Written Answers of 29 March 1995

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Mr. Darius Guppy
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 20 March,Official Report, column 30, if he will list the applications for legal aid made over the past 12 months by Darius Guppy. [15665]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Over the past 12 months, Mr. Guppy has made six applications for civil legal aid and one for ABWOR—assistance by way of representation. No central record of applications for criminal legal aid is kept, but I am aware of one such application from Mr. Guppy, to which I referred in my answer of 20 March.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 20 March,Official Report, column 30, if he will seek to amend section 38 of the Legal Aid Act 1988 to remove the confidentiality provisions on the disclosure of information on an applicant's financial means where the applicant is serving a prison sentence for theft. [15666]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  No. The "confidentiality" clause in section 38 of the Legal Aid Act 1988 is not unique to legal aid and is common practice in organisations which retain personal details of an individual's circumstances.

  Legal Aid Expenditure
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will estimate what was the expenditure from the legal aid fund(a) in total and (b) in Wales in the last available year. [15789]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Actual net expenditure on legal aid in England and Wales in 1993–94 was £1,210 million. For expenditure in Wales, I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 2 March 1995,Official Report, column 677. The legal aid fund in Wales is administered by two separate area offices, situated at Cardiff and Chester, the latter being also responsible for administering legal aid in parts of England. It is therefore not possible readily to identify payments made solely in respect of assisted persons resident in Wales, nor is it possible to estimate what proportion of legal aid fund expenditure related specifically to Wales.

TRANSPORT

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the costs and benefits of constructing a high speed rail link from north-west England to connect with the proposed channel tunnel rail link.

  Mr. Watts
  I have not assessed the costs and benefits of a completely new line. However, on 22 March, I announced the first stage of a £1 billion modernisation of the west coast main line.

  Public Relations
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines his Department has issued to its agencies and other public bodies under its authority in respect of the employment of public relations companies and the procedures to be adopted in relation to requesting tenders for public relations companies. [16210]

  Mr. Steven Norris
  Guidelines for the employment of public relations companies are contained in the working guide for Government information officers, copies of which are available in the library of the House. The procurement rules and procedures for the Department are contained in the Departmental procurement manual.

  Railway Heritage
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he has had with the Railway Heritage Group about the preservation of early records of the railway system in the last five years. [16597]

  Mr. Watts
  None. Early records which have come to light in the last five years have been sent to either the Public Record Office, the Scottish Record Office or the National Railway Museum to add to their existing collections. If the records were not appropriate for these three national bodies, they were sent to one of the local record offices listed by British Rail's records advisory panel. In future, the new independent Railway Heritage Committee, under the chairmanship of Sir Gordon Higginson, will supervise the transfer of historic railway artifacts and records to the collecting institutions.

  Railtrack (Land Sales)
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 20 March,Official Report, column 89, if he will give the total acreage of the 134 pieces of land sold by Railtrack to date. [16276]

  Mr. Watts
  I am advised by Railtrack that the total acreage of the 134 sale transactions by Railtrack to date amounts to about 41 acres.

  Royal Train
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions the royal train was used in 1993–94; what were its destinations; which members of the royal family used it and on how many occasions; and on how many occasions was it used overnight. [16768]

  Mr. Watts
  The royal train was used on 47 separate occasions, involving use of the royal train coaches on 95
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  days in 1993–94. I understand that the destinations were as follows:

  Aberdeen

  Aberystwyth

  Ashford (Kent)

  Bodmin Parkway

  Bridgend

  Bridgwater

  Cardiff

  Derby

  Edinburgh

  Fort William

  Gatwick Airport

  Glasgow

  Hexham

  Inverkeithing

  Lancaster

  Leeds

  Liverpool

  Lockerbie

  London

  Lympstone Commando

  Malton

  Manchester

  Mexborough

  Morpeth

  Newport

  Northallerton

  Penzance

  Plymouth

  Runcorn

  Sheffield

  Shrewsbury

  Slough

  Southampton Docks

  Stirling

  Stonehaven

  Sunderland

  Tattenham Corner

  Thirsk

  Truro

  Whitland

  Workington

  The members of the royal family and numbers of occasions on which they used the royal train were as follows:

  Number of occasions

  Her Majesty the Queen

  11

  The Duke of Edinburgh

  5

  The Prince of Wales

  17

  The Princess Royal

  6

  The Prince Edward

  1

  The Duke of Kent

  1

  The Duchess of Kent

  4

  The royal train was also used twice for state visits. The train was used overnight 48 times.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Departmental Report
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the cost of producing and 636
  circulating the last departmental annual report for each of the last three years in real terms. [16641]

  Mr. Dorrell
  The last three editions of the report have been published as Command Papers by HMSO, which has borne the printing and publishing costs with the aim of recovering these from sales revenue.

  My Department incurred additional production and distribution costs relating to the 1995 report of approximately £1,000, and additional production costs relating to the 1994 report of £9,473 at current prices. Information on the production costs of the 1993 report, and distribution costs of the 1993 and 1994 reports can be calculated only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the cost of producing and circulating the departmental annual report; what was the circulation list; how many copies were produced; how many copies were sold; and at what price. [16640]

  Mr. Dorrell
  Some 1,900 copies of my Department's report were printed and published. Of these, 500 copies were purchased by the Department for distribution to its agencies, sponsored bodies and other external contacts, as well as distribution internally for use as a working document. In addition to those copies required by Parliament, Government Departments and agencies concerned, just over 1,150 copies were produced to satisfy other sales at a price of £9.55 net. The costs of printing and publishing the report were borne by HMSO, which aims to cover these costs from sales revenue. The Department incurred additional production and distribution costs approximately £1,000.

  Statutory References
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what statutory references to hon. Members have been made in legislation introduced by his Department, or its predecessors, since 1965. [17039]

  Mr. Dorrell
  An analysis of all legislation introduced by this Department and its predecessors since 1965 for any reference of the type requested, could be provided only at disproportionate cost. It would be extremely unlikely for reference to be made specifically to an individual hon. Member. Frequent references are made to officers of state, and occasional general references are made to persons who are Members of one or other Houses of Parliament. The National Lottery etc. Act 1993 makes a reference to the Leader of the Opposition in schedule 6 concerning nominations for membership of the Millennium Commission.

  Public Library Review
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage on what date he received the report of the public library review from the consultants, ASLIB. [16180]

  Mr. Sproat
  The report of the public library review was received from the consultants on 23 February.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he will publish his response to the public library review. [16179]

  Mr. Sproat
  I hope to make a statement shortly.

  Taylor Report Deadlines
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will extend the deadline for meeting the
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  recommendations of the Taylor report for those football clubs which have experienced protracted planning difficulties. [15953]

  Mr. Sproat
  Any applications for an extension to the deadlines already announced for football clubs to meet the all-seater or safe terracing will be considered on their individual merits, as occurred in 1994, following consultation with the Football Licensing Authority. Extensions will be granted only in the most exceptional circumstances and where delays in meeting the necessary criteria are unforseen and unavoidable. Whether planning difficulties would fall into such a category would depend on the facts of the individual case.

  Sports Council for England
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he expects to be able to announce the membership of the proposed Sports Council for England. [17499]

  Mr. Dorrell
  I confirmed the Government's intention to set up new United Kingdom and English Sports Councils from 1 January 1996, subject to the grant of royal charters, on 23 March,Official Report, column 316. I announced at the time of his appointment as chairman of the GB Sports Council that Mr. Rodney Walker would in due course become first chairman of the Sports Council for England. I am pleased to be able to announce today the remaining members-designate of the Sports Council for England:

  Mr. Gerald Dennis1 Vice-Chairman

  Mr. Trevor Brooking1 Vice-Chairman

  Mr. Keith Oates1

  Ms Julia Bracewell1

  Mr. Tim Marshall1

  Mr. Geoff Thompson1

  Mr. Ian Botham

  Mr. Jeff Probyn

  Mr. Chris Boardman

  Mr. Peter Blake

  Mr. Andrew Hancock

  Mr. Jim Munn

  Mr. David Oxley

  Mr. Sam Stoker

  1 Are serving members of the present GB Sports Council.

  We proposed last July that the English council should concentrate its resources on an increased programme of direct support for governing bodies of sport for the development of sport from the grass roots to the highest competitive levels. We expect the English council to develop its policies and programmes in full and meaningful co-operation both with the Central Council of Physical Recreation, which represents the interests of governing bodies, and with local authority interests.

  I am also able to confirm that, as proposed on 8 July 1994, the present linkage between the Sports Council and the Regional Councils for Sport and Recreation will come to an end from 1 January 1996. Ministers will cease from today to renew or make fresh appointments to those bodies, but will in future appoint ministerial nominees in each of the regions of the English Sports Council. These will bring a further range of experience and expertise to the council's work, including that of local government.

  Political Advisers
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the names of those persons appointed as political advisers to his Department since May 1992. [15619]

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 27 March 1995]: The names of those persons appointed as special advisers to my Department since May 1992 are:

  Name

  Date appointed

  Date appointment ended

  Mr. Chris Hopson

  22 April 1992

  24 September 1992

  Viscountess Cobham

  12 July 1992

  24 September 1992

  Mr. Dominic Loehnis

  7 November 1992

  20 July 1994

  Tourism Promotion
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 9 March,Official Report, column 280, who is responsible for establishing the accuracy of local claims regarding the origins of historical figures used in terms of tourism promotion. [16044]

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 27 March 1995]: Where such claims are made in advertisements or sales promotions, these must conform with the appropriate self-regulatory codes of practice. These require advertisements and sales promotions to be legal, decent, honest and truthful.

  Certain claims must also comply with the Trade Descriptions Act 1968, which makes it an offence for a trader knowingly or recklessly to make a false or misleading statement about the nature of services, accommodation or facilities. This Act is enforced by local authority trading standards departments.

PRIME MINISTER

  Bank of England
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he approved the statement of Government policy set out in paragraph 5 of the Bank of England press release of the text of the Deputy Governor's speech to the City branch of the Institute of Directors on 13th December 1993. [16988]

  The Prime Minister
  As stated in the 1995–96 Financial Statement and Budget Report, the role of monetary policy is to deliver low inflation. The Deputy Governor's speech to the City branch of the Institute of Directors was fully consistent with the Government's monetary policy.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister whether the appointment of the Governor or Deputy Governor of the Bank of England requires or receives(a) Cabinet approval and (b) positive security vetting. [16942]

  The Prime Minister
  Appointments of Governor and Deputy Governor of the Bank of England are made by Her Majesty the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister. The posts are subject to security vetting procedures.

  Advisers
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the names of those persons appointed as political advisers to his Department since May 1992. [15615]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 27 March 1995]: The Prime Minister's staff includes a number of appointments as special advisers, both political and expert. The names are as follows:

  Date appointed

  Date left

  Lord Poole

  May 1992

  July 1994

  Sir R. Braithwaite

  June 1992

  December 1993

  Mr. D. Green

  June 1992

  December 1994

  Mrs. K. Ramsay

  June 1992

  To date

  Miss A Warburton

  January 1994

  To date

  Mr. N. R. Blackwell

  February 1995

  To date

  Mr. S. M. Williams

  March 1995

  To date

  Ms C. Fairbairn

  March 1995

  To date

EMPLOYMENT

  Income Statistics
  Mr. Coe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the real change in take-home pay for a married couple on average earnings, with two children, between(a) 1973–74 and 1978–79 and(b) 1978–79 and 1993–94; and what were the figures in other EC countries.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Real take-home pay for a married couple on average earnings, with two children, decreased by 2 per cent. between 1973–74 and 1978–79 and increased by 41 per cent. between 1978–79 and 1993–94. Independent research shows that the take-home pay of production workers in the UK is comparable with that in Germany and ahead of that of France, the Netherlands and Denmark, once the cost of living has been taken into account.

  Pools Industry
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment figures in the pools industry on Merseyside. [16372]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The proposed redundancies in the pools industry are regrettable. However, staffing levels must be a matter for the commercial judgment of companies concerned. Individuals who are unfortunate enough to lose their jobs from any sector can benefit from the Employment Department's extensive range of measures designed to help them find new jobs, re-train or set up in business. There are now more than 10,000 fewer unemployed in Merseyside than there were a year ago.

  Prior Options Review
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the outcome of the prior options review of the Employment Service. [17357]

  Mr. Portillo
  The review is now complete and I have placed a summary of the review's conclusions in the Library. I have accepted all its recommendations, subject to the following points. The report sets out a compelling case for the agency and demonstrates its importance to the 640
  labour market. As the evaluation undertaken in support of the review shows, the Employment Service has steadily and substantially improved its performance since it became an agency in 1990. It also confirms the value of integrating job-broking, advisory and benefit services.

  The prior options review confirms the importance of the work of the ES in helping employers and unemployed people to operate more effectively in the labour market. The policies the agency has pursued have played a significant role in helping unemployed people, particularly those at a disadvantage, to compete effectively and actively for jobs. That has assisted many employers in filling their vacancies. The ES's operation as an agency has enabled it to meet increasingly stretching performance targets, while achieving better value for money for the taxpayer.

  I therefore endorse the recommendation of the review that the agency status of the ES should be confirmed. A new framework document will be drawn up to reflect working arrangements for the operation of the jobseeker's allowance subject to the passage of the necessary legislation. The ES, along with the Benefits Agency, will have a crucial role to play in implementing the JSA and ensuring it is delivered effectively, to a high standard of service to its clients and with increased benefit to the operation to the labour market. I am pleased that the review confirms that the ES is well positioned to carry out these tasks.

  The review recommends that, once the JSA is implemented successfully, there will be scope to test the potential for private sector involvement in the delivery of functions, other than adjudication, that are carried out in ES offices. I accept this conclusion in principle. My aim would be to take forward the review's proposal to market test the work of two or three ES districts in 1997 once the JSA has been fully introduced and subject to establishing the feasibility of separating adjudication from other aspects of the work of districts.

  I shall also be asking the ES to work up proposals for a market test in, one or two regions of placing, assessment and counselling teams, which provide specialist services for unemployed people with disabilities.

  The review also made recommendations about ES fraud work. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security and I are considering how the fraud work currently undertaken by the ES and the BA will be organised under the JSA and will make an announcement shortly.

ENVIRONMENT

  Press Officers
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many press officers there are in his Department currently; and what the figure was in 1979. [16574]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Department of the Environment currently employs 31.5 information officers, including those employed by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. All deal with the full range of information services; none are exclusively press officers.
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  The records for 1979 show that there were 40 professional information officers employed by the Department.

  Public Relations
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much his Department spent on public relations during the financial year 1993–94; how much contracts with the private sector cost; and if he will list the activities covered by these contracts. [16287]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  During the 1993–94 financial year my Department part-funded one PR contract to a value of £28,000. The activities carried out included planning, design and strategic work undertaken on behalf of the Lighting Industry Federation, the National Energy Foundation and my Department's "Helping the Earth Begins at Home" domestic energy campaign to encourage the use of energy-saving light bulbs.

  Chicken Farm, Throckmorton
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received a reasoned opinion from the European Commission concerning the grant of planning permission for a chicken farm at the former airfield at Throckmorton, Worcestershire. [16767]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  No.

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made on sustainable development and the environment over the past year; and when he intends to respond to the recommendations in the first report of the Government's panel on sustainable development. [17181]

  Mr. Gummer
  We are today publishing "This Common Inheritance: UK Annual Report 1995", which reports progress on commitments in previous environment White Papers and the sustainable development strategy. To complement this, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is today placing in the House Library a copy of the letter which he is today sending to the Government's panel, responding to the recommendations in its first report.

  Habitats Directive
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps Her Majesty's Government will take to ensure that important British habitats omitted from the EU habitats directive are given statutory protection at European level. [15114]

  Mr. Atkins
  The provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for the protection of sites of special scientific interest will continue to apply to sites notified by the nature conservancy councils, including those which contain habitats not listed in the EC habitats directive. The directive is intended to cover only those habitat types and species that are rare or endangered at a European level. We shall play a full part in the consideration of any revision of the habitat types listed in annexe I of the directive if proposals are made by the European Commission.

  European Environment Agency
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what measures he proposes to ensure the adequacy of the quality of environmental data provision for the European Environment Agency; [15115]

  (2) what provision he will make to ensure that dissonant information is given adequate recognition in EU environmental networks through the United Kingdom focal point. [15116]

  Mr. Atkins
  My Department has established a network of organisations in the UK which will contribute to the work of the European Environment Agency. These organisations have widely recognised expertise in the fields of environmental monitoring and data collection, in particular at the national and European levels which will be the EEA's primary interest. Co-ordination of the UK network is the responsibility of the UK national focal point based in the environmental protection statistics division of my Department. The NFP will act as a channel of communication between the network and the EEA, to ensure that network members provide reliable and balanced information to the EEA and that network members are not overburdened with requests for unnecessary information.

