Written Answers of 10 May 1995

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Daya Bay Nuclear Plant
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received as to the reason for the indefinite shutdown of the Daya bay nuclear plant close to Hong Kong. [19320]

  Mr. Goodlad
  The Daya bay nuclear power station is in China some 50 km away from the urban area of Hong Kong. It is operated by Chinese companies. The Hong Kong Government have no involvement in its day-to-day operation, but are being kept informed of developments.

  Iran Murder Trial
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what observers of Her Majesty's Government have arranged to be present at the trial of those accused of murdering the three Christian leaders in Iran; and what assessment the observers have made regarding the trial proceedings. [23065]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The European Union has agreed to send a presidency representative to attend the trial as an observer. The trial is in its early stages and it is too early to make an assessment of the proceedings.

  Thailand
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to seek to put an end to Burmese military incursions against Karen refugee camps in Thailand. [23066]

  Mr. Goodlad
  Together with our EU partners we have made clear our concerns about the safety of the Karen people to the ruling military regime in Burma, the State Law and Order Restoration Council. We called in the Burmese ambassador on 17 February to reinforce an earlier EU demarche in Rangoon. On 10 March the EU issued a statement condemning the offensive against the Karen people and calling upon the SLORC to find a swift and peaceful solution to the ethnic minority problem in Burma.

  We view with concern the recent attacks against refugee camps in Thailand and welcome the continuing commitment of the Thai Government to provide refuge for those seeking safety in their territory. We continue to monitor the evolution of the situation closely and are considering appropriate action in consultation with our EU partners.

  Kashmir
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what indications the European Union has received in respect of the date and 444
  organisation of elections in Kashmir; if the European Union has been invited to send observers to monitor any such elections; what measures the European Union is taking to assess on the ground the prospect of elections in Kashmir; what assessment (a) Her Majesty's Government and (b) the European Union has made of the elections; and if he will make a statement. [23095]

  Mr. Baldry
  The Indian Government have yet to make any official announcement of their intentions with respect to the date and organisation of elections in Kashmir. It follows that there has been no invitation to send observers, and we and our European partners are not in a position to assess the elections.

  Pakistan
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Pakistan Government about the detention of Anwar Masih in Faisalabad; and if he will make a statement. [23098]

  Mr. Baldry
  We regularly make representations to the Pakistan Government about the treatment of Christians and other minorities. We recently joined our European partners in raising Anwar Masih's case with the Pakistan authorities.

  Landmines
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to ban the production, export and stockpiling of landmines; and if he will make a statement. [23099]

  Mr. David Davis
  We are actively pursuing through various fora further controls on the production, stockpiling, transfer and use of anti-personnel landmines. But such measures need to be realistic, and widely applied, if they are to be effective. A complete ban at this stage would not secure broad international support or be properly implemented.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy in respect of preambular paragraph L of the European Parliament's motion on the extension of the nuclear non-profileration treaty, adopted on 5 April. [22352]

  Mr. David Davis
  [holding answer 4 May 1995]: We agree with the preambular paragraph.

  Nuclear Safety
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what position was taken by the British ambassador to the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency in regard to the proposals under discussion of the programme 93 + 2 on safeguards, at the board of governors' meeting on 27 to 30 March, that greater access to sites by nuclear inspectors should be implemented. [22931]
  445
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  I have been asked to reply.

  The United Kingdom supports the need to strengthen the IAEA's safeguards system. The general outline of the proposals were presented in the March meeting of the board of governors. More specific proposals will be presented and discussed at subsequent meetings.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals in regard to technical, legal and financial implications of a strengthened nuclear safeguards system will be put forward by the United Kingdom at the next board of governors' meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency in June. [22930]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  I have been asked to reply.

  The IAEA will submit proposals for strengthening the safeguards system at the meeting of its board of governors in June.

SCOTLAND

  Wigtown District Council
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultation of tenants has been carried out by Wigtown district council regarding the future tenure of their houses; what options were put to the tenants; what advice was given by the council to tenants; and if he will make a statement. [22430]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I understand that Wigtown district council has been informally consulting tenants by means of newsletters and public meetings for several months about its proposal to transfer its entire stock of housing to the locally based Wigtown housing association. The statutory consultation procedures began late in April when the council issued a formal consultation document to tenants setting out the details of its proposals and the likely consequences of the transfer. Tenants have also been given access to independent advisers to assist them to reach an informed view on the proposals.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been budgeted by Wigtown district council to conduct a ballot on the disposal of its houses to the Wigtown housing association; whether the council has received section 25 consent for expenditure already incurred; and if he will make a statement. [22429]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The cost of any ballot of its tenants is a matter for Wigtown district council. The Secretary of State is currently considering an application from the council for consent under section 25 of the Local Government Act 1988 to enable the council to make a loan to assist the newly formed Wigtown housing association with its setting up costs.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what conditions he has imposed upon Wigtown district council regarding the procedures, majority required and advice to tenants before any ballot result of council tenants regarding transfer of ownership is given his approval. [22431]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Wigtown district council is aware that it must act in accordance with the provisions contained in schedule 6A of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 in consulting tenants on the disposal of any of its housing stock. The council is also aware that 446
  the Secretary of State cannot consent to any such transfer if it appears to him that a majority of tenants do not wish the disposal to proceed.

  It is for the council to decide how best to determine the extent of tenant's support for its proposals and I understand that it plans to ballot all tenants on the subject. The Secretary of State will have regard to the outcome of that ballot in determining whether to grant his consent to any stock disposal.

  Special Protection Areas
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those sites which(a) have been designated or (b) meet the criteria for designation as (i) special protection areas under the European Community directive on the conservation of wild birds or (ii) Ramsar sites under the convention of wetlands of international importance. [22369]

  Sir Hector Monro
  The information is set out in the tables. Sites are designated by my right hon. Friend on the advice of Scottish Natural Heritage. The lists of sites at(b)(i) and (ii) contain those which in the opinion of Scottish Natural Heritage qualify by designation.

  (a)(i) Sites Designated under the European Community Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds

  Site

  Location

  Flannan Isles

  Western Isles

  St. Kilda

  Shiant Isles

  Monarch Island

  Loch Druidibeg/Loch a' Machair

  Mingulay and Berneray

  Handa

  Highland

  Priest Island

  Rhum

  Loch Maree

  Loch Eye

  Abernethy Forest

  Loch Vaa

  Hermaness and Saxa Vord, Unst

  Shetland

  Fetlar

  Fair Isle

  Marwick Head

  Orkney

  Copinsay

  Sule Skerry and Stack

  Loch Spynie

  Grampian

  Loch of Skene

  Fowlsheugh

  Glen Tanar

  Coll

  Strathclyde

  Treshnish Isles

  Gruinart Flats, Islay

  Bridgend Flats, Islay

  Laggan Peninsula Islay

  Eilean na Muice Duibhe, Islay

  Glac na Criche, Islay

  Feur Lochain, Islay

  Ailsa Craig

  Loch Ken and Dee Marshes

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Upper Solway Flats and Marshes

  Montrose Basin

  Tayside

  South Tayside Goose Roosths

  Loch of Kinnordy

  Loch of Lintrathen

  447

  (a)(i) Sites Designated under the European Community Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds

  Site

  Location

  Cameron Reservoir

  Fife

  Forth Islands

  Lothian

  Gladhouse Reservoir

  Fala Flow

  Hoselaw Loch

  Borders

  (a)(ii) Ramsar sites designated under the convention on wetlands of international importance.

  Site

  Location

  Loch An Duin

  Western Isles

  Loch Druidibeg, Loch a'Machair and Loch Stilligary

  Claish Moss

  Highland

  Loch Maree

  Loch Eye

  Loch Spynie

  Grampian

  Cairngorm Lochs

  Loch of Skene

  Coll

  Strathclyde

  Gruinart Flats, Islay

  Bridgend Flats, Islay

  Eilean na Muice Duibhe, Islay

  Glac na Criche, Islay

  Feur Lochain, Islay

  Loch Ken and Dee Marshes

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Upper Solway Flats and Marshes

  Silver Flowe

  Rannoch Moor

  Tayside

  Montrose Basin

  South Tayside Goose Roosts

  Loch of Kinnordy

  Loch of Lintrathen

  Loch Leven

  Cameron Reservoir

  Fife

  Gladhouse Reservoir

  Lothian

  Fala Flow

  Loch Lomond

  Central

  Hoselaw Loch

  Borders

  (b)(i) Sites which in the opinion of Scottish Natural Heritage qualify for designation under the European Community Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds

  Site

  Location

  North Rona and Sula Sgeir

  Western Isles

  West Sound of Harris

  South Uist Machair and Lochs

  West Sound of Barra

  Balranald

  Baleshare and Kirkibost

  Loch Scadavay

  Lewis Peatlands

  North Harris Mountains

  Pentland Firth Islands

  Highland

  The Peatlands

  448

  (b)(i) Sites which in the opinion of Scottish Natural Heritage qualify for designation under the European Community Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds

  Site

  Location

  Caithness Lochs

  Caithness Cliffs

  Cape Wrath

  Inverpolly, Loch Urigill and Nearby Lochs

  Loch Ruthven and Nearby Lochs

  Central Highland Hills and Glens

  Assynt Lochs

  Loch Stack, Loch Nam Brae and Nearby Lochs

  Loch Shin and Nearby Lochs

  Moray Basin Firths and Bays

  Beinn Dearg

  Ben Wyvis

  Glengarry Lochs

  Loch Tarff and Nearby Lochs

  North Inverness Lochs

  River Spey-Insh Marshes

  Cairngorms

  Drumochter Hills

  Monadhliath

  Alvie

  Ben Alder

  Kinveachy

  Creag Meagaidh

  Ramna Stacks and Gruney

  Shetland

  North Roe and Tingon, Mainland Shetland

  Papa Stour

  Foula

  Noss

  Sumburgh Head

  Croussa Field and the Heogs

  Mousa

  Lochs of Spiggie and Brow

  Blackpark and Gutcher, Yell

  Moorland Areas, Central Shetland

  West Burrafirth, Shetland

  Hill of Colvadale and Sobul

  West Westray

  Orkney

  Papa Westray (North Hill and Holm)

  Lochs of Harray and Stenness

  Hoy

  West Mainland Moors

  North Mainland Coast

  South Westray Coast

  East Sanday

  Rousay

  North Ronaldsay Coast

  Southeastern Stronsay

  Eday

  Mill Dam, Shapinsay

  Orphir and Stenness Hills

  Keelylang

  Loch of Isbister

  Loch of Strathbeg

  Grampian

  Ythan Estuary, Sands of Forvie and Meikle Lochs

  Troup, Pennan and Lion Heads

  St. Cyrus

  Buchan Ness to Collieston Coast

  Rosehearty to Fraserburgh Coast

  Loch Oire

  Muir of Dinnet

  An Socach-Carn a Gheoidh

  Rhinns of Islay

  Strathclyde

  Islay: the Oa

  449

  (b)(i) Sites which in the opinion of Scottish Natural Heritage qualify for designation under the European Community Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds

  Site

  Location

  Inner Clyde Estuary

  Rhunahaorine Point

  Machrihanish and Tangy Loch

  North Colonsay and Western Cliffs

  Sanda

  Lochinch and Torrs Warren

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Wigtown Bay

  Castle Loch, Lochmaben

  Caenlochan

  Tayside

  Tay-Isla Valley

  Loch Leven

  Firth of Tay

  Eden Estuary, Tentsmuir Point and Abertay Sands

  Fife

  Firth of Forth

  Lothian

  Loch Lomond

  Central

  Flanders Moss and Lake of Menteith

  Westwater

  Borders

  St. Abb's Head to Fast Castle

  Greenlaw Moor and Hule Moss

  (b)(ii) Sites which in the opinion of Scottish Natural Heritage qualify for designation under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance

  Site

  Location

  West Sound of Harris

  Western Isles

  South Uist Machair and Lochs

  West Sound of Barra

  Balranald

  Baleshare and Kirkibost

  Lewis Peatlands

  The Peatlands

  Highland

  Caithness Lochs

  Durness Lochs and Streams

  Loch Morar

  Kentra Moss

  Inverpolly, Loch Urgill and Nearby Lochs

  Assynt Lochs

  Moray Basin Forths and Bays

  River Spey—Insh Marshes

  Hermaness and Saxa Vord, Unst

  Shetland

  North Roe and Tingon, Mainland

  Shetland

  Foula

  Lochs of Spiggie and Brow

  Lochs of Harray and Stenness

  Orkney

  North Mainland Coast

  South Westray Coast

  East Sanday

  Mill Dam, Shapinsay

  North Ronaldsay Coast

  Southeastern Stronsay

  Loch of Strathbeg

  Grampian

  Ythan Estuary, Sands of Forvie and Meikle Lochs

  Rosehearty to Fraserburgh Coast

  Muir of Dinnet

  450

  (b)(ii) Sites which in the opinion of Scottish Natural Heritage qualify for designation under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance

  Site

  Location

  Rhinns of Islay

  Strathclyde

  Inner Clyde Estuary

  Machrihanish and Tangy Loch

  Lochinch and Torrs Warren

  Dumfries and Galloway

  Wigtown Bay

  Castle Loch, Lochmaben

  Tay-Isla Valley

  Tayside

  Firth of Tay

  Eden Estuary, Tentsmuir Point and Abertay Sands

  Fife

  Firth of Forth

  Lothian

  Flanders Moss and Lake of Menteith

  Central

  Westwater

  Borders

  Moorfoot Hills

  Greenlaw Moor and Hule Moss

  Note:

  Some larger sites are located within more than one local authority area.

  Red Deer
  Mr. Gallie
  Top ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what conclusions he has reached on the proposals for amendment to deer legislation in Scotland submitted to him by the Red Deer Commission. [23851]

  Sir Hector Monro
  We have given careful consideration to the Red Deer Commission's proposals and my Department has consulted organisations with a particular interest in deer matters in Scotland. In the light of the responses to this consultation, we have decided on the following proposals for deer legislation:

  a. amendments to the general functions of the Red Deer Commission to include reference to furthering the "sustainable management" of all species of wild deer in Scotland. The title of the Red Deer Commission to change to "Deer Commission for Scotland";

  b. the introduction of new arrangements for the appointment of members to the commission by the Secretary of State to provide for greater flexibility together with a permissive power to allow the Secretary of State to pay remuneration to members if, at some time in the future, he should think this appropriate;

  c. amendments to the existing powers of the commission to appoint local panels;

  d. an extension of the commission's existing powers to provide advice and a new power to support demonstration and experimentation projects;

  e. amendments to the powers of the commission to deal with damage caused by deer and, in particular, the introduction of new powers to allow the commission to instigate control schemes when this is necessary to protect the natural heritage of Scotland or to safeguard public safety;

  f. a new provision to allow for voluntary control schemes to facilitate co-operative action amongst adjoining landowners to control deer;

  g. amendments to the provisions relating to close seasons for the shooting of deer to allow for these to be set by order;

  h. an amendment to allow the commission to authorise the use of vehicles or aircraft to drive deer with the intention of carrying out essential culling work;

  451

  i. an updated definition of the types of agricultural land over which agricultural owners and occupiers can shoot deer, if necessary, to protect crops, pastures etc;

  j. amendments to the provisions relating to marauding deer and out of season shooting to allow the commission to authorise shooting to prevent damage to the natural heritage and to unenclosed woodlands or to protect public safety;

  k. amendments to the provisions relating to night shooting of deer so that all night shooting is subject to authorisation by the commission.

  Our intention is to introduce the legislation along these lines when there is a suitable legislative opportunity.

  These legislative proposals draw significantly on the ideas put forward by the Red Deer Commission and the Government would like to acknowledge its valuable help and assistance in this matter, together with all the other bodies who responded to the public debate. The proposals represent an important step forward in ensuring the sustainable management of wild deer populations in Scotland.

  National Galleries
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the arrangements for the next policy and financial management review of the national galleries of Scotland. [23852]

  Sir Hector Monro
  Departments which sponsor non-departmental public bodies carry out regular policy and financial management reviews of individual bodies. The last such review of the national galleries of Scotland was undertaken in 1987 and a further review is now under way, to be completed by the end of July. As with all such reviews, the first stage will take the form of a "prior options" study, to examine the scope for discontinuing or undertaking in some other way some or all of the functions of the national galleries. Subject to the outcome of the first stage, the review will examine comprehensively, with regard to value for money, the main aims and objectives of the body, as well as its resource management and planning systems. The review will be conducted by Mr. Colin Imrie, a principal at the Scottish Office attached to the Scottish Office Education Department for this purpose. Comments from interested parties would be welcome and should be sent to Mr. Imrie at the following address by 30 June 1995:

  The Scottish Office Education Department

  Room 613

  43 Jeffrey Street

  Edinburgh

  EH1 1DN

  Tel: 0131 244 5360

  Fax: 0131 244 5526

  Area Tourist Boards
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the names of people who are members of more than one of the existing area tourist boards; and what offices, they hold on these boards; [22572]

  (2) if he will list the names of people who are members of a steering group for one of the new area tourist boards as well as being members of an existing tourist board for an area which is not included in the area covered by the steering group; [22573]
  452
  (3) if he will ensure that no-one will be a member of more than one area tourist board under the new system to be introduced in April 1996. [22574]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: Membership arrangements and office bearer appointments are the responsibility of area tourist boards themselves. The information requested is not held centrally. I understand that current practice is that bodies or individuals may be members of more than one board.

  We are at present consulting on the terms of the statutory schemes which will establish the new boards. It is likely, however, that the requirements for membership will follow current practice.

  Membership of the steering groups which have been established by local interests in advance of the appointment by my right hon. Friend of the first members of the controlling bodies of the new boards is entirely a matter for these interests to determine. My right hon. Friend will make his appointments on the basis of nominations from the existing area tourist boards and from local authorities. Nominations will be sought shortly.

TREASURY

  Business Rate Assessment Appeals
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many business rate assessment appeals have been(a) lodged and (b) dealt with in each year since 1989. [22786]

  Mr. Nelson
  The number of business rate appeals(a) lodged and (b) dealt with in England and Wales in the years since 1 January 1989 are shown in the table. During this period appeals were lodged and dealt with in respect of both the 1973 valuation lists and the 1990 non-domestic rating lists.

  Answer (a)

  Number lodged

  Period

  1973 Appeals

  1990 Appeals

  1.1.89 to 31.3.89

  51,063

  n/a

  1.4.89 to 31.3.90

  127,508

  n/a

  1.490 to 31.3.91

  n/a

  611,593

  1.4.91 to 31.3.92

  n/a

  188,439

  1.4.92 to 31.3.93

  n/a

  195,214

  1.4.93 to 31.3.94

  n/a

  154,409

  1.4.94 to 31.3.95

  n/a

  219,070

  Total

  178,571

  1,368,725

  Grand total all appeals

  1,547,296

  Answer (b)

  Number dealt with

  Period

  1973 Appeals

  1990 Appeals

  1.1.89 to 31.3.89

  49,250

  n/a

  1.4.89 to 31.3.90

  190,207

  n/a

  1.4.90 to 31.3.91

  181,600

  28,660

  1.4.91 to 31.3.92

  28,246

  232,349

  1.4.92 to 31.3.93

  2,479

  348,891

  1.4.93 to 31.3.94

  448

  312,195

  1.4.94 to 31.3.95

  511

  269,017

  Total

  452,741

  1,191,112

  Grand total all appeals

  1,643,853

  453
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many business rate assessment appeals lodged since 1 January 1989 are still waiting to be heard. [22785]

  Mr. Nelson
  Because of the way in which the statistics were obtained, it is not possible to identify the number of outstanding 1973 valuation list business rate appeals in England and Wales which were lodged in the period 1 January 1989 to 31 March 1990. Of the 1990 rating list business rate appeals received since 1 April 1990, a total of 283,096 were outstanding at 31 March 1995.

  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average length of time that a business has to wait in order for the business rate assessment appeal to be heard. [22784]

  Mr. Nelson
  Statistics are not kept of the average time between the making of an appeal by a business ratepayer and a hearing. Valuation tribunals are, however, conscious of the need to deal with cases as quickly as is consistent with a full consideration of the merits of each case.

  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the reduction in Inland Revenue staff on the rate at which business rate assessment appeals are heard. [22787]

  Mr. Nelson
  Business rate appeals are dealt with by valuation officers of the Valuation Office Agency, an executive agency of the Inland Revenue. In the year 1994–95, a total of 269,528 appeals were settled. The target for 1995–96 published in the agency's business plan is to settle 330,000 appeals and sufficient resources will be made available to meet this target.

  Manufacturing Trade
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the deficit on trade in manufactures with the EEC countries for each year since 1992 and the annual rate in the three months from January 1995; and what has been the effect on output and employment to date; [23310]

  (2) what was the change in the last 12 months in the volume of imports of manufactures from the EEC and the effect on output and employment to date in the United Kingdom; [23311]

  (3) what has been (a) the change in volume of imports of manufactures from the EEC in the three months to January 1995 and (b) the effect on output and employment to date; [23307]

  (4) what was the deficit on trade in manufactures with the non-EEC countries for each year since 1992 and the annual rate for the three months from January 1995; and what has been the effect on output and employment to date. [23309]

  Mr. Nelson
  Figures for EC and non-EC trade in manufactures and domestic output are available on the Central Statistical Office database, which can be accessed through the Library of the House. From these figures the direct contribution of changes in EC and non-EC trade volumes to GDP growth can be calculated. It is not possible to isolate the overall effects of trade performance on output and employment growth.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the volume of(a) imports of finished manufactures from the EEC and (b) exports of finished manufactures to the EEC since 1992. [23308]
  454
  Mr. Nelson
  The information is available from the CSO database which may be accessed by the House of Commons Library.

  Interest Rates
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 27 April,Official Report, column 646, concerning the effect of the three increases in interest rates between 12 September 1994 and 2 February 1995 (1) what definition he attaches to the words (i) inflation and (ii) low; [23325]

  (2) if the Government's objective of permanently low inflation excludes the possibility of a non-low rate of inflation generated by a high rate of growth in the leading sectors of the economy. [23324]

  Mr. Nelson
  The Government's objective is permanently low inflation. The aim is to keep underlying inflation as measured by the retail prices index, excluding mortgage interest payments—in the range 1 to 4 per cent. and bring it down in to the lower half of this range by the end of the present Parliament. Providing a stable macroeconomic environment with low inflation is the best way to ensure sustainable growth in all sectors of the economy.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 27 April,Official Report, column 646, concerning the effect of the increases in interest rates between 12 September 1994 and 2 February 1995, what has been the effect of each on the exchange rate. [23326]

  Mr. Nelson
  The exchange rate is determined by many factors. It is not possible to isolate the effect of changes in UK interest rates.

  Hotels (VAT)
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his response to representations of the British tourist industry to bring VAT on hotel accommodation in line with European Union levels; and if he will make a statement. [22579]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  There is no uniformity in the rate of VAT applied to hotel accommodation by the other EU member states. The Government have no plans to alter the standard rate of VAT applicable to hotel accommodation in the United Kingdom.

  Training
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what special training is given to persons who have responsibility for assessing the historical significant of documents held by his Department. [23276]

  Mr. Nelson
  Training in assessing the historical significance of departmental records is carried out under the guidance of the keeper of public records. It is provided in a number of different ways, including courses on the appraisal of records and conferences and seminars arranged by the Public Records Office.

