Written Answers of 11 May 1995

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Conflicts of Interest
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions during the last five years(a) civil servants and (b) special advisers in his Department or its agencies have declared conflicts of interest; and how many instructions have been issued about their retention, disposal or management. [21385]

  Mr. Goodlad
  [holding answer 1 May 1995]: Any conflict of interest involving civil servants and special advisers would have been dealt with in accordance with the established guidance. Records of the number of cases are not held centrally.

  Indonesia
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date he sought assurances from the Government of Indonesia that the AR325 three-dimensional radar sensors with data display and handling systems supplied by Plessey Radar would not be deployed in East Timor. [23250]

  Mr. Goodlad
  We received general assurances from the Indonesian Government on 8 June 1994 that British defence equipment would not be used for internal repression in East Timor.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates he sought assurances from the Government of Indonesia that British-supplied defence equipment would not be used against(a) the GAM (Aceh), (b) the OPM—West Papua, Irian Jaya—and (c) FRETELIN—East Timor. [23238]

  Mr. Goodlad
  We received assurances from the Indonesian Government on 8 June 1994 that British-supplied defence equipment would not be used against civilians in East Timor or in Indonesia.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Indonesian military personnel have been funded by his Department to attend courses in the United Kingdom through the United Kingdom military training assistance scheme in each year since 1 January 1990. [23246]

  Mr. Goodlad
  Details of military training between ourselves and individual countries are confidential between Governments.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date he sought an assurance from the Indonesian Government that Hawk aircraft would not be used for internal security purposes. [23254]

  Mr. Goodlad
  On 24 June 1993.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which date he sought an 536
  assurance from the Indonesian Government that British-supplied defence equipment would not be used for internal security purposes. [23236]

  Mr. Goodlad
  We have on several occasions, most recently on 2 February 1995, sought the assurance of the Indonesian Government that British-supplied defence equipment would not be used for internal repression in Indonesia and East Timor.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many official visitors to the United Kingdom from Indonesia were funded by his Department in 1994; and if he will list the dates of their stay in the United Kingdom. [23252]

  Mr. Goodlad
  Two; on 8 to 11 July.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which date he last sought assurance from the Government of Indonesia that British-supplied defence equipment would not be deployed in East Timor. [23240]

  Mr. Goodlad
  On 2 February 1995.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which date he was made aware that British-supplied Hawk aircraft were in service with one of the Indonesian air force's two counterinsurgency squadrons. [23248]

  Mr. Goodlad
  The British-supplied Hawk aircraft is in use with the Indonesian air force as a jet trainer.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which date he asked for assurances from the Government of Indonesia that the former Royal Navy supply ship, the Green Rover, would not be deployed in the territorial waters of East Timor. [23239]

  Mr. Goodlad
  Specific assurances on the use of this equipment were not sought.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the phrase "internal security purposes", used in his answer of 9 February 1994 to the hon. Member for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke),Official Report, column 283, includes activities by the Indonesian armed forces in East Timor. [23255]

  Mr. Goodlad
  As I explained in my reply to the hon. Member for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke) on 9 February 1994, column 283, the Indonesian Government have given us assurances that Hawk aircraft will not be used for internal security purposes. By their own definition, this includes activities by the Indonesian armed forces in the territory of East Timor.

  We have never recognised Indonesia's annexation of East Timor.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary- of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the phrase "civilian population", as used in his answer of 9 February 1994 to the hon. Member for Monklands, West, (Mr. Clarke),Official Report, column 283, in terms of its application to the populations in Indonesia and East Timor. [23253]

  Mr. Goodlad
  The use of the term "civilian population" was intended to demonstrate our policy of not licensing for export to Indonesia any equipment which we
  537
  consider likely to be used for internal repression in East Timor or Indonesia.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates he sought assurances from the Government of Indonesia that British-supplied defence equipment would not be deployed in East Timor(a) on land, (b) in its territorial waters and (c) in its airspace. [23237]

  Mr. Goodlad
  We have received assurances from the Indonesian Government, on a number of occasions, that British-supplied defence equipment would not be used for internal repression in East Timor. In the case of the Scorpion armoured vehicles, announced by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 2 March 1995, column 716, the Indonesian Government assured us on 2 February 1995 that these vehicles would not be deployed in East Timor.

  Staff numbers not employed in entry clearance work—1992–93

  Head of Post

  Minister

  Counsellor

  First Secretary

  Second Secretary

  Third Secretary

  Support

  LE

  Total

  Abuja

  —

  —

  —

  3

  2

  1

  2

  33.5

  41.5

  Accra

  1

  —

  2

  3

  3

  8

  4

  80.5

  101.5

  Bombay

  1

  —

  —

  2

  1

  2

  1

  62

  69

  Calcutta

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  46

  47

  Colombo

  1

  —

  1

  1

  3

  6

  5

  71.5

  88.5

  Dhaka

  1

  —

  2

  5

  4

  15

  5

  82.5

  114.5

  Islamabad

  1

  —

  4

  10

  6

  14

  12

  123

  170

  Karachi

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  52

  55

  Lagos'

  1

  —

  2

  3

  7

  12

  6

  161

  192

  Madras

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  15.5

  17.5

  Moscow

  1

  1

  8

  10

  17

  19

  23

  79

  158

  New Delhi

  1

  1

  7

  21

  15

  8

  14

  267

  334

  New York

  2

  0

  4

  8

  5

  8

  2

  107

  136

  St. Petersburg

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  2

  10

  14

  Staff numbers not employed in entry clearance work—1993–94

  Head of Post

  Minister

  Counsellor

  First Secretary

  Second Secretary

  Third Secretary

  Support

  LE

  Total

  Abuja

  1

  —

  —

  3

  2

  2

  4

  33.5

  45.5

  Accra

  1

  —

  2

  3

  3

  7

  4

  81.5

  101.5

  Bombay

  1

  —

  —

  2

  1

  2

  1

  63

  70

  Calcutta

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  46

  48

  Colombo

  1

  —

  1

  1

  3

  6

  5

  71.5

  88.5

  Dhaka

  1

  —

  2

  5

  4

  15

  5

  94.5

  126.5

  Islamabad

  1

  —

  4

  10

  6

  14

  12

  123

  170

  Karachi

  1

  —

  —

  1

  1

  2

  2

  52

  59

  Lagos

  1

  —

  2

  3

  7

  13

  6

  169

  201

  Madras

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  15.5

  17.5

  Moscow

  1

  1

  8

  10.5

  17

  20

  23

  91

  171.5

  New Delhi

  1

  1

  6

  20

  15

  7

  14

  267

  331

  New York

  2

  —

  4

  7

  8

  10

  2

  105

  138

  St. Petersburg

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  2

  10

  14

  Staff numbers not employed in entry clearance work—1994–95

  Head of Post

  Minister

  Counsellor

  First Secretary

  Second Secretary

  Third Secretary

  Support

  LE

  Total

  Abuja

  1

  —

  —

  1

  3

  1

  2

  33.5

  41.5

  Accra

  1

  —

  2

  3

  3

  7

  4

  72.25

  92.25

  Bombay

  1

  —

  —

  2

  1

  2

  1

  60

  67

  Calcutta

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  40

  43

  Colombo

  1

  —

  1

  1

  3

  6

  5

  69.5

  86.5

  Dhaka

  1

  —

  2

  5

  4

  16

  5

  70.7

  103.7

  Islamabad

  1

  —

  4

  8

  7

  10

  12

  127

  169

  Karachi

  1

  —

  —

  1

  2

  2

  2

  53

  61

  Overseas Missions (Staff)
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff, and at what grades, who were not employed in entry clearance work were in post in(a) New York, (b) Moscow, (c) St. Petersburg, (d) Accra, (e) Lagos, (f) Abuja, (g) New Delhi, (h) Bombay, (j) Calcutta, (k) Madras, (1) Dhaka, (m) Islamabad, (n) Karachi and (o) Colombo in the financial years (i) 1992–93, (ii) 1993–94 and (iii) 1994–95 to the latest convenient date. [22647]

  Mr. Goodlad
  [holding answer of 9 May 1995]: Details of the staff at the 14 overseas missions listed who are not employed in entry clearance work are given in the table. These figures include some service attachés and staff from other Government Departments and agencies for whom the FCO is not financially responsible. Separate tables are provided for the financial years 1992–93, 1993–94 and 1994–95.
  539

  Staff numbers not employed in entry clearance work—1994–95

  Head of Post

  Minister

  Counsellor

  First Secretary

  Second Secretary

  Third Secretary

  Support

  LE

  Total

  Lagos

  1

  —

  1

  3

  6

  12

  5

  164

  192

  Madras

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  20.35

  22.35

  Moscow

  1

  1

  8

  12

  19

  18

  17

  113

  189

  New Delhi

  1

  1

  6

  10

  10

  3

  13

  286

  330

  New York

  2

  —

  4

  7

  8

  9

  2

  102.5

  134.5

  St. Petersburg

  1

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  11

  14

  Telephones
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [23451]

  Mr. Goodlad
  [holding answer of 9 May 1995]: We supply mobile phones to individuals and departments where this enhances the effectiveness of their work. We cannot provide a breakdown of costs prior to 1993 without incurring disproportionate cost. Costs for the financial years since are:

  11993–94

  11994–95

  £

  £

  80,415

  116,302.36

  1 Aid wing figures not available.

  There are 195 hand-portable sets and 11 car phones in use within the diplomatic and aid wings of the FCO.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [23470]

  Mr. Goodlad
  [holding answer of 9 May 1995]: Neither the FCO nor the ODA has made representations to the DTI regarding the need for legislation to prevent the cloning of mobile telephones.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [23456]

  Mr. Goodlad
  [holding answer 9 may 1995]: The FCO understands there are no commercially available means to prevent cloning. For its part, the Department has initiated thorough checks of itemised billing to ensure unusual call patterns and excessive costs are highlighted and investigated. Additionally, international calls are barred wherever possible.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many mobile telephones being utilised by his Department have been cloned during the last 12 months. [23425]

  Mr. Goodlad
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: This Department has had 10 mobile telephones cloned between November 1994 and April 1995. The ODA has had none.
  540
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [23491]

  Mr. Goodlad
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: This Department has not incurred any costs for the unauthorised use or reprogramming of cloned telephones. All identified costs—approximately £4,000—have been absorbed by the cellular telephone companies.

  Rwanda
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to China in respect of arms sales to Rwanda in breach of the United Nations Security Council resolutions. [23616]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  None.

  The UN sanctions committee has received no evidence of any arms sales by China to Rwanda in breach of the UN arms embargo.

  Central Africa
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the proposed conference on regional problems in central Africa, as proposed by the UK at the United Nations Council, will take place. [23614]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  We recognise the important role of the countries of the region in the search for solutions to this problem in central Africa. The UN Secretary-General is pursuing proposals for a regional conference on peace and security in the Great Lakes region, but no date has yet been set.

  GCHQ Wartime Archive
  Mr. Allason
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to authorise the transfer of all GCHQ's remaining wartime archive to Bletchley park. [23414]

  Mr. Hurd
  None. Bletchley park is not an authorised repository for public records. GCHQ will continue to review its holdings of the wartime archives of the Government code and cypher school, for possible release through the Public Record Office.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Historical Documents
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what special training is given to persons who have responsibility for assessing the historical significance of documents held by his Department.

  Mr. Newton
  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.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  AIDS-HIV Research
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the research sponsored by his Department through the Medical Research Council, 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 he will make a statement. [22668]

  Mr. Horam
  The overall expenditure figures on AIDS research over the last five years are:

  F/Y

  £k

  1989–90

  6,200

  1990–91

  13,300

  1991–92

  15,900

  1992–93

  15,300

  1993–94

  16,200

  The nature of the research is such that a split between prevention and treatment is artificial, as many of the research projects cover both aspects. The overall figures do not therefore draw a distinction between the two.

  I have today placed copies of lists of the HIV and AIDS research projects supported by the MRC in the Libraries of both Houses. These lists show the titles of the projects, by whom they were carried out and the resources allocated. The list indicates both current projects and projects already completed, indicated by -.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Discretionary Social Fund
  Mr. Stephen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes he intends to make to the discretionary social fund, in the light of the changes to the funeral payments regulations announced on 9 May, and if he will make a statement. [24173]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  We are introducing minor improvements to the Secretary of State's directions and guidance to clarify the help available for funeral expenses from the discretionary fund. The revised directions clarify 542
  those circumstances where applicants will have access to loans for funeral expenses.

  Details of the amendments and a revised copy of the Secretary of State's directions and guidance to take effect from 5 June will be placed in the Library.

  Telephones
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security 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. [23463]

  Mr. Hague
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: Cloning is a general problem associated with the use of analogue cellphones. Minimising the risk of cloning would be achieved by moving from analogue to digital cellphones, using the global system for mobile communications, which has wide coverage within the UK and Europe.

  The Department at this stage has not taken any positive steps to prevent cloning and before we do, the cost of the conversion from analogue to digital cellphones must be weighed against an assessment of the cloning exposure.

  The Department has not at this stage discussed this matter with any official agencies.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  EU Standards, Testing and Certification
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he intends to publish the results of his Department's study on standards, testing and certification barriers in the non-harmonised areas of the single market. [24172]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The generic study on standards, testing and certification barriers in non-harmonised areas of the single market is one of a number of studies which arose from my Department's single market compliance unit business plan. Two hundred and fifty businesses and around 100 trade associations were asked whether they had experienced problems in this area and the results of the survey were analysed to discover the nature of the problems and how they would best be tackled.

  Our investigations show that many companies are successfully exporting to other member states, but they confirm that problems are faced by some companies and suggest that these problems may be more significant in certain sectors. Specific problems in exporting to six member states were identified and as might be expected from the size of their markets Germany, in particular, and France specified much more often than other member states, although the numbers of problems identified were still low in absolute terms. Analysis of the problems identified supports the twin approach to resolving conflicts—bilaterally and through direct approaches to the European Commission—as indeed is my Department's usual practice. There is also a need to encourage industry to utilise the benefits of possible agreements under the auspices of the European Organisation for Testing and Certification and to stimulate the work of the European Co-operation for Accreditation of Laboratories and European Accreditation of Certification.

  Our investigations have confirmed that there are gaps in mutual recognition which are detracting from the

  543
  benefits of the single market. I have, therefore, written to the European Commission with the results of the study and I will be raising the study with fellow European Ministers in the Internal Market Council.

  My Department's single market compliance unit will try to resolve, with firms, specific problems identified by the study and my Department's standards policy unit will help to publicise the ways in which mutual recognition may be achieved.

  I have placed in the Library of the House a copy of the report of the study which has been issued.

  Telecommunications
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he supports the European Commission's proposals to allow cable television companies within the European Community to offer telecommunications services; and if he will support action to allow other telecommunications operators to provide entertainment services. [24171]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The Government welcome the Commission proposals to allow cable TV companies to offer telecommunication services, which would bring other member states into line with existing UK practice. The Commission proposals, which are currently subject to public consultation, would not affect member states' existing rules on the provision of entertainment services, nor is there any sign that the Commission would be willing to extend its proposals in this way. The Government would strongly oppose any such action. UK Government policy remains as set out in Command Paper 2734, published in November 1994.

  Insurance Companies
  Mr. French
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to ensure that insurance company orphan funds accrue to policy holders. [23265]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  One of the Department's priorities is to ensure that the balance between policyholders' and shareholders' interests is not affected, as I explained in my answer to the hon. Member for Shoreham (Mr. Stephen) on 24 February 1995,Official Report, column 362.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if children aged under 16 years will still be prohibited from purchasing fireworks which do not contain gunpowder after the coming into force of the Firework (Safety) Revocation Regulations 1995. [23030]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: The supply of fireworks to children apparently under the age of 16 will continue to be prohibited with the coming into force of the Fireworks (Safety) (Revocation) Regulations 1995, by virtue of section 31 of the Explosives Act 1875 as amended, irrespective of whether fireworks contain gunpowder or other explosive substances.

  Inward Investment
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has to encourage inward investment to the United Kingdom. [22252]
  544
  Mr. Eggar
  My Department's Invest in Britain Bureau runs a comprehensive programme for promoting the UK overseas, including company visits, advertising, mail shots, seminars and missions. Within the UK, the IBB will be working with Govnerment offices, regional agencies and others to encourage more systematic cultivation of opportunities for securing new investment by existing companies. The resources of the IBB have also been strengthened with the appointment of a new chief executive from the private sector and a regional director for the far east.

PRIME MINISTER

  Committee on Standards in Public Life
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to receive the first report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life; and if he will make a statement. [24306]

  The Prime Minister
  The first report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, under the chairmanship of Lord Nolan, is being published today as Command Paper 2850. I should like to express my thanks to Lord Nolan and his colleagues for the way in which they have discharged the initial part of the remit which I announced to the House in October. It is welcome that they have reached unanimous recommendations based on open proceedings, and having taken oral and written evidence from a wide cross-section of opinion. The oral evidence they have taken is included in volume II of the report, and written submissions are to be made available at the Public Record Office.

  Lord Nolan has arranged to send a copy of his Committee's report to every Member of the House.

  I believe it is important to maintain the highest possible standards and confidence in public life. I therefore welcome the work the committee has done.

  I accept the broad thrust of the committee's recommendations in so far as they are addressed to the Government. We shall give the report the close study it deserves and then make a detailed response.

  The recommendations which are addressed to this House are, of course, a matter for the House itself to consider, and my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House will arrange an early opportunity for debate.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 11 May. [22391]

  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 11 May. [22393]

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

  Pay Review Bodies
  Mr. Coe
  To ask the Prime Minister what is the current membership of the public sector pay review bodies. [24307]
  545
  The Prime Minister
  The current membership, with effect from 1 April 1995, is listed:

  Senior Salaries Review Body

  Sir Michael Perry CBE (Chairman)

  Professor George Bain

  Mr. Gordon Hourston

  Sir Anthony Wilson

  Sir Sydney Lipworth QC

  Mrs. Rosemary Day

  Miss Patricia Mann

  Mrs. Yve Newbold

  Mr. Mark Sheldon

  Mrs. Beverley Bernard

  Armed Forces Pay Review Body

  Mr. Gordon Hourston (Chairman)

  Mr. Michael Bolton

  Mrs. Dorothy Venables

  Mr. John Cox CBE

  Mr. John Crosby

  Air Chief Marshal Sir Roger Palin KCB OBE

  Mr. Guy Neely

  Sir Gavin Laird CBE (from 1 July 1995)

  Review Body on Nursing Staff Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine

  Mr. Michael Bett CBE (Chairman)1

  Miss Annie Mackie OBE

  Professor Gillian RaabMs Ruth Lea

  Mrs. Sheila Gleig

  Mrs. Anne Dean

  Mr. Lyndon Hadden

  Mr. Gareth Griffiths

  1 Following his appointment as First Civil Service Commissioner, Mr. Bett has indicated that he will be stepping down as chairman of the review body once a successor has been appointed.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Epilepsy
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many deaths were attributed to epilepsy in Northern Ireland in each year since 1990 in each health board area for which information is available. [22841]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The number of deaths registered from, or related to, epilepsy in Northern Ireland for each year from 1990 in each health board area are as follows. Deaths are recorded by date of registration and not by date of occurrence.

