Written Answers of 13 March 1995

DEFENCE

  Gulf War Veterans
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the investigations his Department is conducting into Gulf war veterans suffering deleterious health effects following return from Operation Granby have examined the possibility of a relationship between the innoculations and NAPS tablets given to soldiers and health care personnel sent to the Gulf, and the development of motor neurone disease and leukaemia.

  Mr. Soames
  My Department considers all postulated causes of the alleged Gulf war syndrome. The possibility of a relationship between innoculations and NAPS tablets and the development of motor neurone disease and leukaemia has been examined. No evidence has been found within the body of medical knowledge to support such a connection.

  Training Flights
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many overland training flights down to 100ft above ground level were conducted by the aircrew involved in the radar tracking trials using DA20 aircraft from West Freugh on 14 December 1994, prior to carrying out the trials flying; what was the location of the training flights; and what was the involvement of the Royal Air Force instructors in the training;

  (2) how many flights below 250ft above ground level were conducted by DA20 aircraft on radar trials from West Freugh during December; and what was the minimum authorised altitude for these flights.

  Mr. Soames
  Only one sortie below 250ft above ground level was flown by this aircraft, on 19 December; this involved a number of passes over the airfield at West Freugh. No sorties were flown below 250ft above ground level on other dates in December, nor were Royal Air Force instructors involved. The aircraft was operating under civil aviation regulations, and was authorised to fly down to a minimum authorised altitude of 100ft above ground level by the Civil Aviation Authority.

  Italian Tornados
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the purpose of the deployment of Italian Air Force Tornado aircraft to RAF Cottesmore in early December 1994; how many aircraft took part; which Royal Air Force unit hosted the visit; whether the visit was a NATO-sponsored unit exchange; how many low-level sorties were undertaken by the aircraft during the deployment, and at what minimum permitted altitudes; how many of these sorties included use of the Spadeadam range; and what breaches of flying regulations have been 354
  reported in respect of flying by the aircraft involved in the deployment.

  Mr. Soames
  Eight Italian Air Force Tornado aircraft were deployed to RAF Cottesmore, which hosted the visit, from 5 to 9 December; the purpose was to utilise the electronic warfare tactics range at RAF Spadeadam and carry out low-flying training within the United Kingdom low-flying system. The deployment was not part of a NATO squadron exchange. A total of 19 low-level sorties were flown, 11 of which involved the use of the Spadeadam range; the authorised minimum separation distance for each sortie was 500ft. There have been no reported breaches of flying regulations.

  Sea Service
  Mr. Peter Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the numbers of commissioned officers of each rank in the Royal Navy, differentiating between male and female officers of equivalent rank and indicating how many of the officers in each group have served at sea(a) at that rank or (b) at a lower rank.

  (2) if he will list the numbers of petty officers and ratings of each rank in the Royal Navy, differentiating between male and female personnel of equivalent rank and indicating how many in each group have served tours of duty at sea.

  Mr. Soames
  The information is not available in the precise form requested. A table showing the number of personnel serving on the trained strength of the Royal Navy—indicating chaplains and medical and dental officers—as at 1 January by rank and gender, together with the percentage of those personnel who have served at sea, is as follows. It should he noted that drafts and appointments to some ships—in refit or extended readiness, for example—do not count as sea service, and have been excluded. Additionally, some records which pre-date computerisation, particularly those of the more senior officers, may not be complete.

  Officers

  Male

  Female

  Rank

  Total

  Sea percent.

  Total

  Sea percent.

  Admiral

  4

  100

  0

  0

  Vice Admiral

  13

  85

  0

  0

  Rear Admiral

  27

  72

  0

  0

  Captain

  356

  93

  3

  0

  Commander

  1,125

  96

  12

  25

  Lieutenant Commander

  2,292

  95

  42

  45

  Lieutenant

  2,664

  88

  201

  48

  Sub Lieutenant/Midshipman

  230

  86

  24

  50

  Total

  6,711

  92

  282

  46

  Petty Officers and Ratings

  Male

  Female

  Rate

  Total

  Sea percent.

  Total

  Sea percent.

  Warrant Officer

  819

  97

  10

  20

  Chief Petty Officer

  6,973

  99

  102

  13

  Petty Officer

  5,848

  98

  329

  22

  Leading Rate

  6,732

  99

  732

  29

  355

  Petty Officers and Ratings

  Male

  Female

  Rate

  Total

  Sea percent.

  Total

  Sea percent.

  Able/Ordinary Rate

  11,271

  95

  1,655

  58

  Total

  31,643

  97

  2,838

  45

  Plutonium
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what complaints he has received about heavy goods vehicles carrying plutonium in police convoys travelling at over 70 mph on motorways.

  Mr. Soames
  I have received no such complaints.

  Employees, Hampshire
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people were employed in the defence industry in Hampshire in each year since 1989.

  Mr. Freeman
  The numbers of United Kingdom regular service and Ministry of Defence civilian personnel working in Hampshire in 1 July in the years in question are set as follows. Figures for employment in defence-related industries are not available below the level of economic planning region.

  Service1

  Civilian2

  Total

  1989

  36,715

  20,397.5

  57,112.5

  1990

  34,254

  20,112.0

  54,366.0

  1991

  33,412

  20,111.0

  53,523.0

  1992

  31,742

  19,532.0

  51,274.0

  1993

  29,794

  18,168.5

  47,962.5

  1994

  29,092

  18,473.0

  47,565.0

  1 The 1994 figure for UK regular service personnel is provisional.

  2 Permanent staff counted as full time equivalents. The figure for 1992 is at 1 October.

  Defence Land Agency
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement regarding the

  Illustration of costs for 350 resignations

  Year

  Gross costs to be met from CC income £

  Housing capital (funded by CC) £

  Net costs for Church £

  New housing capital (Funded by CC £

  1994

  2,452,000

  5,011,000

  747,000

  5,011,000

  1995

  3,439,000

  4,770,000

  1,872,000

  4,770,000

  1996

  3,216,000

  1,370,000

  1,899,000

  1,370,000

  1997

  2,434,000

  355,000

  1,226,000

  54,000

  1998

  1,731,000

  213,000

  706,000

  (100,000)

  1999

  1,250,000

  111,000

  433,000

  (215,000)

  2000

  890,000

  85,000

  272,000

  (254,000)

  2001

  851,000

  88,000

  412,000

  (264,000)

  2002

  707,000

  91,000

  413,000

  (274,000)

  2003

  625,000

  85,000

  437,000

  (285,000)

  2004

  415,000

  —

  321,000

  (396,000)

  2005

  289,000

  —

  244,000

  (411,000)

  2006

  216,000

  —

  197,000

  (428,000)

  2007

  211,000

  —

  204,000

  (445,000)

  2008

  211,000

  —

  209,000

  (463,000)

  2009

  217,000

  —

  216,000

  (361,000)

  2010

  221,000

  —

  221,000

  (375,000)

  356
  outcome of investigations by Ministry of Defence police into the activities of certain employees of the Defence Land Agency relating to the disposal of Ministry of Defence property in south-west England, described in Petty Officers and Ratings his answer of 12 April 1994, Official Report, column 148.

  Mr. Soames
  This matter is still under investigation and papers now rest with the Crown Prosecution Service.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Women Ministers
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, pursuant to his answer of 23 February,Official Report, column 333, by how much the Commissioners' allocation to stipends has been reduced in the current year as a result of providing for resignations under the Ordination of Women (Financial Provisions) Measure 1993; what are the expected cuts in the allocation to stipends for this reason in each of the next three years; and if he will give his latest estimate of the cost of financial provision under the Measure on the same basis as the figures given to the Ecclesiastical Committee on 11 March 1993.

  Mr. Alison
  The commissioners are currently engaged, with dioceses, on a programme of cuts in diocesan support amounting to £32 million by 1997 to bring their expenditure and income back into balance. Those cuts are not directly related to the costs of financial provision arising from the ordination of women legislation, although those costs have had an impact—relatively modest—on the scale of cuts required. The commissioners' latest estimates of those costs to be met from their income average around £3 million per annum over the period 1995—97.

  Actual expenditure in 1994 and illustrative costings based on a possible total of 350 resignations are set out in the following table. These reflect the pattern of expenditure incurred to date.
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  Illustration of costs for 350 resignations

  Year

  Gross costs to be met from CC income £

  Housing capital (funded by CC) £

  Net costs for Church £

  New housing capital (Funded by CC £

  2011

  226,000

  —

  226,000

  (390,000)

  2012

  233,000

  —

  233,000

  (406,000)

  Total

  19,834,000

  12,189,000

  10,488,000

  6,138,000

  Notes:

  (a) The number of resignations shown (350)is a broad estimate, and the final costs may vary substantially.

  (b) Actual costs based on 232 resignations are shown in respect of 1994. A similar pattern of costs has been assumed for future years.

  (c) The figures make allowance for future increases in house prices and stipends.

  (d) It has been assumed that 50 per cent. of resigners will require housing assistance.

  (e) The net figures take account of such variables as stipends savings (assuming at least a temporary reduction in the payroll), allowance for retirement housing provision which would otherwise have arisen on retirement, and the possibility of some people redeeming loans or leaving rented accommodation once they have obtained alternative employment.

EMPLOYMENT

  Labour Statistics, Harrogate
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out the level of average rate of unemployment in the Harrogate travel-to-work area for the most convenient date in the year since 1979.

  Mr. Oppenhein
  The information requested is available monthly from June 1983 and can be obtained, on the unadjusted basis only, from the NOMIS database in the Library.

  Training
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number of jobs that will be lost due to the re-defined criteria for payment to training providers of training for work programmes; and what provision will be made for trainees unable to complete their study.

  Mr. Paice
  I can make no estimate of the overall change in staffing amongst training providers. Individual training and enterprise councils determine both the training providers they fund and the nature of the payment arrangements to those providers. TECs have a contractual responsibility to ensure that trainees are given the opportunity to undertake suitable alternative training should a provider no longer be able to offer training for work.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many participants are transferring annually from employment training or training for work schemes to supported self employment.

  Mr. Paice
  In 1993–94, 5 per cent. of all training for work trainees in Great Britain were self-employed six months after leaving. No information is held centrally about how many of these people or their businesses receive some form of support.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what mechanism there is to fund new training providers wishing to replace those training managers who can no longer justify their existence under existing rules.

  Mr. Paice
  Training and enterprise councils are free to fund new training providers who satisfy their requirements.

  Professional Executive Services
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a list of all Employment Service offices indicating those which(a) will be using the services of the professional executive services team in 1995–96 and (b) need its services in 1994–95 and, in the case of each office, the estimate made of the number of unemployed people for whom these services would be useful.

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

  Letter from R. M. Phillips to Mr. John Denham, dated 13 March 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me, in the absence of the Chief Executive, to reply to your question asking for a list of all Employment Service (ES) offices, together with information on the Professional Executive Services Team.The ES has over 1,350 offices throughout the country and to list them would not be practical. I have however provided details of the offices involved with the Professional and Executive Services Team which I trust you will find useful.The Professional and Executive Services Team offers specialist advice to executive level jobseekers on jobsearch activities. It was created at a time of rising unemployment to help unemployed executives in Hampshire and Isle of Wight. It was a local initiative in response to a rise in the number of unemployed executives in the area. Under this initiative executives were offered a half-day seminar on jobsearch techniques and an opportunity to include their pen picture in an occasional brochure which was distributed to local employers.With falling unemployment, the provision of this service has been reviewed and it will remain available during the coming operational year within the ES Portsmouth District. This District covers ES Jobcentres at Portsmouth, Newport, Ryde, Shanklin, Cosham, and Havant.During the current operational year these services have also been available within three other ES Districts; Southampton, Fareham, Winchester and Portsmouth. These Districts cover ES Jobcentres at Andover, Basingstoke, Petersfield, Winchester, Hythe, Lymington, Southampton, Woolston, Eastleigh, Fareham, Gosport.Specialist services to unemployed executives will continue throughout the ES with Executive Jobclubs and Executive Job Search Seminar programmes.While it is difficult to predict the future level of success of the scheme, I can advise that approximately 20 vacancies were taken by the Professional and Executive Service Team in Southampton between April 1994 and January.I hope this is helpful.

  Jobcentres
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will investigate the actions of the Employment Service in misascribing the constituency which the jobcentre in the Firth park area of Sheffield serves to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Attercliffe (Mr. Betts).

  (2) who is responsible for decisions in relation to the closure of the jobcentres; if it is his policy that the local Member of Parliament should be consulted or informed with regard to any changes to the availability of such a service; and if he will make a statement;

  (3) if he will investigate the proposal to close the Firth park jobcentre facility in Sheffield and the cost involved in clients having to travel to alternative facilities.

  Miss Widdecombe
  I regret the error which occurred and I have asked the chief executive of the Employment Service for a full explanation. I will write to the hon. Member in due course.

TREASURY

  Derivatives Dealing
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what dates discussions took place between Treasury officials and Japanese officials on the incidence of off-exchange dealings in derivatives in Japan by non-Japanese nationals in the last two years.

  Mr. Nelson
  Japanese, United Kingdom and United States securities markets regulators met in Tokyo on 22 April 1994 in one of a series of trilateral meetings to discuss co-operation and regulatory issues in financial services. One of the issues discussed was the over-the-counter derivatives business. It was agreed to co-operate on a trilateral basis in further study.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has about the value of pensions business currently handled by United Kingdom building societies; what information he has concerning the extent to which such societies are trading in derivatives; what steps he is taking in the light of the Baring affair to issue guidance to such derivative-trading building societies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 9 March 1995]: The volume of pensions business handled by building societies is very small both in relation to the size of their operations overall, and to the total volume of pensions in the United Kingdom. Under the Building Societies Act 1986, societies may use a limited range of derivatives, but only for the reduction of risk arising from changes in interest rates, currency rates or other prescribed factors. They do not have the power to trade or speculate in derivatives. The Building Societies Commission has issued prudential guidance on the use of derivatives. The commission keeps its prudential guidance under review. If further guidance is needed in the wake of recent events at Barings, the commission will provide it.
  360
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken by the Building Societies Commission to ensure that building societies do not become involved in derivatives trading; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 9 March 1995]: Building Societies may enter into only a restricted range of derivative contracts, solely for the purpose of reducing loss. They do not have the power to trade or speculate in derivatives.

  Manufactures
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects United Kingdom relative export unit values for manufactures to fall to the fourth quarter 1986 level; and if he will list United Kingdom relative export unit values for manufactures for each quarter since the fourth quarter of 1986.

  Mr. Nelson
  The latest Treasury forecast for relative export unit values for manufactures is shown in chart 3.18 of the November 1994 "Financial Statement and Budget Report", together with historical data back to 1975.

  Quarterly data for relative export unit values for manufactures can be found in the "Monthly review of External Trade Statistics" published monthly by the Central Statistical Office.

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

  Mr. Nelson
  Details for 1991 and 1992 are given in the civil service commissioners report for the relevant year. Copies of the reports are available in the Library. The information for 1993 and 1994 is as follows.

  Year

  Male

  Female

  Total

  1993

  13

  4

  17

  1994

  8

  5

  13

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish full details of the transmission mechanism through which increases in interest rates reduce the rate of inflation.

  Mr. Nelson
  A change in interest rates is likely to affect the pressure of demand in the economy and hence inflation, through several different channels. It affects investment, stockbuilding and consumption directly by changing the cost of capital and the cost of borrowing. It also affects these expenditures indirectly by changing the incomes of borrowers and creditors and the value of assets, such as housing. It may also affect the inflation rate by changing the exchange rate and hence sterling
  361
  import prices. Some of these effects can be quick acting; others occur over a longer period.

  Quantifying the aggregate effect is difficult. The estimates produced by the major United Kingdom macroeconomic models, including the published Treasury model, are regularly compared and published by the Economic and Social Research Council Macroeconomic Modelling Bureau at the University of Warwick. The latest comparison was published in the August 1993 "National Institute Economic Review," a copy of which is in the Library.

  Bank of England
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the names and tenures of the governors and deputy governors of the Bank of England over the last 30 years.

  Mr. Nelson
  The information requested is as follows.

  Tenure

  Governors

  Lord Cromer

  1 July 1961 – 30 June 1966

  Lord O'Brien

  1 July 1966 – 30 June 1973

  Lord Richardson

  1 July 1973 – 30 June 1983

  Lord Kingsdown

  1 July 1983 – 30 June 1993

  E A J George

  1 July 1993 –

  Deputy Governors

  Lord O'Brien

  1 March 1964 – 30 June 1966

  Sir Maurice Parsons

  1 July 1966 – 28 February 1970

  Sir Jasper Q Hollom

  1 March 1970 – 29 February 1980

  C W McMahon

  1 March 1980 – 31 December 1985

  Sir George Blunden

  1 January 1986 – 28 February 1990

  E A J George

  1 March 1990 – 30 June 1993

  R L Pennant-Rea

  1 July 1993 –

  Tourism
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the balance of payments on tourism for(a) 1976, (b) 1977, (c) 1993 and (d) 1994 to-date in 1994 prices.

  Mr. Nelson
  The travel account balances at 1990 prices are:

  Year

  Balance (million)

  1976

  +3,882

  1977

  +4,832

  1993

  -2,691

  Constant price estimates are routinely based on 1990 prices. Full data for 1994 are not available.

  EU Membership (Economic Benefits)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list and quantify the economic benefits which will flow to the United Kingdom from membership of the European Union, together with the beneficiaries.

  Mr. Nelson
  I have nothing to add to the replies I gave to the hon. Member on 17 March 1994,Official Report, column 822, on the 30 June 1994, Official Report, column 680, and on 19 September 1994, Official Report, column 941, and to the reply my right hon. Friend the Prime
  362
  Minister gave on 18 May 1994, Official Report, column 470, the reply my hon. Friend the Paymaster General gave on 25 November 1994, Official Report, column 468, and the reply my right hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad), the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, gave on 29 November 1994, Official Report, column 583 in response to very similar questions from the hon. Member.

  Imported Goods
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government are opposed to an increase in the price of imported relative to home-produced goods; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  The Government are committed to permanently low inflation. We are not opposed to an increase in the price of imported goods relative to domestic goods unless this signals rising inflation.

  Return on Capital
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give his assessment of(a) the rate of return on capital employed in manufacturing and non-manufacturing in 1993 and 1994 and (b) the connection between rate of return and investment in increased manufacturing capacity.

  Mr. Nelson
  The net real rate of return on capital employed by manufacturing companies in 1993 was 5.8 per cent. For all industrial and commercial companies—ICCs—it was 8.4 per cent. Data for 1994 are not yet available, but the forecast published last November in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" showed the net real rate of return for all ICCs rising to 10 per cent. in 1994, with some further increase in 1995. Increases in rates of return contribute to an improved climate for investment. Evidence of this is beginning to emerge. For example, manufacturing investment in plant and machinery in the fourth quarter of 1994 was 5½ per cent. up on the previous quarter and 7¾ per cent. up on a year earlier.

  Tax Fraud
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Government have spent on the detection of tax fraud for each year since 1979.

  Sir George Young
  The costs of investigating tax offences which actually amount to fraud are not separately identifiable. However, the costs of investigations carried out by the Inland Revenue into tax evasion, which includes fraud, during the last five years, were as follows:

  Year

  Spending £ million

  1989–90

  89

  1990–91

  103

  1991–92

  115

  1992–93

  124

  1993–94

  137

  Comparable figures for earlier years are not available.

  Valuation Office
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has reached a decision on the prior options in relation to the current three-year review of the Valuation Office as a next steps agency; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  Treasury Ministers have now considered the options for the future of the Valuation Office agency, taking into account views expressed in response to the public consultation. We have concluded that the Valuation Office should continue as a next steps agency in the public sector and within the Inland Revenue.

  The next stage of the review, which it is hoped will be concluded by the end of April or very shortly thereafter, involves completing the evaluation of the agency's performance to date, reviewing the detailed framework within which the agency operates and considering the appropriate senior management structure for it.

  The next stage will in particular examine the potential for involving the private sector to a greater extent in the agency's non-core work; develop proposals for securing future improvements in efficiency, effectiveness and quality in the tasks it undertakes; and consider whether trading fund status would be appropriate for the agency.

  We expect to publish the results of the review in due course.

  Financial Institutions
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what directions the Bank of England has given to United Kingdom financial institutions in relation to the separation of responsibilities between the front office and the settlements or back office areas of the trading units within such institutions.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 6 March 1995]: The Bank of England does not issue directions to banks on how they must conduct their internal trading and settlement operations but would generally expect the functions of authorisation, execution, valuation, reconciliation, custody and recording to be handled separately.

  Permanent Secretaries
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. Nelson
  [holding answer 8 March 1995]: Sir Peter Middleton and Sir John Anson have retired as permanent secretaries from the Treasury in the five years from 1 March 1990. They have not been appointed to any public positions.

  Cefn Lea Park Christian Centre
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the rateable value of the Cefn Lea Park Christian holiday centre, Dolfar, Newton in 1994—95; what it will be in 1995—96; and if he will make a statement.
  364
  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 8 March 1995]: The rateable value for this centre is £9,400 in 1994–95 and will be £27,535 for 1995–96.

  The Government have introduced transitional arrangements to phase in assessments which have been increased. For properties with a new rateable value of £10,000 or more, increases in rate bills will be limited to 10 per cent. plus inflation. The same limits on increases will continue to apply for each year up to and including 1999–2000.

  Ratepayers who are dissatisfied with their new assessments may appeal after the new lists come into effect on 1 April 1995.

  Absenteeism
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he is taking to combat sickness absenteeism in(a) the Office of the Paymaster, (b) the Central Statistical Office, (c) the Royal Mint and (d) the Treasury.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 9 March 1995]: All four Departments are alert to the need to keep sickness absence to a minimum, and have introduced a range of initiatives to help improve the health of their staff and reduce sickness absence. They each have a separate dedicated welfare officer and a health and safety officer. All adopt widespread no-smoking policies, provide health screening, eye and eyesight tests for those who use display screen equipment and special leave for domestic emergencies.

  In addition (a) the Office of the Paymaster has introduced a "look after your heart scheme", cancer screening for women, a workplace nursery and holiday play scheme arrangements; (b) the Central Statistical Office held health screening programmes in both 1992 and 1993, makes health promotional videos available in its Library, has organised presentations from the national physiotherapy service and provides holiday play scheme arrangements; (c) the Royal Mint has an on-site occupational health service, a health screening programme and access to a fitness centre; (d) the Treasury also has a fitness centre, provides holiday play scheme arrangements, provides awareness seminars for new VDU users and carries out workstation risk assessments for all DSU users and regular risk assessment of the workplace. In addition, contractors are asked to provide a copy of their health and safety policy statement and are briefed on best safety practice in the workplace.

  All four departments have systems in place to record and monitor sickness absence; to manage staff with unacceptable levels of sickness absence; and to take appropriate action if it proves impossible to bring attendance back to acceptable levels. These systems are kept under review.

  Performance-related Pay
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the annual cost to the Exchequer in foregone revenue of performance-related pay schemes for the latest year for which figures are available.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 27 February 1995]: There is no tax relief for performance-related pay.

PRIME MINISTER

  Executive Remuneration
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to ensure co-ordination between Ministers and regulatory bodies in monitoring levels of executive salaries and share options in privatised industries and services.

  The Prime Minister
  The role of regulators is to protect consumers. Regulators cannot be expected to judge the merits of individual board members, set their pay effectively and determine the appointment of boardroom executives. We await the conclusions of the Greenbury committee on the best practice for companies on executive remuneration.

  Water and Sewerage
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Prime Minster what is the cost of his Department's expenditure on water and sewerage in(a) the current year and (b) each of the previous years.

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

  Ministerial Resignations
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will provide a list of those ministers who have left his Government since 1992 and give in each case the reason for their departure.

  The Prime Minister
  The following Ministers have resigned from the Government since the end of 1992:

  The right hon. Norman Lamont MP

  The right hon. Tristan Garel-Jones MP

  The right hon. Sir Archie Hamilton MP

  Edward Leigh MP

  Sir Kenneth Carlisle MP

  Robert Jackson Esq. MP

  Michael Mates Esq. MP

  The right hon. the Lord Hesketh

  Tim Yeo MP

  The right hon. the Earl of Caithness

  Michael Brown MP

  The right hon. the Lord Wakeham

  The right hon. John MacGregor OBE, MP

  The right hon. Peter Brooke CH, MP

  The right hon. John Patten MP

  The right hon. Sir Timothy Sainsbury MP

  The right hon. Sir Wyn Roberts MP

  The right hon. Sir Peter Lloyd MP

  The right hon. Sir Nicholas Scott KBE MP

  The right hon. Sir John Cope MP

  The hon. Sir Mark Lennox-Boyd MP

  Patrick McLoughlin MP

  Robert Key MP

  Sir Irvine Patnick OBE, MP

  Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne

  Viscount St. Davids

  Lord Annaly

  Tim Smith MP

  Neil Hamilton MP

  Earl of Arran

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  Allan Stewart MP

  Charles Wardle MP

  Robert G. Hughes MP

  There were a number of differnt reasons for these resignations.

