Written Answers of 30 March 1995

EMPLOYMENT

  Employment Service
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when the Employment Service annual performance agreement for 1995–96 will be published. [17944]

  Mr. Portillo
  I have today placed copies of the 1995–96 Employment Service annual performance agreement in the Library. The new targets will require the ES to build on this year?s extremely good performance and will challenge it to improve its effectiveness in the coming year. I have set a demanding target of placing a record 1.9 million unemployed people in jobs in the 12 months from April. Related targets for placing long-term claimants and people with disabilities will also call for even higher levels of achievement.

  Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to receive the annual report for the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. [17945]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I have received the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service report for 1994, which will be laid before both Houses on Monday 3 April 1995. The report will be released to the public on 4 April 1995—copies will then be available from the Vote Office.

  Gloucestershire TEC
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress Gloucestershire training and enterprise council is making in meeting the criteria for the award of a three-year licence. [18052]

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

  Child Care
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the child care or nursery facilities within his Department; and what is the breakdown in their use(a) by grade and (b) by gender. [15244]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The Employment Department group currently supports six workplace nurseries run either solely or in partnership with other Government Departments or outside organisations and has bought a number of places in other nurseries. The ED group is also involved in over 50 holiday playschemes and provides financial help with additional child care costs incurred 704
  through attending training courses and other work-based events. The information requested about those using the provision is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Health and Safety Commission
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will place in the Library the memorandum of evidence which was produced for the preparation of HSC report 92/129. [17334]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  No. The memorandum of evidence and the report itself are internal, confidential, management advice prepared by the Health and Safety Executive for the Health and Safety Commission.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he met(a) the TUC or (b) the CBI to consider HSC report 92/129 and how many times the HSC has met to consider the report since its completion.

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I have not met either the TUC or the CBI to discuss the Health and Safety Commission?s report 92/129. I understand that the HSC has considered the report on two occasions since its completion.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will place in the Library, Health and Safety Executive?s paper HSC 92/129 relating to the privatisation and contractorisation of the Health and Safety Executive functions. [17327]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  No. The Health and Safety Commission report 91/129 is internal, confidential, management advice prepared by the Health and Safety Executive for the HSC.

  Health and Safety Executive
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many Department of Employment group-wide promotion panel hearings have been held in each of the last 10 years for the purpose of appointing Health and Safety Executive executive officers. [17323]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  None. All group-wide panels for promotion to executive officer have been arranged to fill vacancies throughout the Employment Department group.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many current executive officers in the Health and Safety Executive have entered the executive officer grade without going before a Department of Employment group-wide formal promotion panel hearing. [17324]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Thirty-six current executive officers in the Health and Safety Executive entered the executive officer grade without going before an Employment Department group-wide formal promotion panel.

  Entry to the executive officer grade can be by direct entry on the basis of educational qualifications and passing an interview, or by appearing before a properly constituted promotion board.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 24 January,Official Report, column 180, if he can confirm (a) that the information requested on 19 January is contained in the Health and Safety Executive?s SHIELD computer database and (b) that similar requests for information tabled by the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr. Bennett) have previously been answered. [17328]
  705
  Mr. Oppenheim
  Some of the information to which I referred in my reply of 24 January,Official Report, column 180, will for the Health and Safety Executive?s field operations division, be on the SHIELD database; the rest will be kept in paper files. Inspectorates in other HSE divisions will keep information both on separate database and in paper files.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish details of(a) the Health and Safety Executives?s contracted-out advice helpline planned to commence in September, (b) the cost of the helpline in a full financial year and (c) details of the company awarded the contract. [17325]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Heath and Safety Executive is currently advertising for firms which are interested in providing a telephone information line. The firms which may wish to participate, details of the way that the service will operate and the costs will be established only by responses to the advertisement and the subsequent contracting process.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment pursuant to his answer of 24 January,Official Report, column 184, if he will publish details of the value of the contract between the Health and Safety Executive and the Norwich offshore safety division of Manpower. [17330]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The offshore safety division of the Health and Safety Executive has placed a contract for six clerical support posts at its Norwich office with Manpower plc. The value of the contract is commercially confidential.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will(a) publish or (b) place in the Library the EMAS feasibility study; and when the prior options study of EMAS activities will be published. [17336]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The employment medical advisory service feasibility and the prior options studies are one and the same thing. The EMAS feasibility study, when complete, will be internal, confidential, management advice to the Health and Safety Executive and the commission, and will not be published or placed in the Library.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will(a) publish the proposed salary to be awarded to the new director general of the Health and Safety Executive, (b) state what percentage increase the gross salary awarded will be in relation to the current director general?s gross salary and (c) state whether the proposed award breaches the Health and Safety Executive?s declared pay norm for staff of 1.5 per cent. in the financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96. [17329]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The salaries of the current director general for the period after 1 April 1995 and of a new appointee have not yet been determined, but they will be made publicly available in the normal way. There has been no declaration of a pay norm of 1.5 per cent. for Health and Safety Executive staff in the financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96.

  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the future of the Health and Safety Executive library in Buxton, Derbyshire. [17326]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Health and Safety Executive does not have a library in Buxton, Derbyshire.
  706
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 24 January,Official Report, column 178 (a) how many of the 60 principal inspector?s posts have been advertised for each of the Health and Safety Executive regions; and (b) by what dates he expects all posts to be advertised and filled. [17331]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Further to my answer of 24 January 1995,Official Report, column 178, no principal inspector?s posts have been advertised.

  "Investors in People" Award
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the Health and Safety Executive application to receive an "Investors in People" award has been successful. [17335]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Health and Safety Executive is working towards gaining accreditation as an investor in people.

  Greenwich Refugee and Training Project
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if money provided by the Home Secretary in pursuance of his statutory powers can be appropriated to meet a debt due to him under other statutory provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matters relating to the Greenwich refugee and training project raised in a recent letter from the hon. Member for Woolwich. [17338]

  Mr. Paice
  It is for the receiver to decide whether the Home Office ethnic minority grant funding is part of the assets held by him and to determine the correct course of action. If it is part of the assets available for the payment of creditors it is for the receiver to determine how these assets will be used to pay creditors in accordance with his statutory duties.

  South Thames TEC
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, what sums are due to Woolwich college for contracts entered into with South Thames TEC; and if he will make a statement. [17339]

  Mr. Paice
  The amount of money owing to any individual contractors for work carried out under contract to South Thames training and enterprise council is a matter for the receiver.

  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders will be fully reimbursed for any extension of contract authorised by the receiver or the Government office for London for provision of training by the new careers project; and if he will make a statement. [17337]

  Mr. Paice
  The Government office for London has asked the receiver of South Thames training and enterprise council to continue to provide training services until 24 April 1995. How this will be arranged is a matter for the receiver. All training for work and youth training credits providers were sent a letter by the receiver on 21 and 22 March 1995 outlining the new arrangements and enclosing new contracts where appropriate.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Commonwealth Aid Programmes
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he supplies training and technical assistance to Commonwealth countries for the purpose of enforcement of CITES as part of the Commonwealth aid programmes; and if he will make a statement. [16938]

  Mr. Baldry
  The Overseas Development Administration supports a number of development activities which promote the conservation of endangered species and the strengthening of customs authorities in developing countries. However, it has no projects with the specific objective of assisting the enforcement of CITES.

  Yemen
  Mr. Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those projects together with the financial amounts that the Overseas Development Agency funded in Yemen prior to the suspension of aid; and if he will make a statement. [16742]

  Mr. Baldry
  Projects on which expenditure was continuing when our aid personnel were withdrawn from Yemen on the outbreak of civil war in May 1994 were:

  Planned duration year

  Total commitment £

  National Veterinary Service Development Project: phase IV

  1990–1995

  8,500,000

  Public Electricity Corporation: management assistance and training:

  1992–1995

  2,750,000

  Sana'a University Professional English Teaching:

  1991–1994

  1,360,000

  English for Development: English Language Teaching:

  1993–1994

  118,000

  Aden University: training of English Teachers:

  1991–1994

  490,000

  Mr. Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has to restore Overseas Development Agency funding for the Yemen with specific reference to the Sana'a university English training project; and if he will make a statement. [16743]

  Mr. Baldry
  In my reply to the hon. Member for Surrey East, (Mr. Ainsworth) on 20 March,Official Report, column 86, I announced that we would be resuming our aid programme in Yemen. We shall review with the Government of Yemen how best to use the available funds. Possible further funding for the Sana?a university professional English training project is amongst the small projects to be included in this review.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Child Care
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the child care or nursery facilities within his Department; and what is the breakdown in their use(a) by grade and (b) by gender. [15241]

  Mr. Horam
  The child care and nursery facilities within the Departments and agencies for which my right hon. Friend is responsible and other areas which fall to the Cabinet Office vote are as follows. Workplace nurseries are available to staff at the Civil Service college and Chessington computer centre. HMSO staff use a nursery in partnership with a local college. Holiday playschemes are available to all staff working in Departmental buildings in London and in Norwich.

  Following is a breakdown by grade and gender of staff who use the nursery facilities.

  Agency

  Grade/band

  Gender

  Civil Service College

  1 x Grade 6

  All Female

  1 x Grade 7

  1 x SEO

  2 x HEO

  5 x EO

  3 x AO

  1 x PS

  HMSO

  1 x 11

  Male

  2 x 10

  2 Female

  4 x 9

  2 Male: 2 Female

  5 x 8

  1 Male: 4 Female

  9 x 7

  5 Male: 4 Female

  2 x 6

  2 Female

  5 x 5

  2 Male: 3 Female

  Chessington

  1 x SHO

  Male

  Computer Centre

  5 x HWO

  1 Male: 4 Female

  10 x EO

  5 Male: 5 Female

  5 x AO

  1 Male: 4 Female

  1 x AA

  Female

  Information Technology Advisory Board
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the membership of the Information Technology Advisory Board at the time of its disbanding in March 1994; and for which companies each member was employed. [17318]

  Mr. Horam
  Following are the names of the members of the board at the time of its disbanding.

  Name of Member

  Company

  Professor J. M. Brady

  Department of Engineering Science, Oxford University

  Professor M. Atkinson

  Department of Computer Science, Glasgow University

  Dr. K. Baughan

  Nokia Mobile Phones

  Professor M. J. Cardwell

  Department of Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics, Aston University

  Professor M. Denham

  Department of Computing, University of Plymouth

  Professor W. Eccleston

  Department of Electronics and Engineering, Liverpool University

  Mr. G. Hayes

  TSB Bank plc

  Professor J. J. O?Reilly

  School of Engineering and Science, University College of north Wales

  709

  Name of Member

  Company

  Professor R. H. Perrott

  School of Electrical and Computer Science, Queen?s University of Belfast

  Dr. I. L. Robertson

  Electronics and Information Technology Division, British Technology Group

  Dr. J. Taylor

  Hewlett Packard Laboratories

  Mr. M. Thomas

  Praxis, plc

  Ms J. E. Tozer

  Softwright

  Mr. A. O. Ward

  British Aerospace Military Aircraft Ltd.

  Civil Service (Equality of Opportunity)
  Mr. Sykes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the progress towards achieving equality of opportunity for women staff in the civil service. [17803]

  Mr. David Hunt
  Considerable progress has been made since the first programme for action to achieve equality of opportunity for women in the civil service was launched in 1984. Women now represent 51.3 per cent. of staff in the non-industrial home civil service compared with 47.7 per cent. in 1984. Women?s participation is also increasing in the management grades, with almost 10 per cent. at grades 1 to 3 compared with under 5 per cent. 10 years ago. Nearly half of executive officer level posts—the first step in the management rung—are now held by women. Indeed, a huge range of complex jobs is being carried out by ambitious, committed women in all grades up to the very top.

  A report on the progress made since 1984 towards achieving equality of opportunity for women in the civil service was published yesterday. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Obsolete Restrictive Covenants
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor?s Department how the Government have responded to the Law Commission report on obsolete restrictive covenants of 16 July 1991, Law Com 201; and if he intends to respond further. [16158]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Government have received a number of comments on this report, and are discussing these with the Law Commission. An announcement will be made when those discussions are concluded.

  Child Care
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor?s Department what are the child care or nursery facilities within his Department; and what is the breakdown in their use(a) by grade and (b) by gender. [15229]
  710
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor?s Department has access to 12 nursery facilities for pre-school children and 18 holiday playschemes for children of primary school age. A breakdown of the staff using these facilities, by grade and gender is shown in the following table:

  Breakdown of staff using Departmental child care facilities

  Grade

  Male

  Female

  Grade 5

  1

  0

  Grade 6

  0

  1

  Grade 7

  3

  2

  SEO

  1

  4

  HEO

  4

  10

  EO

  1

  20

  AO

  4

  27

  AA

  0

  3

  Personal Secretary

  0

  1

  Typist

  0

  7

  Bailiff

  1

  0

  Support Grades

  0

  3

  Legal Aid
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor?s Department what are the total sums of money(a) recouped and (b) charged against properties by the Legal Aid Board in matrimonial cases, for the last five years for which figures are available. [16114]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The total amounts retained by the Legal Aid Board in respect of charges under section 16(6) of the Legal Aid Act 1988 in matrimonial proceedings were as follows:

  1989–90: £24.2 million

  1990–91: £24.7 million

  1991–92: £27.9 million

  1992–93: £34.6 million

  1993–94: £37.1 million

  These figures include money received in satisfaction of registered charges during each year.

  The total amounts registered against properties in respect of all proceedings were as follows:

  1989–90: £9.2 million

  1990–91: £11.6 million

  1991–92: £16.9 million

  1992–93: £25.6 million

  1993–94: £26.7 million

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what sums of money are allocated by the Legal Aid Board for matrimonial and ancillary relief cases, for the last five years for which figures are available. [16113]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  It is not possible to provide net expenditure figures in respect of ancillary relief matters alone. Net expenditure in respect of matrimonial cases, including ancillary relief, for the last five years are as follows.

  1989–90: £87.5 million

  1990–91: £108.6 million

  1991–92: £150.5 million

  1992–93: £207.2 million

  1993–94: £266.7 million

  Courts Service
  Mr. Nick Hawkins
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Court Service is to be established as an executive agency. [18008]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Further to my answer of 27 May 1993 to my hon. Friend the Member for Shoreham (Mr. Stephen),Official Report, 27 May 1993, column 657, I am please to confirm that the Lord Chancellor will establish the Court Service as an executive agency on 3 April 1995. I will arrange for a copy of the framework document for the Court Service to be placed in the Library. The following table sets out the key performance targets which the Lord Chancellor has set for the Court Service for 1995–96:

  The Court Service—key performance targets for 1995–96

  Business area

  Performance indicator

  Target

  Crown Court

  1. Percentage of defendants committed for trial waiting 16 weeks or less

  70 per cent.

  2. Unit cost of a productive courtroom hour

  £462.40

  County Courts

  3. Percentage of administrative process dealt with within target time

  90 per cent.

  4. Unit cost of an hour of administrative work as measured by the Business Management System

  £53.39

  High Court

  5. Percentage of administrative process dealt with within target time

  93 per cent.

  Enforcement

  6. Number of warrants paid as a percentage of number of correctly directed warrants

  65 per cent.

  Quality

  7. Percentage of courts meeting all Courts Charter Standards

  95 per cent.

  Cost recovery

  8. Percentage of the costs of civil business recovered

  75 per cent.

HEALTH

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number of people directly employed by her Department and by executive agencies accountable to her Department, expressed as full-time equivalent posts for(a) 1990–91, (b) 1991–92, (c) 1992–93 and (d) 1993–94; and if she will give the projected figures for (i) 1994–95, (ii) 1995–96 and (iii) 1996–97. [16091]

  Mr. Sackville
  The information requested is shown in the tables.
  712

  Years

  Total DH

  Non agency

  Agencies

  Previous Figures

  April 19901

  5,388

  5,134

  254

  April 19911

  4,651

  4,339

  312

  April 19921

  4,803

  4,172

  631

  April 19931

  4,846

  3,682

  1,164

  April 19941

  4,672

  3,283

  1,389

  Projected Figures

  April 1995

  4,550

  3,113

  1,437

  April 1996

  4,294

  2,881

  1,413

  April 1997

  4,039

  2,677

  1,362

  Source:

  1 Department of Health Staff in Post Data.

  Subject to Parliament's consent to the Health Authorities Bill, 1,100 staff from the current regional health authorities will transfer into the Department on 1 April 1996.

  Departmental Annual Report
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (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; [16644]

  (2) what was the cost of producing and circulating the departmental annual report for each of the last 10 years in real terms. [16645]

  Mr. Sackville
  Departmental reports were published for the first time in 1991. The five reports to date of the Department of Health and the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys have been published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, which has borne the main printing and publication costs with the aim of recovering these from the sales revenue.

  The table shows the additional costs incurred by the Department of Health, in relation to the associated artwork.

  Year

  Artwork costs of Departmental (£–in 1994–95 prices)

  1991

  852

  1992

  1,541

  1993

  1,081

  1994

  1,132

  1995

  1,969

  Some 3,150 copies of the 1995 departmental report, Cm 2812, have been printed and published.

  Copies have been laid before Parliament and circulated to regional and district health authorities, family health services authorities, national health service trusts, social services departments, and members of the press.

  HMSO has produced just over 1,300 further copies at a price of £18.40 net; sales of these are a matter for it.

  Special Needs
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she is taking to implement facilities for orthoptists to deal with special needs children in conjunction with education authorities. [16594]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Education Act 1993 introduced a duty on health authorities and national health service trusts to co-operate with local education authorities in the assessment of children with special educational needs. A
  713
  code of practice issued under the Act emphasises the need for external consultation when children are suspected of having visual difficulties and there are well-established arrangements within child health services for referral to orthoptists and, where necessary, ophthalmologists.

  Malaria
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when malaria protection for travellers ceased to be available under the national health service. [16239]

  Mr. Sackville
  Advice on the precautions which should be taken when travelling to a malarious area continues to be available under the national health service. The regulations—SI 1995/80—giving general practitioners the power to charge for drugs for malaria prophylaxis, and thus ending NHS provision of anti-malarial drugs for travellers, came into effect on 6 February. Patients who have contracted illnesses requiring the same drug therapy, such as malaria or rheumatoid arthritis, will continue to receive these drugs on the NHS.

  NHS Purchasing
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by the NHS on purchasing care from non-NHS bodies in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [16888]

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 9 December 1994, column 401. This information was not available centrally prior to 1991–92.

  Child Care
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the child care or nursery facilities within her Department; and what is the breakdown in their use(a) by grade and (b) by gender. [15228]

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department provides the following childcare facilities for its staff: 43 nursery places; holiday playschemes each half term and major school holidays; a child care co-ordinator to provide Leeds-based staff with advice on local child care facilities and a subscription to "Childcare Solutions", an information service on child care facilities available nationally. Except for nursery places, records of usage of child care facilities are not kept by grade and gender. The table shows the current allocation of nursery places by grade and gender.

  Grade

  Male

  Female

  G7

  2

  2

  SEO

  2

  1

  HEO

  2

  5

  EO

  4

  8

  AO

  —

  1

  AA

  —

  1

  SPES

  —

  1

  PES

  —

  8

  NHS Hospitals
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS hospitals there were in England(a) by region and (b) in total in each year since 1979. [17068]

  Mr. Sackville
  Information on the number of hospitals in England by region is as shown in the table.

  Approximate number of hospitals on 31 March 1994

  NHS region

  Approximate number

  Northern and Yorkshire

  230

  Trent

  115

  Anglia and Oxford

  120

  North Thames

  190

  South Thames

  190

  South and West

  320

  West Midlands

  140

  North West

  135

  Total

  1,440

  Figures include an estimate for incomplete returns.

  This information was not available centrally for previous years.

  Accident and Emergency Treatments
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been(a) the percentage change of accident and emergency treatments and (b) the total number for each region in each of the last three years. [17082]

  Mr. Sackville
  The information on activity in accident and emergency departments is for new attendances and total attendances. Regional information for each of the last three years is published in table 8 of "Outpatients and Ward attenders, England, Financial Year 1993–94", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Publicity
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 17 March,Official Report, column 742, what was the total expenditure on all forms of publicity by her Department and its agencies for (a) 1992–93 and (b) 1993–94. [17245]

  Mr. Sackville
  Expenditure on publicity for 1992–93 and 1993–94 is as follows:

  Year

  £ million

  1992–93

  19.053

  1993–94

  19.147

  This largely represents public health campaigns; information for the national health service, general practitioners and the medical professions.

EDUCATION

  Child Care
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the child care or nursery facilities within her Department; and what is the breakdown in their use(a) by grade and (b) by gender. [15243]
  715
  Mr. Forth
  London based staff are able to use the Westminster holiday play scheme, which is organised by the Office of Public Service and Science. The cost of places is shared equally by parents and the Department.

  Darlington-based staff have access to a holiday play scheme which was set up at the instigation of the Department for Education. Places are shared with civil servants working in the Darlington area.

  The table provides a separate breakdown of usage of the holiday play schemes in London and Darlington for (a) grade and (b) gender.

  Number

  London

  (a)

  Grade 7

  2

  HEO

  4

  EO

  3

  AO

  1

  Personal Secretary

  2

  Support Grade

  1

  (b)

  Four male and nine female staff

  —

  Darlington

  (a)

  SEO

  4

  HEO

  5

  EO

  6

  AO

  21

  AA

  3

  Typist

  1

  Support Grade

  1

  (b)

  Five male and 36 female staff

  —

  The figures are of staff using the holiday play scheme for their children on one or more occasions for the year ending 28 February 1995.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the average number of days worked per week by the chairmen of each non-departmental public body sponsored by her Department. [17353]

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

  Non-departmental Public Body

  Number of days expected to be worked per week averaged over a year1

  Adult Literacy and Basic Skills Unit

  20.25

  Centre for Information on Language Teaching

  20.1

  Education Assets Board

  3

  Funding Agency for Schools

  2

  Further Education Unit

  21.7

  Further Education Funding Council

  2

  716

  Non-departmental Public Body

  Number of days expected to be worked per week averaged over a year1

  Higher Education Funding Council in England

  2

  National Council for Education Technology

  20.35

  National Youth Agency

  0.4

  School Curriculum Assessment Authority

  2.5

  Special Educational Needs Tribunal

  32

  Teacher Training Agency

  1

  University Commissioners

  2 4—

  1 Chairmen can often work for more days than is usually expected of them.

  2 These chairmen are unpaid. The others are either paid or receive an honorarium.

  3The President of the SEN tribunal is appointed by the Lord Chancellor's Department.

  4The main body of work carried out by the commissioners ended in 1993–94. The chairman will work on an ad hoc basis until the residual work is completed.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what was the total number of staff employed by all non-departmental public bodies sponsored by her Department, including the National Council for Vocational Qualifications and Ofsted, for each year since 1987; [17249]

  (2) if she will list the names and most recent salaries and other emoluments of the chief executives and chairmen of the (a) National Youth Agency, (b) National Council for Vocational Qualifications, (c) National Council for Education Technology, (d) Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research, (e) Education Assets Board, (f) School Curriculum and Assessment Authority, (g) teaching as a career unit, (h) Further Education Funding Council, (i) Higher Education Funding Council for England, (j) Funding Agency for Schools, (k) Teacher Training Agency and (i) Ofsted; [17247]

  (3) if she will give the total expenditure on the salaries and other emoluments of the chief executives and the chairmen of all non-departmental public bodies sponsored by her Department, including the National Council for Vocational Qualifications and Ofsted, for each year since 1987. [17250]

  Mr. Boswell
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible with the information requested.

  Mr. Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the total running costs of all non-departmental public bodies sponsored by her Department including the National Council for Vocational Qualifications and Ofsted for each year since 1987. [17248]

  Mr. Boswell
  The National Council for Vocational Qualifications is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.

  I will write to the hon. Member with information on running costs of the non-departmental public bodies sponsored by this Department as soon as possible.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will make a statement on future funding for grant-maintained schools. [17984]

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  I am pleased to announce that the Government propose to introduce legislation amending the Education Act 1993 to allow
  717
  grant-maintained schools to borrow from sources other than the Funding Agency for Schools. This measure opens the way for increased business investment in schools in accordance with the Government's private finance initiative. Local education authorities can already, within limits, borrow commercially and fund their school capital programmes from a mix of capital receipts, revenue monies and borrowing. GM schools are at present almost entirely dependent on central Government grant.

  GM schools have expressed keen interest in the possibility of commercial borrowing. They have demonstrated that they are able to manage their own budgets effectively, and it is right that they should be able to benefit from the flexibility that such legislation will bring. Vital schools assets must of course be protected, and the new arrangements will provide for that.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what factors led to the inclusion in the calculation of grants for mature students of student loans; and if she will make a statement. [17220]

  Mr. Boswell
  The Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations, which govern the payment of mandatory awards, require that account be taken of a student's income from all sources reduced by income tax and social security contributions. Student loans, however, are specifically disregarded for the purpose of calculating a student's income.

  Schools Science Week
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the cost to her Department of the Schools Science Week. [17187]

  Mr. Forth
  None. Support for national science week is a matter for the Office of Science and Technology.

  Special Needs
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans her Department has to increase resourcing for the implementation of the special needs code of practice. [17217]

  Mr. Forth
  The grant for education support and training programme in England in 1994–95 includes support of £5.6 million to enable schools to develop their policies for special educational needs in the light of the code of practice, and support of £3.7 million to enable LEAs to develop local parent-partnership schemes as recommended in the code of practice. These figures will be increased respectively to £10.2 million and £4 million, in 1995–96.

