and how many have so qualified within the last 12 months.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Some 1,608 war widows pensions were awarded in the year ending 31 December 1994.

  Child Support Agency
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will set out details of the compensation scheme available in the case of the Child Support Agency failing to take appropriate action;

  (2) how many time compensation has been awarded by the Child Support Agency when they failed to take appropriate action.

  Mr. Burt
  The Child Support Agency may consider paying compensation under the terms of the Department of Social Security special payments arrangements. Since the CSA is a relatively new business, we are considering how those arrangements might better cover CSA cases. When these are agreed, we shall be making public the 296
  criteria under which payments for redress may be considered as we do for other agencies of the Department. In the meantime, officials will carefully consider the merits of any requests for compensation and what redress, if any, should be made.

  To the end of January 1995, we have made special payments for financial redress on 34 occasions.

  Sickness Absenteeism
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what measures he is taking to combat sickness absenteeism in(a) the Resettlement Agency, (b) the Benefits Agency, (c) the Contributions Agency, (d) the Child Support Agency, (e) the Information Technology Services Agency and (f) his Department.

  Mr. Hague
  A number of steps are being taken across the Department to manage sickness absence. Specific initiatives include: the internal publication of absence details, awareness presentations for line managers and staff, guidance on the responsibilities of line managers, tightening up the procedures for first reporting absence, return to work interviews, involving personnel branches in appropriate cases and seeking examples of best practice from other organisations. There are also various health promotion initiatives.

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 9 March.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 9 March.

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

  Economic Policy
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what is the Government's policy in respect of promoting political, social and economic expansion;

  (2) what assessment he has made of the extent to which his goals relating to the promotion of social and economic expansion have been achieved.

  The Prime Minister
  The objective of the Government's economic policy is to promote sustained economic growth in order to raise living standards and create jobs. The Government are pursuing prudent fiscal and monetary policies together with supply-side measures which will continue to improve the working of the economy. This is the only way to ensure that economic recovery is sustained with low inflation.

  Toxic Waste
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister who will represent Her Majesty's Government at the special meeting of the members of the Basel convention in Dakar called to clear up the confusion on how to define toxic waste; and what will be their remit.
  297
  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 3 March 1995]:Her Majesty's Government will send an observer.

TRANSPORT

  Planning and Compensation Act 1991
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library the full text of his Department's criteria and guidelines for implementing section 62 of the Planning and Compensation Act 1991(a) pertaining to when section 62 first came into effect and (b) pertaining currently.

  Mr. Watts
  I have placed in the Library the guidelines and application form, which were introduced on 17 January 1992, and also the current versions of these documents, which are under review.

  Sickness Absenteeism
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is taking to combat sickness absenteeism in(a) Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and (b) the Driving Standards Agency.

  Mr. Norris
  For a number of years DVLA has been pursuing a strategy of improving attendance through the introduction of more effective line management controls and initiatives to improve staff health and motivation. Since 1985, the average number of days per employee lost through sickness in DVLA has reduced from 16 days to the civil service average of eight days.

  Sick absence in the Driving Standards Agency is currently well above the civil service average. The agency is setting up a working group to identify the reasons for this and to make proposals. In the meantime, the agency has introduced a pay scheme designed to reward staff who, through good attendance, help the agency to provide a better service to its customers.

  British Rail Property (Crime)
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were victims of crime on British Rail property in each year since 1991.

  Mr. Watts
  The table shows by calendar year, the total number of offences recorded on British Rail property, including ScotRail, by the British Transport police, which is the force responsible for keeping law and order on the railway.

  Date

  Number of offences

  1991

  22,186

  1992

  20,904

  1993

  20,359

  1994

  17,313

  Road Building Projects
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all priority 1, priority 2, agreed start and reserve start road building projects currently planned or under way, giving their cost and completion dates.
  298
  Mr. Watts
  The bulk of this information is contained in "Trunk Roads in England 1994 Review", a copy of which is in the Library. The new starts programme for the remainder of 1994–95 and for 1995–96 was subsequently amended by my right hon. Friend's announcement of 19 December 1994. A copy of the press release issued at the time is also in the Library.

  Completion dates for schemes which are not yet under construction depend on the successful conclusion of statutory procedures and the availability of funds.

  Orange Badge Holders
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements he will make to enable orange badge holders to park on double yellow lines for an indefinite amount of time when the yellow lines occupy space outside an orange badge holder's home.

  Mr. Norris
  I have no plans to extend the time limit for parking on yellow lines. Local authorities have powers under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to designate by order a parking place reserved for a disabled badge holder.

  Trunk Roads Review
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the next trunk roads in England review will be produced.

  Mr. Watts
  There are no plans for a further review of the trunk road programme at present. The results of the last review of the programme are set out in "Trunk Roads in England 1994 Review".

  Overloaded Lorries
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many convictions were secured in respect of the operation of overloaded lorries in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Norris
  This is an operational matter for the Vehicle Inspectorate.

  I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Ron Oliver to Mr. Paul Tyler, dated 9 March 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the number of convictions in respect of the operation of overloaded lorries in the last 10 years.
  I do not have information for the past 10 years and it can only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, the details below show the number of successful prosecutions carried out by the Vehicle Inspectorate and the Local Authority Trading Standards Officers for the last 5 years.

  Year

  Number of prosecutions

  1990–91

  13,396

  1991–92

  13,295

  1992–93

  10,831

  1993–94

  9,151

  1994–951

  8,555

  1year to date.

  If there is any further information you require, please let me know.

  Marchioness
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide references for public and published statements made by him or his predecessors providing reasons for not establishing a formal investigation in to the loss of the Marchioness and lives as provided for in section 56 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1970.

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 1 February 1995]: Reference to statements made by Transport Ministers are as follows:

  Minister

  Date

  Volume/Column

  1. Patrick McLoughlin

  WPQ 19 January 1990

  Vol. 165 Col. 443

  2. Patrick McLoughlin

  WPQ 12 February 1990

  Vol. 167 Col. 103-04

  3. Patrick McLoughlin

  OPQ 12 March 1990

  Vol.169 Col. 5-6

  4. Patrick McLoughlin

  WPQ 29 March 1990

  Vol.170 Col. 240

  5. Steven Norris

  Debate 9 July 1992

  Vol. 211 Cols. 669-700

  6. Robert Key

  Debate 14 December 1993

  Vol. 234 Cols. 984-986 and 988

  7. Steven Norris

  WPQ 15 December 1993

  Vol. 234 Col. 706

  8. Steven Norris

  WPQ 11 Janurary 1994

  Vol. 235 Col. 132

  9. Steven Norris

  WPQ 16 December 1994

  Vol. 251 Col. 876

  Birmingham Northern Relief Road
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on his Department preparation and supervision costs in "Trunk Roads in England 1994 Review" as regards the proposed Birmingham northern relief road;

  (2) how much his Department expects to spend on the compulsory purchase of land and property to make way for the proposed Birmingham northern relief road;

  (3) how much his Department has spent so far on the administration of the public inquiry into the proposed Birmingham northern relief road; and how much he expects to spend by the time the inquiry is finished.

  Mr. Watts
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 1 March 1995,Official Report, columns 597-98.

  Auxiliary Coastguards
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what official vehicles are available to Cemaes Bay auxiliary coastguard;

  (2) on how many occasions in the past 12 months the auxiliary coastguards have been forced to use their own vehicles in response to emergency calls.

  Mr. Norris
  These are operational matters for the Coastguard agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from C. J. Harris to Ms Joan Walley, dated 9 March 1994:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent parliamentary questions as these questions deal with operational matters, for which I have responsibility as Chief Executive.
  300
  PQ 1082/94/95. The Coastal Response Team at Cemaes Bay have occasional use of coastal response vehicles.
  PQ 1072/94/95. None. All Auxiliary Coastguards on enrolment agree that their private vehicles may be required for emergency purposes, should it be necessary.

  M25 Link Roads
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to make a further announcement on the progress of his plans for link roads between junctions 12 and 15 of the M25; and when he intends to hold a public inquiry into the scheme.

  Mr. Watts
  Draft orders for the further improvement of the M25 between junctions 12 and 15 were published in April 1994. The public inquiry into the scheme was delayed to allow objectors more time to prepare their cases. An announcement will be made in due course.

  Road Surfacing Costs
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the cost per kilometre of(a) porous asphalt; and (b) conventional asphalt; and what is the lifespan in each case.

  Mr. Watts
  This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Gordon Prentice. dated 8 March 1995:
  The Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts MP, has asked me to write to you in reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning the cost per kilometre of (a) porous asphalt and (b) conventional asphalt; and what is the life span in each case.
  Costs of constructing roads with porous and conventional asphalt surfacings can very significantly between contracts and are influenced by geographical location, local construction details, complexity of traffic management and associated works such as drainage. There are also differences which reflect market conditions. The costs given in the following table are of surfacing materials only and are broadly indicative bearing in mind the limited use of porous asphalt. There are additional costs for porous asphalt which are not applicable to conventional asphalt. Additional drainage is needed and more frequent salting in cold weather. Further, laying the material is more difficult and requires more extensive traffic management. These additional costs are not included in the figures given and can vary widely depending on site conditions.

  Approximate £ thousand/kilometre

  Porous asphalt

  Conventional asphalt

  Single carriageway

  50-100

  35-45

  2 lane dual carriageway all purpose

  100-200

  70-100

  motorway

  120-220

  80-110

  3 lane dual carriageway all purpose

  140-260

  90-130

  motorway

  130-290

  100-150

  4 lane dual carriageway motorway

  190-330

  120-180

  Porous asphalt surfaces are not suitable for use on all roads, but providing conditions are suitable, a life of over 7 years should be possible and in some cases as long as 12 years. This is in contrast to conventional asphalt surfaces where life can range from 10 to 15 years.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Probation Reform
  15. Mr. Patrick Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for reform of probation; and if he will make a statement.
  Mr. Howard
  I have already published proposals to reform the qualifying training of probation officers. I am today publishing revised national standards for community sentences; and will shortly be publishing a Green Paper setting out proposals for legislation to restructure community punishment. These initiatives are between them intended to ensure that the work of the probation service commands the greatest possible confidence on the part of the courts and the public.

  Cost of Crime
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his Department's latest estimate of the cost of crime to the British economy.

  Mr. Maclean
  It is not feasible to provide a meaningful total figure. Any realistic assessment would have to take full account of the personal and social damage as well as the financial costs.

  Child Refugees
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many unaccompanied child refugees entered the United Kingdom in the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available; and what information he has about the principal ports of entry.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  A total of 357 unaccompanied children applied for asylum on arrival in 1994. Although specific information about principal ports of entry is not available, most of these applications would have been made at Heathrow.

  Crime Prevention
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what priority he attaches to the partnership approach to crime prevention.

  Mr. Maclean
  Partnership is fundamental to the Government's approach to crime prevention. We all need to work together in partnership to ensure that the opportunities for crime are reduced. In September 1994, my right hon. and learned Friend launched the partnership campaign "Partners Against Crime", aimed at encouraging individual members of the public to join with the police as partners in the fight against crime.

  Asylum Policy
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received since 15 February expressing support for his asylum policy.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  I believe that there is widespread support for the Government's objective of determining asylum claims as quickly as possible, in the interests both of genuine refugees and of the removal of those whose claims are unfounded. The measures announced on 15 February,Official Report, columns 693-95, will contribute significantly to that objective.

  Police Liaison, London
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the interrelationship between himself, the Police Authority for London, the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, the advisory committee and the police and community consultative groups in each of the London boroughs.

  Mr. Maclean
  My right hon. and learned Friend is the police authority for the Metropolitan police district. The Metropolitan police committee will advise him in that capacity, taking into account information received from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and his senior colleagues, from the police community consultative groups operating within the Metropolitan police district, and from other sources.

  Criminal Injury Compensation
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he intends to take about the future organisation and level of criminal injury compensation.

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given earlier this afternoon to the same question from the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Ainger).

  Drugs
  Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many charges for possession of the drug crack have been brought in the Metropolitan police area; and what new initiatives he will take to deal with this threat.

  Mr. Maclean
  Information is not held in this form. Records are not kept of the numbers of charges for possession.

  The latest available figures, supplied by the Metropolitan police, show that there were 542 recorded offences of possession of cocaine in the period October 1993 to September 1994. There are no separate records for crack. Seizures are, however, recorded separately: provisional figures show 847 crack seizures in the Metropolitan police area for 1994.

  The Government's strategy for dealing with drugs misuse is currently being reviewed and a White Paper will be published in the spring. Vigorous law enforcement will continue and there will also he a new emphasis on drug education and prevention.

  Fire Stations (Closure)
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the number of local fire stations programmed for closure following the reduction in fire authority budgets.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  My right hon. and learned Friend has made no such estimate. Any fire authority wishing to reduce the operational capability of its brigade, including the number of fire stations, must seek his approval under section 19 of the Fire Services Act 1947. His practice is to grant approval only where he is satisfied that the nationally recommended minimum standards of fire cover will be maintained.

  Persistent Juvenile Offenders
  Mr. Mark Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to help the police and courts to deal with the most persistent juvenile offenders.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 contains important new measures which will help the police and the courts to deal more effectively with young people who commit crimes. The secure training order will enable the courts to order the detention of persistent juvenile offenders for periods of between three months and one year, followed by a similar period of supervision.

  Make-a-difference Initiative
  Mr. Brandreth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the progress of the make-a-difference initiative; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  This initiative to promote voluntary activity has made excellent progress: grants have been made to 27 local partnerships; Government Departments have prepared action plans for involving volunteers; and last week we launched a national telephone helpline to make it easier for people to find volunteering opportunities in their area. The make-a-difference team, with members from business, voluntary and public sectors, is aiming to publish a strategy on the future of volunteering in June.

  Road Scheme Protests
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional financial provision he plans to make for police forces in 1995 to cover the cost of protecting road schemes against protesters.

