Written Answers of 23 March 1995

TREASURY

  Pool Betting Duty
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue he expects to receive from the pool betting duty in(a) the current year and (b) next year. [15399]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 21 March 1995]: The amount of pool betting duty receipts is expected to be about £340 million in 1994–95. No separate forecasts are made for pool betting duty for future years.

  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax was received from the pool betting duty in December, January and February 1993–94 and December, January and February 1994–95. [15398]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 21 March 1995]: The amount of pool betting receipts for December, January and February 1993–94 was £88.2 million and for December, January and February 1994–95 was £81.6 million.

  Spread Betting
  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the likely effects of deregulating sports spread betting; [14795]

  (2) what consultations he has had concerning the deregulation of sports spread betting; [14793]

  (3) what alternative forms of regulations he has considered for the control of sports spread betting; [14796]

  (4) what regulations exist to protect participants in spread betting and to ensure they are fully informed of the risks. [14794]

  Mr. Nelson
  Spread bets are currently regulated as investments under the terms of the Financial Services Act 1986. Companies offering spread betting services are required to become authorised by joining one of the self-regulating organisations recognised under that Act. In doing so, they are subject to detailed conduct of business rules.

  Spread betting based on matters such as the performance of financial indices will continue to be

  Debt written off prior to privatisation

  Year

  Privatisation

  Amount £

  Type of Debt

  1980–81

  British Steel

  509,308,359

  National loans fund

  1980–81

  British Aerospace

  60,000,000

  Public dividend capital

  1980–81

  National Freight Corporation1

  100,000,000

  National loans fund

  1980–81

  British Airways

  160,000,000

  Public dividend capital

  1982–83

  British Transport Docks Board2

  81,293,616

  National loans fund

  1984–85

  British Telecommunications

  2,789,865,772

  National loans fund

  284
  regulated in this way. But we intend that spread betting on matters such as sporting events and the weather should be excluded from the scope of the Act.

  The financial services deregulation task force identified non-financial spread betting as an area for deregulation. My officials have consulted industry representatives, as well as the Securities and Investments Board and the Home Office. A draft amendment to exclude certain non-financial spread betting from the Financial Services Act is under preparation, and the Treasury will shortly be consulting with all interested parties on its terms.

  Barings
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Her Majesty's Government and Bank of England officials will co-operate fully with all requests for information

  made by judicial managers, representatives of SIMEX and other authorised persons in Singapore charged to carry out inquiries into activities at Barings.

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 13 March 1995]: If any such requests are received by the Treasury, officials will co-operate fully to the extent allowed by the applicable statutory framework and the need to avoid confusion or unnecessary duplication between inquiries. I understand that the Bank of England takes the same view.

  Privatised Companies
  Sir Norman Fowler
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total tax receipts for the last financial year from industries that have been denationalised since 1979.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 28 February 1995]: Corporation tax receipts in 1994–95 from privatised companies are likely to be £2.5 billion.

  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the answer to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr Banks) of 17 November 1986,Official Report, column 82, as to the number of individual shareholders retaining shares in each of the concerns privatised since 1979. [15401]

  Sir George Young
  This information is not held centrally, but the number of shareholders may be found in individual companies' annual reports.

  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Chancellor of the exchequer what was the total amount of debt written off in each of the privatisations and sale of Government assets since 1979, for each company privatised. [15358]

  Sir George Young
  The table shows the debt written off, and the type of debt concerned, for each company privatised where this occurred. This includes all debt written off since 1979 in companies subsequently privatised. The liability to pay interest on debt remains up to the date of repayment or write-off.
  285

  Debt written off prior to privatisation

  Year

  Privatisation

  Amount £

  Type of Debt

  1986–87

  BAA

  43,503,340

  National loans fund

  1988–89

  British Steel

  500,000,000

  Public dividend capital

  1988–89

  British Steel

  3,480,000,000

  Borrowing under Iron and Steel Act 1982

  1989–90

  Water companies

  4,973,332,672

  National loans fund

  1989–90

  Water companies

  55,013,916

  Public Works Loan Board

  1991–92

  Scottish electricity companies3

  1,043,573,600

  National loans fund

  1994–95

  British Coal

  1,633,400,000

  Voted loans

  Notes:

  1privatised as National Freight Consortium-now NFC.

  2 privatised as Association British Ports Holdings.

  3 prior to privatisation, national loans fund debt due to the South of Scotland electricity board nuclear programme of £1,368,390,398 was transferred to Scottish Nuclear Ltd. and subsequently written off.

  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will indicate the administrative costs for the share offers relating to(a) British Gas, (b) the electricity generating companies, (c) the electricity distribution companies, (d) the two Scottish electricity companies and (e) the water companies in the same

  Adiministrative costs1 of privatisation

  Year

  Selling and other commissions

  Marketing2

  Recovering bank costs

  UK advisers fees

  UK underwriting

  Other costs3

  Total

  British Gas

  1986

  8

  36

  40

  4

  53

  22

  163

  Water companies

  1989

  6.7

  36.3

  26.1

  25.8

  33.2

  15.4

  143.5

  Regional electricity companies4

  1990

  10.5

  15.2

  92.3

  28.8

  36.6

  18.5

  201.9

  Generating companies4

  1991

  3.3

  6.9

  34.1

  17.2

  14.9

  8.2

  84.6

  Scottish electricity companies4

  1991

  4.1

  5.9

  29.4

  19.6

  21.5

  9.1

  89.6

  1 Only costs borne by the Exchequer are shown. Costs shown exclude VAT and, where known, stamp duty, the cost of incentives and interest earned on application monies.

  2 Including the operation of the share information office.

  3 Including overseas expenses.

  4 Costs to 31 December 1991.

  5 Costs to 31 March 1992.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide an estimate of the number of those who will pay income tax in 1995–96; and how many people paid income tax in each year from 1978–79 to 1994–95.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 13 March 1995]: Provisional estimates for 1993–94 and onwards are given in the table. Figures for earlier years are available in table 2.1 of "Inland Revenue Statistics 1994", a copy of which is in the Library. The increase in taxpayer numbers is largely due to economic growth. In addition, the number of people in work is increasing—UK work force in employment up 174,000 between December 1993 and December 1994.

  Year

  estimated numbers of individuals paying tax (millions)

  1993–94

  25.5

  1994–95

  25.7

  1995–96

  26.2

  VAT (Fuel)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the numbers of
  286
  manner as he did in his answer to the hon. Member for Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) of 5 March 1992, Official Report, column 240. in respect of British Telecom. [15400]

  Sir George Young
  The table shows the administrative costs for the sales requested.

  poor people who would be assisted by the zero rating of standing charges in regard to VAT on fuel. [14980]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Zero rating of standing charges would not necessarily help the very poor who frequently are on a prepayment meter tariff which is for a single supply and does not identify a standing charge. The Government have put in place a substantial package of help for those least able to meet the increase in their fuel bills. In addition, the Government have increased funding of the home energy efficiency scheme to £100 million a year from April. The burden of VAT on fuel will bear fully only on people of working age not receiving means-tested benefits.

  Vocational Courses
  Ms Short
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what tax relief on training costs is given to people who enrol in and pay fees on national vocational qualification and other vocational courses; and if he will make a statement. [15161]

  Sir George Young
  Since 6 April 1992, tax relief has been available to individuals for the payments they make for training capable of counting towards national vocational qualifications and Scottish vocational qualifications, subject to certain conditions. Relief at the basic rate of tax is given by deduction at source from the fees by the trainee, so both taxpayers and non-taxpayers can benefit.
  287
  Employees may also be able to claim tax relief for certain job-related training expenses under an Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession—ESC A64—if the requirements of the concession are met.

  The self-employed can also get tax relief for business expenditure on training which is revenue in nature and incurred wholly and exclusively for the purpose of their trade or profession.

  Retail Prices Index
  Sir Timothy Sainsbury
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 20 February,Official Report, column 275, on consumer expenditure patterns, if he will ask the Retail Prices Index Advisory Committee to consider how the retail prices index might be modified to take better account of the spending patterns of consumers varying in response to sales and special offers. [15387]

  Mr. Nelson
  I have no plans to do so. The Retail Prices Index Advisory Committee has recommended repeatedly that the quantities and qualities of the contents of the RPI basket should be held constant during the year. The weights given to different items and types of shop are, therefore, reviewed annually. This reflects changes in consumers' shopping patterns more closely than in most other countries, which only re-weight their indices at intervals of about five years.

  Personal Equity Plans
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on his Budget proposal to extend personal equity plans to corporate bonds, preference shares and convertibles. [16474]

  Sir George Young
  My right hon. and learned Friend's Budget proposal to admit corporate bonds, preference shares and convertibles to PEPs has been widely welcomed. The Inland Revenue will be issuing draft regulations, for consultation, on 31 March. Comments will be invited as soon as possible, but, in any event, by no later than 12 May. In the light of the consultation, the regulations will be finalised by the end of May, laid before the House in June and, subject to the negative resolution procedure, will come into force three weeks later.

EMPLOYMENT

  Cumbria Training and Enterprise Council
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress Cumbria TEC is making in meeting the criteria for the award of a three-year licence. [16586]

  Mr. Paice
  I am pleased to announce that Cumbria training and enterprise council has now completed the process of meeting the rigorous standard we set for the award of the new three-year licences. Its licence will be effective from April 1995.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the numbers of full-time employees 288
  on adult rates in (a) Greater Manchester, (b) Merseyside, (c) Cheshire, (d) Lancashire and (e) the north-west region whose weekly earnings excluding overtime were (i) less than £220 and (ii) less than £200 broken down by the categories (1) manual males, (2) non-manual males, (3) all full-time males, (4) manual females, (5) non-manual females and (6) full-time females giving total numbers of employees in the sample in each case; and what is the number of part-time employees on adult rates in (a) to (e) whose hourly earnings excluding overtime, were (iii) less than £6 and (iv) less than £5.50, broken down by the categories, (7) manual females, (8) non-manual females, (9) all part-time females, (10) manual males, (11) non-manual males and (12) all part-time males, giving total number of employees in the sample in each case.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Information from the 1994 new earnings survey is provided in the following tables:

  Full-time employees on adult rates of pay whose pay was not affected by absence for the survey pay period Number in sample with gross weekly earnings, excluding overtime, below the following amounts: April 1994

  Number and percentage of full-time employees with gross weekly earnings less than:

  £220

  £200

  Manual men

  Greater Manchester

  766

  51.4

  552

  37.1

  Merseyside

  267

  40.0

  193

  28.9

  Cheshire

  268

  40.4

  207

  31.2

  Lancashire

  396

  49.0

  296

  36.6

  North West Region

  1,697

  46.8

  1,248

  34.4

  Non-manual men

  Greater Manchester

  330

  19.0

  260

  15.0

  Merseyside

  154

  20.5

  117

  15.6

  Cheshire

  83

  11.9

  63

  9.0

  Lancashire

  173

  20.9

  137

  16.5

  North West Region

  740

  18.4

  577

  14.4

  All men

  Greater Manchester

  1,096

  34.0

  812

  25.2

  Merseyside

  421

  29.6

  310

  21.8

  Cheshire

  351

  25.8

  270

  19.8

  Lancashire

  569

  34.8

  433

  26.5

  North West Region

  2,437

  31.9

  1,825

  23.9

  Manual women

  Greater Manchester

  291

  86.6

  265

  78.9

  Merseyside

  106

  88.3

  97

  80.8

  Cheshire

  103

  75.7

  88

  64.7

  Lancashire

  162

  88.5

  154

  84.2

  North West Region

  662

  85.4

  604

  77.9

  Non-manual women

  Greater Manchester

  734

  48.3

  573

  37.7

  Merseyside

  387

  49.8

  296

  38.1

  Cheshire

  274

  49.2

  211

  37.9

  Lancashire

  393

  54.2

  316

  43.6

  North West Region

  1,788

  49.9

  1,396

  39.0

  289

  Full-time employees on adult rates of pay whose pay was not affected by absence for the survey pay period Number in sample with gross weekly earnings, excluding overtime, below the following amounts: April 1994

  Number and percentage of full-time employees with gross weekly earnings less than:

  £220

  £200

  All women

  Greater Manchester

  1,025

  55.2

  838

  45.1

  Merseyside

  493

  55.0

  393

  43.8

  Cheshire

  377

  54.4

  299

  43.1

  Lancashire

  555

  61.1

  470

  51.8

  North West Region

  2,450

  56.3

  2,000

  45.9

  Part-time employees on adult rates of pay whose pay was not affected by absence for the survey pay period Number in sample with gross hourly earnings, excluding overtime, below the following amounts: April 1994

  Number and percentage of part-time employees with gross hourly earnings less than:

  £6.00

  £5.50

  Manual men

  Greater Manchester

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Merseyside

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Cheshire

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Lancashire

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  North West Region

  109

  83.8

  104

  80.0

  Non-manual men

  Greater Manchester

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Merseyside

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Cheshire

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Lancashire

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  North West Region

  78

  57.4

  76

  55.9

  All men

  Greater Manchester

  76

  69.1

  75

  68.2

  Merseyside

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Cheshire

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Lancashire

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  North West Region

  187

  70.3

  180

  67.7

  Manual women

  Greater Manchester

  314

  94.9

  306

  92.4

  Merseyside

  246

  96.5

  239

  93.7

  Cheshire

  113

  89.0

  110

  86.6

  Lancashire

  149

  95.5

  143

  91.7

  North West Region

  822

  94.6

  798

  91.8

  Non-manual women

  Greater Manchester

  438

  73.7

  410

  69.0

  Merseyside

  245

  71.4

  223

  65.0

  Cheshire

  197

  75.8

  182

  70.0

  Lancashire

  228

  70.6

  204

  63.2

  North West Region

  1,108

  72.9

  1,019

  67.0

  290

  Part-time employees on adult rates of pay whose pay was not affected by absence for the survey pay period Number in sample with gross hourly earnings, excluding overtime, below the following amounts: April 1994

  Number and percentage of part-time employees with gross hourly earnings less than:

  £6.00

  £5.50

  All women

  Greater Manchester

  752

  81.3

  716

  77.4

  Merseyside

  491

  82.1

  462

  77.3

  Cheshire

  310

  80.1

  292

  75.5

  Lancashire

  377

  78.7

  347

  72.4

  North West Region

  1,930

  80.8

  1,817

  76.1

  Enterprise Allowance
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what would be the value of the enterprise allowance at current values if the annual rate of inflation had been applied since the scheme's inception. [15063]

  Mr. Paice
  It is estimated that the value of the £40 weekly enterprise allowance, introduced nationally in 1983, would be £69 at current values if the annual rate of inflation had been applied throughout.

  The standard rate of £40 ceased to apply in 1991 when the programme was renamed the business start-up scheme. Training and enterprise councils, which deliver the scheme, could then pay between £20 and £90 per week.

  BSUS resources are now part of the single regeneration budget. This will fund locally initiated economic regeneration projects, including start-up activity, where they are proposed and approved.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of health dangers to workers associated with asbestos; if he will provide details of enforcement of existing controls; what new steps his Department proposes to take; and if he will make a statement. [15317]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The most recent formal assessment of the effects on health of exposure to asbestos was conducted by Sir Richard Doll and Professor Julian Peto on behalf of the Health and Safety Commission. The results were published in 1985. Recent research by Professor Peto and the Health and Safety Executive, published in The Lancet on 4 March 1995, has shown that although the assessment is still valid, the extent of occupational exposure to asbestos dust was more widespread than previously thought. That research indicates that those employed in the building maintenance industry such as plumbers and electricians may be at risk from occasional exposure to asbestos installed in existing buildings. HSE is currently mounting a campaign to raise awareness of the risks from asbestos in these occupational groups.

  All work with asbestos is governed by the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987, as amended in January 1993. In addition, the most dangerous—that with asbestos insulation and coating—is covered by the Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations (ALR) 1983. The provisional enforcement figures for 1993–94 are set out in the following table:
  291

  Informations laid

  Convictions

  Average fine per conviction (£)

  CAWR

  31

  20

  1,395

  ALR

  6

  6

  1,117

  HSE is satisfied that current legislation and guidance provide an adequate framework for preventing and controlling the risks posed by exposure to asbestos dust.

  Training
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether unemployed people who have once been required to attend either(a) a restart course, or (b) a workwise—worklink in Scotland—course, or (c) a job-plan workshop, and who have fully complied with that requirement, will be free from any subsequent requirements to attend such a workshop or course in a particular spell of unemployment; and if he will make a statement. [15151]

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

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Ms Clare Short, dated 23 March 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about attendance on Jobplan, Workwise (Worklink in Scotland) and Restart Courses.
  It may help if I explain that since December 1990 there has been a requirement for people to attend a Restart Course after two years unemployment if they fail to take up an offer of a place on an Employment Department (ED) programme at their Restart interview. This requirement is covered in the Income Support (General) 1990 Regulation 21A. This regulation was amended in March 1993 to cover people who have been unemployed for 12 months or more and they are now required to attend a Jobplan Workshop if they refuse an offer of a place on an ED programme.
  In April a new package of help for 18–24 year olds called Workwise and 1–2–1 will replace Jobplan for people in this age group who have reached 12 months of unemployment.
  It is not out intention that people should be required to attend more than one Jobplan Workshop or equivalent for 18–24 year olds or more than one Restart Course within a spell of unemployment if they have already been required to attend and have completed the full programme. I hope this is helpful.

  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what provisions apply when a person has to leave training for work or community action because of(a) operational difficulties encountered by their provider, including the unavailability of a suitable work placement, or (b) illness or accident, so as to allow the person to qualify for entry to another training for work or community action place; and if he will make a statement. [15183]

  Mr. Paice
  Training and enterprise councils will be required to provide alternative training where a provider is no longer in a position to provide training for work as agreed in the person's individual training plan, so that the individual does not have leave the programme. Where trainees experience an extended period of sickness, they will be able to re-enter the programme without having to requalify.

  If people have to leave community action due to operational difficulties encountered by the provider or through illness or accident, they are able to rejoin the
  292
  programme, if they wish to do so, without having to requalify.