  The EEA will also be open to receiving information form other organisations which are not part of the official network, including, for example, non-governmental organisations. Where any information provided by such organisations does not accord with that from official sources, the agency will investigate discrepancies.

  European Regional Development Fund
  Mr. Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the terms of reference for private sector participation in the European regional development fund objective 2 and 5b schemes. [16729]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  A broad range of private sector organisations may benefit directly from ERDF grants, providing they are non-profit making and acting in the public interest.

  Although ERDF grants have not normally been available to profit-making companies in the past, the Government wish to maximise the private sector contribution to projects attracting ERDF grants, and has put to the European Commission proposals for facilitating this while ensuring that projects are of general economic benefit to the areas concerned, and that ERDF grants do not lead to excessive profits. The Commission's comments are awaited.

  Compulsory Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Thomason
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes that English local authorities which are to remain unchanged, following his recent decision on the recommendations of the Local Government Commission, will be required to extend compulsory competitive tendering. [17356]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  I am keen to see the benefits of competition brought to local people as soon as possible. It is now clear that many shire counties and districts will retain their existing two-tier structure, and these authorities are in a position to press ahead with the extension of CCT to further manual and white-collar services as soon as possible.
  643
  On 31 January, my Department sent a consultation paper to English local authority representatives which proposed bringing forward the implementation of CCT by up to one year from the timetable initially proposed in December 1993. I have considered carefully the associations' clear and cogent arguments for not imposing a timetable which may give rise to undue haste in implementing CCT, and decided to strike a balance between the concerns they have expressed and the need to maintain a rigorous timetable for CCT.

  I therefore intend to require all authorities which are to remain unchanged in both functions and boundaries following review to advance the timetable for implementing CCT extension by six months. I will bring forward regulations to require these authorities to have achieved their competitive tendering obligations for each of the new services by the following dates:
  Security work, management of vehicles and management of parking: 1 April 1997
  Legal and construction and property services: 1 October 1997
  Finance and personnel services: 1 April 1998
  IS/IT services: 1 April 1999

  Any other shire authority which is to change either its functions, by becoming a unitary authority, or its boundaries, including minor changes in boundaries but not including the creation of new parishes within their area, will be expected to follow the timetable for each service which applies to reorganised authorities. For legal, construction and property and the further manual services these dates are already provided for in regulations. The detailed regime for the other services is currently subject to consultation and I will announce final decisions shortly.

  A number of authorities have expressed concern about the implications for the CCT timetable of the further review of individual districts. In announcing his decisions on the review of shire authorities on 2 March at column 1183 and 21 March at column 145, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said that he was minded to ask the Local Government Commission to consider further the case for change in a small number of districts. We will consider carefully over the next few weeks which areas might be reviewed further and I anticipate an announcement will be made at the end of June. When that announcement is made I will put forward proposals for further modifying the implementation timetable for CCT extension in the areas to be considered by the Commission. Until then, all shire authorities for which no decision to implement structural change has been announced should plan on the basis of the timetable that I have set out. The additional preparation time now permitted should mitigate any delay caused by individual authorities' uncertainty as to whether they are candidates for a further review.

  EU Urban Initiative
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has decided which non-objective 1 areas in England should be included under the European structural funds Urban initiative; and if he will make a statement. [17716]

  Mr. Gummer
  I have today presented the European Commission with the Government's decision on the six non-objective 1 areas in England to receive £37 million under the Urban initiative.
  644
  In reducing the 11 areas originally proposed to the European Commission, to meet their overall limits on the size of the initiative, a number of considerations have been taken into account. Urban Regeneration Minister David Curry and Sir Paul Beresford have received presentations from the eleven areas, and on the basis of area need, written proposals, ability to provide jobs and business opportunities and use the funds effectively to deliver lasting results, the following areas have been selected: Birmingham, London (Park Royal), Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield and London (Hackney/Tower Hamlets).

  This was a difficult decision to make as all the 11 areas had strong cases and I regret that we could only choose 6 areas for inclusion. The quality of work done in all the areas was excellent. I well understand the disappointment of those areas that were not able to have a place on the programme. I am grateful to all those who put so much effort into the selection process for their areas, and I am sure that the experience will be useful in taking advantage of any other suitable initiatives in the future.

  We look forward now to making good progress in negotiations with the Commission.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  British Shipbuilders
  Mrs. Angela Knight
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what changes have been made to the British Shipbuilders' external financing limit for 1994–95. [17501]

  Mr. Heseltine
  The external financing limit for British Shipbuilders for 1994–95 has been increased by £15 million from minus £3.8 million to positive £11 million. This increase is attributable to the sale of the McDermott barge, the company's largest and longest-running liability. The increase in the EFL will be met from the reserve and does not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure in 1994–95.

  Statutory References
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what statutory references to hon. Members have been made in legislation introduced by his Department, or its predecessors, since 1965. [17031]

  Mr. Heseltine
  An analysis of all legislation introduced by this Department and its predecessors since 1965 for any reference to the type requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. It would be extremely unlikely for reference to be made specifically to an individual hon. Member. Frequent references are made to officers of state, and occasional general references are made to persons who are Members of one or other of the Houses of Parliament.

  Advisers
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what facilities in terms of(a) access to telephones, (b) use of equipment, (c) use of offices, (d) access to ministerial meetings, (e) sight of correspondence, (f) attendance at inter-departmental

  645
  meetings and (g) access to civil servants are available to specialist advisers in his Department. [15608]

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 27 March 1995]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 27 March 1995, Official Report, column 435.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the names of those persons appointed as political advisers to his Department since May 1992. [15609]

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 27 March 1995]: No persons have been appointed as political advisers to this Department since May 1992.

  Coventry Airport
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consultations he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport about reducing noise at Coventry airport; and what assessment he has made of the impact on economic growth in the area of(a) aircraft noise pollution and (b) the increase in night flights. [16228]

  Mr. Page
  I have had no consultations. These are matters for the local planning authorities and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to assist Coventry airport via the European Commission's objective 2 programmes; and what representations he has received from the residents of Willenhall. [16227]

  Mr. Page
  It is for Coventry city council, as owner of the airport, to make applications for grant activities that can be assisted through the west midlands objective 2 single programming document 1994–96.

  All applications received will be considered in accordance with the programme arrangements agreed between the UK Government and the European Commission.

  I have not received any representation on this matter from residents of Willenhall.

  Post Office
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many post office staff have left the Post Office as a result of crown post offices being converted to agency status. [16314]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 27 March 1995]: I understand from the Post Office that some 4,000 staff have left on voluntary redundancy terms since 1989–90 as a result of crown post offices being converted to agency status. Many of them are now working in post offices either as agents or employed by agents.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what financial benefits the Post Office has obtained during the last and current financial years through the policy of converting crown post offices to agency status. [16312]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 27 March 1995]: I understand from the Post Office that conversions of crown post offices in the financial year 1993–94 yielded net recurring savings of £3.9 million. The figures for the current financial year are not yet available but are expected to be of a similar amount.
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  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the crown post offices converted to agency status in Scotland since January 1994 giving the parliamentary constituency within which they lie. [16315]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 27 March 1995]: I understand from the Post Office that the following 18 crown post offices in Scotland have been converted to agency status since January 1994:

  Post Office

  Parliamentary Constituency

  Annan

  Dumfries

  Anniesland

  Glasgow Garscadden

  Blantyre

  Hamilton

  Carluke

  Lanark

  Castle Douglas

  Dumfries

  Charing Cross

  Glasgow Hillhead

  Dumbarton

  Dumbarton

  Elgin

  Moray

  Kirkcaldy

  Kirkcaldy

  Livingston

  Livingston

  Partick

  Glasgow Hillhead

  Peterhead

  Banff and Buchan

  Renfrew

  Paisley North

  Stranraer

  Galloway and Upper Nithsdale

  Thurso

  Caithness and Sutherland

  Milngavie

  Clydebank and Milngavie

  Newington

  Edinburgh South

  Wick

  Caithness and Sutherland

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many crown post offices have been converted to agency status in(a) Scotland and (b) throughout the United Kingdom for each financial year since 1989–90. [16313]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 27 March 1995]: I understand from the Post Office that numbers of crown post offices converted to agency status in Scotland and throughout the United Kingdom in each financial year since 1989–90 are as follows:

  Scotland

  United Kingdom

  1989–90

  32

  153

  1990–91

  29

  164

  1991–92

  40

  147

  1992–93

  11

  108

  1993–94

  13

  117

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many crown post offices within(a) Scotland and (b) throughout the United Kingdom the Post Office views as appropriate for agency status. [16309]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 27 March 1995]: I understand from the Post Office that it uses the following criteria for deciding on the appropriateness of agency status for a given office:
  the customer service benefit of changing, e.g. longer opening
  hours, better location;
  financial benefits;
  ability to redeploy any surplus staff;
  availability of a suitable partner to become agent.

  Since some of these factors have a degree of uncertainty attaching to them, the Post Office does not have a fixed view about the number of crown post offices appropriate for agency status. The Post Office continues to convert crown post offices to agency status where the right circumstances prevail.

  Corporate Insolvencies
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the number of corporate insolvencies in Scotland for each of the years 1993 and 1994, and in respect of each year(a) the number of reports submitted by practitioners, (b) the number of court proceedings commenced and (c) the number of disqualification orders made under the Companies (Disqualification of Directors) Act 1985; and if he will express the last figure as a percentage of the total number of corporate insolvencies in each year. [16049]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The figures requested are as follows:

  1993

  1994

  Corporate Insolvencies

  941

  695

  (a) Conduct reports submitted by Insolvency Practitioners

  241

  215

  (b) Disqualification Proceedings Commenced

  75

  114

  (c) Disqualification Orders Made

  54

  72

  Disqualification Orders as a Percentage of Corporate Insolvencies

  5.74

  10.36

  Note:

  1. The figures for corporate insolvencies are for the numbers of companies and include a few members voluntary liquidation cases (which are not insolvent) which cannot be separated in the total figures provided by Companies House.

  2. The number of proceedings refer to individuals. Proceedings and results are not necessarily finalised in the year of issue, and conduct reports may relate to companies which failed in preceding two years.

  Press Officers
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many press officers there are in his Department currently; and what the figures were for(a) his Department and(b) the Department of Energy in 1979. [16560]

  Mr. Heseltine
  There are 17 press officers currently employed in my Department. Comparable figures for 1979 are not available.

  Companies House and the Patent Office
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) in what circumstances he will allow in-house bids at Companies House and the Patent Office, following his recent statements on the futures of these two organisations; [16985]

  (2) what method will be used at Companies House and the Patent Office to determine whether or not it will provide value for money to contract out services in comparison to continuing with the current in-house provision. [16979]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Existing employees may bid for contracts on the basis that, if successful, they would carry out the work as private sector contractors.

  The basis for assessing bids will be overall value for money, including both cost and quality of service. On cost, bids will be assessed against the benchmark of forecast costs to carry out the function within the public sector, taking into account any planned efficiencies.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the full cost, from 1991 to date, of the reviews into the futures of(a) Companies House and (b) the Patent Office. [16980]
  648
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The full costs of the reviews into the futures of(a) Companies House and (b) the Patent Office are not available, although internal and external costs are taken into account in the DTI efficiency plan. The costs of consultancy advice to the reviews since 1991 are £283,000 and £135,000 respectively, both figures being exclusive of VAT.

  European Structural Funds
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what assurances he gave the member of the European Commission responsible for regional development concerning the application of the additionality principles agreed with her predecessors that would apply to the reduced grant in aid to the Welsh Development Agency and increased dependence of the agency on the European regional development fund; [16848]

  (2) if he will list the principal points raised in his meeting with the European Commission member responsible for regional development on Thursday 23 March; what representations were made in relation to the additionality issue; and if he will make a statement. [16849]

  Mr. Heseltine
  [holding answer 28 March 1995]: My right hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and Energy and I both met Dr. Wulf-Mathies on 23 March. We discussed means of improving the European structural funds value for money throughout the EU; the importance of combating fraud and mismanagement; EU grants in Northern Ireland; regional challenge; and the importance of private sector financial contributions to structural funds programmes.

  The Commissioner raised points about the composition of United Kingdom structural funds monitoring committees, and the resources available for the administration of programmes. These are matters for the United Kingdom.

  Dr. Wulf-Mathies mentioned that the Commission had received representations from Merseyside and from Wales described as concerning "additionality". It appeared, however, that these representations did not relate to the regulatory provision, which requires additionality only at the level of each objective, not separately for individual areas, measures, projects or beneficiaries. The Welsh Development Agency was not mentioned.

  Temporary Export Licences
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his Department refused any applications for temporary export licences for companies to exhibit at the IDEX 95 defence exhibition held in the United Arab Emirates in March. [15968]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  No.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many temporary export licences were issued to companies wishing to exhibit at the International Defence Exhibition, IDEX, in Abu Dhabi in March. [15967]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Licences for the temporary export of controlled goods are valid for 12 months. In the 12 months leading up to IDEX, beginning 1 April 1994, the Export Control Organisation issued 125 licences for temporary export valid for Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates. Licences for temporary export are usually for the purpose of "display", "exhibition", "demonstration" and similar reasons. The particular forum
  649
  for the display or exhibition of the goods in question is not always specified. I cannot therefore say specifically whether or not all the licences referred to above were to enable the goods in question to be exhibited at IDEX.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Journalists
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he will estimate the number of journalists with parliamentary press passes in(a) 1975, (b) 1985 and (c)

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I understand that the figures are(a) 356 and (b) 407. The current figure is 489.

  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he will arrange to monitor for a week the number of journalists in the Gallery during each hour the House sits.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  Yes. I have asked the Serjeant at Arms to make the arrangements for the first full sitting week after the House returns from the Easter Adjournment.

  Members' Interests
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Chairman of the Select Committee on Members' Interests, if an hon. Member in receipt of a gift or loan whose purpose, wholly or in part, is intended to avoid disqualification from the House is required to register it.

  Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith
  The liability of an hon. Member to register an interest can be decided only by the Registrar in the light of specific information about an individual case.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Departmental Report
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the cost of producing and circulating the annual report of the Cabinet Office for each of the last 10 years in real terms. [16628]

  Mr. Horam
  The annual Cabinet Office departmental report was first published in 1991. The printing and publishing costs are borne by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, which aims to recover these from sales revenue.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the cost of producing and circulating the last departmental annual report; what was the circulation list; how many copies were produced; and how many copies were sold and at what price. [16627]

  Mr. Horam
  The printing and publishing costs were borne by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, which aims to recover these from sales revenue. The report was circulated to the Prime Minister, OPSS Ministers, Opposition spokesmen, Parliament, Cabinet Office senior management, and contributors in HMSO, COI and the other organisations included within the report. There were 1,500 copies printed, and just over 900 copies were distributed for sale to the public, at a cover price of £11.55.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Council of Ministers
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the Minister what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 27 and 28 March 1995 and if he will make a statement. [17498]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  At this meeting, the Council again considered possible rules on transport of live animals. The Commissioner floated some new ideas which would protect animal welfare better than those in the current presidency compromise. It was agreed that these should be examined at official level before the Council returns to the subject in May with a view to reaching a final conclusion.

  The Council also discussed the agri-monetary effects of the recent turbulence on international currency markets, as a result of which certain green currencies may need to be revalued according to the Community rules. A further Council will be held on 10 April to take decisions on this aspect, but the Commission indicated that it would use its powers to ensure that revaluations did not come into effect before 5 May.

  The 10 April Council meeting is also expected to take decisions on the reform of the Community sugar regime. At this meeting we again argued that any cuts in sugar quotas necessary for the Community to meet its GATT commitments should be targeted on those countries with the largest surpluses.

  The Council extended the marketing years for milk and beef since farm prices for 1995–96 have not yet been set.

  In other discussions, the United Kingdom strongly opposed any proposal to place limits on nitrates in lettuce which cannot be fully justified by the scientific evidence.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Minster of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the budget forecast for the common agricultural policy in 1995; and what proportion of this fund will be allocated to the United Kingdom. [15796]

  Mr. Jack
  The draft supplementary and amending CAP budget for 1995, the latest official forecast, has been set at 36,897 mecu or £29,283 million—1,047 mecu or £831 million below the guideline. It is set in relation to forecast expenditure throughout the Community, and not on the basis of allocations to individual member states. The level of UK CAP receipts will depend on a variety of factors, such as production levels, quantities exported, and purchases in and sales out of intervention storage. It is forecast at £2,873 million for the 1995–96 financial year.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 15 March,Official Report, column 63, on water and sewerage charges, if he will define disproportionate cost. [15934]

  Mr. Jack
  Disproportionate cost is when it is estimated that the staff costs of preparing a full reply to the parliamentary question are likely to exceed £450.