  G7 Summit
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to respond to the letter to him of 3 March from the Secretary of the Japanese Labour Camp Survivors Association concerning its attendance at the G7 summit in July; and what his response will be.

  The Prime Minister
  A reply will be sent shortly. The arrangements for the G7 summit are in the hands of the Canadian authorities, who hold the chair at the moment, but there would normally be no objection to the presence in Halifax of non-governmental groups and organisations.

  Animal Protection, South Korea
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will raise the issue of the illegal cat and dog meat industry operating in South Korea when he meets the President of Korea later this month; if he will press the President of Korea to introduce stricter animal protection laws; and what action he has taken to stop the illegal cat and dog meat industry in South Korea.

  The Prime Minister
  I met the President of the Republic of Korea on Wednesday 8 March. We discussed bilateral trade and investment, science and technology, and other issues of mutual interest. We did not discuss the issue of animal protection but the South Korean Government are aware of the concerns of the British public on this issue.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  International Development Association
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy, in relation to negotiations on the 11th replenishment of the International Development Association to propose that the accountability of IDA to both donor Governments and projected beneficiaries is improved, and that the 1993–94 reforms on information disclosure must be fully implemented.

  Mr. Baldry
  We will work with other donors during the negotiations on the 11th replenishment of IDA on the issues of strengthening IDA's accountability and implementation of its information disclosure policy.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy, in the negotiations on the 11th replenishment of IDA, to propose that(a) the objective of poverty reduction is fully incorporated into IDA loans, (b) social impact assessments are completed for all IDA projects, assessing social outcomes of loans as well as predicted adverse social impacts and (c) the proportion of IDA lending allocated to programmes of targeted intervention should be increased to at least 50 per cent.

  Mr. Baldry
  Poverty reduction is IDA's central objective, and we are ready to support measures which
  367
  will enhance IDA's effectiveness in helping borrowers to implement this objective, including expanded use of social impact assessments to improve the quality of IDA's lending. We are not persuaded, however, that global targets are an efficient way of achieving this. The composition of IDA's lending as made clear in the IDA-10 donors' report, should reflect the needs of individual countries.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy, in relation to negotiations on the 11th replenishment of IDA, to propose that(a) stringent procedures for evaluating the World bank's compliance with replenishment conditions should be agreed and (b) annual evaluations of IDA should be undertaken.

  Mr. Baldry
  Donors already require IDA management to report annually on progress made in implementing policy agreed under particular replenishments.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to agree to the 11th replenishment of IDA only if he believes that the funds will be used in line with the objectives set out in his overseas development programme.

  Mr. Baldry
  IDA's priority objectives of poverty reduction, sound economic management and environmentally sustainable development closely match those of the UK aid programme.

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy, in relation to the negotiations for the 11th IDA replenishment, that there should be no use of IDA funds to pay off the multilateral debt of recipient countries.

  Mr. Baldry
  We and other donors support continuation of IDA's fifth dimension facility, which is financed through reflows on past IDA loans and allocates additional resources to eligible IDA recipients which are on-track with their reform programmes, in proportion to interest payments due on their International Bank for Reconstruction and Development debt. We are also ready, in the context of the 11th replenishment negotiations, to consider whether there are other ways IDA might assist those few countries which have an unsustainable burden of multilateral debt, building on the suggestions made by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the annual meetings of the IMF and World bank in Madrid last October.

  Indonesian Police
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 3 February,Official Report, column 883–84, what mechanisms he has put in place to ensure that no officers of the Indonesian police force who have been involved in activities relating to human rights abuses in Indonesia and East Timor receive scholarship awards in the United Kingdom or other training financed by his Department; and how many of those proposed as trainees by the Indonesian police force have been excluded from (a) scholarship awards in the United Kingdom and (b) other forms of training financed by his Department on these grounds in each year since 1990.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 8 March 1995]: All applicants for training under the Indonesia police project provide biographical details, have their work performance
  368
  assessed, and are interviewed before selection. No officers proposed for training have been rejected on grounds of involvement in human rights abuses.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Rugby Offences
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to seek a review of the law as it relates to offences on a rugby field.

  Mr. Maclean
  The Law Commission is currently considering the application of the criminal law to acts of violence committed in sport, as part of its inquiry into consent as a defence to offences against the person. The Government have no plans at present to review the law in this area.

  Passport Fraud
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases of false(a) full passports and (b) British visitor's passports in the past five years it has been discovered that a living person's identity has been duplicated

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The total number of fraudulent passport applications in each of the last five years was:

  Full passports

  British visitor's passports

  1990

  854

  210

  1991

  1,037

  151

  1992

  984

  126

  1993

  1,162

  159

  1994

  1,031

  116

  Separate figures are not available for the number of those applicants who used false identifies posing as a living person.

  Immigration Control
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to maintain immigration control-effectiveness at Dover.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Immigration officers apply a document check to all passengers arriving at Dover, and examine non-EEA nationals to assess their admissibility under the immigration rules.

  In addition, immigration officers conduct surveillance on car and freight traffic to combat clandestine immigration by concealment in vehicles and containers. The number of clandestine entrants detected in the Dover area increased form 256 in 1993 to 379 in 1994.

  Al Fayed Brothers
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the reasons for refusing British nationality to(a) Mr. Mohammed Al-Fayed and (b) Mr. Ali Al-Fayed; and if he will make a statement.
  369
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  No. It is not our practice to comment on individual applications for naturalisation.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library copies of his correspondence with the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Hamilton) concerning the Al-Fayed's.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his question on 7 March 1995,Official Report, column 116.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mrs. Barbara Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum were determined in 1994; in how many cases(a) the applicant was granted asylum, (b) the applicant was refused and (c) the application was refused under paragraph 345 of the immigration rules.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Information on decisions taken on applications for asylum in 1994, is in the table.

  Decisions1 2 on applications received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, by type, 1994

  Number of applicants

  31994

  Total Decisions

  20,990

  Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum4

  825

  Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave to remain

  3,660

  Total refused

  16,500

  Refused asylum and exceptional leave after full consideration

  12,655

  Refused on safe third country grounds5

  865

  Refused under paragraph 180F of Immigration Rules6

  2,985

  1 Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period.

  2 Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the out-come of appeals or other subsequent decisions.

  3 Provisional figures rounded to the nearest 5.

  4 Excluding South East Asian refugees.

  5 Refusals under para 345 of the Immigration Rules since 1 October 1994.

  6 Para 340 refusals since I October 1994. For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period, including failure to respond to invitation to interview to establish identity.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been removed to France on safe third country grounds since 26 July 1993; and how many of those so removed have been returned to the United Kingdom by the French authorities.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Available records show that 153 asylum seeker have been removed to France on safe third country grounds since 26 July 1993. Of these, 80 have been returned to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give a breakdown by country of origin of current applicants for asylum, of the duration of their application, the time spent in detention and the proposed action, if any, by his Department.
  370
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The available information on the number of applications for asylum awaiting an initial decision as at 31 December 1994, by nationality, is given in the table. Information on the length of time these applicants have been waiting for an initial decision is not available.

  As at 30 January 1995, 139 persons who were awaiting an initial decision on their application for asylum were detained.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been removed to France on safe third country grounds since 26 July 1993; and how many of those so removed have been returned to the United Kingdom by the French authorities.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Available records show that 153 asylum seekers have been removed to France on safe third country grounds since 26 July 1993. Of these, 80 have been returned to the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give a breakdown by country of origin of current applicants for asylum, of the duration of their application, the time spent in detention and the proposed action, if any, by his Department.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The available information on the number of applications for asylum awaiting an initial decision as at 31 December 1994, by nationality, is given in the table. Information on the length of time these applicants have been waiting for an initial decision is not available.

  As at 30 January 1995, 139 persons who were awaiting an initial decision on their application for asylum were detained.

  The number of asylum applications outstanding, excluding dependants, as at 31 December 1994, by nationality

  Nationality

  Applications outstanding

  Europe including Americas

  Bulgaria

  550

  Colombia

  590

  Romania

  805

  Turkey

  3,545

  Former USSR

  1,155

  Former Yugoslavia

  5,990

  Others

  1,630

  Total

  14,265

  Africa

  Angola

  1,815

  Benin

  50

  Cameroon

  175

  Ethiopia

  1,345

  Ghana

  5,435

  Kenya

  2,090

  Nigeria

  5,100

  Somalia

  1,025

  Sudan

  510

  Togo/Ivory Coast

  1,300

  Uganda

  1,275

  Zaire

  3,570

  Others1

  3,570

  Total

  27,270

  Middle East

  Iran

  805

  Iraq

  575

  Lebanon

  475

  371

  The number of asylum applications outstanding, excluding dependants, as at 31 December 1994, by nationality

  Nationality

  Applications outstanding

  Others

  945

  Total

  2,805

  Asia

  China

  860

  India

  2,630

  Pakistan

  2,760

  Sri Lanka

  3,185

  Others

  1,405

  Total

  10,840

  Nationality Unknown

  80

  Grand Total

  55,255

  1 includes Sierra Leone

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown by nationality of the number of asylum seekers removed from the United Kingdom on safe third country grounds in 1994.

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Information on the number of removals of asylum seekers whose applications were refused on safe third country grounds, by nationality, for 1994 is given in the table.

  Information on the destination of asylum applicants refused and removed on safe third country grounds, and the number of those who were returned by the country removed to, could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.

  Number1 of asylum seekers whose applications were refused on safe third country grounds and who were removed, excluding dependants, by nationality, 1994.

  Refusals

  Europe

  Albania

  3

  Bulgaria

  6

  Czechoslovakia

  11

  Poland

  6

  Romania

  11

  Turkey

  18

  Former USSR

  6

  Former Yugoslavia

  16

  Total

  77

  Americas

  Colombia

  1

  Other Americas

  2

  Total

  3

  Africa

  Algeria

  27

  Angola

  13

  Ethiopia

  9

  Ghana

  21

  Ivory Coast

  10

  Kenya

  2

  Liberia

  8

  Morocco

  1

  Niger

  1

  Nigeria

  15

  Sierra Leone

  12

  Somalia

  14

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  Number1 of asylum seekers whose applications were refused on safe third country grounds and who were removed, excluding dependants, by nationality, 1994.

  Refusals

  South Africa

  5

  Sudan

  4

  Tanzania

  2

  Uganda

  5

  Zaire

  4

  Other Africa

  2

  Total

  155

  Middle East

  Iran

  3

  Iraq

  7

  Lebanon

  6

  Total

  16

  Asia

  Afghanistan

  3

  Bangladesh

  3

  China

  6

  India

  6

  Pakistan

  7

  Sri Lanka

  24

  Total

  49

  Other and nationality not known

  6

  Grand Total

  306

  1 Provisional information pending the analysis of late data.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if those seeking asylum in Britain are entitled to legal aid in order to apply for(a) a writ of habeas corpus and (b) a judicial review.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I have been asked to reply. Civil legal aid is available for both of these proceedings, subject to the statutory means and merits tests.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who are seeking asylum in the United Kingdom have been detained in the past 12 months, in(a) Campsfield, (b) Haslar holding centre, (c) Rochester and (d) Rickmansworth.

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

  Welsh Police
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were employed full-time by Welsh police forces in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  The total number of officers in Welsh forces is set out in the table. The available information does not distinguish officers employed on a full-time basis.

  Year As at 31 December

  Number of officers

  1990

  6,399

  1991

  6,424

  1992

  6,480

  1993

  6,438

  1994

  6,373

  Drugs (Deaths)
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of recorded deaths from(a) methadone and (b) heroin overdose for each coroner's area of the United Kingdom last year.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  This information is not collected centrally. In 1992, the latest year for which information is available, 76 notified drug addicts in the United Kingdom died because of an overdose of methadone, and 129 addicts died because of an overdose of heroin, morphine or other unspecified opiate drugs.

  Data Processing Contract
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what were regarded as the relative(a) advantages and (b) disadvantages of (i) the ED5 in-house team bid and (ii) the Sema bid for the data processing contract in his Department; and on what basis he made his decision;

  (2) if he will list the senior managers within his Department who were responsible for data processing work prior to the recent privatisation; and if he will indicate what has happened to them, in career terms, since the award of the contract to Sema;

  (3) if his Department has paid towards the cost of redundancies of employees working on data processing at Corby who are likely to be re-employed in similar work at the site; and if he will make a statement;

  (4) if he will make a statement about how the bids from (a) the ED5 in-house team and (b) Sema for the data processing contract were evaluated; what assumptions were made about each bid including assumptions about aspects not directly contained in the bids; if the cost of the redundancies to he paid for by his Department was added to the Sema bid; and if he will make a statement;

  (5) if the evaluation process for the data processing contract covered all the services that were being undertaken on this work within his Department; and what adjustments were made in considering and comparing the bids for (a) the ED5 in-house team and (b) Sema to ensure an accurate comparison;

  (6) what was the period of time between the submission to this Department of best and final offers for the data processing contract and the announcement of the decision; and what factors underlay the length of time of this interval.

  Mr. Howard
  In the market test of the Home Office administrative information technology services division—ED5—the final competition was between Sema Group plc and an in-house team, in association with a private sector partner. Other bidders had been eliminated at earlier stages of the market test. Following detailed negotiations with Sema Group plc and the in-house team, both submitted "best and final offer" bids which were received on 9 June 1994. Both these bidders were considered technically capable of providing the required services and their bids were compared on the basis of a final evaluation which showed that the Sema bid represented better value for money offering estimated annual savings of about £4.8 million.

  The evaluation was undertaken on the basis of information put forward by the bidders in submitting their best and final offers. The evaluation covered all the
  374
  services in the contract; other information technology supplies and services provided to the Home Office which are outside the scope of the contract are purchased separately.

  In evaluating the offers, a number of adjustments were made to both bids to ensure that the total costs to the Home Office were being compared. The replies given to the hon. Member on 13 February, Official Report, columns 491–92, explained that details of bids and related evaluation arrangements are commercially confidential but the maximum potential costs to the Home Office of the transitional and restructuring costs in the Sema Group bid were used in the evaluation.

  It took 40 days to evaluate the bids, including consideration by Ministers and officials, and arrange the announcement which was made on 19 July 1994.

  The reply given to the hon. Member on 23 January at column 50 explained that with some limited exceptions staff in the undertaking were transferred to the Sema group. Subsequent redundancies are a matter for Sema plc who will meet the associated costs. Those staff in the undertaking who were redeployed before the transfer were found posts in the same grade elsewhere in the Department or in other Government Departments.

  Prisoners (Mental Illness)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements generally obtain in respect of prisoners for the treatment of a prisoner for mental illness who lived in one district health authority but is imprisoned in a prison covered by another district health authority; and if he will make a statement.

  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. Graham Allen, dated 13 March 1995.
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about arrangements for the treatment for mental illness of prisoners who are detained in establishments away from their usual districts of residence.The general rule under which the Prison Service has operated for many years is that it meets the costs of a prisoner's health care inside prison walls itself. That would include any treatment for mental illness. If a prisoner needs to be taken to an outside hospital for treatment for mental illness, the decision as to which hospital he/she is referred to is one for the clinicians involved in his/her care. The costs of treatment are a matter for his/her usual district of residence, except where the transfer to one of the special hospitals is concerned, as they are funded centrally by the Department of Health.Guidance issued by the NHS Management Executive states that the health authority responsible for funding the treatment of a prisoner/patient is determined by the address at which he or she was resident immediately before detention. Where that cannot be determined satisfactorily, responsibility falls on the district in which the offence, or alleged offence, in respect of which the prisoner is detained was committed.

  Crime Victims Hotline
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many calls the telephone hotline for crime victims has received; how many of those calls have led to action being taken; and if he will specify the action.
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  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 10 February 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 Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 13 March 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the Victim Helpline.Up to 8 March this year, the Helpline had received 86 calls since its inception on 5 December 1994. The work of the Helpline is confidential and it is not possible to give details of individual calls. Of the 86 calls, sixty have been passed to prison governors for any necessary further action, such as the investigation of alleged unwanted contact from a prisoner. A further 26 calls were asking for advice on how the helpline operated.

  Parole
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prisoners in the last year for which figures are available experienced a delay in their parole; what was(a) the average delay and, (b) the delay for each prisoner; and what has been (i) the total cost to public funds of these delays and, (ii) the cost for each prisoner;

  (2) how many prisoners are currently experiencing a delay in their parole; and what is the cost to public funds of keeping those people in prison.

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 13 February 1995]: The Parole Board and parole unit are currently dealing with 569 cases involving prisoners where decisions on parole have been delayed beyond parole eligibility date or its anniversary. It is not possible to estimate the cost to public funds until these cases have been dealt with, and it is clear (a) in which cases parole will be granted, and (b) how long after the parole eligibility date a decision is notified to the prisoner.

  I regret that the information requested in relation to delays in parole during a complete year is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Chechnya
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Russian Government concerning the war in Chechnya; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised our concerns with the Russian Prime Minister in London on 2 March.

  My right hon. Friend told him that Chechnya had been a setback to Russia's relations with the west, stressed the importance of ending the fighting and reaching a negotiated settlement and urged the Russians to guarantee free access for humanitarian aid.

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost to the Russian Government of the campaign in Chechnya; what assessment he has made of the estimate of the economist Andrei Illarionov; and if he will make a statement.
  376
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  It is very difficult to make an accurate estimate of the costs of the Chechnya campaign.

  We are aware of Illarionov's estimate of $5 billion. It is one of a number of widely varying estimates and is based on extrapolation from a limited amount of data.

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the Russian Defence Minister General Pavel Grachev's call for a new offensive in Chechnya.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We continue to urge the Russians to end the fighting in Chechnya and pursue a negotiated settlement. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made these points most recently when he saw the Russian Prime Minister on 2 March.

  St. Helena
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy in respect of discrimination on wage rates for employment in Government services on St. Helena between ex-patriates from the United Kingdom and St. Helenians; in what instances in the last 10 years different wage rates were paid to each category of person for the same work; what were the wage rates; and if he will put in the Library documents which are used in the application of such a policy in St. Helena.

  Mr. David Davis
  There is no such policy. Pay scales offered by the Government of St. Helena to its employees do not discriminate between those recruited in the United Kingdom and St. Helenians recruited locally. An expatriate may be paid a supplement by us in addition to the local salary to bring him or her into line with UK salary levels if he or she is recruited as part of the UK's aid effort at the request of the St. Helena Government in order to fill a post for which no suitably qualified St. Helenian is available.
  Mr. Mike O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many St. Helenian males leave their families on St. Helena to work for over one year elsewhere.

  Mr. David Davis
  The total number of unaccompanied St. Helenian males working away from St. Helena on contracts of more than 12 months is 90, the vast majority being on Ascension island.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy in respect of censorship of radio stations in St. Helena; and if he will place the documentation which sets out that policy in the Library.

  Mr. David Davis
  There is no censorship of Radio St. Helena, which is the only radio station on the island.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Government censorship policy applies to St. Helena Television.

  Mr. David Davis
  There is no policy of censorship of television on St. Helena. A television station will soon start and will operate under licence by Cable and Wireless. The company is required under the terms of the licence to notify the Governor of details of the services to be offered. The licence controls the broadcast of obscene or seditious material or material that would endanger security or public morals.

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many St.
  377
  Helenian mothers leave their families on St. Helena to work for over one year elsewhere.

  Mr. David Davis
  The total number of unaccompanied St. Helenian mothers working away from St. Helena on contracts of more than 12 months is 22.

  Chelsea Fans, Bruges
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens were deported from Belgium as a result of the Bruges versus Chelsea football match; how many were arrested; how many have been charged; and how many have been or are likely to be prosecuted.

  Mr. David Davis
  Approximately 1,000 Chelsea fans, either without tickets or with forged tickets or with invalid tickets for the Bruges fans area of the stadium were deported from Belgium as a result of the Bruges v. Chelsea football match. Forty-two fans were detained for disorderly behaviour and one fan was arrested and charged with assault. None were prosecuted and all were released within 24 hours.

  Middle East
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with other permanent members of the UN Security Council on ways of resuscitating the middle east peace process; and what were the conclusions.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  During the debate in the UN Security Council on 28 February on Israeli settlement building in the occupied territories, we reiterated our continued support for the peace process and our condemnation of settlement building. Separately, on behalf of the EU, the French Foreign Minister wrote to the United States Secretary of State about the Troika's recent visit to theregion in support of the peace process.

  Iraq
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support or co-operation the Iraqi-British interests group delegation to Iraq had from his Department.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Iraqi-British interest group neither requested nor received assistance from my Department for its visit to Iraq. However, at least one member of the group called, in a personal capacity, on our embassy in Jordan after the visit, and the normal courtesies were extended.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on levels of military activity in Iraq between Government forces and various rebel groups.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We are aware of reports of clashes that have taken place between Iraqi Government forces and opposition groups over the past few days, mainly in the areas of Kirkuk and Irbil. It is difficult to assess the level of activity. Fighting appears to have broken out following the Iraqi opposition reports of Iraqi troop movements and shelling of Kurdish villages. We are continuing to monitor the situation closely.

  Burma
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries which are known to him as supplying arms to Burma.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Together with our EU partners we imposed an arms embargo on Burma in July 1991. That remains in force.

  We have no reliable information about the sale of arms to Burma by other countries.

  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made regarding attacks by the Burmese forces on the Karen people.

  Mr. Goodlad
  Together with our EU partners we have expressed our concerns about recent developments directly to the ruling military regime in Burma, the State Law and Order Restoration Council—SLORC. We called in the Burmese ambassador on 17 February to reinforce the EU action and to urge the SLORC to call an immediate halt to the current offensive. On 10 March the EU issued a statement condemning the attacks and calling upon the SLORC to find a swift and peaceful solution to the ethnic minority problem in Burma.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from other Governments critical of British attempts to stimulate trade links with the SLORC regime in Burma.

  Mr. Goodlad
  None.

  Angola
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to send military and police observers to assist the UNAVEM III peacekeeping operation in Angola.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We have no plans to contribute military or police observers to UNAVEM III. As my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement told the House on 23 February, we have agreed in principle to a United Nations request to provide a logistics battalion to the peacekeeping operation in Angola.

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what specific international initiatives are being taken to try to stabilise the internal security position in Sierra Leone.

  Mr. Baldry
  We are working to bring greater international attention to the conflict; in particular with the UN and Commonwealth. We are in close touch with EU and African partners. Last month the UN and commonwealth secretaries-general sent their special representatives to Sierra Leone to examine ways of bringing about a settlement.
  379
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what timetable has been drawn up by the Government of Sierra Leone for the return of the country to democratic rule.

  Mr. Baldry
  The existing timetable of the Government of Sierra Leone provides for parliamentary elections before the end of 1995. Although the internal security situation may lead to some delay, we expect the Government to press ahead with the transition to civilian rule as rapidly as practicable.
  380
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the Government of Sierra Leone has sought from the international community to deal with its internal disorder.

  Mr. Baldry
  In response to requests from the Government of Sierra Leone, the UN and commonwealth secretaries-general have sent special representatives to Freetown to explore ways of bringing about a settlement. We have given our strong support to these initiatives.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Haselhurst
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what improvements are planned to assist in the identification of parliamentary questions and answers.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  A new method of identifying written parliamentary questions by attaching a unique number to each question has been developed by the House authorities, in conjunction with Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

  With the wider use of questions in electronic form and the need to relate the electronic version to the printed page, the Committee has agreed that an identifying number should in future be shown beside each question when it appears on the Notice Paper and the Order Paper. As questions with an identifying number begin to be answered, the number will also start to appear in the Official Report.

  The number will not exceed five digits, and the sequence of numbers will begin afresh at the beginning

  Week ending

  Reduction in pool betting duty £

  Spot the Ball £

  Football Trust Income Total £

  7 January 1995

  393,654

  189,906

  583,560

  14 January 1995

  404,662

  205,343

  610,005

  21 January 1995

  408,250

  206,575

  614,825

  28 January 1995

  408,357

  197,103

  605,460

  4 February 1995

  401,609

  204,514

  606,123

  11 February 1995

  398,305

  200,988

  599,293

  18 February 1995

  398,545

  195,498

  594,043

  Performance Targets
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his oral answer of 27 February,Official Report, column 680, if he will publish the performance targets for the key areas in which services are delivered by his Department together with the results that have been achieved; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 6 March 1995]: Details of the achievement of key performance targets by my Department appear in our annual report, which was published on 9 March, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. My Department's agencies and sponsored bodies produce their own reports.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Water and Sewerage
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the cost of his Department's expenditure on water and sewerage in(a) the current year and (b) each of the three previous years.

  Mr. Horam
  The cost to my Departments of water and sewerage in the current year to date and in each of the three previous years is as follows:
  382
  of each parliamentary Session. The number will not be used to "count" individual Members' questions, but will simply reflect the current total of questions tabled in the House.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  National Lottery
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage by how much the money disbursed by the Football Trust has been reduced since the introduction of the national lottery.

