Written Answers of 20 November 1995

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  European Movement
  Mr. Michael Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the grants his Department(a) has made and (b) proposes to make to the European movement in 1995. [78]

  Mr. David Davis
  No grants have been made to the European movement in 1995, nor are any planned.

  EU Council Meeting
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the voting record of each member state on items agreed at the meeting of the European Community's Foreign Affairs Council held on 30 October; and if he will make it his practice to include details of all votes, including where there have been no votes, in the future. [442]

  Mr. David Davis
  No votes were taken at the Foreign Affairs Council of 30 October. A record of votes taken at Foreign Affairs Councils is generally given in the Council secretariat press release which is deposited in the Library of the House as soon as it is available.

  GCHQ (Signals Station)
  Mr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future of GCHQ composite tracking station at Culmhead. [459]

  Mr. Rifkind
  On 14 November the director of GCHQ announced that the composite signals organisation station at Culmhead will close in 1999.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been spent on re-equipping GCHQ composite tracking station at Culmhead in each of the last five years. [460]

  Mr. Rifkind
  It is not Government policy publicly to reveal details of expenditure on intelligence beyond that shown in the single intelligence vote. Expenditure by the intelligence services is kept under review by the Committee of Parliamentarians established under the Intelligence Services Act 1994.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Asylum Seekers
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances his Department allows access to confidential information held about asylum seekers to(a) the Child Support Agency and (b) other Government Departments or agencies. [619]
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  Mr. Kirkhope
  Details of an asylum claim are treated as confidential. The fact that a person is an asylum seeker is, however, disclosed where necessary in order to protect public funds, in particular where entitlement to a benefit or service is conditional on asylum seeker status. Disclosure is regularly made to the Benefits Agency and local authority housing departments for this purpose. Information about an asylum claim is not disclosed to departments or agencies not involved in consideration of the claim, such as the Child Support Agency, otherwise than in exceptional circumstances, for example where the police require it for the purposes of a criminal investigation.

  Nigerians
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of Nigerian nationals who, over the last five years to date, have been granted(a) refugee status and (b) exceptional leave to remain by the United Kingdom authorities. [107]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  In the first 10 months of 1995, two Nigerians were granted asylum and three were refused asylum but granted exceptional leave to remain. Annual information prior to 1995 is published in tables 3.1 and 3.2 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 1994", issue 15/95. A copy of this publication is available in the Library.

  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department following the suspension of Nigeria from the Commonwealth, when he intends to notify the Secretary of State for Social Security that Nigeria is a country undergoing significant upheaval for the purposes of enabling Nigerian nationals, whose application for political asylum in the United Kingdom is pending appeal, to a special adjudicator, to claim benefit; and if he will make a statement. [217]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The situation in Nigeria is being closely monitored, but my right hon. and learned Friend does not at present consider that it would justify his issuing such a notification. Under the proposals on which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security has been consulting, benefit entitlement arising from a notification in respect of a country would lapse at the point where an asylum claim was refused and would not continue during any appeal.

  Gambling
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to lift the ban covering the use of radio and television by the betting industry for the purpose of advertising its service. [502]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Restrictions on the advertising of betting and other forms of commercial gambling in the broadcast and non-broadcast media are under review. There will be full public consultation before any decisions are made.

  Mr. McAvoy
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of the impact of the national lottery on the betting industry; and if he will make a statement. [508]
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  Mr. Kirkhope
  We are monitoring off-course betting turnover in order to assess the impact of the national lottery on the horserace betting levy, and plan to report our findings to Parliament in the spring of 1996.

  Criminal Cases Review Commission
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to set up bodies to investigate miscarriages of justice. [407]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Work is already underway to establish the criminal cases review commission created by the Criminal Appeal Act 1995. It is expected to start work in the course of next year.

  Doncaster Prison
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will supply to the hon. Member for Don Valley copies of all the annual reports of the prison board of visitors in respect of Doncaster prison. [63]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The board of visitors appointed to Doncaster prison started its term of office in June 1994 when the prison was first opened. As annual reports are submitted after the end of the year to which the report refers, the board has therefore submitted only one annual report, for 1994. Its annual report for 1995 will not be due until spring 1996.

  Boards of visitors annual reports are not published documents. They are made to the Secretary of State who permits the board, if it wishes, to publish its report. In this case, the board has chosen not to publish. Instead it issued a press notice, a copy of which will be sent to the hon. Member.

  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he received the first annual report from the chairman of the board of visitors of Doncaster prison; and on what date this will be published by his Department. [403]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The board of visitors appointed to Doncaster prison started its term of office in June 1994 when the prison was first opened. As annual reports are submitted after the end of the year to which the report refers, the board has therefore submitted only on annual report, for 1994. This was received on 12 June 1995.

  Boards of visitors annual reports are not published documents. They are made to he Secretary of State who permits the board, if it wishes, to publish its report. In this case, the board has chosen not to publish. Instead it issued a press notice, a copy of which will be sent to the hon. Member.

  Prison Service
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department further to the letters of the director general to the hon. Member for Don Valley dated 24 and 26 October, on what basis Mr. Richard Tilt is authorised to sign himself as Director General of the Prison Service; and if he will make a statement. [53]

  Miss Widdecombe
  On the basis that, my right hon. and learned Friend, as he told the House on 16 October, has asked Mr. Tilt to take over temporarily as director general until a substantive appointment is made.
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  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the 137 full submissions referred to in the letter of resignation of Mr. Derek Lewis, the former Director General of the Prison Service, which the Prison Service was required to submit to his Department between October 1994 and January 1995, together with the name of the addressees; and if he will make a statement. [56]

  Miss Widdecombe
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 26 October,Official Report column 759.

DEFENCE

  Munitions (Dumping at Sea)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if his Department will list the weapons material dumped in Hurd Deep in the English channel; [613]

  (2) if his Department will give details of the sea dumping disposal programme conducted by his Department in the dumping site 400 miles south-west of Lands End; [614]

  (3) what records relating to chemical weapons and munitions dumping operations in Hurd Deep until 1973 and off the continental shelf until January 1993 exist in his Department. [615]

  Mr. Soames
  No chemical warfare munitions were disposed of at these sites. Details of sea disposals of CW munitions were provided in my previous answer of 20 October 1995,Official Report, col 387. In the immediate post war period approximately 25,000 tons of British and 50,000 tons of captured German conventional munitions were dumped at Hurd Deep but no record of subsequent dumping operations at this site until its use was discontinued in 1973 appear to have survived. Surviving records which have been identified to date show that between 1973 and 1985 up to 2,000 tons of conventional munitions were disposed of annually at the deep water dump site situated approximately 400 miles south west of Lands End, off the continental shelf. From 1985 until October 1992 when the sea dumping of munitions was terminated the annual disposals were as follows, 904 tons; 1,882 tons; 1,565 tons; 3,244 tons; 1,544 tons; 1,775 tons; 1,093 tons and 8,764 tons.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is his assessment of the legality of the 1976 emergency dump in Beaufort's dyke in relation to the Oslo convention for the prevention of marine pollution by dumping from ships and aircraft; [612]

  (2) if he will list the weapons material dumped during the 1976 emergency dump in Beaufort's dyke in the North sea. [611]

  Mr. Soames
  The emergency MOD disposal in 1976 involved two cases of heavily corroded 40mm shells. The emergency dumping of certain waste materials subject to the provisions of the Oslo convention is permissible if the waste in question cannot be disposed of on land without "unacceptable danger or damage". Given their recorded condition, the disposal of these munition items on land would have constituted such an "unacceptable danger".
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  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to monitor the chemical weapons and munitions dumping sites in the sea surrounding the British Isles. [610]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department has no plans to monitor disused munition dump sites.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the date of the last sea-dumping by his Department of surplus ordnance off the British Isles. [446]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department ceased all sea-dumping of conventional ammunition and explosive stocks in October 1992 in line with the OSPAR convention which came into force on 1 January 1993.