  Staff who deal with departmental records have experience of the work of the Treasury and receive on the job desk training together with guidance from of the public Records Office.

  National Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of vacancies advertised by his Department, and by each of his Department's agencies, in the last three years have listed the attainment of NVQs as an acceptable entry requirement; and, of those how many have required(a) level 1 NVQs, (b) level 2 NVQs, (c) level 3 NVQs, and (d) other level NVQs. [222971]

  Mr. Nelson
  HM Treasury and the Chancellor of the Exchequer's agencies are happy to consider national vocational qualifications at the appropriate level as alternatives to traditional educational qualifications of recruitment. None of the recruitment schemes over the past three years has specifically referred in advertisements to the acceptability of NVQs.

  Tobacco
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to stop overseas mail order arrangements for selling through a personal agent operated by certain tobacco companies to avoid the payment of United Kingdom tax and duty. [22962]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  A case of this kind is currently the subject of a judicial review application before the High Court. Customs and Excise consider that this scheme is a distance selling operation which should give rise to a charge of UK excise duty and VAT. The court is expected to give judgment later this month.

  Official Statistics
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he proposes to ensure the success of the recently published Government official statistics code of practice regarding public access to official statistics through libraries and other public archives. [22610]

  Mr. Nelson
  Statisticians in all Government Departments act on the guidelines contained within the official statistics code of practice. A series of inter-departmental committees help to co-ordinate these activities and to share best practices. The Government statistical service dissemination committee covers public access issues and to this end has links with the committee of librarians and statisticians.

  The central statistical office is strongly committed to increasing the availability of its statistics to schools, libraries and the academic world. Through its library extension and education programme it has a valuable
  456
  programme of assistance including provision of information, advice and assistance. The CSO will also be co-operating with the British Library for the improved provision of archival material. The CSO also plans a public access library for its new Drummond Gate site in London.

  Single European Currency
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects on the United Kingdom's foreign, gold and other reserves, with particular reference to assignment and ownership in whole or in part of a decision on the part of the United Kingdom to join a single European currency. [21788]

  Mr. Nelson
  Article 105, paragraphs 2 and 3, of the treaty on European union and articles 30 and 31 of the statute of the European system of central banks and of the European central bank relate to the holding and management of foreign exchange reserves in stage 3 of economic and monetary union.

  Under the United Kingdom's protocol to the treaty, these provisions will not apply to the United Kingdom if the United Kingdom does not move to stage 3.

  EU Funding
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent it is possible for a project to receive funds from both the EU social fund and the cohesion fund; and if he will make a statement. [22772]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: It is possible for a project to receive funds from both the EU social fund and the cohesion fund, although no individual item of expenditure under the project may benefit from both. The combined assistance of the cohesion fund and other EU aid for a project must not exceed 90 per cent. of the total project expenditure. Only Ireland, Spain, Portugal and Greece are eligible for funding from the cohesion fund.

  Mortgage Protection
  Mr. Darling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out his proposals to amend the law with regard to the taxation of payments made under mortgage protection policies; and if he will make a statement. [23158]

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: The Chancellor of the Exchequer's proposals concerning the taxation of benefits paid under mortgage protection insurance policies were set out in his statement of 2 May, a copy of which is available in the Members' Library.

TRANSPORT

  Railway Privatisation
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to what extent a private company taking over any of the functions formerly carried out by British Rail will be liable for industrial injury claims brought by employees who find themselves in the employment of a new railway contractor. [22313]

  Mr. Watts
  All of BR's rights, powers, duties and liabilities under or in connection with contracts of employment of persons employed by BR in an undertaking will transfer to a new railway contractor taking over that undertaking by virtue of the operation of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981.

  New employers will therefore be liable for claims in respect of industrial injury. Any arrangements between new employers and BR about such liabilities must remain commercially confidential.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to what extent a private company taking over any of the functions formerly carried out by British Rail will be liable for industrial injury claims brought by retired employees of British Rail. [22314]

  Mr. Watts
  The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 are not relevant to retired employees. I understand that BR's policy is to meet successful industrial injury claims brought by their retired employees.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) to what extent the Department of Transport will be liable for industrial injury claims brought by retired British Rail employees following privatisation of British rail; [22315]

  (2) to what extent the Department of Transport will be liable for industrial injury claims brought by former employees of British Rail who find themselves in the employment of a new railway contractor following the privatisation of British Rail. [22316]

  Mr. Watts
  The Secretary of State will not be so liable. He will make available to the British Railways Board each year an appropriate level of public expenditure cover and in so doing will have regard to the contractual and other obligations of the board.

  Gatwick Express
  Mr. Tim Renton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now take the necessary steps to expedite the full process of privatising the Gatwick Express; and if he will make a statement. [23296]

  Mr. Watts
  The Franchising Director intends to issue invitations to tender for the Gatwick express franchise later this year.

  A23
  Mr. Tim Renton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will reconsider the criteria for paying compensation to those seriously affected by the widening of the A23 south of Pease Pottage. [23297]

  Mr. Watts
  New guidelines will be introduced for the discretionary purchase of off-line property, enjoyment of which will be seriously affected by a proposed trunk road 458
  widening scheme, which take into account loss of value of the property. There are no proposals to reconsider the arrangements for payment of compensation under part I of the Land Compensation Act 1973 for loss in value of property affected by a new or altered road which has been opened to traffic. If my hon. friend is aware of particular cases where there are difficulties, he may care to write to the chief executive of the Highways Agency, Lawrie Haynes, about these cases.

  Vehicle Inspectorate
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about funding for the vehicle inspectorate's programme of enforcement checks against lorries, buses and coaches. [23779]

  Mr. Norris
  I intend to make new funds of £350,000 available to the vehicle inspectorate in 1995–96 to increase its enforcement effort against heavy goods vehicles and public service vehicles. These funds, together with efficiency savings already achieved, will allow the recruitment of additional front line enforcement staff. The new funding further reinforces the Government's commitment to support effective enforcement against unsafe vehicles and underlines their determination not to compromise on safety. As the costs of VI enforcement activity are recovered through HGV and PSV operator licence fees, the Department has today issued a consultation document about a minor increase in HGV operator fees to make the income sufficient to cover these additional costs.

  Cars
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to start a publicity campaign to discourage people from using their cars for shorter journeys. [23518]

  Mr. Norris
  The Government take opportunities in their advice to motorists to encourage them to walk or cycle or to use public transport where it is safe and reasonable to do so. I have no current plans for a wider campaign, although I am following with close attention the efforts of local authorities, including Hertfordshire and Hampshire, where transport awareness programmes are underway.

  South Eastern Railways
  Ms Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the passenger service requirement for South Eastern Railways will be published; and if he will make a statement. [23142]

  Mr. Watts
  The passenger service requirement for South Eastern will be developed and issued for consultation with local authorities and the rail users' consultative committees in accordance with the franchising director's timetable for franchising the line during or after 1996. The timetable is under continual review as the franchising programme progresses, and franchises may be brought forward.

  Ms Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the latest statistics for overcrowding on South Eastern suburban services. [23144]
  459
  Mr. Watts
  The latest statistics on overcrowding for the South Eastern train operating unit are as follows:

  Date

  1Passengers in excess of capacity Date Per cent.

  Autumn 1993

  2.1

  Autumn 1994

  1.4

  1 Total percentage of passengers over the total capacity of the train including standing passengers.

  Further improvement in train capacity will result from the continuing introduction of Networker rolling stock.

  Ms Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects South Eastern to be ready for franchising. [23143]

  Mr. Watts
  The franchising director's timetable is to franchise South Eastern during or after 1996. The timetable is under continual review as the franchising programme progresses, and franchises may be brought forward.

  Highways
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to require highway authorities to consult and secure the approval of residents of streets where it is proposed to remove stone or concrete flags and replace them with tarmac other than for reasons of safety. [22933]

  Mr. Norris
  No.

  Passenger Ships (Safety)
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has done into the length of time needed to passenger evacuations of(a) ro-ro ferries and (b) other passenger ships; and what is his estimate of the length of time needed to evacuate a ro-ro ferry carrying 2,000 passengers. [22909]

  Mr. Norris
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: There has been no research funded by the Department of Transport on passenger evacuation times from passenger ships during the last 15 years, although research findings on the wider context of passenger and crew behaviour in emergency situations are currently being considered.

  Current escape and life saving arrangements are designed so that passenger ships can be evacuated within 30 minutes, regardless of the number of passengers on board.

EMPLOYMENT

  Industry Training Organisations
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the names and grades of the training, enterprise and education directorate staff that represent the Department at meetings of industry training organisations; and if he will make a statement on their role. [22999]

  Mr. Paice
  The names of the development managers who represent the Department at meetings of industry training organisations are shown in the list of ITOs produced by the National Council of Industry Training 460
  Organisations. A copy of the latest list is in the Library. Development managers communicate Government training policy to ITOs and manage projects under the standards, ITO support and modern apprenticeship programmes.

  Training
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the amount of funding per start available from his Department for(a) youth training and (b) training for work or employment training; and what it has been in each of the last five years. [23000]

  Mr. Paice
  This information is provided in the following table, each year's budget being divided by the number of starts achieved or anticipated.

  Year

  Youth training (YT) £

  Training for work/employment training (TfW/ET) £

  1995–96 (plans)

  4,533

  2,569

  1994–95 (provisional)

  3,697

  2,473

  1993–94

  3,951

  2,603

  1992–93

  3,526

  2,588

  1991–92

  3,895

  2,817

  1990–91

  3,387

  2,990

  Notes:

  1. All figures are for England only except TfW and ET figures for 1991–92 and 1992–93 which take account of Employment Action in Scotland and Wales (1991–92) in Scotland (1992–93).

  2. The figures for YT are cost per first time entrant.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment for each industrial sector, what have been the amounts paid by his Department in each of the last 10 years to each(a) industry training organisations, (b) lead body and (c) awarding body where different organisations fill these roles; and for what purpose these amounts were paid. [22949]

  Mr. Paice
  The information is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. In 1994–95 approximately £20 million was spent by this Department on approximately 900 separate contracts with lead bodies and industry training organisations.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide a breakdown of the £578 million allocated to training for work to show the amount planned for expenditure on(a) starts, (b) outcomes, (c) special needs, (d) fees to training and enterprise councils, (e) administrative costs, (f) payments of benefits, (g) pilots or other non-generalised funding and (h) the remaining amounts; if he will give the figures by TEC and region, and if he will provide a similar breakdown for youth training. [22986]

  Mr. Paice
  The budgets of individual training and enterprise councils are treated as commercial in confidence between the Department and TECs until the autumn, after TECs have completed negotiations with providers of training.

  The following tables give regional allocations of training for work and youth training budgets for 1995–96.

  On TfW the fees budget to TECs is split 25 per cent. for starts and 75 per cent. for outcomes. Starts payments are not made for YT except for certain pilot schemes. Outcome budgets on YT differ with individual TECs, but,

  461
  except for pilots, are up to a maximum of 40 per cent. of the total budget. Separate budgets are not dedicated for those with special needs on either programme. There are no specific budgets for administrative costs within these programmes, though TECs receive a management fee as a contribution to their administrative expenditure across all their activities.

  Training for work 1995–96

  Fees budget £ million

  Allowance budget £ million

  Central development

  4.4

  0

  Others

  19.7

  6.3

  South East

  23.3

  24.3

  London

  47.4

  47.0

  Eastern

  18.9

  19.7

  South West

  23.6

  24.6

  West Midlands

  29.2

  30.4

  East Midlands

  19.2

  20.0

  Yorks and Humberside

  32.6

  33.9

  North West

  30.0

  31.3

  Merseyside

  20.0

  20.8

  North East

  25.0

  26.0

  Total

  293.3

  284.4

  Notes:

  1. The Allowance budget is paid through the Employment Service.

  2. 'Others' covers funding for residential training centres, performance-related funding and for pit closure areas.

  Youth programmes 1995–96

  Budget £ million

  Central development

  2.0

  Others

  23.0

  South East

  77.4

  London

  59.1

  Eastern

  63.4

  South West

  54.5

  West Midlands

  73.7

  East Midlands

  61.1

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  76.4

  North West

  102.8

  Merseyside

  32.0

  North East

  55.0

  Total

  680.4

  Notes:

  1. The budget covers fees and allowances for youth training, youth credits and modern apprenticeships.

  2. 'Others' covers funding for bridging allowances, the Ministry of Defence and Department of Transport schemes, performance-related funding and performance pool.

  Business Start-up Allowance
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many representations he has received in the last year concerning business start-up allowance. [22997]

  Mr. Paice
  About 170 written representations were recorded in the 1994–95 year.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the amount allocated to each TEC(a) in each region and (b) in the United Kingdom for (i) training fees, (ii) starts funding and (iii) outcomes funding. [22985]
  462
  Mr. Paice
  The budget of individual training and enterprise councils are treated as commercial in confidence between the Department and TECs until the autumn, after TECs have completed negotiations with providers of training.

  National Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the target for NVQs and how many NVQs were achieved for each TEC in(a) each region and (b) the United Kingdom; at what level these were achieved in each year since their launch; and what are the targets for achievement this year and next year. [22950]

  Mr. Paice
  There are no targets for numbers of National Vocational Qualifications. The total number of NVQs awarded between their launch and 31 December 1994 is about 765,000 according to figures supplied by the National Council for Vocational Qualifications. Information for training and enterprise councils and regions is not available.

  Instruments of Torture Equipment
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what support training and enterprise councils or his Department directly have given to manufactures of torture equipment. [22721]

  Mr. Paice
  The Employment Department does not collect information from training and enterprise councils which enables it to identify individual companies which receive TEC support.

  The Department has not knowingly given support to manufactures of torture equipment.

  Labour Statistics
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of 16 to 24 year-olds in West Cumbria is in full-time employment. [22735]

  Mr. Paice
  The information requested is not available for West Cumbria. However, estimates from the autumn 1994 labour force survey show that in the north region, excluding Tyne and Wear, 41 per cent. of 16 to 24-year-olds were in full-time employment.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state for each February since 1979 the number of males aged 50 to 65 years in full-time employment; and what percentage this is of the relevant population. [18084]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 4 April 1995]: The information requested is shown in the following table:

  Males aged 50 to 65 in full-time employment Great Britain 1979–19941

  Spring

  Numbers (000s)

  Per cent.

  1979

  3,298

  71

  1981

  2,882

  62

  1983

  3,087

  67

  1984

  3,016

  65

  1985

  2,955

  64

  1986

  2,859

  62

  463

  Males aged 50 to 65 in full-time employment Great Britain 1979–19941

  Spring

  Numbers (000s)

  Per cent.

  1987

  2,773

  61

  1988

  2,810

  62

  1989

  2,833

  63

  1990

  2,825

  63

  1991

  2,752

  62

  1992

  2,636

  59

  1993

  2,538

  56

  1994

  2,376

  57

  Source:

  Labour Force Survey (LFS).

  Note:

  1 Information not collected for 1980 or 1982.

  The fall in the proportion of men aged 50 to 64 in full-time employment reflects several factors, including an increase in the numbers taking early retirement. The spring 1994 labour force survey showed that, of those who were economically inactive, three quarters said that they did not want a job.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Concessional Aid Debt
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list by country the total stock of existing, estimated and outstanding concessional aid debt owed to the United Kingdom by developing countries for each year from 1990 to 2000. [22673]

  Mr. Baldry
  The information has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Afghan Refugees
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to instigate the discussions with representatives of the Pakistan Government, together with the United Kingdom's European partners, to assess the political, economic and social implications of Afghan refugees and displaced persons remaining in Pakistan; if he will make it his policy to undertake, with the United Kingdom's European partners, a comprehensive strategy designed to enable Afghans to return to their own country; and if he will make a statement. [23096]

  Mr. Baldry
  The status of Afghan refugees in Pakistan is regularly monitored by the world food programme and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the results discussed with the Pakistan Government and bilateral donors. A joint WFP/UNHCR/donors food assessment mission, including an EC representative, has just ended. It found that Afghan refugees in Pakistan enjoy a relatively good socio-economic and nutritional status. It expects that 200,000 refugees will return from Pakistan this year.

  The mission's full report will form the basis of a conference organised by UNDP and Sweden in Stockholm on 1–2 June. The conference will discuss how to bring about the transition from humanitarian assistance to longer-term rehabilitation, reconstruction and
  464
  development, necessary to enable Afghans to return to their own country.

  Pakistan Cotton Crop
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 2 May Official Report, column 141, when the study funded by the Overseas Development Administration on cotton pest management, is expected to be completed; if he will list the preliminary conclusions of the study; and what evaluation he has made of reports from Natural Research Institute staff working in Pakistan. [23134]

  Mr. Baldry
  The study is expected to be completed by early July. Preliminary conclusions are not available. The study will cover all the factors affecting the cotton crop in Pakistan, and not only pest management.

  ODA funded research carried out by the Natural Resources Institute is monitored by ODA's renewable natural resources research strategy monitoring panel. Reports of earlier phases of NRI's work in Pakistan, together with information from other sources, were the basis for the decision to focus its current research into cotton on the use of pheromones in controlling cotton pests, and on pesticide resistance. Pheromone research undertaken by NRI in Pakistan and Egypt is currently the subject of an ODA evaluation study.

  Caribbean Banana Industry
  Mr. Brandreth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the United Kingdom is going to secure the long-term prospects of the Caribbean banana industry. [23928]

  Mr. Baldry
  The UK has assisted the Windward Islands banana industry over many years. We fought hard to safeguard their interests in the EC banana regime which allows preferential access for Windward Islands bananas to the EU market until 2002. We have recently funded a wide-ranging consultancy review of the industry's current structure and future strategy. The recommendations of this review have been broadly accepted by the Windwards Prime Minister and the industry. We are now co-operating with the EC on a second study which will provide detailed plans to enable the industry to become more competitive.

  Policy Objectives
  Mr. Brandreth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the progress report of the ODA's policy objectives described on page 65 of the 1995 departmental report (CM 2802) will be put into the public domain. [23929]

  Mr. Baldry
  The progress report has just been finalised, and copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House. Further copies are available from the ODA Library.

  Northern Iraq
  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what monitoring was carried out of the expenditure of Overseas Development Administration assistance through Cornish-Kurdish Medical Aid and its temporary agent Mr. Stephen Crouch for a medical project in northern Iraq;
  465
  (2) if he will seek a report on the expenditure of the funds made available to Cornish-Kurdish Medical Aid for a medical project in northern Iraq.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 28 April 1995]: In June 1991 ODA made a payment of £12,855 to Cornwall Kurdish Medical Aid. This reimbursed against detailed documentation the cost of medical supplies and personal effects for 17 volunteers provided by the non-governmental organisation as part of the 165-member ODA team in northern Iraq at that time.

  Miss Emma Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what monitoring was carried out of the expenditure of Overseas Development Administrator's assistance by the Kurdish Relief Organisation and its associate Mr. Stephen Crouch for a medical project in northern Iraq. [21707]

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 28 April 1995]: Physical monitoring of ODA assistance to Kurdish relief agencies in northern Iraq in 1991 and 1992 was carried out by visits from British embassy officials based in Ankara. In addition, the agencies submitted written reports to the ODA.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Benzodiazepines
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for South Hams dated 31 March and 30 April about Benzodiazepine problems. [23421]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor is considering my hon. Friend's letters and a reply should be with him shortly.

  Crown Court Cases
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the number of cases coming to trial at the Crown court; what was the number of acquittals; and what was the number of convictions for every year since 1987. [23626]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the Court Service is best placed to provide an answer and I have accordingly asked the chief executive to reply direct.

  Letter from Michael Huebner to Mr. Jack Straw, dated 9 May 1995:
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of cases coming to trial at the Crown Court during the past 8 years.The following statistics show the number of cases coming to trial at the Crown Court each year since 1987:

  1987: 28,006

  1988: 26,820

  1989: 26,830

  1990: 26,177

  1991: 27,608

  1992: 27,113

  1993: 25,583

  1994: 27,6271

  466
  You also ask for information about the number of acquittals and convictions. I am only able to provide this in respect of defendants who entered pleas of not guilty to all counts, as follows:

  Year

  Acquitted

  Convicted

  1987

  15,560

  15,475

  1988

  17,542

  14,507

  1989

  17,517

  13,827

  1990

  17,241

  12,752

  1991

  17,760

  12,773

  1992

  15,576

  12,274

  1993

  14,800

  10,680

  1994

  115,700

  110,500

  1 These figures are provisional and therefore liable to revision to take account of late amendments.

WALES

  Equal Opportunities
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the gender assessment being prepared by his Department. [21472]

  Mr. Redwood
  Welsh Office policy, in line with guidance issued in 1992 by the ministerial group on women's issues, is that policy proposals should ensure that unlawful or unjustifiable sex or race discrimination does not occur and that similar principles apply to people with disabilities. Guidance on the appraisal and evaluation of policy for equal treatment has recently been reissued to everyone at higher executive officer level and above in the Welsh Office. This scrutiny is part of a continuous and routine process, as part of policy advice to Ministers.

  Animal Diseases
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of Paramyxovirus occurred in each year since 1985. [22174]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The number of confirmed outbreaks of Paramyxovirus that have occurred each year in Wales since 1985 is as follows:

  1985: 69

  1986: 29

  1987: 24

  1988: 6

  1989: 8

  1990: 11

  1991: 4

  1992: 3

  1993: 2

  1994: 0

  Vacant Dwellings
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of empty council houses; and if he will make a statement. [22808]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information on the number of vacant local authority dwellings in Wales is published annually in table 6.9 of Welsh Housing Statistics No. 14, 1994, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Employment (Over 40s)
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are his policies to ensure that the over-40s age group can find employment. [22809]

  Mr. Redwood
  The Government's policies are aimed at creating the right macro-economic and micro-economic conditions for success: low inflation; sound public finances; markets that work properly; and a minimal regulatory and tax burden on business. The recipe is promoting sustained economic growth and higher living standards, from which all age groups will benefit.

  The Government is aware of the problems faced by older unemployed people and is keen to encourage employers to make full use of the skills and experience they have to offer. At the end of 1993, my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Employment launched the "Getting On" campaign, aimed at persuading employers to retain and recruit employees on the basis of ability rather than age.

  However, it is never too late to learn a new skill and this is becoming an increasingly more significant part of people's working lives. "People and Prosperity—An Agenda for Action in Wales" stresses the importance of lifelong learning. It sets out the action that is needed to help adults gain information on, and access to, education and training opportunities.

  National Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many, and what proportion of, vacancies advertised by his Department, and by each of his Department's agencies, in the last three years have listed the attainment of NVQs as an acceptable entry requirement; and, of those, how many have required (i) level 1 NVQs, (ii) level 2 NVQs, (iii) level 3 NVQs and (iv) other level NVQs. [22983]

  Mr. Redwood
  Except where professional or specialist qualifications are required, all vacancies are advertised as requiring appropriate academic and equivalent qualifications which include NVQs. Over the last three years there have been five recruitment competitions for posts for which NVQs would be appropriate qualifications: three at NVQ level 2, and one each at NVQ level 3 and 4.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Barry Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he is taking to ensure that, consequent on the impending local government reorganisation, chief officers and their subordinate colleagues are not rendered unemployed; and if he will make a statement. [22811]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The new authorities are responsible for deciding their staffing structures, including the number and grade of posts. My right hon. Friend told the House on 14 December 1994 that he expected them to make the fullest possible use of existing staff—if necessary by redeploying and retraining them—rather than spending large sums of public money on redundancies and recruitment.