  Departmental Report
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what was the cost of producing and circulating the last Departmental annual report; what was the circulation list; how many copies were produced; how many copies were sold; and at what price; [16658]

  (2) what was the cost of producing and circulating Departmental annual report for each of the last 10 years in real terms. [16659]

  Mr. Jack
  A total of 2,250 copies of the 1995 departmental report of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the intervention board were produced. About half were required by Parliament, the Ministry, its agencies and the intervention board, the remainder being produced for sale at £19.60 net. Actual sales figures are not yet available.

  Departmental reports were published for the first time in 1991. The estimated cost of producing the 1995 report, including the cost of the Ministry's staff resources and the use of professional typesetters, was very approximately £100,000. Similar figures are not available for earlier years.

  Press Officers
  Mr. Doug Henderson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many press officers there are in his Department currently; and what the figure was in 1979. [16564]

  Mr. Jack
  The number of press officers, including the chief press offficer, employed by MAFF is seven. In 1979, the number was the same.

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances
  Mr. Llywd
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when it was decided to include off-farm income in the formula for determining the average income of hill farmers for the purposes of hill livestock compensatory allowances; and if he will make a statement. [16782]

  Mr. Jack
  Off-farm income has never been included in the calculations of farm income taken into account in determining the rates of hill livestock compensatory allowances. The Government have made no decision, nor are there plans, to do so.

  Meat Hygiene Service
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the Minister what representations he has received about the Meat Hygiene Service's proposed charges and if he will make a statement. [175001]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  The chief executive has kept me fully informed of the progress of consultation on the Meat Hygiene Service's proposed charges for 1995–96, and of the industry's request for some short-term assistance to facilitate the transition to the new system.

  While I cannot take final decisions until the statutory consultation exercise has been completed in mid-April, I am minded to make available transitional assistance to allow the MHS to offer a rebate on its hourly rate for meat inspectors of £2 per hour for the first six months of 1995–96 and £1 per hour for the second six months, and
  652
  to set a ceiling on the official veterinary surgeon hourly rate of £35 per hour.

  In making any such rebates, the MHS would need to observe the requirements of the European legislation which prohibits subsidisation of inspection charges below the level of the Community standard charge.

  I will shortly be publishing performance targets for the MHS which are designed to ensure that the chief executive maximises efficiency and minimises costs. The MHS will be expected to recover the full economic cost of its chargeable services from the industry from 1996–97 onwards.

TREASURY

  EU Fraud
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken to help combat fraud in the European Union, with particular reference to the spending of the common agricultural policy and structural or cohesion budgets. [14974]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Steps are being taken to combat fraud in all areas of the European Community budget.

  At the Essen European Council last December, the Prime Minister made a number of proposals to help tackle fraud, as well as waste and mismanagement. These are now being taken forward. Member states will report back to the European Council later in the year on what they are doing to combat fraud against the Community budget on their own territories. The Council is actively pursuing agreement on a legally binding instrument on national criminal law protection of the Community budget, as well as on a regulation on the protection of the Community's financial interests which would establish a framework for extending Community administrative penalties to all areas of the Community budget.

  Significant progress is being made against fraud under the common agricultural policy. Administrative penalties are being applied on overclaims and member states are being "disallowed" previous agricultural expenditure where it is found not to be in accordance with the applicable rules. CAP reform is addressing weaknesses in controls that have previously led to fraud and irregularity. This includes a Commission proposal for a new procedure to reform the clearance of CAP accounts, involving in-year audits to improve management, and preventative and corrective action with suggestions from the Commission on possible changes to procedures instead of financial penalties. Also well advanced is Council consideration of a significant measure for tackling fraud, known colloquially as the CAP blacklist. This would set down a framework for member states to identify, and to notify each other of, traders who have deliberately, or as a result of serious negligence, committed an irregularity prejudicial to Community funds or who are subject to "well found suspicion" of having done so.

  In July 1994, Commission regulations were introduced to ensure that member states report irregularities under the structural funds and the cohesion fund. These require member states to submit quarterly reports to the Commission on any irregularities which have been the

  653
  subject of initial administrative or judicial investigations. These reports, the first of which was presented by member states to the Commission at the end of last year, will provide a more complete picture of fraud, financial mismanagement and waste in the structural funds.

  Government Expenditure
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the average annual increase in Government expenditure for the years(a) 1965 to 1970, (b) 1970 to 1974, (c) 1974 to 1979, (d) 1979 to 1989 and (e) 1989 to 1995. [16810]

  Mr. Aitken
  Figures are readily available only for financial years. The table shows the average annual percentage increases in general government expenditure, excluding privatisation proceeds, over the relevant periods.

  From

  To

  Increase per cent.

  1965–66

  1970–71

  9.7

  1970–71

  1974–75

  18.7

  1974–75

  1979–80

  16.1

  1979–80

  1989–90

  8.5

  1989–90

  1995–96

  6.8

  Speed Cameras
  Mr. Day
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what cost-benefit analysis he has(a) crried out and (b) plans to carry out on the effects of hypothecating the income generated from fines due to speeding offences detected by automatic cameras to the provision of further speed cameras and the processing of the resultant offence data. [15661]

  Mr. Aitken
  No cost-benefit analysis has been carried out, nor are there any plans to do so. The Government take the view that, in general, hypothecation of revenue is not the best way of matching resources to needs.

  Bank Reserves
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Government ceased to require United Kingdom banks to hold reserve requirements on deposit with the Bank of England. [15899]

  Mr. Nelson
  The requirement ceased on 20 August 1981, when new arrangements for monetary control were introduced by the Bank of England.

  Departmental Report
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of producing and circulating the departmental annual report for each of the last 10 years in real terms. [16618]

  Mr. Aitken
  Departmental reports were published for the first time in 1991. The reports for the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Departments have been published as Command Papers by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, which has borne the printing and publishing costs with the aim of recovering these from the sales revenue.
  654
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of producing and circulating the last departmental annual report; what was the circulation list; how many copies were produced; how many copies were sold; and at what price. [16617]

  Mr. Aitken
  A total of 1,500 copies of the departmental reports for the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Departments were printed and published as Cm 2817, 2818 and 2819. In addition to those copies required by Parliament and the Government Departments and agencies concerned, 1,000 copies of each report were produced to satisfy other sales at a net price of £18.40 for Cm 2817, £7.35 for Cm 2818 and £6.65 for Cm 2819. The costs of printing and publishing these reports were borne by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, which aims to recover its costs from sales revenue.

  Late Payment of Debts
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is planning to take to encourage companies to pay promptly. [16619]

  Mr. Aitken
  A package of measures aimed at bringing about a change in business culture and hence shorter payment times was announced in the Competitiveness White Paper last May. That package is being implemented. The Government will continue to keep the position under review. If there has not been a significant improvement by 1996, they will review the case for legislation.

  Exchange Rates
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the overall percentage change in the value of the £ sterling since 1 September 1992 against(a) the dollar, (b) the Deutchsmark and (c) the basket of currencies. [16862]

  Mr. Nelson
  Between 1 September 1992 and 27 March 1995, sterling has fallen by(a) 20 per cent. against the dollar, (b) 19 per cent. against the Deutchsmark and (c) 15 per cent. on an exchange rate index basis.

  Export Margins
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what influence the levels of export margins have on decisions on interest rate levels; and what criteria are used to determine whether export margins are considered to be excessive. [16990]

  Mr. Nelson
  Interest rates decisions are based on a wide range of information, including monetary and other financial indicators, indicators of activity and indicators of costs. The price of UK exports, and hence the export margin, is a matter for the individual firms concerned. But export volumes in the fourth quarter were up 13½ per cent. on a year earlier, so margins do not appear excessive.

  Privatisation
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what expenditure has been incurred recently in order to finance privatisation costs; and if he will make a statement. [17359]
  655
  Sir George Young
  Expenditure has been incurred to cover:

  (i) the residual costs arising from the sale of National Power and PowerGen shares in March 1995, estimated at £32,000,000.

  (ii) expenditure, estimated at £600,000 in connection with the Treasury's sale of privatised companies debt this year.

  Costs incurred on this vote will be offset by receipts appropriate-in-aid. Such receipts will include the second instalments on National Power and PowerGen shares, estimated to be some £1.1 billion.

  Parliamentary approval of these new services is being sought in the 1995–96 main estimate for HM Treasury's sale of sales of residual Government shareholdings and Government holdings of privatised companies' debt vote, class XVII, vote 15.

  Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £32,600,000 will be met from repayable advances from the contingencies fund.

  Profit-related Pay Schemes
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the tax to be forgone by the Treasury in 1995–96 through profit-related pay schemes. [15843]

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 27 March 1995]: An estimate of the cost of income tax relief for profit-related pay schemes in 1994–95 is published in table 1.6 of Inland Revenue Statistics 1994, a copy of which is in the Library. An estimate of the cost in 1995–96 is not yet available.

  Advisers
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the names of those persons appointed as political advisers to his Department since May 1992. [15605]

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 27 March 1995]: The special advisers appointed to the Treasury since May 1992 are as follows:

  Name

  Period of appointment

  D. W. D. Cameron

  11 May 1992–21 June 1993

  R. Darwall

  8 February 1993–27 May 1993

  Mrs. T. Keswick

  1 June 1993–

  D. Ruffley

  28 May 1993–

  J. Bercow

  20 March 1995–

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Statutory References
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what statutory references to hon. Members have been made in legislation introduced by his Department, or its predecessors, since 1965. [16094]

  Sir John Wheeler
  An analysis of all legislation introduced by the Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office and its predecessors since 1965 for any reference to the type requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. It would be extremely 656
  unlikely for reference to be made specifically to an individual hon. Member. Frequent references are made to officers of state, and occasional general references are made to persons who are members of one or other of the Houses of Parliament.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what targets he has for withdrawing regulations within his Department. [15556]

  Mr. Ancram
  [holding reply 27 March 1995]: At present there are some 30 regulations unique to Northern Ireland which impact on business. Five of these have been targeted for repeal or amendment and legislative action is in progress.

  Other Northern Ireland regulations which replicate Great Britain provisions, and also impact on business, are reviewed and action taken in the light of decisions taken in Great Britain.

  Fair Employment Small Business Scheme
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 9 March,Official Report, column 227, on what basis James Hawthorne CBE was judged to have satisfied the criteria for established management consultants for the fair employment small business scheme as set out in the answer of 27 February, Official Report, column 402. [16045]

  Mr. Ancram
  On the basis of his experience at senior management level for a period well in excess of five years, Mr. Hawthorne was judged by the Fair Employment Commission to have the necessary experience of human resource management, including recruitment and selection procedures. In addition, Mr. Hawthorne was able to demonstrate to the interviewing panel that his knowledge of the fair employment legislation and code of practice satisfied the criteria for appointment.

  Rate Relief
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the kinds of recreations which qualify certain hereditaments for rate relief under article 31 of the Rates (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 as amended. [16046]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The relevant recreations are specified in the schedule to the Rates (Recreational Hereditaments) Order (Northern Ireland) 1979, SR 1979 No. 428, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Council for Catholic Maintained Schools
  Mr. Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the amounts paid each year to the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools under each of paragraphs 11, 13, 14 and 15 of schedule 8 to the Education Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 and the amounts repaid under paragraph 16. [16047]
  657
  Mr. Ancram
  The information is as follows:

  Paragraph 11 staff salaries

  Paragraph 13 allowances

  Paragraph 14 total recurrent grant from DENI

  Paragraph 15 capital expenditure grant from DENI

  1990–91

  536,398

  13,878

  678,881

  86,750

  1991–92

  583,826

  44,313

  778,000

  68,974

  1992–93

  607,523

  60,522

  832,000

  90,906

  1993–94

  753,038

  52,040

  1,018,000

  92,986

  No moneys have been due to be repaid in the above years under paragraph 16.

  Police Complaints Commission
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has reached his decisions on the recommendations contained in the report of the Independent Commission for Police Complaints "Triennial Review 1991–1994". [17167]

  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  Yes. On 22 March 1994 Official Report, column 148, I announced the publication of the report and that I intended to consult various interested bodies before reaching any decisions on the recommendations made. I have now given further consideration to the recommendations in the light of the comments received.

  I am glad that the commission considers that the system works well in practice and that it is rigorous and effective. However, like the commission, I am determined that the system should be reviewed and improved. Consequently, I have given deep thought to the commission's proposals and to the way forward and I am glad to say that I have been able to accept, in total or in part, most of the recommendations made.

  I have accepted in full two recommendations. I intend to bring forward legislation which will establish a tribunal, chaired by the Chief Constable and balanced by two assessors drawn from an independent panel appointed for the purpose, to hear certain types of disciplinary procedures. (Recommendation 5). It is in the nature of these types of case that the commission instigates the disciplinary proceedings and I have accepted that it is then inappropriate for the commission to be represented on the tribunal hearing the charges as it is at present. I share the commission's considered view that the Chief Constable, who is responsible for discipline within his service, should retain a leading role.

  I also agree that there should be a review of the use of the informal resolution procedure. (Recommendation 6). Use of the procedure in Northern Ireland has more than doubled—to 10 per cent.—in the last five years. In Great Britain, around 30 per cent. of complaints are informally resolved. I accept that a review of the procedure in Northern Ireland should be carried out.

  I have also accepted three of the recommendations in part.

  The commission reaffirmed that it wished to have the power to supervise some non-complaint matters where it appears to the Commission that such supervision was necessary because of either the gravity of the matter or the exceptional circumstances involved. (Recommendation 2). I am unable to agree that the commission should have the power to "call in" cases
  658
  when no complaint is made. I am, however, willing to agree that the commission should have a statutory power to draw matters to my attention. It would then be my responsibility to refer appropriate cases to the commission. This arrangement will enable the commission to make known its concerns in non-complaint cases without impinging on my statutory responsibilities or those of the police authority and the Chief Constable.

  The commission also recommended that it should be notified at once where death or serious bodily harm has been caused or may have been caused to any person by a police officer. (Recommendation 3). I have decided to accept that the commission should be notified of all deaths which may have been caused by a police officer even if there is no prima facie evidence of police misconduct or oppressive behaviour, and this will be included in legislation when the opportunity arises. I will not, at present, extend this cover to incidents of injury. I have accepted the view that such a requirement would cause administrative difficulties and over-reporting.

  I have given further thought to the commission's recommendations that it should be given the discretion to concentrate its resources of those cases of public concern which are deserving of very close scrutiny, rather than being constrained by the mandatory supervision of certain cases. (Recommendation 4). I have decided not to accept this recommendation as I feel that mandatory supervision of all cases involving death or serious injury is an important safeguard in our complaints system. It was agreed after the last triennial review that legislation would be introduced to allow the commission to withdraw from mandatory supervision in those cases where the injury turns out to be less serious than was first thought. This provision will be included in legislation in the near future. I want to see the differences which will follow on from this change before deciding whether any more radical approach is necessary.

  Finally, I have decided not to accept the recommendation that the commission should be in a position to direct the Chief Constable to record a complaint where there is a dispute over its validity. (Recommendation 1). I again share the views of the Home Secretary. The autonomy of chief constables in discharging their responsibilities to maintain law and order within their areas is an important constitutional issue. One important factor in that autonomy is the Chief Constable's authority over the actions and discipline of his officers. I am reluctant to diminish that authority by giving an outside agency, even one as respected as the commission, power to decide what should or should not be a complaint.

  I would like to pay tribute to the commission and to its work over the period of this review from 1991 to 1994. The period saw the commission tackle its responsibilities enthusiastically. Two important features stand out. First, there was a very substantial increase in the number of investigations in which the commission undertook supervision. Secondly, the commission undertook a major initiative to publicise the mechanism for raising complaints about policing in Northern Ireland. The existence of a widely known and trusted system for dealing with complaints makes a major contribution to maintaining and building public confidence in the

  659
  integrity and probity of the police service. We have recognised the importance of the commission's work by making available this year substantial extra resources to help it meet the demands on its services.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Anglo-Israeli Relations
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about relations between Britain and Israel. [14940]

  Mr. Hurd
  Bilateral relations with Israel are excellent. During his recent visit to Israel the Prime Minister and Mr. Rabin agreed that they have never been better.