  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if unemployed claimants are offered a place in(a) training for work or (b) community action, or (c) job clubs or (d) the job interview guarantee at a restart or other counselling interview would they lose benefit if they fail to participate; if they take up a place on any of these programmes, if they can leave at any time without incurring a benefit penalty; and if he will make a statement. [15152]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Participation in employment and training programmes is generally voluntary and failure to participate does not carry a benefit sanction. The only exception to this is at the 12 and 24-month stage of unemployment where clients are asked to attend a job plan workshop and restart course respectively unless they take up a place on another Employment Department programme.

  Consequently, people who agree to participate in one of the programmes listed by the hon. Member but who fail to start, or who leave prematurely, are not usually subject to benefit sanctions. They are, however, interviewed to see if there is a problem, to make sure the course of action previously agreed is still appropriate and to see what other help may be needed.

  Employment Medical Advisory Service
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many doctors were working within the employment medical advisory service for each year since 1979, broken down by region; what studies are currently in progress on the work of EMAS doctors; what are the estimated number of EMAS doctors for(a) 1995–96 and (b) 1996–97 broken down by region; and if he will make a statement. [15136]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The following tables show the numbers of doctors working by region in the Health and Safety Executive's employment medical advisory service on 1 April for each year since 1979.

  In 1979 EMAS was organised in the following regions:

  Number

  Eastern and Midlands

  7.0

  London and South East

  13.5

  Northern

  5.5

  North East

  8.5

  North West

  13.0

  Scotland

  9.0

  South West

  6.5

  Wales

  3.5

  West Midlands

  9.5

  293

  From 1980 to 1984 EMAS was organised as follows:

  Year

  Eastern and SE Midlands

  London South and SE

  London North

  Northern

  North East

  North West

  Scotland

  South West

  Wales

  West Midlands

  1980

  6

  7

  5

  6

  6.5

  13

  8

  6

  4.5

  9.5

  1981

  6

  6.5

  5

  6

  7.5

  13

  8.5

  8.5

  5.5

  8.5

  1982

  6

  6.5

  4

  5

  6.5

  10

  8

  6

  4.5

  7.5

  1983

  6

  5

  4.5

  4.5

  6.5

  10

  7.5

  6

  5.5

  8.5

  1984

  5

  6

  4.5

  5.5

  5

  10

  7.5

  6

  4.5

  8.5

  From 1985 to date EMAS has been organised in areas which make up the following regions:

  Year

  Home Countries

  London and South East

  Midlands

  North West

  Scotland

  Wales and South West

  Yorkshire and North East

  1985

  5

  10

  12

  10

  7.5

  8.5

  9

  1986

  4.5

  10

  10.5

  8

  7.5

  10

  9.5

  1987

  5.5

  6.5

  10.5

  9

  7.5

  9.5

  7

  1988

  5

  4.5

  10

  7

  5.5

  8.5

  6

  1989

  6

  4.5

  8

  7

  6

  7

  6.5

  1990

  6.5

  4

  9

  5

  6

  7

  8.5

  1991

  7.5

  4.5

  9.5

  6

  6

  6

  7.5

  1992

  7

  7.5

  10

  7.5

  6.5

  5

  8.5

  1993

  7.5

  6.5

  9.5

  7.5

  6.5

  7

  8.5

  1994

  6.5

  5

  6.5

  8

  5.5

  5

  8.5

  Note:

  From 1993 the figures do not include the director or deputy director of medical services who were based in headquarters.

  A prior options study of EMAS activities to consider whether they could be undertaken by alternative means is currently in progress.

  Year

  Home Countries

  London and South East

  Midlands

  North West

  Scotland

  Wales and South West

  Yorkshire and North East

  1995

  6.5

  4

  4

  5

  3.5

  3

  6

  1996

  6.5

  4

  4

  5

  3.5

  2

  6

  Jobseekers' Records
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what records of active job seeking he expects to be kept by claimants who have problems with reading and writing, or whose first language is not English; and if he will made a statement. [15174]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Clients who have problems with reading and writing, or whose first language is not English, are not expected to keep written records. They are asked to provide a verbal account of the steps they have taken to seek work. If they have particular difficulties, I would expect the Employment Service to offer them appropriate advice and assistance.

  Jobcentres
  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his policy in respect of the advertising in jobcentres of full-time jobs at(a) £40 and (b) £45 a week; and if he will make a statement. [15788]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Rates of pay for particular jobs are matters for agreement between employers and workers. Jobcentres advise employers who offer vacancies with low pay about the local prevailing rates of pay for the job and their likely prospects of filling the vacancy.
  294
  The following table shows the anticipated numbers of EMAS doctors by region for 1 April 1995 and 1 April 1996.

  Lifeguards
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce a standard training qualification to be required of all coastal lifeguards. [14784]

  Mr. Paice
  I am replying as Minister responsible for training and vocational qualifications. The Government have no plans to introduce a new qualification to be required of all coastal lifeguards. The Royal Life Saving Society (UK) awards the national beach lifeguarding qualification.

  Repetitive Strain Injuries
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what consideration he has given to amending the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 to require cases of repetitive strain injuries to be reported to the Health and Safety Executive; and if he will make a statement. [15213]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Health and Safety Commission is currently considering the responses to its public consultation document on proposals for change to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985. The proposals include adding to the regulations' list of reportable diseases
  295
  certain categories of upper limb disorder, so-called repetitive strain injuries.

  A copy of the commission's consultation document has been placed in the Library.

  Mesothelioma
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what steps his Department is taking to(a) monitor the number of men and women dying from mesothelioma, (b) monitor the age of the men and women dying from mesothelioma and (c) estimate the specific years that the victims of mesothelioma faced exposure to asbestos; [15214]

  (2) what steps his Department is taking to monitor the occupational backgrounds of the victims of mesothelioma. [15216]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Health and Safety Executive receives copies from the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys and the General Register Office (Scotland) of all death certificates mentioning mesothelioma. The age, sex, latest full-time occupation, and other details on the death certificate are recorded on a database. Tabulations of mesothelioma deaths by age and sex are published in "Health and Safety Statistics", a copy of which is available in the Library.

  An analysis of the occupational breakdown of mesothelioma deaths will be published in the "Occupational Health Decennial Supplement", a joint publication by OPCS and HSE, on Thursday 30 March 1995. A copy will be placed in the Library.

  The timing of mesothelioma victims' asbestos exposure cannot be determined from routine sources. This issue is to be addressed in a planned case control study of mesothelioma cases.

  Advertising
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list by region the annual cost of advertising job vacancies in the press and on radio in Scotland. [15597]

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

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 23 March 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the annual cost of advertising job vacancies in the Press and on the Radio in Scotland, listed by region.
  Unfortunately this information is not recorded centrally, as it is the responsibility of the local Business Manager and is therefore managed at a local level.
  The Employment Service uses 12 Radio stations spread over Scotland and over 100 different Newspapers. This makes the cost of collecting this information prohibitive.
  I am sorry I cannot be more helpful.

  Outreach Projects
  Malcolm Bruce
  ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list by region the number of outreach projects providing access to vacancy and advisory services operating in Scotland. [15599]
  296
  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 23 March 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the number of Outreach projects providing access to vacancy and advisory services operating in Scotland. We have interpreted Outreach projects to mean those where information outside and complementary to Employment Service (ES) programmes and services is provided by advisors in locations other than ES offices.
  The ES has supported, either in full or as part of a joint funded initiative, nine Outreach type projects throughout Scotland in 1995–95. These are based in the following locations;

  Strathclyde Region:-
  Castlemilk Economic Development Agency Office, Castlemilk, Glasgow;
  Ferguslie Park partnership premises, Ferguslie Park, Paisley;
  The Ethnic Minority Enterprise Centre in Glasgow, covering projects in Shawlands, Govan and Maryhill areas;
  Drumchapel, Glasgow;
  The Ashgill, Netherburn and Stonehouse areas of Lanarkshire.

  Lothian Region:-
  The Pilton Partnership premises in Edinburgh.

  Grampian Region:-
  The Forres Area Action Project premises in Forres, Morayshire.
  I hope this information is helpful.

  Freephones
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to extend the Employment Service freephone services in Scotland. [15598]

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

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 23 March 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about what plans the Employment Service (ES) has to extend freephone services in Scotland.
  While we are continuously reviewing the services we provide to clients in rural areas, there are no plans at present to extend the freephone facility.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what reserves were held by each TEC at the end of the financial year 1992–93 and 1993–94. [15833]

  Mr. Paice
  A list of English training and enterprise councils and their accumulated reserves, as shown in their annual statutory audited accounts, at the end of the financial year 1992–93 and 1993–94 are shown in the following tables:
  297

  TECs by region

  Accumulated reserves

  1992–93 £000

  1993–94 £000

  North east

  County Durham

  6,582

  7,845

  Northumberland

  3,696

  5,150

  Teesside

  9,186

  10,738

  Tyneside

  4,486

  3,497

  Sunderland (Wearside)

  2,514

  2,885

  26,465

  30,115

  Merseyside

  CEWTEC

  2,579

  2,167

  Merseyside

  4,210

  4,638

  QUALITEC

  1,055

  1,257

  7,844

  8,062

  North west

  Bolton/Bury

  2,861

  4,633

  Manchester

  3,377

  4,810

  METRO

  519

  378

  Oldham

  1,456

  1,196

  Rochdale

  1,087

  1,665

  South and East Cheshire

  2,419

  2,222

  Stockport and High Peak

  2,782

  2,827

  Cumbria

  2,999

  2,800

  ELTEC

  3,364

  3,602

  LAWTEC

  2,917

  4,098

  NORMID

  1,093

  1,870

  24,874

  30,101

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  Barnsley/Doncaster

  3,993

  3,172

  Bradford

  3,432

  3,135

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  828

  1,662

  Humberside

  5,193

  5,049

  Leeds

  5,724

  5,837

  North Yorkshire

  4,353

  5,270

  Rotherham

  2,865

  3,467

  Sheffield

  4,157

  5,301

  Wakefield

  3,110

  3,856

  33,655

  36,749

  Eastern

  Bedfordshire

  1,556

  1,099

  CAMBS

  622

  964

  Essex

  5,037

  4,243

  Greater Peterborough

  1,532

  1,462

  Hertfordshire

  2,641

  2,398

  Norfolk and Waverney

  2,161

  2,951

  Suffolk

  2,984

  1,529

  16,533

  14,646

  East Midlands

  Greater Nottingham

  944

  1,258

  Leicester

  4,597

  5,492

  Lincolnshire

  2,553

  3,779

  Northamptonshire

  1,977

  1,355

  North Derbyshire

  749

  1,008

  North Nottinghamshire

  1,289

  2,129

  South Derbyshire

  4,106

  3,675

  16,215

  18,696

  West Midlands

  Birmingham

  1,212

  931

  Central England

  1,340

  1,259

  Coventry/Warwick

  2,203

  1,739

  Dudley

  1,214

  1,279

  HAWTEC

  1,679

  1,025

  Sandwell

  1,706

  1,639

  Shropshire

  1,304

  1,625

  298

  TECs by region

  Accumulated reserves

  1992–93 £000

  1993–94 £000

  Staffordshire

  5,789

  7,086

  Walsall

  2,340

  1,303

  Wolverhampton

  1,411

  899

  20,198

  18,785

  South west

  Avon

  3,071

  4,374

  Devon/Cornwall

  7,407

  5,451

  Dorset

  2,848

  2,572

  Gloucester

  1,575

  1,870

  Somerset

  1,746

  2,193

  Wiltshire

  1,110

  2,155

  17,757

  18,615

  London

  AZTEC

  1,932

  2,765

  CENTEC

  906

  2,437

  CILNTEC

  2,161

  2,388

  LETEC

  655

  3,260

  North London

  3,005

  2,745

  North West London

  864

  1,412

  SOLOTEC

  3,439

  5,070

  South Thames

  3,611

  2,319

  West London

  1,163

  1,511

  17,736

  23,907

  South east

  Hampshire

  4,679

  4,493

  Isle of Wight

  879

  1,014

  Kent

  5,774

  4,938

  Milton Keynes/North Buckinghamshire

  677

  896

  Heart of England

  2,424

  2,496

  Surrey

  1,663

  2,828

  Sussex

  5,230

  5,244

  Thames Valley Ent.

  3,970

  5,145

  25,296

  27,054

  Grand total

  206,572

  226,730

PRIME MINISTER

  Administration and Policy Formulation
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the amount of money spent on administration and policy formulation by the Prime Minister's office in 1993–94; what are the projections for(a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96; and if he will make a statement. [14648]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 22 March 1995]: For this purpose, my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 22 March 1995 to the hon. Member for Meirionnyd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd) by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science.

  Official Functions
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the amount of money spent on functions hosted by him in his official capacity as Prime Minister in 1993–94; what are the projections for(a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96; and if he will make a statement. [14783]
  299
  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 22 March 1995]: Expenditure from my office's budget on functions hosted by me in my official capacity as Prime Minister in 1993–94 was £33,000; information for projected expenditure is not available.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Court Service Agency
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will place in the Library a copy of(a) the logo for the Court Service Agency, (b) the winning design, produced by Jeanette Paris, of last year's departmental staff logo competition and (c) such of the Epps Partnership drawings working up the design as are in existence. [15780]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Yes. Arrangements have been made for the designs to be placed in the Library.

  George Long
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on what date the case of George Long was referred to the Court of Appeal; whether a date has yet been fixed for the appeal; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Home Secretary referred the case of George Long to the Court of Appeal on 16 March 1994. The hearing of the appeal was due to take place on 4 April 1995, but was taken out of the list on 20 March 1995 at the request of the parties' solicitors.

  Magistrates, West Yorkshire
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the political balance of magistrates within West Yorkshire.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The political balance of magistrates within West Yorkshire on the latest information available is as follows:

  Conservative 566

  Labour 401

  Liberal/Democratic 245

  Independent/Not known 160

  Structured Settlements
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans the Government have to implement the recommendations in the Law Commission's report "Structured settlements and interim and provisional damages". [16476]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Government welcome the report and will introduce legislation implementing all the recommendations made in it, both on the rationalisation of the structured settlements system and on other aspects of the law of damages, when a suitable opportunity arises.

  Trusts
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans the Government have to implement the recommendations in the Law Commission's report "The Law of Trusts—Delegation by Individual Trustees", Law Com. No. 220. [16477]
  300
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Government have decided to accept the Law Commission's recommendations subject to one amendment, agreed with the commission, which will ensure that there will be no need to renew an enduring power of attorney if the donor of the power has a beneficial as well as a fiduciary interest in the relevant property. The Government will introduce legislation to implement these proposals when a suitable legislative opportunity occurs.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Electricity Supplies
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much was paid by regional electricity companies to Electricité de France for supplies via the cross-channel interconnector in each of the last five years; and what proportion in cash and percentage terms was accounted for by it being electricity sourced from nuclear power stations. [15839]

  Mr. Eggar
  The amounts paid for electricity supplies across the interconnector are a commercial matter for the contracting parties. I understand that those RECs with output contracts with EDF have been able to satisfy the Director General of Electricity Supply that the electricity they import from France is supplied from designated nuclear stations.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of the electricity supplied by Electricitié de France through the cross-channel interconnector in each of the last five years. [15840]

  Mr. Eggar
  This is a commercial matter for the parties to the relevant contracts.

  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much electricity was imported from France through the cross-channel interconnector in each of the last five years; and how much was produced by nuclear power. [15842]

  Mr. Eggar
  Electricity imports from France have been as follows:

  Electricity imports from France, GWh

  Year

  1990: 11,749

  1991: 16,466

  1992: 16,786

  1993: 16,763

  1994: 16,942

  Source: National Grid Company plc

  I understand that those regional electricity companies with output contracts with Electricitié de France have been able to satisfy the Director General of Electricity Supply that the electricity they import from France is supplied from designated nuclear stations.

  Television Decoders
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of whether it will be possible to oblige manufacturers of decoding systems for television transmission to fit, in addition to the proprietary
  301
  conditional access system, a connector to the decoder box for a common interface; and if the Government support the concept of a common interface throughout Europe.

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The Government have looked closely at this issue. The development of a common interface for conditional access equipment is an option provided for in the draft EC directive on standards for television broadcasting. A common position on this directive was adopted by the Council on 13 November 1994. The directive is now being considered by the European Parliament. The European Digital Video Broadcasting Group—an industry body with a standard-making role—has developed an agreed technical specification for such an interface. If the directive is adopted in the terms of the common position, the common interface will be an option, but not a requirement, for manufacturers of set-top boxes. However, manufacturers will be obliged to incorporate in equipment the capacity to descramble signals according to a common European algorithm.

  The Government have supported these developments. The Government consider that it is important that the option of a common interface should be open to manufacturers and to those establishing conditional access systems for digital television. But the Government are also firmly of the view that a common interface should not be mandatory for conditional access systems: such systems involve a considerable investment, and face a real risk of piracy. Not all operators will want manufacturers to install a common interface; they should not be obliged to do so.

  DTI surveys commissioned from polling or public survey companies 1993–94

  Survey

  Objective

  Contractor

  Enterprise Initiative Tracking Study

  Track awareness and perceptions of the Enterprise Initiative programme among businesses

  MORI

  Evaluation of the LINK programme: Nanotechnology

  Evaluate this aspect of the LINK programme

  PA Consulting

  Survey on small firms publication research

  Establish awareness of and attitudes towards Small Firms' division's publications

  BLM Research and Marketing

  Radiocommunications Agency Customer Survey

  Citizens' Charter customer feedback

  MORI

  Firework Safety Study

  Gauge public awareness of/reaction to firework safety publicity to assess 1995 advertising strategy

  RSGB

  TEC Evaluation

  Evaluate TECs' performance

  PA Consulting

  Renewable Energy Awareness—industrial and commercial sectors

  Assess extent of awareness of renewable energy at senior management level

  BMRB

  Renewable Energy Awareness—general public

  Assess extent of public awareness of renewable energy

  RSGB

  DTI Surveys commissioned from polling or public survey companies 1994–95

  Survey

  Objective

  Contractor

  Metrication Survey

  Assess public attitudes before implementation of EC Directive on metric food pricing

  RSGB

  Survey on the United Kingdom Aerospace sector

  Assess needs of aerospace sector for DTI services

  PA Consulting

  Wider Effects of Inward Investment

  Assess what are the wider effects of inward investment

  PA Consulting

  United Kingdom Measurement Foresight programme

  Assess long-term metrology requirements of industry from DTI laboratories

  PA Consulting

  Radiocommunications Agency—Quality of service improvements for Private Mobile Radio (PMR) users

  Obtain customer feedback in order to improve service to PMR users

  EDS

  Radiocommunications Agency Customer Survey

  Citizens charter

  MORI

  Nuclear Review
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when and in what form he expects to announce the results of the nuclear review. [15447]

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sherwood (Mr. Tipping) on 19 October 1994,Official Report, column 239.