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 7 March 1995]: Details of the weekly revenue made available to the Football Trust for distribution in the current financial year were given in response to a written question from the hon. Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (Mr. Pendry) on 2 February, Official Report column 778. The national lottery was introduced on 14 November 1994. A table detailing the trust's revenue since the start of 1995 is as follows.

  Cabinet Office £

  COI £

  HMSO £

  1991–92

  62,069

  52,623

  70,762

  1992–93

  73,952

  32,106

  111,602

  1993–94

  66,766

  3,1282

  98,266

  1994–951

  98,798

  n/a

  102,290

  1This is a part-year figure as not all invoices to the end of the year have yet been submitted.

  2The charging regime changed from rateable value to metered supply costs in 1993–94.

  Civil Service
  Mr. Trend
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement about changes in the arrangements for recruitment to the civil service.

  Mr. Horam
  The Command Paper "The Civil Service: Taking Forward Continuity and Change (CM 2748)" indicated the Government's intention to reinforce the principle of selection on merit and to enhance the role of the independent civil service commissioners. The approval of the Privy Council is currently being sought to a revised civil service Order in Council to give effect to these new recruitment arrangements. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

  From 1 May 1995 the civil service commissioners will be responsible for interpreting the fundamental principle

  383
  of selection on merit on the basis of fair and open competition for all civil service recruitment, including the circumstances in which exceptions to the principle can be made within the parameters of the Order in Council; publishing a simple, but binding, recruitment code; auditing departments' and agencies' systems for compliance with their recruitment code and publishing on account of their audit in their annual report. They will continue to approve appointments from outside the civil service to the new senior civil service, but not to appointments immediately below that level and to the fast stream entries. Such appointments, like all other recruitment, will be subject to the commissioners' new recruitment code.

  Departments and agencies will be required to publish information about their recruitment systems and their use of the permitted exceptions to fair and open competition. This will make information available publicly about recruitment to the civil service and the extent to which exceptions to the recruitment principle are made, apart from very short-term appointments.

  Making these changes now does not, of course, prejudice the commitment in the Command Paper to consider legislation on the civil service to put the powers of the civil service commissioners and the Minister for the Civil Service on a statutory basis at a later date.

  Absenteeism
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what measures he is taking to combat sickness absenteeism in(a) the Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency, (b) the Civil Service Occupational Health Service, (c) Chessington Computer Centre and (d) the Central Office of Information

  Mr. David Hunt
  Management of sickness absence at next steps agencies is the responsibility of chief executives. I have therefore referred the hon. Member's question to the chief executives of the four agencies concerned, who will be writing to him separately.

  Letter from Thea Harvey to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 9 March 1995:
  Michael Geddes has asked me to reply to your PQ on sickness absence.The Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency formally monitors the sickness absence level of its staff on a monthly basis.However, the initial responsibility lies with line managers who are required to meet informally with staff when the attendance level is unsatisfactory.If there is no improvement, formal procedures begin which, ultimately, would end with dismissal as a result of irregular attendance.
  Letter from E. C. McCloy to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 8 March 1995:
  Your question to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on measures taken to combat sickness absence in the Civil Service Occupational Health Service has been referred to me to reply directly.Hitherto, line managers initiated investigations on receipt of sickness absence records triggered from central records at Chessington at 14 days in 1 year for those under 45 years and 21 days in 1 year for those over 45 years.Over the last year a small number of staff developed serious medical conditions which resulted in unavoidable long periods of absence. In a small agency, 120 full time staff, the effect of a few
  384
  individuals with long term absence on the overall percentage sickness absence can be misleading. In 1993, 75 staff had no recorded sickness absence. The corresponding figure for 1994 was 92.The apparent rise in percentage absence has led us to review our management procedures. Line managers will, in future, initiate informal review of absence after 7 days of self certificated absence or 14 days of certificated or combined certificated/self certificated absence in any one year.Where such action fails to resolve the situation, discussion with senior managers will result, where appropriate, in a request for an assessment by an occupational physician independent of line managers. Where absence continues thereafter at and unacceptable rate formal procedures for inefficiency will be instigated in accordance with OHSA policy.
  Letter from R. N. Edwards to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 2 March 1995:
  I refer to your enquiry of 1 March to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster regarding the measures being taken to combat sickness absenteeism at Chessington Computer Centre.The Centre's procedures for the monitoring and control of sick absence were reviewed during 1994. As a result, new guidance notes for line managers were issued in September 1994 formally introducing new procedures. The changes in procedure introduced were intended to emphasise the line manager's role in the control of absence. Return to work interviews have been formally introduced, and warning letters to staff, whose absence levels exceed that normally expected, are to be issued by line managers rather than by personnel managers.These steps have been taken in addition to the measures already in place which include the provision of a welfare service for staff, and the use of the Occupational Health Service for advice on medical and health care issues.Absence levels across the centre are monitored on a monthly basis and measured against set targets. Over the last year there has been a downward trend in overall absence rates. Progress towards targets will continue to be observed closely and procedures reviewed and revised as necessary.
  Letter from Mike Devereau to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 6 March 1995:
  The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has asked me to respond to your PQ about managing sickness absenteeism.You are already aware, from my 26 January letter to you, of our figures over recent years. When compared against other organisations, our absence record might be regarded as not being a case of especially serious concern. However, I am by no means complacent and I do, of course, fully recognise that any reduction in sickness levels can contribute directly to our successful year-on-year achievement of efficiency gains.We have recently carried out an internal pilot study, which has been a valuable overall indicator, but now recognise that more analytical work needs to be carried out if we are to achieve meaningful benchmark comparisons. We believe that we need to build up a more complete picture of absences analysed by grade; by age range; by sex; staff with no absences; distribution of illness by length of absence; types of illness, and comparison across various work areas. This further analysis is in hand.We are also awaiting report of a Health Screening exercise, in which—on a voluntary basis—a high percentage of staff recently underwent physical and lifestyle checks. This screening was carried out for us by an independent external organisation, and we have asked that they report back to us on their overall findings—including details of health profiles, smoking and drinking patterns, and any observations they can provide on matters such as stress levels.Health screening is one of a number of initiatives taken by COI in recent years to improve health standards. Other initiatives have

  385
  been the introduction of 'no smoking' policies; provision of a small fitness centre; eyesight testing for VDU users; and training in safe manual handling procedures.Depending on the further analysis work referred to above, it is likely that our action plan will encompass:

  (i) setting up better monitoring systems;

  (ii) carrying out regular benchmarking against 'best practice' organisations;

  (iii) providing more detailed guidance to line managers, so as to encourage them to take even greater personal responsibility for controlling absences;

  (iv) if appropriate, provide training for line managers in the management of sickness absence;

  (v) providing more counselling to staff with comparatively poor sickness records, and developing our system so that—even after a single day's absence—staff are formally interviewed by the manager to welcome them back and discuss the nature of the illness.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Register of County Court Judgments
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will amend the Register of County Court Judgments Regulations so as to exempt hon. Members carrying out their public duties from having to pay for searches of county court judgments.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  There are no plans to change the requirement to pay a fee for searches of the register of county court judgments.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on what date his Department transferred its responsibility for logging county court judgments to Registry Trust Ltd.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Although the Lord Chancellor retains statutory responsibility for the register of county court judgments, responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the register was passed to Registry Trust Ltd. on 30 December 1985.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in what way payments for search requests on county court judgments by hon. Members carrying out their public duties have changed since the Lord Chancellor's departmental responsibility for these matters was transferred to Registry Trust Ltd.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  No changes have been made to the requirement to pay a fee for searches of the register of county court judgments since Registry Trust Ltd. assumed responsibility for the operation of the register.

  Civil Enforcement
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the report on the future of civil enforcement, which was lodged with him in early 1994.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor undertook a public consultation in 1992 on whether the law in this area should be changed. He is currently considering the outcome of that consultation.

  Court Summonses
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make it his policy to ensure that court summonses in the county court are served by first class post; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor recently conducted a public consultation exercise on the policy of serving summonses by first class post. The responses to this consultation are currently being evaluated.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Internet
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consideration his Department is giving to the use of an encryption key which would allow the state access to all information on the Internet; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The Internet is an open and unrestricted environment for information exchange, in which encryption is currently little used. The Government, along with other member states, are currently discussing the future use of encryption in such networks, taking account of both commercial needs and the interests of security and public order.

  Italian Car Taxation
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has made to the European Commission concerning the Italian Government's proposals to reintroduce the imposta straordinaria; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The Government are very concerned about the difficulties which Italian car taxation has been causing exporters to Italy of luxury cars. This problem has been raised at regular meetings of the Internal Market Advisory Committee, which is chaired by the European Commission. In addition, I wrote to the Italian Finance Minister last month, urging the Italians not to reintroduce the imposta straordinaria, which we understood was then under consideration. We were pleased to learn that the Italian Government subsequently published their budget without including this tax.

  BSkyB
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the Office of Fair Trading's decisions on 7 March relating to the packaging and pricing of BSkyB programming to cable operators.

  Mr. Jonathon Evans
  I welcome the success of the Director General of Fair Trading in securing undertakings from BSkyB which meet his concerns.

  Exports to Gibraltar
  Mr. Bennett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the export licence application refused for the export of goods to Gibraltar in 1993 was for equipment specified as ML3 in group 1 of part III of schedule 1 to SI 1992 No. 3092.
  387
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  No. The equipment in question was specified as ML15.

  It has not been the practice of successive Governments to reveal details of licences or applications unless the requirements of confidentiality are outweighed by the public interest.

  Petrol Pumps
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to continue the requirement for petrol pumps to be checked by trading standards officers; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Trading standards officers have the power to test petrol pumps, as items of weighing or measuring equipment in use for trade. TSOs test petrol pumps before first use and from time to time during use; the frequency of this subsequent testing will depend on the local situation.

  Plans have already been announced—in the booklet "Deregulation—Cutting Red Tape", January 1994—for a scheme to allow manufacturers to self-verify their own production if they so choose. This would not affect the in-use testing by TSOs.

  Plantsbrook Group plc
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report into the Service Corporation International plc Great Southern/Plantsbrook acquisition will be published.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Monopolies and Mergers Commission is due to report on the acquisition of Plantsbrook Group plc by Service Corporation International on 24 March. The Department aims to publish MMC merger reports within 20 working days of receipt.

  Voluntary Agreements
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what powers he or the Director General of Fair Trading have to review voluntary agreements entered into to avoid references to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Director General of Fair Trading has a continuing responsibility to keep commercial activity under review. That can extend to voluntary agreements or undertakings and the degree of compliance with them. Where he considers it appropriate, the director general can make a reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

  Gas Consumers Council
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the reduction in the Gas Consumers Council's budget for 1994–95; and what assessment he has made of the impact of these cuts on the staffing of the council.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Gas Consumers Council grant-in-aid for 1994–95 is £2,711,000, a reduction of £209,000 on the previous year. it is for the council to decide how best to use its resources, including staffing levels, to carry out its duties.

  Gas Bill
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will provide additional resources to(a) the Office of Fair Trading, (b) the Office of Gas Supply, and (c) the Gas Consumers Council to reflect their increased work load as a consequence of additional responsibilities contained in the Gas Bill.

  Mr. Eggar
  I do not believe that the Gas Bill will add materially to the responsibilities of the Office of Fair Trading and the Gas Consumers Council. The number of Ofgas staff will rise by about 50 when the Director General of Gas Supply takes over the DTI's functions for gas metering as envisaged under the Gas Bill. In addition, some 10 to 20 posts plus consultancy support may be needed at Ofgas to manage the transition to a competitive market, although this should fall once a fully competitive market is established.

  Newspapers
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will consider the increased carriage charges faced by retail newsagents from monopoly supplying wholesalers;

  (2) what representations he has received about the examination by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission of the newspaper industry in respect of carriage charges.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  [holding answers 9 March 1995]: The National Federation of Retail Newsagents has raised this matter in correspondence, as has Lekkerland UK.

  The MMC report on the supply of newspapers in England and Wales gave no adverse public interest finding in respect of carriage charges, and no power arose to act on them.

  However, a reference to carriage charges was included in the voluntary code of practice to govern the supply of national newspapers agreed with the industry following publication of the MMC report., This reference ensures that such charges are not used as a means of circumventing the prohibition on refusal to supply, by making supply economically unattractive to new applicants.

  If new retailers feel that their carriage charges are incorrect, they should take the matter up in the first instance with the wholesaler. If this does not resolve the dispute the retailer should make use of the arbitration procedure set out in the code of practice.

  Mr. Bill Michie
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will reconsider the matter of carriage charges in the newspaper trade following the recent increases.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Monopolies and Mergers Commission's 1993 report on the supply of newspapers in England and Wales included no adverse public interest findings in respect of carriage charges, and therefore no power arose to act on them.

  However, a reference to carriage charges was included in the voluntary code of practice to govern the supply of national newspapers, agreed with the industry following publication of the MMC report. This ensures that such charges are not used as a means of circumventing the prohibition on refusal to supply by making supply economically unattractive to new applicants. If new retailers feel that their carriage charges are incorrect, they should take the matter up in the first instance with the

  389
  wholesaler. If this does not resolve the dispute, the retailer should make use of the arbitration process set out in the code of practice.

  Electricity Bills
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the percentage of unpaid electricity bills last year overall and in each of the electricity company areas.

  Mr. Page
  This is a matter for the companies concerned.

  Gas Bills
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the percentage of unpaid gas bills last year overall and in each of the gas company areas.

  Mr. Page
  This is a matter for the companies concerned.

  Rom-Data
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the circumstances that led to Rom-Data in Cornwall receiving a grant; and what steps he is taking to recover the money.

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 9 March 1995]: My officials lodged an invoice with the liquidator of Rom-Data in January seeking recovery of the grant paid to the company. Otherwise, I have nothing to add at present to the answers given to earlier questions from the hon. Member.

  Companies House
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the full cost of the consultancy work carried out by SRU/MMD Ltd. on the privatisation review of Companies House since it was appointed in October 1992 until he made his announcement on the future of Companies House on 20 December 1994,Official Report, column 1046.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The cost of the consultancy work was £283,000 excluding VAT. I have already written to the hon. Member correcting my earlier answer on this subject and a copy of that letter has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Northern Electric
  Mr. McWilliam
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what contact Sir Charles Powell had between 1984 and 1991 with civil servants in connection with the Trafalgar House bid for Northern Electric; with whom he was in contact; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  [holding answer 9 March 1995]: None.

  Mr. McWilliam
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what contact or communication Ministers or officials in his Department had with Sir Charles Powell as non-executive director of Trafalgar House, in connection with(a) the Trafalgar House bid for Northern Electric and (b) the subsequent decision not to refer the hid to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; and if he will make a statement.
  390
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  [holding answer 9 March 1995]: At a meeting on 1 December 1994, Sir Charles Powell advised my right hon. Friend for Energy and Industry of the possibility of Trafalgar House making a bid for Northern Electric and asked whether the Government had any plans for early redemption of the special shares in regional electricity companies.

  On 15 December, my right hon. Friend confirmed that the Government would retain their special shares in the RECs until 31 March 1995 and that they would not be redeemed early. In his role as Minister with responsibility for the energy industry, my hon. Friend met Mr. David Morris, chairman of Northern Electric, on 19 January 1995 and Sir Charles Powell, on behalf of Trafalgar House, on 23 January.

  At both meetings, and in accordance with our usual procedures, my right hon. Friend made it clear that he could listen only to the companies' views about the bid and could not discuss the bid itself. In addition to these meetings, a number of letters were received from Sir Charles and others on behalf of Trafalgar House, and from Northern Electric and others on behalf of Northern Electric.

  Sir Charles also made a number of telephone calls to officials in the office of my right hon. Friend about procedural matters relating to the bid. The content of these calls was not referred to Ministers. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade was not involved in any of these contacts between Sir Charles and the Department.

  Mr. McWilliam
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions or communications Mrs. Annabel Keswick, political adviser to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, had with Ministers and civil servants in the Department of Trade and Industry in respect of the Trafalgar House bid for Northern Electric.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  [holding answer 9 March 1995]: None.

  Mr. McWilliam
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what account was taken of the recommendations of the Foreign Affairs Committee on its third Session report of Session 1993–94, HC 271, on the Pergau dam relating to Trafalgar House in evaluating that company's bid for Northern Electric;

  (2) what evaluation he made of the relationship between Trafalgar House and Jadine Matheson when deciding not to refer the Trafalgar House bid for Northern Electric to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  [holding answer 9 March 1995]: In making his decision not to refer the bid to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade took account of all relevant factors. His decision was in accordance with the advice of the Director General of Fair Trading.

  Coach Companies
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will refer the activities of(a) Stagecoach and (b) Badgerline to the Office of Fair Trading on the grounds of predatory pricing.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Director General of Fair Trading will consider any complaints of anti-competitive behaviour which the hon. Member puts to him.

  Arms Sales (Burma)
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the value of British arms sold to Burma since 1990.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  For reasons of commercial confidentiality, it has been the policy of successive United Kingdom Governments not to disclose details of defence trade with individual countries.

  "Energy Paper 65"
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assumptions he has made in "Energy Paper 65" concerning the amount of coal likely to be burnt in English and Welsh power stations in the year 2000; and what was provided by RJB Mining to prospective investors as likely to be sold to English and Welsh power stations in 2000.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 7 March 1995]: The amount of coal burnt in power stations is not an assumption, but rather a result of the modelling process described in "Energy Paper 65" paragraph 2.26. Estimates of the coal tonnage burnt in 2000 in English and Welsh coal power stations vary between 23 to 38 million tonnes. I understand RJB Mining plc prospectus contains its estimates.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what levels of gross domestic product growth are assumed in the central forecasts to 2000 in "Energy Paper 65"; and how this figure compares with current Treasury forecasts.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 7 March 1995]: In the central GDP growth scenarios in "Energy Paper 65", gross domestic product is assumed to grow by an average rate of approximately 3.1 per cent. per annum between 1994 and 2000. This compares with a current Treasury assumption of an average GDP growth rate of about 3.2 per cent. per annum over the same period.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what evaluation his Department has made of the discrepancies between the central forecasts for United Kingdom carbon emissions in 2000 made in "Energy Paper 65" and those published by DRI/McGraw Hill on 13 February.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 7 March 1995]: The detailed assumptions which underlie DRI's forecast for the UK have not been made public.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what independent peer review process he has undertaken before publishing "Energy Paper 65".

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 7 March 1995]: In the course of developing the models used for the projections in "Energy Paper 65", discussions took place with various experts in the energy modelling field. In addition the following two papers have been published which discuss the research then in progress:
  Hodgson, Derek and Miller, Keith (1995) "Modelling UK energy demand", in Barker, T., Ekins, P. and Johnstone, N. (eds) "Global Warming and Energy Demand", London: Routledge.Miller, Keith (1993) "The DTI Energy Model", in Hawdon, D. (ed) "Recent Studies of the Demand for Energy in the UK", Guildford: Surrey Energy Economics discussion paper series.
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assumptions have been made regarding the contribution of combined cycle gas turbines to the 392
  generation mix in 2000 in "Energy Paper 65"; and what proportion is assumed to be operating at baseload.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 7 March 1995]: It is estimated that between 16 and 18 GW of CCGT capacity will be in place in 2000. In most of the scenarios all the CCGT capacity runs on baseload. The details of electricity supply industry capacity are given in annexe C.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has included within "Energy Paper 65" any carbon emissions from energy extraction processes within the North sea.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 7 March 1995]: The treatment of offshore emissions in "Energy Paper 65" is consistent with the national atmospheric emissions inventory and takes into account offshore carbon dioxide emissions from gas flaring and from fuel used for production.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made in "Energy Paper 65" of the likely carbon savings which the Energy Saving Trust will achieve in 2000.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 7 March 1995]: In "Energy Paper 65", 1.6 million tonnes of carbon are assumed to be saved by the Energy Saving Trust in 2000.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made in "Energy Paper 65" of the likely carbon savings which will occur by 2000 within industry; and if he will provide a breakdown of the contribution that will be made by each relevant Government initiative.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 7 March 1995]: By 2000, it is estimated that savings of between 2 million and 2.5 million tonnes of carbon will be made within the business sector, which comprises industry and commerce. "Energy Paper 65" estimates show that the energy saved is likely to be less carbon-intensive than was assumed in the original climate change programme. The carbon savings comprise emissions saved directly in the business sector through lower consumption of fossil fuels and indirectly in the electricity supply industry through lower electricity demand from businesses.

  "Energy Paper 65" does not separately distinguish all the individual Government initiatives in the business sector.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what independent research he has commissioned to assist him in the preparation of "Energy Paper 65".

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 7 March 1995]: The development by the science policy research unit of a boiler and combined heat and power model was part funded with the private sector. This model has been run by DTI as part of the "Energy Paper 65" exercise. In addition, both DTI and DOE have various on-going research programmes with the Building Research Establishment and energy technology support unit.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assumptions he has made in "Energy Paper 65" concerning the likely output of Magnox power stations in 2000.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 7 March 1995]: The Magnox stations owned by Nuclear Electric and British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. are assumed to be producing around 20 TWh in 2000.
  393
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what implications for local environment air quality he envisages as a consequence of the increased diesel car usage in 2000 forecast in "Energy Paper 65".

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 7 March 1995]: "Energy Paper 65" does not assess local air quality, but a recently published report by the energy technology support unit—"UK Petrol and Diesel Demand: Energy and Emissions Effects of a Switch to Diesel"—commissioned by the Departments of Transport and Trade and Industry, projected significant overall reductions in both national and urban emissions of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen and particulates from vehicle exhausts by the year 2000, compared with 1990. These projections took into account the expected improvements from tighter emission standards already agreed, as well as projections of traffic growth and vehicle mix in line with those of "Energy Paper 65".

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assumptions are made in "Energy Paper 65" regarding the relationship between the growth in domestic product and the growth in energy demand; and how these differ from the assumptions made in "Energy Paper 58".

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 7 March 1995]: The growth in gross domestic product is one of a number of factors influencing energy demand. Paragraphs 3.4 to 3.16 of "Energy Paper 65" provide details of the GDP growth rate assumptions used in both "Energy Paper 65" and "Energy Paper 58". The primary energy ratio gives an indication of the overall relationship between the GDP an energy demand. Paragraphs 6.8 to 6.9 describe the energy ratio in the new projections. This can be compared with "Energy Paper 58", where the primary energy ratio declined by 0.1 to 1 per cent. per annum between 1990 and 2005.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the methodology employed in the collection of carbon emission figures in "Energy Paper 65" is identical to the methodology employed by the intergovernmental panel on climate change.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 7 March 1995]: The emissions projections in "Energy Paper 65" are based on the United Kingdom's national atmospheric emissions inventory and are consistent in almost all respects with the methodology recommended by the intergovernmental panel on climate change. The net effect on the projections of the differences in methodologies is broadly neutral.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made in "Energy Paper 65" of the likely carbon savings which the imposition of 8 per cent. value added tax on domestic fuel will achieve in 2000.

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 7 March 1995]: The central estimate from the "Energy Paper 65" projections for the likely carbon saving brought about by the imposition of 8 per cent. VAT on domestic fuel is approximately 0.4 MtC in 2000.

  Post Offices
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what guidelines he has approved between Post Office Counters and the Post Office Users National Council concerning the relocation of Crown post offices; and if he will list cases where such guidelines have not been followed.
  394
  Mr. Page
  This is a matter for the Post Office and the Post Office Users National Council.

  A. F. Budge Ltd.
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he(a) received the report from the receiver and (b) expects to make a decision in respect of A. F. Budge.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  A report under the provisions of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 was received from the joint administrative receivers of A. F. Budge Ltd. on 28 September 1993.

  Proceedings for disqualification against three directors of A. F. Budge Ltd.—Anthony Frederick Budge, Mrs Janet Budge and Michael Austin Yates—were commenced on 8 December 1994.

  Regional Assistance
  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whom he consulted in respect of regional assistance given by his Department within the remit of the Industry Act 1972.

  Mr. Page
  Regional assistance is now given under the Industrial Development Act 1982. My officials consult as necessary to establish whether a project is eligible to be considered for assistance and whether the project meets the criteria of the regional selective assistance scheme.

  Construction Tile Industry
  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which consultants and at what cost advised his Department in respect of sector analysis of the construction tile industry in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Page
  My Department is not the sponsor Department for this sector. However, in maintaining a body of market analysis for a range of departmental work, my Department uses the published material of a number of market research consultancy firms.

  Interreg
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much money there has been allocated by way of the Interreg II fund from the EU for projects in(a) Wales, (b) England, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) the Republic of Ireland.

