Written Answers of 23 November 1995

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Social Security Payments
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the total cost to public funds of increasing in line with earnings all social security payments that have never been upgraded from the date when they were announced. [704]

  Mr. Burt
  The estimated gross cost is around £1.8 billion at April 1995 prices, rounded to the nearest £100 million.

  Fraud
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the contribution to the decline in detected savings in tackling organised methods of payment fraud of(a) a real reduction in fraud and (b) a decline in the detection of fraud. [1105]

  Mr. Heald
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 26 October 1995,Official Report, column 800.

  There is no evidence that investigation work is less successful, and we believe that the reduction in savings is directly attributable to the preventive measures that we have put in place to prevent and deter instrument of payment fraud.

  Child Support Agency
  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update his answer of 13 June 1995,Official Report, column 492, in respect of benefit savings achieved by the Child Support Agency. [1093]

  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 Miss Ann Chant to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 22 November 1995:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about benefit savings.

  Month

  Good Cause Accepted

  Absent Parent Named

  Good cause not Accepted

  Reduced Benefit Direction Implemented

  Investigations Completed

  April

  2,172

  490

  3,035

  2,361

  5,697

  May

  3,119

  862

  4.212

  2,868

  8,193

  June

  3,133

  1,584

  4,573

  2,346

  9,290

  July

  3,289

  1,986

  4,018

  2,011

  9,293

  August

  3,341

  2,004

  4,331

  2,363

  9,676

  September

  3,523

  2,312

  4,024

  2,367

  9,859

  Total

  18,577

  9,238

  24,193

  14,316

  52,008

  230
  The table attached covers April to September this year. It shows that the Agency has recorded savings of approximately £195.03 million. The total does not cover Housing Benefit and Council Tax benefit savings which will be calculated later in the year.

  Amount

  Category of benefit savings

  £ million

  Resulting from pre-CSA assessments:

  Paid through Agency collection service to Secretary of State

  1.57

  Resulting from CSA and pre-CSA assessments:

  Paid direct by Absent Parent to Parent with Care

  65.69

  Resulting from CSA assessments:

  Paid through Agency collection service to Secretary of State

  30.16

  Deductions from Absent Parents' Income support payments

  4.18

  Income Support claim cessations:

  Income Support exceeded rate of benefit

  4.30

  Income Support claim withdrawn within four weeks of CSA action

  80.99

  Reductions in Family credit or Disability Working Allowance resulting from CSA assessments

  8.14

  Housing Benefit/Council tax reductions resulting from CSA assessments

  Not available

  Total

  195.03

  Ms Lynne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update the monthly breakdown of requirement to co-operate decisions contained in his answer of 26 October 1995,Official Report, columns 805–6, in respect of the Child Support Agency, to include the figures from April 1995 to the most recent month for which figures are available. [1098]

  Mr. 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 Miss Ann Chant to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 22 November 1995:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about requirement to co-operate decisions.
  You asked for an update of the monthly breakdown of requirement to co-operate decisions contained in his Answer of 26th October 1995, Official Report, columns 805–6, in respect of the Child Support Agency, to include the figures from April 1995 to the most recent month for which figures are available.
  The table below provides a breakdown of the outcome of requirement to co-operate investigations completed during each month between April and September 1995. From April 1995, information is now available on the number of reduced benefit directions actually implemented by Benefits Agency rather than the number issued for implementation. We have included this in the table and hope that you will find it more meaningful.
  You may wish to know that the majority of the figures shown in the table are contained in the Child Support Agency Statistical Information which is placed in the Library of the House of Commons each month.

  231
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many telephone calls have been received on the Child Support Agency MP hotline since it started. [1064]

  Mr. 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 Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Paddy Tipping, dated 22 November 1995:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Child Support Agency MP Hotline.From its launch on 12 December 1993 to 30 September 1995, 5,230 telephone calls have been answered on the Hotline.
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the largest back-dated payment required by the Child Support Agency. [122]

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

  Asylum Seekers
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated in respect of the effect of the changes to be made on 8 January 1996 on the claiming of benefit by asylum seekers with particular reference to access to housing. [1230]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  Proposals on social security payments to asylum seekers and other persons from abroad were presented to the Social Security Advisory Committee on 11 October. The committee has carried out a public consultation on these proposals and has received representations from many individuals and organisations, including housing associations and local authorities. The committee is now evaluating those responses and we expect to receive its report in December.

  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many sponsored immigrants are subject to a signed undertaking as defined in the Immigration Act 1971 given by another person or persons; how many of them are now receiving(a) income support, (b) housing benefit (c) council tax benefit (d) family credit (e) attendance allowance (f) disability living allowance (g) disability working allowance (h) invalid care allowance and (i) severe disablement allowance, indicating in each case the cost to public funds. [1228]

  Mr. Evans
  The information is not available in the format requested. Separate details of claims to social security benefits by sponsored immigrants are not collected due to the relatively small size of this group.

  It is estimated that nearly a half of sponsored immigrants claim income support and that two-thirds of these may also claim housing benefit and council tax benefit.

  Sponsorship undertakings are obtained by the Home Office and copies forwarded to the Benefits Agency. The numbers received in the last three years are set out in the table.
  232

  Year

  Sponsorship undertakings received

  1993

  2,121

  1994

  1,925

  1995 (to 20 November 1995)

  1,847

  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in respect of those who have claimed income support our the last seven years, in how many cases(a) this was due to the death of the sponsor (b) this was due to the sponsor being made bankrupt and (c) this was because the sponsor had become unemployed. [1229]

  Mr. Evans
  The information is not available.

  Interim Payments
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many interim payments have been paid under the Social Security (Payments on Account, Overpayments and Recovery) Regulations 1988 over the last seven years; and how many of these were pending the outcome of an appeal against a benefit refusal. [1231]

  Mr. Evans
  The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Civil Service Code
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made towards introduction of the proposed civil service code. [2469]

  Mr. Freeman
  Her Majesty in Council today approved an order extending the functions of the Civil Service Commissioners, empowering them to hear appeals under a civil service code, and to make reports on them.