  Ships for Sale
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list all the(a) surface ships and (b) submarines currently on the market for sale by his Department. [462]

  Mr. Arbuthnot

  (a) Surface ships on the market for sale

  Leander Class Frigates

  HMS Sirius

  HMS Scylla

  HMS Hermione

  HMS Jupiter

  Bird Class Patrol Craft

  HMS Redpole

  HMS Cygnet

  HMS Kingfisher

  Ocean Going Tug

  RMAS Roysterer

  Dog Class Tugs

  RMAS Foxhound

  RMAS Labrador

  Fender Barge

  RMAS Pauline Elizabeth

  Girl Class Tug

  RMAS Daphne

  Triton Class Tug

  RMAS Nancy

  Fleet Tender

  RMAS Lydford

  Water Carrier

  RMAS Waterspout

  Various lighters and other small unnamed vessels

  (b) Submarines on the market for sale

  Upholder Class Submarines

  HMS Upholder

  HMS Unseen

  HMS Unicorn

  HMS Ursula

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  West Freugh Range
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the explosions, together with their dates, which have occurred at his Department's West Freugh military range in the last two years; [214]

  (2) what activities are carried out at his Department's West Freugh military range; [216]

  (3) if an investigation has been carried out into the explosion at his Department's West Freugh military range on 19 October; and if he will make a statement. [215]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  These matters are for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the chief executive, DERA to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Dr. David Clark, dated 20 November 1995:
  Your three questions regarding activities at the West Freugh range and the recent accidental explosion on 19 October have been passed to me to reply as Chief Executive of the Defence Research and Evaluation Agency (DERA) which includes the West Freugh site as part of the Defence Test and Evaluation Organisation (DTEO) division of the Agency. I am responding to all three questions in this letter.
  You asked for details of the activities carried out at the West Freugh site for a list of explosions that had occurred there in the last two years. The DTEO Weapons Range at West Freugh offers the capability to undertake weapon trials on a fully instrumented range with comprehensive customer support facilities. Trials can include both development and in-service activities in the fields of bombing, short range surface-to-air and air-to-surface missile firings, laser gun firings, weapon system designator, and explosive trials. There has been only one unplanned explosion at West Freugh in the last two years, that of 19 October 1995, in which two DERA personnel were injured.
  Your third question asked about an inquiry into the incident of 19 October. The Managing Director of DTEO has set up a formal Committee of Inquiry specifically to investigate the incident. This is currently gathering the detailed evidence to establish what happened and is making recommendations accordingly. We are also in touch with the Health and Safety Executive.

  Attack Helicopter
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the(a) current total estimated cost and in service date and (b) original total estimated cost and in service date of the Army's attack helicopter. [458]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The current total estimated cost of the attack helicopter programme is £2.5 billion and, at the same price base, is about £120 million more than the estimated total programme cost when the competitive tendering and assessment phase was approved in 1991. The preferred in service date at that time was December 1997 but the later date of December 1998 was included in the invitation to tender. Following the conclusion of the competition, the in service date is currently estimated as 2000. This remains subject to confirmation in the continuing contract negotiations.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the progress made on the development of the Army's attack helicopter. [445]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I receive regular updates on the progress of major programmes such as the attack helicopter. Following the selection of the WAH64 aircraft to meet the Army's requirement for an attack helicopter, contractual negotiations are continuing with Westland
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  Helicopters Ltd. Development of the McDonnell Douglas AH64D Longbow Apache for the US Army, on which the United Kingdom's aircraft will be based, has been completed and the production phase has been approved.

  Departmental Running Costs
  Mr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage saving of total running costs his Department expects to save in the next two financial years. [457]

  Mr. Soames
  The MOD's operating costs plans are set out in the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1995", table 13, page 137

  F22 Aircraft
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has had with representatives from Lockheed Martin concerning the purchase of F22 aircraft. [1464]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  None.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the purchase of American F22 aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [466]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  We are not considering the purchase of American F22 aircraft.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the reports received from(a) his Departmental staff or (b) his independent advisers concerning the purchase leasing of F22 aircraft from America. [465]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  My right hon. Friend has received no such reports.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of complaints received from the borders region about tactical low flying sorties over the area over the past five years. [443]

  Mr. Soames
  The numbers of complaints and inquiries about military low flying received by my Department over the past five years from low flying areas 16 and 20T, which cover the borders area, are as follows:

  1991: 291

  1992: 486

  1993: 583

  1994: 599

  11995: 774

  1Up to 31 October 1995.

  European Court of Justice
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it is his Department's policy to obey European Court judgments. [456]

  Mr. Soames
  The United Kingdom courts would give effect to the judgments of the European Court of Justice or the court of first instance as necessary and my Department would, of course, obey them.
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TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Employment Disputes
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for taking forward the proposals contained in the Green Paper "Resolving Employment Rights Disputes: Options for Reform" [1275]

  Mr. Lang
  A large number of responses to the Green Paper was received and the Government have given careful consideration to all views submitted. Most of the Green Paper proposals were widely supported and accordingly the Government have decided to implement them.

  The Government continue to believe that employment disputes should, where possible, be resolved in-house through employers' own procedures. However, they recognise the reservations expressed by many responding to the Green Paper that the proposal to require employees to attempt to resolve disputes with their employers before being able to make an application to an industrial tribunal might lead to increased delays and complexity in tribunal procedures, rather than alleviating them. The Government have decided not to take forward this proposal.

  The Government also recognise the concerns voiced about the proposals to require chairmen to sit alone, without lay members, in certain cases and have decided not to introduce any such statutory requirement. However, the Government are minded to extend the existing discretion for chairmen to sit alone where they consider this appropriate for certain technical cases, such as the determination of entitlement to redundancy payments.

  The Government believe that the remaining proposals will, when implemented, make a significant contribution to easing the burdens facing the industrial tribunals. Some of the proposals will be modified in the light of responses to the Green Paper, and where necessary further informal consultation will be carried out with interested parties. Detailed proposals will he brought forward when a suitable legislative opportunity arises.

  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has undertaken a separate review and is considering the implications of the responses for that jurisdiction.