  Statutory References
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what statutory references to hon. Members have been made in the legislation introduced by her Department, or its predecessors, since 1965. [17040]

  Mr. Forth
  It is extremely unlikely that the Education Acts contain any reference to an individual hon. Member. There are frequent statutory references to Parliament and to officers of state where functions are conferred upon them. Information on references to Parliament, individual 718
  hon. Members or officers of sate could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  References to the House of Commons, as opposed to references to Parliament or "either House of Parliament", are rare.

  Teacher Quality (Universities)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many university departments have failed to achieve a satisfactory rating for their teaching quality. [16898]

  Mr. Boswell
  Under the assessment arrangements operated by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, three university departments have failed to achieve a satisfactory rating for teaching quality out of over 600 assessments and one of those has subsequently been regraded as satisfactory on a follow up visit, over 99 per cent. of assessed provision is graded as satisfactory or better.

  Padstow School
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) when she expects to notify the Nottinghamshire county council of her decision on the proposals for Padstow school published on 30 June 1994; and if she will make a statement; [16664]

  (2) when she expects to notify the Nottinghamshire county council of her decision on the proposals for Padstow school published on 30 June 1994; and if she will make a statement. [16664]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Nottinghamshire county council was notified in a letter dated 23 March that my right hon. Friend proposed to give grant-maintained status to Padstow comprehensive school and, subject to the governor's agreement to certain modifications, to reject the proposal published on 30 June 1994 to cease to maintain the school.

TREASURY

  Balance of Trade
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the Untied Kingdom's balance of trade and its effect on the economy. [15287]

  Mr. Aitken
  Our balance of payments figures show a current account surplus of £2 billion in the last six months. Exports are growing by 13 per cent. These excellent results have contributed to the UK's gross domestic product growth of around 4 per cent.

  Self-assessment for Tax
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evidence he has that payment on tax through self-assessment is likely to improve the tax collection rate. [15290]

  Sir George Young
  Tax collection should be streamlined by moving to a current year basis of assessment and through self-assessment by largely removing the lengthy process of estimated assessments and appeals.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Mark Robinson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the contribution which the private finance initiative could make to(a) infrastructure and (b) other projects by the end of the decade. [15291]

  Sir George Young
  My right hon. and learned Friend announced in his Budget speech that contracts leading to £5 billion worth of capital investment are due to be signed in 1995 under the PFI. He announced a further £1 billion of projects in January. Much more will follow as PFI becomes the procurement route of choice.

  Tax Increases
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on the economy of the direct and indirect tax rises announced in the 1994 Budget statement. [15292]

  Sir George Young
  The tax changes announced in the 1994 Budget statement are expected to have a broadly neutral effect on the economy.

  Direct Taxation
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the effect on the economy of changes in the level of direct taxation since 1979; and if he will make a statement. [15293]

  Sir George Young
  Since 1979, we have reduced the standard rate of income tax from 33p in the pound to 25p in the pound, and a loser rate of 20p in the pound now covers over 5 million people. We have also reduced the main corporation tax rate, from 52 per cent. to 33 per cent. These changes have improved incentives and helped the supply side.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect recent changes in interest rates have had on the economy. [15294]

  Mr. Nelson
  The recent rises in interest rates are intended to ensure inflation remains under control and healthy economy recovery is sustained.

  Alcohol Smuggling
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress Customs and Excise has made in the past 12 months in tackling cross-border smuggling of alcohol. [15295]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Customs and Excise has continued to take vigorous action against those engaged in cross-border smuggling of alcohol. In the 12 months to 31 January 1995, it made 910 detections related to alcohol with a review value of £1,970,953.

  Government Debt
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the gross general Government debt as a percentage of gross domestic product for European Union member states in 1994 in descending order. [15296]

  Mr. Aitken
  The information requested is shown in the following table. This shows that among EU member 720
  states, only Luxembourg has a lower debt-GDP ratio than the United Kingdom.

  Gross general Government debt up to 1994 as a percentage of GDP

  Belgium

  140

  Italy

  124

  Greece

  121

  Ireland

  89

  Sweden

  79

  Netherlands

  79

  Denmark

  78

  Portugal

  70

  Finland

  70

  Spain

  64

  Austria

  65

  Germany

  51

  France

  50

  United Kingdom1

  49

  Luxembourg

  9

  Source:

  1 End March 1995

  For UK, excessive deficits return 1 March 1995; for other EU countries, European Commission Economic Forecast, November 1994.

  Personal Debt
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present level of personal debt in the United Kingdom. [15297]

  Mr. Nelson
  At the end of December 1994, total personal sector debt was £523 billion. Personal sector financial assets were £1,645 billion.

  Inheritance Tax
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of money raised via inheritance tax for the last year for which figures are available. [15298]

  Sir George Young
  Net receipts of inheritance tax for the year ending March 1995 are provisionally estimated at £1,425 million.

  Gaming Machines
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the income in 1995–96 from the tax on fruit machines and other game machines in public houses; and if this estimate takes into account the withdrawal of some machines as a result of his proposals. [15299]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The 1995–96 forecast for all betting and gaming duties in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" is £1.2 billion. This figure takes account of policy measures announced in the Budget; there are no separate forecasts for the different duties.

  Direct Taxation
  Mr. Brandreth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he had made of the effect on the economy of reductions in the levels of direct taxation since 1979; and if he will make a statement. [15301]

  Sir George Young
  Since 1979, we have reduced the standard rate of income tax from 33p in the pound to 25p
  721
  in the pound, and a lower rate of 2p in the pound now covers over 5 million people. We have also reduced the main corporation tax rate, from 52 per cent. to 33 per cent. These changes have improved incentives and helped the supply side.

  Small Businesses
  Sir Donald Thompson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the progress of measures to help small business announced in his November 1993 and 1994 Budgets. [15302]

  Mr. Aitken
  The Government have taken action to implement all measures aimed at small businesses announced in the November 1993 and 1994 Budgets. Progress on the main measures is as follows:Enterprise Investment Scheme
  The scheme, announced in 1993 and enhanced in the 1994 Budget, has been implemented with effect from 1 January 1994. Early indications are that, on average, companies are raising £80,000 under the EIS and over 50 per cent. of EIS equity issues involve a business angel.
  Venture Capital Trusts
  The necessary legislation is expected to come into force from 6 April 1995 following Royal Assent.
  Relaxation of audit requirements
  In August 1994, regulations were introduced exempting most small companies with a turnover of up to £350,000 from the statutory requirement to have their annual accounts audited; companies with a turnover of up to £90,000 may dispense with audit altogether, while the remainder only need a simple report by an independent accountant.
  Prompt payment
  A package of measures aimed at improving payment performance in the public sector has now been implemented. The Government are also working with the business community through a CBI working group to develop proposals for a British standard for prompt payment; consulting on the implementation of a requirement on public companies to state their payment policies in their directors' reports and reviewing court systems and procedures for debt recovery. These measures are aimed at bringing about a change in business culture and hence, shorter payment times.
  Insolvency reform
  A further consultation paper will be issued shortly.
  Financial Management Certificate
  A consultation paper will be issued shortly.
  Loan Guarantee Scheme
  A consultation document was issued on 10 March.

  Small businesses have also benefited from the various tax measures and refinements announced in these budgets and from the continuation of the scheme of transitional relief to ease the impact of the revaluation in business rates.

  Feel-good Factor
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of when the feel-good factor will permeate the economy. [15303]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I believe that consumer confidence will strengthen as people come to feel more secure about their jobs and living standards. This will happen progressively through sustained economic growth, which Government policies are achieving.

  Privatised Utilities (Executive Pay)
  Ms. Church
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what new proposal he has with regard to executive remuneration in the privatised utilities. [15304]

  Sir George Young
  Remuneration is a matter for the companies and their shareholders. The Greenbury committee is reviewing best practice for companies and we will consider the need for any Government measures, if appropriate, in the light of its conclusions.

  Funding Programme
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of the Government's funding programme for 1995–96. [17875]

  Mr. Nelson
  Yes. The Government today published the 1995–96 debt management report. This report, the first of an annual series, includes details of the 1995–96 funding programme. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  Child Care
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the child care or nursery facilities within his Department; and what is the breakdown in their use(a) by grade and (b) by gender. [15231]

  Mr. Nelson
  The Treasury participates in the Westminster holiday playscheme. Until the end of July 1994, my Department also offered subsidised places at a Westminster-based nursery for short-term emergency use. However, due to lack of demand, it gave poor value for money and the contract was not renewed.

  The use by Treasury staff of the Department's child care and nursery facilities in 1994 broken down by grade and gender is set out in the following tables.

  Westminster holiday playscheme: days used by Treasury staff in 1994

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Grade 5

  8

  42

  50

  Grade 6

  68

  0

  68

  Grade 7

  55

  33

  88

  SEO

  9

  16

  25

  HEO

  0

  30

  30

  EO

  18

  31

  49

  PS

  0

  187

  187

  SGB1

  0

  6

  6

  Total

  158

  345

  503

  Emergency Nursery: Days used by Treasury Staff 1 January 1994–31 July 1994

  Male

  Female

  Total

  Grade 5

  4

  0

  4

  Grade 7

  0

  7

  7

  Total

  4

  7

  11

  Economic Recovery
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from employee organisations about the progress of economic recovery. [15459]
  723
  Mr. Aitken
  Treasury Ministers meet representatives from employee organisations from time to time and discuss a wide range of issues.

  EC Budget
  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each year from 1979 to the

  £ million—1994 prices

  (a) Total EC budget

  (b) Total EAGGF2 Guarantee

  (c) UK's gross contribution to the EC budget (after abatement)

  (d) UK?s net contribution to the EC budget

  (e) Total UK EAGGF2 receipts

  1979

  23,701

  17,213

  4,091

  2,412

  754

  1980

  20,993

  14,570

  3,603

  1,524

  1,141

  1981

  18,973

  11,683

  2,857

  766

  1,156

  1982

  20,322

  12,308

  3,275

  1,076

  1,272

  1983

  24,222

  15,730

  3,683

  1,099

  1,685

  1984

  26,302

  17,513

  4,328

  1,061

  2,027

  1985

  25,222

  17,708

  5,660

  2,756

  1,701

  1986

  33,836

  21,890

  4,116

  843

  1,962

  1987

  49,974

  32,471

  5,728

  2,435

  1,742

  1988

  55,671

  35,591

  4,780

  1,837

  1,684

  1989

  51,458

  30,601

  5,544

  2,896

  1,421

  1990

  49,499

  28,540

  5,322

  2,828

  1,469

  1991

  40,633

  23,813

  3,570

  587

  1,708

  1992

  44,742

  23,858

  5,053

  2,112

  1,712

  19931

  51,187

  27,442

  5,577

  2,207

  2,205

  1 The latest year for which outturn information is published.2 EAGGF: European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund.

  Exchange rate: annual average £1—ecu rate.

  Price deflator: Retail Price Index.

  Source:

  Annual statement on the Community budget; and European Court of Auditor's annual report.

  Mr. John Bercow
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what conditions have been attached to the employment contract of Mr. John Bercow as special adviser to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to avoid conflicts of interest with his previous employers and their clients. [15832]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  There are standard terms and conditions for all special advisers. They are subject in this respect to the same rules of conduct as other civil servants, who must not make use of their official position to further their private interests or those of others. Where a conflict arises, it must be declared.

  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the precise terms of John Bercow's appointment to be his special adviser; and what pecuniary interests he retains in public relations companies. [15759]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Mr. John Bercow took up appointment as special adviser to the Chief Secretary on 20 March 1995. There are standard terms and conditions for all special advisers, based on those for other civil servants. In particular, the general principles of conduct for civil servants—that is, relating to business interests or shareholdings—apply to special advisers. Mr. Bercow has retained no pecuniary interest in any public relations company.
  724
  present, in 1994 prices (a) the total budget of the European Community, (b) the total cost of the common agricultural policy, (c) Britain's gross contribution to the EC budget, (d) Britain's net contribution to the EC budget and (e) total payments to British farmers from the common agricultural policy. [16857]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The information requested is shown in the table:

  Mr. Mick Newmarch
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many meetings he, his ministerial colleagues or his officials have had with Mr. Mick Newmarch; and what matters relative to the sale of pensions and other investment products were discussed. [16570]

  Mr. Nelson
  Ministers and officials have met senior figures from firms in the financial services industry, including Mr. Mick Newmarch, from time to time and discussed a range of issues.

  Investments and Pensions (Sales)
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about progress by the regulators set up under the Financial Services Act 1986(a) to compensate people who were mis-sold pensions and other investment products and (b) to deter and punish those found guilty of deliberately mis-selling such products. [16608]

  Mr. Nelson
  I have received a number of such representations.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has of the number of people mis-sold pensions and other investment products since sections 44 and 47 of the Financial Services Act 1986 came into operation. [16657]
  725
  Mr. Nelson
  As far as personal pensions transfers and opt-outs are concerned, I refer to the reply I gave on 25 October 1994 to the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Banks),Official Report, column 508. For other investment products, some of the cases compensated by the investors compensation scheme and through the financial services regulators may have involved mis-selling. There are no central records which distinguish such cases.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his officials, and those of the regulators established under the Financial Services Act 1986, are instructed to inform those complaining about mis-selling of pensions and other investment products, that they have redress through the criminal law as well as through the regulatory system. [16568]

  Mr. Nelson
  No. Although investors can seek redress through the courts, the regulatory system under the Financial Services Act should provide redress in a more timely fashion and with less administrative cost for investors.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) criminal investigations and (b) criminal prosecutions have been brought under section 47 of the Financial Services Act 1986. [16569]

  Mr. Nelson
  The Department of Trade and Industry, the Serious Fraud Office, the Crown Prosecution Service and the procurators fiscal in Scotland have powers to bring prosecutions under section 47 of the Financial Services Act 1986. Disaggregated figures do not exist showing cases brought by the SFO or the CPS and no cases have been brought by the procurators fiscal. The DTI has mounted criminal investigations in six cases; four cases have been prosecuted resulting in two convictions.

  Civil List Audit
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to transfer the audit of the civil list from the Treasury to the Comptroller and Auditor General. [16924]

  Mr. Kenneth Clark
  [holding answer 28 March 1995]: None.

  National Debt
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many years it would take before the existing national debt could be fully paid off from the present value of the national fund on the assumption of a compound tax free rate of 8 per cent. per annum. [16803]

  Mr. Nelson
  [holding answer 28 March 1995]: Based on the most recent figures for the value of the fund and of the national debt and assuming a compound tax-free interest rate of 8 per cent. it would take approximately 100 years before the existing national debt could be fully paid off under the terms of the trust.

  Taxation
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the additional annual taxation which will be incurred in the financial year 1995–96 versus the year 1992–93 as a consequence of intervening changes in income tax, tax reliefs, national insurance contributions and duty rates, beyond those due to standard indexation for inflation, for average taxpayers in the pre-tax income bands(a) 0 to £2,500, (b) £2,001 to £5,000, (c) £5,001 to £10,000, (d) £10,001 to £20,000, (e) £20,001 to £30,000, (f) £30,001 to £50,000, (g) £50,001 to £100,000 and (h) over £100,000.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 29 March 1995]: The change in annual taxation for the average taxpayer in these income bands will depend on their personal circumstances and spending pattern as well as on their income.

ENVIRONMENT

  Correspondence
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 14 February,Official Report, column 550, whether copies of all letters from Ministers in his Department to local government leaders sent in (a) 1985, (b) 1986, (c) 1987, (d) 1988, (e) 1989 and (f) before March 1990 have now been destroyed. [15848]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  This could be ascertained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 14 February,Official Report, column 550, if it is the practice of his Department to destroy all general correspondence after five years; and when this policy was introduced. [15849]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My Department's practice is to destroy files of general correspondence not later than five years after they have been closed. This practice accords with the provisions of the Public Records Act 1958 and with guidance from the Public Record Office.

  National Parks (Quarries)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated working life of the quarries in each national park. [15889]

  Mr. Atkins
  The significant active quarries in the national parks are listed, together with the approximate lifespan provided for under the current permissions. The information shown in the table has been supplied by the national park authorities.

  National Park

  Quarry

  Estimated lifespan in line with current permissions (Years)

  Dartmoor

  Meldon

  59

  Linhay Hill

  53

  Yennadon

  31

  Exmoor

  None

  —

  Lake District

  Brathay

  50

  Broughton Moor

  50

  Bursting Stone

  5

  Elterwater

  10

  Hill Fellside

  10

  Hodge Close

  5

  Honistor

  not yet established

  Kendall Fell

  50

  Low Brandy Crag

  5

  Petts

  10

  Shap Beck

  not yet established

  Shap Blue

  not yet established

  Shap Pink

  15

  Northumberland

  Roddam

  6

  Cop Crag

  11

  Saffron

  11

  Harden

  47

  North York Moors

  Spaunton

  12

  Spikers Hill

  9

  Peak District

  Estimated to be over 25 major active quarries

  between a range of 30–50

  728

  National Park

  Quarry

  Estimated lifespan in line with current permissions (Years)

  Yorkshire Dales

  Acrow

  26

  Coolscar

  2

  Dry Rigg

  47

  Giggleswick

  47

  Horton

  47

  Ingleton

  23

  Swinden

  47

  Threshfield

  47

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the lifespan for the disused quarries in each of the national parks. [15888]

  Mr. Atkins
  There is a very large number of disused quarries in the national parks, but no comprehensive records of their working life.

  Carbon Dioxide Emissions
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what carbon dioxide emissions savings he now expects to be delivered by 2000 by (i) the imposition of VAT on fuel, (ii) energy savings in the public sector, (iii) new combined heat and power plant, (iv) new renewable capacity, (v) stricter building regulations and (vi) increases in efficiency of domestic appliances. [15897]

  Mr. Atkins
  As announced by the Secretary of State on 8 March, VAT on domestic fuel and power is expected to deliver savings of 0.4 million tonnes of carbon—MtC. I continue to expect combined heat and power to deliver savings of 1 MtC and the new building regulations to contribute 0.25 MtC. I expect the contributions of the public sector and renewable energy to be as set out in the UK climate change programme subject to adjustment to reflect the reduced carbon intensity of the electricity displaced. The adjusted figures are 0.8 MtC from the public sector and 0.4 MtC from new renewable energy capacity. The carbon savings expected from improved efficiency of domestic appliances have not been separately quantified at present.

  Local Authorities (Restrictive Covenants)
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to allow local authorities to be able to disregard restrictive covenants in the provision of certain public facilities and amenities; and if he will make a statement. [16157]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to prevent previous owners from using restrictive covenants to profit from agreeing to allow present freeholders to make a planning application and from the subsequent development; and if he will make a statement. [16156]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I have been asked to reply. The Government have received a number of comments on the Law Commission's report on obsolete restrictive covenants, Law Com. No. 201, and it is discussing these with the commission. An announcement will be made when those discussions are concluded.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what organisations and other bodies have made representations to him on the subject of local government reorganisation since his statement of 2 March,Official Report, columns 696–97; and if he will make a statement; [16492]

  (2) with whom he has held discussions on the subject of local government reorganisation since his statement of 2 March; and if he will make a statement; [16493]

  (3) what discussions he will have with county councils and other district councils in those areas where a hybrid solution is (a) being proposed or (b) may be proposed following the fourth local government review; and if he will make a statement. [16494]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The Secretary of State has received a large number of representations from organisations and other bodies since 2 March, but it is not possible to identify all these representations individually except at disproportionate cost. The Secretary of State has met the following organisations specifically to discuss local government reorganisation since his announcement on 2 March: South Hams district council, meeting arranged before the announcement of his decision on Devon; Unison; GMB and the Transport and General Workers Union.

  All those district councils mentioned in the announcements on 2 and 21 March as possible cases for further review will be invited to discuss their cases for unitary status. These are: Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe; Dartford and Gravesham; Exeter; Gloucester; Huntingdonshire; Halton; Norwich; The Wrekin.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) which former county boroughs are to be reconsidered under the new review for unitary status; [16487]

  (2) which former county boroughs are to regain unitary status following local government reorganisation; [16486]

  (3) which areas that were not former county boroughs are to be given unitary status following local government reorganisation; [16488]

  (4) which areas that were not former county boroughs are to be considered for unitary status under the new review; [16489]

  (5) which former county boroughs will remain as district authorities in a two-tier system following local government reorganisation; [16490]

  (6) what is the population of each of (a) the new proposed unitary authorities, (b) those areas under the new review for possible unitary status and (c) those districts remaining within a two-tier system. [16491]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  We intend to refer the following districts to the Local Government Commission for a further review—those marked ?*? were, or have within their areas, former county boroughs:

  Blackburn* 139,528

  Gillingham 95,969

  Northampton* 187,244

  Warrington* 185,005

  Basildon 161,699

  Blackpool* 139,528

  Rochester 146,201

  Peterborough 158,375

  Thurrock 131,226

  730
  We are considering whether to refer the following districts to the Local Government Commission for a further review—those marked '*' were, or have within their current areas, former county boroughs:

  Broxtowe 110,566

  Exeter* 105,087

  Gloucester* 104,805

  Halton 124,111

  Norwich* 128,050

  The Wrekin 142,724

  Dartford 82,600

  Gedling 111,566

  Gravesham 93,029

  Huntingdonshire 148,786

  Rushcliffe 101,457

  We have announced that we have accepted the commission's proposals for unitary status for the following districts or combination of districts—those marked ?*? were, or have within their proposed areas, former county boroughs:

  Bristol* 397,585

  Woodspring 182,140

  Luton 178,642

  Windsor 136,695

  Reading* 137,749

  Wokingham 142,894

  Langbaurgh 143,858

  Stockton 177,794

  Derby* 228,648

  Torbay 121,113

  Bournemouth* 159,876

  Brighton and Hove* 242,925

  Portsmouth 189,073

  Herefordshire 162,000(est)

  York (extended) 167,000(est)

  Stoke-on-Trent 252,914

  Hull 267,889

  Bath and Wansdyke* 163,533

  Northavon and Kingswood 230,078

  Bracknell Forest 101,905

  Newbury 140,967

  Slough 103,454

  Milton Keynes 184,440

  Middlesborough* 145,843

  Hartlepool* 91,982

  Plymouth* 259,040

  Poole 137,159

  Darlington* 100,163

  Southend* 167,523

  Southampton 209,192

  Isle of Wight 124,773

  Nottingham 282,590

  Thamesdown 173,761

  E Yorks and Beverley and part Boothferry 293,000(est)

  Glanford and Scunthorpe and part Boothferry 151,335(est)

  Cleethorpes and Great Grimsby 162,003

  Final decisions are outstanding on Leicester*, 289,286, and Rutland, 33,413, pending further consideration of cost and service delivery implications of a unitary Rutland.

  Apart from those mentioned above, the following districts were, or contain within their areas, former county boroughs and are to remain in a two-tier county:

  Barrow in Furness 73,299

  Canterbury 132,391

  Chester 120,845

  East Staffs 98,300

  Hastings 82,937

  Lincoln 85,502

  731

  Preston 132,166

  Burnley 91,446

  Carlisle 102,878

  Eastbourne 82,937

  Great Yarmouth 88,799

  Ipswich 114,806

  Oxford 131,967

  Worcester 104,934

  Excluding all the districts listed above, the other districts in England have population ranging from 25,000 to 163,400. All population figures are the Registrar General's estimates for mid-1993.

  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what compensation will be available for staff who are obliged to take lower paid jobs as a result of the reorganisation of local government in England and Wales. [18053]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  On 5 December 1994 my Department issued a consultation paper on proposals for compensating local authority staff who may be obliged to accept lower paid jobs as a result of local government reorganisation in England and Wales. Having carefully considered the responses, I intend shortly to bring forward draft regulations setting out a compensation scheme which will allow for staff to have their salary maintained for a transitional three-year period if they are appointed to a new job at a lower salary during the reorganisation period—between the shadow elections and 18 months after reorganisation in England; between shadow elections and 31 March 1997 in Wales.

  By avoiding the need for redundancy payments and encouraging councils to restrain existing employees in new jobs, the scheme should benefit staff, employers and the taxpayer.

  Departmental Annual Report
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of producing and circulating the departmental annual report for each of the last 10 years in real terms. [16614]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Departmental annual reports were published for the first time in 1991. The quantifiable costs to the Department, in the five years of publication, of producing and circulating the report have been as follows:

  (£ real terms—1993–94 prices using GDP deflators)

  1991: 21,724

  1992: 45,700

  1993: 56,473

  1994: 67,774

  1995: 51,938

  These are the costs of designing and typesetting the report, and of purchasing copies for the Department's own use or for complimentary distribution.

  Other, costs include the staff time involved in drafting the report, which is not separately recorded, and the costs of printing and publishing, which have been borne by HMSO with the aim of recovering the outlay for sales revenue.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. [16613]
  732
  Sir Paul Beresford
  The quantifiable costs to the Department of producing and circulating the 1995 annual report, CM 2807, were £52,977. Of this, £26,747 was for design, indexing and typesetting, and £26,230 was for purchasing copies for the Department's own use and for distribution free to interested bodies, including to Opposition spokesmen, the Environment Select Committee and the English local authorities. Of the 3,350 copies produced, 1,800 were bought by the Department.

