Written Answers of 1 November 1995

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Mr. Ernest Saunders
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the latest estimate of the cost to the legal aid fund for Mr. Ernest Saunders' appeal to the appeal court; and what income Mr. Saunders disclosed in his application. [39611]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I do not consider it appropriate for me to speculate on the likely cost of this case while it is in progress. Because of the confidentiality provisions of the Legal Aid Act 1988, I cannot disclose any details of the application.

  Mr. Marshall
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary Lord Chancellor's Department if Mr. Ernest Saunders received legal aid in his case before the European Court. [39612]

  Mr. David Davis
  I have been asked to reply.

  No. UK legal aid is not available for applications under the European convention on human rights and Mr. Saunders is not legally aided by the Council of Europe.

  Court Circuits
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to reorganise the Wales and Chester circuits, causing north Wales to be attached to the north-west circuit, and south Wales to be attached to a south-west of England circuit. [39872]

  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 him to reply direct.

  Letter from M. D. Huebner to Mr. Paul Boateng, dated 1 November 1995:

  The Parliamentary Secretary has asked me to reply to your question about plans to reorganise the Wales and Chester Circuit.

  There are no plans to reorganise the Wales and Chester Circuit in the way described or to create a North West Circuit or a South West of England Circuit.

  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to carry out public consultation on the future of the current circuits of England and Wales; which circuits are involved; and when the consultation will take place. [39867]

  Mr. Taylor
  The question concerns a specific operational matter on which the chief executive of the 246
  Court Service is best placed to provide an answer and I have accordingly asked him to reply direct.

  Letter from M. D. Huebner to Mr. Paul Boateng, dated 1 November 1995:

  The Parliamentary Secretary has asked me to reply to your question about public consultation on the future of the current Circuits in England and Wales.

  At the beginning of this year I commissioned a review of the internal management structure of the Court service. As part of this review, I am consulting interested parties about whether they would favour any marginal changes to current Circuit boundaries. The review of the management structure is being carried out in full consultation with the judiciary, the Bar, the Law Society and other agencies. A questionnaire will also shortly be circulated to major court user groups. Further consultation will be carried out during November and December, and again in the New Year, after the review team has reported to me.

  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what review has been carried out on the future of the Wales and Chester circuit; if he will make a statement. [39868]

  Mr. 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 him to reply direct.

  Letter from M. D. Huebner to Mr. Paul Boateng, dated 1 November 1995:

  The Parliamentary Secretary has asked me to reply to your question about a review of the future of the Wales and Chester Circuit.

  A review of the internal management structure of the Court Service was commissioned at the beginning of the year. The review, which is due to report by Christmas, is considering the future role of Circuit Administrators, as well as all other management tiers in the Court Service. However, no review of Circuits themselves is contemplated.

  Illegal Immigration (Employer Sanctions)
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what estimate has been made of the possible impact on the costs to the court system from the introduction of employer sanctions in respect of unlawful employment of illegal or other immigrants. [40230]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Discussions are under way with the immigration and nationality department on the likely number of cases which would enter the court system as a result of proposed measures to prevent illegal working. Such cases would be dealt with in magistrates courts, with appeals going to the Crown court.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much to date has been paid in legal aid to each of the lawyers representing the Maxwell brothers. [39566]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Byers) on 24 October,Official Report, column 506.

  Non-departmental Public Bodies
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list all the non-departmental public bodies to which his office makes appointments in the county of South Yorkshire, with the total annul budget for each body and the number of appointments made or renewed for each body in each of the last four years. [39433]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The non-judicial non-departmental public bodies for which my Department is responsible in the county of South Yorkshire, and the appointments made to them in each of the last four years are as follows:

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace

  Barnsley

  2

  0

  0

  16(1)

  0

  Doncaster

  0

  0

  3

  0

  1

  Rotherham

  3

  0

  1

  16(2)

  0

  Sheffield

  6

  1

  0

  16(1)

  0

  Advisory Committee on General Commissioners of Income Tax

  South Yorkshire

  2

  0

  13(3)

  0

  0

  1 Figures in brackets show the number of renewed appointments in the preceding figure.

  The bodies do not have separate budgets.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many times in each month of the current calendar year he has met personally the heads of the agencies which report to him to discuss the work of those agencies. [39858]

  Mr. John Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor is responsible for four agencies. In the current year, the Lord Chancellor and I met the chief executive of Her Majesty's Land Registry in January; the chief executive of the Public Record Office in January and in July; the chief executive of the Public Trust Office in February and in June; and the chief executive of the Court Service in July. There was a meeting between the Lord Chancellor and the chief executive of Her Majesty's Land Registry in June, which I was unable to attend. I have had no separate meetings with the agency chief executives to discuss the work of the agencies, but I attended the headquarters of Her Majesty's Land Registry in January in my capacity as the Lord Chancellor's Minister responsible for environmental issues, to witness the signing by the chief executive of the agency's declaration of corporate commitment on energy management.

  Public Appointments (South Yorkshire)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the public appointments for which his Department is responsible in the county of South Yorkshire, indicating in each case the duration of the appointment, the date when a new appointment is due and the salary. [39429]
  248
  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The non-judicial public appointments for which my Department is responsible in the county of South Yorkshire are those made to the following bodies:

  The South Yorkshire Advisory Committee on General Commissioners of Income Tax

  The Barnsley Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace

  The Doncaster Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace

  The Rotherham Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace

  The Sheffield Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace

  Appointment terms are variable but are generally for a period of six years. Roughly half the members are replaced every three years. Salaries are not paid.

  Bankruptcy Petitions
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many petitions for bankruptcy have been begun by his Department for businesses with under 500 employees in each of the last five years. [40518]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The information requested is not held centrally. According to the best information available, no such proceedings have been begun by the Department in the past five years.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list by grade the numbers of staff and their cost for(a) the financial year 1994–95 and (b) the estimated figures for the financial year 1995–96, for each executive agency for which he is responsible. [39492]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor is responsible for four executive agencies-the Court Service, the Public Trust Office, Her Majesty's Land Registry and the Public Record Office. The question concerns a specific matter on which the chief executives of the agencies are best placed to provide the answer and I have accordingly asked them to reply direct.

  Letter from M. D. Huebner to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 1 November 1995:
  The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about Court Service staff numbers and cost.The Court Service was established on 3 April 1995. There are therefore no figures for staff numbers or cost before this date.Numbers of staff in the Court Service by grade as of 26 October 1995 are as follows:

  Number

  Grade 2

  1

  Grade 3

  2

  Grade 4

  3

  Grade 5

  12

  Grade 6

  44

  Grade 7

  121

  SEO

  246

  HEO

  783

  EO

  1,951

  AO

  4,922

  AA

  494

  Support Grades

  2,045

  249 This makes a total staff complement of 10,624, including part-time staff and those staff on maternity leave or other career breaks.The current projected paybill for the Court Service for the financial year 1995–96 is £180 million. To divide this further by grade would take up disproportionate time and cost.
  Letter from John Manthorpe to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated I November 1995:
  I have been asked by the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, to reply to your recent question requesting a list, by grade, of the numbers of staff in HM Land Registry and their costs for (a) 1994–95 and (b) estimated figures for 1995–96.I can provide the following information:

  1994–95

  1995–96 (estimated)

  Staff numbers (average number—Civil Service full time equivalents

  8,585

  8,221

  Staff costs (including Social Security and other pension costs)

  £146,278,000

  £144,352,000

  A breakdown by grade could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

  Letter from Sarah Tyacke to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated I November 1995:
  I have been asked by the Lord Chancellor's Parliamentary Secretary to reply, in respect of the Public Record Office, to your question about the numbers and cost by grade of staff of executive agencies for which he is responsible.Estimated outturn for 1994–95 and plans for 1995–96 for Public Record Office staff numbers and paybill are set out in the Departmental Report of The Lord Chancellor's and Law Officer's Departments (Cm 2809), copies of which are in the Libraries of the House. A breakdown by grade could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  Letter from Julia C. Lomas to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 1 November 1995:
  The Parliamentary Secretary has asked me to reply to you as part of the Lord Chancellor's Department response to your Parliamentary Question, listed on 24 October, regarding the numbers of staff and their cost for the financial year 1994–5 and the estimated figure for the current financial year.The estimated outturn for 1994–5 and plans for 1995–6 for this Agency's manpower and paybill are set out in my annual report, copies of which are in the Libraries of the House. A breakdown by grade could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Salaries
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the(a) lowest and (b) highest full-time salary paid to any employee in his (i) Department (ii) agencies (iii) non-departmental bodies in (1) 1994–95 and (2) 1995–96. [40818]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  In addition to the headquarters of the Lord Chancellor's Department and associated offices, the Lord Chancellor has responsibility for four agencies: the Court Service, HM Land Registry, the Public Record Office and the Public Trust Office. He also 250
  has responsibility for the Legal Aid Board and the Northern Ireland Court Service. As the question concerns a specific operational matter, the chief executives of the Land Registry and the Public Record Office have been asked to reply direct. This answer is, however, given on behalf of headquarters and the remaining agencies, the Legal Aid Board and the Northern Ireland Court Service.

  It is the Government's normal policy to publish civil servants' salaries in bands. Accordingly, the highest salary in payment in the Lord Chancellor's Department's headquarters falls within the £95,000 to £99,999 band in both 1994–95 and 1995–96.

  In the Court Service, which did not become an agency until April 1995, the highest salary in payment in 1995–96 falls within the £75,000 to £79,999 band.

  In the Public Trust Office the highest salary in payment in both 1994–95 and 1995–96 falls within the £55,000 to £59,999 band.

  It has not been possible in the time available to identify the lowest salaries actually in payment either in LCD headquarters or the agencies. But the lowest starting pay of the most junior grade at age 16 falls in band £4,000 to £9,999. There has been no increase in these rates of pay since April 1994.

  The highest salary in payment to staff of the Northern Ireland Court Service in both 1994–95 and 1995–96 falls within the £60,000 to £64,999 band: the lowest salary which has been in payment for both years falls within the £5,000 to £9,999 band.

  In the Legal Aid Board, the lowest salary in payment in both 1994–95 and 1995–96 fell within the £5,000 to £9,999 band. The highest annual salary in 1994–95 fell within the £75,000 to £79,999 band. In 1995–96, the highest salary in payment falls within the band £65,000 to £69,999, with a possible additional bonus payable at the end of the year.

  Letter from John Manthorpe to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 1 November 1995:
  I have been asked by the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, to reply to your recent question on the (a) lowest and (b) highest full-time salary paid to any employee in the Land Registry in (1) 1994–95 and (2) 1995–96.It is the Government's normal policy to publish civil servants salaries in bands. Accordingly, the lowest full-time salary fell within the band:

  1994–95: £5,000-£9,999

  1995–96: £5,000-£9,999

  The highest full-time salary fell within the band:

  1994–95: £65,000-£69,999

  1995–96: £65,000-£69,999

  I do hope that this answers the points raised with the Parliamentary Secretary but please contact me if I can be of any further assistance.
  Letter from Sarah Tyacke to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 1 November 1995:
  I have been asked by the Lord Chancellor's Parliamentary Secretary to reply in respect of the Public Record Office, to your question about the lowest and highest full-time salaries paid to employees in 1994–95 and 1995–96.251 It is the Government's normal policy to publish civil servants' salaries in bands. Accordingly, the lowest full-time salary fell within the band:

  1994–95: £ 10,000-£14,999

  1995–96: £10,000-£14,999

  The highest full-time salary fell within the band:

  1994–95: £60,000-£64,999

  1995–96: £60,000-£64,999

  The Keeper of Public Records' salary is published in the Public Record Office's Annual Report, a copy of which is deposited in the Library of the House.

  Annual Remuneration
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will estimate the number of individuals in his(a) Department and (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental bodies whose annual remuneration including benefits in kind exceeded (i) £100,000, (ii) £200,000 and (iii) £300,000 in (1) 1985–86, (2) 1990–91, (3) 1992–93, (4) 1994–95 and (5) 1995–96. [40817]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  In addition to the headquarters of the Lord Chancellor's Department and associated offices, the Lord Chancellor has responsibility for four agencies: the Court Service, HM Land Registry, the Public Record Office and the Public Trust Office. He also has responsibility for the Legal Aid Board and the Northern Ireland Court Service. As the question concerns a specific operational matter, the chief executives of the Land Registry and the Public Record Office have been asked to reply direct. This answer is, however, given on behalf of headquarters, the remaining agencies, the Legal Aid Board and the Northern Ireland Court Service.

  Other than pension contributions, benefits in kind are not normally paid to staff in the department, agencies and non-departmental bodies. As members of the principal civil service pension scheme, staff receive benefits in accordance with the scheme rules, which have been deposited in the Library of the House. There are no individuals in the headquarters of the Department, the Court Service, the Public Trust Office, the Legal Aid Board or the Northern Ireland Court Service whose total remuneration packages in the years in question exceeded £100,000, excluding pension benefits.

  Letter from John Manthorpe to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 1 November 1995:
  I have been asked by the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, to reply to your recent question on the number of individuals in the Land Registry whose annual remuneration including benefits in kind exceeded (i) £100,000 (ii) £200,000 and (iii) £300,000 in (1) 1985–86, (2) 1990–91, (3) 1992–93, (4) 1994–95 and (5) 1995–96.Other than pension contributions, benefits in kind are not normally paid to staff in HM Land Registry. As members of the Principal Civil Service Pensions Scheme, staff receive benefits in accordance with the Scheme rules which have been deposited in the Library of the House. There were no individuals within the Land Registry whose annual remuneration, excluding pension benefits, has exceeded £100,000 in the years mentioned.I do hope that this answers the points raised with the Parliamentary Secretary but please contact me if I can be of any further assistance.252
  Letter from Sarah Tyacke to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 1 November 1995:
  I have been asked by the Lord Chancellor's Parliamentary Secretary to reply, in respect of the Public Record Office, to your question about the number of individuals whose annual remuneration including benefits in kind exceeded (i) £100,000, (ii) £200,000 and (iii) £300,000.Other than pension contributions, benefits in kind are not normally paid to staff in the Public Record Office. As members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme, staff receive benefits in accordance with the Scheme rules which have been deposited in the Library of the House. The number receiving annual remuneration above the sums specified, excluding pension benefits in the years in question was (i) Nil, (ii) Nil, (iii) Nil.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Know-how Funding
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total sum spent by the know-how funds in(a) Estonia, (b) Latvia and (c) Lithuania and (d) Georgia in each of the last five years; and what is the expected total in the next two years. [40667]

  Mr. Hanley
  Know-how fund expenditure to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Georgia was as follows:

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  £ million 1995–96 (planned)

  Estonia

  0

  0.008

  0.359

  0.310

  0.691

  0.695

  Latvia

  0

  0

  0.326

  0.259

  0.915

  0.695

  Lithuania

  0

  0.006

  0.404

  1.058

  0.900

  0.695

  Pan Baltic

  0

  0.036

  0.360

  0.627

  0.603

  0.625

  Georgia

  0

  0

  0.026

  0.071

  0.496

  0.600

  Total

  0

  0.050

  1.475

  3.800

  3.605

  3.310

  Discussions about future spending are currently under way.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Lobbies
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee for what reasons microphones are not allowed to be used at lobbies held in Westminster Hall by speakers, and what considerations underlie permission to use microphones as granted to the House authorities. [40372]

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  Lobbying is normally carried out in Central Lobby, but in view of the problems posed for disabled lobbyists, the authorities controlling Westminster Hall have agreed that mass lobbies by disabled people may take place there. This is designed to replicate the facilities offered in the Central Lobby, not a meeting room. The microphones and loudspeakers are for the House authorities to let lobbyists know which hon. Members are present and which part of the Hall they will be in.

  Air Travel Costs
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what rebate agreements with airlines have been reached in respect of air travel costs. [41059]

  Mr. Michael J. Martin
  I am pleased to announce that on 13 June, following negotiations between the House and British Airways, the Administration Committee endorsed a proposed agreement, whereby BA is willing to assist the House in reducing its air travel costs, in return for the House dealing with BA as a preferred airline, and subject to a certain minimum flown revenue.

  Most BA flights on parliamentary business booked through the Palace of Westminster travel office since 1 April by hon. Members, their staff or Officers or staff of the House will count towards a percentage rebate on a sliding scale—the greater the flown revenue, the greater the percentage—as well as actual—rebate. All BA worldwide scheduled services in certain classes are covered, including club world, eurobudget, shuttle services and full economy class UK domestic fares. A complete list of eligible fares is available from the travel office.

  It is important to stress that there is no element of "exclusivity" about this agreement. Individual hon. Members or Select Committees who, for example, prefer to deal with other carriers or travel agents, or who wish to take advantage of a group deal with another carrier are, of course, still perfectly free to do so. However, I would hope that all hon. Members will bear in mind that if they do book a BA flight through the travel office, it could now assist the House in being able to keep its air travel costs down.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Attorney-General if he will list by grade the numbers of staff and their cost for(a) the financial year 1994–95 and (b) the estimated figures for the financial year 1995–96, for each executive agency for which he is responsible. [39485]

  The Attorney-General
  The chief executive of the executive agency for which I am responsible, the Government Property Lawyers, will write direct to the hon. Member.

  Letter from P. Horner to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 31 October 1995:
  The Attorney-General has asked me to reply to your question about Executive Agency Staff. I am pleased to provide the details below for the Government Property Lawyers Agency:

  Grade

  Number

  Cost £

  a) Financial Year 1994–95

  3

  1

  78,028.67

  4–7

  45.15

  1,998,153.06

  254

  Grade

  Number

  Cost £

  Executive Grades

  37.12

  713,190.47

  Support Grades

  22.75

  293,048.37

  Typing and Messengerial Grades

  21.83

  286,130.40

  Total

  127.85

  3,368,550.97

  b) Financial Year 1995–96 (estimated)

  3

  1

  70,963.64

  5–7

  41.97

  1,892,336.76

  Executive Grades

  36.65

  735,750.24

  Support Grades

  23.6

  323,552.37

  Typing and Messengerial Grades

  21.17

  297,171.01

  Totals

  124.39

  3,319,774.02

  The information has been given in the above form to avoid identification of individuals.

  Late Payments (Small Businesses)
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Attorney General how often his Department and each agency within it has failed to pay invoices due to small businesses within 30 days in each of the last five years. [40533]

  The Attorney-General
  The Departments for which I am responsible make every effort to settle invoices promptly, including those payable to small businesses. The specific information requested is not available except at disproportionate cost.

  Bankruptcy Petitions
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Attorney-General how many petitions for bankruptcy have been begun by his Department for businesses with under 500 employees in each of the last five years. [40534]

  The Attorney-General
  No such petitions have been presented by the Law Officers' Departments in their own behalf.

  The Treasury Solicitor's Department has presented bankruptcy petitions on behalf of other Departments for which it acts. Information as to the number of employees affected is not maintained in the Treasury Solicitor's Department's records.

TREASURY

  Value Added Tax
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue would be raised by increasing the standard rate of VAT to(a) 19 per cent. and (b) 20 per cent. per year. [40666]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Figures published in the Treasury's "Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs" indicate that increasing the standard rate of VAT by one percentage point is estimated to raise £2,540 million. This implies the following:
  255

  New tax rate percentage

  Estimated extra revenue £ million

  19

  3,810

  20

  6,350

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the cost in 1996–97 and a full year of raising the threshold for registration for VAT for small businesses by(a) £10,000, (b) £20,000, (c) £30,000, (d) £40,000, (e) £50,000 and (f) £60,000.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  [holding answer 31 October 1995]: Costs have not been calculated for the exact thresholds specified. Calculations have been done for the full-year revenue effects of raising the VAT registration threshold to the following levels:

  VAT registration threshold

  £60,000

  £75,000

  £100,000

  Revenue effect (£ million)

  -£120

  -£245

  -£425

  It should also be noted that the EC sixth VAT directive restricts increases in the VAT threshold to those which "maintain its value in real terms".(2) what assessment capital gains taxation 1979.he has made of the amount of avoidance for each year since [38866]

  Windfall Taxes
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement in his Department's policy in respect of windfall taxes; and if he will make a statement. [40827]

  Mr. Jack
  It would be inappropriate to comment on tax matters at this stage in the Budget cycle.

  Beer Duty
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research has been undertaken on the revenue effect of lowering the level of excise duty on beer, on sources of tax revenue other than excise duty and directly associated VAT. [38476]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Government costings of a cut in beer duty, published in the tax ready reckoner, allow for the direct effects on indirect tax revenues when consumers switch expenditure from other goods to beer. These calculations make use of a model developed by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, based on detailed data on how demand for individual goods and services has responded to price changes in the past.

  Following through the impact on other sources of tax revenue would require assumptions about the stance of fiscal and monetary policy. It is that overall policy stance that is the prime determinant of the effect on receipts, which would require simulation on a macro-economic model, such as that of the Treasury.

  The Brewers and Licensed Retailers Association has published its own estimates of the effect on government
  256
  revenues of a reduction in beer duty, most recently in "A New Deal: A Memorandum to HM Treasury", June 1995.

  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimate of income from taxes on beers, wines, spirits, tobacco and cigarettes for the current year. [40604]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The summer economic forecast published in June estimated revenues for the current year to be as follows:

  £ billion

  Beers (and ciders)

  2.7

  Wines

  1.2

  Spirits

  1.9

  Tobacco

  7.3

  Tax Avoidance
  Mr. Hain
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the amount of corporate taxation avoidance for each year since 1979; [38865]

  (2) what assessment capital gains taxation 1979. he has made of the amount of avoidance for each year since 1979. [38866]

  Mr. Jack
  We continue to monitor examples of the exploitation of tax regulations which result in tax loss. Analysis of these is one of the key factors in determining each year new policies designed to counter avoidance.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many taxpayers on PAYE have gross incomes(a) under £10,00, (b) £25,000 (c) £50,000, (d) £75,000, (e) £100,000, (f) £125,000, (g) £150,000, (h) £175,000, (i) £200,000 and (j) over £250,000, specifying in each case the average amount of income subject to PAYE. [39113]

  Mr. Jack
  Available estimates for 1995–95 are given in the table.

  Range of Gross Income

  Taxpayers with a source of income subject to PAYE Thousands

  Gross Income1 £ million

  Average PAYE income £1 2

  £0-£ 10,000

  8,000

  54,800

  5,780

  £10,000-£25,000

  11,200

  179,000

  15,100

  £25,000-£50,000

  2,400

  77,800

  30,200

  £50,000-£75,000

  240

  14,500

  54,000

  £75,000-£100,000

  70

  5,610

  72,300

  £100,000 and over

  80

  14,800

  147,000

  Total

  22,000

  346,000

  14,400

  1 Gross income is defined as total income for income tax purposes. It excludes income from certain social security benefits and some investment income such as national savings certificates.

  2 Main and subsidiary source schedule E income, occupational pensions, other schedule E income and taxable expenses and benefits.

  257
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the basic rate of income tax would be increased to raise an additional £1,000 million in revenue; how much the basic rate of income tax would be increased to raise this sum if the spread of all taxation was consistent with that on 1 June; and if he will make a statement. [39293]

  Mr. Jack
  The basic rate of income tax would need to be raised by about ½p.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost in 1996–97 and a full year of widening the 20p band of tax to the degree necessary to make half of all taxpayers liable at the 20p rate of tax; and if he will indicate the upper limit of the 20p rate that would be necessary to achieve this. [40775]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 31 October 1995]: The lower rate band would need to be widened to £8,500. The direct revenue cost would be about £4.1 billion in a full year at 1996–97 income levels. This estimate includes consequential effects on the yield of capital gains.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide figures for(a) the number of higher rate taxpayers and (b) the total number of taxpayers on gross incomes of between £31,000 and £40,000 in £1,000 bands. [40786]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 31 October 1995]: Provisional estimates for 1995–96 are given in the table.

  Range of gross income1 £

  Number of taxpayers in 1995–96 Thousands

  Higher rate taxpayers in 1995–96

  £31,000-£32,000

  170

  160

  £32,000-£33,000

  120

  120

  £33,000-£34,000

  120

  120

  £34,000-£35,000

  110

  110

  £35,000-£36,000

  120

  120

  £36,000-£37,000

  90

  90

  £37,000-£38,000

  80

  80

  £38,000-£39,000

  70

  70

  £39,000-£40,000

  60

  60

  1 Gross income is defined as total income for income tax purposes. It excludes income from certain social security benefits and some investment income such as national savings certificates.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost in 1996–97 and a full year of reducing the number of people paying tax at the higher rate to(a) 2 million, (b) 1.5 million, (c) 1 million, (d) 0.75 million and (e) 0.5 million indicating in each case the upper limit for the 25p rate. [40776]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 31 October 1995]: Estimated full-year costs at 1996–97 income levels are given in the table.

  Reduction in the number of higher rate taxpayers to

  Full year revenue cost at 1996–97 levels £ billion

  Basic rate limit assumed

  2 million

  0.4

  26,500

  1.5 million

  1.3

  29,800

  1 million

  2.3

  35,300

  258

  Reduction in the number of higher rate taxpayers to

  Full year revenue cost at 1996–97 levels £ billion

  Basic rate limit assumed

  0.75 million

  3.0

  40,300

  0.5 million

  3.6

  46,300

  Allowances and Reliefs
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update his answer of 11 February 1992 to the hon. Member for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke),Official Report, column 429, on the effect on Treasury revenues of introducing limits on allowances and reliefs, including in the calculation only those allowances and reliefs taken at the marginal rate. [39099]

  Mr. Jack
  It is estimated that at 1995–96 levels of income the introduction of the upper limits specified would yield the following:

  Upper limit for total allowances and reliefs1 £

  Yield in full year £ million

  9,000

  560

  10,000

  490

  11,000

  430

  12,000

  380

  13,000

  340

  14,000

  310

  15,000

  290

  16,000

  260

  1 Including only allowances and reliefs given at marginal rates.

  The number of people who would be affected are as follows:

  £ Thousands

  Upper limit for total allowances and reliefs1 £

  Basic rate taxpayers, lower rate taxpayers and non taxpayers

  Higher rate taxpayers

  9,000

  50

  180

  10,000

  30

  140

  11,000

  30

  110

  12,000

  20

  90

  13,000

  10

  80

  14,000

  10

  70

  15,000

  10

  60

  16,000

  10

  50

  1 Including only allowances and reliefs given at marginal rates.

  Fewer than 10,000 basic rate taxpayers would become higher rate taxpayers.

  The estimates do not take account of any behavioural effects which might result from the introduction of such a limit.

  Capital Gains and Inheritance Tax
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the full-year cost of abolition of(a) capital gains tax and (b) inheritance tax. [39103]
  259
  Mr. Jack
  Receipts from capital gains tax, excluding tax on gains of companies, and inheritance tax are forecast to be £1.1 billion and £1.6 billion respectively in 1996–97.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current estimate of the amount of public sector capital investment which will have been approved under the private finance initiative by the end of 1995; to what extent the estimate has changed; and if he will make a statement. [39345]

  Mr. Jack
  Information on private finance projects is assembled in the form of total contract values rather than specifically public sector capital investment. Information on the numerous smaller contracts is not kept centrally, but at the last Budget the Chancellor announced that contracts with a capital value of £5 billion were due to be signed in this financial year. We are on target.

  Excise Verification Officers
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many excise verification officers were deployed by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in(a) 1993, (b) 1994 and (c) 1995. [40208]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The information is not available in the format requested. In the financial year 1993–94 and 1994–95 some 250 staff years were assigned to single market excise work; the majority of these were specially trained excise verification officers. In the financial year 1995–96 an additional 12 staff years were designated to counter excise offences.

  National Grid Flotation
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the agreements reached between the Inland Revenue and the regional electricity companies over tax liabilities in relation to the flotation of the National Grid, with particular reference to letters of comfort issued by the Inland Revenue. [40571]

  Mr. Jack
  The tax affairs of particular companies are a confidential matter between those companies and the Inland Revenue.

  Termination of Employment Payments
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost in 1994–95 of tax relief given at a rate of(a) 40 per cent. and (b) 25 per cent. on the first £30,000 of payments made on termination of employment. [39142]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 24 October 1995]: The total cost of tax relief on the first £30,000 of payments made on termination of employment is estimated to be about £1,600 million in 1994–95. A breakdown of this figure at each marginal tax rate is given in the following table:

  Cost of tar relief

  £ million

  Lower rate of 20 per cent.

  50

  Basic rate of 25 per cent.

  800

  Higher rate of 40 per cent.

  750

  Total

  1,600

  Private Finance Panel
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the names, declared interests, date of appointment and reason for selection of the members of the Private Finance Panel [39381]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 26 October 1995]: The current members and main interests of the Private Finance Panel are:

  Sir Christopher Bland

  Chairman, NFC Plc, Life Sciences International plc and Hammersmith Hospitals Trust.

  Mr. Malcolm R.Bates

  Deputy Managing Director, GEC; Non-executive Director, Enterprise Oil.

  Mr. Allan Gormly CBE

  Chairman, Royal Insurance Holdings plc; Joint Deputy Chairman, Trafalgar House plc; Director, National Grid Co. plc, BPB Industries plc, Brixton Estate plc, Eurorail Ltd.

  Mr. Hugh R. Jenkins

  Chief Executive, Prudential Portfolio Managers; Director, Prudential Corporation; Member, DoE Property Advisory Group.

  Mr. Pen Kent

  Director, Bank of England.

  Ms Sheila V. Masters

  Partner, KPMG Peat Marwick; Non-executive Director, Bank of England; Non-executive Member, Inland Revenue Management Board and NHS Policy Board.