  Surveys
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the employment of polling or public survey organisations by his Department during the current and previous financial years, on the organisations employed by his Department, on the values of individual contracts for these services, on the total amounts of money spent and on the purposes of the research undertaken by these organisations. [14501]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 20 March 1995]: The tables list only those surveys commissioned by my Department from polling or public survey organisations in 1993–94 and 1994–95. Information on the individual fees paid cannot be disclosed due to commercial confidentiality considerations, but the total value of those listed was £270,000 in 1993–94 and £329,000 in 1994–95. Most surveys commissioned by my Department are of businesses and are conducted by business consultants or by the Department itself. Polling organisations compete for these contracts in accordance with competitive tendering rules, and sometimes gain contracts for other than polling work.
  303

  DTI Surveys commissioned from polling or public survey companies 1994–95

  Survey

  Objective

  Contractor

  Business Links Baseline Tracking Study

  Tracking research for the Business Link initiative

  MORI

  Firework Safety Study

  Guage public awareness of/reaction to firework safety publicity to assess 1995 advertising strategy

  RSGB

  TEC Evaluation

  Evaluate TECs' performance

  PA Consulting

  British Coal Allotments
  Mr. Enright
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent discussions he has held with regard to allotment holders on British Coal property. [13902]

  Mr. Page
  We are actively pursuing with British Coal options for the future of allotments. No decisions have yet been taken.

  Executive Pay Review
  Mr. French
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects the Greenbury committee on executive pay to report. [15434]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The CBI announced on 16 January that Sir Richard Greenbury would chair a group to review the structure within which executive remuneration was determined and disclosed. The announcement indicated that the group would aim to report within six months.

  Investing Companies
  Mr. Legg
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what grants, aid or relief are available to companies investing in the United Kingdom from(a) Government, (b) the European Union and (c) local authorities and how much money was granted in each year since 1990 under each source. [15341]

  Mr. Eggar
  The information requested is not collated. Schemes run by my Department are published annually in "The Government's Expenditure Plans, Trade and Industry", copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Legg
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many(a) non-EU and (b) EU foreign companies have invested in the United Kingdom since 1990. [15323]

  Mr. Eggar
  According to figures notified to my Department's Invest in Britain Bureau, for the financial years 1990 to 1994, from a total of 1,478 inward investment projects in the UK, 983 were from non-EU countries and the remaining 495 from EU countries. These figures are based on information provided by companies at the time of the announcement of the decision to invest, and take no account of subsequent developments.

  Mr. Legg
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the value of assets repatriated from the United Kingdom by overseas companies since 1990. [15320]

  Mr. Eggar
  The information is not available.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  "Competing for Quality"
  Mr. Legg
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will provide a breakdown of the results of the "Competing for Quality" programme, on a Department-by-Department basis, for the years 1992–93 and 1993–94 giving the proportion of work awarded for each Department which was abolished, privatised, contracted out, awarded to the in-house team or led to internal restructuring and the level of savings achieved by each Department.

  Mr. Horam
  The results of the "Competing for Quality" programme, covering the period from April 1992 to September 1994, have been broken down as requested. Copies have been placed in the Library.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Consulates
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total cost of maintaining United Kingdom consulates in 1993–94; what are the projections for(a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96; and if he will make a statement. [14268]

  Mr. Goodlad
  Details of the actual and projected costs of maintaining United Kingdom consulates are provided in the following list:

  Year

  Cost £ million

  1993–94:

  50.1

  1994–95:

  51.6

  1995–96:

  53.4

  The figures include the costs of consulates-general and one vice-consulate. Further information can be found in the FCO's 1995 departmental report, a copy of which is placed in the Library of the House.

  Palestine
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what commitment he has made to send United Kingdom observers to supervise the Palestinian legislative elections; and if this has been accepted by President Arafat. [15534]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  During his visit to Gaza on 14 March, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister reaffirmed the EU's willingness to consider co-ordinating international observation of the Palestinian elections. Chairman Arafat warmly welcomed this. The nature of the UK's participation will be considered once the agreement has been reached between the Israelis and the
  305
  Palestinians on the arrangements for the elections and their observation.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress was made in implementing the second chapter of the declaration of principles at 9 March meeting between Shimon Peres and Yaser Arafat. [15532]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Mr. Peres and Mr. Arafat agreed to aim to complete negotiations on elections and redeployment on the west bank by 1 July, and on various confidence-building measures—including the opening of safe passage routes between Gaza and Jericho, the reactivation of the ministerial committee reviewing procedures for the release of Palestinian prisoners, and the expedition of passage through checkpoints. They agreed to increase the number of permits for Palestinian workers in Israel to 21,000. Two new joint committees on security and civilian issues have been formed. It was also agreed to transfer additional economic powers to the Palestinians in the west bank.

  Foreign Ministers Meeting
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Carcassonne. [15673]

  Mr. David Davis
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs attended

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  11995–96

  No. of casuals

  81

  80

  83

  99

  106

  115

  Percentage of total work force

  0.83

  0.81

  1.01

  1.24

  1.38

  1.53

  1 Projected figures for 1995–96.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Independent Commission for Police Complaints
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list(a) expenditure for the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland for 1994–95 and (b) projected expenditure for the same body for 1996–97. [15411]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Forecast expenditure by the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland for the 1994–95 financial year is £781,000. At this stage, projected expenditure by the commission for the 1996–97 financial year is estimated at £823,000.

  School Transfer Tests
  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the details of the marking formulae for the school transfer test. [14895]

  Mr. Ancram
  The compilers of the tests prepare a marking key for each of the tests. The key indicates the correct answer, or the range of acceptable answers, to each question and, if appropriate, the basis on which the available marks should be awarded. The marking keys are adjusted to take account of unforeseen acceptable answers
  306
  the informal EU Foreign Ministers meeting in Carcassonne on 18 and 19 March. Discussion covered a wide range of topical issues. The EU's relations with Russia and the situation in the former Yugoslavia were the main focus. On Russia, EU Foreign Ministers agreed a broad strategy covering the EU's political, economic and security relationship, taking into account the economic reform process in Russia, the situation in Chechnya and questions of European security architexture.

  Discussion on the former Yugoslavia concentrated on the need to ensure the extension of the cessation of hostilities in Bosnia; the continuation of the presence of UN forces in Croatia; and the importance of carrying forward proposals for a durable and peaceful settlement of the conflict.

  Temporary Contracts
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many employees in (i) his Department and (ii) all executive agencies supervised by his Department have been employed on temporary contracts of(a) 51 weeks or (b) less than 51 weeks' duration for the current year and each of the past five years, in each case specifying what percentage of the respective total work force these employees constituted.

  Mr. Goodlad
  [holding answer 15 March 1995]: The number of employees on temporary contracts of less than 51 weeks' duration are as follows:

  which emerge during marking, upon which all candidates' papers are remarked accordingly.

  Copies of the marking keys are made available to the principals of primary and preparatory schools when marking is complete.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will make available the individual child's marks to parents of children who undertake the school transfer test; [14896]

  (2) what marks were awarded in the school transfer results for examinee number 21949/8. [14898]

  Mr. Ancram
  It is not the Department's policy to issue transfer test marks for individual candidates.

  Mr. Mallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what adjustments are made in the marking results of the school transfer test to take account of the individual child's age. [14897]

  Mr. Ancram
  The marks obtained by the children in each section—English, mathematics and science—of each test are adjusted for age, using a statistical analysis of the scores to calculate an amount to be added to the scores of the younger children; the younger the child, the larger the allowance will be. The allowance for each child is calculated in accordance with the day of his or her birth.

  Public Record Office
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide details of the launch of the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland as a next steps executive agency. [16202]

  Mr. Moss
  The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland will be formally established as an executive agency on 1 April 1995.

  The key performance targets set for the agency for 1995–96 are:

  1. to (a) process 1,100 linear feet of privately deposited records and ensure that 100 per cent. of all new such "open" material is processed within one year of receipt; and (b) reappraise approximately 10,000 linear feet of records with a view to eliminating low-grade material;

  2. to reduce the unit cost of £16.62 per reader visit by 6 per cent. to £15.79 without diminishing the quality of service;

  3. to process written enquiries from customers within 10 working days of receipt in 70 per cent. of cases and within 14 working days in 95 per cent. of cases; and

  4. to manage the agency's work load—including an anticipated 3 per cent. increase in readers and the introduction of extended opening hours—while ensuring that expenditure is within financial limits approved by the Department.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Private Detective Agencies
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the schemes, activities and projects on which Brays Detective Agency has been retained by the Treasury Solicitor, in each case giving the Government Department sponsoring the scheme, activity or project; what is the purpose of the contract with Brays; and what is the total expenditure to date. [15119]

  The Attorney-General
  Brays Detective Agency is used by the Treasury Solicitor on a case-by-case basis rather than under any standing contract. The principal Government Departments for which work is undertaken by the agency are:

  Department

  Activity

  1 Amount £

  Department of Transport

  Property-related work, mainly in relation to road schemes, actions for possession and actions against trespassers

  310,930

  Ministry of Defence

  Work in relation to possession, debt and personal injury actions

  8,400

  1 Amounts paid to the agency to date in the financial year 1994–95.

SCOTLAND

  Sheep Scab
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of cases of ectoparasitic infestation in sheep for(a) the two years before compulsory dipping was abolished and (b) the two years since compulsory dipping has been abolished.
  308
  Sir Hector Monro
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 31 January 1995,Official Report, column 652, for the number of cases of sheep scab during the period in question.

  Other ectoparasitic infections of sheep have never been notifiable in Scotland and consequently information on the number of cases of these diseases is not available.

  Nature Reserves
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the national nature reserves. [15125]

  Sir Hector Monro
  The national nature reserves are listed in the annual reports of Scottish Natural Heritage. Copies of the reports for 1992–93 and 1993–94 are in the Library.

  Scottish Sleeper Services
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received in favour of the withdrawal of the Fort William and Carlisle to London sleeper services and of the withdrawal of Scotland to London Motorail services. [15143]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  None.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Rape Convictions
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the median age of men convicted of rape for the first time; and if he will make a statement. [14260]

  Mr. Maclean
  The convictions of two samples of men born in 1953 and 1958 have been traced up to the ages of 39 and 33 respectively. The samples included 75 men convicted of rape for the first time. The median age for this group was 22 years old.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of convicted rapists imprisoned in English and Welsh prisons in 1994; and if he will make a statement. [14261]

  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. Elfyn Llwyd, dated 23 March 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking for the number of convicted rapists imprisoned in English and Welsh prisons in 1994 and if he will make a statement.
  Provisional information for 1994 shows that 446 persons were received into a Prison Service establishment in England and Wales under sentence for rape.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many convicted prisoners were admitted to a prison hospital or a general hospital in(a) 1993 and (b) 1994; what these figures are as percentages of the general hospital population; and if he will make a statement; [14262]

  (2) how many convicted rapists were admitted to a prison hospital or a general hospital in (a) 1993 and
  309
  (b) 1994; what these figures are as percentages of the total number of convicted rapists in prison; and if he will make a statement. [14263]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Responsibility for these matters 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. Elfyn Llwyd, dated 23 March 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about admissions of convicted prisoners to prison or general hospitals.
  I regret that information on admissions for in-patient care is not collected by remand and convicted prisoner categories, or by type of offence.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the average sentence given to men convicted of rape in(a) 1990, (b) 1992 and (c) 1994: and if he will make a statement; [14266]

  (2) what was the average sentence given to men convicted of rape in 1980; what was the average duration of the sentence served by these men; and if he will make a statement. [14267]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information on the average sentence length given for adult males convicted of rape for the years 1980, 1990, 1992 and 1993 is given in the table. 1994 data will not be available until the autumn.

  Precise information on the average duration of the sentence served by men convicted of rape in 1980 is not available, but those given determinate sentences would have served up to two thirds of their sentence depending on whether and at what stage they were granted parole.

  Average sentence length imposed at the Crown Court on adult males—aged 21 and over—for rape offences, 1980, 1990, 1992 and 1993

  England and Wales

  Offence

  Year

  Average sentence length1 (months)

  Substantive rape

  1980

  50.9

  1990

  75.9

  1992

  78.9

  1993

  77.9

  Attempted rape

  1980

  41.2

  1990

  58.7

  1992

  60.4

  1993

  53.0

  Other rape2

  1980

  12.0

  1990

  15.0

  1992

  10.0

  1993

  15.0

  Total rape

  1980

  48.7

  1990

  73.3

  1992

  76.6

  1993

  74.2

  1 Excludes life sentences. The proportion sentenced to Life of those given an immediate custodial sentence for total rape in 1993 was 3.4 per cent.

  2 Includes offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956, Sec. 7, Mental Health Act 1959, Secs. 127, 128(1)(a) and 128(10) (b).

  Lifeguards
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make compulsory the provision of lifeguards in coastal areas frequented by holiday-makers; [14785]

  (2) if he will make the provision of coastal lifeguards and beach safety procedures a statutory duty of local authorities; [14786]

  (3) if he will establish a central body to control and standardise the provision of coastal lifeguards and coastal safety procedures. [14788]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The Government acknowledge the considerable efforts of voluntary bodies, such as the Royal Life Saving Society and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents which encourage the provision of coastal lifeguards and coastal safety procedures; and the efforts of beach operators, including local authorities in coastal areas, to improve beach safety. We particularly welcome the provision of appropriately trained lifeguards and the introduction of beach safety procedures. However, we are not presently persuaded that it is necessary for these matters to be regulated by statute or by a Government-appointed central body.

  Water Safety
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made with the National Water Safety Committee towards guidelines for local authorities on coastal safety. [14787]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The National Water Safety Committee was consulted in the course of the preparation of the joint publication by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the Royal Life Saving Society UK of the report entitled "Safety on British Beaches—Operational Guidelines". The Government welcomed that publication, which was circulated free of charge to each local coastal authority, and commend it to all those responsible for the safety of visitors to the British coast.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to reduce the number of drownings on Britain's coastal resorts; and if he will make a statement; [14815]

  (2) what resources are made available to local authorities in order to provide coastal safety guidance and procedures towards the cost of coastal lifeguard provision; [14817]

  (3) if he will introduce a national standardised flag system to enable bathers in coastal areas to gauge tidal and other water hazards; [14814]

  (4) what encouragement and guidance he issues to local authorities in coastal areas on the issue of coastal safety and lifeguard provisions. [14818]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  [holding answers 20 March 1995]: The Government support the water safety efforts of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents with a grant. We hope that the campaign which ROSPA proposes to launch at the beginning of the summer covering general water safety will help to reduce the number of drownings on Britain's coastal resorts.

  The publication "Safety on British Beaches—Operational Guidelines" published in 1993 jointly by ROSPA and the Royal Life Saving Society offers guidance and advice to local authorities and other beach

  311
  operators on coastal safety and lifeguard provisions. That publication also includes details of the two interacting flag systems which have been adopted in many countries worldwide to warn bathers about sea conditions and designating specific activity areas within a supervised system. Central Government do not make any resources available to local authorities in coastal areas specifically to assist them with their work in connection with coastal safety.

  Transport Accidents (Legal Process)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 20 March,Official Report, column 796, on reforms into the legal process of inquiry, what conclusions the inter departmental group of officials reached; when the group next expects to make further recommendations; and if he will make a statement. [15835]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The interdepartmental group identified a number of options. These will be contained in a consultation paper, which should be published shortly.

  Torture
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government submitted to the United Nations their latest periodic report under the convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. [16478]

  Mr. Howard
  The United Kingdom's second report under the convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment was today submitted to the United Nations. Copies of the report have also been placed in the Library.

  Live Animal Exports
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what inquiries he has made as to the likely policing costs for 1995–96 of proposals to tranship live animals and veal calves from the port of Folkestone; and if he will make a statement. [15253]

  Mr. Maclean
  These are budgetary matters, which are the responsibility of the police authority. I understand that no estimate of the likely cost for 1995–96 has been made.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of police officers on active duty in the Metropolitan police area(a) at the present time and (b) in 1979. [15266]

  Mr. Maclean
  In December 1993—the latest period for which figures are available—operational police strength in the Metropolitan police area was 19,932 and support strength 7.211. Comparable figures are not available for 1979 as data were not collated in this format. The total police strength of the force is now nearly 25 per cent. greater than in 1979.

  Criminal Justice Legislation
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons recent criminal justice legislation has not removed or amended the assumption that a person aged from 10 to 14 years cannot be convicted of a crime without proof that he or she knew 312
  what they were doing was wrong; and if he will make a statement on the Law Lords' ruling of 16 March. [15388]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government took the view in 1990—in the White Paper "Crime, Justice and Protecting the Public", Cm 965, paragraph 8.4—that the rebuttable presumption of doli incapax made"proper allowance for the fact that children's understanding, knowledge and ability to reason are still developing"

  between the ages of 10 and 13.

  Following the judgment of the House of Lords given on 16 March, the Government are now giving careful consideration to that judgment.

  Intercepted Communications
  Mr Wilson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what grounds mail sent by members of the group known as inner sanctum to the Bank of England is being intercepted; and if he will make a statement. [15134]

  Mr. Howard
  It has been the long-standing policy of successive Governments not to confirm or deny whether interception of communications has been authorised in any particular case. Persons who believe that their communications have been intercepted may apply to the tribunal established under section 7 of the Interception of Communications Act 1985 for an investigation.

  Research (Prisoners)
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 28 February,Official Report, columns 547–48, if he will now place in the Library a copy of the research into public attitudes towards the Prison Service carried out by MORI. [14843]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Further to my reply of 28 February, the research into public attitudes toward the Prison Service carried out by MORI was undertaken to guide the work of the service. There are, therefore, no plans to publish it or to place a copy in the Library.