  Other costs include staff time in drafting the report, which was not separately recorded, and the costs of its printing and publishing, which were borne by HMSO with the aim of recovering the outlay from sales revenue. The cover price of the 1995 report is £18.60.

  Council Tax, Gloucestershire
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of council tax set by local authorities in Gloucestershire for the financial year 1994–95. [16260]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The level at which an authority sets its council taxes is a matter for councillors to decide in the light of all its authority's circumstances. Only if an authority is designated under the "capping" provisions at section 54 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 would the Secretary of State take a view on whether an authority's budget requirement is excessive.

  Hazardous Waste
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is his policy on other EU states exporting hazardous waste to the United Kingdom, with particular reference to mercury; what representations he has made in the last three years to other members states that they should treat such waste in their countries; and what measures he proposes to encourage other EU states to pursue a policy of dealing with their own waste material; [16224]

  (2) what evaluation he has made of the incentives applying to countries who currently export hazardous waste to (a) become self-sufficient in dealing with hazardous waste and (b) develop suitable technology to effectively treat and render harmless hazardous waste. [16229]

  Mr. Atkins
  It has been the Government's policy since the 1990 environment White Paper, "This Common Inheritance", that developed countries should become self-sufficient in disposing of their own waste. The United Kingdom negotiated successfully for the principle of national self-sufficiency in waste disposal to be incorporated into the EC waste shipments regulation—259/93.

  The Government have long made clear their intention to implement as far as possible national self-sufficiency in waste disposal. This policy aim is pursued in the draft management plan for imports and exports of waste, which has recently been the subject of public consultation and copies of which are in the Library. In particular, the draft plan proposes banning most imports of waste for disposal, except where the importing competent authority is satisfied that the exporting country does not have, and cannot reasonably acquire, the facilities to dispose itself of the wastes in an environmentally sound manner.
  733
  All EC member states are required to implement Council directive 75/442/EEC, as amended, on waste. This requires member states to take appropriate measures to establish an adequate network of disposal installations, to enable the Community as a whole to become self-sufficient in waste disposal and the member states to move towards that aim individually.

  The UK and other EU states became parties to the Basel convention in 1994. Parties are under the general obligation to minimize the generation and transboundary movement of hazardous wastes, and to ensure the provision of adequate disposal facilities within their territory.

  Lancashire Local Authorities
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the budget implications for Lancashire county council and the other Lancashire district councils for 1995–96 in respect of both income and expenditure; if Blackburn and Blackpool are to be given unitary status; and if he will make a statement. [16493]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Our assessments of the need to spend and of the income from business rates and council taxes for Lancashire authorities for 1995–96 are as follows:

  £ million

  Standard spending assessment

  Business rate income

  Council tax income

  Lancashire

  845.369

  258.272

  185.846

  Blackburn

  17.221

  4.665

  2.931

  Blackpool

  18.596

  5.138

  3.476

  Burnley

  10.009

  3.059

  2.047

  Chorley

  8.192

  3.248

  2.403

  Fylde

  6.216

  2.465

  2.153

  Hyndburn

  7.600

  2.642

  1.795

  Lancaster

  14.236

  4.469

  3.161

  Pendle

  8.323

  2.872

  1.989

  Preston

  15.662

  4.421

  2.960

  Ribble Valley

  4.051

  1.731

  1.539

  Rossendale

  5.824

  2.201

  1.579

  South Ribble

  7.921

  3.461

  2.584

  West Lancashire

  10.004

  3.676

  2.742

  Wyre

  9.388

  3.476

  2.838

  The Secretary of State has accepted the recommendations of the Local Government Commission that the existing two-tier system of local government for Lancashire should be retained. However, he intends to invite the commission to carry out further reviews of a small number of individual districts, including Blackburn and Blackpool.

  Public Relations
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment 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. [16219]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Department issued guidance to its non-departmental public bodies in August 1990 on publicity and advertising. This included guidelines on the 734
  use of public relations consultants and I am placing a copy of this guidance in the House of Commons Library.

  General guidance for public bodies is contained in the Government publicity and advertising conventions, set out in annexes 1 and 2 to the National Audit Office report, "Publicity Services for Government Departments", House of Commons paper, 1 December 1989.

  Property Services Agency
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what debt the Property Services Agency left upon its disbandment; how much of that was owed to private companies; how much of that debt is still owed; if he will list the companies that have made representations to Her Majesty's Government asking to be paid; how much each one is currently owed; when, and by whom, he expects the debts to be fully paid off; and if he will make a statement. [16518]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Property Services Agency ceased to exist on 31 March 1990, when its responsibilities were split between its successor organisations: PSA Services and Property Holdings. The operating activities of PSA Services were privatised or closed down over the period December 1992 to October 1993 and since then the remaining staff in PSA Services have been responsible for completing residual activities, including the personnel management of staff seconded to the privatised companies. Liability to pay works contractors generally transferred to client departments in the period prior to the sale of the PSAS businesses. Liability for outstanding payments to suppliers of services at the point of sale generally passed to the purchasers of the PSA Services businesses, while PSA Services retained liability for only a limited number of completed projects which were not sold. These cases are progressively being resolved. I would be happy to look into any specific problem that is brought to my attention.

  Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what actions the Government are taking to support the CITES enforcement resolution; what financial, training and technical support the Government are giving to CITES enforcement measures; and if he will make a statement. [16939]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  We are actively implementing the enforcement resolution which was adopted by last November's CITES conference following a United Kingdom initiative. My Department has allocated £240,000 to fund the secondment of an officer from Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to the CITES secretariat to strengthen its enforcement capacity. We will also participate in a new EC enforcement working group to improve CITES implementation in the Community. At home, Her Majesty's Customs and Excise plans further increase in its specialist CITES team. Last month, police visits to oriental pharmacies in London, Birmingham and Manchester resulted in the seizure of large numbers of products suspected of containing parts of endangered species like tigers and rhinos. Code-named "Charm", the operation was planned with the assistance of my Department.

  Limestone
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if the use of high-quality limestone for roadstone is in accordance with his policy objectives as set out in "This Common Inheritance"; [16895]

  (2) if he will take powers to specify appropriate end uses for very high-quality limestones quarried in the national parks. [16894]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Government's objectives with regard to sustainable development of minerals resources is set out in minerals planning guidance note 6 issued in April last year. This gives the Government's aim that the best use should be made of the total aggregates resource by minimising waste, avoiding the use of higher quality materials where lower quality material would suffice, and encouraging the use of recycled and secondary materials in place of primary materials where possible. The Department aims to achieve these objectives by various means set out in MPG6, including undertaking research with the Department of Transport into the scope for further use of recycled materials in road construction and maintenance, and the setting up of an advisory service to inform and encourage the construction industry on the opportunities for use of alternative materials. It is not proposed to take powers to specify the end use of high-quality limestone since this would be unenforceable.

  New Towns
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contributions have been made by the Commission for the New Towns towards promotional activities in each local authority covered by a former new town development corporation since 1993–94. [16786]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information for 1993–94 is as follows:

  Local authority area

  Contribution (£'000)

  Halton BC

  159

  Milton Keynes BC

  1,178

  Peterborough CC

  40

  Warrington BC

  75

  West Lancashire DC

  25

  No comparable figures are available for 1994–95 as 1993–94 was the last year of operation of the agreement under which the Commission for the New Towns made annual contributions to agencies set up to promote individual towns.

  Council Housing
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total number of council tenancies, the total amount of housing revenue account subsidy payable to that authority, and the total housing benefit element within the housing revenue account for each local authority in England, for each year since 1990–91. [17043]

  Mr. Curry
  I have placed a copy of the information requested by the hon. Member in the Library.

  Houses in Multiple Occupation
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when he will make a statement on the conclusions of the consultation on the case for licensing houses in multiple occupation; and what legislation he proposes to introduce; [17027]

  (2) how many responses his Department has received in respect of the consultation on the case for licensing houses in multiple occupation; and what proportion of these responses favoured the introduction of a national licensing scheme. [17028]

  Mr. Curry
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Hertfordshire, West (Mr. Jones), to the hon. Members for Cardiff, Central (Mr. Jones) and for Sheffield Heeley (Mr. Michie) on 20 March 1995,Official Report, columns 57–58.

  Statutory References
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what statutory references to hon. Members have been made in legislation introduced by his Department, or its predecessors, since 1965. [17034]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  An analysis of all legislation introduced by the 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.

  Lightbulbs
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many energy-efficient lightbulbs were subsidised by the Energy Saving Trust during the Little Bill-Large Savings campaign in October and November 1994. [17216]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  This is a matter for the Energy Saving Trust and the regional electricity companies. However, I understand that the subsidised sales figures for electronic compact fluorescent lamps during last year's promotion were 981,000. In addition the publicity generated by the promotional campaign resulted in additional sales of 500,000 electro-magnetic CFLs, which were not subsidised.

  Child Care
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the child care or nursery facilities within his Department; and what is the breakdown in their use(a) by grade and (b) by gender. [15242]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My Department provides 10 workplace nursery places in Westminster; three places at an inter-departmental nursery in Bristol and 12 places at the Building Research Establishment agency"s own nursery in Garston. Some of these places are shared by staff who work part time. The breakdown of current nursery users by grade and gender is as follows:
  737

  Number

  Bristol Gender

  Grade

  Number

  Nurseries BRE Genger

  Grade

  Number

  Westminster Gender

  Grade

  2

  1M/1F

  EO

  1

  F

  G7

  1

  F

  G7

  1

  F

  PS

  4

  1F/3M

  SSO

  2

  F

  HEO

  2

  F

  TYP

  8

  5F/3M

  HEO

  1

  F/M

  1HEO/G7

  1

  F

  Graphics

  1

  F/M

  1HEO/EO

  Officer

  1

  F

  EO

  2

  F

  EO

  1

  M

  Photographer

  1

  F

  PS

  3

  2F/1M

  AO

  2

  1M/1F

  AO

  1

  F

  TYP

  1 Both parents work for the Department.

  In addition to a holiday play scheme run by the Building Research Establishment, my Department supports interdepartmental holiday playschemes in Westminster, Birmingham, Bristol and Bedford. These schemes are open to the children of all staff. The take-up—by gender and grade of parent users—varies between location and holiday period. Available information on parents who have used the schemes in 1994–95 is as follows:

  Use of playschemes in 1994–95 by grade and gender

  Number

  Grade

  Gender

  1

  G5

  F

  3

  G6

  M

  7

  G7

  5M+2F

  2

  SEO

  11F/1MG7

  11F/1MHEO

  1

  SLIB

  F

  7

  SSO

  4F+3M

  1

  HEOD

  M

  12

  HSO/HEO/HPTO

  8F+4M

  1

  LIB

  F

  9

  EO/SO

  F

  1

  Graphics Officer

  F

  8

  AO

  7F+1M

  2

  PS

  F

  1

  AA

  F

  2

  TYPIST

  F

  1 Both parents work for the Department.

  Data cover all non-industrial staff in the DOE and its agencies.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Statutory References
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what statutory references to hon. Members have been made in legislation introduced by his Department, or its predecessors, since 1965. [17029]

  Mr. Baldry
  An analysis of all legislation introduced by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Overseas Development Administration and their predecessors since 1965 for any references to hon. Members could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, it would be extremely unlikely for reference to be made specifically to an hon. Member though references are customarily made to offices of state..

  Child Care
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the child care or nursery facilities within his Department; and what is the breakdown in their use(a) by grade and (b) by gender.

  Mr. Goodlad
  The FCO has 10 places for the under-fives at nurseries in London and 22 places in a workplace nursery for staff working at Hanslope Park, Milton Keynes.

  The places are allocated as follows:

  Grade

  Male

  Female

  DS5/HCS6

  1

  1

  DS6/SEO

  2

  -

  DS7/HEO

  4

  2

  DS9/EO

  4

  5

  DS10/AO

  -

  4

  Note:

  Figures include four children with both parents employed by the FCO.

  FCO provides holiday playschemes in London and ODA sites in East Kilbride and at NRI Chatham. Over the last 12 months play scheme places have been used by staff in the following grades:

  Grade

  Male

  Female

  DS4/HCS5

  2

  —

  DS5S/HCS6

  2

  —

  DS5/HCS7

  6

  1

  DS6/SEO

  4

  2

  DS7/HEO

  8

  7

  DS9/EO

  4

  7

  DS10/AO

  3

  5

  S2/PS

  —

  6

  Support Grades

  —

  1

  Former Prisoners of War
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 17 March,Official Report, column 779, regarding former British prisoners of war of Japan, what alternatives for compensation to direct payments from the Japanese Government are being discussed. [15813]

  Mr. Goodlad
  We have been in touch with the Japanese Government about the implementation in the UK of the "Peace, Friendship, and Exchange Initiative", as well as exploring what other possibilities may exist.

  Colombia
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received that British nationals are operating as mercenaries in Colombia. [16749]

  Mr. David Davis
  There were allegations in 1990 that a British citizen had renewed an association with drug traffickers in Colombia. We strongly condemn such alleged activities. There have been no allegations since 1990. We remain in close contact with the Colombian authorities about all security issues of mutual interest.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning the murder of trade union activists in Colombia between August 1992 and August 1993. [16750]

  Mr. David Davis
  I have seen various reports on these lines. The Colombian authorities are fully aware of the concern felt in Britain about human rights in Colombia.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support his Department gives to encourage the activities of trade unions in Colombia. [16751]

  Mr. David Davis
  None. The embassy in Bogota maintains contact with a wide range of organisations in Colombia, including unions.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support his Department gives to police forces in Colombia; and how much the support has cost in each year since 1990. [16452]

  Mr. David Davis
  Our aid includes non-lethal equipment, technical expertise and training to the Colombian law enforcement agencies combating the drugs trade.

  The figures are:

  1990: £3.5 million

  1991: £2 million

  1992: £432,000

  1993: £286,000

  1994: £271,000

  Publicity
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of total departmental expenditure on publicity and advertising for 1994–95. [17191]

  Mr. Goodlad
  Total estimated expenditure on promotional material and recruitment advertising in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, diplomatic wing and Overseas Development Administration, for 1994–95 is £2,417,000.

  Turkey
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the use by Turkish security forces of military equipment with special reference to helicopters and armoured vehicles, to commit human rights violations; and if he will make a statement. [17145]

  Mr. David Davis
  None. Proposed United Kingdom arms sales to Turkey, as to other countries, are considered on a case-by-case basis and are subject to stringent licensing procedures. Before a license is granted, a wide 740
  range of factors are taken into account, including an assessment of the recipient country"s human rights records and of the use to which the equipment will be put. We do not grant licences for the sale of equipment which we believe is likely to be used for internal repression.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Parliamentary Pension Scheme
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Lord President of the Council when the Senior Salaries Review Body report on parliamentary pensions is to be published; when the Government Actuary"s valuation report on the parliamentary contributory pensions fund will be laid before the House; and if he will make a statement. [17800]

  Mr. Newton
  In my letter of 29 September, I invited the Senior Salaries Review Body to undertake a review of the parliamentary pension scheme to assess whether the scheme was still in line with good current practice. This was the first of the regular reviews resulting from the review body"s recommendation, in 1991, that it should review the scheme regularly at the time of the Government Actuary"s triennial valuations of the parliamentary contributory pension fund.

  The SSRB report has been published today, and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House. Copies are also available in the Vote Office. I am most grateful to the review body for its thoughtful and thorough report.

  The SSRB has recommended that:

  i) the existing accrual rate of fiftieths should apply to all service for currently sitting MPs in respect of their future pension entitlement, with appropriate augmentation for those who have been making up the shortfall voluntarily;

  ii) the death in service gratuity should be increased to three times the Member"s annual salary;

  iii) the scheme should allow Members to nominate individuals, institutions and trusts to receive the death in service gratuity;

  iv) a formal dispute resolution procedure should be established involving three stages, with questions directed first to the fund secretary, secondly to the trustees themselves and, if still unresolved, referred to an independent expert such as the occupational pensions advisory service or the pensions ombudsman.

  The Government propose to accept all these recommendations, except the backdating of the fast rate of accrual introduced in 1983. A retrospective change of the kind suggested would not be justified.

  The Government Actuary"s valuation report on the PCPF is today being laid before the House in accordance with section 3 of the Parliamentary and Other Pensions Act 1987.

  Since the previous valuation in 1990, the fund has grown by about 38 per cent.: the market value at the valuation date was just over £150 million. Income from investments over the period has been less favourable than assumed in 1991, and the level of pensions increases has been slightly higher, although these are now decreasing.

  The overall financial position shows little change from 1990. The current valuation discloses a small excess of assets over liabilities of £1.1 million—which is less than one per cent. of the value of the fund—after taking account of the implementation of the benefit

  741
  improvements and reductions in contributions agreed at the time of the last report.

  Taking account of the improvement in the lump sum death in service benefit, the assessed long-run total cost of the pension benefits under the scheme is now 24 per cent. of salary, compared with 23.5 per cent. at the 1990 valuation. The Member contribution was reduced in 1990 to 6 per cent., as a result of an SSRB recommendation. Under section 3 of the 1987 Act, the Exchequer pays the balance of costs, as recommended by the Government Actuary. Without the increase in benefits, the Exchequer contribution would have remained at its level following the 1990 valuation, of 6.8 per cent. of pay, for a further six-month period. Taking account of the benefit improvements recommended by the SSRB in the report published today, the actuary recommends that the Exchequer contribution from April should be 7.6 per cent. until September 2000. Assuming future experience is in line with the assumptions made for this valuation, the Exchequer contribution can then be expected to increase to 18 per cent.

  As required by section 2 of the 1987 Act, I shall consult about the changes to the scheme with the trustees of the scheme and other interested parties. As is customary, the Government will hold a debate on an amendable motion to give the House a chance to consider both reports, as well as the draft regulations implementing the SSRB recommendations.

  Consultants
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to his answer of 20 March,Official Report, column 50, if he will publish the name of (a) the architect, (b) the designer employed on a consultancy basis by the House of Commons Commission (c) the annual cost of each consultancy and (d) the annual amount of time for which each consultant is contracted. [16185]

  Mr. Beith
  This is a matter for the Director of Works and I have asked him to write to the hon. Member.

  Fire Fighters
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission if he will make a statement on the provision of fire fighters to tackle a fire in the Palace of Westminster; what changes have been made to the staff complement in each of the last three years; and what particular provisions apply to deal with the special nature of the building. [16519]

  Mr. Beith
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Thurrock (Mr. Mackinlay) on 8 March 1995,Official Report, column 218. As a result of the recent review of the fire section by the staff inspector in conjunction with the staff adviser of the House of Lords a complement of one principal fire officer, four senior fire officers and 24 fire officers has been agreed. This will be subject to review in two years" time. Particular provisions to minimise the fire risk within the Palace of Westminster are specified in the fire strategy for the Palace of Westminster and parliamentary outbuildings which was approved by the relevant Committees of both Houses in 1993. I have asked the Serjeant at Arms to write to the hon. Member with further details.

  Sittings of the House
  Mr. Graham Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what assessment he has made of the effects of the implementation of the procedural reforms in respect of the sittings of the House on attendance in the House.

  Mr. Newton
  The reforms to which the hon. Member refers will be reviewed and assessed towards the end of the experiment.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Business Sponsorship Incentive Scheme
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the outside consultancy practice assisting the inquiry into the links between the Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts and Welsh Fourth Channel Authority S4C; what remit they have been given; on what date the inquiry started; when it is anticipated to be completed; and if he will make a statement. [17299]

  Mr. Dorrell
  As I told the hon. Member on 27 February,Official Report, column 680, my Department has commissioned a report from a senior Treasury official, Mr. John Beastall. The terms of reference of the review are:
  To review the circumstances of the applications for matching funding under the business sponsorship incentive scheme made by Pengwyn Pinc and certain other Welsh bodies. In particular, the review will consider:

  (a) the reports already produced by the Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts and the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority;

  (b) the financial and other relationships between S4C and the bodies which applied to BSIS; between S4C and Teledwyr Annibynnol Cymru; and between S4C and organisations which applied to them or to TAC for sponsorship;

  (c) the understanding, in S4C, TAC and the bodies which applied to BSIS, of rules for applying to BSIS, including any guidance and procedures they may have circulated;

  (d) the understanding of BSIS rules within ABSA and the information and advice that ABSA and its staff provided to S4C and the other bodies involved about the rules and operation of BSIS;

  (e) the criteria adopted by S4C, TAC and the bodies which applied to BSIS for supporting an application for sponsorship; and

  (f) the action that was taken by S4C and ABSA in response to the discovery of irregularities in applications and in the operation of their internal procedures.

  The report will make recommendations about action to be taken.

  Mr. Beastall commenced his review on 20 February and expects to deliver his report to my Department shortly after Easter.

  Telephone Conversations
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to introduce legislation which fill the gaps which exist in relation to the protection of private telephone conversations, as indicated on 14 January 1993,Official Report, column 1068; and if he will make a statement. [17215]
  743
  Mr. Dorrell
  The Government will announce their conclusions, on this as on other matters, in their response to the National Heritage Committee"s report on privacy and media intrusion. We will publish this response when we have completed consideration of the legal issues surrounding the proposed criminal and civil remedies.

  Child Care
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what are the child care or nursery facilities within his Department; and what is the breakdown in their use(a) by grade and (b) by gender. [15224]

  Mr. Dorrell
  The provision of child care facilities within my Department is two-fold: one nursery place for a child aged between six months and five years at the Stepping Stones nursery based at Napier Hall, Pimlico. A female senior information officer in this Department used the nursery between November 1993 and August 1994. Since that date, no DNH member of staff has expressed an interest in securing a place at the nursery. My Department has therefore offered the place to the Department of the Environment on a temporary basis.

  DNH staff can also use places at the Westminster holiday playscheme which caters for children aged between five and 12 years old and which operates during all the main school holidays. The playscheme is currently used by two DNH female members of staff at grade 7 level.

  Royal Palaces
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the total cost to his Department of the maintenance and running costs of the occupied and unoccupied royal palaces in 1993–94. [16921]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 28 March 1995]: The cost to my Department in 1993–94 of maintaining and running the occupied royal palaces was £19.8 million. The cost for the unoccupied royal palaces was £6.7 million.

  Royal Household Fuel Bills
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the fuel bills paid by his Department on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen. [16922]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 28 March 1995]: My Department pays for Her Majesty the Queen"s fuel bills incurred for official purposes through its grant-in-aid payment to the royal household. The 1993–94 fuel bill was £826,000 and included the cost of electricity, gas, oil, coal and other fuels.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage 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. [15575]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 27 March 1995]: This is already a high priority for me and my officials.

DEFENCE

  Joint Service Command and Staff College
  Mr. Merchant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the location of the proposed Joint Service Command and Staff college. [18009]

  Mr. Soames
  During the "Front Line First" consultation process on the establishment of a Joint Service Command and Staff college, my Department received responses from a number of individuals and organisations to our proposals.

  All these responses have received the most careful and sympathetic scrutiny, and I have thoroughly reviewed the costings associated with our proposal. Although there was general support for the proposal to establish a Joint Service Command and Staff college, there have been understandable local concerns, especially in Greenwich. However, no significant arguments have emerged, nor have any new suggestions been made which have caused us to alter our original proposals. The costings continue to demonstrate that Camberley is the most cost effective option.

  I can therefore confirm that we shall establish the Joint Service Command and Staff college at Camberley, and that we plan to open it and close the colleges at Bracknell and Greenwich in late 1997. We shall not develop our plans along the lines indicated in the consultative document. The Bracknell site will be considered for disposal.

  With regard to the future of Greenwich, I reaffirm the Government"s commitment to finding suitable occupants for this most important and historic site. Our work on this continues. In terms of defence candidates, we have concluded that a restructured Defence school of languages would be one suitable occupant. This would generate at least the same level of occupancy as the two staff colleges currently at Greenwich. The nature of this establishment is such that, unlike the Joint Services Command and Staff college, it would be able to move in with only very minor changes to the fabric of the buildings and at a capital cost of only some £6,000,000.

  We have also concluded that we should not continue to pursue the Tri-Service Chaplaincy school as an option for Greenwich. Work on an appropriate location for this school will continue, and I hope shortly to make an announcement.

  In addition to the potential defence candidates, interest in the Royal Naval college has been shown by organisations outside the Ministry of Defence, including the university of Greenwich and the National Maritime museum. We do not intend to reach any firm conclusions on the future of the Royal Naval college, Greenwich at this stage, but will shortly be seeking expressions of interest in the site from organisations able to propose uses sympathetic to the character of the buildings.

  In considering the options, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence will have very much in mind his role as sole trustee of Greenwich hospital, and also the imaginative proposals for Greenwich park, including the Royal Naval college, by Dame Jennifer Jenkins in her report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage. I hope to be in a position to announce firm proposals to the

  745
  House for the future of the Royal Naval college by the end of the year.

  Naval Recruiting and Training Agency
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future status of the Royal Navy"s Flag Officer Training and Recruiting organisation. [18011]

  Mr. Soames
  The Flag Officer Training and Recruiting organisation will be launched as a defence agency of the Ministry of Defence on 1 April 1995, and will be called the Naval Recruiting and Training Agency.

  The NRTA"s owner will be the Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command. It will carry out its training activities at a number of training schools based in naval establishments in the south of England and operate recruiting centres in all regions of the UK. The chief executive"s headquarters is collocated with that of the Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command with HM naval base, Portsmouth.