  Sir Brian Pearse

  Chairman, The Housing Corporation, Lucas Industries, British Invisibles and Young Enterprise. Director, Smith and Nephew plc, Financial Reporting Council, BOTB, London First Centre.

  Mr. Neville Simms

  Group Chief Executive, Tarmac plc; Non-executive Director, Courtaulds plc.

  Mr. Alastair Ross Goobey

  Chief Executive, PosTel Investment Management; Non-executive Director Cheltenham & Gloucester Building Society; Non-executive Director, TR Property Investment Trust.

  Mr. Murray Stuart

  Chairman, Scottish Power; Deputy Chairman, Audit Commission; Director, Hill Samuel.

  Mr. Steve Robson

  Director (Finance, Regulation and Industry), HM Treasury.

  All the members were appointed in November 1993, with the exceptions of Sir Christopher Bland (November 1994), Mr. Ross Goobey (September 1995) and Mr. Stuart (October 1995).

  The panel was selected, in discussions between both the previous and present chairmen and myself, in order to bring a mixture of experience and expertise to the task of promoting the progress of the private finance initiative.

  Private Medical Insurance
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what discussions have taken place, and with whom, about extending private medical insurance tax relief to
  261
  those policies specifically designed to cover long-term care needs; [39383]

  (2) what representations have been made to his Department concerning extending private medical insurance tax relief to those policies specifically designed to cover long-term care needs. [39384]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 26 October 1995]: The Treasury receives representations from, and has discussions with, many individuals and organisations with regard to taxation issues including tax relief for policies covering long-term care.

  Taxation
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give his best estimate at 1995–96 prices and in cash terms for the total amount of(a) direct and (b) indirect tax paid since 1945 by (i) a married man on average earnings with two children where only the man is working and (ii) a single person on three quarters of average earnings. [40781]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 31 October 1995]: Tables showing the burden of direct taxes and indirect taxes on various specimen households since 1978–79 are shown in the tax-benefit reference manual, copies of which are held in the House of Commons Library. Comparable figures for both direct and indirect taxes are not available for earlier years.

  Corporation Tax
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the number of companies receiving corporation tax repayments in excess of £250 million in 1994–95 or the latest available year. [40785]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 31 October 1995]: Information held centrally shows that no repayment of corporation tax exceeded £250 million in 1994–95, the latest available year.

  Company Dividends
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he proposes to take on the use of special dividends in relation to takeovers and mergers. [40779]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 31 October 1995]: Dividend policy is a matter for the private sector companies concerned.

  Inheritance Tax
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give for the latest available year for estates valued at over(a) £2 million, (b) £3 million, (c) £4 million,(d) £5 million and (e) £6 million, (i) the number of estates notified for probate, (ii) the inheritance tax raised and (iii) the value of exemptions. [40784]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 31 October 1995]: Provisional estimates for estates applying for grants of representation where death occurred in the financial year 1991–92, and where the net estate was valued at 2£
  262
  million or over, are given. Figures for more recent years are not available.

  1991–92

  (i) Number of estates applying for grants of representations

  217

  (ii) Inheritance tax liabilities

  140 £ million

  (iii) Total capital value of exemptions and reliefs1

  £390 million

  1 Including value of IHT threshold.

  A further breakdown of estates over £2 million cannot be reliably estimated and, in any case, the numbers involved may be too small to give adequate protection to the confidentiality of individual estates.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Former Yugoslavia
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on the recognition of states and boundaries following policy decisions taken in respect of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia. [40703]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The United Kingdom recognised the Republics of Croatia and Slovenia on 15 January 1992, the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina on 7 April 1992 and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on 8 April 1993. The United Kingdom does not recognise the statehood of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia—Serbia and Montenegro. Succession issues, such as the division of assets and liabilities, will be resolved after the conclusion of the peace process.

  United States of America
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations he has received regarding United Kingdom citizens refused entry or re-entry into the United States of America at United States' ports of entry in the last five years; and how many of these involved United Kingdom citizens seeking to return to the United States of America after a visit to Canada. [40692]

  Mr. Hanley
  Eleven and none respectively.

  Foreign Affairs Council
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EU Foreign Affairs Council of 2 and 3 October. [40111]

  Mr. David Davis
  The outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council of 2 October was recorded in a letter from the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs the hon. Member for Boothferry, to the Chairman of the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs. Copies of the letter have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Bankruptcy Petition
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many petitions for bankruptcy have been begun by his Department for businesses with under 500 employees in each of the last five years. [40524]

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested will take some time to obtain. I shall write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Late Payments (Small Businesses)
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how often his Department and each agency within it has failed to pay invoices due to small businesses within 30 days in each of the last five years. [40523]

  Mr. Hanley
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office—diplomatic wing and Overseas Development Administration—is committed to the CBI prompt payment code. This requires all invoices to be paid within the agreed credit period, or within 30 days of receipt where no credit period has been agreed. The following table shows the percentage of all invoices not paid on time by the diplomatic wing, the Overseas Development Administration, and the executive agencies Wilton Park and the Natural Resources Institute. Separate figures for small businesses' invoices are not available.

  Per cent.

  DW

  ODA

  WP

  NRI

  1991–92

  14

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1992–93

  9

  n/a

  0

  n/a

  1993–94

  5

  13

  12

  n/a

  1994–95

  8

  13

  5

  4

  1995–96

  18

  27

  10

  28

  1 April-September.

  2 April-late October.

  British Citizens Overseas
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in descending order the estimates he has available of(a) the number of British citizens resident in each overseas country, (b) the number of such citizens registered to vote in United Kingdom elections and (c) the percentage which this is of (a), with overall totals. [40227]

  Mr. Hanley
  The estimated number of Britons resident abroad as at end December 1994 in descending order by country is below.

  In 1994 18,552 overseas electors were registered to vote in United Kingdom elections, representing 0.017 per cent. of the total number of Britons resident abroad.

  Estimated number of Britons resident abroad as at end December 1994

  Number

  Australia

  3,400,000

  Canada

  3,000,000

  264

  Estimated number of Britons resident abroad as at end December 1994

  Number

  USA

  1,448,000

  South Africa

  1,080,000

  New Zealand

  400,000

  Spain

  300,500

  Irish Republic

  200,000

  Germany

  152,088

  Italy

  91,000

  France

  65,901

  Kenya

  49,073

  Netherlands

  44,672

  Greece

  40,530

  Israel

  38,500

  Saudi Arabia

  32,500

  India

  30,110

  Zimbabwe

  30,000

  Portugal

  25,600

  Belgium

  25,000

  Cyprus

  20,000

  Denmark

  18,573

  United Arab Emirates

  18,500

  Japan

  17,000

  Norway

  14,000

  Tanzania

  12,000

  Sweden

  10,927

  Zambia

  10,000

  Switzerland

  9,079

  Brazil

  9,050

  Malaysia

  8,600

  Nigeria

  8,400

  Antigua and Barbuda

  7,676

  Barbados

  7,500

  Philippines

  7,500

  Indonesia

  7,000

  Singapore

  7,000

  Austria

  6,500

  Oman

  6,500

  Bahrain

  6,331

  Bahamas

  6,000

  Botswana

  6,000

  Brunei

  6,000

  Chile

  6,000

  Swaziland

  6,000

  Argentina

  5,800

  Thailand

  5,600

  Malawi

  5,500

  Jerusalem

  5,000

  Poland

  5,000

  Trinidad and Tobago

  5,000

  Turkey

  4,200

  Egypt

  4,000

  Kuwait

  4,000

  Libya

  4,000

  Luxembourg

  4,000

  Malta

  4,000

  Mexico

  4,000

  Jamaica

  3,600

  Qatar

  3,500

  Lebanon

  3,482

  China

  2,850

  Colombia

  2,500

  Czech Republic

  2,500

  Romania

  2,500

  Russian Federation

  2,500

  Hungary

  2,300

  Ivory Coast

  2,000

  Venezuela

  2,000

  Peru

  1,962

  Ghana

  1,700

  Uganda

  1,700

  Finland

  1,600

  265

  Estimated number of Britons resident abroad as at end December 1994

  Number

  Pakistan

  1,600

  Mauritius

  1,500

  Papua New Guinea

  1,500

  Sri Lanka

  1,500

  Sierra Leone

  1,350

  Cuba

  1,275

  Jordan

  1,200

  Namibia

  1,200

  Uruguay

  1,100

  Morocco

  1,054

  Belize

  1,000

  Costa Rica

  1,000

  Grenada

  1,000

  Korea

  1,000

  Mozambique

  1,000

  Nepal

  850

  Yugoslavia

  814

  Ecuador

  800

  Guyana

  800

  Iceland

  800

  Ukraine

  800

  Vietnam

  700

  Zaire

  700

  Croatia

  694

  Seychelles

  650

  Bolivia

  600

  St. Lucia

  600

  Syria

  600

  Fiji

  550

  Gambia

  550

  Lesotho

  550

  Bangladesh

  540

  Sudan

  500

  Ethiopia

  450

  Tunisia

  450

  Yemen

  425

  Angola

  400

  Iran

  400

  Guatemala

  390

  Cambodia

  338

  Panama

  334

  Honduras

  250

  Algeria

  247

  Solomon Islands

  230

  Senegal

  206

  Cameroon

  200

  Madagascar

  200

  Paraguay

  200

  Slovakia

  200

  Slovenia

  200

  Vanuatu

  200

  Nicaragua

  177

  El Salvador

  172

  Bulgaria

  150

  Kazakhstan

  150

  Burma

  123

  Albania

  120

  Estonia

  75

  Lithuania

  75

  Tonga

  74

  Mongolia

  70

  Uzbekistan

  56

  Azerbaijan

  50

  Latvia

  40

  Macedonia

  40

  Belarus

  30

  Total

  10,829,503

  French Nuclear Testing Programme
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place between French and British officials on the environmental effects of the French nuclear testing programme. [40197]

  Mr. David Davis
  [holding answer 31 October 1995]: British officials have discussed with French counterparts a number of aspects relating to the resumption of French nuclear testing, including the environmental effects.

  Ken Saro-Wiwa
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Nigerian military Government about the case of Ken Saro-Wiwa; and what representations he has received about the case. [40622]

  Mr. Hanley
  [holding answer 31 October 1995]: We and our European Union partners have raised this case with the Nigerian Government many times. We deplore the death sentences passed on Ken Saro-Wiwa and his co-defendants following a flawed judicial process and urge the Nigerian authorities to commute these sentences. We have received a large number of representations on the case, from Members of both Houses and members of the public.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Digital Broadcasting
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will place in the Library a copy of the Oftel submission which she has received and which relates to digital broadcasting. [39925]

  Mr. Sproat
  Oftel has agreed that the contents of its submission in response to digital terrestrial broadcasting (Cm 2946) may be made public and I have today placed copies in the Libraries of the House.

  National Lottery
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what allocation of national lottery funds has been made to date to organisations and projects in the Cannock Chase district council area. [40203]

  Mr. Sproat
  Figures for national lottery funds broken down by district council areas are not currently available.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans she has to allow the Library Association access to national lottery funding. [40252]

  Mr. Sproat
  All bodies, including the Library Association, can apply for national lottery funding. All applications are judged against the criteria of the distributing bodies and decisions about awards are for them to make.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the European Union legislation
  267
  that applies to the capping of public expenditure grants to organisations which are in receipt of national lottery money; and if she will make a statement. [39070]

  Mr. Sproat
  I am not aware of any such legislation.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the projects which have received lottery funds and have consequently been excluded from receiving public funds for which they would normally be eligible. [38345]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 24 October 1995]: I know of no such projects.

  Mr. Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations she has received from Wales concerning the operation of the national lottery. [39576]

  Mr. Sproat
  The national lottery is an outstanding success and has become the focus of a great deal of attention. Bearing this in mind, a large number of representations concerning the operation of the national lottery have been received from all of the United Kingdom. The Government have always stated that they will be keeping all aspects of the lottery under review and such representations as I have received are a useful contribution to this process.

  Late Payments (Small Businesses)
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how often her Department and each agency within it has failed to pay invoices to small businesses within 30 days in each of the last five years. [40515]

  Mr. Sproat
  My Department is committed to the payment of invoices within agreed contractual provisions or within 30 days of the presentation of a valid invoice or delivery, if later. While the information requested is not available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost, the following has been produced on the basis of a sample of invoices received by the Department of National Heritage:

  Year

  Invoices received

  Payment delayed

  Percentage paid on time

  1993–94

  291

  42

  85.6

  1994–95

  1,323

  124

  90.6

  1995–96

  243

  12

  95.1

  Our records cannot be used to determine "small businesses". There are no comparable departmental figures for earlier years as the Department's payment system was not in place until 1993, following the establishment of DNH in April 1992.

  The Royal Parks agency and Historic Royal Palaces agency do not currently hold records that could provide the information requested, it could only be provided at disproportionate cost. An examination of invoices for goods and services paid by the Royal Parks agency during October 1994 indicated that 96 per cent. were paid within the 30-day credit period allowed.

  Bankruptcy Petitions
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many petitions for bankruptcy have been begun by her Department for businesses with under 500 employees in each of the last five years. [40516]

  Mr. Sproat
  Since the establishment of the Department of National Heritage in April 1992 no such petitions have been raised.

  Mediaeval Boat Hull, Bedwin Sands
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assistance her Department has given to the archaeologists' attempts to raise a mediaeval boat hull from the Bedwin Sands in the Severn estuary; and if she will make a statement. [39572]

  Mr. Sproat
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Wales on 30 October 1995,Official Report, on 30 October 1995, column 95.

  Libraries
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what proposals she has to connect libraries to the Internet; and if she will provide funding to ensure that customers have free access to the service. [40253]

  Mr. Sproat
  I am considering the use of new technology in public libraries as part of the on-going public library review, and this topic will be covered in a ministerial statement on the outcome of the review, later this year. However, connection to the Internet, and policy on whether to charge for public access, is a matter for individual library authorities.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many libraries in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) the west midlands have been closed over the past five years. [40249]

  Mr. Sproat
  I do not hold this information for England. Questions about public libraries in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are for their respective Secretaries of State.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what recent representations she has received in respect of the future of the libraries in the United Kingdom. [40255]

  Mr. Sproat
  We have received representations on both the Aslib report, which is a key element in the public library review, and the KPMG/capital planning information report on the scope for contracting out in public libraries. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State plans to make a further statement to Parliament on these by the end of the year. We have also received a number of representations relating to the Library Association's current campaign. Questions about public libraries in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are for their respective Secretaries of State.
  269
  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement on the impact of the collapse of the net book agreement on the range of books library suppliers are able to offer libraries. [40251]

  Mr. Sproat
  The net book agreement was a voluntary arrangement in which the Government played no part. It is to early to tell what effect the removal of the agreement will have on the book market and on the range of books offered by library suppliers.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) how many mobile libraries operated in(a) the United Kingdom (b) the west midlands during (i) 1992–93, (ii) 1993–94 and (iii) 1994–95; and what are the projected figures for each of the next two years; [40254]

  (2) how many libraries in the United Kingdom now open for more than 60 hours per week; and how many opened for more than 60 hours per week during (a) 1992–93 and (b) 1993–94. [40248]

  Mr. Sproat
  Such information is contained in the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy's public library statistics, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. The latest actual information is for 1993–94, but estimates are available for 1994–95.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many libraries in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) the west midlands she expects to (i) close or (ii) reduce the service they provide over the next two years. [40250]

  Mr. Sproat
  In England such matters are for local authorities to decide. Questions about public libraries in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are for their respective Secretaries of State.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Illegal Immigration (Employer Sanctions)
  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list employers' organisations and other bodies which have made representations about his proposals for the introduction of employer sanctions to deter the employment of illegal immigrants or of those legally here but with a prohibition against working; and if he will place in the Library copies of the representations. [40228]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  I have received written representations from the Institute of Directors and from the St. Albans branch of Amnesty International. It would not be appropriate for me to place copies of these letters in the Library.

  Mr. Straw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimates he has available as 270
  to the scale of the problem of employers taking on illegal workers. [40229]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  No such estimates are available, but in 1994 over 10,000 people were detected by the immigration service working while either here illegally or here legally but prohibited from taking work.

  Bankruptcy Petitions
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many petitions for bankruptcy have been begun by his Department fo businesses with under 500 employees in each of the last five years. [40520]

  Mr. Howard
  Information is not recorded in the form requested.

  Late Payment (Small Business)
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how often his Department and each agency within it has failed to pay invoices due to small businesses within 30 days in each of the last five years.[40519]

  Mr. Howard
  The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Departments and their agencies are required to provide details of their payment performance in their annual reports. In its 1995 annual report the Home Office reported that 92 per cent. of all valid invoices were paid within 30 days. There is no reason to believe that analysis of payments made to small businesses would show a different percentage.

  Salaries
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the(a) lowest and (b) highest full-time salary paid to any employee in his (i) Department, (ii) agencies and (iii) non-departmental public bodies in (1) 1994–95 and (2) 1995–96. [40811]

  Mr. Howard
  It is the Government's normal policy to publish civil servants' salaries in bands. This provides the following information:

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Lowest bands

  Home Office

  5,000–10,000

  5,000–10,000

  Agencies

  5,000–10,000

  5,000–10,000

  NDPBs

  5,000–10,0001

  5,000–10,0001

  Highest bands

  Home Office

  95,000–99,999

  100,000–105,000

  Agencies

  125,000–130,000

  130,000–135,000

  NDPBs

  95,000–99,999

  95,000–99,999

  1The figure for NDPBs is an estimate.

  Travel Document Section
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the main recommendations of the recent efficiency review of the
  271
  travel document section; when those recommendations are to be implemented; and if he will make a statement. [40852]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The following main recommendations of the efficiency review of the travel document section have been accepted and take effect from today: that cases should be allocated on arrival to dedicated teams within the section which should retain responsibility for processing the application from start to finish. Applications should be acknowledged and an indication given of the time likely to be needed to process them. Mandatory issues should be given priority and completed with the minimum of delay. Management information systems should be improved.

  Two other main recommendations will be implemented as soon as the preparatory work, including consultation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, has been completed. These were: to introduce an improved travel document; in connection with the improved travel document, to review and redesign the application form.

  The travel document section must retain its responsibility to consider applications for documents carefully and to check for signs of abuse, but I am satisfied that these recommendations will produce a better service for applicants entitled to a Home Office travel document.

  Annual Remuneration
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the number of individuals in his(a) Department, (b) agencies and(c) non-departmental public bodies whose annual remuneration including benefits in kind exceeded (i) 100,000, (ii) £200,000 and (iii) £300,000 in (1) 1985–86, (2) 1990–91, (3) 1992–93, (4) 1994–95 and (5) 1995–96. [40810]

  Mr. Howard
  Other than pension contributions, benefits in kind are not normally paid to staff in the Department, agencies or non-departmental public bodies. As members of the principal civil service pensions scheme, staff receive benefits in accordance with the scheme rules which had been deposited in the Library.

  There are only a few exceptions in my Department. One person was paid at a total rate of more than £100,000 in 1992–93, and two actually received more than £100,000 in 1994–95. Five people will have in effect been paid over £100,000 by the end of the financial year 1995–96, and one further person was paid at a rate of more than £100,000 for part of the year.

  No individual has earned or will earn in excess of £200,000 or £300,000 in the period specified.

  Police National Computer
  Sir Ivan Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for recording cautions on the police national computer. [41372]
  272
  Mr. Maclean
  From 1 November, the police service will record all cautions administered for reportable offences on the Phoenix database of the police national computer. This will ensure for the first time that police will have access to records of cautions administered by other forces as well as those issued by their own force.

  Police Stations
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new police stations have opened in each year since 1979. [40468]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police stations in each English county(a) are open 24 hours per day and (b) have restricted opening times. [40467]

  Mr. Maclean
  The information is not collected centrally.

  Prison Overcrowding
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contractual provisions exist for overcrowding in(a) Her Majesty's prison Wolds, (b) Her Majesty's prison Blakenhurst and (c) Her Majesty's prison Doncaster; and if he will list in each case the occasions on which they were overcrowded and details of any additional payments made to the contractors. [40465]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 2 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about overcrowding in the contractually-managed prisons.There is no contractual provision for overcrowding in Wolds or Blakenhurst prisons. In the contract for Doncaster prison, there is provision for the Prison Service to ask the contractor to accommodate 1,169 prisoners.Hitherto, it has not been Prison Service policy to overcrowd new prisons. In line with this policy none of these prisons have been overcrowded, although all prisons, whether in the public sector or the private sector, occasionally hold small numbers of prisoners above their normal capacity for operational reasons.No additional payments to cover overcrowding have been made to any of the contractors.

  Police Recruitment
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assumptions he has made about the number of policemen and women who are to be recruited into the service as a result of the Prime Minister's announcement at the Conservative party conference being out on foot patrol at any given point in time. [40475]

  Mr. Maclean
  None. There will be extra funding available to enable chief constables to recruit an
  273
  additional 5,000 officers over the next three years. The deployment of officers is an operational matter for chief constables.

  Sheehy Reforms
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the benefits and disbenefits of the Sheehy reforms. [40473]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government's decision on police pay and conditions of service, following the inquiry into police responsibilities and rewards, was informed by detailed recommendations by the police negotiating board, whose careful consideration of each of the proposed reforms took account of their implications for the efficiency management of the police service.

  Some of the immediate benefits of the Government's reforms were a more streamlined management structure, new pay structures, a rationalisation of an outdated system of allowances, new arrangements for the management of the payment of overtime and a reform of the rules governing pay while on sick leave.

  Doncaster Prison
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what penalty he has imposed on the contractors of Her Majesty's prison Doncaster for exceeding the number of assaults allowed for in the contract. [40464]

  Population in Doncaster prison on the last day of the month by type of custody, October 1994-September 1995

  Type of custody

  Last day of month

  Untried

  Convicted unsentenced

  Sentenced

  Fine defaulters

  Total

  1994

  October

  366

  158

  197

  14

  735

  November

  379

  151

  232

  9

  771

  December

  366

  134

  208

  4

  712

  1995

  January

  404

  150

  203

  5

  762

  February

  397

  159

  218

  4

  778

  March

  391

  151

  228

  6

  776

  April

  346

  132

  265

  7

  750

  May

  354

  134

  269

  9

  766

  June

  303

  162

  257

  11

  733

  July

  338

  133

  281

  12

  764

  August

  376

  143

  231

  5

  755

  September

  340

  162

  227

  15

  744

  Prison Population Estimates
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are his estimates for the prison population for each of the next five years following his recent announcement; and what are the previous projections. [40460]

  Mr. Maclean
  The most recent projections of long-term trends in the prison population to 2002 were published in Home Office statistical bulletin 4/95, a copy of which is in the Library. A White Paper will be
  274
  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 1 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about assaults at Doncaster prison.No penalty has been imposed on Premier Prison Services Ltd in relation to the number of assaults at Doncaster prison. The total number of assaults on prisoners and staff in the first year of operation did not exceed a level which would be consistent with the population mix and the likely incidence of assaults in a newly opened prison.
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) convicted and (b) remand prisoners there were in Doncaster prison in each of the past 12 months. [39563]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 81 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many (a) convicted and (b) remand prisoners there were in Doncaster prison in each of the past 12 months.The information requested (for the last day of the month) is given in the attached table.
  published early in 1996 setting out full details of the Government's proposals and an assessment of their implications.

  Prison Health Services
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of his department in regard to supporting and encouraging the working of local community health councils with hospital services within the prison department; and if he will make a statement. [39755]
  275
  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 1 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about policy on the support of local community health councils working with health care services in the Prison Service.
  276
  The local community health councils are groups of lay people who operate in the National Health Service. They have a wide remit which involves among other things, inspection of hospital services and patient advocacy.
  A similar function is carried out within prisons by Boards of Visitors, which are appointed by and report directly to the Home Secretary. All aspects of prison life including prison health care centres are open to Boards of Visitors and they fulfil the same role as the local community health councils with regard to prisoners.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by grade the numbers of staff and their cost for(a) the financial year 1994–95 and (b) the estimated figures for the financial year 1995–96, for each executive agency for which he is responsible. [39565]

  Mr. Howard
  The chief executives of the United Kingdom Passport Agency and the Fire Service College, the Director General of the Forensic Science Service and the temporary Director General of the Prison Service have advised me that the information available is as shown in the tables.

  United Kingdom Passport Agency

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Grades

  Number of staff1

  Total cost2 £

  Number of staff1

  Total cost2 £

  Grade 5

  1

  73,000

  1

  75,000

  Grade 6

  3

  156,000

  3

  161,000

  Grade 7

  10

  400,000

  10

  41,200

  Senior Executive Officer

  16.66

  502,000

  16.66

  517,000

  Higher Executive Officer

  54.54

  1,463,000

  54.54

  1,507,000

  Executive Officer

  170.17

  3,556,000

  170.17

  3,663,000

  Administrative Officer

  650.13

  10,156,000

  650.13

  10,461,000

  Administrative Assistant

  557.42

  5,444,000

  3737.88

  37,423,000

  Personal Secretary

  7.04

  137,000

  7.04

  141,000

  Typing Manager

  2

  45,000

  2

  46,000

  Typist

  22.92

  347,000

  22.92

  357,000

  Support Grade Band 1

  18.46

  316,000

  18.46

  325,000

  Support Grade Band 2

  78.33

  928,000

  78.33

  956,000

  Total

  1,591.67

  23,533,000

  1,772.13

  26,044,000

  1 Staff figures are average full-time equivalents. The figures for 1994–95 are actual, and those for 1995–96 projected.

  2 Total cost includes NI and Superannuation.

  3 The increase in numbers and resources at the AA Grade is due to a projected 16 per cent, increase in passport demand from 1994–95 to 1995–96.

  Fire Service College

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Grades

  Number ofstaff1

  Total cost2 £

  Number of staff1

  Total cost2 £

  Grade 5

  1

  61,099

  1

  61,099

  Grade 6

  1

  48,266

  1

  48,266

  Grade 7

  4

  157,090

  2.5

  98,181

  Senior Executive Officer

  2

  55,964

  3

  83,947

  Higher Executive Officer

  6

  143,195

  6

  143,195

  278

  Fire Service College

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Grades

  Number ofstaff1

  Total cost2 £

  Number of staff1

  Total cost2 £

  Executive Officer

  16

  283,943

  15

  266,196

  Administrative Officer

  33

  412,152

  33.5

  418,397

  Administrative Assistant

  8.5

  85,135

  9.5

  95,150

  Deputy Commandant

  1

  69,960

  1

  69,960

  Assistant Chief Officer

  2

  84,769

  2

  84,769

  Senior Divisional Officer

  1

  41,090

  1

  41,090

  Divisional Officer II

  5

  145,813

  3

  87,488

  Assistant Divisional Officer

  2

  54,235

  2

  54,235

  Fire Superintendent

  1

  25,934

  1

  25,934

  Support Grade Band 2

  5

  57,338

  5

  57,338

  Professional and Technical Officer

  3

  57,811

  3

  57,811

  Graphics Officer

  1

  21,341

  1

  21,341

  Technical Officer 1

  2

  33,231

  2

  33,231

  Technical Officer 2

  3

  37,881

  3

  37,881

  Personal Secretary

  4

  61,948

  4

  61,948

  Typist

  6

  83,268

  5

  69,380

  Messenger Manager

  0.5

  6,813

  0.5

  6,813

  Occupational Health Adviser

  1

  28,369

  1

  28,369

  Senior Information Officer

  1

  23,905

  1

  23,905

  Higher Information Officer

  1

  22,947

  1

  22,947

  Information Officer 2

  2

  34,038

  2

  34,038

  Librarian

  1

  23,538

  1

  23,538

  Assistant Librarian

  4

  68,513

  4

  68,513

  Nurse Manager

  1

  14,230

  1

  14,230

  Nurse

  1

  12,893

  1

  12,893

  Assistant Nurse

  1

  9,404

  1

  9,404

  Shop Manager

  1

  13,963

  1

  13.963

  Shop Assistant

  2

  19,178

  2

  19,178

  Principal Lecturer

  2

  82,325

  3

  123,472

  Senior Lecturer

  4

  142,119

  2

  71,060

  Lecturer

  20

  610,443

  19

  579,921

  Head of Department 6

  1

  52,101

  1

  52,101

  Head of Department 5

  1

  41,697

  1

  41.697

  Head of Department 4

  1

  45,137

  1

  45,137

  Head of Department 3

  1

  41,157

  1

  41,157

  Deputy Chief Fire Officer3

  1

  122,922

  1

  122,922

  279

  Fire Service College

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Grades

  Number ofstaff1

  Total cost2 £

  Number of staff1

  Total cost2 £

  Group Fire Control Officer3

  1

  40,378

  1

  40,378

  Station Officer3

  16

  655,559

  16.5

  676,045

  Divisional Officer I3

  5

  278,576

  3

  167,148

  Divisional Officer II3

  12

  622,912

  13

  674,822

  Assistant Divisional Officer3

  36

  1,598,290

  25

  1,109,923

  Sub Officer3

  1

  36,262

  1

  36,262

  Grade 7 (CS)

  1

  44,809

  1

  44,809

  Industrial Staff

  41.5

  463,815

  40.5

  452,639

  Station Officer

  0

  0

  2

  59,799

  Total

  268.5

  7,177,540

  253

  6,473,932

  1 Staff figures are full-time equivalents.

  2 Total cost for 1994–95 assumes that the 2.2 per cent, increment for 1994 has been consolidated, therefore irrespective of any other increase for 1995–96 the cost figures are the same. Total cost includes NI and Superannuation.