  I shall place a copy of the order in the Libraries of the House as soon as it is available.

  Commissioner for Public Appointments
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made towards the implementation of the Nolan committee's recommendation that a Commissioner for Public Appointments should be appointed. [2470]

  Mr. Freeman
  Her Majesty in Council today approved orders setting up the office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments and appointing the first office holder.

  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister today announced the appointment of Sir Leonard Peach, currently chairman of the Police Complaints Authority, as the first Commissioner for Public Appointments. Sir Leonard will take up this part-time appointment on 18 December 1995.

  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has also appointed Sir Leonard Peach as the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Northern Ireland.
  233
  Sir Leonard has also been appointed a Civil Service Commissioner.

  I shall arrange for copies of the relevant orders to be placed in the Libraries of the House as soon as they are available.

  Central Office of Information
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what his plans are for the future of the Central Office of Information. [2767]

  Mr. Freeman
  I am satisfied that the Central Office of Information should continue as a next steps agency. I have asked the chief executive to make proposals for improving the efficiency of the agency, with the aim of maximising the value that it adds to the procurement of publicity by Government. The outcome should be to streamline COI so as to concentrate on the procurement of services for customer departments, rather than the direct provision of services. The proposals, which will draw on assistance from consultants, will take full account of the views of customer departments and the availability of alternative means of obtaining the services provided by COI. As a first stage, I have decided that from 1 January 1996 the presumption that departments should use COI for advertisement procurement should cease, and departments will be free to make alternative arrangements direct with the industry if they so wish.

  I recognise that these changes will result in some reduction in the number of staff employed by COI, which is currently about 470, but I am convinced that a more sharply focused COI will be better able to provide a service to departments which will both meet the needs of Government Departments and secure the best interests of the taxpayer.

  Occupational Health and Safety Agency
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the Government completed their exploration of how to increase private sector involvement in the Occupational Health and Safety Agency and Recruitment and Assessment Services; and if he will make a statement. [2795]

  Mr. Horam
  After further consideration in the light of advice from Coopers and Lybrand, the Government have decided to transfer to the private sector both the Occupational Health and Safety Agency and Recruitment and Assessment Services as single viable businesses and in a way that will ensure that they retain their reputation for the provision of high-quality occupational health services and recruitments services respectively. The sale of RAS will include a contract for the fast-stream selection process for future civil servants, specifying the services required. The civil service will retain control over its recruitment.

  These agencies have developed well in the last few years, but they are subject to various constraints from having to operate within Government. Privatisation of
  234
  OHSA and RAS is the best way to secure the long-term interests of the staff and customers of these two businesses, as well as the taxpayer. Once they are freed from these constraints they will be better able to improve their services to existing customers, and to extend their businesses by making their services available to new customers in wider markets.

  Formal expressions of interest for these businesses will be sought early in the new year. Financial advisers are being appointed.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Nursery Facilities
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what financial provision has been made for the construction of nursery facilities in the Palace of Westminster; and if he will make a statement. [1021]

  Mr. Beith
  No financial provision has been made for the construction of nursery facilities in the Palace of Westminster. The Commission has from time to time examined the possibilities of establishing an in-House child care facility. However, the Commission has been advised by the Accommodation and Works Committee that the main obstacle is the lack of unallocated accommodation on the Parliamentary estate which is suitable or could be made suitable to comply with the provisions of the Nurseries and Childminders Regulation Act 1948 (as amended 1968).

  Telephone and Information Services
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make financial provision for hon. Members to be provided with modern telephone and information services to the level of that available to directors and senior managers in leading British and international corporations. [175]

  Mr. Beith
  The infrastructure for Members' telephone and information services is provided by the House and Members can augment this by means of the office costs allowance. If the hon. Member has a specific suggestion, he should inform the Chairman of the Administration Committee or the Chairman of the Information Committee.

ENVIRONMENT

  Building Regulations
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to introduce new standards under part M of the building regulations, relating to access for people with disabilities. [316]

  Mr. Robert B. Jones
  Over 1,000 responses have been received to the consultation paper on possible changes to part M of the building regulations issued earlier this year. These are being analysed. The Building Regulations
  235
  Advisory Committee will consider this analysis in due course and will make recommendations to Ministers on the way forward.

  Environmental Technology Industry
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how often he holds meetings with ministerial colleagues at the Department of Trade and Industry with the specific intention of promoting the growth of the environmental industry. [1167]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Secretary of State and the President of the Board of Trade established the joint environmental markets unit following a meeting they held with the Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment. This DTI-DOE unit assists and encourages United Kingdom firms to exploit growing markets for environmental goods and services, on an on-going basis, and Ministers discuss the issues that arise as a result of the unit's work as and when required.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how often he has met his European counterparts to discuss the environmental technology industry across Europe in the last 12 months. [1155]

  Mr. Clappison
  My right hon. Friend has frequent meetings with his European counterparts to discuss a wide range of measures to improve environmental standards. The improvement of such standards will tend to create market opportunities for suppliers of environmental technology and services. Among the many matters discussed at Environment Councils attended by my right hon. Friend in the past 12 months has been the proposed amendment of the LIFE regulation, part of which the aim is to provide financial support for projects demonstrating an innovative use of environmental technology.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding the level of tax revenue the environmental technology industry has contributed to the Treasury in the past five years. [1166]

  Mr. Clappison
  My right hon. Friend has received no such representations.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what formal arrangements exist to assist co-operation between his Department and the Department for Education and Employment in relation to the environment technology industry. [1156]

  Mr. Clappison
  There are no such arrangements specifically related to the environmental technology industry. However, there is close co-operation between the Departments on improvement of the environmental content of education at all levels from primary school to university, and on development of environmental national vocational qualifications. This will promote greater environmental awareness among today's and tomorrow's industrial management and work force, and so in turn improve the climate for the environmental supply industry.
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  Temporary Accommodation
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of Start for the Environment what is the average annual cost to a local authority of keeping a family of four in(a) local authority accommodation and (b) temporary bed and breakfast accommodation. [1196]

  Mr. Curry
  The information requested is not available.