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Epilepsy as underlying cause of death

  Eastern health and social services board

  4

  3

  6

  9

  Northern health and social services board

  7

  6

  2

  4

  Southern health and social services board

  4

  3

  6

  3

  546

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Western health and social services board

  4

  2

  1

  3

  Northern Ireland

  19

  14

  15

  19

  Epilepsy as an associated cause of death

  Eastern health and social services board

  16

  13

  13

  17

  Northern health and social services board

  17

  6

  13

  11

  Southern health and social services board

  3

  8

  10

  7

  Western health and social services board

  5

  3

  12

  7

  Northern Ireland

  41

  30

  48

  42

  Note:

  1994 figures will not be available until June.

  Belfast
  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the aims and objectives of the Belfast urban area plan 2001; and how these objectives fit into the aims of the strategy for making Belfast work published in March. [23105]

  Mr. Moss
  The aims and objectives of the Belfast urban area plan 2001 are set out on pages 7 and 16 of the plan, a copy of which is available in the Library. The main focus of the making Belfast work strategy is to increase opportunities for residents of MBW areas to secure employment and to improve their quality of life. These aims complement those set out in the Belfast urban area plan 2001.

  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how relevant the Belfast urban area plan 2001 now is; if the Department of the Environment proposes to undertake a review of the plan; and if the public will be invited to put forward their views. [23106]

  Mr. Moss
  The Belfast urban area plan 2001 remains the statutory plan for Belfast. The Department is currently carrying out a reassessment of development land to ascertain the anticipated requirement for a further release of land reserved for housing in the second phase of the plan. When the draft proposals are published, this will afford the public the opportunity to make representations and a public local inquiry may be held for the purposes of hearing those representations which cannot be resolved.

  Dr. Hendron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how the Department of the Environment is co-ordinating the overall improvement process in Belfast and the different elements of that process; and how elected representatives are involved in these matters. [23107]

  Mr. Moss
  The Department of the Environment co-ordinates the overall improvement process in Belfast through the Belfast development office and the making Belfast work initiative. The Belfast development office has responsibility for physical development in close consultation with the Department's planning service. The making Belfast work initiative acts as a catalyst in providing funding to the public, private and voluntary sectors for social and economic programmes in disadvantaged areas.
  547
  Elected representatives are involved in these matters through direct contact and correspondence with officials and Ministers and through the Department's statutory obligations to consult Belfast city council on planning matters.

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what performance targets have been set for Driver and Vehicle Licensing (Northern Ireland) in 1995–96. [24048]

  Mr. Moss
  For 1995–96 the following key performance targets have been set for the agency:

  To meet an overall efficiency gain of 2 per cent.

  To reduce the unit cost per vehicle excise enforcement case by 0.5 per cent. in real terms compared to 1994–95.

  To dispatch 94 per cent. of registration books for new vehicles in 16 working days from receipt.

  To dispatch 91 per cent. of refunds of vehicle excise duty in 11 working days from receipt.

  To dispatch 93 per cent. of vehicle excise licences in five working days from receipt of postal applications.

  To dispatch 93 per cent. of duplicate vehicle registration books in six working days from receipt of applications.

  To dispatch 93 per cent. of ordinary driving licences in 11 working days of receipt of applications.

  To dispatch 96 per cent. of vocational driving licences in 10 working days from receipt of applications.

  To dispatch 94 per cent. of provisional driving licences in nine working days from receipt of applications.

  To dispatch substantive replies to 95 per cent. of written enquiries for information from the drivers and vehicles registers in four working days from receipt.

  To limit maximum waiting time at local vehicle licensing offices to 25 minutes during peak periods—the first eight and last two working days of each month—and 10 minutes at other periods.

  To limit the error rate—errors on any item sent out by the agency—to a maximum of 0.5 per cent. of total agency output.

  Agricultural Occupancy Conditions
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to review the position regarding agricultural occupancy conditions. [24049]

  Mr. Moss
  Following a review of procedures it has been agreed that the "four-year rule", which requires that enforcement proceedings can be initiated only within four years of a breach, should apply to agricultural occupancy conditions. I have also decided to appoint a consultant to advise on alternatives to the use of occupancy conditions. It is expected that the consultants' report will lead to a further review of policy.

DEFENCE

  Queen's Birthday Parade
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated total cost of this year's Queen's birthday parade. [22938]

  Mr. Soames
  No additional costs are incurred for the men and horses taking part in the parade as they are already funded. Costs will be incurred for hired road 548
  transport, and these are estimated at £12,000. There are other additional costs such as drycleaning of ceremonial uniforms and accommodation services, including facilities, rations and communications. Full details are not recorded separately, however, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Army Deployment
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the strength of the British Army in Northern Ireland at the time of the IRA ceasefire; what reductions in manpower strength have taken place since then; and what is the current strength of the British Army in Northern Ireland. [23042]

  Mr. Soames
  In August 1994, there were some 17,000 soldiers deployed in support of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. This figure included 12 major units deployed to the Province in the infantry role and six battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment. Since the IRA ceasefire, a sub-unit of some 140 personnel has been withdrawn and its task reassigned to other units already in the Province, and two major units have been relocated to their home bases outside Northern Ireland but remain available to the General Officer Commanding and can return at short notice if required. These adjustments have brought the number of soldiers deployed to the Province to some 16,000.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) pursuant to his answer of 28 April,Official Report, column 772, what is the basis upon which the figure of a 14 per cent. reduction in the total stockpile of United Kingdom nuclear weapons is determined; if the stockpile of United Kingdom nuclear weapons is equivalent to the number of warheads actually deployed; and if he will make a statement; [23108]

  (2) pursuant to his oral answer of 28 March to the hon. and learned Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell) Official Report, column 817, if the figure referred to of a 21 per cent. reduction in nuclear warheads is based on a comparison of the total number of nuclear warheads in the United Kingdom's stockpile. [23109]

  Mr. Soames
  The basis of the figures for reductions in our nuclear deterrent is explained in the footnotes to figure 6 on page 39 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1995".

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the four Trident submarines will be deployed with nuclear weapons at any one time. [23110]

  Mr. Soames
  It is our policy to maintain at least one submarine at sea on deterrent patrol at any time.

  Arms Sales Teams (Indonesia)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the dates when Army sales teams have been deployed in Indonesia since 1 January 1990. [23244]

  Mr. Freeman
  Army sales teams were deployed in Indonesia in July and August 1990 and again in February and March 1992.

  Arms Sales (Indonesia)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Provan (Mr. Wray), of 24 April,Official Report, column 394, what defence equipment whose sale to Nigeria was agreed before June 1993 was delivered after that time. [23256]

  Mr. Freeman
  It is our general policy not to reveal details of individual exports of defence equipment. However, the 1994 UK return to the UN register of conventional arms, now in the House of Commons Library, provides information on transfers of defence equipment within seven broad categories.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on which date he approved exports of Hawk 200 series aircraft to Indonesia. [23249]

  Mr. Freeman
  The approval of export licences is a matter for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. It is not the practice to give details of approvals or denials of specific export licence applications, but I can assure the hon. Member that such export licence applications would be considered against the background of an assurance from the Indonesian authorities that Hawk aircraft will not be used against the civilian population or for repressive purposes.

  UK Military Training and Assistance Scheme
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the annual cost to his Department of the UK military training and assistance scheme in each of the last five financial years. [23243]

  Mr. Soames
  The UK military training and assistance scheme is controlled by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which has primary responsibility for funding military assistance. The MOD does not bear any of the costs of UKMTAS. On occasion, however, and where the aims serve defence interests, the MOD agrees to waive the costs of training provided to foreign Governments. The total of these waivers in the last five years is as follows:

  Year

  £ million

  1990–91

  4.6

  1991–92

  4.6

  1992–93

  5.9

  1993–94

  5.1

  1994–95

  15.6

  1 Forecast outturn.

  In addition, some £70,000 was spent in 1993–94 and a further £173,000 in 1994–95 in support of the United Kingdom's programme of bilateral defence contact with central and eastern Europe.

  Details of the assistance provided are confidential between Governments.

  British Defence Advisory Team
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the dates when elements of the British defence advisory team have been deployed in Indonesia since 1 January 1990. [23245]

  Mr. Freeman
  The British defence advisory team visited Indonesia in October 1992.

  Defence Export Services Organisation
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who was the Head of Defence Export Services Organisation in 1991; what was the duration of their contract and their annual salary including bonuses; and from which organisation they were seconded. [23233]

  Mr. Freeman
  Sir Alan Thomas was the Head of Defence Export Services Organisation in 1991. The duration of his contract on secondment from Raytheon Europe Ltd. was five years and his annual salary in 1994, the year he left the Department, was £131,674 plus a performance bonus of up to an annual maximum of £30,000.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the net and gross cost of the Defence Export Services Organisation in 1991–92. [23257]

  Mr. Freeman
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett) on 20 April 1995,Official Report, column 228.

  Land Mines
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a revised list of the criteria he uses for classifying land mines by type. [23067]

  Mr. Freeman
  The NATO standard definition of a mine is"an explosive or material, normally encased, designed to destroy or damage ground vehicles, boats or aircraft, or designed to wound, kill or otherwise incapacitate personnel. It may he detonated by the action of its victim, by the passage of time, or by controlled means".
  There is no NATO standard definition of an anti-tank or anti-personnel land mine: my Department considers an anti-tank land mine to be one which is designed specifically to target tanks or other vehicles; and an anti-personnel land mine to be one designed specifically to target people.

  Defence Equipment Exports
  Mr. Rooker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department and companies owned by his Department work on assisting with the export of defence equipment; and how many of these staff have served in the armed forces. [23359]

  Mr. Freeman
  The Defence Export Services Organisation, which includes the Disposal Sales Agency, exists to help British manufacturers market and sell their products abroad, complementing the wider range of services offered by the DTI. There are 691 staff in the DESO, of whom 233 are serving military personnel, and a further five are retired officers. Records of previous military service, including national service, are not held centrally. IMS Ltd. is wholly owned by the Secretary of State for Defence, but has ceased trading.

  National Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [22976]
  551
  Mr. Freeman
  Since 1991, levels 1 and 2 NVQs in business administration have been recognised qualifications for entry to some junior non-managerial grades in my Department. Recruitment of more junior grades is undertaken by a large number of personnel management authorities throughout the country. Their individual recruitment activities are not co-ordinated centrally, and no central records are maintained of vacancies advertised. Information on the number and percentage of vacancies listing the NVQs as an acceptable criterion of these grades could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Level 3 and 4 NVQs in information technology have been accepted as an entry criterion for recruitment to recently advertised specialist IT executive officer posts. The scope for recognising a wider range of NVQs for recruitment to industrial and non-industrial posts is under review.

  Recruitment of executive officers is undertaken centrally. The current executive officer (IT) recruitment campaign aims to fill 90 posts which equate to 100 per cent. of the total E0(IT) posts advertised by the Department this year.

  VE Day and VJ Day
  Mr. Sykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements have been made for the funding within the defence budget for the national commemorations of the 50th anniversary of both VE day and VJ day. [24051]

  Mr. Soames
  Parliamentary approval for this new service is being sought in the 1995–96 supply estimates for defence: operational and support costs—class I, vote 1. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure of £5,800,000 will be met by a repayable advance from the Contingencies Fund.

  Defence Analytical Services Agency
  Mr. Sykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what performance targets have been set for the Defence Analytical Services Agency for 1995–96. [24052]

  Mr. Soames
  Key targets have been set for the chief executive of the Defence Analytical Services Agency for this financial year and beyond. The targets build on the progress already made by the agency since it formed in July 1992 and are as follows:

  Delivery of customer services
  About three quarters of the agency's business is now covered by service level agreements with customers, which set out the targets and standards for the level of service, timeliness and quality of work. For the remaining parts of the business, for which service level agreements are not appropriate, project agreements are in place. Key targets are:

  (a) To meet at least 95 per cent. of the timeliness and quality targets in the service level agreements and project agreements.

  (b) For all parts of the business, to achieve in the annual customer satisfaction survey at least 90 per cent. of customers expressing themselves satisfied or better with the timeliness, quality of work and helpfulness of staff.

  (c) To improve the quality of published output and to devise a methodology to demonstrate the improvement.

  Efficiency and use of resources
  The agency will be expected to find efficiency savings of 2.5 per cent. to meet the targets laid down in the departmental efficiency plan. The agency will also be required to develop a robust system
  552
  for the Department to produce location statistics for service and civilian personnel.

  Sunken Ship Montgomerie (Explosives)
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what contracts or tenders have been considered in relation to clearing, removing or otherwise dealing with explosives on the ship Montgomerie sunk off Canvey island; with what results; and if he will make a statement; [22619]

  (2) when the explosives on the ship Montgomerie sunk off Canvey island were last inspected; what were the results of that inspection; and how often inspections are undertaken; [22618]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the risk posed to nearby residents, shipping or fishermen, by the explosives on the ship Montgomerie, sunk off Canvey island; and if he will make a statement. [22620]

  Mr. Norris
  I have been asked to reply.

  These are operational matters for the Coastguard agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from C. J. Harris to Dr. Robert Spink, dated 11 May 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions as these deal with operational matters, for which I have responsibility as Chief Executive.
  PQ 1660/94/95. The last survey was completed in September 1993. The Viscount Goschen, Minister for Aviation and Shipping, sent you and other interested MPs copies of the survey report on 26 October 1994 and copies were also placed in the Library of the House of Commons. I am arranging for a further copy to be sent to you.
  The survey found no evidence of any major change to the condition of the wreck and concluded that there was no reason to change the policy of not disturbing it.
  The wreck is surveyed biennially. Another contracted survey will take place this summer supervised by the Ministry of Defence, with the agreement of the Port of Sheerness. When the details are finalised I will write to you, to other local MPs and local authorities in the area to explain what is happening.
  PQ 1661/94/95. Expert opinion, based on the information available about the types of explosives on board, is that the risk of an explosion is remote, and that the best way to keep the risk to an absolute minimum is to leave the wreck undisturbed. The site of the wreck is designated a prohibited area under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973.
  PQ 1673/94/94. No contracts have been considered in relation to disturbing the munitions. Expert opinion is that the risk of an explosion would significantly increase if the wreck were to be disturbed by moving its contents or otherwise dealing with the explosives.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Witness Support Schemes
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects there to be witness support schemes in every magistrates court. [22838]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 10 May 1995]: There are no plans to set up witness support schemes in magistrates courts. Our priority is to implement the royal commission recommendation to establish witness support schemes at all Crown courts. Some 40 schemes are

  553
  already in operation, and additional Home Office funding last year and this will enable victim support to complete the witness service at all 78 Crown court centres by the end of 1995.

  Police Patrol Vehicles (Accidents)
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 4 April,Official Report, column 1019, about road traffic accidents involving police vehicles, how many of the accidents which resulted in civilian injuries in each year involved basic drivers. [23331]

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 4 April,Official Report, column 1019.

  I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the number of accidents involving basic drivers which resulted in civilian injuries is as follows:

  Year

  Accidents involving civilian injuries (total)

  Advanced drivers

  Basic drivers

  Others

  1991

  303

  123

  44

  136

  1992

  294

  121

  52

  121

  1993

  327

  136

  51

  140

  1994

  289

  113

  29

  147

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

  Patients with hospital order for manslaughter, by years to release

  England and Wales

  Number of patients

  Sentence year

  Less than one year

  1 up to 2 years

  2 up to 3 years

  3 up to 4 years

  4 up to 5 years

  5 up to 6 years

  6 up to 7 years

  7 up to 8 years

  8 up to 9 years

  Remains on population

  Total

  1985

  —

  1

  3

  2

  1

  2

  2

  3

  1

  13

  28

  1986

  —

  2

  3

  —

  —

  1

  2

  1

  —

  14

  24

  1987

  2

  1

  3

  3

  2

  3

  —

  —

  —

  19

  33

  1988

  2

  2

  3

  4

  1

  2

  2

  —

  —

  14

  31

  1989

  1

  6

  1

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  23

  34

  1990

  1

  2

  2

  5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  22

  32

  1991

  1

  1

  4

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  26

  33

  1992

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  29

  31

  1993

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  30

  30

  1994—

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  241

  241

  1 Provisional.

  Note:

  In 1988 the total includes one person for whom details are not available.

  Civil Defence
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list(a) existing civil defence facilities currently in operation, (b) the final cost of construction in each case, (c) the numbers employed at each facility and (d) the numbers entitled to use each facility in the event of war. [23170]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  There are no existing civil defence facilities currently in operation. The remaining former regional government headquarters, United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation monitoring posts, and United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation group controls, are awaiting disposal, most by sale on the open market. Prior to

  Passport Applications
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the time it takes to process applications for a British passport; and if he will make a statement. [23658]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  [holding answer 10 May 1995]: On Wednesday 26 April the turnround times for processing properly completed, straightforward applications were:

  Belfast 6 days

  Glasgow 7 days

  Liverpool 7 days

  London 2 days

  Newport 6 days

  Peterborough 5 days

  All the Passport Agency's key targets for 1994–95 were met. This resulted in a reduction in the overall average turnround time from just under eight days to just under seven days.

  Secure Mental Hospitals (Manslaughter Detainees)
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many defendants who pleaded guilty to manslaughter were sentenced to detention in a secure mental hospital in each of the last 10 years: and for how long each of them was detained. [23525]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 10 May 1995]: Information on the plea entered by defendants is not available centrally for those sentenced to detention in a secure mental hospital. The following information is based on those restricted patients with a hospital order who were sentenced for manslaughter.

  commencement of the disposal programme there were 17 RGHQs, 26 UKWMO group controls and 874 UKWMO monitoring posts.