  3 Staff seconded from UK Fire Brigades but included in overall Fire Service College paybill.

  Forensic Science Service

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Grades

  Number of staff1

  Total cost2

  Number of staff1

  Total cost2

  Grade 3

  1

  n/a

  1

  n/a

  Grade 5

  5

  n/a

  5

  n/a

  Grade 6

  9

  n/a

  9

  n/a

  A3 Senior Forensic Scie4ntist

  18

  n/a

  17.8

  n/a

  A2 Senior Forensic Scientist

  37.5

  n/a

  47.5

  n/a

  A1 Senior Forensic Scientist

  137.5

  n/a

  130.9

  n/a

  B2 Forensic Scientist

  55.1

  n/a

  77.7

  n/a

  B1 Forensic Scientist

  92.8

  n/a

  75.4

  n/a

  C2 Assistant Forensic Scientist

  102.3

  n/a

  104.4

  n/a

  C1 Assistant Forensic Scientist

  65.6

  n/a

  145.4

  n/a

  Senior Executive Officer

  4

  n/a

  4

  n/a

  Higher Executive Officer

  3.5

  n/a

  4

  n/a

  Executive Officer

  12.2

  n/a

  10.6

  n/a

  Administrative Officer

  34.4

  n/a

  33.8

  n/a

  Administrative Assistant

  27

  n/a

  25.7

  n/a

  Senior Personal Secretary

  1

  n/a

  1

  n/a

  Personal Secretary

  21.8

  n/a

  19.6

  n/a

  Typist

  13.7

  n/a

  13.9

  n/a

  280

  Forensic Science Service

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Grades

  Number of staff1

  Total cosf2

  Number of staff1

  Total cost2

  Support Grade Band 2

  24

  n/a

  28.7

  n/a

  Support Grade Band 1

  3

  n/a

  3.3

  n/a

  Students

  6

  n/a

  10

  n/a

  Casuals

  8.5

  n/a

  14.5

  n/a

  Total

  682.7

  16,525,000

  783.2

  £18,080,000

  1 Staff numbers are full-time equivalents at 20 March 1995.

  2 Total cost include NI and Superannuation.

  Her Majesty's Prison Service

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Grade types

  Number of staff1

  Total cost2 £

  Number of staff1

  Total cost2 £

  Prison Service grades3

  27,980

  532,200,000

  28,520

  542,100,000

  Non-industrial grades4

  7,750

  129,400,000

  8,000

  133,600,000

  Industrial grades5

  2,880

  40,500,000

  2,930

  41,300,000

  Other costs6

  n/a

  2,600,000

  n/a

  2,600,000

  1 Staff numbers are expressed as full-time equivalents. 1995–96 staff averages are subject to revision in the light of additional security requirements.

  2 Total cost include pay, allowances and overtime (where applicable) but not indirect staff costs or employer's contributions to NI and superannuation. 1995–96 costs are exclusive of 1995 pay awards, which are not yet completed.

  3 Prison Officers, governors and operational support staff.

  4 Executive, administrative, office support and specialist staff.

  5 Includes Farms and Gardens (agricultural) staff.

  6 Other costs includes advances of salary and early retirement.

  Council Tax (Non-payment)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were serving a sentence of imprisonment for the non-payment of their council tax as at 10 October. [39753]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 1 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many people were serving a sentence of imprisonment for the non-payment of their council tax as at 10 October.The latest available information is for 30 September 1995. On that date there were no prisoners in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales for non-payment of council tax.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Immigration Advisory Service calling for detained asylum seekers to be entitled for their detention to be reviewed on a weekly basis by adjudicators of the
  281
  Independent Appellate Authority; what has been his response to such representations; and if he will make a statement. [40443)

  Mr. Kirkhope
  [holding answer 31 October 1995]: There is no record of any representations from the Immigration Advisory Service calling for a change in policy on the review of detention.

  Director General of the Prison Service
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the post of Director General of the Prison Service is to go out to open advertisement; and what qualities he will seek in the successful applicant. [39841]

  Mr. Howard
  I hope to make an announcement shortly.

  Custody Statistics
  Mr. William Powell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners now held in custody have currently served(a) at least 30 years, (b) at least 25 years and (c) at least 20 years continuously in custody. [39813]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. William Powell, dated 1 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking, how many prisoners now held in custody have currently served (a) at least 30 years, (b) at least 25 years and (c) at least 20 years continuously in custody.The information is not available in the form requested as detailed information about a prisoner's movements is not available centrally. The available information relates to those prisoners whose date of sentence was 20, 25 or 30 years ago. Provisional information for 30 September 1995 shows that two hundred prisoners were sentenced more than 20 years ago, eighty four of whom were sentenced more than 25 years ago and twenty five more than 30 years ago.

  Rapists
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many male prisoners are currently serving life sentences for rape; and how many of this group are repeat offenders. [39601]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Ms Janet Anderson, dated 1 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking, how many male prisoners are currently serving life sentences for rape; and how many of this group are repeat offenders.The latest available information is for 31 December 1994. On that date there were 188 males in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales serving a life sentence for rape. Information on the number of repeat offenders is not immediately available. I will write to you again with this information as soon as possible.

  Temazepam
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is his latest estimate of the number of people who have had one or more limbs amputated as a result of injecting the gel formulation of the drug Temazepam during each of the past five years; [39184]

  (2) what is his latest estimate of the number of deaths in each of the past five years which were related to the abuse of the drug Temazepam; what estimate he has made of the percentage of these which involved the gel formulation; and if he will make a statement. [39196]

  Mr. Maclean
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Health on 27 October Official Report, column 849.

  Crime Prevention Agency
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the structure of the new Crime Prevention Agency announced in his speech of 12 October; what type of body will be in charge of it; from which institutions or bodies staff will be recruited or seconded; and which existing organisation will become part of the agency or have staff transferred to it. [39961]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 30 October 1995]: I will announce the details shortly.

  Prostitution
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has commissioned into how other EC countries deal with prostitution, kerb crawling and soliciting. [40577]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 31 October 1995]: We have not commissioned any research into how other EC countries deal with prostitution, kerb crawling and soliciting.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were prosecuted for(a) soliciting, (b) prostitution and (c) kerb crawling in each of the last five years. [40578]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 31 October 1995]: The information is given in the table:

  Number of persons prosecuted for certain offences 1990–19941

  England and Wales

  Offence description

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  19941

  Persistent soliciting of women for the purpose of prostitution (Sexual Offences Act 1985 Sec

  21

  90

  71

  70

  6946

  Common prostitute loitering or soliciting for the purpose of prostitution(Street Offences Act 1959 Sec 1)

  10,612

  10,262

  9,584

  8,094

  7,177

  Kerb-crawling (Sexual Offences Act 1959 Sec 1)

  1,377

  1,323

  1,005

  777

  1,113

  1Provisional.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to make kerb crawling and soliciting recordable offences. [40580]
  283
  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 31 October 1995]: Loitering and soliciting for the purposes of prostitution is already a recordable offence. Kerb crawling currently is not, but I am considering whether it should be.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the effectiveness of the Street Offences Act 1959 and other relevant legislation in relation to soliciting, prostitution and kerb crawling. [40581]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 31 October 1995]: We believe that the law in relation to soliciting, prostitution and kerb crawling is generally effective, and we have no plans to review it.

ENVIRONMENT

  Grants
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment for what grant-givings funds his Department is responsible, requiring a private sector contribution, where the use of national lottery funds is not allowed to count towards that private sector portion. [38599]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him yesterday by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of National Heritage.

  Local Government Finance
  Sir Peter Hordern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the shire counties' budgets for 1994–95, ranking them in order from the largest increase from the previous year to the lowest. [38580]

  Mr. Curry
  The requested information is as follows:

  Budgeted net revenue expenditure

  £ thousand

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Percentage increase

  Essex

  916,746

  982,211

  7.14

  Surrey

  535,000

  572,750

  7.06

  Hampshire

  875,167

  935,579

  6.90

  Durham

  365,992

  389,621

  6.46

  Cleveland

  403,791

  426,835

  5.71

  Devon

  594,059

  627,715

  5.67

  West Sussex

  403,140

  425,376

  5.52

  Hertfordshire

  597,422

  630,259

  5.50

  Hereford and Worcester

  372,435

  392,602

  5.41

  Derbyshire

  557,568

  587,507

  5.37

  Humberside

  575,933

  606,678

  5.34

  Norfolk

  437,460

  460,128

  5.18

  Cambridgeshire

  389,192

  408,758

  5.03

  Dorset

  353,565

  371,071

  4.95

  Avon

  568,892

  596,863

  4.92

  East Sussex

  416,519

  436,567

  4.81

  Isle of Wight

  78,453

  82,192

  4.77

  Cornwall

  288,045

  301,500

  4.67

  Cheshire

  587,400

  614,817

  4.67

  Kent

  964,833

  1,009,770

  4.66

  Berkshire

  462,846

  484,287

  4.63

  North Yorkshire

  398,478

  416,497

  4.52

  Somerset

  271,355

  283,277

  4.39

  Gloucestershire

  306,610

  319,546

  4.22

  Lincolnshire

  363,829

  378,808

  4.12

  284

  Budgeted net revenue expenditure

  £ thousand

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Percentage increase

  Wiltshire

  324,509

  337,855

  4.11

  Oxfordshire

  326,569

  339,789

  4.05

  Lancashire

  922,071

  958,568

  3.96

  Shropshire

  243,991

  252,945

  3.67

  Staffordshire

  598,753

  620,712

  3.67

  Bedfordshire

  352,922

  364,872

  3.39

  Northamptonshire

  365,499

  377,582

  3.31

  Warwickshire

  288,276

  297,600

  3.23

  Cumbria

  310,634

  319,506

  2.86

  Buckinghamshire

  417,377

  428,000

  2.55

  Leicestershire

  554,101

  567,888

  2.49

  Nottinghamshire

  675,158

  690,281

  2.24

  Suffolk

  371,517

  378,750

  1.95

  Northumberland

  189,168

  191,127

  1.04

  Total

  18,025,275

  18,866,689

  4.67

  Source:

  Revenue account returns (RA94 and RA95).

  Note:

  Net revenue expenditure is financed through revenue support grant, redistributed non-domestic rates, council taxes and withdrawals from financial reserves. Much of the increase in net revenue expenditure in shire counties between 1993–94 and 1994–95 can be attributed to the increased responsibilities associated with care in community.

  Sir Peter Hordern
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the amount of revenue support grant paid to each shire county in 1994–95, indicating the percentage movement from the previous year. [38577]

  Mr. Curry
  The requested information is as follows:

  Revenue support grant

  £ thousand

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Percentage Movement

  Avon

  210,349

  231,066

  9.85

  Bedfordshire

  164,372

  177,975

  8.28

  Berkshire

  184,157

  201,220

  9.27

  Buckinghamshire

  174,081

  192,144

  10.38

  Cambridgeshire

  150,499

  170,425

  13.24

  Cheshire

  222,981

  250,838

  12.49

  Cleveland

  211,432

  224,906

  6.37

  Cornwall

  111,153

  126,130

  13.47

  Cumbria

  127,558

  140,367

  10.04

  Derbyshire

  211,990

  241,693

  14.01

  Devon

  223,173

  252,314

  13.06

  Dorset

  114,032

  129,889

  13.91

  Durham

  164,275

  190,899

  16.21

  East Sussex

  152,910

  171,660

  12.26

  Essex

  386,223

  442,710

  14.63

  Gloucestershire

  111,708

  122,009

  9.22

  Hampshire

  336,625

  379,960

  12.87

  Hereford and Worcester

  130,194

  147,936

  13.63

  Hertfordshire

  229,600

  264,788

  15.33

  Humberside

  265,891

  284,832

  7.12

  Isle of Wight

  31,407

  36,160

  15.13

  Kent

  412,997

  464,268

  12.41

  Lancashire

  395,532

  434,853

  9.94

  Leicestershire

  249,061

  263,909

  5.96

  Lincolnshire

  151,147

  166,940

  10.45

  Norfolk

  161,305

  183,904

  14.01

  Northamptonshire

  160,797

  168,255

  4.64

  Northumberland

  80,335

  93,093

  15.88

  North Yorkshire

  135,319

  154,182

  13.94

  Nottinghamshire

  275,171

  295,627

  7.43

  285

  Revenue support grant

  £ thousand

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Percentage Movement

  Oxfordshire

  106,485

  124,175

  16.61

  Shropshire

  97,225

  107,978

  11.06

  Somerset

  97,912

  110,209

  12.56

  Staffordshire

  245,106

  273.345

  11.52

  Suffolk

  140,224

  154,330

  10.06

  Surrey

  147,217

  178,522

  21.26

  Warwickshire

  94,198

  106,115

  12.65

  West Sussex

  126,131

  153,329

  21.56

  Wiltshire

  117,024

  129,615

  10.76

  Total

  7,107,796

  7,942,570

  11.74

  Source:

  Revenue account (RA95) return.

  Note:

  Revenue support grant is calculated as the difference between an authority's standard spending assessment and the sum of the income from its council tax, assuming that its tax was set at the council tax for standard spending, and its share of the distributable amount of non-domestic rates. At national level, the change in the amount of RSG reflects changes in each of these elements. The differential increases in RSG between authorities will reflect changes in assessed need function and in the size of their own taxbase. Between 1993–94 and 1994–95 in particular, total RSG increased through the fall in the yield of the NDR, and the increase in SSA necessitated by increased responsibilities for local authorities associated with care in the community. In shire counties, the latter amounted to some £350 million.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to ensure that counties that become unitary local authorities in 1997 do not lose the financial contributions they currently receive in respect of their sites and ancient monuments record; and if he will make a statement. [40008]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Revenue support grant allocations are made using a formula to assess relative expenditure need for each authority to provide its services to a standard level. It will therefore continue to be applied to authorities affected by an order for structural change taking account of their provision of both "county" and "district" functions.

  Health and Safety Appeals
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to create an appeals tribunal to hear appeals for environmental information and health and safety information. [39361]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Under current plans, proposals for a tribunal will be included in the Government's legislative proposals to create a new access right to health and safety information. I cannot anticipate when parliamentary time will be available to create the new right, as I advised the hon. Member in Committee on 13 June.

  Rental Accommodation
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homes in London for rent in the(a) public and (b) private sectors are currently unoccupied. [39614]

  Mr. Clappison
  The numbers of local authority and housing association dwellings in London that were vacant 286
  on 1 April 1994, the latest date for which figures are available, were as follows:

  Number (per cent, of stock)

  Local authority dwellings1

  All vacants

  18,675 (2.9)

  of which management vacants2

  10,485 (1.6)

  Housing association dwellings3

  All vacants

  7,896 (4.3)

  of which management vacants2

  3,193 (1.7)

  Source:

  1Annual Housing Investment Programme (HIP1) returns.

  2Available for letting immediately or after minor repairs.

  3Annual Housing Corporation HAR10/1 returns. The figures are not grossed up to take account of the small number of associations which did not submit a return.

  The information which is available on private sector vacant dwellings, other than those of housing associations, does not identify separately those which are for rent.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many times in each month of the current year he has met personally the heads of the agencies which report to him to discuss the work of those agencies. [39851]

  Mr. Gummer
  In the current year I have met the head of the Building Research Establishment once, the head of the Planning Inspectorate twice and the head of the Security Facilities Executive once. I have not met the heads of the two other next steps agencies for which my Department is responsible in the current year—the Buying Agency and the QE II Conference Centre.

  Pollution
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the level of(a) nitrogen oxide, (b) carbon monoxide, (c) volatile organic compounds and (d) black smoke emissions in the atmosphere in 1983 and 1993. [39889]

  Mr. Clappison
  National emissions of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, non-methane volatile organic compounds and black smoke in 1983 and 1993 are presented in the table.

  Thousand tonnes

  National Emissions

  Pollutants

  1983

  1993

  Nitrogen Oxides

  2,331

  2,347

  Carbon Monoxide

  5,065

  5,641

  Volatile Organic Compounds

  2,384

  2,418

  Black Smoke

  511

  444

  Source:

  National Environmental Technology Centre, Culham, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 3DB.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he had to simplify and clarify the measures of carbon dioxide and oxides of nitrogen used in the United Kingdom. [39899]
  287
  Mr. Clappison
  My Department publishes data on UK emissions of carbon dioxide and oxides of nitrogen annually in accordance with international guidelines set out by the intergovernmental panel on climate change and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. A simple interpretation of the carbon dioxide data is given every six months in the Department's climate change newsletter.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on siting pollution monitoring sites in order to register typical readings. [39900]

  Mr. Clappison
  Monitoring stations are sited taking into account independent expert advice in order to provide a comprehensive picture of air pollution across the country. Sites are selected according to the following criteria:

  —urban background sites give information on the exposure of large numbers of people over significant periods of time;

  —kerbside sites give information on the highest, albeit transient, levels of traffic-related pollution to which the public are exposed;

  —hot spot sites are selected to find locations where the highest levels of pollution may occur after rigorous screening exercises using diffusion tubes.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment what representations he has received from local authorities asking him to use his powers as set out in the Environment Act 1995 to enable them to stop vehicles and test their emissions. [40363]

  Mr. Clappison
  I have received a number of representations from local authorities concerning powers to stop vehicles and test their emissions. There are no plans to change the law which only permits police officers to stop vehicles. However, enabling regulations could be made under section 87 of the Environment Act 1995 to permit local authorities, with police support, to carry our emissions checks on vehicles using the road. We are currently consulting with interested parties on how this might be done in practice.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment what proposals he has to introduce air quality standards to allow him to use powers contained in the Environment Act 1995 to set up air quality management areas. [40362]

  Mr. Clappison
  The national air quality strategy will include proposals for air quality standards. The strategy will be published for consultation under section 80 of the Environment Act 1995 within the next few months.

  Canals
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the result of the Government's efforts to encourage greater use of canals. [39980]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  The management and operation of canals rests with the British Waterways Board and a range of other public and private bodies. One of the board's objectives is to promote the maximum use of the waterways for leisure, recreation and amenity, and where appropriate for freight transport.
  288
  There are over 150 million visits each year to the country's canals for boating, walking, angling and other pursuits. Last year, there were around 250,000 boating holidays on canals, a further increase of nearly 5 per cent. to 29,767 in the number of private pleasure boats licensed for canals, and BWB opened its second national waterway walk on the Kennet and Avon Canal.

  There are also a number of Government programmes, including the single regeneration budget challenge fund, city challenge and urban development corporations, which encourage canal-side and related development. These programmes have contributed to the creation of jobs in the communities served by canals.

  Pleasure Boats (Speed Limits)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policies towards speed limits for pleasure boats and holiday cruisers on inland waterways and rivers. [40030]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Navigation authorities use their byelaw-making powers to determine speed limits for pleasure boats and holiday cruisers on their waterways. The limits are set at levels which suit local circumstances, following consultation with user groups.

  Planning Application
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those planning applications since 1987 which he has chosen not to call in for his own decision despite being urged to do so by the Countryside Commission. [40477]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  This information is not held centrally.

  Noise Disturbances
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department has with regard to which local authorities have environmental health departments operating a 24-hour service in respect of noise disturbances. [40485]

  Mr. Clappison
  Of 328 local authorities in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland which responded to a survey by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health in December 1994, 117 operate a 24-hour noise service. A further 134 operate a range of partial "out of hours" services, including responding to complaints on certain nights of the week and following up complaints received during normal working hours. The ability to respond will depend on staff resources in relation to the number and nature of complaints. The same survey indicated that target response times for domestic noise complaints were as follows:

  Authorities (Per cent.)

  Immediate response

  9

  (2.7)

  Within 24 hours

  51

  (15.5)

  Within 2–7 days

  206

  (62.8)

  Longer than 7 days

  9

  (2.7)

  Prioritised response service

  49

  (14.9)

  289
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current position regarding proposals to introduce a fine for noise disturbances during the night and to empower environmental health officers to confiscate equipment; and if he will make a statement. [40486]

  Mr. Clappison
  The proposal to introduce a new night noise offence, punishable either by a fixed penalty or prosecution, was one of nine recommendations of a working party set up last year to review the effectiveness of the current neighbour noise controls. A further recommendation was to clarify current legislation by providing a specific power to enable temporary confiscation of noise-making equipment which would give a stronger legal basis for existing practice. The recommendations and conclusions of the working party were published in a consultation paper in March.

  We are currently considering both the written responses to the recommendations in the consultation paper and the results of recent trials of the proposed new night noise offence. We hope to announce shortly how we propose to take forward the recommendations.

  Swinden Quarry
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the organisations that urged him to call in for his own decision the application by Tilcon Ltd. to continue quarrying at Swinden in the Yorkshire Dales national park. [40476]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The following organisations wrote to the Secretary of State requesting him to call in for his own determination the planning application to extend Swinden quarry.

  The Countryside Commission

  The Council for the Protection of Rural England

  The Council for National Parks

  Skipton Civic Society

  The Open Spaces Society

  The Ramblers Association

  The Craven Green Party

  The Yorkshire Dales Society

  CRATER (Craven Residents against Tilcon's Extension Request).

  Water, Doncaster
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the Servern Trent Water company's utilities programme for water metering in that part of the Doncaster metropolitan borough council area served by company; and if he will make a statement. [40215]

  Mr. Clappison
  Severn Trent Water does not supply water in any part of Doncaster metropolitan borough council's area. The company does, however, provide sewerage services, which are not metered, in a small part of the council's area.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the Yorkshire Water company's290
  utilities programme for water metering in that part of the Doncaster metropolitan borough council area served by the company; and if he will make a statement. [40216]

  Mr. Clappison
  Yorkshire Water has a programme of metering new or substantially converted domestic properties and extending metering to all commercial premises in that part of Doncaster metropolitan borough council's area served by the company. Yorkshire Water also offers a voluntary meter option scheme. This policy applies throughout the area served by the company.

  Living over Shops Schemes
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the environment if he will publish a list of all living over shops schemes so far approved together with the planned and outturn expenditure on LOTS grants for each year the scheme has operated. [40490]

  Mr. Clappison
  My Department allocated £25 million to its three-year flats over shops programme—£5 million in 1992–93, £10 million in 1993–94 and £10 million in 1994–95. Outturn expenditure was £4.021 million, £9.456 million and £8.729 million, estimated, respectively.

  Details of individual schemes are not held centrally. However, an estimated 1,500 additional housing units have been created by the programme in over 150 local authority areas.

  Thirty-eight schemes to bring empty property over commercial premises back into use are being funded by the Department's housing partnership funds in 1995–96.

  Coal Mines
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what comparisons he has made of health and safety procedures and monitoring between the present privately owned collieries and those formerly state owned. [38683]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  None. The Health and Safety Executive inspectorate of mines makes regular inspections of coal mines. All mine operators are subject to the Mines and Quarries Act 1954, the Mines and Quarries (Tips) Act 1969 and the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974. These Acts apply to mines irrespective of ownership arrangements.

  Environment Council
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EU Environment Council of 6 October. [40110]

  Mr. Clappison
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Cheadle (Mr. Day) by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on 24 October 1995,Official Report, columns 523–34.

  Small Businesses
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how often his Department and each
  291
  agency within it has failed to pay invoices due to small businesses within 30 days in each of the last five years; [40525]

  (2) how many petitions for bankruptcy have been begun by his Department for businesses with under 500 employees in each of the last five years. [40526]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Departmental payment records do not identify the size of businesses paid. However, latest records show that 92 per cent. of all bills have been paid within the agreed credit period, or within 30 days where no credit period was agreed. The Department has no record of beginning any petitions for bankruptcy against businesses of any size in the last five years.

  Planning Guidance
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will extend the application of the Sandford principle into regional planning guidance. [40414]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  This principle is already reflected in regional planning guidance for those regions which contain national parks.

  Habitats Directive
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will revise PPG17, sport and recreation, in order to take PPG9 and the European habitats directive into account; and if he will make a statement. [40415]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  PPG9 on Nature Conservation gives guidance on planning and nature conservation, including advice on the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994, which transpose into domestic law the requirements of the EC directive on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. Although we see no need to revise PPG17 in this connection, we intend shortly to commission research into its effectiveness.

  American Bullfrogs
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he plans to take to prevent American bullfrogs from entering British waterways. [40413]

  Mr. Clappison
  The north American bullfrog is covered by the provisions of section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it an offence to release, or allow to escape into the wild, any animal which is not ordinarily resident in, and is not a regular visitor to Great Britain. A person found guilty of an offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £5,000; or on conviction on indictment to a potentially unlimited fine.

  We are consulting English Nature, our statutory scientific advisers, about recent reports of small numbers seen in the wild.

  Enterprise Zone Scheme
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will update his answer to the hon.292
  Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) of 14 April 1993, Official Report, column 530, on the total cost of the enterprise zone scheme. [40767]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  [holding answer 31 October 1995]: Approximate costs in 1995–96 prices are given in the table.

  £ million

  Year

  Capital allowances(1)(2)

  Rates relief(3)

  1981–82

  28

  11

  1982–83

  26

  22

  1983–84

  21

  26

  1984–85

  34

  35

  1985–86

  88

  45

  1986–87

  81

  61

  1987–88

  50

  78

  1988–89

  134

  88

  1989–90

  95

  114

  1990–91

  104

  107

  1991–92

  17

  78

  1992–93

  16

  37

  1993–94

  —

  26

  Notes:

  All figures are adjusted to 1995–96 prices.

  1 The method of calculating capital allowance costs has been revised by the Inland Revenue and is subject to continuing review. The estimated costs incurred in 1993–94 are not yet known.

  2 The basis for estimating capital allowances has been substantially revised by the Inland Revenue. This has required an updating of the data in the earlier answer.

  3 The cost of rates relief from 1990–91 is based on estimates following the introduction of the uniform business rate.

  Salaries
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the(a) lowest and (b) highest full-time salary paid to any employee in his (i) Department, (ii) agencies and (iii) non-departmental public bodies in (1) 1994–95 and (2) 1995–96. [40822]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  It is the Government's normal policy to publish civil servants' salaries in bands.

  1994–95 £

  1995–96 £

  Lowest salary

  Departments

  6,000–6,500

  6,000–6,500

  Agencies

  6,000–6,500

  6,000–6,500

  Highest salary

  Departments

  95,000–99,000

  195,000–99,000

  Agencies

  70,000–74,000

  70,000–74,000

  1 1995–96 salary dependant on the Government who are expected to implement the recommendations of the Remuneration Committee.

  The remuneration of the highest paid employees of non-departmental public bodies include a performance bonus awarded retrospectively, so it is not possible to provide an accurate figure for 1995–96. The highest paid employee in 1994–95 received £117,000 inclusive of a

  293
  performance-related element. Information on the lowest pay rates is not held centrally.

  Annual Remuneration
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the number of individuals in his(a) Department, (b) agencies and non-departmental public bodies whose annual remuneration including benefits in kind exceeded (i) £100,000, (ii) £200,000 and (iii) £300,000 in (1) 1985–96, (2) 1990–91, (3) 1992–93, (4) 1994–95 and (5) 1995–96. [40821]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Other than pension contributions, benefits in kind are not normally paid to staff in the Department, agencies and NDPBs. As members of the principal civil service pensions scheme, staff receive benefits in accordance with the scheme rules which have been deposited in the Library of the House. No one in the Department or its agencies received annual remuneration above the sums specified, excluding pension benefits, in the years in question.

  It is estimated that two individuals in non-departmental public bodies earned in excess of £100,000—but less than £200,000—in 1994–95 and 1995–96. No individuals earned in excess of the specified sums in other years.

  Ministerial Information Systems
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the steps taken in each Government Department to establish a MINIS system or its equivalent. [40364]

  Mr. Horam
  I have been asked to reply.

  Private patients income1

  1993–94

  1994–99

  NHS Trust

  Private patients £000

  Private patients as a percentage of total income

  Private patients £000

  Private patients as a percentage of total income

  Glan Clwyd District General Hospital NHS Trust

  234

  0.423

  265

  0.457

  Clwydian Community NHS Trust4

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Wrexham Maelor NHS Trust

  538

  1.096

  547

  1.030

  North Wales Ambulance Trust3

  n/a

  n/a

  20

  0.164

  Gwynedd Community NHS Trust3 4

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Gwynedd Hospital NHS Trust3

  n/a

  n/a

  191

  0.316

  Powys Healthcare NHS Trust

  1

  0.002

  1

  0.002

  Carmarthen and District NHS Trust

  85

  0.230

  115

  0.299

  Ceredigion and Mid Wales NHS Trust

  81

  0.357

  99

  0.428

  Derwen NHS Trust3 4

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Llanelli/Dinefwr NHS Trust

  62

  0.205

  64

  0.206

  Pembrokeshire NHS Trust

  96

  0.231

  83

  0.198

  Morriston Hospital/Ysbyty Treforys NHS Trust3

  n/a

  n/a

  293

  0.471

  Swansea NHS Trust

  201

  0.385

  147

  0.271

  Bridgend and District NHS Trust

  220

  0.362

  373

  0.583

  Glan Hafren NHS Trust

  201

  0.221

  211

  0.226

  Nevill Hall NHS Trust3

  n/a

  n/a

  171

  0.420

  Gwent Community Health NHS Trust3

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Llandough NHS Trust

  44

  0.096

  34

  0.067

  Velindre NHS Trust3

  n/a

  n/a

  113

  1.068

  Rhondda NHS Trust3

  n/a

  n/a

  17

  0.058

  294
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 October 1995 to his previous question on the subject of Government's management information systems, Official Report, column 5.