  Patents (Genetic Research)
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consideration he has given to the establishment of limits to the patentability of life; what plans he has to exclude human, animal and plant tissue from patentability; and if he will make a statement. [621]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Patents are granted only for inventions which meet the statutory requirements of novelty, inventive step and industrial applicability. A patent would not be granted for any invention, the publication or exploitation of which would generally be expected to encourage offensive, immoral or anti-social behaviour. Apart from the exclusion of plant and animal varieties from patentability, inventions involving human, animal or plant material have to satisfy the same criteria as other inventions. The Government agree with the view of the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee in its recent report on human genetics that
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  there is a role for patenting in the application of the results of genetic research. We have no plans to change the law in this respect.

  Ministerial Travel, London
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many times in the last year he has used the London underground while on official business; [361]

  (2) how many times in the last year he has used London Transport buses while on official business. [576]

  Mr. Lang
  None.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Acts of Parliament
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the Acts of Parliament and consolidation Acts that affect local government that have been introduced by his Department since January 1994. [26]

  Mr. Freeman
  No Acts of Parliament or consolidated Acts that affect local government have been introduced by my Department since January 1994.

TREASURY

  Correspondence
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 25 September ref. 0595/43 concerning a constituent. [219]

  Mr. Jack
  I am considering the hon. Member's letter and hope to reply soon.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Courts (Congestion)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what measures he proposes to alleviate congestion in the courts. [519]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Court sittings in the Crown and county courts are being maintained at a level above that required to deal with incoming work. For example the Crown Court plans to sit 90,000 days this year, the highest on record. As a result, the number of outstanding cases is the lowest in over five years.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received about the grant of legal aid to the seemingly wealthy. [520]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  There were 50 responses to the consultation exercise held earlier this year on the grants of legal aid to the apparently wealthy. Since that time there have been 14 inquiries on this issue from Members of Parliament or the public.
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  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what new proposals he has to improve the legal aid system. [521]

  Mr. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor published a Green Paper on the future of legal aid in May. Over 180 responses have been received. These are being analysed. A series of meetings are being arranged with some of the major respondents to allow them to expand on their views. The Lord Chancellor intends to make an announcement on the outcome of the consultation process in the new year.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement as to the level of the legal aid budget in each of the last three years. [522]

  Mr. Taylor
  Net expenditure on legal aid in each of the last three years was as follows, £1.1 billion, £1.2 billion and £1.3 billion. This represents an increase in expenditure of 19 per cent. over the three-year period.

  During the same period the number of people helped rose from 3.3 million to 3.5 million, an increase of 6 per cent.

  Civil Justice Review
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what improvements are planned following the civil justice review. [523]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Lord Chancellor has welcomed the improvements recommended in Lord Woolf's review of civil justice and implementation of some has already begun. He recently announced his decision to increase the small claims arbitration limit from £1,000 to £3,000.

  Trials (Press Coverage)
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what consideration he has given to press coverage of trials. [512]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The administration of justice should, so far as possible, be public. Subject to certain statutory safeguards, including the law relating to contempt of court, the coverage of trials is a matter for the press itself.

  House Conveyances
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many house conveyances were registered by the Land Registry offices in each of the past five years. [518]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  Statistics relating to house conveyances are not separately maintained by the Land Registry. During the five years in question, transfers of all property, including house conveyances, registered by the Land Registry have remained consistent within the range of 1.4 to 1.6 million. Currently, approximately 88 per cent. of transfers relate to residential property.
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OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Pledging Conference
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what pledges the Government re-affirmed on spending for least developed countries at the UN's intergovernmental meeting; and if he will make a statement. [220]

  Mr. Hanley
  The UN pledging conference for operational activities for development took place in New York on 1 and 2 November. In common with many other donor countries, the United Kingdom made no pledges.

  Aid Statistics
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of GNP the United Kingdom has spent in aid to the least developed countries in the last three years for which figures are available; and if he will list the countries. [223]

  Mr. Hanley
  The information requested is as follows:PROPORTION OF UNITED KINGDOM GNP SPENT IN OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE TO LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES (LLDCs)

  Percentage of UK GNP to LLDCs1

  1991: 0.10

  1992:0.10

  1993: 0.08

  The countries defined as least developed in the period covered were:

  Afghanistan

  Bangladesh

  Benin

  Bhutan

  Botswana

  Burkina Faso

  Burma

  Burundi

  Cambodia

  Cape Verde Islands

  Central African Republic

  Chad

  Comoros

  Djibouti

  Equatorial Guinea

  Ethiopia

  Gambia

  Guinea

  Guinea-Bissau

  Haiti

  Kiribati

  Laos

  Lesotho

  Liberia

  Madagascar

  Malawi

  Maldive Republic

  Mali

  Mauritania

  Mozambique

  Nepal

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  Niger

  Rwanda

  Sao Tome and Principe

  Sierra Leone

  Solomon Islands

  Somalia

  Sudan

  Tanzania

  Togo

  Tuvalu

  Uganda

  Vanuatu

  Western Samoa

  Yemen

  Zaire

  Zambia

  Note

  1Comprises bilateral expenditure and imputed multilateral flows, i.e. making allowances for contributions through multilateral organisations, calculated using the geographical distribution disbursements for the year of reference.

  Source

  OECD-DAC chairmans report.

  Primary Education
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to increase his Department's expenditure on primary education programmes. [221]

  Mr. Hanley
  Individual country aid strategies are agreed with the countries concerned, in accordance with their needs and priorities for United Kingdom assistance. The ODA's policy for support to education, formulated in 1994, lays emphasis on the provision of basic education, which includes primary education.

  In the last year, major new projects to support primary education have been agreed with: Malawi, £7.3 million; Pakistan, £7.9 million; and India, £46 million.

  Plans are currently being developed for further project support at the primary level in a number of countries. It is not possible to give exact levels of expenditure on primary education prior to their finalisation.

PRIME MINISTER

  Gulf War Syndrome
  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Prime Minister what consideration he is giving to the recent findings of the Select Committee on Defence in regard to Gulf war syndrome; what action he is taking and if he will make a statement.[110]

  The Prime Minister
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence will be considering the points made by the House of Commons Defence Committee very carefully and will reply formally in due course.
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  French Nuclear Tests
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what percentage of representations he has received on the French nuclear tests have supported the views of the Prime Minister and President Chirac. [349]

  The Prime Minister
  I have received a substantial number of representations expressing a range of views.

  Stonehenge
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Prime Minister who is responsible for co-ordinating Government policy concerning the future of the Stonehenge site. [376]

  The Prime Minister
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage.

  Nigeria
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a full statement of the conclusions reached at the Commonwealth Heads of Government conference regarding the situation of the Ogoni people and the death sentence on Mr. Saro-Wiwa. [985]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesham (Mr. Arnold) on 16 November,Official Report, columns 6–7.