  The cost of construction of Chilmark and Ashdown Forest RGHQs, the only two purpose-built establishments, was approximately £2.1 million, in 1986, and £3 million, in 1989, respectively. Information relating to the cost of construction of all the other facilities either is not available or could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The numbers designated to operate these facilities in the event of war would have ranged from two to three at the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation posts to the 60 at the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation group controls and 150 at the larger RGHQs.
  555
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further assessment he has made of the implications on civil defence in the United Kingdom arising from the peace dividend; and if he will make a statement. [23169]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  Civil defence arrangements are made in the light of assessments of the risks faced by the United Kingdom. There has been no significant change in that assessment of risk since November 1992, when the present arrangements were set in place.

  Animal Procedures Committee
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what appointments he has made recently to the Animal Procedures Committee. [24310]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  I have appointed the following persons to be members of the Animal Procedures Committee for four years with effect from 1 May:

  (i) Miss Cindy Millburn, special projects director, World Society for the Protection of Animals.

  (ii) Dr. Jacqueline Southee, manager, In-vitro Toxicology, Microbiological Associates Ltd.

  (iii) Mr. Les Ward, director, Advocates for Animals.

  Cycling (Footpaths)
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been for cycling on footpaths in(a) the London borough of Newham, and (b) London, in each of the past five years for which records are available. [23154]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information is given in the table. 1994 data will not be available until autumn 1995.

  Number of defendants prosecuted for cycling on footpaths1 within the Metropolitan police,City of Londonand Newham areas and England and Wales 1989–1993

  Area

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  Police Force Area

  Metropolitan Police District

  5

  8

  31

  12

  35

  City of London

  —

  —

  3

  4

  3

  Newham Area

  Stratford Petty Sessional Division

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  West Ham Petty Sessional Division

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  England and Wales

  453

  483

  333

  313

  291

  1 An offence under the Highway Act 1985, section 72, and the Metropolitan Police Act 1939, section 54(7) and byelaws.

  Police Training
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are his estimates for the cost of training needed to enable the police in England and Wales to be fully aware of the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994; and what funding has been made available to police authorities for such training. [23050]

  Mr. Maclean
  The extent to which police officers need to be trained in relation to the provisions of this Act is a matter for individual chief officers to determine. Centrally 556
  produced training material has been made available, free of charge, to all forces; the costs of delivering any training considered necessary will be met from existing police budgets.

  Driving without Insurance
  Mr. French
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many of those convicted of driving without insurance were immediately disqualified in each of the last three years; [23268]

  (2) how many of those convicted of driving without insurance received an endorsement of six or more penalty points in each of the last three years. [23267]

  Mr. Maclean
  The following table gives the available information which relates to the number of convictions for "using a motor vehicle uninsured against third-party risks" in England and Wales for the years 1991 to 1993. Figures for 1994 are not available.

  Convictions for using a motor vehicle uninsured against third—party risks

  Total disqualifications imposed

  Endorsements-without disqualification—with six or more penalty points

  1991

  19,387

  108,638

  1992

  20,762

  125,771

  1993

  25,570

  143,818

  Immigration
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the application made to the United Kingdom post in Islamabad by Mr. Mohammad Rashid and Mrs. Anwar Jahn Rashid—ref: V95/000618—to visit the United Kingdom was referred to him; when it was received; if a recommendation has now been made; and if he will make a statement. [23052]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  This application was not referred to the Home Office for decision or recommendation, but for information to assist the entry clearance officer to reach a decision. The request was received by telex on 24 January, and information was dispatched on 6 March.

  Identity Cards
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of how frequently identity cards with photographs would need to be replaced. [23068]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  We shall be publishing a consultation document about identity cards soon which, among other things, will address this issue.

  Liquor Licensing
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of(a) public houses and (b) other licensed properties in (i) 1980, (ii) 1985, (iii) 1990 and (iv) 1994. [23269]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The available information on licensed premises is published in table 1 of the Home Office "Statistical Bulletin", issue 4/93, "Liquor Licensing Statistics, England and Wales, July 1991-June 1992", a copy of which is in the Library. Information on
  557
  liquor licensing is collected only once every three years on the licences in force in the year of collection and in the previous year.

  Police Deaths
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list names of persons convicted of killing police officers since 1960(a) who are still serving imprisonment together with the date when they are next considered for release on licence and (b) who have been released, with the date of that release; and if he will state for each offender the identity of the officer killed and the dates of the crime and of the sentence. [22896]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Community Service Orders
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders have served more than two community service orders; and what plans he has to set a maximum on the number of such orders that can be served before a custodial sentence must be imposed. [22520]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  A sample of offenders convicted in 1993 suggests that about 3,700 who receive a community service order had been sentenced to community service on at least two previous occasions. It is for the sentencing court to decide whether or not a custodial sentence is justified in the light of all the circumstances before it, having regard to the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 as amended. Those provisions enable the court to take account of the offender's failure to respond to previous sentences.

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to improve community service orders and to ensure that breaches of such orders are properly punished. [22521]

  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  On 9 March, my right hon. and learned Friend published revised national standards for the supervision of offenders in the community, which tighten up the way in which community service orders must be run and enforced. A copy of the 1995 standards is in the Library.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce legislation dealing with criminal injuries compensation. [24309]

  Mr. Howard
  I have today introduced the Criminal Injuries Compensation Bill.

  The Bill provides a power to establish a new criminal injuries compensation scheme. It also repeals the provisions in the Criminal Justice Act 1988, which, if implemented, would have put the old, common law damages scheme on to a statutory footing.

  Following the judgment of the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords, which was delivered on 5 April, I have been giving very careful thought to the arrangements which should be made for compensating those who have the misfortune to be injured as a result of a crime of violence.

  The judgment related to the method of introduction of the tariff scheme, not its merits. The effect of the
  558
  judgment was to require the 1990 common law damages scheme to be reinstated in place of the tariff based approach introduced on 1 April 1994. The costs of the common law damages scheme have risen very substantially since the scheme was first introduced in 1964 and more than doubled in real terms between 1987–88 and 1993–94. Although improvements have been made in administration of the scheme, we believe that a tariff-based approach offers greater scope for further improvement and the speedier settlement of cases. I remain of the view, therefore, that steps need to be taken to constrain future expenditure and to ensure that a quicker service is provided. This cannot be achieved within the framework of a system based entirely upon common law principles. I remain therefore of the view that the 1990 common law damages scheme should be replaced by a new tariff-based approach.

  I have, however, considered very carefully the concerns which have been expressed about the effect which such an approach may have on those who are most seriously injured. We all have immense sympathy for such victims and the Government are anxious to do all that they can to safeguard the position of victims. I have therefore come to the view that the tariff-based approach should be enhanced to provide payment for loss of earnings and special care for those who are incapacitated for more than 28 weeks—the period during which statutory sick pay is payable. I also propose that there should be provision for loss of dependency/support in fatal cases. In addition, I propose that structured settlements should be available: these will greatly help those receiving the higher awards by providing a guaranteed, index-linked, tax-free income for life, thus considerably increasing the net benefit of the award for many victims.

  I believe that a scheme of this sort will he fair while at the same time providing a mechanism for controlling future expenditure. Further details of the proposed scheme are set out in a paper entitled "Criminal Injuries Compensation: proposals for a Tariff Based Scheme" which has been placed in the Library and the Vote Office.

  Ours is the most generous compensation scheme in the world. We pay out more compensation than all other European countries added together. That will remain the case under our new proposals.

TRANSPORT

  Aircraft (Electronic Interference)
  Sir Peter Fry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ask the Civil Aviation Authority to undertake an urgent investigation into the interference in aircraft navigation and other systems in flight caused by(a) laptop computer and (b) other electrical devices. [23143]

  Mr. Norris
  The Civil Aviation Authority participates, with the Defence Research Agency and representatives of the airline and aerospace manufacturing industry, in the Electro Magnetic Compatibility Club. The assistance and advice of the club has been sought on the subject of passengers' portable electronic equipment. The CAA's research programme currently includes a project to extend this work to include passengers' mobile telephones.

  Illegal Operations Working Group
  Mr. Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what initiatives the illegal operations working group has taken forward over the last 12 months; and what recommendations it has published. [24050]

  Mr. Norris
  Initiatives which the group has been taking forward are detailed in an annual report which has today been circulated to those organisations with an interest in goods vehicle enforcement. A copy of the group's 1994 report has been placed in the Library of the House.

ENVIRONMENT

  Conservation Sites
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the consequences of farm land being designated as a special area of conservation under the EU habitats directive. [22139]

  Mr. Atkins
  The regulations implementing the habitats directive are based in the existing provisions applying to sites of special scientific interest. In the vast majority of cases, the nature conservation interests for which sites on land will be selected as special areas of conservation will be very similar to those for which these sites will already be protected as SSSIs. In most cases, management measures which have conserved these sites in the past as SSSIs will continue to be appropriate when they become SACs.

  The Conservation (Natural Habitats, & Regulations 1994 introduce the following measures for European sites, including SACs:
  a duty on the statutory nature conservation agencies not to give consent to potentially damaging operations which will adversely affect the integrity of the site, and to offer a management agreement;
  powers to review existing consents for potentially damaging operations;
  powers for the statutory nature conservation agencies to make byelaws to control the activities of third parties;
  powers for the Secretary of State to make special nature conservation orders, to prevent damage, which are not time limited;
  changes to planning law to give effect to the directive's requirements in terms of the consideration and approval of plans and projects likely to affect sites.

  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the requirements and benefits of designation as(a) a site of special scientific interest; (b) a special protection area; (c) a Ramsar site; (d) a national nature reserve and (e) a special area of conservation. [22138]

  Mr. Atkins
  The various designations indicate a site's national or international importance for nature conservation and the level of protection to be given to its wildlife and natural features under both wildlife and planning legislation. Each of the designations referred to by my hon. Friend plays its part in meeting th Government's commitment to sustainable development,560
  and in particular to conserving the natural heritage for the benefit of this and future generations:

  (a) sites of special scientific interest are notified by English Nature under section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for their special interest by reason of their flora, fauna, or geological or physiographical features. SSSIs are protected from damaging operations and the notification is a material factor in the consideration of any development proposal that might affect the site;

  (b) special protection areas are classified by my right hon. Friend under the EC wild birds directive to safeguard the habitats of bird species listed in annexe 1 to the directive and of regularly occurring migratory species;

  (c) Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance, which are designated by my right hon. Friend in fulfilment of the United Kingdom's obligations under the convention on wetlands of international importance, the Ramsar convention, to conserve wetlands and foster their wise use;

  (d) national nature reserves are declared by English Nature under section 35 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Their essential characteristic is that their primary use is for nature conservation;

  (e) no special areas of conservation have yet been designated. A list of possible SACs is currently the subject of public consultation. SACs are to be sites hosting the natural habitat types and habitats of the species listed in the EC habitats and species directive. Member states are required to establish the necessary conservation measures which correspond to the ecological requirements of the site.

  These designations are not mutually exclusive. Indeed, it is the Government's policy that SPAs, Ramsar sites, NNRs and SACs shall first be notified as SSSIs. Further details on these designations are given in planning policy guidance note 9, issued in October 1994, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Housing Associations
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion, by local authority in the west midlands, of the Housing Corporation's approved development programme for 1995–96 will be used by housing associations for rehabilitating existing properties(a) for rent and (b) for shared ownership; how many units of accommodation this will cover; and how this compares with his Department's original ADP funding intentions for 1995–96, as set out in the 1992 "Autumn Statement". [22720]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: The table shows the proportion, by local authority in the west midlands, of the Housing Corporation's approved development programme for 1995–96 which will be used by housing associations for rehabilitating existing properties (a) for rent and (b) for shared ownership; and the related units of accommodation. No regional allocation was made of the 1995–96 ADP as set out in the 1992 "Autumn Statement".
  561

  West Midlands allocations 1995–96

  Rental Accommodation

  Shared Ownership1

  Local Authority

  Total allocation (£000)

  Related units

  Rehab allocation (£'000)

  Related units

  Per cent. Rehab allocation

  Total allocation (£'000)

  Related units

  Rehab allocation (£'000)

  Related units

  Per cent, rehab allocation

  Birmingham

  1,182

  631

  489

  268

  41

  1,324

  96

  286

  19

  22

  Bridgnorth

  183

  10

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Bromsgrove

  209

  10

  0

  0

  0

  54

  4

  0

  0

  0

  Cannock Chase

  320

  12

  320

  12

  100

  57

  4

  0

  0

  0

  Coventry

  1,587

  86

  644

  30

  41

  181

  15

  44

  5

  24

  Dudley

  1,030

  45

  991

  44

  96

  44

  5

  44

  5

  100

  East Staffordshire

  416

  24

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Hereford

  463

  25

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Leominster

  189

  10

  189

  10

  100

  50

  4

  0

  0

  0

  Lichfield

  450

  32

  0

  0

  0

  9

  2

  0

  0

  0

  Malvern Hills

  355

  16

  0

  0

  0

  52

  4

  0

  0

  0

  Newcastle-under-Lyme

  579

  19

  579

  19

  100

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North Shropshire

  233

  12

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North Warwickshire

  401

  27

  79

  4

  20

  85

  7

  0

  0

  0

  Nuneaton and Bedworth

  485

  21

  155

  7

  32

  36

  3

  0

  0

  0

  Oswestry

  205

  18

  0

  0

  0

  22

  2

  0

  0

  0

  Redditch

  191

  16

  39

  2

  21

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Rugby

  273

  27

  120

  14

  44

  23

  2

  0

  0

  0

  Sandwell

  1,771

  83

  763

  38

  43

  189

  14

  18

  2

  9

  Shrewsbury and Atcham

  450

  32

  0

  0

  0

  189

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Solihull

  721

  39

  200

  10

  28

  111

  11

  0

  0

  0

  South Herefordshire

  239

  13

  0

  0

  0

  76

  6

  0

  0

  0

  South Shropshire

  220

  24

  220

  24

  100

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  South Staffordshire

  363

  16

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Stafford

  402

  20

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Staffordshire Moorlands

  342

  18

  0

  0

  0

  81

  5

  81

  5

  100

  Stoke-on-Trent

  2,044

  130

  650

  44

  32

  53

  6

  53

  6

  100

  Stratford-on-Avon

  269

  12

  172

  7

  64

  35

  5

  0

  0

  0

  Tamworth

  203

  11

  38

  2

  19

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  The Wrekin

  448

  38

  0

  0

  0

  66

  5

  66

  5

  100

  Walsall

  2,128

  107

  60

  4

  3

  251

  20

  0

  0

  0

  Warwick

  565

  27

  260

  12

  46

  81

  6

  0

  0

  0

  Wolverhampton

  1,692

  105

  610

  34

  36

  367

  30

  171

  15

  47

  Worcester

  432

  21

  0

  0

  0

  63

  5

  0

  0

  0

  Wychavon

  349

  14

  0

  0

  0

  34

  3

  0

  0

  0

  Wyre Forest

  800

  90

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1 Associations' development for shared ownership sale. Excludes do-it-yourself shared ownership.

  Deyntes Cottage, Northolt
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will call in the current planning application to Ealing council concerning Deyntes cottage, Northolt; and if he will make a statement. [23137]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I am considering the case and will write to my hon. Friend shortly.

  Surcharged Councillors
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many councillors in England have been surcharged or prosecuted as a consequence of taking decisions in relation to the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980; [23341]

  (2) how many councillors in England have been surcharged or prosecuted as a consequence of taking decisions in relation to the Local Government Act 1988. [23342]

  Mr. Curry
  My Department does not keep records of such actions.

  Local Authority Contracts
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list by authority and service area the number of full-time equivalent job losses experienced by local authority direct labour/service organisations in England operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988 for the financial years 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94; [23333]
  562
  (2) if he will list by authority and service area the number of full-time equivalent job losses experienced by local authority direct labour/service organisations in England operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 for the financial years 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94. [23334]

  Mr. Curry
  My Department does not keep this information.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by service area the local authorities in England that have been challenged by his Department under regulations issued under section 9 of the Local Government Act 1992 in relation to their internal arrangements for establishing client/contractor splits. [23335]

  Mr. Curry
  Although we have received allegations of anti-competitive behaviour by local authorities about the arrangements for establishing a client/contractor split, none has proceeded to statutory action. Records are not available by service area of the allegations which have been received.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many local authority direct labour/service organisations in England, operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 have achieved the required rate of return for the financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94;
  563
  (2) how many local authority direct labour/service organisations in England, operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988, have achieved the required rate of return for the financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94. [23338]

  Mr. Curry
  For the financial year 1992–93, my Department recorded 2,409 accounts for direct service/labour organisations under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 and Local Government Act 1988. Some 2,060 of these accounts—85.5 per cent.—recorded that the DLO or DSO had met the statutory financial objective.

  For 1993–94, 2,381 accounts were received of which 2,057–86.4 per cent.—recorded that the financial objectives had been met.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by authority and service area the recorded deficits made by local authority direct labour/service organisations in England that have failed to meet the rate of return requirements operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 and the Local Government Act 1988, for the financial years 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94 expressed in both absolute and percentage terms. [23336]

  Mr. Curry
  Three hundred and twenty-four—13.6 per cent.—of the 2,381 local authority direct labour/service organisation accounts for 1993–94 received by my Department recorded a failure to meet the rate of return requirements.

  For 1992–93, 2,409 accounts were received of which 349—14.5 per cent.—recorded a failure to meet the rate of return requirements.

  For 1991–92, 2,260 accounts were received of which 320—14.2 per cent.—recorded a failure to meet the rate of return requirements.

  For 1990–91, just over 2,000 accounts were received of which 330—14.8 per cent.—recorded a failure to meet the rate of return requirements.

  Detailed lists for the years 1991–92 to 1993–94 have been placed in the Library of the House. A list for 1990–91 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list, by authority, the surplus achieved on trading accounts for the financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94 for(a) general highways work, (b) construction and maintenance of sewers, (c) works of new construction and (d) maintenance work, delivered by local authorities' direct labour/service organisations in England under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980; [23320]

  (2) if he will list, by authority, the surplus achieved on trading accounts for the financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94 for (a) refuse collection, (b) street cleaning, (c) building cleaning, (d) school and welfare catering, (e) other catering, (f) vehicle maintenance, (g) ground maintenance and (h) sports and leisure maintenance, delivered by local authorities' direct labour/service organisations in England under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988; [23321]

  (3) if he will list, by authority and service area, as defined by the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980, surpluses achieved by local authority direct labour/service organisations in England for the financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94;
  564
  (4) if he will list, by authority and service area, as defined by the Local Government Act 1988, surpluses achieved by local authority direct labour/service organisations in England for the financial years 1992–93 and 1993–94. [23323]

  Mr. Curry
  Some 2,074—87.1 per cent.—of the 2,381 local authority direct service/labour organisation accounts for 1993–94 received by my Department recorded surpluses. A detailed list has been placed in the Library of the House. Lists for 1992–93 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Sulphur Emissions
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is in a position to issue new sulphur emissions allocations under the national plan to large combustion plant in the other industry sector. [24262]

  Mr. Atkins
  The EC large combustion plant directive requires member states to draw up programmes for the progressive reduction of total annual emissions from existing plants of sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen with the aim of complying with the ceilings and percentage reductions laid down in the directive. The UK national plan for meeting these commitments was made in 1990. Existing large combustion plant are, under the plan, grouped into three sectors: electricity supply, refineries, and the remaining plant grouped together as "other industry".