WALES

  Holt's Field
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy on the protection of residents in conservation areas for which planning consent has been refused and who are faced with eviction by prospective developers, with particular reference to the case of Holt's Field, near Swansea; and if he will make a statement. [40147]

  Mr. Hague
  Control of demolition within a conservation area is provided by the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. There are no powers under the Act to give protection to residents who are faced with a court order for their eviction. Eviction of the residents of Holt's Field is a matter between the owner of the land and the residents and is ultimately one for the courts to decide. It is not an issue in which I can intervene. Under legislation contained in part III of the Housing Act 1985, a local authority has a duty to secure accommodation for all households accepted as unintentionally homeless, or threatened with homelessness, and in priority need of accommodation.

  Private Patients (Income)
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list, by trust in each region, details of income from private patients for 1993–94 and 1994–95(a) as a total and (b) as a percentage of total trust income. [39950]

  Mr. Richards
  The information requested is as follows:
  295

  Private patients income1

  1993–94

  1994–952

  NHS Trust

  Private patients £000

  Private patients as a percentage of total income

  Private patients £000

  Private patients as a percentage of total income

  East Glamorgan NHS Trust3

  n/a

  n/a

  106

  0.223

  South East Wales Ambulance Trust4

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Mid Glamorgan Ambulance Trust3 4

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1 Consists of money received from NHS patients paying for accommodation in single rooms or small wards (Section 63 NHS Act), private in-patients (Section 65), private non-resident patients (Section 66) and accommodation and services provided under Section 58 of the NHS Act 1977. Overseas visitors (Section 121, not eligible for free treatment have been excluded (as they are charged NHS patients).

  2 1994–95 figures are provisional.

  3 These Trusts did not become operational until 1 April 1994.

  4 These Trusts do not provide private patient services.

  Measles Immunisation
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current known rate of the occurrence of measles in Wales. [40646]

  Mr. Richards
  There were 16 notifications of measles during September 1995 and 10 during the first three weeks of October 1995—the latest date for which information is available. In the same months during 1994, the number of measles notifications were 57 and 78 respectively.

  Bankruptcy Petitions
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many petitions for bankruptcy have been begun by his Department for businesses with under 500 employees in each of the last five years. [40502]

  Mr. Hague
  This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, such petitions would be initiated only in exceptional circumstances and the number of cases is therefore likely to be small.

  Nurse Training (Gwynedd)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was allocated to the training of nurses in Gwynedd for the last year for which figures are available. [40382]

  Mr. Richards
  In 1994–95 £2,552,010 was allocated to the centrally planned and funded training of nurses in Gwynedd under "Towards 2000" arrangements. Figures relating to costs of locally funded training are not available centrally.

  Postgraduate Nurses
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many nurses are currently receiving grants for the full cost of training in postgraduate courses and what was the equivalent figure for 1990. [40383]

  Mr. Richards
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Hospital Opening Ceremonies (Gwynedd)
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the cost of each opening ceremony for new hospitals or new facilities for hospitals in Gwynedd during the last three years; and what was the total cost. [40384]
  296
  Mr. Richards
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Re-admitted Patients
  Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many patients were re-admitted to hospital within one month of their discharge in the last year for which figures are available. [40385]

  Mr. Richards
  Information for 1994–95 is not available centrally. Data on the rates of unplanned re-admission to hospital are being collected for the first time in 1995–96. The data will be published in future, provided the information is of sufficient reliability.

  Late Payment (Small Businesses)
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how often his Department and each agency within it has failed to pay invoices due to small businesses within 30 days in each of the last five years. [40501]

  Mr. Hague
  The information is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Departments are required, however, to provide details of their overall annual payment performance in their departmental reports. For 1994–95, the Welsh Office, including its agency Cadw, paid 95 per cent. of its bills in accordance with agreed contractual conditions or, where no such contractual conditions existed, within 30 days of receipt of goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice. The Department's published figures for the three preceding years were 87 per cent. 76 per cent. and 65 per cent. respectively.

  Forestry
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all Forestry Commission woods currently for sale in Wales; and if he will make a statement on the targets for the disposal of land by(a) area and (b) projected income. [40672]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply which my hon. Friend the Under Secretary of State for Scotland gave the hon. Member for Sherwood (Mr. Tipping) on 25 October at columns 685–87. As set out in the Government's expenditure plans 1995–96 to 1997–98, the Forestry Commission plans to sell about 15,000 hectares of forest land in each of the next three years, and expects to receive about £60 million from the sale of

  297
  forest land and surplus properties during that period. The Commission expects about 15 per cent. of these sales to be in Wales.

  National Health Service
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list(a) the number of NHS nurses, (b) the number of NHS general and senior managers, (c) expenditure on administration, (d) the number of patients on the waiting list, (e) the number of operations cancelled on the day of or day after admission to hospital, (f) the

  Clwyd

  East Dyfed

  Gwent

  Gwynedd Mid

  Glamorgan

  Pembrokeshire

  Nursing and Midwifery staff1:

  30 September 1990

  3,174

  2,043

  4,014

  1,912

  4,777

  677

  30 June 1995

  3,239

  1,997

  3,440

  2,011

  4,768

  711

  NHS general and senior managers2

  30 September 1990

  49

  34

  54

  21

  32

  16

  30 June 19953

  151

  125

  165

  61

  196

  17

  Expenditure on administration4:

  1990–91 (£000)

  9,821

  6,793

  11,503

  6,117

  12,504

  2,412

  1994–95 (£000)5

  16,792

  11,658

  17,220

  9,984

  20,091

  3,973

  Number of patients on the waiting list6

  In-patients:

  30 Septemer 1990

  5,941

  4,288

  9,714

  3,360

  7,913

  2,224

  30 September 1995

  6,185

  3,500

  6,252

  2,486

  6,165

  1,717

  Day cases:

  30 September 1990

  1,435

  824

  1,221

  313

  550

  803

  30 September 1995

  2,788

  3,148

  2,814

  756

  2,747

  1,212

  Out-patients:

  30 September 1990

  10,607

  5,480

  11,949

  5,033

  18,385

  3,318

  30 September 1995

  13,300

  9,486

  16,393

  7,482

  19,040

  2,616

  Number of patients treated privately in NHS facilities:

  In-patients:

  1990–91

  419

  348

  106

  244

  173

  159

  1994–955

  403

  152

  149

  132

  199

  35

  Day cases:

  1990–91

  129

  151

  105

  117

  126

  85

  1994–955

  118

  102

  114

  148

  191

  41

  Out-patient attendances:

  1990–91

  3,167

  1,839

  78

  367

  692

  1,489

  1994–955

  2,190

  1,308

  149

  231

  294

  1,008

  Hospital beds by category1:

  Acute:

  1990–91

  1,234

  669

  1,395

  648

  1,739

  263

  1993–94

  1,244

  694

  1,332

  597

  1,448

  263

  Geriatric:

  1990–91

  509

  377

  601

  382

  709

  126

  1993–94

  457

  337

  553

  348

  768

  114

  Maternity:

  1990–91

  115

  48

  144

  80

  192

  40

  1993–94

  106

  48

  118

  70

  174

  40

  Psychiatric:

  1990–91

  496

  466

  980

  442

  1,319

  31

  1993–94

  361

  374

  627

  406

  1,087

  21

  Other:

  1990–91

  7

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1993–94

  —

  —

  —

  —

  22

  —

  Total:

  1990–91

  2,362

  1,562

  3,120

  1,552

  3,959

  460

  1993–94

  2,168

  1,454

  2,630

  1,420

  3,499

  438

  Number of hospitals:

  31 March 1991

  24

  12

  18

  18

  30

  3

  31 March 1995

  22

  12

  15

  14

  26

  3

  298
  number of patients treated privately in NHS facilities as in-patients/day-patients/out-patients, (g) the number of hospital beds by category and (h) the number of hospitals (i) for 1990–91 and (ii) at present for (A) the Welsh health authority areas and (B) Wales. [40795]

  Mr. Richards
  The available information is given in the table. Figures for NHS trusts are included in the health authority areas in which they are situated.

  Information on the number of operations cancelled on the day or of day-after admission to hospital is not available centrally.
  299

  Powys

  South Glamorgan

  West Glamorgan

  WHCSA8

  Wales

  Nursing and Midwifery staff1:

  30 September 1990

  1,059

  4,309

  3,043

  10

  25,017

  30 June 1995

  928

  4,399

  3,501

  74

  25,068

  NHS general and senior managers2:

  30 September 1990

  26

  92

  67

  46

  436

  30 June 19953

  53

  290

  107

  153

  1,357

  Expenditure and administration4:

  1990–91 (£000)

  2,850

  18,006

  9,934

  7,370

  87,310

  1994–95 (£000)5

  4,265

  29,766

  15,535

  18,473

  147,757

  Numbers of patients on the waiting list6:

  In-patients:

  30 September 1990

  40

  8,567

  7,188

  —

  49,235

  30 September 1995

  325

  7,316

  6,680

  —

  40,626

  Day cases:

  30 September 1990

  17

  2,070

  208

  —

  7,441

  30 September 1995

  —

  4,296

  848

  —

  18,609

  Out-patients:

  30 September 1990

  1,385

  19,410

  15,836

  —

  91,403

  30 September 1995

  1,591

  21,724

  16,700

  —

  108,332

  Number of patients treated privately in NHS facilities:

  In-patients:

  1990–91

  —

  118

  193

  —

  1,760

  1994–955

  —

  246

  47

  —

  1,363

  Day cases:

  1990–91

  —

  8

  504

  —

  1,225

  1994–955

  1

  602

  72

  —

  1,389

  Out-patient attendances:

  1990–91

  —

  1,163

  917

  —

  9,712

  1994–955

  1

  1,184

  235

  —

  6,600

  Hospital beds by category7:

  Acute:

  1990–91

  194

  1,672

  1,241

  —

  9,056

  1993–94

  201

  1,486

  1,177

  —

  8,441

  Geriatric:

  1990–91

  193

  443

  471

  —

  3,811

  1993–94

  187

  432

  404

  —

  3,600

  Maternity:

  1990–91

  35

  137

  125

  —

  916

  1993–94

  32

  113

  104

  —

  806

  Psychiatric:

  1990–91

  475

  951

  463

  —

  5,623

  1993–94

  395

  803

  510

  —

  4,584

  Other:

  1990–91

  —

  —

  —

  —

  8

  1993–94

  —

  —

  22

  —

  44

  Total:

  1990–91

  896

  3,203

  2,300

  —

  19,415

  1993–94

  815

  2,834

  2,217

  —

  17,475

  Number of hospitals:

  31 March 1991

  14

  16

  16

  —

  151

  31 March 1995

  13

  14

  14

  —

  133

  1 Whole-time equivalents. Excluding pre-registration learner nurses.

  2 General managers, senior managers and health authority managers, due to the extension of terms and conditions of service a number of staff from within the administrative and clerical and other staff groups have been reclassified as managers. Managers from all disciplines may be included.

  3 Whole-time equivalents (Wte). Figures for East Dyfed include staff who worked for Pembrokeshire Health Authority and Dyfed FHSA. Total includes 39 Wte staff in NHS Ambulance Trusts who cannot be assigned to individual health authority areas.

  4 Senior managers and administration/clerical staff costs. Data for East Dyfed includes Dyfed FHSA expenditure.

  5 Provisional.

  6 By area of intended treatment.

  7 Average daily available beds.

  8 Welsh Health Common Services Authority.

  300

  Dental Services (Wales)
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many patients have been deregistered from NHS dentists since July 1982. [40796]

  Mr. Richards
  Information supplied by the family health services authorities shows that 52,781 patients in Wales have been deregistered since 1 August 1992.

  This is a cumulative total and does not indicate how many of those patients subsequently registered with another dentist. Statistics published by the Dental Practice Board indicate that, at the end of June 1995, the number of registered patients in Wales was 35,891 higher than at 30 June 1992.

  Fundholding
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what have been the costs of introducing fundholding since 1991. [40797]

  Mr. Richards
  Reimbursement to general practitioner fundholders in respect of expenses covered by management allowances totalled £8.9 million for the financial years 1990–91 to 1994–95.

  Salaries
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the(a) lowest and (b) highest full-time salary paid to any employee in his (i) Department, (ii) agencies and (iii) non-departmental public bodies in (1) 1994–95 and (2) 1995–96. [40857]

  Mr. Hague
  It is the Government's normal policy to publish civil servants' salaries in bands. The figures are:

  1994–95 £

  1995–96 £

  Welsh Office

  Highest salary

  95,000–99,999

  95,000–99,999

  Lowest salary

  4,000–4,999

  4,000–4,999

  Agency

  Highest salary

  45,000–49,999

  45,000–49,999

  Lowest salary

  5,000–9,999

  5,000–9,999

  NDPBs

  Highest salary

  75,000–79,999

  80,000–84,999

  Information on the lowest salary is not held centrally.

  Disabled Drivers Assessment Centre
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to come to a decision on the application by the Wales Disabled Drivers Assessment Centre to develop a purpose-built new centre at Rookwood hospital on land adjourning the artificial limb and application centre. [40853]

  Mr. Hague
  The location of the Wales Disabled Drivers Assessment Centre is a matter for that organisation. The use of the Rookwood hospital site is a matter for the University Hospital of Wales Healthcare NHS trust.

  Annual Remuneration
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many individuals in(a) his Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies received annual remuneration including benefits in kind exceeding (i) £100,000, (ii) £200,000 and (iii) £300,000 in each year since 1985–86. [40856]

  Mr. Hague
  Other than pension contributions, benefits in kind are not normally paid to staff in the Department, agencies and NDPBs. As members of the principal civil service pensions scheme, staff receive benefits in accordance with the scheme, rules, which have been deposited in the Library of the House. No staff in the bodies in question received annual remuneration excluding pension benefits above £100,000.

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what decision has been reached as a result of the consultation on the "prescribed period" for Wales in part III of the Local Government (Compensation for Redundancy) Regulations 1994. [41353]

  Mr. Hague
  I have carefully considered the responses which I received. All of them argued that the period should end after 31 March 1997, but there were different views about what the end date should be. I have had particular regard to the views of the new councils that will have to operate the regulations.

  Having consulted my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, we have decided that the period should end on 30 September 1997 and my right hon. Friend will amend the regulations accordingly.

  Simultaneously, I have considered the responses to a separate consultation exercise on the Local Government Reorganisation (Compensation for Loss of Remuneration) Regulations which will be made in due course by my right hon. Friend. Here, too, our decision is that the prescribed period in Wales should end on 30 September 1997.

  The changes I have announced will give Welsh councils more time to implement redundancies which result from local government reorganisation and to harmonise terms and conditions. I would not expect this additional time to mean that there would be an increase in the number of redundancies attributable to the reorganisation or that more staff would suffer a reduction in salary because of the reorganisation. Accordingly, the additional funding which I provide during 1996–97 and 1997–98 will not go beyond the bids which the new councils have recently submitted to me.

  I shall announce my decisions on funding for transitional costs in 1996–97 and subsequent years after the Chancellor's Budget statement.

  Pembrokeshire National Park
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will announce his decision on the Pembrokeshire coast national park variation order submitted to him by the Countryside Commission. [41354]
  303
  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has today confirmed, with modifications, the order to vary the boundaries of the Pembrokeshire coast national park.

  In 1989, the Countryside Commission, predecessors of the Countryside Council for Wales, submitted an order to the Secretary of State recommending that the boundary of the national park should be revised at 23 sites. It was proposed that at 15 sites land would be added to the park and at eight sites land would be removed.

  The modifications made to the order following a public inquiry mean that 10 new ares will be added to the national park including land at Pencelly Forest, Castlemartin and Brandy Brook valley and its tributaries. Seven areas of land will be removed, including the Texaco and Elf refineries. At six sites, including Marros and Gelliswick bay, the existing boundary will remain.

  Copies of the decision letter to the chief executive of the Countryside Council for Wales and the inspector's report have been placed in the Library of the House.

SCOTLAND

  Scottish Nuclear
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy that the management structure of Scottish Nuclear should include a director whose sole responsibility is nuclear safety. [38751]

  Mr. Kynoch
  The safety procedures and management structure of all nuclear undertakings in the United Kingdom are subject to scrutiny by the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate under the terms of nuclear site licences. It would be inappropriate for my right hon. Friend to intervene in these matters.

  Grants
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for what grant-giving funds his Department is responsible, requiring a private sector contribution, where the use of national lottery funds is not allowed to count towards that private sector portion. [38607]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of National Heritage, on 31 October 1995, c.186–87.

  Special Needs and Sheltered Housing
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when he next plans to meet the chairman or chief executive of Scottish Homes to review its policy of exclusion against the funding of new-build special needs and sheltered housing in peripheral housing estates where no such provision exists; if he will commission a study into the effects of elderly and disabled people having to move away from their own communities to obtain suitable accommodation; and if he will make a statement; [39172]

  (2) when he next plans to meet the chairman or chief executive of Scottish Homes to discuss the need for sheltered and special needs housing in large peripheral
  304
  housing estates with particular reference to Foxbar, Paisley; and if he will make a statement; [39178]

  (3) when he next plans to meet the chairman or chief executive of Scottish Homes to discuss its policy on sheltered housing; and if he will make a statement. [39177]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  My right hon. Friend and I meet the chairman and chief executive of Scottish Homes regularly and I shall be meeting the board again early in the next year.

  As Scottish Homes made clear in its May 1995 policy statement "Removing the Barriers—Housing for Older People", its policy is to focus resources primarily on the provision of accommodation capable of being adapted for a range of changing needs. This policy was significantly influenced by the many responses received to Scottish Homes' May 1993 consultation paper, "Housing for the Elderly in the 1990s". The decision at a local level on what priority to give to the provision of special needs and sheltered housing is made in the light of local needs and demand, working with community care strategic planners such as local housing and social work authorities, and health boards, and taking account of the views of elderly people themselves on whether they wish to remain within their communities.

  Orlit Housing
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what special assistance is currently available to the(a) landlords or (b) owner-occupiers of Orlit-type houses which have major structural defects; and if he will make a statement. [39200]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  In 1984 a scheme under the Housing Defects Act 1984 was introduced to help owners of defective homes, such as the Orlit, bought from a public sector authority before 26 April 1984. The scheme, which provided for assistance by way of repurchase or reinstatement grant, ended on 30 November 1994.

  Assistance for owner-occupiers remains available in the form of discretionary improvement grant from the local authority if the house has become unstable and various conditions of the grant scheme are met. Landlords are responsible for carrying out any necessary works to their own stock from within the resources available to them.

  Flooding, Paisley
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will visit the Collier street, Johnstone, Park avenue and South End, Paisley, to discuss the effect of the 1994 floods with tenants and residents; and if he will make a statement. [39181]

  Mr. Kynoch
  My right hon. Friend recently visited Paisley on other matters, but he has no plans to visit Collier street, Johnstone or the Park avenue and South End areas of Paisley.

  The hon. Member will be aware that the Secretary of State will be meeting him and other members of the Paisley South End flood action committee on Wednesday 1 November to discuss matters arising out of the 1994 floods.

  Fuel Bills
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet representatives of Scottish Power and Hydro-Electric to discuss the abolition of standing charges on fuel bills; and if he will make a statement. [39203]

  Mr. Kynoch
  My right hon. representatives of the two Scottish companies from time to time. The charges is a matter for the companies Electricity Regulation.

  Drug Rehabilitation Services
  Mr. Rathbone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the detailed arrangements for drugs rehabilitation services which have been put in place in mandatory drugs testing prisons in Scotland referred to by the Minister of State in his statement of 18 October,Official Report, column 302; and what measurements of efficiency are being made. [39812]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mr. Timothy Rathbone, dated 1 November 1995:
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your Question about the arrangements for drug rehabilitation services in those Scottish prisons involved in the first phase of mandatory drug testing.Mandatory drug testing will be introduced in Scottish prisons on a phased basis as and when each establishment is ready to begin and has the appropriate programmes in place to assist those prisoners with drugs problems. The first phase of testing will begin in Edinburgh and Cornton Vale prisons early next year.Edinburgh Prison operates a drug reduction programme consisting of education and counselling and offers detoxification under medical supervision. A multi-disciplinary approach has been adopted, and the treatment offered reflects best practice in the wider community, consistent with the constraints of a prison setting. The programme was evaluated by Glasgow Caledonian University which found that it was effective in reducing the amount and frequency of drug misuse, resulting in harm reduction and the promotion of healthier lifestyles. The programme also won the Scottish Health Management Efficiency Group's "Partnership in Health Care Award" in 1993–94. Prisoners also receive a comprehensive information and training programme on HIV and AIDS within 2 weeks of admission.Cornton Vale Prison (for women) currently has a drug education programme in place for all prisoners which reinforces the work of the full-time addiction worker, trained prison staff and community-based workers who deliver individual and group counselling. Plans are being taken forward to develop further support programmes, including drug reduction and detoxification, to meet a wide range of the women's needs, prior to the introduction of mandatory drug testing.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many times in each month of the current year he has met personally the heads of the agencies which report to him to discuss the work of those agencies. [39861]
  306
  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My ministerial colleagues and I meet the chief executives of the agencies for which I am responsible as and when it is necessary for the efficient discharge of business.

  Late Payment (Small Business)
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how often his Department and each agency within it has failed to pay invoices due to small businesses within 30 days in each of the last five years. [40512]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  My Department has carried out an annual check of payment performance since 1991–92 but does not distinguish between small and large firms.

  The overall results for the last four years show a steady improvement in the percentage of supplier payments made within the period stipulated in the contract, normally 30 days:

  Year

  Percentage of payments paid on time

  1991–92

  82

  1992–93

  85

  1993–94

  89

  1994–95

  96

  The figures for the larger agencies of the Scottish Office for the last two years are:

  Percentage

  Agency

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Scottish Agriculture and Science Agency

  92

  97

  Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency

  93

  99

  Historic Scotland

  94

  100

  Scottish Prison Service

  86

  89

  Forestry
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all Forestry Commission woods currently for sale in Scotland; and if he will make a statement on the targets for the disposal of land by(a) area and (b) projected income. [40674]

  Mr. Kynoch
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Sherwood (Mr. Tipping) on 25 October,Official Report, columns 685–87. As set out in the Government's expenditure plans 1995–96 to 1997–99, the Forestry Commission plans to sell about 15,000 hectares of forest land in each of the next three years, and expects to receive a total of about £60 million from the sale of forest land and surplus properties during that period. The Commission expects about 70 per cent. of these sales to be in Scotland, as most of the Forestry Commission's land is in Scotland.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much income has been accrued; and how much land has been sold under the Government's forestry disposal programme in each year since 1992–93 and in the current year to date. [40669]
  307
  Mr. Kynoch
  The information is as follows:

  Year ended 31 March

  Area sold hectares

  Income £ million

  1993

  10,589

  9.9

  1994

  14,950

  17.4

  1995

  10,808

  12.1

  1996 (to date)

  5,364

  6.6

  Scottish Office Employees
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list(a) the number of (i) male and (ii) female employees, (b) the number of officials employed at each of the principal grades and the number and percentages of women employed at these grades and (c) the number of staff employed at administrative grades and the number and percentage of those staff that are women in his Department and for each of its executive agencies for each year since 1985. [39394]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 26 October 1995]: As the information requested is lengthy, I shall arrange for copies of the figures to be placed in the House Library.

  Scottish Office Energy Division
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people are employed with the Scottish Office Energy Division on(a) a full-time basis and (b) a part-time basis. [39664]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  [holding answer 27 October 1995]: At 25 October 1995, there were 22 permanent staff in the Scottish Office energy division. Twenty-one of these were employed on a full-time basis and one on a part-time basis.

  Local Enterprise Companies
  Dr. Godman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the chief executives of local enterprise companies who sit on the boards of such companies, indicating their incomes. [38444]

  Mr. Kynoch
  [holding answer 25 October 1995]: Relationships with the local enterprise companies are an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise. I have asked their chairmen to write to the hon. Member.

TRANSPORT

  Oil Slicks
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many oil slicks have been reported in seas around the British Isles, annually, for the last five years. [40405]

  Mr. Norris
  This is an operational matter for the Coastguard agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
  308
  Letter from C. J. Harris to Mr. David Hinchliffe, dated 1 November 1995:

  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question as the question deals with an operational matter, for which I have responsibility as Chief Executive.

  The number of reports of oil pollution in the seas and around the shores of the UK, as compiled by the Advisory Committee on Pollution of the Sea (ACOPS), is as follows:

  Year

  Total reports

  1990

  791

  1991

  705

  1992

  611

  1993

  676

  1994

  540

  Total

  3,323

  Ship Discharges
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will increase air surveillance resources to combat illegal discharges at sea; [40411]

  (2) how he will improve the policing of vessels at sea to combat illegal discharges. [40407]

  Mr. Norris
  We are working closely with other states which are party to the Bonn agreement to make aerial surveillance an even more effective deterrent against illegal discharges by ships. The number of hours flown this year—1995–96—by Coastguard agency aircraft has been increased from 800 to 925 on a trial basis, and the benefits will have to be assessed.

  The Marine Safety Agency is taking forward work on transponders which identify a vessel automatically. We are also working with our Bonn agreement partners to find other ways of making it easier to identify and prosecute offenders.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many prosecutions have been brought in each of the last five years in respect of illegal discharges of oil or other pollutants in United Kingdom waters; and how many were successful; [39767]

  (2) whether his Department has yet located the container of toxic lindane which was lost in the channel several years ago; and if he will make a statement. [39618]

  Mr. Norris
  These are operational matters for the Coastguard agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from C. J. Harris to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 1 November 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.MV PERINTIS, a Panamanian registered and Indonesian owned general cargo container vessel, capsized and sank in UK waters in the English Channel on 13 March, 1989. The lindane container had been stowed on the upper deck and its contents of 5.8 tonnes was packaged in 50 kilogramme sealed polythene bags inside fibre board drums.309 The container was located in French waters during this early afternoon of 15 March, and by early evening, a French tug took it in town bound for Cherbourg. From that moment, it became the responsibility of the French authorities. At 11.45 on 16 March, the French authorities reported that the lindane container had been lost under tow some 15 nautical miles north of Cherbourg. It was never relocated.Over the next few weeks, the French Navy carried out very extensive surface and sub-sea searches for the lindane container but without success. In addition, seawater monitoring was conducted over a much longer period, however, only normal background levels of lindane were ever detected.There have been 38 prosecutions brought in respect of illegal discharges by vessels in UK waters since 1990, these were brought by MPCU and Port and Harbour authorities, 36 were successful. There were 16 in 1990, 2 in 1991, 5 in 1992, 2 in 1993, and 11 in 1994.During this period the MPCU referred 23 cases to the Treasury Solicitor for prosecution action if appropriate. Of these, 8 are still open.Since 1990 55 cases have been referred to vessels' flag states for further action. Of these 9 were prosecuted and fined and 32 are still open. Of the 9 prosecuted 3 had been referred to their flag state before 1990.
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on British reception facilities within ports and their operations within the Marpol convention; [40409]

  (2) if ships failing to discharge waste at British ports will be notified to the next port of call with details of waste volume at time of departure; and if he will introduce penalties for discrepancies which occur between the ports; [40404]

  (3) if he will include reception facility fees within harbour dues; [40410]

  (4) if he will place a statutory duty on port authorities to develop waste management plans, certified by the Marine Safety Agency. [40408]

  Mr. Norris
  My Department is undertaking a consultation exercise to consider these and a number of other initiatives to reduce the amounts of waste discharged into the sea from ships and to increase the amounts discharged into port waste reception facilities. We will announce our conclusions shortly.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will increase penalties for illegal discharge by ships in British waters. [40406]

  Mr. Norris
  The penalties for illegal discharges by ships are a matter for the courts. The level of fines is not restricted by statute, except on summary conviction in magistrates courts or their equivalent, where the maximum is kept under review. In 1994, we introduced legislation imposing strict liability on all shipowners for pollution damage caused by persistent oils in United Kingdom waters.

  Trains (Bicycles)
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies he has commissioned, undertaken or been informed about on the effect on cycle carriage of the £3 per journey charge for bicycles on regional railways; and if he will make a statement. [40499]
  310
  Mr. Watts
  None. The carriage of bicycles on trains, and any charges made, are operational matters for individual train operators. The franchising director will require franchisees, through the franchise agreement, to carry bicycles where practicable and to ensure that any charges made are reasonable.

  Night Flights
  Mr. Deva
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the number of respondents in respect of each of the public consultations in relation to the current night flights regulations, in January 1993, October 1993, November 1993, March 1995 and June 1995, in relation to Heathrow airport; in each case how many respondents were(a) seeking an increase, (b) seeking a reduction and (c) supporting the night noise levels proposed in the consultation papers concerned; and if he will subdivide the totals in each category according to number of airlines, number of air transport bodies, number of hon. Members, number of local authorities, number of resident associations and environmental groups, number of members of the public and others. [39346]

  Mr. Norris
  The total number of responses received to each of the consultations, analysed by category of respondent, is set out in the table. These do not relate only to Heathrow. The consultations concerned proposals for a regime of new restrictions on night flights at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports which included a number of discrete elements. Many of the comments in the responses related to more than one of these airports without necessarily focusing on the night noise levels at Heathrow as an issue separate from the other elements of the proposals.

  It is not normal departmental practice to provide any form of written summary or statistical analysis of responses to a consultation when the responses are publicly available. All the responses to the November 1993 consultation paper, the March 1995 consultation paper and to the supplementary paper of June 1995, other than those where the author has requested confidentiality, are so available.