  Custodial Sentences (Women)
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women served custodial sentences in each year since 1989, broken down by type of offence committed. [14865]

  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 Ms. Janet Anderson, dated 23 March 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many women served custodial sentences in each year since 1989, broken down by type of offence committed.
  Information for the years 1982 to 1992 is published in "Prison statistics, England and Wales" (Tables 3.10 (young offenders) and 5.9 (adults) of the 1992 edition, Cm 2581), a copy of which is in the library of the House of Commons.
  Information for 1993 and 1994 is given in the attached table, a copy of which will be placed in the House of Commons library.
  313

  Females received under immediate custodial sentence into Prison Service establishments: by type of offence for England and Wales 1993–94

  Type of Offence

  1993

  1994

  All offences

  2,379

  2,952

  Violence against the person

  326

  392

  Sexual offences

  14

  7

  Burglary

  106

  125

  Robbery

  98

  112

  Theft and handling

  785

  1,059

  Frauds and forgery

  215

  223

  Drug offences

  295

  283

  Other offences

  350

  461

  Offences not recorded

  190

  290

  Note:

  Excludes any prisoners held solely in police cells.

  Excludes fine defaulters.

  Spread Betting
  Ms Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how his Department intends to monitor the effects of deregulating sports spread betting. [14792]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I understand that the Treasury will shortly be consulting on the terms of a draft amendment to exclude certain non-financial spread betting from the scope of the Financial Services Act 1986. Decisions on the form of any future monitoring will be taken in the light of that consultation.

  Staff-prisoners Ratio
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the staff to prisoner ratio for each prison in England and Wales(a) at the latest date available and (b) for each of the last 20 years.

  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. Doug Hoyle, dated 23 March 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question concerning the staff:inmate ration for prisons in England and Wales.
  The attached tables provide a breakdown of the staff:inmate ratio for each prison in England and Wales by category. Copies of these tables have been placed in the Library. Sub totals, and the staff:inmate ratio are provided for each category of prison. The inmate figures exclude those in police cells. Both the inmate figures and the staff figures are for 31 January 1995. The staff figures include all prison officers, senior officers and principal officers and, in the case of private sector prisons, all prisoner custody officers.
  The information required to provide a similar breakdown for each of the last 20 years is either not available, or not readilny available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, but a second
  314
  table is attached which supplies the available total staff:inmate ratio since 1975.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Sports Council
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what conclusions he has reached following consultation on the Government's proposals for reform of the Sports Council. [16377]

  Mr. Dorrell
  The creation of separate United Kingdom and England Sports Councils was warmly welcomed by those who responded to the Government's proposals, and I can confirm that, subject to the grant of royal charters, we intend to proceed to set up both councils from 1 January 1996. As previously announced, Mr. Rodney Walker, the current chairman of the Sports Council, will in due course become the chairman of the English Sports Council. I am pleased to be able to announce today that Sir Ian MacLaurin has agreed to join the Sports Council and to serve in due course as chairman of the United Kingdom Sports Council. I am also pleased to be able to announce the other members-designate of the United Kingdom Sports Council:

  UK Sports Council

  Mr. Rodney Walker, Chairman-designate of the English Sports Council

  Mr. Graeme Simmers, Chairman of the Scottish Sports Council

  Mr. Ossie Wheatley, Chairman of the Welsh Sports Council

  Mr. Don Allen, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Sports Council

  Mr. Gary Lineker

  Mr. Rob Andrew

  Mr. Clive Lloyd

  Dr. Sarah Springman

  Mr. Craig Reedie

  I would expect the UK Sports Council to work closely with all the appropriate bodies of British sport throughout the UK and in particular with the Central Council of Physical Recreation, the Scottish and Welsh Sports Associations and the Northern Ireland Council of Physical Recreation.

  I can also announce today the Government's intention to produce in early summer a White Paper setting out the broader strategic framework for Government policy on sport. It will focus on the development of sporting opportunity for young people, within and outside formal education, and on creating pathways through every stage of sporting activity, including the elite level. This will allow talent to achieve its fullest expression. I have asked the chairmen-designate of the English and UK councils to prepare and submit to me precise definitions of the functions of their respective bodies, taking account of White Paper policies.

TRANSPORT

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the criteria for assessing the competitive bids for the channel tunnel rail link and the Euro passenger services which will ensure that(a) the successful bidder is demonstrably competent to run as well as build the railway and (b) safety and security against terrorist and other dangers. [15348]

  Mr. Watts
  The bidders for CTRL and EPS demonstrated these competences at the pre-qualification stage. The successful promoter will be obliged to comply fully with the requirements of existing legislation on railway security and safety, and the requirements of Her Majesty's railway inspectorate and my Department's transport security directorate.

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will be issuing his revised guidelines for operating section 62 of the Planning and Compensation Act 1992 before the Select Committee examining the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Bill finishes taking evidence. [15748]

  Mr. Watts
  I hope to do so.

  Lorry Checks
  Mr. Hardy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many intermodal lorries were checked, and if the accuracy of their consignment notes were considered at the intermodal truck depots in each of the last three years; and how many of these inspections were carried out at the nearest depot to the points of the lorries' departure. [15740]

  Mr. Norris
  The regulations in question were intended to encourage combined road/rail freight through the channel tunnel. The delayed start of full freight operations through the tunnel meant that, in the half year to 30 September 1994, no vehicles were found to be operating at the higher weight limit. The vehicle inspectorate will shortly be compiling figures for checks carried out up to 31 March this year and I will forward them to the hon. Member as soon as they are available.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will now reconsider the decision regarding the regulation of lorry braking safety and introduce a mandatory test of braking safety at the six month interim between the annual MOT tests of general roadworthiness; what is the current availability of the equipment for such tests; and what is the cost per axle tested. [15529]

  Mr. Norris
  I have no plans at present to introduce a mandatory six month brake test, although I will keep that option under review. It is the responsibility of vehicle operators to look after their vehicles properly and there are plenty of test facilities available to help them do so. The vehicle inspectorate's current charge to operators for voluntary roller brake testing is £6 per axle.

  Rail Privatisation
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the prospective bidders for the first eight passenger train operators who have sought to pre-qualify for franchises in respect of the announcement 316
  made in December 1994. [15746]

  Mr. Watts
  The Franchising Director announced today that 37 organisations have applied to pre-qualify for the first group of eight passenger rail franchises, and that many applicants are interested in more than one franchise, taking the total number of applications to more than 160. Under section 145 of the Railways Act 1993 the identity of any individual applicants cannot be disclosed for reasons of commercial confidentiality.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects OPRAF to agree the criteria against which a passenger scheme requirement will be determined for each of the train operating units. [15743]

  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, following his instructions of 22 March 1994 if he will place in the Library a copy of the criteria which were submitted to him by the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising in respect of deciding appropriate service specifications for loss-making services; and if he will make a statement. [15138]

  Mr. Watts
  The guidance issued to the Franchising Director requires him to ensure that passenger service requirements for the first franchises are based upon the timetable being operated by BR immediately prior to franchising. A copy of an explanatory note setting out the Franchising Director's approach to and criteria for setting these passenger service requirements has been placed in the Library of the House.

  In addition, the guidance requires the Franchising Director to develop criteria for evaluating the benefits obtained from the provision of loss making services. These criteria are intended to detail the long term basis on which the Franchising Director will make decisions about support for loss-making services as the passenger network develops over time. The Franchising Director expects to submit proposed criteria to the Secretary of State in due course.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all the companies which applied for pre-qualification for each of the first eight train franchises. [15517]

  Mr. Watts
  The Franchising Director has announced today that 37 organisations have applied to be pre-qualify for the first group of eight passenger rail franchises, and that many applicants are interested in more than one franchise taking the total number of applications to over 160. To preserve commercial confidentiality individual applicants will not be named, nor will the number of applicants for each franchise be given.

  ScotRail Passenger Services
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the date when the passenger service requirement for ScotRail will be announced. [15744]

  Mr. Watts
  In early summer.

  Sleeper Services
  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions took place with OPRAF and British Rail when decisions were taken to exclude(a) the Motorail service and (b) the Fort William sleeper from the passenger scheme requirement of ScotRail; and what discussions took place before the decision to end bookings

  317
  for these services. [15745]

  Mr. Watts
  Regular meetings are held between OPRAF and British Rail to discuss a wide range of issues. The decision to withdraw Motorail services and the London—Fort William sleeper service from May was taken by BR on commercial grounds.

  Mr. McLeish
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport under what statutory powers the Director of Franchising and OPRAF were acting when the decision was taken to exclude the Fort William sleeper and Motorail services from the passenger service requirement for ScotRail. [15747]

  Mr. Watts
  In indicating that he would not include the Fort William sleeper service and Motorail services in the draft passenger service requirement for ScotRail, the Franchising Director was acting within the bounds of the statutory objectives, instructions and guidance issued by my right hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, South (Mr. MacGregor) on 22 March 1994 in accordance with the provisions of section 5 of the Railways Act 1993.

  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the additional costs associated with maintenance of the(a) Fort William to London sleeper service, (b) Carlisle to London sleeper service and (c) Scotland to London motorail services, for the purpose of an eight week consultation period commencing in May, indicating the financial assumptions involved; and if he will make a statement; [15139]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the costs associated with the closure of the (a) Fort William to London sleeper service, (b) Carlisle to London sleeper service and (c) Scotland to London motorail services; and if he will make a statement; [15141]

  (3) what estimate he has made of the start up costs associated with re-opening, after May, the (a) Fort William to London sleeper service, (b) Carlisle to London sleeper service and (c) Scotland to London Motorail services; and if he will make a statement. [15140]

  Mr. Watts
  My right hon. Friend has not made any such assessments on estimates. The decision to withdraw Motorail services and the sleeper service between London and Carlisle and London and Fort William from 28 May was a commercial decision by British Rail. It has undertaken to retain the assets needed to run these services so that they can be restored if the Franchising Director decides to include them in the passenger service requirement for the ScotRail franchise.

  Birmingham Northern Relief Road
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will ensure that the inquiry into the Birmingham northern relief road is based on a re-assessment of traffic models and growth forecasts; [15257]

  (2) what account he has taken of the effects of congestion of the traffic model assumption in respect of the Birmingham northern relief road which assumes that for roads which are full traffic will grow at a reduced rate; [15255]

  (3) on what basis traffic modellers have ignored heavy goods vehicles in respect of the Birmingham northern relief road; and if he will make a statement; [15254]

  (4) what assessment he has made of the impact of an (a) untolled and (b) tolled west orbital road in respect of
  318
  the Birmingham northern relief road. [15256]

  Mr. Watts
  These are matters for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Laurie Haynes to Ms Joan Walley, dated 23 March 1995:
  You asked the Secretary of State for information about the traffic modelling used for the Birmingham Northern Relief Road.
  We are satisfied that the traffic model uses a robust methodology and has taken account of significant changes, such as the SACTRA report, which have arisen since the draft Orders were published. The ongoing public inquiry into the proposals has received much information on traffic flows and techniques. It will be for the Inspector to form his own judgement on that evidence.
  The Original (February 1994) BNRR traffic forecasts assumed a tolled Western Orbital Route. The latest (November 1994) forecasts assume a WOR that will be free to motorists. The traffic impacts of these differing assumptions are contained in evidence placed before the inquiry.
  HGVs are not ignored in the traffic model. Tests established the most appropriate methodology for the evaluation of the BNRR proposals; this ensures the most realistic estimate of HGV routing. Details of the methodology used have been presented to the inquiry.
  The traffic model takes account of the capacity of the roads in the area. Reduced growth rates have been assumed for all journeys with one or both ends in the conurbation, in line with assumptions made by local highway authorities in the conurbation.

ENVIRONMENT

  Hydrofluorocarbons
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to set targets for the phasing out of HFCs. [14984]

  Mr. Atkins
  There are no plans to phase out HFCs, nor to set targets for phaseout. HFCs have been developed as alternatives to some ozone-depleting substances and are an important part of the solution to the problem of depletion of the ozone layer. However, HFCs are also greenhouse gases and the Government are discussing with industry the scope for voluntary agreements to limit HFC emissions and to ensure that HFCs are not used where emissions are unavoidable if safe, practical and more environmental acceptable alternatives are available.

  Local Government Commission
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment what qualities he will look for in appointing a new chair of the revamped Local Government Commission. [15058]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  On 21 March my right hon. Friend announced the appointment of Sir David Cooksey to the chairmanship of the Local Government Commission,Official Report, column 145. I believe Sir David has all the qualities required of the chairman, and I note that his appointment was immediately welcomed by the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson).

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the English counties, following the current reorganisation of local government, that will have no administrative function but will have a
  319
  lord lieutenant and sheriff; [15072]

  (2) if he will list the English counties, following the current reorganisation of local government, which are to be extended beyond their administrative boundaries for ceremonial purposes and where lords lieutenant and sheriffs will have jurisdiction over the wider area; [15070]

  (3) if he will list the English counties, following the current reorganisation of local government, that will have no functions. [15071]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Decisions have not yet been taken in all cases. However, I expect that the only county areas without any county councils but with their own lords lieutenant will be Berkshire and East Yorkshire. Most areas whose local authority is granted unitary powers will be deemed to be part of a neighbouring county area for ceremonial purposes.

  In those areas for which structure orders have been made, North West Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset will be deemed to be part of Somerset; South Gloucestershire will be deemed to be part of Gloucestershire; North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire will be deemed to be part of Lincolnshire; York will be deemed to be part of North Yorkshire; and Hull will be deemed to be part of East Yorkshire. We are still considering the ceremonial arrangements for Cleveland.

  Lords Lieutenant
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the English county councils which have their own lord lieutenant and sheriff. [15073]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  A lord lieutenant and high sheriff are appointed to the following counties:

  Greater London

  Greater Manchester

  Merseyside

  South Yorkshire

  Tyne and Wear

  West Midlands

  West Yorkshire

  Avon

  Bedfordshire

  Berkshire

  Buckinghamshire

  Cambridgeshire

  Cheshire

  Cleveland

  Cornwall

  Cumbria

  Derbyshire

  Devon

  Dorset

  Durham

  East Sussex

  Essex

  Gloucestershire

  Hampshire

  Hereford and Worcester

  Hertfordshire

  Humberside

  Isle of Wight

  Kent

  Lancashire

  Liecestershire

  320

  Lincolnshire

  Norfolk

  Northamptonshire

  Northumberland

  North Yorkshire

  Nottinghamshire

  Oxfordshire

  Shopshire

  Somerset

  Staffordshire

  Suffolk

  Surrey

  Warwickshire

  West Sussex

  Wiltshire

  Air Pollution
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions have taken place with his European ministerial counterparts concerning the need to reduce levels of air pollution. [15127]

  Mr. Atkins
  I maintain regular contacts with my European ministerial counterparts on all aspects of environmental protection, including air pollution. Most recently, I met my European Community counterparts in Brussels on 9 March at the meeting of the Environment Council. We had a fruitful discussion on a number of issues related to air pollution, including the proposed directive on integrated pollution prevention and control and the proposed framework directive on ambient air quality assessment and management.

  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he will take to reduce levels of air pollution; and if he will make a statement. [15133]

  Mr. Atkins
  The Government announced their strategic policies for managing air quality in the document "Air Quality: Meeting the Challenge", published on 19 January. Copies are available in the House Libraries. Those policies are aimed at delivering sustainable improvements in air quality throughout the UK. Proposals include a framework of national air quality standards, a new system of local air quality assessment and management and an action plan for transport.

  National Rivers Authority
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the level of(a) grant in aid, (b) internal income generated and (c) total budget for the National Rivers Authority for each year since its establishment. [15321]

  Mr. Atkins
  The level of grant in aid, income generated from charges and levies and total expenditure of the National Rivers authority are:

  £ million

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  Grant-in-aid

  Income from charges and levies

  Total expenditure1

  1989–90

  74.3

  267.9

  2339.8

  1990–91

  99.5

  274.9

  2368.7

  1991–92

  83.9

  300.4

  2422.9

  1992–93

  74.7

  335.9

  2428.6

  321

  £ million

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  Grant-in-aid

  Income from charges and levies

  Total expenditure1

  1993–94

  61.2

  343.1

  3466.5

  1994–95

  67.9

  295.6

  3455.4

  Note:

  1 Total expenditure does not equal the sum of grant in aid and income from charges and levies because of end year balances and flood defence capital grant.

  2 Actual

  3 Budget

  Sources:

  (a) DOE departmental reports

  (b) and (c) NRA corporate plan 1994–95

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of people working(a) full time and (b) part time for the National Rivers Authority in each year since it was established. [15322]

  Mr. Atkins
  The NRA does not separately record numbers of part-time staff. The data show permanent staff, including part-time staff, and temporary staff, including those working for limited periods and those on fixed term contracts:

  Permanent staff

  Temporary staff

  31 March 1990

  6,382

  153

  31 March 1991

  6,886

  476

  31 March 1992

  7,568

  581

  31 March 1993

  7,483

  758

  31 March 1994

  7,072

  637

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list each of the major establishments which are part of the National Rivers Authority, giving number of employees and budget for(a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1995–96 in 1994 prices. [15316]

  Mr. Atkins
  The number of people employed by the National Rivers Authority on each of its functions is:

  Number of employees

  Function

  (a)1993–94 number

  (b)1994–95 number

  (c)1995–96 number

  Water Quality

  1,298

  1,279

  1,242

  Water Resources

  788

  802

  791

  Flood Defence

  3,094

  2,970

  2,948

  Fisheries

  526

  522

  511

  Conservation

  87

  92

  91

  Navigation

  85

  84

  84

  Recreation

  29

  31

  30

  Support Services

  1,451

  1,345

  1,326

  National Centres

  351

  397

  397

  Total

  7,709

  7,522

  7,420

  Source:

  NRA.
  322
  The National Rivers Authority's budget for 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96 at 1994–95 prices is:

  Budget in 1994–95 prices

  Function

  (a) 1993–94 £ million

  (b) 1994–95 £ million

  (c) 1995–96 £ million

  Water Quality

  89.7

  88.1

  83.5

  Water Resources

  80.8

  75.4

  72.1

  Flood Defence

  255.4

  242.0

  237.7

  Fisheries

  24.5

  21.6

  21.1

  Conservation

  3.5

  3.5

  3.3

  Navigation

  7.5

  6.0

  5.8

  Recreation

  2.3

  2.1

  1.8

  Other

  12.2

  16.7

  12.2

  Total

  475.9

  455.4

  437.5

  Source:

  NRA corporate plan 1994–95.