  Coal Mining Accidents
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of(a) fatal and (b) serious reportable accidents per 100.000 manshifts recorded by companies contracted to the main deep coal mining operators. [1176]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  This information is not available. The Health and Safety Executive does not compile accident rates for comparing contractors to the main deep coal mine operators.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of(a) fatal and (b) serious reportable accidents per 100.000 manshifts in the deep coal mining industry in the fist 10 months of (i) 1995 and (ii) 1994. [1174]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The information is not yet available for 1995.

  Information for 1994 is as follows:

  Fatal

  Major injury

  1 January 1994–31 December 1994

  0.05

  3.01

  Health and Safety Laboratory
  Mr. Marland
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Health and Safety Executive has begun its review of the health and safety laboratory. [2401]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  Following the efficiency scrutiny of public sector research establishments and the Government response, Cm 2991, a prior options review of the health and safety laboratory is now under way. The review is being led by HSE's chief scientist, Dr. J. McQuaid. It is due to be completed by March 1996.

  Empty Government Property
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what targets have been set to reduce the number of empty Government homes. [2797]

  Mr. Curry
  The Government are determined to cut the number of empty homes, whether they are owned by local councils, housing associations, private individuals or Whitehall Departments. An empty home is a wasted asset.

  Last year nearly 4,000 empty Government homes were brought back into use or sold. We are now building on the progress already made by setting targets for 1995–96 that aim to reduce the number of empty properties and the length of time that they remain empty.

  The targets are as follows:

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  Department

  Total stock (1 April 1995)

  Empty (1 April 1995)

  Empty as percentage (1 April 1995)

  Target for percentage empty (1 April 1996)

  Target for percentage empty for more than six months that could be lived in or made habitable1 (1 April 1996)

  Department of Transport

  3,511

  1,028

  29.7

  2<25

  <9

  Home Office

  4,023

  455

  11.3

  <11

  <3

  Scottish Office

  1,481

  162

  10.9

  —

  —

  3251

  344

  317.5

  2 3<10

  3<3

  Welsh Office

  239

  62

  25.9

  <3

  <3

  Ministry of Defence

  70,586

  12,699

  18

  By 1 April 1996 to dispose of 1,500 homes

  By summer 1996 to dispose of 4,000 homes

  Notes:

  1 Properties that "could be lived in or made habitable" includes all properties except:

  (a) derelict properties that await demolition (e.g. to make way for road schemes);

  (b) those that are expected to be demolished in the near future where the expenditure required to make them habitable would be disproportionate to their expected life (e.g. where substantial investment would be required to connect essential services, such as water, sewage or electricity);

  (c) those that cannot be made accessible (e.g. due to adjacent construction work).

  2 The Department of Transport target for percentage empty that could be lived in or made habitable (as defined in note above) is <15 per cent. On the same basis, the target for Scottish Office is <3 per cent.

  3Excludes NHS properties in England and Scotland. These are surveyed every two or three years. A survey in England is in progress now, and when the results are available targets will be set to cover the period until the next surveys.

  Central Manchester Development Corporation
  Mr. Dover
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when Central Manchester development corporation will be wound up; and if he will make a statement. [2799]

  Mr. Curry
  Statutory orders will be laid before Parliament early next year to effect the wind up and dissolution of Central Manchester development corporation. Subject to parliamentary approval, the corporation will cease to act from 1 April 1996, except for the purpose of preparing its final accounts and report and winding up its affairs. The corporation will be dissolved on 1 July 1996.

  Urban development corporations were set up, with finite lifetimes, to regenerate their designated areas. Since designation on 30 June 1988, Central Manchester development corporation has encouraged and grant aided private sector development and undertaken substantial environmental improvements, which have helped to stimulate new jobs and new life in the city.

  By the end of its lifetime, the corporation expects to have reclaimed 39 hectares of land, created 194,000 sqm of commercial floor space, 2,730 housing units, 6,400 permanent jobs and attracted £370 million of private sector investment. The corporation has transformed large parts of the city, which will continue to benefit well into the next century.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the effect of a 4 per cent. increase in council tax on(a) the total yield of council tax in Great Britain, (b) the total yield of council tax in England, (c) the average bill in England, (d) council tax benefit, (e) the retail prices index and (f) index linked benefits. [1478]
  238
  Mr. Gummer
  [holding answer 21 November 1995]: The information relating to Wales and Scotland is the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and Scotland.

  If council taxes in England had increased in 1995–96 by an additional 4 per cent. compared with actual levels, the approximate effect is estimated as follows:

  (b) Gross yield of council tax: increase of £390 million.

  (c) Average Band C bill, before Council Tax Benefit or Transitional Relief: increase from £541 to £563.

  (d) Council tax benefit: increase of £85 million.

  (e) The increase would add around 0.1 percentage points to the percentage change over 12 months in the all items retail prices index.

  (f) The precise effect on those benefits linked to the retail prices index would depend on whether this marginal change was sufficient to trigger an increase in benefit levels. As an approximate guide, an additional 0.1 percentage points on the rate of inflation would add around £40 million to the cost of those benefits in a full year. There would be no effect on those income related benefits which are usually linked to the Rossi index.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Research Establishments
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the forthcoming prior options reviews of MAFF research establishments. [2474]

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  The Government announced on 29 September 1995 that all public sector research establishments would be subject to prior options reviews, and that a timetable would be made available shortly.