  Responses to the January and October 1993 consultations have not been made available as the respondents were not given the opportunity to state whether they would object to their responses being copied or otherwise disclosed. An analysis of the responses to the January 1993 consultation in relation to "night noise levels" at Heathrow as requested would not seem appropriate as the consultation, and the responses, were concerned with the whole night restrictions regime, many aspects of which are interrelated—for example, the size of the noise quota is related to both the length of the night quota period and to the QC classification of aircraft. The main points raised in the responses to the January 1993 consultation and the decisions of my right hon. Friend in the light of these responses were announced on 6 July 1993, Official Report, columns 71–73. The October 1993 consultation was limited in time and extent: it was primarily focused on the proposal to specify the maximum number of movements for the winter season 1993–94 in the light of the judgment given on 29 September 1993.
  311

  Responses received

  Main January 1993 consultation

  W 1993–94 October 19934

  S 1994 Two phases of

  W 1994–to S 1998 November 1993

  W 1995–1998 March 1995 consultation

  W 1995–96 to S 1998 June 1995 supplement

  Members of Parliament and MEPs (other than letters

  covering constituents views)

  19

  —

  1

  3

  2

  6

  Airport consultative committees.

  3

  3

  24

  24

  3

  2

  Local authorities, Parish and Town Councils, and local authority associations.

  69

  19

  43

  254

  262

  34

  Environmental and other local groups

  59

  5

  18

  28

  43

  29

  Aviation and acoustical consultants.

  2

  —

  1

  1

  1

  —

  Airlines

  63

  4

  14

  27

  38

  14

  Airport and aviation bodies.

  5

  2

  5

  4

  25

  2

  Airlines and airport users and other aviation interests.

  17

  5

  10

  13

  10

  7

  Responses from people living around Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted

  31,823

  —

  3149

  3279

  3308

  3661

  Responses from people living elsewhere

  99

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Petitions (and signatures lodged in bulk)

  42,762

  —

  —

  41,029

  4421

  135

  1 Short consultation.

  2 One from outside London area.

  3 Number of letters not number of signatories.

  4 Not verified.

  [Excludes late responses]

  Railtrack (Fly Tipping)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the duties of Railtrack in respect of fly tipping on its land; and if he will make a statement. [39814]

  Mr. Watts
  The Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978 and the Environmental Protection Act 1990 contain provisions to control fly-tipping. Railtrack's duties in respect of fly-tipping on its land are no different from any other landowner, in that there is no general obligation to remove fly-tipped material. However, if the nature on location of fly-tipped material posed a risk to the safe operation of the railway or to public health and safety, appropriate measures would be taken by Railtrack.

  Regarding the case of litter more generally, we are considering whether an order is needed to clarify duties under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, following transfer to Railtrack of operational railway land. As a

  Road accidents

  Accidents at sea1

  Aircraft crashes in UK airspace

  Year

  Killed

  Injured

  Killed

  Injured

  Killed

  Injured

  1979

  6,645

  3,357,789

  —

  —

  48

  36

  1980

  6,239

  329,625

  —

  —

  32

  44

  1981

  6,069

  326,551

  —

  —

  57

  73

  1982

  6,150

  336,285

  —

  —

  26

  28

  1983

  5,618

  310,679

  —

  —

  71

  37

  1984

  5,788

  327,276

  —

  —

  41

  44

  1985

  5,342

  320,819

  —

  —

  77

  111

  1986

  5,618

  325,275

  —

  —

  69

  59

  1987

  5,339

  316,070

  —

  —

  49

  27

  1988

  5,230

  328,042

  —

  —

  286

  58

  1989

  5,554

  347,649

  —

  —

  72

  130

  1990

  5,402

  347,500

  —

  —

  42

  101

  312
  contractual matter, station leases granted by Railtrack already include a provision requiring the train operators to clean the stations for which they are responsible.

  Eurotunnel
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met representatives of Eurotunnel to discuss its future; and if he will make a statement. [40165]

  Sir George Young
  I met representatives from Eurotunnel on 23 October.

  Accidents
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were(a) killed and (b) injured (i) in road accidents in the United Kingdom, (ii) at sea in United kingdom territorial waters and (iii) in aircraft crashes in United Kingdom airspace in each year since 1979. [39977]

  Mr. Norris
  Available information is shown in the following table.
  313

  Road accidents

  Accidents at sea1

  Aircraft crashes in UK airspace

  Year

  Killed

  Injured

  Killed

  Injured

  Killed

  Injured

  1991

  4,753

  316,830

  53

  816

  21

  75

  1992

  4,379

  317,558

  21

  862

  41

  81

  1993

  3,957

  313,163

  21

  656

  24

  67

  1994

  3,807

  323,476

  27

  640

  37

  45

  1 The sea figures include all deaths and injuries on UK registered vessels at sea, whether or not in UK territorial waters. They also include casualties in foreign vessel incidents in UK territorial waters, though this element may be incomplete. No information is available on foreign flag vessel accidents prior to 1991.

  Rail Freight
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list in tonnes the quantity of freight lifted on Britain's railways in each year since 1988–89; and if he will make a statement; [40239]

  (2) if he will list in tonnes/kilometres the quantity of freight moved on Britain's railways in each year since 1988–89; and if he will make a statement. [40240]

  Mr. Watts
  The quantities of freight lifted on Britain's railways in each year since 1988–89 are as follows:

  Year

  Million tonnes

  1988–89

  149.5

  1989–90

  143.1

  1990–91

  138.2

  1991–92

  135.8

  1992–93

  122.4

  1993–94

  103.3

  1994–95

  97.3

  Source:

  tsgb, 1995.

  In tonne-kilometres, the quantities of freight moved on Britain's railways in each year since 1988–89 are as follows:

  Billion tonnes-kms

  1988–89

  18.1

  1989–90

  16.7

  1990–91

  16.0

  1991–92

  15.3

  1992–93

  15.5

  1993–94

  13.8

  1994–95

  13.0

  Source:

  tsgb, 1995.

  The Government believe that privatisation of the railways offers the best prospect for addressing the long-term decline of the rail freight industry.

  Light Dues
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers competent harbour authorities other than Trinity House have to waive light dues. [40368]

  Mr. Norris
  None.

  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers he has to require Trinity House to 314
  waive light dues for (a) Isle of Wight ferries and (b) other vessels. [40367]

  Mr. Norris
  Under present legislation the Secretary of state has no powers to require Trinity House lighthouse service to waive light dues in relation to any vessel.

  Road Casualties
  Mrs. Golding
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department will estimate the cost of(a) a fatality, (b) a serious injury and (c) a slight injury on the road, taking into account the costs of the police, the courts and medical care. [40264]

  Mr. Norris
  The costs of police and courts, together with insurance company administration and property damage, are not calculated according to casualty but per accident—which may involve more than one casualty. The resulting estimated accident costs in 1994 were(a) fatal: £913,100; (b) serious: £108,100; (c) slight: £10,600.

  Ferry Inspections
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many ferries have been inspected by the Marine Safety Agency leaving the United Kingdom; what proportion of those were found to be defective; and if he will make a statement. [40302]

  Mr. Norris
  This is an operational matter for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 1 November 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of ferries inspected by the Marine Safety Agency (MSA).Unannounced inspections are carried out by MSA surveyors at least twice annually on every UK registered and foreign flagged passenger ferry operating from UK ports. In addition, UK registered ferries are surveyed thoroughly every twelve months by the MSA.With regard to your query relating to the number of ferry inspections and the proportion of inspections during which deficiencies were identified, I would refer you to my answer to the hon. Member for Stoke on Trent North, Ms Walley, on 22 March 1994, which can be found in Hansard volume 257 columns 222–223. A copy of each of the tables referred to in that reply is attached.

  Rail Passenger Journeys
  Mr. Chris Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of passenger journeys made on Britain's railways in each year since 1988–89; and if he will make a statement. [40242]

  Mr. Watts
  The information requested is as follows:
  315

  Million

  Year

  Number of passenger journeys

  1988–89

  763.7

  1989–90

  758.3

  1990–91

  762.4

  1991–92

  740.8

  1992–93

  744.8

  1993–94

  713.2

  1994–95

  702.2

  This information can be found in "Transport Statistics Great Britain 1995", a copy of which is held in the House of Commons Library.

  Uninsured Motorists
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates he has made of the number of motorists who are uninsured; how many accidents took place in the last three years where the culpable driver was uninsured; and what plans he has to increase insurance holidays. [40710]

  Mr. Norris
  Industry estimates are that 4 to 6 per cent. of motorists are uninsured, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has supported an estimate at the top of this range. Information on the insurance status of motorists involved in accidents is not collected; the Motor Insurers Bureau handled 39,000 cases on average in each of the last three years under the uninsured drivers agreement, although in a significant proportion of such cases insurance cover is subsequently shown to have been in place. A number of possible measures for tackling the problem of insurance evasion are currently being considered by my Department and the other interested parties such as the police and the insurance industry. In addition, measures aimed at reducing evasion of vehicle excise duty, such as the introduction of wheelclamping, are expected to have a beneficial effect on compliance with compulsory insurance requirements.

  London-Tilbury-Southend Line
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current level of subsidy provided for the operation of the London-Tilbury-Southend line. [40297]

  Mr. Watts
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Fife, Central (Mr. McLeish),Official Report, 13 July, column 706. Negotiations between the franchising director and the British Railways Board on the support appropriate to each individual train operating company are yet to be completed. I will write to the hon. Member when the level of support has been agreed and will place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the level of subsidy projected for the operation of the London-Tilbury-Southend line for the next financial year; [40296]

  (2) what is the projected year-on-year level of subsidy to be provided to the franchise operator of the
  316
  London-Tilbury-Southend line; and if any subsidy will be guaranteed throughout the life of the franchise. [40295]

  Mr. Watts
  The level of subsidy to be contractually agreed for the full franchise term is currently the subject of commercial negotiations between the franchising director and bidders for the LTS rail franchise. Final bids were submitted to the franchising director on 27 October, and he expects to award the franchise in December.

  Bankruptcy Petitions
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many petitions for bankruptcy has been begun by his Department for businesses with under 500 employees in each of the last five years. [40506]

  Mr. Norris
  Records are not kept in the form requested.

  Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment last met; and what plans have been made for the future work programme of the committee. [40500]

  Mr. Watts
  The Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment last met in May 1994. No decisions have yet been taken on the committee's future work programme.

  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration will be given to including within the work programme of the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment the assessment of the impact of noise from highways and the justification for various means of ameliorating this nuisance. [40498]

  Mr. Watts
  In 1989 the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment was asked to review the Department of Transport's methods for assessing environmental costs and benefits, including the impact of noise. The committee's report, "Assessing the Environmental Impact of Road Schemes", and the Government's response were published in March 1992. Subsequently, the Department's guidance on the assessment of environmental impacts has been updated—volume 11 of the design manual for roads and bridges. Also research is on-going into the valuation of nuisance, including noise, in the home, due to road traffic.

  I have no plans currently to ask SACTRA to revisit this issue.

  Late Payment (Small Businesses)
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how often his Department and each agency within it has failed to pay invoices due to small businesses within 30 days in each of the last five years. [40505]

  Mr. Norris
  Information is not available in the form requested.

  M66
  Mr. Charles Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what date he expects completion of the M66 Manchester outer ring road. [39986]
  317
  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 30 October 1995]: Spring 1999.

  Newbury Bypass
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total projected cost of the Newbury bypass before its postponement in December last year; and what is the total projected cost now, under the current tendering process. [40583]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 31 October 1995]: This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to hon Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. David Rendel, dated 1 November 1995:
  As you know, the Minister for Railway and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Transport, what was the total projected cost of the Newbury Bypass before its postponement in December of last year: and what is the total projected cost now, under the current tendering process.You will appreciate that due to the imminent tendering process, there is some commercial sensitivity attached to the previous tender prices received last year. However, for the current tenders, we now expect the cost excluding land and VAT to be about £60m. This figure has increased slightly since last December due to increases in construction prices.
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the projected total cost of the current tendering process itself for the Newbury bypass. [40584]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 31 October 1995]: This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. David Rendel, dated 1 November 1995:
  As you know, the Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Transport, what is the projected total cost of the current tendering process itself for the Newbury Bypass.Costs to the tenderers are unknown to us, and the cost of our own staff time is relatively small and not easily identifiable, but the estimated cost of our Consultants time in preparing new tender documents and assessing them, and the cost of printing the tender documents is about £100,000.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Jewellery Industry
  Ms Short
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment Her Majesty's Government have made of the effect of EU regulation of the jewellery industry on the position of British manufacturers in the foreign market; what review he is conducting; and if he will make a statement. [40751]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  I have been asked to reply.

  I am not aware of any EU regulations pertaining to the jewellery industry which substantially affect the position of British manufacturers in foreign markets. The Government have listened carefully to the views of British jewellery manufacturers during negotiations on the proposed directives on the marking of articles of precious metal and on nickel in jewellery, and to their concerns
  318
  about the implications for Hallmarking Act 1973 of the judgment of the European Court in the Houtwipper case ECJ 293/93.

  HMSO
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages in the privatisation of HMSO. [40479]

  Mr. Horam
  The future of HMSO has been examined in depth several times in recent years, against the background of changing markets and a developing business structure. The most recent examination found that privatisation is feasible and that there should be sufficient interest to maximise proceeds through competitive tender.

  Coopers and Lybrand is now considering urgently options for the future of HMSO, with a view to privatisation, as my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced last month. We are consulting the authorities in this House and the other place on the necessary safeguards to protect the continued high standards of HMSO's service to Parliament before taking a decision on the way forward.

  HMSO's core market in the public sector is shrinking and it faces intense competition from the private sector. At the same time, it is constrained by having to operate from within government: it cannot trade in wider markets, nor can it diversify or raise investment capital as easily as its competitors. Unless these constraints are removed there is a real risk of the business declining. An early privatisation, subject to the needs of Parliament being met, would open up opportunities for the business.

  Lancashire Constabulary
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of performance against the standards set out in the citizens charter of the Lancashire constabulary [40474]

  Mr. Horam
  Lancashire constabulary applied for a charter mark this year. Assessment involves evaluation against all six citizens charter principles plus three more: user satisfaction, measurable improvements in the quality of service, and innovative enhancements to services at no extra cost. An announcement on those organisations which have been successful will be made in December.

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many times in each month of the current year he has met personally the heads of agencies which report to him to discuss the work of those agencies. [39853]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  Since assuming my new responsibilities, I have met the chief executive of the Civil Service College for discussions on one occasion.

  I have yet to meet the other agency heads in person. However, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster met the chief executives of the

  319
  Chessington Computer Centre and of HMSO for discussions in August, and again in September; and the chief executive of the Central Office of Information in October.

  My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service has met the chief executives of all the agencies reporting to me at least once each in the course of the year.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list by grade the numbers of staff and their cost for(a) the financial year 1994–95 and (b) the estimated figures for the financial year 1995–96, for each executive agency for which he is responsible. [39493]

  Mr. Horam
  As this question concerns a purely operational matter, I have asked the chief executive of each agency concerned to write direct to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Dr. E. C. McCloy to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 26 October 1995:
  I am replying to your question to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in so far as it relates to my agency. The information you asked for is in the attached schedule.
  The following information is available in respect of 1995–96.

  1995–96 Numbers

  Estimated cost £

  1994–95 Numbers

  1994–95 1salaries £

  Grades 3–7

  20

  1,186,745

  20

  —

  Executive Grades:

  8

  168,856

  7

  —

  Secretarial/Clerical:

  25

  451,160

  24

  —

  SOHAs

  9

  277,844

  9

  —

  OHAs

  24

  584,344

  19

  —

  OHPs

  8

  189,316

  11

  —

  OHNs

  6

  57,797

  10

  —

  SPTOs

  2

  63,278

  3

  —

  HPTOs

  2

  41,558

  2

  —

  Total

  104

  3,020,898

  105

  —

  1 Detailed analysis for 1994–95 salaries not available.

  Letter from Mike Lynn to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 27 October 1995:
  I have been asked to reply, in respect of HMSO, to your Question (No 301) to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster about staff numbers and costs.
  I should explain initially that for some years now HMSO has been maintaining its own pay and grading system, which is quite different from the standard Civil Service grading arrangements. Apart from my own post, which is a Civil Service Grade 2, about two thirds of HMSO's staff are on job evaluated paybands and the remainder is made up of mainly operational staff and others who are in single status grades. Average staff numbers in 1994 and 1995 (forecast) were as follows:

  HMSO Payband

  1994

  1995

  Payband 20

  2

  3

  Payband 19

  1

  0

  Payband 18

  4

  3

  Payband 17

  3

  2

  320

  HMSO Payband

  1994

  1995

  Payband 16

  6

  5

  Payband 15

  8

  7

  Payband 14

  17

  13

  Payband 13

  35

  34

  Payband 12

  18

  26

  Payband 11

  57

  62

  Payband 10

  100

  118

  Payband 9

  179

  182

  Payband 8

  253

  285

  Payband 7

  331

  300

  Payband 6

  128

  122

  Payband 5

  270

  276

  Payband 4

  337

  288

  Payband 3

  147

  128

  Payband 2

  32

  36

  Payband 1

  27

  19

  Non-banded staff

  951

  960

  Total

  2,907

  2,870

  Staff costs, including employer's contributions for national insurance and superannuation, were £75.1m in 1994, and are forecast to be £70.9m in 1995. HMSO's financial year runs from January to December.

  Letter from Elizabeth Chennells to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 26 October 1995:
  Your written question to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster regarding the staff numbers and costs for Executive Agency staff refers. Agency Chief Executives have been asked to reply to you directly. I am replying on behalf of Dr Hickey, Chief Executive of the Civil Service College, who is currently away from the office.The information that you require is attached. Because of the method the College uses to maintain its records for staff costs, a breakdown of costs by grade is not readily available. However I have included the total staff costs for the College for 1994–95 and our expected costs for 1995–96.

  Civil Service College

  Grade

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Number

  Cost £000

  Number

  Cost £000

  Grade 3

  1

  —

  1

  —

  Grade 5

  3

  —

  4

  —

  Grade 6

  19

  —

  18

  —

  Grade 7

  77

  —

  75

  —

  SEO

  11

  —

  13

  —

  Senior Librarian

  1

  —

  1

  —

  HEO

  16

  —

  17

  —

  EO

  45

  —

  43

  —

  Assistant Librarian

  2

  —

  2

  —

  Senior Personal Secretary

  1

  —

  1

  —

  AO

  76

  —

  73

  —

  AA

  3

  —

  4

  —

  SGB1

  3

  —

  3

  —

  SGB2

  10

  —

  14

  —

  Personal Secretary

  10

  —

  10

  —

  Typist

  2

  —

  1

  —

  Total

  280

  6,878

  280

  7,324

  321
  Letter from R. N. Edwards to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 26 October 1995:

  STAFF NUMBERS AND COSTS AT THE CHESSINGTON COMPUTER CENTRE

  I refer to your enquiry to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster regarding staff numbers and their cost for the financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96.

  As the detail of staff numbers and cost by grade is not readily available and a disproportionate cost would be involved in collecting the data the response is limited to providing aggregate numbers and costs for the two financial years. The figures are as follows:-

  Year

  Average No. of (full-time equivalent) staff in post

  Annual cost £

  1994–95

  395.5

  8,484,447

  1995–96

  385

  8,519,620

  Letter from Kim Bright to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 26 October 1995:

  "To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list by grade the numbers of staff and their cost for (a) financial year 1994/95 and (b) the estimated figures for the year 1995/96 for each executive agency for which he is responsible."

  (a.) As at 31 March 1995

  Staff

  Grade 3

  1

  Grade 5

  1

  Grade 6

  3

  Grade 7

  13.5

  Senior Psychologist

  1

  Higher Psychologist

  4

  SEO

  6

  HEO

  7

  EO

  24

  AO

  38

  AA

  14

  SPS

  1

  PS

  1.5

  Typist

  6

  SM3

  1

  SGI

  3

  SGII

  8.5

  Total

  133.5

  Cost £2.328 million.

  (b) Approximately 135 staff

  Cost £2,833 million.

  Letter from Mike Devereau to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 31 October 1995:

  STAFF NUMBERS AND COSTS

  You asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for information on the number and cost of staff, by grade, for the last and current financial years.

  As this is an operational matter I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Central Office of Information.

  At 31 March 1995 there were 486.39 staff in post and at 30 September 19995 there were 452.42. A breakdown by grade is given in the attached table. Salary costs quoted include superannuation and National Insurance costs. Staff numbers in each grade include part-time staff.

  I hope that this information meets your needs.
  322

  1995–96 Grade

  Total salary cost £

  Number in Grade

  Average staff cost £

  Chief Executive

  71,715

  1.00

  71,715

  Grade 5

  248,785

  4.00

  62,196

  Grade 6

  671,484

  13.00

  51,653

  Grade 7

  1,233,043

  30.65

  40,230

  Supervisory Engineer (SIO)

  0

  0.00

  0

  Senior Executive Officer

  397,546

  12.00

  33,129

  Senior Information Officer

  3,271,929

  103.81

  31,518

  Senior Engineer (IO)

  0

  0.00

  0

  Engineer (IO)

  0

  0.00

  0

  Higher Executive Officer

  515,014

  19.00

  27,106

  Information Officer

  2,418,583

  95.30

  25,379

  Librarian

  26,539

  1.00

  26,539

  Assistant Information Officer

  209,158

  11.00

  19,014

  Executive Officer

  828,970

  41.00

  20,219

  Personal Secretary

  202,019

  11.00

  18,365

  Vaultkeeper

  0

  0.00

  0

  Assistant Librarian

  22,723

  1.00

  22,723

  Support Manager 3

  35,594

  2.00

  17,797

  Typist

  118,421

  7.00

  16,917

  Administrative Officer

  1,209,726

  72.66

  16,649

  Support Grade; Band 1

  90,270

  6.00

  15,045

  Support Grade: Band 2

  174,979

  14.00

  12,498

  Administrative Assistant

  65,347

  7.00

  9,335

  Total

  11,811,845

  452.42

  1994–95 Grade

  Total salary cost £

  Number in Grade

  Average staff cost £

  Chief Executive

  71,984

  1.00

  71,984

  Grade 5

  247,713

  4.00

  61,928

  Grade 6

  677,885

  13.00

  52,145

  Grade 7

  1,203,404

  29.65

  40,587

  Supervisory Engineer (SIO)

  38,569

  1.00

  38,569

  Senior Executive Officer

  364,874

  12.50

  29,190

  Senior Information Officer

  3,443,567

  112.82

  30,523

  Senior Engineer (IO)

  54,057

  2.00

  27,028

  Engineer (IO)

  145,055

  6.00

  24,176

  Higher Executive Officer

  515,732

  20.00

  25,787

  Information Officer

  2,370,873

  99.92

  23,728

  Librarian

  25,957

  1.00

  25,957

  Assistant Information Officer

  245,240

  12.00

  20,437

  Executive Officer

  886,623

  44.00

  20,151

  Personal Secretary

  220,063

  13.00

  16,928

  Vaultkeeper

  18,397

  1.00

  18,397

  Assistant Librarian

  22,013

  1.00

  22,013

  Support Manager 3

  34,478

  2.00

  17,239

  Typist

  128,821

  8.00

  16,103

  Administrative Officer

  1,185,717

  75.00

  15,810

  Support Grade; Band 1

  87,047

  6.00

  14,508

  Support Grade: Band 2

  193,923

  14.50

  13,374

  Administrative Assistant

  70,734

  7.00

  10,105

  Total

  12,252,726

  486.39

  Departmental Costs
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what is his estimate of the total costs of running his office since his appointment, broken down between(a) establishment costs, (b) equipment costs, (c)

  323
  refurbishment costs, (d) running costs, (e) entertainment costs, (f) stationery costs, (g) rental costs and (h) other costs. [39647]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  Expenditure directly incurred in the running of my office during July, August and September 1995 was as follows:

  £

  (a) Establishment costs1

  86,360

  (b) Equipment costs

  19,860

  (c) Refurbishment costs

  0

  (d) Running costs2

  8,940

  (e) Entertainment costs

  0

  (f) Stationery costs

  6,100

  (g) Rental costs

  3—

  (h) Other costs

  3—

  Total

  121,260

  1 Direct staff costs.

  2 Running costs not covered by categories (a), (e) and (f), principally transport.

  3 Rental and other costs (e.g light and heating) are incurred within the costs of the office as a whole and cannot be separately identified.

  Ministerial Information Systems
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer,Official Report, column 823, what sums have been spent on introducing the computerised interdepartmental desk diary system. [40004]

  The Deputy Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 30 October 1995,Official Report, column 6.

  Bankruptcy Petitions
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many petitions for bankruptcy have been begun by his Department for businesses with under 500 employees in each of the last five years. [40530]

  Mr. Horam
  None.

  Late Payment (Small Businesses)
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how often his Department and each agency within it has failed to pay invoices due to small businesses within 30 days in each of the last five years. [40529]

  Mr. Horam
  The information is not available in the form requested. The Department's performance in respect of the payment of invoices from its suppliers is published in the annual department report, Cm 2820.

  Salaries
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the(a) lowest and (b) highest full-time salary paid to any employee in his (i) Department, (ii) agencies and (iii) non-departmental public bodies in (1) 1994–95 and (2) 1995–96. [40843]

  Mr. Horam
  I am also answering on behalf of the Prime Minister.
  324
  It is the Government's normal policy to publish civil servants' salaries in bands. Accordingly, the lowest full-time salary fell within the band.

  1994–95 £

  1995–96 £

  (i)

  5,000–9,999

  5,000–9,999

  (ii)

  5,000–9,999

  5,000–9,999

  (iii)1

  0–4,999

  0–4,999

  1 Information refers to the research councils sponsored by the Office of Science and Technology which transferred to the Department of Trade and Industry on 5 July 1995.

  The highest full-time salary fell within the band.

  1994–95 £

  1995–96 £

  (i)

  115,000–119,999

  120,000–124,999

  (ii)

  70,000–74,999

  65,000–69,999

  (iii)1

  100,000–104,999

  100,000–104,999

  1 Information refers to the research councils sponsored by the Office of Science and Technology which transferred to the Department of Trade and Industry on 5 July 1995.

  Annual Remuneration
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many individuals in(a) his Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies received annual remuneration including benefits in kind exceeding (i) £100,000, (ii) £200,000 and (iii) £300,000 in each year since 1985–86. [40842]

  Mr. Horam
  I am also answering on behalf of the Prime Minister.

  Other than pension contributions, benefits in kind are not normally paid to staff in the Department, agencies and NDPBs. As members of the principal civil service pensions scheme or equivalent, staff receive benefits in accordance with the scheme rules which have been deposited in the House of Commons Library. The numbers receiving annual remuneration above the sums specified, excluding pension benefits are as follows.

  The Department has a nil return for the period 1985 to 1991 in all categories. The statistics for the remaining years are:

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  (i)

  1

  1

  1

  1

  (ii)

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  (iii)

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  The executive agencies for which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has responsibility all have a nil return for the period 1985–86 to 1995–96 in all categories.

  The NDPBs' have a nil return for the period 1985–86 to 1993–94.
  325

  1994–95

  1995–96

  (i)

  1

  1

  (ii)

  Nil

  Nil

  (iii)

  Nil

  Nil

  1 Information refers to the research councils sponsored by the Office of Science and Technology which transferred to the Department of Trade and Industry on 5 July 1995.

DEFENCE

  Late Payment (Small Businesses)
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how often his Department and each agency within it has failed to pay invoices due to small businesses within 30 days in each of the last five years. [40531]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The payment of the vast majority of the Department's bills and those of its agencies is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Accounts Agency. The Defence Evaluation and Research Agency is responsible for paying its own bills. I have asked the chief executives of these agencies to reply.

  Letter from Peter Trevelyan to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 1 November 1995:
  You asked the Secretary of State for Defence how often his Department and each Agency within it has failed to pay invoices due to small businesses within 30 days in each of the last 5 years. As Chief Executive of the Defence Accounts Agency, responsible for paying the vast majority of MOD bills, I have been asked to reply. I understand MOD Agencies which pay their own bills will reply separately.The statistics which are readily available to the MOD payment office at Liverpool go back two and a half years. During this time 99.99% of bills have been paid within 30 days of receipt. Some low value bills are paid locally throughout MOD, but information about these is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
  Letter from John Chisholm to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 1 November 1995:
  1. You asked the Secretary of State for Defence how often his Department and each agency within it has failed to pay invoices due to small businesses within 30 days in each of the last 5 years. I am replying for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, formerly the Defence Research Agency.2. Assuming that the 30 day period is measured from the point at which a validated invoice is passed to our bill paying section for action, then virtually all bills are settled within 9 days. We make no distinction in this process between small and large businesses.

  Defence Expenditure (NATO Countries)
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of gross national product is spent on defence in each of the members of NATO. [40704]

  Mr. Soames
  The information requested is contained in the "Statement of Defence Estimates 1995", page 82, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Military Hospitals
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates the military hospitals at(a) Aldershot, (b)
  326
  Woolwich, (c) Wroughton and (d) Halton close; and on what date the (i) Royal Naval hospital Stonehouse and (ii) RAF Hospital, Ely will close. [40759]

  Mr. Soames
  The service hospitals at Aldershot, Halton and Wroughton will close by April 1996. The sale of the Queen Elizabeth military hospital, Woolwich to the NHS took place on 30 August this year. The hospitals at Stonehouse, Plymouth, and Ely closed in March this year and in 1992 respectively.

  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many national health service patients have been treated as in-patients at(a) the Cambridge military hospital, Aldershot, and (b) the RAF Wroughton hospital, near Swindon, in each year since 1991–92 and in 1995–96 to date; and how much was paid by NHS purchasing authorities to each of these military hospitals in each of those years. [40758]

  Mr. Soames
  The figures are as follows:

  CMH Aldershot

  PARAFH Wroughton

  1991–92

  5,980

  2,218

  1992–93

  6,248

  2,293

  1993–94

  8,345

  2,486

  1994–95

  5,744

  2,366

  1995–961

  1,386

  544

  1 As at 1 October 1995.

  These patient numbers were contained within the required training margin for military medical personnel and therefore were treated at no cost to health care purchasers.