  Audit Commission Guidelines
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines he has issued to the Audit Commission with regard to district audit functions in Wales; and if he will make a statement in respect of the work of the Commission in Wales. [23076]

  Mr. Redwood
  The Audit Commission operates under a code of audit practice issued under section 14 of the Local Government finance Act 1982. The code is updated every five years and agreed by me and my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Environment and Health. The code prescribes the way in which auditors are to carry out their functions under part 111 of the 1982 Act and is currently under review.

  Designated Conservation Sites
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those sites which(a) have been designated or (b) meet the criteria for designation as (i) special protection areas under the European Community Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds or (ii) Ramsar sites under the Convention of Wetlands of International Importance. [22368]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The list of designated sites in Wales is as follows:

  Special protection areas

  Skokholm and Skomer

  Grassholm

  Traeth Lafan, Conway Bay

  Ynys Feurig, Cemlyn Bay and the Skerries

  Glannau Aberdaron (Aberdaron Coast) and Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island)

  Glannau Ynys Gybi (Holy Island Coast)

  Burry Inlet1

  Dee Estuary1 2

  Ramsar sites

  Cors Fochno and Dyfi

  Llyn Idwal

  Llyn Tegid

  Cors Caron

  Crymlyn Bog

  Burry Inlet1

  Dee Estuary1 2

  1 Joint Special Protection Areas and Ramsar sites.

  2 Cross border site.

  Additional sites are under review and a list will he published in due course.

  Child Abuse
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he is able to announce details of the investigation to be undertaken by a QC into child abuse in children's homes in north Wales. [23849]

  Mr. Redwood
  I have today appointed Nicola Davies QC to advise me, in the light of her examination of relevant papers held by the various agencies concerned, whether an inquiry is required and if so, the form that it should take and the issues to he addressed. I intend to publish her recommendations and her reasons for them.

  There may be some matters which for legal reasons it might not be possible to publish.

  Welsh Language
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for the future management of the Government's grants to support the Welsh language. [23850]

  Mr. Richards
  The Government are considering transferring responsibility for grant-aiding the four major Welsh language non-statutory organisations—the Welsh Books Council; the Welsh nursery schools movement, Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin; the National Eisteddfod; and the Welsh youth movement, Urdd Gobaith Cymru—from the Welsh Office to the Welsh Language Board. A consultative paper seeking the views of the four organisations and other interested parties is being issued today with comments invited by 7 July. A copy has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Conflicts of Interest
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of I May,Official Report, column 119, if he will make a statement on the possible conflicts of interest involving special advisers, listing the names of the individuals, the nature of the conflicts concerned and how the matters were resolved. [22905]

  Mr. Redwood
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: It is not my practice to comment on information about the private interests of staff.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Appointments
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many civil service appointments were made to administrative assistant and administrative officer posts in his Department and the agencies for which he is accountable in each quarter from September 1993 until April 1995. [21780]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  [holding answer 1 May 1995]: The information in respect of permanent and fixed term appointments to core—MAFF is as follows:

  AA

  AO

  September—December 1993

  49

  27

  January-March 1994

  16

  36

  April-June 1994

  31

  11

  July-September 1994

  3

  20

  October-December 1994

  21

  50

  January-April 1995

  25

  24

  I have asked agency chief executives to reply to the hon. Member direct.

  Letter from T. W. A. Little to Mr. Nick Ainger, dated 10 April 1995:
  The Minister has asked me to reply to your question about appointments made in the Administrative Assistant and Administrative Officer grades at CVL. You asked for a breakdown by each quarter from September 1993 until April 1995. For the majority of this time we have not made any appointments in these grades but, where we have, the position is as follows:470

  Quarters

  Administrative Officer

  Administrative Assistant

  1.4.94–30.6.94

  1

  —

  1.7.94–30.9.94

  —

  10

  1.10.94–31.12.94

  —

  1

  Letter from Guy Stapleton to Mr. Nick Ainger, dated 10 April 1995:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply to your question about Civil Service appointments made to Administrative Officers and Administrative Assistants in this Agency between September 1993 to April 1995 as this matter is within my operational responsibility.In the quarter September to December 1993, 20 administrative officers were recruited and appointed. No new appointments in the Administrative Officer or Administrative Assistant grades were made during the remainder of the period between January 1994 to April 1995.
  Letter from J. M. Morris to Mr. Nick Ainger, dated 10 May 1995:
  The Minister of Agriculture has asked me to reply directly to you in answer to your question (Number 1164) which asked how many Civil Service appointments were made to the administrative assistant and administrative officer posts in this Agency in each quarter from September 1993 until April 1995. ADAS was created as an Executive Agency in June 1992 under the joint ownership of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Welsh Office.
  The figures that you require are as follows:

  Administrative Assistant

  Administrative Officer

  1.9.93–31.12.93

  1

  2

  1.1.94–31.3.94

  1

  1

  1.4.94–30.6.94

  1

  2

  1.7.94–30.9.94

  0

  4

  1.10.94–31.12.94

  2

  0

  1.1.95–31.3.95

  0

  1

  Letter from J.M. Rutter to Mr. Nick Ainger, dated 10 May 1995:
  The Minister has asked me to reply to your question about the number of Civil Service appointments made by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate to Administrative Assistant and Administrative Officer posts in each quarter from September 1993 until April 1995, as this is an operational matter for which I am responsible.
  During this period, three administrative assistants were appointed in the quarter from 1 July 1994 to 30 September 1994.

  Letter from G.K. Bruce to Mr. Nick Ainger, dated 10 May 1995:
  The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has asked me to reply, in respect of the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD), to your question about appointment of Administrative Assistants and Administrative Officers since September 1993.

  The number of appointments has been as follows:

  AA

  AO

  September 1993

  1

  0

  October-December 1993

  0

  0

  January-March 1994

  0

  0

  April-June 1994

  0

  0

  July-September 1994

  3

  2

  October-December 1994

  15

  10

  January-March 1995

  1

  0

  The appointments made in the second half of 1994 were as a result of the relocation of PSD from London to York in October last year.
  471
  Letter from P I Stanley to Mr. Nick Ainger, dated 10 April 1995:
  Number of civil service appointments to administrative assistant and administrative officer posts in MAFF and its agencies from September 1993—April 1995.
  The number of Civil Service appointments to the Administrative Assistant (AA) and Administrative Officer (AO) grades, made by the Central Science Laboratory (CSL) for each quarter during the period between September 1993 and April 1995 are as follows:

  Quarter

  AA grade

  AO grade

  1.10.93–31.12.93

  4

  0

  1.1.94–31.3.94

  2

  1

  1.4.94–30.6.94

  0

  1

  1.7.94–30.9.94

  0

  11

  1.10.94–31.12.94

  0

  0

  1.1.95–31.3.95

  0

  0

  1 Fixed-term appointment

  National Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many and what proportion of vacancies advertised by his Department, and by each of his Department's agencies, in the last three years have listed the attainment of national vocational qualifications as an acceptable entry requirement; and, of those, how many have required (i) level 1 NVQs, (ii) level 2 NVQs, (iii) level 3 NVQs and (iv) other level NVQs. [22979]

  Mr. Jack
  None.

  Republic of Ireland
  Mr. McKelvey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent the British Govnerment directly financially support agriculture in the Republic of Ireland. [23044]

  Mr. Jack
  The Govnerment do not provide any direct financial support to agriculture in the Republic of Ireland.

  Tobacco Sector
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what procedure is available to establish whether the former head of the European Commission's tobacco sector was involved in any misdemeanour. [22771]

  Mr. Jack
  The Commission called in the Belgian police to investigate the circumstances surrounding the suicide of the former head of the tobacco sector. Separately the matter was subject to internal investigation by the Commission. We understand that inquiries are continuing with the competent authorities in Italy and Greece relating to this investigation.

  Suspected tobacco irregularities have been of interest to the Govnerment and every opportunity is taken to press the Commission for information on what action it has taken. In this respect, the European Parliament, in its draft report on the discharge of the 1993 European Communities budget, has specifically asked the Commission to inform it about the measures it has taken so far to implement the conclusions in the European Court of Auditors special report on the operation of the tobacco regime. The Government welcome this as it will provide the opportunity to apply further pressure on the Commission on the question of irregularities.

  Table Wine
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on the figures for wine consumption in table 4.14 of "National Diet and Nutrition Survey: Children aged 11/2 to 41/2 years." [23258]

  Mrs. Browning
  The survey shows that a small number of children, less than 1 per cent. of those surveyed, consumed small quantities of wine during the four days for which the dietary record was kept. The mean daily intake was 4.3 g—less than 1 teaspoon—and the maximum daily intake was 14.4g—about 1 tablespoon. Although it is unlikely that the health of these children will be damaged by these small amounts of wine, we will be including advice to avoid giving alcohol to young children in a future "Food Sense" booklet aimed at providing advice on healthy feeding to parents of pre-school children.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent he takes into account the relative financial transfer to United Kingdom farmers as against other EU farmers and the effect on the United Kingdom's net contribution to the EU when he assesses possible changes in the CAP. [22774]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: The factors taken into account in Council negotiations on proposals for changes to the CAP are covered in the explanatory memoranda which my Department prepares whenever such proposals are issued. Copies of explanatory memoranda are available in the Library of the House.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Equal Opportunities
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will publish the gender assessment being prepared by his Department. [21487]

  Mr. Sproat
  This Department's policy, in line with the guidance issued in 1992 by the ministerial group on women's issues, is that policy proposals should ensure that unlawful or unjustifiable sex or race discrimination does not occur and that similar principles apply to people with disabilities, older people or ex-offenders. This scrutiny is part of a continuous and routine process, as part of policy advice to Ministers.

  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what progress he hopes to achieve in his Department over the next three months to push forward the declaration signed in October 1994 at the Vienna conference in preparation for the fourth UN conference on women; and if he will agree to incorporate a section on equal opportunities in his department's annual report. [21488]

  Mr. Sproat
  The Government are committed to the principles set out in the regional platform for action agreed at the preparatory conference in Vienna for the
  473
  fourth UN world conference on women. We have taken these forward through a wide range of programmes and initiatives and will continue to do so. The DNH annual report in each of the last two years refers to the progress the Department is making on equal opportunities issues.

  Royal Naval College, Greenwich
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if his Department will assume responsibility for the maintenance of the premises in Greenwich formerly occupied by the Royal Naval college and the Joint Services Defence college. [22210]

  Mr. Sproat
  The Department of National Heritage is jointly responsible with the Ministry of Defence for the maintenance of the premises currently occupied by the Royal Naval college. As my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces explained on 30 March,Official Report, columns 746–47, decisions on the future of the Royal Naval college site have yet to be taken, but it is hoped that a further announcement will be made before the end of the year. Decisions will take into account the importance of ensuring that, as far as possible, these fine historic buildings are properly maintained in future.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Metropolitan Police
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the total amount spent by the Metropolitan police force on driver training in each year since 1975; [22653]

  (2) how many Metropolitan police officers took (a) basic, (b) intermediate and (c) advanced driving courses in each year since 1975; [22654]

  (3) how many police officers with the advanced driving qualification were employed by the Metropolitan police force in (a) 1994, (b) 1991, (c) 1987, (d) 1983, (e) 1979 and (f) 1975. [22655]

  Year

  (a) Number of accidents

  (b) Number of civilian injuries

  (c) Number of police officer injuries

  (d) Total (b)+(c)

  (e) Accidents resulting in civilian injuries advanced class driver

  Other

  1991

  4,150

  366

  671

  1,037

  123

  180

  1992

  4,143

  318

  710

  1,028

  121

  173

  1993

  4,246

  372

  831

  1,203

  136

  191

  1994

  4,063

  321

  858

  1,179

  113

  176

  These figures do not include accidents in which a police vehicle was in the vicinity but not directly involved.

  The Metropolitan police did not record the type of vehicle involved in accidents prior to January 1995.

  Mr. Bernie Grant
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been knocked down by speeding police vehicles in each of the last three years(a) nationally and (b) in the Metropolitan police area; how many have been fatally injured; and how
  474
  Mr. Maclean
  The following is the information requested for the years after 1990. I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that, prior to 1991, such information is not retained in a form which allows it to be readily retrieved:

  Year

  Amount spent on driver training £

  Number of officers taking intermediate1 course

  Number of officers taking advanced course

  1991

  2,421,480

  533

  327

  1992

  3,007,290

  826

  312

  1993

  3,277,560

  1,200

  246

  1994

  2,260,830

  750

  228

  1 The intermediate course is the first level of driver training beyond possession of a full driving licence.

  In 1991 there were 4,794 officers in the Metropolitan police who held advanced driving qualifications. The number in 1994 was 5,486.

  Police Patrol Vehicles (Accidents)
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) pursuant to his answer of 4 April,Official Report, column 1019, how many of the accidents which resulted in civilian injuries in each year since 1991 involved (a) basic patrol vehicles, (b) area or fast response vehicles and (c) unmarked police vehicles; [22656]

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 4 April, Official Report, column 1019, how many of the accidents which resulted in civilian injuries in each year since 1991 involved police drivers who had not been trained to advanced level. [22657]

  Mr. Maclean
  The following shows the number of road traffic accidents involving police patrol vehicles since 1991; the numbers of injuries to civilians and police officers; and the number of accidents involving drivers trained to advanced level which resulted in civilian injuries.

  The figures for injuries to civilians and police officers given in my answer of 4 April, column 1019, were transposed in three places and the following table corrects that error.

  much compensation has been paid out in each of the last three years. [22943]

  Mr. Maclean
  The latest information available centrally on accidents involving police vehicles for police forces in England and Wales, excluding the Metropolitan police, is for the period 1991–1993 and is shown in table A. The latest available figures for the Metropolitan police are for the period 1992–94 and are shown in table B.
  475
  The information in both tables relates to death and serious injury caused to both police officers and civilians in the course of either police pursuits or responses to

  Table A: Police vehicle accidents in England and Wales (excluding the Metropolitan Police)

  Police fatal injury

  Police serious injury

  Civilian fatal injury

  Civilian serious injury

  Force Name

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Avon and Somerset

  0

  0

  0

  3

  1

  11

  1

  4

  2

  5

  11

  5

  Bedfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  4

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  Cambridgeshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  4

  0

  0

  0

  5

  3

  Cheshire

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  5

  6

  3

  Cleveland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  2

  0

  Cumbria

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  1

  Derbyshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  Devon and Cornwall

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  Dorset

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  2

  0

  1

  0

  4

  2

  3

  Durham

  0

  0

  0

  2

  1

  0

  1

  0

  0

  2

  1

  0

  Essex

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  2

  0

  Gloucestershire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  6

  2

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  0

  Greater Manchester

  0

  0

  0

  1

  2

  4

  3

  3

  1

  15

  4

  41

  Hampshire

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  7

  0

  2

  Hertfordshire

  0

  0

  0

  3

  3

  5

  0

  0

  1

  5

  4

  2

  Humberside

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  2

  1

  0

  6

  Kent

  0

  0

  0

  4

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  2

  2

  0

  Lancashire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  5

  4

  1

  0

  7

  2

  4

  Leicestershire

  0

  0

  0

  1

  4

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  12

  2

  Lincolnshire

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  City of London

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  1

  Merseyside

  0

  0

  0

  3

  1

  7

  4

  0

  1

  26

  21

  4

  Norfolk

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  3

  Northamptonshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  0

  2

  2

  2

  Northumbria

  0

  0

  0

  3

  3

  0

  3

  1

  2

  4

  1

  10

  North Yorkshire

  0

  0

  1

  3

  5

  2

  0

  0

  0

  4

  5

  7

  Nottinghamshire

  0

  0

  0

  2

  1

  3

  0

  0

  0

  3

  3

  0

  South Yorkshire

  0

  0

  0

  4

  1

  6

  1

  1

  0

  9

  10

  4

  Staffordshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  4

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  Suffolk

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  8

  Surrey

  0

  1

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  0

  Sussex

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  3

  0

  0

  1

  5

  5

  6

  Thames Valley

  0

  0

  0

  1

  3

  2

  1

  1

  1

  6

  5

  11

  Warwickshire

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  West Mercia

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  3

  0

  0

  West Midlands

  0

  0

  1

  9

  5

  0

  1

  3

  2

  0

  1

  1

  West Yorkshire

  1

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  4

  Wiltshire

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  Dyfed-Powys

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  2

  Gwent

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  North Wales

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  3

  South Wales

  0

  0

  0

  5

  7

  3

  0

  1

  1

  0

  12

  2

  Total

  2

  1

  3

  60

  56

  62

  27

  21

  19

  130

  129

  142

  Table B: Police vehicle accidents (Metropolitan Police)

  Police fatal injury

  Police serious injury

  Civilian fatal injury

  Civilian serious injury

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1

  2

  2

  56

  51

  46

  7

  10

  10

  59

  45

  31

  Joint Enterprise Cases
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the review undertaken by his Department into joint enterprise cases in which a child has lost its life. [22918]

  Mr. Maclean
  I am considering the issues raised by joint enterprise cases in which a child loses it life, and hope to reach a conclusion soon.476
  emergency calls. Information about any compensation paid by the police following these accidents is not available centrally.

  "Action Against Crime"
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the bodies involved in drafting his Department's "Action Against Crime" pack. [22919]

  Mr. Maclean
  The "Action Against Crime" pack was drafted by officials in my Department.

  Knives
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what consideration he has given to restrictions on the buying of knives by children; [22722]

  (2) what representations he has received on the purchase of knives by children. [22725]

  Mr. Maclean
  The question of the sale of knives to children has been raised with my right hon. and learned Friend from time to time—he has received three letters from hon. Members about this in the last 12 months. Banning such sales would do little to reduce the availability of knives given that they are available in most homes.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what talks he has had with the police on the control of knives; [22723]

  (2) what work has been carried out on behalf of his Department to define for legislative purposes the difference between assault and working knives; and what plans he has to resume this work. [22727]

  Mr. Maclean
  Chief officers of police were last formally consulted about controls on the sale of knives during the preparation of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) Order 1988. This lists 14 weapons the sale of which is prohibited. No item has been added to the list. We will consider adding to the list weapons which have no legitimate use and have some feature which enables them to be distinguished from ordinary knives. Whether these criteria apply is considered in relation to individual items. An assault knife, although possibly offensive in the way it is described, may, depending on its exact specification, not be distinguishable in practice from an ordinary domestic knife.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the figures for knife-related incidents for each of the last five years(a) for the country as a whole and (b) by region. [22724]

  Mr. Maclean
  The available information relates to an ad hoc survey concerning notifiable offences recorded by the police in which knives were involved. The results were published in table 2.24 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1989". A copy of this publication is available in the Library.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children were arrested for knife-related incidents in each of the last five years(a) in the country as a whole and (b) by region. [22726]

  Mr. Maclean
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Parole
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average current delay in parole for prisoners in(a) London and (b) England and Wales. [22835]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Provisional figures for the period January to April inclusive 1995 show that, out of 794 prisoners in England and Wales notified of their parole decisions, 237 were notified before their parole 478
  eligibility date or its anniversary. The remainder were notified of decisions, on average, 7.7 weeks after their parole eligibility date or its anniversary. These figures include decisions to refuse as well as decisions to grant parole.

  I regret that information relating to London is not available separately.

  Crime Victims
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the statement of service standards for victims of crime to be published. [22839]

  Mr. Maclean
  We hope to publish the statement in July.

  Naturalisation
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time it takes to process applications for naturalisation at the most recent date; what was the time five years ago; and if he will make a statement. [23657]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  The average waiting time for certificates of naturalisation issued in April 1995 was 13 months, compared with 28 months in April 1990.

  Manslaughter
  Mrs Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance is given by his Department to(a) the judiciary and (b) secure mental hospitals regarding the minimum length of time for which those convicted of manslaughter on the ground of diminished responsibility should be detained in a secure mental hospital. [23519]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The law does not provide for the period of detention under a hospital order to be fixed in advance. A patient subject to such an order will be detained until this is judged to be no longer necessary on account of his health or safety or the safety of others. Where a hospital order is accompanied by a restriction order, the power of discharge by the responsible medical officer may be exercised only with the consent of my right hon. and learned Friend.

  Blasphemy
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the benefits and disbenefits of retaining the offence of blasphemy on the statute book. [22941]

  Mr. Maclean
  My right hon. and learned Friend considers that an unacceptable legal vacuum would be created if the legal protection afforded by the law on blasphemy were removed and nothing introduced in its place. It would be a mistake to attempt to legislate on what is a sensitive matter of conscience without a wide consensus as to the best way forward; in the Government's view there is no such consensus.

  Unescorted Prisoners
  Mr. Heppell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are made to secure
  479
  the safety of the public and railway employees when prisoners travel unescorted by train. [21657]

  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 A. J. Pearson to Mr. John Heppell, dated 10 May 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the director general from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the arrangements made to secure the safety of the public and railway employees when prisoners travel unescorted by train.Following the announcement made by the Home Secretary on 6 April about changes to the Prison Rules, new stricter arrangements for the unescorted temporary release of prisoners were implemented on 25 April. Under the new system, there will be substantially fewer prisoners released on temporary licence and prisoners will have to serve longer in prison before their application for release on licence will be considered. Governors may only release suitable eligible prisoners for specific and justifiable purposes if they have satisfied a stringent risk assessment which includes an assessment of the proposed travelling arrangements and the prisoner's compliance with the terms of the licence issued. Instructions to Governors governing the new national policy of release on temporary licence are set out in Prison Service Instruction 36/1995, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Accelerated Promotion Scheme
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of prison staff on the accelerated promotion scheme are of ethnic minority origin. [23092]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. Doug Hoyle, dated 10 May 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the proportion of prison staff on the Accelerated Promotion Scheme who are of ethnic minority origin.There are at present 89 members of the Prison Service on the Accelerated Promotion Scheme, none of whom is of ethnic minority origin.

  Accounting Officers
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times in the last 10 years, and on which dates, his departmental accounting officer has issued a minute in that role; and what was the issue in each case. [22568]

  Mr. Howard
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: Where a Minister overrules an accounting officer's advice on an issue of propriety or regularity or one of value for money, the accounting officer should request a written instruction from the Minister to take the action in question.

  All such instructions are reported to the Comptroller and Auditor General who, after making whatever investigations he considers appropriate, will report his findings to the Committee of Public Accounts.

  There are no known instances of this in the Home Office in the last 10 years.

  Asylum Procedures
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what indicators or other methodologies are used to measure the impact of training on performance of officials in admission and asylum procedures. [22751]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  [holding answer 5 May 1995]: The quality of decision making is monitored by senior officers. An important measure of quality is the number of refusal decisions which are upheld on appeal by the independent appellate authorities. At present only 5 per cent. of appeals by failed asylum seekers are allowed by special adjudicators.