  The agency"s primary role is to recruit to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines and to train and develop personnel, both service and civilian, for their individual tasks in the naval service, as and when appropriate throughout their subsequent careers.

  As the first chief executive of the new agency, Rear Admiral J. P. Clarke will be offered new opportunities to build on the current organisation"s professional expertise and high performance standards. In maintaining the NRTA"s contribution to front-line capability, the chief executive will actively seek to improve efficiency and value for money of his organisation.

  The chief executive has been set the following key targets for the financial year 1995–96:

  1. To achieve 90 per cent. of deliveries of categories of personnel to the trained strength from initial training within accepted variances.

  2. To achieve wastage rates for new entry officers, apprentices and ratings no greater than 25 per cent., 30 per cent. and 20 per cent. respectively.

  3. By 31 March 1996, to complete the process of establishing optimum pipeline times for all categories of initial training, and determine baseline figures for overruns against which future performance can be measured.

  4. To maintain a success rate in excess of 95 per cent. in career and pre-joining training.

  5. By 31 March 1996, to agree with NRTA"s key customers a positive feedback system and criteria for the measurement of the extent to which personnel trained by NRTA satisfy the customers" requirements.

  Army Districts
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to restructure the Army districts. [18012]

  Mr. Soames
  Following the "Front Line First" announcement, proposals to restructure the Army districts were explained in a consultative document issued on 19 December 1994. The most significant effect of the reorganisation is the splitting of the current southern district leaving the existing headquarters at Aldershot commanding only units based in the south-east, and creating a new headquarters at Bulford, to be known as HQ3 (UK) Division, to have administrative and budgetary responsibilities for all Army units in the south-west. There 746
  will be changes to the subordinate brigade headquarters structure and adjustments to the boundaries of the current districts. To emphasise the operational aspects of their role, and to reflect that administrative responsibility for Army units in the UK will no longer be on a purely geographical basis, the headquarters at York, Bulford, Aldershot and Shrewsbury will be known as 2, 3 (UK), 4 and 5 Division respectively. No structural changes are planned for Scotland or London district.

  In total, 17 responses to the consultative document were received from one MP, trade unions and local authorities, all of which have been given careful and sympathetic consideration. Understandable concerns were expressed about the effects on local employment where job losses will occur, and every effort will of course be made to redeploy staff where possible to alternative locations.

  As part of the restructuring programme I am pleased to be able to highlight an increase of 100 jobs in the south-west; this was warmly welcomed by the local communities. The vast majority of the jobs will be filled by local recruitment and will boost the employment opportunities in the area.

  I can therefore confirm that the restructuring will take effect from 1 April 1995. I am confident that these changes will create a more efficient and economic structure which will enhance operational and administrative effectiveness.

  We will continue to consult with staff and trade unions about the implementation of this restructuring exercise.

  Military Schools
  Mr. Sykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the triennial review of the Duke of York"s Royal Military School and Queen Victoria School defence agencies. [18013]

  Mr. Soames
  A review of the agency status of the Duke of York"s Royal Military School and Queen Victoria School is now due and will commence shortly. As next steps agencies, the performance of both schools will be evaluated and their activities will be subjected to the normal "prior options" tests.

  Comments and contributions from those with an interest in the work of these agencies would be welcome and should be sent by 12 May to:

  Mr. W. A. Perry

  Command Secretary (Adjutant General)

  Ministry of Defence

  Headquarters Adjutant General

  (Personal and Training Command)

  Trenchard Lines

  Upavon

  Pewsey

  Wiltshire

  SN9 6BE

  Army Industrial Training Organisation
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about defence agency status for the Army"s individual training organisation. [18014]

  Mr. Soames
  As originally announced to the House by the then Minister of State for Defence Procurement on 2 November 1993,Official Report, column 124, the Army"s individual training organisation has been included in the Department"s list of candidate agencies. A "Prior

  747
  Options" study of Army individual training as a whole is being undertaken to determine whether agency status would be appropriate. Any comments that interested parties may wish to contribute would be welcome and should be sent, by no later than 12 May to:

  Mr. W. A. Perry

  Command Secretary (Adjutant General)

  Headquarters Adjutant General (Personnel and Training)

  Trenchard Lines

  Upavon

  Wiltshire

  SN9 6BE

  Reserve Forces Bill
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to publish the Reserve Forces Bill. [17171]

  Mr. Soames
  We are today publishing the draft Reserve Forces Bill, copies of which are available from the Vote Office. Outside the House, the document is being distributed widely to reserve units, employers and others, and is available on request from the Ministry of Defence.

  The Bill is an important one. It brings legislation on reserves up to date, to take account of changes in both the security environment and British society since the last substantial revision in 1966. The Bill principally provides:

  (a) A new power of call-out for peacekeeping, humanitarian and disaster relief operations;

  (b) Two new categories of reserve:
  —the high readiness reserve: individuals with skills in short supply who, voluntarily and with the consent of their employer, accept a greater call-out liability; and
  —the sponsored reserve, which will permit us to let more support activities to contract knowing that the reserve element allows the task to be continued in an operational environment by uniformed personnel.

  (c) A new opportunity to enable reservists to undertake tasks other than training in peace time;

  (d) Three new safeguards:)

  —for individuals, powers for MOD to make payments to reservists in cases where their military pay when called out is less than their civilian pay;
  —for employers, powers for MOD to make payments whenever a reservist who is also an employee is called out;
  —for both, new, formal, rights to seek exemption from and deferral of call-out or recall, exercisable by employers or reservists themselves.

  All this work is set within a comprehensive tri-service legal framework for the reserves, which will greatly simplify their use in the future.

  Particular attention has been given to the tripartite relationship between the Ministry of Defence, the reservist, and his or her employer. Full account has been taken of the comments received following the publication of a consultation document in October 1993, and I believe the Bill will meet with widespread acceptance from those affected by it.

  The Bill's publication in draft forms part of the Government's commitment to improving the quality of legislation brought before Parliament, and I look forward to receiving many constructive comments. The consultation period lasts until 15 June.

  Water and Sewerage
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for 748
  Teignbridge of 20 March, Official Report, column 73, if he will give such statistics as have been asked for on water and sewerage costs which can be provided without disproportionate cost. [15999]

  Mr. Freeman
  Statistics can be provided for most expenditure on water and sewerage on class I, votes 1 and 2 for the years 1992–93 to 1994–95. Expenditure by the procurement executive on class I, vote 3 is not separately distinguishable from other utility costs.

  The figures are:

  1992–93: £55 million

  1993–94: £52 million

  1994–95: £49 million (expenditure until 27 March 1995).

  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer 20 March,Official Report, column 73, if he will define "disproportionate" cost. [15998]

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer the then Financial Secretary to the Treasury gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Mr Burns) on 18 February 1993,Official Report, column 307

  Defence Research Agency
  Mr. Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received of facsimile messages sent from the Defence Research Agency at Portsdown, Portsmouth, being received by private telephone subscribers due to incorrect dialling and if he will make a statement. [15898]

  Mr. Freeman
  Responsibility for such matters rest with the chief executive of the Defence Research Agency. I have therefore asked him to reply.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Peter Griffiths, dated 30 March 1995:
  In today"s written answer the Minister for State for Defence Procurement informed you that I would be replying to your question concerning the misdirecting of Facsimile messages from the Defence Research Agency (DRA) site at Portsdown, Hampshire.
  I can confirm that Mr. Wallis of Waterlooville has received a number of facsimile messages from DRA offices at Portsdown which should, in fact,have gone to other DRA offices at Farnborough. This has occurred as a result of a change to the dialling code used by DRA staff to obtain a British Telecom telephone line and the fact that Mr Wallis' facsimile number was then very similar to a small number of our Farnborough numbers.
  The two main issues of concern in this matter are firstly, the inconvenience and irritation caused to Mr. Wallis. A member of DRA security staff has spoken to him, explained how the error has occurred, and apologise for the inconvenience that he has clearly been caused.
  I am also concerned about any possible breach of national security. Standing DRA security instructions covering the use of the facsimile machines involved here does not permit the transmission of confidential material. We have no evidence to suggest that these rules have been breeched. The location of the machines in question also suggests that only messages of an administrative nature have been misdirected. We do not therefore believe there has been and serious lapse of security.
  In the normal course of events we would overcome the problem of misdirection by ensuring that staff take more care and by changing all of our facsimile numbers involved. In this case, however, the change to the national telephone dialling codes, on 16 April 1995 should resolve this particular problem. We have discussed this with Mr. Wallis and he is content to wait until the codes change. I have of course taken steps to ensure that all staff take more care when using facsimile machines and are fully aware of their security obligations.

  Military Exports
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what proportion of military exports the assistance given by the Defence Export Services Organisation is a crucial factor. [16178]

  Mr. Freeman
  DESO assistance to industry ranges from the crucial, in such sales as the Government-to-Government arrangements with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, to a variety of small, but in some cases very significant, instances of advice and support. It is difficult to quantify this in terms of a proportion but I believe that UK defence industries would rate DESO assistance generally as an important factor in their achievement of export orders, which in 1993 were worth £7 billion.

  United Nations Register of Conventional Arms
  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will press for the inclusion of fuel-air explosives in the United Nations register of conventional arms; [15873]

  (2) if he will press for the inclusion of airborne early warning and reconnaissance aircraft in the United Nations register of conventional arms; [15875]

  (3) if he will press for the inclusion of land mines in the United Nations register of conventional arms; [15871]

  (4) if he will press for the inclusion of small arms in the United Nations register of conventional arms; [15872]

  (5) if he will press for the inclusion of submersibles in the United Nations register of conventional arms. [15874]

  Mr. Soames
  The seven current categories of equipment subject to reporting in the UN register were chosen to reflect the register"s aim of identifying excessive and destabilising build-ups of major, conventional offensive weapon systems. An international group of governmental experts met last summer to discuss the operation of the register and ways in which it might be developed. Adding further categories of equipment to the seven already covered by the register was discussed, but there was no consensus for change. A United Nations resolution on transparency in armaments of December 1994 requests the Secretary General, with the assistance of a group of governmental experts to be convened in 1997, to prepare a report on the continuing operation of the register and its further development. In the meantime we shall direct our efforts at ensuring the continued successful operation of the register in its current form.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what information has been submitted to the United Nations for inclusion in the United Nations register of conventional arms in respect of battle tanks; [15877]

  (2) what information has been submitted to the United Nations for inclusions in the United Nations register of conventional arms in respect of policies and regulations concerning arms transfers; [15879]

  (3) what information has been submitted to the United Nations for inclusion in the United Nations register of conventional arms in respect of military holdings; [15881]

  (4) what information has been submitted to the United Nations for inclusion in the United Nations register of conventional arms in respect of warships; [15883]
  750
  (5) what information has been submitted to the United Nations for inclusions in the United Nations register of conventional arms in respect of combat aircraft; [15885]

  (6) what information has been submitted to the United Nations for inclusion in the United Nations register of conventional arms in respect of armoured combat vehicles; [15878]

  (7) what information has been submitted to the United Nations for inclusion in the United Nations register of conventional arms in respect of procurement through national production; [15880]

  (8) what information has been submitted to the United Nations for inclusion in the United Nations register of conventional arms in respect of missiles and missile launchers. [15882]

  (9) what information has been submitted to the United Nations for inclusion in the United Nations register of conventional arms in respect of attack helicopters; [15884]

  (10) what information has been submitted to the United Nations for inclusion in the United Nations register of conventional arms in respect of large calibre artillery systems. [15886]

  Mr. Soames
  Copies of the United Kingdom returns to the UN register of conventional arms for 1992 and 1993 have been placed in the Library of the House. Each return includes information on the imports and exports of equipment in the seven categories covered by the register. The seven categories are: battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, large calibre artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships and missiles and missile launchers. The UK return also includes information on national military holdings and procurement through national production in the seven categories and a statement of procurement and export policies. The UK return for 1994 is due to be submitted to the United Nations by 30 April. A copy of the return will be placed in the Library of the House when it is submitted.

  Mr. Rogers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who the British representatives are on the group of experts set up to review the operation of the United Nations register of conventional arms. [15876]

  Mr. Soames
  An international group of governmental experts met last summer to discuss the operation of the register and ways in which it might be developed. The UK representative on the group was the director of the proliferation and arms control secretariat from the Ministry of Defence. There is no standing group of experts, but it was agreed that a similar group should be formed when the UN next reviews the operation of the register in 1997.

  Queen"s Flight
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the journeys by the royal family on the Queen"s Flight in 1993–94 were(a) in fixed-wing aircraft and (b) abroad. [16512]

  Mr. Soames
  Of the 968 occasions when the Queen"s Flight was used by the royal family during financial year 1993–94, 608 flights were in fixed-wing aircraft and 185 flights were either from or to overseas locations.

  Defence Housing Executive
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total cost of severance pay to executives and staff of the Ministry of Defence, Defence Housing Executive. [16240]

  Mr. Soames
  I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Tauton (Mr. Nicholson) on 16 March,Official Report, columns 721–23.

  Air Accidents
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by year for the last four years, and the current year to date, the number of two-seat Royal Air Force military jet aircraft that have crashed which resulted in the death of either the pilot or navigator; and what was the date, location and type of aircraft involved in each accident. [16258]

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested is as follows:

  Date

  Aircraft

  Location

  13 January 1991

  Tornado GR1

  Oman

  29 August 1991

  Jaguar T2A

  Carno, Powys

  30 October 1991

  Phantom FGR2

  Falkland Islands

  38nm east of RAF

  9 July 1992

  Buccaneer S2B

  Leuchars

  30 September 1992

  Hawk T1A

  RAF Chivenor 15nm south of Akrotiri, Cyprus

  8 July 1994

  Tornado F3

  1 September 1994

  Tornado GR1A

  Killin, Central Scotland

  10 March 1995

  Tornado F3

  5nm east of Spurn Head

  Low Flying
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the minimum rank in the prison service which is approved to request and the minimum rank in the RAF which can approve low-level air passes over prisons; and what provisions exist to protect the local population from noise pollution. [16253]

  Mr. Soames
  There are no regulations specific to the request for, and approval of, low-level passes over prisons; the circumstances behind the overflights of Stocken prison on 27 September 1994 were unique. I have nothing further to add to my answers of 1 December 1994,Official Report, column 906, 10 January, Official Report, column 105 and 13 February Official Report, col. 545.

  Redundancy Terms
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost of redundancy of senior service officers; and if he will make a full statement on the details of the redundancy terms over the last five years. [16612]

  Mr. Soames
  The total cost of redundancy compensation paid to two-star officers and above since the start of the armed forces redundancy programme resulting from "Options for Change" is £606,125.

  The terms of the armed forces redundancy scheme have been in place since 1975 and remain largely unchanged. These terms provide for the payment of lump sum compensation, known as the special capital payment, in
  752
  all cases. The amount of special capital payment is calculated by reference either to each year or part year of the uncompleted portion of career to normal retirement age, or by reference to the number of years paid service given from age 18. In addition to the benefits normally available through the armed forces pension scheme, redundant personnel may qualify for early payment of pension and terminal grant provided they have completed 12 years full-paid service.

  Departmental Annual Report
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [16655]

  Mr. Soames
  Two thousand copies of the Ministry of Defence departmental report, Cm 2801, were printed and published this year on 2 March. In addition to those copies required by Parliament and the Government Departments and agencies concerned, just over 1,250 copies were produced for sale at a price of £8.15 net. The costs of printing and publishing the report were borne by HMSO, which aims to recover these costs from sales revenue.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of producing and circulating the departmental annual report for each of the last 10 years in real terms. [16656]

  Mr. Soames
  Departmental reports were first produced in 1991, and since then 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.

  Public Relations
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [16288]

  Mr. Soames
  Expenditure by the MOD headquarters information division during financial year 1993–94 was £5,450,000. Within this figure, the cost of contracts placed with the private sector was £2,427,000. This includes stand construction, graphics for various exhibitions, production of publicity films and videos, brochures and the printing of the MOD house journal, "FOCUS". The remaining £3,023,000 relates to miscellaneous programme costs as well as staff and operating costs, including the MOD press office and service directors of public relations.

  Expenditure on public relations outside my Department"s HQ is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [16221]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department, and the agencies and other public bodies under its authority, adhere closely to
  753
  guidelines produced by the Cabinet Office concerning the use of public relations consultants. My Department has also produced instructions for the guidance of budget holders on the use of external consultants in general.

  Dartmoor National Park
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the advertised usage of Okehampton range in the Dartmoor national park for live firing in the year ended December 1994 expressed by way of days; and how many days firing took place. [17084]

  Mr. Soames
  The advertised usage of Oakhampton range for live firing for the year ended December was 115 days, and firing took place on 50 days.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the advertised usage of Willsworthy range in the Dartmoor national park for live firing in the year ended December 1994 expressed by way of days; and how many days firing took place. [17085]

  Mr. Soames
  The advertised usage of Willsworthy range in the year ending December was 232 days, and firing took place on 108 days.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was a the advertised usage of Merrivale range in the Dartmoor national park for live firing in the year ended December 1994 expressed by way of days; and how many days firing took place. [17086]

  Mr. Soames
  The advertised usage of Merrivale range for live firing to the end of December was 174, and firing took place on 73 days.

  Chemical Weapons
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when RAF Llandwrog was last tested for traces of chemical weapons; [17294]

  (2) when Fort Belan was last tested for traces of chemical weapons. [17295]

  Mr. Soames
  The standard certificate confirming that all areas of the RAF Llandwrog site, including Fort Belan, were free from explosives and chemical contamination was issued in 1956. My Department is not aware of any further monitoring of the site having taken place since the land was handed back to its original owners at the conclusion of Operation Sandcastle.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what measures his Department has taken to assess the long-term success of Operation Sandcastle; [17296]

  (2) what assessment his Department has made of the state of the scuttled sea vessels (a) SS Empire Claire, (b) SS Vogtland and (c) SS Kotka. [17293]

  Mr. Soames
  The vessels scuttled in Operation Sandcastle sank in water up to 2,000 deep some 80 miles north-west of Northern Ireland. No monitoring of these dump sites has been undertaken because of the depth of water and also because the cargo, comprising the nerve agent Tabun, is destroyed by hydrolysis and rendered harmless in sea water. The potential hazards of chemical weapon dump sites and possible remedial action have been reviewed in a number of international maritime fora, and the consensus of international expert opinion is to leave such sites undisturbed.

  Land Sales
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 8 March,Official Report, column 257, if he will provide a breakdown of the (c) £14.7 million in the financial year 1994–95 in respect of receipts received for the sale of land and buildings. [17195]

  Mr. Soames
  The figure of £14.7 million quoted in my earlier reply related to the projected costs incurred during the current financial year in respect of land and building sales. These costs comprise of planning and other consultancy costs, £3.7 million; works to facilitate disposal including maintenance and guarding, £9.7 million; and legal costs, £1.3 million.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will specify the total(a) acreage and (b) market value of land and buildings that his Department is currently planning to sell. [17196]

  Mr. Soames
  A substantial number of sites are at present being sold and others are at various stages in the disposal process. It is also expected that further sites will become available for disposal as a result of on-going rationalisation of the defence estate. At this stage it is not possible to be certain about which sites will be released, when they will be sold or the receipts which will accrue. Estimates provide for some £697 million of receipts for the 10 years to financial year 2004, however, which is broadly the same as has been achieved in recent years.

  Gulf War
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what non-medical monitoring his Department undertakes on the activities of(a) serving and (b) non-serving soldiers with relation to Gulf war syndrome. [17168]

  Mr. Soames
  There is no monitoring of the activities of serving or former members of the armed forces in relation to the alleged Gulf war syndrome. As part of our investigation, however, all available material relating to the alleged syndrome is collated. This material includes: potential claims for compensation received from Gulf war veterans; media reports concerning the alleged syndrome which may refer to Gulf veterans; and correspondence with my Department from Gulf veterans and others. Where appropriate, individual veterans whose concern for their health comes to the attention of my Department are contacted and invited to take part in the medical assessment programme.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will rule out the possibility that chemical weapons were used during the 1990–91 Gulf war. [17177]

  Mr. Soames
  No confirmed reports of the detection of chemical warfare agent have been received relating to the Gulf conflict.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what investigations the MOD police have undertaken in respect of Gulf war syndrome. [17169]

  Mr. Soames
  None.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports from other countries concerning analysis of weapons usage by Iraq in the Gulf war his Department has received. [17176]
  755
  Mr. Soames
  My Department regularly exchanges information and assessments with allies, including data on analysis of weapons usage by Iraq in the Gulf war.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if a register is maintained by his Department of membership of the Gulf War Veterans Association. [17178]

  Mr. Soames
  No such register is held by my Department.

  Warrior Vehicles
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what technical problems with bolt fittings to secure machine guns in Warrior fighting vehicles in Bosnia have been encountered; and if he will make a statement. [17170]

  Mr. Soames
  None.

  Air Bases
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many air bases his Department currently has for sale; if he will name the bases together with the counties that they are located in; and if he will specify the asking price or market value of each of these sites. [17174]

  Mr. Soames
  The following are the former RAF sites currently being sold which represent the whole, or a significant part of an establishment:

  Acres

  RAF Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire

  1,300

  RAF Greenham Common, Berkshire

  1,000

  RAF St. David, Dyfed

  350

  RAF Swinderby, Lincolnshire

  629

  RAF Bentwaters, Suffolk

  1,057

  East Camp, Hendon, Middlesex

  24

  RAF Medmenham, Marlow, Buckingham

  90

  RAF West Drayton, Middlesex

  43

  It is not our practice to disclose the sale price of sites as that information is commercial in confidence.

  Army Bases
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Army bases his Department currently has for sale; if he will name the counties that they are located in; and if he will specify the asking price or estimated value of each of these sites. [17175]

  Mr. Soames
  A number of units or establishments may share parts of a single site and closure of one unit may therefore lead to the disposal of only a part of that site. However, the main sales of sites previously occupied by the Army which are currently in hand are as follows:

  Acres

  Hilton Vehicle Storage Depot, Derbyshire

  249 (phased sale)

  Ruddington Storage Depot, Nottinghamshire

  35 (phased sale)

  Royal Arsenal West, Woolwich, SE London

  76

  Royal Arsenal East, Woolwich, SE London

  15

  Old Park Barracks, Dover, Kent

  210

  Beavers Lane Camp, Hounslow, Middlesex

  29

  756
  It is not our practice to disclose the sale price of sites as that information is commercial in confidence.

  Reserve Forces Bill
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of his Department are currently working on the Reserve Forces Bill; and how many of these are lawyers. [17172]

  Mr. Soames
  The Reserve Forces Bill team in the Ministry of Defence consists of four administrative civil servants—a grade 6, a grade 7, a higher executive officer and an administrative officer; a service officer, currently a commander RN; and a legal adviser grade 6. They are supported by other staff in the legal adviser"s and reserves policy branches, and elsewhere in the Ministry of Defence, when required. In addition, a team of five members of the volunteer reserve forces, who are lawyers in civilian life, have provided valuable advice on a part-time basis as the work has progressed.

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received from employers" organisations regarding the Reserve Forces Bill. [17173]

  Mr. Soames
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has had correspondence about the proposed Reserve Forces Bill with Sir Alexander Graham GBE, chairman of the National Employers"s Liaison Committee, which is responsible for promoting support of the reserve forces among employers. The NELC will be conducting an advertising campaign in the national press, starting tomorrow, 31 March 1995, to publicise the proposed legislation, and to ask employers to give their reactions and contribute their views.

  COBRA Radar System
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total cost to date of the COBRA counter-battery radar system at current prices; what was the original total cost at current prices; when the COBRA will be in service; and when it was first estimated to be in service. [17194.]

  Mr. Freeman
  The latest estimated total cost to the United Kingdom of developing the COBRA counter-battery radar system is £63 million at current price levels which remains in line with the original estimate.

  However, the project has not yet entered production, and the total estimated costs of the production phase are commercially sensitive. Current production cost estimates predict an increase to the UK of some £30 million at current prices owing to exchange rate variations and a change in our VAT liability arising from revised deployment plans.

  The in-service date—ISD—for COBRA is classified. The currently endorsed ISD is five years later than that originally forecast in 1985 and further slippage of 18 months is expected. This delay is principally due to a reassessment of ISD following the project definition phase, protracted negotiations with collaborative partners and industry, and further development work that is aimed at reducing production costs.

  Excess Equipment
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 8 March,Official Report, column 256, if he will provide a breakdown of the £72.4 million of receipts for the sale of excess equipment forecast for financial year 1994–95. [17197]

  Mr. Freeman
  The answer is as follows:

  £ million

  Per cent.

  Ships

  25.4

  35.1

  Aircrafts

  9.7

  13.4

  Vehicles

  14.1

  19.5

  Armaments

  4.7

  6.5

  Miscellaneous stores and equipment

  Army

  8.9

  12.3

  Navy

  6.1

  8.4

  Air

  1.0

  1.4

  PE

  1.1

  1.5

  Marketing agreements

  1.4

  1.9

  Total

  72.4

  100

  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what forecast he has made of the total receipts for the sale of excess equipment in the financial year 1995–96. [17198]

  Mr. Freeman
  The forecast for financial year 1995–96 is £51.1 million.