  Acts of Parliament
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the Acts of Parliament and consolidation Acts that affect local government that have been introduced by his Department since January 1994. [47]

  The Prime Minister
  For these purposes my Office is part of the Cabinet Office (Office of Public Service). I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

  Ministerial Transport, London
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Prime Minister how many times in the last year he has used(a) London Buses and (b) London Underground while on official business [375]

  The Prime Minister
  I am not usually able to undertake such journeys.

  Duke of Windsor
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister what public records are held in respect of communications held between his predecessor and Mr. Mackenzie King, Prime Minister of Canada, about the marriage of the late Duke of Windsor; and if he will make a statement. [288]

  The Prime Minister
  Communications that concern the marriage of the late Duke of Windsor took place between the then Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Baldwin, and Mr. Mackenzie King in late 1936. Like all papers relating to the abdication, these are currently closed until 2037 by agreement between the then Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor in 1976. However, as with the generality of papers held for more than 30 years, these papers will be reviewed and, while it is expected that many will 26
  continue to to be sensitive for some time to come, it is not ruled out that it may be possible to release them earlier than 2037.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what consideration led to the decision not to release to the Public Record Office certain papers relating to the conduct of the Duke of Windsor during the second world war, as indicated in his answer of 3 November,Official Report, column 478; [342]

  (2) if copies of all communications this century between heads of state of other countries and the United Kingdom monarch are (a) lodged in the Public Record Office or (b) lodged exclusively in the royal archives; and whether all such documents are available for public inspection regardless of where they are lodged. [904]

  The Prime Minister
  Documents held by Government Departments are released to the Public Record Office after 30 years in accordance with the Public Records Acts 1958 and 1967, unless they meet criteria which allow them, with the Lord Chancellor's approval, to be withheld for longer. These criteria, which apply equally to records relating to the royal family, were recently revised and are set out in the White Paper on open government, Command Paper 2290 published in July 1993. Records withheld for longer than 30 years under the earlier criteria are being re-reviewed in the light of the revised criteria.

  Copies of communications belonging to the sovereign are lodged in the royal archives and access is a matter for the Keeper of the Royal Archives.

  Royal Family
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister to what extent his duty to act as the principal adviser to the Queen extends also to the Prince and Princess of Wales. [434]

  The Prime Minister
  Ministers may on occasions provide advice to other members of the royal family.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister what communications or discussions he has had in the past year with Prime Ministers of those countries where Her Majesty the Queen is also head of state about matters relating to the monarchy. [431]

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will make it his policy to introduce legislation further amending the Regency Act 1937; [433]

  (2) if he will make it his policy to introduce legislation to amend the Royal Marriages Act 1772; [432]

  (3) if he will make it his policy to introduce legislation to permit (a) the monarch and (b) heirs to the throne, to contract a morganatic marriage. [287]

  The Prime Minister
  No.

SCOTLAND

  Closed Circuit Television
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to extend the provision of closed circuit television to communities in Scotland on a
  27
  similar basis as the scheme presently operated in England; and if local authorities will be limited to asking for closed circuit television in respect of city or town centre locations. [341]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend announced last month that funding will be made available, starting in 1996–97, to extend the use of closed circuit television in Scottish communities. Details of the scheme will be announced later this year.

  Trunk Road Programme
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a starting date for work on(a) the A96 Kintore bypass and (b) the Keith, Blackburn and Tipperty bypasses. [340]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  My right hon. Friend will make clear his plans for the trunk road programme as soon as possible after the conclusions of this year's public expenditure survey.

HEALTH

  NHS Supplies Authority
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the report of the National Audit Office into the NHS supplies authority to be published. [203]

  Mr. Sackville
  Publication of this report is a matter for the Comptroller and Auditor-General.

  Cervical Smear Tests
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Berkshire family health services authority with respect to the provision of NHS and private cervical smear tests by the Boundary House GP practice in Bracknell, Berkshire; what is his Department's policy on GPs advocating private cervical smear tests which can be provided more frequently than NHS cervical smear tests; and if he will make a statement. [93]

  Mr. Sackville
  None. Guidelines issued by the Department of Health say that women aged between 20 and 64 years should be invited for cervical screening at least every five years. Berkshire health commission is complying fully with these guidelines by ensuring the Boundary House GP practice provides cervical screening on a five-yearly basis. Where women request more frequent screening, GPs will provide information on where this is available.

  Dental Services
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to make a statement on the progress of his talks with representatives of the dental profession to discuss the proposals announced in the Government's statement on NHS dentistry of 5 April,Official Report columns 1214–15, and when he will implement them; [94]

  (2) if he will estimate the cost of relating payments given to dentists to disease levels in children most in need as announced in the Government's statement on NHS
  28
  dentistry on 5 April; and how he is planning to meet this expected expenditure; [95]

  (3) if he expects to maintain the current levels of gross payment to dentists working in the NHS; and if he will make a statement; [96]

  (4) if he will estimate the selected costs and potential savings from the introduction of more rigorous prior approval procedures as announced in the Government's statement of NHS dentistry of 5 April; [97]

  (5) if he will estimate the number of patients who will he deregistered as a result of the proposals announced in the Government's statement of NHS dentistry of 5 April; [98]

  (6) if he plans to produce criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of any proposals announced in the Government's statement of NHS dentistry of 5 April that are implemented. [100]

  Mr. Malone
  The reform proposals I announced to the House on 5 April 1995 fall into two parts. For the longer term, the Government intend to introduce a system of local contracts between health authorities and dental practices. This requires primary legislation and would need to be carefully piloted and evaluated.

  For the medium term, the Government put forward measures to reform the current system. Discussions with the General Dental Services Committee on the detailed development of these proposals are making progress. We hope to move to implementation of the measures from 1 April 1996.

  The issue of relating payments to disease levels is one of those currently under discussion with the profession, as are the proposals for more rigorous prior approval. We would seek to minimise any additional administration costs arising from greater rigour. There is no reason why patients should be deregistered as a consequence of the reforms which are intended to create a secure and stable future for NHS dentistry. The proposals should lead to an increase in the number of children registered.

  The level of gross payments to dentists working in the NHS is determined by a number of factors, including the annual recommendation of the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body.

  The measures we hope to introduce in April are developments of the existing remuneration system for dentists rather than a new untried system. Nevertheless, we intend to keep their impact under close review.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with members of the dental profession concerning the development of the Community Dental Service as announced in the Government's statement on NHS dentistry of 5 April. [99]

  Mr. Malone
  We are currently discussing this issue with, among others, the joint negotiating forum for community dentistry at the British Dental Association.

  Leukaemia
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plan he has to hold an investigation into the incidence of leukaemia amongst children in the Pembroke
  29
  road area of Northampton; and if he has consulted the Northamptonshire health authority about this; [101]

  (2) what representations he has received from medical professionals and members of the public with regard to the incidence of leukaemia amongst children in the Pembroke road area of Northampton; [102]

  (3) what estimate he can give of the comparative incidence of leukaemia amongst children nationally and in the Pembroke road area of Northampton. [103]

  Mr. Sackville
  I understand that Northamptonshire health authority has been investigating the situation and expects to publish a progress report shortly. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Simon Schanschieff, chairman of the authority, for details.