  Serbia
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further discussions he has had with his counterparts abroad about the need to strengthen sanctions against Serbia. [14959]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We and our partners and allies regard sanctions as an important element in our efforts to achieve a peace settlement in Bosnia. In response to President Milosevic's decision last summer to support the Contact Group plan and close the border between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to all but humanitarian goods, the United Nationals Security Council decided to suspend sanctions on international air links with Belgrade, a ferry service between Montenegro and Italy and in the fields of sporting and cultural relations. At the same time United Nations sanctions against the Bonsnia Serbs, who have refused to accept the Contact Group plan were tightened. We continue to support, together with other states, the effective enforcement of these sanctions.

  UN Peacekeeping Operations
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to discuss the future of peacekeeping operations with the Secretary General of the United Nations. [14962]

  Mr. Hurd
  We are a major troop contributor to UN peacekeeping operations, and will continue to hold regular discussions with the UN Secretary General on all aspects of peacekeeping.

  We are concerned by legislative proposals in the US Congress which would severely restrict US contributions to assessed peacekeeping costs. The proposals would require the United States to deduct from its assessed contributions all costs incurred directly by the US for operations in support of UN Security Council resolutions.

  If these proposals were implemented the established system of financing UN peacekeeping operations would unravel. We welcome the commitment by the US Administration to oppose.

  Security Guarantees
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will outline what steps the Government are taking to provide non-nuclear states with binding security guarantees; and if he will make a statement. [14963]

  Mr. David Davis
  We already provide non-nuclear weapon states with security assurances in which we undertake not to use nuclear weapons against them unless they attack us in association of alliance with a nuclear weapon state and further to seek UN Security Council action to provide assistance to any such state that is attacked with nuclear weapons.

  Middle East Peace Process
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the middle east peace process. [14964]

  Mr. James Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support Britain is giving to the middle east peace process. [14942]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's recent visit to Israel, the occupied territories and Jordan underlined Britain's firm support for the peace process. He announced an increase in aid to the Palestinians to £82 million over the three years 1994 to 1997.

  Brunei
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on British relations, including trade relations, with Brunei. [14965]

  Mr. Goodlad
  Britain has very close and friendly relations with Brunei. Our links are strong in many areas including trade, education and defence. The Sultan is a regular and most welcome visitor to this country.

  Brunei is our 43rd largest export market. In 1994, UK exports totalled £418 million, having risen by 28.7 per cent. from the 1993 figure. In 1993, Britain's share of OECD exports to Brunei was 34 per cent.

  South Africa
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received about British relations with South Africa. [14966]

  Mr. Baldry
  During the state visit by Her Majesty the Queen to South Africa last week, President Mandela expressed warm appreciation for Britain's contribution to strengthening and developing these relations.

  United States of America
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to hold discussions with the United States Secretary of State in respect of United States relations with member states of the European Union. [14967]

  Mr. Hurd
  I have regular discussions with the US Secretary of State on many subjects including EU-US relations.
  661
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on United Kingdom relations with the United States of America. [14976]

  Mr. Hurd
  They are excellent.

  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on British trade relations with the United States of America. [14977]

  Mr. Goodlad
  The US is our largest trading partner. United Kingdom exports of goods to the US were worth £16.8 billion last year, and two-way trade in services was worth over $35 billion in 1993.

  United Kingdom-Iranian Relations
  Mr. Tony Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on United Kingdom-Iranian relations. [14968]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We restored relations with Iran on 27 September 1990 on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference in each other's affairs.

  We and our European partners made clear at the European Council at Edinburgh in December 1992 that improvements in Iran's behaviour in a number of areas, particularly human rights, the fatwa on Rushdie and terrorism, would be important in determining the extent to which closer relations and confidence in Iran could be developed. This remains European Union policy.

  Georgia
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what new plans he has to improve bilateral relations between the United Kingdom and Georgia. [14970]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  During Georgian Head of State Eduard Shevardnadze's visit to the UK in February my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced that a British embassy will be opened in Tbilisi later this year. The UK has recently doubled its technical assistance programme through the know how fund to £1.2 million for projects in the near term.

  The British Council plans to expand its teachers' resource centre in Tbilisi to a general information centre, and to promote the teaching of modern English.

  World Service
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current grant in aid from the Foreign Office to the BBC World Service; and what percentage increase he expects for the next funding triennium; and if he will make a statement. [14971]

  Mr. Baldry
  The grant in aid to the BBC World Service in the current financial year is £175.2 million. It will rise to £178.8 million in each of the following two years of the current triennium, that is 1995–96 and 1996–97.

  Discussions on the level of funding for the next triennium from 1997–98 to 1999–2000 will begin early next year. The actual funding for that triennium will be determined during the 1996 public expenditure survey.

  "Britain in the World" Conference
  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the "Britain in the World" conference taking place in London on 29 March. [14972]

  Mr. Hurd
  The conference on Britain in the world is taking place today. It has been organised by the Royal Institute of International Affairs, in association with Her Majesty's Government, as part of the institute's 75th anniversary celebrations.

  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave the opening speech. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales gave a lunch-time address. The hon. Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) will speak this afternoon. So will I.

  I hope the conference will stimulate an open and lively debate on Britain's overseas interests.

  European Legislation
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the number of proposals for new legislation being put forward by the European Commission for 1995; and what the figure was in each of the last three years. [14975]

  Mr. David Davis
  We welcome the emphasis on subsidiarity in the Commission's work programme for 1995. We will examine carefully every proposal which is tabled, on the basis of subsidiarity and the national interest.

  The number of proposals for new legislative initiatives tabled by the Commissions in the last three years is:

  1992: 89

  1993: 75

  1994: 42

  NATO Information Budget
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current NATO information budget; what are its main purposes; what was the budget(a) five and (b) 10 years ago in real terms; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Davis
  The budget of the NATO office of information and press for 1995 is 192,583,000 Belgian francs. In 1990, the figure was 171,400,000 Belgian francs. The figure for 1985 is not available.

  The purpose of NATO's information work is to create and reinforce a positive climate of informed public opinion concerning the alliance, encourage informed dialogue about the alliance and current issues, and explain current policy.

  Mrs. Patricia Bland
  Mr. David Trimble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the authorities in the Republic of Ireland with regard to the legal difficulties encountered by Mrs. Patricia Bland, a British subject, arising out of the incestuous rape of her daughter. [16048]

  Mr. Baldry
  None. The legal process is continuing: the case is still before the Irish courts. It is a matter for them.

  Treaties and Agreements
  Mrs. Anne Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his letter to the hon. Member for Congleton of 28 February, what steps he is taking to identify all those treaties and agreements to which the United Kingdom is a signatory but of which his Department has lost sight; if he will list those treaties and agreements so far identified; if he will indicate in each case the main provisions of the treaty or agreement and the action which he now proposes to take to comply with the provisions of those treaties and agreements; and if he will make a statement. [16524]

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 27 March 1995]: Treaty records, which were opened in 1835, show that the United Kingdom is now signatory to some 2,460 multilateral and 9,273 bilateral treaties.

  The treaties cover a wide range of subjects and most fall to other Government Departments to administer. Each treaty would need to be researched individually to determine its present status. The information sought is not therefore readily available from treaty records and could be provided only after lengthy research at disproportionate cost.

  Somalia
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made as to the implications for human rights of the introduction of Sharia law in parts of Somalia. [14938]

  Mr. Baldry
  Parts of Somalia have long suffered from anarchy and general lawlessness. There is evidence that in some areas the introduction of Sharia law, with broad consent, has improved the security of ordinary people. Whatever the system of law, it is important that it is applied fairly and with respect to the dignity of the individual.

  Burundi
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is being taken by the international community to assist the Government of Burundi to reform its army so that it is acceptable to both Hutus and Tutsis in the country. [16604]

  Mr. Baldry
  The Government of Burundi has not requested assistance in reforming its army. Should it do so, we believe that the international community would be willing to consider the request.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made about the widespread arrests in Nigeria, with particular reference to General Obasanjo, and others who were working for a return to democratic rule. [15533]

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 23 March 1995]: We have urged the Nigerian Government to ensure that former President Obasanjo is subject to due process of law: and is either released or promptly charged. I understand that he remains under house arrest, and that others recently arrested remain in detention, including Shehu Yar'Adua, leading member of the National Constitutional Conference. The Commonwealth
  664
  Secretary-General and the European Union have also issued statements expressing concern, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

WALES

  Animal Diseases
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of goat pox were reported in each year since 1985. [15974]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  No cases of goat pox have been recorded in Wales since 1991 when the disease became notifiable. This disease is not know to have ever occurred in the UK.

  Clinical Outcome Indicators
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he intends to publish health service clinical outcome indicators similar to those published in December 1994 by the Secretary of State for Scotland, in respect of individual health authorities and hospitals in Wales. [15870]

  Mr. Richards
  The Welsh Office is working with the medical and nursing professions to agree suitable clinical outcome indicators for Wales, and the best method of publishing them.

  Public Relations
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines his Department has issued to its agencies and other public bodies under its authority in respect of the employment of public relations companies and the procedures to be adopted in relation to requesting tenders for public relations companies. [16209]

  Mr. Redwood
  No general guidance has been issued to public bodies.

  The guidance applying to Government Departments is set out in a Cabinet Office letter, reprinted as annex 2 to "Publicity Services For Government Departments", NAO 1989—HC 46. The general principles of value for money and propriety are applicable to public bodies, and the letter is referred to in "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments", Her Majesty's Treasury/Cabinet Office 1992, which has been issued to non-departmental public bodies in Wales.

  Normal tendering procedures should be followed in appointing public relations companies.

  Bridge Strengthening Works
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total cost of bridge reinforcement work undertaken on main roads in Wales in 1993–94; and if he will make a statement. [16781]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Cost of the bridge strengthening works undertaken on trunk roads in Wales in 1993–94 was £2,407,000. The remainder of the main road network is the responsibility of the eight Welsh county councils.

  Hill Farmers (Income)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if off-farm income was included in the formula for determining the average income of Welsh hill farmers in 1993–94; and if he will make a statement. [16783]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The estimates of Welsh hill farm income for 1993–94 included only those miscellaneous off-farm receipts which were derived from use of the farm business resources. They took account of such items as contracting work which involved farm labour and machinery, but then excluded any income earned by the farmer from employment or self-employment away from the farm and not involving farm resources, investment income pensions and the like.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives are being pursued by the Health Education Council for Wales to educate the public about the benefits of regular brushing and cleaning of teeth; and if he will make a statement. [16773]

  Mr. Richards
  The Health Education Council has no remit in Wales.

  Drug Abuse
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the impact of local government reform on the work of those engaged in combating drug abuse; and if he will make a statement. [16836]

  Mr. Richards
  We have allowed adequate time for shadow authorities to plan services and to put arrangements in place to ensure that those services are delivered to at least the same standard following reorganisation as before.

  Countryside Council for Wales
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 22 March,Official Report, column 260, on which date he intends to publish his action plan for the Countryside Council for Wales; to whom he will circulate this publication; and what scope he has allowed for consultation with the full council on its contents as soon as it has been published. [16930]

  Mr. Redwood
  The action plan will be issued shortly with a press notice and will be available on request. The Countryside Council for Wales have been consulted during the formulation of the plan.

  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 22 March,Official Report, column 260, if he will list those individuals and organisation whose advice he (a) sought and (b) used in constructing the action plan for the Countryside Council for Wales. [16949]

  Mr. Redwood
  Advice from the Countryside Council for Wales, on which a wide range of interests is represented, was sought and used in preparation of the action plan. In addition, I took account of views expressed to me by a variety of interests during the preparation of the plan.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prison Overcrowding
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisons are currently assessed to be overcrowded; and if he will list them, indicating the number of places by which they exceed their quota. [16688]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 28 March 1995]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 29 March 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about how many prisons are currently assessed to be overcrowded. The attached table, which will be placed in the Library of the House, lists the 50 prisons in which, on 28 February, the number of prisoners exceeded the Certified Normal Accommodation in use and by how much.

  CNA in use

  Population

  Number of prisoners in excess of CNA in use

  Birmingham

  567

  821

  254

  Blakenhurst

  649

  652

  3

  Bristol

  464

  470

  6

  Brixton

  484

  639

  155

  Brockhill

  111

  130

  19

  Camp Hill

  378

  403

  25

  Canterbury

  184

  267

  83

  Cardiff

  321

  441

  120

  Channings Wood

  482

  569

  87

  Chelmsford

  251

  403

  152

  Cookham Wood

  120

  139

  19

  Dartmoor

  538

  560

  22

  Doncaster

  771

  780

  9

  Dorchester

  147

  205

  58

  Durham

  448

  643

  195

  Exeter

  260

  385

  125

  Feltham

  844

  854

  10

  Gartree

  277

  280

  3

  Glen Parva

  767

  771

  4

  Gloucester

  202

  265

  63

  Grendon

  190

  199

  9

  Holloway

  517

  526

  9

  Hull

  328

  404

  76

  Leeds

  814

  1,066

  252

  Leicester

  192

  352

  160

  Lewes

  312

  318

  6

  Lincoln

  444

  625

  181

  Lindholme

  567

  583

  16

  Liverpool

  973

  1,274

  301

  Low Newton

  198

  245

  47

  Manchester

  830

  899

  69

  New Hall

  169

  200

  31

  North Sea Camp

  201

  205

  4

  Northallerton

  150

  194

  44

  Norwich

  333

  348

  15

  Pentonville

  559

  731

  172

  Preston

  342

  488

  146

  Pucklechurch

  56

  69

  13

  Reading

  182

  185

  3

  Rochester

  294

  301

  7

  Send

  113

  124

  11

  Shepton Mallet

  158

  192

  34

  Shrewsbury

  168

  281

  113

  667

  CNA in use

  Population

  Number of prisoners in excess of CNA in use

  Stafford

  358

  517

  159

  Swansea

  151

  229

  78

  Swinfen Hall

  182

  183

  1

  The Wolds

  320

  330

  10

  Wormwood Scrubs

  714

  822

  108

  Wandsworth

  922

  968

  46

  Winchester

  261

  364

  103

  Note:

  CNA in use does not include those places which are not available for immediate use, for example: damaged cells, cells affected by building works and cells not being used because of a shortage of staff resources.

  Prison Service
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made on increasing private sector involvement in the Prison Service. [17602]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  In addition to existing plans for private sector involvement in the Prison Service, Lowdham Grange prison near Nottingham will be rebuilt as a 500-bed, category B prison to be operated by the private sector. This will increase from 12 to 13 the number of prisons to be operated by the private sector in the initial phase of the private sector programme.

  Four prisons are already under private management and tendering for the first two of the six entirely new prisons to be designed, constructed, managed and financed by the private sector is nearing completion.

  The programme of contracting out court escort and custody work is being accelerated. Contracts covering south-west England and south Wales, south-east England and the west midlands and central Wales will be let early in 1996. This builds on the considerable success of the programme so far. Escapes have been reduced by 40 per cent. in east midlands and Humberside and the courts are receiving a better service.

  The combined effect of those prison and escort contracts already let will be cost savings of £18 million a year for the taxpayer.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of prisoners with 24-hours access to sanitation excluding new and renovated accommodation for each of the past 12 months in prisons in England and Wales. [16265]

  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 for Derek Lewis to Mr. George Howarth, dated 29 March 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about access to sanitation in prisons in England and Wales.
  668
  In the 12 months up to the end of Februry of this year 24 hour access to sanitation was provided for an additional 2202 prison cells, excluding new and renovated accommodation. The following table shows the month by month breakdown.

  Month

  Additional cells (excluding new and renovated)

  Percentage of prisoners with access

  March 1994

  388

  91

  April 1994

  38

  91

  May 1994

  128

  91

  June 1994

  151

  92

  July 1994

  292

  92

  August 1994

  247

  92

  September 1994

  319

  93

  October 1994

  163

  94

  November 1994

  82

  94

  December 1994

  297

  95

  January 1995

  30

  95

  February 1995

  67

  95

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of prisoners who are held two or three to a cell in units of accommodation which are certified as being suitable for only one person for each of the past 12 months in prisons in England and Wales. [16230]

  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. George Howarth, dated 29 March 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners who are held two or three to a cell in units of accommodation which are certified as being suitable for only one person for each of the past 12 months in prisons in England and Wales.
  The information is given in the attached table.