  Child Care
  Mr. McNamar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the child care or nursery facilities within his Department; and what is the breakdown in their use(a) by grade and (b) by gender. [15234]

  Mr. Freeman
  At present, there are seven nurseries available for use by my Department"s staff, with a further five planned. In addition, there are a number of holiday playschemes in operation. Responsibility for the provision of child care facilities is delegated to individual budget holders and information related to their use is not held centrally.

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 30 March. [15458]

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

  No. 10 Downing Street (Disabled Access)
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will outline the measures taken, facilities offered and adjustments made at No. 10 Downing street to facilitate access for disabled people; what plans he has to improve 758
  access, with special reference to the fitting of a permanent ramp for wheelchairs; and if he will make a statement. [16931]

  The Prime Minister
  No. 10 Downing street already has a number of facilities for the disabled: portable ramps are available to give access to the house; a passenger lift which can accommodate wheelchairs and gives access to all floors; and a stair climber to enable wheelchairs to be taken up the main stairs. An additional lift to enable disabled people to move more easily to the state rooms and a disabled toilet will be installed shortly.

  Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting
  Sir Russell Johnston
  To ask the Prime Minister which Minister will be representing Her Majesty"s Government at the forthcoming meeting of Commonwealth Youth Ministers in Trinidad; and if he will make a statement. [17298]

  The Prime Minister
  The United Kingdom delegation to this meeting will be led by the British High Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago, assisted by a social development adviser from the Overseas Development Agency and the vice-chairman of the British Youth Council.

  Bank of England
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what recent assessment he has made of whether confidential matters can safely be discussed between the Chancellor and officials of the Bank of England; [17121]

  (2) what account he will take in considering candidates for appointment to the deputy governorship of the Bank of England of reports concerning their private lives; [17119]

  (3) if the usual steps were taken to check Mr. Pennant-Rea"s background before he was appointed Deputy Governor of the Bank of England. [17122]

  The Prime Minister
  I will take all relevant considerations into account in deciding who should be appointed Deputy Governor of the Bank of England. Mr. Pennant-Rea was subject to security vetting before he took up his appointment. I am satisfied that sensitive matters can be discussed in confidence between the Chancellor and bank officials.

  Child Care
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Prime Minister what are the child care or nursery facilities within his Department; and what is the breakdown in their use(a) by grade and (b) by gender. [15227]

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

  Pay Review Bodies
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Prime Minister what were the total costs of operating the pay review bodies for(a) teachers, (b) doctors and dentists, (c) armed forces, (d) nurses and midwives, etc. and (e) senior salaries, including details for each of consultancy costs, members" expenses and site visits in the latest year for which figures are available. [17322]
  759
  The Prime Minster
  The pay review bodies are serviced by the Office of Manpower Economics whose total operating costs, including some functions and activities not related to review bodies, amounted to £1.4 million in 1993–94, the latest period for which information is available. This figure includes staff salaries and costs, office infrastructure and support costs, but excludes rent and rates, members" travel and incidental expenses and consultancy.

  Members and chairmen of pay review bodies are unpaid. Consultancy costs for review bodies vary significantly from year to year. Details of consultancy costs and members" incidental expenses are set out in the table.

  £ pounds

  Review body

  Consultancy costs

  Members' travel and expenses

  School Teachers Review Body (STRB)

  249,096

  5,693

  Doctors and Dentists Review Body (DDRB)

  164,541

  7,366

  Nurses and Allied Professions Review Body (NAPRB)

  —

  5,781

  Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB)

  284,015

  23,774

  Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB)

  192,992

  4,485

  Departmental Report
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) 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; [16648]

  (2) what was the cost of producing and circulating the last annual report of the Cabinet Office; what was the circulation list; how many copies were produced; how many copies were sold; and at what price. [16648]

  The Prime Minister
  For this purpose my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science on 29 March at column 651.

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.

  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 annual report of the Cabinet Office; what was the circulation list; how many copies were produced; how many copies were sold; and at what price.

  Mr. Horam
  The printing and publishing costs were borne by HMSO who aim to recover these from sales 760
  revenue. The report was circulated to the Prime Minister, OPSS Ministers, Opposition spokesmen, Parliament, Cabinet Office senior management, and contributors in HMSO, COI and 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

  Milk Quotas
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average period being taken by the intervention board to process the leasing of milk quotas and to inform Milk Marque of the transfer. [15935]

  Mr. Jack
  The leasing period for the 1994–95 milk quotas year during which our target was to process acceptable leases within 14 days of their receipt ended on 31 December 1994. Processing of acceptable leases was completed some weeks ago. The only leases now being processed are those with queries which are being processed as soon as they have been resolved. As they are cleared individually there are no statistics showing average clearance rates. Milk Marque, and other milk purchasers, are informed on a weekly basis of all changes in the quota registered with them confirmed in the preceding week.

  Fruit and Vegetables
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the United Kingdom trade deficit or surplus in respect of indigenous fruit and vegetables as defined by "Food from Britain" for each year from 1990 to 1994. [14925]

  Mr. Jack
  The crude overseas trade deficit in respect of indigenous fruit and vegetables is given in the following table; the information for 1994 is not yet available.

  £ million

  1990

  1991

  1992

  19931

  Crude trade gap

  861

  883

  896

  919

  1 Provisional.

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is(a) the latest European Commission estimate for the amount of tonnes of (i) apples, (ii) tomatoes, (iii) cauliflowers and (iv) peaches and nectarines withdrawn from the market to raise consumer prices and (b) the cost of this policy to public funds in the United Kingdom, breaking this figure down into (1) the running costs of the policy and (2) the amount which the policy adds on food prices. [16152]

  Mr. Jack
  The latest estimates from the European Commission for the 1995 budget year (16 October 1994 to 15 October 1995) are:

  (i) apples - 950,000 tonnes

  (ii) tomatoes - 70,000 tonnes

  (iii) cauliflowers - 80,000 tonnes

  (iv) peaches - 800,000 tonnes

  (v) nectarines - 195,000 tonnes

  761
  It is not possible to estimate the UK contribution to the cost of withdrawals of fruit and vegetables across the European Community as the UK contributes to the common agricultural policy budget as a whole and not to individual parts of it.

  Estimates of the amount that the policy adds to retail prices of fruit and vegetables are not available, but are likely to be relatively small.

  Child Care
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the child care and nursery facilities within his Department; and what is the breakdown in their use(a) by grade and (b) by gender. [15239]

  Mr. Jack
  During the last six months MAFF has increased the number of subsidised nursery places available to MAFF and agency staff from 48 to 84. Seventy-five of these places are currently taken up. A 33-place nursery is under construction at the Central Science Laboratory"s new site at Sand Hutton, near York, which is due to open in 1996.

  Current use by grade and gender is as follows:

  Grade or Equivalent

  Gender

  4 Female

  G7

  5 Male

  9 Female

  SEO/SSO

  3 Male

  15 Female

  HEO/HSO

  6 Male

  17 Female

  EO/SO

  6 Male

  8 Female

  AO

  2 Male

  AA

  1 Female

  Support Grades

  1 Female

  Twenty of these places are used by families where both parents work for MAFF. The higher grade has been used in the breakdown of users.

  Holiday playscheme provision is available to staff based at a number of sites throughout the country. The facilities are available to all grades and use varies during the year.

  EU Proposals
  Mr. 'Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many(a) Commission proposals and (b) fiches d"impact there were in (a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95. [17087]

  Mr. Jack
  Full details of the proposals issued by the European Commission were published in its 1993 and 1994 general reports on the activities of the European Union, paragraphs 1025 and 1202 respectively. The Commission does not publish similar, information on 762
  fiches d'impact. However, in line with central requirements, MAFF actively presses the Commission to prepare fiches for legislative proposals which have the potential to impose substantial burdens on business.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 17 March,Official Report, columns 775–808, what consideration underlay the decision not to produce a fiche d"impact in relation to industry costs for the minced meat directive: and what steps are being taken to ensure that in each member state for every directive the Community produces a fiche d"impact concerned with the likely cost to industry of implementation. [17090]

  Mrs. Browning
  It is for the Commission to explain the considerations behind its decision not to produce a fiche d"impact when it proposed the minced meat directive in 1990. In commenting on the Commission"s annual work programme, the Government identify legislative proposals which have the potential to impose substantial burdens on business and urges the European Commission to prepare fiches d"impact where it has not volunteered to do so in the programme. MAFF, like other Departments, actively presses the Commission to prepare fiches at the earliest practicable point in the process.

  Pesticides Safety Directorate
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what targets have been set for the Pesticides Safety Directorate in 1995–96. [17946]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I have set the Pesticides Safety Directorate the following targets relating to financial performance, efficiency, the delivery of pesticides approval services and policy advice in 1995–96:

  To achieve 100 per cent. recovery of costs and an overall efficiency gain of 2 per cent. To meet the targets for delivery of services as follows:

  Application stream

  Applications completed

  Maximum processing time (working days)

  Technical secretariat

  Normal

  310

  270

  Fast

  275

  110

  Experimental permit

  30

  185

  Off label

  115

  60

  Administrative fast

  350

  20

  Upgrade

  50

  —

  New substances

  Sift

  11

  120

  New substance

  16

  235–275

  Reviews

  Reviews (UK and EC)

  14

  —

  Notes:

  1. The processing time targets apply to 85 per cent. of new applications.

  2. The quality of the directorate"s scientific and policy work will be subject to separate quality audits.

  3. The agency will carry out a customer satisfaction survey to assess the service delivery defined in its customer service statement published in 1994.

  4. Details of performance in 1994–95 will be set out in the agency"s annual report and accounts to be published during July 1995.

  Sheep Rustling
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to combat sheep rustling. [15650]

  Mr. Maclean
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government have taken a number of steps, such as encouraging the formation of farm watch schemes, to combat a range of crimes in rural areas. However, it is a matter for individual chief officers of police to decide operational priorities according to local needs.

WALES

  Statutory References
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what statutory references to hon. Members have been made in legislation introduced by his Department or its predecessors, since 1965. [16096]

  Mr. Redwood
  An analysis of all legislation introduced by this Department since 1965 has not been carried out. However, 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 general references are made to both Houses of Parliament and to membership of the House of Commons.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the TEC schemes his Department sponsors for the unemployed; and if he will list the schemes in operation since the TECs were set up. [16218]

  Mr. Redwood
  The information is as follows:

  Youth training (previously youth training scheme)

  Youth credit (previously training credit)

  Modern engineering apprenticeships

  Training for work (previously employment training, employment action and higher technology national training)

  Business start-up (previously enterprise allowance scheme) Open learning credits

  From 1 April 1995, the modern apprenticeships and accelerated modern apprenticeships schemes are being introduced.

  In addition, TECs are able to offer support at local level through the local initiative fund and the use of their reserves.

  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what has been his Department's expenditure on each of the TECs in North Wales 1994–95; and what his plans are in 1995–96 and 1996–97. [16745]

  Mr. Richards
  Negotiations are continuing with TECs on the contracts for 1995–96. When these negotiations are completed I will write to the hon. Member.

  Final outturn figures for the 1994–95 will not be available until the appropriation accounts are approved. When I write to the hon. Member on TEC contracts I will let him also have the latest provisional outturn figures at the time.

  Expenditure in 1996–97 will be dependent on TEC contract negotiations which will take place early in 1996.

  Press Officers
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many press officers there are in his Department and what the figure was in 1979. [16747]

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many press officers there are in his Department currently; and what the figure was in 1979. [16546]

  Mr. Redwood
  There are currently seven press officers in my Department. The figure for 1979 is not available.

  Nitrous Oxide
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the quantity of nitrous oxide emissions in Wales in the last year; and if he will make a statement. [16589]

  Mr. Redwood
  Estimated figures for the United Kingdom appear at table 1.4 in the latest "Digest of Environment and Water Statistics", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. Figures for Wales are not separately identified.

  Former Development Areas
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he will take to assist those areas in Wales which lost development area status; and if he will make a statement. [16831]

  Mr. Redwood
  The assisted areas map settled by the Government in July 1993 represented a fair and very satisfactory settlement for Wales. I believe that the map provides an excellent basis to continue the great economic success that has been achieved in Wales in recent years.

  Non-Domestic Rating
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the effect of rating revaluation on small business in Wales. [16933]

  Mr. Redwood
  The 1995 rating revaluation has resulted in an estimated average increase in Welsh rateable values of 18 per cent. which, under the statutory formula, means a reduction in the poundage from 44.8p to 39p. For properties with a 1995 rateable value below £10,000, the average increase in rateable value is 28 per cent. Transitional arrangements limit increases in bills for premises with a rateable value less than £10,000 to 7.5 per cent. a year in real terms. This compares with 10 per cent. in real terms for premises with a rateable value of £10,000 or more.

  Employment in House Building
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of people employed in the house building industry in Wales. [16829]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information is available only for the construction industry as a whole. Latest estimates from the autumn 1994 Labour Force Survey show that there were 88,000 people employed in this industry in Wales.

  Countryside Council for Wales
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions and on what dates between 1 September 1994 and 2 March 1995 he has had formal meetings with(a) the board and (b) the chairman of the Countryside Council for Wales. [16760]

  Mr. Redwood
  I had a formal meeting with the chairman on 10 January 1994 and with the chairman and the board on 24 January 1995. In addition to these meetings, discussions have taken place between my officials and officials from the Countryside Council for Wales.

  Low Pay
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on low pay in Wales. [16832]

  Mr. Redwood
  Since April 1990, wage levels have risen faster in Wales than in Great Britain as a whole.

  Drug Misuse
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what additional resources he is making available to combat drug abuse on Deeside, Clwyd. [16834]

  Mr. Richards
  Following the recommendations of the efficiency scrutiny of health promotion in Wales, central Welsh Office resources to combat drug and alcohol misuse were added to the allocations of Welsh district health authorities from 1 April 1994. The funding of local initiatives to combat drug misuse in Wales is the responsibility of the local agencies involved.

  Child Care
  Mr. Kevin McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the child care or nursery facilities within his Department; and what is the breakdown in their use(a) by grade and (b) by gender. [15225]

  Mr. Redwood
  My Department is a member of a consortium that provides nursery places for staff who are primary carers of children aged between six weeks and five years. The use of these places by grade and gender is as follows:

  Grade

  Female

  Male

  Grade 6

  1

  0

  Grade 7

  2

  3

  SEO

  0

  2

  HEO

  2

  3

  EO

  11

  1

  AO

  6

  0

  Places are reserved on holiday playschemes for children aged between four and 14 years during the Easter and summer' school holidays. Information on the use of these places is not available in the form requested.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to introduce controls on Welsh Office spending on the promotion of grant-maintained schools similar to those which are to be imposed on local authorities in accordance with section 36.of the Education 766
  Act 1993; when he proposes to publish the result of his consultation with local councils on this issue; how much time he allowed local authorities to respond to his circular on the matter; and if he will make a statement. [16950]

  Mr. Richards
  Welsh Office expenditure in respect of grant-maintained status for schools in limited to what is already considered to be the minimum necessary to ensure that interested parties have sufficient information which is factual and non-political in content, tone, and presentation to enable them to take an informed view about the grant-maintained option.

  The consultation paper on the joint draft Education (Ballot Expenditure) Regulations was issued on 27 January 1995. Consultees were invited to submit comments by 24 February. In the light of the comments received, my right hon. Friends have modified upwards several of the expenditure limits described in the regulations which will now come into force on 1 April this year.

  The provisions to limit local authority expenditure and put modest sums at the disposal of governing bodies are designed to achieve a balance between LEAs' and governing bodies' abilities to inform local debate on the matter.

  TB and Cancer
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were reported as suffering from(a) tuberculosis, (b) breast cancer and (c) cervical cancer in 1994; and if he will make a statement. [16744]

  Mr. Richards
  Information on the total number of people suffering from diseases is not collected centrally. However, provisional figures for 1994 show that there were 184 new cases of tuberculosis in Wales notified to the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. In 1989, the latest year for which complete data are available, there were 1,674 new female breast cancers and 342 new cervical cancers registered by the Wales Cancer Registry.

  Local Education Authority Staff
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of administrative staff employed in each of the local education authorities in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [16746]

  Mr. Richards
  Information on the number of people employed by local authorities in Wales is compiled by the Local Government Management Board. Figures for staff employed in administration are not separately available. The estimated number of full-time and part-time non-manual staff employed in the education service, other than lecturers and teachers, in June 1994 was 11,050–8,870 full-time equivalents. This comprises all non-manual staff identified as employed within the education service and includes administrative, secretarial and clerical staff, youth and community workers, nursery and other non-teaching classroom assistants, library staff serving educational establishments, educational psychologists and careers guidance staff. Figures for individual education authorities are not released into the public domain because estimates at this level of disaggregation are not considered sufficiently reliable by the LGMB.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which police headquarters he has visited in Wales since taking office. [16748]

  Mr. Redwood.
  None. The police force is a responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary.

  Mixed-sex Wards
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new proposals he has to reduce the numbers of mixed-sex wards in Welsh hospitals. [17350]

  Mr. Richards
  Hospitals are already required to provide services which take account of an individual's privacy and dignity, and I have told the NHS that the next edition of the patients charter, to be published later this year, will emphasise the need for the service to take better account of patients' preferences when arranging hospital accommodation.

  To prepare the ground for the requirements of the new charter, I have asked the chairman of each health and NHS trust in Wales to develop proposals by the end of April for improving performance in this area.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Publicity
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimate of departmental expenditure on advertising and publicity for 1994–95; and what was the actual number for 1993–94. [17192]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Total expenditure on publicity from my Department's centrally managed budgets was £8.47 million in 1993–94 of which £.78 million was in respect of advertising. The corresponding figures for 1994–95 are estimated to be £7.89 million and £.56 million respectively.

  Indonesia (Visits)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the exact dates of ministerial visits to Indonesia since 1 January 1990, naming the Ministers and giving the reasons for the visit in each case. [16510]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The following ministerial visits to Indonesia covered by my present departmental responsibilities have taken place since 1 January 1990:

  26 February 1992: Lord Rae Minister for Technology and Aerospace. Trade promotion visit.

  7–10 January 1993: Richard Needham, Minister for Trade. Trade promotion visit.

  1–3 June 1993: Richard Needham, Minister for Trade. Trade promotion visit.

  10–15 September 1993: Tim Eggar, Minister for Energy. Trade Promotion Visit.

  1–3 December 1993: Richard Needham, Minister for Trade. Trade promotion visit.

  18–23 October 1994: Richard Needham, Minister for Trade. Trade promotion visit.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the exact dates of visits by officials 768
  in his Department to Indonesia since 1 January 1990 and the reason for the visit in each case. [16511]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  This information is not held on a central database and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  West Midlands Economy
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what meetings he has held in the last two years about future programmes to regenerate and develop the west midlands economy through the European structural funds; and what these programmes will be. [16226]

  Mr. Page
  My colleagues and I have on occasion met Commissioners to discuss matters generally concerning the European structural funds. No meetings have been specifically about west midlands issues. The west midlands will benefit from structural fund assistance through the following programmes already approved:West Midlands/Objectives 2 Single Programming Document 1994–1996.
  The Marches 5b Single Programming Document 1994–96.
  The Great Britain Objective 3 Programme.

  I expect the eligible parts of the West Midlands also benefit from structural fund community initiative programmes including, EMPLOYMENT, KONVER, RETEX, SME, RECHAR, LEADER and URBAN.

  Dounreay
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals have been submitted for decommissioning the Dounreay fast reactor, the prototype fast reactor and the HMS Vulcan reactor test establishment. [16054]

  Mr. Page
  The responsibility for the decommissioning of nuclear plant at the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's Dounreay site rests with UKAEA Government division. The DTI has accepted responsibility for funding most of the work. Proposals for the decommissioning of the Dounreay fast reactor and the prototype fast reactor, which form part of the programme of work, have been agreed between the UKAEA Government division and the DTI. Both reactors are currently undergoing the first stage of decommissioning.

  The decommissioning of the HMS Vulcan reactor test establishment is a matter for the Ministry of Defence.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what comparative studies were carried out into the options for managing the final load of spent nuclear fuel from the Dounreay prototype fast reactor; and what studies were done to justify the reprocessing of the fuel, as referred to in his answer to the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond) on 14 February 1994,Official Report, column 573.

  Mr. Page
  The UKAEA has carried out a study of the management options for the final load of spent fuel from the Dounreay prototype fast reactor. The study considered the following alternatives to a continuation of reprocessing in the Dounreay PFR reprocessing plant:

  (a) Reprocessing at Sellafield, in France, in CIS countries or in Japan;

  (b) Long term storage pending either reprocessing or direct disposal;

  (c) Direct disposal.

  769
  The study is presently being reviewed and updated to incorporate current data. It provisionally concluded that, on technical and economic grounds, continued reprocessing at Dounreay is the preferred option.

  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action will be taken concerning installation of a nitric acid neutralising plant at Dounreay. [16053]

  Mr. Page
  Specifications for a nitric acid neutralisation plant at Dounreay are currently being prepared. It is expected that construction and installation of the necessary equipment will be completed by 1997.

  Top Executives' Pay
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the progress of the talks between his Department and the CBI committee established to look at the pay of the top executives. [15300]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The formation of a committee under the chairmanship of Sir Richard Greenbury to review the framework for determining and disclosing executive remuneration is a private sector initiative. The Government have no direct involvement in the committee's work. The committee's recommendations will be addressed in the first instance to companies and their shareholders, but the Government will be ready to consider whether any recommendations require legislative action.

  Child Care
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the child care or nursery facilities within his Department; and what is the breakdown in their use(a) by grade and (b) by gender. [15235]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The DTI—excluding the following executive agencies: Companies House, the Insolvency Service, the National Engineering Laboratory, the National Physical Laboratory, the Laboratory of the Government Chemists, the National Weights and Measures Laboratory, the Patent Office and the Radiocommunications Agency—provides school holiday playscheme places in London and a number of regional locations.

  The figures showing the number of staff whose children used the playschemes during 1994–95 are set out in the following table:

  Grade level

  Male

  Female

  Total

  5

  2

  2

  4

  6

  1

  —

  1

  7

  12

  2

  14

  SEO

  5

  3

  8

  HEO

  6

  10

  16

  EO

  1

  7

  8

  AO

  —

  19

  19

  AA

  1

  9

  10

  Total

  28

  52

  80

  The chief executives of the DTI's executive agencies will respond direct to the hon. Member.

  Letter from David Durham to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 30 March 1995:
  770
  I have been asked by the President of the Board of Trade to respond to your question concerning child care and nursery facilities.
  Companies House does not provide nursery facilities, but we do provide financial assistance (50% of the cost) to staff who wish to use our approved Holiday Play Care Scheme during the Easter and Summer school holidays. This assistance has been available since the Summer of 1993.
  I have detailed below the average usage, grade and gender split for the last three holidays ie Summer 1993, Easter 1994 and Summer 1994.

  Average number of staff using the scheme

  Average gender split

  Average grade split

  %

  %

  19

  Female 93

  Clerical 71

  Male 7

  Management 29

  Please let me know if you require any further details.

  Letter from Peter Joyce to Kevin McNamara, dated 30 March 1995:
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your question about childcare or nursery facilities in the Insolvency Service.
  The Service participates in the DTI Playscheme in Central London, operational in school holidays, and provides a number of places at a subsidised rate. Usage in the 21 months period from April 1993 to December 1994 was:

  Playscheme days

  Staff grade

  Gender

  Assistant

  Official

  3

  Receiver (B)

  Male

  27

  Examiner (D)

  Female

  Administrative

  34

  Officer

  Female

  67

  Typist

  Female

  Total

  131

  Letter from Richard Worswick to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 30 March 1995:
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your question concerning childcare/nursery facilities available at the laboratory of the Government Chemist (LGC).
  The three DTI Agencies based at Teddington, Middlesex (National Physical Laboratory, National Weights and Measures Laboratory and the Laboratory of the Government Chemist) together provide a nursery facility at the Teddington site for employees' children of pre-school age and babies over 3 months old. An analysis (by grade and gender) of the 17 LGC employees who have children attending the nursery is given in the table below.
  In addition, two children of employees of DTI's Chemicals and Biotechnology Division (some of whose staff are co-located with LGC on the Teddington site) attend the nursery facility. The data for these employees is shown in brackets in the table below.

  Gender of employee

  Employee grade

  Number in grade

  Male

  Female

  Grade 7

  2

  1

  1

  S-level grades

  4

  3

  1

  H–1level grades

  3

  1

  2

  EO and equivalent grades

  4

  1

  3

  Administrative, support and equivalent

  (+2 CB) 4

  —

  (+2 CB) 4

  Totals

  (+2 CB) 17

  6

  (+2 CB) 11

  771
  Letter from W. Edgar to Mr. Kevin McNamara dated, 30 March 1995:
  I would refer to your Parliamentary Question to the President to the Board of Trade concerning child care and nursery facilities available within his Department. I would confirm that this agency does not provide any such facilities.

  Letter from Peter Clapham to Mr. Kevin McNamara dated, 30 March 1995:
  I am writing in response to your question to the President of the Board of Trade regarding child care facilities within the DTI, and their use (a) by grade and (b) by gender.
  The National Physical Laboratory, in conjunction with the Laboratory of the Government Chemist and the National Weights and Measures Laboratory, provides an on-site nursery at Teddington.
  As at February 1995, usage of the nursery by staff at NPL was:-

  Grade

  Number

  a) by grade

  Grade 7

  6

  SSO & equivalent

  1

  HSO & equivalent

  5

  SO & equivalent

  6

  ASO & equivalent

  1

  b) by gender

  Male

  7

  Female

  12

  I hope the above provides the information you require.