ENVIRONMENT

  Interim Development Orders
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many interim development order permissions were re-registered within one specified time limit, broken down by local authority area, indicating in each case the name of the company making the application. [22604]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  This information is not held centrally. However, according to statistics prepared for the County Planning Officers Society the following number of IDOs was registered in England and Wales, broken down by region:

  Region

  Number

  Northern (31):

  Cumbria 3

  Northumberland 10

  Tyne and Wear 1

  Durham 17

  Yorkshire and Humberside (44)

  North West (22):

  Lancashire 18

  Greater Manchester 3

  Cheshire 1

  East Midlands (64):

  Derbyshire 12

  Nottinghamshire 14

  Lincolnshire 13

  Leicestershire 24

  Northamptonshire 1

  West Midlands (54):

  Shropshire 10

  Staffordshire 33

  Walsall 5

  Warwickshire 6

  East Anglia(17):

  Cambridgeshire 7

  Norfolk 7

  Suffolk 3

  South East (103):

  Oxfordshire 7

  Buckinghamshire 3

  Bedfordshire 7

  Hertfordshire 7

  Essex 13

  Berkshire 7

  Hampshire 8

  Surrey 6

  West Sussex 18

  East Sussex 7

  Kent 20

  481

  Region

  Number

  South West (99):

  Cornwall 18

  Devon 17

  Somerset 24

  Dorset 13

  Wiltshire 2

  Avon 22

  Gloucestershire 3

  Wales (74):

  Gwynedd 13

  Clwyd 16

  Dyfed 19

  Powys 7

  West Glamorgan 2

  Mid Glamorgan 8

  South Glamorgan 5

  Gwent 4

  There was only one time period allowed for registration applications to be submitted to local mineral planning authorities. This period was six months and ran from 25 September 1991 to 25 March 1992—see paragraph 8a of MPG8.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of his Department's budget is allocated to initiatives which have been undertaken to secure private finance for his Department's projects. [22798]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Department and its sponsored bodies seek to maximise the amount of private finance it raises to assist in the implementation of a wide variety of programmes, most notably in housing, inner cities and urban regeneration. Over 60 per cent. of the Department's discretionary expenditure—excluding demand led programmes such as housing revenue account subsidy—is on programmes which attract private finance. The Department expects to generate some £4 billion of private investment this financial year.

  Housing Capital Receipts, Harrogate
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the gross receipts from the sales of(a) council dwellings, (b) property assets and (c) land assets realised by Harrogate borough council for each of the last five years. [22804]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The information reported by Harrogate borough council is as follows. The figures for council house sales are based on their value after discount, and without subtracting the value of any mortgage lending by the local authority.

  Housing capital receipts in Harrogate borough council (excluding lending for council house purchase)

  £ thousand

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Sale of:

  Council Dwellings

  3,058

  1,367

  1,480

  888

  1,487

  Other property assets

  48

  89

  0

  18

  0

  Sale or lease of land

  57

  55

  271

  278

  7

  482
  These receipts figures also exclude any repayments of discount, or sums outstanding, on council house sales; repayments of principal of mortgages to private persons; and repayments of principal of loans to housing associations.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a copy of the document on safety fundamentals and standards for radioactive waste management as agreed by the International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors at its meeting on 27 to 30 March; and what contribution was made by United Kingdom specialists to this document. [22932]

  Mr. Atkins
  A copy of the International Atomic Energy Agency safety fundamentals "The Principles of Radioactive Waste Management" and safety standard No. 1 "Establishing a National Legal System for Radioactive Waste Management", which were adopted by the IAEA board of governors in March, will be placed in the Library when published later this year. The UK made a full contribution to the preparation of these documents.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what British specialists Her Majesty's Government have nominated for the group of experts being convened by the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency to prepare a convention on the safety of radioactive waste management. [22929]

  Mr. Atkins
  Officials from my Department and, as appropriate, from other Government Departments, agencies and organisations will be involved in preparations for the proposed International Atomic Energy Agency convention on the safety of radioactive waste management.

  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what investigations have been carried out into the radioactive waste found at Poplar farm, Northamptonshire, on 13 January; and what these investigations conclude is the source of this material. [23043]

  Mr. Atkins
  The investigations undertaken to date by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in order to trace the origin of the depleted uranium found at Poplar farm, Chelveston, have included the following: firstly, identifying the type of material found; secondly, identifying the sources of such material; and, finally, visiting all these locations in order to either eliminate them from the investigation, or to identify the site as a possible source for the material. The investigations are still under way.

  National Vocational qualifications
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many, and what proportion of, vacancies advertised by his Department, and by each of his Department's agencies, in the last three years have listed the attainment of national vocational qualifications as an acceptable entry requirement; and, of those, how
  483
  many have required (i) level 1 NVQs, (ii) level 2 NVQs, (iii) level 3 NVQs and (iv) other level NVQs. [22977]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  My Department, its agencies and DOE personnel staff in Government offices are happy to accept national vocational qualifications at the appropriate level as alternatives to traditional educational qualifications. The Buying Agency has run one advertising scheme in the last three years with NVQs, level 1 or 2 as a requirement—4 per cent. of vacancies. No other vacancies advertised in the last three years have specifically referred to the acceptance of NVQs.

  Domestic Properties
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many domestic properties in(a) Lancashire, (b) the north-west and (c) England are valued below £20,000 and £30,000 and between £30,000 and £40,000. [22942]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Council tax valuation band A covers all properties up to and including those valued at £40,000 on 1 April 1991; properties in band A are not separately graded into the valuations requested.

  Non-domestic Properties
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total net rateable value of non-domestic property for each district council in England and for each London borough. [22780]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The table shows the total of rateable values at 1 April 1995 in the local rating lists for all billing authorities in England. In addition, the aggregate of rateable values in the central rating list was £2.9 billion.

  Authority

  Rateable Value (£000)

  Adur

  24,714

  Allerdale

  40,507

  Alnwick

  9,696

  Amber Valley

  48,477

  Arun

  51,079

  Ashfield

  39,074

  Ashford

  52,964

  Aylesbury Vale

  68,138

  Babergh

  29,398

  Barnsley

  76,570

  Barrow in Furness

  34,576

  Basildon

  99,390

  Basingstoke and Deane

  107,281

  Bassetlaw

  49,023

  Bath

  64,930

  Berwick upon Tweed

  14,048

  Birmingham

  633,966

  Blaby

  38,629

  Blackburn

  66,334

  Blackpool

  90,947

  Blyth Valle

  27,241

  Bolsover

  19,299

  Bolton

  116,270

  Boothferry

  24,438

  Boston

  26,384

  Bornemouth

  95,543

  Bracknell Forest

  80,040

  Bradford

  254,875

  Braintree

  59,719

  484

  Authority

  Rateable Value (£000)

  Breckland

  42,669

  Brentwood

  44,627

  Bridgnorth

  16,495

  Brighton

  110,958

  Bristol

  311,242

  Broadland

  31,553

  Bromsgrove

  30,185

  Broxbourne

  48,455

  Broxtowe

  36,530

  Burnley

  38,363

  Bury

  67,648

  Calderdale

  95,808

  Cambridge

  128,797

  Cannock Chase

  37,888

  Canterbury

  70,937

  Caradon

  20,813

  Carlisle

  50,625

  Carrick

  45,002

  Castle Morpeth

  20,791

  Castle Point

  24,014

  Charnwood

  76,722

  Chelmsford

  94,966

  Cheltenham

  72,016

  Cherwell

  67,997

  Chester

  89,723

  Chesterfield

  51,352

  Chester Le Street

  12,720

  Chichester

  60,034

  Chiltern

  34,880

  Chorley

  29,395

  Christchurch

  24,011

  Cleethorpes

  33,664

  Colchester

  86,150

  Congleton

  38,936

  Copeland

  80,102

  Corby

  57,911

  Cotswold

  32,240

  Coventry

  183,229

  Craven

  27,605

  Crawley

  153,496

  Crewe and Nantwich

  52,608

  Dacorum

  106,548

  Darlington

  53,784

  Dartford

  52,632

  Daventry

  39,111

  Derby

  108,388

  Derbyshire Dales

  27,686

  Derwentside

  21.361

  Doncaster

  110,759

  Dover

  43,161

  Dudley

  161,866

  Durham

  40,380

  E Yorks Boro' of Beverley

  43,004

  Easington

  21,980

  East Cambridgeshire

  22,517

  East Devon

  36,717

  East Dorset

  29,340

  East Hampshire

  42,719

  East Hertfordshire

  77,872

  East Lindsey

  43,910

  East Northamptonshire

  25,801

  East Staffordshire

  66,825

  East Yorkshire

  35,705

  Eastbourne

  51,880

  Eastleigh

  65,145

  Eden

  21.557

  Ellesmere Port and Neston

  55,245

  Elmbridge

  83,246

  Epping Forest

  46,518

  Epson and Ewell

  37,510

  Erewash

  39,779

  Exeter

  88,306

  Fareham

  51,999

  485

  Authority

  Rateable Value (£000)

  Fenland

  29,445

  Forest Heath

  29,009

  Forest of Dean

  20,875

  Fylde

  36,933

  Gateshead

  104,309

  Gedling

  35,399

  Gillingham

  40,585

  Glanford

  44,360

  Gloucester

  69,416

  Gosport

  18,983

  Gravesham

  40,333

  Great Grimsby

  50,350

  Great Yarmouth

  54,149

  Guildford

  111,062

  Halton

  73,831

  Hambleton

  35,405

  Harborough

  34,192

  Harlow

  65,010

  Harrogate

  82,361

  Hart

  37,585

  Hartlepool

  38,571

  Hastings

  32,418

  Havant

  45,281

  Hereford

  35,988

  Hertsmere

  74,762

  High Peak

  33,635

  Hinckley and Bosworth

  47,110

  Holderness

  17,048

  Horsham

  60,607

  Hove

  38,519

  Huntingdonshire

  67,418

  Hyndburn

  32,191

  Ipswich

  89,428

  Isle of Wight UA

  49,613

  Isles of Scilly

  1,560

  Kennet

  22,213

  Kerrier

  25,429

  Kettering

  37,703

  Kings Lynn and West Norfolk

  55,157

  Kingston upon Hull

  145,844

  Kingswood

  23,704

  Kirklees

  161,932

  Knowsley

  48,842

  Lancaster

  56,023

  Langbaurgh on Tees

  97,896

  Leeds

  474,215

  Leicester

  175,442

  Leominster

  12,897

  Lewes

  36,544

  Lichfield

  41,383

  Lincoln

  59,206

  Liverpool

  236,313

  Luton

  103,383

  Macclesfield

  97,135

  Maidstone

  91,329

  Maiden

  20,448

  Malvern Hills

  27,468

  Manchester

  476,469

  Mansfield

  38,790

  Melton

  19,848

  Mendip

  42,931

  Mid Bedfordshire

  44,258

  Mid Devon

  19,653

  Mid Suffolk

  26,253

  Mid Sussex

  66,380

  Middlesbrough

  66,141

  Milton Keynes

  154,498

  Mole Valley

  57,004

  New Forest

  70,125

  Newark and Sherwood

  46,777

  Newbury

  97,533

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  194.438

  Newcastle under Lyme

  48,781

  486

  Authority

  Rateable Value (£000)

  North Bedfordshire

  79,285

  North Cornwall

  28,239

  North Devon

  42,905

  North Dorset

  18,469

  North East Derbyshire

  23,306

  North Hertfordshire

  63,034

  North Kesteven

  22,780

  North Norfolk

  33,877

  North Shropshire

  17,482

  North Tyneside

  67,366

  North Warwickshire

  40,616

  North West Leicestershire

  56,111

  North Wiltshire

  45,220

  Northampton

  162,644

  Northavon

  87,251

  Norwich

  122,783

  Nottingham

  211,784

  Nuneaton and Bedworth

  54,454

  Oadby and Wigston

  19,989

  Oldham

  89,781

  Oswestry

  13,597

  Oxford

  119,126

  Pendle

  28,074

  Penwith

  21,925

  Peterborough

  127,377

  Plymouth

  119,587

  Poole

  84,959

  Portsmouth

  108,984

  Preston

  68,497

  Purbeck

  32,644

  Reading

  144,249

  Redditch

  60,415

  Reigate and Banstead

  81,585

  Restormel

  41,435

  Ribble Valley

  18,205

  Richmondshire

  14,747

  Rochdale

  97,432

  Rochester upon Medway

  77,631

  Rochford

  23.949

  Rossendale

  23,129

  Rother

  27,906

  Rotherham

  102,388

  Rugby

  55,870

  Runnymede

  58,314

  Rushcliffe

  30,115

  Rushmoor

  65,685

  Rutland

  13,625

  Ryedale

  42,276

  Salford

  142,946

  Salisbury

  45,064

  Sandwell

  180,431

  Scarborough

  52,438

  Scunthorpe

  58,595

  Sedgefield

  38,555

  Sedgemoor

  46,300

  Sefton

  100,114

  Selby

  58,468

  Sevenoaks

  52,602

  Sheffield

  297,523

  Shepway

  36,242

  Shrewsbury and Atcham

  54,059

  Slough

  125,681

  Solihull

  124,244

  South Bedfordshire

  64,922

  South Buckinghamshire

  40,939

  South Cambridgeshire

  62,999

  South Derbyshire

  27,063

  South Hams

  30,530

  South Herefordshire

  19,848

  South Holland

  22,817

  South Kesteven

  60,577

  South Lakeland

  64,820

  South Norfolk

  29,469

  487

  Authority

  Rateable Value (£000)

  South Northamptonshire

  25,993

  South Oxfordshire

  55,626

  South Ribble

  38,517

  South Shropshire

  11,751

  South Somerset

  59,777

  South Staffordshire

  30,450

  South Tyneside

  46,160

  Southampton

  129,884

  Southend-on-Sea

  77,994

  Spelthorne

  76,112

  St. Albans

  93,225

  St. Edmundsbury

  60,547

  St. Helens

  77,122

  Stafford

  58,770

  Staffordshire Moorlands

  30,311

  Stevenage

  69,998

  Stockport

  134,582

  Stockton on Tees

  97,761

  Stoke on Trent

  141,393

  Stratford on Avon

  65,306

  Stroud

  38,308

  Suffolk Coastal

  57,285

  Sunderland

  112,777

  Surrey Heath

  60,764

  Swale

  59,155

  Tameside

  73,591

  Tamworth

  39,501

  Tandridge

  32,977

  Taunton Deane

  51,504

  Teesdale

  6,656

  Teignbridge

  38,234

  Tendring

  44,767

  Test Valley

  61,586

  Tewkesbury

  29,946

  Thamesdown

  151,410

  Thanet

  42,318

  The Wrekin

  88,505

  Three Rivers

  45,504

  Thurrock

  128,013

  Tonbridge and Mailing

  66,556

  Torbay

  54,304

  Torridge

  14,688

  Trafford

  181,022

  Tunbridge Wells

  73,482

  Tynedale

  21,667

  Uttlesford

  39,819

  Vale of White Horse

  62,622

  Vale Royal

  56,451

  Wakefield

  152,449

  Walsall

  130,544

  Wansbeck

  23,104

  Wansdyke

  23,977

  Warrington

  135,859

  Warwick

  91,713

  Watford

  99,346

  Waveney

  43,056

  Waverley

  59,780

  Wealden

  46,687

  Wear Valley

  22,606

  Wellingborough

  47,408

  Welwyn Hatfield

  84,449

  West Devon

  13,940

  West Dorset

  42,937

  West Lancashire

  39,229

  West Lindsey

  27,218

  West Oxfordshire

  37,034

  West Somerset

  13,149

  West Wiltshire

  43,604

  Weymouth and Portland

  22,063

  Wigan

  113,789

  Winchester

  65,427

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  109,307

  Wirral

  108,113

  488

  Authority

  Rateable Value (£000)

  Woking

  68,690

  Wokingham

  71,355

  Wolverhampton

  127,863

  Woodspring

  73,896

  Worcester

  62,394

  Worthing

  50,048

  Wychavon

  53,787

  Wycombe

  111,554

  Wyre

  37,868

  Wyre Forest

  47,208

  York

  89,614

  England (ex London)

  22,262,087

  Barking and Dagenham

  97,790

  Barnet

  178,143

  Bexley

  107,204

  Brent

  168,673

  Bromley

  149,087

  Camden

  439,981

  City of London

  614,420

  Croydon

  206,069

  Ealing

  208,047

  Enfield

  165,834

  Greenwich

  97,305

  Hackney

  121,632

  Hammersmith

  160,436

  Haringey

  120,669

  Harrow

  108,650

  Havering

  118,887

  Hillingdon

  465,187

  Hounslow

  223,995

  Islington

  235,762

  Kensington and Chelsea

  298,265

  Kingston upon Thames

  120,364

  Lambeth

  136,523

  Lewisham

  98,409

  Merton

  111,793

  Newham

  122,598

  Redbridge

  102,107

  Richmond upon Thames

  99,351

  Southwark

  223,084

  Sutton

  88,456

  Tower Hamlets

  242,841

  Waltham Forest

  105,143

  Wandsworth

  141,306

  Westminster

  1,403,742

  London

  7,281,755

  England

  29,543,842

  Construction Industry
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans the Government have to(a) implement the Latham report and (b) introduce legislation on contracts in the construction industry; and if he will make a statement. [22740]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  I refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for Ilford, South (Mr. Gapes) on 5 April,Official Report, columns 1283–84, and the answer given to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Cunningham) on 21 April, Official Report, column 286.

  Business Start-ups
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he has issued regarding the
  489
  availability of business start-up allowance following its absorbtion into the single regeneration budget. [22998]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The bidding guidance issued for the first and second rounds of the SRB challenge fund, published in April 1994 and April 1995 respectively, made it clear that the fund is available to provide business support. Copies of the guidance is in the Library of the House. Subject to the preparation of delivery plans, some 60,000 new business start-ups are forecast to be supported under schemes approved in round 1. Successful bidders are expected to ensure that local people know what assistance is available.

  Training and enterprise councils can also continue to support those intending to start up in business through the training for work programme or, where circumstances allow, from their own resources. TECs publicise these arrangements in whatever way seems appropriate locally.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the effect of changes to the administration and availability and take-up of the business start-up allowance following its incorporation into the single regeneration budget; and if he will make a statement. [22996]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The business start-up scheme became part of the single regeneration budget on 1 April 1994 and ceased as a separate programme on 31 March 1995. Participants starting before then will continue to receive the agreed levels of support. Support for new businesses is one of the objectives of the SRB challenge fund. Subject to the preparation of delivery plans some 60,000 business start-ups are forecast to be supported under schemes approved in the first challenge fund bidding round. The second bidding round was launched on 12 April and this will provide further opportunities for similar support.

  Commercial Leases
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure that smaller landlords are adequately protected under the terms of commercial leases. [22692]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Lease terms are a private contractual matter for the parties; it is up to them to take appropriate professional advice to ensure that their leases give them adequate protection.

  If the hon. Member's questions are prompted by specific cases, he may wish to write to me with details for further comments.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure that commercial tenants do not gain unfair advantages through legal loopholes in commercial leases. [22691]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Commercial lease terms are a matter for negotiation between the parties prior to occupation. No doubt each party will seek to use its bargaining strengths but it should ensure professional advice is sought to avoid terms which are potentially damaging.

  If the hon. Member's questions are prompted by specific cases he may wish to write to me with details for further comments.

  Tree Preservation
  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total number of tree preservation orders issued by Sheffield city council for each of the last two years; and if he will make a statement. [23073]

  Mr. Atkins
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice is issued by his Department to local authorities regarding tree preservation orders; and if he will make a statement. [23072]

  Mr. Atkins
  To supplement existing advice in DOE circular 36/78, my Department published a comprehensive guide to the tree preservation order system for local planning authorities in October 1994—"Tree Preservation Orders—A Guide to the Law and Good Practice". Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Sir Irvine Patnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to change planning law to protect trees. [23075]

  Mr. Atkins
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin) on 21 July 1994,Official Report, columns 450–52.

  Training
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, what special training is given to persons who have responsibility for assessing the historical significance of documents held by his Department. [23287]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Training in assessing the historical significance of departmental records is carried out under the guidance of the Keeper of Public Records. It is provided in a number of different ways, including courses on the appraisal of records and through conferences and seminars arranged by the Public Record Office.

  Enterprise Zones
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on co-operation between the Welsh Office and his Department in relation to the designation of enterprise zones; what is the average length of time the necessary procedures take; and if he will make a statement. [21975]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Enterprise zones in Wales are the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Wales. I am satisfied that there is full co-operation between my Department, other interested Government Departments and the Welsh Office in considering the case for designating further enterprise zones in Wales. The arrangements for establishing enterprise zones, including those for enforcing European Community restrictions on state aids, mean that zones now take at least two years to designate.