  Two prisoners sharing a cell designed for one

  Three prisoners sharing a cell designed for one

  1994

  March

  8,488

  24

  April

  8,406

  0

  May

  8,106

  0

  June

  8,434

  0

  July

  8,618

  0

  August

  8,662

  0

  September

  8,728

  0

  October

  8,600

  0

  November

  8,480

  0

  December

  7,754

  0

  1995

  January

  7,998

  0

  February

  8,592

  0

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the prisons in which operational capacity on at least one wing has been exceeded during the last 12 months and in each of the previous five years; [15942]
  669
  (2) under what circumstances a prison governor has authority to exceed the operational capacity of a prison wing. [15943]

  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. Jon Owen Jones, dated 29 March 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about prisons in which the operational capacity on at least one wing has been exceeded during the last 12 months and in each of the previous 5 years; and the circumstances in which a prison governor has authority to exceed the operational capacity of a prison wing.
  Operation capacity is the total number of prisoners which an establishment can hold without serious risk to good order, security and the proper running of the planned regime. Operational capacities are set for an establishment, rather than for individual wings, by area managers based on their operational judgement. The information you request is therefore not available.
  Governors may, with the agreement of area managers, accept prisoners in excess of operational capacity if there are compelling operational reasons for doing so. But every effort is made to avoid this by maximising the use of all available accommodation and allocation and transfers to other establishments.

  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) women and (b) men are employed at each grade within the Prison Service, and what have been their responsibilities for every year since 1989, broken down by category and type of prison. [14861]

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Janet Anderson, dated 29 March 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question requesting information about the numbers and responsibilities of men and women employed in the Prison Service for each year since 1989.
  The attached tables are based on information held in the personnel information computer system. This information varies slightly from the figures used in response to an earlier Question (House of Commons Hansard 24 January 1995, Vol 253, Number 36 Column 43–44) because of the differing source of information. The information contained in the tables was used as it provides a breakdown, by grade and sex, of all staff employed by the Service for each year since 1989, whose details were on the system at the relevant times. The totals for officers for 1 April 1990 and 1 April 1992 are slightly lower than those given in my reply to Mr Redmond on 23 January and slightly higher for 1 April 1993. As information for April"September 1991 is unavailable, the figures for October have been, provided.
  A breakdown of the information in the tables by category and type of establishment is not available for 1989–94 and could be obtained for 1995 only at disproportionate cost. Copies of these tables will be placed in the Library of the House.
  The responsibilities of staff are determined by their grade and by the structure and work of the establishment or unit concerned, it is not possible to provide meaningful overall categorisations of responsibility by grade.
  670
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what changes there have been in policy on searching in(a) women's gaols and (b) men's gaols between 1990 and 1994.

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

  Letter from Derek Lewis to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 29 March 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about changes in policy on searching in male establishments and female establishments between 1990 and 1994.
  The policy changes are listed below.

  For male establishments
  October 1992—Policy changed to allow women officers to "rub-down" search male prisoners. (This did not extend to intimate or strip-searching.) The change in policy was to ensure that women could carry out the majority of duties expected of male officers and so would not be debarred in practice from working in male establishments, so effectively limiting their career options as the great majority of establishments hold male prisoners.

  For all establishments
  January 1993—Amendment to Prison Service Manual on Security which allowed instructions to be given to a prisoner during a strip search to bend over/spread legs, if they were suspected of concealing a weapon in the anal or genital area.
  Searching practices were also tightened following the attempted escape from Whitemoor prison in September 1994, although these did not involve changes in policy. We are now in the process of making further changes to our searching procedures following Sir John Woodcock's inquiry into the escape from Whitemoor prison. Sir John Woodcock made a number of recommendations which will have an impact on searching. The main changes are more rigorous procedures for searching cells, introduction of dedicated search teams, and searching of staff and visitors on entry to prisons and, on a random basis, on leaving for certain categories of prison. The Home Secretary published the implementation schedule for all the recommendations contained in the report on 8 February. A copy of that schedule has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Special Constabulary
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the special constabulary in England and Wales, and if he will make a statement. [17676]

  Mr. Maclean
  We are establishing a Home Office joint working group to review the special constabulary in England and Wales and to consider what changes are needed.

  The group will include representatives of the regular police staff associations, local authorities, Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary, and special constables. It will be chaired by me or by a Home Office official.

  I expect the group to produce recommendations about terms and conditions of service by mid-summer and on other matters within the year.
  671
  I am placing in the Library today a copy of an open letter I am sending to all serving special constables asking them to contribute to the group's work.

  Betting
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to consult interested parties about the proposals for an all-cash amusement-with-prizes machine and changes to betting shop facilities. [17677]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  As part of the Government's deregulation initiative my Department today issued a consultation paper seeking views on proposed changes to the law on gaming machines and betting shops. These include:an all-cash amusement-with-prizes machine with a maximum prize of £10 in essentially adult environment, including betting shops;
  an extension of the services betting shops may offer; to permit the sale of racing publications, society lottery tickets, prize competitions, such as spot the ball and payment of football pools winnings;
  increases in the numbers of jackpot machines permitted in casinos, bingo clubs and registered clubs.

  The all-cash machine would dispense with tokens, which are unpopular with both players and the industry. Overall, the changes would remove unnecessary restrictions on the facilities which may be offered and improve consumer choice while ensuring adequate protection for young people.

  Subject to the outcome of the consultation process, I propose to bring forward these changes by means of an order or orders under section 1 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994. Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the Library.

  DNA Databases
  Mr. Llywd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received from police authorities on the capital funding for the establishment of DNA databases; and if he will make a statement. [16785]

  Mr. Maclean
  Of the representations made to the Government by police authorities or chief officers on their grant for 1995–96, 10 have made reference, either directly or indirectly, to costs arising from police use of the DNA database. The Association of Metropolitan Authorities has also made representations on behalf of the metropolitan forces.

  The costs and benefits to the police of the database have been taken fully into account in our assessment of future police spending requirements. Additional capital provision of £2.5 million is being made available to the forensic science service to launch the operational service and will be recovered over time as a component of the charge to the police for processing each sample. But costs to the police will ultimately be determined by the use they make of the service, and that will be a decision for individual chief officers on their assessment of the balance of costs and benefits.

  Interpol (Wildlife Crime)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the workings and development of the Interpol wildlife groups. [16937]

  Mr. Maclean
  The International Criminal Police Organisation—Interpol—established a working party on environmental crime in 1992. It has met twice—in September 1993 and May 1994. Its next meeting is in May 1995.

  The working party has four sub-groups, one of which is concerned with wildlife crime—illegal traffic in species of wild flora and fauna. The other sub-groups deal with illegal traffic in waste, illegal traffic in radioactive substances and the fourth co-ordinates the work of the other three.

  The sub-group on wildlife crime is developing a network of law enforcement contacts dealing with wildlife crime, promoting the exchange of information about international wildlife crime and effective enforcement methods and is working closely with the secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species on Wild Fauna and Flora—CITES. The sub-group met at the CITES secretariat in Geneva in October 1994.

  The UK national central bureau of Interpol, part of the national criminal intelligence service, contributes to the work of the Interpol sub-group on wildlife crime to improve police co-operation against international wildlife crimes. The global wildlife division of the Department of the Environment has also participated in a sub-group meeting.

  Charities
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to order a public inquiry into the financial affairs of the charities Child Aid and Children in Crisis. [16236]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The Charity Commissioners have the statutory oversight of charities and the function of instituting inquiries into their affairs where appropriate. I understand that the commissioners' inquiry into the affairs of the Child Aid Foundation is continuing and that the foundation's trustees are co-operating with the inquirers. The commissioners have not had reason to institute any inquiry into Children in Crisis.

  Police Authority Budgets
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what have been the additional reductions to the budget limits of each police authority for 1995–96. [16255]

  Mr. Maclean
  The amounts of grant to police authorities were announced in the reply given to a question from the hon. and learned Member for Burton (Sir I. Lawrence) on 30 January, column 516. Funding of the police service in England and Wales will be increased by 4 per cent. in 1995–96. The setting of budgets is a matter for police authorities, subject only to the capping criteria. The capping of budgets for all classes of local authority is a matter, in England, for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, and in Wales for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales. No changes have been made to the provisional capping criteria for 1995–96 announced in December 1994.

  Truck Crime
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what action his Department is taking to combat truck crime. [16380]

  Mr. Maclean
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government recognise the serious effect which the loss of lorries or their loads can have on individual businesses. For this reason we are determined to do all we can to tackle this problem.

  It is important that truck owners and drivers are aware of the risks they face and take steps to prevent this type of crime. Manufacturers also have a part to play by improving the security features of commercial vehicles. Last year, the Home Office published an advice leaflet, "A Load on Your Mind", which outlines measures which owners of heavy goods vehicles can take to protect them from theft.

  Theft of and from vehicles carry stiff maximum penalties. Taking a vehicle without consent carries a maximum penalty of six months' imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £5,000. Where there is intent to deprive the owner permanently of the vehicle or its load, the offender is liable to seven years' imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.

  The vehicle crime prevention sub-group of the National Board for Crime Prevention advises the Government on initiatives aimed at reducing theft of and from all types of motorised vehicles. The remit of the vehicle crime prevention group was extended to cover heavy goods vehicles in recognition of the fact that commercial vehicle crime is a serious problem. The group brings together key representatives in the vehicle security field and is a symbol of the Government's partnership approach to crime prevention.

  The group maintains links with other bodies working in the vehicle crime prevention field. Its chairman also chairs the Metropolitan police's joint action group on organised lorry theft which has been established to study the scale and nature of organised lorry theft and make recommendations on how to reduce it.

  Home Office researchers are currently undertaking an in-depth study into heavy commercial vehicle crime using data held on the police national computer supplemented by a postal survey of victims of lorry theft. The research is looking at the numbers and types of lorries stolen; time and location at which thefts occur; the extent of the losses involved and the level of security used to protect vehicles. The results of the study, which are due to be published in the early summer, will be used to develop well targeted initiatives aimed at reducing lorry theft.

  The police accord a high priority to tackling vehicle crime and have developed many initiatives. There have been a number of successful police operations against heavy goods vehicle crime, most recently Operation Tupps where the Metropolitan police stolen vehicle squad, in conjunction with Kent constabulary, arrested two men who ran a commercial breaker and exporter's yard in Essex.

  The Government have also given their backing to Truckwatch, an initiative to counter commercial vehicle theft which has the support of the road haulage and freight transport associations and the police. It was first launched by Norfolk constabulary at the beginning of 1994.

  Hit-and-run Accidents
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been in each of the last five years for cases involving hit-and-run accidents; and what charges were referred in each case. [16666]

  Mr. Maclean
  The available information is for prosecutions for offences as defined in section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

  The number of prosecutions in England and Wales for offences of failing to stop after an accident or failing to report an accident within 24 hours for the years 1989 to 1993 are set out below. More serious charges may have been preferred in some of these cases depending on the circumstances.

  Failing to stop after accident

  Failing to report accident within 24 hours

  1989

  26,784

  23,400

  1990

  25,827

  22,642

  1991

  25,418

  22,044

  1992

  22,225

  19,738

  1993

  19,043

  15,665

  Figures for 1994 are not yet available.

HEALTH

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average length of time for each GP consultation; and what this was for each of the last 10 years. [15369]

  Mr. Malone
  The information requested has not been routinely collected every year. The information is available for 1985–86, 1989–90 and 1992–93 from surveys of general practitioners work load and is as follows:

  Average time spent per consultation by GMPs by type of activity

  Time (minutes)

  Activity

  1985–86

  1989–90

  1992–93

  Surgery1

  8.2

  8.8

  8.8

  Home visits (including travel time)

  24.4

  25.5

  25.2

  Home visits (time in home)

  13.1

  13.5

  13.2

  Clinics

  11.0

  12.0

  12.6

  Notes

  1. To aid comparison, the 1992–93 figure for "surgery" 1includes the time spent on "telephone consultations"; these were included within "surgery" in the 1985–86 and 1989–90 Surveys.

  Sources:

  General Medical Practitioners' Workload 1985–86 [ISBN 1 85197 068 1].

  General Medical Practitioner's Workload Survey 1989–90 [ISBN 1 85197 561 6].

  General Medical Practitioners' Workload Survey 1992–93 Joint evidence to the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body from the Health Departments and the GMSC, November 1994.

  Copies of these documents are available in the Library.
  675
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of general practitioners and the number of secretaries, administrators, receptionists and practice managers in general practice in each of the last six years(a) in total, (b) by family health service authority and (c) broken down between fundholding and non-fundholding practices. [16166]

  Mr. Malone
  The information requested will be placed in the Library. The data collected do not distinguish between fundholding and non-fundholding general practitioners.

  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list by region(a) the amount and (b) the proportion of each trust's income derived from general practitioner fundholders' contracts. [15830]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available.

  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if she will list those services which fundholding general practitioners can currently purchase; to which services she proposes to extend this list; and what plans she has to reduce the number of patients needed for a GP to become a fundholder. [16667]

  Mr. Malone
  The approved list of goods and services details those goods and services which a fundholding general practitioner may purchase. Both the current list and the revised list, which will be effective from 1 April 1996, are available in the Library. As announced in EL (94)79, it is proposed that from 1 April 1996 general practitioners with a list size of 5,000 or more

  1985–89

  1990–94

  Retirements due to age

  Early retirements due to ill-health

  Retirements due to age

  Early retirements due to ill-health

  Early retirement scheme

  General Medical Practitioners

  3,950

  554

  3,458

  746

  —

  General Dental Practitioners

  1,165

  366

  1,085

  381

  526

  Note:

  The Early Retirement Scheme was restricted to general dental practitioners and came into effect from April 1991. The aim is to improve efficiency by allowing older dentists to retire early in favour of younger dentists.

  Figures in respect of consultants from 1988

  Consultants

  Retirements due to age

  Early retirements due to ill-health

  Early retirement programme to allow for replacement of senior posts

  Other early retirements

  1988–89

  383

  38

  29

  58

  1989–90

  359

  39

  75

  52

  1990–91

  376

  46

  45

  77

  1991–92

  368

  56

  38

  92

  1992–93

  369

  56

  35

  111

  1993–94

  380

  45

  66

  157

  1994–95

  418

  47

  59

  159

  Note:

  The Early Retirement programme is open to all consultants aged 50 or over. Consultants include Senior Hospital Medical and Dental Officers who worked full or part-time.

  Vacant Medical Posts
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of all(a) house
  676
  patients may enter standard fundholding and those with over 3,000 patients may enter community fundholding.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a definition reply to his letter of 1 December 1994, Ref. POH2 4593/41. [14414]

  Mr. Malone
  I wrote to the hon. Member on 24 March.

  Retirement
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) general practitioners, (b) consultants and (c) other hospital doctors have retired in each year for the last 10 years; and how many of these have (i) taken early retirement, (ii) retired before 60 and (iii) retired before 55. [15773]

  Mr. Sackville
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the National Health Service Pensions Agency under its chief executive, A. F. Cowan. I have asked him to reply to the hon. Member.

  Letter from A. F. Cowan to Mr. Nicholas Brown, dated 29 March 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question as it falls within my area of responsibility.
  A breakdown of the figures in the format requested is not available. We are however able to provide the following information.
  Figures in respect of General and Medical Practitioners quinquennially:

  officer, (b) senior house officer, (c) registrar, (d) senior registrar and (e) consultant posts remained vacant as at 1 April on each of the last 10 years for each regional health authority. [15772]

  Mr. Malone
  Data as at 1 April are not available. Information on vacancies for consultants, senior registrars, registrars and senior house officers is collected from the national health service each year, and is available in the Library in Crown copyright table R5 of the Department's census of the medical and dental work force. As these relate to a single date they may not fairly reflect the trend for the number of vacancies in the stated grades over the year as a whole.

  Staff Costs
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average annual cost of employing(a) a hospital consultant, (b) a senior house officer, (c) a qualified nurse and (d) an ambulance paramedic. [15827]
  677
  Mr. Malone
  In 1992–93, the latest year for which data are available, the average annual cost of employing a hospital consultant was £63,000 and a senior house officer was £34,410. Information for 1992–93 cannot be broken down to show the average costs of a qualified nurse and an ambulance paramedic.

  Asset Disposal
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the value of NHS assets which have been(a) sold or (b) privatised since 1985. [16186]

  Mr. Sackville
  The information available on receipts from the sale of surplus hospital and community health services capital assets since 1985–86 is shown in the table. These receipts are retained by the national health service and additional to Government spending on capital.

  There is no question of these NHS assets having been privatised.