  The Central Science Laboratory, Horticulture Research International and the Directorate of Fisheries Research will be reviewed immediately. The R and D conducted

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  by ADAS will be reviewed on the same timetable. The Veterinary Laboratories Agency will be reviewed between early next year and July 1996.

  MAFF establishments will be reviewed alongside establishments parented or sponsored by other Government Departments which are carrying out work in similar or related fields.

  Comments from interested parties would be welcome. These should be sent to:

  T. D. Rossington

  Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

  Room 806

  Nobel House

  17 Smith Square

  London

  SW 1P 3JR

  Comments on the Central Science Laboratory, Horticulture Research International, the Directorate of Fisheries Research and ADAS research and development should be sent by 8 January 1996. Comments on the Veterinary Laboratories Agency should be sent by 1 April 1996.

  Animal Species
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to make a report on his consultations with legal experts and scientists about Torry research and development projects, and the Bartlett-Davidson patent relating to patenting of DNA nucleotides sequencing for identification of animal species; and if he will make a statement. [59]

  Mrs. Browning
  I am still not in a position to make a statement.

  Valley Factory, Rhydymwyn
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was his Department's financial contribution to the Drivers Jonas report and the joint report with Delyn borough council and the Welsh Development Agency on the valley factory at Rhydymwyn, Clwyd. [595]

  Mr. Boswell
  The Ministry's financial contribution to Dames and Moore and Drivers Jonas for the preparation of the environmental assessment was approximately £65,000. The current site remediation study with Delyn borough council and the Welsh Development Agency will be jointly funded by the Ministry and the WDA. It has been agreed that the Ministry and the WDA will each bear one half of the total cost of the assessment. The Ministry's share is likely to amount to around £50,000. It has further been agreed that the Ministry and the WDA will each recompense one half of Delyn borough council's reasonable staff costs incurred in this study. Estimated costs are not yet available.

  Farmers' Wives
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will commission a study into the social and economic role played by farmers' wives; and if he will make a statement. [58]
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  Mr. Boswell
  The important role played by farmers' spouses in farming enterprises is widely and very fully acknowledged within the industry and elsewhere. We doubt that a study of the kind suggested would do other than reinforce that view and have no plans for one at present.

  Grant Payments (Fraud)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list, to date and by region, the number of farmers who have been prosecuted for alleged criminal fraud in respect of payments of grants for renovating hedgerows and banks; what has been the result of the prosecutions; what effect unsuccessful prosecutions have had on subsequent grant payments; and if he will make a statement. [60]

  Mr. Boswell
  Earlier this year, a group of 19 cases in the south-west involving false claims for grant on hedges under the farm and conservation grant scheme were listed for prosecution. Two of these cases were heard by the Crown court. They resulted in acquittals. In the second of these cases, it was held that there was insufficient evidence to prove criminal dishonesty. In the light of this, the remaining 17 cases were withdrawn. However, where, as in these cases, grant has been claimed in breach of the scheme's rules, we will seek to recover grant to which farmers are not entitled. We are taking action to do so. Other grant claims from the farmers concerned will be dealt with on their own merits in the usual way.

  Live Animal Exports
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many sheep and lambs have been exported to date this year to(a) the Netherlands and (b) Belgium; and how many sheep and lambs were exported to each of these two countries in (i) 1993 and (ii) 1994. [1604]

  Mr. Boswell
  For the purposes of trade statistics, Belgium and Luxembourg are treated as one single entity. Official overseas trade statistics for the number of live sheep and lambs exported from the United Kingdom to the Netherlands and Belgium-Luxembourg are as follows:

  Thousand head

  1993

  11994

  1995 January to July 1,2

  Netherlands

  41

  95

  12

  Belgium-Luxembourg

  109

  128

  17

  1 Provisional.

  2 Exports of live sheep and lambs to the Netherlands and Belgium-Luxembourg are highly seasonal. Therefore January to July figures, the best available, should not be considered indicative of the eventual annual totals for 1995.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made towards cutting energy consumption in Government buildings for which he has responsibility in each year since 1990. [1442]

  Mr. Boswell
  For the Department's performance for the years 1990–91 to 1993–94, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given on 17 May 1995,Official Report,

  241
  column 260. In 1994–95 MAFF's energy costs per square metre for the main estate rose by 3 per cent. above the 1990–91 base year figure, compared with an increase of 5 per cent. in 1993–94. Energy costs for laboratories increased by 29 per cent. and those for the depots decreased by 26 per cent. from the base year figures.

  Under the returns for Government's energy campaign, the Department cannot discount the IT equipment that has been installed throughout MAFF since 1990–91; or the new research buildings—which are high energy users—required to meet statutory requirements at our laboratories, replacing rudimentary predecessors; or the growth in business activities.

  The Department continues to take steps aimed at reducing energy consumption through the investment of energy schemes and the promotion of awareness campaigns for staff.

  Potato Imports (Brown Rot)
  Mr. Harris
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will make a statement on Government action to be taken to deal with imports of potatoes infected with brown rot. [2389]

  Mr. Boswell
  Measures have been adopted at Community level to deal with the reported outbreak of brown rot in the Netherlands. They place stringent requirements on the Dutch authorities to ensure the safe disposal of potatoes from infected farms. To supplement these measures, the Government have introduced a statutory requirement for prior notification of all intended imports of Dutch potatoes—including seed, ware and potatoes for processing—in order to ensure that this trade can be monitored effectively. The legislation has also been strengthened to give wider powers to inspectors to control the disposal of Dutch potatoes, and we will be maintaining a high level of surveillance on this trade through inspections of consignments and laboratory testing.