  Special Protection Areas
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those sites which(a) have been designated or (b) meet the criteria for designation as (i) special protection areas under the European

  491
  Community directive on the conservation of wild birds or (ii) Ramsar sites under the convention of wetlands of international importance. [22367]

  Site

  County

  SPA/Ramsar

  Date designated

  Bridgwater Bay

  Somerset

  Ramsar

  5.1.76

  Bure Marshes

  Norfolk

  Ramsar

  5.1.76

  Hickling Broad and Horsey Mere

  Norfolk

  Ramsar

  5.1.76

  Lindisfarne

  Northumberland

  SPA/Ramsar

  5.1.76

  Extended

  11.3.92

  Minsmere-Walberswick

  Suffolk

  SPA/Ramsar

  5.1.76

  Extended

  19.5.92

  North Norfolk Coast

  Norfolk

  SPA/Ramsar

  5.1.76

  Extended

  20.1.89

  Ouse Washes

  Cambridgeshire/Norfolk

  SPA/Ramsar

  5.1.76

  Extended

  5.3.93

  Abberton Reservoir

  Essex

  Ramsar

  24.7.81

  SPA

  5.12.91

  Rostherne Mere

  Cheshire

  Ramsar

  24.7.81

  Moor House

  Cumbria

  SPA

  31.8.82

  Orfordness-Havergate

  Suffolk

  SPA

  31.8.82

  Ribble Estuary

  Lancashire

  SPA

  31.8.82

  The Swale

  Kent

  SPA/Ramsar

  31.8.82

  Extended

  17.7.85

  Further extended

  15.12.93

  Chesil Beach and The Fleet

  Dorset

  SPA/Ramsar

  17.7.85

  Chew Valley Lake

  Avon

  SPA

  17.7.85

  Coquet Island

  Northumberland

  SPA

  17.7.85

  Dee Estuary

  Clwyd, Cheshire and Merseyside

  SPA/Ramsar

  17.7.85

  Derwent Ings (part of Lower Derwent Valley)

  North Yorkshire/Humberside

  SPA/Ramsar

  17.7.85

  Fame Islands

  Northumberland

  SPA

  17.7.85

  Holburn Lake and Moss

  Northumberland

  SPA/Ramsar

  17.7.85

  Irthinghead Mires

  Cumbria/Northumberland

  Ramsar

  17.7.85

  Alt Estuary

  Merseyside

  SPA/Ramsar

  28.11.85

  Leighton Moss

  Lancashire

  SPA/Ramsar

  28.11.85

  Martin Mere

  Lancashire

  SPA/Ramsar

  28.11.85

  Rockliffe Marshes (part of Upper Solway Flats and Marshes)

  Cumbria

  SPA/Ramsar

  23.9.86

  Chichester and Langstone Harbours

  Hampshire/West Sussex

  SPA/Ramsar

  28.10.87

  Upper Severn Estuary

  Gloucestershire

  SPA/Ramsar

  5.2.88

  The Wash

  Lincolnshire/Norfolk

  SPA/Ramsar

  30.3.88

  Pagham Harbour

  West Sussex

  SPA/Ramsar

  30.3.88

  Redgrave and Lopham Fens

  Norfolk/Suffolk

  Ramsar

  15.2.91

  Rutland Water

  Leicestershire

  SPA/Ramsar

  4.10.91

  Esthwaite Water

  Cumbria

  Ramsar

  7.11.91

  Walmore Common

  Gloucestershire

  SPA/Ramsar

  5.12.91

  Exe Estuary

  Devon

  SPA/Ramsar

  11.3.92

  Old Hall Marshes

  Essex

  SPA/Ramsar

  11.3.92

  Chippenham Fen

  Cambridgeshire

  Ramsar

  11.3.92

  Porton Down

  Wiltshire/Hampshire

  SPA

  3.7.92

  Upper Solway Flats and Marshes

  Cumbria, Dumfries and Galloway

  SPA/Ramsar

  30.11.92

  Roydon Common

  Norfolk

  Ramsar

  5.3.93

  Great Yarmouth North Denes

  Norfolk

  SPA

  5.3.93

  Nene Washes

  Cambridgeshire

  SPA/Ramsar

  5.3.93

  Gibraltar Point (Wash Phase II)

  Lincolnshire

  SPA/Ramsar

  5.3.93

  Flamborough Head and Bempton Cliffs

  Humberside/North Yorkshire

  SPA

  5.3.93

  Hornsea Mere

  Humberside

  SPA

  5.3.93

  Hamford Water

  Essex

  SPA/Ramsar

  8.6.93

  Lower Derwent Valley

  North Yorkshire/Humberside

  SPA/Ramsar

  8.6.93

  New Forest

  Hampshire

  SPA/Ramsar

  22.9.93

  Malham Tarn

  North Yorkshire

  Ramsar

  28.10.93

  Salisbury Plain

  Wiltshire

  SPA

  3.11.93

  Medway Estuary

  Kent

  SPA/Ramsar

  15.12.93

  Bowland Fells

  Lancashire

  SPA

  16.12.93

  Stodmarsh

  Kent

  SPA/Ramsar

  16.12.93

  Benfleet and Southend Marshes

  Essex

  SPA/Ramsar

  14.2.94

  Thursley, Hankley and Frensham Commons (Wealden Heaths PhI)

  Surrey/Hampshire

  SPA/Ramsar

  14.2.94

  492
  Sir Paul Beresford
  The following table lists all those sites in England which have been designated as either special protection areas, or Ramsar sites, or both.
  493

  Site

  County

  SPA/Ramsar

  Date designated

  Dengie

  Essex

  SPA/Ramsar

  24.3.94

  Midland Meres and Mosses

  Cheshire, Staffordshire and Shropshire

  Ramsar

  9.5.94

  Stour and Orwell Estuary

  Essex/Suffolk

  SPA/Ramsar

  13.7.94

  Humber Rats, Marshes and Coast Phase 1

  Humberside/Lincolnshire

  SPA/Ramsar

  28.7.94

  Thanet Coast and Sandwich Bay

  Kent

  SPA/Ramsar

  28.7.94

  Colne Estuary

  Essex

  SPA/Ramsar

  28.7.94

  Broadland

  Norfolk/Suffolk

  SPA/Ramsar

  21.9.94

  Ribble and Alt Estuaries Phase 2

  Lancashire/Merseyside

  SPA/Ramsar

  16.2.95

  Portsmouth Harbour

  Hampshire

  SPA/Ramsar

  28.2.95

  River Crouch Marshes

  Essex

  SPA/Ramsar

  24.3.95

  A list of areas identified on the basis of scientific evidence as potentially qualifying for classification as special protection areas in England was published in planning policy guidance note 9, issued in October 1994. This list and the list of potential Ramsar sites is currently under review. When this work is completed a revised list will be published.

  Women's Refuges
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what funding is provided by Her Majesty's Government to support women's refuges throughout the United Kingdom; how much is to be provided in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [23093]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  In 1995–96 the Government will be providing through the Housing Corporation about £3.25 million in revenue support for 1,910 bed spaces in women's refuges, and capital amounting to £2.5 million to develop further schemes. The Government are also making available to the Women's Aid Federation (England) £151,200 in core funding to provide support services for women and children who are victims of domestic violence in the home; £49,000 towards their national telephone help line and £55,000 over three years to fund a national housing co-ordinator. Other Government funding includes £252,662 to Welsh Women's Aid and an estimated £362,000 for projects in individual refuges and advice centres in Wales; £45,000 to Scottish Women's Aid for projects associated with tackling homelessness by women escaping domestic violence; and £159,609 in grant under sections 9 and 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 for training and administration costs.

  Funding for future years depends upon the outcome of public expenditure decisions.

  Recycling
  Sir Kenneth Carlisle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities will receive supplementary credit approval resources for recycling projects in 1995–96; and if he will make a statement. [23930]

  Mr. Atkins
  I am announcing today the allocation of £16.4 million in supplementary credit approval resources for investment in recycling by local authorities in 199596. This is the fifth year of the programme, and we have been able to allocate more resources than ever before.

  The £16.4 million of SCAs available for 1995–96 forms part of the Government's environmental partnership
  494
  initiative, which aims to maximise investment through a combination of Government resources, authorities' own resources and private sector contributions. Authorities which aim to do this have done well in the allocations.

  A variety of schemes, ranging from large scale material reclamation facilities to home composting initiatives, have received support. Schemes to collect waste oil, and chlorofluorocarbons and plastics have been given particular priority.

  We have received bids totalling over £23 million. Each authority is today being notified of the outcome of its bid. A list of the allocations has been placed in the Library.

  Some authorities have already received considerable support from the private sector to develop recycling projects and we expect to see private sector funding increase as industry works towards achieving recovery targets as part of our producer responsibility initiative.

  For instance, one of the objectives of our producer responsibility initiative for packaging waste is to extend "close-to home" recycling facilities to eight out of 10 homes by the year 2000. If the packaging industry is to meet this target, it will need to work with local authorities to build on the recycling infrastructure which they have already established.

  Many local authorities are promoting composting as a means of contributing to the target of recycling 25 per cent. of household waste by the year 2000. The Government are keen to support new composting initiatives which make good environmental and economic sense.

  The composting schemes supported this year include some large scale composting plants, but the majority are home composting schemes, which put the onus on householders to make better use of their own garden and kitchen waste. We all need to take responsibility for the waste we produce and I would urge householders to support these initiatives where the opportunity arises.

  Special Wastes
  Mr. Mans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the interim technical guidance on special wastes will be produced for consultation. [23931]

  Mr. Atkins
  We are publishing the interim technical guidance on special wastes for consultation today. Our consultation paper on the special waste regulations and the hazardous waste directive issued on 27 March concerned the procedural controls which would apply under the revised special waste regulations. This technical guidance document sets out a series of desk procedures
  495
  for checking whether a particular waste has characteristics which show it to fall within the control system of the regulations. It will be "interim" guidance until the Department is ready to publish a complete revision of waste management paper No. 23. The consultation period will be until 8 June 1995.

  Contaminated Land
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he is planning to issue in respect of contaminated land. [23932]

  Mr. Atkins
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has today issued a draft of the guidance on the definition and identification of contaminated land which will help inform the debate on the contaminated land clause of the Environment Bill. Copies have been placed in the Library. Further guidance as set out in the clause, including guidance on remediation standards and notices, special sites and the "appropriate person" on whom to serve a remediation notice will follow in due course.

  In addition, the draft issued today contains an extensive list of technical guidance reports that my Department has either issued or has in hand. This represents a very important contribution to the methodology of dealing with contaminated land.

  Furthermore, the Construction Industry Research and Information Association will be publishing 12 reports on contaminated land which are part-funded by my Department, working in partnership with the construction industry. The first batch of these will be launched at the forthcoming International Land Regeneration Expo 95 on 23 May 1995. Once again, these reports will form an important body of expertise for those working with contaminated land.

  Housing Association Tenancies
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the total numbers of tenancies provided by housing associations that are(a) charitable, (b) charities and (c) non-charitable in the west midlands; and how many of these tenancies are included within the right-to-buy legislation. [22762]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: The total number of self-contained units for rent owned by housing associations in the west midlands is 71,108. Of these, charitable associations own 36,270 units, associations which are charities own 7,676 units and non-charitable associations own 27,162 units. Most secure tenants of non-charitable associations registered with the Housing Corporation have the right to buy their homes. There are various exclusions from the RTB—for example special rules apply to sheltered housing for the elderly, disabled or mentally ill people. In England some 29 per cent. of housing association tenants have the right to buy. Detailed regional figures are not available.

  Social Housing
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish the background information on the need for new social housing lettings 496
  which he used in his decisions on the 1995–96 Housing Corporation approved development programme.

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  [pursuant to his reply, 1 February 1995, c.685–86]: My right hon. Friend has today sent a paper on estimates of housing demand to the Environment Select Committee as an annexe to my Department's supplementary memorandum on its annual report and estimates. A copy has also been placed in the Library,

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Pensions Bill
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consultations he has had with hon. Members with regard to amendments to the Pensions Bill [Lords] with particular reference to proposals for nominated trustees as representatives of pensioners. [21833]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  All Government Ministers meet hon. Members from time to time to discuss a wide range of issues.

  Social Development
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will issue a Green Paper to assist his Department to fulfil the Government's agreement to commitment 2f of the world summit for social development; [22270]

  (2) if he will issue a consultative document, following the world summit for social development, on the co-ordination of national and international definitions required by every country to plan for the eradication of absolute poverty and reduce overall poverty. [22268]

  Mr. Burt
  The Department will reflect in its wide range of programmes and initiatives, agreements reached at the UN world summit for social development. Details of expenditure plans, targets and objectives for the social security programme are published in the Department's annual report.

  The UN world summit for social development recognised that national indictors of poverty and vulnerability should be developed in the light of national circumstances. The Department already publishes statistical reports, analysis and research material on a wide range of aspects associated with low income in order to assist in the appropriate development of social policies.

  Recruitment
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many, and what proportion of vacancies advertised by his Department, and by each of his Department's agencies, in the last three years have listed the attainment of national vocational qualifications as an acceptable entry requirement; and, of those, how many have required (i) level 1 NVQs, (ii) Level 2 NVQs, (iii) level 3 NVQs and (iv) other level NVQs. [22978]

  Mr. Hague
  The Benefits Agency, Child Support Agency and Contributions Agency all accept NVQs as an acceptable entry requirement, although detailed
  497
  information in the form requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Other parts of the Department where recruitment has been more limited, are considering accepting NVQs for future recruitment exercises.

  Benefit Payment Card
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what he estimates in current cost terms will be the annual cost of administering and maintaining the benefit payment card system when fully operational. [23008]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The estimated gross running costs in the feasibility study were £77 million per annum before offsetting savings from phasing out the current system. Competitive proposals, including running costs, are now being sought from five potential prime contractors.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many benefit payment cards he estimates will have to be issued if all benefit payments at post offices are to be automated; and if he will list the benefits involved and his estimate of the numbers of recipients involved with each benefit. [23004]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  There are currently around 19,000,000 customers who choose to be paid their benefits at post offices. All of these will receive a card and all social security benefits payable by the DSS will be involved.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to issue the first benefit payment cards; and when he expects that all benefits payable at post offices will be included in the system. [23006]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The first benefit payment cards are expected to be issued in 1996 and the whole implementation process is expected to take up to three years.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many post offices in the United Kingdom will be adopted for the use of benefit payment cards. [23005]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  All post offices will be able to make benefit payments using the card.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what will be the cost of issuing benefit payment cards to all recipients of DSS benefits receiving payment through post offices, including the costs of installing equipment in the post offices concerned. [23003]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The feasibility study estimated set up costs to be £135 million. Competitive proposals, including set up costs, are now being sought from five potential contractors.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. George Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide, for each district and metropolitan borough council in England and Wales, for each available year since 1991–92,(a) a breakdown of the numbers of housing benefit claimants, split into rent rebate and rent allowance categories and the total amounts paid under each heading, (b) the numbers and amount of housing benefit backdated payments, regulation 72(15) and the amount paid as a percentage of each local authority's housing benefit expenditure, (c) the number, amount and percentage of amount in relation to total housing benefit expenditure in relation to discretionary payments, regulation 69(8) revised to regulation 61(2) and (d) the
  498
  numbers and amounts of each category of housing benefit overpayment and the amount as a percentage of the authority's overall housing benefit expenditure. [23172]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Clydesdale (Mr. Hood) on 23 February,Official Report, column 283.

  Historical Documents
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what special training is given to persons who have responsibility for assessing the historical significance of documents held by his Department. [23278]

  Mr. Hague
  Staff in the Department of Social Security who have responsibility for assessing the historical significance of documents are trained by the Public Record Office and by departmental staff already experienced in the work.

  Non-British Nationals
  Mr. Dicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many non-British nationals are currently claiming social security benefits; and what is the cost of the Exchequer of paying such benefit; [23416]

  (2) how many non-European Union nationals are currently claiming social security benefits; and what is the cost to the Exchequer of paying such benefits. [23417]

  Mr. Hague
  The information requested is not available as nationality is not a condition of benefit entitlement.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to reply to the letter dated 28 February from the hon. Member for South Hams about Mr. Lord McLeod of Murtwell cottage, Murtwell, Diptford, South Devon; what are the reasons for the delay in replying; and if he will make a statement. [23420]

  Mr. Burt
  I replied to the hon. Member on 4 May.

  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 the introduction; and if he will make a statement. [16611]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  [pursuant to his reply 30 March, Official Report, column 779]: The information regarding the Social Fund capital limit for funeral and maternity payments, up to age 60, was incorrect. The correct information is as follows:

  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

  499
  loan, if capital is held above a certain limit, deductions are made from any payments awarded.

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

  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 1983

  16,576

  Disability Working Allowance

  Lower capital limit £3,000

  April 1992

  3,216

  Upper capital limit £16,000

  April 1992

  3,216

  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

  9,940

  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 1987

  697

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

  April 1990

  1,242

  Community Care Grants £500 (up to age 60)

  April 1988

  684

  Community Care Grant £1,000 (60 and over)

  April 1988

  1,242

  Budget 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.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Attorney General (1) how many cases were discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service in 1994–95;

  Table 1: Magistrates' Courts cases 1987–88

  Of which

  Received (October 1987 to March 1988 only)

  Finalised

  Advice only

  Completed in Magistrates' Courts

  Discontinued

  Committed to Crown Court

  Other disposals

  Inner London

  92,761

  172,251

  1,825

  111,506

  7,208

  16,162

  35,550

  London North

  41,369

  75,557

  1,425

  46,379

  4,895

  8,709

  14,149

  London South

  35,900

  67,720

  1,670

  50,677

  5,749

  6,236

  3,388

  Avon/Somerset

  18,373

  35,649

  1,234

  28,099

  2,138

  3,417

  761

  Herts/Beds.

  16,029

  28,091

  1,465

  21,441

  1,942

  2,239

  1,004

  Cambridge/Lincs.

  14,791

  28,914

  916

  23,182

  1,783

  2,396

  637

  Cheshire

  11,849

  24,956

  1,423

  19,248

  1,754

  1,795

  736

  Cleveland/North Yorks.

  18,808

  37,889

  3,554

  27,296

  2,390

  3,024

  1,625

  Cumbria/Lancs.

  31,247

  64,617

  12,125

  41,663

  4,430

  4,773

  1,626

  Derbyshire

  13,666

  29,377

  730

  24,390

  1,789

  1,977

  491

  Devon/Cornwall

  16,433

  31,040

  2,409

  23,336

  2,837

  2,211

  247

  Dorset/Hants.

  26,960

  51,736

  1,663

  40,369

  4,113

  4,753

  838

  Durham/Northumbria

  33,070

  62,742

  2,124

  41,703

  4,659

  7,030

  7,226

  500
  (2) what was the total number of cases (a) received by magistrates courts and (b) finalised in magistrates courts for every year since 1987–88;

  (3) how many cases were (a) received by the Crown Prosecution Service from the police, (b) completed in the magistrates court, (c) discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service before or at the magistrates court hearing, (d) committed to the Crown Court by the magistrates court or (e) otherwise disposed of in each Crown Prosecution Service region in total for every year since 1987–88.

  The Attorney-General
  The following tables show the number of defendants' cases dealt with by the Crown Prosecution Service in the magistrates courts since April 1987. Tables 1 to 6 show figures for the original 31 areas of the CPS, while tables 7 to 8 show figures for the present 13 areas. The figures do not include the specialised casework undertaken by CPS headquarters.

  The number received comprises all those forwarded to the CPS by the police during each period, and the number finalised comprises all those completed during the period. Both totals include cases forwarded to the CPS for pre-charge advice only, and the number of these is specified for each year.

  Also included in the totals received and finalised are a number of non-criminal proceedings, such as forfeiture proceedings under section 3 of the Obscene Publications Act. A separate count of these has been kept since April 1991, and is shown as "other proceedings" for the years 1991–1992 onwards.

  The tables show the number completed in the magistrates courts, comprising all those defendants whose case was finalised by way of trial or guilty plea.

  Cases discontinued comprise all those defendants whose case was dropped by the CPS, whether in advance of the hearing or at court.

  Cases committed comprise all those committed for trial in the Crown Court during the period.

  Other disposals comprise the remaining cases: committal hearings in which the defendant was discharged, cases where the defendant was bound over to keep the peace without a trial having taken place, instances where the defendant could not be found, and other cases where the prosecution could not proceed, for example because the defendant had died.
  501

  Table 1: Magistrates' Courts cases 1987–88

  Of which

  Received (October 1987 to March 1988 only)

  Finalised

  Advice only

  Completed in Magistrates' Courts

  Discontinued

  Committed to Crown Court

  Other disposals

  North Wales

  16,263

  29,036

  1,069

  23,534

  2,249

  1,425

  759

  Essex

  14,671

  27,554

  223

  21,299

  2,908

  2,311

  813

  Glos/Wilts.

  14,090

  27,237

  633

  21,677

  2,299

  1,858

  770

  Gt. Manchester

  46,451

  82,736

  689

  64,604

  6,249

  8,565

  2,629

  Gwent/South Wales

  37,610

  70,943

  2,023

  55,724

  7,010

  4,315

  1,871

  Humberside

  11,753

  25,095

  1,049

  18,483

  1,019

  3,421

  1,123

  Kent

  17,872

  37,448

  997

  28,444

  3,798

  3,423

  786

  Leicester/Northants

  21,223

  36,919

  607

  28,012

  3,018

  3,471

  1,811

  Merseyside

  25,296

  48,442

  821

  35,456

  4,415

  5,460

  2,290

  Norfolk/Suffolk

  18,656

  36,066

  2,510

  27,698

  2,578

  1,952

  1,328

  Nottinghamshire

  17,560

  37,200

  843

  33,064

  890

  2,955

  (552)

  South Yorkshire

  19,933

  36,511

  1,624

  26,610

  2,483

  4,207

  1,587

  Staffs/Warwick.

  19,934

  37,446

  2,196

  28,461

  2,937

  2,788

  1,064

  Sussex

  20,242

  41,593

  1,791

  32,375

  4,622

  2,289

  516

  Thames Valley

  26,708

  45,981

  3,110

  36,271

  2,584

  3,008

  1,008

  West Mercia

  12,877

  27,148

  1,163

  20,352

  2,052

  2,269

  1,312

  West Midlands

  38,060

  70,346

  2,210

  53,333

  2,453

  8,900

  3,450

  West Yorkshire

  35,878

  72,732

  639

  52,799

  9,649

  7,584

  2,061

  Total field

  786,333

  1,500,972

  56,760

  1,107,485

  108,900

  134,923

  92,904

  Other disposals comprise committal hearings in which the defendant was discharged, cases where the defendant was bound over to keep the peace, instances where the defendant cannot be found, and other cases where the prosecution cannot proceed (e.g. through the death of the defendant). The minus value for Other Disposals in the Nottinghamshire Area is produced because the sum of advice only, completed, discontinued and committed to the Crown Court cases is greater than the total number of cases recorded as finalised. This result is produced because of limitations in administrative arrangements for obtaining the basic data in the Area at that time. The occurrence of such circumstances is now avoided by validity checks and controls which have since been introduced.

  Table 2: Magistrates' Courts cases 1988–89

  Of which

  Received

  Finalised

  Advice only

  Completed in Magistrates' Courts

  Discontinued

  Committed to Crown Court

  Other disposals

  Inner London

  176,686

  169,844

  1,263

  107,070

  10,683

  16,073

  34,755

  London North

  83,399

  74,351

  1,363

  47,041

  5,978

  9,321

  10,648

  London South

  73,715

  73,877

  1,712

  52,558

  6,839

  6,036

  6,732

  Avon/Somerset

  38,258

  37,629

  1,065

  29,775

  2,573

  3,076

  1,140

  Hert/Beds

  32,735

  31,600

  1,946

  24,167

  2,211

  2,612

  664

  Cambridge/Lincs.

  28,438

  25,930

  1,132

  19,565

  1,864

  2,419

  950

  Cheshire

  24,291

  23,850

  1,093

  18,400

  2,055

  1,951

  351

  Cleveland/North Yorks

  38,637

  35,958

  2,327

  26,500

  2,435

  3,271

  1,425

  Cumbria/Lancs.