  Mr. Maclean
  The policing of demonstrations at road scheme sites falls within the normal law enforcement duties of the police. The costs are provided for in the same way as the costs of any other forms of policing. Police authorities will still be able to apply for special payments of grant where they face really large and exceptional demands which they could not have foreseen.

  Police Funding
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what percentage police funding has risen since 1979 in real terms.

  Mr. Maclean
  Estimated expenditure on the police service in England and Wales has increased by 92 per cent. in real terms since 1978–79.

  Sickness Absenteeism
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to combat sickness absenteeism in(a) the UK Passport Agency, (b) the Prison Service and (c) the Home Office.

  Mr. Howard
  The Home Office has procedures in place to record and monitor absence through sickness. Steps have recently been taken to reinforce line managers' responsibilities in this area. Where levels of absence through sickness give cause for concern specialist medical advice may be sought. There is also an occupational 304
  health care programme for staff and access to the welfare service.

  The UK Passport Agency has a policy on health care and absence caused by sickness which aims, where possible, to prevent absence through sickness and thereby to increase efficiency and promote the well-being of staff. This is achieved by monitoring of absence through sickness by line managers, ensuring that staff have access to counselling, an on-going health care programme, seminars/awareness training for line managers and the issuing of guidance/information to all staff.

  The control of absence through sickness in the Prison Service is the responsibility of local managers, and following a report by an independent consultant, comprehensive guidance was issued to them in 1992. In addition, the service is seeking ways to enable quicker decisions to be taken on medical retirement, where that is appropriate; and various occupational health initiatives have been taken to encourage healthy practices, such as life style screening and health education seminars.

  In all areas of the Home Office, absence through sickness may lead to retirement on medical grounds or action being taken under the inefficiency procedures.

  Police (Complaints)
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each year since 1989 the number of complaints against the police completed in England and Wales in which racially discriminatory behaviour was alleged; how many of those were substantiated and how many were unsubstantiated; how many were informally resolved; of those that were substantiated, how many resulted in a disciplinary charge; and what was the outcome of such a charge.

  Mr. Maclean
  Figures for the number of complaints against the police of racially discriminatory behaviour and their outcome are set out.

  Information is not collected centrally about the categories of offences leading to disciplinary proceedings.

  Complaints of racially discriminatory behaviour (all police forces in England and Wales)

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Substantiated

  4

  5

  7

  3

  5

  Unsubstantiated1

  107

  210

  240

  259

  281

  Informally resolved

  67

  69

  79

  98

  96

  Withdrawn

  113

  125

  100

  101

  68

  Total

  291

  409

  426

  461

  450

  1 Including complaints dealt with by dispensation.

  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for(a) the Metropolitan police and (b) the rest of England and Wales the number of police complaints in each of the last five years for which records are available that were dispensed with (i) in total, (ii) because it was not reasonably practicable to complete a satisfactory investigation, (iii) because they were anonymous, (iv) because they were repetitious, (v) because they were vexatious, oppressive or otherwise an abuse of the procedures for dealing with complaints, (vi) because more than 12 months has elapsed between the

  305
  incident and the making of the complaints or (vii) because the matter had already been informally resolved; and if he will list in each case the number of requests for dispensations that were (1) made and (2) refused.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Police Complaints Authority has kept statistics in relation to individual reasons for dispensations since 1993 only.

  In 1993, in respect of all forces in England and Wales, the figures were as follows:

  Reason for dispensation

  Number

  Incapable of meaningful investigation

  6,717

  Anonymous

  4

  Repetitious

  69

  Vexatious, etc.

  83

  Delayed

  202

  Total

  7,075

  There were also nine dispensations refused in 1993.

  The total numbers of dispensations recorded by the Police Complaints Authority since 1989 which were (a) granted and (b) refused, in respect of all forces in England and Wales, are as follows:

  Year

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Granted

  2,113

  2,991

  4,083

  6,035

  Refused

  28

  42

  37

  20

  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil claims for police misconduct were reported to HM inspectorate of constabulary in each of the last three years for which figures are available in respect of each police force in England and Wales.

  Mr. Maclean
  This information is not collected by HM inspectorate of constabulary.

  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases in each of the last three years for which figures are available complaints against the police were investigated by an officer from another force.

  Mr. Maclean
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of cases of complaints against the police for each of the last three years for which figures area available(a) which were mandatorily referred to the Police Complaints Authority for supervision, (b) which were referred to the authority for it to decide whether or not to supervise the investigation, (c) which the authority decided on their merits to supervise in the public interest and (d) which were referred to the authority for supervision in total.

  Mr. Maclean
  Sections 87 and 88 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and the Police (Complaints) (Mandatory Referrals etc). Regulations 1985 define the type of case which must be referred or may be referred voluntarily to the Police Complaints Authority for possible supervision. The Police Complaints Authority is required by section 89 of the 1984 Act to supervise the investigation of all complaints relating to a death or serious injury. It may also supervise any other complaint or non-complaint case which is voluntarily referred to it 306
  and where it considers it in the public interest to do so. The authority may also require the referral of a complaint so that it may consider supervision.

  The table shows the number of cases, including those originating from a complaint, between 1991 and 1993 (a) which were mandatorily referred to the Police Complaints Authority for supervision; (b) which were voluntarily referred; (c) which were required to be referred by the Police Complaints Authority; (d) the total cases referred; (e) the number which were mandatorily supervised by the Police Complaints Authority; and (f) which were supervised at the authority's discretion.

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Mandatory referrals

  4,212

  4,333

  3,998

  Voluntary referrals

  103

  132

  129

  Referrals required by PCA

  15

  11

  12

  Total referrals

  4,330

  4,476

  4,139

  Mandatory supervision

  421

  420

  625

  Discretionary supervision

  308

  337

  326

  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many police complaints cases completed in each of the last five years for which figures are available complainants made formal representations of dissatisfaction with an investigation or its outcome.

  Mr. Maclean
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Appeals
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each year since 1988 the number of cases referred by him to the Court of Appeal under section 17(1)(a) of the Court of Appeal Act 1968 in respect of conviction; and for each such year what was(a) the number of defendants involved, (b) the number of appeals allowed and (c) the number of appeals dismissed.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The information requested is given in the following table:

  References to the Court of Appeal under section 17(1)(a) of he Criminal Appeal Act 1968 in respect of conviction—1988 to 1994

  Outcome of appeal

  Year

  Cases (defendants)

  Allowed

  Dismissed

  1988

  12 (2)

  —

  1 (1)

  1989

  3 (6)

  3 (6)

  Nil

  1990

  7 (20)

  7 (20)

  Nil

  1991

  10 (12)

  210 (12)

  Nil

  1992

  8 (11)

  5 (8)

  3 (3)

  1993

  38 (9)

  4 (5)

  2 (2)

  1994

  49 (12)

  1 (2)

  Nil

  1 One case later abandoned.

  2 Court ordered a re-trial in one case: defendant later acquitted.

  3 Two cases outstanding.

  4 Eight cases outstanding.

  Royal Prerogative of Mercy
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each year since 1989
  307
  the number of cases in which the royal prerogative of mercy was exercised to grant (a) a free pardon, (b) a remission of imprisonment, (c) remission of youth custody and detention in a young offender's institution, (d) remission of detention and (e) remission of fine on grounds affecting the original conviction, in cases other than those involving road traffic offences.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The numbers of free pardons is given in the following table:

  Exercises of the royal prerogative of mercy to grant a free pardon on grounds affecting the original conviction (excluding cases involving convictions for road traffic offences) 1989 to 1994

  Year

  Free pardons

  1989

  15

  1990

  17

  1991

  14

  1992

  4

  1993

  5

  1994

  3

  The royal prerogative of mercy has not been used in the other categories—which go to a person's sentence—on grounds affecting the original conviction.

  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each year since 1988 the number of cases in which the royal prerogative of mercy was exercised to grant(a) free pardons, including those relating to road traffic offences, (b) pardons granted on grounds affecting the original conviction, (c) pardons granted for other reasons and (d) pardons relating to traffic offences.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The information requested is given in the following table:

  Exercises of the royal prerogative of mercy to grant pardons—1988 to 1994

  Year

  (a) Free pardons (all cases)

  (b) Pardons on grounds affecting original conviction

  (c) Pardons for other reasons (ie excluding(b))

  (d) Pardons relating to traffic offences

  1988

  39

  39

  —

  26

  1989

  50

  50

  —

  35

  1990

  47

  47

  —

  30

  1991

  37

  37

  —

  23

  1992

  19

  19

  —

  15

  1993

  22

  22

  1

  17

  1994

  12

  12

  —

  9

  Miscarriages of Justice (Compensation)
  Mr. Sedgemore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total amount paid in compensation to victims of miscarriages of justice for each year since 1989–90; what was the total amount paid pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act 1988 for each such year; what was the total amount paid under the discretionary scheme for each such year; and in each year in each category what was the number of such payments.
  308
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The total amount of compensation for miscarriages of justice paid since the financial year 1989–90 is £6,244,000, including £565,733 in ex gratia awards:

  £million

  1989–90

  0.285

  1990–91

  0.839

  1991–92

  1.719

  1992–93

  0.532

  1993–94

  1.506

  Part year ending 31 December 1994

  1.363

  These totals include interim payments in cases in which the final amount of the award has yet to be determined. The information is not collated in a way which enables separate totals for ex gratia payments to be distinguished.

  Agreement in principle to pay compensation was given, per calendar year, to the following numbers of individuals:

  1989: 6(1)

  1990: 10(8)

  1991: 27(2)

  1992: 26(1)

  1993: 9(2)

  1994: 19

  Figures in brackets show the number of ex gratia awards included in the totals.

  Extradition
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what request he has received from Singapore requesting the extradition of(a) Mr. Anthony Hawes, (b) Mr. Andrew Frazer, (c) Mr. Simon Jones, (d) Mr. Ian Douglas, (e) Mr. Gordon Bowser, (f) Mr. Peter Baring, (g) Mr. Andrew Tuckey, (h) Mr. Ron Baker and (i) Mr. Peter Norris; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  No such request has been received.

  Firearms
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has concerning the number of non-functioning deactivated firearms which are currently held in the United Kingdom; what licences are required for such firearms; on how many occasions in each of the last five years for which figures are available such firearms have been used in the course of the perpetration of crimes; what sentences are provided by law for the use of such firearms; what plans he has to review the law in this area; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  Firearms deactivated in accordance with the provisions set out in section 8 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 fall outside the scope of firearms controls and do not therefore require a firearms certificate. Figures are not available about the number of deactivated firearms of the occasions on which such weapons have been used. The use of a firearm or imitation firearm in the furtherance of crime carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
  309
  In the light of concerns that some deactivated firearms have been illegally restored to working order and subsequently used in crime, the standards to which guns are deactivated have been reviewed and more stringent specifications will be introduced shortly.

  Mr. George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the existing law preventing the sale to the public or easy access by the public to non-lethal weapons, with particular reference to Air Taser and other stun guns.

  Mr. Maclean
  Air Taser and other stun guns are classed as prohibited weapons under section 5(1)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968, as amended. Their possession, acquisition, manufacture, sale or transfer is prohibited without the authority of the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State does not grant authority to individual members of the public to possess such weapons. Possession of a prohibited weapon without authority is an offence for which the maximum penalty is 10 years, imprisonment or an unlimited fine or both. I am satisfied that the existing law in this area is adequate.

  Interception of Communications
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about GCHQ staff at Menwith Hill station intercepting domestic and international telephone calls.

  Mr. Howard
  None.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many warrants he has issued in each year since 1992, to date, under the Interception of Communications Act 1985; what duration of interception each warrant specified; and how many warrants are in force at present.

  Mr. Howard
  I refer the hon. Member to the annexes to the reports of the Interception of Communications Commissioner for 1992 and 1993, Cm 2173 and Cm 2522, copies of which are in the Library. Under section 4 of the Interception of Communications Act 1985, a warrant is issued for a period of two months. It may lapse at the end of that period or it may be cancelled before the two months have elapsed or it may be renewed for a further period. It is not the Government's practice to publish figures for warrants in force at particular times other than in the commissioner's reports.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people seeking asylum in Britain have applied for(a) a writ of habeas corpus and (b) a judicial review of their case while in detention in the last 12 months.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  During the 12 months to 31 January 1995, 221 asylum applicants sought judicial review of their cases. No statistics of asylum applicants seeking a writ of habeas corpus are maintained. Separate statistics are also not maintained of the numbers of asylum applicants seeking judicial review of their cases while in detention.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people seeking asylum in 1993–94 absconded.
  310
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The records do not distinguish between asylum seekers and others who absconded from detention in 1993 and 1994 and this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Information on the number of asylum seekers who failed to comply with the terms on which they were granted temporary admission in 1993 is not available. However, a special exercise relating to 1994 identified 677 people, who had claimed asylum at some stage, as having failed to comply with their terms of temporary admission.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many(a) Sri Lankan and (b) Turkish nationals applied for asylum status in each year since 1991; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) how many asylum seekers were deported in each year since 1991; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) how many (a) Sri Lankan and (b) Turkish asylum seekers were deported in each year since 1991; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) how many people applied for asylum status in each year since 1991; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  In 1994, a total of 32,830 applications for asylum were received in the United Kingdom. Of these, 2,350 were from Sri Lankan nationals and 2,045 from Turkish nationals.

  The available figures for departures relating to those refused asylum or exceptional leave to remain in the country are for those removed or who embarked voluntarily after deportation or illegal entry action had commenced against them. Out of an estimated total of 2,110 departures in 1994, 130 were Turkish nationals and 45 were Sri Lankan nationals.