  Regional Water Companies
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each regional water company(a) the net equity proceeds to Government as a result of privatisation, (b) the market value at the end of the first day of trading and (c) the current market value. [15351]

  Mr. Atkins
  Information on the proceeds resulting from privatisation, the market capitalisation at flotation and movement in share values at the end of the first day's trading in shares in the 10 water holding companies in England and Wales, is contained in the National Audit Office report "Department of the Environment: Sale of the Water Authorities in England and Wales", a copy of which is in the Library. Current market values vary according to fluctuations in the share price of the companies. This information is not held by my Department.

  Local Authorities
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward legislation to require local authorities to disclose in their annual accounts(a) the number of staff employed, (b) their total remuneration, (c) the number of staff in receipt of remuneration in excess of £10,000 per annum in salary bands of £5,000 and (d) the remuneration of the highest paid chief officer in a format similar to that used in company accounts. [15165]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  There is a strong case for local authorities to publish details of the pay of their senior staff in broadly the same way as companies are required to publish details of the pay of their senior employees. However, I am keen to keep the new obligations on local authorities under control.

  My Department is considering what information it would he appropriate for local authorities to publish and the best way for the local authorities to be encouraged to make that information public. Of course, no new stipulations would be introduced without consultation with the local authority associations.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the(a) total staff numbers, (b) total revenue and capital expenditure and (c) local

  323
  authority housing stock in all district authorities in East and West Sussex. [14890]

  East and West Sussex

  (a) Total staff as at March 1994

  (b)1 Net revenue expenditure 1993–94 outturn £000

  (b)2 Total capital expenditure 1993–94 £000

  (c)3 Dwelling stock as at 1 April 1994

  Brighton

  1,845

  23,378

  14,945

  10,507

  Eastbourne

  666

  10,970

  7,834

  4,771

  Hastings

  787

  10,440

  5,648

  4,671

  Hove

  555

  11,357

  4,763

  3,505

  Lewes

  429

  8,563

  3,748

  3,923

  Rother

  375

  8,579

  4,738

  3,355

  Wealden

  520

  13,013

  6,179

  3,849

  Adur

  472

  6,048

  3,431

  3,316

  Arun

  586

  13,634

  8,234

  4,202

  Chichester

  n/a

  13,516

  9,087

  6,436

  Crawley

  816

  10,448

  5,602

  10,389

  Horsham

  558

  9,505

  13,713

  5,435

  Mid Sussex

  n/a

  9,333

  2,875

  0

  Worthing

  645

  9,567

  3,609

  2,705

  Notes:

  (1),(2) Revenue expenditure and capital expenditure cannot be added together to give a "total" expenditure figure at an individual authority level. This is because some of the capital expenditure is funded from revenue.

  (1) Net revenue expenditure is expenditure on recurring items including the running of services and capital financing. It excludes spending funded by special and specific grants and income from licence fees, etcetera. This is the expenditure figure to compare to standard spending assessment.

  (2) This is gross capital expenditure on all services, including housing, and includes expenditure reimbursed by grants and expenditure financed from revenue.

  (3) Includes dwellings owned by the named local authority but which are situated outside of this local authority's area.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his proposals for local authority participation in companies and for amending the capital finance regulations. [16203]

  Mr. Curry
  The Local Authorities (Companies) Order 1995 and the Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Approved Investments) (Amendment) Regulations 1995 have today been laid before Parliament. These implement the package of proposals to encourage closer partnership between local authorities and the private sector, announced by my right hon. Friend on 31 October 1994.

  The Local Authorities (Companies) Order 1995 establishes a regime for local authority participation in companies, under which those companies, including companies limited by guarantee, which are led by the private sector will be subject to few controls other than those applicable generally under the Companies Acts. We are providing in the regime transitional provisions for local authority companies established before 1 April 1995, and we are also allowing certain exemptions.

  The Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Approved Investments) (Amendment) Regulations 1995 make a number of changes to the local authority capital finance rules, with the intention of promoting the use of private finance.

  The order and regulations laid take account of extensive consultation conducted by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales with the local authority associations, individual local authorities, and other interested parties. The main changes made following this will:
  324
  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  [holding answer 22 March 1995]: The available information is:

  free authorities of all subsequent capital finance impact from a company's operations provided it leaves the public sector, permanently, by 31 March 1996.
  increase to 75 per cent. the usable proportion of receipts of sale of local authority shareholdings in airport companies arising before 1 April 1997, and in bus companies arising before 31 March 1996. This was announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport on 3 March, Official Report, column 732.
  allow authorities holding leases of non-housing property taken out before 1988 to extend them for up to 10 years without capital costs.
  allow authorities to transfer assets to companies in return for a mixed consideration of cash and shares, without needing to set resources aside in relation to the shares.

  The regulations also introduce other beneficial changes which reflect consultations with and representations from local authorities. These will:
  allow authorities to renew, for up to two years without capital cost, leases on privately owned homes expiring after 20 December 1994. This will enable authorities to continue present arrangements by renewing short-term leases on good quality homes in the private rented sector, rather than using bed-and-breakfast hotels to provide temporary accommodation. The use of bed and breakfast accommodation has fallen by 43 per cent. over two years.
  allow costs of computer software to be capitalised.

  In addition, there are many clarificatory and drafting changes.

  I will also be laying before Parliament later in the year further regulations which will have the effect of increasing to 90 per cent. the usable proportion of local authorities' receipts from sales of car parks and retail property arising between 1 September 1995 and 31 August 1996.

  Thus local authorities and prospective private sector partners can now look forward to a total of four targeted

  325
  reductions in set-aside to take effect during this year. It is up to authorities to take advantage of these and to persuade us of the case for others.

  I have been impressed by the strength and depth of partnership arrangements already established by many local authorities with the private sector. The changes I am now making will support those initiatives and give authorities even greater scope to harness the private sector's investment potential and management skills in delivering capital projects.

  We regard this improved package of measures as just a start. We shall be looking at other areas of the capital finance regulations, in particular those relating to allowance of cost deductions from capital receipts before set-aside is calculated, with a view to further amendments later in the year.

  I have arranged for copies of two documents which summarise the new measures—"New Private Finance Rules for Local Authorities" and "A Guide to Local Authorities' Interests in Companies"—to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Local Government Finance
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the 10 English districts with the lowest total capital and revenue expenditure. [14891]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  [holding answer 22 March 1995]: Revenue expenditure and capital expenditure cannot be added together to give a "total" expenditure figure at an individual authority level. This is because some of the capital expenditure is funded from revenue.

  The available information is.

  The 10 English Districts with lowest Total Capital Expenditure in 1993–94

  £000

  Oadby and Wigston

  1,120

  Epsom and Ewell

  1,187

  Castle Point

  1,276

  Rutland

  1,378

  Bromsgrove

  1,378

  West Somerset

  1,491

  Oswestry

  1,513

  Castle Morpeth

  1,514

  West Devon

  1,525

  South Herefordshire

  1,606

  Total capital expenditure

  This is gross capital expenditure on all services, including housing, and includes expenditure reimbursed by grants and expenditure financed from revenue.

  The 10 English Districts with the lowest net revenue expenditure in 1993–94—outturn

  £000

  Wellingborough

  171

  Berwick Upon Tweed

  2,263

  Teesdale

  2,595

  Alnwick

  2,776

  Rutland

  2,859

  Oswestry

  2,995

  Tamworth

  3,035

  326

  The 10 English Districts with the lowest net revenue expenditure in 1993–94—outturn

  £000

  Christchurch

  3,227

  Purbeck

  3,278

  Leominster

  3,570

  Net revenue expenditure:

  This is expenditure on recurring items including the running of services and capital financing. It excludes spending funded by special and specific grants and income from fees and charges, interest, etcetera. This is the expenditure figure to compare to SSA.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing, for each local authority in England, the latest available net revenue expenditure figures to compare with standard spending assessment, broken down by broad service block, in each year since 1990–91; and if he will place this information in the Library in personal computer spreadsheet readable format. [14574]

  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 17 March 1995]: I have placed the information in the Library of the House.

  Housing Partnership Schemes
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what application he has had for housing partnership schemes from the Isle of Wight; and when he expects to make an announcement. [15851]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The Department has received three applications under the housing partnership fund from the Isle of Wight. The successful schemes for the 1995–96 housing partnership fund are being announced today, and I am pleased to tell the hon. Member that the Hansford store conversion scheme in Ryde is to be allocated £177,000 to redevelop part of a redundant furniture store into 15 flats.

  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce the allocation of resources to local authorities under his Department's housing partnership fund for 1995–96. [16204]

  Mr. Curry
  Some 220 schemes in 170 housing authorities will benefit from £30 million housing partnership fund for 1995–96.

  Councils continue to be very enthusiastic about the scheme. This year we received over 740 bids. The scheme demonstrates the Government's commitment to supporting imaginative high-quality housing projects which will be of long-lasting benefit to local communities.

  The successful bids involve a wide range of innovative and valuable housing projects, which address local housing needs. This year we have particularly focused on schemes to bring empty properties back into use and those which effect major energy efficiency improvements. The schemes have been put together in partnership with the private sector, housing associations and other local organisations.

  The combination of public and private sector money means that up to £108 million will be invested to meet local housing need, help stimulate local economic growth and create jobs.

  A list of the resources being allocated to local authorities under the housing partnerships fund for 1995–96 has been placed in the Library.

  Water and Sewerage
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State if he will list, by water company, the percentage 1995–96 price increase for water and sewerage charges for(a)

  Percentage change in Water and Sewerage Services 1995–96 on 1994–95

  Water

  Sewerage

  Unmeasured

  Measured

  Unmeasured

  Measured

  Anglian Water Services Ltd.

  6.6

  2.0

  8.3

  4.5

  Dwr Cymru Cyfyngedig

  1.0

  0.3

  5.2

  4.2

  North West Water Ltd.

  6.3

  0.0

  7.3

  6.7

  Northumbrian Water Ltd.

  7.1

  0.2

  5.4

  5.7

  Severn Trent Water Ltd.

  2.5

  0.7

  7.5

  -2.1

  South West Water Services Ltd.

  5.3

  -8.1

  5.3

  -9.3

  Southern Water Services Ltd.

  7.7

  12.0

  7.2

  -0.1

  Thames Water Utilities Ltd.

  4.3

  -1.0

  7.4

  -0.7

  Wessex Water Services Ltd.

  6.2

  3.0

  4.2

  2.8

  Yorkshire Water Services Ltd.

  2.3

  3.3

  14.0

  2.4

  Bournemouth and W Hampshire Water Cos.

  1.6

  0.2

  —

  —

  Bristol Water plc

  6.4

  -12.6

  —

  —

  Cambridge Water Co.

  2.0

  -0.5

  —

  —

  Chester Waterworks Co.

  0.8

  0.0

  —

  —

  Cholderton and District Water Co. Ltd.

  2.7

  0.0

  —

  —

  East Surrey Water plc

  2.2

  1.9

  —

  —

  Essex and Suffolk Water plc

  7.2

  -13.4

  —

  —

  Folkestone and Dover Water Services Ltd.

  5.2

  2.9

  —

  —

  Hartlepool Water plc

  4.9

  -15.6

  —

  —

  Mid Kent Water plc

  4.0

  -1.7

  —

  —

  Mid Southern Water plc

  2.7

  -3.9

  —

  —

  North East Water plc

  2.4

  -2.0

  —

  —

  North Surrey Water Ltd.

  6.5

  -5.1

  —

  —

  Portsmouth Water plc-April-March tariff

  2.9

  -6.5

  —

  —

  South East Water Ltd.

  2.3

  -9.6

  —

  —

  South Staffordshire Water plc

  0.0

  -14.0

  —

  —

  Sutton District Water plc

  2.0

  -16.1

  —

  —

  Tendring Hundred Water Services Ltd.

  2.2

  -2.2

  —

  —

  Three Valleys Water Services plc

  9.9

  -3.7

  —

  —

  Wrexham and E Denbighshire Water plc

  1.0

  -4.2

  —

  —

  Yorkshire Waterworks plc

  2.3

  -13.9

  —

  —

  PSA Projects
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what adjustments have been made to the value of the liabilities retained by Government following the sale of the former PSA Projects business. [16475]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Two reductions have been made to these liabilities in line with the terms of the sale agreement for PSA Projects. First, the limit on the Government's liability to contribute to the costs of redundancies of staff formerly employed in PSA Projects has been reduced by £800,00 to £39.5 million, as calculated by using the formula in the sale agreement. This follows a correction to the previously reported transferring staff total to 704. Secondly, there has been a consequential reduction of £200,000 to £4.34 million in the consideration adjustment due to the purchaser on the first anniversary of the sale.

DEFENCE

  Nerve Agent Destruction
  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of progress in development
  328
  domestic customers paying water rates, (b) domestic customers paying by water meter and (c) commercial customers. [15782]

  Mr. Atkins
  The information relating to domestic customers is shown. Information about charge increases for commercial customers is not held centrally.

  of the Silver II electro-chemical disposal method; and if he will make a statement. [14407]

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

  Letter from Graham Pearson to Dr. David Clark, dated 23 March 1995:
  1. Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what assessment he has made of progress in development of the silver II electro-chemical disposal method and if he will make a statement, has been passed to me to answer as Chief Executive of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment.
  2. CBDE, working in close collaboration with AEA Technology, has undertaken an initial evaluation of the efficacy of the silver II process. Extensive laboratory tests successfully demonstrated that the method is suitable for the destruction of a range of CW agents including nerve agent and mustard gas. A pilot plant at Dounreay has carried out extensive experimental work with simulants and it is planned, subject to funding approval, to build a similar plant at Porton Down this summer. This would be used to prove the technique on a larger scale using live agents. If this trial is successful, the plant could he used to destroy agent from old CW munitions found within the UK. The process has a number of potential advantages for the destruction of chemical agents. It is an

  329
  intrinsically safe process as the procedure stops as soon as the supply of electricity is switched off and the process is carried out at relatively low temperatures ie below 100°C. The volume of effluent is minimal and, because the organic matter is totally oxidised, consists of an aqueous solution of inorganic salts. The method should allow complete decontamination of CW munitions, including their explosive content, regardless of their nature.

  Northern Ireland
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the potential cost savings to the United Kingdom Exchequer of the withdrawal of troops from Northern Ireland. [14842]

  Mr. Soames
  The units withdrawn from Northern Ireland remain on standby to return, should there be a resumption of terrorist violence. Significant cost savings will not arise until progress towards a permanent peace justifies permanent withdrawals.

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards the payment of commissions to those involved in the sale of arms to overseas Governments in respect of(a) civil servants, (b) members of the Government, (c) Members of Parliament and (d) relatives of Members of Parliament of the country concerned; and if he will make a statement. [15054]

  Mr. Freeman
  The British Government do not pay commissions to those involved in arms sales. I cannot comment on other countries' requirements or conventions on the payment of commissions to their nationals.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of black or Asian(a) warrant officers and (b) commissioned officers up to the rank of (i) captain, (ii) colonel and (iii) field-marshal or equivalent ranks serving in Her Majesty's forces. [14899]

  Mr. Soames
  According to the results of the ethnic origin survey of the regular armed forces, based on the 57 per cent. of responses received as at 1 October last year the following numbers of personnel classified themselves as black or Asian:

  Black

  Asian

  Warrant officer or equivalent Commissioned officers:

  64

  40

  up to the rank of captain or equivalent

  59

  94

  Major to colonel or equivalent

  31

  66

  Brigadier to field marshal or equivalent

  1—

  1—

  1 Figure less than 5. Where numbers are less than 5, figures are not given in order to avoid individuals being identified.

  The first results of ethnic origin survey of the regular armed forces, giving percentage figures, have been published in the new tri-service personnel statistical return entitled "Ethnic Composition of the Regular Armed Forces", a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Land Sales
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all surplus Ministry of Defence land sold in the last 12 months with the names of the 330
  purchasers; what surplus land is currently for sale; and if he will make a statement about his Department's policy towards the disposal of surplus land. [15212]

  Mr. Soames
  My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon. member and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  HMS Sirius
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are his Department's instructions for the future use of HMS Sirius; and if he will make a statement.
  [15444]

  Mr. Soames
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 15 December 1994,Official Report, columns 815–16. No decisions have yet been taken.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when HMS Sirius was built and at what cost, together with the dates and costs of subsequent maintenance and refits. [15445]

  Mr. Freeman
  HMS Sirius was accepted from the shipbuilder, HM Dockyard Portsmouth, in June 1966. Acquisition cost details for the ship are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Dates of major maintenance and refits carried out on HMS Sirius are set out in the table. Details of routine and operational maintenance, and the costs of refit and maintenance work carried out before the royal dockyards passed into commercial management in April 1987 are not available. The total cost of her last major maintenance period, undertaken between October and December 1987, was some £1.2 million. The total cost of the final refit, undertaken between October 1989 and May 1991, was in the region of £25 million.

  Major maintenane Periods

  19 November 1967 to 5 January 1968

  2 March 1970 to 23 March 1970

  22 February 1971 to 19 March 1971

  30 May 1973 to 22 June 1973

  29 February 1980 to 31 March 1980

  28 October 1987 to 11 December 1987

  Refits

  18 August 1969 to 12 December 1969

  10 January 1972 to 26 May 1972

  10 March 1975 to 10 February 1978

  5 May 1981 to 30 June 1982

  15 April 1985 to 6 December 1985

  23 October 1987 to 19 May 1991

  Empty Housing
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of unoccupied homes under the control of his Ministry as at 1 July 1994 and at 1 January 1995 in each local housing authority area in England. Wales and Scotland. [15834]

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Plymouth Airport (Training Flights)
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total annual cost to his Department
  331
  for services at Plymouth airport in connection with Royal Navy training flights. [15778]

  Mr. Soames
  The total cost of Royal Navy training flights at Plymouth airport is £626,000 per annum.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the need to carry out Royal Navy training flights from Plymouth airport; and if he will make a statement. [15779]

  Mr. Soames
  There has been no recent assessment of the need to carry out Royal Navy training flights from Plymouth airport.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the cost to his Department of Sea King helicopters using Plymouth airport in relation to sea training. [15777]

  Mr. Soames
  The transfer of flag officer sea training from Portland to Plymouth in September this year will require the continuation of certain aviation support. Various options for the provision of the service are being investigated, including the use of civil aircraft under contract operating out of Plymouth airport, but comparative cost are not yet available.