  57,891

  58,937

  7,310

  41,361

  3,648

  5,079

  1,539

  Derbyshire

  24,487

  24,510

  2,418

  18,014

  1,653

  2,147

  278

  Devon/Cornwall

  31,393

  31,521

  2,510

  23,457

  2,419

  1,875

  1,260

  Dorset/Hants

  59,983

  57,588

  1,474

  46,198

  3,759

  4,660

  1,497

  Durham/Northumbria

  67,852

  64,376

  2,827

  41,463

  5,778

  6,476

  7,832

  North Wales

  32,068

  30,284

  1,038

  24,273

  2,793

  1,558

  622

  Essex

  30,179

  30,193

  469

  21,549

  3,572

  2,433

  2,170

  Glos/Wilts

  25,960

  26,156

  884

  20,321

  2,492

  1,731

  728

  Gt. Manchester

  94,678

  89,938

  2,209

  68,370

  8,207

  8,622

  2,530

  Gwent/South Wales

  72,264

  70,254

  2,361

  53,192

  7,307

  4,325

  3,069

  Humberside

  27,276

  26,591

  1,320

  19,309

  1,715

  3,458

  789

  Kent

  34,392

  34,807

  1,116

  26,216

  3,719

  2,999

  757

  Leicester/Northants

  38,384

  35,616

  1,022

  28,046

  3,186

  2,487

  875

  Merseyside

  51,872

  50,438

  815

  38,133

  4,419

  5,225

  1,846

  Norfolk/Suffolk

  37,690

  37,247

  3,075

  29,091

  2,660

  2,284

  137

  Nottinghamshire

  38,507

  36,464

  618

  30,304

  956

  3,324

  1,262

  South Yorkshire

  44,934

  41,685

  5,045

  28,502

  2,866

  4,101

  1,171

  Staffs/Warwick

  40,008

  38,935

  1,897

  29,351

  3,236

  3,012

  1,439

  Sussex

  34,598

  34,527

  2,480

  24,671

  2,385

  2,456

  2,535

  Thames Valley

  48,547

  45,479

  3,189

  34,056

  2,748

  3,051

  2,435

  West Mercia

  26,777

  25,946

  932

  20,567

  2,241

  1,787

  419

  West Midlands

  79,276

  77,450

  2,125

  61,123

  3,029

  8,526

  2,647

  West Yorkshire

  78,941

  66,367

  603

  45,877

  11,288

  7,352

  1,247

  Total field

  1,574,116

  1,508,348

  59,638

  1,098,520

  120,714

  133,727

  95,749

  Other disposals comprise committal hearings in which the defendant was discharged, cases where the defendant was bound over to keep the peace, instances where the defendant cannot be found, and other where the prosecution cannot proceed (e.g. through the death of the defendant).
  502 503

  Table 3: Magistrates' Courts cases 1989–90

  Of which

  Received

  Finalised

  Advice only

  Completed in Magistrates' Courts

  Discontinued

  Committed to Crown Court

  Other disposals

  Inner London

  166,374

  169,577

  2,522

  105,622

  12,756

  16,497

  32,180

  London North

  82,137

  73,167

  1,920

  46,689

  7,236

  8,484

  8,838

  London South

  67,902

  71,849

  1,816

  48,947

  6,925

  5,757

  8,404

  Avon/Somerset

  37,910

  38,190

  1,225

  29,238

  2,965

  2,918

  1,844

  Herts/Beds

  32,376

  32,535

  1,851

  23,836

  2,694

  2,565

  1,589

  Cambridge/Lincs.

  32,495

  30,527

  1,020

  23,591

  2,410

  2,559

  947

  Cheshire

  25,452

  24,749

  1,143

  18,664

  2,369

  1,978

  595

  Cleveland/North Yorkshire

  36,699

  36,378

  2,964

  25,802

  2,816

  3,272

  1,524

  Cumbria/Lancs.

  61,369

  58,902

  2,924

  44,422

  4,555

  5,272

  1,729

  Derbyshire

  26,755

  25,840

  4,264

  17,096

  1,798

  2,282

  400

  Devon/Cornwall

  34,051

  33,937

  2,320

  25,240

  2,518

  2,606

  1,253

  Dorset/Hants

  63,602

  61,892

  1,853

  48,706

  3,826

  5,098

  2,409

  Durhan/Northumbria

  68,322

  65,455

  2,441

  42,777

  7,602

  5,141

  7,494

  North Wales

  34,621

  32,937

  865

  26,121

  3,477

  1,597

  877

  Essex

  34,542

  34,109

  176

  24,359

  4,592

  2,432

  2,550

  Glos/Wilts

  28,221

  27,270

  840

  20,857

  2,989

  1,626

  958

  Gt. Manchester

  101,713

  98,186

  3,099

  74,557

  9,143

  7,756

  3,631

  Gwent/South Wales

  76,175

  71,402

  3,721

  52,209

  8,311

  4,787

  2,374

  Humberside

  26,797

  26,430

  1,223

  19,343

  2,047

  3,059

  758

  Kent

  36,291

  36,180

  1,253

  26,921

  4,081

  3,193

  732

  Leicester/Northants

  36,756

  33,427

  797

  24,999

  3,186

  2,812

  1,633

  Merseyside

  60,932

  56,517

  841

  43,944

  4,324

  4,896

  2,512

  Norfolk/Suffolk

  39,843

  38,450

  2,885

  29,984

  2,702

  2,595

  284

  Nottinghamshire

  41,323

  39,371

  894

  32,848

  1,674

  2,811

  1,144

  South Yorkshire

  48,632

  46,277

  5,669

  31,325

  3,468

  4,188

  1,627

  Staffs/Warwick

  45,379

  43,401

  1,665

  32,672

  3,878

  3,420

  1,766

  Sussex

  36,267

  35,364

  1,641

  25,567

  2,737

  2,562

  2,857

  Thames Valley

  49,572

  49,830

  2,331

  32,833

  2,726

  2,700

  9,240

  West Mercia

  26,363

  26,149

  932

  20,558

  2,568

  1,825

  266

  West Midlands

  80,785

  77,601

  1,806

  59,803

  4,621

  8,586

  2,785

  West Yorkshire

  82,691

  79,148

  5,223

  50,850

  13,319

  7,473

  2,283

  Total field

  1,622,347

  1,575,047

  64,124

  1,130,380

  140,313

  132,747

  107,483

  Other disposals comprise committal hearings in which the defendant was discharged, cases where the defendant was bound over to keep the peace, instances where the defendant cannot be found, and other cases where the prosecution cannot proceed (e.g. through the death of the defendant).

  Table 4: Magistrates' Courts cases 1990–91

  Of which

  Received

  Finalised

  Advice only

  Completed in Magistrates' Courts

  Discontinued

  Committed to Crown Court

  Other disposals

  Inner London

  149,066

  154,355

  2,518

  90,613

  12,507

  15,997

  32,720

  London North

  79,181

  80,764

  2,260

  48,806

  8,350

  8,274

  13,074

  London South

  65,872

  65,781

  1,882

  43,195

  6,775

  6,121

  7,808

  Avon/Somerset

  37,379

  37,139

  1,247

  28,560

  3,295

  2,667

  1,370

  Herts/Beds

  32,858

  34,002

  1,731

  23,002

  3,018

  2,032

  4,219

  Cambridge/Lincs.

  31,521

  30,363

  1,090

  22,933

  2,906

  2,689

  745

  Cheshire

  25,526

  24,440

  1,055

  18,491

  2,423

  1,921

  550

  Cleveland/North Yorks

  38,070

  36,286

  2,119

  25,948

  3,117

  3,612

  1,490

  Cumbria/Lancs.

  63,795

  59,425

  1,946

  43,834

  5,118

  6,184

  2,343

  Derbyshire

  24,356

  23,549

  2,517

  16,410

  1,743

  2,190

  689

  Devon/Cornwall

  33,629

  33,169

  1,797

  25,139

  2,730

  2,618

  885

  Dorset/Hants

  62,045

  61,971

  1,180

  48,603

  3,784

  5,531

  2,873

  Durham/Northumbria

  73,573

  71,632

  2,725

  46,092

  9,319

  5,425

  8,071

  North Wales

  37,353

  35,587

  708

  28,531

  3,983

  1,752

  613

  Essex

  37,378

  37,346

  561

  22,638

  4,828

  2,642

  6,677

  Glos/Wilts

  29,938

  29,526

  722

  22,400

  3,637

  1,923

  844

  Gt. Manchester

  103,485

  98,847

  3,242

  77,492

  9,226

  7,323

  1,564

  Gwent/South Wales

  80,708

  80,575

  4,135

  58,331

  8,910

  5,246

  3,953

  Humberside

  27,952

  27,283

  1,407

  19,269

  1,999

  3,282

  1,326

  Kent

  33,685

  34,183

  1,276

  24,030

  4,844

  3,266

  767

  Leicester/Northants

  36,957

  38,676

  922

  28,211

  4,128

  2,870

  2,545

  Merseyside

  61,576

  58,631

  671

  44,591

  5,236

  4,800

  3,333

  Norfolk/Suffolk

  38,674

  37,232

  3,453

  26,968

  3,142

  2,561

  1,108

  Nottinghamshire

  41,615

  42,852

  589

  35,018

  1,632

  2,827

  2,786

  South Yorkshire

  51,699

  53,383

  5,518

  37,773

  3,991

  4,345

  1,756

  Staffs/Warwick

  44,463

  43,132

  1,674

  31,393

  4,048

  3,410

  2,607

  Sussex

  35,943

  35,466

  1,572

  25,590

  2,627

  2,899

  2,778

  Thames Valley

  48,018

  49,072

  2,346

  33,314

  3,915

  2,990

  6,507

  504

  505

  Table 4: Magistrates' Courts cases 1990–91

  Of which

  Received

  Finalised

  Advice only

  Completed in Magistrates' Courts

  Discontinued

  Committed to Crown Court

  Other disposals

  West Mercia

  27,241

  26,392

  1,175

  20,510

  2,511

  1,959

  237

  West Midlands

  78,970

  80,803

  1,272

  62,133

  5,146

  8,025

  4,227

  West Yorkshire

  92,531

  90,567

  17,441

  50,491

  12,348

  7,306

  2,981

  Total field

  1,625,057

  1,612,429

  72,751

  1,130,309

  151,236

  134,687

  123,446

  Other disposals comprise committal hearings in which the defendant was discharged, cases where the defendant was bound over to keep the peace, instances where the defendant cannot be found, and other cases where the prosecution cannot proceed (e.g. through the death of the defendant).

  Table 5: Magistrates' Courts cases 1991–92

  Of which

  Received

  Finalised

  Advice only

  Completed in Magistrates' Courts

  Discontinued

  Committed to Crown Court

  Other disposals

  Other proceedings

  Inner London

  147,693

  145,829

  2,421

  85,120

  19,029

  14,383

  23,867

  1,009

  London North

  79,637

  74,897

  2,233

  47,219

  11,778

  7,480

  5,307

  880

  London South

  60,768

  60,537

  1,932

  39,940

  7,674

  5,609

  4,961

  421

  Avon/Somerset

  36,472

  36,832

  1,074

  25,461

  4,550

  3,042

  2,174

  531

  Herts/Beds

  31,273

  33,392

  2,272

  20,148

  4,228

  1,597

  4,383

  764

  Cambridge/Lincs.

  29,788

  28,562

  1,311

  20,291

  3,142

  2,668

  908

  242

  Cheshire

  24,766

  24,901

  849

  17,792

  2,701

  2,050

  850

  652

  Cleveland/North Yorks

  39,989

  39,471

  1,686

  25,401

  4,371

  3,865

  2,149

  2,000

  Cumbria/Lancs.

  61,855

  61,726

  2,428

  43,100

  5,914

  6,293

  3,625

  366

  Derbyshire

  24,801

  25,054

  4,031

  14,984

  1,595

  1,958

  2,144

  343

  Devon/Cornwall

  33,194

  34,170

  1,297

  25,541

  2,747

  2,271

  1,898

  416

  Dorset/Hants

  63,300

  65,363

  1,524

  49,598

  4,862

  5,135

  3,497

  747

  Durham/Northumbria

  67,866

  66,196

  2,235

  44,431

  9,825

  5,575

  3,561

  569

  North Wales

  38,774

  37,161

  810

  28,426

  3,693

  1,670

  2,028

  534

  Essex

  41,888

  38,387

  1,454

  27,537

  3,333

  2,410

  3,319

  414

  Glos/Wilts

  32,823

  32,991

  964

  23,292

  3,826

  1,818

  2,570

  521

  Gt. Manchester

  102,983

  102,507

  2,624

  71,969

  9,904

  7,818

  6,410

  3,782

  Gwent/South Wales

  76,878

  76,416

  4,147

  53,035

  8,648

  5,089

  4,262

  1,235

  Humberside

  26,238

  26,158

  1,557

  17,702

  1,792

  3,109

  743

  1,255

  Kent

  29,179

  29,907

  1,072

  19,502

  4,848

  3,025

  1,182

  278

  Leicester/Northants

  37,856

  42,023

  1,288

  28,766

  3,807

  3,162

  4,537

  1,046

  Merseyside

  56,711

  61,230

  762

  44,812

  6,428

  5,321

  3,453

  454

  Norfolk/Suffolk

  38,188

  38,695

  3,254

  27,715

  3,434

  2,706

  1,200

  384

  Nottinghamshire

  28,302

  32,536

  577

  22,977

  4,339

  2,482

  1,767

  394

  South Yorkshire

  43,538

  47,227

  5,317

  28,105

  4,652

  4,322

  4,343

  197

  Staffs/Warwick

  45,059

  45,261

  2,068

  32,713

  4,643

  3,404

  1,696

  737

  Sussex

  36,194

  36,320

  1,878

  25,557

  3,664

  2,709

  2,145

  366

  Thames Valley

  41,994

  41,889

  2,342

  28,095

  5,717

  2,810

  2,394

  530

  West Mercia

  25,094

  26,379

  1,748

  18,444

  2,829

  1,652

  1,310

  359

  West Midlands

  77,827

  70,992

  709

  50,197

  7,984

  7,028

  4,184

  890

  West Yorkshire

  90,247

  85,844

  15,473

  50,877

  8,454

  7,206

  3,408

  436

  Total field

  1,571,175

  1,568,853

  73,337

  1,058,747

  174,411

  129,667

  110,275

  22,752

  Other disposals comprise committal hearings in which the defendant was discharged, cases where the defendant was bound over to keep the peace, instances where the defendant cannot be found, and other cases where the prosecution cannot proceed (e.g. through the death of the defendant).

  Other proceedings comprise non-criminal proceedings, such as forfeiture hearings under Section 3 of the Obscene Publications Act. Figures for these proceedings are only available as from April 1991.

  Table 6: Magistrates' Courts cases 1991–92

  Of which

  Received

  Finalised

  Advice only

  Completed in Magistrates' Courts

  Discontinued

  Committed to Crown Court

  Other disposals

  Other proceedings

  Inner London

  146,480

  148,352

  2,749

  80,785

  22,538

  11,440

  29,075

  1,765

  London North

  76,838

  73,918

  3,781

  44,749

  12,284

  5,556

  6,498

  1,050

  London South

  58,390

  58,182

  2,322

  37,363

  8,481

  4,720

  4,845

  451

  Avon/Somerset

  34,379

  34,049

  1,283

  22,485

  4,549

  2,650

  2,611

  471

  Herts/Beds

  30,415

  30,408

  1,814

  19,159

  3,881

  1,787

  2,757

  1,010

  Cambridge/Lincs.

  31,326

  28,325

  1,669

  20,255

  3,328

  2,173

  720

  180

  Cheshire

  26,300

  25,749

  1,478

  17,752

  2,653

  1,976

  951

  939

  Cleveland/North Yorks

  40,663

  40,418

  2,135

  26,210

  5,480

  3,655

  1,636

  1,302

  506

  507

  Table 6: Magistrates' Courts cases 1991–92

  Of which

  Received

  Finalised

  Advice only

  Completed in Magistrates' Courts

  Discontinued

  Committed to Crown Court

  Other disposals

  Other proceedings

  Cumbria/Lancs.

  62,616

  61,486

  2,398

  43,497

  6,625

  5,097

  3,281

  588

  Derbyshire

  23,285

  23,613

  3,967

  14,200

  2,062

  1,711

  1,386

  287

  Devon/Cornwall

  30,174

  30,985

  1,428

  23,106

  2,659

  2,026

  1,394

  372

  Dorset/Hants

  58,043

  59,271

  1,750

  43,874

  4,724

  3,913

  4,330

  680

  Durham/Northumbria

  68,353

  69,382

  2,151

  44,856

  12,478

  4,748

  4,656

  493

  North Wales

  36,250

  36,436

  1,218

  27,077

  4,175

  1,665

  1,757

  544

  Essex

  39,869

  41,670

  2,030

  28,385

  3,064

  1,974

  6,065

  152

  Glos/Wilts

  33,417

  33,434

  1,168

  22,858

  3,835

  1,496

  3,014

  1,063

  Gt. Manchester

  105,716

  103,350

  2,382

  71,911

  10,541

  7,568

  6,202

  4,746

  Gwent/South Wales

  75,537

  77,529

  5,083

  50,273

  9,395

  4,684

  6,647

  1,447

  Humberside

  24,139

  24,042

  1,382

  16,536

  1,949

  2,320

  379

  1,476

  Kent

  28,463

  27,643

  1,125

  17,907

  4,865

  2,366

  1,156

  224

  Leicester/Northants

  38,202

  40,406

  2,334

  26,174

  4,773

  3,104

  2,973

  1,048

  Merseyside

  54,586

  56,090

  1,099

  41,584

  5,960

  4,835

  2,238

  374

  Norfolk/Suffolk

  36,760

  37,951

  3,484

  26,610

  3,156

  2,244

  1,651

  806

  Nottinghamshire

  27,794

  28,837

  523

  19,876

  4,083

  2,530

  1,501

  324

  South Yorkshire

  39,155

  39,885

  5,257

  22,839

  6,342

  3,106

  2,049

  292

  Staffs/Warwick

  46,806

  45,895

  2,741

  33,027

  4,981

  2,872

  1,383

  891

  Sussex

  32,739

  32,186

  1,719

  22,082

  4,011

  2,049

  2,038

  287

  Thames Valley

  45,320

  45,489

  3,108

  28,714

  6,201

  2,449

  4,231

  786

  West Mercia

  27,614

  26,977

  1,198

  19,200

  3,833

  1,544

  908

  294

  West Midlands

  76,593

  74,305

  1,545

  48,616

  9,986

  6,524

  6,095

  1,539

  West Yorkshire

  74,364

  76,249

  6,228

  48,403

  10,882

  7,300

  3,212

  224

  Total field

  1,530,586

  1,532,512

  72,549

  1,010,363

  193,774

  112,082

  117,639

  26,105

  Other disposals comprise committal hearings in which the defendant was discharged, cases where the defendant was bound over to keep the peace, instances where the defendant cannot be found, and other cases where the prosecution cannot proceed (e.g. through the death of the defendant).

  Other proceedings comprise non-criminal proceedings, such as forfeiture hearings under Section 3 of the Obscene Publications Act. Figures for these proceedings are only available as from April 1991.

  Table 7: Magistrates' Courts cases 1991–92

  Of which

  Received

  Finalised

  Advice only

  Completed in Magistrates' Courts

  Discontinued

  Committed to Crown Court

  Other disposals

  Other proceedings

  North

  101,284

  101,576

  4,094

  68,218

  13,769

  7,246

  6,773

  1,476

  Yorkshire

  82,460

  80,857

  3,652

  52,919

  11,860

  7,844

  3,832

  750

  Mersey/Lancashire

  90,333

  89,546

  3,014

  62,982

  8,971

  8,815

  4,851

  913

  Humber

  73,500

  71,386

  7,268

  46,360

  7,988

  5,673

  2,226

  1,871

  North West

  126,665

  123,766

  3,388

  87,454

  11,681

  9,002

  6,177

  6,064

  East Midlands

  89,898

  88,417

  6,608

  58,080

  10,962

  6,097

  5,118

  1,552

  Wales

  103,183

  111,736

  6,298

  69,190

  11,119

  5,764

  17,111

  2,254

  Midlands

  115,623

  117,330

  5,443

  74,001

  13,503

  8,426

  13,755

  2,202

  Anglia

  114,784

  112,429

  9,468

  76,544

  9,831

  6,787

  7,735

  2,064

  Severn/Thames

  96,695

  97,602

  4,934

  65,642

  11,422

  4,875

  8,825

  1,904

  South West

  75,873

  75,002

  2,884

  52,581

  8,714

  5,003

  4,912

  908

  London

  276,913

  274,524

  9,892

  150,955

  36,208

  19,217

  53,968

  4,284

  South East

  112,085

  110,068

  5,203

  76,127

  12,679

  7,800

  7,404

  855

  Total field

  1,459,296

  1,454,239

  72,146

  941,053

  168,707

  102,549

  142,687

  27,097

  Other disposals comprise committal hearings in which the defendant was discharged, cases where the defendant was bound over to keep the peace, instances where the defendant cannot be found, and other cases where the prosecution cannot proceed (e.g. through the death of the defendant).

  Other proceedings comprise non-criminal proceedings, such as forfeiture hearings under Section 3 of the Obscene Publications Act. Figures for these proceedings are only available as from April 1991.

  Table 8: Magistrates' Courts cases 1991–92

  Of which

  Received

  Finalised

  Advice only

  Completed in Magistrates' Courts

  Discontinued

  Committed to Crown Court

  Other disposals

  Other proceedings

  North

  95,234

  101,009

  4,237

  66,296

  12,962

  6,864

  8,869

  1,781

  Yorkshire

  92,815

  87,443

  2,771

  57,581

  13,053

  7,818

  5,504

  716

  Mersey/Lancashire

  86,393

  91 155

  3,854

  61,132

  7,682

  8,127

  9,073

  1 287

  Humber

  74,192

  76,460

  6,903

  47,634

  8,438

  6,127

  5,616

  1 742

  North West

  120 034

  120,286

  4,192

  83,036

  9,556

  8,870

  8 112

  6 520

  East Midlands

  91,168

  91,405

  5,557

  61,130

  10,845

  6,026

  6,265

  1,582

  508

  509

  Table 8: Magistrates' Courts cases 1991–92

  Of which

  Received

  Finalised

  Advice only

  Completed in Magistrates' Courts

  Discontinued

  Committed to Crown Court

  Other disposals

  Other proceedings

  Wales

  99,514

  100,171

  4,812

  63,981

  10,960

  5,894

  12,215

  2,309

  Midlands

  113,850

  118,324

  4,834

  70,583

  11,849

  8,498

  19,986

  2,574

  Anglia

  114,896

  117,356

  8,759

  81,557

  9,885

  6,838

  7,751

  2,566

  Severn/Thames

  97,745

  99,075

  5,543

  65,040

  11,690

  4,945

  9,742

  2,115

  South West

  76,579

  77,340

  3,671

  52,815

  8,870

  5,060

  5,993

  966

  London

  269,283

  287,158

  11,411

  159,157

  35,294

  20,190

  57,558

  3,548

  South East

  112,040

  110,435

  5,625

  75,353

  10,345

  8,336

  9,866

  910

  Total field

  1,443,743

  1,477,617

  72,169

  945,295

  161,429

  103,593

  166,550

  28,616

  Other disposals comprise committal hearings in which the defendant was discharged, cases where the defendant was bound over to keep the peace, instances where the defendant cannot he found, and other cases where the prosecution cannot proceed (e.g. through the death of the defendant).

  Other proceedings comprise non-criminal proceedings, such as forfeiture hearings under Section 3 of the Obscene Publications Act. Figures for these proceedings are only available as from April 1991.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Consumers' Rights
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation to enhance the rights and interests of consumers of services and products. [21961]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The rights and interests of consumers of goods and services are best served by ensuring that there is an open competitive market. But we consider legislation where it is necessary and appropriate.

  Exports
  Mr. Booth
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to improve the participation of small firms in exporting. [21962]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The DTI and FCO overseas trade service already provides a comprehensive and high quality range of export assistance and advice, which is primarily of benefit to small and medium sized companies. In addition, support for small businesses is being greatly improved through business links partnerships. One of the objectives of business links is to encourage and help small and medium sized companies to develop effective export strategies.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the trends in exports in 1995. [21964]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The outlook for exports in 1995 is excellent. The Confederation of British Industry reports that export orders are growing faster than ever before and that optimism amongst exporters is at its highest for a generation. The volume of exports has risen by 121/2 per cent. over the last year.

  British Gas
  Mr. Chisholm
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he is making to British Gas about the level of consumer dissatisfaction with the service provided. [21963]

  Mr. Page
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the oral answer that I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Clwyd, South-West (Mr. Jones).