  Information on applications for asylum for 1993 and earlier years is published in table 2.2 of the Home Office statistical bulletin "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 1993", issue 17/94. Information on removals and voluntary departures is published in table 9.1 of the same publication. Information on removals prior to 1992 is not available. A copy of this publication is available in the Library.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people have(a) applied for and (b) been accepted for asylum in the United Kingdom in the past 12 months;

  (2) how many people applying for asylum in the United Kingdom in 1994–95 were given exceptional leave to remain;

  (3) how many people (a) have sought and (b) were granted asylum in the United kingdom in 1994–95.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  During 1994, 32,830 applications for asylum, excluding dependants, were received in the United Kingdom. Some 20,990 decisions on asylum applications were taken during the year, of which 825 cases were granted asylum and 3,660 were refused asylum but granted exceptional leave to remain.

  The latest month for which data are available is January 1995. During this period, 3,570 applications for asylum were received and 2,450 applications were decided. Of these decisions, 130 cases were granted asylum and 460 cases were refused asylum but granted exceptional leave to remain.

  Settlement Visas
  Mrs. Wise
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many wives have applied from(a) India and (b) Pakistan for settlement visas to join their husbands in the United Kingdom in each of the last three years; and how many have been (i) granted and (ii) refused;

  Applications for entry clearance for settlement in the united Kingdom made by spouses in India and pakistan, 1992–1994

  Number of Persons

  Wives

  Husbands

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1992

  1993

  1994

  India

  Applications received1

  1,840

  1,930

  1,960

  620

  620

  580

  Granted2 3

  1,860

  1,660

  1,710

  570

  480

  450

  Initial refusals

  290

  310

  410

  300

  280

  340

  Pakistan

  Applications received1

  2,940

  3,020

  3,210

  3,090

  2,640

  2,720

  Granted2 3

  2,670

  2,390

  2,290

  2,370

  1,990

  1,720

  Initial refusals

  440

  620

  710

  1,550

  1,900

  1,690

  1 Including applications subsequently withdrawn or lapsed.

  2 Granted initially or on appeal.

  3 Applications granted may include applications received in the previous year.

  Law Enforcement Officers
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if members of the Renseignements Généraux are authorised or need authorisation to work in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Maclean
  Law enforcement officers representing foreign Goverments working in the United Kingdom must observe guidance issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. A copy of the guidance, known as the "Whitehall Guidelines", has been placed in the Library.

  Prisons (Drugs)
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug and related finds by type of drug were made in women's gaols in England and Wales in each year since 1990.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 9 March 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about how many drug and related finds by type of drug were made in women's jails in England and Wales in each year since 1990.
  Information drug finds was not recorded centrally until 25 September 1990.
  The table below lists the drug and related finds in women's jails for the calendar years 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994.

  Items

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Heroin

  5

  4

  10

  36

  Cocaine

  4

  6

  4

  6

  LSD

  0

  0

  5

  2

  Amphetamines

  1

  0

  3

  2

  Barbiturates

  0

  0

  4

  3

  Cannabis

  32

  27

  44

  58

  Cannabis Plant

  4

  1

  4

  11

  Crack

  0

  0

  0

  0

  312
  (2) how many husbands have applied from (a) India and (b) Pakistan for settlement visas to join their wives in each of the last three years; and how many have been (i) granted and (ii) refused.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The information is given in the table.

  Items

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Other

  3

  9

  10

  23

  Authentic syringe

  3

  10

  23

  21

  Improvised syringe

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Authentic needle

  0

  0

  2

  3

  Improvised needle

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Pipe

  1

  0

  1

  0

  Roach

  0

  0

  2

  2

  Total

  53

  57

  112

  167

  It should be noted that increases in the numbers of finds may reflect more effective searching, as a result of the priority being given to the control of drugs, and are not necessarily an indication that there has been a corresponding increase in the presence of drugs.

  North East London Probation Service
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the effect of the November 1993 budget statement on the budget of the North East London robation service;

  (2) what will be the impact of the November 1994 budget statement on the North East London probation service.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Gerrard) on 6 March,Official Report, column 30.

  Non-governmental Agencies
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what non-governmental agencies are funded by the Government to work in crime prevention; and what initiatives they are undertaking.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government provide a contribution to the core costs of Crime Concern, whose main objectives are to establish local crime reduction schemes and to develop new approaches to crime prevention. The
  313
  Government have also contracted Crime Concern, the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders and the Society of Voluntary Associates to manage safer cities projects in 30 towns in England and Wales. The projects in turn provide grants for local crime prevention schemes. In addition, we have made extra funds available in 1994–95 for local partnerships which wish to install closed circuit television schemes in their areas as a crime prevention measure.

  Prisons
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the staffing ratio of(a) privately managed prisons and (b) publicly operated prisons.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 9 March 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the staffing ratio in both privately managed prisons and publicly operated prisons.
  On 31 January 1995, the staff:inmate ratio for privately managed prisons was 1:2.43. The staff figure is based on the number of prisoner custody officers employed, which equate to the three officer grades in publicly operated prisons. The inmate figure is the number held in these prisons at the end of January.
  On 31 January 1995 the staff:inmate ratio for publicly managed prisons was 1:2.0. The staff figure is based on the officer, senior officer and principal officer grades and includes specialist staff. The inmate figure is the total inmate population as at 31 January 1995, excluding those held in police cells and privately managed prisons.
  The ratio for publicly managed prisons is affected by the inclusion of dispersal prisons and other prisons with specialist functions which have a relatively high staff:inmate ratio, as well as accommodation being out of use for refurbishment. The private sector does not include prisons in this category, and is not currently undergoing refurbishment.

  Football Pools and Lotteries
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to guarantee the continued viability of the football pools and society and local lotteries.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 7 March 1995]: The Government have made a number of changes to the law to remove unnecessary restrictions on football pools and lotteries and more changes are on the way.

  A number of measures benefiting football pools were introduced in November 1994, when part IV of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 came into force. The age limit for participation was reduced from 18 to 16; the use of premises for the collection of coupons and stakes were permitted; and roll-over of prize money was permitted in certain circumstances.

  More recently, the Government have invited the broadcasting authorities to revise their advertising codes so as to permit broadcast advertising of the pools. In addition, we will shortly be issuing a consultation paper on gaming machines and betting offices which will include a proposal to allow betting offices to pay winnings on football pools coupons and to handle "spot the ball" coupons. Depending on the outcome of the consultation, the changes will be put into law later this
  314
  year by an order made under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994.

  I am currently considering what scope there is for further deregulatory measures.

  Ashford (Middlesex) Remand Centre
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future of the site of the former Ashford (Middlesex) remand centre.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 7 March 1995]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. David Wilshire, dated 9 March 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the future of the site of the former Ashford (Middlesex) Remand Centre.
  No decisions have yet been taken regarding the future of this site. The Prison Service's estate strategy recognises a need for additional accommodation by the end of the century and sites are still being sought for some of the new prisons announced by the Home Secretary in 1993. Current assessments of future needs indicate that Ashford is not an ideal location for meeting future population pressures. Other sites are being sought but Ashford may be considered if more suitable locations are not available.

  WALES

    Public Appointments
    Mr. Gareth Wardell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the dates on which he intends to publish advertisements inviting applications to fill the vacancies on(a) the Arts Council of Wales, (b) the Sports Council of Wales, (c) the Wales tourist board, (d) the Wales Youth Agency, (e) the Welsh Development Agency, (f) the Glan Hafren NHS trust, (g) the Powys Health Care NHS trust, (h) the Morriston Hospital NHS trust and (i) Swansea NHS trust.

    Mr. Redwood
    I am keen to keep the boards of non-departmental public bodies and health bodies at the minimum number which is consistent with efficient management. Where there are vacancies to be filled, candidates are drawn from a variety of sources. These sources include the Welsh Office register of candidates for public appointment and, in some cases, specific advertisements. Recent health trust chairmanships were advertised.

    Lead Piping
    Mr. Barry Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he is taking to encourage the replacement of lead piping in drinking water supplies; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Gwilym Jones
    Water companies must comply with the requirements relating to lead set in the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989—SI 1989 No. 1147. Among other relevant provisions, the regulations require water companies to replace their part of a lead service pipe when requested to do so in writing by a consumer intending to remove his or her part of the pipe.
    315
    The Government fund the mandatory home renovation grant system available from local authorities and which may be used for lead pipe replacement. Mandatory home renovation grants are available to bring properties up to the statutory fitness standard, which includes the provision of an adequate piped supply of wholesome water: it is for local authorities to determine applications and decide whether an individual property meets this standard. Minor works assistance, which is always discretionary, may be available to those home owners in receipt of an income-related benefit, for small but essential repairs to their houses. Dwr Cymru Welsh Water has a grant scheme to help any of its customers wishing to replace lead plumbing and, when this is done, also undertakes to replace its communication pipe.

    Cadw
    Mr. Dafis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what changes in the priorities and approach of Cadw will be made following the appointment of a new chief executive.

    Mr. Gwilym Jones
    My right hon. Friend's priorities for Cadw will be set out in the Cadw corporate plan.

    European Regional Development Fund
    Mr. Matthew Taylor
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the allocation of European regional development fund to each of the objective 2 and 5(b) regions in Wales for the current programming period.

    Mr. Redwood
    The ERDF allocations for the industrial south Wales and rural Wales programme areas are £111.2 million over 1994 to 1996 and £89.9 million over 1994 to 1999 respectively.

    Public Transport
    Mr. Llwyd
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what initiatives his Department is pursuing to increase the use of public transport in Wales, and if he will make a statement;

    (2) what new initiatives his Department is pursuing to improve public transport in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Gwilym Jones
    The provision of good quality public transport services is a matter for the transport industries. County councils have a duty to supplement services where they identify a need. The Welsh Office assists by means of the bus priority scheme. Privatisation of the railways will provide more opportunities for improvements in that sector.

    Through Ticketing
    Mr. Llwyd
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with colleagues in the Department of Transport to discuss future ticketing arrangements for rail services in Wales and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Gwilym Jones
    The Rail Regulator and Ministers are committed to continuing easy access to through ticketing for passengers. The regulator has recently consulted widely on this subject and is considering the representations he has received.

    Railways
    Mr. Llwyd
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new proposals he has to improve rail communications in Wales, and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Gwilym Jones
    The development of rail communications is a matter for the railway industry. The Government's plan to transfer the railways to the private sector provides the best opportunities for improving rail services in Wales.

    Rail Freight
    Mr. Llwyd
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives his Department is pursuing to increase the use of railways in Wales for the transportation of freight; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Gwilym Jones
    Publicity will soon be given in Wales to the availability of enhanced grants to attract more freight on to the railways. The Welsh Development Agency has also been asked to consider the provision of rail freight connections at industrial estates in Wales.

    Sickness Absenteeism
    Mr. Chidgey
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he is taking to combat sickness absenteeism in(a) Cadw and (b) the Welsh Office.

    Mr. Redwood
    In addition to programmes to promote good health, Cadw and the Welsh Office have well-established procedures applying to all staff and their managers, for reporting and monitoring sickness absence, so that potential problems can be identified and addressed at an early stage. In appropriate cases, the advice of the civil service occupational health service is sought.

    Cable Franchises
    Mr. Barry Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales in what parts of north Wales he expects cabling to take place; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Redwood
    The Independent Television Commission has responsibility under the Broadcasting Act 1990 for administering the local delivery franchising process. The ITC is considering franchises in Wales in response to expressions of interest already received, but would welcome further approaches from companies interested in providing services in any currently unfranchised areas in Wales.

    Vehicle Spot Checks
    Mr. Barry Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales in what location in Wales, he proposed to make roadside spot checks concerning atmospheric pollution caused by motor vehicles and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Gwilym Jones
    Staff from the Department of Transport's Vehicle Inspectorate will be carrying out roadside spot checks of vehicle emissions at various cities and towns nationwide, including Wales, over the coming weeks. There will be no advance warning of specific locations.

    Optical Fibres
    Mr. Barry Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next proposes to visit the optical fibres production centre on Deeside industrial park.

    Mr. Redwood
    I visited Optical Fibres Ltd. on the Deeside industrial park last. October. I have no plans to do so again in the near future.

    Optical Fibres is a world leader in the manufacture of fibre optic cables and is an excellent example of a Wales-based company at the forefront of the multimedia revolution.

    Unemployment
    Mr. Barry Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he is taking to reduce unemployment in Clwyd; and what(a) job creation schemes and (b) training schemes he (i) has initiated in the last five years and (ii) will initiate.

    Mr. Redwood
    Unemployment in Clwyd, as elsewhere in Wales, is falling as the recovery proceeds. In the past five years, the strategic development scheme has been initiated by the Welsh Office while the Welsh Development Agency has participated in a number of regeneration schemes with the local authorities in the area. For 1994–95 and 1995–96, nearly £11 million has been allocated under the strategic development scheme to projects to promote economic development and job creation in Clwyd. The WDA's contribution to the urban and rural regeneration initiatives in which it is involved will amount to around £4 million in 1994–95.

    Over the past five years, the North East Wales training and enterprise council has provide a wide range of services to help unemployed people back to work.

    Significant measures introduced in the last five years include modern engineering apprenticeships and youth credits.

    In 1995–96, modern apprenticeships will be supported in other occupational sectors and a new programme of accelerated modern apprenticeships will be aimed primarily at 18 and 19-year-old college leavers.

    Regional selective assistance continues to make a significant contribution to creating and safeguarding jobs in Clwyd. Over the past five years, over 150 offers have been accepted which are forecast to create or safeguard almost 11,000 jobs.

    Mr. Barry Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how he proposes to tackle long-term unemployment in Alyn and Deeside.

    Mr. Redwood
    Long-term unemployment, like unemployment generally, is falling as the recovery proceeds. A number of specific measures are in place to assist people who have been unemployed for more than a year to get back to work. These include training for work and restart.

    Mr. Barry Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to get people aged 25 years and under into work and out of long-term unemployment.

    Mr. Redwood
    A wide range of support is available to unemployed people under the age of 25. This includes training and practical help in finding work. All 16 and 17-year-olds who are not in full-time education or employment are guaranteed the offer of a suitable youth training place. Recent surveys have shown that 71 per 318
    cent. of young people who completed their training go into jobs or further education and training. Training opportunities for young people are being extended through modern apprenticeships and accelerated apprenticeships. Priority for recruitment under the training for work programme is now given to young people under the age of 25 who have never worked. Finally, the Employment Service offers a range of opportunities to help unemployed people into work including client advice, community action, job interview guarantee, jobclubs and work trials.