  Deregulation
  Sir Michael Grylls
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the deregulation measures agreed by his Department during 1995. [284]

  Mr. Boswell
  [holding answer 22 November 1995]: The Ministry has a positive and long-standing commitment to deregulation, which has been developed during 1995. The Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995 greatly simplified the rules relating to agricultural tenancies and now enables landlords and tenants to agree terms which reflect their own particular needs. Two draft deregulation orders, under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994, have been laid to lift reporting burdens under the Corn Returns Act 1882 and in relation to slaughterhouses legislation. Other deregulatory measures include reducing the requirements relating to marking of pigs and simplifying the arrangements for licensing of poultry slaughtermen. Steps have also been taken to exempt cold stores handling packaged meat from meat inspection regulations. By 1 January 1996, we expect to repeal or simplify a significant series of national measures relating to food composition and food additives.
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PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 23 November. [1490]

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

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss with President Clinton on his forthcoming visit to Britain, the issue of supporting a trial, in the Hague, under Scottish rules of evidence, under a Scottish judge, of the Libyan suspects accused of the bombing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie. [1633]

  The Prime Minister
  I have no plans to do so.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Prime Minister what considerations led him to commit national lottery funds to the development of competitive sport. [1795]

  The Prime Minister
  National lottery funds are not committed or distributed by the Government. Parliament decided that 20 per cent. of the funds for good causes should go to sport. The sports councils decide how much of that should go to the development of competitive sport.

  French Nuclear Tests
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Prime Minister how many letters he has received(a) supporting and (b) opposing his views on the French Government's nuclear tests which are currently taking place. [1667]

  The Prime Minister
  I have nothing further to add to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 20 November,Official Report, column 25.

TRANSPORT

  Oil Spillages
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to reduce oil spillages at sea. [120]

  Mr. Norris
  My Department devotes considerable resources to reducing oil discharges at sea through the enforcement of international discharge regulations, the detection of vessels which breach those regulations and the deterrence of illegal discharges. We are also working with the International Maritime Organisation to make the discharge requirements more stringent.

  Driving Licences
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the possibility of including photographs on the driving licence; and what plans he has to do so. [1488]
  243
  Mr. Norris
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Bar (Mr. Rooker) on 16 October,Official Report, column 73.

  Railways (Expenditure)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each of the last five years the total amount of subsidy to the rail system; and what is his projection for each of the next five years. [50]

  Mr. Watts
  Regarding the total amount of subsidy in the last five years. I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave the hon. Member for Truro (Mr. Taylor) on 7 November 1995 Official Report, column 769.

  The level of public funding needed for the railways in the next five years will depend on the bids for franchises received by the franchising director. The Government believe that privatisation will bring improvements to efficiency and services. All these factors will affect the level of funding required by the railways.

  Truck Access Grants
  Mr. Maclennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of applications he has received for track access grants for services in(a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales; and if he will indicate what number he has approved. [1227]

  Mr. Watts
  We have received 14 track access grant applications. Five were for traffic in England, four for Scotland and five for Wales. One has been approved. Two applications have been rejected and one withdrawn.

  Light Rail Funding
  Mr. Sheldon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on light rail funding; and what assessment he has made of the benefits of Greater Manchester passenger transport authority's plans to extend Metrolink to Ashton under Lyne via the proposed national stadium site. [1746]

  Mr. Norris
  The Government fund light rail schemes out of the budget for local transport schemes, through the package approach. A separate budget for light rail does not exist, and such schemes can proceed only at the expense of other transport projects, both in the same area and in other parts of the country.

  My support of light rail schemes is dependent on the following: whether the scheme can be demonstrated to be the right and most cost-effective solution to a particular urban transport problem; whether it has been planned within the context of a strategy or transport package to achieve mode shift away from the private car; and whether it will attract private sector investment. It should be remembered, however, that light rail is not the only solution to urban transport problems, and the difficulties and costs associated with developing schemes should not be underestimated.

  We have not yet seen the economic case for the Metrolink extension to Ashton under Lyne, and I understand that Greater Manchester passenger transport executive has yet to apply for powers for this scheme under the Transport and Works Act 1992. Any progress
  244
  with this extension will depend on the priority attached to it by the Greater Manchester local authorities and the availability of resources.

  Railfreight Distribution
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he is considering a joint public-private venture for Railfreight Distribution as an alternative to privatisation; and if he will make a statement. [1463]

  Mr. Watts
  No.

  Railway Timetables
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provisions exist for ensuring that local bus operators are informed as early as possible of changes to railway timetables. [383]

  Mr. Watts
  The provision of railway timetable information to bus operators is a matter for train operators and Railtrack. The railway industry is planning the development of a comprehensive national train information service intended to deliver accurate, consistent and impartial information services which will be available to third parties.

  Passenger Rail Services
  Ms Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies his Department has commissioned into the relative costs of operating passenger railway services(a) by the franchises, (b) by the British Railways Board. [1273]

  Mr. Watts
  No studies have been commissioned. The franchising director has statutory responsibility for awarding franchises. In doing so he must satisfy a number of statutory duties and objectives, including the requirements to ensure good value for money in the provision of franchised services and to encourage competition in the railway industry.

  Severn Bridge (Tolls)
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will express the average toll charge per mile for a car in respect of the new Severn bridge crossing; and if he will make a statement. [236]

  Mr. Watts
  [holding answer 21 November 1995]: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Charles Kennedy, dated 23 November 1995:
  As you know, the Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about average toll charges per mile for a car in respect of the new Severn bridge crossing.
  The toll charges for the new Severn crossing will be the same as for the existing Severn bridge. For Category 1 Vehicles, that is motor cars and motor caravans, the toll charge per vehicle is at present £3.70. From 1 January 1996 the toll charge for motor cars will increase to £3.80 per vehicle.
  The toll level is not generally expressed as a charge per mile. However, the new Severn crossing, which is due to open in 1996, will be approximately 3 miles long and the average charge per mile for cars will therefore be about £1.27.
  I hope this is helpful.