  Mr. Eggar
  The Commission divided Interreg's 2,900 mecu budget between 2,300 mecu for the objective 1 areas and 600 mecu for the rest. Within each of these totals, the poorer eligible areas have larger allocations per head. The figures are:

  Allocation £ million

  Population thousands

  Per capita £

  Objective 1

  All

  1811

  22,146

  82

  Northern Ireland

  52.7

  1,358

  36

  Republic of Ireland

  105.1

  1,735

  61

  Other

  All

  472.4

  46,859

  10

  Wales

  10.6

  595

  18

  England

  22.3

  2,238

  10

  Pensions (Derivatives)
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information he has about the value of pensions business currently handled by United Kingdom insurance companies; what information he has concerning the extent to which such insurance companies are trading in derivatives; what steps he is taking in the light of the Baring affair to issue guidance to such derivative-trading insurance companies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  [holding answer 9 March 1995]: Premium income received by UK insurance companies during 1993 in respect of personal and occupational pensions business was estimated to be £14.6 billion.

  United Kingdom insurance companies may be end users of derivatives but should not be traders. Provided they have adequate controls over their use, insurance companies may prudently use derivatives for the purposes of reducing the investment risks inherent in their portfolio or for efficient portfolio management. My Department issued guidance to all UK insurers in December 1994 setting out the objectives which an adequate system of control over their investments, including derivatives, must be able to satisfy. At the same time, we asked companies for a state of play report on the extent to which their systems complied with the guidance and, where necessary, on what remedial action they had put into effect. We are currently reviewing the responses and will take such follow-up action as is necessary.

HEALTH

  Nebulisers
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if nebulisers are available on prescription in(a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales.

  Mr. Sackville
  Hand-operated nebulisers are available on general practitioner prescription. It is for health authorities to make decisions about the best use of their resources on the basis of clinical priorities and local needs. Hospital consultants may prescribe equipment such as powered nebulisers as part of national health service treatment. Health authorities may provide equipment prescribed as part of NHS treatment either permanently or on loan and in these circumstances no charge may be made.

  Epilepsy
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement about research into sudden unexplained death in epilepsy.

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department is aware of issues and concerns surrounding sudden unexplained death in epilepsy. However, I am not aware of any current research on this subject. The main agency through which the Government support medical and related biological research in the United Kingdom is the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant-in-aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and is always willing to consider scientifically sound proposals. The council has considerable relevant work on neuroscience research and has identified 396
  neurological disabilities, including epilepsy, as an area in which it wishes to encourage applications.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths were attributed to epilepsy in the United Kingdom for each year since 1990 in each health authority for which information is available.

  Mr. Bowis
  Information on the number of deaths, by health authority, will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on co-operation with the Department for Education in ensuring that all schools have an active epilepsy policy.

  Mr. Bowis
  My officials will be consulting Department for Education officials as part of my Department's initiative on epilepsy, which I announced in the House on 17 January.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans her Department has to encourage an increase in the number of brain operations for intractable non-lesional epilepsy.

  Mr. Bowis
  Decisions on treatment are the responsibility of the doctors concerned, who are required to exercise their clinical judgment, informed by a patient's medical history. Health authorities and trusts are responsible for ensuring that the full range of services is available, taking account of their priorities and resources.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what training is given to medical practitioners and their staff to ensure that there is a minimum of risk to(a) expectant mothers with epilepsy, (b) mothers with epilepsy and (c) children of mothers with epilepsy.

  (2) what advice her Department gives to health authorities in respect of carers for children with epilepsy requiring the best possible training; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Bowis
  The education and training of health professionals is a matter for the relevant royal college. However, as part of the programme that I announced on 17 January, we shall be seeking to raise epilepsy awareness among general practitioners and primary care teams.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment the Chief Medical Officer of Health has made of health dangers associated with asbestos; what new steps her Department proposes to take; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The principal diseases caused by exposure to asbestos are asbestosis, a pneumoconiosis; primary carcinoma of the lung; malignant mesothelioma; and diffuse mesothelioma. Asbestos-related diseases take a long time to develop and are nearly always the result of occupational exposure to asbestos fibres.

  Asbestos-related diseases are prescribed as industrial diseases. Such diseases occurring now largely reflect past industrial exposure before the introduction of the controls, enforcement of which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.

  Older People (Health Care Costs)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the NHS annual budget is spent on people over 65 years of age in the United Kingdom.
  397
  Mr. Bowis
  We estimate that around 42 per cent. of total hospital and community health service expenditure is on people aged 65 and over, who comprise about 16 per cent. of the population.

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total amount recouped by her Department through prescription charges in(a) 1992, (b) 1993 and (c) 1994; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the right hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on 9 December 1994 at column 397. Prescription charges provide valuable additional income to the national health service at a time of competing demands for resources.

  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in respect of what proportion of prescriptions the patient claims exemption from prescription charges, what checks are made to monitor the accuracy of such claims; and what proportion of such claims are found to be false.

  Mr. Malone
  In 1993, 82 per cent. of prescription items were dispensed free of charge by community pharmacists and appliance contractors to patients who declared that they were exempt or entitled to remission of charges under the national health service low income scheme. Regular checks of patients declarations carried out by family health services authorities indicate that about 1.5 per cent. are incorrect. I am determined to take action to stamp out this abuse and all other forms of fraud against the NHS.

  Sight Tests
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients had their eyes tested in each year since 1991; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Malone
  The number of national health service sight tests paid for by family health services authorities in England is shown in the table:

  Year

  millions

  1990–91

  4.154

  1991–92

  4.979

  1992–93

  5.528

  1993–94

  5.935

  The number of private sight tests is not available.

  Measles Rubella Vaccine
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many yellow card reports of suspected adverse reactions linked to the autumn measles rubella vaccination campaign have been received by the Committee on the Safety of Medicines and Medicines Control Agency since 9 December 1994.

  (2) if she will list the complications notified by the yellow card reports linked to the autumn measles rubella vaccination campaign received since 9 December 1994 in respect of (a) the number of individuals affected, (b) the number of signs and symptoms, (c) the number of more serious reactions, (d) the number of allergic reactions, (e) the number of reported convulsions and (f) the number with late neurological damage.
  398
  Mr. Sackville
  Since 9 December 1994 the Medicines Control Agency has received a further 50 yellow card reports of suspected adverse reactions to measles rubella vaccine. A report for a suspected reaction does not necessarily mean that the vaccine caused the reaction. Signs and symptoms described in these reports have been classified as reactions. One hundred and fifty affected children were reported as having 281 reactions, of which 87–affecting 67 children–were considered to be serious. There were 15 allergic reactions, eight convulsions and seven late-onset neurological conditions, five of whom have recovered and two are recovering. Further information is being sought for some of the reactions to investigate their relationship with immunisation. It is estimated that eight million children have been immunised. Reporting of serious adverse reactions to date is therefore low.

  Generic Prescribing
  Mr. Elfyn Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total expenditure on prescribed generic drugs in(a) 1993 and (b) 1994; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Malone
  The net ingredient cost—that is, the basic cost of drugs, less discount and excluding dispensing fees, container cost on cost allowance, oxygen payments and value added tax—of drugs prescribed and dispensed generically in England in 1993 was £341.6 million. For the first three quarters of 1994 the cost was £345.4 million.

  Asthma
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the mortality rates for asthma for each of the last five years, broken down by ethnic origin.

  Mr. Sackville
  Data on asthma deaths by ethnic origin are not available centrally.

  The mortality rates for asthma for the last five years for which data are available are shown in the table:

  Mortality rates1 for asthma (1CD 2 code 493), England and Wales, 1988–92

  Year

  Rates

  1988

  4.0

  1989

  3.9

  1990

  3.6

  1991

  3.7

  1992

  3.5

  1 Deaths per 100,000 population.

  2 International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the number of cases of asthma reported in each family health service authority for each of the last five years, broken down by ethnic origin.

  Mr. Sackville
  Data on newly diagnosed episodes of asthma are not available by ethnic origin or family health services authority. Aggregated data from returns submitted to the Birmingham research unit of the Royal College of General Practitioners are available in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys annual reference volume, "Communicable Diseases—Series MB2", copies of which are available in the Library. The latest data published are for the year 1992.

  Glaucoma
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of glaucoma were diagnosed in(a) 1990, (b) 1991, (c) 1992, (d) 1993 and (e) the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available in the precise form requested. It is estimated that in England 101,000 patients suffering from glaucoma were treated by general practitioners during 1991–92—source: "Morbidity Statistics from General Practice". Comparative figures are not available for the other years requested. For hospital in-patients, the numbers of finished consultant episodes, ordinary admissions and day cases, during the latest available period of five years, were as follows:

  Year

  Number

  1992–93

  22,802

  1991–92

  19,826

  1990–91

  17,534

  1989–90

  17,427

  1988–89

  15,373

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics.

  Information on numbers of out-patient cases with glaucoma is not available centrally.

  Birth Certificates
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full and short version birth certificates are issued each year by the Registrar General; and how many applications are made by a person who is not the individual on the certificate nor related to them.

  Mr. Sackville
  In 1994 the Registrar General issued 245,961 full birth certificates and 12,469 short birth certificates. The Registrar General does not distinguish between applicants who are the subject of the certificate or their relatives and other applicants.

  Arachnoiditis
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what further representations she has received about arachnoiditis and the use of Depo-Medrone;

  (2) if she will make a statement on arachnoidits.

  Mr. Sackville
  We have received a number of representations about Depo-Medrone and arachnoiditis. Depo-Medrone is licensed for use by certain specified routes of administration only and is not recommended for epidural or spinal administration. If a doctor, however, believes that use of a licensed drug in an unlicensed manner is the only suitable treatment for a patient he or she may supply or administer the drug, having obtained informed consent from the patient.

  Dental Services
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she is taking to reverse the present shortages of NHS dentists in the south-west.

  Mr. Malone
  At 31 December 1994 the number of dentists under contract to family health services authorities in the south-west was 1,245, 32 more than at 30 June 1992.
  400
  Family health services authorities can apply for permission to appoint salaried dentists in areas where there are shortages. We have recently given approval for two salaried dentists to be appointed by Devon family health services authority and for one salaried dentist to be appointed by Gloucestershire family health services authority.

  The Green Paper, "Improving NHS Dentistry", proposes a wider role for the community dental service to treat those who cannot have ready access to general dental services.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many family health services authorities have appointed salaried dentists; how many salaried dentists have been appointed since July 1992; for what additional provision district health authorities have contracted; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Malone
  The number of family health services authorities that have employed salaried dentists and the number employed are shown in the table. In addition to those family health services authorities listed, Berkshire, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Hereford and Worcester, Kingston and Richmond, Northamptonshire, Gloucestershire and Solihull have also been granted permission to employ salaried dentists. At 30 September 1992 there were 2,191 whole-time equivalent hospital and community health service staff in England, excluding hospital practitioners and clinical assistants who also work as general and dental practitioners.

  Table 1 number of salaried dentists for whom a contract has opened since 31 July 1992 by family health service authority

  FHSA

  Salaried dentists

  Total

  137

  Cumbria

  1

  Derbyshire

  3

  Cambridgeshire

  7

  Norfolk

  3

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  14

  Essex

  2

  City and East London

  22

  Kent

  11

  Greenwich and Bexley

  6

  Bromley

  1

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  22

  Surrey

  5

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  1

  Wiltshire

  2

  Isle of Wight

  2

  Buckinghamshire

  6

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  5

  Gloucestershire

  4

  Somerset

  6

  Staffordshire

  2

  Cheshire

  8

  Lancashire

  2

  Manchester

  1

  Salford

  1

  This is the count of the number of salaried dentists who have contracts with FHSAs.

  This is not the number of salaried dentists employed at the requested dates.

  (Some salaried dentists have "open contracts" with FHSAs.

  This means they are ready to work when required but are not actually working).
  401
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many letters concerning problems in gaining access to NHS dentistry have been received by her Department from individuals in the last five years; and if she will list those organisations that have written to her on the subject.

  Mr. Malone
  Since February 1990, the Department of Health has received approximately 350 letters from members of the public which were exclusively concerned with problems in gaining access to national health service general dental services.

  The Department has also received a similar number of letters from hon. and right hon. Members, community health councils, local authorities, professional organisations and patient groups.

  Family health service authorities continue to be the best source of information on the local availability of general dental services, and all authorities report that they are able to help patients to find NHS dentists.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total sum paid out to general dental practitioners working with the NHS in each month since April 1991.

  Mr. Malone
  The information is shown in the table.

  Payments to general dental practitioners working with the rational health service in England in each month since April 1991

  Month

  1991–92 £ million

  1992–93 £ million

  1993–94 £ million

  1994–95 £ million

  April

  92.3

  118.9

  101.1

  104.3

  May

  93.4

  118.8

  103.6

  105.2

  June

  95.8

  114.0

  103.0

  110.7

  July

  102.1

  117.0

  102.8

  109.9

  August

  106.8

  115.7

  103.9

  109.9

  September

  94.1

  103.2

  98.8

  104.0

  October

  101.4

  100.9

  100.9

  106.6

  November

  110.7

  104.3

  103.7

  111.10

  December

  113.3

  104.5

  98.5

  109.8

  January

  103.1

  108.6

  100.8

  106.6

  February

  117.3

  101.4

  104.2

  —

  March

  116.7

  97.7

  100.1

  —

  Notes:

  1. The data are for England only and are drawn from monthly cash-based financial information system reports submitted by family health services authorities and the Dental Practice Board. The January data are the latest available for 1994–95.

  2. Expenditure figures show the total of all general dental service payments in each month, including payments for salaried dentists and emergency dental service clinics. The figures also include the cost of employers' superannuation contributions.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average cost per course of(a) NHS dental treatment, (b) private dental treatment and (c) all dental treatments for an adult patient in 1993–94, 1992–93, and 1991–92.

  Mr. Malone
  The available information is shown in the table. Information on private treatment is not available centrally.
  402

  Average cost per adult course of treatment in the general dental service in England for the financial years 1991–92 to 1993–94

  year

  Average cost £

  1991–92

  39.80

  1992–93

  39.11

  1993–94

  36.18

  Source:

  Dental Practice Board.

  Note:

  1. The information refers to the general dental service only. The cost shown is the fee paid to the dentist.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average annual number of courses of dental treatment for an adult patient in England; and what is the average cost to(a) the NHS and (b) the patient.

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

  Information for courses of treatment completed in the year ending 31 March 1994

  £

  Average number of courses of treatment per adult patient

  1.62

  Average annual cost to the NHS of treatment per adult patient

  31.34

  Average annual cost to the adult patient

  £27.27

  Notes:

  1. The average number of courses of treatment per patient has been estimated from a sample of 70,000 courses of treatment.

  2. The costs shown are the costs of adult treatment. Regular continuing care payments are not included.

  3. The average to the patient represents the average for all adults, not the average to charge payers alone.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of satisfaction was recorded by the British social attitudes survey about NHS dentistry in each year since 1993.

  Mr. Malone
  "British Social Attitudes: the 11th Report", 1994–95 edition, found that 58 per cent. of respondents surveyed in 1993 were satisfied or very satisfied with national health service dentists. A further 18.6 per cent. were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied. The comparable figures from the 9th report, 1992–93 edition, were 75.3 per cent. and 16.2 per cent.

  Family health services authorities report that they can help patients to find national health service dentists. The Government meet over two thirds of the cost of the general dental service. All those under 18 get free treatment and a quarter of treatments are provided free or at reduced cost.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in each family health services authority, and in total, have requested help in finding a dentist since July 1992.

  Mr. Malone
  The information will be placed in the Library. Family health service authorities consistently report that they can help patients to find national health service dentists.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health by how much payments to dentists have exceeded Government estimates for each year since 1987; and how much was paid by Government and how much by patients.
  403
  Mr. Malone
  The information is shown in the tables.

  Overpayment of general dental practitioners fee income, 1987–88 to 1993–94, Great Britain

  Total payment (to all DRSG principals)

  "Gross" payments (£ million) (1)

  "Net" payment (£ million) (2)

  1987–88

  (5.003)

  22.722

  1988–89

  49.276

  74.494

  1989–90

  (13.645)

  12.256

  1990–91

  54.582

  17.921

  1991–92

  192.604

  128.140

  1992–93

  65.001

  62.920

  1993–94

  (49.354)

  4.143

  () Denotes a negative amount.

  Overpayment of general dental practitioners fee income, 1987–88 to 1993–94, Great Britain: payment by Government

  Total Payments (to all DRSG principals)

  "Gross" payment (£ millions)

  "Net" payment (£ millions)

  1987–88

  (3.544)

  16.095

  1988–89

  34.379

  51.974

  1989–90

  (8.511)

  7.645

  1990–91

  35.171

  11.548

  1991–92

  131.203

  87.290

  1992–93

  45.536

  44.078

  1993–94

  (34.609)

  2.905

  Overpayment of general dental practitioners fee income, 1987–88 to 1993–94, Great Britain: payment by patients

  Total payments (to all DRSG principals)

  "Gross" payment (£ millions)

  "Net" payment (£ millions)

  1987–88

  1.459

  6.627

  1988–89

  14.896

  22.520

  1989–90

  5.134

  4.611

  1990–91

  19.410

  6.373

  1991–92

  61.400

  40.850

  1992–93

  19.466

  18.843

  1993–94

  14.745

  1.238

  Notes:

  1. Column (1) shows the difference between actual gross fee payments made to dentists in the financial year and the estimates made of sums due to GDPs in the Dental Rates Study Group. The estimates include allowances for GDPs expenses. For 1993–94 an expenses allowance was not formally agreed but a notional amount decided upon for administrative and monitoring purposes.

  2. Column (2) shows the difference between target net income (after balancing) and the actual net income, allowing for the practice expenses incurred. This is calculated using information from a special exercise carried out by the Inland Revenue.

  3. DRSG principals are essentially general dental practitioners who have worked in the GDS for the whole of the financial year in question.

  4. The overpayment sums have been allocated to patient and Government by using total net and gross expenditure figures.

  5. Payments made under determinations 11-1X of the Statement of Dental Remuneration (eg maternity payments, seniority payments and direct reimbursement of expenses) are not included in the above.

  6. The net payment figures for 1987–88 excludes the balancing adjustment for associate dentists (£225 "underpayment" per principal; £3.37 million in total). Subsequent to 1987–88 this adjustment was not required.

  7. The figures in columns (2) and (4) for 1993–94 are provisional, and are subject to revision.

  Adoption
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement about the timetable for adoption law reform.

  Mr. Bowis
  The Government intend to introduce new adoption provisions along the lines of the White Paper,"Adoption: The Future", published in November 1993, as soon as parliamentary time permits.

  Smoking
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures have been undertaken by her Department to monitor the effects of the no-smoking campaign.

  Mr. Sackville
  The national three-year no-smoking campaign, which was launched in December 1994, is being undertaken by the Health Education Authority on behalf of the Department of Health. It is being evaluated in terms of its effectiveness in changing knowledge, attitudes and behaviour in the general population.

  Individual components of the campaign will also be monitored for impact among specific groups.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the reduction in treatment costs of smoking-related diseases since the beginning of the current no-smoking campaign; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  It is not possible to relate recent reductions in smoking prevalence to current levels of smoking-related disease. Many smoking-related diseases have a lengthy development period and most of these manifesting themselves now are related to the smoking habits prevailing some 20 or 30 years ago.

  Intensive Care (Children)
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the review of intensive care for children undertaken by regional health authorities and regional branches of the NHS Executive.

  Mr. Sackville
  The reviews confirm that plans have been made to improve the provision of paediatric intensive care. The Department is consulting on the further work required to guide the implementation of these plans towards achieving an accessible and cost effective service nationally.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to identify children's intensive care as separately defined within purchaser-provider service arrangements.

  Mr. Sackville
  The specification of contracts agreed between purchasers and providers for supplying children's intensive care service is a matter for local determination.

  Heart Disease
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to initiate research into hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council which receives its grant-in-aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
  405
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the cardiac diseases researched by her Department and the amount spent on each, for the last year for which figures are available.

  Mr. Sackville
  The list of research projects recently commissioned by the Department of Health on coronary heart disease—cardiac disease—and their cost is as follows:
  Recently completed research the effects of passive smoking: review and analysis of data on the contribution of passive smoking to coronary heart disease (1–11–93 to 30–4–94—£24,335);British Regional Heart Study: prediction and prevention of cardiovascular disease (1–10–85 to 31–12–95—4311,807);Lipids and coronary heart disease (1–1–87 to 31–3—92£25,000);Coronary heart disease: the role of the GP (1–10–90 to 30–9– 92—£181,232);Randomised controlled trial of coronary risk factor intervention (1–1–93 to 31–12–93—£299,192);National Study of Health and Growth: assessing coronary disease risk factors and bronchial reactivity in children (1–12–91 to 31–12–92—£30,123);(All the amounts quoted for research are for the entire duration of each project).Ongoing Research Nottingham Heart Attack Register (1–8–88 to 31–3—98£657,283);Whickham revisited: cardiovascular proposal (1–3–93 to 28–2–95—£83,000);Prospective markers of anti-oxidant status in relation to future cardiovascular disease, lung and stomach cancer (1–4–93 to 31–3–95—£183,972);CSAG: Waiting times for coronary revascularisation (1–10–94 to 31–1–95;£38,489);Development and validation of a weight-losing dietary intervention to reduce the risk of diabetes and CHD in South Asians (1–7–94 to 31–12–96—£176,987).
  Figures for on-going projects are estimates.

  Ambulance Response Times
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the numbers and percentage of emergency ambulance calls, in each ambulance service area, which took(a) up to 14 minutes, (b) each subsequent minute up to 60 minutes and (c) over 60 minutes, since April 1994.

  Mr. Sackville
  Information on calls up to 14 minutes in urban areas can be found in the patients charter, copies of which are available in the Library. The remaining information is not available centrally.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what amount of compensation has been paid to members of the public by the London ambulance service due to delays in reaching patients calling the emergency service in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Nutrition Task Force
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures she has taken to ensure that the targets of the Government's nutrition task force are met; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The nutrition task force was established to help meet "The Health of the Nation" diet and nutrition 406
  targets. The task force's "Eat Well!" programme comprises a number of projects for this purpose. The ministerial Cabinet committee, chaired by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council, and the Chief Medical Officer's health of the nation working group, play a role in ensuring that progress towards targets is being made.

  Prescription Forms
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations she has received about the information required to be obtained by those in pharmacies from those presenting prescription forms; what assessment she has made of the intrusiveness of the information required; and what arrangements are being made to print prescription forms in larger type and in ethnic minority languages;

  (2) which professional bodies were consulted about the design and content of the prescription forms to be issued shortly; on which dates such consultation took place; if consultation resulted in favourable reaction to the content; how many prescription forms have been printed to date; how many remain to be printed; what is the total cost of printing and distribution; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Malone
  From 1 April 1995 the already wide-ranging national health service prescription charge exemption and remission arrangements presently covering 81 per cent. of prescription items will be further extended to include all recipients of disabled working allowance who had less than £8,000 capital at the date of their claim. The prescription form FP10 must be amended to reflect that.

  I am also taking the opportunity to amend the declaration to make it applicable to all patients. In doing so the Government are responding to concerns of both the Health Select Committee and the Audit Commission, who have suggested that the laxity of the present patient declarations leave the way open for fraudulent claims. By asking all patients to sign the patient declaration we are taking an important first step in stamping out that abuse.

  We are currently discussing with the general medical services committee of the British Medical Association and the pharmaceutical services negotiating committee about incorporating these changes into their terms of service. I hope to lay amending regulations in the summer.

  There have been no additional printing and distribution costs. The changes were incorporated into the form during a regular print run. It has never been our practice to print prescription forms either in large print or in ethnic minority languages.

  Special Hospitals
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many special hospital patients are currently awaiting discharge to medium-secure units.

  Mr. Bowis
  The Special Hospitals Service Authority is responsible for special hospitals services; the hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the authority.

  Autism
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of autism have been recorded for each year since 1990.
  407
  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally. It is estimated that the prevalence rate of classic autism is between 0.04 and 0.05 per cent. of the population and that about 0.21 per cent. may exhibit some features of autism.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost of autism treatment in the NHS for each year since 1990; and what is the projected cost for 1995.

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally. District health authorities are funded for purchasing health services for people with autism through their general allocations.

  The table shows expenditure on the purchase of health care for people with learning disabilities, which includes autism, by health authorities in England. Expenditure for 1990–91 is not available.

  Year

  £

  1991–92

  936,503,244

  1992–93

  1,068,035,565

  1993–94

  1,132,665,837

  Edgware General Hospital
  Sir John Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of ambulances reach a patient in Barnet within the patients charter target of 14 minutes; and what proportion of emergencies were taken to(a) Edgware general hospital and (b) Barnet general hospital in each year since 1990.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally. My hon. Friend may wish to contact the chief executive of the London ambulance service, Mr. Martin Gorham.

  Sir John Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what are the estimated cost and future savings of closing the accident and emergency unit at Edgware general hospital;

  (2) what is the population currently served by (a) Edgware general hospital and (b) Barnet general hospital;

  (3) what plans there are to treat sufferers of dementia by the creation of a new unit at Edgware general hospital; and what representations she has received from the Barnet branch of the Alzheimer's Disease Council on the subject.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of Barnet health authority, Mr. Brian Salinger, for details. I have no record of a representation from the Barnet Alzheimer's Disease Council.