    Drugaid
    Mr. Morgan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had concerning the grant aiding of the 24-hour helpline for drug addiction problems run by Drugaid; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Redwood
    In October 1994, Drugaid was informed of the Government's proposal to establish a national HIV/AIDS and drugs telephone advice and information helpline from 1 April 1995, covering England, Scotland and Wales. Drugaid was invited to tender for the contract, and did so as part of a consortium. The contract was awarded to Network Scotland.

    From 1 April, Network Scotland will provide an integrated 24-hour freephone English and Welsh language HIV/AIDS and drug helpline, which will refer users of the service to the appropriate local agencies.

    It would be inappropriate for my Department to continue to support a Welsh helpline which would duplicate work undertaken nationally.

  HEALTH

    Nursing Homes
    Ms Jowell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many elderly people in registered nursing homes have paid the full cost of their care in each year since 1990.

    Mr. Bowis
    This information is not available centrally.

    Private Psychiatric Hospitals
    Mr. Illsley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received regarding the standards of care at private psychiatric hospitals.

    Mr. Alfred Morris
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received regarding the standards of care in private psychiatric hospitals; and if she will make a statement.

    Mr. Bowis
    Arrangements for monitoring the standards of care given to national health service patients in private psychiatric hospitals are agreed between health authorities and NHS trusts and the private hospitals as part of the contracting process. Private psychiatric hospitals are subject to registration and inspection by the local health authority under the Registered Homes Act 1984.

    Electro-convulsive Therapy
    Mr. Illsley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received(a) about and (b) calling for the banning of the use of electro-convulsive therapy on children under the age of 16 years.

    Mr. Bowis
    We have received some such representations. The Royal College of Psychiatrists has advised us that it has updated its guidance on the use of electro-convulsive therapy. This guidance includes a series of recommendations on the use of electro-convulsive therapy in the treatment of young people.

    Pensioners' Nursing Care
    Mr. Jim Cunningham
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pensioners have had to sell their homes to pay for their nursing care in the latest available year; and what percentage of them could have remained in day or respite care.

    Mr. Bowis
    I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Sir A. Bowden) on 14 February,Official Report, column 642.

    Cycling
    Dr. Lynne Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will issue a consultation document on the work of the physical activity task force; and if the consultation process will reflect her recent statements on the health benefits of cycling by targeting cycling as a widely accessible form of exercise.

    Mr. Sackville
    No decisions have yet been taken on whether to issue a consultation document based on the work of "The Health of the Nation" physical activity task force, but I shall continue to endorse the health benefits of cycling.

    Minimal Access Surgery
    Mr. Illsley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received regarding the adequacy of training for doctors using minimal access surgery.

    Mr. Sackville
    We have received a number of letters concerning training issues associated with minimal access surgery. The Department of Health and the Wolfson Foundation have provided funds to establish two national training centres in London and Leeds. The two centres offer a range of training courses in addition to those already well established in the national health service.

    Epilepsy
    Mr. Battle
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of NHS medicines prescribed for people with epilepsy was licensed(a) within the last five years, (b) more than five years ago, (c) more than 10 years and (d) more than 15 years ago.

    Mr. Sackville
    Records from the Medicines Control Agency do not relate specifically to national health service medicines. However, records show that there are currently 215 products licensed for prescription to people with epilepsy.
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    Then number of products licensed for epilepsy in the periods are:

    (a) within the last five years—199l to 1995: 96

    (b) more than five years ago—1985 to 1990: 90

    (c) more than 10 years ago—1979 to 1984: 41

    (d) more than 15 years ago—1973 to 1978: 36

    It is not possible to match this information on licensing with NHS prescriptions.

    Mr. Battle
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of NHS medicine prescribed for people with epilepsy is prescribed by its generic name.

    Mr. Malone
    The percentage of drugs dispensed in the family health services authorities in England in 1993 and prescribed by generic name for the British national formulary section "Antiepileptics", chapter 4.8, was 45.8 per cent.

    Mr. Battle
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the cost to the NHS of providing medicines to people with epilepsy in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

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

    Net ingredient cost of the British National Formulary therapeutic group Antiepileptics (Chapter 4.8), 1989–1993 England

    £ million

    Antiepileptics

    1989

    1990

    1991

    1992

    1993

    Net ingredient cost

    19.0

    21.6

    26.0

    31.0

    36.3

    1. The net ingredient cost refers to the cost of the drug before discounts and does not include any dispensing costs or fees.

    2. The data for 1989 and 1990 are not consistent with data from 1991 onwards. Figures for 1989 and 1990 are based on a sample of 1 in 200 prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors only. Figures from 1991 cover all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists, appliance contractors, dispensing doctors and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered.

    Wirral Hospital Trust
    Mr. Hanson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with the Wirral hospital trust regarding the proposal to introduce generic worker grades, nurse restructuring and ward manager posts; if she approves of such changes; and if she will make a statement.

    Mr. Malone
    National health service trusts are responsible for managing their own affairs, using the resources available to them to provide high-quality cost effective health services. Their freedom to determine the pay and conditions of their own staff is an important part of making services more responsive to local needs.

    Market Testing
    Mr. Gunnell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what bids have been received from members of staff of(a) the North Yorkshire regional health authority, (b) the Northern regional health authority and (c) the Yorkshire regional health authority for a buy-out of specific services being market tested; and with what result.

    Mr. Sackville
    This is a matter for Northern and Yorkshire regional health authority. The hon. Member may wish to contract John Greetham, chairman of the authority, for further details.

    Barnet Health Authority
    Sir John Gorst
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her oral statement of 20 February,Official Report, column 40, regarding further investment in primary care initiatives of £85 million in London, if she will list the amount Barnet health authority will receive, the initiatives that will be funded in Barnet and whether any of these funds will be deployed in the area covered by the Edgware general hospital.

    Mr. Malone
    The additional £85 million for primary care initiatives in 1995–96 is targeted at health districts in the London initiative zone. Barnet is not included in the London initiative zone.

    Filoviruses
    Mr. Hinchliffe
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies have been carried out into human health risks associated with Ebola and Marburg viruses.

    Mr. Sackville
    Some limited studies of transmission and seroprevalence have been undertaken where cases have occurred in Africa. Responses to infection with Ebola, Marburg and other filoviruses have been studied in primates and cross protection studies using other filoviruses in animal models have also been undertaken. Improved diagnostic tests are currently under development.

    Mr. Hinchliffe
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what contingency plans are available in the event of an outbreak of Ebola or Marburg viruses in the United Kingdom;

    (2) what facilities are available to quarantine persons potentially infected with Ebola and Marburg viruses.

    Mr. Sackville
    There are no special contingency plans to deal with an outbreak of Ebola or Marburg viruses. These viruses have shown very limited potential for spread outside endemic areas. There are powers available to local authorities in the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 over people, premises and property to control the spread of communicable disease. We do continue to take a cautious approach and recommend strict precautions for personnel dealing with definite or suspected cases of viral haemorrhagic fever to prevent any possibility of spread. The Department of Health funds high security infectious disease units for the treatment of patients with viral haemorrhagic fever, although no case has been seen in the United Kingdom for about 10 years. These viruses appear to have a limited capacity for spread within the human population and the need for a vaccine for use in the UK has not been established.

    Mr. Hinchliffe
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions have taken place with German and American health agencies relating to outbreaks of filovirus infection in these countries.

    Mr. Sackville
    There have been no recent discussions with any overseas Governments on filovirus infections. The outbreak in Germany occurred in 1967 and the outbreak in the United States of America occurred in 1989.

    Local Authority Homes
    Ms Jowell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residential places for the elderly were available in local authority homes in England in each year since 1990.
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    Mr. Bowis
    The information is shown in the table.

    Number of places in local authority homes primarily for elderly people, England

    As at 31 March

    Number of residential places

    1990

    103,600

    1991

    96,100

    1992

    85,000

    1993

    75,400

    1994

    67,200

    The decrease in number of local authority homes in part reflects the transfer by local authorities of the management and ownership of local authority homes to the independent sector.

    London Ambulance Service
    Mr. Spearing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she has approved the conclusions of the study commissioned by the London ambulance service from Messrs. ORH, health consultants, concerning the resources received by that service in order to reach or maintain the patients charter standards and for ambulance response times.

    Mr. Sackville
    The report commissioned from ORH health consultants is a matter for the London ambulance service and the South Thames regional health authority.

    Mr. Spearing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to paragraph 7.2 of the evidence presented by her Department to the Health Committee on 2 March, in respect of the London ambulance service, what operational advantage she expects to arrive from transfers of the funding of that service from the regional health authority to district health authorities in their areas; and if she will give the number of districts so concerned.

    Mr. Sackville
    The delegation of funding for contracts for accident and emergency services with the London ambulance service from regional to district health authority level will ensure that the authorities concerned are fully involved in the process of specifying, negotiating and agreeing contracts with the London ambulance service and monitoring performance against those contracts. The 16 authorities will be represented for contracting purposes by a consortium of four lead purchasers. The consequent reduction in regional administrative costs will help to release funds for investment in direct patient care.

    Mr. Spearing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action was taken in her Department(a) by Ministers, (b) by the ambulance adviser to the Department of Health and (c) by the ambulance policy adviser group subsequent to the receipt of the petition of the House presented on 7 December 1990 concerning the continuing problems of the London ambulance service.

    Mr. Sackville
    At the time the South West Thames regional health authority was responsible for running the London ambulance service. The South Thames regional health authority is now responsible for the LAS and it, not my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and her Department, has day-to-day responsibility for the management of the LAS.
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    We have provided a real terms increase of funding for the LAS each year. In addition, this year we have provided an extra £14.8 million to enable it to purchase an extra 180 ambulances and recruit 240 extra front-line staff. The Wells report identified a number of short, medium and long-term objectives for the LAS which it needs to achieve in order to provide the service our capital city needs.

    Mr. Spearing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will obtain and publish the periods and relevant dates when the activation time for emergency ambulances dispatched from the headquarters of the London ambulance service exceeded(a) 10, (b) 15, (c) 20, (d) 30 minutes and (e) each further multiple of 10 minutes.

    Mr. Sackville
    I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Mr. Chidgey) on 25 January Official Report, columns 251-52.

    Mr. Spearing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the system of computer-aided dispatch placed in service by the London ambulance service on 26 October 1992 was appraised or approved by her ambulance policy advisory group or ambulance adviser.

    Mr. Sackville
    No. It is not for the Department's ambulance policy advisory group or ambulance adviser to intervene in individual ambulance services' operational decision-making processes.

    Mr. Spearing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action was taken by her Department during 1991–92 consequent on the gradual deterioration in service of the London ambulance service quoted in her evidence on the Health Committee on 2 March.

    Mr. Sackville
    During 1991–92 the Department monitored the performance of the London ambulance service through reports from, and meetings with, the then South West Thames regional health authority, which was responsible for the direct management of the LAS.

    Mr. Spearing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what ministerial statements concerning the London ambulance service have been made since 1990 which have drawn on information or advice received from(a) her ambulance adviser and (b) the ambulance policy advisory group.

    Mr. Sackville
    All ministerial statements concerning ambulance services draw directly or indirectly on advice received from the ambulance adviser or the ambulance policy advisory group.

    Alzheimer's Disease
    Mr. Barry Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates she has made of the number of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease aged(a) 65 years and over or (b) under 65 years in (i) England and (ii) Wales; and if she will make a statement.

    Mr. Bowis
    I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 20 December 1994,Official Report, column 1148.

    Ambulance Services Departmental Adviser
    Mr. Spearing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will name the person holding the post of departmental adviser on ambulance services as the member of her ambulance policy group mentioned in the written evidence presented to the Health Committee on 2 March who have served in these capacities since 1990.
    324
    Mr. Sackville
    The post of ambulance adviser to the Department of Health has been filled as follows:

    1984–1991: Mr. Peter Hunt

    1991–1994: Mr. Michael Willis

    1994–: Mr. Gron Roberts

    The ambulance policy advisory group met for the first time in January 1992.

    Personal Social Services
    Mr. Hinchliffe
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance has been given to certain directors of social services regarding the implications of local government reorganisation for personal social services; and if she will make a statement.

    Mr. Bowis
    None.

    The social services inspectorate has been or will be in contact with specific authorities once the individual structural orders have been made. The SSI will be able to offer appropriate advice to those authorities on the implications of local government changes for personal social services. We expect to issue general guidance to all authorities later this year.

    NHS trusts
    Mr. Redmond
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many non-executive directors of NHS trusts have been paid in excess of £3,000 for two attendances.

    Mr. Malone
    This information is not available centrally.

    Abortions
    Mrs. Ann Winterton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has concerning the numbers of(a) deaths, (b) serious medical complications arising following (i) legal abortions and (ii) illegal abortions performed upon women from (1) England and Wales, (2) Scotland and (3) Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

    Mr. Sackville
    The information requested for legal abortions is given in the tables. Data for 1993 are not yet available for Great Britain. Information for illegal abortions is not available.

    Table 1: Number of deaths following legal abortinons performed in Great Britain to residents of United Kingdom from 1984 to 1992

    Country of residence

    England and Wales

    Scotland

    Northern Ireland

    1984

    2

    0

    0

    1985

    1

    0

    0

    1986

    0

    0

    0

    1987

    1

    0

    0

    1988

    1

    0

    0

    1989

    1

    0

    0

    1990

    1

    0

    0

    1991

    0

    0

    0

    1992

    1

    0

    0

    325

    Table 2: Number of complications1 following legal abortions performed in Great Britain2 to residents of United Kingdom 1984–1992

    Country of residence

    England and Wales

    Scotland

    Northern Ireland

    1984

    893

    96

    1

    1985

    875

    117

    0

    1986

    796

    108

    0

    1987

    897

    98

    2

    1988

    735

    111

    2

    1989

    621

    82

    0

    1990

    658

    103

    2

    1991

    641

    78

    2

    1992

    695

    63

    3

    1 These figures represent the number of complications mentioned rather than the number of operations. It is not possible to distinguish the seriousness of the complications.