  In the other industry sector it was expected that the replacement of existing plant with new plant would over time lead to a reduction in the sector allocations for permitted levels of SO2 emissions. This reduction has taken place more slowly than anticipated. As a result, forward allocations for 1996 exceeded the sector total in the national plan. Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, which has responsibility for allocating the sector total between sites, therefore consulted last year on a revised method of allocation. Following that consultation, Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has today issued revised allocations to sites in England and Wales for 1996, 1997 and 1998.

  The existing national plan is likely to be superseded in due course by a wider national strategy aimed at delivering the UK's commitment under the second United Nations Economic Commission for Europe sulphur protocol. The targets under the protocol for an 80 per cent. reduction over 1980 levels in SO2 emissions from all sources by 2010 are likely to require some reduction in the existing national plan targets for total emissions in 1999 and subsequent years. We hope to consult later in the year on proposals for the new national strategy.

  Climate Change Programme
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he will take to enhance the climate change programme following the recent announcement concerning the fossil fuel levy. [24305]

  Mr. Gummer
  My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has announced that he proposes to privatise parts of Nuclear Electric during 1996, and at the same time to end payments from the fossil fuel levy to the company, ahead of the original schedule. Our climate change programme and recently published forecasts
  565
  assumed the original schedule for the termination of these payments.

  Early termination will mean that electricity prices will fall sooner than anticipated, which may result in some corresponding increase in the output of carbon dioxide in the short term. I am determined to ensure that we sustain momentum for increased energy efficiency, and continue to give the strong lead we have established internationally on climate change, most recently at the first conference of parties to the climate change convention in Berlin. I am therefore pleased to announce that I shall make available to the Energy Saving Trust an additional £25 million a year to promote energy efficiency measures, from 1996 until the gas and electricity markets are fully liberalised.

  Following my earlier announcement of support for its running costs, the Energy Saving Trust is currently drawing up new plans. I intend to invite the trust to use the coming year to prepare a number of cost-effective proposals for my consideration. I will make money available for the best ones within the £25 million ceiling.

  I shall be looking for innovative pump-priming schemes involving all fuels, which require funding to get started and which are designed to take advantage of and enhance the effectiveness of the developing competitive markets for energy and energy services. I shall be looking for a positive emphasis on demand-side management measures and on the development of energy services companies.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Historical Documents
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what advice he gives to Departments concerning the training of persons with responsibility for assessing the historical significance of documents held in those Departments. [23180]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Guidance is issued by the Keeper of Public Records. Section 3(2) of the Public Records Act 1958 prescribes that every person responsible for public records shall perform his duties under such guidance, which is detailed in the Public Record Office's "Manual of Records Administration".

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what special training is given to persons who have responsibility for assessing the historical significance of documents held by his Department. [23283]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  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.

  Female Poll Tax and Fine Defaulters
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many cases of women being gaoled for poll tax and fine default have had those convictions ruled unlawful in the High Court since 1989. [23151]
  566
  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 M. Huebner to Ms Janet Anderson, dated 10 May 1995:
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, has asked me to reply to your question about the number of convictions which have been ruled unlawful by the High Court involving women gaoled for poll tax and fine default.
  I am sorry to have to tell you that this information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  State Papers
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the official definition of a state paper. [22935]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I understand the expression "State Papers" to signify those papers which are created or acquired by Ministers, officials or other Crown servants by virtue of the office they hold under, or their service to, the Crown. Whether or not the Crown can claim ownership of any wider class of papers will depend on the circumstances of the case.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in what circumstances state papers are permitted to be held in private hands. [22936]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  State papers are normally held by the Crown. In very rare circumstances, they may be held in private hands, normally when permission has exceptionally been given to a former Minister or public servant to retain possession of them. Examples of such circumstances are given in part 1 of the report of the Committee of Privy Counsellors on Ministerial Memoirs, Cmnd 6386, also known as the Radcliffe committee.

  Solicitors
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what action he plans to take in respect of solicitors who persuade criminals to take civil cases against the police. [22732]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Solicitors are duty bound to act in the best interests of and on the instructions of their clients and, subject to means and eligibility tests, will apply for legal aid to take or defend actions where appropriate on behalf of their clients.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will take urgent action to limit legal aid in fraud cases to a maximum of £10,000. [22742]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor has recently announced the proposals he intends to take forward following the consultation paper on legal aid for the apparently wealthy. The Lord Chancellor will issue a Green Paper on the future of legal aid very soon. That will address the provision of legal aid in both civil and criminal cases.

  Leasehold
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what effect the recent leasehold valuation tribunal decision on the Westminster Grosvenor estate will have on recent legislation providing for leasehold enfranchisement; and if he will make a statement. [23345]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 enables leasehold valuation tribunals to approve estate management schemes, if the tribunal is satisfied that this is in the general interest having regard to the matters specified in the Act. The Grosvenor estate, Mayfair, applied for a scheme, and following a hearing the tribunal approved it. I understand that this decision is being appealed to the Lands Tribunal.

HEALTH

  Mental Health Care
  Ms Jowell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the amount spent per head of the population on NHS mental health care in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and Newcastle in each year since 1991. [21916]

  Mr. Bowis
  Figures are shown in the table. Comparable figures are not available prior to 1991–92.

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  £

  £

  £

  London

  60.05

  65.00

  63.46

  Newcastle

  88.64

  70.00

  71.74

  Birmingham

  47.11

  51.95

  52.10

  Manchester

  61.84

  72.92

  51.93

  Liverpool

  33.51

  41.03

  47.37

  Sources:

  1. Annual financial returns of health authorities.

  2. Mid-year population estimates.

  Notes:

  1. Figures for 1993–94 are provisional.

  2. Figures are for services purchased by district health authorities and do not include expenditure by general practitioner fundholders.

  3. Figures do not include expenditure on services for people with learning disabilities.

  In addition, of course, local authorities in these cities would also incur expenditure as a result of their responsibilities for the care of mentally ill people.

  Serious Bowel Disease
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) on what date Ministers were first informed of the research project recently reported in The Lancet, into possible links between immunisation for measles and serious bowel disease; [22624]

  (2) on what date Ministers were first informed of the findings of the research project recently reported in The Lancet, into possible links between immunisation for measles and serious bowel disease. [22625]

  Mr. Sackville
  The chief medical officer was first informed of the scope of the Royal Free hospital school of medicine work which was reported in The Lancet recently in September 1994. At that point, he sought
  568
  advice from national and international experts. In January 1995, the Department of Health convened a meeting at which the preliminary results of the Royal Free work were discussed. At that meeting, attended by independent experts, work was also presented on other possible factors in the causation of serious bowel disease including other infectious agents.

  Tobacco
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will provide tables showing for each 5p between 5p and £1, her estimate of the effect on consumption of an increase in the purchase price of an average(a) packet of 20 cigarettes, (b) 250 g of hand-rolling tobacco, (c) packet of five cigars and (d) 250 g of pipe tobacco. [22991]

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department does not hold figures on the effect of price on the consumption of specific tobacco products holding a minor share of the market, such as hand-rolling tobacco, cigars or pipe tobacco. However, studies have shown that a 10 per cent. increase in the price of tobacco products can be expected to lead to a drop of between 3 per cent. and 6 per cent. in consumption. Working on the basis of this relationship the effect of price increases on a packet of cigarettes costing £2.70 would be as follows:

  Increase in price

  Percentage decrease in consumption Per cent.

  5p

  0.6–1.1

  10p

  1.1–2.2

  15p

  1.6–3.2

  20p

  2.1–4.2

  25p

  2.6–5.2

  30p

  3.1–6.1

  35p

  3.6–7.1

  40p

  4.1–8.0

  45p

  4.5–8.8

  50p

  5.0–9.7

  55p

  5.4–10.6

  60p

  5.8–11.3

  65p

  6.3–12.1

  70p

  6.7–12.9

  75p

  7.1–13.7

  80p

  7.5–14.4

  85p

  7.9–15.1

  90p

  8.3–15.9

  95p

  8.7–16.6

  100p

  9.0–17.2

  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on her most recent assessment of the relationship between cigarette advertising and the level of smoking-related illness. [22672]

  Mr. Sackville
  In 1992, the Department of Health reviewed all the available evidence on the effect of tobacco advertising on tobacco consumption. The findings were published as a discussion document, "Effect of Tobacco Advertising on Tobacco Consumption", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her Department's assessment of the relationship of the price of tobacco products to health. [23002]

  Mr. Sackville
  Studies show that a 10 per cent. increase in the price of tobacco products would be expected to lead to a reduction in consumption of between
  569
  3 per cent. and 6 per cent. Since tobacco consumption is harmful to health, increases in price can therefore be expected to have a beneficial effect on health.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she last discussed, and when she next plans to discuss, tobacco pricing with a(a) European Union health ministers and (b) Group of Seven member country Health Ministers; and if she will make a statement. [22954]

  Mr. Sackville
  The European Community Health Council last discussed smoking at its meeting on 22 December 1994, including the importance of price in reducing tobacco consumption. There is no specific date for the next discussion, although this issue is regularly raised at meetings between Ministers and other European Health Ministers. Indirect taxation issues are of course a matter for Finance Ministers.

  There have been no meeting of the Group of Seven member country Health Ministers, nor are any planned.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the percentage of the population by(a) age, (b) sex and (c) socio-economic grouping consuming each different type of tobacco product for each year since 1965; and if she will give her estimate of levels of consumption for the current year among each of these groups. [22992]

  Mr. Sackville
  The available data will be placed in the Library.

  The tables give the percentage of adults estimated to smoke cigarettes, cigars and pipes and of under-16s estimated to smoke cigarettes. Data on other types of tobacco products are not available.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations she has received in the last year concerning the effect of the price of tobacco products on levels of consumption; how many have been in favour of (a) an increase and(b) a decrease in price; and if she will list the representations received. [22953]

  Mr. Sackville
  Tobacco taxation policy is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

  The available records show that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health received 12 letters on this subject in the last year. Six of the correspondents were in favour of price increases, four wished to see no further rise, while the remaining two suggested that price rises would not achieve any reduction in consumption.

  NHS Staff Retirement
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total of NHS staff(a) retiring on pension and (b) taking early retirements on pension for each of the last 10 years; and what was the annual cost of early retirements in each of the last 10 years. [22739]

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

  Letter from A. F. Cowan to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 11 May 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question as it falls within my area of responsibility.
  A breakdown of the figures in the format requested is not available. We are however able to provide the following information:
  Age retirements over the last 4 years:
  570

  Age Retirements

  Year

  Number

  1991–92

  11,734

  1992–93

  12,774

  1993–94

  9,635

  1994–95

  11,364

  Ill-health retirements over the last 4 years:

  Ill-health Retirements

  Year

  Number

  1991–92

  7,387

  1992–93

  8,381

  1993–94

  8,613

  1994–95

  8,484

  Early retirements over the last 4 years:

  Early retirements

  Year

  Number

  1991–92

  3,108

  1992–93

  4,033

  1993–94

  6,318

  1994–95

  5,564

  The value of early retirements including ill-health retirements to the scheme over the last 3 years is:

  Year

  £ million

  1992–93

  137.291

  1993–94

  158.827

  1994–95

  211.383

  GP Fundholding
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidelines she has issued to general practitioner fundholders regarding the assessment of a patient's needs as medical or social; [22693]

  (2) what guidelines she has issued to general practitioner fundholding practices regarding the maintenance of respite care provided by general practitioners. [22695]

  Mr. Malone
  The explanatory booklet "General Practitioners and Caring for People", issued in October 1992, provided guidance for general practitioners on the implications of the community care reforms. In addition, HSG(95)8 sets out NHS responsibilities, including those of fundholding GPs for meeting continuing health care needs. Fundholding GPs do not purchase respite care other than through the total purchasing pilot projects, where fundholding GPs work in partnership with health authorities to purchase the full range of health care for their patients.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many general practitioner fundholders employed community psychiatric nurses in each of the last five years; [22845]

  (2) how many general practitioner fundholders employed health visitors in each of the last five years; [22846]

  (3) how many health visitors were employed by general practitioner fundholding practices in each of the last five years. [22847]
  571
  Mr. Malone
  None. Fundholding general practitioners do not directly employ nurses providing these services. Fundholding general practitioners may contract for these services with an established national health service provider of community nursing services or with a provider of community mental health services.

  Liver Complaints
  Mr. Critchley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to increase the number of specialist intensive care units for liver complaints. [23077]

  Mr. Sackville
  None. Specialist units for treating liver failure are provided under the supra-regional arrangements. They are funded centrally to meet the level and quality of service required.

  Newham General Hospital
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will request the East London and City health authority, or other appropriate body, to conduct an inquiry related to the relevant parts of the Medical Act 1983, into the participation by a theatre assistant in an operation at Newham general hospital conducted earlier this year. [23119]

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

  Children in Care
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in how many cases the children of women serving custodial sentences for fine defaulting have been taken into care since 1989. [23152]

  Mr. Bowis
  This information is not available centrally.

  Junior Doctors' Hours
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many junior doctors and dentists, by region, remain outside the current new deal limits for contracted hours in on-call posts; and if she will make a statement. [24261]

  Mr. Malone
  The new deal on junior doctors' hours, a copy of which is in the Library, currently requires that no junior doctor or dentist should be contracted for an average of more than 72 hours a week in a hard-pressed post. At 8 February 1995, the returns from the eight regions in England were as follows:

  Hard-pressed on-call posts contracted for more than 72 hours a week

  Region

  March 1994

  September 1994

  February 1995

  Northern and Yorkshire

  1,433

  878

  162

  Trent

  342

  175

  60

  Anglia and Oxford

  517

  306

  189

  North Thames

  1,094

  773

  178

  South Thames

  879

  411

  95

  South and West

  452

  148

  20

  West Midlands

  529

  293

  67

  North West

  1,291

  801

  0

  Total

  6,537

  3,785

  771

  572
  Since March 1994 there has been a fall of over 88 per cent., from 6,537 to 771, in the number of hard-pressed on-call posts contracted for more than 72 hours a week. Over 96 per cent. of the present total of 27,669 junior doctors and dentists now comply with the current new deal contracted hours targets.

  This is excellent progress, showing that the rate at which we are eliminating these posts more than doubled in the four months to February this year. Hospitals, supported by our task forces, have made enormous strides in confronting the problem of long hours and I am very grateful to them.

  While we must remain firmly focused on tackling the hard-core of problem posts remaining, I believe we have now succeeded in establishing a ceiling on contracted hours which will help us to press on with further improvements.

  The progress we are making is most encouraging, but there is no room for complacency. We know that more work is still needed to crack the problem and there are still too many juniors who are under pressure to work too long. The Government are absolutely committed to ensuring that juniors get real and lasting benefits from the new deal.

  Epilepsy
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations she has had regarding National Epilepsy Week; what financial support her Department has given and will be giving to National Epilepsy Week; and if she will make a statement; [22844]

  (2) pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan) of 17 January, Official Report, column 576, what progress her Department is making with any new initiatives for people with epilepsy; and if she will make a statement. [22920]

  Mr. Bowis
  Since January of this year, the Department of Health has been working with the voluntary sector on an epilepsy initiative which includes National Epilepsy Week. We will officially launch the week on 15 May and we have commissioned a series of posters to publicise the Week and to raise awareness of epilepsy generally. During the week we are sponsoring a large multidisciplinary conference, on epilepsy in London.

  These events are only part of the Government's current initiative. We have so far provided £144,000 for voluntary organisation projects over the next three years and £95,000 for two innovative epilepsy service development projects. The Joint Epilepsy Council is producing a booklet for young people with epilepsy and the Royal College of General Practitioners is working on new guidelines, on epilepsy, for general practitioners.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 9 March,Official Report, column 320, how many of the 96 products licensed for the treatment of epilepsy between 1991 and 1995 were (a) new chemical entity products, (b) variations on existing products and (c) products that received a product licence, parallel import; and if she will place the names of the 96 products in the Library. [22921]

  Mr. Sackville
  Records from the Medicines Control Agency show that of the 96 products licensed for the treatment of epilepsy between 1991 and 1995, eight were new chemical entities, 69 were variations, through
  573
  abridged licences, on existing products and 19 were products that received a product licence, parallel import.

  A list of the information requested will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 9 March,Official Report, column 320, how many of the 90 products licensed for the treatment of epilepsy between 1985 and 1990 were (a) new chemical entity products, (b) variations on existing products and (c) products that received a product licence, parallel import; and if she will place the names of the 90 products in the Library. [22922]

  Mr. Sackville
  Records from the Medicines Control Agency show that, of the 90 products licensed for the treatment of epilepsy between 1985 and 1990, one was a new chemical entity product, 30 were variations, through abridged licences, on existing products and 59 were products that received a product licence, parallel import.

  A list of the information requested will be placed in the Library.

  Child Protection
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on child protection training for general practitioners in each of the last five years(a) by health authority and (b) as a percentage of the overall training budget. [22848]

  Mr. Malone
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who represents general practitioner fundholders on area child protection committees. [22849]

  Mr. Bowis
  The exact composition of an area child protection committee is a matter to be agreed locally. Government guidance, contained in "Working Together Under the Children Act 1989: A Guide to Arrangements for Inter-Agency Co-operation for the Protection of Children from Abuse", is that general practitioners should be represented by the general practitioner representative(s) of the local medical committee(s). Copies of the guidance are available in the Library.

  National Blood Authority
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she now expects the NBA to submit to her its proposals for reorganisation of the national blood transfusion service; and if she will place in the Library a copy of the NBA proposals. [23423]

  Mr. Sackville
  The National Blood Authority will make its final recommendations shortly. A copy of the authority's published proposals will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contingency planning on the part of the NBA to implement amalgamation of blood centres and changes to present arrangements for the production and testing of blood products she has authorised. [23424]

  Mr. Sackville
  The National Blood Authority was set up in April 1993 to be responsible for the strategic management of the national blood service with a view to enhancing its quality and cost efficiency. Specific changes are a matter for consideration by the National Blood Authority.