  French Nuclear Tests
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information or data Her Majesty's Government have received from French nuclear tests conducted at(a) Reganne in 1965–66, (b) Mururoa in 1966 to the present, (c) Fangataufa since 1966 in regard to Euratom treaty, articles 34 or 35. [40593]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  None.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will place in the Library copies of all memoranda of understanding signed with France in regard to co-operation on nuclear weapons since 1965. [40591]

  (2) what technical data or other information his Department has received from France on the parameters, reasons for and outcome of French nuclear tests conducted this year as part of existing nuclear co-operation agreements with France; [40592]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Truro (Mr. Taylor) on 24 October 1995,Official Report, column 587.

  Bankruptcy Petitions
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many petitions for bankruptcy have been begun by
  327
  his Department for businesses with under 500 employees in each of the last five years. [40532]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  This information is not held centrally and, while detailed research could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost, a limited inquiry has been made within the time available. This found that there did not appear to have been any instances in any of the years in question.

  Low Flying
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy concerning low flying in Wales; and what is the minimum height permitted for such flights. [40847]

  Mr. Soames
  Low flying is permitted throughout the United Kingdom, except in controlled airspace, over major conurbations and in other locations which are to be avoided for safety or environmental reasons. The normal minimum height for military fixed-wing aircraft, except light propeller driven aircraft, is 250 ft minimum separation distance. A small amount of operational low flying by such United Kingdom military aircraft is permitted down to 100 ft minimum separation distance in three tactical training areas, one of which is in central Wales. Light propeller driven aircraft are permitted to fly to a minimum height of 50 ft. There is no minimum height restriction for helicopters.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with his German counterpart concerning low flying by British aircraft over German territory; and what is the minimum height permitted for British aircraft flying in Germany. [40845]

  Mr. Soames
  There have been no such recent discussions. The normal minimum height permitted for Royal Air Force fixed-wing aircraft flying in Germany is 1,000 ft; however, a lower limit of 500 ft is permitted for a number of major NATO exercises.

  Tornado F3
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's assessment of the Tornado F3 upgrade with EJ200 engines. [40851]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  There is no current requirement to upgrade the Tornado F3 with EJ200 engines.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department has examined the interoperability of US F-16 aircraft with Britain's air-to-air refuelling systems. [40849]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  My Department is currently evaluating a proposal to upgrade the Tornado F3's weapons systems. As a routine part of our evaluation process, we are examining the comparative costs of alternative options, including acquiring F-16 aircraft from the US. In assessing these alternatives we will take full account of all relevant factors, including the need for air-to-air refuelling.
  328
  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the maximum flying height of the Tornado F3. [40850]

  Mr. Soames
  The Tornado F3 is cleared to fly at a maximum height of 50,000 ft. In practice, however, the actual operating ceiling will be determined by a range of interrelated factors, including weapon and fuel load, environmental conditions, and others.

  Housing Stock
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's current policy in respect of the married housing stock. [40855]

  Mr. Soames
  We are continuing to consider possibilities for transferring ownership of the married quarters estate to the private sector. We expect to be in a position to clarify the way ahead before the end of the year.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the(a) independent advisers and (b) companies who are providing advice concerning his Department's (i) housing stock and (ii) surplus land; and if he will make a statement. [40854]

  Mr. Soames
  For management of my Department's housing stock, a number of individual consultants have been employed on a contract basis by the Defence Housing Executive. The principal companies providing advice on the possible transfer of ownership of the married quarters estate to the private sector are Nat West Markets (financial advisers), Herbert Smith (legal advisers) and Savills (property advisers).

  Independent advisers who have contributed in the past year to our consideration of proposals for the married quarters estate are:

  Mr. David Dugdale

  Mr. David Hart

  Mr. Douglas Hogg

  Sir Nigel Mobbs

  The Lord Poole

  In respect of surplus land, no single adviser or company provides advice on all cases. Consultants are appointed, where necessary, to provide advice on such matters as development potential, planning issues and marketing. No central record is maintained of all such current contracts.

  Contractorisation
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) military and (b) civilian jobs have been replaced under his Department's contractorisation programme. [40844]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The Department's budget holders operate within financial allocations, which cover a range of operating costs, including military and civilian staff. Since April 1992, some 26,000 posts have been reviewed under the competing for quality programme, resulting in a reduction in the overall number of MOD posts of nearly 17,500. Details of the breakdown of posts between military and civilian staff are not held centrally.

  Air Defence Capability
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has carried out in the last three years of the United Kingdom's air defence suppression capability; and if he will make a statement. [40848]

  Mr. Soames
  We keep our SEAD—suppression of enemy air defences—assets under constant review to ensure that we maintain our capability against current and future radar threats.

  Practice Flights (Wales)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total number of practice flights over Wales by the RAF in each of the last five years. [40846]

  Mr. Soames
  Records are not maintained of the total number of training flights conducted over specific areas.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Executive Agencies
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many times in each month of the current year he has met personally the heads of the agencies which report to him to discuss the work of those agencies. [39856]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  I and my predecessor have frequently met the heads of the agencies which report to us to discuss the work of the agencies concerned. My Department is of course in regular contact with the agencies and I am briefed on major developments.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list by grade the number of staff and their cost for(a) the financial year 1994–95 and (b) the estimated figures for the financial year 1995–96, for each executive agency for which he is responsible. [39486]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  Estimated outturn for 1994–95 and plans for 1995–96 for civil service staff numbers and pay bill are set out in annexes 5 and 6 of my Department's annual report, Cm 2803, copies of which are in the Libraries of the House. A breakdown by grade and individual agency could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Arable Area Payments Scheme
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list by county the number of payments made under the arable area payments scheme of(a) less than £25,000, (b) between £25,000 and £50,000, (c) between £50,000 and £75,000 and (d) above £1 million for the latest year for which figures are available. [39885]

  Mr. Baldry
  The table gives the number of payments in England by county and banded by size of payment. It is not possible to identify separately the number of payments above £1 million for reasons of confidentiality.
  330

  Arable area payments 1994—number of payments by county

  County

  Below £25,000

  £25,000-£50,000

  £50,000-£75,000

  Avon

  346

  33

  6

  Bedfordshire

  380

  104

  42

  Berkshire

  151

  55

  20

  Buckinghamshire

  427

  125

  34

  Cambridgeshire

  1,580

  313

  129

  Cheshire

  935

  21

  3

  Cleveland

  181

  29

  7

  Cornwall

  1,608

  47

  4

  Cumbria

  877

  9

  3

  Derbyshire

  683

  67

  15

  Devon

  2,550

  75

  12

  Dorset

  542

  98

  42

  Durham

  526

  87

  21

  East Sussex

  334

  55

  23

  Essex

  890

  375

  156

  Gloucestershire

  735

  127

  53

  Greater London

  43

  12

  0

  Greater Manchester

  130

  9

  1

  Hampshire

  438

  146

  82

  Hereford and Worcester

  1,790

  178

  42

  Hertfordshire

  223

  145

  58

  Humberside

  1,501

  406

  123

  Isle of Wight

  94

  15

  11

  Kent

  678

  179

  71

  Lancashire

  441

  23

  7

  Leicestershire

  795

  190

  75

  Lincolnshire

  2,448

  482

  230

  Merseyside

  157

  17

  2

  Norfolk

  2,277

  373

  134

  North Yorkshire

  2,617

  419

  94

  Northamptonshire

  504

  223

  69

  Northumberland

  548

  191

  50

  Nottinghamshire

  727

  181

  63

  Oxfordshire

  493

  176

  94

  Shropshire

  1,395

  160

  28

  Somerset

  1,134

  85

  23

  South Yorkshire

  386

  86

  30

  Staffordshire

  721

  74

  25

  Suffolk

  1,475

  368

  118

  Surrey

  153

  36

  8

  Tyne and Wear

  81

  24

  4

  Warwickshire

  609

  165

  59

  West Midlands

  85

  9

  2

  West Sussex

  328

  87

  26

  West Yorkshire

  319

  49

  15

  Wiltshire

  622

  189

  93

  Total

  35,957

  6,317

  2,207

  Payments are shown against county of the main holding.

  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list by county the amount paid under the arable area payments scheme for the latest year for which figures are available. [39884]

  Mr. Baldry
  The table gives the total arable area payments claimed in 1994 on land situated in each county of England. The total amounts paid will have been slightly lower because of reductions made for various reasons. However, since such reductions normally have to be calculated on the basis of the total claim, which may include land in more than one county, it is not possible to give figures for the total amounts paid on a county basis.

  Total payments claimed £

  Avon

  4,740,888

  Bedfordshire

  20,579,153

  331

  Total payments claimed £

  Berkshire

  11,841,859

  Buckinghamshire

  17,644,628

  Cambridgeshire

  62,314,987

  Cheshire

  7,853,495

  Cleveland

  5,046,152

  Cornwall

  11,250,044

  Cumbria

  4,152,384

  Derbyshire

  10,035,857

  Devon

  18,390,558

  Dorset

  16,999,055

  Durham

  13,025,550

  East Sussex

  9,557,599

  Essex

  58,827,843

  Gloucestershire

  26,546,974

  Greater London

  1,415,166

  Greater Manchester

  1,634,561

  Hampshire

  34,732,756

  Hereford and Worcester

  29,629,509

  Hertfordshire

  21,526,960

  Humberside

  62,523,576

  Isle of Wight

  3,000,696

  Kent

  36,657,080

  Lancashire

  5,268,782

  Leicestershire

  31,904,533

  Lincolnshire

  107,101,476

  Merseyside

  3,013,057

  Norfolk

  68,895,924

  North Yorkshire

  65,185,535

  Northamptonshire

  35,852,850

  Northumberland

  27,953,889

  Nottinghamshire

  29,100,997

  Oxfordshire

  37,018,288

  Shropshire

  24,570,683

  Somerset

  14,238,260

  South Yorkshire

  14,057,997

  Staffordshire

  14,422,395

  Suffolk

  58,461,539

  Surrey

  4,477,063

  Tyne and Wear

  2,829,561

  Warwickshire

  25,109,362

  West Midlands

  1,718,520

  West Sussex

  14,479,976

  West Yorkshire

  7,593,090

  Wiltshire

  36,257,406

  Total

  1,119,438,513

  Bankruptcy Petitions
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many petitions for bankruptcy have been begun by his Department for businesses with under 500 employees in each of the last five years. [40536]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Ministry has served one petition for insolvency during this period. It is not known how many people the company employed.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Contributions Agency
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many staff are currently employed by the Contributions Agency in identifying those evading their proper social security contributions; and how many he expects will be employed following 332
  the implementation of the business unit implementation exercise for the reorganisation of offices; [39971]

  (2) what has been the cost of the employment of consultants in connection with the business unit implementation exercise for the reorganisation of Contributions Agency offices; what consultation has so far been undertaken with local authorities, citizens advice bureaux and local chambers of commerce in this connection; and what overall budget savings are expected from the exercise. [39972]

  Mr. Heald
  The administration of the Contributions Agency is a matter for Mrs. Faith Boardman, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Faith Boardman to Mr. Chris Smith, dated 31 October 1995:
  As Chief Executive of the Contributions Agency, I have responsibility for answering questions about operational matters relating to the Agency. I have been asked to reply to your questions about the cost of consultants in connection with the Business Unit Implementation exercise for re-organisation, what consultation has taken place with various bodies, expected overall budget savings, and the numbers of staff employed in identifying those contributors evading contributions. In view of the nature of the questions I have combined the responses.I am unable to provide the cost of consultants used in connection with the Field Operations Business Unit Implementation as this information is subject to commercial confidentiality provisions.The Agency proposes to reduce its Field Operations network from the existing 248 offices to approximately 115. The proposed Field network is being developed in consultation with local management, staff and Trade Unions. A decision on specific locations will not be taken until this process is complete. Thereafter the business community, including Local Authorities, Citizens' Advice Bureaux, Chambers of Commerce and Members of Parliament will be fully consulted before implementation takes place.Precise details of savings cannot be determined during the planning and development stage of the re-organisation. However it is estimated that there will be significant savings in management costs. Savings in accommodation and related costs will also be captured as the new Field network is implemented.The Agency has responsibility to ensure compliance with the law in relation to National Insurance contributions. Non-compliance is not solely due to evasion but is frequently the result of lack of awareness or genuine error. Because of this, it is impossible to estimate the proportion of work or staff directly dealing with evasion. Of the Agency's current total Field force of 3093 staff, approximately 1300 are employed on inspectorate duties which bring them into direct contact with employers and the self-employed. It is not anticipated that inspectorate numbers will significantly change as a result of the Business Unit Implementation process.I hope that this reply proves helpful. Please let me know if I can be of any more assistance.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the average time taken by the Child Support Agency to make a maintenance assessment; and if he will make a statement on how this meets the set targets; [38813]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the basis for the time period set out in the guidelines, of the Child Support Agency within which the claimants assessments should be completed. [38814]
  333
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. Llew Smith, dated 31 October 1995:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security concerning the time taken by the Agency to clear maintenance assessments.
  Due to the nature of the child support work, and the varying level of co-operation experienced, reaching a full maintenance assessment will, on average, involve a period of months rather than weeks. The Agency has, however, sought to introduce a number of operational improvements to ensure that straightforward cases, in which both parents co-operate with the Agency, are cleared quickly. Where both parents co-operate,we would hope that an assessment is completed within 6 to 12 weeks of the maintenance application form being issued.
  At present, including the less straightforward cases, the average time taken by the Child Support Agency to make a maintenance assessment is approximately 30 weeks. This information is taken from a five per cent. statistical sample carried out on 31st May 1995.You asked about performance against the set target. From April to August this year just under 50 per cent. of applications received since the beginning of October 1994 had been cleared within 26 weeks. These figures do not currently take account of all the cases cleared, for example, where "good cause" has been accepted and a reduced benefit direction has been issued. We expect more comprehensive figures to become available within the next two months.I hope this is helpful.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the number(a) invalidity/disability premium claimants for fit for (a) work and (b) for light work in the past 12 months for each of his Department's benefit offices covering the Doncaster and Mexboroguh area; and what was the comparative figure for the previous 12 months. [39561]

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of incapacity benefits is a matter for Mr. Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 31 October 1995:

  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the number (a) of invalidity/disability premium claimants found fit for (a) work and (b) for light work in the past 12 months for each of his Department's benefit offices covering the Doncaster and Mexborough area; and what was the comparative figure for the previous 12 months.

  Invalidity Benefit was replaced by Incapacity Benefit from 13 April 1995. Disability premium is payable as part of Income Support. A customer who receives Incapacity Benefit may also receive Income Support which could include a disability premium.

  Information is not available in the form requested. Statistics are only available for the numbers of customers failing the All Work Test on a national basis from 13 April to the end of June this year. They are available at a local level from July 1995. Figures are not available to show the breakdown into Incapacity Benefit or disability premium as separate statistics are not kept on the type of benefit entitlement at the time of the decision.
  334
  The number of customers failing the All Work Test from July to September, in the Mexborough and Doncaster area, are as follows:

  Mexbourgh

  Doncaster

  July 1995

  10

  11

  August 1995

  20

  50

  September 1995

  40

  87

  The Doncaster figures include both Doncaster West and Doncaster East Benefits Agency offices.

  The Incapacity Benefit scheme does not have a category of "fit for light work" as it is based on either the customers Own Occupation or All Work Tests.

  I hope you find this reply helpful.

  Social Security Expenditure
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the annual expenditure on social security benefits for people in employment for the latest available year broken down by(a) family credit, (b) income support, (c) housing benefit and (d) council tax benefit. [38612]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is set out in the table.

  Benefit expenditure on people in employment 1994

  £ million

  Benefit

  Estimated annual expenditure

  Family Credit

  1,480

  Income Support

  617

  Housing Benefit

  697

  Council Tax Benefit

  137

  Notes:

  1. The figures have been rounded to the nearest million pounds.

  2. The expenditure figures for income support, housing and council tax benefits have been estimated by calculation from the number of cases in receipt of benefit and the weekly amount of benefit in payment at a point in time in May 1994. They may not therefore represent actual spending through the year.

  3. For the purposes of the calculations referred to in note 2 above 'people in employment' have been defined as cases where either the benefit claimant and/or his/her partner have earnings from employment or self-employment.

  4. It is possible for one person to receive more than one of the benefits listed above.

  5. Figures for family credit refer to estimated expenditure in 1994–95.

  Source:

  1995 Social Security Departmental Report.

  Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry, May 1994. Housing Benefit MIS 1 per cent. sample.

  Reduced Earnings Allowance
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total number of reduced earnings allowance awards in each year since 1991, and this year to date(a) nationally and (b) in each of his Department's benefit offices covering the Doncaster and Mexborough postal districts. [39040]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The information is not available in the format requested. Available information is set out in the table. Rother and Dearne district office includes Rotherham north and south, Goldthorpe, Mexborough and Wath-on Dearne.
  335

  Total of new reduced earnings allowance awards

  Part 19911

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Part 19952

  Great Britain

  2,904

  6,047

  3,179

  3,570

  2,608

  Doncaster District Office

  10

  11

  7

  24

  26

  Rother and Dearne District Office

  5

  42

  7

  27

  13

  Note:

  1 October to December 1991.

  2January to September 1995.

  Source:

  BA CDU 100 per cent. count subject to amendment.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the changes there will be in the levels of indebtedness among benefit recipients who make up the shortfall in rent demanded by the landlord from their disposable income, following the capping of housing benefit. [38898]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  No such estimate has been made.

  Mr. Elletson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what were the total amounts paid to recipients of housing benefit in(a) Manchester, (b) Blackburn, (c) Burnley and (d) Liverpool in (i) 1991–92 and (ii) 1993–94; and if he will estimate the amounts likely to be paid out this year; [39842]

  (2) what were the total amounts paid to recipients of housing benefit in Blackpool in (a) 1991–92 and (b) 1993–94; and if he will estimate the amounts likely to be paid out this year. [39843]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The available information is set out in the table.

  Expenditure on housing benefit

  £000s

  1991–92

  1993–94

  Blackburn

  18,466

  25,235

  Blackpool

  18,619

  29,872

  Burnley

  10,225

  14,216

  Liverpool

  127,599

  164,600

  Manchester

  213,383

  254,638

  Note:

  Figures relate to local authority areas.

  Estimates for expenditure during 1995–96 are not available.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 19 July,Official Report, column 1480–81, (1) if he will exempt private sector accommodation identified by local authority social services departments as consistent with strategies for care in the community; [40426]

  (2) if he will exempt accommodation provided by a social services authority. [40427]

  Mr. Evans
  We are considering the situation as regards private sector accommodation which is consistent with social services' strategies for care in the community and accommodation which is provided by social services authorities.

  Asylum Seekers
  Sir David Steel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy that asylum seekers who have been victims of torture will not have their welfare benefits withdrawn. [40060]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The Government referred proposals affecting the benefit entitlement of asylum seekers and other persons from abroad to the Social Security Advisory Committee on 11 October. We will consider the position fully once the committee has reported on its consultation exercise.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to amend the current benefits system to ensure that self-employed persons are able to claim benefits on becoming unemployed. [40145]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Current policy will be carried forward in the new jobseeker's allowance from October 1996. Payment of class 2 national insurance contributions on earnings from self-employment will not enable a self-employed person to gain entitlement to contribution-based jobseeker's allowance. Self-employed claimants will have access to income-based jobseeker's allowance in the same way as other claimants.

  Changes to the availability for work rules will, however, recognise the growth in self-employment. As now, all claimants will have to be available for employed earner's employment, but under jobseeker's allowance, people who have been self-employed will be able to limit their jobsearch to self-employed opportunities in their usual occupation for up to 13 weeks at the beginning of their claim.

  Bankruptcy Petitions
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many petitions for bankruptcy have been begun by his Department for business with under 500 employees in each of the last five years. [40510]

  Mr. Burt
  No statistics are held to identify the number of employees involved when a winding-up petition is filed against a business by this Department.

  Hardship Allowance
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many young people are currently claiming hardship allowance. [40425]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  For the quarter ending August 1995, 12,417 16 to 17-year-olds were receiving hardship allowances. This figure is provisional and is subject to amendment.

  Late Payments (Small Business)
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how often his Department and each agency within it has failed to pay invoices due to small businesses within 30 days in each of the last five years. [40509]

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not available in the format requested.
  337
  The methods of recording suppliers and payments does not allow for separation into different categories of suppliers, such as small businesses.

  Since 1992, the Department has conducted an annual exercise to establish what proportion of bills for goods and services have been paid timeously, that is within any special terms agreed, or, if none exists, within 30 days of receipt of a valid invoice, whichever is the later. Details of the percentage of payments made timeously from 1992–93 are as follows:

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Department of Social Security HQ

  90

  97

  89.5

  Benefits Agency

  93

  95

  96

  Contributions Agency

  93

  99

  99

  Resettlement Agency

  96

  87

  98

  Child Support Unit1/Child Support Agency

  95

  90

  96

  Information Technology Services Agency

  96

  95

  99

  War Pensions Agency

  part of BA

  89

  96

  Departmental total

  94

  94

  96

  1 child support unit did not exist post 1992–93.

  Young People (Benefits)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) 16 and (b) 17-year-olds are currently available for work and not in receipt of benefit. [40439]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  The latest available labour force survey for Great Britain shows that, in summer—June to August 1995—there were 180,000 16 to 17-year-olds who were unemployed'. However, of these, 91,000 were still in full-time education and around a further 55,000 were either receiving benefit direct or their parents were receiving benefit on their behalf. Of the remaining 34,000, there is no information on their personal financial circumstances although many will be living as part of their parents' household. In addition, significant numbers move into youth training shortly after registering at the careers office.

  Notes

  1 The Labour Force Survey uses the International Labour Organisation's definition of "unemployed", i.e. people who were without a job, were available to start work in the next fortnight, and had either looked for work in the last four weeks, or were waiting to start a job they had already obtained.

  Salaries
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the(a) lowest and (b) highest full-time salary paid to any employee in his (i) Department, (ii) agencies, (iii) non-departmental bodies in (1) 1994–95 and 2) 1995–96. [40820]

  Mr. Burt
  It is the Government's normal policy to publish civil servants' salaries in bands. Accordingly, the lowest full-time salaries fell within the following bands:338

  1994–95 £

  1995–96 £

  (i) Department

  15,000–9,999

  25,000–9,999

  (ii) Agencies

  5,000–9,999

  5,000–9,999

  (iii) Non-Departmental Public Bodies3

  5,000–9,999

  5,000–9,999

  1 There were 10 people in the Department whose salary fell just under £5,000.

  2 There were 12 people in the Department whose salary fell just under £5,000.

  3 Information refers to those bodies listed in "Public Bodies 1994".

  The highest full-time salaries fell within the following bands:

  1994–95 £

  1995–96 £

  (i) Department

  95,000–99,999

  95,000–99,999

  (ii) Agencies

  85,000–89,999

  80,000–84,999

  (iii) Non-Departmental Public Bodies1

  70,000–74,999

  75,000–79,999

  1 Information refers to those bodies listed in "Public Bodies 1994".

  Annual Remuneration
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of individuals in his(a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies whose annual remuneration including benefits in kind exceeded (i) £100,000 (ii) £200,000 and (iii) £300,000 in (1) 1985–86, (2) 1990–91, (3) 1992–93, (4) 1994–95 and (5) 1995–96. [40819]

  Mr. Burt
  Other than pension contributions, benefits in kind are not normally paid to staff in the Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies. As members of the principal civil service pension scheme, staff may receive benefits in accordance with the scheme rules which had been deposited in the Library of the House. No member of staff has received remuneration above £100,000 in the years in question.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Dumped Armaments
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the locations in Northern Ireland where old armaments have been washed up on the shoreline in the past 10 years. [39643]

  Mr. Moss
  No old armaments are recorded as having been washed up on the shoreline in Northern Ireland in the past 10 years.

  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents have been reported by fishermen in Northern Ireland of catching dumped armaments in their nets in the 10 years. [39625]

  Mr. Ancram
  Such information is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Armaments caught in fishermen's nets may come from a number of sources other than dumping, including shipwrecks or bombing.
  339
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the fish caught for consumption in Northern Ireland is caught in or around the Beaufort dyke area. [39639]

  Mr. Ancram
  It is estimated that, of the total quantity of fish landed into Northern Ireland in 1994, less than 4 per cent. was caught in or around the Beaufort dyke area. No information is available on how much of this is consumed in Northern Ireland.

  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of armaments washed up on the shoreline in Northern Ireland can be identified as having drifted out of the Beaufort dyke munitions dump in the last 10 years. [39638]

  Mr. Moss
  No armaments are recorded as having been washed up on the shoreline in Northern Ireland in the past 10 years.

  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many phosphorus incendiary bombs have been washed up on the Antrim coast in the past 10 years. [39641]

  Mr. Moss
  The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland has no record of phosphorous incendiary bombs having been washing up on any part of the Northern Ireland coast in the past 10 years. However, early in May 1993, the Department began to receive reports that a number of unidentified phosphorous canisters were being washed ashore, mainly in County Antrim.

  Although there is no record of the number washed ashore, the Department has arranged for the recovery and safe disposal of 84 such objects in 1993, six in 1994 and one to date in 1995.

  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many fishermen in Northern Ireland have reported injuries caused to themselves or crew members of their trawlers due to handling weapons and dumped armaments which have become caught up in their fishing nets in the past 10 years. [39640]

  Mr. Ancram
  We are not aware of any such cases.

  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many fishermen in Northern Ireland fish in or around the Beaufort dyke area. [39642]

  Mr. Ancram
  It is estimated that 33 Northern Ireland fishing vessels employing about 150 fishermen fished in and around Beaufort dyke in 1994.

  Electricity Prices
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the cost per unit of electricity in Northern Ireland for(a) domestic users and (b) business users. [39636]

  Mr. Ancram
  Information on unit electricity charges for domestic and business users is set out in the monthly and quarterly billed tariffs booklets published by Northern Ireland Electricity plc. I have arranged for copies of the April 1995 booklet to be placed in the Library of the House.
  340
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the differential betweensss electricity prices in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. [39631]

  Mr. Ancram
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State said in his statement to the Northern Ireland Committee on 21 June that the Northern Ireland electricity system, because it was small, dispersed and isolated, was inherently high cost by British isles standards, but that the growing divergence currently being experienced is more due to falling prices in Great Britain than to rising prices in Northern Ireland.

  The Northern Ireland electricity supply industry is at present in transition, but it is making steady progress towards mirroring the characteristics of the lower cost industry in Great Britain. Recent developments which will help reduce the differential include the reallocation of sulphur quotas and the decision of British Gas to support the development of a natural gas industry in Northern Ireland, as this will reduce the cost of the gas supply to the Ballylumford power station. The 1997 Northern Ireland Electricity price reviews and the introduction of more competition should also have a favourable impact on prices. The latest comprehensive statements on the size of price differential is based on 1994–95 data and are contained in the Director General of Electricity Supply for Northern Ireland's memorandum submitted to the Northern Ireland Committee earlier this year and the paper published in June 1994 entitled "Northern Ireland and Great Britain's Electricity Prices". Copies of these are available in the Library of the House.

  Drug Addicts
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many registered drug addicts in Northern Ireland are under the age of 18 years. [39632]

  Mr. Moss
  None.

  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of registered drug addicts in Northern Ireland in each of the past 10 years. [39635]

  Mr. Moss
  The number of registered drug addicts in Northern Ireland as at 31 December of each of the past 10 years was as follows:

  1985: 29

  1986: 36

  1987: 32

  1988: 35

  1989: 38

  1990: 48

  1991: 51

  1992: 60

  1993: 80

  1994: 87

  Gas supplies
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the availability of gas in Northern Ireland to(a) domestic users and (b) industrial users. [39630]

  Mr. Ancram
  British Gas is in the process of laying an undersea pipeline from Scotland to Northern Ireland to supply its Ballylumford power station and it has recently
  341
  announced plans to lay a pipeline from there which will enable it to supply natural gas to consumers in the greater Belfast area. A gas supply to industrial, commercial and domestic consumers is expected to be available at the end of 1996. I intend to present legislation at the beginning of 1996 to facilitate this development.

  Drug-related Offences
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list the number and nature of arrests for drug-related offences in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years; [39627]

  (2) if he will list the number of arrests in each of the last 10 years for offences regarding the possession and selling of (a) heroine, (b) cocaine, (c) ecstasy and (d) cannabis in Northern Ireland. [39634]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The Government, together with the Royal Ulster Constabulary, are committed to tackling all aspects of the drug problem in Northern Ireland. During the past year, the number of officers in the RUC drugs squad has increased by 15 per cent. and the post of head of drugs squad has been upgraded to detective superintendent. There are now more than three times the number of drugs liaison officers as there were last year, an increase from 18 to 60.

  In addition, I recently established the central co-ordinating group for action against drugs of which I am chairman. This group comprises top level representatives from Northern Ireland Government Departments, the medical profession and the RUC and will co-ordinate Government action on all aspects of the campaign against drugs.

  The RUC collate figures showing the number of persons arrested for drugs offences. A breakdown by drugs trafficking, possession, or type of drugs is not available.

  The number of persons arrested for drugs offences, and the number of persons proceeded against at court for drugs offences, are set out in the tables.