    2 Information on abortions performed in Scotland is based on hospital in-patient discharges. Data are given only for residents of Scotland as it is not possible to separate the remaining data by individual country of residence.

  AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

    Bananas
    Sir Teddy Taylor
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is his assessment of the proportion of the cost benefit of the EU banana policy which accrues to banana producers; and if he will identify where the rest of the benefit goes;

    (2) what estimate he has made of the additional costs of banana purchases to United Kingdom consumers in consequence of the EU banana policy; and what estimate he has made of the impact on the consumer prices in other EC nations;

    (3) when he received the World bank report on the operation of the EU banana policy; and if he will make a statement outlining his views of its conclusions and also the power available to the United Kingdom Government to take any initiative on efficiency of use Community funds and the prices charged to the general public.

    Mr. Jack
    [pursuant to his reply, 26 January 1995, c. 361.]: I am now able to provide the following assessment of the recent report published under World bank auspices under the title "EU Bananarama III". This is the work of an economist now based in Australia who formerly worked for the World bank. It does not necessarily reflect the bank's views.

    The findings in the report are based on economic modelling, not on an analysis of market data since the EU regime was introduced. The assumptions underlying the model clearly have a marked influence on the results found. In our view, they do not fully reflect economic and political realities, in particular the obligations which the EU has undertaken under the Lomé convention on maintaining access for African, Caribbean and Pacific bananas to the EU market.

    The consumer cost of the regime is obviously partly offset by the taxpayer benefit in the form of revenues from the customs tariff. The remainder of the benefits of the EU regime go to traders holding licences to import dollar bananas and, now the framework agreement with
    326
    Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Venezuela is in force, to producers in those countries.

    Although the assumptions on which the calculations are based are not entirely clear, I am satisfied that the estimated consumer costs of the regime are overstated while the benefits to the ACP are understated, especially in the short term. As to consumer costs, the calculation appears to be based on a comparison with consumer costs in markets closer to the main sources of supply where retailing costs are lower. In addition, the estimate of ACP producer benefits assumes that, in the absence of the trading advantages offered by the EU regime, ACP countries would either continue to export the same volume of bananas as before, albeit at lower prices, or would benefit from their resources being switched out of banana production into more productive uses. In the case of the Windward Islands, whose economies are particularly dependent on bananas, viable alternative export crops offering comparable export opportunities and employment potential have not so far been identified, despite the effort which has gone into agricultural diversification in recent years. Were access for bananas to the EU market to be cut back, there would he immediate social and economic dislocation in the Caribbean and increased social costs.

    Since the EU banana regime came into force in July 1993, retail prices in the United Kingdom have fallen. Indeed, in 1994, they were at their lowest level for nearly a decade. French consumers also now pay less for their bananas. In Germany, the only other major member state market on which we have full price information, consumers pay significantly more. This results in part from the application of the common customs tariff. Prior to July 1993, Germany benefited from a special derogation from EU rules enabling it to import bananas free of all duties. This could clearly not be continued once the single market regime was in place.

    The economic prescription put forward in "Bananarama III" of free trade in bananas imported into the EU with aid for disadvantaged ACP producers would result in savings for EU consumers, particularly in the short term, but extra costs to the EU taxpayer.

    While recognising the need for ACP producers to continue to improve their competitiveness through restructuring and some diversification, the Government remain confident that the EU bananas regime successfully reconciles the requirements of the single market and the need for adequate supplies of good-quality bananas to our consumers with our long-standing commitments to the ACP producers to promote access to the EU market.

    Bovine Offals
    Mr. Campbell-Savours
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what dates the new rules for requiring separate vehicles for the carrying of specified bovine offals were debated by Parliament and introduced by his Department.

    Mrs. Browning
    A statutory instrument will be laid shortly introducing a requirement for a specific dye to be used to identify specified bovine offals. The Government are still considering other proposals concerning the collection and disposal of specified bovine offals.

    Nitrate Vulnerable Zones
    Mr. Hanson
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to publish the results of the consultation on his proposals on nitrate vulnerable zones.

    Mr. Jack
    There have been over 500 responses to the consultation document on the designation of nitrate vulnerable zones in England and Wales. These have raised many issues requiring detailed technical assessment. The Government hope to be able to publish their response to the consultation, including the proposed amendments to boundaries, in about a month's time.

    Permanent Secretaries
    Mr. Milburn
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which permanent secretaries have left his Department's employment in the last five years; and

    £ million

    Year

    1985

    1986

    1987

    1988

    1989

    1990

    1991

    1992

    1993

    Percentage change 1985–1993

    Imports

    9,482

    10,070

    10,276

    10,602

    11,420

    12,298

    12,262

    13,406

    14,105

    +49

    Exports

    4,430

    5,038

    5,166

    4,909

    5,886

    6,352

    6,827

    7,521

    8,215

    +85

    Crude trade gap1

    5,052

    5,031

    5,110

    5,693

    5,534

    5,936

    5,435

    5,886

    5,890

    +17

    Note:

    1Because of differences in valuation principles, the crude trade gap overstates the contribution of food, feed and drink to the deficit on visible trade in the balance of payment statistics by about 15 per cent.

    Chicken Feed
    Mr. Peter Bottomley
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether chickens may be fed(a) meat, (b) kitchen scraps or (c) worms.

    Mrs. Browning
    Chickens may be fed meat or kitchen scraps provided they are processed in accordance with the requirements of the Diseases of Animals (Waste Food) Order 1973, as amended. There are no restrictions on the feeding of worms to chickens.

    Salmonella in Poultry (Danish Controls)
    Mr. Steen
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports have been provided by the British embassy in Copenhagen on the Danish regime for monitoring and controlling salmonella in poultry, so as to enable him to make comparisons with the United Kingdom's regime.

    Mrs. Browning
    The embassy in Copenhagen has provided the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with details of the measures taken by Denmark to monitor and control salmonella in poultry. The UK has also been supplied with information on Danish controls in the EU Standing Veterinary Committee.

    Sheep Quota
    Mr. Hendry
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications were received, by each region, for sheep quota from category 3(c) of the 1993 national reserve; and how many were assessed as eligible for each region.

    Mr. Jack
    The table sets out the information requested for each of the Ministry's administrative regions:
    328
    which public positions they have been appointed to subsequently.

    Mr. Jack
    [holding answer 8 March 1995]: The previous permanent secretary retired in February 1993. He has subsequently been appointed chairman of the Residuary Milk Marketing Board.

    Food Balance of Trade
    Mr. Morley
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the balance of trade in food in each year since 1985.

    Mr. Jack
    [holding answer 6 March 1995]: Imports and exports of food, feed and drink as recorded in the overseas trade statistics in each year since 1985 are shown in the table below. There has been a much bigger increase in exports than in imports since 1985. This has served to limit the increase in the difference between them—the crude trade gap—which has fallen by 22 per cent. in real terms.

    Category (c)applications received

    Assessed as eligible

    Anglia

    142

    0

    East Midlands

    205

    7

    North East

    243

    50

    Northern

    650

    161

    North Mercia

    136

    30

    South East

    241

    0

    South Mercia

    224

    7

    South West

    507

    64

    Wessex

    212

    15

    Total

    2,560

    334

    Common Agricultural Policy
    Mr. David Nicholson
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the cost of the common agricultural policy to UK taxpayers and consumers.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    On the basis of OECD analysis of the total cost of agricultural support within the EU, I estimate that the cost of the common agricultural policy to UK taxpayers and consumers is about £4 per person per week, if world prices are judged to be the same in the absence of the CAP. In practice, removal of agricultural support would reduce agricultural production and raise world prices. In this respect, that figure is therefore likely to overstate the true cost of the CAP.

    I have placed in the Library of the House a note setting out the calculations underlying this estimate.

    Lairaging, Coventry Airport
    Dr. Lynne Jones
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what lairaging and associated facilities there are at Coventry airport for calves awaiting transport when aircraft are delayed due to(a) bad weather, (b) aircraft failure and (e) other factors;

    (2) what is the capacity of the lairage at Coventry airport; how far distant is it; how many alternative holding premises there are; and what measures are being taken to prevent the spread of infection in very young calves during these holding operations.

    Mrs. Browning
    There are no designated lairage facilities at or near Coventry airport, although in an emergency officials would require the unloading of calves into one of the hangers at the airport. Currently, the contingency plan of the exporters concerned, in the event of delays to flight plans, is to take the calves back to the premises of origin. Officials will use their powers where necessary to ensure that calves do not go for longer than 15 hours from the start of their journey without being fed and rested.

    Dangerous Wild Animals
    Mr. Galbraith
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to include American mink, Arctic fox and Racoon dog in the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976; and if he will make a statement.

    Mrs. Browning
    The Farm Animal Welfare Council recently recommended that consideration should be given to the inclusion of these animals in the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976. Interested organisations have been consulted on this recommendation and their views will be taken into account before any conclusions are reached as to how this matter should be taken forward.

    Sickness Absenteeism
    Mr. Chidgey
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he is taking to combat sickness absenteeism in(a) the Intervention Board, (b) the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and (c) his Department.

    Mr. Waldegrave
    I am pleased to say that the rate of sickness absence in my Department is already well below the civil service average. Nevertheless, a fundamental review has been undertaken of existing arrangements for the management of sick absence in the core Department and a range of measures designed to introduce even more effective controls are now being developed.

    Responsibility for such matters within the Intervention Board and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate has been delegated to the agency chief executives and I have asked them to reply direct.

    Letter from Guy Stapleton to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 3 March 1995:
    The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your question about sick absence control measure: in the Intervention Board as this is within my operational responsibility.
    The Agency employs the full range of Civil Service procedures for dealing with staff who have problems with recurring or long-term sick leave. Where appropriate, this involves personnel action, with individual counselling and the use of informal and formal warnings aimed at resolving problems and improving attendance. Professional advice on prognoses is obtained from the Civil Service Occupational Health Service (CSOHS) at fixed trigger points or at any time when it is felt this is warranted by the circumstances. There is also input to this process from our Welfare
    330
    Officer. Following professional advice, early medical retirement may take place or, in the absence of any improvement despite advice and counselling, the inefficiency procedures may be initiated which can lead to dismissal on grounds of poor attendance.
    I commissioned a review in the Agency's Personnel Group during 1994 with the objective of achieving better overall management control of sick absence cases. Recommendations from the review for strengthening the current arrangements, in particular in respect of our approach to individual cases involving regular, short-term absences, were approved by the Agency's Management Group and will be introduced in 1995. The changes will clarify the division of responsibility between personnel and operational managements, and will give more emphasis to the devolvement to managers of the front-line control measures that need to be taken immediately following the return of any member of staff after sick leave. To help implement the new arrangements, we are planning to provide revised written guidance and a bespoke training programme for all managers in the Agency. The aim will be to ensure a consistent and effective policy for the handling of sick leave cases throughout the Agency.
    To supplement the administrative changes and improved control measures, the review also made a number of recommendations to improve the level of general staff awareness about the negative aspects of sick absence. Accordingly, we also propose to issue a booklet for circulation to all staff that describes the impact that sick absences can have on the overall level of service that we provide to our customers, as well as the cost and efficiency implications this has for the smooth running of the department. The general aim will be to heighten awareness about individual responsibility and the impact that sick leave has on the organisation, as well as the additional pressure it imposes for immediate work colleagues.
    We consider that an important factor in the success of these changes will be to achieve, as far as possible, the understanding and support of staff and the Trade Union Side. The Agency is making a clear commitment that the changes are aimed at improving the dialogue and communication that takes place when staff have sick leave problems. We have no intention of diluting or neglecting the normal duty of care that we have towards our employees and we shall continue to act reasonably and fairly towards all our staff on these issues.
    Finally, while it is somewhat difficult to forecast the impact these changes will have, we are, nevertheless, setting ourselves ambitious targets to reduce sick absence rates to less than 4.5% in 1995/96 and to under 4% in 1996/97. This represents achieving overall improvements equivalent to around 33% on the level of sick absences recorded last year and of about 40% on the 1992/93 figures.

    Letter from J. M. Rutter to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 8 March 1995:
    The Minister has asked me to reply to your question about the measures being taken to combat sickness absenteeism in the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible.
    You are aware from my earlier letters of 20 December 1994 and 30 January 1995 of the sickness absenteeism rates in the Directorate over the last 4 years. These are well below the Civil Service average. My senior managers and I receive monthly reports of sickness absence, and the same procedures for the management of such absences are applied as in core MAFF. The Minister has advised you that these have been reviewed, and a range of measures designed to introduce even more effective controls are now being developed. These will apply also to staff in the Directorate.

    Livestock Exports
    Mr. Morley
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will show the number of livestock, by type, exported to(a) Spain, (b) France, (c) Italy, (d) Portugal and (e) Ireland in each year since 1990.