  Letter from Seton Bennett to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 30 March 1995:
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply on behalf of this Agency to your Parliamentary Question about child care and nursery facilities.
  There is a nursery facility on the Teddington site shared by NWML with the National Physical Laboratory and the Laboratory of the Government Chemist. Three members of NWML staff currently use the facility as follows:

  Grade

  1 Higher Professional & Technical Officer

  1 Higher Scientific Officer

  1 Scientific Officer

  Gender

  1 female

  2 male

  Letter from P.R.S. Hartnack to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 30 March 1995:
  I have been asked to reply—with respect to the Patent Office—to your recent Parliamentary question to the President of the Board of Trade concerning child care or nursery facilities.
  The Patent Office occupies the Duffryn site at Newport, South Wales, alongside the Central Statistical Office, and has access to the nursery facilities operated by CSO. At the moment six Patent Office employees (two female executive officers, four female administrative officers) place children in the nursery during the working day.
  In addition, the Patent Office operates playschemes during the Easter and Summer school holidays, when staff at work may find it difficult to arrange care for children at home. We bus children from the Newport site to a larger nursery in Cardiff (about nine miles) at the beginning of the working day, and return them to the site at the end.
  Usage in 1994 was as follows:

  Grade

  Gender

  Number

  Easter playscheme

  HEO

  F

  2

  HEO

  M

  1

  EO

  M

  1

  AO

  F

  1

  772

  Grade

  Gender

  Number

  AO

  M

  1

  Support grade

  M

  1

  AA

  F

  2

  Summer playscheme

  HEO

  F

  2

  HEO

  M

  2

  EO

  F

  3

  AO

  F

  2

  Support grade

  M

  1

  AA

  M

  1

  AA

  F

  1

  (HEO stands for higher executive officer and AA for administrative assistance). I hope this is helpful.

  Letter from Jim Norton to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 30 March 1995:
  CHILD CARE AND NURSERY FACILITIES
  The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to your question about child care and nursery facilities.
  The Agency does not have any child care or nursery facilities at present and there are no plans to introduce such facilities in the foreseeable future.

  Imports
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list imports as a percentage of the United Kingdom market for manufacturers by main sector for the latest date for which figures are available. [17128]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The latest available information was published in 1990 by the Central Statistical Office in "Business Monitor MQ12", available in the Library of the House. Information for 1993 is expected to be published by the CSO in the "Monthly Digest of Statistics", at the end of April 1995.

  Financial and Advisory Services
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what leaflets are published by his Department which list the forms of(a) financial and (b) advisory assistance available from public or private sector sources to businesses in Britain. [16900]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The DTI brochure "Services for Business" sets out the range of services available from the DTI; supported by secondary publications providing more detailed information on the individual services.

  Increasingly, DTI services are being delivered by Business Links. These private sector-led partnerships are bringing together the full range of business support services in their areas—providing "one stop" access.

  Business Links are putting together lists of the financial and advisory assistance available from public and private sector sources in their areas. The information is not held centrally and the DTI does not have a comprehensive list of all the business support services available.

  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what forms of financial assistance outside areas receiving regional development assistance are available for assisting established companies(a) to expand premises or production and (b) to pilot new brands of machinery; and how many applications for such assistance are processed. [16870]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Outside the areas qualifying for regional aid there is no financial assistance from the DTI
  773
  specifically to help businesses to expand premises or production or to pilot new brands of machinery. However, the SMART—small firms merit award for research and technology—and SPUR—support for products under research—schemes help small businesses research and develop new products and processes involving innovative technology. In the past year, there were 1,494 entries for the SMART competition, resulting in 180 offers of support, and there have been 168 applications for SPUR which, to date, have led to 73 offers of support.

  Contract with America
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library the Washington DC embassy's reports of 9 and 18 January concerning the Republicans' contract with America. [17083]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  I have arranged to deposit the documents requested in the Library of the House.

  Deregulation Initiatives
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade which overseas posts have reported on deregulation initiatives since the start of the current year. [17088]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Since the start of the current year, 14 overseas posts have reported formally and informally on deregulation in their host countries. These posts were:Austria; Canada; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Ireland; Italy; Japan; Luxembourg; Netherlands; Spain; Sweden; and the United States of America.

  Argentina
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the policy of Her Majesty's Government on trade with the Argentine; and what plans he has to review it. [16231]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mr. Parry), on 7 December 1994,Official Report, columns 259–60. Our overall policy is to promote the continued growth of trade with and investment in, Argentina and we have no plans to review that policy. There remains an embargo on the sale of arms and military equipment to Argentina.

  Overseas Investments
  Mr. Wilson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the contribution of overseas investment to the profitability of(a) British Gas, (b) British Telecom, (c) the privatised water companies and (d) the privatised electricity companies; and if he will make a statement. [16233]

  Mr. Eggar
  Decisions about overseas investment are matters for the companies themselves and not for me, but I am always pleased at the successes of the privatised companies in overseas markets.

  Arms Exports to Indonesia
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 14 March,Official Report, column 483, what were the five applications for the export of arms to Indonesia that were refused by his Department in 1994; what were the arms, involved; which
  774
  were the firms promoting them; and what were the reasons for refusal. [15995]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  It has been the practice of successive Governments not to reveal details of export licences or applications for licences.

  Post Office
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many crown post offices are currently in operation throughout(a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom; and if he will list the crown post offices still in operation in Scotland and the parliamentary constituencies within which they lie. [16311]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 27 March 1995]: I understand from the Post Office that, at the end of February 1995, there were 61 crown post offices operating in Scotland and 735 crown post offices operating throughout the United Kingdom. A list of the crown post offices operating in Scotland, showing the parliamentary constituencies within which they are located, is being placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many people are employed at each of the crown post offices operating within Scotland. [16310]

  Mr. Page
  [holding answer 27 March 1995]: A copy of the list provided by the Post Office of the 60 crown post offices currently operating in Scotland and the numbers of staff employed at each of them is being placed in the Library of the House.

  Indonesia (Exports)
  Ms Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what export licences have been granted to British firms for export to Indonesia of(a) crowd control technologies and (b) CS gas. [16728]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 28 March 1995]: It has been the practice of successive Governments not to reveal details of export licences or applications for export licences.

  Iraq (Export Credit Guarantees)
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his estimate of the potential export credit guarantee liability in respect of contracts entered into with companies in Iraq or the Government of Iraq; how much of this amount is in respect of defence contracts; and what amount of export credit guarantee liability has been actually paid. [16994]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 28 March 1995]: The ECGD's current exposure on Iraq is estimated at £652 million, of which £593 million relates to un-recovered claims payments. Over the period 1985–90, ECGD supported about £52 million for exports with potential defence applications.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Support
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the estimated total number of liable parents for child maintenance without care
  775
  responsibilities prior to the Child Support Act 1991; what is the most recent estimated number of parents without care responsibilities but potentially liable for child support; and what is the estimated total number in each category who were or are not paying any child support at all and the estimated total numbers who paid £500 or less per child. [15264]

  Mr. Burt
  Information is not available in the form requested. Estimates at the time the White Paper "Children Come First" was published in 1990 indicated that only 30 per cent. of lone mothers and 3 per cent of lone fathers received maintenance. The average amount of maintenance paid was £25 a week.

  Incapacity Benefits
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of incapacity benefits have been found(a) capable of work, (b) capable of alternative work and (c) capable of their usual occupation during each of the last four quarters; and in each category, how many of these were examined and how many were not. [16102]

  Mr. Hague
  The available information is in the table.

  Outcome of claims referred to Benefits Agency medical service.

  Quarter ending

  December 1993

  March 1994

  June 1994

  September 1994

  Capable of alternative work

  25,000

  28,000

  25,000

  27,000

  Capable of normal occupation

  5,000

  5,000

  4,000

  4,000

  Notes:

  1. Based on a 100 per cent. count of cases, rounded to the nearest thousand.

  2. References are for sickness benefit, invalidity benefit and severe disablement allowance claimants, but excludes those references where the national insurance contribution conditions for sickness/invalidity benefit have not been satisfied and benefit is payable because the person's incapacity is the result of an accident at work or a prescribed industrial disease.

  3. Figures for June and September do not include references to Durham medical examination centre. Figures for September do not include references to Swansea reference office.

  All these claimants were examined by the Benefits Agency medical service.

  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if Mr. Harold Fairs' entitlement to incapacity benefit will cease on 1 June; if his retirement pension will be payable from the first pension pay day on 5 June; and from which public funds during the period 2 to 4 June Mr. Fairs will meet the needs for which his incapacity benefit is intended. [17354]

  Mr. Hague
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 24 February,Official Report, columns 351–52.

  Public Relations
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security 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. [16286]
  776
  Mr. Hague
  This Department spent the following on public relations with the private sector during the financial year 1993–94:

  Department

  £

  Headquarters

  nil

  Benefits Agency

  nil

  Contributions Agency

  nil

  Child Support Agency

  nil

  War Pensions Agency

  nil

  Resettlement Agency

  nil

  Information Technology Services Agency

  2,765

  The activities covered by the contractor to ITSA were to assist the agency in the establishment of its public relations function; to advise on dealing with the IT press, and to make recommendations on both internal and external communication.

  Departmental Annual Report
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the cost of producing and circulating the departmental annual report for each of the last 10 years in real terms. [16623]

  Mr. Hague
  The Department has produced only three separate departmental annual reports. Costs, in March 1995 prices, for these are as follows:

  1995–96: £34,104

  1994–95: £27,342

  1993–94: £33,476

  For the years 1991–92 and 1992–93 the Department's expenditure plans were published as part of a Treasury series and separate figures are therefore not available.

  For the years 1985–86 to 1989–90 expenditure plans for all Departments were published by the Treasury in its expenditure White Paper. Separate figures are not available.

  Benefits (Capital Limits)
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list all the current capital limits to the entitlement to benefits and other assistance together with the year of introduction; what was the value of each in real terms at the time of introduction; and if he will make a statement. [16611]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The five income-related benefits—council tax benefit, disability working allowance, family credit, housing benefit and income support—all have a lower capital limit, above which deductions are made from benefit, and an upper capital limit, above which no benefit can be paid. The lower capital limit in all those benefits is also the level above which no personal allowance can be paid for a dependent child if he possesses that amount of capital or more.

  Additionally, in qualifying for a social fund maternity or funeral payment, community care grant or budgeting loan, if capital is held above a certain limit, deductions are made from any payment awarded.

  The limits, and the dates when they were introduced or last increased, are set out in the table.
  777

  £

  Date fixed

  Value now if uprated in line with prices1

  Council Tax Benefit

  Lower capital limit £3,000

  April 1993

  3,108

  Upper capital limit £16,000

  April 1993

  16,576

  Disability Working Allowance

  Lower capital limit £3,000

  April 1992

  3,216

  Upper capital limit £16,000

  April 1992

  £16,596

  Family Credit

  Lower capital limit £3,000

  April 1988

  4,105

  Upper capital limit £8,000

  April 1990

  9,940

  Housing Benefit

  Lower capital limit £3,000

  April 1988

  4,105

  Upper capital limit £16,000

  April 1990

  19,881

  Income Support

  Lower capital limit £3,000

  April 1988

  4,105

  Upper capital limit £8,000

  April 1990

  9,940

  Social Fund

  Capital limit for funeral £500 or maternity payments (up to age 60)

  April 1990

  621

  Capital limit for funeral £1,000 or maternity payments (60 and over)

  April 1990

  1,242

  Community care grant £500 (up to age 60)

  April 1988

  684

  Community care grant £1,000 (60 and over)

  April 1988

  1,242

  Budgeting loan £500 (up to age 60)

  April 1988

  684

  Budgeting loan £1,000 (60 and over)

  April 1988

  1,242

  1 Uprated in line with ROSSI—retail prices index excluding housing costs.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of people who will receive the jobseeker's allowance; and if he will make a statement. [16830]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  On current assumptions, 2,110,00 people would be receiving a jobseeker's allowance at any one time in 1996–97. Once transitional protection has ended, on the same assumptions 2,070,000 would be receiving a jobseeker's allowance.

  Notes:

  1. Assumes in 1996–97 and 1997–98 claimant unemployment in Great Britain of 2.4 million and an unemployment benefit case load of 500,000.

  2. Estimates rounded to the nearest 10,000.

  Statutory References
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what statutory references to hon. Members have been made in legislation introduced by his Department, or its predecessors, since 1965. [17037]

  Mr. Hague
  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 is exceptional 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 778
  who are members of one or other of the Houses of Parliament.

  Performance Targets
  Mr. Coe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what performance targets he has set his Department's agencies for 1995–96; and if he will make a statement. [18010]

  Mr. Lilley
  The targets I have set my executive agencies for 1995–96 are given.

  The targets represent a significant challenge to each agency, and support the continued success of the citizen's charter and next steps programmes.

  As well as performance targets, I have also set resource management targets requiring agencies to deliver their services within agreed financial resources.

  Further information on my agencies' plans for 1995–96 is contained in their individual business plans which have been published today. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  The targets for 1995–96 are:

  BENEFITS AGENCY

  1 Benefit clearance times1

  Social fund crisis loans—the day the need arises.

  Income support new claims—63 per cent. of claims cleared in five days and 87 per cent. in 13 days.

  Incapacity benefit—65 per cent. of claims cleared in 10 days and 85 per cent. in 30 days.

  Child benefit—68 per cent. of claims cleared in 10 days and 94 per cent. in 30 days.

  Family credit—60 per cent. of claims cleared in 13 days and 95 per cent. in 42 days.

  Disability living allowance—68 per cent. of claims cleared in 30 days and 85 per cent. in 53 days.

  2 Benefit Accuracy

  Income support—to pay the correct amount in 87 per cent. of cases.

  Incapacity benefit—to pay the correct amount in 94 per cent. of cases.

  Family credit—to pay the correct amount in 91 per cent. of cases.

  Disability living allowance—to pay the correct amount in 96 per cent. of cases.

  3 Customer satisfaction

  85 per cent. of customers to regard the agency's service as satisfactory or better.

  4 Resource management

  To manage the agency's resources so as to d%liver its business plan within the gross budget allocation.

  To keep to the net cash limited provision for the discretionary social fund budget approved by Parliament.

  To deliver new efficiency savings of at least £75 million.

  5 Financial recovery

  Recovery of social fund loans—£273 million.

  Benefit savings from the detection of fraud—£680 million.

  Recovery of benefit overpayments—£110 million.

  CONTRIBUTIONS AGENCY

  1 Performance: compliance

  Collection of contribution arrears, excluding central payments section, of £250 million.

  Identification of £133 million class 1 arrears as a result of compliance work.

  Carry out 116,500 surveys, including 23,300 employer educational visits.

  Actively identify 40,000 persons with class 2 liability who have an immediate requirement to pay contributions.

  779

  2 Performance: records maintenance

  Process 98 per cent. of available employers' end of year returns by 31 December 1995.

  Correct 92 per cent. of rejects from employers' end of year returns by 31 March 1996.

  3 Performance: information provision/customer service

  Clear 99 per cent. of benefit inquiries handled clerically in two working days to 98 per cent. accuracy.

  Despatch either a full reply, or an informative response to 95 per cent. of customer enquiries within 10 working days of receipt.

  Complete action to register acceptable personal pension cases and process straight-forward termination notices for 95 per cent. of all cases within 22 working days of receipt.

  4. Customer satisfaction

  Provide a level of public service considered to be satisfactory by at least 80 per cent. of customers surveyed.

  5. Resource management

  Manage the agency's resources so as to deliver its business plan within a total budget of £240.244 million.

  CHILD SUPPORT AGENCY

  1. Performance

  £300 million of maintenance to be collected, or arranged for direct payment from AP to PWC IN 1995–96.2

  90 per cent. of payments made to PWCs to be made within 10 working days of receipt from the AP.

  To achieve a rapid and continuing improvement in accuracy so that in at least 75 per cent. of cases checked during March 1996 the cash value will be for the correct amount.

  Where a client is dissatisfied with a child support officer's decision and requests a review, 50 per cent. to be cleared within 13 weeks; 80 per cent. to be cleared within 26 weeks; and no more than 20 per cent. to be older than 26 weeks as at 31 March 1996.

  60 per cent. of new maintenance applications to be cleared within 26 weeks and as at 31 March 1996 no more than 10 per cent. of all maintenance applications received by the agency to be over 52 weeks old.

  2. Customer satisfaction

  To achieve a score of 65 per cent. on an index of client satisfaction with the agency's service, as determined by an independent national survey.

  3. Resource management

  To manage the agency's resources so as to deliver its Business Plan within the gross budget allocation.

  WAR PENSIONS AGENCY

  1. Performance

  Disablement first claims (UK)—60 per cent. cleared in 150 days

  Disablement second and subsequent claims—60 per cent. cleared in 135 days.

  War widows claims (UK)—80 per cent. cleared in 70 days.

  Entitlement appeals—70 per cent. in 275 days.

  Assessment appeals—70 per cent. in 190 days.

  Claims Accuracy, all claims—95 per cent.

  2 Customer satisfaction

  To achieve a level of 85 per cent. of war pensioners sampled who regard the agency's service as satisfactory or better, as determined by an independent survey.

  3 Resource Management

  To manage the agency's administration resources so as to deliver the business plan within a total budget of £40.56 million.

  RESETTLEMENT AGENCY

  1 Disengagement strategy

  Ensure sufficient replacement bedspaces are operational to enable the closure of Leeds and Bishopbriggs (Glasgow) resettlement units and thereby completion of the disengagement programme by 31 March 1996.

  780

  2 Customer care

  Visit 30 per cent. of grant-aided organisations by 31 March 1996 to ensure that the conditions of the grant award are met, that facilities are managed in a way which ensures value for money and to establish levels of customer care, with a view to dissemination of best practice throughout the network of hostel provision.

  3 Resettlement

  Ensure that the objective of successful resettlement is maintained through the Resettlement Agency's own systems of measurement, including extending the use of its resettlement index to 50 per cent. of grant-aided organisations.

  4 Planning

  In collaboration with DSS headquarters, plan and effect the orderly transfer of appropriate residual agency functions to them, assuming that all possible business is concluded by 31 March 1996 and that ministerial approval for funding and monitoring arrangements from April 1996 is agreed.

  5 Resource management

  Manage the agency's resources so as to deliver its business plan within a total allocation of £26,975 million.

  INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES AGENCY

  1 Performance

  Deliver an overall business efficiency improvement of 8 per cent.

  Deliver 90 per cent. of services to customers to service levels for budget, time and quality as agreed within contracts.

  During 1995–96 to outsource the bulk of ITSA's IT processing functions to departmental time scales.

  Define the three-year contract frameworks with customers for core systems development.

  2 Resource management

  Manage ITSA's resources within the agency's funding regime.

  Notes:

  1Clearance times cover the date of receipt of a written claim in the agency to the date of decision/payment. All days refer to working days.

  2 The maintenance target comprises the following two forecast components:

  £140 million of maintenance will be collected by the agency and £160 million assessed by the agency for direct payment by absent parents to parents with care; and

  £540 million benefit savings are expected to result from the achievement of CSA targets.

  Child Care
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the child care or nursery facilities within his Department; and what is the breakdown in their use(a) by grade and (b) gender. [15240]

  Mr. Hague
  The Department provides a range of subsidised child care facilities to its staff, including nurseries, 646 places; holiday playschemes, 2,560 places; and child care referral services. A breakdown of child care usage by grade and by gender is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the Department's child care facilities are open to men and women of all grades.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how long it takes the Contributions Agency to respond to requests for records of national insurance payments made; [15988]

  (2) what are the performance targets set for the Contributions Agency when clients seek a record of payment contributions. [15992]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The administration of national insurance is the responsibility of Mr. George Bertram, the acting chief executive of the Contributions Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
  781
  Letter from George Bertram to Mr. Tony Worthington, dated 29 March 1995:
  As Acting Chief Executive of the Contributions Agency, I have responsibility for answering questions about operational matters relating to the National Insurance scheme. I have been asked to reply to your questions about requests from customers for information about their National Insurance Contributions records. In view of the nature of the questions I have combined the responses.
  There is no specific performance target for the Agency to respond to requests from customers for information about their contributions records. However, one of the targets set by the Secretary of State for the Contributions Agency is to send either a full reply, or an informative response, to 95% of all customer enquiries within 10 working days of receipt. We treat requests for records of National Insurance payments as falling within the scope of this target.
  In many cases, eg where contributions are paid by direct debit and the enquiry relates only to contributions paid by that method, we can readily provide the information from the computer sub-system which processes those payments. Similarly where the question is simply how much was paid in specific years we can quickly obtain a copy of an individual's National Insurance account.
  Where however customers require a comprehensive statement of their National Insurance position, usually because they are concerned about entitlement to retirement pension, a computer produced statement, detailing yearly contributions paid, is normally issued. The statement also advises customers of any years in which insufficient contributions have been paid towards retirement pension, how much would need to be paid to make good any shortfall, and how much contributions can be paid. In line with the customer enquiry target set for the Agency we respond to those requests within 10 working days and advise the customer that normally it takes about six weeks to provide the required statements. On an exception basis, where an urgent response is required, it is possible to obtain the information, from the computer and then process the application clerically. But to do this for all cases would be a costly way of dealing with the large numbers of requests we receive.
  I hope you find this reply helpful. If I can be of any further assistance, please let me know.

TRANSPORT

  Tourist Signs
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will announce the results of his review of tourism signing and proposals for deregulation. [18054]

  Mr. Watts
  I have been reviewing, in close collaboration with the Department of National Heritage, and the Welsh and Scottish Offices, the policy and regulations dealing with the provision of white and brown tourist traffic signs on local authority roads. We have concluded that there should be much more flexibility in the provision of signs, to help tourists and tourist businesses. In particular we have decided that the definition of tourist establishments eligible for signs should be extended to a wider range of destinations and facilities that attract or are used by visitors, including retail and catering establishments. This will involve an amendment of the existing Traffic Signs Regulations, and we are about to consult further on specific proposals for an amending statutory instrument. Copies of the consultation documents for England including revised draft guidance to local authorities, will be placed in the Library on 3 April.

  Automatic Train Protection
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice he has received from the Health and Safety Commission and Railtrack on British Rail's report on automatic train protection; and if he will make a statement. [17947]

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Serious railway accidents are relatively rare and there has been a significant improvement in railway safety in recent years. Accidents involving signals passed at danger, overspeeding and buffer stop collisions, which ATP would prevent, are infrequent and account for about 3 per cent. of fatalities and injuries, excluding trespassers and suicides. The trend in the number of serious incidents where signals have been passed at danger has been downward in the last five years. But there is no room for complacency about the need to pursue cost effective measures to reduce the risk of accidents to the lowest reasonably practicable level.

  The British Rail report on ATP examined the technical feasibility, costs and benefits of two pilot ATP systems. Copies of the report were placed in the Library of the House last July. The HSC and Railtrack have concluded that the report was thorough and sound. I welcome that conclusion.

  On the basis of advice I have received from the HSC, I have concluded that applications of ATP, other automatic devices or measures giving protection against ATP-preventable accidents may be justified on parts of the network. In particular, the HSC has asked the Health and Safety Executive to explore with Railtrack the options for tackling ATP-preventable accidents, and the criteria that might be used for identifying parts of the network where such measures could yield value for money, with a view to receiving a proposed strategy from Railtrack by June 1995. In addition and in the longer term, the HSC has advised me that ATP or automatic train control should be adopted as standard on new high speed lines including the channel tunnel rail link, and that full consideration should be given to installing ATP functions within future major resignalling works, such as modernisation of the west coast main line.

  BR and Railtrack have advised me that network-wide fitment of ATP as piloted is not justifiable because the costs far outweigh the benefits. The HSC has endorsed this view and, furthermore, considers that there are alternative safety investments which would be likely to yield greater effectiveness in terms of lives saved, and better value for money. The BR report on ATP has demonstrated the importance of assessing the costs and benefits of all investment aimed at improving safety to ensure that funding goes to schemes which maximise the benefits for rail users. Copies of the HSC's full advice, which I accept in full, have been placed in the Library of the House.

  British Rail and Railtrack remain committed to a co-ordinated programme to reduce the risks associated with signals passed at danger, overspeeding and buffer stop collisions. As part of this programme, the feasibility of a drivers' reminder device is being researched which will help prevent drivers stopped at danger signals for inadvertently starting against these signals when the train is ready to move, for example at a station. This is one of the more common type of SPAD leading to serious consequences and such a device could potentially deliver

  783
  up to 25 per cent. of the benefits of network-wide ATP. An early trial of this device is proposed.

  A further project is examining enhancement of the present automatic warning system so that the brakes are applied automatically if a train approaches a red signal at excessive speed indicating an impending signal passed at danger or over-speeding incident. A detailed specification is being drawn up.

  Risk analysis is also being applied to track layout and signalling design, to ensure that safety factors are taken into account quantitatively in the design of the network. Protective signalling measures have already been introduced at a number of vulnerable locations and examinations of other vulnerable locations is ongoing.

  Railtrack is giving high priority to the development of appropriate techniques for quantifying the costs and benefits of all these projects and considering their application at individual locations.