  Privatisation
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will make a statement on the inclusion of privatisation as one of her priorities and key challenges for 1995–96 to 1997–98; [22763]

  (2) what factors led to the addition of privatisation as a priority in the 1995 departmental report; [22765]

  (3) what services she has prioritised for privatisation in 1995–96 to 1997–98. [22764]

  Mr. Sackville
  [holding answer 9 may 1995]: The Department is committed to securing the best value for money available for its internal running costs. Its "Priorities and Key Challenges 1995–96—1997–98"—repeated in the "1995 Departmental Report"—includes privatisation as well as market testing and purchasing among the range of techniques available to secure this. This is in line with the White Paper "Continuity and Change", Cm 2627.

  A prior options review recommended the privatisation of the non-core business of the National Health Service Estates agency. Ministers have accepted this recommendation and a scoping study is now under way to consider the extent of the business that might be included. There are no other privatisations planned.

  Waiting Lists
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the percentage change in the average length of time waiting list patients stay in hospital in 1982–83 and 1992–93. [22777]

  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: Estimates show that the average length of stay in hospital for patients admitted from waiting lists reduced by 41 per cent. between 1982–83 and 1992–93, from 8.7 days to 5.1 days.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Cinemas
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what information he has on the structure of ownership of cinemas in the United Kingdom. [23604]

  Mr. Dorrell
  I refer the hon. Member to the recent report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the supply of films for exhibition in cinemas in the United Kingdom, which provides detailed information about the pattern of such ownership. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received about the future pattern of ownership of cinemas in the United Kingdom. [23605]

  Mr. Dorrell
  None.

  Equal Opportunities
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what progress has been made within his Department on equal opportunities matters. [21486]
  575
  Mr. Sproat
  After initial consultation with staff through formal working parties, my Department published in November 1994 an equal opportunities policy statement and an equal opportunities action plan for 1994–95. The policy statement and action plan are consistent with government policy and have recently been updated to reflect the considerable progress made in this area. The documents underline the Department's commitment to be an equal opportunities employer.

  Tourism
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what programmes analysis review has been carried out as the value of the expenditure of public money on promoting tourism; [22529]

  (2) what contribution is made from public funds to the promotion of tourism in the United Kingdom; for what public purpose or purposes; and if he will publish the available evidence on the return produced. [22522]

  Mr. Dorrell
  This financial year the combined grant in aid allocation to the British Tourist Authority and the national tourist boards for England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland is close to £90 million. In addition, local authorities in England spend some £62.7 million annually on direct tourism promotion.

  The British Tourist Authority and the English tourist board have evaluation studies attached to all their major programmes. Although it is extremely difficult to establish the link between tourist board activity and tourist spend, research undertaken on behalf of the BTA indicates that its activities may stimulate as much as £10 in incremental revenue per £1 spent.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is his assessment of proposals made by the British Tourist Authority's VAT working group's report for a reduction in the level of value added tax levied on the accommodation sector. [22947]

  Mr. Dorrell
  The report does not take account of all the different costs to business in other member states and therefore I believe does not demonstrate that UK tourism operators are placed at an overall competitive disadvantage because of the level of VAT alone. The Government are working with the industry on a range of measures to improve the competitiveness of British tourism.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has made to other Departments with regard to the report prepared by the British Tourist Authority's VAT working party. [22948]

  Mr. Dorrell
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has received a copy of the final report and is aware of the industry's views.

  Churchill Papers
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage in what circumstances historians and others wanting to use the Churchill papers, following their purchase for the state, will have to pay a copyright fee; to whom such copyright proceeds would go; what is the estimated amount of such proceeds per annum; and if he will make a statement. [22447]
  576
  Mr. Dorrell
  Anyone wishing to use the Churchill papers for commercial purposes will need to seek permission from the copyright owners. Copyright in the non-state papers is vested in the Churchill family; copyright in the state papers is vested in the Crown. The proceeds go to the copyright owners; it is not possible to estimate the amount per annum of such proceeds as this is entirely dependent upon the use made of the papers.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on his consultations with the national heritage memorial fund in respect of the decision to purchase the Churchill papers. [22448]

  Mr. Dorrell
  Under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993, the national heritage memorial fund is responsible for distributing 20 per cent. of the net proceeds from the national lottery for expenditure on or connected with the national heritage. Individual funding decisions on applications are made entirely independently of Government. However, once the NHMF had reached its decision to fund the purchase of the non-state papers in the archive, the Government chose to transfer the state papers in the archive to Churchill college in order that it be retained intact for the nation.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many items in the Churchill papers recently purchased(a) are state papers, (b) are private papers and (c) have been the subject of dispute as to whether they are state or private. [22934]

  Mr. Dorrell
  The Government are of the view that none of the papers recently purchased by the national heritage memorial fund was a state paper.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the state papers or classes of state papers which Her Majesty's Government have given to Churchill college and the Churchill archive. [22946]

  Mr. Dorrell
  The classes of state papers transferred to the Churchill college by the Crown were those listed as "official" in the catalogue of the Chartwell papers which is available at Churchill college, Cambridge and in the national register of archives, Chancery lane. They include papers relating to Sir Winston Churchill's appointments as Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, President of the Board of Trade, Home Secretary, First Lord of the Admiralty, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Minister of Munitions, Secretary of State for War and Air, Colonial Secretary, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Prime Minister, and to the Cabinet, War Council, War Cabinet and Committee of Imperial Defence.

  The remaining classes in the catalogue also contain a number of state papers; ownership of these was transferred at the same time.

  National Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage 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. [22981]
  577
  Mr. Dorrell
  The Department of National Heritage does little direct recruitment which necessitates advertising vacancies. However, the Department has conducted two recruitment schemes for administrative assistants in the last three years. In both cases, the entry requirement was stated as two GCSEs or equivalent qualification. The NVQ business administration level 1 was accepted as an equivalent qualification.

  The Historic Royal Palaces agency and the Royal Parks agency have not so far specified that candidates must possess NVQs for any job vacancies advertised. However, where a NVQ was held which was clearly linked to levels of skills, competencies or experience required for a particular post, it would be taken into account and accepted in place of other equivalent qualifications.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is his policy on the extent to which funds from the national lottery should he evenly distributed over the United Kingdom(a) on an annual basis and (b) over a longer period. [23261]

  Mr. Dorrell
  The net proceeds from the national lottery will be distributed by independent bodies according to the merits of each individual application. The Government have made it clear that they expect to see a fair distribution of lottery proceeds across the United Kingdom taking into account the relative merits of the projects submitted for approval.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage to what extent the organisations to which he gives directions under section 26 of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 have regard to previous successful applications when considering subsequent applications from the same area. [23264]

  Mr. Dorrell
  The 11 bodies responsible for the distribution of the net proceeds of the national lottery will consider all projects on their individual merits.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will require the organisations to which he gives directions under section 26 of the National Lottery etc. Act to publish the criteria they apply in distributing national lottery funds. [23262]

  Mr. Dorrell
  Under directions issued under section 26(3) of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993, the distributing bodies are obliged to publish and regularly update guidance for potential applicants for grants. Copies of the guidance documents published to date—all of which include the criteria against which they will assess applications—have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will review the rules governing the release of information concerning bids for lottery money in so far at this may happen in election periods. [22805]

  Mr. Dorrell
  There are no special rules to the release of information concerning bids for lottery money during election periods. As is the case throughout the public 578
  service, the lottery distributing bodies are expected to take particular care during election periods to ensure that their actions are politically impartial.

  Digital Terrestrial Television
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he expects digital terrestrial television to become available in the United Kingdom. [23179]

  Mr. Dorrell
  Digital terrestrial television could become available in the United Kingdom by 1997.

  Telephones
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage 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. [23485]

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: My Department has incurred no charges due to the cloning of mobile telephones.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage 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. [23459]

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: My Department has converted all mobile telephones from analogue to digital. This is in line with advice received from official sources.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage 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. [23472]

  Mr. Dorrell
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: My Department has made no representations to the DTI on this matter.

SCOTLAND

  National Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [22972]

  Mr. Lang
  My Department and agencies do not specifically list Scottish vocational qualifications—the Scottish equivalent to NVQs—in their recruitment advertisements, but they make it clear that candidates with qualifications equivalent to any listed are eligible to apply.

  A78
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his document "Local Government Reform, Shaping the Trunk Road Network: The Government's Response", if he will make a statement on the trunking of three-mile non-trunk section of the A78 south of Greenock town centre. [23293]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: One of the criteria for establishing the new trunk road network was to provide the road user with a coherent and continuous system of routes which serve destinations of importance to industry, commerce, agriculture and tourism. Taking into account responses to the published draft proposals and the commercial role performed by the A78, the Government concluded that the A78 should remain part of the new trunk road network and to ensure continuity of this route decided the section of the A78 south of Greenock town centre, which is presently a local road, should be trunked.

  A statutory instrument for negative resolution will be prepared and laid before Parliament to give effect to trunking and detrunking proposals across the existing Scottish road network and will include provision to trunk this section of the A78.

  Primary Schools
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the expenditure per(a) primary school and (b) primary school pupil in real and constant price terms in every year since 1979; and what are the corresponding figures excluding staffing costs. [23394]

  Lord James Douglas Hamilton
  Information on annual budgeted expenditure for each primary school in Scotland, and per pupil for each such school, is contained in reports published annually since 1993 by the audit unit of Her Majesty's inspectors of schools. A copy of the most recent report—"Scottish Schools: Cost 1993–94 and 1994–95"—has been placed in the Library.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Conflicts of Interest
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions during the last five years(a) civil servants and (b) special advisers in his Department or its agencies have declared conflicts of interest; and how many instructions have been issued about their retention, disposal or management. [21382]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer I May 1995]: All staff are required to comply with the civil service management code and the Department's staff manual. Comprehensive records are not collected centrally, but where potential conflicts are identified involving staff, including special advisers, arrangements are made to ensure that no actual conflict arises.

  Meat Inspections
  Mr. Dalyell
  To as the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what considerations underlie the requirements(a) for a vet to pass deer as fit for slaughter and (b) a meat inspector to pass venison as fit for consumption before sale;
  580
  what aspects of inspection prior to slaughter which are undertaken by a vet could not appropriately be undertaken by a meat inspector; and if he will seek to amend EC regulations in this area. [21442]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 9 May 19951: The EC legislation and our national implementing regulations require all fresh meat, including farmed venison, to be produced under the supervision of an official veterinary surgeon. The Government support the principle of veterinary responsibility for meat hygiene and inspection and have consistently argued for flexibility in the EC legislation to make maximum use of qualified meat inspectors working under the responsibility of the official veterinary surgeon in all aspects of meat inspection and hygiene control.

  Where young deer are slaughtered at an abattoir, ante-mortem inspection may be carried out by a meat inspector answerable to the official veterinary surgeon. We will discuss with the Meat Hygiene Service and with interested organisations whether it would be appropriate to review the arrangements for ante-mortem inspection of deer slaughtered on farm, which is normally carried out by the farmer's own veterinary surgeon.

  Birds of Prey
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the number and species of birds of prey poisoned in each year since 1987. [22365]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food co-ordinates the wildlife incident investigation scheme which monitors the effect of pesticides on wildlife and domestic animals. The following figures have been compiled from reports of deaths of birds of prey where pesticides have been confirmed as the likely cause. The figures relate to incidents reported in Great Britain. In order to reduce the risks to wildlife, the Ministry has mounted a campaign against illegal poisoning in collaboration with a number of interested organisations.

  Year

  Total (number of incidents)

  Species

  1987

  20

  Species include Kestrels, Sparrow Hawks, Barn Owls and Buzzards

  1988

  26

  12 Buzzards

  1 Peregrine Falcon

  1 Hen Harrier

  2 Sparrow Hawks

  5 Tawny Owls

  4 Golden Eagles

  1 Harris Hawk

  1989

  43

  22 Buzzards

  1 Golden Eagle

  3 Peregrine Falcons

  12 Red Kites

  4 Sparrow Hawks

  1 Kestrel

  1990

  36

  24 Buzzards

  3 Golden Eagles

  2 Red Kites

  2 Hen Harriers

  4 Sparrow Hawks

  1 Kestrel

  581

  Year

  Total (number of incidents)

  Species

  1991

  28

  4 Owls

  16 Buzzards

  2 Red Kites

  1 Golden Eagle

  1 Hen Harrier

  2 Kestrels

  2 Peregrine Falcons

  1992

  34

  19 Buzzards

  1 Goshawk

  1 Hen Harrier

  2 Kestrels

  2 Sparrow Hawks

  6 Red Kites

  1 Golden Eagle

  2 Peregrine Falcons

  1993

  32

  22 Buzzards

  1 Golden Eagle

  5 Red Kites

  1 Hen Harrier

  1 Sparrow Hawk

  1 Merlin

  1 Owl

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was his Department's official response to the legal opinions obtained by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on the live export of veal calves; and if he will make a statement. [22892]

  Mrs. Browning
  My right hon. Friend informed the House in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Mr. Streeter) on 22 February Official Report, columns 276–86, that consideration of the RSPCA's latest legal advice was under way; that process is still on-going.

  Historical Documents
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what special training is given to persons who have responsibility for assessing the historical significance of documents held by his Department. [23274]

  Mr. Jack
  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. Additionally, reviewers receive desk training from visiting Public Record Office staff who constantly monitor appraisal criteria and decisions.

  Brewing Industry
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the meetings he has had in the last three months with representatives of the brewing industry with the topics which were discussed at each meeting. [23271]

  Mr. Jack
  My right hon. Friend has met representatives of the brewing industry on four separate occasions over 582
  the last three months. A number of issues were discussed including issues relating to the single market.

  Telephones
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. [23486]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: The Department has incurred no costs during the last 12 months as a result of cloning of mobile telephones. The service providers—Mercury and Vodac—met the cost in all known instances.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many mobile telephones being utilised by his Department have been cloned during the last 12 months. [23430]

  Mr. Jack
  There were seven known instances of mobile phone cloning during the last 12 months.

  Religious Slaughter
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives of the Jewish community, what was discussed, and if he will make a statement. [24308]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  I met the President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews and other representatives of the Jewish community on 30 March when Shechita—religious slaughter—was discussed in relation to the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995, SI 1995/731.1 assured the president that the 1995 regulations maintain the legal protection for Shechita contained in the previous legislation.

  Council directive 93/119/EC, on which the 1995 regulations are based, recognises the need to take account of the requirements of religious requirements such as Shechita. The Government accept that Shechita is a fundamental matter of religious belief to Jewish communities who are an important part of our national life and would oppose any moves to remove the right of the Jewish community to practise Shechita.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Indonesia
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 December 1994,Official Report, columns 118–20, if he will list the projects on which British aid to Indonesia was spent in the financial year 1991–92; and what was the value in each case. [23232]

  Mr. Baldry
  The information is as follows:

  Indonesia: projects financed from technical co-operation funds expenditure 1991–92 (£ thousands)

  Project

  Allocation

  Expenditure 1991–92

  Renewable Natural Resources

  Rice Development Project

  1,659

  341

  Cloves Disease Research

  706

  49

  583

  Indonesia: projects financed from technical co-operation funds expenditure 1991–92 (£ thousands)

  Projec t

  Allocation

  Expenditure 1991–92

  Coastal Fisheries—University of Diponegoro

  384

  135

  Animal Health Phase 4

  1,687

  433

  Coastal Prawn Culture

  1,298

  337

  Regional Physical Planning Map Improvement and Training Project

  655

  259

  Forestry Senior Management Team

  1,793

  297

  Forestry Conservation

  1,984

  61

  Forestry Training

  2,454

  15

  Forestry Research

  2,644

  25

  Energy—Gas

  Gas Distribution Phase 1

  4,193

  570

  Gas Distribution Phase 2

  5,509

  886

  Support to LEMIGAS (Petroleum Authority)

  4,762

  1,415

  Education

  Active Learning and Professional Support at Primary Level

  1,708

  316

  Libraries, Books and Development Project

  747

  259

  English Language Teaching at National Level

  1,325

  177

  English Language Teaching in Government Institutions

  1,789

  207

  English Language Teaching

  421

  421

  Maths Primary Specialist

  30

  29

  Biotechnology

  428

  102

  Mining and Geological Exploration

  South Sumatra Geological Survey Project

  2,261

  413

  Ombilin Coal Mine Training School

  377

  86

  Public Administration and Finance

  Assistance to Regional and Local Finance and Economy

  905

  412

  Trade Investment Cooperative Programme

  286

  57

  Police Management Training

  713

  178

  Indonesian Civil Service Training Institute (LAN) Assistance to Public Administration

  120

  29

  Public Works

  Survey and Mapping Advisers Project

  400

  36

  Local Consultants/Professional Engineers Training Project

  1,735

  242

  Madura Groundwater

  52

  52

  Energy—Electric Power

  Bali Power Study

  305

  122

  Electricity Authority (PLN) Training Project Phase 2

  1,162

  423

  Mini Hydros—Phase 2

  1,290

  15

  Mini Hydros—Phase 3

  5,610

  74

  Roads

  Highway Engineering Course

  565

  16

  Road Engineering Research

  68

  26

  584

  Projects financed from the aid and trade provision

  Project

  Allocation

  Expenditure 1991–92

  Steel Bridging (Phase I)

  6,642

  353

  Navigational Aids

  6,386

  367

  Bandung Television Studio

  9,734

  556

  Scattered Diesels

  5,891

  322

  Cigading Port Extension

  13,266

  1,129

  Radio Studios Rehabilitation

  5,040

  216

  Cigading/Serpong Railway

  24,690

  769

  Citayam/Cibinong Railway

  20,105

  487

  Radio Communication System for the Ministry of Forestry

  34,111

  1,617

  Western Universities Equipment

  13,671

  831

  Flight Simulator

  4,659

  262

  Bali and Medan Airport Security

  10,455

  259

  Jambi Power Station

  5,345

  310

  Steel Bridging (Phase II)

  3,669

  223

  Shortwave Radio Transmitters

  26,911

  1,223

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which date his Department first began funding Indonesian police officers(a) in Indonesia and (b) in the United Kingdom. [23235]

  Mr. Baldry
  We have been providing UK training awards for Indonesian national police officers since 1979 and meeting some of the costs of training courses in Indonesia since 1983.

  Mrs Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 December 1994,Official Report, columns 118–120, if he will give the exact date of formal appraisal documents submitted by the Overseas Development Administration and the Department of Trade and Industry in respect of the aid and trade provision support for each project listed. [23251]

  Mr. Baldry
  I provided responses on two of the projects on the list previously in my answers on 10 January to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes), Official Report, column 14, and on 1 March to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley,Official Report, column 574. Because the other projects on the list were generally approved some years ago, the information requested is not immediately available. I shall write to the hon. Lady when we have obtained it.