    Mrs. Browning
    [holding answer 6 March 1995]: The data requested are shown in the following table.
    331

    Numbers of livestock exported from the UK, to selected countries

    Type

    Spain

    France

    Italy

    Portugal

    Irish Republic

    1990

    Bovines

    0

    149,629

    592

    0

    6,377

    Goats

    0

    52

    0

    56

    0

    Poultry

    262,093

    1,785,243

    2,583,019

    103,461

    5,778,922

    Sheep

    173

    481,135

    812

    6

    93,007

    Swine

    15,468

    19,968

    8,603

    3,929

    32,640

    1991

    Bovines

    0

    201,316

    71

    0

    767

    Goats

    0

    130

    1

    0

    311

    Poultry

    192,084

    3,641,311

    3,937,640

    102,308

    7,675,012

    Sheep

    185

    713,105

    13,141

    704

    104,588

    Swine

    13,399

    24,379

    5,589

    870

    194,512

    1992

    Bovines

    128

    200,556

    0

    0

    3,753

    Goats

    0

    15

    170

    0

    4

    Poultry

    286,591

    2,358,855

    4,050,909

    60,127

    9,642,016

    Sheep

    5,341

    1,160,950

    445

    49

    65,753

    Swine

    11,173

    34,288

    5,284

    86

    287,889

    1993

    Bovines

    1,816

    161,126

    994

    0

    2,108

    Goats

    0

    12

    0

    0

    1

    Poultry

    414,665

    758,793

    2,963,058

    42,391

    6,318,894

    Sheep

    13,771

    469,098

    15,885

    0

    0

    Swine

    2,191

    7,119

    10,672

    495

    84,873

    1994 (January-September)

    Bovines

    0

    170,022

    0

    0

    1,144

    Goats

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    Poultry

    374,765

    772,775

    3,368,263

    45,988

    7,865,037

    Sheep

    10,552

    440,794

    1,499

    0

    11,041

    Swine

    1.883

    6,412

    4,160

    830

    83,923

    Source:

    Central Statistical Office.

    Note:

    1993 data and that for January to September 1994, based on the new system of recording trade between EU countries (Intrastat), are provisional. They are thought to under-record the true level or exports.

    Quarantine Arrangements
    Mr. Hinchliffe
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what security restrictions are applied to quarantine arrangements for imported non-human primates.

    Mrs. Browning
    The statutory requirements which apply to authorised quarantine premises are set out in the licences granted under article 9 of the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974. They include details on the construction and dimension of the perimeter surrounds and the requirements for the construction of the units. These conditions are designed to ensure that full rabies security is maintained while imported animals—including non-human primates—covered by the order are in quarantine. All quarantine premises are inspected regularly by MAFF veterinary officers and at least once a week by MAFF appointed veterinary/medical supervisors to ensure that satisfactory standards are maintained.

    Mr. Hinchliffe
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if imported primates are always quarantined in areas without non-quarantined animals.

    Mrs. Browning
    Specific authority must be granted by this Ministry before imported primates can be quarantined in a unit with non-quarantined animals, for 332
    example at a zoo. Quarantine restrictions then apply to all the animals in the unit.

    Imported Primates
    Mr. Hinchliffe
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are taken to identify cause of death in imported primates; and what security measures are taken in these circumstances.

    Mrs. Browning
    Where a primate dies in quarantine, the whole carcase is sent to the Centre of Applied Microbiology and Research, Porton Down for rabies tests and post-mortem examination under secure conditions. Strict procedures have been laid down for the packaging and conveying of carcases to CAMR.

    Where the animal has been sharing accommodation, all the survivors are kept in quarantine until the results of the tests are known.

    Mr. Hinchliffe
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how potentially infected materials from imported primates are disposed of and decontaminated.

    Mrs. Browning
    All quarantine premises must use an incinerator, or other means accepted as satisfactory by the Ministry, for the disposal of carcases, faeces, clippings, uneaten food and other waste. If possible, the incinerator should be within the perimeter fence, and enclosed.
    333
    Where the incinerator is outside the perimeter fence, it must have its own lockable fence and be inaccessible to animals, and all waste must be carried to it in leak-proof sealed containers.

    Mr. Hinchliffe
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what restrictions are placed on the movement, handling and travelling environments of non-human primates entering the United Kingdom.

    Mrs. Browning
    Under the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and other Mammals) Order 1974, all non-human primate imports into Great Britain have to be licensed and the animals have to spend six months in authorised quarantine premises. Animals may arrive only at designated ports and airports and must be transported to their quarantine premises by carrying agents authorised by MAFF to transport monkeys. The carrying agent must, within 24 hours of the landing, inform the Ministry of the landing of the animal and its conveyance to the quarantine premises. The veterinary/medical supervisor for the quarantine premises must also confirm the arrival of the animal to the Ministry within seven days.

    Mr. Hinchliffe
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures are taken to identify potential filovirus contamination of animals before importation into the United Kingdom.

    Mrs. Browning
    Although there is no statutory requirement to test animals for potential filovirus contamination before importation into the United Kingdom, many of the animals are tested either before or after import as part of the normal health screening by the importing companies. Since 1990, a total of about 1,000 monkeys have been tested. None has revealed any evidence of filovirus infection.

    Mr. Hinchliffe
    To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidelines are issued to persons handling imported non-human primates, promoting awareness of potential health risks and minimising the risks of infection.

    Mrs. Browning
    The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994 require employers involved in work that might expose staff to biological agents hazardous to health to provide their employees with enough information, instruction and training for them to know what the risks are, and what precautions to take.

    To assist employers in meeting their statutory obligations, the Medical Research Council produces specific guidance on infectious hazards in simians which is entitled "The Management of Simians in Relation to Infectious Hazards to Staff'.

  EMPLOYMENT

    Unemployment
    Mr. Jim Cunningham
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what action he is taking to reduce unemployment in Coventry; and what(a) job creation schemes and (b) training schemes he will initiate;

    (2) what measures he proposes to tackle long-term unemployment in Coventry.

    Miss Widdecombe
    Responsibility for the subject of the questions has been delegated to the Employment 334
    Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

    Letter from R. M. Phillips to Mr. Jim Cunningham, dated 9 March 1995:
    The Secretary of State for Employment has asked me, in the absence of the Chief Executive, to reply to your questions about the action being taken to reduce unemployment in Coventry, in particular, the measures to combat long-term unemployment through job creations schemes and training initiatives.
    Claimant unemployment in the Coventry local authority area has fallen by nearly 22% in the twelve months to January. This was the greatest percentage reduction of any authority area in the whole of the West Midlands region. The number of long-term unemployed for the Coventry local authority area also fell by 25%, the second largest fall amongst all regional authority areas.
    The number of employer vacancies notified to Jobcentres in the same area increased by 41.8% for the twelve month period ending January. This too was the largest increase in notified vacancies for any authority area in the West Midlands region. I can also report that Coventry, and the Warwickshire county, have been allocated £22.54m from the Single Regeneration Budget, calculated to lead to the creation and preservation of 2,600 new jobs, and the provision of 1,950 training places. Over 60% of funds allocated will go towards establishing projects for disadvantaged areas and groups in Coventry.
    The Employment Service (ES) actively markets and delivers its programmes and services to unemployed jobseekers, especially disadvantaged groups and the long-term unemployed, as part of its Annual Performance Agreement with the Department of Employment. In the eleven months up to February, the ES in Coventry placed 3,318 long-term unemployed people into jobs, and 1,765 people on the adult vocational Training-for-Work programme. All unemployed people who do not manage to find work within 13 weeks of their date of registration, are given a personal interview with an experienced employment adviser, where efforts to find work are reviewed and options for getting back to work, including vocational training, are explored. There are a number of active employment measures, including Job Plan Workshops, Jobclubs, Work Trials, and the Job Interview Guarantee scheme, which operate in the Coventry area, aimed specifically at long-term unemployed.
    Two years ago, an Enterprise and Advice Centre was set up in Coventry, Hillfields, to encourage local residents to access training and education opportunities. The centre is a local partnership initiative between the ES, Training and Enterprise Council, Careers Service, Jobclubs and other community based organisations. In the three months up to February, the centre assisted over 1,200 local people.
    There are also several local projects aimed at equipping ethnic minority and other disadvantaged groups with the skills needed to access training, education and job opportunities. Again, these partnership projects are funded centrally, but managed and delivered locally through community "outreach" facilities to ensure training and access provision is targeted at, and available to disadvantaged groups in areas of high and long-term unemployment.
    From April, Coventry will pilot a new employer recruitment subsidy scheme known as Workstart. This initiative, which will run for a year, is designed to test the effectiveness of encouraging employers to recruit people unemployed for two years or more by paying them a subsidy.
    With regard to more general recruitment in Coventry, Barclays Bank is creating between 500-1000 new jobs for its national telephone banking headquarters—BarclayCall, in the Walsgrave area of the city. The ES is already assisting Barclays with its vacancy filling by delivering job preparation courses for prospective employees and have so far placed 50 clients into jobs, 31% of whom were long-term unemployed jobseekers.
    I hope you will find this labour market information about the Coventry area helpful.

    Mr. Jim Cunningham
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of public funds devoted to reducing unemployment are devoted to the long-term unemployed.
    335
    Miss Widdecombe
    The Department's forecast expenditure for 1994–95 is £3.7 billion. Of this, some £1 billion is directed specifically to helping long-term unemployed people. This includes £693 million on training for work in England and around £300 million for the range of assistance offered by the Employment Service, such as community action, jobclubs, jobplan workshops and restart.

    In addition, the Department plans to spend some £95 million more over the next three years on the measures to help long-term unemployed people find work, such as jobmatch, workstart and work trials. These measures were announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget statement on 29 November 1994, Official Report, column 1079.

    Consultants
    Mr. Bayley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list(a) the consultants, (b) the tasks for which they were employed and (c) the payments made to them from his Department's budget in (i) 1992–93 and (ii) 1993–94.

    Miss Widdecombe
    Information in the form requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

    European Social Fund
    Mr. Matthew Taylor
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the allocation of the European social fund for the current programming period to(a) Government programmes, (b) each of the objective 1, 2 and 5b regions and (c) each of the non-Government sectors, giving distinctions between England, Wales and Scotland where appropriate.

    Miss Widdecombe
    Allocations to Government and non-Government sectors under objective 3 of the

    Table 2: Objective 1, 2 and 5b regional allocations: 1994 to 1999 Objective

    £million

    Region

    1994

    1995

    1996

    1997

    1998

    1999

    Total

    Merseyside

    35.953

    38.891

    41.690

    44.589

    48.465

    52.434

    262.023

    Highlands and Islands

    6.430

    6.740

    7.130

    7.290

    7.600

    7.600

    42.790

    Objective 2

    £million

    Region

    1994

    1995

    1996

    Total

    North-east England

    18.977

    19.791

    20.922

    59.690

    West Cumbria and Furness

    1.519

    1.589

    1.682

    4.791

    North-west England

    24.318

    25.349

    26.845

    76.512

    East midlands

    4.866

    5.074

    5.370

    15.310

    Yorkshire and Humberside

    19.692

    20.308

    21.240

    61.240

    West midlands

    22.915

    23.884

    25.295

    72.093

    Greater London

    4.558

    4.752

    5.031

    14.341

    Thanet

    0.518

    0.540

    0.571

    1.628

    Plymouth

    1.411

    1.465

    1.543

    4.419

    Industrial south Wales

    11.581

    12.078

    12.775

    36.434

    Eastern Scotland

    5.960

    6.220

    6.580

    18.760

    Western Scotland

    15.550

    16.210

    17.150

    48.910

    Gibraltar

    0.222

    0.231

    0.245

    0.698

    336
    European Community structural funds for the 1994–95 programme period are shown in table 1. The allocations in respect of Government programmes form part of the objective 3 plan agreed last year with the European Commission. Non-Government sector allocations for 1994 and 1995 were subsequently settled with the objective 3 monitoring committee. Figures for 1996 will be agreed later this year.

    Table 2 shows the European social fund components of the allocations to regions and sub-regions made under objectives 1, 2 and 5(b) of the structural funds. For the objective 1 regions, the programming period covers the years 1994 to 1999; for objective 2 the years 1994 to 1996.

    Table 1: Objective 3 sector allocations: 1994 to 1996

    £ million

    Sector

    1994

    1995

    1996

    Government

    222.000

    231.000

    244.000

    Non-Government sectors

    £million

    Sector

    1994

    1995

    Voluntary sector

    28.637

    28.984

    Training and Enterprise Councils

    18.000

    18.218

    Industrial Training Organisations

    5.403

    5.468

    Local authorities (England and Wales)

    19.825

    20.065

    Local authorities (Scotland)

    9.085

    2.753

    Further education (Scotland)

    9.085

    6.442

    Further education (England)

    43.503

    44.030

    Further education (Wales)

    2.735

    2.768

    Higher education

    21.401

    21.660

    Gibraltar

    0.720

    0.730

    Allocations are shown in 1994 prices and have been converted to sterling using an exchange rate of 1.29 ecu = £1. The allocation for Gibraltar is included in the UK's overall allocation—and funded from the Government allocation.
    337

    Objective 5(b)

    £million

    Region

    1994

    1995

    1996

    1997

    1998

    1999

    Total

    Northern uplands

    1.496

    1.961

    2.264

    2.271

    2.279

    2.287

    12.558

    East Anglia

    1.081

    1.081

    1.081

    1.204

    1.204

    1.326

    6.977

    English marches

    0.812

    1.078

    1.247

    1.255

    1.260

    1.264

    6.916

    Devon and Cornwall

    3.030

    3.960

    4.583

    4.612

    4.629

    4.650

    25.464

    Lincolnshire

    0.724

    0.967

    1.120

    1.132

    1.132

    1.147

    6.222

    Derbyshire/Staffordshire

    0.163

    0.221

    0.178

    0.256

    0.257

    0.260

    1.335

    Rural Wales

    3.070

    4.016

    4.643

    4.674

    4.690

    4.721

    25.814

    Dumfries and Galloway

    0.630

    0.820

    0.950

    0.950

    0.960

    0.960

    5.270

    Borders

    0.550

    0.720

    0.840

    0.840

    0.850

    0.850

    4.650

    Grampian

    0.560

    0.730

    0.840

    0.850

    0.850

    0.860

    4.690

    Rural Stirling and upper Tayside

    0.590

    0.620

    0.640

    0.660

    0.670

    0.700

    3.880

    Allocations are shown in 1994 prices except for the English marches, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire/Staffordshire programmes which are shown in 1995 prices. All allocations have been converted to sterling using an exchange rate of 1.29 ecu = £1.

    Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the latest allocations of funds from the European social fund objective 3 for the United Kingdom.