  245

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Aid for Trade Provisions
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact on the British economy of that overseas aid which is tied to purchase of British goods; and if he will make a statement. [1540]

  Mr. Hanley
  We have recently conducted an assessment of the impact on the British economy of that overseas aid procurement which is tied to purchase of British goods. The assessment concluded that the overall impact was very small. The United Kingdom will remain at the forefront of efforts to encourage untying on a multilateral basis.

  Least Developed Countries
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of(a) bilateral and (b) multilateral aid the United Kingdom allocates to those least developed countries which have a per capita gross national product of less than $750 US per year. [1550]

  Mr. Hanley
  It is not practicable to allocate aid channelled through multilateral agencies, nor some bilateral aid—notably block grants to NGOs and other agencies—to specific recipient countries.

  Of United Kingdom 1994–95 bilateral aid which can be allocated to countries, for all recipients, both developing and transitional:

  36 per cent. went to countries on the UN's list of Least developed countries (LLDCs)

  69 per cent. went to low income countries (defined as those with per capita incomes of less than US$676 in 1992)

  For developing country recipients only the equivalent figures are 38 per cent. and 73 per cent. respectively.

  GDP (Overseas Aid)
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of annual gross domestic product the United Kingdom spent on overseas aid in each year since 1985. [1547]

  Mr. Hanley
  The ratio normally used to relate aid to the size of the economy is net official development assistance as a percentage of gross national product. Figures for the United Kingdom since 1985 are as follows:

  Year

  UK net oda as a percentage of GNP

  1985

  0.33

  1986

  0.31

  1987

  0.28

  1988

  0.32

  1989

  0.31

  1990

  0.27

  1991

  0.32

  1992

  0.31

  1993

  0.31

  1994

  0.31

  246

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures have been taken by the international community to provide humanitarian assistance to Tamil people in the Jaffna peninsula of Sri Lanka. [1618]

  Mr. Hanley
  The international community is supporting the efforts of those relief agencies providing emergency shelter, health, water and sanitation, and supplementing food rations to those affected by the conflict. With regard to the United Kingdom's contribution, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Ilford, South (Mr. Gapes) on 22 November Official Report, column 111. In addition, the UK share of recent European Community emergency aid is some £138,000.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made towards cutting energy consumption in Government buildings for which he has responsibility in each year since 1990. [1443]

  Mr. Hanley
  We are actively pursuing an energy efficiency implementation programme with a view to meeting the Government's aim to reduce energy consumption by 15 per cent. by March 1996. Measured by input over output, a reduction of 11.85 per cent. of electricity consumption and 15 per cent. of gas consumption has been achieved from 1990 to March 1995.

  European Court of Human Rights
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many judgments handed down by the European Court of Human Rights have gone(a) in favour of and (b) against each member country; and if he will make a statement. [1525]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  A list containing the information requested follows:

  European court of human rights—comparative table of violations

  State party

  Cases where violations found at 6 October 1995

  Cases where no violations found (Council of Europe Reference Charts published for 1995)

  Austria

  28

  12

  Belgium

  20

  7

  Bulgaria

  0

  0

  Cyprus

  1

  0

  Czech Republic

  0

  0

  Denmark

  2

  3

  Finland

  2

  1

  France

  33

  10

  Germany

  12

  16

  Greece

  7

  0

  Hungary

  0

  0

  Iceland

  2

  0

  Ireland

  6

  1

  247

  European court of human rights—comparative table of violations

  State party

  Cases where violations found at 6 October 1995

  Cases where no violations found (Council of Europe Reference Charts published for 1995)

  Italy

  84

  11

  Liechtenstein

  0

  0

  Luxembourg

  1

  0

  Malta

  1

  0

  Netherlands

  23

  4

  Norway

  1

  0

  Poland

  0

  0

  Portugal

  6

  1

  Romania

  0

  0

  San Marino

  0

  0

  Slovakia

  0

  0

  Slovenia

  0

  0

  Spain

  7

  2

  Sweden

  21

  1

  Switzerland

  14

  8

  Turkey

  2

  0

  United Kingdom

  37

  19

  Guatemala
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the British contribution to the MINUGUA UN mission in Guatemala; and what is his policy towards the future of this mission. [1623]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  The MINUGUA mission is funded from the UN regular budget. The United Kingdom contribution to MINUGUA, based on our assessed contributions, will be approximately US$ 1.4 million for the period 1 October 1994 to 31 December 1995.

  The UK co-sponsored a resolution at the UN General Assembly on 14 September 1995 to extend MINUGUA by six months, until 18 March 1996.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent meetings diplomatic officials have held with human rights and political groupings in Sri Lanka. [1620]

  Mr. Hanley
  British diplomatic officials in London and Colombo have frequent contacts with human rights organisations and a wide range of political parties and groups.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Royal Ordnance
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what investigation his Department has made into the allegation made in a German court that Royal Ordnance staff provided false end-user certificates for the German company Heckler and Koch, prior to its purchase of the company, and re-exported the guns abroad; and if he will make a statement. [1143]
  248
  Mr. Oppenheim
  The allegations made during the court case, including that referred to by the hon. Member, were pursued with Royal Ordnance and assurances were received from the company to the satisfaction of my Department.

  Public Interest Immunity Certificates
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list all those in his Department who have authority to issue public interest immunity certificates; how many such certificates have been issued in each of the last five years; and what were the main reasons for them. [1395]

  Mr. Lang
  A claim to public interest immunity relating to departmental documents or information is normally made by the appropriate Minister.

  My Department's records show that, since April 1992, 22 public interest immunity certificates have been signed by Ministers of this Department, five of which did not need to be deployed. The annual breakdown is as follows:

  1992: 4 (from April)

  1993: 8

  1994: 6

  1995: 4 (to date)

  No central record is kept of certificates issued before April 1992.