  Number of persons arrested in Northern Ireland for drugs offences 1985–1994

  Numbers

  1985

  316

  1986

  304

  1987

  223

  1988

  432

  1989

  440

  1990

  429

  1991

  453

  1992

  610

  1993

  976

  1994

  1,196

  Persons proceeded against at court for drugs offences Northern Ireland 1993 and 1994

  1993

  1994

  Males

  471

  573

  Females

  25

  37

  Total

  496

  610

  "Persons proceeded against" refers to persons prosecuted for drugs offences at Juvenile, Magistrates' or Crown Courts and for whom a result has been obtained ie guilty or not guilty.
  342
  Figures cannot be provided prior to 1993 on grounds of disproportionate cost.

  Executive Agency Staff Costs
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list by grade the number of staff and their cost for(a) the financial year 1994–95 and (b) the estimated figures for the financial year 1995–96, for each executive agency for which he is responsible. [39519]

  Sir John Wheeler
  Estimated outturn for 1994–95 and plans for 1995–96 for civil service manpower and pay bill are set out in the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments' annual report, Cm 2816, copies of which are available in the Library. A breakdown by grade and individual agency could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Electricity Generation
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list(a) the companies who run electricity generating power stations in Northern Ireland and (b) the names of the power stations run by each company. [39629]

  Mr. Ancram
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a)

  (b)

  Premier Power Limited

  Ballylumford

  Coolkeeragh Power Limited

  Coolkeeragh

  NIGEN Limited

  Kilroot

  Belfast West

  Dental Health Education
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what provisions are in place to educate children about dental health in schools in Northern Ireland. [39644]

  Mr. Ancram
  The statutory Northern Ireland curriculum makes provision for health through the health education cross-curricular theme and the programme of study for science, which all pupils of compulsory school age must follow. The objectives of the cross-curricular theme include the teaching of the skills necessary to make informed decisions about health. The science programme of study requires pupils at key stage I—age four to eight—to be taught about personal hygiene, of which oral hygiene is a part.

  In addition, the staff of the health boards' community dental service, which is responsible for screening pupils at intervals during their school careers, take the opportunities offered by their school visits to talk to pupils and teachers about dental health generally.

  Nuclear Waste
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assistance he will give the European Commissioner for the Environment and Nuclear Safety, Ms Ritt Bjerregard, in her investigation into
  343
  allegations that nuclear waste was dumped in the seas off the Irish and Scottish coasts in 1981 by the British Government. [39626]

  Mr. Moss
  There is no nuclear industry in Northern Ireland, and no radioactive waste from Northern Ireland has been dumped into the seas off the Irish and Scottish coasts at any time under an authorisation from the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. There is, therefore, no assistance which could be afforded to the European Commissioner.

  Drug Education
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to educate schoolchildren in Northern Ireland on the dangers of drug abuse. [39633]

  Mr. Ancram
  In schools, the statutory Northern Ireland curriculum make provision for drugs education through the programme of study for science and health education cross-curricular theme. Both of these are compulsory and apply to pupils throughout their period of compulsory schooling from age four to 16. The Department of Education issued guidance on dealing with drug-related incidents in the form of a circular in 1992.

  A new and comprehensive package of advice and guidance will be issued to schools in the spring of 1996. The pack will contain an expanded circular, guidance on preparing drugs policies and on the place of drugs education in the curriculum, and a detailed working manual for schools on dealing with drug-related incidents.

  Fluoridation
  Ms Mowlam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what evidence he has of public support for the fluoridation of the water supply in Northern Ireland. [39619]

  Mr. Moss
  Health and social services boards are required to consult their resident populations about any proposal to fluoridate a water supply. In four of the five consultations they have carried out to date, a clear majority of the responses received were in favour of fluoridation. Further consultations will be carried out in the near future.

  Late Payment (Small Businesses)
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how often his Department and each agency within it has failed to pay invoices due to small businesses within 30 days in each of the past five years. [40510]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The information is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Departments, however, are required to provide details of their annual performance in their departmental reports. For 1993–94 and 1994–95, the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments paid 95 per cent. and 94.7 per cent. respectively of their bills in accordance with agreed contractual conditions or, where no such contractual conditions existed, within 30 days of receipt of goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice.

  Forestry
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he wilt list all Forestry Commission woods currently for sale in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the targets for the disposal of land by(a) area and (b) projected income. [40673]

  Mr. Ancram
  State forestry in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the forest service of the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland. In the current year, the following woods have been on offer for sale:

  Bann Woods South

  Castleward (Ballynacraig)

  Castleward (Castleward)

  Ecclesville.

  The forest service is currently undergoing a prior options study under the Government's "next steps" initiative. Future disposals policy and targets will be determined by the outcome of that study.

  Royal Mail (Redundancies)
  Ms Mowlam
  to ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of redundancies in Northern Ireland Royal Mail for each of the past five years. [39628]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Post Office tells me that the number of redundancies in Royal Mail Northern Ireland, all of which have been achieved on a voluntary basis, in each of the past five years are as follows:

  Year

  1991–92: 5

  1992–93: 21

  1993–94: 23

  1994–95: 20

  1995–96: 7 (to date)

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Industrial Prospects
  Ms Quin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he last met representatives of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss Britain's industrial prospects. [38666]

  Mr. Lang
  My ministerial colleagues and I meet representatives of the CBI from time to time to discuss a variety of matters.

  Trans-channel Electricity Link
  Dr. Michael Clark
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the trans-channel electricity link has been used in the last 10 years to import from and export to France. [38669]

  Mr. Eggar
  Since it was commissioned in 1986 the interconnector has normally supplied baseload electricity from France to England.

  Ministerial Responsibilities
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his governmental responsibilities. [38670]
  345
  Mr. Lang
  My Department's objective is to help United Kingdom business compete successfully at home and abroad. It also aims, through the Office of Science and Technology, to strengthen the UK's science engineering and technology capability and to maximise its contribution to national economic performance and quality of life. The drive to enhance the UK'S international competitiveness, to which the whole Government is committed, is central to the Department's work.

  Vehicle Industry (Investment)
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what support his Department gives to inward investment from the vehicle industry. [38671]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Inward investment by vehicle companies may be eligible for a variety of forms of support, depending on the circumstances and proposed location, in common with inward investment by companies in other sectors.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what initiatives he is taking to assist small business. [38672]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  A complete outline of the range of initiatives introduced is published in "Small Firms in Britain 1995", copies of which are in the Library of the House.

  The business link network is the single most important industrial initiative to be introduced by any UK Government. The national launch of the network took place on 31 October and by the end of the year every business in England will have access to the wide range of services available to assist their prosperity and growth.

  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many small businesses have been established since 1992. [38674]

  Mr. Taylor
  Estimates for business starts in England and Wales are produced by Barclays and Natwest banks. These show that in the two and a half years to end June 1995 approximately 1 million new businesses started up.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what advice his Department issues to employees of small businesses regarding(a) rights at work and (b) terms and conditions of maternity pay. [40543]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  My Department produces a comprehensive range of free booklets describing the rights of all employees under employment legislation. The booklet"Maternity Rights" was produced with the Department of Social Security, which is responsible for the maternity pay provisions, and the Health and Safety Executive, and gives information about all aspects of the statutory maternity provisions.

  Mrs Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many small businesses there have been in Britain in each of the last 17 years; and, of these, how many had between(a) one and nine employees, (b) 10 and 99 employees and (c) 100 and 499 employees. [40545]
  346
  Mr. Page
  Estimates of the number of businesses with fewer than 500 employees in the United Kingdom since 1979 are given ih the table. Separate figures are not available for Britain.

  At the end of 1993, 791,000 businesses had between one and nine employees, 185,000 had between 10 and 99 employees and 14,000 had between 100 and 499 employees; the remainder have no employees. There are no comparable figures for earlier years.

  Table 1: Number of businesses in the UK 1979–1993

  Thousands

  Year

  Number of businesses

  1979

  2,420

  1980

  n/a

  1981

  n/a

  1982

  n/a

  1983

  2,880

  1984

  n/a

  1985

  n/a

  1986

  3,230

  1987

  n/a

  1988

  3,680

  1989

  3,830

  1990

  3,780

  1991

  3,600

  1992

  3,510

  1993

  3,570

  Note:

  n/a not available.

  Source:

  Small and Medium Sized Enterprise (SME) Statistics for the UK, 1993.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment his Department has made of the number and proportion of small businesses which(a) have debt financed over five years and (b) have debt financed by overdraft; what comparable figures are available for European competitor nations; and what plans he has to ensure that longer-term financing is available to small businesses. [40537]

  Mr. Page
  A number of different surveys confirm that there has been a marked trend away from overdrafts towards term lending among small and medium-sized enterprises in this country in the last few years. According to figures produced by the British Bankers Association, term lending now accounts for 61.7 per cent. of total lending to SMEs compared to 40 per cent. in 1990. The Government welcome this trend and hope it will continue.

  As regards the situation in other European countries, a recent survey carried out by 3i found that an average of 29 per cent. of SMEs are reliant upon overdrafts.

  Although the Government believe that finance for any business venture is a commercial matter for the banks and other financial institutions, we continue to point out to SMEs the dangers of an over-reliance on short-term debt finance and to encourage them to consider longer-term alternatives. In appropriate cases, term loans over periods of two to seven years are available under the Government's small firms loan guarantee scheme.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement with regard to the small firms Ministers' network announced by his
  347
  Department on 12 October on (a) what role each Minister will play, (b) how many times per year the network plans to meet, (c) when it last met, (d) what objectives have been set and (e) what effect the network will have on the public purse. [40539]

  Mr. Page
  The first meeting of the small business Ministers took place on Monday 30 October. It is envisaged that the full team of Ministers will meet approximately every six months with individual bilateral meetings being arranged as necessary to discuss specific issues.

  The aim of the group is to discuss how each Department can develop its own programme to help small businesses and how such a programme can be taken forward.

  The group itself will not have a direct effect on the public purse.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many small businesses have failed within three years of starting up in each of the last 10 years; and what proportion this is of the total of new small businesses. [40544]

  Mr. Page
  Official estimates for business survival are produced from the VAT register and are given in the table. Figures for business failure rates are not the same as deregistration rates as many deregistrations are for reasons other than business failure.

  Table 1: Deregistration rates of businesses registered for VAT

  Year

  Number deregistering within 3 years (thousand)

  Per cent. deregistering within 3 years

  1980

  57

  36

  1981

  57

  37

  1982

  63

  38

  1983

  69

  38

  1984

  71

  39

  1985

  71

  39

  1986

  72

  38

  1987

  78

  37

  19881

  94

  39

  1989

  110

  43

  Note:

  1 Deregistration rates for 1988 onwards will be inflated by additional deregistrations following the VAT threshold increase in 1991.

  Source:

  DTI Small Firms Statistics Unit.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his current estimate of the number of small businesses in each London borough. [40546]

  Mr. Page
  The best estimate of the number of small businesses by London borough is given by the number of VAT registered businesses. A copy of the most recent figures "VAT Registrations and Deregistrations, County and District Analysis 1992–1993" is in the Library of the House.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of the bankruptcy of small businesses as regard(a) write-off of tax debts, (b) tax relief to creditors on their losses in the bankruptcy and (c) the cost of statutory redundancy payments to the work force. [40548]
  348
  Mr. Evans
  The information is not available.

  South Western Electricity
  Ms Church
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has had from the National Consumer Council on behalf of consumers about the bid for South Western Electricity by Southern Company. [38673]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  None.

  Nuclear Industry Privatisation
  Mr. Simpson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to privatise the nuclear industry. [38675]

  Mr. Eggar
  Preparations are in hand to transfer the United Kingdom's advanced gas-cooled reactor and pressurised water reactor nuclear power stations, together with their liabilities, to the private sector. It is our intention that this sale should take place in the summer of 1996.

  This sale will bring many benefits. In private ownership, the holding company will be free to compete, both domestically and overseas. Privatisation will provide powerful incentives for the two subsidiary companies to benefit their customers by raising efficiency and reducing costs. Our proposals will make for a more competitive nuclear generation sector operating to continuing, rigorous safety standards and will strengthen the ability of British companies to market nuclear services abroad. At the same time, the changes in the fossil fuel levy and the equivalent step in Scotland will bring significant benefits to consumers.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to privatise the nuclear industry. [38677]

  Mr. Eggar
  Preparations are in hand to transfer the United Kingdom's AGR and PWR nuclear power stations, together with their liabilities, to the private sector. It is our intention that this sale should take place in the summer of 1996.

  This sale will bring many benefits. In private ownership, the holding company will be free to compete, both domestically and overseas. Privatisation will provide powerful incentives for the two subsidiary companies to benefit their customers by raising efficiency and reducing costs. Our proposals will make for a more competitive nuclear generation sector operating to continuing, rigorous safety standards and will strengthen the ability of British companies to market nuclear services abroad. At the same time, the changes in the fossil fuel levy and the equivalent step in Scotland will bring significant benefits to consumers.

  Mr. Turner
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what additional measures he is taking to ensure that safety standards are maintained in the period prior to privatisation of the nuclear industry. [38685]

  Mr. Eggar
  The independent Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate continues to monitor closely the safe operation of all the United
  349
  Kingdom's nuclear installations. The Government will not permit any weakening of the existing regulatory regime or of the current safety standards in force.

  Competitiveness
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what new initiatives he is taking to improve competitiveness in British industry. [38676]

  Mr. Lang
  Improving UK competitiveness is at the centre of my Department's work. We are pursuing a wide range of initiatives, including the extension of the benchmarking approach into the service sector; encouraging innovation and improved supply chains; expanding support for small businesses through the opening of more business links; and export promotion.

  Government-owned Companies (Exports)
  Mr. Gunnell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to improve the level of United Kingdom exports from Government-owned companies. [38678]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Government are offering the best ever package of support to British exporting companies, regardless of ownership or sector. I draw the hon. Member's attention to the British Overseas Trade Board annual report and forward plan, which details our support. A copy is in the Library of the House.

  Manufacturing Industry
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he next expects to meet the President of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss manufacturing industry. [38679]

  Mr. Lang
  I am due to address the national conference of the Confederation of British Industry on 14 November. The latest CBI survey shows continued growth in manufacturing output, investment and exports. In 1996 the CBI expects manufacturing output to grow by 4 per cent.

  Cable Television
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the value of current cable television investments in the United Kingdom. [38681]

  Mr. Taylor
  Investment of some £2 billion in 1995 will bring total cable investment in the UK to £5.2 billion. The recent cable communications exhibition showed the extent of the industry and its suppliers.

  Engineering Exports
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the current level of United Kingdom engineering exports. [38684]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The information is published by the Central Statistical Office in overseas trade analysed in terms of industries, business monitor MQ10, which is available in the Library of the House.

  Insurance Company Funds
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what further plans he has to regulate the use of insurance company funds. [38686]
  350
  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  We propose to update the annual returns which insurance companies are required to make to the Department, and to make some technical amendments to the regulations on the value placed on insurance companies' assets. Interested parties are being consulted on these proposals.

  Gas and Electricity Prices
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the change in real terms of the prices of(a) electricity and (b) gas for use by domestic consumers since these industries were privatised. [38687]

  Mr. Eggar
  Since privatisation in 1990, domestic electricity prices, including VAT, have increased by 2 per cent. in real terms. Excluding VAT, they have fallen by 6 per cent. in real terms.

  Since privatisation in late 1986, domestic gas prices, including VAT, have fallen by 16 per cent. in real terms. Excluding VAT, they have fallen by 23 per cent.

  Privatised Utilities
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what subjects were discussed at his last meeting with chairmen of the privatised utilities. [38688]

  Mr. Lang
  I meet the chairmen of privatised utilities from time to time to discuss a range of matters of common interest.

  Export Markets (East Timor)
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if export licences have been applied for or granted for the export of logging trucks to East Timor. [40373]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  None in the period 1990 to 1995. Examination of manual records for earlier years would entail disproportionate costs.

  Postal Services
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the future of the postal services. [38920]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Government are committed to maintaining a nationwide letter and parcel service with daily delivery to every address in the country at a uniform and affordable structure of prices.

  Regional Electricity Companies
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assistance the Government will give to regional electricity companies in respect of tax liabilities arising from the flotation of the National Grid. [40567]

  Mr. Eggar
  None.

  Internal Market Council
  Ms Quin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EU Internal Market Council of 9 October. [40112]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The Internal Market Council scheduled for 9 October was cancelled. The next IMC is on 23 November.

  Research Council
  Ms Quin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EU Research Council of 30 October'. [40113]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The Council agreed to increase the budget of the EU fourth framework programme for research and technology development by 6.5 per cent. to reflect the accession to the EU of Austria, Finland and Sweden. A number of member states, representing a blocking minority of votes, including the UK, formally indicated that any further decisions made by the Council for supplementary financing for the programme should be contained within the European Union's current financial perspectives.

  The Council also decided that the International Association for the Promotion of Co-operation of Scientists from the new independent states of the former Soviet Union should continue in operation until the end of the fourth framework programme in 1988, and agreed a position for the EU at the meeting of the International Thermonuclear Reactor Council in December 1995.

  The Commissioner for Research and Education introduced a Commission communication setting out the EU' s approach to scientific and technological co-operation with third countries. The Commissioner for Industry briefly reported on the work of the Commission's research-industry task forces. These two issues will be the subject of further analysis and discussion by member states during the Italian presidency in the first half of 1996.

  BMARC
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will rescind his decision not to release documents to the former director of BMARC, Mr. John Anderson, and if he will make a statement. [39014]

  Mr. Lang
  The court considering my application for disqualification of Mr. Anderson from acting as a company director, has ordered disclosure of certain documents and other material"as are presently in the hands of the Inspectors appointed to investigate the affairs of Astra Holdings Plc."
  All such documents have been supplied to Mr. Anderson.

  Bankruptcy Petitions
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many petitions for bankruptcy have been begun by his Department for businesses with under 500 employees in each of the last five years. [40508]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  Information on the number of petitions for bankruptcy initiated by my Department could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  However, my Department would initiate such proceedings only in exceptional circumstances and the number of such actions begun in each of the last five years is therefore likely to be very few.

  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many(a) liquidations, (b) administrations, (c) receiverships and (d) company voluntary arrangements businesses employing under 500 people have experienced in each year since 1985. [40541]
  352
  Mr. Oppenheim
  The information available is published in table 2 of the Insolvency Service general annual report fort the years 1989 and 1994, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Information by size of business is not available. However, over 99 per cent. of businesses employ less than 500 people.

  Company Rescue Procedures
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans his Department has to encourage insolvency practitioners to undertake the London approach with small businesses, allowing a company to work out an informal arrangement with creditors while being protected from them. [40542]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  My Department has no such plans. I am keen to encourage the use of company rescue procedures, such as company voluntary arrangements and administration orders, wherever appropriate.

  In April 1995, the Insolvency Service issued a consultative document on proposals for adding a 28-day moratorium on creditors' actions to the existing company voluntary arrangement procedure. It would give a company in financial difficulty a breathing space to put rescue proposals to creditors and was developed with the small company particularly in mind.

  Illegal Immigration (Employer Sanctions)
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from organisations representing small businesses about the burden on them of his proposals to fine employers who hire illegal immigrants. [40540]

  Mr. Page
  No representations on this issue have been received.

  This proposals is the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary.

  Late Payment (Small Businesses)
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how often his Department and each agency within it has failed to pay invoices due to small businesses within 30 days in each of the last five years. [40507]

  Mr. Lang
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, in common with other Government Departments, surveys of the DTI's payment performance have been carried out annually since 1991–92. Since then, the proportion of bills paid to all suppliers by DTI and its agencies within 30 days, or within the agreed credit period, has been as follows:

  1991–92: 80 per cent. Proportion

  1992–93: 90.5 per cent. Proportion

  1993–94: 90per cent. Proportion

  In 1994–95, following Treasury guidance, a new more rigorous system of sampling was introduced and the figure for that year was 84 per cent. I do not regard this performance as satisfactory and a target of 95 per cent. has been introduced for 1995–96.

  Jewellery Industry
  Ms Short
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will make it his policy to accept annexe III of the draft directive on precious metals only if traditional marks remain permitted; and if he will make a statement; [40720]

  (2) if Her Majesty's Government intend to support the draft precious metals directive; and if he will make a statement; [40719]

  (3) what assessment has been made of the views of jewellery manufacturers and retailers on the proposed European directive on precious metals; and if he will make a statement. [40716]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Government attach great importance to the maintenance of traditional Assay Office marks and will continue to press for these to be permitted, within the terms of any directive. However, he will continue to oppose the adoption of any precious metals directive which includes manufacturer marking on this basis of self-certification, as in annexe III of the current draft. Manufacturer marking on this basis is an inadequate form of consumer protection. The Government have consulted the British jewellery manufacturers and retailers throughout negotiations on the directive.

  Ms Short
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what assessment has been made of the likely effect of the Houtwipper decision in the European Court of Justice on the British jewellery industry; and if he will make a statement; [40717]

  (2) what review his Department has undertaken of the Hallmarking Act 1973 in following the Houtwipper judgment in the European Court; and if he will make a statement. [40718]

  Jonathan Evans
  The Government are considering what the implications of the Houtwipper judgment, ECJ 293/93, might be for the Hallmarking Act 1973 and the British jewellery industry, having regard to the industry's concerns about the need to avoid confusion among customers in the marketplace, and to progress on negotiations on a draft directive to harmonise laws on the marking of precious metal articles.

  Grants
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade for what grant-giving funds his Department is responsible, requiring a private sector contribution, where the use of national lottery funds is not allowed to count towards that private sector portion. [38609]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of National Heritage on 31 October 1995.

  Inward Investment
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the level of inward investment in the United Kingdom, and what is the average figure for the EU. [38680]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The stock of inward direct investment in the UK in 1993—the latest available year—was £120 billion. It is estimated that the total stock of 354
  inward direct investment in the EU Twelve in 1993 was about £410 billion. The average of the EU Twelve was about £34 billion.

  Former Coalfield Areas
  Dr. Wright
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the regeneration of the former coalfield areas. [38668]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  My right hon. Friend the then President of the Board of Trade announced a package of measures totalling £200 million to help areas affected by pit closures. The major elements of this package were £75 million for training and enterprise councils, to be focused on training and business start-up measures and a £75 million English partnerships programme for factory and site provision. Assisted-area status was also granted to eight travel-to-work areas affected by pit closures.

  This framework of regeneration measures is now in place in all areas and major projects are under way.

  Electronic Batons
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the country of origin and the destination of the electronic batons which were covered by trans-shipment licences issued in(a) 1992, (b) 1993 and (c) 1994. [40375]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 30 October 1995]: I refer the hon. Member to the answers of my hon. Friend the Minister of Science and Technology to her on 15 June 1995, Official Report, column 603 and his letter to her of 3 August this year. No such licences were issued for these goods in 1994.

  "The Torture Trail"
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the cost in damages and legal fees of the Department's unsuccessful libel action brought by Martyn Gregory, in relation to his programme "The Torture Chamber". [40374]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 30 October 1995]: I assume the programme to which the hon. Member refers is "The Torture Trail". I refer her to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Don Valley on 27 October 1995, Official Report, column 826. In addition, the Department's own costs, including calculation of value of time spent on the matter by officials, are estimated at £31,500.

  Export Licences
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the practice of successive administrations not to disclose details of export licences has precluded providing information on the country of origin and destination of goods which are the subject of trans-shipment licences on every occasion that applications for such information has been made over the last five years. [40376]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 30 October 1995]: To ascertain whether the practice has precluded provision of such information over the last five years would involve

  355
  disproportionate cost. In the event of any such requests, I would expect these details to have been refused in line with the practice of successive Administrations.

  Personal Travel Times
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what values for personal travelling time are given in departmental assessment methods for(a) bus passengers, (b) pedestrians, (c) motorists and (d) cyclists. [39791]

  Mr. Norris
  I have been asked to reply.

  Departmental assessment methods use values for savings in personal travel time, rather than a value of personal travel time itself. A saving of one hour of personal travel time for bus passengers or motorists is valued at £3.15 in 1994 prices. The value used for time savings to cyclists and pedestrians is double that for users of modes.

HEALTH

  GP Lists
  Dr. Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the frequency of patients being removed from their doctor's list, at the decision of their doctor, over the last five years; and if he will publish this research; [37639]

  (2) if he will instigate research into the removal of patients from doctor's lists and differences between regions, patient types and age groups and other relevant statistics. [37641]

  Mr. Malone
  Family health services authorities have delegated responsibility for the provision of general medical services in their area, including registration with and movements between general practitioners. In carrying out their responsibilities, family health services authorities themselves are best placed to recognise the need to commission research. Family health services authorities are increasingly encouraging general practitioners and patients to participate in conciliation processes which help avoid the need for removal action.

  Manchester Family Health Services Authority
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what payments were made to(a) the chairman and (b) the chief executive of Manchester FHSA when they left that authority in 1992; and if he will make a statement. [38299]

  Mr. Malone
  No payment was made to the chairman of Manchester family health services authority upon his resignation from the authority in May 1992. The chief executive received an employment termination settlement of £58,081.

  Besselarr Clinical Research Unit
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what current research the Besselarr clinical research unit based at Leeds is carrying out for his Department; and what research they have carried out during the last 12 months. [39567]
  356
  Mr. Malone
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 30 October,Official Report, columns 35–37.

  Malaria
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the change in the incidence of cases of malaria reported in the United Kingdom during the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [39501]

  Mr. Sackville
  The cases reported to the malaria reference laboratory of the public health laboratory service and the London school of hygiene and tropical medicine for the United Kingdom for the period August 1994 to July 1995 are shown in the table.

  Total all malaria

  August 1994

  228

  September 1994

  222

  October 1994

  171

  November 1994

  176

  December 1994

  132

  January 1995

  124

  February 1995

  92

  March 1995

  98

  April 1995

  85

  May 1995

  173

  June 1995

  259

  July 1995

  218

  These figures reflect the seasonal pattern in the numbers of United Kingdom citizens visiting malarious regions. The Government recommend that all travellers to malarious areas should seek advice from their doctor on measures to prevent malaria, including the use of appropriate prophylaxis.

  Private Patient Income
  Mr. Milburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, by trust in each region, details of income from private patients for 1993–94 and 1994–95(a) as a total and (b) as a percentage of total trust income. [39955]

  Mr. Sackville
  Details for 1993–94 will be placed in the Library. Figures for 1994–95 are not yet available.

  Westminster Hospital
  Dr. Goodson-Wickes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what future plans are being considered for the former site of the Westminster hospital. [40238]

  Mr. Malone
  North Thames regional health authority is marketing the site. My hon. Friend may wish to approach the chairman, Sir William Staveley, for details.

  Pharmaceutical Industries
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when, and for what purpose, he, his Ministers, or his officials last met representatives of the pharmaceutical industries. [40694]

  Mr. Malone
  There are regular contacts, at both ministerial and official level, between this Department and a wide range of representatives of the pharmaceutical industry to discuss issues of mutual interest.

  Bankruptcy Petitions
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many petitions for bankruptcy have been began by his Department for businesses with under 500 employees in each of the last five years. [40522]

  Mr. Sackville
  None.

  Late Payment (Small Businesses)
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how often his Department and each agency within it has failed to pay invoices due to small businesses within 30 days in each of the last five years. [40521]

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is not available in the form requested. The Department and its agencies regularly monitor their overall payment performance, the results of which are as follows:

  Since 1991–92 the Department, excluding its agencies, has carried out annual surveys to ascertain the percentage of invoices paid within the agreed credit period, or where no credit period has been set, within 30 days of the presentation of a valid invoice. The Department's payment performance, against these criteria is as follows:

  1991–92: 85 per cent.

  1992–93: 90 per cent.

  1993–94: 87.1 per cent.

  1994–95: 91.9 per cent.

  Information is available for the Department's agencies only in respect of 1994–95. Details are as follows:

  NHS estate management and Health Building Agency—85 per cent. of payments were made within 30 days of receipt of a valid invoice.

  NHS Pensions Agency—the average time taken to pay suppliers was six days from the date of receipt of an invoice.

  Medical Devices Agency—all invoices are paid promptly on receipt of a valid invoice. The agency which was established in September 1994 is due to publish its payment performance in its next annual report.

  Youth treatment service—the average time taken to pay suppliers was 11 days from the receipt of the invoice.

  Medicines Control Agency—the average time between receipt of a valid invoice and payment was 20 days.

  Drug Deaths
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were killed in each of the past 10 years as a result of the use of(a) heroin and (b) paracetamol and substances containing paracetamol among other drugs. [40668]

  Mr. Bowis
  Data for 1993 and 1994 are not available.

  Data for previous years are published in table 10 of the publication, "Mortality statistics, injury and poisoning, England and Wales", Series DH4, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Donations
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total amount of moneys donated by(a) private individuals, (b) private companies and (c) charitable or voluntary organisations to hospitals and other NHS bodies in each of the last three years. [40794]
  358
  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the losses made by the Royal National Orthopaedic hospital from the collapse of its joint business venture in building a super-incinerator; and if he will make a statement on the impact of these losses on patient services. [40798]

  Mr. Sackville
  The Royal National Orthopaedic hospital national health service trust is taking action to minimise the loss arising from its failed joint venture and to prevent any similar situation arising again. The loss to date stands at £3,492,000. The NHS executive is working with the trust to ensure that the impact of the loss on patient services is minimised.

  Joint Business Ventures
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the financial impact of joint business ventures on NHS trusts. [40799]

  Mr. Sackville
  It is a matter for individual national health service trusts whether they enter into joint business ventures. Trusts must satisfy themselves that any such venture is value for money and secures benefits for the NHS, in terms of either additional income, increased quality of service or access to private sector expertise, which would not be available to the trust operating alone.