    Miss Widdecombe
    The most recent allocations for Great Britain under objective 3 of the European Community structural funds are shown in the following table:

    Date

    Million ECU

    1994

    478

    1995

    497

    1996

    526

    Northern Ireland receives separate allocations.

    Employment Opportunities (Epileptics)
    Mr. Battle
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures are being taken by his Department to improve the employment opportunities of people with epilepsy other than his Department's booklet on the subject.

    Miss Widdecombe
    The Government have introduced the Disability Discrimination Bill which, if enacted, will make it unlawful for an employer to treat a disabled person, including a person with epilepsy, less favourably because of his or her disability, without justifiable reason.

    The Department also has a wide range of initiatives and services which help enhance employment opportunities for people with disabilities, including those with epilepsy. We will continue our programme of educating and persuading employers to adopt good employment practices for disabled people. We will also continue to provide effective practical help to both employers and disabled individuals.

    Sickness Absenteeism
    Mr. Chidgey
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he is taking to combat sickness absenteeism in the Employment Service.

    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.
    338
    Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 9 March 1995:
    The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the measures being taken to combat sickness absenteeism in the Employment Service (ES).
    A sickness absence management initiative has been in place in the ES since 1991. This came about because of concerns about sickness levels in the organisation at that time and the need to manage it more effectively.
    The main elements of the initiative included:

    (a) the provision of a leaflet for people returning to work about sickness absence and a requirement for managers to talk to such staff, to check what the problem was, whether they were fully fit for work, and find out whether additional support and advice was needed; and

    (b) a requirement for individuals to phone in by an agreed time on the first day of their illness, to tell their manager they were ill, so that cover for their job could be arranged during their absence.

    The rationale behind the initiative was to provide more effective help to those who really needed it, and to take a firmer line with those whose absences may have been questionable. Sickness absence has fallen from around 7% in 1991 to around 4% in 1994.
    More recently, the success of this initiative has been developed further with a number of changes being made to the ES Personnel Handbook. One of the changes to the inefficiency procedure was a reduction in the number of days sickness absence which an employee can take before consideration is given to inefficiency action. Previously, the limits were 14 or 21 days in a 12 month period, depending on age. Since 31 October 1994, the new trigger point has been 12 working days for everyone irrespective of age and also includes part day sickness absences.
    A full evaluation will be conducted in the autumn, when the arrangements have been in place for a full year.
    I hope this is helpful.

    South Thames Training and Enterprise Council
    Ms Jowell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what arrangements he will make to ensure that individual contractors which submitted claims for work carried out for STTEC are reimbursed in full.

    Mr. Paice
    Whether contractors are paid for services contracted for with South Thames training and enterprise council will depend upon the source of the funding and the timing of the work done. For Government-funded programmes—excluding employer investment in people—payments will be made to providers for properly substantiated claims for work done since 7 November 1994. Employer investment in people contractors will be paid for work done after 21 December 1994—the date of the appointment of the receiver. Payment for discretionary programmes funded from TEC reserves after 21
    339
    December 1994 are a matter for the receiver. All contractors are unsecured creditors to the TEC for payments relating to work on Government programmes—excluding employer investment in people—before 7 November 1994 and all other forms of contract and employer investment in people prior to 21 December 1994.

    Ms Jowell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total amount of money which was pledged by the South Thames TEC to training providers based in the Dulwich constituency for the financial year 1994–95.

    Mr. Paice
    The information is not held by the Department.

    Ms Jowell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total amount of money owing to individual contractors which submitted claims for payment for work carried out for South Thames TEC before the appointment of the receiver.

    Mr. Paice
    The total amount of money owing to individual contractors which submitted claims for payment for work carried out for South Thames training and enterprise council, before the appointment of the receiver, is a matter for the receiver.

    Ms Jowell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what arrangements he will make to ensure that Waverley school in Dulwich receives the £75,000 it was promised by the South Thames TEC before going into receivership.

    Mr. Paice
    The £75,000 referred to in the question breaks down into six separate programmes. Two of these, compact and careers initiative, are Government-funded programmes covered by the comfort arrangements so the school will receive funding for these programmes for work undertaken since 7 November 1994. However, for any moneys owing for activities undertaken before 7 November, the school is an unsecured creditor. Investors in people is Government-funded, but comfort has not been extended to this programme as it benefits organisations rather than individuals. The school is an unsecured creditor to the training and enterprise council for this programme before 21 December, the date of the receiver's appointment. Claims for work done after 21 December should be submitted to the receiver.

    The school effectiveness pilot and the technology bid are South Thames TEC initiatives funded from the TEC's own reserves. The Government are not committed to continue to fund discretionary programmes financed from the TEC's reserves. The Waverley school is an unsecured creditor to the TEC for the two latter programmes for payments relating to work done prior to the receiver's appointment on 21 December. Whether invoices for any such work done after 21 December are paid is a matter for the receiver. The personal effectiveness programme initiative is Government funded. It offers the use of a consultancy service rather than providing funding direct to the school. This service will continue to be delivered under the normal conditions.

    Jobcentres
    Mr. Blunkett
    To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what training is given to district managers in the Employment Service on the geographic locations of jobcentres, the constituencies they fall in and the communities they serve; and if he will make a statement.
    340
    Miss Widdecombe
    I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  DUCHY OF LANCASTER

    World Wide Web
    Mr. Allen
    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make provision for(a) political parties and (b) hon. Members to place material in a specifically designated section of the World Wide Web server www.open.gov.uk in order to contribute to political debate; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Horam
    The World Wide Web server, www.open.gov.uk, provides Internet access to the CCTA Government information service. This service is intended specifically for Government information to be placed there by CCTA on behalf of Departments of State. There are no plans to extend its use to include political material from either parties or individuals.
    However, the Government fully support the principle of open political debate, and the CCTA Government information service has a number of collaborative open groups that are designed to encourage such discussion, through electronic mail. Details can be found at the World Wide Web address:
    www.open.gov.uk/cogs/coglist.htm.

    Alzheimer's Disease
    Mr. Battle
    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list those studies by the Medical Research Council into a genetic risk factor in late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

    Mr. Horam
    The details of the relevant research projects funded by the Medical Research Council are as follows:Direct support through MRC's own units:
    MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge
    Project Title: Understanding pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.
    Indirect support through grants to researchers in higher education institutions:
    Dr. J. Xuereb and Dr. C. M. Wischik
    Dept. of Psychiatry,
    Cambridge university
    Project title: Cambridge Brain Bank's contribution to clinical/epidemiological studies of dementia and Alzheimer's disease research.
    Professor D. Brock
    Dept. of Medicine
    Edinburgh university
    Project title: Mutation analysis in Alzheimer's disease
    Professor P. Lantos and Professor C. D. Marsden
    Dept. of neuropathology,
    Institute of Psychiatry
    London
    Project title: A London brain bank for research on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease
    Professor R. Williamson and Dr. M. Rossor
    Dept. of biochemistry and molecular genetics
    St. Mary's hospital medical school
    London
    Project title: Familial dementias and Alzheimer's disease
    341
    Mr. Battle
    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much research into the causes and treatment of Alzheimer's disease was funded by the Government in 1993–94; and what is the expected level of expenditure in 1994–95 and 1995–96.

    Mr. Horam
    In the last financial year for which figures are available—1993–94—the Medical Research Council, which receives its funding from my Department, spent £4.5 million on research projects directly related to Alzheimer's disease and a further £5.3 million on projects which may in part have some relevance to the condition.

    It is not possible to provide figures for the council's future funding of research proposals as this will depend on the quality and nature of research applications received. However, the council is always willing to discuss and consider sound, scientifically based proposals for research into Alzheimer's disease.

    The universities and medical schools may also be funding research into Alzheimer's disease, although this information is not held centrally.
    The Department of Health does not at present fund research specifically into the treatment of the disease.

    Epilepsy
    Mr. Battle
    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much money the Medical Research Council plans to spend in 1995–96 and 1996–97 on(a) research into epilepsy and (b) research which may be relevant to the condition.

    Mr. Horam
    It is not possible to provide figures for the Medical Research Council's future funding of research proposals as this will depend on the quality and nature of research applications received. The council is always willing to discuss and consider sound, scientifically based proposals for research into epilepsy.

    Security Classifications
    Mr. Steen
    To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent changes have been made in the definitions of the security classifications "confidential" and "commercial in confidence" in the light of the Government's commitment to open government; and what guidance has been circulated to civil servants on the use of such classifications.

    Mr. Horam
    Until 3 April 1994, the definition of the classification "confidential" was:"Information and material the unauthorised disclosure of which would be damaging to the interests of the nation".

    Until the same date, "commercial in confidence" was one of a number of privacy markings and its purpose was to enable appropriate protection to be given to information relating to a commercial undertaking's processes or affairs and which may have been of commercial value to its competitors or to speculators. Following a review of protective security, the classification system and the privacy marking system were replaced by a harmonised system of protective markings.

    The new definition of "confidential" is:
    "The compromise of this information or material would be likely: materially to damage diplomatic relations—ie cause formal protest or other sanction—to prejudice individual security or liberty; to cause damage to the operational effectiveness or security of UK or allied forces or the effectiveness of valuable security or intelligence operations; to work substantially against national finances or economic and commercial interest; substantially to undermine the financial viability of
    342
    major organisations; to impede the investigation or facilitate the commission of serious crime; to impede seriously the development or operation of major government policies; to shut down or otherwise substantially disrupt significant national operations".

    Privacy markings, such as "commercial in confidence", have been abolished. They have been replaced by descriptors which can be used, normally in conjunction with any one of the four protective markings—top secret, secret, confidential, and restricted—to indicate what sort of sensitive material—commercial, staff, management, and so on—is being protected. Guidance about the use of the protective marking system has been issued to departments and agencies as part of wider guidance on protective security.

    The new protective marking system is consistent with the code of practice on access to Government information. The guidance on interpretation of the code of practice, which has been issued to all Departments and agencies subject to the code and has been placed in the Library, makes it clear that the arrangements for marking information help to ensure the physical security of information which is exempt from disclosure under the code. It also makes clear that information does not need to be protectively marked to be exempt from disclosure under the code, and that a protective marking cannot he taken, without further examination, to mean that all the information contained in a document is properly exempt from disclosure.

  DEFENCE

    Road Traffic Regulations (Exemptions)
    Ms Walley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what exemptions his Department's vehicles and drivers are entitled to in respect of road traffic regulations.

    Mr. Freeman
    My Department's vehicles and their drivers are entitled to various exemptions under a wide variety of road traffic regulations. It is our policy, however, to comply with all regulations where operational effectiveness is not impaired.

    No central record of the exemptions is maintained and this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

    Sickness Absenteeism
    Mr. Chidgey
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures he is taking to combat sickness absenteeism in his Department.

    Mr. Freeman
    My Department is aware of the need to seek positive ways to combat sickness absenteeism. At present, initiatives include: a thorough absence reporting system; procedures for dealing with excessive absence; courses and seminars on stress management; a comprehensive welfare service; and education for line managers in occupational monitoring and improving staff attendance rates.

    Albania
    Mr. Menzies Campbell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what types of logistical support equipment
    343
    Albania has requested from the United Kingdom in the last five years.

    Mr. Freeman
    It is not our normal practice to make public the substance of intergovernmental discussions on potential military assistance. In the case of assistance to Albania, no decisions have yet been taken.

    Mr. Harris and Mr. Wilmott
    Mr. Jamieson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total amount of time that Messrs. Harris and Wilmott were suspended from their posts as press officers in Plymouth; and what level of pay they received during their suspension;

    (2) what was the total amount of money in dispute in the expense claims of Messrs. Harris and Wilmott which led to their suspension as press officers in Plymouth;

    (3) what was the total cost of the investigation by his Department into the expense claims of Messrs. Harris and Wilmott who are employed by his Department in Plymouth as press officers; and who was responsible for conducting the inquiry;

    (4) if he will place in the Library the report into the investigations of Messrs. Harris and Wilmott, press officers in his Department.

    Mr. Freeman
    [holding answer Thursday 2 March 1995]Mr. Harris and Mr. Wilmott were suspended from duty from 20 April 1994, until 8 November 1994 and 19 January 1995 respectively. They were paid full salaries during these periods.

    Both cases involved investigation by the Ministry of Defence police, which, until 12 January 1995, was a mandatory requirement in cases that involved alleged fraud. Since then, line management has been granted a degree of discretion on police investigation and this is no longer mandatory in minor cases of alleged fraud. It was established, following independent inquiry, that no indication to defraud had existed in these cases. The length of time taken in these cases was partly accounted for by postponements of the hearings at the request of the defendants, and partly by the need for consultation between line management and MOD personnel specialists following the hearing to ensure fair treatment for both officers.

    The total cost of the investigation could not be separately identified, but each was chaired by a member of staff outside the management structure of the officers concerned. It is not my Department's practice to make available confidential information on staff matters.

    Defence Housing Executive
    Mr. Jamieson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what dates(a) the Crown Housing Trust will cease to exist and (b) the Defence Housing Executive will commence operating;

    (2) where the Crown Housing Trust currently operates from; and where the Defence Housing Executive will be based.

    Mr. Soames
    The original proposal to set up a housing trust encountered difficulties, and the trust was therefore never formally established. The Defence Housing Executive is on course to assume responsibility for the management and maintenance of the married quarters estate from 1 April 1995. The staff initially recruited to set up the housing trust were originally accommodated in 344
    Ministry of Defence offices in London. From 1 August 1994, the staff involved, who have subsequently been working on setting up the Defence Housing Executive moved to other Government offices in central London. The Defence Housing Executive is also in the process of appointing regional and area staff throughout the country; as existing service or Ministry of Defence civilian personnel, these staff are accommodated in either Defence or common user estate property. It is expected that these arrangements will continue.

    Mr. Jamieson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) who was responsible for appointing the employees of the Crown Housing Trust; and who will be responsible for appointing the employees of the Defence Housing Executive;

    (2) if the chief executive of the Crown Housing Trust is eligible for consideration for the post of chief executive of the Defence Housing Executive.