  RAF Training
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for the future of flying training in the Royal Air Force. [16378]

  Mr. Soames
  Following the issue of consultative documents on 17 November 1994 recommending the closure of RAF Scampton and RAF Finningley, representations have been made by local authorities, Members of Parliament and members of the public. My Department has consulted thoroughly with the trade unions and those local authorities closely associated with the stations, and full and careful consideration has been given to all of the representations that we have received.

  Following this work, I am satisfied that no issues have been raised which call into question the viability of the proposals, which satisfactorily meet out future flying training needs and save £23,000,000 per annum. I have therefore decided that both RAF Finningley and RAF Scampton should close in April 1996, and that all future non-fast jet fixed wing fixed flying training will be undertaken at RAF Cranwell and RAF Linton-on-Ouse.

  We will, of course, continue to consult the trade unions about the detailed implementation of these measures.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Abattoirs
  Sir Peter Emery
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure that there is sufficient abattoir capacity for farmers in Devon. [13886]

  Mrs. Browning
  I know the area well. I know that the replacement of an old abattior with a new one will be welcome in east Devon..

  Calves (Human Food)
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his 332
  policy to ban the brain and spinal cords of calves under the age of six months from going into human food. [13889]

  Mrs. Browning
  In a large experimental study of the pathogenesis of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle, no infectivity has been demonstrated in the brain and spinal cord in calves two and six months after oral challenge with a large dose of BSE-infected cow brain at four months of age. We would, of course, act in response to scientific advice if there were to be any new evidence.

  Tobacco Regime
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the total cost of the common agricultural policy tobacco regime in 1995. [13892]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The latest estimate is around £900 million.

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next expects to review the level of hill livestock compensatory allowance payments. [13896]

  Mr. Jack
  Agriculture Ministers expect to review the rates of hill livestock compensatory allowances which will apply for the 1996 scheme this autumn, as part of the annual review of public expenditure.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he has had with the farming unions about the payment of hill livestock compensatory allowances; and if he will make a statement. [13879]

  Mr. Jack
  We invariably consult the farming industry before we determine HLCA rates or make any changes to the scheme and listen carefully to what it says.

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he is taking to improve the welfare of livestock in the European Union. [13897]

  Mrs. Browning
  In response to my right hon. Friend's request in January, the European Commission is bringing forward from 1997 to this year its report to the Council reviewing directive 91/629 on the welfare of calves. The resulting discussions in the Council of Ministers will provide the opportunity to press again for Community-wide standards which rule out the use of the veal crate, which has been illegal in the United Kingdom since 1990, I have visited Ministers in other member states to enlist support for our opposition to the veal crate and the response has, in many cases, been encouraging.

  In the continuing Council negotiations on the welfare of animals in transit, we shall persevere in refusing to accept unsatisfactory compromises, and in pressing for a satisfactory Community measure which includes journey limits.

  Animals (Human Genes)
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many animals were reared in the United Kingdom last year following the incorporation of
  333
  human genes in their genetic make-up; and whether he will take steps to have food products marked accordingly. [13898]

  Mrs. Browning
  The statistical information sought is not readily available. However, no animals containing copy genes of human origin have been cleared for food use in the UK. I can assure the hon. Member that if any such clearance was to be given, a labelling requirement would be imposed so as to allow consumers to make an informed choice.

  Horses
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to ensure that the minimum value rule for horses exported to continental Europe remains; and if he will make a statement. [13900]

  Mrs. Browning
  Council directive 91/628 on the welfare of animals during transport contains a provision, for which we fought hard in the negotiations, which allows our national rules on the export of equines to continue. We shall resist very strongly any proposal to revoke or amend this provision.

  EC Grubbing-up Scheme
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the uptake of the latest EC grubbing-up scheme in the United Kingdom. [13901]

  Mr. Jack
  The latest EC apple orchard grubbing-up grant scheme was open to applications in the UK during 25 October to 1 December 1994 and 13 to 31 January 1995. Some 318 applications covering 2,777 hectares were received. By the end of February, 260 covering 2,343 hectares, had been approved and 32 covering 133 hectares had been either rejected or withdrawn. The remaining applications were still being processed.

  Approval of an application does not carry an obligation to grub. That is a decision for the applicant. Consequently, we shall not know the uptake of the scheme for several months.

  Live Animal Exports
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the number of live farm animals exported from the United Kingdom for slaughter in other EU member states in(a) 1979 and (b) 1994. [13903]

  Mrs. Browning
  Official trade statistics for the total number of livestock, in thousand head, exported from the United Kingdom to other EU member states are as follows;

  1979

  January to November 1994

  Cattle

  505

  463

  Sheep

  445

  896

  Pigs

  37

  172

  Poultry

  3,731

  19,642

  These statistics do not distinguish animals for slaughter or for fattening. Figures for 1979 include exports to Spain, Greece and Portugal which joined the EU after this date, but all figures exclude exports to the member states that
  334
  joined the EU in 1995. Figures for 1994 are provisional and are thought to under-record the true level of exports.

  Rural White Paper
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what response he has had to the rural White Paper consultation exercise. [13889]

  Mrs. Browning
  We have received about 350 written submissions. Views have also been expressed in a series of regional and subject seminars.

  Milk Quota
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to prevent speculators exploiting the shortage of milk quota in the United Kingdom. [13899]

  Mr. Jack
  There is no evidence to support allegations of speculation in milk quotas. Milk quota may be leased only between producers who are registered with the Intervention Board; while quota may be purchased only by producers actively involved in milk production or by those who acquire, on a permanent basis, the land to which milk quota is attached.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the weekly cost of all agricultural support for a family of four in(a) 1965, (b) 1975, (c) 1985 and (d) currently.

  Mr. Jack
  A note entitled "The Cost of the Common Agricultural Policy to Taxpayers and Consumers", produced by my Department, was deposited in the Library of the House on 9 March. This gives estimates of the cost to UK consumers and taxpayers of all forms of agricultural support of £4.15 per person per week in 1993, the most recent year for which information is available. The equivalent figure for 1985 is estimated at £2.39 per person per week. Both estimates include national agricultural expenditures as well as transfers resulting from the operation of the CAP. These estimates are based on calculations of total transfers resulting from agricultural policies in the European Union, made by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Comparable figures for 1975 are not available. The estimates are likely to overstate the savings which could be made by consumers and taxpayers if agricultural support policies were removed, because, in the absence of support, world prices would be higher than at present.

  In 1965, the UK operated a system of deficiency payments. The cost to UK taxpayers of these and other measures was equivalent to £0.08 per person per week—or £0.82 per person per week in 1994 prices. In addition, there were a number of policies which had the effect of raising prices to consumers. It is not possible to quantify these costs, but it is likely that they were smaller in real terms than the present consumer costs of the CAP.

  Suicides
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many suicides there have been in
  335
  the English farming community in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement. [14258]

  Mrs. Browning
  The information is set out in the table.

  Suicides of farmers and farm workers in England

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Total

  Farmers

  32

  33

  36

  31

  31

  163

  Farm workers

  21

  21

  18

  17

  14

  91

  Total

  53

  54

  54

  48

  45

  254

  Source:

  OPCS

  The relatively high rate of suicides among farmers is, of course, a cause of concern and with other agencies we are seeking means to reduce it. However, the underlying causes are many, and there is no single solution to this complex issue.

  Sheep Scab
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number of cases of ectoparasitic infection in sheep for(a) the two years before compulsory dipping was abolished and (b) the two years since compulsory dipping was abolished. [14570]

  Mrs. Browning
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 25 January 1995,Official Report, column 215, for the number of cases of sheep scab during the period in question.

  Other ectoparasitic infections of sheep have never been notifiable in England and consequently information on the number of cases of these diseases is not available.

  Farm Investigation, Derbyshire
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish information held in his Department and all readings for levels of sulphur, molydenum, fluorides and dioxins at the farm of Wareing Bros., the Breck, Barrow Hill, Chesterfield, Derbyshire since 1984. [14557]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 22 March 1995]: The results of investigations undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on behalf of individual farmers are not published for reasons of commercial confidentiality. The Ministry, as part of its own investigations, took samples of milk for dioxin analysis in April 1991 and May 1993 from several farms in the Bolsover and Staveley areas, including the Breck. The Ministry published the results of these surveys for dioxins in August 1992 and May 1993 respectively. Mr. M. J. Wareing was informed of the dioxin levels in the samples which he provided.

  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make assessments and publish a report on investigations undertaken by the veterinary investigation service, ADAS, the alkali inspector, HM inspectorate of pollution and environmental health officers into the farm of Wareing Bros., the Breck, Barrow Hill, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, since 1984. [14560]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 22 March 1995]: No, reports on the investigations carried out by the veterinary
  336
  investigation service and ADAS, as for similar investigations into individual animal disease outbreaks, contain information which is inappropriate for disclosure on commercial confidentiality and other grounds. The alkali inspector, HM inspectorate of pollution and environmental health officers are not a part of MAFF and it is up to those organisations to decide whether to make any information they hold public.

  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the records he holds on cattle reared on the farm of Wareing Bros., the Breck, Barrow Hill, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, since 1984, including details of stillborn calves, calves born with eye defects and cattle which have not been able to be sold directly to market since the introduction of the Animals, Meat and Meat Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits) Regulation 1991. [14561]

  Mrs. Angela Browning
  [holding answer 22 March 1995]: No, reports on the investigations carried out by the veterinary investigation service, as for similar investigations into individual animal disease outbreaks, contain information which is inappropriate for disclosure on commercial confidentiality and other grounds.

  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make assessments and publish a report on the impact of sulphurs, molydenum, fluorides and dioxins on crops, soil, cattle, residents and workers at the farm of Wareing Bros., the Breck, Barrow Hill Chesterfield, Derbyshire and in its vicinity; and if he will take steps to recommend a spray programme for the crops and fodder at the farm. [14562]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 22 March 1995]: It is appropriate for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to undertake such assessments only if issues of public concern such as food safety are involved. No evidence exists to indicate that this is the Breck or other farms in its vicinity as, for example, the levels of dioxins in cows milk taken from the Breck in April 1991 and May 1993 were within the normal background range for milk in the UK. It is not the Ministry's responsibility to provide advice on a spray programme for crops and fodder on the Breck as this information is available from commercial consultants.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  VAT (Fuel)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what monitoring arrangements are in place to assess whether vulnerable groups are reducing their consumption of fuel as a result of the imposition of VAT. [14979]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  None, the family expenditure survey, published by the Central Statistical Office, provides estimates of spending patterns of households in the United Kingdom.

  Earnings Disregards
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what new proposals he has to increase earnings disregards.
  337
  Mr. Roger Evans
  From April 1996 we propose that couples receiving income support or jobseeker's allowance should have the first £10 of their earnings in any week disregarded, rather than the current £5 each. From October 1996 we will also be introducing the back to work bonus, which will provide a lump sum payment of up to £1,000 to claimants with earnings above the disregard when they move off benefit into work.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in north Tyneside are currently in receipt of invalidity benefit. [14556]

  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.

  Letter from Tony Laurence to Mr. Stephen Byers, dated 22 March 1995:
  As Michael Bichard is on leave at the moment, the Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the number of Invalidity Benefit (IVB) recipients in North Tyneside.
  The information is not available in the form requested. This is because Benefits Agency (BA) District areas do not correspond with county or borough boundaries.
  The BA North Tyneside District, comprising North Shields District Office (DO) and Wallsend Branch Office (BO), has responsibility for administering claims for almost all IVB customers resident in the North Tyneside District Council administrative area.
  However, that District also deals with a small number of IVB customers who reside within the Newcastle City Council administrative area. Furthermore, the Newcastle East Branch Office of the BA Newcastle District also deals with a small number of IVB customers resident in the North Tyneside District Council area. Figures relating specifically to these small groups of customers would only be available at disproportionate cost.
  For this reason, I am providing the latest figures available for IVB customers within the BA North Tyneside District only:-

  Number of IVB Customers in North Tyneside District at 28 February 1995

  Number

  North Shields DO

  4,501

  Wallsend BO

  3,504

  Total

  8,005

  These figures include a very small number of customers who are entitled to IVB but are not actually receiving it because they are receiving an overlapping benefit (such as Widows Benefit) payable at a higher rate.
  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are currently receiving invalidity benefit in the Rhondda benefit district; what percentage this is of the total population of working age; and what are the average percentages for(a) Wales and (b) England and Wales. [14845]

  Mr. Hague
  The information is not available in the form requested.
  338
  The available information is in the tables.

  Table A: People in receipt of invalidity benefit in the Taff Rhondda District Office area on the last working day of February 1995

  Number

  Taff Rhondda District Office

  18,235

  Notes:

  1. Figures obtained from 100 per cent. clerical count of cases in the Benefits Agency offices.

  2. 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.

  Table B: People in receipt of invalidity benefit on 3 April 1993 by country and percentage of working population

  Country

  People in receipt of invalidity benefit

  Percentage of the working population

  Wales

  172,000

  10

  England

  1,184,000

  4

  England and Wales

  1,356,000

  4

  Notes:

  1. The working population has been taken to be 16 to 64 for men and 16 to 59 for women.

  2. Invalidity benefit information based on a 1 per cent. sample of claimants, rounded to the nearest thousand.

  3. Estimated mid-year-1993—population figures supplied by the population estimates unit, OPCS.

  War Pensions
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what he estimates would be the cost to the Exchequer if war pensions awarded to widows continued for their natural life and not until their re-marriage or permanent co-habitation. [14394]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  It is estimated that the net cost of awarding the war widow's pension for life would be in the order of £100 million in a full year.

  Social Fund
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what circumstances participants on Government programmes including training for work and community action can obtain help from the social fund; and if he will make a statement. [15153]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  People who were in receipt of income support prior to starting these programmes continue to be eligible to apply to the social fund. Such people will be eligible for awards of both community care grants and budgeting loans. People can apply to the social fund for crisis loans whether or not they are in receipt of an income-related benefit.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans the Government have to make social fund loans available for the purchase of gardening equipment, allotment rents and seed, so that people can begin to grow their own vegetables. [15262]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  In considering whether or not to make an award from the fund, social fund officers are required to take account of the nature, extent and urgency of the need. Although loans for gardening equipment are not excluded, social fund officers take account of all the individual circumstances surrounding each application, as
  339
  well as the priority guidance provided by the Secretary of State and the area social fund officer, when using their discretion to reach a decision.

  21-hour Rule
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many private hours of study should be included by adjudication officers when calculating the 21–hour rule; what counts as private study to be included in the total number of hours studied; when and where the rule about private hours was established; and if he will make a statement. [15157]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  A course, for the purpose of the 21-hour rule, is defined in regulations as including time spent receiving instruction of tuition, undertaking supervised study and other course requirements, which does not exceed 21 hours a week. A social security commissioner in a decision dated May 1990, held that, for the purpose of this rule, supervised study can include work set by a supervisor and done privately by the student in his own time.

  Decisions on income support, including the 21-hour rule, are the responsibility of the independent adjudication officers who apply the law and case law taking into account the fact of each individual case.

  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if participants in training for work or community action who are unable to get jobs after they leave their scheme can immediately take advantage of the 21–hour rule and take up part-time places on education or training courses and retain their right to income support; and if he will make a statement. [15156]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  One of the qualifying conditions for the 21-hour rule is that immediately before the start of the course the claimant was in receipt of income support, unemployment benefit or sickness benefit for three months. People who have completed the learning for work scheme or the community action programme have to satisfy the normal qualifying conditions before they can take advantage of the 21-hour rule concession. Those who receive an element of income support during their participation will be treated in the same way as other income support recipients. The three months in receipt of a qualifying benefit required under the 21-hour rule can therefore include time spent in either scheme.

  Mortgage Interest
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assistance his Department can provide to unemployed people who, on joining training for work, find that their insurance cover for mortgage, hire purchase and other agreements becomes invalid as they are no longer technically unemployed; and if he will make a statement. [15154]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Coventry, South (Mr. Cunningham) on 22 March at column 251.

  Expenditure
  Mr. Rowe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of the gross domestic product has been spent on social security in each year since 1974. [15168]
  340
  Mr. Hague
  The information is in the table:

  Total benefit expenditure as a percentage of GDP 1974–75 to 1994–95 (cash prices)

  Total benefit expenditure (£ billion)

  Money GDP (£ billion)

  Benefit expenditure as percentage of GDP

  1974–75

  6.6

  89.4

  7.4

  1975–76

  8.9

  111.2

  8.0

  1976–77

  10.6

  130.0

  8.2

  1977–78

  12.8

  151.3

  8.5

  1978–79

  15.9

  173.7

  9.2

  1979–80

  18.8

  208.6

  9.0

  1980–81

  22.7

  237.7

  9.6

  1981–82

  27.7

  261.0

  10.6

  1982–83

  31.6

  285.8

  11.1

  1983–84

  35.3

  310.0

  11.4

  1984–85

  38.3

  332.1

  11.5

  1985–86

  41.8

  364.9

  11.5

  1986–87

  44.9

  392.7

  11.4

  1987–88

  46.7

  434.8

  10.7

  1988–89

  47.3

  484.1

  9.8

  1989–90

  50.2

  525.8

  9.6

  1990–91

  56.5

  556.8

  10.2

  1991–92

  66.1

  580.8

  11.4

  1992–93

  75.2

  604.8

  12.4

  1993–94

  82.4

  639.0

  12.9

  1994–95

  185.2

  678.0

  12.6

  1 Estimated outturn.

WALES

  Information Super-highway
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what grant support is available to encourage the development of fibre-optic cabling of towns and villages in Wales; what proportion of Wales now has fibre-optic cable links already established of a standard adequate for the foreseeable needs of the super-highway technological revolution; and what take-up there has been to date of grant support for the further development of this network.