  Sir John Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received from the Wellhouse Trust concerning the level of resources at Barnet general hospital in the light of the increase in the number of in-patients from the Edgware area.

  Mr. Sackville
  None.

  Drug Overdoses
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the number of recorded deaths from(a) methadone and (b) heroin overdoses in each of the past three years.
  408
  Mr. Sackville
  The data are published in table 10 of the publication, "Mortality statistics, injury and poisoning, England and Wales", series DH4, Nos. 16–18, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Minor Accident Treatment
  Sir John Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of patients attending a minor accident treatment unit are subsequently referred to an accident and emergency department.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is not available centrally.

  Eating Disorders
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines she has issued to health authorities and trusts in relation to the employment of nurses or assistants who are or have suffered from anorexia nervosa, bulimia or other eating disorders.

  Mr. Malone
  Guidance on pre-employment assessment of prospective national health service employees is contained in HSG (94) 51, "Occupational Health Services for NHS staff", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Neuro-Surgery Units, London
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the neuro-surgery units situated in(a) Greater London, (b) South Thames region and (c) North Thames region; and what were their capacity and occupancy rates on the night of 6 March.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is as follows:

  Neuro-surgery units situated in Greater London:
  Greenwich Healthcare NHS Trust, The Bethlem and Maudsley NHS Trust, St. George's NHS Trust, The Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust, The Hospitals for Sick Children, Havering Hospitals NHS Trust, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, The Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust and The Royal Hospitals NHS Trust.

  Neuro-surgery units in South Thames:
  Greenwich Healthcare NHS Trust, The Bethlem and Maudsley NHS Trust, St. George's NHS Trust and Mid Sussex NHS Trust.

  Neuro-surgery units in North Thames:
  The Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust, The Royal Free Hospital Hampstead NHS Trust, The Hospitals for Sick Children, Havering Hospitals NHS Trust, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and The Royal Hospitals NHS Trust.

  Information on units' capacity and occupancy rates on the night of 6 March is not available centrally. South Thames regional office is conducting an urgent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Malcolm Murray, and capacity and occupancy levels is one of the areas being investigated.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the neuro-surgery units which were contacted by Queen Mary's hospital, Sidcup, on the night of 6 March in relation to the case raised by the hon. Member for Woolwich in his letter dated 7 March; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. William Wells, chairman of South Thames regional health authority.
  409
  South Thames regional office is conducting an urgent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Malcolm Murray.

ENVIRONMENT

  Waste, Drigg
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the dates of each seizure and checking of waste consignments to Drigg made by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution during the year 1990; which of these consignments breached the Drigg authorisation; and if he will give the nature of the breach.

  Mr. Atkins
  One seizure was made at the Drigg site on 31 August 1990. The consignment was found to include one aerosol can with free liquid, and a dry cell battery. This constituted a very minor breach of the Drigg disposal authorisation.

  Mr. Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the waste consignment for Drigg seized by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in December 1994 conformed to all the conditions within the Drigg authorisation; and when Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution report was completed and delivered to his Department.

  Mr. Atkins
  Results of the waste consignment for Drigg seized in December 1994 are not yet known.

  Countryside Commission
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the annual emolument paid to members of the Countryside Commission; and what are the total emolument and expenses paid to each current serving member since his or her appointment.

  Mr. Atkins
  As chairman of the Countryside Commission, Sir John Johnson's remuneration is £37,065 for a three day week. The remaining commissioners each receive remuneration of £5,320 based on a minimum input of two days per month, although a number of commissioners regularly devote more time than this.

  Expenses are paid in line with standard civil service terms and conditions. Total expenses claimed by each commissioner from April 1993 to date are as follows. Earlier figures are not readily available.

  £

  Sir John Johnson KCMG

  10,779.07

  Rachel Thomas

  10,361.00

  David Fletcher MBE

  5,033.90

  Professor Allan Patmore CBE

  2,814.97

  Sir Richard Carew Pole

  2,194.86

  Lord Denham1

  1,593.46

  Sarah Ward

  1,345.55

  Rodney Swarbrick CBE1

  805.03

  1 Appointment from 1 August 1993.

  Exhaust Cleaning
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from local authorities requesting Government assistance 410
  to fund the fitting of test exhaust cleaning devices on (a) buses, (b) public sector vehicles, and (c) other vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  My Department has had initial discussions with one local authority about the possibility of providing Government support for assessment and monitoring work associated with the experimental fitting of particulate trap assemblies to public sector vehicles. There are no plans, however, to provide funds for the fitting and operation of such devices.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to encourage local councils to adopt a strategic approach to making the new information and communications technologies available to the local community.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  None. It is for individual councils to determine their own local priorities and strategies, including about such matters as the use of information and communications technologies.

  Rents
  Mr. Khabra
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average rent for new lettings by housing associations; and what was the equivalent figure for 1989.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Information collected by the National Federation of Housing Associations shows that the average rent for housing association new lettings in the quarter ending 30 September 1994 was £45.63.

  The equivalent figure for 1989 was £23.64.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average rent paid by tenants of(a) private landlords and (b) local councils: and what were the equivalent figures in each category for 1978–79 in actual and real terms.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Estimates of average rents paid before deduction of housing benefit or its earlier equivalent are as follows. The latest figures for private rents are for 1993–94 and so local authority rents are shown for the same year:

  Tenants of local authorities

  Tenants of private landlords £ per week

  1993–94 actual

  33.70

  60.00

  1978–79 actual

  5.90

  6.30

  1978–79 at 1993–94 prices

  16.90

  18 10

  Sources:

  Local authority rents: returns made by local authorities.

  Private rents: Private Renters Survey 1978–79, Survey of English Housing 1993–94.

  Notes:

  1. Rents are for England.

  2. Private rents are from household surveys and are subject to sampling error.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many responses have been received by his Department from residents of Dorset, excluding Bournemouth and Poole, since the Local Government
  411
  Commission published its preferred options for reorganisation; and how many (a) supported the proposed changes and (b) rejected them.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  As at 6 March, we had received 1,776 letters from members of the public residing in Dorset outside Bournemouth and Poole. Of these 69 support the Local Government Commission's final recommendations for Dorset and 1,707 are against the recommendations.

  Trust Councils Initiative
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department has undertaken into, and what assessment has been made of, the trust councils initiative; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  We have no plans for a trust councils initiative.

  Packaging Waste
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how his Department intends the producer responsibility industry group plan to be financed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government have introduced enabling powers in the Environment Bill to place an obligation on businesses to recover and recycle packaging waste. Individual businesses may choose to discharge this obligation by acting alone or by collaborating with others in an "exemption scheme" which will deliver targets on their behalf. The internal financing of exemption schemes is a matter for business, subject only to satisfying the requirements of competition legislation and the registration requirements of the environment agencies.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what progress has been made to produce a plan for recovering between 50 per cent. and 75 per cent. of all packaging waste by the year 2000;

  (2) what are the criteria by which his Department judged the plan for reducing waste produced by the producer responsibility industry group.

  Mr. Atkins
  The producer responsibility group was formed in 1993 to respond to the challenge to businesses concerned with packaging to develop an industry-led approach for delivering recovery and recycling targets for packaging waste. Among the objectives which Government set the PRG were the need for an effective organisation, spanning all the relevant business sectors, which can both draw up a plan and put it into action; and the need for a commitment by business that it will meet the costs necessary to fund new collection and processing capacity, together with a mechanism for raising the necessary finances.

  The PRG produced its final report in November last year and has now disbanded. Work on refining its approach and the ways in which industry might organise

  Estimated emissions of sulphur dioxides (S02) by source category for 1979–1992

  Thousand tonnes

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Power stations

  3,242

  3,007

  2,847

  2,748

  2,631

  2,589

  2,627

  2,722

  2,830

  2,728

  2,640

  2,722

  2,534

  2,427

  Domestic

  264

  226

  210

  202

  195

  158

  202

  197

  171

  155

  138

  118

  115

  103

  412
  itself to meet recycling targets has been taken forward by the VALPAK working representative advisory group—V-WRAG.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what legislation the Government have introduced to reduce packaging.

  Mr. Atkins
  Having considered the request from businesses in the packaging industry, we have included three clauses, numbers 76-78, in the Environment Bill which will, subject to parliamentary approval, establish enabling powers to promote or secure the re-use, recovery and recycling of products or materials when they become waste. We propose to apply these powers to packaging waste.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates have been made of the rise in packaging over the last 10 years.

  Mr. Atkins
  No estimates exist as to variations in the amount of packaging as a whole over the last 10 years. The Department of the Environment "Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics", however, does include statistics for consumption of some types of recyclable packaging. This publication is available in the Library.

  Sulphur Dioxide Emissions
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what measures have been introduced to ensure the United Kingdom meets the targets for the 70 per cent. reduction in sulphur dioxide emissions by 2005 and 80 per cent. by 2010, as agreed under the UN Economic Commission for Europe's second sulphur protocol;

  (2) what action his Department has taken to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions;

  (3) what measures he has introduced to ensure the United Kingdom meets its targets for the 40 per cent. reduction in 1980 level of sulphur dioxide emissions by 1998 as agreed under the Brussels directive of 1990.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Secretary of State published the United Kingdom national plan for the reduction of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide emissions in December 1990. The plan aims to deliver the UK commitment, under the 1988 large combustion plants directive, to a 40 per cent. reduction in 1980 levels of sulphur dioxide emissions from large combustion plants by 1998.

  My Department is preparing a national sulphur strategy to meet the targets for reduction in total sulphur dioxide emissions to which the UK is committed under the UN Economic Commission for Europe's second sulphur protocol and will be consulting on the strategy in due course.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the level of sulphur dioxide emissions in the United Kingdom in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Atkins
  The list following gives estimated emissions of sulphur dioxide, by source, for 1979–1992.
  413

  Estimated emissions of sulphur dioxides (SO2) by source category for 1979–1992

  Thousand tonnes

  1979

  1980

  1981

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  Commercial/public service

  221

  197

  178

  170

  143

  148

  128

  135

  107

  101

  89

  90

  83

  84

  Refineries

  228

  237

  185

  165

  117

  115

  96

  108

  102

  97

  109

  109

  115

  131

  Iron and steel

  244

  128

  116

  101

  83

  75

  80

  80

  80

  85

  89

  88

  83

  83

  Other industrial combustion

  1,139

  930

  738

  667

  552

  491

  456

  517

  481

  509

  505

  497

  493

  518

  Non-combustion processes

  36

  35

  30

  26

  27

  27

  26

  24

  22

  23

  22

  19

  18

  14

  Extraction and dist. of fossil

  1

  1

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  3

  3

  Road Transport

  55

  42

  53

  49

  42

  43

  45

  50

  46

  54

  61

  63

  58

  62

  Railways

  14

  11

  9

  8

  5

  6

  5

  5

  4

  4

  3

  3

  3

  3

  Civil aircraft

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  —

  2

  1

  —

  1

  2

  3

  Shipping

  67

  62

  53

  57

  52

  55

  50

  48

  45

  46

  57

  61

  61

  60

  Agriculture

  30

  21

  17

  15

  12

  10

  8

  9

  8

  7

  7

  8

  8

  8

  Total

  5,542

  4,899

  4,438

  4,213

  3,862

  3,721

  3,726

  3,897

  2,900

  3,813

  3,722

  3,782

  3,574

  3,500

  Source:

  Digest of Environmental Protection and Water Statistics No. 16 1994

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been carried out by his Department into the effects of sulphur dioxide emissions.

  Mr. Atkins
  The Department has undertaken a large programme of scientific research over several years into the effects on the environment of sulphur dioxide emissions. The scientific findings have been reviewed by several of the Department's expert advisory groups, including the review group on acid rain, the terrestrial effects review group and the critical loads advisory group. Copies of their reports are available in the Library of the House.

  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the differences in the sulphur dioxide emissions produced by hazardous waste incinerators and those produced by cement kilns.

  Mr. Atkins
  All operators of the hazardous waste incinerators and cement plants are required to monitor sulphur dioxide emissions. Cement plants produce higher amounts of sulphur dioxide. This is because hazardous waste incinerators dispose of wastes that mostly contain no sulphur, while cement plants use fossil fuels and raw materials that contain significant amounts of sulphur.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his oral statement of 2 March on the explicit promises made by county and district councils about improved co-operation and delegation of functions, if he expects such promises to involved more or less local government expenditure; and what account he will take of such promises in future local government finance settlements.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  We would expect better co-operation and delegation to enable local services to be improved at no extra cost.

  Alkyl Phenol Ethoxylates
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been carried out 414
  by his Department on the effects of alkyl phenol ethoxylates on human health.

  Mr. Atkins
  We and the Department of Health have commissioned the Institute for Environment and Health to review current information on possible oestrogenic effects of chemicals, including alkyl phenol ethoxylates, entering the environment. It is expected to be completed by mid 1995.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been carried out by his Department on the level of alkyl phenol ethoxylates in British rivers.

  Mr. Atkins
  The report from our current research on the effects of sewage effluent on fish, will include some data on levels of alkyl phenol ethoxylates in rivers. This report is expected to be completed by mid 1995.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action his Department has taken to phase out the use of alkyl phenol ethoxylates.

  Mr. Atkins
  In accordance with a recommendation of the Paris Commission the United Kingdom is committed to phasing out by the year 2000, those uses of nonyl phenol ethoxylate which lead to discharge to water. This recommendation was agreed in 1992 and, in the UK, is pertinent for uses of nonyl phenol ethoxylate in industrial cleaning agents; it has not been used in domestic cleaning agents for the last 15 years. As part of the phase-out, the UK has surveyed all the main uses of ethoxylates. We are now considering the substitution of materials which are less damaging to the aquatic environment.

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

  Mr. Curry
  The amount of European regional development fund grant available under each objective 1, 2 and 5b area in England for the current programming period is set out in the table. The programme documents for each objective area contain financial details in ecus. The table shows the sterling equivalent, at the current
  415
  exchange rate, for the European regional development fund.

  Objective area

  ERDF grant £ million (1994 prices)

  Objective 1 (1994–99)

  Merseyside

  380

  Objective 2 (1994–96)

  West Midlands

  222

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  187

  North East England

  185

  Greater Manchester/Lancashire/Cheshire

  184

  East Midlands

  47

  East London and Lee Valley

  44

  Plymouth

  18

  West Cumbria and Furness

  15

  Thanet

  10

  Objective 5(b) (1994–99)

  South West England

  116

  Northern Uplands

  52

  East Anglia

  32

  Lincolnshire

  30

  English Marches

  19

  Midlands Uplands

  7

  Percentage change in Dorset County Council's Standard Spending Assessment 1990–91 to 1995–96 by major service block

  Service Block

  Change in GDP 3deflator

  Year

  Education Per cent.

  PSS1 Per cent.

  Police Per cent.

  Fire Per cent.

  Highways per cent.

  OSB2 per cent.

  Capital Per cent.

  Total Per cent.

  Per cent.

  1990–91 to 1991–92

  17.1

  23.0

  10,0

  14.7

  13.4

  39.1

  12.9

  17.7

  6.3

  1991–92 to 1992–93

  8.5

  7.3

  18.0

  7.6

  –0.2

  36.2

  –11.2

  8.2

  4.0

  1992–93 to 1993–944

  4.4

  3.6

  3.9

  2.7

  5.5

  –2.8

  0.1

  3.4

  3.1

  1993–94 to 1994–954

  3.2

  –1.4

  4.2

  0.9

  0.1

  –0.5

  –8.5

  1.1

  52.0

  1994–95 to 1995–964

  1.1

  0.2

  6—

  2.2

  2.2

  5.4

  –6.2

  0.9

  53.3

  Notes:

  1 Personal Social Services.

  2 'Other Services' Block.

  3 The GDP deflator is a measure of domestically generated inflation in the economy.

  4 Adjusted for changes in function and responsibility.

  5 Projections published in the Financial Statement and Budget Report in 1994.

  6 Dorset Police Authority will be responsible for providing police services in the Dorset area from April 1995.

  Housing
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to develop an energy efficient growth in housing in the west midlands; and if he will make it his policy to take greater account of environmental factors in respect of housing developments.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Measures to secure greater energy efficiency in housing and to take account of energy efficiency and other environmental factors when housing is being planned are part of the Government's strategy for sustainable development.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the number of new housing starts in January and February; and what was the figure for these months in 1994.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  It is estimated that in Great Britian there were 13,200 new dwellings started during January 1995 and 15,400 in January 1994, on a not

  New Households
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new households are projected in the west midlands; and if this figure is in line with the regional guidance plan.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The recently-published 1992-based household projections indicate 2,338 million households for the west midlands by 2011. This is an increase of 295,000 over the number in 1991. The draft regional planning guidance for the west midlands was based on earlier—1989-based—projections, which showed an increase of 244,000 households between 1991 and 2011. The Secretary of State is considering the need for any revision of the guidance in the light of the new figures.

  Standard Spending Assessments, Dorset
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what have been the increases in the various categories of standard spending assessments for Dorset compared with inflation for each year since 1990.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The information requested is as follows:

  seasonally adjusted basis. In February 1994 16,600 dwellings were started.

  These figures are as reported to the Department together with estimates for those local authorities which have not sent in statistical returns for their districts. They cover the total of housebuilding by private builders, housing associations and the public sector.

  Figures for February 1995 are not yet available.

  Nirex
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the role of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution at the planning inquiry into the application by Nirex to build a rock characterisation facility at Longlands farm.

  Mr. Atkins
  Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has no formal role at the planning inquiry into the application by Nirex to build a rock characterisation facility at Longlands farm.

  Housing, Wandsworth
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the chief executive of Wandsworth council, Mr. Gerald Jones, on the report of Mr. Rowland Little, the appointed auditor for the council, on the council's housing, homeless, and temporary accommodation policies; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  There have been no such discussions. This is a matter between the local authority and the district auditor.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present number of homeless families from the London borough of Wandsworth who have now been placed in bed-and-breakfast or temporary accommodation outside the borough.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The information requested is not available in the Department.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many council properties that have been sold in the London borough of Wandsworth in each year since 1980;

  (2) how many local authority properties in the London borough of Wandsworth have been sold under the priority sales scheme in each of the last 10 years.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Tables presenting latest available information on total sales of council homes reported by each local authority from 1979–80 to March 1994 are in the Library. These also show the number of sales made under right-to-buy legislation, but information collected on other sales does not identify individual schemes within a local authority.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authority houses or flats were built in the London borough of Wandsworth in each year since 1980.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The publications "Housebuilding in England by Local Authority Area: 1980 to 1989" and "Local Housing Statistics" show estimates of housebuilding completions in local authority areas of London. They show completions by sector, including activity by local authorities.

  "Housebuilding in England by Local Authority Area: 1980 to 1989" shows figures for the period 1980 to 1984. "Local Housing Statistics" shows figures for later years: Issue No. 103 covers the years 1985 to 1990; No. 105 covers 1991; No. 106 covers 1992; and No. 110 covers 1993. Copies of these publications are in the Library.

  Local authorities' primary housing tasks are now the efficient management of their own stock of housing and enabling other organisations to provide new housing, and Housing associations are the main providers of new social housing.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the number of registered homeless families in the London borough of Wandsworth in each year since 1980.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The information requested is available in a table in the Library which summarises the reported data on homeless households accepted for permanent rehousing by each local authority in England for the years 1979 to 1993.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people were on the housing 418
  waiting lists in the London borough of Wandsworth in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The annual housing investment programme—HIP—returns submitted by Wandsworth show the following numbers of households on their housing waiting lists on the 1 April in each of the last five years:

  1990: 7,292

  1991: 7,027

  1992: 7,384

  1993: 6,913

  1994: 6,561

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the present number of empty council-owned properties in the London borough of Wandsworth;

  (2) how many local authority properties in the London borough of Wandsworth are for sale.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The latest information held by my Department relates to dwellings vacant on 1 April 1994 when Wandsworth borough council reported a total of 615 vacant dwellings, of which 439 dwellings were to be sold. The data comes from its 1994 housing investment programme return, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Objective 1 Projects
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evaluation he has made of the delivery and adequacy of support to small and medium-sized enterprises via objective 1; and whether the range of support on offer meets their needs.

  Mr. Curry
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer to him on Monday 20 February,Official Report, column 93.

  It is early days to make an evaluation of that support, since projects are only starting to get underway. We will be monitoring and evaluating objective 1 projects closely.

  Social Housing
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 1 February,Official Report, columns 685–86, on what date he expects the background information on the need for new social housing lettings to be published.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  We will make the information available as soon as it is possible.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if housing associations are regarded by his Department as subject to management supervision by his Department or by the Housing Corporation for the purpose of the EU public procurement directive.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  No, but the Government are considering the position of housing associations in the light of a recent ruling by the European court regarding similar bodies in another state, and legal opinions brought to my Department's attention. I will write to the hon. Member when we have completed this further consideration.

  Hampshire County Council
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people have been employed by Hampshire county council each year since 1979.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The information is as follows.

  Number of people employed by Hampshire County Council in General Services (excluding Law & Order services) at June of each year:

  Year

  Numbers employed

  1979

  51,748

  1980

  47,419

  1981

  48,669

  1982

  47,573

  1983

  48,366

  1984

  48,248

  1985

  48,141

  1986

  50,764

  1987

  51,698

  1988

  52,518

  1989

  51,152

  1990

  50,427

  1991

  49,746

  1992

  50,831

  1993

  43,451

  1994

  44,395

  Hampshire county council expenditure

  Cash £ million

  1994–95 prices £ million

  Real increase over 1982–83 figure Percentage

  Real increase over previous year Percentage

  Total expenditure (outturn)

  1982–83

  458.251

  825.546

  —

  —

  1983–84

  473.714

  815.577

  –1.2

  –1.2

  1984–85

  482.349

  791.427

  –4.1

  –3.0

  1985–86

  500.475

  777.786

  –5.8

  –1.7

  1986–87

  529.511

  798.813

  –3.2

  2.7

  1987–88

  578.833

  829.076

  0.4

  3.8

  1988–89

  628.143

  843.278

  2.1

  1.7

  1989–90

  658.829

  826.728

  0.1

  –2.0

  Net Revenue Expenditure to compare with SSA (outturn)

  1990–91

  724.996

  842.270

  2.0

  1.9

  1991–92

  809.140

  884.448

  7.1

  5.0

  1992–93

  888.472

  933.971

  13.1

  5.6

  1993–94

  840.713

  857.527

  3.9

  –8.2

  1994–951

  935.579

  935.579

  13.3

  9.1

  Note:

  1Budget estimate.

  County Council Reserves
  Mr. Gill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in rank order the amount of cash reserves held by each of the county councils.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The latest available estimates of the level of reserves as at 1 April 1994 are as follows. The authorities are ranked by order of reserves excluding those held by schools, non-LMS; schools' reserves are shown separately, LMS. The first column, non-LMS reserves, includes funds, which may be substantial, held for specified purposes which may not be available to the council for general use, for example funds to finance capital projects to which the authority is committed; and insurance funds where the authority is bearing its own
  420
  Source:

  Joint Staffing watch for England

  Notes:

  (i) Polytechnics and higher education institutions were transferred from the local authority sector in April 1989.

  (ii) Further education institutions became the responsibility of the Further Education Funding Council in April 1993.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the annual expenditure of Hampshire county council each year since 1979 expressed in cash terms, real terms and as a real term percentage increase or decrease on 1979 and on the previous year.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The available information is as follows. There were two changes in the system of financing authorities in the period covered by the figures in the table, along with a number of changes in local authority responsibilities. In particular, in April 1989 responsibility for polytechnics was taken out of local authority control, and in April 1993 responsibility for further education was transferred to the Further Education Funding Council. Net revenue expenditure increased in 1994–95 through expenditure financed by the care in the community special grant. For these reasons it is not always valid to make comparisons either between financial systems, or between years within a financial system.

  insurance risks. These estimates are subject to amendment as authorities finalise their accounts. Compatible data on the use of balances in 1994–95 which would be needed to derive an estimate of the level of reserves at 1 April 1995 is not yet available.