  Administration Costs
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for (i) 1985, (ii) 1986, (iii) 1987 and (iv) 1988 expenditure on administration by health authorities. [104]

  Mr. Malone
  The expenditure on headquarters administration by health authorities in England for 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88 is shown in the table.

  £ thousands

  Expenditure

  1984–85

  416,173

  1985–86

  402,126

  1986–87

  434,739

  1987–88

  492,776

  Note:

  The figures represent the total revenue expenditure on pay and accommodation cost of staff of all disciplines and their support staff employed at headquarters levels. These figures are not comparable with those for later years as there have been changes in the roles and responsibilities of health authorities, together with changes in accounting policies.

  Source:

  The annual accounts of district and regional health authorities and the special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each year since 1985 Department's expenditure on administration costs. [105]

  Mr. Sackville
  Details of the Department's administration costs are provided in the Department's annual reports for 1992–93 to 1994–95, Cm 1913,1993– 94 to 1995–96, Cm 2212, and 1995–96 to 1997–98, Cm 2812 copies of which are available in the Library. Figures for the years 1986–87 to 1988–89 are an estimated apportionment to the Department of Health prior to the split of the DHSS in 1990–91. Department of Health administration costs are not available prior to 1986–87.

  Employment of Children
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the protection of child workers. [608]

  Mr. Bowis
  We have a comprehensive legal system in place to protect the health, welfare and education of children who work. I refer the hon. Member to the reply 30
  I gave my hon. Friend the Member of Gillingham (Mr. Couchman) on 30 October, Official Report, columns 42–43 detailing my recently announced proposals for some minor improvements to that system.

  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number of children working over 10 hours per week; and if he will make a statement. [609]

  Mr. Bowls
  Such information as is available centrally was published in the April 1995 edition of the Employment Gazette, copies of which are available in the Library.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Liable Relatives
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the number of claims for income support by liable relatives that ceased within four weeks of Department of Social Security action; and what were the annual benefit savings produced in(a) historic and (b) current prices as a result of these actions in each year since 1989. [624]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information is not available in the format requested.

  Income Support
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list(a) the number of income support claimants with deductions from benefit and (b) the average amount of deduction for each category of deduction for (i) 1988 and (ii) the latest date available adopting the figures contained in his Department's annual statistical inquiry. [622]

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

  Deduction2

  Number of claimants3

  Average amount £

  DEDUCTION FROM INCOME SUPPORT: 19881

  Electricity

  152,000

  9.22

  Gas

  152,000

  8.59

  Mortgage Interest

  7,000

  24.20

  Service charges for fuel and water included in rent

  18,000

  4.65

  Rent arrears and other housing costs

  94,000

  2.39

  Board and lodging direct

  10,000

  61.18

  Recovery of overpayment

  66,000

  3.40

  Social fund loan recovery

  31,000

  5.24

  Other deductions

  6,000

  4.56

  DEDUCTION FROM INCOME SUPPORT: 1994

  Electricity:

  Current charges only

  27,000

  8.62

  Including arrears4

  44,000

  11.99

  Gas:

  Current charges only

  36,000

  7.62

  Including arrears4

  185,000

  10.49

  Mortgage Interest:

  Current costs only5

  294,000

  32.23

  Arrears cases4

  137,000

  52.70

  31

  Deduction2

  Number of claimants3

  Average amount £

  Water and Sewerage:

  Current charges only

  22,000

  3.41

  Including arrears4

  217,000

  5.83

  Rent arrears and other housing costs:

  Current charges only

  14,000

  58.82

  Including arrears4

  151,000

  4.90

  Community charge higher arrears only

  27,000

  3.59

  Community charge lower arrears only

  432,000

  2.29

  Council tax arrears only

  33,000

  2.30

  Fines recovery

  8,000

  2.30

  Child support

  34,000

  2.33

  Recovery of overpayment

  115,000

  4.09

  Social fund loan recovery

  663,000

  6.37

  Notes:

  1Figures for 1988 include cases with deductions for current charges plus those with deductions for arrears.

  2Claimants can have more than one type of deduction.

  3Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  4This category includes cases with current cost deductions.

  5Debt in mortgage interest cases not a prerequisite for deductions to occur.

  Source:

  "Income Support Statistics Annual Enquiry 1988" and "Quarterly Enquiry November 1994"

  Child Support
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what facilities there are for newly separated couples to draw up an amicable and binding child maintenance agreement without the involvement of the Child Support Agency in cases where neither party is a recipient of income support, family credit or disability working allowance. [625]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  All such couples are free to do so.

  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the level of child support would be in 1995 if it had been uprated in line with prices since 1965. [1058]

  Mr. Mitchell
  The information is in the table.

  First child £

  Second child £

  Third child £

  Under age 11

  9.16

  11.98

  12.58

  Aged 11–15

  11.17

  13.89

  14.60

  Aged 16 and over

  13.19

  15.91

  16.61

  1. The amounts quoted are those which would have been payable from April 1995. 2. The table shows the combined value of child tax allowance and family allowance and assumes payment of tax at the standard rate

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent examinations of child support systems within the United States of America. [620]

  Mr. Mitchell
  This is a matter for the United States' federal and state Governments.
  32

  Child Support Agency
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many employees of the Child Support Agency have(a) been dismissed and (b) faced other disciplinary action from each office of the Child Support Agency indicating the month and year that such action was taken for (i) the improper use of confidential information and (ii) other improper behaviour. [623]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Child Benefit
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what total gross and net savings in 1995–96 resulted from not uprating child benefit in line with prices since 1979. [444]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  If child benefit had been uprated annually in line with the retail prices index and with the normal rounding to the nearest 5p, the April 1979 rate-£4.00 per week per child-would be £10.85 from April 1995. It is estimated that the total savings in 1995–96 from paying £10.40 for the eldest qualifying child and £8.45 for each other child, instead of £ 10.85 for every child, are about £900 million. The corresponding net savings, after allowing for normal adjustments to other benefits are around £650 million.

  Extra help has been made available to less well-off families since 1988 through the income-related benefits. This will be worth around £1.2 billion in 1995–96. The overall expenditure on families has increased by 121 per cent. in real terms between 1978–79 and 1995–96.

TRANSPORT

  Search and Rescue Helicopters
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what new assessment he has made of the safety implications of the changes made in the past year in the helicopter search and rescue service. [355]

  Mr. Norris
  The only change in search and rescue helicopter provision in the past year has been the withdrawal of the Royal Navy helicopter at Portland and its replacement, on a temporary basis, by a coastguard helicopter. This has no adverse implications for safety. At the same time, we have established an inter-departmental helicopter review group to examine the national requirement for helicopters for search and rescue, and how this might most effectively and efficiently be met, as part of an integrated approach to search and rescue. The group is due to report to Ministers in the new year.