    Mr. Soames
    The chief executive, designate, housing director, designate, and finance director, designate, of the trust were appointed by my Department following open competition and in accordance with the recommendations of an appointments board chaired by the First Civil Service Commission. Other staff of the embryo trust organisation were serving civil servants and agency support staff. Arrangements for the appointment of a chief executive for the Defence Housing Executive have yet to be finalised. The other staff of the executive are being drawn from the Department's civilian and service personnel resources; it is envisaged that a limited number of appointments will in due course be made by means of open competition where the required expertise is not available within Government personnel resources.

    Mr. Jamieson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will be setting annual targets for the Defence Housing Executive for the number of vacant dwellings among Ministry of Defence-owned properties.

    Mr. Soames
    In common with all Government Departments holding residential property, my Department agrees annually with the Department of the Environment a target for a reduction in the number of void properties it holds. Achievement of the target to be agreed for my Department for 1995–96 will be the responsibility of the Defence Housing Executive.

    Dr. David Clark
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have signed contracts to work with the Defence Housing Executive.

    Mr. Soames
    Arrangements for the appointment of a chief executive for the Defence Housing Executive have yet to be finalised. The other staff of the executive are being drawn from my Department's civilian and service personnel resources; it is envisaged that a limited number of appointments will in due course be made by means of open competition where the required expertise is not available within Government personnel resources.

    Dr. David Clark
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total cost of renting office accommodation for his Department's housing trust and Defence Housing Executive; where are the offices; and for how long they have been rented.

    Mr. Soames
    The staff initially recruited to set up the housing trust were originally accommodated in Ministry of Defence offices in London. From 1 August 1994, the staff involved, who have subsequently been working on
    345
    setting up the Defence Housing Executive, moved to other Government offices in central London. The rental cost to the end of February 1995 is some £191,000. The Defence Housing Executive is also in the process of appointing regional and area staff throughout the country; as existing service or Ministry of Defence civilian personnel, these staff are accommodated in either defence or common user estate property. It is expected that these arrangements will continue.

    Dr. David Clark
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will specify the total payments to date made to(a) Coopers and Lybrand, (b) NatWest Markets and (c) Savills for work carried out in respect of his Department's plans for the married quarters housing stock; and whether this work is still continuing;

    £ thousand

    Financial year 1991–92

    Financial year 1992–93

    Financial year 1993–94

    Financial year 1994–95

    Total

    Internal costs

    —

    —

    312

    857

    1,169

    External costs

    Legal advice

    —

    3

    102

    825

    930

    Other professional fees

    8

    13

    462

    2,852

    3,335

    Total

    8

    16

    876

    4,534

    5,434

    Notes

    1. All costs shown are outturn prices exclusive of VAT for external costs. VAT is refunded to the Department on "contracted-out services" such as legal advice, agency staff and other professional services.

    2. Internal costs are primarily salary costs and office accommodation, but cover also such items as office machinery, computers and stationery.

    3. External costs for financial year 1994–95 take account of invoices received to date.

    Payments to individual companies are commercially confidential. The possibility of further work for such companies depends on the outcome of the competitive selection of financial and other advisers which we are at present carrying out, and on any future need for advice which may be identified.

    Severance Payments
    Mr. Jamieson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of all cases in which employees of his Department have received severance payments in excess of(c) 100,000 after less than 12 months service for each of the last three years.

    Mr. Soames
    There have been no such cases.

    Menwith Hill Station
    Mr. Madden
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many GCHQ staff have been placed at Menwith Hill station in each year since 1992, to date and on what basis; what are their primary duties; to whom do they report; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Soames
    There is a significant GCHQ presence at Menwith Hill station. It is not Government policy however to give more detailed information on the deployment of GCHQ staff. I refer the hon. Member to the Adjournment debate of 25 March 1994 concerning Menwith Hill station,Official Report, columns 609–16.

    Mr. Madden
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about GCHQ staff at Menwith Hill station intercepting domestic and international telephone calls.
    346
    (2) if he will provide a breakdown for the total cost to date of his Department's plans for the married quarters housing stock;

    (3) what is the total annual cost of legal advice for work associated with the Defence Housing Trust and Defence Housing Executive.

    Mr. Jamieson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total amount spent on the Crown Housing Trust since its establishment.

    Mr. Soames
    The total cost to date of work on new arrangements for the married quarters estate is some £5.4 million. Much of this investment is being realised in the establishment of the Defence Housing Executive, and much of it is also relevant to any form of transfer of the married quarters estate to the private section. The breakdown of these costs is as follows:

    Mr. Soames
    None.

    Mr. Madden
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will permit right hon. and hon. Members to visit Menwith Hill station in north Yorkshire to inspect the station and to be briefed on the activities currently undertaken there; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Soames
    For operational and security reasons, such visits are not allowed.

    Mr. Madden
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the progress by the National Security Agency of America, in respect of complaints made by Ms Lindis Percy, of Bradford, about her treatment by American military personnel when detained by them at Menwith Hill station; what rights Ms Percy has to take legal action against American military personnel; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Soames
    I am unaware of any incidents at Menwith Hill station in which Ms Percy has been detained by American military personnel. It is not for my Department to advise Ms Percy on her legal rights.

    Hospitality
    Dr. David Clark
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what types of hospitality members of his Department have been forbidden to receive from companies bidding for defence contracts; on what date the restriction was imposed; and if he will specify the instructions provided to members of his Department concerning hospitality and receiving gifts from defence contractors.

    Mr. Freeman
    The principles of conduct which govern how members of my Department should react to offers of
    347
    gifts and hospitality have been in place for many years. They are brought to the attention of all staff in a publication which is issued annually. Staff must not accept hospitality which includes overnight accommodation, transport costs, or offers of such things as holidays and the use of vehicles. Invitations of a social kind should normally be declined unless attendance can be demonstrated to be in the interests of the Department. Trivial gifts may be retained, where they are occasional and where acceptance would not give rise to public concern.

    Western European Union
    Dr. David Clark
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what occasions in the last year he has met(a) his French and (b) his German counterparts to discuss his Department's ideas for the development of the Western European Union; and what were the outcomes of these meetings.

    Mr. Soames
    My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has regularly met his French and German counterparts over the past year to discuss a wide range of issues that have on occasion included matters concerning the Western European Union.

    Dr. David Clark
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will specify the actions his Department are promoting to develop the Western European Union's planning and command and control capacities.

    Mr. Soames
    The actions we are promoting are those stated in the memorandum on the United Kingdom's approach to the treatment of European defence issues at the 1996 inter-governmental conference, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. These includes provisional offers of assistance in developing the handling of intelligence and the creation of a situation centre.

    Nuclear Weapons Register
    Dr. David Clark
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the reasons which led his Department to reject the German Government's proposals in December 1993 for a nuclear weapons register; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Soames
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 13 December 1994,Official Report, columns 621–22.

    European Procurement Collaborations
    Dr. David Clark
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy concerning the creation of joint project offices for European procurement collaborations.

    Mr. Freeman
    The management arrangements for each collaborative defence equipment programme are considered on their merits, with our partners, on a case by case basis. Where there is judged to be the most effective approach, a joint project office may be established.

    Dr. David Clark
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy concerning the use of capability and cost to determine a country's share of work in joint European procurement collaborations.
    348
    Mr. Freeman
    In negotiations with partners in a collaborative programme, the Department takes into account a number of factors relating to workshares, on a case-by-case basis, consistent with the aim of obtaining value for money. The Department believes that this aim is best achieved by maximising competition in the programme, allowing companies in each partner nation the opportunity to win work on technical and commercial merit.

    Ship Charters
    Dr. David Clark
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ships were chartered by his Department in each of the last 10 years; and how many of these ships were registered in Britain in each of these years.

    Mr. Freeman
    I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy in the Library of the House.

    Combined Joint Task Force
    Dr. David Clark
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if NATO's combined joint task force initiative is now operational; and on which occasions this initiative has been put into operation.

    Mr. Soames
    NATO is continuing work, in co-ordination with the WEU, on the development and implementation of the combined joint task force concept.

    European Nuclear Deterrent
    Dr. David Clark
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy towards a European nuclear deterrent for the Western European Union; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Soames
    The independent nuclear forces of the United Kingdom are committed to NATO and already contribute to overall deterrence and security within Europe. This was recognised by all WEU members at the Noordwijk summit in November 1994.

    Nuclear Weapons
    Dr. David Clark
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy towards transparency in relation to the possession of nuclear weapons.

    Mr. Soames
    Our policy is to be as open about our nuclear deterrent as is possible without revealing information which might diminish the effectiveness of the system and so the credibility of our deterrent.

    European Defence Industry
    Dr. David Clark
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy on the rationalisation of the European defence industry.

    Mr. Freeman
    In principle, I welcome the closer ties which many United Kingdom defence companies are forging with those in Europe and north America. Industrial rationalisation is a process which is primarily for the companies and the markets, subject of course to regulation by the relevant competition authorities. My Department considers mergers which may be of interest to it on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the possible
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    effects on future competition and any security considerations.

    Operation Granby
    Dr. David Clark
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's estimate of the cost of fraud incurred by Britain during Operation Granby.

    Mr. Soames
    There are no proven cases of fraud associated with Operation Granby. A number of suspected cases concerned with the supply of shipping have been investigated, some of which remain the subject of civil or criminal action.

    Compulsory Drug Testing
    Mr. Pike
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have been tested under the new compulsory drug testing procedures in(a) the Army, (b) the Royal Navy including the Royal Marines and (c) the Royal Air force; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Soames
    The Army is the only service to have introduced a compulsory drug testing programme. Tests began in January, and by 1 March 436 Army personnel had been tested. The Royal Navy has recently completed an anonymous trial to determine whether there is a need for compulsory drug testing of naval personnel, including the Royal Marines, and a report will be submitted to the Admiralty Board shortly. The RAF does not consider that there is a need to introduce compulsory drug testing at present, but is keeping its position under review.

    Consultants
    Mr. Bayley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list(a) the consultants, (b) the tasks for which they were employed and (c) the payments made to them from his Department's budget in (i) 1992–93 and (ii) 1993–94.

    Mr. Freeman
    In addition to those placed by the central contracts branches, consultancy contracts may be placed as part of a larger project and by individual budget holders where the overall value of the contract is low. Such contracts are placed under delegated contractual authority without reference to the central contracts branches and so cannot be identified centrally.

    In view of this and the fact that the Department's central contracts branches have placed in excess of 500 contracts with consultants in each of the last few years, an answer to the hon. Gentleman's question could only be provided at disproportionate cost and effort.

    Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
    Mr. David Atkinson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of those service personnel who have served in Northern Ireland since 1969 are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Soames
    The information requested is not available, as medical data in the services are not recorded in a way which allows episodes of illness or injury to be linked with operational deployment.

    Mr. Foulkes
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the date, location and circumstances of each incident involving inadvertent release of weaponry from 350
    military aircraft outside weapons range areas in the United Kingdom over the last three years.

    Mr. Soames
    The information requested is shown. All four occurrences involved inadvertent release of inert practice weapons into areas where public access is controlled because of known military activity.

    Date

    Location

    Circumstances

    Royal Air Force

    25 January 1993

    RAF Marham

    Practice bomb fell from a Tornado GR1 during take-off and landed on the runway.

    Fleet Air Arm

    6 October 1992

    English Channel (Portland Exercise Area)

    Drill missile released from a Lynx in error during simulated attack.

    30 March 1993

    English Channel (Plymouth Exercise Area)

    Drill missile released from a Lynx in error during simulated attack.

    19 May 1994

    Firth of Clyde (Clyde Exercise Area)

    Practice torpedo slipped from recovery equipment during transit by Sea King to beaching site.

    Golf Course, Wyton
    Mr. Wilson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the involvement of his Department in the creation of a golf course at Wyton; and what estimate he has made of the cost of this project.

    Mr. Soames
    It is understood that the Royal Air Force Golf Association, which is a non-public body, is examining the possibility of constructing a golf course on surplus land at RAF Wyton in Cambridgeshire. Should the association decide to proceed with this proposal, the costs, including the purchase of land from my Department, would be met by it.

    Helicopter Flying Training
    Mr. Butler
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of helicopter flying training in the three services.

    Mr. Soames
    Proposals for a defence helicopter flying school were issued on 8 December in a consultation document. During the consultation period, my Department received 14 responses to our proposals.

    All these responses have received careful and sympathetic scrutiny. There have been understandable local concerns but widespread general support for the main thrust of the proposals. No significant new defence related arguments have, however, emerged, nor have any new suggestions been made which have caused us to alter our original proposals.

    I can therefore confirm that we shall now move to develop our plans along the lines indicated in the consultative document. We shall establish a single tri-service school to provide pre-operational helicopter flying training at Shawbury with effect from April 1997.

    Training undertaken by 705 Naval Air Squadron at Culdrose will move to the joint school in 1997. However,

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    I am pleased to announce that the Royal Navy's fleet requirement and air direction unit will move to Culdrose in December this year when the existing contract at Yeovilton comes to an end. This will help to ensure that Culdrose continues to operate at a very high capacity and its long-term future remains assured as the main operating base of the Merlin anti-submarine warfare helicopter.

    I am also pleased to confirm that Middle Wallop will remain the home of Army aviation with responsibility for operational training on all Army aircraft. Moving the Army basic helicopter training to the defence helicopter flying school has released space at Middle Wallop. I can
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    therefore confirm that, in line with our policy of consolidating defence activities, Army activity at Netheravon will be relocated with all Army Air Corps flying moving to Middle Wallop. Netheravon itself will remain in the defence estate and possible alternative uses are being considered.

    Much work needs to be done in order to establish the defence helicopter flying school at Shawbury in 1997 and we have therefore put in place a team to effect all elements of the implementation process. We shall continue to consult the trades unions on the details of our plans as they unfold.

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