  Estimated level of reserves at 1 April 1994

  County Councils

  Non-LMS £000

  LMS £000

  Nottingham

  –1,492

  14,965

  Shropshire

  –557

  7,789

  Isle of Wight

  2,258

  1,516

  Leicestershire

  2,540

  14,305

  Northamptonshire

  2,629

  10,191

  Dorset

  3,510

  6691

  421

  Estimated level of reserves at 1 April 1994

  County Councils

  Non-LMS£000

  LMS£000

  Derbyshire

  6,732

  13,078

  Bedfordshire

  7,114

  15,674

  Cumbria

  7,822

  3,514

  Warwickshire

  8,576

  7,015

  Hereford and Worcester

  10,305

  14,112

  West Sussex

  12,070

  4,748

  Gloucestershire

  12,252

  7,041

  Durham

  12,549

  7,810

  Oxfordshire

  13,162

  12,395

  Cleveland

  13,474

  9,239

  Northumberland

  14,573

  3,666

  Suffolk

  14,982

  13,120

  Avon

  16,205

  11,403

  Wiltshire

  17,260

  6.697

  Humberside

  23,735

  8.701

  Cornwall

  24,354

  7,371

  North Yorkshire

  24,776

  11,828

  Norfolk

  24,791

  9,059

  East Sussex

  29,181

  5,829

  Somerset

  30,901

  5,575

  Cheshire

  30,979

  17,584

  Lincolnshire

  32,774

  13,876

  Hertfordshire

  32,881

  23,522

  Kent

  35,234

  12,513

  Staffordshire

  38,073

  10,351

  Buckinghamshire

  38,981

  8,609

  Lancashire

  39,138

  32,976

  Berkshire

  39,574

  43,883

  Devon

  41,419

  10,439

  Cambridgeshire

  48,602

  7,930

  Essex

  49,465

  25,039

  Hampshire

  67,407

  25,310

  Surrey

  69,410

  5,545

  Source:

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

  Student Accommodation
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to bring in a system of national licensing for those properties in multiple occupation which are inhabited by students.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The period for responses to my Department's consultation paper on the case for licensing houses in multiple occupation closed on 18 February. Several of these responses drew attention to the particular problems associated with student accommodation. We are now considering what action to take in the light of these responses and an announcement will be made in due course.

  Local Government Conduct
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidelines he issues regarding the part councillors who declare an interest in a planning application can take in making decisions on that application.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  We have issued guidance on disclosure of members interests in DOE circular 8/90—"The National Code of Local Government Conduct", and in DOE circular 9/92–"Pecuniary Interests of Members of Local Authorities".

  Water Bills
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the percentage of unpaid water bills last year overall and in each of the water company's areas.

  Mr. Atkins
  The information requested is not collected either by my Department or the Office of Water Services.

  Northumberland Coast
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present position with regard to the proposed special protection area on the Northumberland coast; if he will make a statement; what plans he has to introduce restrictions on the collection of bait from the foreshore on the north-east coastline; and what powers he has to designate an area for protection when it is to the seaward side of the mean low water mark.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My officials are consulting owners and occupiers. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to introduce any restrictions on bait digging above those currently in force at the Lindisfarne national nature reserve. The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 provide for the designation of European marine sites.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sites of special scientific interest have been(a) damaged and (b) destroyed by (i) development and (ii) other means in England in each year since 1979.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information is not available in the form requested. Statistical information on damage to SSSIs in Great Britain between 1 April 1984 and 31 March 1991 is set out in the annual reports of the former Nature Conservancy Council. Since 1 April 1991, similar detail for England is contained in English Nature's annual reports. Copies of annual reports are in the Library.

  Hedgerows
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what length of hedgerow has been lost in England each year since 1979.

  Mr. Atkins
  Reliable figures are not available in the form requested. However, two surveys carried out for my Department covering the periods 1984–1990 and 1990–1993 indicated net losses of hedgerow in England of 85,000 km and 49,000 km respectively. These figures include losses caused by lack of management as well as by deliberate removal. The latest survey showed that the rate of removal of hedges during 1990–93 more than halved compared with 1984–90.

  Homelessness
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many households have been accepted as homeless in each local authority in rural areas in England in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The data collected from local authorities on homeless households accepted for permanent re-housing does not differentiate between households from rural and non-rural areas. A summary print showing the reported acceptances in each local
  423
  authority area in England for the years 1979 to 1993 is in the Library.

  Eland House
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement concerning facilities and arrangements for disabled people working in or visiting his Department's new building, Eland house.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Eland house is currently under construction and will then be fitted out by my Department. It is my policy that we should follow best practice in providing facilities for disabled persons and we will ensure that the facilities and arrangements for disabled persons at the new building comply fully with code of practice, BS5810, and part M of the Building Regulations 1991.

  Enterprise Zone, Tyneside
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, when he expects to announce the location of the proposed enterprise zone on Tyneside following the closure of Swan Hunter's shipyard, following the oral statement of 12 May 1993,Official Report, columns 801–02.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The three local authorities concerned, and the Tyne and Wear development corporation, have submitted a package of sites for consideration. This is currently being examined by Ministers and an announcement will be made as soon as possible.

  Sellafield
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the implications for the protection of the environment which will result from the agreement reached between British Nuclear Fuels plc and Scottish Nuclear, for the long-term management and reprocessing of spent thermal oxide nuclear fuels at Sellafield.

  Mr. Atkins
  [holding answer 7 March 1995]: Any contract entered into by British Nuclear Fuels is a matter for that company, but any operations at Sellafield which result from such a contract will have to comply with the limits and conditions of the site discharge authorisations. Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution is satisfied that compliance with these authorisations will fully protect the environment.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Parliament Buildings, Stormont
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to restore the Assembly chamber at Parliament buildings, Stormont, after the fire; and if the new chamber will be a replication of the previous design and decor.

  Mr. Moss
  Following the completion of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and forensic investigation, the process of salvaging material which might assist with restoration has begun, as has a detailed examination of the extent of the damage. When these exercises are 424
  completed, a decision will be taken on the restoration of the chamber.

  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to receive the report from Sir Reginald Doyle on the fire and related matters at the Parliament buildings, Stormont.

  Mr. Moss
  My right hon. and learned Friend expects to receive the report from Sir Reginald Doyle before the end of March.

  Royal Ulster Constabulary
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide a breakdown by age of the members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The age distribution of members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary as at 1 March 1995 is set out.

  RUC regular age band

  Number

  20 and under

  7

  21–25

  430

  26–30

  1,544

  31–35

  2,036

  36–40

  1,658

  41–45

  1,203

  46–50

  853

  51–55

  502

  56–60

  221

  61 and over

  14

  Total

  8,468

  RUC Reserve (Full-time)

  Age band

  Number

  20 and Under

  2

  21–25

  287

  26–30

  620

  31–35

  642

  36–40

  431

  41–45

  360

  46–50

  320

  51–55

  261

  56–60

  228

  61 and Over

  31

  Total

  3,182

  RUC reserve (part-time)

  Age band

  Number

  20 and Under

  9

  21–25

  149

  26–30

  221

  31–35

  233

  36–40

  205

  41–45

  209

  46–50

  173

  51–55

  168

  56–60

  114

  61 and Over

  20

  Total

  1,501

  Citizens Charters
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the costs of production and distribution of the Northern Ireland charter and where copies can be obtained by the public.
  425
  Sir John Wheeler
  The Northern Ireland citizens charter which was published on 5 February 1992 cost £30,000 to produce and £4,200 to distribute. It is sold through HMSO at a cost of £8.50 per copy. A free summary guide is available from the Northern Ireland citizens charter unit on a freephone number, 0800 243174, and by using a freepost address, Freepost BE111 Belfast BT4 3SX, and at libraries and citizen's advice bureaux offices.

  Copies of the main charter can be inspected at libraries and citizen's advice bureaux offices.

  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the costs of production and distribution of, and the availability of the charters of the Government Departments in Northern Ireland, with special reference to(a) the patients and clients charter,

  Northern Ireland citizens charters and charter standard statements

  Charter/Charter Statement

  Cost of Publication £

  Cost of Distribution £

  Where available

  Patients and Clients

  67,218 (includes the summary guide)

  18,110(includes the summary guide)

  All health and personal social services bodies and related organisations. A summary guide was produced and distributed to every household in Northern Ireland

  Social Security Agency Customer Charter

  4,443

  60 approx

  Copies were issued to voluntary organisations, Chief Librarians and advice bodies. Copies available in all Social Security Agency Offices

  Training and Employment Agency Customers Charter

  11,000

  None

  All Agency local offices

  Parents Charter

  105,000

  9,000

  On request from the Department of Education. Copies were distributed, at the launch in September 1992, through schools, to all parents

  Northern Ireland Housing Executive Tenants Charter

  61,817

  38,532

  Initially copies were posted at the launch of the Charter in September 1992 to all tenants. New tenants get a copy on signing the tenancy agreement. All district offices of the NIHE have copies

  Northern Ireland Railways Passengers Charter

  30,000

  None

  Libraries, government outlets and all main NI Railways stations.

  Royal Ulster Constabulary Charter

  25,000 (includes cost publication and advertising

  —

  All RUC stations and RUC Headquarters

  Ulsterbus/Citybus Passengers Charter

  10,611

  Minimal as copies were placed in bus stations

  At bus stations

  Child Support Agency (NI) Charter

  66,175 (includes reprint costsincurred in November 1994)

  £60

  The Charter was widely distributed on the launch of the Agency in April 1993 and copies are available from the Agency's headquarters and each of its seven local offices.

  NI Court Services

  5,065

  Less than £500

  NI Court Service, Communications Unit, Court Offices. Citizen Advice Bureaux offices and public libraries throughout NI

  426
  (b) the Social Security Agency charter, (c) the Training and Employment Agency charter, (d) the Northern Ireland Housing Executive charter (e) the Northern Ireland railways charter, (f) the Royal Ulster Constabulary charter, (g) the Ulsterbus and Citybus charter, (h) the Child Support Agency charter, (i) the Driver and Vehicle Licensing (Northern Ireland) charter and (j) the Courts and Compensation Agency charter.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The table gives details of the cost of production and distribution and the availability of the charters of the Government Departments in Northern Ireland.

  Individual public service organisations are responsible for producing and distributing their own charters for those who use their services. The table shows costs and other details of production and distribution in so far as they are available centrally.
  427

  Northern Ireland citizens charters and charter standard statements

  Charter/Charter Statement

  Cost of Publication £

  Cost of Distribution £

  Where available

  Redundancy Service

  1,514

  None

  Redundancy Services Offices, Training and Employment Agency offices, Social Security Agency office and Citizen's Advice Bureaux offices.

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing (NI)

  878

  Minimal as copies were placed in local offices

  Copies are available in all DVLI local offices

  Compensation Agency

  Publication and distribution costs to total £500

  Agency offices, solicitors dealing with compensation claims, Citizen Advice Bureaux and Victims Support Groups

  Valuation and Lands Agency

  1,485

  None—distributed by Agency Staff as part of their duties

  Copies are available at Agency Headquarters, District Offices and Rate Collection Offices

  Belfast Action Teams

  8,245

  600

  Belfast Action Team offices, local libraries and on request. Copies were also circulated within NI Government Departments

  Government Purchasing Service

  850

  Minimal-distributed at seminars and on request by post

  From all Government purchasing Service Managers and Headquarters

  Our Service Standards (Department of Agriculture NI)

  12,800

  5,500

  Approximately 30,000 copies distributed to individual addresses. Copies are also available form Divisional Veterinary Offices, County Agricultural Development Offices, District Forest Offices and the Department's Communications Unit

  Forensic Science Laboratory
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much of the £4 million planned for the Forensic Science Laboratory in Northern Ireland in 1994–95 was spent preparing to become an executive agency.

  Sir John Wheeler
  Approximately £180,000.

  Public Expenditure Plans
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reason there is a planned decrease in spending between 1994 and 1997 in(a) industry, energy, trade and employment, (b) transport and (c) environmental and miscellaneous services referred to in table 1.1 of "Northern Ireland Expenditure Plans and Priorities 1994–95 to 1996–97".

  Sir John Wheeler
  The planned decreases in Northern Ireland public expenditure cash plans in these areas is accounted for mainly by the completion of the privatisation payments to Harland and Wolff and Shorts—industry, energy, trade and employment; the completion of the Belfast cross-harbour bridge—transport; and a rephasing of capital expenditure on water and sewerage—environmental and miscellaneous services.

  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the four construction projects 428
  on which £25 million will be spent on the police building programme, referred to in table 4.3 of "Northern Ireland Expenditure Plans and Priorities 1994–95 to 1996–97".

  Sir John Wheeler
  Table 4.3 of "Northern Ireland Expenditure Plans and Priorities 1994–95 to 1996–97" shows the Police Authority for Northern Ireland's plans, as at 31 March 1994, to take forward work, on construction projects valued at more than £50,000 each, costing a total of £25 million in the 1995–96 year.

  At that date, these plans included four new projects—three replacement police stations and a further phase of a regional support centre—costing a total of £6 million, in the 1995–96 year. The remainder of the planned expenditure for that year is in respect of on-going projects started in previous years.

  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the meaning of the term DRC in section 1.5 of "Northern Ireland Expenditure Plans and Priorities 1994–95 to 1996–97"; and for what reasons it needed an increase of £13 million allocated to it in 1993–94.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The term DRC stands for departmental running costs and is explained in paragraph 11.2 of the plans. The £13 million increase, relating to capital and DRC end-year flexibility carryover, was required in 1993–94 due to slippage in planned expenditure in 1992–93.
  429
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide a breakdown of the £7 million allocated each year to community relations in the years 1994–95 to 1996–97, mentioned in section 1.4 of "Northern Ireland Expenditure Plans and Priorities 1994–95 to 1996–97".

  Sir John Wheeler
  The resources available for community relations are directed at consolidating a range of major initiatives which are designed to increase cross-community contact and encourage greater mutual understanding and respect of different cultures and traditions. Since publication of the current edition of "Northern Ireland Expenditure Plans and Priorities 1994–95 to 1996–97", I have announced on 6 December 1994, that the resources available will be increased.

  Over the period 1994–95 to 1996–97 these resources will be allocated as follows:

  1994–95£000

  1995–96£000

  1996–97£000

  Central Community Relations Unit1

  4,414

  5,307

  5,457

  Department of Education for Northern Ireland2

  2,638

  3,133

  3,333

  Department of Finance and Personnel (Policy, Planning and Research Unit3)

  250

  300

  305

  Total

  7,302

  8,740

  9,095

  Notes:

  1These resources will be directed to the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council, district council community relations programme, community reconciliation bodies, cultural traditions programme and capital programme.

  2The main elements of DENI's programme are the cross-community contact scheme, cultural traditions programme and voluntary reconciliation bodies.

  3This will support an information, evaluation and research programme.

  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons table 4.18 of "Northern Ireland Expenditure Plans and Priorities 1994–95 to 1996–97" does not contain projected expenditure on(a) the electoral service and (b) the state pathology service; and what was the actual expenditure on these services in 1994–95 and the projected expenditure in 1995–96 and 1996–97.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The statistics relating to the electoral service and the state pathology service contained in "Northern Ireland Expenditure Plans and Priorities 1994–95 to 1996–97" have customarily, in common with a number of other statistical tables in the report, dealt only with historic information.

  The information requested is as follows:
  430

  £ thousands

  1994–-95 (Estimated outturn)

  1995–96 (Main estimates provision)

  1996–97 (Planned expenditure)

  Electoral service

  1,225

  1,254

  1,232

  State pathology service

  874

  910

  892

  Social Fund
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the allocation for the European social fund to Northern Ireland for the current programming period.

  Sir John Wheeler
  Under the single programming document 1994 to 1999, Northern Ireland will earn 354 mecu, approximately £274 million, from the European social fund. Around 24 mecu, approximately £18 million, will also be earned through the three Community initiatives which have now been agreed. Northern Ireland also expects to earn further ESF receipts from the remaining six Community initiatives and the peace initiative programme which have all still to be agreed with the European Commission.

  "Frameworks for the Future"
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the costs to the Government of the peace process including(a) cost of printing and distributing "Frameworks for the Future", (b) the estimated costs of the on-going talks (c) the estimated cost of referendums and (d) the estimated costs of creating and running a Northern Ireland Assembly.

  Mr. Ancram
  On the cost of printing and distribution of "Frameworks for the Future", I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the Member for Derbyshire, North-East (Mr. Barnes) on 2 March,Official Report, column 683.

  The costs of on-going talks with Northern Ireland political representatives and the Irish Government have been met from existing departmental running costs and it is not possible to isolate the costs of this particular activity.

  It will only be possible to offer reliable estimates on the cost of a referendums and of creating and running an assembly when the details of the arrangements have been discussed and agreed with the relevant Northern Ireland parties.

  Civil Service Pensions
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the reasons for the reclassification of civil service pensions; and if the £17 million spent on doing this will be a one-off expense.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The reclassification of civil service pensions arose from the decision to allocate accruing superannuation liability charges to departments' budgets with effect from the 1994–95 financial year. This was designed to make the employment costs of staff more transparent. The reclassification was a technical adjustment which has been applied throughout the United Kingdom and which had no implications for the resources available to Northern Ireland.

  Environment Legislation
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what grounds the Environment Protection Act 1990 was not extended to cover Northern Ireland; and when he intends to make a statutory provision for the protection of the environment here.

  Mr. Moss
  When this legislation was being considered, it was decided that, as with many such matters which could be expected to fall within the competence of a devolved legislature, it would be preferable to arrange separate provision by means of Orders in Council on the Northern Ireland statute book.

  Legislation broadly equivalent to the 1990 Act is currently being introduced into Northern Ireland on a phased basis. Two Orders in Council dealing with litter and genetically modified organisms are already in place and a further two relating to the major issues of waste and industrial air pollution are at an advanced stage of preparation. The provisions of the 1990 Act dealing with radioactive substances, which applied on a UK basis, have been superseded by the Radioactive Substances Act 1993.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much Government money was spent(a) in total and (b) on each project on the private finance initiative in (i) 1990, (ii) 1991, (iii) 1992, (iv) 1993 and (v) 1994.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The private finance initiative was launched by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in November 1992. The Government contribution to projects and programmes deemed relevant to the initiative, for the financial years since launch, is as follows:

  £000

  Project

  1993–94

  1994–95 Estimated Outturn

  Urban Regeneration Grant

  13,290

  4,760

  Housing Associations

  30,800

  25,600

  Water Executive

  15

  122

  Hospital Equipment Leasing

  238

  n/a

  Total

  44,343

  —

  European Regional Development Fund
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the allocation of the European regional development fund to the objective 1 region of Northern Ireland for the current programming period.

  Sir John Wheeler
  Under the single programming document 1994 to 1999, Northern Ireland will earn 676.82 mecu, approximately £525 million, from the European regional development fund. Around 64 mecu, approximately £50 million, will also be earned through the three Community initiatives which have now been agreed. NI also expects to earn further ERDF receipts from the remaining six Community initiatives and the peace initiative programme which have all still to be agreed with the European Commission.

  Road Safety
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland's programme aimed at reducing the number of fatal and serious road accident casualties.

  Mr. Moss
  The Department of Environment (NI) is carrying forward a programme of road safety measures aimed at reducing the number of fatal and serious road accident casualties by one third by the year 2000. The main elements of the programme are as follows:

  (a) Road Safety Plan The Department will be publishing its first plan later this year. It will set out how we will work together with other road safety bodies to achieve a one-third reduction in fatal and serious casualties by the year 2000.

  (b) Publicity Campaigns The Department, with assistance from the private sector intends to mount two major campaigns this year on speeding and drink/driving.

  (c) Road Safety Education in Schools The road safety education in schools will be continued although, due to resource constraints, the road safety education officer service is being reduced by approximately one third. Additional finance will be available for teaching materials. The cost of producing the annual road safety teaching aid calendar has been considerably reduced by competitive tendering, thereby improving value for money.

  (d) Road Traffic Legislation Northern Ireland's road traffic legislation will be updated to strengthen it and also bring it more closely into line with Great Britain. The Road Traffic (NI) Order 1995 was published in January 1995 and is on target to complete its parliamentary process by mid 1995.

  (e) Accident Remedial and Traffic Calming Measures In the last two years the Department has increased funding by 42 per cent. based on 1992–93 and 1994–95 (estimated figures). A further increase in funding of 16 per cent. is proposed for 1995–96.

  (f) Commercial Vehicle Checking Enforcement Additional resources are being deployed to enable the Department to further strengthen its efforts to target "on-road" checking of roadworthiness and loading standards for commercial vehicles.

  Sickness Absenteeism
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures he is taking to combat sickness absenteeism in(a) the Social Security Agency, (b) the Training and Employment Agency, (c) the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (NI), (d) the Rate Collection Agency, (e) Ordnance Survey of NI, (f) his Department, (g) the Compensation Agency, (h) the Valuation and Land Agency (NI), (i) the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency and (j) the Child Support Agency Northern Ireland.

  Sir John Wheeler
  [holding answer 9 March 1995]: The Northern Ireland Office, Northern Ireland Departments and agencies monitor their absenteeism regularly.

  In 1994, the Northern Ireland civil service set up an inter-departmental working group to address the problem of absenteeism at a strategic/service-wide level. The group has developed

  (i) software to enable absenteeism statistics to be extracted from the main NICS non-industrial human resource database which allows all departments and agencies in NICS to produce statistics on a frequency and of a type to meet their business needs. In addition, I receive, as a standard feature, a quarterly absenteeism report on the non-industrial staff in all departments:

  433

  (ii) a policy statement on attendance, a copy of which has been issued to every member of staff. This statement not only provides the general policy on attendance but also explains the standards which are expected and the procedures to be followed when absence occurs. A copy has been placed in the Library;

  (iii) notes for guidance for line managers to assist them in the implementation of the policy; and,

  (iv) advice on absenteeism briefing sessions.

  Against this backdrop, individual departments and agencies are now able, where appropriate, to take their own local initiatives.

  The Northern Ireland Office—home civil service—also produces printouts which indicate where staff have reached set limits of sick absence. Further action includes staff counselling, the monitoring of further absences and the issue of warnings. These procedures are currently under review.

  Following a review of attendance levels in early 1993, the Social Security Agency introduced a "managing attendance" programme in November 1993 with the main objective of reducing absenteeism through sickness. One of its features requires line managers to monitor absences closely and to interview staff on their return to work. It also provides for the occupational health service to be brought in to help in appropriate cases and for disciplinary action to be taken where necessary.

  Alzheimer's Disease
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease aged(a) 65 years and over (b) under 65 years in Northern Ireland, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Moss
  [holding answer 9 March 1995]: Based on surveys of the prevalence of dementia elsewhere, it is estimated that in 1992 there were 11,500 people over 65 with dementia in Northern Ireland and some 750 people under 65 suffering from the disease. It is thought that about 70 per cent. of dementias are caused in whole or part by Alzheimer's disease.

  The Department of Health and Social Services has recently undertaken a comprehensive scrutiny of its policy on dementia. The report of the scrutiny is to be published in May and a copy will be placed in the Library.

SCOTLAND

  Tayside Flood
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail as precisely as possible the assistance, both direct and indirect, given by central Government sources to the Tayside flood areas in terms of(a) immediate help, (b) assistance with temporary accommodation, (c) assistance with restoring permanent accommodation, (d) the application of the Bellwin scheme, (e) flood prevention measures and (f) other costs; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. George Kynoch
  [holding answer 16 January 1995]: The Government's immediate response to the Tayside flooding in January 1993 was to trigger the Bellwin scheme of special financial assistance to local authorities. So far, nearly £1.679 million has been paid by
  434
  way of grant under the scheme to affected authorities. This is made up of £1 million to Tayside regional council, £673,229 to Perth and Kinross district council and £5,524 to Dundee district council. I expect a further payment to the regional council to be made shortly of about a further £800,000, but discussions with the regional council are still to be concluded.

  Perth and Kinross district council requested supplementary capital allocations of£1.11 million in 1992–93 and this was met in full. Within these resources £910,000 was made available specifically for temporary accommodation for people made homeless by the flooding. Further housing and non-housing allocations of £1.245 million and £200,000 respectively were made available 1993–94. The allocation for housing was in respect of repair of the flood damage to council stock.

  Tayside regional council was given supplementary capital allocations totalling £1.48 million in 1992–93 for expenditure on water, sewerage and other programmes, including roads and transport. This met in full the request made by the region. Further capital allocations in consequence of the flooding, totalling £700,000 were issued in 1993–94.

  As a further measure, the Scottish Office contributed £110,000 towards a comprehensive flood prevention study covering the River Tay catchment area, which the regional council is currently considering with a view to the implementation of flood prevention measures.

  In addition, a special scheme of grants was introduced to assist farmers with the cost of repairs to breached floodbanks. The special scheme increased the normal grant rate from 50 per cent. to 75 per cent. and was available for the period from 1 February 1993 to 30 September 1993.

  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the relevant data in relation to the Bellwin scheme as it applied to regional and district authorities in Tayside following the most recent floods in relation to(a) total amounts claimed, (b) total amounts paid, (c) per capita central government expenditure in relation to the (i) general population and (ii) flood victims, (d) budgetary heads of claims, (e) items claimed but refused, (f) items claimed by reduced and (g) items which could have been claimed but which were not; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 16 January 1995]: Following the severe flooding in Tayside in January 1993, claims under the Bellwin scheme were received from three councils. Tayside regional council and Perth and Kinross district council have received interim payments of grant. The relevant figures for all councils are shown in the table: the figures for grant claimed are net of the threshold for each authority and are based on the normal grant rate of 85 per cent.