  Year

  Capital receipts (£ million)

  1985–86

  76

  1986–87

  149

  1987–88

  201

  1988–89

  280

  1989–90

  232

  1990–91

  178

  1991–92

  169

  1992–93

  113

  1993–94

  213

  1994–951

  165

  1Forecast outturn

  Endocrine System (Chemical Disruption)
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department has evaluated in the last 10 years on the effects on the human endocrine system of known endocrine disruptive chemicals present in the environment; [15936]

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department has for many years evaluated worldwide experimental and epidemiological evidence about the potential health effects of chemicals present in the environment, including their effects on the human endocrine system. We are advised on such evidence by independent expert advisory committees.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research her Department has carried out in the last 10 years into the effects on the human endocrine system of known endocrine disruptive chemicals present in the environment. [15955]

  (2) what research her Department has carried out in the last 10 years into the effects on human health of organochlorines as a class with regard to both lethal and sub-lethal effects. [15954]

  Mr. Sackville
  None. The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The MRC is an independent body deciding what research to support on its own expert judgment.

  Birth Abnormalities
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if her Department monitors the rates of abnormalities of the genital tract in male babies on a continual basis; and if she will make available the most recent statistics. [15957]

  Mr. Sackville
  Since 1964, the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys has run the national congenital malformation notification scheme. The data for this scheme are received on a voluntary basis from district health authorities. Until 31 December 1994, data were requested for all babies where the malformation was identified at or within 10 days of birth. This time limit has since been removed. Data are routinely collected on hypospadias1 and epispadias—the most commonly visible malformations of the male genital tract. The most recent statistics are shown in the table.

  Notification of male babies born with hypospadias1 and epispadias in England and Wales, 1992 and 1993
  Rates per 10,000 male live and still births

  Year

  Number

  Rate

  1992

  532

  15.0

  1993

  533

  15.3

  1 Excludes hypospadias when the meatus lies before the coronary sulcus.

  Health Service Expenditure
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish a table showing total Government expenditure on the NHS in each year since 1985. [16188]

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is shown in the table.

  Year

  Government expenditure on the national health service—England (£ million)

  1985–86

  14,176

  1986–87

  15,173

  1987–88

  16,668

  1988–89

  18,413

  1989–90

  19,855

  1990–91

  22,328

  1991–92

  25,356

  1992–93

  27,973

  1993–94

  28,953

  1994–951

  30,706

  1Estimated outturn

  Accident and Emergency Department Closures
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many accident and emergency departments have had to be closed for reasons other than a planned closure in each of the last 10 years; and if she will list the name of the unit, the date and length of the unplanned closure and the reason why it was closed. [16093]

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Dementia
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she has taken, following the introduction of the care programme approach and services for older people with
  679
  dementia, to increase the number of clinical psychologists available to the NHS; and what steps she is taking to ensure that mechanisms exist to effectively link vacancy figures with training commissions. [16173]

  Mr. Bowis
  It is for local employers to determine the staff needed to deliver the services that they have contracted to provide. Since 1991, the number of clinical psychologists employed by the national health service trusts and the number of training places commissioned on their behalf by regional health authorities has continued to increase to meet the growing demand for clinical psychologists. The number of clinical psychologists has risen from 2,100 in 1990 to 2,810 in 1993 which represents an increase of 34 per cent.

  Board Members (Hours of Work)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to(a) advise the Audit Commission of the number of hours that chairmen and non-executive directors of health authorities and NHS trusts are expected to devote to their duties for their salaries and (b) to report on those who significantly fail to honour their commitments. [16217]

  Mr. Malone
  None.

  Public Relations
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines her Department has issued to its agencies and other public bodies under its authority in respect of the employment of public relations companies and the procedures to be adopted in relation to requesting tenders for public relations companies. [16215]

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department has not issued guidelines to agencies and public bodies under its authority specifically for the employment of public relations companies. However, the requests for tenders for these and other services are handled in accordance with general purchasing guidance issued by the Department.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her Department spent on public relations during the financial year 1993–94; how much contracts with the private sector cost; and if she will list the activities covered by these contracts. [16282]

  Mr. Sackville
  Functions which are identified as public relations are normally carried out within the Department by the press and publicity branches of the information division.

  Cornwall Healthcare NHS Trust
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 1 December 1994,Official Report, column 830, if she is now in a position to make a statement on the payment of defence costs in the Cornwall Health trust libel case involving an earlier chairman. [16206]

  Mr. Malone
  No. The matter remains before the courts.

  Body Scanner, Greenwich
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health where the South East Thames regional health authority purchased the second-hand body scanner for Greenwich health authority. [16242]

  Mr. Sackville
  The scanner was supplied by American Medical Ltd.

  Trainee Nurses
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many trainee nurses there were in(a) 1992, (b) 1993 and (c) 1994. [16238]

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 30 November 1994, column 794 for the 1992 figures. Information shown in the table for 1993 and 1994 is taken from the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting annual reports for 1993 and 1994, copies of which are available in the Library.

  In training population nurses and midwives—England Years ended 31 March 1992 and 31 March 1994

  1993

  1994

  Pre-registration

  53,085

  54,898

  Post-registration

  3,718

  3,038

  Total pre- and post-registration

  56,803

  57,936

  Source:

  English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting.

  Long-stay Care of the Elderly
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is given to health authorities on the number of beds per 1,000 population aged over 65 years to be provided for the long-stay medical and nursing care of the elderly. [16244]

  Mr. Bowis
  HSG(95)8, issued on 23 February to health authorities, made clear the national health service's responsibility for purchasing a full range of services to meet continuing health care needs. Copies are in the Library.

  Pensioners (Mailshot)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will order the Paymaster General's Office to remove NHS pensioners' personal pension account numbers from labels used in any future departmental mailshot and from any envelope addressed to NHS pensioners. [16275]

  Mr. Sackville
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the NHS Pensions Agency under its chief executive A. F. Cowan. I have asked him to reply to the hon. Member.

  Letter from A. F. Cowan to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 March 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Health has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question as it falls within my area of responsibility.

  681
  Keith Sullens, Chief Executive of Paymaster who the NHS Pensions Agency contracts to pay our NHS pensioners informed me that account numbers which appeared on envelopes addressed to NHS pensioners were printed in error. A new system has been introduced which will ensure NHS pensioners personal pension account numbers do not appear on any envelopes addressed to NHS pensioners in the future.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what fees the Paymaster General's office charged Medicash for the recent mailshot to NHS pensioners.
  [16249]

  Mr. Sackville
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the NHS Pensions Agency under its chief executive, A. F. Cowan. I have asked him to reply to the hon. Member.

  Letter from A. F. Cowan to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 March 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Health has asked me to reply to your recent parliamentary question as it falls within my areas of responsibility.
  I understand that Paymaster whom the NHS Pensions Agency contracts to pay NHS pensioners charged Medicash £21,379.21 (including VAT) for the recent mailshot to NHS pensioners.

  Surrey Ambulance Trust
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will inquire into and publish details of the terms on which Lynn Samuel and Mike Foy left the Surrey ambulance trust and the cost to the NHS. [16254]

  Mr. Sackville
  The terms on which Mr. Lynn Samuel left Surrey Ambulance Service National Health Service trust are a matter for the trust. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman, Lady Helen Gardiner, for details.

  The arrangements for Mr. Mike Foy, the former chief ambulance officer and then general manager of Surrey Ambulance Service, are a matter for the East Surrey health authority, which managed the service before it became a trust on 1 April 1994. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the authority, Mr. John Poole, for details.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will advise health authorities only to employ in part-time posts dental contractors who have a substantial number of national health patients. [16389]

  Mr. Malone
  Family health services authorities are given approval to employ salaried dentists, whether full or part-time only when they can demonstrate that patients in a particular area would otherwise have difficulty obtaining general dental services.

  Press Officers
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many press officers there are in her Department currently; and what was the figure in 1979. [16561]

  Mr. Sackville
  The number of press officers currently employed is 15. Figures for 1979 are not available.

  Clinical Negligence Fund
  Mr. Anthony Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures she proposes to take following the issue in 1994 of a consultation document on the 682
  proposed creation of a central fund for clinical negligence costs in the NHS. [17358]

  Mr. Malone
  Last year, the Department of Health published outline proposals for a central fund to help national health service trusts spread the costs of clinical negligence. The response to the proposals, both from the NHS and other interested parties, was very positive. Detailed design work on the scheme has been carried out for the Department by a team from the Medical Protection Society and Willis Corroon Ltd. in full consultation with the trust movement.

  In the light of the continued high degree of interest shown by NHS trusts, I have decided that—subject to parliamentary authority—the scheme should go ahead with effect from 1 April 1995. The scheme will be voluntary. The necessary regulations to set up the scheme, and the special health authority which will administer it on behalf of the Secretary of State, will be laid in the near future.

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people claimed free prescriptions on grounds of(a) automatic entitlement and (b) low-income entitlement as outlined in the Department of Health form P11, during the last year for which figures are available. [16929]

  Mr. Malone
  The information is not available.

  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice she has received concerning the disease myalgic encephalomyelitis; and if she will make a statement on her proposals for improving(a) the treatment, (b) medical and public knowledge and (c) research of the disease. [16813]

  Mr. Sackville
  The national task force on chronic fatigue syndrome, post viral fatigue syndrome or ME, which is independent of the Department of Health, has produced a report. With a view to securing progress and promoting the development of a professional consensus, the chief medical officer has invited the conference of colleges to consider the report. The views of the conference of colleges will be of much assistance to the Department in helping to determine the best way forward on matters concerning this condition.

  NHS Trusts (Borrowing)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much each NHS trust has paid for the cost of borrowing in each year since its inception.

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 6 February 1995]: This information will be placed in the Library.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Public Relations
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidelines his Department has issued to its agencies and other public bodies under its authority in respect of the employment of public relations companies and the procedures to be adopted in relation to requesting
  683
  tenders for public relations companies. [16214]

  Mr. Hague
  Guidance on the use of public relations companies is issued by the Cabinet Office and is contained in the booklet, "A Work Guide for Government Information Officers", a copy of which is in the Library. All business units in this Department are expected to work within the Cabinet Office guidelines.

  Departmental Report
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the cost of producing and circulating the last departmental annual report; what was the circulation list; how many copies were produced; how many copies were sold; and at what price. [16622]

  Mr. Hague
  The total cost of producing the 1995–96 departmental annual report was £34,104.

  Copies were circulated to all personnel at grade 7 and above in the Department and executive agencies, members of the Social Security Select Committee, members of the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee, members of the Social Security Advisory Committee and all Opposition spokesman on social security. A copy has also been placed in the Library.

  A total of 3,500 copies were produced, 1,700 of which were designated for sale through Her Majesty's Stationery Office bookshops at a cover price of £16.35.

  Appeals
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what assessment he has made of the speed with which(a) reviews and (b) appeals involving benefit cases are dealt with by his Department; and if he will make a statement; [16496]

  (2) what discussions he has had with regard to appeals and reviews affecting cases inside his Department during the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement; [16498]

  (3) what representations he has received in the last 12 months regarding delays in dealing with appeals and reviews affecting cases involving his Department; and if he will make a statement. [16497]

  Mr. Hague
  The table shows average clearance times for:

  (a) the three types of benefit cases which are subject to mandatory review prior to appeal; and

  (b) benefit appeals, divided by type of tribunal.

  We have received representations from the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux and the Social Security Advisory Committee about delays and also letters concerning individual cases. Ministers have regular meetings with His Honour Judge Bassingthwaighte, the president of the Independent Tribunal Service, which hears social security benefit appeals, and with the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, who is responsible for ensuring that targets on reviews and appeals preparation are met.
  684

  Benefit reviews and appeals

  Number

  Reviews

  Disability living allowance

  81 per cent. in 55 days

  Disability working allowance

  91 per cent. in 20 days

  Attendance allowance

  92 per cent. in 75 days

  Appeals1

  Social security appeal tribunal

  244 weeks

  Disability appeal tribunal

  23 weeks

  Medical appeal tribunal

  36 weeks

  1Figures include the time taken by the Independent Tribunal Service to hear appeals.

  2This time is higher than usual because the Independent Tribunal Service are clearing appeals which were previously held up awaiting the outcome of a Court of Appeal case. The underlying clearance time is around 28 weeks.

  War Disablement Pension
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applicants there have been in the last five years for a war disablement pension under the personal injuries (civilians) scheme for tuberculosis sufferers; and how many of these applications have been successfully granted a pension. [166681]

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

  Press Officers
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many press officers there are in his Department currently; and what the figure was in 1979. [16565]

  Mr. Hague
  The number of press officers currently employed by this Department is as follows:

  Number

  The Department's headquarters in London

  10

  Seconded HQ press officer to the charity Motability (includes publicity and promotions work)

  1

  The Child Support Agency

  2

  The Contributions Agency

  1

  The War Pensions Agency

  0.25

  The Benefits Agency

  National press office

  8

  Regional press offices

  9

  Information Technology Services Agency

  0.6

  This Department was not in existence until 1988 and figures for 1979 are therefore not available.

  Benefits Agency Review
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the outcome of the review of the Benefits Agency. [17601]

  Mr. Lilley
  I announced on 20 July 1994,Official Report, column 257, a formal review of the Benefits Agency. Each next steps agency undergoes a periodic review to evaluate performance, to reconsider whether agency status is the best way of doing the job and to revise its framework document.
  685
  Part of that review involved an evaluation of the performance of the Benefits Agency since its creation in April 1991. I am pleased to announce that the evaluation report has been published today and a copy has been placed in the Library.

  My colleagues and I have now considered the review team's recommendations. These take account of a number of detailed submissions from hon. Members, national and local customer representative organisations, and private companies. I am grateful to all those who have participated in the review.

  The main conclusions of the review, which I accept, are that the Benefits Agency should remain a next steps agency within the civil service, responsible as now for a wide range of social security benefits. There is no scope to abolish or privatise an organisation of this nature; nor is there any evidence to suggest that wholesale contractorisation of the agency's functions is at present feasible or likely to improve value for money for the taxpayer. The review endorses the agency's initiatives to integrate its services more closely in order to provide a "one stop" customer service and to reduce significantly the scope for fraud and abuse.

  The review also recommends that the agency should build on its existing change programme by developing a comprehensive strategy for improving its performance and efficiency. The details will be for the chief executive to decide, but they will include the involvement of the private sector wherever its skills would be of assistance, for example through re-engineering of the agency's business processes. The Government's "Competing for Quality" programme will continue to apply to the majority of the agency's support functions. In addition, and in order to inform the debate about longer-term possibilities, I have asked the chief executive to conduct a pilot project to establish the feasibility and desirability of separating the adjudication function from other parts of the benefits administration process.

  The review goes on to recommend that the chief executive conduct internal reviews of the agency's structure and organisation, including the relationship between the corporate centre and the local units, and the numbers and boundaries of those units. This will devolve more power to local units to respond to local needs whilst at the same time sharpening accountability. All the elements of the strategy should have been decided by April 1996 to enable implementation of any changes from April 1997.

  In conclusion, the review recognises the significant improvements in customer service and efficiency which the agency has achieved since its inception in 1991. These reflect great efforts by the chief executive and his staff. The review's recommendations are designed to build on this work. I am placing a copy of the executive summary of the prior options report in the Library today, and I shall shortly publish a revised framework document confirming the agency's aims, objectives and responsibilities.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 20 March,Official Report, column 64, how long he estimates it will take for absent parents to benefit from reduction in maintenance as a result of the introduction of travel cost allowances in the CSA formula. [15864]

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

  Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Andrew Miller, dated 29 March 1995:
  I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about travel to work costs in the child support formula.
  Subject to the approval of the regulations by Parliament, travel to work costs will be taken into account in the maintenance formula from 18 April 1995.
  Applications for travel to work costs will be incorporated into appropriate assessments as they are made from that date.
  Existing clients will be sent a leaflet explaining the change. This will include a tear-off portion inviting them to make a claim within three months. The Agency will start processing these claims as soon as they are received.