  ATP and other devices are not the only way of preventing or mitigating certain risks. The human factors involved will continue to be addressed through driver selection, training and motivation and supervision programmes. This includes close attention to driver familiarisation when new rolling stock and signalling is introduced, and a rigorous alcohol and drugs policy.

  The Chiltern line and Great Western pilot ATP installations will continue in service, and ATP will be extended to the new Heathrow express link in due course. The scope for improvement in the cost/benefit ratio of ATP will continue to be examined through these schemes.

  I have asked the HSC for an overall progress report in July.

  Child Care
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the childcare or nursery facilities within his Department; and what is the breakdown in their use(a) by grade and (b) by gender. [15232]

  Mr. Norris
  Staff in DOT central and its agencies have access to 10 holiday playschemes and three nursery facilities throughout the United Kingdom.

  Due to the varying number of places taken up at different times of the year, and the changing client group, it is not possible to supply precise numbers, by grade and gender of all parents/guardians whose children use the playschemes.

  The table confirms the gender breakdown of parents/guardians who use the available nursery facilities. Figures are not available in relation to grade.

  Nursery

  Female

  Male

  Swansea on site DVLA

  49

  9

  Bristol Acorns Nursery

  2

  3

  Hastings CSA Nursery

  3

  3

  Computer Associates
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action British Rail is taking to stop Computer Associates terminating its software licences before privatisation; what damages and costs are being sought; if a counter-claim has been made against British Rail; and if he will make a statement. [17319]
  784
  Mr. Watts
  This is a matter for the British Railways Board.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate has been made of the costs incurred by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency as a result of Computer Associates' court action limiting access to software.

  Mr. Norris
  The cost of migrating from CA to substitute products was borne by EDS, the Department's IT supplier.

  Bull Bars
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what obstacles in European law would prevent the introduction in the United Kingdom of a ban on the use and manufacture of bull bars; [17252]

  (2) what plans he has to introduce a ban on the use of bull bars on the fronts of road vehicles; [17251]

  (3) what is his most recent assessment of the numbers of additional road fatalities and serious injuries that are likely in the next two years as a result of collisions involving cars fitted with front bull bars. [17253]

  Mr. Norris
  We would expect to be in a position to take powers at a national level to ban the fitment of bull bars as aftermarket accessories. However, certain vehicle models with bull bars fitted as original equipment have received European whole vehicle type approval and no EU member state can prevent the free circulation and use of a vehicle so approved.

  The Transport Research Laboratory has estimated that an extra 35 deaths and 350 serious injuries to vulnerable road users could result from collisions with vehicles fitted with bull bars. As I indicated in my reply to the hon. Gentleman on the 31 January 1995, Official Report, column 586, we have taken steps to identify specific injury accidents involving bull bars to determine the effects of bull bars in practice. It would be premature to propose legislative action until the results of this exercise are analysed, which should be towards the end of this year.

  Fatal Accident Injuries
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 27 January,Official Report, column 385, and his statement in the answer that the costs of relatives at inquests or fatal accident inquiries are not generally a charge on public funds, if he will list the exceptions to this general practice since 1979 and state the criteria or tests applied in making any such determination.

  Mr. Norris
  It is not usual Government practice to meet the costs of legal representation for relatives of accident victims because inquests are intended to be informal and legal representation is not considered necessary. Any exceptions to this have been judged on individual merits.

  The Lockerbie disaster was the only recent instance where Department of Transport funds have been used to meet relatives' legal costs at a transport-related fatal accident inquiry or at an inquest. As regards other Government Department funds, the Lord Chancellor considered that the wholly exceptional circumstances of the Marchioness disaster, particularly the fact that this is

  785
  effectively the second inquest, justified making assistance available in this case in the interests of justice.

  Public Relations
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on public relations during the financial year 1993–94; how many contracts with the private sector cost; and if he will list the activities covered by these contracts. [16278]

  Mr. Norris
  Nothing was spent on such activity.

  Exhaust Emissions
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many tests for vehicle exhaust emissions were conducted in each of the past five years on heavy goods vehicles; [16943]

  (2) how many tests for vehicle exhaust emissions were carried out on coaches in each of the past five years; [16944]

  (3) how many tests for vehicle exhaust emissions were carried out on buses in each of the past five years. [16896]

  Mr. Norris
  All heavy goods vehicles, coaches and buses have their emissions checked as part of their annual roadworthiness test. The number of tests has remained fairly constant over the last five years: with 663,757 HGVS and 86,499 buses and coaches being tested on average each year.

  In addition, emissions are checked at the roadside as part of the general enforcement checks carried out by the vehicle inspectorate and also at operators' premises as part of maintenance assessments. The number of such checks carried out over the last five years are as follows:

  Year

  HGVs

  Buses/coaches

  1993–94

  148,365

  37,810

  1992–93

  146,952

  33,023

  1991–92

  129,850

  28,394

  1990–91

  150,853

  27,313

  1989–90

  119,867

  26,991

  The 1993–94 figures include 10,589 heavy goods vehicles and 5,165 buses and coaches which had special checks on emissions only.

  Air Traffic Services
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what representations he has received in opposition to the proposed privatisation of national air traffic services. [16712]

  (2) what discussions he has had with the chief executives of airport authorities and air traffic control officers concerning the proposed privatisation of national air traffic services; and if he will make a statement. [16713]

  Mr. Norris
  The then Secretary of State for Transport conducted a public consultation into the proposed privatisation of the national air traffic services between May and July 1994. Comments on the proposal were received, inter alia, from airport authorities and from individual air traffic controllers and their representatives, including the Civil Aviation Authority trade unions. The then Secretary of State for Transport also held a meeting 786
  with the Civil Aviation Authority trade unions to discuss the proposal.

  Of those who responded to the consultation, privatisation in principle was supported by the airlines, airport operators, ATC providers, and aviation consultants. A majority of individual respondents and their representatives argued that NATS should remain in the public sector. The Secretary of State published a response to the consultation on 22 November 1994; copies were placed in the Library of the House.

  The Government continue to favour the proposed privatisation in principle, but wish the concerns raised in the consultation to be properly considered before proceeding further. This process is still under way, and the Secretary of State will announce his intentions in due course.

  Statutory References
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what statutory references to hon. Members have been made in legislation introduced by his Department, or its predecessors, since 1965. [17033]

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

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Clinical Outcome Indicators
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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 boards and hospitals in Northern Ireland. [15868]

  Mr. Moss
  No. I intend to await the outcome of the Department of Health working group which is looking at clinical indicators before taking a decision on publication of indicators in Northern Ireland.

  Water and Sewerage
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 15 March,Official Report, column 614, if he will give the costs of water and sewerage charges incurred in respect of the Department's premises in the mainland of Britain. [15933]

  Mr. Moss
  The Northern Ireland Office pays water and sewerage charges for two premises in mainland Britain in which they are minor tenants. The charges form a proportion of the annual rental charge which includes the cost of utilities and are not separately identified on the quarterly basis of accounts sent by Property Holdings. It would be possible to provide an answer only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 15 March,Official Report, column 614, if he will give such information regarding the water and sewerage charges paid by his Department as can be supplied without disproportionate cost. [15932]

  Mr. Moss
  It is not possible to supply any information except at disproportionate cost.

  Special Branch
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to transfer Special Branch and associated covert police agencies from anti-terrorism operations to working against the leading importers/suppliers of illegal drugs. [16412]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The deployment of Special Branch and associated police covert agencies in anti-terrorist and anti-crime operations is a matter for the Chief Constable. However, as publicly stated recently by the head of the RUC Special Branch, it is currently providing its expertise in combating areas of criminality, including the import and supply of illegal drugs.

  Fatal Accident Statistics
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the fatal accidents which have occurred on(a) the M1 motorway, (b) the M2 motorway and (c) the M5 motorway in each year since 1988; if he will list the type, capacity and age of each vehicle involved; and what was the primary attributive cause of each accident. [16414]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The fatal accidents which have occurred on the M1, M2 and M5 motorways from 1 January 1988 are as follows:

  M1 Motorway

  Date of accident

  Distance from/direction from junction

  Casualties killed/serious injury/slight injury

  25.05.88

  100m S Stockman's Lane

  1/0/0

  10.07.88

  150m S M12 on-slip

  1/1/1

  08.02.89

  Junction Stockman's I/C

  1/0/0

  12.10.89

  60m W Coalisland I/C

  1/0/0

  23.05.90

  200m E Ivy Cottage Br

  1/1/0

  04.08.90

  150m S Lurgan I/C

  1/1/0

  06.10.90

  Junction Sprucefield I/C

  1/1/0

  01.12.90

  80m N Sprucefield on-slip

  1/0/0

  02.05.91

  300m S Donegall Road slip road

  1/0/0

  07.07.91

  500m S Stockman's Lane

  1/0/0

  08.11.91

  100m E Lurgan off-slip

  2/1/1

  11.11.91

  800m N Sprucefield T/C

  1/2/0

  26.01.92

  1500m N Lisburn T/C

  1/0/0

  08.06.92

  800m S Moira I/C

  1/0/0

  16.09.93

  300m W Tamnamore off-slip

  1/1/0

  05.03.94

  Junction M12 link road

  1/0/0

  03.09.94

  450m E Kesh Bridge

  1/0/2

  19.09.94

  Junction Finaghy Road N

  1/0/0

  Total accidents 18

  Total casualties

  19/8/4

  788
  The principal causes of the above accidents were attributed as:

  Driver alcohol or drugs (4)

  Excessive speed having regard to the conditions (3)

  Inattention or attention diverted (3)

  Pedestrian alcohol or drugs (3)

  Other driver factor (3)

  Other pedestrian factor (2)

  The types of vehicle involved in the above accidents were:

  Car (18)

  Motorcycle (1)

  Goods vehicle 3.5 tonnes or less (1)

  Goods vehicle exceeding 3.5 tonnes but less than 7.5 tonnes (1)

  Goods vehicle 7.5 tonnes or over (1)

  M2 Motorway

  Date of accident

  Distance from/direction from junction

  Casualties Killed/Serious injury/slight injury

  02.05.89

  Junction Greencastle off-slip

  2/0/0

  14.10.90

  Junction Teesham off-slip

  1/2/0

  10.07.91

  1600m N A57 I/C

  1/0/0

  02.11.91

  100m S Longlands Br Road

  2/1/1

  25.03.92

  500m N Duncrue Street

  1/1/0

  Total accidents 5

  Total casualties

  7/4/1

  The principal causes of the above accidents were attributed as:

  Driver alcohol or drugs (3)

  Other driver factor (2)

  The types of vehicle involved in the above accidents were:

  Car (6)

  Large PCV (1)

  Motorcycle (1)

  M5 Motorway—No fatal accidents during this period.

  The capacity and age of the vehicles involved in accidents is not available.

  Corncrakes
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has a contingency plan and adequate financial resources to offer crofters and farmers conservation grants to help the conservation of corncrakes should this bird species return to Northern Ireland to attempt to breed. [16665]

  Mr. Moss
  The Department of the Environment will continue to operate a grant system which has been in operation for the past five years for farmers who have on their land corncrakes with an indication of nesting. Discussions have recently taken place between officials and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds on the detailed operation of this scheme which, despite the co-operation of the farming community, has failed to halt the serious decline of this bird.

  RUC Officers
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many RUC officers, by rank, are
  789
  operating, full time, in (a) the anti-drugs unit, (b) the complaints and discipline branch and (c) the anti-racketeering unit. [16410]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The number of officers in the relevant branches at 23 March 1995 are set out in the following table:

  Establishment

  Actual

  Drugs Squad

  Chief Inspector

  1

  1

  Inspector

  1

  1

  Sergeant

  5

  5

  Constable

  23

  35

  Complaints and Discipline

  Assistant Chief Constable

  1

  1

  Chief Superintendent

  2

  0

  Superintendent

  10

  12

  Chief Inspector

  25

  25

  Inspector

  10

  10

  Sergeant

  9

  10

  Constable

  8

  12

  Anti-racketeering Unit

  Superintendent

  1

  1

  Chief Inspector

  1

  1

  Inspector

  2

  3

  Sergeant

  8

  8

  Constable

  27

  27

  Police Advisory Board
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how often the Police Advisory Board, as constituted under the Police Act (Northern Ireland) 1970, has met in each year since January 1988; and if it is planned to meet in the current year. [16413]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Meetings of the Police Advisory Board took place in January 1988, July 1993 and November 1993. There are no meetings scheduled for 1995.

  Drug Abuse
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the evidence of trends in the level of drugs abuse in Northern Ireland during 1993 and 1994; and if he will give details of(a) drugs, by type, seized and their street value and (b) the number of convictions by category. [16409]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The drug scene in NI is similar to that of the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland with the exception of heroin and cocaine abuse, levels of which are extremely low. The trend in NI is for an increasing availability of ecstasy, LSD and cannabis. There is a strong drug culture among young people.
  790

  (a) Drugs seized in Northern Ireland 1993 and 1994

  1993

  1994

  Cannabis

  44.5 kilos

  81.9 kilos (resin)

  419 plants

  7.1 kilos (herbal)

  66 plants

  MDMA (Ecstasy)

  2,923 tablets

  23,853 tablets

  168 gms powder

  LSD

  8.022 doses

  15,392 doses

  92 microdots

  900 (fake)

  Amphetamines

  1,728 doses

  7.7 kilos powder

  2,858

  wraps (powder)

  242 tablets

  200 speedballs

  Opiates (inc. Heroin)

  363 gms

  34 gms

  Cocaine

  19 gms

  1,092 gms

  As the availability of drugs increases, supply outstrips demand and the cost of drugs reduces.

  The street values of drugs in NI at present are as follows:

  Cannabis: £10 per gram

  LSD: £3–5 per tab

  Ecstasy: £12–15 per tablet

  Amphetamines: £10 per gram

  (b) Persons found guilty in NI of drug offence 1993 and 1994

  Offence

  1993

  1994

  Importing controlled drug

  3

  3

  Exporting controlled drug

  0

  1

  Producing controlled drug

  15

  10

  Supplying controlled drug

  16

  27

  Permitting supplying controlled drug

  0

  1

  Cultivating cannabis

  3

  4

  Possessing controlled drug with intent to supply

  71

  68

  Attempted possessing controlled drug with intent to supply

  2

  2

  Possessing controlled drug

  305

  374

  Attempted possessing controlled drug

  1

  1

  Permitting premises to be used for supply of drugs

  1

  1

  Permitting premises to be used for use of drugs

  3

  1

  Obstructing powers of search for drugs

  3

  1

  Fixed Penalty Tickets (Speeding)
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the average number of fixed penalty tickets issued for speeding on each of the main motorways in Northern Ireland over the three-year period till 31 August 1994; and what has been the monthly total for each month since. [16415]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Separate figures are not maintained in respect of motorways.

  The following figures refer to the number of fixed penalty notices issued by police for speeding offences throughout Northern Ireland, during the relevant periods.
  791

  Number

  1 September 1991 to 31 August 1992

  30,367

  1 September 1992 to 31 August 1993

  23,323

  1 September 1993 to 31 August 1994

  30,299

  September 1994

  3,060

  October 1994

  3,141

  November 1994

  2,627

  December 1995

  1,712

  January 1995

  1,856

  February 1995

  n/a

  n/a = Not yet available.

  Departmental Annual Report
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost of producing and circulating the departmental annual report for each of the last 10 years in real terms. [16588]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Departmental reports were published for the first time in 1991. The five editions of the Northern Ireland departmental report produced since 1991 have been published as Command Papers by HMSO, which has borne the printing and publishing costs with the aim of recovering these from the sales revenue.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. [16587]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Some 1,400 copies of the Northern Ireland departmental report, Cm 2816, were printed and published. In addition to those copies required by Parliament and the Government Departments and agencies concerned, just under 1,000 copies were produced to satisfy other sales at a price of £22.50 net. The cost of printing and publishing Cm 2816 were borne by HMSO, which aims to recover these costs from sales revenue.

  Home Helps
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what policy guidelines are set out in relation to the provision of home helps on holidays such as St. Patrick"s day. [16235]

  Mr. Moss
  Where an individual is assessed as needing the home help service, health and social services boards or trusts are expected to make the necessary arrangements for the service to be provided, including appropriate cover for holiday periods.

  RUC Drug Squad
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the six-monthly change in full-time manpower resources deployed in the RUC drug squad till August 1993, February 1994, August 1994 and February 1995; and what are the projected figures for each six month period till February 1996. [16411]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Manpower figures are not available for all the dates specified. Figures for the nearest available dates are as follows:
  792

  Drugs Squad

  Establishment

  Actual

  31 March 1993

  Chief Inspector

  1

  1

  Inspector

  1

  1

  Sergeant

  5

  4

  Constable

  21

  32

  30 September 1993

  Chief Inspector

  1

  1

  Inspector

  1

  1

  Sergeant

  5

  5

  Constable

  21

  31

  28 February 1994

  Chief Inspector

  1

  1

  Inspector

  1

  1

  Sergeant

  5

  5

  Constable

  23

  32

  31 August 1994

  Chief Inspector

  1

  1

  Inspector

  1

  1

  Sergeant

  5

  5

  Constable

  23

  32

  28 February 1995

  Chief Inspector

  1

  1

  Inspector

  1

  1

  Sergeant

  5

  5

  Constable

  23

  34

  It is not possible to provide forward projections in respect of manpower of particular branches.

  Cross-border Councils
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what consideration he has given to funding for cross-border councils. [16709]

  Mr. Ancram
  None.

  Electricity Interconnector
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to receive the report of the planning inquiry into the electricity interconnector with Scotland. [16708]

  Mr. Moss
  As the scope of the public local inquiry is currently the subject of a judicial review, it is not possible to estimate when the Commissioner"s report is likely to be received.

  Labour Statistics
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were employed in Northern Ireland(a) full-time and (b) part-time in 1993, 1994 and 1995. [16860]

  Mr. Ancram
  Estimates of the number of employees in employment in Northern Ireland are not yet available for 1995. The information for 1993 and 1994 is as follows:

  Employees in employment at June of each year

  Year

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Total

  1993

  393,650

  150,080

  543,730

  1994

  394,450

  156,240

  550,690

  Child Care
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the child care or nursery facilities within his Department and what is the breakdown in their use(a) by grade and (b) by gender. [15238]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The current policy is that Departments can contribute to staff child care costs where this is justified on value for money grounds. The following facilities are currently available.

  Department

  Facility

  Environment

  Introduced a Nursery Subsidy Scheme in May 1994. Thirty places were made available where the Department met 35 per cent. of the costs for children attending a registered nursery. The scheme is greatly over-subscribed and places were allocated by means of a ballot. A review is due in May 1995.

  Finance and Personnel

  No child care or nursery facilities at present but, offer membership of the NI Childminding Association"s "Parent Partnership Scheme" for staff applying for maternity/paternity leave.

  Agriculture

  An emergency childcare pilot scheme, which involved reserving a small number of places in private nurseries, commenced 30 January 1995 for a 3 month trial period. Staff are required to pay for this facility.

  Northern Ireland Office (HCS)

  A 50 per cent. subsidy on four places provided at a private day nursery in Westminster.

  (NICS)

  Nil.

  The Departments of Education, Health and Social Services and Economic Development offer no child care or nursery facilities.

  Department

  Facility

  Child Support Agency

  On 1 September 1993 the CSA introduced a scheme to offer financial assistance to staff with child care costs. The assistance takes the form of a subsidy towards the cost of an employee placing a child in a nursery of the parents choice.

  The breakdown of these schemes by grade and gender is listed in the following table:

  Number

  Grade

  Higher Executive Officer

  3

  Executive Officer

  1

  Social Security Officer 2

  1

  Social Security Officer 1

  1

  Superintendent Typist

  1

  Typist

  1

  Personal Secretary

  2

  794

  The breakdown of these schemes by grade and gender is listed in the following table:

  Number

  Administrative Assistant

  1

  Administrative Officer

  19

  Executive Officer 2

  19

  Executive Officer 1

  2

  Staff Officer

  1

  Deputy Principal Officer

  1

  Senior Professional Technical Officer

  3

  Higher Professional Technical Officer

  5

  Professional Technical Officer

  2

  Senior Audit Assistant

  1

  Higher Scientific Officer

  1

  Gender

  Male

  17

  Female

  38

  The Northern Ireland civil service also financially assists eight holiday playschemes which cater for the children of staff during school holidays. A breakdown in their use by grade and gender could be provided only at disproportionate costs. However, approximately 290 children per day attended in 1994.

  Irish Language Schools (Inspections)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what occasions in each of the past 16 years, any inspector who has reported on an Irish-medium school has not been fluent in the Irish language. [17352]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information is available only for the past five years and is as follows:

  School

  Date of inspection

  Number in inspection team

  Number not fluent in Irish

  Gaelscoil na bhFal

  May 1990

  2

  1

  Bunscoil an Iuir

  May 1990

  2

  1

  Bunscoil Phobal Feirste

  October 1992

  3

  1

  Bunscoil an tSleibhe Dhuibh

  February 1994

  2

  1

  Bunscoil Phobal Feirste

  March 1994

  3

  1

  Bunscoil Luraigh

  March 1994

  2

  1

  Social Fund Discretionary Budget
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the Northern Ireland social fund discretionary budget will be for 1995–96. [17951]

  Mr. Moss
  I am pleased to announce that the social fund gross discretionary budget for 1995–96 will be £31.84 million. £9.76 million will be allocated to grants, £21.98 million to loans and £0.1 million will be held as a contingency reserve. The new allocations represent an increase of almost £2 million over the gross budget set in April 1994.

  Details of the individual district budget allocations, together with a note explaining the basis on which they have been made, will be placed in the Library today.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he plans to announce any further changes to cash limits within his responsibility. [17952]

  Sir John Wheeler
  [pursuant to his reply, 3 February, c. 919–20]: The cash limit for class XVI, vote 1—the Northern Ireland Office—will be reduced by £3,000,000 from £928,905,000 to £925,905,000. The reduction in the cash limit reflects a projected underspend in police costs and will be used to offset increases elsewhere within the Northern Ireland block.

SCOTLAND

  The Union
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the changes which have been made to the government of Scotland following the publication of "Scotland in the Union: A Partnership for Good".

  Mr. Lang
  The measures outlined in the Government"s White Paper "Scotland in the Union: A Partnership for Good" were part of a new and continuing approach to the government of Scotland. They have all been implemented or represent continuing commitments and taken together have made government in Scotland more accountable; emphasised the distinct nature of government policy in Scotland; and ensured that within the Union there is a full recognition, as well as greater understanding, of Scotland"s status as a nation.

  Statutory References
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what statutory references to hon. Members have been made in legislation introduced by his Department, or its predecessors, since 1965. [16095]

  Mr. Lang
  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.

  Departmental Annual Report
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [16624]

  Mr. Lang
  Some 1,400 copies of the Scottish Office departmental report, Cm 2814, were printed and published, the cost of which was borne by HMSO which aims to recover these costs from sales revenue.

  In addition to those copies required by Parliament, Government Departments and agencies, just over 1,100 were produced to satisfy other sales at a price of £18.10 net.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of, producing and 796
  circulating the departmental annual report for each of the last 10 years in real terms. [16625]

  Mr. Lang
  The first Scottish Office departmental report was issued in March 1991. That and subsequent reports have been published as Command Papers by HMSO which has borne the printing and publishing costs with the aim of recovering these from the sales revenue.

  Press Officers
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many press officers there are in his Department currently; and what the figure was in 1979. [16578]

  Mr. Lang
  At 1 April 1995, my Department, including all its executive agencies, employed 41 staff in the information officer grades. Of these, 21 were designated as "press officers". At 1 April 1979, there were 25 staff in information officers grades—the number designated as "press officers" was not recorded.

  Dounreay
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will examine the safety implications for employees and the public of radioactive contamination on and around the Dounreay shore and within the perimeter fence. [16052]

  Sir Hector Monro
  Detailed investigations of radioactive contamination of soil within the Dounreay site and on the adjoining shore are currently being undertaken by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. The results of these investigations will be considered by Her Majesty"s nuclear installations inspectorate and Her Majesty"s industrial pollution inspectorate, which will have regard to safety implications for the employees and public.

  Young Offenders
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) 16-year-olds and (b) 17-year-olds were in prison or young offenders's institutions (i) in 1993–94 and (ii) at the latest available date. [16055]

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

  Letter from D. A. Stewart to Mrs. Maria Fyfe, dated 30 March 1995:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton asked the Chief Executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to reply to your Question relating to the number of 16 year olds and 17 year old in prisons or young offender institutions in 1993–94 and at the latest available date. I am replying in his absence.
  Information on the age categories of the prison population is presently collected only on the basis of young offender (less than 21) and adult. In 1993–94 the average daily remand young offender population was 348 and the sentenced young offender population was 804. The corresponding figures for Friday 24 March were 343 and 744 respectively.
  More disaggregate information on age is collected when an individual is received under sentence. In 1993–94 there were 182 sentenced receptions involving 16 year olds and 727 sentenced receptions involving 17 year olds.
  It should be noted that sentenced receptions do not equate to "persons received". For example, where a person has several custodial sentences imposed on him by one court in one day this is

  797
  counted as a reception. Where custodial sentences are imposed on person by two or more courts in one day, however, two receptions are recorded. Also, if a person is reconvicted while serving a custodial sentence and a further custodial sentence is imposed, this is also regarded as a reception.