  Authority

  Grant Claimed £

  Grant paid to date £

  Tayside regional council

  2,464,760

  1 ,000,000 (interim)

  Perth and Kinross district council

  791,451

  673,229 (interim)

  Dundee district council

  128,790

  5,524 (final)

  Total

  3,385,001

  1,678,753

  435
  Since the claim from Tayside region is yet to be finally settled, it is not possible to give per capita figures for expenditure, but it must be doubtful if such figures would be meaningful given the nature of the flooding.

  The claims have been assessed on the basis of the normal Bellwin scheme rules. These are set out in Scottish Office finance circular 6/1990, a copy of which is in the Library.

  I am not aware of there being any items of expenditure for which Bellwin grant could have been claimed but which the local authorities chose not to include in their claims. My officials have had lengthy discussions with the authorities concerned both before and after claims were submitted, and these discussions included guidance on what expenditure would and would not in principle be eligible for grant.

  Local Enterprise Companies
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the advice provided to him by the Scottish Enterprise Board on his consultation paper regarding the review of local enterprise company boundaries;

  (2) when he will publish his views on the consultation paper regarding the review of local enterprise company boundaries.

  Mr. Kynoch
  My right hon. Friend will make known his decision on local enterprise company boundaries in due course, after he has received and considered the views of the Scottish Enterprise Board.

  Nursing Home Bids
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many private nursing home beds there were in each health board area in Scotland as a whole in(a) 1979 and (b) 1993–94.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 8 March 1995]: The information on private nursing home1 beds is as follows:

  Health Board

  21987

  1994

  Argyll and Clyde

  633

  1,150

  Ayrshire and Arran

  670

  2,064

  Borders

  180

  723

  Dumfries and Galloway

  52

  494

  Fife

  45

  795

  Forth Valley

  207

  860

  Grampian

  324

  1,761

  Greater Glasgow

  626

  2,299

  Highland

  292

  1,009

  Lanarkshire

  541

  2,181

  Lothian

  965

  2,242

  Orkney

  —

  —

  Shetland

  —

  —

  Tayside

  140

  1,609

  Western Isles

  —

  65

  Total

  4,675

  17,252

  Notes:1

  Private nursing homes and hospitals subject to the Nursing Homes Registration (Scotland) Act 1938, as amended.

  2 The first year in which comparable information was centrally available.

  Urban Programme
  Ms Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which geographic areas in Scotland are eligible to receive urban programme support in 1995–96; and how many enumeration districts within these areas are in the worst 10 per cent. based on the analysis of the 1991 census data.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I am arranging for the information to be placed in the Library of the House.

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

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 9 March 1995]: This information is not available. The range of estimates which may be adduced from specific studies of the prevalence of dementia in the population is discussed in an article by Dr. P. W. Brooks which appeared in the March 1992 edition of the "Health Bulletin", a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

  Lanark Blue Cheese
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on Lanark blue cheese, setting out the United Kingdom and EC legal instruments governing its production and what assessment he has made of the application of the relevant legislation in France as respects French cheeses.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The hygienic production of cheese is regulated at present by the Food Hygiene (Scotland) Regulations 1959 as amended and by the provisions of the Food Safety Act 1990. All existing milk and dairies legislation is being consolidated into a new set of regulations which will also implement the EC milk hygiene directive 92/46/EEC.

  Although as Minister I have no involvement with proceedings which have been instituted, I understand that on 6 March 1995 a justice of the peace approved an application by the food authority for the destruction of some Lanark blue cheese, that an interim interdict to halt that destruction has subsequently been granted to the manufacturer and that the matter is now before the courts.

  My right hon. Friend has no information on which he can base an assessment of the application of legislation in France as respects French cheeses.

  Discovery Project
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date approval was given to provide public funds from the Scottish Office budget for the tourist-related capital project at Discovery point, Dundee; and which Government Department or agency was responsible for approving the project.

  Mr. Kynoch
  Financial assistance was provided to the Discovery project from the Scottish tourist board and Scottish Enterprise Tayside. The provision of that assistance was in both cases within the delegated authority of the body concerned, and the question of Scottish Office approval did not therefore arise.
  437
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the value of public funds which have been spent on building the Discovery centre, Dundee; and if he will list the Government and local government share of these funds.

  Mr. Kynock
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Homelessness
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State how many households have been accepted as homeless by local authorities in rural areas in Scotland in each year since 1979.

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The number of households accepted as homeless by rural local authorities is set out in the table. Rural authorities are as defined in the "Scottish Economic Bulletin" in 1985.

  Operation of the homeless persons legislation households accepted as being homeless in rural areas

  Year

  Total number accepted

  1979–80

  1,821

  1980–81

  1,556

  1981–82

  1,810

  1982–83

  1,843

  1983–84

  1,946

  1984–85

  2,132

  1985–86

  2,209

  1986–87

  2,487

  1987–88

  2,606

  1988–89

  2,782

  1989–90

  3,243

  1990–91

  3,800

  1991–92

  4,478

  1992–93

  5,058

  Tourism
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes have been made to the statutory provision for public support towards tourist-related capital projects with the transfer of responsibility from the Scottish tourist board to Scottish Enterprise.

  Mr. Kynoch
  None.

  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list by name and value tourist-related capital projects in Tayside in the last five years; and which Government body approved the projects;

  (2) how many tourist-related capital projects in East Perthshire have received public support in the last five years.

  Mr. Kynoch
  The information requested relates to operational matters for the Scottish tourist board and Scottish Enterprise. I have asked the chairmen of those bodies to write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the total cost to public funds of tourist-related capital projects in Tayside by funds under the control of Scottish Enterprise Tayside.

  Mr. Kynoch
  This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have asked its chairman to write to the hon. Member.
  438
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date the statutory power for tourist-related capital projects was transferred from the Scottish tourist board to Scottish Enterprise Tayside; and what impact this had on projects under consideration by the Scottish tourist board.

  Mr. Kynoch
  The Secretary of State and HM Treasury approved the suspension of the arrangements for the giving of financial assistance under section 4(1)a of the Development of Tourism Act 1969 with effect from 29 June 1993. Those completed applications for assistance received by the Scottish tourist board on or prior to that date were considered by the board and approved or rejected in accordance with the provisions of the scheme. Incomplete applications held by the board on that date or those applications received after that date were passed to the relevant local enterprise companies.

  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many inquiries he has received about tourist-related capital projects which have been affected by the change from Scottish tourist board approval to Scottish Enterprise Tayside approval.

  Mr. Kynoch
  The only inquiries on this matter received by my right hon. Friend have been those made by the hon. Member.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many sites of special scientific interest have been(a) damaged and (b) destroyed by (i) development and (ii) other means in Scotland in each year since 1979.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Details of damage to sites of special scientific interest are published in the annual reports of Scottish Natural Heritage and the former Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland and Nature Conservancy Council, copies of which are in the Library of the House.

  Hedgerows
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what length of hedgerow has been lost in Scotland in each year since 1979.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Reliable estimates of hedgerow loss are not available in the form requested.

  As part of the work on its national countryside monitoring scheme, Scottish Natural Heritage will be producing, by the end of 1995, further Scottish estimates for the period 1970 to 1988.

  Forestry Commission Land
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what area of Forestry Commission(a) land and (b) woodland has been sold off in (i) England, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Wales in each year since 1979; and what area he now proposes for future sales.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The information is given in the table.
  439

  Year ended 31 March

  All land (hectares)

  Forestry land (hectares)

  England

  1980

  1—

  300

  1981

  414

  189

  1982

  1,309

  676

  1983

  2,523

  2,126

  1984

  4,680

  4,025

  1985

  6,976

  6,561

  1986

  2,789

  2,489

  1987

  2,786

  2,377

  1988

  4,593

  4,108

  1989

  1,629

  1,386

  1990

  1,989

  1,824

  1991

  1,556

  1,452

  1992

  1,737

  1,673

  1993

  1,006

  883

  1994

  1,171

  1,091

  Scotland

  1980

  1—

  300

  1981

  1,465

  368

  1982

  7,371

  1,510

  1983

  8,135

  4,061

  1984

  36,543

  11,345

  1985

  18,359

  7,671

  1986

  10,555

  4,055

  1987

  6,220

  2,674

  1988

  3,359

  1,662

  1989

  4,286

  1,716

  1990

  4,620

  2,633

  1991

  4,754

  2,384

  1992

  3,517

  3,359

  1993

  8,437

  4,930

  1994

  12,462

  12,105

  Wales

  1980

  1—

  0

  1981

  361

  131

  1982

  1,743

  161

  1983

  1,450

  445

  1984

  3,347

  1,137

  1985

  3,522

  1,840

  1986

  3,229

  1,770

  1987

  1,950

  1,135

  1988

  977

  617

  1989

  1,760

  1,226

  1990

  1,242

  1,102

  1991

  1,118

  934

  1992

  1,657

  1,231

  1993

  1,146

  1,014

  1994

  1,317

  1,223

  1 Before 1980 central records were kept only of forestry land.

  As announced in the Government's expenditure plans 1995–96 to 1997–98, the commission plans to sell 15,000 hectares of forest land in Britain in each of the next three years.

WALES

  Heart Disease
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made towards the eradication of premature deaths caused by coronary heart disease in Wales.

  Mr. Richards
  The death rate from coronary heart disease for people aged under 65 decreased from 92 to 60 per 100,000 between 1985, when Heartbeat Wales was 440
  established, and 1992 the latest year for which figures are available. This extremely encouraging change has taken place against a background of reduced smoking prevalence among adults and other improvements in lifestyles.

  Welsh Medium Education
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to encourage the provision of Welsh medium secondary schools in Wales.

  Mr. Richards
  The pattern and level of Welsh medium provision is primarily a matter for local education authorities in fulfilment of their statutory duties. Authorities' proposals for Welsh medium education should be considered when they draw up schemes under the Welsh Language Act 1994, and they should take into account parental wishes when doing so.

  South Wales Electricity
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to meet the chairman of South Wales Electricity to discuss the future of the company.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend will be meeting the chairman on 20 March.

  Exports
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for stimulating Welsh exports in the coming months; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Welsh Office's programme of trade missions and trade fair representation continues to give small and medium-sized companies in Wales the opportunity to join sales missions to markets throughout the world. Visits will be made to 13 markets over the next 12 months and some of these will be led by Ministers. Representations will also be offered at trade fairs in Dubai and Kuala Lumpar.

  Welsh Office staff will continue to mount seminars, workshops and other events and visit new and existing exporters to provide advice and information.

  Youth Training Expenditure
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what public funds he has devoted to training the people aged 25 years and under in order to get them out of unemployment in each of the last five years.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 9 March 1995]: Figures covering youth training, youth credits and modern apprenticeships are given in the following table. These programmes are specifically aimed at people under 25 years of age. In addition, adult training schemes are available to people over 18 but figures are not available for expenditure on those aged 18 to 25 within these schemes.

  Provision has fluctuated over the period concerned in line with demand and changes to the programmes. Reductions in the numbers of 16-year-olds and increases in the proportion staying on at school or entering further education have caused demand to reduce since 1991–92.
  441
  Funding has always been more than adequate to meet the youth guarantee by providing training and those young people up to the age of 18 who have required it; and 18 to 25-year-olds are treated as a priority group under the adult training for work programme.

  Youth training, youth credits and modern apprenticeships provision in Wales

  Year

  £million

  1990–91

  42.252

  1991–92

  48.897

  1992–93

  42.683

  1993–94

  40.424

  1994–95

  49.421

  Notes:

  1 Figures for first four years represent outturn expenditure; that for 1994–95 is the level of provision available.

  2 Youth credits commenced in 1991–92 on a pilot basis and are now being progressively introduced by training and enterprise councils throughout Wales. Modern apprenticeships were introduced in 1994–95.

  Cardiff Bay Advisory Committee
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Cardiff Bay development corporation concerning the setting up of the Cardiff Bay advisory committee: what representations he has had concerning the delays in(a) choosing the members of the committee and (b) commencing its activities; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 9 March 1995]: The establishment of the Cardiff Bay advisory committee is the statutory responsibility of the Cardiff Bay development corporation.

  I understand that nominations have been received from the 12 organisations selected to be represented on the committee and that the first meeting will take place later this year.

  Car Parking
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance he has given to hospital trusts and health authorities in relation to charging for the provision of car parking for the disabled for both out-patients and emergency admissions; and when this guidance was last reviewed.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 9 March 1995]: None. Charging for car parking on hospital sites is an operational matter for local management.

  NHS Trust Funding
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make increased funding available to Powys Health Care NHS trust for 1995–96 and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Responsibility for purchasing health service from NHS trusts rests with health authorities and GP fundholding practices.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average class size in Wales for the 442
  school years (a) 1991–92, (b) 1992–93, (c) 1993–94, (d) 1995–96.

  Mr. Redwood
  The following table shows the average class size in Wales for both primary and secondary schools. Data are not available for 1994–95 and 1995–96.

  Average class size as at (a)

  September 1991

  September 1992

  January 1994

  Primary schools

  25.0

  25.0

  25.6

  Secondary schools

  21.5

  21.4

  20.1

  (a) Average class size is calculated as the number of pupils divided by the number of classes. In the case of primary schools, the number of classes used is the number of registered classes whereas for secondary schools it is the number of classes in which the pupils were taught during a specified period on the day of the schools' census.

  Source:

  schools census.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the change, in real terms, of standard spending assessment per pupil for Wales in(a) 1990–91, (b) 1991–92, (c) 1992–93, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994– 95 and (f) 1995–96.

  Mr. Redwood
  There are no standard spending assessments for education, or per pupil, for Welsh authorities.

  The standard spending assessments for county councils in Wales, published in "The Local Government Finance Report (Wales) 1995–96", include provision for education.

  Waiting Times
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to issue figures relating to the waiting times for routine out-patient waits; longest in-patient waits and combined waits for South Glamorgan health authority as at 31 December 1994, comparable with the information given for all other health authorities in the waiting times information bulletin, February 1995 edition, issued by Welsh Health Common Services Authority.

  Mr. Redwood
  As reported in the bulletin, hospitals in south Glamorgan have agreed to provide information on all the medical procedures involved for the next edition.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many consultants have been omitted from the schedule published in the Welsh Health Common Services Authority waiting times information bulletin of February for reasons of inability to comply with the current patients charter guarantees on maximum in-patient waiting times.

  Mr. Redwood
  Three consultants were not included in the February edition of the waiting times information bulletin.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for circulation of the operational guidance on the total waiting times guarantee, and what consultations he has had with the community health councils, local authorities and patient representatives
  443
  concerning the form and circulation of the guidance document.

  Mr. Redwood
  The operational guidance on total waiting times will be distributed widely within the NHS in Wales, with copies being sent to all general practices, hospitals, health authorities and community health councils.

  Comments on the draft were sought from all community health councils in Wales, and community health council representatives attended workshops arranged to discuss practical aspects of the new approach to reducing hospital waiting times.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his current estimate of when the next issue of waiting times information, given 31 March waiting time, will be published.

  Mr. Redwood
  The next edition of the waiting times information bulletin will be distributed to general practitioners in the first week of May. It will contain information gathered from hospitals in the last week of March 1995.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance he has given the chairman of the Welsh Health Common Services Authority concerning the inclusion of consultants in the waiting times information bulletin who are on extended leave of absence; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  No specific guidance has been given on this point.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of the draft operational guidance relating to the total waiting time guarantee to be effective from April; what representations he has had from health authorities, family health service authorities and trusts in relation to the form of the final guidance; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  A copy of the operational guidance on total waiting times will be placed in the Library. It incorporates helpful comments made by health authorities, hospitals, general practitioners and community health councils.

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received in relation to the inclusion of consultants in the schedule published in the waiting times information bulletin, who cannot meet current patients charter guarantees on maximum waiting times.

  Mr. Redwood
  One representation from an NHS general manager has been received, and in the light of this we are considering including details of all consultants in future editions.

  Cardiac Surgery
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions and for what length of time the contract tender period for the market-testing competition for the cardiac surgery unit to Morriston hospital was extended, and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  The original contract tender period of 150 days was extended three times to 1 December 1994, 28 February 1995 and 14 March 1995.

  Valleys Initiative
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the schemes under way as part of his valleys private finance initiative.

  Mr. Redwood
  All 20 sites contained in the "Investment Opportunities in the South Wales Valleys" portfolio are actively being marketed by the Welsh Development Agency and the Land Authority for Wales.

  Detailed development briefs for Victoria, Navigation park, Llantarnam, Penllergaer, Parc Hendre and South Llanelli will be available from the Welsh development agency at the end of March.

  Briefs for Hirwaun, Cwm Cynon, Mamhilad and the Merthyr Tydfil BR sites will be available in May or June.

  Expressions of interest have been received from developers for the schemes at Brackla, Port Talbot, Ynysallan, Llantarnam, Mamhilad, South Llanelli and Merthyr Tydfil, and work is well under way at Victoria to create the new urban village.

  NHS Staff Eating Disorders
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines he has issued to health authorities and trusts giving employment of nurses or nursing assistants who are, or have suffered from anorexia nervosa, bulimia or other eating disorders; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Redwood
  Guidance on such issues are included in occupational health service guidance letters which are sent out by the Department to all health authorities and NHS trusts in Wales. The most recent guidance letter, DGM(95)13, was issued in February this year and, as a result of the Allitt inquiry–Clothier report–included a paragraph about pre-employment health assessments of staff with a history of behaviour that might give cause for concern. I am placing a copy in the Library of the House.

  Building Signs
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about his plans to make it a requirement of Welsh Office funding that signs are erected, or promotional material made available, publicising the source of funding; how much money he will make available to fund such publicity; and from what budget this money will come.

  Mr. Redwood
  I should like the Welsh dragon to appear on construction signboards where the Welsh Office has contributed significant funding, and have asked my officials to draw up proposals to give effect to this policy. Money is already spent on signboards at each site from project funds.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many sites of special scientific interest have been(a) damaged and (b) destroyed by development and other means in Wales in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  .: The information is not held centrally in the form requested. However, since the establishment of the Countryside Council for Wales on 1 April 1991 this data has been included in its annual reports. Prior to 1992 it was collated centrally for England, Scotland and Wales, by Nature Conservancy Council and was published in its annual reports. The

  445
  annual reports of both organisations are in the Library of the House.

  Hedgerows
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what length of hedgerow has been lost in Wales in each year since 1979.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  .: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) on Monday 6 February Official Report, column 94.

  Housing
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimates he has made of the extent of unmet housing need; and if he will make it his policy to collate figures on unmet housing need so as to qualify the requirements for(a) new housebuilding and (b) renovation activity.

  Mr. Redwood
  For the whole of Wales I have estimates of house condition, population growth and household formation. However it is the responsibility of local authorities to assess housing need in their areas. They are best placed to decide priorities, taking account of local factors, and to devise strategies drawing in developers, housing associations and others to meet housing need.

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion and what number of prescriptions dispensed in Wales were written in Welsh in 1993–94; and what has been the change in the proportion of prescriptions written in Welsh in the last five years.

  Mr. Redwood
  This information is not available centrally. Prescriptions are communications between professionals in the NHS and may be dispensed in any part of the United Kingdom. For this reason the British National Formulary states that they should be completed in English, although some Latin abbreviations are acceptable.

TRANSPORT

  Railway Track Maintenance
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that Railtrack maintains the same level of maintenance on main and branch line track, including track renewal, re-sleepering and re-ballasting, for 1995–96 as for 1993–94 and 1994–95; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Watts
  Railtrack operates within a regulatory and contractual framework, overseen by the rail regulator, which sets high standards of safety and performance for the rail network. Within that framework it is for Railtrack to determine the appropriate level of track maintenance and renewal necessary to meet the standards to which it is subject.

  US-UK Aviation Relations
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 20 February,Official Report, column 4, on what date he visited Her Majesty's ambassador in Washington; what was the purpose of his visit; and which officials accompanied him.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I visited Her Majesty's ambassador in Washington, unaccompanied by officials, on September 23 1994 to discuss US-UK aviation relations.

  Vehicle Emissions
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to encourage the use of particulate emission control in heavy goods vehicles and public service vehicles and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Norris
  Particulate emissions control has been a requirement of all new heavy duty goods vehicles and PSVs since 1 October 1993 by virtue of directive 91/542/EEC. This same directive applies further restrictions to apply to all vehicles registered from 1 October 1996. The Department is also working with the Commission to develop yet further controls from 1 October 1999.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what research his department is currently undertaking in respect of particulate pollution; and at what cost.

  Mr. Norris
  Research into air pollution is a matter for the Department of the Environment. Complementary research undertaken by the Department of Transport includes a £1 million joint study, in conjunction with the Department of the Environment and the motor industry, into means of identifying and analysing particulates by size and composition, and establishing typical levels emitted by petrol and diesel vehicles. A second £1.1 million departmental programme, aimed at improving control of particulate emissions from new heavy duty diesel vehicles, is developing an EC type approval test more representative of typical driving conditions. These programmes are in addition to others aimed at improved modelling—£225,000, and data collection—£200,000 per annum on-going, for better forecasting of all transport fleet emissions, including particulates.

  Radioactive Materials
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 1 March 1995,Official Report, column 597, if he will give reasons for the delay in introducing regulations arising from the Radioactive Materials (Road Transport) Act 1991.

  Mr. Norris
  The matters to be dealt with in the regulations are of a complex nature and it was necessary to resolve a large number of technical details.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on vehicles carrying plutonium along the M6 and M40 on or around 23 February; if he will investigate them; and what assessment he has made of whether vehicle registration H254 FCJM complied with road traffic regulations at all times.

  Mr. Norris
  I have received no such representations. If I receive any, I shall consider them. I have not made such an assessment of the vehicle referred to.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 1 March,Official Report,

  447
  column 597, what effect the deletion of a higher executive officer post in the radioactive material transportation division has had on the work of that division; and what reorganisation has taken place.

  Mr. Norris
  The tasks of the post holder are being undertaken by other members of the division. The administrative branch of RMTD is now headed by an executive officer.

  Orbital Motorway, Birmingham
  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 a tolled western orbital motorway around Birmingham; and whether he intends this road to be shadow-tolled.

  Mr. Watts
  There are no plans for a tolled wester orbital motorway around Birmingham. The Highways Agency is continuing preparatory work for a scheme which might prove suitable for private sector finance through the design, build, finance and operate initiative.

  I expect to make a further announcement about progress on the scheme in due course.

  Diesel Fuel
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proposals he has to introduce incentives to increase the availability of sulphur-free diesel fuel.

  Mr. Norris
  None.

  Oceanic Programme and Scottish Centre
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when he now expects to make an announcement in respect of the Oceanic programme; and on what date he expects the new capability to commence;

  (2) when he expects to make an announcement in respect of the new Scottish centre; and on what date he expects the new facility to be available.

  Mr. Norris
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Angus, East (Mr. Welsh) on 12 December 1994. There are no plans at present to make an announcement on the new Scottish centre, or on the new Oceanic flight data processing system.

  M62 Relief Road
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to make a further announcement of the progress of his plans for the M62 relief road in northern Manchester.

  Mr. Watts
  On 22 June 1994, my hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key) announced further studies of the M62, which are now in progress. The studies are expected to take about two years to complete and their estimated cost is between £3 million and £5 million.

  London Underground (Safety)
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made into researching the potential development of the remote reversal of escalators to effect rapid evacuation of passengers from underground stations.
  448
  Mr. Norris
  I understand that Her Majesty's railway inspectorate has commissioned a research project into this subject from the health and safety laboratory in Sheffield.

  Safer Cycling
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the research projects currently being funded by his Department to promote safer cycling; and what is the budget for each research project.

  Mr. Norris
  The Department is currently funding the following research projects to promote safer cycling:

  Title

  £'000

  Vulnerable Road Users

  378

  Innovative Cycle Schemes

  240

  Toucan Crossings and Cyclists

  170

  Cycle Helmets

  137

  Cycle Training

  105

  Illegal Operations Working Group
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what dates the illegal operations working group has met in the last 12 months; and what recommendations it has published.

  Mr. Norris
  The Department's illegal operations working group met on 25 August 1994 and 7 February 1995.

  The working group's 1994 report is being drafted and will be circulated to those organisations with an interest in goods vehicle enforcement.

  Train Skids
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cases of trains skidding while in the course of braking have been recorded in each of he last 10 years; and how many in each year involved turbo trains.

  Mr. Watts
  Train skids are not statutorily reportable occurrences unless they cause an accident or dangerous occurrence, such as a buffer stop collision. Statistics on reportable incidents are published in Her Majesty's railway inspectorate's annual report on the safety record of the railways, copies of which are placed in the Library of the House.

  Vehicle Inspectorate
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many clerical staff within the Vehicle Inspectorate are currently undertaking traffic examiner duties on temporary promotion;

  (2) how many tachographs were examined by the Vehicle Inspectorate in each of he last 12 months; and how many prosecutions resulted from these checks;

  (3) how many spot checks on vehicles were undertaken by the Vehicle Inspectorate at the ports of Dover, Hull, Felixstowe and Liverpool; and how many traffic examiners were stationed at each port in each of the last five years;

  (4) how many vehicles were weighed by the Vehicle Inspectorate in each of the last 12 months; and how many prosecutions resulted from those checks;
  449
  (5) how many vehicles were examined at vehicle spot checks by the Vehicle Inspectorate in each of the last 12 months; and how many prosecutions resulted from these checks.