  The certificates were issued to protect a range of classes of information, in particular the formulation of Government policy, the internal dealings of Government Departments, the operation of the Security and Intelligence Services, and confidential information and advice obtained in connection with the Department's regulatory or statutory functions.

  Sustainable Energy
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if it is his policy to require companies taking over regional electricity companies' assurances in respect of the protection of small companies generating electricity by sustainable means; and what assurances have so far been given. [1606]

  Mr. Eggar
  The five-year transitional arrangements for those generators which supplied regional electricity companies under extended Energy Act terms ended in March 1995. A public electricity supplier's obligation under the non-fossil fuel obligation are not affected by changes in the ownership of that public electricity supplier.

  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures he is taking to protect small independent companies generating electricity by sustainable means following the opening up of the electricity market. [1605]

  Mr. Eggar
  Those renewable generating stations with NFFO contracts will not be affected by the liberalisation of the electricity market until their NFFO contracts with the regional electricity companies end. Renewable generating stations without NFFO contracts will have the opportunity to benefit from the freedom to supply end-users in small niche markets, at a price that may be related to the electricity retail price as opposed to the
  249
  wholesale price at which licensed electricity suppliers purchase electricity. I understand that OFFER and the electricity pool are considering the possibility of simplified arrangements to enable embedded generators to sell electricity without the requirement to become pool members.

  Insider Dealing
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the number of potential insider dealing offences(a) considered by the stock exchange surveillance group, (b) referred by that group to his

  Prosecutions for contraventions of the company securities (insider dealing) Act 1985

  1989–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Prosecutions pending at beginning of year

  Following S177 enquiry

  2

  5

  1

  12

  9

  1—

  1—

  Total

  6

  10

  2

  13

  9

  —

  —

  Prosecutions started

  Following S177 enquiry

  3

  4

  11

  2

  6

  1—

  1—

  Total

  6

  7

  13

  2

  6

  —

  —

  Convictions

  Following S177 enquiry

  —

  3

  —

  3

  24

  2

  —

  Total

  —

  4

  2

  3

  35+

  2

  —

  Acquittals

  Following S177 enquiry

  —

  2

  —

  2

  2

  5

  —

  Total

  1

  9

  —

  5

  2

  6

  —

  Prosecutions pending at end of year

  Following S177 enquiry

  5

  1

  12

  9

  1

  1—

  1—

  Total

  10

  2

  13

  9

  1

  —

  —

  1 This information was not included in the 1993–94 Companies Annual Report or subsequently.

  2 Includes three convictions acquitted on appeal in 1994–95.

  3 Includes one conviction acquitted on appeal in 1993–94.

  Investigations under section 177 of the financial services act 1986

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Cases referred by the London stock exchange for consideration

  33

  21

  8

  11

  5

  17

  13

  Cases in hand at the beginning of the year

  15

  14

  16

  9

  4

  2

  6

  Appointment of inspectors

  12

  12

  4

  3

  1

  5

  6

  Final reports submitted by inspectors

  13

  10

  11

  8

  3

  1

  7

  Cases in hand at the end of the year

  14

  16

  9

  4

  2

  6

  5

  Chemical Weapons Bill
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the names of those individuals or organisations making representations to his Department on the draft Chemical Weapons Bill; and if he will place all such representations except for parts that may be commercially confidential in the Library. [538]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  On 19 July my Department circulated 500 copies of a draft Bill, and invited comments. A revised draft Bill, taking account of all the views received, was published on 2 November.

  In general, industry representatives indicated that they were in agreement with the provisions of the Bill. Other views emphasised the need for the operations of the
  250
  Department, (c) investigated or prosecuted by his Department or by the stock exchange and (d) resulting in a conviction in each year since 1988. [541]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The information sought by the hon. Member is contained in my Department's report on companies published annually by HMSO. For convenience I provide a compendium of information derived from reports from 1988–89 to 1994–95. The stock exchange reviews transactions ahead of all price-sensitive announcements on a routine basis. Where evidence of insider dealing is suspected a referral is made to the Department. The tables include such referrals.

  DTI as national authority to be transparent, that it should be accountable, and that the Crown should be bound by the provisions of the Bill. However, those people and organisations who responded had no reason to expect that their names, or individual views, would be made public. In view of this it would not be proper to place their representations in the Library of the House.

  Environmental Research
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what his Department has spent on research and development within the environmental industry in each year since 1992–93. [1160]
  251
  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The Department has supported research and development on technologies with a specific environmental function as follows:

  £ million

  1992–93

  2.09

  1993–94

  2.05

  1994–95

  1.49

  Total

  5.63

  In the same period my Department spent £69.9 million on new and renewable technologies and £19.7 million on clean coal technologies.

  Some of the research and development supported under general DTI programmes, such as SMART—small firms merit award for research and technology—SPUR—support for products under research—Link and EUREKA, and through the OST's funding of the research councils, will also be relevant to the environmental technology industries.

  National Phoneday
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions officials of his Department have had with British Telecom relating to the impact of national phoneday on the service being delivered to users of the telephone network. [1743]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  Numbering issues are the responsibility of the Director General of Telecommunications. My officials have not met BT to discuss the impact of the phoneday changes.

  Telephone Dialling Codes
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what figures his Department has received from British Telecom relating to the number of users of the telephone network making calls erroneously using the old national dialling codes; and if he will make it his policy for these figures to be published. [1742]

  Mr. Taylor
  My Department has not received any figures from BT relating to the number of wrongly dialled calls. Any decision on a policy of publishing such figures would be a matter for the Director General of Telecommunications. However, OFTEL has conducted a customer survey which revealed that the vast majority, 85 per cent. of those surveyed, did not find the changes a significant problem.