  Mr. Redwood
  Cabling is one of my priorities for Wales. I have been pressing for swifter action on licences. Local delivery franchises have already been awarded for areas covering West Glamorgan, Cardiff and Newport. An announcement about a franchise operator for most of the remainder of mid, south and west Glamorgan and Gwent is expected in the summer. This should be followed by the offer of a franchise for an area of north Wales. My Department does not hold full details of the miles of fibre optic cable in existing networks, but this is known to be significant.

  I have been told by cable companies that radio links may provide high quality access to less densely populated areas. They are also looking at ways of making greater use of existing pylons and telegraph poles. The development of these alternative technologies will, I hope, ensure that the whole of Wales can be linked to the super-highway.

  I will provide grant support for this work in remote areas, if it is needed, through the strategic development scheme and other existing grant schemes. I am looking closely at the powers at my disposal. I am told by those interested that grant availability is not the crucial issue. For remoter areas, technology holds the key.

  Community Pharmacist Dispensing
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many prescriptions were made up by community pharmacists in 1993; and what was the total cash value of these prescriptions. [14667]

  Mr. Richards
  A total of 32.5 million prescription items were dispensed by community pharmacists in 1993 with a total net ingredient cost of £215.4 million. The figures include all items prescribed by hospitals and dispensed in the community and items prescribed by GPs, excluding dispensing doctors, and dentists.

  Drug Treatment Centres
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from psychiatric doctors and other professionals in Wales concerning the inadequacy of treatment centres available in Wales for those suffering from drug dependency; and if he will make a statement. [14669]

  Mr. Richards
  My right hon. Friend has received two letters, both concerning services in Gwynedd.

  Dentists
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest figure for the number of general dental practitioners in practise in the county of Gwynedd; and how many of these are giving no service on the NHS. [14722]

  Mr. Richards
  Information available centrally relates to the number of general dental practitioners who have some NHS patients on their lists. At 31 December 1994 there were 66 such practitioners in Gwynedd.

  School Balances
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of annual maintenance grants is held in reserve by(a) grant-maintained schools in Wales and (b) non grant-maintained schools. [14734]

  Mr. Richards
  At the end of the 1993–94 financial year, the latest date for which these details are available, grant-maintained schools in Wales held reserves of £845,458. This represented 6 per cent. of the total annual maintenance grant allocated in that year. According to financial outturn statements prepared by local education authorities under section 42 of the Education Reform Act 1988, during that same period LEA maintained schools were allocated £758,376,907 under authorities' local management of schools schemes. Of this, 6.28 per cent. was carried forward into the next financial year.

  Housing
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total number of representations received by the Welsh Office on the issue of licensing of housing in multiple occupation; and what percentage of these representations was in favour of a licensing scheme. [14564]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Welsh Office received 46 replies to my right hon. Friend's letter of 8 December 1994. Eighty per cent. were broadly in favour of licensing. However, there was no clear consensus on the way in which a licensing system should operate and the replies raised a wide range of issues for further consideration.

  Residential Care
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to improve residential care for the elderly. [14665]

  Mr. Richards
  We are considering guidance on improving the way in which local authorities apply and enforce the Registered Homes Act 1984. We intend to ensure that there is a sensible level of regulation which safeguards residents by ensuring there are uniform standards throughout Wales.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are now waiting for NHS hospitals and trust appointments; and if he will make a statement. [146681

  Mr. Richards
  At 31 December 1994, there were 119,339 people waiting for a first out-patient appointment at NHS hospitals in Wales. This represents a reduction of 9 per cent. on the number reported for 30 September 1994.

  Learning Disability
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the per capita average cost of resettling people from long stay hospitals into the community, excluding the costs of decommissioning the hospitals themselves. [14689]

  Mr. Richards
  It is for local and health authorities to determine individuals' care and support needs and to provide facilities and services accordingly, consequently the information requested is not available centrally.

  In 1994–95 agreement was reached on the transfer of 50 individuals with a learning disability into the community. Approximately £1.7 million will be made available each year from mental handicap strategy funds to pay for these individuals' care and support. A further £0.53 million each year will come from resources released from long stay mental handicap hospitals. This is in addition to funds from other sources, such as authorities' own resources and social security and housing benefits, where appropriate.

  NHS Dental Services
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 20 February,Official Report, column 79, if he will now make it his policy to collect information on those communities in Wales where there are no dentists providing a service on the NHS. [14725]

  Mr. Richards
  Local situations can change quickly and often. Welsh Office officials keep in close touch with the family health services authorities who are best placed to provide the most up-to-date information on local availability of NHS general dental services. It would be unnecessarily bureaucratic to require the submission of formal returns.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the current contracts for the chairman and the chief executive of each Welsh quango end. [14735]

  Mr. Redwood
  The end dates of the current contracts for the chairman and chief executive of each executive
  343
  non-departmental public body in Wales are shown in the following table:

  End date of contract/appointment

  Name of NDPB

  Chairman

  Chief executive

  Agricultural Wages Committee—6

  31.12.95

  1See note

  Arts Council of Wales

  29.03.97

  18.04.98

  Cardiff Bay Development Corporation

  1.04.96

  30.06.95

  Countryside Council for Wales

  4.11.96

  2See note

  Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales

  30.09.96

  313.02.97

  Development Board for Rural Wales

  6.07.97

  430.08.95

  Further Education Funding Council for Wales

  5.05.95

  5.05.97

  Higher Education Funding Council for Wales

  5.05.95

  5.05.97

  Housing for Wales

  30.11.96

  5See note

  Land Authority for Wales

  25.11.95

  6See note

  Local Government Reorganisation Residuary Body

  31.01.00

  7See note

  National Library of Wales

  8See note

  9See note

  National Museum of Wales

  8See note

  31.10.98

  Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments in Wales

  1031.12.95

  1See note

  Sports Council for Wales

  31.03.96

  31.03.96

  Wales Tourist Board

  30.09.95

  5See note

  Wales Youth Agency

  31.03.95

  31.03.97

  Welsh Development Agency

  30.06.96

  5See note

  Welsh Language Board

  20.12.96

  10.12.96

  Welsh National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting

  31.03.97

  5See note

  Notes:

  1 No Chief Executives.

  2 After 21 November 1995, the Countryside Council for Wales can terminate the contract by giving 6 months notice in writing. The Chief Executive can resign at any time by giving 13 weeks notice in writing.

  3 Unless extended by mutual agreement.

  4 Initial fixed term contract of 5 years, subject to annual redetermination.

  5 Permanent Post.

  6 Chief Executive's contract expires on retirement.

  7 Chief Executive not yet appointed.

  8 Appointment not made by Secretary of State.

  9 The Librarian is a permanent employee.

  10 The chairman is appointed under Royal Warrant.

  Sheep Scab
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of cases of ectoparasitic infestation in sheep for(a) the two years before compulsory dipping was abolished and (b) the two years since compulsory dipping has been abolished. [14569]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 20 January 1995,Official Report, column 269, for the number of cases of sheep scab during the period in question. Other ectoparasitic infections of sheep have never been notifiable in Wales and consequently information on the number of cases of these diseases is not available.

  Learning Disability
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales by what mechanism he plans that adults already living in the community but with significant learning difficulties, will in future be enabled to secure living accommodation which will enable them to have an independent life of their own in the community without dependency on ageing parents; and if he will make a statement. [14578]

  Mr. Richards
  It is for local and health authorities to provide care and support for individuals with a learning disability.

  A key objective in guidance on the Welsh mental handicap strategy, which was issued in July last year, is provision of support to help individuals with a learning disability who already live in the community to continue to do so. Furthermore, Welsh Office Circular 7/95 "Mental Handicap Strategy: Planning Alternative Care and Support for Individuals Living Unnecessarily and Inappropriately in Long Stay Mental Handicap Hospitals", stresses the need for authorities to consider the future accommodation and support needs for individuals already living in the community, when drawing up plans for the resettlement, into the community, of individuals living inappropriately and unnecessarily in long-stay hospitals.

  GP Fundholding
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of GPs in Wales are fundholders; how many fundholding applications are outstanding; and if he will make a statement. [14666]

  Mr. Richards
  There are 117 GP fundholding practices, comprising over 30 per cent. of GPs, in Wales covering one third of the population. A further 29 practices are preparing to become fundholders from 1 April next, at which time general practitioner and population coverage is expected to increase to some 35.5 per cent. and 40 per cent. respectively.

  Private Recruitment Agencies
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the guidelines issued by his Department to local education authorities with regard to using private recruitment agencies to provide supply teachers to state sector schools; what quality controls exist to ensure that supply teachers provided in this way meet the necessary standards required of teachers in state schools, in terms of professional competence and record of conduct; and what assessment he has made of whether children are vulnerable to being taught by unsuitable teachers as a result of the recruitment system. [14687]

  Mr. Richards
  The responsibility for the appointment and continued employment of teachers is primarily for local education authorities and school governing bodies. The Welsh Office has not issued guidance to them on the use of private recruitment agencies although consideration is being given to the issue of such guidance. LEAs and schools should ensure that all the necessary checks, including those in relation to the qualifications of teachers and their past employment record, have been carried out before an individual is recruited to a teaching post in a maintained school; this applies regardless of the method of recruitment used. It is, amongst other things, a statutory requirement that teachers employed to teach in maintained
  345
  schools in England and Wales have qualified teacher status.

  Employment
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many years it would take for Welsh unemployment to return to the 1979 level at the rate of change of the last three years. [14733]

  Mr. Redwood]
  Seasonally adjusted claimant unemployment fell from 123,500 in February 1992 to 107,600 in February 1995, an average fall of 442 claimants a month. It is difficult to say when unemployment would reach the same percentage as 1979 as that depends on whether more women wish to join the workforce or not. There has been a big expansion in numbers joining the workforce in the last 15 years. Over the past year unemployment has been falling at the faster average rate of 1,567 claimants a month.

  New School Construction
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many new schools have been completely constructed since 1979 in Wales; and at what cost. [14868]

  Mr. Richards
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Hospital Construction
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many new hospitals have been completely constructed since 1979 in Wales; and at what cost. [14872]

  Mr. Richards
  Eight hospitals have been completely constructed since 1979 at a cost of £82.1 million at the time of construction.

  Staff Numbers
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are employed by the Welsh Office; and what was the corresponding figure 12 months ago. [15418]

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department employed 2,504 people at the end of February. This is 123 fewer than at the end of February 1994.

  Medical Records
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the hospital trusts and health authorities who will release medical records to patients only if they first guarantee not to take legal action against the authorities or trust.

  Mr. Richards
  This information is not held centrally. In any event such guarantees would be inappropriate where the provisions of the Access to Health Records Act 1990 apply.

  Suicides
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many suicides there have been in the Welsh farming community in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement. [14257]
  346
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Deaths registered in 1993 by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys as being suicides among farmers and farm workers in Wales numbered 11 in total.

  The information on suicides among farmers for the years 1988 to 1992 given to the hon. Member by my right hon. Friend on 25 March, Official Report, column 454 and for 1992 on 4 May 1994 at column 533 have been found to be incorrect. I shall write to the hon. Member when corrected data have been verified and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Renovation Grants
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on the issue of housing renovation grants during the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [14264]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The Welsh Office regularly receives letter on renovation grants. Renovation policy and progress are also discussed with each of the 37 district councils on the basis of their housing strategy and operational plans.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to review the present formula determining the allocation of housing renovation grants; and if he will make a statement. [14265]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The formula is reviewed annually following consultation with the Council of Welsh Districts.

  North East Wales Institute
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the financial management of the North East Wales institute at Wrexham; and if he will make a statement. [15742]

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

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library details of the remuneration and expenses allowable to members of the governing board of the North East Wales institute at Wrexham and the present salaries of the principle and deans. [15741]

  Mr. Richards
  Governors of higher education institutions do not receive remuneration. They are entitled to receive the repayment of expenses incurred in connection with their duties as governors. Beginning with the academic year ending on 31 July 1995 all higher education institutions will be required to publish emoluments of the principal and remuneration of higher paid staff in their annual accounts.

  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of the Touche Ross report commissioned by the Welsh Higher Education Funding Council into the finances of the North East Wales institute at Wrexham. [15739]

  Mr. Richards
  No. The report was commissioned by the High Education Funding Council for Wales. It deals with the financial and management systems at the institute which is an independent corporation. The report is being treated as confidential to the council and the institute.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his Department's policy in respect of civil servants whose name, position and telephone numbers are not publicly available answering queries from members of the public and what is the external distribution of his Department's internal telephone numbers. [18500]

  Mr. Redwood
  Welsh Office staff answering queries from the public are normally expected to give their names, in line with the principles of the citizens charter. Their office telephone numbers are available from the Welsh Office exchange. The Welsh Office internal telephone directory is sent on request to central Government bodies, non-departmental public bodies and the National Audit Office.

  NNR Management
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what levels of funding were allocated to the Countryside Council for Wales for the management of its national nature reserves in Wales in 1994–95; and what has been allocated for 1995–96;

  (2) what levels of funding were allocated by the Countryside Council for Wales for the management of its national nature reserves in Wales in 1994–95; and what has been allocated for 1995–96.

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 17 March 1995]: The amounts allocated by the Countryside Council for Wales are as follows:

  1994–95: £430,000

  1995–96: £300,000

  I have asked the CCW to look at the ways of reducing its overhead and reconsider its programme expenditure.

HEALTH

  Disability
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the recommendations in the report of the Disablement Income Group entitled "An Opportunity Lost". [15058]

  Mr. Bowis
  The report makes seven recommendations, most of which are aimed at local authorities. The recommendation to central Government that former independent living fund resources within the special transitional grant should be ringfenced has been considered. It would, however, restrict their flexibility in using their resources. Local authorities are, of course, free to ring fence their own funds. We do not, however, consider that the important tool of ring fencing should be used at central Government level in this instance.

  Care Homes
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidelines apply in respect of the eviction from nursing homes of elderly people whose funds are exhausted. [14912]

  (2) what powers are available to her to prevent poor elderly citizens from being evicted from homes for the elderly. [14913]
  348
  Mr. Bowis
  Since April 1993, local authorities have had a responsibility to arrange accommodation in residential care and nursing homes for elderly people who for whatever reason are assessed as needing such care but are unable to meet the cost.

  Elderly people who entered independent sector homes before April 1993 may have preserved rights to the higher rates of income support. If such people have been evicted or are threatened with eviction from a residential care home, local authorities have a responsibility to make alternative arrangements. In the case of elderly people in nursing homes who are in this position, the national health service has a responsibility to assess their health needs and to offer appropriate services within the resources available.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment she has made of the implications of the Department of Environment's proposals for the removal of the requirement for local authorities to retain directly provided residential accommodation in respect of a local authority's duties under(a) the National Assistance Act 1948, other than part III, (b) the Registered Homes Act 1984 and (c) the NHS and Community Care Act 1990; and if she will make a statement. [14708]

  Mr. Bowis
  Local authorities already and increasingly discharge their statutory duties to provide residential care through contracts with independent sector providers. Under the Government's proposals, if local authorities thought they were unable to contract for particular services from the independent sector, they could continue to provide them directly.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many local authority care homes provided under the National Assistance Act 1948 have offered(a) respite care, (b) day care and (c) assessment facilities for each year since 1979. [14709]

  Mr. Bowis
  The information available centrally is shown in the table.

  Local authority homes for all client groups, England

  As at 31 March

  Number of homes with short-stay admissions

  Number of homes with day care places available

  1987

  2,849

  1,529

  1988

  2,947

  1,765

  1989

  2,987

  1,848

  1990

  2,957

  1,777

  1991

  2,945

  1,755

  1992

  2,659

  1,581

  1993

  2,388

  1,422

  1994

  2,317

  1,336

  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals she has to amend the rules governing personal contributions to the cost of long-term residential care. [15678]

  Mr. Bowis
  None but they are kept under regular review.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much(a) capital and (b) revenue has been spent on accommodation provided by local authorities under part III of the National Assistance Act 1948 in each year since 1979. [14774]

  Mr. Bowis
  [holding answer 22 March 1995]: The information available centrally relates to capital and

  349
  revenue expenditure on residential accommodation for adults and is shown in the table for the years for which figures are available.

  Local authority expenditure on residential accommodation for adults, England

  Financial year

  Capital £ million1

  Revenue (gross) £ million2

  1978–79

  —

  420

  1986–87

  —

  975

  1987–88

  —

  1,074

  1988–89

  127

  1,179

  1989–90

  148

  1,283

  1990–91

  119

  1,413

  1991–92

  121

  1,483

  1992–93

  130

  1,504

  1 Information is not available prior to 1988–89.

  2 Information is not available for the years 1979–80 to 1985–86.

  Kidney Patients
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many renal patients currently on FP10 prescriptions will be transferred to the district health authority contract system as of 1 April. [15375]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what her Department estimates the change in the number of renal patients in England and Wales will be from 1994–95 to 1995–96. [15374]

  (2) how many new renal patients per million of population she expects to undergo treatment in the National Health Service in the coming year. [15376]

  Mr. Sackville
  Both the total number of renal patients and the number of new renal patients per million population are expected to increase. Local purchasers and providers should take this into account in their planning. Specific information in the form requested is not available centrally.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what efforts her Department has made to ensure that general practitioners are aware of the forthcoming changes to the funding arrangements for the treatment of kidney patients. [15384]

  Mr. Malone
  All general practitioners and pharmacists have received a family practitioner notice giving guidance and instructions on the changes to the system for providing high tech health care for patients at home. More detailed instructions in the form of an executive letter, EL(95)5 copies of which are available in the Library, have been sent to regional, district and family health services authority General Managers, national health service trust chief executives and general practitioner fundholders. Both of these set out clearly what is expected of GPs in implementing these changes.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she now expects her Department to publish the renal review; and what factors led to the delay in publication. [15382]

  Mr. Sackville
  We are currently considering the practical implications of the report on the review of renal services. We intend to publish purchasing guidance based on the report once those implications are clear.
  350
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what efforts she is making to ensure that the new contracts between district health authorities and renal units are in place before 1 April. [15385]

  Mr. Malone
  Health authorities have been asked to ensure that new arrangements are in place by 1 April where continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis is currently being funded through general practitioner prescribing. This affects about half of CAPD patients. District health authorities have been asked to ensure as a priority that there is a continuity of care for these patients. In order to facilitate this they only have been authorised, if necessary, to contract with the supplier currently providing the services for 1995–96.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration has been made by her Department as to the effect of the new funding arrangements for renal units on the level of care provided for kidney patients at the Royal Victoria infirmary and the Freeman hospital in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. [15377]

  Mr. Sackville
  This is a matter for Newcastle and north Tyneside health authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mrs. S. Murray, chairman of the authority, for details.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for health how many renal units there are in England and Wales; and how many patients they treat(a) by region and (b) in total. [15381]

  Mr. Sackville
  In 1992, the latest year for which figures are held for England and Wales, 53 adult renal units in England, and eight in Wales treated a total of 18,768 patients. Regional details are as follows:

  Regions

  Number

  Northern and Yorkshire

  1,944

  Trent

  1,814

  Anglia and Oxford

  1,910

  North Thames

  3,534

  South Thames

  1,927

  South and West

  2,239

  West Midlands

  1,350

  North West

  2,849

  Wales

  1,201

  Total

  18,768

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the policy of her Department regarding rationing renal treatment and peritoneal dialysis on the basis of age. [15379]

  Mr. Sackville
  National health service treatment should be available to all on the basis of clinical need. It is for the clinician concerned to determine the appropriate treatment, which should not be denied on the ground of age alone, although age will be one of the factors which the clinician will take into account.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which groups were consulted by her Department during its renal review. [15383]

  Mr. Sackville
  All providers of renal services in England, all regional and district health authorities and a number of professional and patient interest groups were consulted on the renal review.