  Mr. Norris
  There are operational matters for the Vehicle Inspectorate Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Ron Oliver to Ms Joan Walley, dated 13 March 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions concerning various enforcement activities within the Agency for each of the last 12 months.
  There are currently 2 clerical staff undertaking traffic examiner duties on temporary promotion. The posts are scheduled to be trawled and filled on substantive promotion in the near future.
  Details of the number of tachograph examined, total number of roadworthiness spot checks and number of vehicles weighed in each of the last 12 months are shown in the attached annexes. Current details for the information on prosecutions is not available in the form requested. However, for 1993/94 there were 4,422 successful prosecutions for drivers hours offences, 5,521 for overloading offences and 5,620 other traffic offences. We have recently centralised and refined the handling of prosecution work within the Agency. This will improve the collection and availability of data.
  The road transport enforcement work within the Inspectorate is broadly divided into 23 geographical "Areas" I have provided details of traffic examiner checks at or in the approaches of harbours for the areas in which Dover (Area 14), Hull (Area 21), Felixstowe (Area 17) and Liverpool (Area 6) are based. The figures include checks made at all harbours within the area, we do not have separate Figures for each Port. Traffic examiners are required to work throughout the area and are not "stationed" to work exclusively at the Ports. The current number of traffic examiners for these 4 "Areas" are.

  Number of traffic examiners

  Area 6

  7

  Area 14

  10

  Area 17

  6

  Area 21

  5

  Roadside spot checks February 1994 to January 1995

  PSV

  HGV

  LGV

  February

  2,348

  9,740

  3,477

  March

  1,601

  6,520

  2,104

  April

  1,467

  11,505

  2,522

  May

  2,140

  12,834

  3,349

  Vehicle examination (including weighing) at harbours, within selected enforcement areas

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  December

  January

  Total for 10 months

  Area 6

  HGV

  104

  105

  74

  85

  203

  69

  220

  215

  57

  16

  1,148

  Light goods

  134

  136

  100

  120

  282

  85

  309

  280

  74

  19

  1,539

  PSV

  0

  0

  5

  14

  0

  6

  0

  4

  0

  0

  29

  238

  241

  179

  219

  485

  160

  529

  499

  131

  35

  2,716

  Area 14

  HGV

  205

  282

  346

  428

  267

  503

  618

  917

  599

  664

  4,829

  Light goods

  327

  450

  500

  655

  381

  690

  791

  1,098

  707

  906

  6,505

  PSV

  55

  90

  72

  48

  37

  163

  81

  90

  86

  71

  793

  587

  822

  918

  1,131

  685

  1,356

  1,490

  2,105

  1,392

  1,641

  12,127

  450

  Roadside spot checks February 1994 to January 1995

  PSV

  HGV

  LGV

  June

  2,435

  10,578

  3,375

  July

  3,821

  14,277

  4,682

  August

  2,619

  10,982

  4,153

  September

  2,673

  12,296

  7,905

  October

  2,482

  12,080

  4,645

  November

  2,758

  10,622

  6,483

  December

  2,473

  8,860

  5,892

  January

  2,534

  6,773

  7,495

  Monthly checking of tachographs and weighing of vehicles

  HGV tachos

  PSV tachos

  1994

  February

  138,153

  10,700

  March

  133,503

  32,294

  April

  107,742

  9,404

  May

  110,981

  13,620

  June

  107,256

  21,197

  July

  153,115

  34,037

  August

  123,186

  29,488

  September

  129,186

  28,430

  October

  123,170

  21,755

  November

  121,916

  16,204

  December

  110,818

  21,751

  1995

  January

  94,882

  14,277

  Total

  1,454,570

  253,167

  Total tachographs (12 months) = 1,707,737

  Monthly weighing of vehicles

  HGV weighings

  PSV weighings

  Light goods weighings

  1994

  February

  8,549

  31

  411

  March

  9,594

  70

  580

  April

  6,905

  90

  428

  May

  6,797

  145

  487

  June

  6,904

  210

  467

  July

  9,183

  444

  576

  August

  7,573

  231

  523

  September

  10,474

  124

  642

  October

  18,863

  52

  584

  November

  22,907

  62

  561

  December

  18,371

  89

  674

  1995

  January

  6,106

  12

  557

  Total

  132,226

  1,560

  5,690

  Total weighings (12 months) = 140,476
  451

  Vehicle examination (including weighing) at harbours, within selected enforcement areas

  April

  May

  June

  July

  August

  September

  October

  November

  December

  January

  Total For 10 months

  Area 17

  HGV

  958

  892

  776

  1,442

  814

  1,022

  1,676

  2,180

  515

  1,001

  11,276

  Light goods

  1,458

  1,410

  1,187

  1,972

  11,28

  1,104

  1,703

  2,193

  525

  1,348

  14,028

  PSV

  26

  31

  25

  36

  18

  17

  0

  3

  0

  0

  156

  2,442

  2,333

  1,988

  3,450

  1,960

  2,143

  3,379

  4,376

  1,040

  2,349

  25,460

  Area 21

  HGV

  978

  705

  331

  467

  125

  200

  116

  41

  146

  5

  3,114

  Light goods

  1,150

  826

  397

  554

  132

  228

  118

  43

  147

  5

  3,600

  PSV

  210

  165

  0

  0

  29

  128

  17

  107

  16

  0

  672

  2,338

  1,696

  728

  1,021

  286

  556

  251

  191

  309

  10

  7,386

  Night Flying Restrictions
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what review he has carried out of the night restrictions which currently apply at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports following the recent judicial review; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Since the judgment of 20 December. I have given very careful consideration to the night flying restrictions which were announced on 6 May last year. The Government recognise the need to ensure that local communities arc not exposed to excessive levels of aircraft noise at night. We have decided not to propose any changes. This fulfils the Government's intention of keeping noise levels at Heathrow and Gatwick below those permitted in summer 1988.

  The new consultation paper explains more fully what was meant in paragraph 34 of the original consultation paper of January 1993, to meet a point which was challenged in the High Court.

  The consultation paper is being widely circulated to Members of Parliament, local authorities and environmental groups, as well as to the aviation industry. The Department is asking for comments on the proposals by 9 May; a copy has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Additionally, I am writing to the chief executive of BAA plc to ask him to consider carefully whether there is more that BAA or the airlines can do on a voluntary basis to reduce disturbance caused by night flights.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Invalidity benefit
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of people in receipt of invalidity benefit in the Merthyr/Rhymney/Cynon benefit district who are over the age of 58 years; and who will be exempt from the changes on the grounds of severe disability.

  Mr. Hague
  This is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.
  452
  Letter from Michael Richard to Mr. Ted Rowlands, dated 9 March 1995:

  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question about Invalidity Benefit (IVB) recipients in the Benefits Agency's Merthyr/Rhymney/Cynon district.

  All customers over the age of 58 on 13 April 1995 who have been continuously in receipt of IVB since 1 December 1993 will be automatically exempted from the new all work test for Incapacity Benefit.
  An estimate has been made using information derived from a statistically valid sample obtained by computeer scrutiny of IVB caseloads on 21 January 1995.
  The estimate of the number of people in the Merthyr/Rhymney/Cynon area in receipt of IVB over the age of 58 who will be exempt from the new all work test is 3,360.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are currently receiving invalidity benefit in the Merthyr/Cynon/Rhymney benefit district; what percentage this is of the total population of working age; and what are the average percentages for(a) the Welsh and (b) the English and Welsh averages.

  Mr. Hague
  The available information is in the table.

  People in receipt of invalidity benefit and percentage of working population

  People in receipt of invalidity benefit

  3 Percentage of the working population

  Merthyr/Cynon/Rhymney

  district

  123,834

  17

  Wales

  2172,000

  10

  England

  21,184,000

  4

  England and Wales

  21,356,000

  4

  Notes:

  1 Figure obtained from a 100 per cent clerical count of cases in the Benefits Agency offices on the last working day of January 1995.
  The figure will include some people who have claimed but are not actually receiving invalidity benefit because they are in receipt of a higher overlapping benefit.

  2 Invalidity benefit recipients at 3 April 1993, based on a I per cent. sample of claimants, rounded to the nearest thousand.

  3 The working population has been taken to be 16 to 64 for men and 16 to 59 for women. Estimated mid-year population figures supplied by the population estimates unit, Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

  Child Support
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many absent parents are paying the minimum weekly contribution towards child maintenance; and what proportion of assessments this figure represents.

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

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Donald Dewar, dated 9 March 1995:
  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State or Social Security about the number of minimum weekly contributions to child maintenance and the proportion of the number of child maintenance assessments made by the Child Support Agency this represents.
  Information available following a sampling exercise of Child Support Agency cases conducted in October 1994, shows that 48,800 cases, 16 per cent. of assessments completed at that time, were assessed for the absent parent to pay the minimum weekly contribution. Information on the number of such cases where maintenance was actually being paid is not available.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what proportion of Child Support Agency cases where an assessment has been made no child maintenance has been paid; and what action he has taken.

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

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Donald Dewar, dated 9 March 1995:
  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the proportion of cases where no maintenance has been paid following an assessment by the Child Support Agency.
  As at the 3 February 1995 the Agency was dealing with a total of 179,000 accounts that had been set up for the collection of maintenance through the Agency collection service, following the completion of a maintenance assessment. In 42 per cent. of those cases no maintenance had yet been paid. Of course, a number of these accounts have only recently been set up, but of the remainder, interim maintenance assessments (IMA) have been made against the majority of the absent parents who have not met their obligation to pay child maintenance. Enforcement action will be considered against absent parents who still do not pay after the issue of an IMA.
  The Agency continually reviews its accounting procedures to ensure that where a child maintenance assessment has been made and collection requested, that maintenance is collected. It has introduced a number of management action and implemented specially designed work packages to secure the collection of the maximum amount of maintenance.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the average reduction in the amount of child support bills caused by the changes announced in February 1994 and January 1995.

  Mr. Burt
  It was estimated that, for those absent parents who were affected by the February 1994 changes, the average reduction in maintenance would be £5 to £10 per week. For those who will be affected by the changes to the formula proposed in the recent White Paper, "Improving Child Support", the average reduction in maintenance is expected to be some £8. Any reductions due to the proposed departure system will be in addition to this.
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  Figures for average reductions do not indicate the range of reductions, which can vary significantly depending on the circumstances of individual cases.

  Young People
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what plans he has to simplify the procedure by which young people can claim severe hardship payments;

  (2) if he will instruct the Benefits Agency to improve the availability of information relating to young people's benefit entitlement and ensure that it is placed in locations which young people use, including schools, colleges and youth clubs;

  (3) if he will instruct the Benefits Agency to ensure that (a) all staff are aware of young people's entitlement to claim for severe hardship payments and (b) young people are informed of this entitlement when they ask about benefits;

  (4) what plans he has to ensure that compulsory training for Benefits Agency staff is enforced.

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

  Letter from Michael Bichard to Ms Tessa Jowell, dated 9 March 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the availability of information and procedures for young people who wish to claim benefits.
  Every Benefit Agency (BA) District Office is required to have a nominated benefit manager with responsibility for service delivery to 16–17 year olds. All local office staff have been made aware of young people's right to claim severe hardship payments and staff dealing with claims from 16–17 year olds will have completed specialist training. In addition, staff holding a Certificate of Authority from the Secretary of State to make severe hardship directions to pay Income Support, will have undertaken further specialist training in the handling of claims from young people.
  A handbook "Income Support for 16–17 year olds", a copy of which is in the Library, is available in all offices. This details the procedures to be followed and contains a section on best practices. One of the recommendations is that offices set up local liaison groups with other Agencies and outside bodies with an interest in the welfare of 16–17 year olds. Many of these groups exist and work well to resolve local difficulties.
  Consideration is being given to simplifying the process for claiming payments under the severe hardship provision from April 1996 through the delivery of the new benefit Job Seekers Allowance.
  The BA is always looking at ways of improving its targeting of information. We are currently reviewing how the BA targets its main customer groups and the distribution of information to them.
  Currently there are two leaflets specifically for young people. These are FB23 "Young people's guide to Social Security" and IS26 "Income Support if you are 16 or 17". I have enclosed copies of the leaflets, which are also in the Library.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Housing Benefit, Scotland
  Mr. McAllion
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the cost to the housing benefit bill in Scotland would be of(a) reducing the housing benefit taper to 50 per cent. and (b) increasing the earnings disregard for single people to £10 per week and for couples to £25 per week based upon the 1993–94 distribution.
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  Mr. Roger Evans
  The estimated cost of(a) changing the housing benefit taper to 50 per cent. is £50 million, and (b) changing the earnings disregards to £10 a week for single people and £25 for couples is £15 million.

  Notes:

  1. Based on data taken from the 1990–91–92 Family Expenditure Surveys modelled at 1994–95 prices and benefit levels.

  2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £5 million.

  3. For the earnings disregard, disabled couples are assumed to be entitled to the new couples disregard rather than the disabled person's disregard of £15.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many applicants for disability living allowance seek a review of their case after rejection of first consideration by his Department;

  (2) how many applicants for disability living allowance who have failed to get their application accepted on first consideration or on review then appeal to his Department;

  (3) how many applications for disability living allowance are granted following an application for a review of a refusal by his Department;

  (4) how many disability living allowance applications have been granted on first consideration by his Department;

  (5) how many applications for disability living allowance are granted on appeal by his Department.

  Mr. Hague
  The information requested about awards on claims, reviews and appeals for disability living allowance is not available in the form requested. The available information is in the table. An award on review or appeal may be the result of a variety of factors, such as a deterioration in the claimant's condition or the provision of additional information.

  Disability living allowance

  February 1992–January 1995

  1Numbers (thousand)

  New awards2

  845

  Reviews received3 (within three months)

  299

  Reviews received3 (outside three months)

  336

  Successful reviews4

  277

  Appeals received

  59

  Successful appeals4

  24

  Source:

  Analytical Services Division (100 per cent. data).

  Notes:

  1A claimant may apply for a review or appeal against an award as well as a rejection. The figures quoted are for all applications for review and appeal.

  2New awards are awards on initial claims only and not on review or appeal.

  3There will be registered reviews and appeals which have not yet reached the decision stage of the review or appeal system.

  4Successful reviews and appeals are those where DLA was allowed for the first time, another component was awarded or the rate(s) payable increased.

  Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to amend the regulations for 456
  industrial injury benefit to take account of carpal tunnel syndrome.

  Mr. Hague
  Carpal tunnel syndrome in association with the use of hand-held vibrating tools is already included in the list of prescribed diseases for industrial injuries disablement benefit purposes (prescribed disease Al2).

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the impact of the proposed jobseeker's legislation on actors and performers.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  It is appropriate that unemployed actors and performers will have to satisfy the same conditions of entitlement for jobseeker's allowance as other jobseekers.

  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if the new contribution linking arrangements for jobseeker's allowance will take account of the period when a carer is unable to claim invalid care allowance because the disabled person is still within the six or three-month waiting period for attendance allowance and disability living allowance;

  (2) what will be the position of ex-carers who had (a) an underlying entitlement to invalid care allowance or (b) a broken record of receipt of invalid care allowance or underlying entitlement with regard to the new contribution linking arrangements for ex-carers who wish to claim jobseeker's allowance.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Periods in receipt of invalid care allowance will be included in the linking provisions for contributions-based jobseeker's allowance. The precise details of this arrangement, including the position of carers in cases where a disabled person is serving a qualifying period, are still under consideration.

  National Insurance Fund
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the size of the Treasury grant to the national insurance fund in 1993–94 and 1994–95; what estimate he has made for grants in each of the next three years; and to what extent these grants are to cover the subsidy being paid to state earnings-related pension scheme contributors transferring into private pension schemes.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The Treasury grant to the national insurance fund was £7,589 million in 1993–94 and £6,280 million in 1994–95. For 1995–96 the percentage grant now set by order will amount to a maximum of £4,075 million. The level of Treasury grant for future years will be set at the appropriate time and will depend on the estimated income and outgo of the fund then. Estimates are not therefore available for later years, but working assumptions suggest that the grant could fall to £2.3 billion by 1997–98.

  The Treasury grant is a general contribution to the national insurance fund and is not attributed to any particular aspect of the fund's expenditure, of which the rebates to providers of approved personal pension is just one.

  Funeral Expenses
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what basis he arrived at the figure
  457
  for the maximum amount allowed for funeral payments from the social fund.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The proposed cap for social fund funeral payments is based on the average funeral payment award for 1993–94.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has for his Department's exceptions to the capping of funeral payments under the social fund for instances of special needs with special reference to the weight, size and height of the deceased, pacemaker removal and out-of-hours removals.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The proposed cap on social fund funeral payments of £875 is intended to be a sum sufficient to meet the costs of a straightforward funeral which is dignified and respectful, or to make a very substantial contribution towards it. It is not intended to meet the cost of all variations and eventualities.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how(a) funeral directors and (b) others will be kept informed of procedures following the capping of funeral payments under the social fund.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I shall be writing to the funeral directors' associations. Advice will be made available locally through revised forms and leaflets. District offices will be encouraged to liaise with local funeral directors.

  Incapacity Benefit (Laryngectomees)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will discuss with the National Association of Laryngectomee Clubs the effects of functional disabilities and limitations imposed by alterations in the respiratory system; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) if he will consult the National Association of Laryngectomee Clubs in respect of the new rules regulating invalidity benefit.

  Mr. Hague
  The development of the medical assessment for incapacity benefit included an open consultation process, to which the Cancer Relief Macmillan Fund, an associate of the National Association of Laryngectomee Clubs, contributed. If the National Association of Laryngectomee Clubs has further comments on the medical assessment, I would be happy to receive them.

  Equal Treatment
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has for ensuring the equal treatment of men and women with a dependent spouse in their eligibility for benefits.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Our proposals for ensuring that married couples are treated equally in the state pension scheme are set out in the White Paper, "Equality in State Pension Age", Cm 2420, a copy of which is in the Library. The legislation needed to implement these proposals is included in the Pensions Bill. Dependency increases payable with other benefits are already available on an equal basis.

  Income Support and Restart Courses
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many unemployed claimants have received 458
  a reduced personal rate of income support following failure to attend or complete a restart course (a) nationally and (b) in each region, since March 1994.

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is available by Benefits Agency territory and is set out in the table.

  Number of reductions in income support personal allowance following failure to attend or complete a mandatory restart course

  Territory

  Totals (thousands) April 1994 to December 1994

  Southern England

  7.6

  Wales and Central England

  8.2

  Scotland and Northern England

  6.5

  National total

  22.3

  Note:

  Figures are provisional and subject to amendment.

  Pensioners
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what help is being given to those retired people who were unable to make private pension provisions when they were of working age; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  People who have retired since 6 April 1979 may be entitled to receive an additional pension from the state earnings-related pension scheme or a contracted-out equivalent, as well as their basic state pension. Those whose employment patterns have been interrupted because of caring responsibilities may have their basic pension entitlement safeguarded by the home responsibilities protection provisions.

  Pensioners who have income below specified levels may, subject to their circumstances, be entitled to receive income-related benefits such as income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he has taken and what further steps are planned to assist poorer pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Income-related benefits are kept under constant review and are uprated regularly in line with prices. In addition, income-related benefits for poorer pensioners since 1988 have been increased by some £1.2 billion, over and above inflation.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the standard of living enjoyed by retired people now, 10 years ago and 20 years ago.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Information is not available in the form requested. The information in the table shows the percentage growth in pensioners' average income for the years 1974, 1979 and 1992, the latest year for which figures are available.
  459

  Increase 1974–92 (net income)

  Increase 1979–92 (net income)

  Before housing costs (Per cent.)

  After housing costs (Per cent.)

  Before housing costs (Per cent.)

  After housing costs (Per cent.)

  Pensioner couples

  54

  64

  46

  56

  Single pensioners

  55

  57

  49

  53

  All pensioner units

  58

  64

  50

  58

  Notes:

  1. Source: Family Expenditure Surveys for 1974, 1979 and 1992.2. Pensioner units are single persons over state pension age and couples of whom the husband is over state pension age.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment his Department has made recently of the comparative incomes of retired people in the United Kingdom and other European Union member states; what factors he has taken into account to make such comparisons; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  A report of research commissioned by this Department from the social policy research unit at the university of York, entitled "Incomes and Living Standards of Older People—A Comparative Analysis", was published on 26 January. A copy is available in the Library. The report is based on a comparison of 11 countries, eight of which are members of the European Union. It found that the United Kingdom has a more equal distribution of income among its older population and a more effective benefit safety net than many other major industrial countries. It concluded that to make meaningful international comparisons it is necessary to take account of all income sources for older people including private occupational and personal pensions and non-cash income sources.

  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he has taken and what further steps are planned to assist disabled pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Hague
  Since April 1992, disabled people aged between 60 and 65 may be entitled to disability living allowance, which meets some of the extra costs of care and mobility needs arising from disability. Attendance allowance is available to disabled people over the age of 65. Both benefits are non-contributory and non-means tested and provide help to increasing numbers of disabled people. Medical adjudication has been replaced by self assessment and entitlement to benefit is determined by lay adjudication officers. The benefits also serve to establish entitlement to other benefits such as invalid care allowance, severe disablement allowance and disability premiums of income support. The policy intention behind all benefits is kept under continuous review.

  Benefit Expenditure
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the expenditure arising from the payment of(a) contributory benefits, (b) non-means tested non-contributory benefits and (c) means tested non-contributory benefits for claimants below retirement age in (i) 1978–79 and (ii) 1993–94 in 1993–94 prices.

  Mr. Hague
  Information is not available in the form requested. Information on benefit expenditure for claimants of any age in 1978–79 and 1993–94 is in the table.
  460

  1993–94 benefit eaxpenditure (£ millions)

  1978–79 benefit expenditure in 1993–94 prices (£ millions)

  Contributory benefits

  39,575

  30,697

  Non-contributory means-testedbenefits

  28,634

  7,714

  Non contributory non-means-tested benefits

  14,189

  7,060

  Note:

  1. These figures have been taken from the 1995 Social Security Departmental Report and earlier equivalents.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people he estimates in 1995–96 who are(a) current claimants of invalidity benefit and (b) new claimants of incapacity benefit will fall in each of the categories to be treated as incapable of work by virtue of (i) receipt of the highest rate of disability living allowance care component, (ii) suffering from a progressive disease, (iii) registration as a blind person, (iv) tetraplegia, (v) persistent vegetative state, (vi) dementia, (vii) paraplegia, (viii) a severe learning disability, (ix) a severe and progressive neurological and muscle-wasting disease, (x) an active and progressive form of inflammatory polyarthritis, (xi) a progressive impairment of cardio-respiratory function, (xii) dense paralysis of upper limb, trunk and lower limb on one side of the body, (xiii) multiple effects of impairment of function of brain or nervous system, (xiv) a severe and progressive immune deficiency state or (xv) a severe mental illness.

  Mr. Hague
  [holding answer 7 March 1995]: We do not have information on the number of existing invalidity benefit claimants who are in receipt of the highest rate of care component of disability living allowance. We estimate that there will be no more than 130,000 such claimants. We estimate that around 405,000 existing invalidity benefit claimants will fall into the exemptions for severe medical conditions; 110,000 of these claimants are expected to be exempt because of severe mental illness. Estimates have not been made for the other individual types of condition. Some of those who fall into the exemptions for severe medical conditions will be among those receiving the highest rate of care component of disability living allowance.

  We estimate that no more than 10,000 new claimants of incapacity benefit a year will be in receipt of the highest rate of care component of disability living allowance. We estimate that around 40,000 new claimants of incapacity benefit a year will fall into the exemptions

  461
  for severe medical conditions; 20,000 of these claimants are expected to be exempt because of severe mental illness. Some of those who fall into the exemptions for severe medical conditions will be among those receiving
  462
  the highest rate of care component of disability living allowance.

  The estimated figures have been rounded up to the nearest 5,000.

  Mine Victims' Artificial Limbs: Funding
  Mine Victims' Artificial Limbs: Funding
  Landmine Clearance Funding
  Landmine Clearance Funding
  Night Flying Restrictions
  Night Flying Restrictions
  Retirement Pension Age Addition
  Retirement Pension Age Addition
  Health Education Authority
  Health Education Authority
  Professions Supplementary to Medicine Act 1960: Reviews
  Professions Supplementary to Medicine Act 1960: Reviews
  Nurses' Pay
  Nurses' Pay
  Nuclear Waste Transportation: Insurance Indemnity
  Nuclear Waste Transportation: Insurance Indemnity
  Prescription Costs
  Prescription Costs
  Ministerial Committee on Women's Issues
  Ministerial Committee on Women's Issues
  Barings
  Barings
  Deposit Takers: Creditworthiness
  Deposit Takers: Creditworthiness