  Drowning Incident
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport following the drowning of Pamela Drew on Sunday 5 November at Musselwick, Marloes, Pembrokeshire, if he will list the times(a) the coastguard was informed of the emergency, (b) Littlehaven lifeboat was informed, (c) Chivenor SAR helicopter was informed, (d) Littlehaven lifeboat was launched, (e) Chivenor SAR helicopter took off, (f) Littlehaven lifeboat spotted casualties, (g) Littlehaven lifeboat got casualties on board,

  33
  (h) of the arrival of Chivenor SAR helicopter over lifeboat, (i) casualties were winched on board the helicopter and (j) of the arrival of casualties at Withybush hospital, Haverfordwest. [905]

  Mr. Norris
  I have asked the chief executive of the Coastguard Agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from C. J. Harris to Mr. Nick Ainger, dated 20 November 1995:
  The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the drowning of Pamela Drew on Sunday 5 November at Musselwick, Marloes, Pembrokeshire.

  The times given are in Universal Co-ordinated Time (UTC)

  (a) 1654

  (b) 1656

  (c) 1656

  (d) 1702

  (e) 1703

  (f) not recorded

  (g) 1724

  (h) 1733

  (i) 1738

  (j) 1745

  Abnormal Loads
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what financial arrangements are made when abnormal loads are moved on motorways. [343]

  Mr. Watts
  The suitability of any route for the movement of an abnormal load has to be notified and cleared by the highways authorities and police forces involved. The vehicle operator or his employer is required to meet the cost of any surveys of structures involved, any strengthening required, and in some cases, for the provision of police escorts.

  Bull Bars
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the danger of bull bars from(a) coroners, (b) industry, (c) road safety organisations and (d) the public. [353]

  Mr. Norris
  The number of representation the Department has received over the past two years is as follows:

  Coroners

  Industry

  Road safety organisations

  Public

  1994

  0

  0

  0

  64

  1995

  0

  19

  5

  364

  Acts of Parliament
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the Acts of Parliament including consolidation Acts that affect local government that have been introduced by his Department since January 1994. [36]
  34
  Mr. Norris
  Schedule 6 to the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Bill, which was introduced by my right hon. Friend's predecessor on 23 November 1994, modifies the functions of planning authorities in relation to development authorised by part I of the Bill

  Consolidation Bills are a responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friends the Lord Chancellor and the Attorney-General

  Ministerial Transport, London
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times in the last year he has used(a) London Buses and (b) London Underground while on official business. [414]

  Sir George Young
  I travel on London Transport buses and on the London Underground both as a constituency MP and in a personal capacity. For short journeys in London, I often walk.

  East London Line (Correspondence)
  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will answer the letters from the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford, of 18 October, 26 October, 30 October and 9 November concerning the closure of the East London Line. [200]

  Mr. Norris
  I replied to the letters of 18 October, 26 October and 30 October on 13 November. A reply to the hon. Member's letter of 9 November will follow shortly.

  Ministerial Travel (British Rail)
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times in the last year he has used British Rail while on official business. [420]

  Sir George Young
  I travel regularly to work by British Rail and I have used British Rail in the course of nine official visits since July this year.

  Road Traffic (Driving Instruction by Disabled Persons) Act
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons the Road Traffic (Driving Instruction by Disabled Persons) Act 1993 has not fully been brought into force; and when he intends to do so. [199]

  Mr. Norris
  It has not been possible to bring this Act into force because the implementing regulations and related amendments to other regulations have proved more complex than was expected. I am pleased to be able to say that the difficulties have been resolved and we now intend to make the regulations to enable the Act to come into force in the first half of next year.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Set Aside
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has to ensure that set-aside land contributes a greater benefit to the environment. [351]
  35
  Mr. Baldry
  Proposals have recently been agreed that allow land removed from production under agri-environmental and forestry schemes to count against set-aside requirements; this will allow longer term environmental gains.

  Fisheries Council
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of the European Union Fisheries Council, held on 15 November listing all votes, and all decisions which were determined by unanimity or without dissension. [436]

  Mr. Baldry
  The Fisheries Council which was to have been held on 15 November was cancelled, following successful negotiations at official level on fish guide prices for 1996.

  Agriculture Council
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of the European Union Agriculture Council, held on 13 to 14 November listing all votes, and all decisions which were determined by unanimity or without dissension. [437]

  Mr. Baldry
  The Agriculture Council meeting scheduled for 13 and 14 November did not take place. It has been re-scheduled for 29 and 30 November. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will report to the House on its outcome in the usual way.

  Common Agriculture Policy
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has to recoup moneys lost in fraud and mismanagement of the CAP in Britain. [350]

  Mr. Baldry
  EC finance regulations place an obligation on all member states to recover sums of money lost as a result of irregularities or negligence. The Government take their responsibilities very seriously and every effort is made to effect recovery from CAP beneficiaries where it is established that they are in receipt of money to which they were not entitled.

WALES

  Welsh Development Agency
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency concerning the revenue shortfall in the land and buildings assets sales programme agreed with the agency; and if he will recalculate the grant-in-aid level to take account of the shortfall in(a) the remainder of this financial year and (b) 1996–97; [1053]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the Welsh Development Agency's announcement of a suspension of all expenditure other than direct inward investment programmes for the remainder of the financial year. [1052]
  36
  Mr. Hague
  I regularly meet the chairman of the Welsh Development Agency to discuss a wide range of issues.

  The agency has decided to adjust its programmes in line with its priorities to take account of the lower than anticipated level of receipts this financial year.

  Grant-in-aid to the agency for 1995–96 was determined last year along with my Department's commitments to other Welsh programmes. I will be announcing the position on all Welsh programmes for 1996–97 in December.

  Fish Passes
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Wales region of the National Rivers Authority in relation to the provision of effective fish passes for migratory salmonid and other fish on the weirs on the lower reaches of the River Taff. [1051]

  Mr. Hague
  None. Fish passes at Radyr weir, Blackweir and the design for the Cardiff barrage fish pass have each received my Department's approval.

  South East Wales Ambulance Trust
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what consultations he has had with the chairman of the South East Wales ambulance trust concerning incidents in which Mercedes-Benz Wadham Stringer ambulances have rolled over at low speeds and the removal of all such vehicles in the trust fleet from road duty since 8 November pending a determination of the mechanical explanation for the incidents; [1055]

  (2) if he will set up an inquiry into the Mercedes-Benz Wadham Stringer ambulance models used by the South East Wales ambulance trust for the past 18 months and removed from the road since the night of Wednesday, 8 November and if he will make a statement. [1054]

  Mr. Hague
  This is an operational matter for the trust which has already taken action to ensure the safety of the ambulance fleet.

  Emergency Admissions
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he proposes to ensure that there are no further closures of emergency admissions to hospitals in West Glamorgan; on how many occasions emergency admissions have been closed since July; how many patients have been refused admission; and if he will make a statement. [218]

  Mr. Richards
  Hospitals in West Glamorgan have closed to medical emergencies on 44 occasions since the beginning of July. However, no patient has been refused treatment.