  Land Mines
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much Her Majesty's Government contribute to United Nations programmes to clear mines in(a) Cambodia and (b) other countries; and if he will make a statement. [23100]

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 10 May 1995]: Since April 1992 we have contributed a total of £4.96 million to UN de-mining programmes. Of this, £2.133 million was for Cambodia, £2.5 million for Afghanistan, £226,000 for Angola and £100,000 for the Yemen. In addition, in March 1995 we paid £500,000 into the UN voluntary fund for mine clearance. We shall continue to consider UN requests as helpfully as possible.

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 27 April,Official Report, column 638, when Her Majesty's Government will decide how much funding is to be made available to British non-governmental organisations for emergency aid to Afghan refugees and displaced persons for (a) rehabilitation and (b) other purposes. [23133]

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 10 May 1995]: I have nothing to add to my previous answer.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Exhibitions
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to women in science, engineering and technology to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 3 July to Friday 7 July 1995.

WALES

  European Structural Funds
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy with regard to the provision of matching funds to help applications for assistance from the EU in Wales under objective 5b schemes. [23074]

  Mr. Redwood
  The objective 5b single programming document for rural Wales 1994–99 makes available European structural funds grants averaging some £23 million a year to support national public expenditure on projects averaging some £34 million and private sector contributions of around £5 million a year. These figures clearly demonstrates that, without substantial domestic expenditure to support projects, it would not be possible to utilise the structural funds grant resources being made available.

  Funding for projects can come from a variety of sources including local authorities, Government agencies, training and enterprise councils and voluntary bodies as well as from my Department. It is for applicants to determine whom they should approach to seek funding for any project. Those approached for matching funding, including my Department, will need to satisfy themselves that there is no legal or other constraint to them providing such funding and consider, inter alia, the quality of the project, whether it represents good value for money and what other funding approaches they have received before deciding whether they wish to invest in the project.

  Historical Documents
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what special training is given to persons who have responsibility for assessing the historical significance of documents held by his Department. [23275]
  586
  Mr. Redwood
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department,Official Report, column 565.

  Voluntary Organisations
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to review the way in which his Department assists local support services for voluntary organisations. [24170]

  Mr. Richards
  I have today issued a consultation paper seeking comments on the effectiveness of current arrangements for delivering support services to voluntary organisations at local level. The paper also seeks views on the best way of channelling support from the Welsh Office to the organisations providing such services. I shall welcome comments from voluntary organisations throughout Wales, from those who have links with the voluntary sector and from the organisations which the Department currently funds. A copy of the consultation paper has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

EDUCATION

  Inspection Training
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the cost of sending(a) a primary school teacher and (b) a secondary school teacher on additional inspector training; what is the cost of the place on the course and the additional cost of any supply teaching which has to be provided; and which body meets this cost; [23649]

  (2) how many (a) primary and (b) secondary school teachers have attended additional inspector training this year. [23650]

  Mr. Forth
  These are matters for Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools, who heads the Office for Standards in Education. I have asked Mr. Chris Woodhead to write to the hon. Member.

  Pupils
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list for each local education authority(a) the proportion and (b) the number of pupils in grant-maintained (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools. [23651]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested is set out in the tables.

  Primary

  LEA area

  Number of pupils in GM primary schools

  Percentage of maintained primary pupils in GM schools

  Avon

  0

  0

  Barking

  0

  0

  Barnet

  758

  3

  Barnsley

  0

  0

  Bedfordshire

  586

  1

  Berkshire

  2,390

  4

  Bexley

  643

  4

  Birmingham

  1,655

  2

  Bolton

  380

  2

  587

  primary

  LEA area

  Number of pupils in CM primary schools

  Percentage of maintained primary pupils in GM schools

  Bradford

  1,538

  4

  Brent

  1,522

  8

  Bromley

  2,235

  10

  Buckinghamshire

  2,817

  5

  Bury

  190

  1

  Calderdale

  1,229

  7

  Cambridgeshire

  2,000

  3

  Camden

  0

  0

  Cheshire

  472

  1

  Cleveland

  0

  0

  Cornwall

  0

  0

  Corporation of London

  0

  0

  Coventry

  0

  0

  Croydon

  1,339

  5

  Cumbria

  3,236

  8

  Derbyshire

  2,175

  3

  Devon

  283

  0

  Doncaster

  0

  0

  Dorset

  632

  1

  Dudley

  385

  1

  Durham

  0

  0

  Ealing

  1,104

  5

  East Sussex

  0

  0

  Enfield

  157

  1

  Essex

  19,866

  16

  Gateshead

  0

  0

  Gloucestershire

  5,412

  12

  Greenwich

  191

  1

  Hackney

  96

  1

  Hammersmith

  0

  0

  Hampshire

  3,993

  3

  Haringey

  0

  0

  Harrow

  0

  0

  Havering Hereford and Worcester

  0

  0

  Hertfordshire

  2,157

  3

  Hillingdon

  2,707

  15

  Hounslow

  0

  0

  Humberside

  336

  0

  Isle of Wight

  0

  0

  Isle of Scilly

  0

  0

  Islington

  0

  0

  Kensington and Chelsea

  497

  9

  Kent

  6,559

  5

  Kingston upon Thames

  171

  2

  Kirklees

  0

  0

  Knowsley

  0

  0

  Lambeth

  1,963

  12

  Lancashire

  780

  1

  Leeds

  67

  0

  Leicestershire

  0

  0

  Lewisham

  368

  2

  Lincolnshire

  7,530

  15

  Liverpool

  0

  0

  Manchester

  0

  0

  Merton

  0

  0

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  0

  0

  Newham

  0

  0

  Norfolk

  3,202

  5

  North Tyneside

  0

  0

  North Yorkshire

  17

  0

  Northamptonshire

  3,391

  7

  Northumberland

  0

  0

  Nottinghamshire

  0

  0

  Oldham

  0

  0

  Oxfordshire

  81

  0

  588

  Primary

  LEA area

  Number of pupils in primary schools

  Percentage of maintained primary GM pupils in CM schools

  Redbridge

  0

  0

  Richmond upon Thames

  0

  0

  Rochdale

  1,612

  8

  Rotherham

  0

  0

  Salford

  0

  0

  Sandwell

  0

  0

  Sefton

  0

  0

  Sheffield

  1,295

  3

  Shropshire

  721

  2

  Solihull

  499

  3

  Somerset

  469

  1

  South Tyneside

  0

  0

  Southwark

  1,437

  7

  St. Helens

  0

  0

  Staffordshire

  102

  0

  Stockport

  0

  0

  Suffolk

  0

  0

  Sunderland

  0

  0

  Surrey

  4,506

  6

  Sutton

  821

  7

  Tameside

  0

  0

  Tower Hamlets

  0

  0

  Trafford

  0

  0

  Wakefield

  0

  0

  Walsall

  572

  2

  Waltham Forest

  0

  0

  Wandsworth

  531

  3

  Warwickshire

  40

  0

  West Sussex

  375

  1

  Westminster

  0

  0

  Wigan

  0

  0

  Wiltshire

  3,815

  8

  Wirral

  0

  0

  Wolverhampton

  0

  0

  Notes:

  1. Pupil numbers are derived from the 1994 DFE schools census and include schools which are currently grant-maintained.

  2. Pupil numbers and percentages include all full and part-time pupils, other than these in nursery classes.

  Secondary

  LEA Area

  Numbers of pupils in GM secondary schools

  Percentage of maintained secondary pupils in GM schools

  Avon

  1,710

  3

  Barking

  0

  0

  Barnet

  9,905

  53

  Barnsley

  0

  0

  Bedfordshire

  9,451

  21

  Berkshire

  9,029

  19

  Bexley

  3,655

  25

  Birmingham

  15,177

  23

  Bolton

  2,803

  16

  Bradford

  5,286

  11

  Brent

  10,975

  86

  Bromley

  13,923

  81

  Buckinghamshire

  10,174

  27

  Bury

  0

  0

  Calderdale

  7,367

  55

  Cambridgeshire

  15,274

  37

  Camden

  2,381

  22

  Cheshire

  2,492

  4

  Cleveland

  0

  0

  Cornwall

  0

  0

  Corporation of

  589

  Secondary

  LEA Area

  Numbers of pupils in GM secondary schools

  Percentage of maintained secondary pupils in GM schools

  London

  0

  0

  Coventry

  0

  0

  Croydon

  7,718

  52

  Cumbria

  10,873

  35

  Derbyshire

  18,048

  31

  Devon

  4,700

  8

  Doncaster

  1,128

  5

  Dorset

  9.947

  24

  Dudley

  4,669

  26

  Durham

  0

  0

  Ealing

  6,111

  45

  East Sussex

  0

  0

  Enfield

  5,634

  32

  Essex

  67,497

  70

  Gateshead

  0

  0

  Gloucestershire

  23,474

  70

  Greenwich

  0

  0

  Hackney

  0

  0

  Hammersmith

  1,237

  21

  Hampshire

  17,020

  21

  Haringey

  0

  0

  Harrow

  528

  6

  Havering

  3,877

  26

  Hereford and Worcester

  3,643

  8

  Hertfordshire

  23,567

  34

  Hillingdon

  11,988

  85

  Hounslow

  2,123

  15

  Humberside

  0

  0

  Isle of Wight

  0

  0

  Isles of Scilly

  0

  0

  Islington

  0

  0

  Kensington and Chelsea

  621

  20

  Kent

  53,506

  52

  Kingston upon

  Thames

  2,901

  37

  Kirklees

  1,267

  5

  Knowsley

  731

  8

  Lambeth

  3,308

  52

  Lancashire

  6,843

  8

  Leeds

  1,117

  3

  Leicestershire

  3,270

  5

  Lewisham

  0

  0

  Lincolnshire

  17,598

  47

  Liverpool

  3,164

  10

  Manchester

  0

  0

  Merton

  750

  10

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  0

  0

  Newham

  582

  4

  Norfolk

  9,431

  23

  North Tyneside

  220

  2

  North Yorkshire

  0

  0

  Northamptonshire

  9,386

  21

  Northumberland

  650

  2

  Nottinghamshire

  1,837

  3

  Oldham

  0

  0

  Oxfordshire

  0

  0

  Redbridge

  1,125

  7

  Richmond upon Thames

  0

  0

  Rochdale

  2,058

  16

  Rotherham

  0

  0

  Salford

  430

  4

  Sandwell

  1,679

  9

  Sefton

  0

  0

  Sheffield

  1,936

  7

  Shropshire

  4,539

  18

  Solihull

  0

  0

  Somerset

  574

  2

  590

  Secondary

  LEA Area

  Numbers of pupils in CM secondary schools

  Percentage of maintained secondary pupils in GM schools

  South Tyneside

  0

  0

  Southwark

  2,786

  30

  St. Helens

  0

  0

  Staffordshire

  4,442

  6

  Stockport

  0

  0

  Suffolk

  0

  0

  Sunderland

  0

  0

  Surrey

  15,082

  33

  Sutton

  6,699

  59

  Tameside

  2,371

  18

  Tower Hamlets

  891

  7

  Trafford

  3,083

  26

  Wakefield

  0

  0

  Walsall

  7,077

  36

  Waltham Forest

  2,099

  18

  Wandsworth

  6,606

  74

  Warwickshire

  4,783

  19

  West Sussex

  0

  0

  Westminster

  0

  0

  Wigan

  0

  0

  Wiltshire

  14,338

  42

  Wirral

  2,107

  10

  Wolverhampton

  2,404

  15

  Note:

  1. Pupil numbers are derived for the 1994 DFE schools census and include all secondary schools which are currently grant-maintained.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the number and percentage of pupils in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in (i) January 1980, (ii) January 1991, (iii) January 1992, (iv) January 1993, (v) January 1994 and (vi) January 1995 being taught in classes of 30-plus in maintained schools (1) in each local education authority and (2) in total. [23653]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Information on pupils in classes of size 31 and over in maintained primary and secondary schools for January 1980, 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994 has been placed in the Library. Information for January 1995 will not be available until the autumn.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list those schools which have been required to modify the admissions policy submitted as part of their proposals for grant-maintained status before having their application approved. [23652]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list by local education authority the schools holding ballots on grant-maintained status since 1 January 1994, giving in each case(a) whether the outcome favoured or opposed grant-maintained status, (b) whether the governing body applied for a grant under section 36 of the Education Act 1993, (c) the maximum grant available and (d) the amount of grant (i) claimed and (ii) paid: [23654]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.
  591
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many(a) primary and (b) secondary schools held ballots on grant-maintained status; how many of each voted in favour of and against becoming grant-maintained; and if she will list the amount of eligible parents in each sector who (i) voted in favour, (ii)

  GM ballots

  Primary schools

  Total number of ballots

  Eligible voters

  Actual voters

  Yes votes

  No votes

  Number abstained

  Number of yes ballots

  Number of no ballots

  April 1993–31 March 1994 274

  96,822

  66,946

  41,655

  25,291

  29,876

  201

  73

  1 April 1994–31 March 1995 94

  30,956

  21,155

  10,231

  10,924

  9,801

  55

  39

  Secondary Schools

  Total number of ballots

  Eligible voters

  Actual voters

  Yes votes

  No votes

  Number abstained

  Number of yes ballots

  Number of no ballots

  1 April 1993 to 31 March 1994 171

  218,518

  135,779

  76,612

  59,167

  82,739

  107 13

  64

  1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995 43

  54,830

  33,965

  14,867

  19,098

  20,865

  13

  30

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the cost of funding(a) the GM information team and (b) the GM information line in (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 1994–95; and what are the budgets for 1995–96; [22790]

  (2) how many staff are employed in staffing (a) the grant-maintained information team and (b) the grant-maintained information line. [22781]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Currently there are 10 staff employed in the Department's grant-maintained schools information team, dealing with GM publications and organising Going GM conferences. The grant-maintained information line is staffed by members of the team.

  The team's costs—including pay, superannuation, employers' national insurance contributions, accommodation, travel and administrative costs—were approximately £330,000 in 1993–94 and £410,000 in 1994–95; and it is estimated they will be some £4020,000 in 1995–96. However, these figures are not wholly comparable because of changes in accounting arrangements between 1993–94 and 1994–95. Expenditure on the GM information line cannot be disaggregated from the Department's general telephone costs.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the cost to her Department of materials and staff involved in the campaign to persuade schools to opt for grant-maintained status. [22897]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department's information activities concerning grant-maintained schools are designed to provide factual, unbiased information, not to persuade schools to "opt-out". The total expenditure on GM publications, including videos, since 1988 is some £1,200,000. This represents spending of about 16p per pupil in England.
  592
  voted against and (iii) did not take part in the ballots for the years (1) 1 April 1993 to 31 March 1994 and (2) 1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  The grant-maintained schools information team was established during 1991–92. The team's costs—including pay, superannuation, employers' national insurance contributions, accommodation, travel and administrative costs—are estimated at approximately £330,000 in 1993–94 and £410,000 in 1994–95. These figures are not wholly comparable because of changes in internal accounting arrangements between the two years.

  Ms Estelle Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list by local education authority the grant-maintained secondary schools, indicating for each(a) the percentage of pupils entitled to receive free schools meals and (b) the percentage for the secondary sector in each local authority.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  A table showing the information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the cost to her Department of the free video tapes outlining the advantages of opting for grant-maintained status which are provided to parents with children in schools balloting on opt-out proposals. [22898]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The video "Our Children, Our Choice" provides factual information to those interested in grant-maintained status. It cost some £48,000 to produce and some £30,000 for the 20,000 copies made to date, giving a total cost of £78,000—£3.90 per tape.

  Technology Colleges
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list by local education authority the schools which have become technology colleges, together with details of the sponsorship agreed in each case. [23656]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested is set out in the table, with local education authorities listed alphabetically. Each technology college is supported by
  593
  sponsorship totalling some £100,000. For most schools, this comprises support from several organisations or individuals. The table then indicates the largest sponsor by value pledged, or largest sponsors where two or more have each pledged the same value, as indicated in the school's application.

  Local education authority

  Technology college

  Main sponsor

  Barking and Dagenham

  All Saints Catholic School

  Research Machines

  Barnet

  Mill Hill County High School

  Garfield Weston Foundation

  Berkshire

  Denefield School

  DHL Worldwide Express

  Herschel Grammar School

  Slough Estates pic

  Prospect School

  Granada

  Reading School

  Sponsors requested anonymity

  Bexley

  Bexley-Erith Technical High School

  BETHS Parents Association

  Birmingham

  Small Heath GM School

  Garfield Weston Foundation

  Bolton

  St. James's C of E School

  GTi Educational Systems

  Bradford

  Hanson School

  ICL

  Brent

  John Kelly Boys' Community School

  The Bestway Group

  John Kelly Girls' Community School

  The Bestway Group

  Bromley

  Kemnal Technology College

  Philip and Pauline College Harris Charitable Trust

  Ravens Wood School for Boys

  ICL

  Buckinghamshire

  The Chalfonts Community College

  GTi Educational Systems

  Calderdale

  Rastrick High School

  Stanley Kalms Foundation

  Cambridgeshire

  Deacon's School

  Perkins Group

  Sawtry Community College

  Crossfield Electronics

  Soham Villagen College

  ICL and G's Marketing Ltd.

  Cheshire

  Fallibroome High School

  Database Ltd.

  Cumbria

  North Cumbria Technology College

  Carnaud Metal Box and Cavaghan and Gray

  Derbyshire

  Belper School

  Thorntons pic

  The Merrill Community School

  Denford

  Dorset

  Budmouth School

  Budmouth Limited

  Durham

  St. John's RC Comprehensive School

  Black and Decker Ltd.

  Enfield

  The Latymer School

  ICL

  Essex

  Chalvedon School

  Garfield Weston Foundation

  The Philip Morant

  Garfield Weston School Foundation

  Saffron Walden County High School

  Garfield Weston Foundation

  Gateshead

  St. Thomas More School

  Komatsu UK

  Gloucestershire

  Central Technology College

  Garfield Weston Foundation

  Cirencester Deer Park School

  ICL

  Hampshire

  Applemore Technology School

  Garfield Weston Foundation

  594

  Local education authority

  Technology college

  Main sponsor

  Kent

  Chatham Grammar School for Girls

  Garfield Weston Foundation

  The Cornwallis School

  ICL

  Hugh Christie School

  ICL

  Senacre Technology School

  Research Machines

  Lancashire

  All Hallows RC High School

  British Aerospace

  Archbishop Temple School

  British Aerospace

  Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School

  Stanley Kalms Foundation

  Baines School

  Baines Foundation

  Lancaster Girls' Grammar School

  British Aerospace

  Royal Grammar School Lancaster

  Trustees of the Endowment, Royal Grammar School

  St. Aidan's VA School

  British Aerospace and Canatxx Energy Ventures

  Leicestershire

  Uppingham Community College

  L. J. Technical Systems

  Lincolnshire

  The King's School

  Database Ltd.