  Output
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the change in output per head in the past 12 months in(a) the manufacturing sector and (b) the economy as a whole. [21965]

  Mr. Eggar
  Output per head rose by 6 per cent. in manufacturing and 31/2 per cent. in the economy as a whole during 1994.

  Late Payment of Invoices
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take to discourage the late payment of invoices to small and medium-sized companies. [21966]

  Mr. Page
  In the 1994 White Paper, "Competitiveness—Helping Business to Win", the Government announced a number of practical measures to tackle the late payment of commercial debt. These measures included additional prompt payment requirements for Government Departments and their agencies, the development of proposals for a British standard for prompt payment, the implementation of proposals to require public companies to state their payment policies in their directors' reports, further changes to streamline and simplify court procedures and a review of the scope of the small claims procedure.

  Work on the implementation of these measures is continuing.

  Counterfeit Goods
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the financial and other effects on United Kingdom manufacturing industry of the trade in counterfeit goods allegedly made in Britain. [21967]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The Government have not made their own assessment of the effects of the trade in counterfeit goods. They are, however, aware of industry estimates that, in 1993, over £300 million worth of counterfeit goods were in circulation in the United Kingdom. They are also aware of evidence of an increase in the amount of counterfeits which originate in the United Kingdom and trading standards officers and the police are being encouraged to pursue counterfeiters.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Khabra
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations his Department has received from chambers of commerce about his policies in respect of and the demand for the products and services of small businesses. [21968]

  Mr. Page
  My Department has regular contact with the Association of British Chambers of Commerce and individual chambers, and discussions with them frequently concern the valuable contribution made to our local economies by small businesses.

  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the success rate of small businesses between 1985 and the present in(a) Cumbria, (b) the United Kingdom and (c) the European Union as a whole. [22734]

  Mr. Heseltine
  A measure of the success of the small business sector is shown by the growth in the number of VAT registered businesses. Allowing for the change in the VAT threshold in 1991, the number of VAT registered businesses in Cumbria rose by 7 per cent. between 1985 and 1993, the latest year for which figures are available. In the UK as a whole it rose by 14 per cent.

  There are no equivalent figures for the European Union as a whole.

  BT Directory Inquiries
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many complaints the Office of Telecommunications has received in the past year concerning British Telecom's 192 number inquiry service; and if he will make a statement. [21969]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Oftel received 40 letters about BT's directory inquiries service in the year to 30 April.

  Traditional Industries, Leicester
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to assist the traditional industries of the city of Leicester. [21970]

  Mr. Page
  The Government are doing much to assist all industry, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, in Leicester. Business link Leicestershire is now providing a valuable service to the local business community. My Department is providing funding of £725,000 to the business link which handled over 60,000 enquiries in the year from 1 March 1994. In addition, my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, Central (Sir P. Beresford), has recently confirmed that funding of £10.5 million will be available in the hon. and learned Member's own constituency through the city challenge programme.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on inward investment policy. [21971]

  Mr. Eggar
  The Government's economic policies and warm welcome for foreign investors has made the UK the preferred location in Europe for inward investment and I am determined that we should remain so. That is why we have strengthened the resources of the Invest in Britain Bureau.

  Nuclear Industry
  Mr. Alan W. William
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the future of Nuclear Electric and Scottish Nuclear. [21972]

  Mr. Eggar
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement that my right hon. Friend made to the House yesterday,Official Report, columns 563–65.

  Manufacturing Profits
  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of manufacturing industry's profits were reinvested in United Kingdom industry in 1994. [21973]

  Mr. Eggar
  In 1993, the latest year for which figures are available, investment in manufacturing industry accounted for almost half of the gross operating surplus of companies in this sector.

  Manufactured Goods
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the United Kingdom's balance of trade in manufactured goods in 1979 and in 1994. [21974]

  Mr. Needham
  In 1979, the United Kingdom had a surplus of £2.7 billion or 1.4 per cent. of GDP in manufactured trade. In 1994, there was a deficit of £7.5 billion or 1.1 per cent. of GDP.

  Insolvency Procedures
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had regarding the creation of a legal framework whereby companies experiencing cash flow and insolvency problems are allowed time to trade out of their difficulties before being put into the hands of receivers; and if he will make a statement. [21976]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  There are already procedures in the insolvency legislation which can assist companies with such problems and there has been extensive discussion since my Department commenced a review of these in 1993. In April 1995 the Insolvency Service issued a further consultative document on proposals for a new company voluntary arrangement procedure. These proposals include a 28-day moratorium, binding on all creditors, which gives companies a breathing space during which to put together a rescue plan. It is also proposed that floating chargeholders give five working days notice before they can appoint an administrative receiver, to allow companies an opportunity to seek advice.

  International Competitiveness
  Sir Thomas Arnold
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent assessment he has made of the United Kingdom's international competitiveness. [21979]

  Mr. Heseltine
  Last year, the Government set out the UK's competitive position in the White Paper, "Helping Business to Win". The Government plan to publish soon a second White Paper on competitiveness. This will report on progress over the last year, extend the analysis of the UK's competitiveness and bring forward new initiatives to help business to win.

  Newspapers
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received regarding carriage charges by news wholesalers to newsagents; and what action he has taken. [21980]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  I have recently received a number of representations from Members of Parliament on behalf of newsagents, regarding increased carriage charges. I have also received representations from the National Federation of Retail Newsagents.

  In the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's 1993 report on newspapers the commission reached no adverse findings in relation to carriage charges. Accordingly, I have no power to act.

  Crown Post Offices
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the future of Crown post offices. [21977]

  Mr. Page
  The Post Office has a policy of converting Crown offices to agency status as and when suitable opportunities arise. The policy has advantages for customers—who have access to the full range of services but usually during longer hours and from more accessible premises—and for the network—which can offer clients a competitive service. For these reasons the Government support this policy. Its implementation is a matter for the Post Office.

  National Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many, and what proportion of, vacancies advertised by his Department, and by each of his Department's agencies, in the last three years have listed the attainment of NVQs as an acceptable entry requirement; and, of those, how many have required

  (i) level 1 NVQs, (ii) level 2 NVQs, (iii) level 3 NVQs and (iv) other level NVQs. [22975]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  None of the vacancies advertised by my Department has listed NVQs as an entry qualification.

  Of the Department's agencies, only the Radiocommunication Agency has advertised vacancies with NVQs listed as an acceptable entry requirement. It has advertised 20 posts—32 per cent. of total advertised vacancies—all requiring only level 1 NVQs.

  Military Training Assistance Scheme
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the annual cost to his Department of the United Kingdom military training assistance scheme in each of the last five financial years. [23241]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The United Kingdom military training assistance scheme is funded and controlled by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and my Department bears no cost associated with the scheme.

  Business Links
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how many staff are employed in business link(a) at his Department in London and (b) in business link centres around the United Kingdom. [22294]
  514
  Mr. Page
  Forty-eight staff in my Department in London are employed directly in business link development. In addition a large number are involved indirectly in respect of the activities of business link partner organisations and the integration of DTI funded services into business links.

  My Department does not keep information on the numbers of staff employed by business links or those employed by, or located by partner organisations and co-located within business links.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many inquiries for information were received by(a) business link and (b) the marketing information centre in the past 12 months. [22292]

  Mr. Page
  Information is not held centrally on the figures relating individual enquiries made to business link. However, my Department collects figures on the numbers of firms assisted in each quarter. Companies are recorded only once even though several enquiries may be made in the monitoring period.

  During April and December 1994—the latest period for which figures are available—51,710 companies were assisted on at least one occasion.

  In the 12 months April 1994 to March 1995 the Export Market Information Centre received 20,233 visitors, approximately 37,000 telephone calls and 1,343 written inquiries.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost, in the last year for which figures are available, of(a) business link and (b) the marketing information centre. [22295]

  Mr. Page
  In the financial year 1994–95 DTI contributed £13.1 million to the establishment of business link. This was in addition to contributions from partner organisations.

  In the financial year 1994–95 the net cost of the export market information centre was £1.7 million.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a list of the business link centres in the United Kingdom. [22291]

  Mr. Page
  One hundred business link outlets are open in England:

  1. Alnwick

  2. Aykley Heads

  3. Aylesbury

  4. Barnsley

  5. Barrow in Furness

  6. Batley

  7. Berwick upon Tweed

  8. Birkenhead

  9. Birmingham

  10. Blyth

  11. Bootle

  12. Boston

  13. Brighouse

  14. Brunswick Dock

  15. Carlisle

  16. Central Devon

  17. Chester

  18. Chester le street

  19. Coalville

  20. Congleton

  21. Coventry

  515

  22. Crewe

  23. Derby

  24. Derby Inner City

  25. Derwentside

  26. Doncaster

  27. Dorset

  28. Dudley

  29. Durham City

  30. Easington

  31. East Manchester

  32. Gainsborough

  33. Gateshead

  34. Gloucestershire

  35. Grantham

  36. Great Sutton

  37. Halifax

  38. Hereford

  39. Hexham

  40. Hinckley

  41. Hoole Bridge

  42. Huddersfield

  43. Isle of Wight

  44. Kendal

  45. Knowsley

  46. Leamington Spa

  47. Leicester

  48. Leominster

  49. Lincoln

  50. Liverpool

  51. Loughborough

  52. Louth

  53. Macclesfield

  54. Middlesborough

  55. Malvern

  56. Manchester (central)

  57. Market Harborough

  58. Melton Mowbray

  59. Mount Pleasant

  60. Newcastle upon Tyne

  61. North Dorset

  62. North Hertfordshire

  63. North Tyneside

  64. Nuneaton

  65. Oakham

  66. Oldbury

  67. Oswestry

  68. Pershore

  69. Reading

  70. Ross on Wye

  71. Rotherham

  72. St. Albans

  73. Salford

  74. Sedgefield

  75. Skegness

  76. Sleaford

  77. Slough

  78. Southport

  79. South Tyneside

  80. South Devon

  81. Spalding

  82. Stratford upon Avon

  83. Sunderland

  84. Swadlincote

  516

  85. Tameside

  86. Teesdale

  87. Telford

  88. Trafford Park

  89. Tyneside

  90. Walsall

  91. Wansbeck

  92. Wearvalley (2 outlets)

  94. West Cornwall

  95. Weymouth

  96. Whitehaven

  97. Widnes

  98. Wigan

  99. Worcester

  100. Workington

  Separate arrangements are in place for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  International Atomic Energy Agency
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the total budget of the International Atomic Energy Agency; what proportion of that budget is spent on safeguards; what is the United Kingdom's annual contribution to the budget of the agency; and what proportion of that contribution is spent on safeguards. [23071]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The regular budget of the International Atomic Energy Agency for 1995, as agreed by the general conference in September 1994, is $211,557,000 of which the safeguards programme accounts for 34.38 per cent. or $72,745,000.

  The United Kingdom paid its share of £8,048,512 or 5.277 per cent. in full in February this year. The contributions from the member states are pooled by the IAEA and allocated amongst the wide range of programmes it supports.

  East London
  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to visit east London to discuss industrial investment and economic development. [21978]

  Mr. Eggar
  Neither my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade nor I have plans to visit east London again at present. The Government and our key partners in economic development, local authorities and training and enterprise councils, are working to bring investment to that part of London and to ensure that it is used effectively. Partnerships have been formed to maximise European Union funding, to support inward investment, to develop regeneration strategies and to work within the Thames gateway framework. These and other joint efforts will substantially increase the competitive position of that key area of London.

  Cinema Ownership
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will hold discussions with directors of the Rank Organisation on its plans to acquire MGM cinemas. [23607]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  No. Any plans which the Rank Organisation or any other company might have to acquire MGM cinemas would be a matter for discussion with the Director General of Fair Trading, who has a duty under
  517
  the Fair Trading Act 1973 to advise my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on whether any qualifying mergers should be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what communication his Department has received from the Rank Organisation about its plans to acquire MGM cinemas. [23606]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  I am aware that the MGM cinemas business is for sale. Until such time as I am called on to announce my decision about whether any qualifying mergers arising from the sale should be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, it would not be right for me to make any comment.

  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the ownership of cinemas in the United Kingdom. [23608]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  Any proposals for changes in the ownership of cinemas in the UK which would result in qualifying mergers under the Fair Trading Act 1973 would be matters on which the Director General of Fair Trading would advise my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade as to whether they should be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

  National Grid
  Mr. Orme
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy that customers share in the profits made by the regional electricity companies on their sale of the National Grid. [21941]

  Mr. Eggar
  The National Grid Company is owned by the regional electricity companies. The Government will consider any firm proposal by the RECs for the flotation of NGC on its merits.

  Nuclear Safety
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment has been made of the relevance of the current operational difficulties being suffered by the Daya bay pressurised water reactors in China for the safe operation of the Sizewell B reactor. [22013]

  Mr. Page
  The problems that have been encountered with control rods at the Daya bay nuclear power station in China have no implications for the Sizewell B pressurised water reactor, which uses a different design and manufacture of fuel and control rods.

  Nigeria (Military Equipment)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many requests for export licences for the export of military equipment to Nigeria have been(a) granted and (b) refused in each year from 1990; and from which firms and for what weaponry. [21939]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 2 May 1995]: Statistics of export licence applications granted and refused for goods classified under the military list of the Export of Goods (Control) Order for Nigeria for the years in question are detailed in the table. ML classifications covered by the applications are given for years 1992–1994. Similar information is not readily available for 1990 and 1991 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. It has been the policy of successive
  518
  Administrations not to disclose the details of export licences or applications for export licences. Since the introduction of the European Union measures against Nigeria, in December 1993, no export licences have been granted for the supply of lethal defence equipment to the Nigerian armed forces.

  Export licence applications for military list goods

  Year

  Issued

  Refused

  ML classifications covered

  1990

  30

  0

  —

  1991

  64

  0

  —

  1992

  21

  0

  1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15

  1993

  16

  0

  1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15

  1994

  20

  1

  1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14

  (Refusal in respect of ML 1 goods)

  Telephones
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what representations his Department has received in relating to the issue of mobile telephone cloning; [23505]

  (2) what assessment his Department has made of the need for legislation to prevent the cloning of mobile telephones; [23514]

  (3) what discussions his Department has had with regulators of the telecommunications industry concerning the need for legislation to prevent telephone cloning; [23510]

  (4) what action the Office of Telecommunications has taken to investigate the problem of cloning of mobile telephones; and what representations this agency has made to his Department on this matter; [23509]

  (5) what assessment his Department has made of the costs incurred by mobile telephone users as a result of unauthorised calls being made on mobile telephones which have been cloned; [23511]

  (6) what current legislation governs the operation of the mobile telephone industry. [23515]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answers 9 May 1995]: My Department has received a number of representations from the industry and private individuals concerning mobile phone fraud which includes the illegitimate cloning of mobile telephones. Together with the Home Office, Oftel and the Association of Chief Police Officers, we have been discussing with the mobile phone industry what steps can be taken to tackle the problem of mobile phone fraud.

  The industry is in the best position to assess the costs arising from cloning and other cellular fraud offences and it is the industry which, in particular, has been taking action to improve the detection of cloned phones and prevent their use. The industry is also considering a number of other ways of combating cellular fraud, including improved control of electronic serial numbers and equipment marking schemes.

  Legislation specifically governing the operation of the industry is included in the Telecommunications Act 1984 and the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949. Offences concerning cellular fraud already exist under those Acts. In addition, the Theft Acts 1968 and 1978 cover the theft and handling of mobile phones, which often leads to their being cloned. Discussions are continuing with the industry about whether any new offences to combat cellular fraud,

  519
  including cloning, would be effective in reducing the problem.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what steps his Department has taken to prevent the cloning of telephones being utilised by his Department; and if his Department has discussed this matter with any official agencies; [23454]

  (2) what costs his Department has incurred during the last 12 months as a result of cloning of mobile telephones being utilised by his Department, with particular reference to the making of unauthorised calls; [23488]

  (3) what use his Department makes of hand-held and car-based mobile telephones; what were the costs for each financial year of these services since mobile telephones were first introduced to his Department; and how many mobile telephones are currently in use; [23448]

  (4) how many mobile telephones being used by his Department have been cloned during the last 12 months. [23428]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: Records are no longer kept centrally of all uses of mobile telephones. However, it is estimated that, excluding next steps agencies, there are currently in the region of 800 mobile telephones in use in my Department at a cost of around £320,000 per annum.

  For the same reason, I do not have a figure for the actual number of mobile telephones cloned in the past 12 months, but the information that we have suggests that it is probably fewer than 10. The Department has incurred minimal costs as the service providers have identified the cloning and credited the Department for the costs of unauthorised calls.

  It is currently very difficult to prevent cloning of analogue mobile telephones. However, my Department is discussing this issue with the mobile phone industry. Close liaison with service providers helps to identify cloning at any early stage, and increasingly the Department is using digital mobile telephones which, although more expensive, are not easily cloned.

  Anglo-Japanese Trade
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much income was raised by United Kingdom firms in the last year through the export of(a) computers, (b) cars and (c) cameras to Japan; and what was the value of (i) computers, (ii) cars and (iii) cameras imported into the United Kingdom from Japan. [23029]

  Mr. Needham
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: The information is as follows:

  £ million

  UK imports to Japan, 1994

  UK exports from Japan, 1994

  Computers

  309

  843

  Cars

  219

  964

  Cameras

  12

  197

  Source:

  Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.

  Commodity definitions: Computers—Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) 752 and 759.97; Cars—SITC 781; Cameras—SITC 764.82, 881.1 and 881.2.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Recruitment
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many, and what proportion of vacancies advertised by his Department, and by each of his Department's agencies, in the last three years have listed the attainment of national vocational qualifications as an acceptable entry requirement; and, of those, how many have required (i) Level 1 NVQs, (ii) Level 2 NVQs, (iii) Level 3 NVQs and (iv) other level NVQs. [22980]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The Northern Ireland Civil Service Commission recruits centrally all permanent non-industrial staff for the northern Ireland departments and agencies.

  During the last three years, the Northern Ireland Civil Service Commission advertised one vacancy for which specifically a level 3 NVQ was an entry requirement. This represented less than 0.5 per cent. of all vacancies advertised. Where appropriate, advertisements make clear that applications will be considered from candidates with relevant formal qualifications considered by the commissioners to be of an equivalent or higher standard than those stated.

  In addition Northern Ireland Departments run competitions for industrial and casual staff. The Department of Economic Development advertised one vacancy, listing as advantageous, the possession of NVQ assessor award D32/33. This represented 2 per cent. of competitions run by DED.

  The remaining Northern Ireland departments have not used NVQs as an entry requirement for industrial and casual staff.

  Private Finance Initiatives
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of his Department's budget is allocated to initiatives which have been undertaken to secure private finance for his Department's projects. [22794]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Almost 1 per cent. of the total budget of Northern Ireland departments and the Northern Ireland Office is directly allocated to initiatives which have been undertaken to secure private finance for projects. Other expenditure will be incurred in the consideration of private financial potential, but is an integral part of project appraisals and is not recorded separately. In addition, some expenditure will be incurred by agent bodies in the Health and Personal Social Services and Education and Library boards, but this information is not collected centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Temporary Class Rooms
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many temporary classrooms are at present located on(a) nursery school sites, (b) primary school sites, (c) post-primary school sites and (d) further education college campuses in Northern Ireland. [23312]

  Mr. Ancram
  Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the estimated number of schools with temporary classrooms on site is as follows:
  521

  Number of schools

  Number of temporary classroom units

  600

  1–5

  100

  6–10

  35

  11–15

  30

  over 15

  Special Protection Areas
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those sites which(a) have been designated or (b) meet the criteria for designation as (i) special protection areas under the European Community directive on the conservation of wild birds or (ii) Ramsar sites under the convention on wetlands of international importance. [22367]

  Mr. Moss
  In Northern Ireland two sites at Swan island and Sheep island have so far been designated as special protection areas under EC directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds. A further 11 sites have been identified as possible meeting the criteria for designation. These are:

  Belfast Lough

  Carlingford Lough

  Dundrum Bay

  Larne Lough

  Lough Foyle

  Lough Neagh and Lough Beg

  Outer Ards Peninsula

  Rathlin Island Cliffs

  Strangford Lough

  Upper Lough Erne

  Pettigoe Plateau

  One site has already been designated under the Ramsar convention, Lough Neagh and Lough Beg. All the sites on the above lists also qualify for designation as Ramsar sites, with the exception of the Rathlin island cliffs.

  The Banks Residential Home
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration he took of the independent advocate's report when coming to his decision to close the Banks residential home; what account he took of the commitment of the North Down trust to existing residents that they would be allowed to remain there; and if he will protect the rights of existing residents to remain in the Banks if it should be sold. [23330]

  Mr. Moss
  I have taken fully into account the independent advocate's report along with all the other views and representations which have been made to me.

  I respect the North Down and Ards community trust's desire to accommodate the wishes of the residents and to provide a further option in terms of future accommodation. I have asked the trust to proceed with inquiries with the independent nursing homes sector about how the site can be redeveloped while allowing the residents to remain.

  However, the disposal of the site will have to be handled in light of Government rules about disposal of assets and value for money and demonstration of fair and open competition. As a result there can be no guarantee that the desired outcome will materialise.

  Old People's Homes
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information was available to him about alternative provision when he decided to close six old people's residential homes as announced on 21 April; if he will list the deficiencies in each of the homes and the estimated capital cost of rectifying these deficiencies; and what is the potential capacity in these homes and the per capita cost of maintaining residents. [23327]

  Mr. Moss
  When I announced my decision to endorse the proposal of trusts to close six residential homes for the elderly, I was aware that the following alternative provision existed in the areas:

  700 statutory residential home places

  3,799 independent residential and nursing home places

  At the time of my decision there were approximately 345 vacancies in the statutory independent homes sector. The deficiencies in each of the homes, the estimated capital cost of rectifying these deficiencies, the potential capacity and the per capita cost of maintaining residents are as follows.
  SOUTH AND EAST BELFAST HSS TRUST
  James Dixon House
  Potential capacity = 41
  Per capita cost 94–95 = £232.70 per week
  Deficiencies:
  The building is institutional in character. It has long corridors, the toilets are inappropriately positioned given the increasing frailty of residents, bedroom sizes are small and increasingly the registration and inspection unit has been seeking a commitment from the trust that double rooms be made into singles. The home requires substantial expenditure to modernise it and to bring it up to an acceptable minimum standard as set out in the Health and Safety at Work (NI) Order.
  Capital expenditure cost = £345,000
  Enter House
  Potential capacity = 49
  Per capita cost 94–95 = £301.89 per week
  Deficiencies:
  The facility was built upon traditional lines with many institutional features including long corridors, double rooms and poorly located toilets. The home requires substantial expenditure to modernise it and to bring it up to an acceptable minimum standard as set out in the Health and Safety at Work (NI) Order.
  Capital Expenditure Cost = £409,000
  Marlborough House
  Potential Capacity = 27
  Per Capita Cost 94–95 = £681.34 per week
  Deficiencies:
  It is a large old building which was converted six years ago to a home for elderly mentally infirm people. The building is functionally unsuitable for its task. It does not meet fire code standards. The home requires substantial expenditure to modernise it and to bring it up to an acceptable minimum standard as set out in the Health and Safety at Work (NI) Order.
  Capital Expenditure Cost = £325,000
  NORTH AND WEST BELFAST HSS TRUST
  Old See House
  Potential Capacity = 40
  Per Capita Cost 94–95 = £285.87 per week
  Deficiencies:
  It was opened in 1977 and although some upgrading work has been carried out further extensive work is required. The home requires substantial expenditure to modernise it and to bring it up to an acceptable minimum standard as set out in the Health and Safety at Work (NI) Order.