  Casualty Units, London
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will establish and set out the dates, periods and reasons when, in 1995 to date, at casualty units in the area of the former North East Thames regional health authority within Greater London, those arriving either before or after diagnosis and treatment were accommodated on trolleys from emergency ambulances, and the maximum number so used on any such occasion. [15820]

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally. Local health authorities are responsible for monitoring the performance of hospitals providing services for their residents.

  Patients at Home (Care Packages)
  Mr. Clelland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she will take to monitor the introduction of EL(95)5. [15128]

  Mr. Malone
  Health authorities have been asked to introduce changes in the way some packages of care are provided in the national health service from 1 April 1995. They have been further asked to develop strategies for providing these treatments from April 1996. Their progress in implementing these requirements will be monitored by the NHS Executive in the usual way.

  Intensive Care
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average percentage bed occupancy rate for each intensive care therapy unit in England during 1994 and for each of the last 10 years. [15360]

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many intensive care units in England have an intensive care consultant available 24 hours a day; and what percentage of all intensive care units that represents. [15359]

  Mr. Sackville
  Intensive care does not have specialty status and does not, therefore, have its own dedicated consultants. Patients in intensive care are attended by consultants in various specialties.

  Deprivation and Ill Health
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment her Department is making as to any link between poor housing and ill health; [15390]

  (2) what assessment her Department has made as to regional and local inequalities in health; and what action is being taken to tackle inequalities; [15386]

  (3) what assessment her Department is making as to any link between low incomes, poor diet and ill health; [15392]

  (4) what assessment is being made by her Department as to any link between income inequality, relative deprivation and ill health; [15393]

  (5) what assessment her Department is making as to any link between unemployment, stress and ill health; [13389]

  (6) what assessment is being made by her Department as to any link between low income and ill health. [15391]
  352
  Mr. Sackville
  The White Paper,"The Health of the Nation", Cm 1986, acknowledged that good housing is important to good health and that in England, as in all other westernised countries, there are variations in health status between different socio-economic groups within the population. A sub-group of the Chief Medical Officer's health of the nation working group is currently looking at how the Department and the national health service can make best use of existing information in tackling ethnic, geographical, socio-economic and gender variations in health status in the current health of the nation key areas. The sub-group will also be advising on areas in which new epidemiological and research information is needed.

  Multiple Sclerosis
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects that beta-interferon will be prescribable on the NHS for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. [15378]

  Mr. Malone
  No beta-interferon drug for multiple sclerosis has been licensed for use in the United Kingdom. A licence application for such a drug is currently being assessed by the European Medicines Evaluation Agency.

  AIDS
  Mr. Merchant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much money has been ring-fenced for HIV/AIDS prevention in 1995; and what proportion of this figure has been allocated to the Health Education Authority for this specific area of work. [15315]

  Mr. Sackville
  A total of £49.612 million has been earmarked for HIV/AIDS prevention in the national health service in 1995–96. This includes funding to safeguard the blood supply, train health care workers for infection control and HIV testing as well as monies for local prevention/public education work. The Health Education Authority budget, available for national public education, is separate from this budget. The amount of money to be provided for the HEA's work on HIV/AIDS in 1995–96 has yet to be determined.

  Solihull Hospital
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what were the costs of operating Solihull hospital for 1994–95; what estimates she has made for 1995–96; and if she will make a statement. [15132]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally, however, I understand from West Midlands regional health authority that the 1994–95 budgeted costs were £32.9 million and that for 1995–96 proposed costs of £39.5 million have been identified. It is estimated that these costs will lead to an £850,000 deficit in 1994–95 rising to a potential deficit of £7.8 million the following year. A project team has been set up by West Midlands regional health authority, including representatives from Solihull hospital and Birmingham Heartlands national health service trust, to explore ways of resolving this situation. My hon. Friend may wish to contact Mr. Bryan Baker, chairman of the authority, for further details.

  Road Traffic Act (Emergency Treatment Fee)
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations she has received about section 158 of the Road Traffic Act 1988; and if she will
  353
  consider bringing forward proposals to annul that section of the Act. [15371]

  Mr. Sackville
  During 1994 the Department received a number of letters from hon. Members and the public expressing concern about the emergency treatment fee, collected under section 158 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. We have no plans to change the Act.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money fundholders currently have in savings, by region; and how much this figure was for each of the last three years. [15365]

  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies that I gave to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 24 November 1994 at cols 321–22 and on 14 March at col 545.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for each family health service authority what percentage of the costs for(a) computer hardware, (b) computer software and (c) computer maintenance (i) non-funding and (ii) fundholding GPs are presently allowed to claim back. [15363]

  Mr. Malone
  Under the terms of the cost-plus contract for general practitioners, the profession is fully reimbursed all expenses incurred in the delivery of general medical services.

  All GPs, non-fundholders and fundholders alike, are able to claim direct reimbursement of normally up to 50 per cent. for practice computer systems to support general medical service activity.

  In addition, GP fundholders are required to have systems to manage their budgets, for which they are able to claim up to 100 per cent. of specialist computer software and related maintenance costs and 75 per cent. of computer hardware and associated maintenance costs.

  The balance of expenditure on computer hardware, software and maintenance will continue to be met indirectly through the expenses element in the gross fees and allowances.

  Information on the percentage costs reimbursed by individual family health services authorities is not available centrally.

  Wheelchairs
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the waiting time in each regional health authority area are in England for the delivery to a patient of a standard wheelchair. [15328]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Health authorities are responsible for setting and monitoring the standard of services locally for people with physical disabilities, including the wheelchair services.

  NHS Medical Staff
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for each of the last 10 years, how many(a) house officers, (b) senior house officers, (c) registrars, (d) senior registrars and (e) consultants were employed in each of the regional health authorities and for the NHS as a whole. [15367]

  Mr. Malone
  The information will be placed in the Library.

  Anorexia Nervosa
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will provide an estimate of the annual cost to the NHS of the treatment of anorexia nervosa. [15433]

  Mr Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Runwell Secure Hospital Unit
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has for the future of the Runwell secure hospital unit; what accommodation was available there and where its replacement beds are to be located; and what is the overall short and long-term demand for such accommodation arising from the health authorities for the London boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Newham, Hackney, Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Barking and Havering. [15819]

  Mr. Bowis
  Runwell medium secure unit is run by the Southend Community Care Services national health service trust. In October 1994 the trust expanded the number of beds in the secure unit from 14 to 28. The trust's plans to expand medium secure provision further on the Runwell hospital site and the hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the trust about these plans.

  South and West RHA Headquarters
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the cost of acquiring and equipping the premises for the South and West regional health authority at the Parkway business park, Bristol. [16063]

  (2) what is the total cost of re-locating staff from Bristol and Winchester to the new South and West regional health authority headquarters at the Parkway business park, Bristol. [16064]

  Mr. Sackville
  This is a matter for the regional health authority. The hon. member may wish to contact Ms Rennie Fritchie, chairman of the South and West regional health authority, for details.

  Mesothelioma
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the number of deaths of(a) men and (b) women in England, Wales and Scotland for which mesothelioma is mentioned on the death certificate for each year since 1968. [15215]

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is shown in the table:

  Deaths in Great Britain where Mesothelioma was specifically mentioned on the death certificate, 1968–1991.

  Male

  Female

  Total

  1968

  115

  39

  154

  1969

  123

  36

  159

  1970

  145

  49

  194

  1971

  141

  40

  181

  1972

  169

  43

  212

  1973

  182

  42

  224

  1974

  185

  58

  243

  1975

  218

  52

  270

  1976

  256

  56

  312

  1977

  273

  60

  333

  1978

  328

  63

  391

  1979

  340

  93

  433

  1980

  355

  102

  457

  1981

  395

  73

  468

  1982

  411

  91

  502

  355

  Deaths in Great Britain where Mesothelioma was specifically mentioned on the death certificate, 1968–1991.

  Male

  Female

  Total

  1983

  474

  95

  569

  1984

  534

  84

  618

  1985

  531

  83

  614

  1986

  599

  101

  700

  1987

  702

  106

  808

  1988

  751

  111

  862

  1989

  767

  132

  899

  1990

  763

  117

  880

  19911

  861

  148

  1,009

  1 Provisional.

  Surgery (Qualifications of Staff)
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the circumstances in which a person with no formal medical qualifications was asked to assist in a hip replacement operation at Newham general hospital; who was the employee; and what was his or her contract of employment. [15837]

  Mr. Sackville
  This is a matter for Newham Healthcare national health service trust. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman, Mrs. Rosemary Walters, for details.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what grades of personnel, other than qualified medical practitioners and nurses are, under health service regulations, permitted to participate in surgical operations; and what records are kept of such occasions. [15836]

  Mr. Sackville
  The law does not specify who may participate in an operation. Theatre nurses, operating department assistants and operating department orderlies working under the direct supervision of medical staff may assist in some operations where needed, within the limits of their competence.

  Human Fertilisation and Embryology
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make available in the Library copies of the written evidence submitted to, and the transcripts of oral evidence taken by, the Warnock committee which produced the report on human fertilisation and embryology; and if that evidence and those transcripts have ever been published. [15838]

  Mr. Sackville
  Copies of written evidence to the committee of inquiry into human fertilisation and embryology and responses to the Warnock report from organisations were placed in the Library in 1985, where the organisation consented. Transcripts of oral evidence to the committee were not made. Organisations who gave oral and written evidence to the committee are listed in the appendix to the Warnock report. Some of them are believed to have published their own evidence.

  Community Care Forum
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the oral statement by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, the hon. Member for Battersea (Mr. Bowis) on 1 February,Official Report, column 1036, if she will list the schedule
  356
  of dates for the meetings of the Community Care Forum, its terms of reference, and who is to be appointed to the chair. [15774]

  Mr. Bowis
  The first such meeting will be held on 3 April and chaired by an official from this Department.

  Orsett Hospital
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assurances about maintenance or planned improvements of service delivery were given to her predecessor when authority was sought to close the accident and emergency department at Orsett hospital in Thurrock; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 7 March 1995]: The then Basildon and Thurrock health authority envisaged a continuing major role for Orsett hospital in the provision of health care in the district.

EDUCATION

  Hearing Impaired Children
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many vacancies exist for teachers of the deaf; [15456]

  (2) how many teachers of the deaf have qualified in each of the last three years. [15457]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The results of a DFE survey covering the 1993–94 financial year indicate that in the 87 local education authorities that completed the survey, 68 teachers completed their training to gain a mandatory qualification in the teaching of hearing impaired children.

  The same survey indicated that there were 24.2 vacancies for teachers of hearing impaired children in the 87 LEAs concerned.

  Figures are not available for earlier years, but a similar survey is currently being undertaken covering the 199495 financial year.

  Further Education Colleges
  Mr. Eastham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many further education colleges in the north-west have not met their targets for(a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95; [15674]

  (2) which colleges of further education in the north-west have made the biggest claims for demand lead element in 1994–95; and what vocational training contributed most to these demand lead element bids; [15676]

  (3) what are the consequences for colleges that have been awarded grants but not achieved their targets; in which cases reimbursement of public funds will be sought; and how the reimbursement will be operated. [15675]

  Mr. Boswell
  These are matters for the Further Education Funding Council. I have written to the FEFC's chief executive, Sir William Stubbs, and asked him to respond to the hon. Member's questions directly by letter.

  National Curriculum
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the cost of the Dearing review of the national curriculum. [15593]
  357
  Mr. Forth
  The estimated total cost of the Dearing review of the national curriculum is £4.7 million, comprising:

  i. £755,000 for the interim and final Dearing reports on the national curriculum;

  ii. £528,000 for work on slimming down the curriculum by the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority and its advisory groups, excluding SCAA internal staff costs;

  iii. £2 million for the consultation on the revised curriculum proposals, including the cost of publishing and distributing the consultation documents and a report on the outcome of consultation;

  iv. £1.4 million for publication and distribution of the final subject documents in January 1995, excluding staff costs.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total cost of the work on the national curriculum before the Dearing review. [15592]

  Mr. Forth
  Central Government expenditure on the national curriculum between 1988 and 1993 was an estimated £469 million. Some £350 million of this was in the form of grants for education support and training to support expenditure by local education authorities and schools mainly on books, equipment and training. The £469 million also includes the full grants to the former National Curriculum Council and the School Examinations and Assessment Council, and thus includes some expenditure on the curriculum and assessment which was not directly concerned with the national curriculum.

  Secondary Education Advisory Council
  Mr. Don Foser
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the cost of(a) setting up and (b) winding up the Secondary Education Advisory Council and the National Curriculum Council. [15595]

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

  Whittingham Communities Primary School
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when she will be in a position to give a full answer to the letter from the hon. Member for Walthamstow of 27 February, regarding Whittingham school: and when the council of the London borough of Waltham Forest will be giving a decision on the rebuilding of Whittingham school. [15850]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My letter of 13 March to the hon. Member explained the position on the proposals to establish the Whittingham community primary school. I expect a decision to be made shortly and shall advise the hon. Member of the outcome.

  School Inspections
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the cost of(a) an average primary school Office for Standards in Education and (b) an average secondary school Ofsted inspection for the most recent year for which figures are available. [15594]

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

  Funding Agency for Schools
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the cost of setting up the Funding Agency for Schools.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The sum of £1.044 million was spent on the FAS headquarters in York, initial staff-related costs, and other miscellaneous items prior to the agency's formal establishment on 1 April 1994.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what steps her Department has taken over the last year to inform local education authorities and grant-maintained schools of the dangers of school buildings containing asbestos for individuals carrying out repair, refurbishment and building maintenance work; [15147]

  (2) what consideration her Department has given to the sending of a guidance note to head teachers informing them of the dangers of asbestos for individuals carrying out repair, refurbishment and building maintenance work on school buildings; and if she will make a statement. [15149]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  General information and advice about asbestos is set out in the Department of the Environment's booklet "Asbestos Materials in Buildings", which was revised most recently in 1991. The Department for Education will shortly be issuing, as part of a document dealing with building matters generally, additional guidance about asbestos.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration her Department has given to the risk of voluntary staff facing exposure to asbestos dust when carrying out repair, refurbishment and building maintenance work on school buildings. [15148]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  All work with asbestos is regulated by the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987. These regulations impose duties on employers, including local education authorities and schools, to protect their employees from exposure to asbestos, but also extend this duty to include the protection of anyone else who may be affected by the work. Schools can seek professional advice about asbestos either from their local education authority or other sources. They should certainly do so if they believe that asbestos poses any threat to staff or pupils. Detailed guidance is available in the Department of the Environment booklet "Asbestos Materials in Buildings".

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration her Department has given to encouraging local education authorities to survey school buildings so as to create detailed registers of school buildings that contain asbestos; and if she will make a statement. [15150]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Responsibility for the condition of school buildings and the health and safety of pupils and staff lies with local education authorities and school governors. Although the Department would suggest that in all cases the presence of asbestos in school buildings should be recorded and its condition monitored, how local education authorities and schools exercise their responsibilities for health and safety must be for them to decide.

  Teachers' Pay
  Mr. Forman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what financial provision has been made by central Government for increases in teachers' pay in 1996 both in cash terms and in percentage terms. [15267]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The provisional figure for the aggregate total standard spending on all services in 1996–97 is £44,073 million. Individual service shares will be decided in next year's settlement.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what has been the capital allocation to each grant-maintained schools in Birmingham since their establishment; and what information she has on the annual capital expenditure of each school. [15443]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  These matters are now the responsibility of the Funding Agency for Schools. I have asked the chairman of the funding agency to write to the hon. Member with this information.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education with which bodies she consulted prior to 360
  the announcement of the standard spending assessment for education. [15044]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Government consulted the local authority associations through the Consultative Council on Local Government Finance and the working groups which support it. In addition, my right hon. Friend and other Ministers and I regularly meet representatives of local education authorities and other bodies; discussions cover a range of issues including education funding.

  Green Fold School
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the registered capacity of Green Fold school in Bolton, Lancashire when it was first opened in 1981; what has been the registered capacity for each year since then; and what is the latest projection. [144434]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Our records show that in 1981 Green Fold special school had approval for 80 "educationally sub-normal (severe)" boys and girls aged three to 18. The capacity remained the same until 1988, when the then Secretary of State gave approval for the school for 60 boys and girls with severe learning difficulties aged three to 11. The capacity has remained at this level for each year since then. Any change to this figure would require Bolton local education authority to submit proposals to the Secretary of State under section 183 of the Education Act 1993.

  UN Convention Against Torture: UK Report
  UN Convention Against Torture: UK Report
  Barristers' Fees from Legal Aid
  Barristers' Fees from Legal Aid
  Stipendiary Magistrates
  Stipendiary Magistrates
  Nuclear Weapons Policy
  Nuclear Weapons Policy
  EU Budget: Transfers of Appropriations
  EU Budget: Transfers of Appropriations