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Pope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many staff are currently employed in the prevention of benefit fraud; and what was the financial benefit of such work in the last financial year for which figures are available. [16823]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The administration of fraud work 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 Michael Bichard to Mr. Greg Pope, dated 28 March 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the numbers of staff currently employed in the prevention of benefit fraud; and the financial benefit of this work in the last financial year.
  The Benefits Agency currently employs over 3,000 staff in fraud work where duties include both prevention and detection. Separate figures are not kept on the work of staff where work is related to the prevention of fraud, nor on the financial value of preventative work. The total estimated benefit savings for the financial year 1993/94 from fraud work was £654m. Recoveries of benefit overpaid, including fraud cases, totalled £80m for the same period.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

EDUCATION

  Education Expenditure
  Sir David Madel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much was spent in total on state schools in Bedfordshire in each of the last 20 years at constant prices. [16928]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The table shows total expenditure by Bedfordshire local education authority on its maintained schools from 1974–75 to 1993–94, the latest year for which provisional outturn figures are available. The table does not include information on grant-maintained schools.
  687

  Bedfordshire County Council

  Gross expenditure Nur/pri/sec/spl (1994–95 prices)£000

  1974–75

  168,728

  1975–76

  175,013

  1976–77

  184,289

  1977–78

  n/a

  1978–79

  176,510

  1979–80

  172,568

  1980–81

  176,925

  1981–82

  176,983

  1982–83

  167,550

  1983–84

  166,307

  1984–85

  165,402

  1985–86

  165,871

  1986–87

  169,281

  1987–88

  181,932

  1988–89

  185,859

  1989–90

  186,259

  1990–91

  181,145

  1991–92

  190,796

  1992–93

  219,064

  1993–941

  182,297

  1 Provisional.

  Teachers" Pay
  Mr. Sykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the outcome of consultation on her proposal to accept the pay settlement for school teachers which was recommended by the School Teachers Review Body. [17481]

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I am today confirming that I am accepting the School Teachers Review Body's recommendation to increase school teachers' pay by 2.7 per cent. I will make an order which will increase all points on the teachers' pay spines by 2.7 per cent. with effect from 1 April.

  I am writing to the teacher unions, the National Employers Organisation for School Teachers, bodies representing school governors and to the head teachers and chairmen of governors of all schools in England and Wales. Teachers are making the key contribution to raising standards in education. They deserve their pay award, at the level recommended by the independent School Teachers Review Body, without undue delay.

  I have received many representations about the funding of the teachers' pay award and considered them carefully. I believe the local government funding settlement is tough but manageable, and I have concluded that it would be right to implement the recommendation in full. It is for local authorities to give priority to front-line services such as schools. School governors in turn should ensure the efficient management of staff and resources.

  I can also confirm my decisions to bring into force from 1 September 1995 the following proposals by means of revisions to the school teachers pay and conditions document:

  i. relevant bodies should be able, at their discretion, to reward teachers for work on initial teacher training;

  ii. relevant bodies should be able, at their discretion, to compensate teachers for in-service training at weekends and in school holidays, the compensation to be paid from savings on supply cover that would otherwise be necessary were the in-service training to be undertaken during the school day;

  688

  iii. the STPCD should recognise the employment status of teachers in Education Associations and GM clusters.

  I can also confirm my decisions to accept the following conclusions and recommendations of the School Teachers Review Body, not all of which will require changes to be made to the STPD:

  i. there should be no change to the structure of the classroom teachers' pay spine, but the STRB will produce a consultative document on this subject;

  ii. the current transitional arrangements for safeguarding the inner London Supplement should remain in place;

  iii. returners to the profession should retain their entitlement to their accumulated experience points;

  iv. there should be no change in the employment status of teachers at Pupil Referral Units. Such teachers will continue to be "unattached";

  v. there should be no separate performance related pay scheme for heads and deputies, but the Secretary of State should issue guidance on the assessment of performance, drawing on the four essential performance indicators set out in the STRB's consultative document, which should be taken into account by relevant bodies when reviewing salaries for these staff;

  vi. there should be no direct funding of excellence points through GEST, but the Department should consider other direct funding mechanisms; and

  vii. the Teachers' Pension Agency should distribute copies of a poster and a leaflet about the benefits of the Teachers' Superannuation Scheme.

  European Social Fund
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding is obtained from the European social fund for courses in British universities. [16892]

  Miss Widdecombe
  I have been asked to reply.

  In 1993, £40.35 million was claimed for European social fund provision across objectives 2, 3, 4 and 5b by the higher education sector, which includes universities, in Great Britain. Final figures for 1994 are not yet available.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidelines she is giving to universities and other higher education institutes on how to deal with mature students who receive training allowances from the European social fund. [16840]

  Miss Widdecombe
  I have been asked to reply.

  Each year, the Department issues comprehensive guidance to all potential applicants, including universities and other higher education institutes, on how to apply for, and claim European social fund grants. This guidance covers how the allowances to students and other trainees are to be treated.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many students benefit from the European social fund provision entitling them to pursue courses in United Kingdom universities. [16893]

  Miss Widdecombe
  I have been asked to reply.

  In 1993, 50,309 students in Great Britain benefited from European social fund provision across objectives 2, 3, 4 and 5b in the higher education sector, which includes universities. Final figures for 1994 are not yet available.

  National Science Week
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the cost to the university sector of the National Science Week promotion. [16897]
  689
  Mr. Boswell
  The requested information is not held centrally.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Ms Gordon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what was the total cost of cash protection of the central element of grant-maintained schools' budgets in England and Wales in 1994–95, listed by local education authority; and what will be the costs in 1995–96, based on the local education authority provisional estimates submitted by 31 March; [16935]

  (2) which grant-maintained schools, listed by local education authority, will receive more cash protection within central AMG in 1995–96 than in 1994–95, based on provisional estimates; [16891]

  (3) which grant-maintained schools, in each local education authority area, will receive, on provisional estimates, an element for cash protection within their annual maintenance grant for 1995–96, when no element was received in 1994–95. [16986]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Responsibility for the calculation of grants for grant-maintained schools is a matter for the Funding Agency for Schools. I have asked its chairman to write to the hon. Member.

  Teachers Pensions Agency
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many former teachers' pensions are covered by the privatisation review which is currently taking place at the Teachers Pensions Agency. [16981]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  We have made it clear that there is no question of privatising the teachers' superannuation scheme. The present review is concerned solely with the administration of the scheme.

  Some 250,000 former teachers have preserved rights in the scheme. Some 340,000 retired teachers are receiving pension payments.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether, as part of the privatisation review of the Teachers Pensions Agency, she is considering allowing private firms to charge teachers' employers directly for the provision of administrative services. [16982]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend has no plans for any such arrangement.

  Pupil Statistics
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total numbers in Derbyshire schools over the last 20 years in the(a) 11 to 16 years, (b) 16 to 19 years and (c) five to 11 years age range. [16714]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Information on pupils in Derbyshire local education authority area for years 1975–1994 is shown in the table.
  690

  Pupils by age in maintained schools1 in Derbyshire Local Education Authority area: 1975–1994 Position in January each year Ages at previous 31 August

  Pupils aged

  5–10

  11–15

  16–19+

  1975

  85,400

  67,200

  4,300

  1976

  86,100

  67,770

  4,300

  1977

  85,600

  69,500

  4,400

  1978

  84,300

  70,800

  4,300

  1979

  82,000

  71,600

  4,300

  1980

  79,300

  72,000

  4,300

  1981

  76,200

  72,000

  4,600

  1982

  72,800

  71,200

  5,100

  1983

  68,500

  70,800

  5,200

  1984

  65,200

  69,300

  5,100

  1985

  64,100

  67,300

  4,900

  1986

  63,900

  64,500

  4,700

  1987

  64,100

  61,900

  4,400

  1988

  64,600

  58,100

  4,440

  1989

  65,900

  54,900

  4,900

  1990

  66,700

  52,500

  4,700

  1991

  66,900

  51,900

  4,600

  1992

  66,700

  52,200

  4,900

  1993

  67,100

  52,700

  5,200

  1994

  68,300

  53,400

  5,000

  1 Excludes Sixth Form Colleges which ceased to be classified as schools from 1 April 1993.

  School Meals
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much was spent by Derbyshire county council local education authority on subsidising school meals in each of the last 12 years. [16866]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This information is not collected centrally in the form requested. The table shows Derbyshire local education authority's total expenditure on, and income from, its school catering service from 1982–83 to 1993–94, the latest year for which provisional outturn figures are available.

  Derbyshire local education authority

  £000

  School catering service total expenditure (cash terms)

  School catering service total income (cash terms)

  1982–83

  15,117

  5,674

  1983–84

  16,084

  6,055

  1984–85

  16,799

  5,728

  1985–86

  16,641

  5,457

  1986–87

  18,974

  6,542

  1987–88

  21,617

  7,092

  1988–89

  23,305

  7,546

  1989–90

  22,477

  7,413

  1990–91

  22,872

  7,560

  1991–92

  26,921

  8,226

  1992–93

  28,192

  9,873

  1993–941

  22,959

  9,051

  1 Provisional.

  University Evaluation System
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps she is taking to change the English and Welsh university evaluation system for teaching to take them closer to the system operated for Scottish universities. [16890]
  691
  Mr. Boswell
  The Higher Education Funding Council for England is responsible for quality assessment in England. Following consultation with the sector, the council has announced a revised methodology from April 1995 which contains some elements in common with the system operated in Scotland. Responsibility for the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Funding Agency for Schools
  Ms Estelle Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her answer of 16 February, Official Report, column 784, when the hon. Member for Birmingham, Yardley may expect to receive a reply from the chairman of the Funding Agency for Schools. [16652]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I understand that the chief executive of the funding agency wrote to the hon. Member on 27 March.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Gaza
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals are being put forward by the World bank, European Union and British Government to help improve reproductive health services in Gaza and on the west bank. [16606]

  Mr. Baldry
  We are not aware of any proposals being put forward by the World bank or the European Union. We have agreed to contribute £400,000 for the UN Relief and Works Agency's expanded family health programme in the Gaza strip which aims to help improve reproductive health.

  Rwanda
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what gaps exist in the food pipeline to camps holding refugees from Rwanda; and what measures are proposed to fill any such gaps. [16598]

  Mr. Baldry
  We have pledged 21,000 tonnes of cereals and 2,800 tonnes of beans, with a total value £7 million, to the world food programme for its operations in and around Rwanda, in the last month. From this pledge, 8,500 tonnes of maize have already been bought for delivery in May; the beans will be bought locally and quickly.

  Taking account of this and other donors' pledges, WFP calculations suggest the pipeline for cereals is reasonably healthy until September, apart from some possible, short-term problems in April, which they are currently considering how to tackle. Additional pledges for non-cereal commodities are needed.

  Burundi
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is being taken by the international community to establish an effective and objective judicial system in Burundi. [16603]

  Mr. Baldry
  A UN Security Council mission to Burundi last month reiterated the importance of strengthening the national judicial system. A number of 692
  donors have expressed interest, including the European Union. Belgium plans an appraisal mission in April which others may join but the situation in Burundi is extremely fragile and plans to support the judicial system are very difficult to advance. We have contributed £100,000 this month to a UN High Commission for Human Rights programme of training and technical assistance for Burundis in justice and human rights.

  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is being taken by the World bank, IMF and donor countries to assist Burundi to stabilise and achieve economic development. [16605]

  Mr. Baldry
  The fragile political and security environment in Burundi is making progress with economic development very difficult. The World bank agreed an emergency assistance project last December, worth nearly £10 million, for the import of high-priority goods for education, health, agriculture, infrastructure and private sector development. IMF staff hope to restart discussions with Burundi officials in Geneva this week leading to the formulation of a three-year economic policy framework for IMF assistance. An EU troika mission left for Burundi on 23 March and will present recommendations for strengthening EU support.

  Iraq
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the projects on which the United Kingdom's aid contribution to Iraq has been spent since 1991. [16632]

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 27 March 1995]: A list providing details of United Kingdom emergency aid contributions totalling £57.2 million since 1991 has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Most of this aid went to Kurdish areas of northern Iraq, and refugees in neighbouring countries. Smaller amounts have been used for medical supplies and water projects in central and southern Iraq. In addition, our share of EC spending has totalled £13.3 million over the same period.

  Aid Strategies
  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information is now available under the Overseas Development Administration's published policy on open government on aid strategies for the United Kingdom's main bilateral aid programmes. [17678]

  Mr. Baldry
  Country aid programme statements on the United Kingdom's bilateral programmes to Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Pakistan and Russia are now available from the ODA library.

  Further CAPS will be added to this list as and when the relevant country programmes are reviewed—those over £10 million per year; this process is carried out every other year.

DEFENCE

  Low Flying
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what considerations led to the making of low flying passes by a Royal Navy Westland helicopter over Goodison Boulevard, Cantley, Doncaster around 14.20 hours on 3 March. [16237]

  Mr. Soames
  Extensive enquiries have been made, but it has not proved possible to identify the helicopter in question from the details given.

  Old Sarum Airfield
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who holds the lease of Old Sarum airfield; when the lease was granted and for how long; and whether the terms of the lease permit the cessation of flying activity and the development of the airfield for housing and industrial use. [16855]

  Mr. Soames
  The lease of Old Sarum airfield is held by two parties, Blane Field Investments Ltd.—the major leaseholder—and Old Sarum Park Properties Ltd. The lease was granted on 16 November 1982 for 999 years and allows for the erection of new buildings with the landlord's consent.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to sell the freehold of Old Sarum airfield; and if tender documents have been prepared. [16854]

  Mr. Soames
  We intend to sell the freehold of Old Sarum airfield by public tender. Final tender documents are being prepared with a provisional tender date of 26 April.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rights are reserved for use of Old Sarum airfield by his Department; on how many occasions those rights have been exercised since a lease was granted on the property; and if he will make a statement. [16856]

  Mr. Soames
  The rights reserved for the use of Old Sarum permit my Department to use the airfield for the taking off and landing of military aircraft, including helicopters, on no more than 150 occasions per year. Information on the number of occasions when those rights have been exercised is only available for the last two financial years: in 1993–94, some 80 landings took place for which a landing fee was charged; in 1994–95 there were around 50 landings.

  Decommissioned Warships
  Mr. MacKinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 15 December 1994,Official Report, column 816, to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on HMS Sirius what were the dates and total cost of the final refits undertaken for the three decommissioned warships used as targets and sunk in live firing exercises between 1990 and 1994. [16926]

  Mr. Freeman
  The last refit dates of the decommissioned warships used as targets and sunk in live firing exercises in 1990, 1991 and 1993 were, respectively: 5 September 1983 to 1 June 1984, 29 May 1985 to 17 February 1986, and 7 April 1986 to 8 December 1986. The costs of refit work undertaken before the royal dockyards passed into commercial management in April 1987 are not available.

  HMS Fort Victoria
  Mr. MacKinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will write to the hon. Member for Thurrock, as undertaken during the debate on 16 February,Official Report, column 1152, giving details of delayed delivery and commissioning times of HMS Fort Victoria and the reasons for these delays, together with the total costs and penalties paid. [17000]

  Mr. Freeman
  I shall be writing to the hon. Member very shortly.

  Vehicle Purchases
  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what military purpose his Department requires to purchase 30 wheeled industrial diesel tractors, as set out in tender No. LV2B/488; what consideration has been given to leasing or hiring of such tractors; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 22 March 1995]: The wheeled industrial diesel tractors are required for the general haulage of stores, materials handling activities and occasional light aircraft towing. A number of these are also protected to allow safe movement of ammunition, bombs and missiles. The provision, management and support of service transport is at present being reviewed to determine whether there is scope for greater involvement of the private sector. We intend to establish pilot leasing schemes by the end of this calendar year. Tender LV2B/488 represents the minimum order necessary to meet the requirement pending the outcome of the review. Any resultant contract will be sufficiently flexible to take account of changes in vehicle purchasing arrangements for any further requirements.

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what military purpose his Department requires to purchase various diesel 4 x 2 trucks, as set out in future purchase LV1B/983; what consideration has been given to leasing or hiring of such trucks; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Freeman
  [holding answer 22 March 1995]: The vehicles are required for the transportation of military stores and equipment. The provision, management and support of service transport is at present being reviewed to determine whether there is scope for greater involvement of the private sector. We intend to establish pilot leasing schemes by the end of this calendar year. Future purchase LV1B/983 represents the minimum order necessary to meet the requirement pending the outcome of the review.

  Horses and Ponies
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) ponies and (b) horses have been owned by his Department in each of the last 10 years. [16078]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 24 March 1995]: My Department had a requirement for 517 horses in each year between 1985 and 1991; this changed to 471 in 1992, 499 in 1993 and 1994, and will reduce to 433 next month. In addition, we owned five ponies throughout this period.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many(a) ponies and (b) horses have been transported by his Department to (i) Cyprus and (ii) Germany in each of the last 10 years. [16077]
  695
  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 24 March 1995]: An average of three horses were transported to Germany each year between 1985 to 1992. Two ponies were transported to Cyprus in 1991 and one in 1994.