  Environmentally Sensitive Area Schemes
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to extend the areas to be covered by environmentally sensitive area schemes in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [16373]

  Mr. Lang
  There are no plans to designate any further areas at present.

  Short-term Prisoners (Housing)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what financial provision is to be made to local authorities to provide for funding homes for released short-term prisoners and their families following housing benefit reductions imposed upon them; [16429]

  (2) what guidelines he is issuing to local authorities regarding the reductions in housing benefit for short-term prisoners; and if he will make a statement. [16340]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  It is for local housing authorities in the first instance to consider housing need within their areas in conjunction with other relevant bodies. Similarly, social work authorities should assess the need for social work support and residential accommodation. The Department of Social Security issued guidance to local authorities on 10 March on the new benefit regulations affecting, among others, short-term prisoners.

  Psychiatric Beds
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the annual cost of a psychiatric bed in hospitals in(a) Renfrewshire, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland in each of the past five years. [16431]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The following table has been derived from the Scottish health service costs book and contains the annual cost of a psychiatric bed in hospitals in(a) Renfrewshire, (b) health boards within the Strathclyde region area and (c) all Scotland. Prior to financial year 1991–92 this information was not collected centrally. The health boards within Strathclyde regional council"s boundaries are: Ayrshire and Arran, Argyll and Clyde, Greater Glasgow and Lanarkshire.

  £

  1991–92

  Annual cost per bed 1992–93

  1993–94

  a) Renfrewshire

  26,607

  28,111

  29,871

  b) Strathclyde

  27,198

  30,394

  33,824

  c) Scotland

  28,340

  32,010

  36,035

  Gas Pipeline
  Dr. A. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions have taken place with Premier Transco concerning the trenching or burying in traditional demersal fishing grounds of the proposed gas pipeline 798
  between Scotland and Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [16694]

  Sir Hector Monro
  Officials of the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department have been party to discussions involving Premier Transco, representatives of the local fishermen"s organisations and the Department of Trade and Industry concerning the issue of a DTI works authorisation for this proposed gas pipeline. I understand that Premier Transco has agreed to trench the proposed pipeline along its entire length and that in areas where trenching alone is regarded as insufficient, the pipeline will be covered with crushed rock profiled to reduce interference with fishing operations.

  Well Woman Centres
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list each well woman centre; and if he will indicate those that are presently part-funded by health boards and trusts. [16695]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Local Government Reform
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff currently employed by Strathclyde regional council will be re-deployed to(a) the new Inverclyde unitary authority, (b) the new East Renfrewshire unitary authority and (c) the new Glasgow unitary authority. [16697]

  Mr. Kynoch
  This information is not currently available. Redeployment of staff presently employed by both regional and district councils to the new authorities will be for discussion between existing and new authorities in due course.

  Mentally Ill Prisoners
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to create special prisons for mentally ill prisoners who do not warrant transfer to Carstairs hospital, which would be staffed by prison officers with the appropriate training skills and knowledge to deal with such inmates; and if he will make a statement. [16698]

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

  Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 30 March 1995:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your Question about the creation of special prisons for mentally ill prisoners who do not warrant transfer to Carstairs Hospital.
  We have no plans to create special prisons for those prisoners suffering from mental illness. Prison medical officers are responsible for the medical treatment as necessary of such prisoners and can draw on the services of psychiatrists and psychologists. Prisoners may also be transferred to appropriate hospitals if necessary. The Scottish Prison Service is, however, conscious of the special needs of mentally disturbed offenders and will be drawing up guidance for their management in the light of best practice in the community.

  Mental Health Treatment
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assurance he can give that the resources
  799
  currently allocated to mental health treatment and care will be retained and not allocated to other parts of the national health service; and if he will make a statement. [16818]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Allocations are made to health boards, as purchasers of health care services, on a weighted capitation basis to enable them to meet the care needs of their resident population. It is for individual boards to decide their priorities for expenditure within the amount available to them.

  Chiropody Services
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average length of waiting time for a chiropody appointment in(a) Inverclyde, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland; what proposals he has to reduce (i) the waiting time for such appointments and (ii) the return

  Table A: Staff working in chiropody departments,1,2 by qualification; at 30 September

  1992 Headcount

  WTE

  1993 Headcount

  WTE

  19944 Headcount

  WTE

  (b) Strathclyde3

  282

  253.5

  295

  265.4

  306

  271.6

  Chiropodist

  275

  247.9

  288

  259.9

  294

  261.1

  Footcare assistant

  7

  5.6

  7

  5.5

  12

  10.5

  (c) Scotland

  617

  555.5

  650

  583.0

  664

  593.6

  Chiropodist

  596

  536.4

  624

  559.1

  632

  564.5

  Footcare assistant

  21

  19.1

  26

  23.9

  32

  29.1

  1 Staff of both hospital and community chiropody services are included.

  2 Footcare assistants are not qualified chiropodists.

  3 Comprises Greater Glasgow, Argyll and Clyde, Ayrshire and Arran and Lanarkshire Health Boards.

  4 Data are provisional.

  Table B: Chiropody Services number of attendances1

  1992

  1993

  19943

  (a) Inverclyde

  n/a

  27,370

  32,968

  (b) Strathclyde2

  820,487

  845,849

  877,398

  (c) Scotland

  1,664,948

  1,706,604

  1,799,017

  1 Both hospital and community chiropody services are included.2 Comprises Greater Glasgow, Argyll and Clyde, Ayrshire and Arran and Lanarkshire Health Boards.

  3 Data are provisional.

  n/a = Not available.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has held with the chairman of the Renfrewshire health care national health service trust concerning the staffing of the department of chiropody and podiatry; and if he will make a statement. [16815]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  None.

  Prisoners (Release under Licence)
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of prisoners eligible for release under licence were successful in achieving release in the last year for which figures are available. [16826]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is published annually in the reports of the Parole Board for Scotland, copies of which are available in the House Libraries.
  800
  dates for domiciliary visits by chiropodists; and if he will make a tatement. [16817]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not held centrally.

  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the staffing levels of departments of chiropody and podiatry in(a) Inverclyde, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland and the number of chiropody appointments carried out in each of these departments in the past three years. [16819]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Statistics on chiropody staffing levels in Inverclyde are not held centrally. Table A shows the staffing levels in departments of chiropody and podiatry in Strathclyde and Scotland in 1992–94.

  Table B shows the numbers of chiropody appointments carried out in Iverclyde, Strathclyde and Scotland over the last three years.

  Prisons
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [16827]

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

  Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Dr. Norman A. Godman, dated 30 March 1995:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your Question about those prisons currently assessed as overcrowded.
  During any year a number of cells are unavailable for use for a variety of reasons, including redecoration or damage repair work, refurbishment (including, in some cases, to install night sanitation) or for other policy reasons (eg being retained in the event of an emergency). The position on utilisation of available places varies between establishments, taking into account, among other things, that "local" prisons require to hold prisoners for short periods on remand from the Courts; that some establishments are suitable only for low security categories; and that there is a need to house separately various prisoner groups (such as those serving long sentences, or young offenders).
  Against that background the information you requested—reflecting the position as at Friday 17 March—is set out in the table attached.
  801

  Establishment

  Design capacity

  Places available for use

  Prisoner population

  Excesses (+)/shortfall (-) ((4)-(3))

  (1)

  (2)

  (3)

  (4)

  (5)

  Aberdeen

  142

  134

  179

  +45

  Barlinnie

  939

  852

  1,154

  +302

  Castle Huntly

  144

  144

  79

  -65

  Dumfries

  139

  129

  133

  +4

  Dungavel

  135

  135

  119

  -16

  Edinburgh

  508

  508

  637

  +129

  Friarton

  56

  56

  80

  +24

  Glenochil

  669

  537

  475

  -62

  Greenock

  172

  172

  258

  +86

  Inverness

  79

  68

  100

  +32

  Longriggend

  177

  177

  186

  +9

  Low Moss

  396

  396

  376

  -20

  Noranside

  135

  132

  124

  -8

  Penninghame

  85

  85

  50

  -35

  Perth

  426

  426

  460

  +34

  Peterhead

  271

  209

  204

  -5

  Polmont

  414

  366

  398

  +32

  Shotts

  535

  452

  451

  -1

  Cornton Vale

  213

  179

  172

  -7

  Totals

  5,635

  5,157

  5,635

  +478

  Psychiatric Hospitals
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the costing of the closure programme for psychiatric hospitals; and if he will make a statement. [16814]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Closures of psychiatric hospitals normally result from a joint assessment of patients needs involving both the local authority and the health board. Where reprovision in the community is proposed, appropriate financial resources towards the cost of that provision transfer from the NHS to the local authority.

  Value for money is, of course, taken into account in the health board's overall planning.

  Mental Illness Specific Grant
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his proposed level of funding for the mental illness specific grant in the financial year 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [16816]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The level of the grant in 1996–97 will depend on estimates of the need for services, the adequacy of existing levels of service, the capacity of organisations to arrange services, possible sources of alternative funding and what can be afforded. Estimates for planning purposes will be provided to local authorities in the summer. Final figures will be announced later in the year.

  Water Authorities
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what procedures have so far been carried out regarding the appointment of chief executives for the three new Scottish water authorities; if the successful candidates have been offered appointments; if any of those offered an appointment are senior officials of the Scottish Office; when he expects to make a public announcement about the appointments; and if he will make a statement. [17300]
  802
  Mr. Kynoch
  An executive search consultancy, Andrew Rait Ltd., was appointed in August 1994 to assist in identifying suitable candidates. Advertisements appeared in the Scottish and UK press in November 1994.

  A short list of candidates has been interviewed and my right hon. Friend expects to make formal offers of appointment to the successful candidates in the near future. An announcement will follow.

  Scottish Court Service
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what conclusions he has reached about executive agency status for the Scottish Court Service and what targets he will set for the Scottish Court Service. [17950]

  Mr. Lang
  I have decided that the Scottish Court Service will become an executive agency under the next steps initiative from 3 April 1995. I am arranging for copies of the framework document to be placed in the Libraries of the House. I shall remain accountable to Parliament for the activities of the Scottish Court Service. I am delegating to the chief executive full managerial authority for the agency and its day-to-day operation. For the future, I envisage greater flexibilities to help the Scottish Court Service meet increasingly demanding targets and further improve its standards of service.

  Following consultation with the Lord President of the Court of Session and the Sheriffs Principal, I have set the following key performance targets for the Scottish Court Service for 1995–96:

  1. That no cases should fall as a result of the statutory time limits being breached.

  Targets for Waiting Periods:
  — 80 per cent. of diets allocated in the Court of Session within waiting periods set by the Lord President;
  — 80 per cent. of criminal and justiciary appeals allocated to a roll within waiting periods set by the Lord Justice General;
  — 75 per cent. of Sheriff Courts to report summary criminal waiting periods agreed with the Sheriffs Principal, currently 12 weeks;
  — 85 per cent. of Sheriff Courts to report waiting periods between request for ordinary civil proof or debate and diet agreed with the Sheriffs Principal, currently 12 weeks;
  — 80 per cent. of Sheriff Courts reporting lack of time adjournments at 5 per cent. or lower.

  Targets for quality of service and provision:
  — To achieve 95 per cent. of the standards for administrative business in the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary set by the Lord President/Lord Justice General;
  — 95 per cent. of Sheriff Courts to achieve the overall standards for administrative business agreed with Sheriffs Principal;
  — 70 per cent. of courthouses to meet the "Coming to Court" standards set out in the Justice Charter for Scotland.

  Cost and efficiency:
  — staff, accommodation and administrative costs: to be kept within £1,060 per court sitting day;
  — 70 per cent. of the total costs of civil business in the Court of Session and in the Sheriff Courts to be recovered through fee income.

  Full details of the performance measures, including the agreed waiting periods, administrative standards and "Coming to Court" standards are set out in the Scottish Court Service framework document.

  Cash Limits
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes he intends to make to the cash limits and external financing limits for 1994–95 within his responsibility. [17949]

  Mr. Lang
  The cash limit for class XIV, vote 3, training programmes, roads and transport services and industrial support, Scotland, will be reduced by £200,000 from £902,139,000 to £901,939,000. This decrease takes account of a reduced requirement for regional enterprise grant and will be used to make a contribution towards providing for an EFL for David MacBrayne Ltd. of £0.8 million which has arisen due to the transfer of surplus funds from DML to the Secretary of State. In addition, the provision for an EFL for DML will be offset by a reduction in the EFL for the Scottish Transport Group

  Nursery users1

  Holiday play scheme users2

  Grade

  Male

  Female

  Male

  Female

  Administrative Assistant

  2

  8

  —

  15

  Administrative Officer

  8

  48

  2

  35

  Industrial grade (Prison Service)

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Personal Secretary

  —

  7

  —

  2

  Executive Officer

  9

  25

  2

  20

  Higher Executive Officer

  19

  22

  2

  2

  Senior Executive Officer

  6

  5

  1

  6

  Grade 7

  6

  1

  4

  8

  Grade 6

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Grade 5

  2

  2

  —

  —

  Total

  56

  118

  11

  88

  1 Refers to the number of staff who are currently using nursery places. Includes 53 places used on a part-time basis and 33 places jointly by spouses/partners who both work for the Department.

  2 Refers to the number of staff who have used the holiday play schemes over the past financial year.

  Publicity
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 20 March,Official Report, column 795, what was the total expenditure on all forms of publicity by his Department and its agencies for (a) 1992–93 and (b) 1993–94; and what is his estimate for 1994–95. [17292]

  Mr. Howard
  Total expenditure on all forms of publicity by my Department and its agencies in 1992–93 was £13,130,371. The total in 1993–94 was £14,486,094.

  The estimate for 1994–95 is £15,206,903.

  South Thames Training and Enterprise Council
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the extent to which the ethnic minority grant paid to South Thames TEC has been spent on the purposes for which it was provided; and if he will make a statement. [17246]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  My officials are in touch with the Receiver about ethnic minority grant payments made to South Thames training and enterprise council. My right hon. and noble Friend will write to the hon. Member about this matter as soon as possible.

  Animal Experiments (Tobacco)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many project licences have been granted for studies using animals to assess the safety or effects of 804
  from zero to minus £0.6 million. These changes will not add to the planned total of public expenditure.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Child Care
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the child care or nursery facilities within his Department; and what is the breakdown in their use(a) by grade and (b) by gender. [15236]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The Department makes available 167 nursery day care places for children under five and holiday playscheme places for children five to 12 years old, at a variety of locations. These arrangements generally involve a subsidy of about 50 per cent. of the running costs involved.

  A breakdown of staff by grade and gender using these facilities is shown in the following table.

  environmental tobacco smoke or passive smoking since 1987; [16874]

  (2) how many animals were used in research involving tobacco and/or its products in each year from 1987 to 1993. [16873]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Seven project licences permitting the study of tobacco or its constituents in conscious animals have been granted since 1987.

  In the period 1987 to 1993, 3,077 animals were used in the safety testing of tobacco or its products. Prior to 1 January 1995, figures for the number of animals used in fundamental or applied research involving tobacco or its products were not separately recorded.

  Crimes (Wildlife)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what central record is kept of criminal activity concerning wildlife; and if he will make a statement. [16936]

  Mr. Maclean
  None. The investigation of crime is a matter for individual chief officers of police.

  Prisons (Ministerial Visits)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the Prison Service establishments he has visited since his appointment as Home Secretary; for what duration each visit lasted; and if he will make a statement on the discussions he had with
  805
  the prison authorities in each prison establishment. [16761]

  Mr. Howard
  Since my appointment, I have visited the following Prison Service establishments:

  Aldington

  Aylesbury

  Belmarsh

  Blantyre House

  Bristol

  Brixton

  Cardiff

  Channings Wood

  Dartmoor

  Reading

  Swinfen Hall

  Wandsworth

  Whitemoor

  Wormwood Scrubs

  Wymott

  Each visit lasted for about two hours. During these visits I have spoken to a wide range of staff on a large number of subjects.

  Victims Charter
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Department of Health concerning the introduction of a charter of rights for victims whose offenders are deemed to be mentally ill comparable to those set out in the victims charter; and if he will make a statement. [16865]

  Mr. Maclean
  The principles in the victims charter apply to all victims of crime. The Home Office and the Department of Health keep in close contact about matters affecting the interests of victims in cases where the offender is found to be mentally ill.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been initiated by the Crown Prosecution Service in each of the last three years utilising the powers contained in the Criminal Justice Act 1991 relating to the requirement of parents to pay fines, compensation orders or prosecution costs imposed on juveniles; and if he will make a statement. [16839]

  Mr. Maclean
  Information collected centrally by my Department identifies only the number of young offenders sentenced whose parents, or guardians, were ordered to pay fines and compensation. Table 7.27 of the Command Paper 2680, "Criminal statistics England and Wales 1993," refers to this. Copies are available in the Library.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further measures he proposes to achieve the rehabilitation of young offenders; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 9 March 1995]: My right hon. and learned Friend published on 9 March the 1995 national standards for the supervision of offenders in the community. The new standards include a number of provisions which should reinforce the effectiveness of supervision orders and probation orders in preventing further offending by young offenders.

  He published on 15 March the consultation document, "Strengthening Punishment in the Community," which
  806
  invites views on the creation of a new, integrated community sentence and on its application to younger offenders. Under these proposals, the courts would be enabled to specify activities under a community sentence which are directed at the prevention of reoffending.

  We expect to issue shortly the invitation to tender for the construction and management of the first two secure training centres. The secure training order will provide a new power for the courts to sentence persistent young offenders to custodial periods of between three months and 12 months, to be served in purpose-built establishments offering a high-quality regime of education and training, followed by a similar period of compulsory supervision. We shall bring this new and demanding sentence into force as soon as the new centres are available.

  In addition, the Prison Service agency will be reviewing the use made by young offender institutions of sentence planning to meet the individual needs of each young offender and to ensure that work began in custody can be built on during the period under supervision in the community after release, so as to maximise prospects of rehabilitation.

  We have also received a report from Prison Service officials on their visit to boot camps in the USA and have asked for proposals to be brought forward for an innovative, demanding regime for young offenders. If appropriate, the proposals will incorporate the more positive aspects of the American boot camps.

  Prisoners (Visits)
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the proportion of prisoners held in establishments where prisoners have the opportunity to exceed the minimum visiting entitlement laid down in the prison and young offenders institution rules and standing orders for each of the past 12 months in prisons in England and Wales. [16269]

  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 30 March 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the proportion of prisoners held in establishments where prisoners have the opportunity to exceed the minimum visiting entitlements laid down in Prison and YOI Rules and Standing Orders.
  In February and March 1994, 99% of prisoners were held in establishments which allowed prisoners the opportunity to exceed minimum visiting entitlements. From April 1994 up to and including the end of February 1995, all establishments have been providing prisoners with the opportunity to exceed the minimum visiting entitlements laid down in the Prison and YOI Rules and Standing Orders.

  Public Relations
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [16220]
  807
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The executive agencies of my Department and other public bodies under its authority are subject to the guidance contained in "A Working Guide for Government Information Officers" issued by the Office of Public Service and Science. A copy is available in the Library. The guide covers proprietorial and value for money issues which relate to the use of public relations consultancies. Tendering procedures are set out in the Home Office procurement manual.

  Prison Escapes
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of

  Escapes from prison

  Escort from escorts1

  Sub-total

  Escapes from court escort service (previously police responsibility)

  Total

  1994

  March

  5

  9

  14

  1

  15

  April

  15

  6

  21

  0

  21

  May

  10

  9

  19

  5

  24

  June

  9

  5

  14

  4

  18

  July

  21

  8

  29

  1

  30

  August

  21

  2

  23

  2

  25

  September

  24

  2

  26

  0

  26

  October

  10

  6

  16

  0

  16

  November

  10

  4

  14

  1

  15

  December

  9

  2

  11

  1

  12

  1995

  January

  11

  1

  12

  0

  12

  February

  5

  3

  8

  1

  9

  Figures exclude prisoners recaptured within 15 minutes provided that no further offence has been committed.

  1 Includes escapes from the Court Escort Service which would have been the responsibility of the Prison Service in previous years (3 in 1993–94; Nil in April-January 1994–95.

  Prison Costs
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will itemise where the costs fall for prisoners held(a) in police cells and (b) by the Prison Service. [16392]

  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 30 March 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking where the costs fall for prisoners held (a) in police cells and (b) by the Prison Service.
  As a general principle, the Prison Service reimburses police authorities for all reasonable additional costs incurred by them as a result of the police holding prisoners, when these are duties which would normally be undertaken by Prison Service staff.
  These costs are met from the provision voted by Parliament to cover the costs of the Prison Service, as are the costs of all prisoners held directly by the Prison Service.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average cost per prisoner per night(a) of a prisoner held in a police cell and (b) of a prisoner held in the custody of the Prison Service. [16391]
  808
  escapes from prison establishments and from escorts for each of the past 12 months in England and Wales. [16259]

  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 30 March 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking for the total numbers of escapes from prison establishments and from escort for the past 12 months in England and Wales.
  The information is shown in the table below:

  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 30 March 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question on the average cost per night (a) of a prisoner held in a police cell and (b) of a prisoner held in the custody of the Prison Service.
  In 1993–94 the average daily cost of holding a prisoner in a police cell was £250. The average net operating cost per prisoner place, for prisoners held within Prison Service establishments, was £22,712 per year, which produces a daily cost of approximately £62.

  Departmental Annual Report
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [16642]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The cost of production and circulation borne by the Home Office was £22,265. I
  809
  understand from HMSO that, as at 24 March, 2,000 copies had been produced for sale. The cover price is £14.55. I am placing a copy of the circulation list in the Library.

  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of producing and circulating the departmental annual report for each of the last 10 years in real terms. [16643]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Departmental reports were published for the first time in 1991. Data for the five years of publication are as follows—costs borne by the Home Office, calculated at 1993–94 prices using the gross domestic product deflator:

  Production and Circulation

  Year

  £

  1991

  44.175

  1992

  31.841

  1993

  20.360

  1994

  21.917

  1995

  21.828

  Prison Assaults
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of offences relating to assaults proved in disciplinary proceedings, including attempted assaults, incitement and assisting other prisoners in an assault and excluding criminal proceedings relating to assaults for each of the past 12 months in prisons in England and Wales. [16267]

  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 30 March 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of proved offences of assault at disciplinary proceedings in each of the past 12 months.
  The information requested is given in the attached table, a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Table 1: Assaults proved at adjudication1, March 1994 to February 1995 in Prison Service establishments, England and Wales

  Month

  Number of proved assaults2

  1994

  March

  497

  April

  449

  May

  494

  June

  433

  July

  462

  August

  532

  September

  494

  October

  495

  November

  468

  December

  469

  1995

  January

  479

  February

  415

  1 Includes attempt, incite or assist in an assault.

  2 Provisional figures.

  Prisoners (Purposeful Activity)
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of hours each week which prisoners spend in purposeful activity including work, education, training, physical education programmes and excluding association, visits, meals or time spent outside the establishment for each of the past 12 months in prisons in England and Wales. [16264]

  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 30 March 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the average number of hours per week which prisoners spend in purposeful activity for each of the past 12 months.
  The information is contained in the table below.

  Weekly average hours per prisoner in purposeful activity

  February 1994

  25.4

  March

  26.3

  April

  24.6

  May

  26.1

  June

  26.4

  July

  27.3

  August

  27.0

  September

  26.4

  October

  26.7

  November

  26.9

  December

  26.1

  January 1995

  23.9

  February

  26.6

  Prison Statistics
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the average number of prisoners currently held per night in(a) police cells and (b) Her Majesty"s prisons. [16393]

  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 30 March 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the average number of prisoners currently held per night in (a) police cells and (b) Her Majesty's prisons in England and Wales.
  The information for the week beginning 19 March 1995 is as follows:

  Number

  Average number of prisoners held in police cells per night:

  385

  Average number of prisoners held in prisons per night:

  50,940

  Parole
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of prisoners eligible for parole was successful in achieving parole in the last year for which figures are available. [16689]

  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.
  812
  Letter from Derek Lewis to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 30 March 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the proportion of prisoners eligible for parole who were paroled.
  The parole statistics are published in the Annual Reports of the Parole Board. The latest issue is for 1993 (Cm 450), a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.
  The statistics for 1994 will be published in the 1994 issue of the Annual Report of the Parole Board. They comprise prisoners considered under the 1991 Criminal Justice Act and those under previous legislation. Provisional figures for 1994 show that 42 per cent of prisoners considered were paroled.

  Public Sector: Trades Union Status
  Public Sector: Trades Union Status
  Mothers in Employment Report: Consultation
  Mothers in Employment Report: Consultation
  YT Allowance: Up-rated Worth
  YT Allowance: Up-rated Worth
  YT Bridging Allowance: Up-rated Worth
  YT Bridging Allowance: Up-rated Worth
  Georgia: UN Report
  Georgia: UN Report
  Sarajevo Ceasefire: Enforcement
  Sarajevo Ceasefire: Enforcement
  Turkey: Human Rights Incidents
  Turkey: Human Rights Incidents
  The Court Service: Agency Status
  The Court Service: Agency Status
  Agriculture Council, 27–28 March
  Agriculture Council, 27–28 March
  EU: Restrictions on Movement of Dogs between States
  EU: Restrictions on Movement of Dogs between States
  Draft Reserve Forces Bill
  Draft Reserve Forces Bill
  Joint Service Command and Staff College Proposals
  Joint Service Command and Staff College Proposals