  This is a matter between the West Glamorgan health authority and local trusts. This issue will be discussed between NHS representatives and the Department shortly when it is hoped that an agreement can be reached on an approach to minimise the risk to patient services both over the coming winter and in the longer term.
  37

  Students' Living Standards
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will call for a report to be conducted on the living standards of undergraduate students in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [616]

  Mr. Hague
  No. The Department for Education and Employment has recently commissioned a survey of student income and expenditure to take place in the current academic year. The survey will be based on a representative sample of full-time home students on higher education courses below postgraduate level at publicly funded institutions in the United Kingdom. The report of the survey's findings will be published in due course.

  Inward Investment Shares
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of jobs created by inward investment in the United Kingdom in each of the past three years are now located in Wales. [345]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The forecast job creation in Wales as a percentage of the United Kingdom total from inward investment by overseas owned companies in the past three years continues to be greater than our proportion of the United Kingdom population at about 13 per cent. in 1992-93, and almost 13 per cent. in 1993–94. In 1994–95 the figure was 8 per cent. These percentages are based upon information provided by companies at the time of the decision to invest and take no account of any subsequent decisions.

  St. David's Day
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received to make St. David's day a bank holiday in Wales, and what response he has made to them. [354]

  Mr. Hague
  I have received a number of representations on this matter. In each case I have advised that Government have no plans to designate St. David's day a public holiday in Wales.

  Roadside Signs
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to allow rural holiday businesses to display small roadside advertising boards where it is safe and useful for the business's economic viability; and if he will make a statement. [617]

  Mr. Hague
  My Department has circulated proposals for extending the range of businesses eligible to apply for white on brown directional signs to include all establishments which are considered likely to be used by tourists. We are considering comments received and hope to make an announcement soon.

  Civil Service Jobs
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new proposals he has to increase and safeguard the number of civil service jobs in Wales. [352]
  38
  Mr. Hague
  The number of civil service jobs in Wales, as elsewhere in the United Kingdom, will be those required for the effective and efficient implementation of Government policies and services.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Nursery Voucher Scheme
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what mechanism she proposes to claw back standard spending assessment from local authorities to fund the nursery voucher scheme. [1057]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The SSA deduction mechanism proposed is cash neutral for all authorities, provided that the schools that they maintain continue to recruit four-year-olds at present levels.

  The sum deducted in 1997–98 will be the product of the voucher value and the number of four-year-olds in maintained provision in 1995–96, taking into account termly variations in attendance. This is only part of total LEA expenditure on under-fives; authorities can continue to spend above the voucher value on full or part-time places for four-year-olds, and on three-year-olds, as they judge appropriate.

  The views of local government as a whole will be taken into account in the usual way in determining changes to funding methodology in 1997–98.

  Drug Education
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made as to which projects on illegal drug education in Britain have resulted in a decrease in drug use. [347]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The 16 innovative drug education and prevention projects supported under the Department's grants for education support and training programme in 1995–96 will be independently evaluated. In addition, the Office for Standards in Education is undertaking a specific study of provision for drug education in schools during this academic year. This will take account of existing research findings on effective drug education and will establish evidence on best practice.

  Education Council
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the voting record of each member state on items agreed at the meeting of the European Community's Education Council held on 23 October; and if she will make it her practice to include details of all votes, including where there have been no votes, in the future. [441]

  Mr. Forth
  No formal votes were taken at the 23 October Education Council. A record of votes taken at Education Councils is generally given in the Council secretariat press release. I shall arrange for a copy of the press release about the 23 October Council to be deposited in the Library. Press releases relating to future Councils will be deposited as soon as they are available.
  39

  School Sports Fields (Sales)
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the value of land sold by local authorities formerly used as school sports fields. [509]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The information requested is not held centrally.

ENVIRONMENT

  Ministerial Transport
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many times in the last year he has used the London underground while on official business. [574]

  Mr. Gummer
  None.

  Gritting Lorries
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of local authority gritting lorries; and if he will make a statement. [1040]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  This information is not held centrally.

  Local Government (Legislation)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the Acts of Parliament and consolidation Acts that affect local government that have been introduced by his Department since January 1994. [40]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The following Acts that affect local government have been introduced by the Department of the Environment since January 1994:

  The Environment Act 1995

  The Town and County Planning (Costs of Inquiries etc) Act 1995

  Local Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Barry Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much the Isle of Wight council has borrowed from his Department for the costs of setting up the unitary authority; what are the terms of these loans; and when they have to be repaid. [15]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Department does not lend money to authorities. We have introduced a scheme that, through the issue of supplementary credit approvals, allows local authorities to borrow from normal sources—Public Works Loans Board, money markets, for example—to cover one-off transitional costs of local government reorganisation. To date, the Isle of Wight council has been informed that the Department is prepared to issue SCAs to the value of £1.74 million in respect of eligible costs under the transitional costs scheme. Records are not held centrally on the terms and conditions of loans taken out by local authorities.

  Land Government Finance
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to report on the 40
  progress of the review of the calculation of the area cost adjustment in the standard spending assessment. [19]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The local authority associations are co-operating with us in carrying out the review. We and they are identifying the team which will conduct the review. It is our intention to seek a report of the review by June 1996. This would allow discussion and consideration of any possible changes to our current methodology in time for the 1997–98 settlement.

  Mr. Alfred Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to change the area cost adjustment element of standard spending assessments; and if he will make a statement. [106]

  Mr. Curry
  We have no plans to change the present methodology by which we calculate the area cost adjustment until we have a robust system to put in its place.

  On 16 October, I proposed to the local authority associations an independent review of the adjustment. The aim is to establish a method of carrying out the adjustment which commands the widest degree of acceptance among authorities in all parts of the country, has a sound conceptual basis and is practical to apply.

  The review will be steered by a leading academic together with someone knowledgeable about local government finance, nominated by the local authority associations, and someone familiar with central Government processes, nominated by the Secretary of State. I hope we shall soon be able to announce who those people will be.

  Research will be commissioned to assist the review in its work. We shall seek a report from the review in June 1996.

  Local Authority Homes (Sales)
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the total number of local authority homes now sold in the United Kingdom, giving the total amount of money raised since 1983; and if he will make a statement. [453]

  Mr. Clappison
  In England, about 1.1 million local authority homes were sold for owner-occupation between January 1983 and June 1995. The money raised from those sales, after lending for council house purchase, is estimate to he over f16 billion.

  In addition, there were more than 200,000 local authority sales to housing associations and other types of ownership in the same period. Information on the value of these sales before October 1988 is not available, but the net receipts of the 188,000 sales after this date is some £1.6 billion.

  For information on sales elsewhere in the United Kingdom, I refer the hon. Member to the Secretaries of State for Wales, for Scotland and for Northern Ireland.

  Tenancies (Legislation)
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations his Department has received concerning his proposals to amend legislation
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  following the consultation in 1994 on access to local authority and housing association tenancies. [357]

  Mr. Curry
  There has been a steady flow of correspondence about different aspects of the policy since we announced in July 1994 our decision to proceed with legislation.