  Hospital Beds
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking in respect of bed losses in hospitals; and if he will make a statement. [40800]

  Mr. Sackville
  The number of beds needed by each individual hospital cannot be determined centrally. Decisions about bed stocks need to be made at local level, based on contracted work loads and taking account of local circumstances, such as the local rate for emergency admissions, the level of day case treatments and the availability of alternative services, such as hospital at home schemes.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the prevalence of under-bedding in the NHS(a) by category of hospital and (b) by region. [40801]

  Mr. Sackville
  National health service trusts regularly review the availability of beds to ensure they are matched to demand and to secure the best use of available resources.

  Salaries
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the(a) lowest and (b) highest full-time salary paid to any employee in his (i) Department, (ii) agencies and (iii) non-departmental public bodies in (1) 1994–95 and (2) 1995–96. [40867]

  Mr. Sackville
  It is the Government's normal policy to publish civil servants' salaries in bands. Accordingly, the lowest full-time salary fell within the band:
  359

  1994–95:

  £5,000.00-£9,999.00

  1995–96:

  £5,000.00-£9,999.00

  The highest full-time salary fell within the band:

  1994–95:

  £95,000.00-£99,999.00

  1995–96:

  £95,000.00-£99,999.00

  GP Recruitment, London
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he proposes in respect of general practitioner recruitment in inner London. [40829]

  Mr. Malone
  We have made available £15 million this year and plan to make available £20 million next year to support a package of initiatives designed to recruit and retain high-quality general practitioners in inner London. These initiatives have been drawn up in collaboration with local family health services authorities and general practitioners.

  Annual Remuneration
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals in(a) his Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies, received annual remuneration including benefits in kind exceeding (i) £100,000, (ii) £200,000 and (iii) £300,000 in each year since 1985–86. [40866]

  Mr. Sackville
  Other than pension contributions, benefits in kind are not normally paid to staff in the department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies. As members of the principal civil service pensions scheme, staff received benefits in accordance with the scheme rules which had been deposited in the Library. Excluding the benefit of pension contributions, no member of staff employed directly by the organisations mentioned received annual remuneration above the sums specified in the years in question.

  Accident and Emergency Departments
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the performance of hospitals in meeting the patients charter target for trolley waits. [40802]

  Mr. Sackville
  Since April 1995 there has been a patients charter standard that a patient admitted to hospital via an accident and emergency department can expect to be given a bed a soon as possible, and certainly within four hours. From April 1996 this standard will be improved to two hours. Information relating to performance on this standard will become available in due course.

  London Initiative Zone
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the underspend on capital spending by London initiative zone in each year since 1992(a) in total and (b) by family health services authority; and if he will make a statement. [40828]
  360
  Mr. Malone
  London initiative zone funding began in 1993–94. The information for 1993–94 and 1994–95 is shown in the table.

  Reasons for the underspends included: delays and setbacks in finding suitable sites and securing planning permission; and adjustments inevitably needed when managing a complex capital programme over a six-year period. Capital underspends will be carried forward as part of ring-fenced funding of the development programme. The relevant funds will be spent on LIZ capital projects. In its third year, overall management of the LIZ capital programme continues to improve, in terms of both smaller projects and larger schemes requiring input from a number of different agencies.

  London Initiative Zone: Capital Expenditure: variance against plan

  FHSA

  £,000 1993–94

  £,000 1994–95

  Barking and Havering

  (594)

  (24)

  Camden and Islington

  (458)

  (1,720)

  City and East London

  1741

  (1,803)

  Enfield and Haringey

  128

  (1,236)

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  —

  (689)

  Brent and Harrow

  (501)

  (2,102)

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Harrow

  (1,340)

  (3,876)

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  (460)

  (1,909)

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  —

  11,362

  Bexley and Greenwich

  (1,192)

  (370)

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  (1,628)

  (1,261)

  Croydon

  (2,264)

  Total FHSAs

  (5,404)

  (15,892)

  Note:

  Figures in brackets represent underspends. All underspends are ring-fenced and carried forward in 1995–96 and future years. Figures at 1 are overspends and affect the total underspend for all FHSAs.

  Source:

  Thames RHAs.

  Hospital Wards
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS hospital wards are presently closed in(a) London and (b) England. [40830]

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is not available centrally.

  Staff Cars
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the Secretary of State fGr Health how much has been spent by(a) trusts, (b) district health authorities, (c) regional health authorities and (d) in total on cars for staff within the NHS in each of the last five years. [39652]

  Mr. Malone
  [holding answer 26 October 1995]: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply the Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Sackville), gave her on 25 May, Official Report column 776. These replies cover the total expenditure on cars for the period 1991 to 1993. The expenditure on staff cars by regional health authorities in the year 1993–94 fell by £332,881 to £5,053,065. The expenditure on staff cars by district health authorities in the year 1993–94 fell by £17,071,191. Expenditure on staff cars by national health service trusts rose from £24,010,267 to £47,219,792, with

  361
  the growth in the number of trusts from 156 in 1992–93 to 292 in 1993–94, an increase in expenditure on cars of about 5 per cent. per trust. The total expenditure on cars for staff was £76,271,287 in 1993–94, as against £70,465,834 in 1992–93. The provision of lease cars for NHS staff working in regional and district health authorities and for those working in NHS trusts on Whitely terms and conditions are governed by section 24 of the general Whitley Council handbook. Under these arrangements, employees contribute to costs of lease cars according to the amount of private mileage included in the lease car contract. The figures do not take account of employee contributions for private use of lease cars, since this information is not held centrally. In some cases, cars are offered to trust staff as part of remuneration packages. A survey on the use of lease cars in the NHS was carried out by the general Whitely Council management side secretariat during June 1994. The replies showed 62 per cent of cars being used by nurses, midwives and doctors.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the average size of classes in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Doncaster in January; and what was the figure for the previous 12 months. [38633]

  Mr. Paice
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Average size of single teacher classes in maintained schools in Doncaster local education authority area

  Position in January each year

  Year

  Primary

  Secondary

  1994

  27.5

  21.1

  19951

  28.1

  21.4

  1 Provisional.

  Research Funding
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she is taking to ensure adequate funding for long-term research projects in United Kingdom universities. [38912]

  Mr. Forth
  The Higher Education Funding Council for England has allocated £636 million for support for basic research and the research infrastructure in English universities and colleges this year. It is for institutions themselves to decide how to spend their funds and what priority they attach to long-term research projects.

  Barnsley-Doncaster Training and Enterprise Council
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the employers in the Barnsley and Doncaster TEC area who have been given the investors in people award; and if she will list the employers who have currently made a commitment to meeting the standard. [39454]
  362
  Mr. Paice
  The companies in the Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council area who have been recognised as investors in people are:Bridon Ropes, JI Case, Reed Northern Newspapers, HMP Lindhome, Barnsley College, ACE Conveyor, Apollo Travel, Barnsley and Doncaster TEC, BYDA, Chamber of Commerce and Training, Doncaster Careers, G Page Holdings Look and Learn. Mercedez Benz, Rossington Comprehensive, Russell Eaton, The Hayfield School and the Weldrick Group.

  Companies in the Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council area who have made a commitment to investors in people are:
  ABB Passenger Services Ltd, Addspace/Coltran, Amocura, Barnsley Benefits Agency, Barnsley Hospital, Barnsley NHS Trust, Benefits Agency Doncaster, BMBC Catering, BTCV (Charity), BTCV (Enterprise), Care Homes Thorne, Doncaster College, Dunlop Slazenger, Grampian Country Foods, Haslam Homes, Hepworth Building Products Barnsley, Hepworth Building Products Doncaster, Hepworth Refractories, Hoyland Fox, KOYO, Lyons Cakes, Midland Bank Data Centre, Moorlands Prison, MP Burke, Naylor Brothers, Pilkington, Pindar Nursing Home, PLM Redfearn, Ardsley Moat House, Benton House Nursing Home, Billington Structures, BLP Group, BMB Builders Merchants, BMBC TES, Cambertown, Cameron Motor Services, Campsmount School, Danum Hotel, Doncaster Health Authority, Dunstan Brearley Travel, DVBS, Edfington School, FM Ball, Fosters Bakery, Fox's Music, Kostal, Monkton Coke, Northern College, Perry's, Priory School, Regent Hotel, Siddall & Hilton, SPG, Spring Choice, Sue Ryder Home, Sqllow Wood Nursing Home, Syndicate Group, Taylor Bracewell, Tranmoor Primary School, Walter Frank, Willis Supermarkets, Winterbottom Wire, Regency Doors, The Dome and Yorkshire Traction.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how much funding the Barnsley and Doncaster TEC has allocated to childminders undertaking the national vocational course in child care and education; [39478]

  (2) if the Barnsley and Doncaster TEC assists childminders undertaking the national vocational qualification course in child care and education at (a) level 2 and (b) level 3. [39476]

  Mr. Paice
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when her Department last checked the credit rating of the Barnsley and Doncaster TEC; and if she will make a statement. [39542]

  Mr. Paice
  The Department for Education and Employment carries out an assessment of Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council's financial viability on an annual basis.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what facilities are available to(a) her Department and (b) training providers to check the changing credit rating assessments of the Barnsley and Doncaster TEC. [39510]

  Mr. Paice
  The Department does not undertake credit rating checks on Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council. An annual assessment of financial viability is made, and the financial status of the TEC is continually monitored by qualified accountants within the Government office for Yorkshire and Humberside.

  Copies of the TEC's annual accounts are placed in the Library. Copies are also lodged with Companies House and these are available to training providers. Information

  363
  is also provided by credit rating organisations in the private sector which offer assessments of TECs as part of their normal business. It is for individual training providers to decide if they need a credit rating assessment for Barnsley and Doncaster TEC.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the current percentage pass rate at Barnsley and Doncaster TEC of general national vocational qualification students; and how this compares with previous results. [39470]

  Mr. Paice
  The information requested is operational information on the Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council and the question would be best addressed to the TEC to answer.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many training weeks(a) were promised and (b) were undertaken for (i) employment training, (ii) youth training and (iii) other programmes for the Barnsley and Doncaster TEC for each year since its inception. [39464]

  Mr. Paice
  Since the inception of Barnsley and Doncaster TEC the total number of training weeks for employment training, youth training and other programmes allocated and paid for against the contract is as follows:

  Contract year 1991–92

  Programme

  Allocated

  Delivered

  Youth training

  237,801

  229,578

  ET participation

  130,000

  126,889

  Source:

  GOYC Management Information/invoice records data.

  Contract year 1992–93

  Programme

  Allocation

  Delivered

  Youth training

  236,577

  228,023

  ET participation

  118,953

  118,953

  Source:

  GOYH Management information/invoice data on ROCs.

  Contract year 1993–94

  Programme

  Allocation

  Delivered

  Youth training

  226,407

  212,028

  Training for work participation

  136,032

  136,032

  Source:

  RHOMIS/invoice data.

  Contract year 1994–95

  Programme

  Allocation

  Delivered

  YT, youth credits and modern apprenticeships

  204,837

  194,540

  Training for work participation

  140,897

  139,101

  Source:

  RHOMIS/invoice data.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will publish the budget agreed with the Barnsley and Doncaster TEC for(a) 1994–95 and (b) 1995–96 broken down by programme area. [39475]
  364
  Mr. Paice
  The agreed budget for Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council for 1994–95 and 1995–96 is as shown in the table:

  £ thousands

  Programme

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1. Standard programmes

  Youth programmes

  10,902.7

  10,750.8

  Accelerated modern apprentiships

  n/a

  95.8

  FE development fund

  n/a

  110.8

  FE competitiveness fund

  n/a

  378.0

  Work related further education

  1,010.0

  n/a

  Careers guidance

  359.4

  397.2

  Careers libraries

  16.7

  16.9

  Work experience

  n/a

  25.6

  Training for work (including allowances)

  13,786.3

  10,358.0

  Employer investment in people

  532.1

  678.4

  Childcare

  129.4

  177.8

  Learning for work

  78.1

  n/a

  Skills for small businesses

  n/a

  72.4

  Management fee

  1,917.9

  1,906.3

  2. Coal programmes

  Training for work (including allowances)

  3,925.6

  2,100.0

  Management fee

  83.0

  83.0

  These are Department for Education and Employment budgets only.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she last met representatives of the Barnsley and Doncaster TEC to discuss its budget. [39523]

  Mr. Paice
  The Secretary of State for Education and Employment does not meet representatives of Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council to discuss its budget. Officials from the Government office for Yorkshire and Humberside meet TEC representatives monthly.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people were trained by Barnsley and Doncaster TEC in 1993–94 and 1994–95. [39452]

  Mr. Paice
  The total numbers starting youth training and training for work in the Barnsley and Doncaster TEC area are given in the table:

  Barnsley and Doncaster TEC total starts in year

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Youth Training

  5,070

  5,370

  Training for Work

  10,040

  7,360

  Source:

  TEC Management Information Returns.

  Cornish Language
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will take steps to ensure the continued existence of GCSE examinations in Cornish. [40489]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  It is for the GCSE examining groups, as independent commercial enterprises, to decide which subjects outside the national curriculum they wish to offer at GCSE. The Government cannot and should not require the groups to continue to offer a particular subject.

  Workfare
  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on workfare. [38682]

  Mr. Forth
  The term "workfare" can mean many things. As I understand, it usually refers to a universal compulsory work creation programme. We must be clear that the Government cannot create jobs; only the economy can do that. The Department's priority is to get unemployed people into jobs, and we have a wide range of provision to help them.

  Unemployed people must make every effort to get work and it is right to require them, if necessary, to undertake appropriate action to do so. The Government have always made it clear that they do not rule out the use of targeted compulsory work experience programmes if it is shown that these help people back to work. We believe it is right to require activity that is focused firmly on what is most appropriate to the individual's circumstances.

  Education Council
  Ms Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the outcome of the EC Education Council held of 23 October 1995. [40115]

  Mr. Forth
  On 23 October, my hon. Friend the Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Squire) attended the Council of EC Education Ministers. The Council adopted a decision allowing the conclusion of a bilateral agreement in higher education and vocational training with the United States. The Council and the representatives of the Governments of the member states adopted a resolution on the response of education systems to the problems of racism and xenophobia and the Council also agreed conclusions on social participation as a factor for quality in non-university education.

  Political agreement was reached on a bilateral agreement in higher education and vocational training with Canada which will be taken as an "A" point at a future Council.

  Ministers received information from the European Commission on the European Year of Lifelong Learning; multimedia education software; and the forthcoming Commission White Paper on education and training. The presidency reported on preparations for the Euro-Med conference to be held in Barcelona on 27–28 November.

  After the conclusion of Council business, a meeting was held with Education Ministers of the associated countries of central and eastern Europe to discuss prospects for their eventual participation in EC education, training and youth exchange programmes.

  Stapio Insecticide
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to the answer of 2 May,Official Report, column 145, what materials are disclosed on the invoice held by the Treasury Solicitor as having been used to spray the Grays unemployment benefits office on 8 October 1991; [40223]
  366
  (2) what properties are claimed for the chemical compound Novastet in relation to extermination of cockroaches and other insects; and if she will make a statement; [40224]

  (3) if it was an implied condition for the contractors who sprayed chemicals at the Grays unemployment benefit office on 8 October 1991 to have public liability insurance; and if she will make a statement; [40225]

  (4) what was the nature of the insect infestation as a result of which the Grays unemployment benefit office was sprayed on 8 October 1991. [40226]

  Mr. Forth
  Responsibility for the subject of the questions has been delegated to the Employment Service under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from D.J. Lifton to Mr. Andrew Mackinlay, dated 1 November 1995:

  The Secretary of State has asked me, in the absence of the Chief Executive, to reply to your questions about Grays Unemployment Benefit Office (UBO).

  You asked what materials are disclosed on the invoice held by the Treasury Solicitor as having been used to spray Grays UBO on 8 October 1991. The invoice does not make reference to materials and I attach a copy (Annex 1) for information.

  You also asked what properties are claimed for the chemical compound Novastet in relation to the extermination of cockroaches and other insects. The Chief Executive's letter to you of 5 October provided a copy of the latest manufacturer's Data Hazard Sheet for Novastet.

  You asked whether it was an implied condition for the contractors who sprayed chemicals at Grays UBO on 8 October 1991 to have public liability insurance. I am advised that it was not.

  Finally, you asked what was the nature of the insect infestation which led to the spraying at Grays UBO. I am advised that the insects were black beetles.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Annex 1: Invoice from CDR services to Grays Unemployment Benefit Office, Essex, dated 14 November 1991

  Date

  Description

  Price

  VAT

  Total

  U.B.O. Grays.

  8 October 1991

  Spraying to de-infest fleas

  £191.35

  £33.46

  £224.71

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to make training and enterprise council board members more accountable to the community. [40424]

  Mr. Paice
  Training and enterprise councils are already accountable to their local communities in a number of ways. The contract Government have with TECs requires them to publish summaries of their corporate and business plans, to hold public meetings at least annually and to publish an annual report. All TECs have endorsed the TEC National Council framework on local accountability to which they are required to have due regard under their contract.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how individual training and enterprise council board members' activities are monitored to ensure they are in the public interest. [40420]
  367
  Mr. Paice
  Training and enterprise councils are private companies. The activities of the directors are a matter for the TECs themselves in compliance with company law. The Government contract with TECs requires them to maintain a register of directors' interests, which is open to regular inspection by staff from the Government regional office. All TECs have endorsed the TEC National Council framework on local accountability and the Cadbury code on corporate governance to which they are required to have due regard under their contract.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the Confederation of British Industry's review of training and enterprise councils and local enterprise companies, "Making Labour Markets Work", and its recommendation in respect of enhanced local democracy. [40440]

  Mr. Paice
  In July this year the Training and Enterprise Council National Council published a "Framework for the Local Accountability of TECs in England and Wales". The framework, which is based on the principles of openness, integrity and accountability, covers the issues relating to local accountability addressed by the Confederation of British Industry in its 1993 report, and in particular the recommendation that the council develops a voluntary code of practice. TECs are required by their contract with Government to have due regard to the framework. Local enterprise companies in Scotland are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the merger arrangements between training and enterprise councils and chambers of commerce. [40423]

  Mr. Paice
  The Government have agreed to a pilot programme of voluntary mergers to test local initiatives which build on the existing strengths of training and enterprise councils and chambers. So far five proposals for merger have been approved.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to(a) increase the numbers of directors on training and enterprise boards, (b) maintain a register of board members' interests, (c) appoint directors for specific terms of office and (d) ensure that directors receive initial training. [40419]

  Mr. Paice
  There are no plans to increase the number of directors on the boards of training and enterprise councils. The contract the Government have with TECs requires them to maintain a register of the declared interests of directors. As private companies, the organisation of TECs is set out in their articles of association. These require the directors to seek re-election by the membership every three years. Induction training is a matter for each TEC board.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what actions she plans to take to promote women, representatives of ethnic minority groups and the voluntary sector becoming involved in training and enterprise council boards of directors. [40421]
  368
  Mr. Paice
  As private companies, training and enterprise councils are responsible for the appointment of their directors. The Government's contract with a TEC requires at least two thirds of the directors to be chairmen, chief executives, senior partners or top operational managers from the private sector. The remaining directors should have equivalent status and be drawn from education, economic development, trade unions, voluntary organisations or the public sector. Directors are appointed as individuals and not as the representatives of another organisation. The Training and Enterprise Council National Council framework on local accountability, endorsed by all TECs, expects boards to have the necessary breadth and balance to reflect the priorities of the local community and economy.

  Training Schemes
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many persons undertaking employment training and training for work schemes left without a qualification in the last five years for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [40438]

  Mr. Paice
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Employment training/training for work England and Wales—Percentage of leavers without a full qualification or credit towards one

  Per cent.

  1990–91

  67

  1991–92

  63

  1992–93

  59

  1993–94

  56

  April 1994-January 1995

  52

  Source:

  ET and TFW National Follow-Up Surveys.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she plans to take to promote employment training and training for work within the ethnic minority community; and how she plans to pursue an improvement in qualification pass rates. [40418]

  Mr. Paice
  Training for work, which replaced employment training in April 1994, is delivered locally by training and enterprise councils. They have contractual obligations to promote equality of opportunities for all their activities. To help them meet these obligations, the Department has recently issued an updated equal opportunities good practice guide.

  The Department recognises the importance of qualification and monitors closely the achievement rates of the ethnic minority and non-ethnic minority communities. TFW's main focus, however, is on jobs and we have set each TEC targets that reflect this. TECs are paid substantial premiums for trainees requiring basic literacy and numeracy or for whom English is a second language.

  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how she plans to prevent abuse of output-related funding schemes within training for work; and if she will make a statement. [40422]
  369
  Mr. Paice
  Output-related funding in training for work provides an effective incentive to produce results for participants in the form of jobs and qualifications. Any specific allegations of abuse are investigated. The Department has stringent audit requirements in its contracts with TECs. Measures have been taken to assist awarding bodies to enhance their verification of NVQs within training for work.

  Bankruptcy Petitions
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many petitions for bankruptcy have been begun by her Department for businesses with under 500 employees in each of the last five years. [40528]

  Mr. Forth
  I know of none.

  Late Payment (Small Businesses)
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how often her Department and each agency within it has failed to pay invoices due to small businesses within 30 days in each of the last five years. [40527]

  Mr. Forth
  Information in the form requested is not available. In the Department and its agencies, over 95 per cent. of bills are paid within 30 days.

  Salaries
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the(a) lowest and (b) highest full-time salary paid to any employee in her (i) Department, (ii) agencies and (iii) non-departmental public bodies in (1) 1994–95 and (2) 1995–96. [40863]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  It is the Government's normal policy to publish civil servants' salaries in bands. Accordingly, the lowest full-time salary fell within the band:

  1994–95: £6,773—£9,499

  1995–96: £6,928—£9,716

  The highest full-time salary fell within the band:

  1994–95: £95,000—£99,999

  1995–96: £95,000—£99,999

  Annual Remuneration
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many individuals in(a) her Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies, received annual remuneration including benefits in kind exceeding (i) £100,000 (ii) £200,000 and (iii) £300,000 in each year since 1985–86. [40862]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Other than pension contributions, benefits in kind are not normally paid to staff in the Department, agencies and NDPBs. As members of the principal civil service pensions scheme, staff receive benefits in accordance with the scheme's rule, which has been deposited in the Library.

  The numbers receiving annual remuneration above the sums specified, excluding pension benefits in the years in question, was: (i) nil, (ii) nil, (iii) nil.

  Skills Shortages
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment her Department has made of skills shortages experienced by British exporters. [40538]

  Mr. Paice
  In. October 1995 10 per cent. of manufacturing firms, of which the majority of companies surveyed are exporters, expect skill shortages to limit output over the next four months. This is similar to recent quarters and well below the levels observed in the 1980s.

  Small Businesses
  Mrs. Roche
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment her Department has made of the impact of(a) skills training and (b) management training on the likelihood of small businesses surviving. [40547]

  Mr. Paice
  The "Winning Report", published by DTI and CBI in 1994, shows that training is increasingly a key element in business success. On small firms, the 1994 skill needs in Britain survey provides clear evidence that smaller businesses need to improve management and skills training. The last two competitiveness White Papers have announced measures to encourage training in small firms.

  Teachers' Pensions
  Mr. Coe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the future administration of teachers' pensions in England and Wales. [41373]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I announced on 7 June 1995 that we were inviting expressions of interest for a contract to administer the teachers' superannuation scheme. In the light of the expressions of interest that we received, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is satisfied that we should proceed to the next stage and invite some of the companies concerned to tender for a contract. Inviting tenders will give the companies the opportunity to show whether they could administer the scheme at lower cost and to the required standard. The taxpayer is entitled to the best possible value for money in the administration of the scheme.

  We are inviting six companies to tender: Abbey National Benefit Consultants Ltd., Capita Group Plc, Colonial Mutual Group (UK Holdings) Ltd., CSL Group Ltd., Hartshead Solway Ltd. and ITnet Ltd.

  All six have declared that they would: intend to seek a fee for administering the scheme that was lower than the expected cost of keeping the administration of the scheme in the public sector; and agree in any contract to provide a standard of service and performance that was at least as high as that which the Teachers' Pensions Agency would provide.

  We shall let a contract only if it would be better value for money than keeping the administration of the scheme in the public sector. We remain absolutely committed to ensuring that the scheme continues to operate smoothly and without interruption. We continue to expect that any contract would start in the latter part of 1996.
  371
  We are advised that staff of the Department for Eduction and Employment who transferred to a contractor would be covered by the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981. All six companies say that they would intend to keep the core administration of the scheme at its current location in Darlington. All six see possibilities for introducing new business.

  We shall lay a draft order under section 69 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 at the start of the coming Parliamentary Session. It will be subject to affirmative resolution in both Houses. Once approved, it will allow my right hon. Friend to authorise a contractor to administer the scheme.

  I reaffirm that a contractor would not be allowed to use data on teachers for purposes other than administering the scheme. All the companies have declared that they would keep data concerning members of the scheme confidential.

  I also reaffirm that any contract would concern only the administration of the scheme. Whether or not we let a contract, the scheme itself will stay in the public sector, on its current statutory basis.

  Letting a contract would not affect the size of safety of teachers' pensions. The scheme has no real pension fund. Instead payments are made to and from the Exchequer; and the Exchequer guarantees, in effect, the payments to which retired teachers are entitled under the regulations that govern the scheme.

  We shall shortly invite representatives of teachers and their employers to comment on a draft statement of the service that any contactor would have to provide in administering the scheme. Similar invitations will go to the staff of the TPA itself and to the six companies that we are inviting to tender. We shall take careful account of all the comments that we receive before finalising the statement.

  Industrial Tribunals
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list by individual case the number of industrial tribunal and fair employment applications lodged against each(a) college and (b) university in England for each year since 1990; how many cases have been upheld against the colleges and universities; how many cases have resulted in a settlement which has involved payments being made by an education and library board or university; and if she will make a statement. [39508]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  I have been asked to reply.

  Responsibility for the industrial tribunals has now passed to my Department. Information about individual parties to industrial tribunal cases is not collected and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will place in the Library a list of the(a) regional, (b) full-time and (c) part-time chairs of industrial tribunals stating in each case their previous or past occupation and positions and any relevant interest they have declared. [40494]

  Mr. Evans
  I have been asked to reply.
  372
  Responsibility for the industrial tribunals has now passed to my Department. A list of all industrial tribunal chairmen, giving their previous occupations, will be placed in the Library at the earliest opportunity. Details of positions held and any relevant interests they have declared could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Training and Employment Grants Scheme
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on how the training and employment grants scheme operates in Scotland; what criteria are used to assess entitlement; how post codes are used to identify eligible areas and if he will make a statement. [39294]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The training and employment grants scheme is operated by Scottish Enterprise through its network of local enterprise companies. The scheme is designed to increase access to employment opportunities for young and long-term unemployed people, and to enhance their employability through the provision of training and work experience. The scheme operates in selected postcode areas of Scotland where employment opportunities are generally low and unemployment high. The designation of the eligible areas for TEGS is a two-tier process. The first tier ranks every postcode in the SE area based on levels of unemployment. Three factors are applied: the proportion of unemployed people in the area, numbers of long-term unemployed males and the rate of change in the numbers of long-term unemployed males. The second tier relies on judgments by LECs based on their knowledge of local needs and unemployment patterns using a number of criteria which focus on linking unemployed people into the wider economy.

  Unemployment (Carers)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what analysis she has of current levels of unemployment among(a) male and (b) female carers and past carers. [38546]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  I have been asked to reply.

  The latest available information from the labour force survey shows that in spring 1995 there were 23,000 International Labour Organisation unemployed women who stated that their previous occupation was a care assistant or attendant. The number of ILO unemployed men whose previous occupation was in these categories is too few to provide a reliable estimate.

  Information is also available from the autumn 1994 LFS, which shows that there were 68,000 men and 246,000 women who said they were economically inactive—not in employment or ILO unemployed—because they were looking after a dependent adult relative.

  Local Education Authorities
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what additional revenue
  373
  is allowed to local education authorities over the capping levels to provide the additional services to meet local demands? [38789]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I have been asked to reply.

  Under the 1995–96 capping criteria even those local education authorities budgeting above their standard spending assessment were able to increase their budgets
  374
  by a minimum of 0.5 per cent. over the previous year. Within its overall budget, it is a matter for each authority to decide on its relative priorities in the light of local needs.

  We will announce our provisional decisions on the local government finance settlement for 1996–97 and our intentions for capping shortly after the Chancellor's Budget statement. We will consult authorities and others on our proposals at that time.

  China: Opposition to Population Policy
  China: Opposition to Population Policy
  Treaties: "Ponsonby Rule"
  Treaties: "Ponsonby Rule"
  Mr. Chen Ziming
  Mr. Chen Ziming
  Outer Space Treaty
  Outer Space Treaty
  Overseas Development Administration Cash Limit
  Overseas Development Administration Cash Limit
  EU Council Forthcoming Business
  EU Council Forthcoming Business
  Commonwealth Development Corporation External Finance Limit
  Commonwealth Development Corporation External Finance Limit
  HMSO: New Supply and Service Agreement
  HMSO: New Supply and Service Agreement
  Farmers' Tractors: Regulatory Provisions
  Farmers' Tractors: Regulatory Provisions
  Pilots: Age Limit
  Pilots: Age Limit
  Network SouthEast: Performance Figures
  Network SouthEast: Performance Figures
  Greenwich: Bypass Proposal
  Greenwich: Bypass Proposal
  Firearms Certificates: Renewal
  Firearms Certificates: Renewal
  Local Government Reorganisation: Costs
  Local Government Reorganisation: Costs
  UN Conference on Women, Beijing Platform for Action
  UN Conference on Women, Beijing Platform for Action
  Children from Homeless Families: School Attendance
  Children from Homeless Families: School Attendance