  Lincoln School of Science and Technology

  Lincolnshire Business Education Trust

  St. George's GM Technology School

  Mr. R. Brealey

  Manchester

  Trinity CE High School

  Communications Business Solutions

  Newham

  St. Angela's Ursuline Convent School

  Acatos and Hutcheson plc

  St. Bonaventure's VA School

  Franciscan Community

  Norfolk

  Lynn Grove High School

  ICL

  Northamptonshire

  Bishop Stopford School

  Sponsors requested anonymity

  Lodge Park School

  Garfield Weston Foundation

  Northampton School for Boys

  Northampton Old Grammar School Foundation

  Nottinghamshire

  George Spencer School

  Northampton Old Grammar School Foundation

  Suffolk

  St. Alban's VA School

  Sponsors requested anonymity

  Surrey

  All Hallows RC High School

  All Hallows Farnham Charitable Trust

  Collingwood College

  Garfield Weston Foundation

  The Glyn School

  ADT Group

  Trafford

  New Wellington School

  Garfield Weston Foundation, Hopewiser Ltd. and Playlight Hire Ltd.

  Sale Moor School

  The Alliance Family Foundation

  Wigan

  Deanery CE High School

  Latham Jenkins Ltd.

  Wiltshire

  Wyvern College

  GTi Educational Systems

  Wolverhampton

  Aldersley High School

  Garfield Weston Foundation

  Moseley Park GM School

  Research Machines

  St. Peter's Collegiate School

  Garfield Weston Foundation

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will estimate the number of hours which staff in her Department spend on issues relating to teacher training in(a) whole-time equivalents and (b) cost terms. [23637]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The number of full-time equivalents working on issues relating to teacher training including teacher supply in the Department is 14.8. Each member of staff works a contractual 41-hour week. The cost of employing these staff during the financial year 1995-96 is estimated at £656,279.

  Indonesian Students
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many Indonesian nationals studied in the United Kingdom in each year since 1980. [23234]

  Mr. Boswell
  The available information is shown in the following table.

  Numbers of full-time students from Indonesia studying in further and higher education in the United Kingdom

  Academic year

  Numbers

  1979–80

  600

  1980–81

  1—

  1981–82

  300

  1982–83

  200

  1983–84

  300

  1984–85

  300

  1985–86

  400

  1986–87

  600

  1987–88

  600

  1988–89

  600

  1989–90

  600

  1990–91

  500

  1991–92

  500

  1992–93

  500

  1993–942

  700

  1 Data are not available for 1980–81.

  2 Provisional estimate. Rounded to nearest hundred.

  Rounded to nearest hundred.

  Sources:

  Universities Statistical Record.

  Further Education Statistical Record.

  Welsh Office.

  Scottish Office Education Department.

  Department of Education for Northern Ireland.

  Administrative Staff
  Mr. Robert Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) if he will make a statement about the success of(a) North Yorkshire county council education department and (b) other county councils in England over the last five years in reducing the levels of managerial and administrative staff as a result of improved technology and the advent of local management of schools; [23174]

  (2) what was the estimated percentage reduction in administrative staff in the education departments of county councils in England resulting from the introduction of local management of schools; and what was the actual percentage achieved; [23176]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the effect of high-technology computer systems in the last five years on the establishment of managerial and administrative staff within the education departments of county councils; [23175]
  596
  (4) what reductions have been made in the last five years in the managerial and administrative staff of the education departments of county councils as a result of local management of schools; [23177]

  (5) what changes of staff numbers in each of the education departments of county councils in England have occurred since the introduction of local management of schools. [22788]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) on 28 March 1995,Official Report, column 570.

  Historical Documents
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what special training is given to persons who have responsibility for assessing the historical significance of documents held by her Department. [23289]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  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.

  National Vocational Qualifications
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many, and what proportion of, vacancies advertised by her Department, and by each of her 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. [22984]

  Mr. Forth
  The Department and its agency have held 19 recruitment competitions in the last three years of which three have listed the attainment of NVQs as an acceptable entry qualification. Of those, all have required NVQ level 1.

  Further Education Funding Council
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education when she was consulted by the Further Education Funding Council on its decision to have the right not to disclose its deliberations; and what plans she has to review the council's provisions on the disclosure of information. [22680]

  Mr. Boswell
  Since its establishment, the Further Education Funding Council has published a bulletin after each council meeting, each committee with delegated authority and each regional committee meeting. The council has proposed to make the minutes and agendas of those meetings available in future. My right hon. Friend has no plans to review these procedures.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions she has had with the Further Education Funding Council on the setting up of an independent panel to oversee the council; and if she will make a statement. [22684]

  Mr. Boswell
  My right hon. Friend is aware that the Further Education Funding Council is consulting on the possibility of establishing an independent panel to
  597
  consider allegations of maladministration. This is a matter for the council.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will make a statement on the decision of the Further Education Funding Council not to disclose general advice given to her Department with particular reference to its implications for open govnerment. [22678]

  Mr. Boswell
  The Further Education Funding Council's policy is to make publicly available the substance of advice to my right hon. Friend except where my right hon. Friend has asked that advice should remain confidential.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will make a statement on the policy of the Further Education Funding Council not to publish individual items of expenditure below £20,000 in its annual report; and which other educational bodies observe this limit. [22686]

  Mr. Boswell
  Neither the FEFC, nor any of the non-departmental public bodies which the Department sponsors, is required by statute to publish details of individual items of expenditure. The FEFC's decision to publish details of contracts with values of over £20,000 demonstrates the council's openness and willingness to make information available to the public.

  Each of the other educational non-departmental public bodies decides its own policy in this area. Practice varies, but none has adopted the FEFC's approach.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what criteria apply in terms of registrable financial interests in respect of the work of the Further Education Funding Council. [22587]

  Mr. Boswell
  The Further Education Funding Council is consulting on a code of individual conduct of council members, including a register of financial interests. The council intends to make the register publicly available. This is a matter for the council.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans she has to introduce legislation for the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration to act as the ombudsman for the Further Education Funding Council. [22685]

  Mr. Boswell
  None.

  Publications
  Mr. Pope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the production and distribution costs of her Department's recent leaflet "National School Tests in 1995—a Parent's Guide"; and what is the circulation of the leaflet other than for schools. [22704]

  Mr. Forth
  The cost of producing 9 million copies of the leaflet "National School Tests in 1995—a Parent's Guide" is £140,000. In addition to schools, distribution routes included post offices and inserts in television listings magazines. Copies were also sent to a database of parents who have asked to receive our material, and will shortly be distributed through a number of retail outlets. In all, over 6 million copies will be in circulation, in addition to the 2.3 million copies requested by schools. The total distribution cost is estimated at some £273,000.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what has been the total cost of(a) establishing and (b) administering the GM publications centre. [22791]
  598
  Mr. Robin Squire
  The GM publications centre was established in January 1994. The costs to date are as follows:

  Establishment £

  Administration £

  1993–94

  6,000

  28,000

  1994–95

  —

  124,000

  The administration costs include handling the freephone requests and publications dispatch costs but do not include call charges.

  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what has been the cost for 1994–95 for the publication and distribution of(a) "How to Become a Grant Maintained School", 1995 edition, (b) "Going Grant Maintained: A Brief Guide", (c) "Questions Parents Ask", (d) "Questions Staff Ask", (e) "Questions Governors Ask", (f) "Funding Worksheet 1995–96", (g) "Nursery Factsheet", (h) "Experiences of Primary Schools", (i) "Experiences of Secondary Schools", (j) "Experiences of Former Voluntary Schools", (k) "Our Children, Our Choice" and (1) "Going Grant Maintained with other schools: Grant Maintained clusters; and how many responses has she had to each of these publications (i) in total and (ii) from Nottinghamshire schools. [22782]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested is as follows:

  Approximate publication cost 1994–95 £

  Responses September 1994—March 1995

  (a)"How to Become a GM School, 1995 edition

  24,000

  —

  (b)"Going Grant-Maintained: A Brief Guide"

  6,000

  —

  (c)"Questions Parents Ask"

  0

  568

  (d) "Questions Staff Ask"

  7,600

  483

  (e) "Questions Governors Ask"

  16,200

  477

  (0 "Funding Worksheet 1995–96"

  11,500

  —

  (g) "Nursery Factsheet"

  0

  234

  (h) "Experiences of Primary Schools"

  55,000

  496

  (i) "Experiences of Secondary Schools"

  55,000

  357

  (j) "Experiences of Former Voluntary Schools"

  55,000

  248

  (k) "Our Children, Our Choice"

  46,000

  328

  (1) "Going Grant-Maintained with Other Schools: GM Clusters"

  12,500

  285

  Notes: 1. The above costs do not necessarily represent the full production and printing costs for these publications, but only those which were incurred during the 1994–95 financial year.

  2. The total distribution cost for publications by the DFE GM publications centre in 1994–95 was some £124,000.

  3. The Department does not keep records of how many people it is contacted by as a result of seeing these publications. The table shows how many orders for one or more copies of each publication were placed with the GM publications centre between September 1994 and March 1995 inclusive. Data on such inquiries were not collated before that time and are therefore not readily available.

  4. It is not possible to specify how many orders were destined for Nottinghamshire schools.

  5. Although costs were incurred in 1994–95 on the production of items (a), (b) and (f), these were not available for distribution to schools until the current financial year.
  599
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total cost of the publication and distribution of the letters and information concerning the annual consideration of grant-maintained status; and what was the specific cost of the packaging in which the information was sent. [22789]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Final figures are not yet available, but the estimated total cost of producing and distributing these letters concerning the annual consideration of grant-maintained status, including the enclosed publications, is some £50,000. The cost of packaging was £3,000—some 12p per item. The letter and enclosures were sent to all chairmen of governors and chief education officers in England. Copies of the letter without the publications were sent to head teachers.

  Further and Higher Education, Cumbria
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of west Cumbrian secondary school pupils gain(a) qualifications in further education and (b) qualifications in higher education; and what are the national averages. [22736]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This information is not available.

  Funding Appeals
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans she has to replace the present complaints procedure for an appeals process for funding. [22681]

  Mr. Boswell
  It is for the Further Education Funding Council to make arrangements for handling complaints about its decisions.

  Research
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the share of her departmental budget set aside for research purposes. [22688]

  Mr. Boswell
  For 1994–95 over 6 per cent. of the Department's total expenditure was allocated for research and development. This included the Higher Education Funding Council's allocation to higher education institutions for research.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list the supervisory educational bodies funded by her Department which do not disclose their deliberations. [22682]

  Mr. Boswell
  None of the Department's executive non-departmental public bodies currently publishes minutes of meetings.

  Further Education Colleges
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list the available information by which hon. Members are able to examine the financial viability of colleges in their constituencies. [22679]

  Mr. Boswell
  Under the financial memorandum between colleges and the Further Education Funding Council, colleges are required to keep proper accounts and accounting records, and to prepare a statement of accounts in respect of each financial year. Colleges are required 600
  to make reasonable arrangements to make copies of the accounts publicly available.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education to what extent colleges are penalised in their funding via the Further Education Funding Council if the institution fails to meet her growth targets. [22683]

  Mr. Boswell
  Details of the allocation of funding to colleges are matters for the Further Education Funding Council. I am therefore asking the council's chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Teachers' Pay
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many individual letters objecting to the Government's decision not to fund fully the pay rise for teachers from(a) hon. Members and (b) others her Department has received. [22603]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The Department has received around 1,500 letters from hon. Members and 15,000 from others on funding issues. Most of these refer either directly or indirectly to the funding of the teachers' pay award.

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment the Government have made of the effect of class size in state secondary schools on the education of children in those classes; what representations she has received on the subject from private schools; and what are the current average class sizes in the fifth form for(a) grant-maintained schools, (b) public schools, and (c) other independent schools and (d) other state schools. [22437]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The accumulated research evidence has not demonstrated any simple or conclusive link between marginal changes in class size and pupil performance. What matters most is the quality of the teaching. I am unaware of any representation to my right hon. Friend from independent schools on the issue of class size.

  The schools census provides limited information on class size by age. In January 1994 the average size of one-teacher classes for pupils mainly aged 14 and 15 was 21.2 for both maintained and grant-maintained secondary schools. Information on class size in independent schools is not collected by the Department.

EMPLOYMENT

  Labour Statistics
  Sir Ralph Howell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many males aged between 50 and 65 years are not in full-time employment, as defined by working over 16 hours per week. [22395]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The latest estimates from the labour force survey for autumn 1994 show that 1.8 million males agreed between 50 and 65 were not in full-time employment. Of these, 0.1 million worked 16 hours or less per week, 0.3 million were ILO unemployed and 1.4 million were economically inactive, a category which includes long-term sick and disabled and retirees.
  601
  Over three quarters of the economically inactive males—about 1.1 million people—included in this figure stated, in reply to the LFS, that they did not want a job.

  Earnings
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average weekly wage in each year since 1965. [22987]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Information on the average weekly earnings of all full-time employees on adult rates of pay has been available only since 1983. The most convenient source is table 17 of recent reports of the new earnings survey. The 1994 report contains the information for 1984 to 1994 and the 1993 report that for 1983 to 1993. Table 16 contains information for males and females separately.

  Between 1971 and 1983, the available information is for full-time men aged 21 and over and full-time women aged 18 and over. The information for 1974 to 1983 is in table 30 of the 1984 new earnings survey report and that for 1971 to 1973 is in table 15 of the 1980 report.

  The available information for the years between 1955 and 1968 is in tables 54 and 55 of "British Labour Statistics Historical Abstract 1986–1968".

  Copies of the publications are available in the Library.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what has been the average weekly wage for(a) part-time male employees and (b) part-time female employees in each socio-economic group in each year since 1865; [22989]

  (2) what has been the average weekly wage for (a) full-time male employees and (b) full-time female employees in each socio-economic group in each year since 1965. [23001]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  No information on average earnings in each socio-economic group is available before an earnings question was introduced into the labour force survey at the end of 1992. For the years since 1971, information on average weekly earnings in each major occupation group can be found in the reports of the new earnings survey, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Employment Medical Advisory Service
  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received(a) in favour of and (b) against the proposals for the employment medical advisory service; and if he will make a statement. [22803]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  None.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to change the employment medical advisory service; and if he will make a statement. [22800]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  In 1994 the Health and Safety Executive began a prior options study to consider whether any of the functions currently carried out by the employment medical advisory service could be undertaken by other means. the report of the study has not yet been completed.

  Mr. Galbraith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many doctors were employed by the employment medical advisory service in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [22801]
  602
  Mr. Oppenheim
  The number of doctors employed in the employment medical advisory service of the Health and Safety Executive at 1 April in each of the last five years was as follows:

  1991:47

  1992:52

  1993:55

  1994:47

  1995:35

  The 1995 figures are not completely comparable with those of earlier years due to the effect of changes in the management structure of the service. Numbers are planned to rise to 39.5 by 1 April 1996.

  Historical Documents
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what special training is given to persons who have responsibility for assessing the historical significance of documents held by his Department. [23288]

  Miss Widdecombe
  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.

  Licensed Premises
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were employed in licensed premises in(a) 1980, (b) 1985, (c) 1990 and (d) 1994. [23273]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The information requested is provided in the following table:

  Employees in licensed premises in Great Britain at December of each year

  Thousands

  1980

  1985

  1990

  1994

  Restaurants, snack bars, cafes etc1

  185

  221

  306

  307

  Public houses and bars

  236

  259

  338

  329

  Nightclubs and licensed clubs

  136

  141

  148

  136

  Hotel trade and tourist accommodation1 2

  204

  221

  274

  298

  Total1

  761

  841

  1,066

  1,070

  Source:

  Workforce in Employment survey.

  Notes:

  1 Includes some unlicensed premises.

  2 In 1994 includes other tourist or short stay accommodation.

  3 Due to rounding totals may not equal sum of component industries.

  Telephones
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment 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. [23440]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: Within the Department, mobile telephone are used by staff whose duties involve travel away from the office or where personal safety may be compromised by the need to work

  603
  in isolated areas. The costs for each financial year for these services and the number of mobile telephones in use could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment 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. [23498]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: The Department has not identified any effective efforts it could make as a service consumer to prevent cloning of mobile telephones. The Department will be raising this matter with CCTA—the Government Centre for Information Systems—to establish what practical steps can be taken.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment 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. [23480]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: There is no evidence to suggest that any charges have been incurred as a result of cloning.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many mobile telephones being utilised by his Department have been cloned during the last 12 months. [23504]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: There is no evidence to suggest that any of the Department's mobile telephones have been cloned.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment 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. [23477]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: The Employment Department has made no representations to the Department of Trade and Industry concerning the need for legislation to prevent the cloning of mobile phones.

  Stapro Insecticide
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) for what reasons staff were not evacuated during the spraying of Stapro insecticide at Grays benefit office on 5 October 1991; [22598]

  (2) which firm was commissioned to spray Stapro insecticide at Grays benefit office on 5 October 1991; [22599]

  (3) pursuant to his answer of 28 April, Official Report, column 717, what are the conditions of approval to which he refers and where they are to be found; and what are the requirements of the consent of use to which he refers and where they are to be found; [22662]

  (4) pursuant to his answer of 28 April, Official Report, column 717, if the manner and method of the spraying of the Stapro insecticide at Grays benefit office on 5 October 1991 complied with regulation 4(5) of the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986. [22663]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 10 May 1995]: Responsibility for the subject of the questions has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given and to keep me informed on progress on this issue.
  604
  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Andrew Mackinley, dated 11 May 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions relating to the spraying of an insecticide at Grays Unemployment Benefit Office on 8 October 1991.
  My letter to you of 2 May advised that the contractor employed to undertake the spraying was CDR Services of Tiptree, Essex. We were assured that the chemical used could be sprayed whilst the office was occupied and, in accordance with this, the office was not evacuated. The contractor also assured us that he had complied with the manufacturers instructions, which encompass the conditions for use.
  I am not in a position, at this time, to provide you with further information on the conditions for use as we have now been informed by the contractor that the chemical sprayed was not Stapro Insecticide. A letter has been sent to the contractor's solicitors seeking details of the chemical used, which will enable me to provide the information you seek.
  I will write to you again as soon as I have received the solicitor's reply.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to the answer of 2 May,Official Report, column 145, what was the chemical sprayed at the Grays benefit office on 5 October 1991. [22912]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given and to keep me informed of progress on this issue.

  Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Andrew Mackinlay, dated 11 May 1995:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about to the spraying of an insecticide at Grays Unemployment Benefit Office on 8 October 1991.
  My letter to you of 2 May advised that the contractor employed to undertake the spraying (CDR Services of Tiptree, Essex) has now informed us orally that the chemical used was not Stapro Insecticide. A letter has been sent to the contractor's solicitors seeking details of the chemical used.
  Given these circumstances, I am unable, for the time being, to provide you with the information you seek. However, I will write to you again as soon as I have received the solicitor's reply.

  Sikhs (Headwear Exemptions)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy to seek to arrange for an exemption(a) throughout the United Kingdom and (b) throughout the European Union of the personal protective equipment at work regulations to enable resident Sikhs to wear holy turbans; and if he will make a statement. [23097]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 10 May 1995]: The European directive on the use of personal protective equipment at work does not permit such an exemption. During the negotiations on this directive, the UK pressed for a derogation which would have allowed an exemption to be granted, but was unsuccessful.

  Disability Employment Advisers
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what training and information disability employment advisers and special needs careers advisers receive to enable them to advise people with epilepsy accurately about employment and training. [22843]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The training provided by the Employment Service for disability employment advisers
  605
  covers a wide range of disabilities, including epilepsy. From July this year, the training will be enhanced. Training will continue to include information about specific disabilities such as epilepsy, and DEAs will be actively encouraged to develop expertise in dealing with specific disability groups.

  The additional skills, knowledge and attitudes required of careers officers dealing with young people with special needs are included in the post graduate diploma in careers guidance. Careers officers must hold this or an equivalent qualification.

TREASURY

  Exchange Rate
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his Department's policy regarding the exchange rate with the deutschmark. [22237]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The Government do not have a policy of targeting the exchange rate against the deutschmark or any other currency. The exchange rate is one of the factors that are considered in determining the appropriate stance of monetary policy.

  Structural Adjustment Programmes
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has made to the International Monetary Fund to alleviate the effects of structural adjustment programmes on poor and indebted countries. [22239]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  The Government support the International Monetary Fund's policy on structural adjustment programmes. Adhering to a structural adjustment programme will often require difficult decisions by the country concerned. But we believe it is important that requests for lending by international financial institutions be accompanied by sensible conditions. This is in the interests of the countries concerned. Sound economic policies are needed if countries are to achieve sustainable economic growth. The alternative to structural adjustment is slower growth and worse poverty.

  Domestic Economy
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the state of the domestic economy. [22240]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Britain is enjoying sustained economic growth with low inflation, which will lead to higher living standards for all.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what submissions he plans to make to the IGC 96 on economic and monetary union. [22242]

  Mrs. Bridget Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what submissions he proposes to make to the IGC 96 on economic and monetary union. [22251]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Government do not intend to provide any submission to the 1996 606
  intergovernmental conference on any of the articles or associated protocols relating to economic and monetary union, which are contained in the treaty on European Union, as agreed at Maastricht.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which countries currently fulfil the Maastricht conditions for economic and monetary union. [19074]

  Mr. Nelson
  The question of which countries meet the Maastricht criteria will be decided by the Council on recommendations from the Commission.

  Value added Tax (Tourism)
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in examining proposals for the harmonisation of value added tax on tourist services throughout the European Union. [22243]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  There are no proposals for the harmonisation of VAT on tourist services throughout the European Union.

  Mortgage Interest Relief at Source
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on MIRAS. [22244]

  Sir George Young
  Mortgage interest relief helps some 10 million borrowers to buy their own homes at an estimated cost to the Exchequer of £2.8 billion in 1995–96.

  Teachers' Pay
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of funding the current teachers' pay award; and what increase in the standard rate of income tax is required to raise this sum. [22245]

  Mr. Aitken
  The cost in England and Wales of the pay award recommended by the school teachers' pay review body is about £294 million. The estimated full year effect, at 1995–96 income levels, of a 1p change in the basic rate of income tax is £1.9 billion.

  Tax Changes
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about recent tax changes. [22246]

  Sir George Young
  I have received a wide range of representations from hon. Members, organisations and individuals about recent tax changes.

  Economic Performance
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the performance of the United Kingdom economy in the last two quarters of the 1994–95 12-month period. [22247]

  Mr. Aitken
  Growth is slowing to a more sustainable rate. Public borrowing and unemployment are falling, and inflation remains low. Living standards continue to rise.

  Living Standards
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on recent changes in living standards. [22249]
  607
  Sir George Young
  Real personal disposable income is expected to rise by 1½ per cent. this year. This should mean that households will on average be about £5 per week better off after tax and inflation.

  Capital Gains Tax
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the loss of revenue to Her Majesty's Treasury of the abolition of capital gains tax. [22250]

  Sir George Young
  Receipts from tax on the capital gains of individuals, including trustees, and companies are forecast to be £1,650 million in 1995–96, projected to rise to some £3 billion by the turn of the century. This revenue would be lost if tax on capital gains was abolished. A very significant amount of income tax would also be lost due to behavioural effects as returns were taken as gains rather than as income.

  Capital Gains Tax
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the revenue yield in a full year of restricting the annual exempt amount for capital gains tax to relief at(a) 25p and (b) 20p in the pound; and what would be the yield from abolition of the annual exempt amount for CGT, for both individuals and trusts. [23350]

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: Under current rules, net chargeable gains below the capital gains tax annual exempt amount are totally exempt from tax. The effects of restricting this relief at the 25 per cent. and 20 per cent. rates are given in the table, based on forecast 1995–96 liabilities. The estimates assume the restriction would only affect individuals with gains above the annual exempt amount and do not allow for any consequential change in their behaviour.

  Capital gains tax yield (£ million)

  Restricting the relief to:

  (a) 25 per cent. rate

  40

  (b) 20 per cent. rate

  65

  It is estimated that the cost of the annual exempt amount in 1995–96 amounts to £300 million. However, consequential behavioural effects could alter the yield from abolition.

  All figures exclude tax on gains made by companies, which is included under corporation tax.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish estimates for the revenue cost/yield in a full year of altering the top rate of capital gains tax from 40 per cent. to(a) 30 per cent., (b) 35 per cent., (c) 45 per cent., (d) 50 per cent. and (e) 55 per cent., and levying the new rate on those with incomes over (i) £27,825, (ii) £30,000, (iii) £40,000, (iv) £50,000, (v) £60,000, (vi) £70,000, (vii) £80,000, (viii) £90,000, (ix) £100,000, (x) £110,000, (xi) £120,000, (xii) £130,000, (xiii) £140,000 and, (xiv) £150,000, and assuming that where the new top rate is lower than 40 per cent., the 40 per cent. band is abolished, and where it is higher, the 40 per cent. band remains in place. [23353]

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: Estimates for all the requested combinations of top rates
  608
  and income limits could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Estimated revenue effects for the various top rates and four limits are given below. It has been assumed that capital gains are taxed as if they were the top slice of an individual's income and therefore the limits apply to the total of taxable income and gains. The estimates are based on forecast 1995–96 liabilities and take account of the likely effect of the changes on the volume of disposals in a full year.

  Estimated revenue effects (£ million)

  Top rate of capital gains tax (per cent.)

  30

  35

  45

  50

  55

  Taxable income and gains over:

  £27,825

  -120

  -55

  +45

  +75

  +100

  £50,000

  -130

  -70

  +40

  +70

  +90

  £100,000

  -140

  -90

  +30

  +60

  +80

  £150,000

  -150

  -110

  +25

  +50

  +70

  These figures exclude gains made by companies which are included under corporation tax.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of individuals with capital gains(a) below and (b) in excess of the capital gains tax threshold who pay income tax at 40p in the pound. [23355]

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: It is estimated that 32,500 of the forecast 90,000 capital gains taxpayers with liabilities in 1995–96 will pay income tax at 40p in the pound. However, I regret that reliable estimates are not possible for the number of individuals with net gains below the annual exempt amount.

  All figures exclude companies making gains which are charged under corporation tax.

  Inflation
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the latest annual rate of inflation. [22253]

  Mr. Aitken
  The Chancellor receives a variety of representations which reinforce his determination to achieve the Government's objective of permanently low inflation.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the average rate of inflation(a) over the past five years and (b) between 1974 and 1979; and if he will make a statement. [22392]

  Mr. Nelson
  The average rate of underlying inflation—retail prices index excluding mortgage interest payments—over the past five years was 5 per cent.; between 1974 and 1979 it averaged 14 per cent.

  The Government are committed to permanently low inflation. The benefits of low inflation are coming through in healthy growth, based on good export performance, and falling unemployment.

  European Bank Notes
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had about whose head shall appear on common European currency bank notes.[22254]
  609
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Under article 109f(3) of the treaty of European Union the European Monetary Institute is responsible for supervising the technical preparation of ecu banknotes. The EMI has set up a group of national central bank experts to undertake a detailed study. The Chancellor has made it clear to other member states that if the United Kingdom were to participate in a single currency it would attach great importance to the retention of national features on the notes and coins.

  Under the UK protocol to the treaty, any decision to seek to join a single currency would be a matter for the UK Government and Parliament.

  Executive Remuneration
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what new proposals he has with regard to executive remuneration in the privatised utilities. [22241]

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

  Summit for Social Development
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he has taken to ensure that the United Kingdom Government complies with the agreement reached at the world summit for social development to institute regular national reviews of economic policies and budgets in respect of the eradication of poverty and the reduction of inequality. [22238]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The best way to tackle poverty and inequality is by giving people opportunities, promoting wealth creation and helping people back into work. As a result of our policies the average income of all economic groups and family types has risen since we came to office.

  Paymaster General (Targets)
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the key targets for 1995–96 for the office of HM Paymaster General. [24047]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Paymaster Agency's key targets for 1995–96 are as follows:

  Pensions
  meet targets agreed with customers for responding to correspondence and processing associated amendments
  meet quality targets agreed with customers for processing amendments

  Banking
  meet agreed transaction timetables for handling banking transactions
  meet agreed quality targets for processing banking service transactions
  610
  APEX
  meet the agreed timetable for sending financial information to the Treasury 95 per cent. of the time and never exceed the timetable by more than one day

  Recovering the full cost of running the agency
  obtain sufficient revenue to cover the full costs of running the agency

  Reducing unit costs
  achieve at least a 10 per cent. reduction in real terms in the average unit cost of paying a pension compared to the previous year
  achieve a 5 per cent. improvement in the average unit cost index for banking transactions compared to the previous year.

  Uniforms
  Mr. Dicks
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has had from organisations faced with a retrospective demand from the Inland Revenue for taxes to be paid by employees who have to wear a uniform at their place of work as part of their contract of employment. [23314]

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 9 May 1995]: I am not aware of any such representations, other than my hon. Friend's representations, on behalf of employees who have received clothing from their employer.

  Tobacco
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last discussed, and when he next plans to discuss, tobacco taxation with (i) European Union Finance Ministers and (ii) Group of Seven member country Finance Ministers; and if he will make a statement. [22970]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The Chancellor has not personally discussed tobacco taxation with European Union Finance Ministers. The previous Chancellor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Lamont), last did so during the discussions leading up to the completion of the single market on 1 January 1993. The subject will be discussed again at the next appropriate meeting of Finance Ministers following publication of the Commission proposals arising from their review of minimum rates of excise duties. We would not normally expect to discuss tobacco taxation in a G7 context.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy in the taxation of tobacco products. [22958]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Government policy is to set duty rates which are consistent with revenue needs and health of the nation objectives but which also take account of industry and retail business concerns.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list, for each year since 1965, the yield, in current and in real terms, from tobacco tax; and what is the estimated yield for the current year. [22956]

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

  Total tax £ million

  Tax in real terms (at 1994–95 prices) £ million

  1965–66

  1,014

  9,841

  1966–67

  1,025

  9,589

  1967–68

  1,043

  9,537

  611

  Total tax £ million

  Tax in real terms (at 1994–95 prices) £ million

  1968–69

  1,104

  9,568

  1969–70

  1,142

  9,413

  1970–71

  1,142

  8,775

  1971–72

  1,125

  7,912

  1972–73

  1,185

  7,782

  1973–74

  1,266

  7,528

  1974–75

  1,526

  7,697

  1975–76

  1,889

  7,646

  1976–77

  2,112

  7,416

  1977–78

  2,334

  7,189

  1978–79

  2,739

  7,789

  1979–80

  3,096

  7,603

  1980–81

  3,467

  7,320

  1981–82

  4,166

  7,889

  1982–83

  4,224

  7,470

  1983–84

  4,628

  7,820

  1984–85

  5,019

  8,073

  1985–86

  5,383

  8,174

  1986–87

  5,747

  8,457

  1987–88

  5,772

  8,168

  1988–89

  6,035

  8,057

  1989–90

  6,105

  7,560

  1990–91

  6,783

  7,658

  1991–92

  7,769

  8,374

  1992–93

  7,588

  7,928

  1993–94

  8,133

  8,355

  1994–95

  8,980

  8,977

  The forecast for tobacco duty receipts in 1995–96 is £7.2 billion.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current proportion of the purchase price paid in taxation for an average(a) packet of 20 cigarettes, (b) 250 g of hand-rolling tobacco, (c) packet of five cigars, and (d) 250 g of pipe tobacco in each country in (i) the European Union and (ii) the Group of Seven. [22967]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The information for the European Union member states is given in the table. The information requested is not readily available for the Group of Seven countries in the form required.

  (a) Cigarettes

  (b) HRT

  (c) Cigars

  (d) Pipe

  Austria

  73.67

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Belgium

  74.77

  54.57

  27.01

  54.57

  Denmark

  84.56

  56.42

  30.37

  92.26

  Finland

  75.57

  66.04

  n/a

  n/a

  France

  74.16

  72.69

  45.58

  63.48

  Germany

  71.72

  54.40

  18.04

  38.71

  Greece

  72.52

  72.75

  n/a

  72.76

  Ireland

  83.41

  73.31

  55.08

  73.37

  Italy

  72.96

  70.26

  n/a

  69.97

  Luxembourg

  63.82

  42.21

  n/a

  42.21

  Netherlands

  71.89

  61.98

  19.89

  65.94

  Portugal

  81.70

  43.79

  n/a

  43.78

  Spain

  75.57

  44.54

  24.53

  34.56

  Sweden

  69.18

  61.74

  n/a

  n/a

  UK

  77.59

  72.65

  50.42

  55.11

  n/a = information not readily available.

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list, for each Sp between 5p and £1, his estimate of the revenue raised by an increase in excise duty on an average(a) packet of cigarettes, (b) 250 g of hand-rolling
  612
  tobacco, (c) packet of five cigars and (d) 250 g of pipe tobacco, if such increases were to be fully reflected in price. [22959]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The information is as follows:

  Revenue £ million

  Pence

  Cigarettes 20 king size

  Cigars five small cigars

  Hand rolling 250g

  Pipe 250g

  5

  235

  8

  1

  0

  10

  470

  16

  1

  1

  15

  705

  23

  2

  1

  20

  940

  31

  2

  1

  25

  1175

  39

  3

  2

  30

  1410

  47

  3

  2

  35

  1645

  55

  4

  2

  40

  1880

  62

  4

  2

  45

  2115

  70

  5

  3

  50

  2351

  78

  6

  3

  55

  2586

  86

  6

  3

  60

  2831

  94

  7

  4

  65

  3056

  101

  7

  4

  70

  3291

  109

  8

  4

  75

  3526

  117

  8

  5

  80

  3761

  125

  9

  5

  85

  3996

  133

  9

  5

  90

  4231

  140

  10

  5

  95

  4466

  148

  10

  6

  100

  4701

  156

  11

  6

  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount in sterling equivalent and/or percentage rate of levied on an average packet of 20 cigarettes in(a) specific excise duty, (b) at valorem excise duty and (c) VAT or other sales tax in each country in (i) the European Union and (ii) the Group of seven including the United Kingdom. [22965]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The information is as follows:

  Specific duty £ per 20

  Ad valorem (per cent.)

  VAT rate (per cent.)

  Austria

  0.30

  41.00

  20.00

  Belgium

  0.16

  50.00

  20.50

  Denmark

  1.39

  21.22

  25.00

  Finland

  0.22

  50.00

  22.00

  France

  0.08

  54.95

  18.60

  Germany

  0.75

  24.80

  15.00

  Greece

  0.05

  53.86

  18.00

  Ireland

  1.16

  16.82

  21.00

  Italy

  0.04

  53.35

  19.00

  Luxembourg

  0.05

  54.50

  12.00

  Holland

  0.65

  21.05

  17.50

  Portugal

  0.12

  56.00

  16.00

  Spain

  0.04

  50.00

  15.00

  Sweden

  1.28

  0.00

  25.00

  UK

  1.15

  20.00

  17.50

  US

  high

  0.48

  —

  —

  low

  0.17

  —

  —

  Canada

  high

  1.85

  —

  —

  low

  0.60

  —

  —

  Japan

  0.93

  —

  3.00

  For the United States and Canada, tax rates vary considerably between states. For these countries, the specific duty column shows the total tax burden.
  613
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the loss to the Treasury in uncollectable revenue from(a) tobacco, (b) beer, (c) wine and (d) spirits in (i) duty and (ii) VAT from overseas mail order arrangements for selling through a personal agent: and if he will make a statement. [22963]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The duty receipts for the financial year 1994–95 are as follows:
  614

  £ billion

  Tobacco

  7.4

  Beer

  2.5

  Wine

  1.1

  Spirits

  1.8

  The quantities that might be purchased through a personal agent are unknown. Any figure would therefore he wholly speculative.

  Chernobyl: Disaster Costs
  Chernobyl: Disaster Costs
  Chernobyl: Safety Reports
  Chernobyl: Safety Reports
  Israel/Occupied Territories: Border Reopening
  Israel/Occupied Territories: Border Reopening
  East Jerusalem: Proposed Land Expropriation
  East Jerusalem: Proposed Land Expropriation
  EU: Role of National Parliaments
  EU: Role of National Parliaments
  NATO Enlargement
  NATO Enlargement
  Access Committee for England: Grant
  Access Committee for England: Grant
  RAF Valley: Support Services
  RAF Valley: Support Services
  Standards in Public Life: Nolan Report
  Standards in Public Life: Nolan Report
  Criminal Injuries Compensation
  Criminal Injuries Compensation
  Animal Procedures Committee
  Animal Procedures Committee
  Child Support Bill: Keeling Schedule
  Child Support Bill: Keeling Schedule
  Climate Change Programme: Promotion of Energy Efficiency
  Climate Change Programme: Promotion of Energy Efficiency