SCOTLAND

  Fisheries Protection
  Mr. MacDonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all the fisheries for which exclusion orders under the Freshwater and Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1976 are(a) currently in operation and (b) currently under request; if he will make a statement on the operation of public access agreements in each of these fisheries; and whether he is conducting a review of the situation regarding public access to the boats operated by the Aberfeldy Angling Club on the Tay. [15520]

  Sir Hector Monro
  The following protection orders made under the Freshwater and Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1976 are currently in force:

  The Rivers Tweed and Eye Protection Order 1980.

  The Upper Spey and Associated Waters Protection Order 1982.

  The River Lunan Catchment Area Protection Order 1983.

  The River Tummel Catchment Area Protection Order 1983.

  The River Tay Catchment Area Protection Order 1986.

  The West Strathclyde Protection Order 1988.

  The River Earn Catchment Area Protection Order 1990.

  The River Don Catchment Area (Part) Protection Order 1990.

  The Loch Morar and River Morar Protection Order 1992.

  The Loch Awe and Associated Waters Protection Order 1992.

  The River Clyde Catchment Area (Part) Protection Order 1994.

  The North West Sutherland Protection Order 1994.

  Applications for protection orders for Loch Arkaig and the River Arkaig, Middle River Spey, St. John's loch in Caithness and Loch Ruthven and Loch Choire are under consideration.

  The operation of public access to fishings in each area is considered regularly by a liaison committee. My Department is liaising with the Aberfeldy Angling Club on access to its fishings but not on boat access as no boats are operated by that club.

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas
  Mr. MacDonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what amount of environmentally sensitive area grant budget for 1994–95 is still uncommitted(a) in cash and (b) as a percentage of the budget; and if he will make a statement on underspending in the environmentally sensitive areas budget for 1993–94 and 1994–95.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Sufficient resources have been made available to enable eligible farmers and crofters in the designated areas to participate in the environmentally sensitive area scheme. Expenditure in 1994–95 is expected to be £1.16 million which represents almost 26 per cent. of the total provision of £4.5 million.

  The level of uptake has been lower than anticipated since additional environmentally sensitive areas were designated in 1993 and 1994, but we hope that more farmers and crofters will wish to take advantage of the scheme.

  Forestry Commission
  Mr. MacDonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list and give the acreage of Forestry Commission woodlands(a) currently scheduled for sale in Perthshire and (b) sold over the past five years. [15521]

  Sir Hector Monro
  The Forestry Commission records its land holdings by region, not by the former Scottish counties. The following Forestry Commission woodlands in Tayside region are currently for sale on the open market.

  Name of property

  Area (hectares)

  Camusericht

  304

  Dalguise (part)

  7

  Long Plantation, Crieff

  80

  Upper Glenprosen

  230

  Lists of the woodlands sold over the last five years, by region, are in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what level of Government support the Forestry Commission has received in each year since 1985; [15976]

  (2) what was the level of financial remuneration received from the Forestry Commission in each year since 1985. [15980]

  Sir Hector Monro
  The information is as follows:

  Year ended 31 March

  Grant-in-aid used by Forestry Commission (net) £ million

  Receipts from sale of Forestry Commission land payable into consolidated fund £ million

  Overall Government support (net) £ million

  1985

  54.0

  21.8

  32.2

  1986

  51.4

  17.2

  34.2

  1987

  51.2

  14.5

  36.7

  1988

  48.1

  13.1

  35.0

  1989

  53.5

  12.4

  41.1

  1990

  58.2

  12.9

  45.3

  1991

  74.3

  12.0

  62.3

  1992

  76.5

  14.9

  61.6

  1993

  97.1

  9.9

  87.2

  1994

  85.9

  17.3

  68.6

  Forestry Enterprise Framework Document
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place a copy of the Forestry Enterprise framework document in the Library; and what parliamentary scrutiny he now proposes the document will be subject to. [15994]

  Sir Hector Monro
  The framework document will be placed in the Library of the House when it is completed. Hon. Members will be able to raise it, like any other published document, in the House.

  Hunting
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will specify the areas of Forestry Commission land where the lease stipulates that(a) fox and (b) deer hunting must be allowed. [15978]

  Sir Hector Monro
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Food Poisoning
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 21 March,Official Report, column 168. how many cases of food poisoning were reported in 1994. [16296]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  A total of 4,098 cases of food poisoning were reported in Scotland in 1994.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ensure that his ministerial management information system for establishing objectives for his Department includes deregulation objectives(a) for him and (b) for each of the Ministers within his Department. [15571]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 27 March 1995]: My ministerial colleagues in the Scottish Office and I have implemented and keep ourselves fully informed of progress on a wide range of deregulation activity undertaken by the Department.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what targets he has for withdrawing regulations within his Department. [15555]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 27 March 1995]: The Scottish Office is fully committed to the deregulation initiative and operates a rolling programme of review of the regulations, forms and rules for which it has responsibility with a view to identifying scope for repeal or simplification.

  Woodland Planting
  Mr. Lord
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hectares of forestry or woodland have been planted by the private sector in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [16934]

  Sir Hector Monro
  The areas planted by the private sector with grant aid from the Forestry Commission were as follows:

  Year ended 31 March

  Area planted (hectares)

  1985

  19,095

  1986

  23,358

  1987

  23,618

  1988

  28,675

  1989

  29,942

  1990

  21,531

  1991

  22,542

  1992

  21,978

  1993

  23,369

  1994

  24,352

  Holyroodhouse
  Mrs Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total cost to his Department of the 698
  maintenance and running costs of Holyroodhouse, whether occupied or unoccupied, in the last five years; and what proportion of this sum is represented by employees' salaries. [16919]

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 28 March 1995]: My right hon. Friend is responsible for the cost of the maintenance of the fabric of the palace, for security and for the costs of utilities such as fuel and telephones. All other costs are met by the royal household.

  The information for the most recent five years is:

  Programme expenditure £

  Historic Scotland employee costs £

  Total £

  1990–91

  860,833

  288,636

  1,149,469

  1991–92

  723,000

  334,346

  1,057,346

  1992–93

  696,600

  338,530

  1,035,130

  1993–94

  693,215

  337,852

  1,031,067

  1994–951

  897,700

  345,124

  1,242,824

  1Estimate

  These costs include all expenditure directly attributable to the palace, but not professional and central administration.

  Habitats Directive
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the draft list of areas of special conservation and protection required under the EC habitats directive will be announced; what the length of the consultation period will be; on what date the draft list is due to be submitted to the European Commission; and if the consultation process can be extended beyond that date. [16925]

  Sir Hector Monro
  [holding answer 28 March 1995]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on behalf of the UK Environment Ministers will be making a statement to the House on these matters very shortly.

  Health Board Funding
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total allocation of funding to health boards in Scotland in each of the past five years; if he will show this in constant figures taking 1989 as base year; and if he will indicate the percentage levels of increase in real terms. [16050]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is set out in the table.

  Year

  Total allocation £ million

  At constant 1989 prices £ million

  Real terms increase Per cent.

  1990–91

  2,184.0

  2,021.9

  -0.5

  1991–92

  2,466.9

  2,148.9

  6.3

  1992–93

  2,621.9

  2,196.4

  2.2

  1993–94

  2,706.8

  2,200.4

  0.2

  1994–95

  2,869.9

  2,287.0

  3.9

  Body Scanners, Ayrshire
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what discussions the South Ayrshire Hospitals NHS trust had with Ayrshire and Arran health board and the North Ayrshire NHS trust prior to their agreement with Medical Support Ltd. for the provision of a magnetic resonance image scanner at the Ayr hospital, with special reference to the effect of the new facility on existing facilities; [16730]

  (2) when the South Ayrshire Hospitals trust first considered entering a contract with Ayrshire Medical Support Ltd. for the provision of a magnetic image resonancing facility at the Ayr hospital; and at what stage Ayrshire and Arran health board and the Scottish Office became involved in these discussions. [16732]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Discussions between those parties on service needs and on means of meeting these needs took place in November and December 1994. It was at the December meeting that the South Ayrshire trust representative indicated that the trust was proposing to purchase a fixed base scanner. My right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State was made aware of the proposal in February 1995.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland where magnetic resonance imaging facilities within the Ayrshire and Arran health board area and neighbouring health boards are based; and what is the nature of the current agreements and contracts for existing equipment. [16731]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  There are at present no fixed-base magnetic resonance imaging scanners in Ayrshire and Arran, Argyll and Clyde, Lanarkshire or Dumfries and Galloway. There are such fixed scanners in Glasgow and the Southern General hospital and Western infirmary and at Ross Hall and the Glasgow Nuffield hospital.

  The agreements for 1995–96 propose the increased use of the mobile magnetic resonance scanner alternating week about between Crosshouse hospital and Ayr hospital.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what control the South Ayrshire Hospitals trust has over Ayrshire Medical Support Ltd. as regards the provision of magnetic resonance imaging facilities at the Ayr hospital; if he will make a statement on the financial details of this contract, the contract's duration, the trust's liabilities under the contract; and for what reasons the South Ayrshire Hospitals trust opted for the involvement of the private sector in this facility. [16739]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The South Ayrshire Hospitals NHS trust will, through a contract, control the quality and price of the magnetic resonance imaging service from Ayrshire Medical Support Ltd. The contract details have still to be finalised.

  The trust's potential liability is limited to the loss of building lease income amounting to £20,000 per annum. The trust would seek to mitigate this loss, should it ever arise, by securing an alternative use for the premises.

  The trust believes that the new arrangements will result in an improved service to patients.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what process was used by Ayrshire and Arran health board to evaluate the decision of the South Ayrshire Hospitals trust to conclude the recent contract 700
  with Ayrshire Medical Support Ltd. and what additional resources are being awarded to the trust to enable it to meet its obligations under its contract with Ayrshire Medical Support Ltd. [16740]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The health board contracts with the South Ayrshire Hospitals NHS trust for the provision of magnetic resonance imaging services. It is open to the trust to make its own arrangements for securing that provision, subject to the health board being satisfied that the quality and price is contained within the sum made available for the current mobile service in 1995–96.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how the South Ayrshire Hospitals NHS trust will make resources available to meet its obligations under the terms of its contract with Ayrshire Medical Support Ltd. and if he will make a statement. [16741]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The trust will meet the costs of the service from Ayrshire Medical Support Ltd. as it will any other services, from the contract income it receives from its purchasers.

  NHS (Private Sector Involvement)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which NHS trusts have approached the Scottish Office with proposals for the involvement of private sector bodies in the provision of treatment facilities within NHS hospitals. [16736]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The following NHS trusts have approached the Scottish Office with proposals for the involvement of private sector bodies in the provision of treatment facilities within NHS hospitals.

  Dundee Teaching Hospitals

  Grampian Healthcare

  Law Hospital

  Hairmyres and Stonehouse

  Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh

  Edinburgh Healthcare

  Western General Hospitals

  Greater Glasgow Community and Mental Health Services

  South Ayrshire Hospitals

  However, there are other schemes in formative stages where trusts are yet to come to the Scottish Office with firm proposals.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance the Scottish Office has issued to Scottish health boards and NHS trusts relating to the involvement of private sector bodies in the provision of facilities for treatment within the NHS. [16737]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The NHS management executive in Scotland has issued a wide range of guidance to health boards and NHS trusts over the last two years on this topic. These circulars build on guidance provided by Her Majesty's Treasury.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions Ayrshire and Arran health board and the Scottish Office have had with other NHS trusts and health boards in the west of Scotland in relation to the conclusion of the contract between the South Ayrshire Hospitals NHS trust and Ayrshire Medical Support Ltd. and the long-term financial implications of this agreement to these bodies' operational budgets. [16738]
  701
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Neither the Ayrshire and Arran health board nor the Scottish Office has had discussions with any other health board or NHS trust about the services offered by Ayrshire Medical Support Ltd.

  NHS Trusts (Asset Disposals)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment the Scottish Office has made of the disposal of assets by Scottish NHS trusts; and if he will make a statement indicating for each health board in Scotland the asset disposals which have occurred for each NHS trust which his Department has approved, the value of the disposal in each case, the body to which the asset was sold and the utilisation made of the capital receipt in each case. [16733]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Property disposals by NHS trusts are assessed as required in the context of the NHS management executive's national oversight of NHS estate management in Scotland. In 1994–95, no disposal has been specifically approved by the management executive.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what powers of approval the Scottish Office has in relation to the disposal of assets by NHS trusts; and what involvement Scottish health boards have in this process. [16734]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has a reserve power to prevent the disposal of property where this would be against the interests of the NHS. This power applies only to assets valued at more than a specific threshold—currently £0.5 million—and the trust is required to notify the management executive of such planned disposals in its annual business plans.

  Total Education Expenditure

  Authorities

  1993–94 Final outturn actual £000

  1994–95 Budget estimates actual £000

  1994–95 Real terms at 1993–94 prices £000

  Actual increase Per cent.

  Real terms increase Per cent.

  Borders

  49,000

  50,181

  49,197

  2.41

  0.40

  Central

  129,577

  129,297

  126,762

  -0.22

  -2.17

  Dumfries and Galloway

  73,196

  72,996

  71,565

  -0.27

  -2.23

  Fife

  166,671

  167,369

  164,087

  0.42

  -1.55

  Grampian

  249,057

  250,572

  245,659

  0.61

  -1.36

  Highland

  115,612

  114,646

  112,398

  -0.84

  -2.78

  Lothian

  326,297

  324,327

  317,968

  -0.60

  -2.55

  Strathclyde

  1,078,254

  1,103,418

  1,081,782

  2.33

  0.33

  Tayside

  178,802

  180,690

  177,147

  1.06

  -0.93

  Regions

  2,366,466

  2,393,496

  2,346,565

  1.14

  -0.84

  Orkney

  13,438

  15,148

  14,851

  12,73

  10.51

  Shetland

  24,271

  24,478

  23,998

  0.85

  -1.12

  Western

  26,729

  27,344

  26,808

  2.30

  0.29

  Islands

  64,438

  66,970

  65,657

  3.93

  1.89

  Total

  2,430,904

  2,460,466

  2,412,222

  1.22

  -0.77

  Notes:

  1. The figures for 1993–94 are final outturns, and are net current expenditure figures, including loan and leasing charges.

  2. The 1994–95 figures are budget estimates on the same basis.

  3. The 1994–95 budget figures were converted to real terms using Her Majesty's Treasury GDP deflators dated 30 November 1994.
  702
  In addition, certain types of disposal by trusts are covered by notification requirements contained in the NHS property transactions handbook issued in May 1993 by the NHS management executive. The property transactions handbook provides for the involvement of boards where they have an interest in the disposal concerned, for example if there are relevant service considerations.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance has been issued by his Department to NHS trusts and health boards in Scotland in relation to the disposal of assets by these bodies. [16735]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The current guidance on NHS property disposals in Scotland is contained in the property transactions handbook, issued in May 1993 by the NHS management executive.

  Constituency Visits
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all the visits he has made since the start of the current parliamentary Session to the constituencies of other hon. Members without prior warning to these hon. Members for any purpose connected with his departmental responsibilities. [15022]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 21 March 1995]: None. My office always informs the local Member of Parliament of my forthcoming visit to their constituency once arrangements have been finalised.

  Education Expenditure
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much is currently spent on education in each local education authority; and to what extent this has changed in relation to last year's figures in(a) real and (b) percentage terms. [16790]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The information is set out in the table. The comparable information for 1995–96 is not yet available.

  Bilateral Aid Programmes
  Bilateral Aid Programmes
  Biodiversity: ODA Support
  Biodiversity: ODA Support
  World Summit for Social Development: Work Bank and IMF Commitments
  World Summit for Social Development: Work Bank and IMF Commitments
  China: Population Control
  China: Population Control
  Turkey: Alevi Minority
  Turkey: Alevi Minority
  Nuclear Weapons and Stability in Europe
  Nuclear Weapons and Stability in Europe
  Tuzla Airfield: Alleged NATO Report
  Tuzla Airfield: Alleged NATO Report
  Carers: Support
  Carers: Support
  War Crimes
  War Crimes
  Neighbour Noise
  Neighbour Noise
  Local Authority Capping Limits: Judicial Review
  Local Authority Capping Limits: Judicial Review
  HM Inspectorate of Pollution: Revised Charges
  HM Inspectorate of Pollution: Revised Charges
  Sustainable Development Panel Report
  Sustainable Development Panel Report
  Tourist Boards: Grants for 1995/96
  Tourist Boards: Grants for 1995/96
  Imperial War Museum Film Archives
  Imperial War Museum Film Archives
  MoD Housing: Disposal
  MoD Housing: Disposal