  Unfit Properties
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate for each county in the United Kingdom the number of unfit properties, together with the distribution of these properties by tenure; and if he will make a statement. [455]

  Mr. Clappison
  Local authorities in England are requested to provide information on dwellings in their area which are unfit—that is, fail to meet all the fitness criteria in section 83 of schedule 9 to the 1989 Local Government and Housing Act—in their annual housing investment programme returns. Separate figures are requested for local authority, housing association, other public sector and private sector dwellings. The figures provided are local authorities' own estimates and are not necessarily compiled on a consistent basis.

  The reported estimates for 1 April 1994, the latest date for which figures are available, are given in the 1994 "HIP1 All Items Print", a copy of which is in the Library. The print includes county totals where estimates have been provided by all the authorities in the county.

  For information for the rest of the United Kingdom I would refer the hon. Member to the Secretaries of State for Scotland, for Wales and for Northern Ireland.

  Homelessness
  Mrs. Maddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide a breakdown of the number of people who were accepted as statutorily homeless in the United Kingdom over the last 16 years by(a) sex, (b) age group and (c) ethnic group; and if he will make a statement. [451]

  Mr. Clappison
  The information requested is not available.

  Refuse (Transport and Disposal)
  Mr. Dover
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what legal prohibitions relate to the transport and disposal of refuse from the Isle of Man to the United Kingdom. [1056]

  Mr. Clappison
  In May 1994, the United Kingdom became a party to the Basel convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal. The Isle of Man is not yet a party to the convention. Shipments of waste between parties and non-parties to the convention are prohibited, except where covered by a bilateral, multilateral or regional agreement or arrangement complying with article 11 of the convention.

  Imports of waste from the Isle of Man into the United Kingdom for disposal are therefore currently prohibited. The British Government and the Government of the Isle of Man are in the process of concluding a bilateral agreement, under article 11 of the convention, which
  42
  would allow imports into the United Kingdom of specific hazardous wastes for which the Isle of Man lacks suitable disposal facilities.

  Waste may also be transported for recovery purposes. The OECD decision concerning the control of transfrontier movements of wastes destined for recovery operations constitutes a multilateral agreement for the purpose of article 11 of the Basel convention. Both the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man are covered by the OECD decision. Shipments of waste for recovery between the Isle of Man and the United Kingdom are therefore allowed, subject to the relevant control regime prescribed in the OECD decision.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to ensure that persons from abroad who are registered with the Home Department as asylum seekers, and who have no entitlement to benefits, will not have access to publicly-funded housing assistance. [1536]

  Mr. Curry
  Under the Government's proposals for fairer access to local authority and housing association tenancies, persons from abroad who have no entitlement to benefits will be eligible neither for assistance under the homelessness legislation nor to register on a local housing authority waiting list. This includes people who have sought asylum after entry to United Kingdom, and those whose applications for asylum have been refused by the Home Secretary. We intend to bring forward legislation to implement our proposals in the new parliamentary Session.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  National Lottery
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations she has received about regional disparities in the allocation of funds arising from the national lottery. [494]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The national lottery has captured the imagination of the country. I have received some letters from people who want to help ensure widespread distribution of lottery funding. We are committed to ensuring that the whole country benefits from the great success of the lottery.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans she has to ensure a more equitable distribution of national lottery money throughout the United Kingdom. [496]

  Mrs. Bottomley
  Every region in the United Kingdom has benefited. Over 3,000 awards have been made from the lottery in the first eight months of distribution.

  The geographical spread of awards will be kept under review. There should not be envy of the major awards in the hon. Lady's constituency.

  Mr. Janner
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will review the arrangements for the national lottery. [499]
  43
  Mrs. Bottomley
  The national lottery is working extremely well; the number of people playing and the money being raised for the good causes has exceeded everybody's expectations.

  The lottery will be kept under review. I recently announced the millennium award scheme which will allow us to invest in people's talent to provide a spring board for the nation's success in the next millennium.

  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much revenue the national lottery has generated for good causes. [503]

  Mrs. Bottomley
  Over £1.2 billion has been raised for the five good causes because the national lottery is successful. No other lottery in the world has raised so much so quickly.

  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans she has for amending legislation to enable national lottery money to be used for other than capital purposes; and if she will make a statement. [504]

  Mrs. Bottomley
  National lottery funding is already available for other than capital purposes.

  The National Charities Board makes revenue grants available to caring charities

  The millennium award scheme will invest in people's talent.

  Mr. Alan W. Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment she has made of the benefits to poorer sections of the community of disbursements of proceeds from the national lottery. [506]

  Mrs. Bottomley
  National lottery proceeds in the areas of the five good causes are being distributed to thousands of projects that are benefiting many poorer sections of the community. They are helping to bring whole communities together, raise morale and enthusiasm and improve the quality and opportunity of people's lives. Capital spending generates jobs.

  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement about the first year's operations of the national lottery. [510]

  Mrs. Bottomley
  The national lottery has been an outstanding success in its first year

  Thirty million people play and enjoy a harmless flutter every week with the result that over £1.2 billion of new money has been raised for the five good causes

  More than £720 million has been awarded to over 3,000 projects throughout the country so far. We are investing unprecedented sums in this country's sport and culture which will benefit people into the next millennium. It will provide a huge boost to regeneration, creating jobs and economic prosperity.
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  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much money she estimates will be contributed to charities and good causes by the national lottery in a full year. [505]

  Mrs. Bottomley
  Between £1.4 billion and £1.6 billion will be available for the good causes, including caring charities, in the current financial year.

  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many good causes have been awarded funds from the national lottery in Wales. [497]

  Mrs. Bottomley
  Two hundred and fifty national lottery awards, covering all five good causes, and totalling £26,701,388 have been awarded in Wales.

  My hon. Friend will be pleased to hear that the Millennium Commission has today made an award in Wales: £146,500 for the church community hall in Sully.

  School Children (Arts)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what measures are proposed to ensure that all school children are introduced to a major opera or ballet production during their school years. [495]

  Mr. Sproat
  All of the opera and ballet companies in receipt of public subsidy are developing extensive education programmes aimed specifically at opening up their work to children at school. As part of an initiative recently announced by my right hon. Friend, I am about to consult widely on ways in which the Government and others can help to make the arts even more accessible.

  Opera Subsidies
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is his latest estimate of the subsidy paid out of public funds for each seat at opera performances in England. [498]

  Mr. Sproat
  The most recent available figures are for 1994–95, when the average subsidy per seat, for those opera companies funded by the Arts Council of England, was £25.57.

  Government Art Collection
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will estimate the value of works of art added to the Government art collection in lieu of inheritance tax over the past five years. [501]

  Mr. Sproat
  The Government art collection has not been allocated any works of art accepted in lieu of inheritance tax over the past five years.

  BBC Transmitters
  Mr. Olner
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans she has for the privatisation of BBC transmitters. [507]

  Mr. Sproat
  We are considering the options for the future of the BBC's transmission services and will announce our decision shortly.