  523
  Capital Expenditure Cost = £280,000
  Cairns House
  Potential Capacity = 40
  Per Capita Cost 94–95 = £370.56 per week
  Deficiencies:
  Its location has limited accessibility. The home requires substantial expenditure to modernise it and to bring it up to an acceptable minimum standard as set out in the Health and Safety at Work (NI) Order.
  Capital Expenditure Cost = £205,000
  NORTH DOWN AND ARDS HSS TRUST
  The Banks
  Potential Capacity = 40
  Per Capita Cost 94–95 = £621.86 per week
  Deficiencies:
  It requires upgrading work to be carried out to bring it up to fire and safety standards. The building provides double room facilities which would need to be converted to singles. The rooms are small and the corridors are long. The home requires substantial expenditure to modernise it and to bring it up to an acceptable minimum standard as set out in the Health and Safety at Work (NI) Order.
  Capital Expenditure Cost = £600,000

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will indicate what criteria are used by health and social services trusts to admit elderly people to independent homes with financial support from the trusts. [23328]

  Mr. Moss
  People who are assessed as in need of care in a residential or nursing home with public financial support can, within certain reasonable criteria, choose which home they enter.

  The criteria which trusts apply on behalf of Health and Social Services boards are as follows:
  the accommodation must be suitable for the assessed needs of the individual;
  the cost to the board should not be more than it would usually expect to pay for someone with the individual's assessed needs;
  the accommodation must be available;
  the person in charge of the home must be willing to provide accommodation subject to the board's usual terms and conditions for such accommodation.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average full per capita cost to unit trusts in supporting elderly residents in independent homes. [23329]

  Mr. Moss
  The information required is not held centrally in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

DEFENCE

  Expenditure
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the defence expenditure in each year since 1985; and if he will specify the deflator to be applied to plans up to 1997–98. [23516]

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested is set out in the statistical supplement to the "Financial Statement and Budget Report", 1995–96, Cm 2821, tables 3.2 and 1.1.

  Equipment Orders
  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what military purpose 20 truck mounted 12 tonne cranes are to be purchased as set out in future purchase No. LV1A/260; what consideration he has given to leasing or contract hire of cranes; and if he will make a statement. [22523]

  Mr. Freeman
  The 12 tonne cranes will be procured as replacements for existing RAF equipments that have reached the end of their economic lives. They will be used in aircraft maintenance and workshop areas within operational RAF stations. The provision, management and support of service transport is at present being reviewed to determine whether, and to what extent, there is scope for greater private sector involvement. The primary aim of this review is to secure greater value for money. We intend to establish some pilot leasing schemes this calendar year. Tender LV1A/260 therefore reflects the present procurement arrangements, but any resultant contract will be placed for the minimum quantity required in the financial year 1995–96, with options only for future years.

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what military purpose approximately 100 all-wheel drive pick-ups, vans and 11 seat station wagons are required, as set out in tender No. LV2A/265; what consideration he has given to leasing or contract hire; what consideration he has given to extending the number of companies invited to tender; and if he will make a statement. [22524]

  Mr. Freeman
  The all-wheel drive vehicles will be procured as replacements for exiting Navy, Army and RAF equipments that have reached the end of their economic lives. They will mainly be used to transport stores and personnel, both on and off road. The provision, management and support of service transport is at present under review to determine whether, and to what extent, there is scope for greater private sector involvement. The primary aim of the review is to secure greater value for money. We do not intend to establish a number of pilot leasing schemes this calendar year. Future purchase tender LV2A/265 therefore reflects the present procurement arrangements, but any resultant contract will be placed for the minimum quantity required in the financial year 1995–96, with options only for future years. The final distribution of tenders will depend solely on companies registering an interest against this advertisement. The future purchase tender identifies two companies. They were the only companies known to meet the Department's required quality standard.

  RAF Valley
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the outcome of the recent market testing survey at Royal Air Force Valley. [22409]

  Mr. Soames
  Further to a feasibility study which recommended market-testing a broad range of activities, my Department has proposed contractorising support services at RAF Valley. This proposal is subject to consultation with the trades unions and other interested parties.
  525
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the annual cost of renting additional airspace for Royal Air Force Valley weapons training's air-to-air gunnery after Aberporth range is given agency status. [22414]

  Mr. Soames
  There will be no cost for the use of the airspace.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a comparison between the weapon task achievement over the last two weeks of Royal Air Force Chivenor being in operation and the average at Royal Air Force Valley. [22415]

  Mr. Soames
  In the last two weeks of weapon task training from RAF Chivenor, 148 sorties were flown by RAF Valley aircraft using RAF Chivenor as a forward operating base. This represented an increase in the normal level of tasking and was in anticipation of a brief interruption prior to RAF St. Athan becoming available. The average number of weapon task training sorties planned by RAF Valley for any two-week period is 120.

  RAF Commands
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total cost of the rationalisation of the Royal Air Force structure by the creation of an additional command. [22413]

  Mr. Soames
  There has been no increase in the number of RAF commands. RAF Germany ceased to be a separate command in April 1993 and now has group status within RAF Strike Command. RAF Logistics Command and RAF Personnel and Training Command were established on 1 April 1994 replacing RAF Support Command and the former Departments of AMSO and AMP. These changes result in significant overall cost savings.

  RAF Relocation
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to relocating the Fleet Requirements and Air Direction Unit or any other flying unit to Royal Air Force Chivenor; and what building work would be necessary. [22411]

  Mr. Soames
  Consideration was given to relocating the Fleet Requirements and Air Direction Unit to RAF Chivenor, but an alternative location was preferred on operational and cost grounds. No other suitable options for relocating flying activity to the station have been identified.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements have been made to bridge the gap between the cessation of the Hawk support flight at Royal Air Force Chivenor and the tactical armament facility—Hawk—detachment being ready at Royal Air Force St. Athan; what will be the cost of such interim arrangements; and why this work is not being continued at Royal Air Force Chivenor. [22416]

  Mr. Soames
  As part of the plans for the longer-term enhancement of RAF St. Athan to accept Hawk detachments, some early work was identified as essential to provide sufficient initial capability for the weaponry requirements. The cost of this work was £290,000. The task is not being continued at RAF Chivenor because it is not compatible with the stations's future.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what impact the closure of Royal Air Force 526
  Finningley and transfer of navigation training to Royal Air Force Valley will have on the calculations about Royal Air Force Valley's capacity which were made when the decision was taken to close Royal Air Force Chivenor. [22417]

  Mr. Soames
  The impact is minimal. The rationalisation of Hawk instructor training at RAF Valley has created spare capacity at the station, and this offsets the extra navigator training task transferring from RAF Finningley.

  RAF St. Athan
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what impact the proximity of Cardiff airport to Royal Air Force St. Athan has on its flying capacity; and what are the comparative figures for available capacity at Royal Air Force Chivenor. [22418]

  Mr. Soames
  On current and future planned usage, the proximity of Cardiff airport has no impact on RAF St. Athan operations. A simple comparison of criteria which define capacity shows that RAF Chivenor has greater capacity than RAF St. Athan, but detailed comparative capacity figures could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  RAF Chivenor
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the cost of maintaining the runway and airfield operation at Royal Air Force Chivenor. [22410]

  Mr. Soames
  There is no requirement to retain the runway and airfield operation at RAF Chivenor beyond 1 October this year, although the search and rescue flight will remain within an enclave at the station.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the advantages of joint usage and funding of the airfield operation at Royal Air Force Chivenor by the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and Royal Marines. [22412]

  Mr. Soames
  No viable options have been identified for joint usage and funding of the airfield operation.

  Mr. Gordon Foxley
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now place in the Library a copy of the MOD report into the activities of Mr. Gordon Foxley. [22628]

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Lady to my reply to her of 27 April,Official Report, column 696. In the current circumstances of my Department's civil proceedings against Gordon Foxley and others, there is nothing I would wish to add to the account given in the Comptroller and Auditor General's report referred to.

  Fox Hunts
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the military drivers and grooms who act as support staff for armed forces personnel who attend fox hunts have a choice in undertaking these duties. [22397]

  Mr. Soames
  Members of the armed forces who are permitted to hunt as part of their duties rely on volunteers to act as grooms and drivers.
  527
  Mr. Meale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total income from hunts that have licences to hunt on his Department's land in 1994 to 1995; what was the increase made for inflation; and if these licences were open to public tender. [22398]

  Mr. Soames
  The total income from licensing fox hunts to hunt over my Department's land during the 1994–95 fox hunting season was £779.45, including administration charges. Fees charged are not linked to inflationary increases but are based on the commercial judgment of the Defence Land Agent. These licences were not open to public tender due to insufficient demand to justify normal tender procedures.

  Plutonium
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 26 april,Official Report, column 588, if he will make a statement on the future location, ownership and use of fuel grade plutonium to be separated from spent fuel at the Chapelcross and Calder Hall reactors, with particular reference to the military stockpile. [22399]

  Mr. Soames
  The material in question will continue to be stored at Sellafield and there are no plaits to transfer it to the civilian stockpile.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Jopling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-level training sorties were carried out by(a) the Royal Air force and i(b) other air forces in the United Kingdom during April; and how many of these were in (i) the Lake district and (ii) the Yorkshire dales national parks. [22435]

  Mr. Soames
  Statistics on the use of the United Kingdom low flying system during April will not be available until towards the end of May. My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence will then write to the hon. Member with details of the numbers of sorties carried out in the United Kingdom by British military aircraft and by those of other air forces. Statistics are not available on the number of sorties flown over particular locations, nor is it possible for these to be estimated.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many incidents have been recorded in each year since 1990 involving low-flying military aircraft and microlights and hang gliders. [22937]

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested is as follows:

  Year

  Microlights

  Hang gliders

  1990

  5

  4

  1991

  8

  1

  1992

  2

  2

  1993

  2

  3

  1994

  1

  1

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of his Department's budget is allocated to initiatives which have been undertaken to secure private finance for his Department's projects. [22783]

  Mr. Freeman
  It is expected that about £730,000, which represents 0.0034 per cent. of the defence budget,528
  for 1995–96 will be spent by the Department's private finance unit in direct support for the private finance initiative. This does not include costs incurred in support of projects where the possibility of private finance is being explored, or the costs of the projects themselves.

  Air Misses
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many category A air misses between military and civilian aircraft over the United Kingdom have been reported in each year since 1989. [22806]

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested is as follows:

  1989: 12

  1990: 12

  1991: 8

  1992: 9

  1993: 4

  1994: 2

  Training
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what special training is given to persons who have responsibility for assessing the historical significance of documents held by his Department. [23291]

  Mr. Soames
  Training in assessing the significance of departmental records is carried out under the guidance of the Keeper of Public Records. It is provided in a number of different ways, including courses on the appraisal of records and through conferences and seminars arranged by the Public Record Office. Additionally, Ministry of Defence reviewers, who are former senior officials recruited for their breadth of experience of the Department and its business, liaise closely with our historical branches. They work to a comprehensive instructions manual.

  Empty Properties, Berkshire
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from hon. Members in constituencies in Berkshire regarding empty dwellings owned by his Department. [22833]

  Mr. Soames
  My right hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) has corresponded with my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence about married quarters at Clayhill near Burghfield in Berkshire.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many empty dwellings his Department owns in each constituency in Berkshire. [22834]

  Mr. Soames
  As at 31 March, my Department owned the following empty properties in the constituencies of Berkshire:

  Number

  East Berkshire

  14

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  6

  Reading East

  110

  Reading West

  0

  Newbury

  171

  Slough

  2

  Wokingham

  0

  A large number of the vacant properties are either undergoing or awaiting major maintenance work, already

  529
  allotted to service families due to move in shortly or form part of the management margin needed to ensure that accommodation is available for entitled service families.

  Of the 171 vacant properties in Newbury, 72 are in the process of being sold.

  Land Mines
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) of 27 January,Official Report, column 445, for what reasons Her Majesty's Government do not include land mines possessing a self-destruct mechanism in their moratorium on the export of land mines. [23094]

  Mr. Freeman
  As announced by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, on 15 March 1995,Official Report, column 862, the Government have extended the moratorium on the export of anti-personnel land mines, so that it is now prohibited to export non-self-destruct and non-detectable anti-personnel land mines to any destination, and to export any type of anti-personnel land mine to countries which have not ratified the United Nations weaponry convention.

  Telephones
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what costs his Department have incurred during the last 12 months as a result of cloning of mobile telephones being utilised by his Department, with particular reference to the making of unauthorised calls; [23496]

  (2) how many mobile telephones being utilised by his Department have been cloned during the last 12 months; [23501]

  (3) what steps his Department has taken to prevent the cloning of telephones being utilised by his Department; and if his Department has discussed this matter with any official agencies; [23464]

  (4) what representations his Department has made to the Department of Trade and Industry concerning the need for legislation to prevent the cloning of mobile telephones. [23471]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 9 March 1995]: The cloning of mobile telephones used by my Department has so far affected only telephones fitted in official cars. The Department's records show that 27 official car telephones have been cloned during the last 12 months. To prevent further cloning all official car phones are being upgraded to a global system for mobile communications models operating on digital networks. There is no evidence that GSM digital telephones can be cloned in the same manner as analogue mobile telephones.

  The cost of unauthorised calls, as a result of a mobile telephone being cloned, is borne by the service provider and not charged to my Department. The cost of the car conversion to a digital GSM telephone is approximately £340 excluding VAT.

  We have worked very closely with telephone service providers and cellular network operators to prevent the cloning of mobile telephones. My Department has made no official representation to the Department of Trade and Industry about the need for legislation to prevent the cloning of mobile telephones.

  Allowances
  Mr. Fatchett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 25 April,Official Report, columns 491–94, what was the total amount paid in allowances in 1993–94 and 1994–95; and if he will set out the occasions during the last 10 years when the allowances have been revised. [22189]

  Mr. Soames
  [holding answer 2 May 1995]: The total amount paid in allowances to attaches and advisers in 1993–94 and 1994–95 was £3,946,000 and £3,491,000 respectively. These totals include cost of living and related allowances—which are paid to all personnel serving overseas—as well as those allowances which are related to the particular post. Allowances are reviewed at regular monthly intervals, except for representational attachment allowance which is assessed annually.

HEALTH

  Primary Care and Deprivation
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the relationship between primary care spending and deprivation. [21928]

  Mr. Malone
  Extra funds are made available to general practitioners working in under-privileged areas through the deprivation payment scheme.

  Agency Staff
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is her Department's estimate of the use of agency staff in the NHS over the last five years. [21994]

  Mr. Malone
  The tables show the whole-time equivalent numbers of agency nurses, midwives, medical and dental staff working in the national health service over the last five years.

  NHS hospital and community health service agency nursing and midwifery staff England 1989–93 As at 30 September for each year

  Qualified and Unqualified whole-time equivalents

  1989

  7,230

  1990

  6,710

  1991

  3,930

  1992

  3,230

  1993

  4,780

  Source: PD(STATS) Medical and Non-Medical Workforce Censuses.

  Note:

  All figures are rounded to the nearest ten whole-time equivalents.

  Hospital Medical and Dental Agency Staff England 1989–93. As at 30 September, for each year

  Qualified whole-time equivalents

  1989

  480

  1990

  500

  1991

  480

  1992

  540

  1993

  510

  Source: PD(STATS) Medical and Non-Medical Workforce Censuses.

  Note:

  All figures are rounded to the nearest ten whole-time equivalents.

  Medical Negligence
  Mr. Kevin Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations she has received on the length of time taken to resolve medical negligence claims involving the national health service. [22201]

  Mr. Malone
  Hon. Members have asked two questions on this subject this year and, in addition, we have received representations about two individual cases.

  Ministerial Visits
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals in inner and greater London(a) she and (b) the Minister of State have visited in the last 12 months; and on what dates. [22652]

  Mr. Malone
  There have been numerous visits to hospitals in inner and greater London during the past year. The information is shown in the table.

  Minister

  Hospital

  Date

  Minister for Health (Dr. Mawhinney)

  Queen Mary's University hospital

  16 May 1994

  Minister for Health (Dr. Mawhinney)

  Harefield hospital

  13 June 1994

  Minister for Health (Dr. Mawhinney)

  Royal London Homeopathic hospital

  16 June 1994

  Secretary of State

  St. George's hospital

  20 June 1994

  Minister for Health (Dr. Mawhinney)

  Charing Cross hospital

  4 July 1994

  Minister for Health (Mr. Malone)

  St. Charles hospital

  27 July 1994

  Minister for Health (Mr. Malone)

  King's College hospital school of medicine and dentistry

  27 July 1994

  Secretary of State

  Royal National Throat Nose and Ear hospital

  15 September 1994

  Minister for Health (Mr. Malone)

  St Giles' hospital, Camberwell (Optimum Health Services NHS Trust)

  4 October 1994

  Secretary of State

  Lewisham and Guy's Mental Health NHS Trust

  17 October 1994

  Minister for Health (Mr. Malone)

  Royal London hospital

  20 October 1994

  Secretary of State

  Chelsea and Westminster hospital

  13 November 1994

  Minister for Health (Mr. Malone)

  St. Bartholomew's hospital

  1 December 1994

  Minister for Health (Mr. Malone)

  Guy's hospital

  7 December 1994

  Minister for Health (Mr. Malone)

  Homerton hospital, London Chest hospital

  16 January 1995

  Minister for Health (Mr. Malone)

  St. Thomas' hospital

  18 January 1995

  Minister for Health (Mr. Malone)

  Royal Homeopathic hospital

  8 February 1995

  Minister for Health (Mr. Malone)

  University College London hospital

  8 March 1995

  Secretary of State

  King's College hospital

  22 March 1995

  Minister for Health (Mr. Malone)

  The London Hospital for Sick Children

  27 March 1995

  Minister for Health (Mr. Malone)

  King's College hospital

  27 March 1995

  Minister for Health (Mr. Malone)

  St. Ann's hospital (Haringey Community Services NHS Trust)

  21 April 1995

  Minister for Health (Mr. Malone)

  Western Eye hospital (St. Mary's NHS Hospital Trust)

  1 May 1995

  HIV and AIDS
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the research sponsored by her Department and the amount spent on each project for(a) AIDS/HIV prevention and (b) AIDS/HIV treatment, for the last five years for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [22669]

  Mr. Malone
  The main agency through which the Government support research into HIV and AIDS is the Medical Research Council which receives its grant-in-aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

  Over the last five financial years the Department of Health has contributed to the MRC's work to a value of £1,233,161 in 1990–91, £2,000,700 in 1991–92, £1,708,967 in 1992–93, £1,794,722 in 1993–94 with a £1,210,000 estimated expenditure in 1994–95.

  In addition, the Department is funding its own programme of research covering the health and social care for people with HIV/AIDS. Over the last five financial years funding of the programme has been £593,000 in 1990–91, £786,000 in 1991–92, £789,000 in 1992–93, £834,000 in 1993–94 with an estimated expenditure of £955,000 in 1994–95.

  The nature of the work undertaken means that it is not possible to split the research projects between prevention and treatment; many will cover both aspects.

  The work undertaken by the Department is listed in two recent publications, "The Health and Social Care for People with HIV Infection and AIDS" and "Centrally Commissioned Research Programme." Copies of both publications are available in the Library.

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the research work that her Department sponsors on HIV/AIDS which incorporates international co-operation. [22667]

  Mr. Malone
  The Department's programme of policy research covers the delivery of health and social care to people with HIV infection and AIDS in England. Researchers carrying out the work have strong international links but given the nature of the studies sponsored by the Department it is appropriate that they are based in this country.

  Whooping Cough Vaccine
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evaluation her departmental advisers have made of the research by Dr. Michel Odent suggesting a link between whooping cough vaccine and childhood asthma and ear infections. [22895]

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department of Health is aware of Dr. Odent's suggestion that there is an association between the rise in acceptance of whooping cough vaccine, and asthma and other conditions. However, Dr. Odent has failed to consider that until the mid-1970s acceptance of whooping cough vaccine was very high and did not appear then to be linked with asthma. The Public Health Laboratory Service is in close contact with other international agencies investigating this suggestion.

  Complaints Procedure
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy that family health service authorities are informed of, and directed to make maximum use of, the voluntary services of groups of conciliators when dealing with complaints. [22733]

  Mr. Malone
  Since 1990 family health services authorities have been required to make available a process of conciliation to resolve complaints against family health services practitioners. It is for each authority to make appropriate local arrangements for provision of this service.

  Patients
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she is taking to prevent patients being left on trolleys for excessive periods by hospital trusts. [22893]

  Mr. Sackville
  Under the new patients charter for England, any patient who needs to be admitted to hospital through an accident and emergency department can expect to be given a bed as soon as possible, and certainly within three to four hours. From April 1996 this standard will be improved to two hours.

  Local Health Needs
  Mr. Khabra
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to improve the identification of primary health care issues in local areas. [22894]

  Mr. Malone
  Family health services authorities work closely with primary care professionals in their areas to identify and respond to local needs. Subject to Parliament's approval, this function will be strengthened by the establishment of unitary health authorities, from April 1996, to replace district health authorities and family health services authorities. The new health authorities will have overall responsibility for assessing the health care needs of the local population.

  Committee on Safety of Medicines
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements are made for an independent body to oversee the working of the Committee on Safety of Medicines. [22925]

  Mr. Sackville
  The Medicines Commission, established under section 2 of the Medicines Act 1968, has a general function to advise Ministers on matters relating to the Medicines Act or the exercise of any power conferred by it. The commission has a specific duty to review the functions of committees, including the Committee on Safety of Medicines, established under section 4 of the Act. In addition, the commission considers representations made by an applicant or licence holder where the licensing authority has been advised by the CSM to refuse, suspend, revoke or vary a licence.

  Training
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what special training is given to persons who have responsibility for assessing the historical significance of documents held by her Department. [23286]

  Mr. Sackville
  Training in assessing the historical significance of Department of Health records is carried out under the guidance of the Keeper of Public Records. It is provided in a number of different ways, including courses on the appraisal of records and through conferences and seminars arranged by the Public Record Office.

  Drugs and Alcohol Grants
  Mr. Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much each local authority has bid for the drug and alcohol specific grant for 1995–96; and how much was awarded. [23631]

  Mr. Bowis
  A list of bids, made and awarded will be placed in the Library. Local social services authorities submit bids in respect of local voluntary sector projects that they wish to support. Each successful project may be supported for up to three years.

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  Prime Minister's Salary in 1944
  Contaminated Land: Reports
  Contaminated Land: Reports
  Banana Industry: Windward Islands
  Banana Industry: Windward Islands
  ODA's Policy Objectives: Progress Report
  ODA's Policy Objectives: Progress Report
  Abortion and Population Policy
  Abortion and Population Policy