  Poppy Appeal
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the prevention of sub-post offices from selling British Legion scratchcards for the poppy appeal. [1002]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  This is an operational matter for the Post Office.
  252

  Pearl Assurance
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what investigations his Department is carrying out into complaints made against Pearl Assurance's handling of insurance claims. [123]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The Department does not comment on matters relating to individual companies.

  Exports
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what Government financial assistance is available to exporters of(a) civilian goods and (b) military equipment. [1568]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  My Department, together with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, offers a full range of assistance of all types to exporting companies through Overseas Trade Services. Details of these services are contained in the British Overseas Trade Board's annual report and forward plan, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. In addition, support to civil and military exporters is available through the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if it is the practice of his Department to make an assessment of the loss of earnings by British exporters, excluding military equipment, which may be caused as a result of war or internal conflict. [1569]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  My Department, together with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, alerts British exporters to potential difficulties in repatriation of export earnings that may occur as a result of war or internal conflicts abroad. Further action is then a matter for the individual companies. We have no central figures for the total amount involved in loss of earnings as a result of such actions.

  Regional Selective Assistance
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many awards of regional selective assistance, and of what value, have been made to firms in the Dudley metropolitan borough in each of the past five years. [581]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  The number of offers, and value of regional selective assistance made to businesses in the Dudley metropolitan borough over the past five years is shown in the table:

  Local authority district—Dudley

  Number of approvals

  Grant approved £ thousands

  1 April 1990–31 March 1991

  30

  1,325

  1 April 1991–31 March 1992

  19

  693

  1 April 1992–31 March 1993

  16

  616

  1 April 1993–31 March 1994

  22

  1,175

  1 April 1994–31 March 1995

  33

  1,253

  253
  In the current year the number of offers and value of assistance has been:

  Local authority district—Dudley

  Number of approvals

  Grant approved £ thousands

  1 April 1995 to 31 October 1995

  31

  1,184

  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what sum was originally provided for regional selective assistance in 1994–95; and what was the eventual figure. [1327]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 21 November 1995]: The estimate for regional selective assistance in 1994–95 was £101.2 million. Actual expenditure was £113.1 million.

  The figures are available respectively in the Government's expenditure plans 1995–96 to 1997–98 and the Industrial Development Act annual report.

  Local Government
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade 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. [41]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The following Acts of Parliament that affect local government have been introduced by this Department since January 1994:

  The Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994

  The Coal Industry Act 1994

  The Trade Marks Act 1994

  The Gas Act 1995

  Nigeria
  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the dates and location of conferences supported by the British Government to encourage British investment and trade with Nigeria since 18 November 1993; what plans his Department has to support further events in Nigeria or in Britain; and if he will make a statement on his Department's support for such ventures in the future. [1207]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 21 November 1995]: Officials of my Department have taken part in seminars on trading with Nigeria since 18 November 1993 that
  have been organized by the following:

  February 1994: Bristol Chamber of Commerce

  May 1994: Kent Export Forum

  August 1994: Sheffield Mining Forum

  October 1994: London Chamber of Commerce/BEAMA

  November 1994: Thames Valley Export Forum

  June 1995: Thames Valley Export Forum

  July 1995: Energy Council

  October 1995: Nigeria-British Chamber of Commerce.

  254
  My Department has also organised within this time five general "Opportunity Africa" seminars which have featured presentations on Nigeria.

  Support has been offered to the London, Bristol and Kent chambers of commerce for outward missions to Nigeria planned for next year.

  My Department has scaled down the level of its promotional activity in recent years because of the political and economic situation in Nigeria. We will continue to keep the level of activity under review. However, it remains our policy to support UK companies in their efforts to secure business in what remains an important market.

  Patent Office
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the consultants currently engaged in examining the work of the Patent Office indicating the cost of each of the studies involved. [1202]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  [holding answer 21 November 1995]: Two firms of consultants are engaged by the Patent Office to help on possible contractorisation projects. They are Marketing Improvements Group plc and Coopers and Lybrand. The total cost of this work to date is £108,945 plus expenses. The three projects are the Office's information technology services, its marketing and awareness programmes, and the operations of its London front office. The overall annual costs of these are £5.888 million, £1.608 million and £1.125 million respectively.

  EU Industry Council
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the European Union Industry Council, held on 6 to 7 November listing all votes and all decisions which were determined by unanimity or without dissension. [439]

  Mr. Eggar
  [holding answer 20 November 1995]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North (Mr. Thompson) on 21 November 1995, Official Report, column 71.

  Manufacturing Employment
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of total manufacturing employment in the United Kingdom was in foreign-owned companies in each year since 1974. [1516]

  Mr. Oppenheim
  [holding answer 22 November 1995]: The information required is given in the following list:

  Percentage of United Kingdom manufacturing employment in foreign-owned companies:

  1975: 13.0

  1977: 14.7

  1979: 15.0

  1981: 14.9

  1983: 14.5

  1884: 14.8

  1985: 14.0

  1986: 13.0

  1987: 13.4

  1988: 13.1

  255

  1989: 14.9

  1990: 16.1

  1991: 17.2

  1992: 18.1

  Note:

  1992 figures are the latest available.

  Prior to 1983 figures were only collected bi-annually.

  Source

  Annual Census of Production: CSO Business Monitor PA1002.

  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of total manufacturing employment was in foreign-owned companies in each of the EU and OECD countries in the latest available year. [1517]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 22 November 1995]: According to the annual census of production 18 per cent. of United Kingdom manufacturing employment was attributed to foreign-owned companies in 1992, the latest year for which data are available. No comparable data are available for other EU and OECD countries.

  Departmental Staffing
  Mrs. Beckett
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many staff employed in his Department are(a) on short-term contracts, (b) employed for less than a year, (c) employed in the press office and (d) employed in his private offices. [1514]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 22 November 1995]: On 1 October 1995 my Department employed 435 staff on short-term contracts—employed on a casual basis for up to a period of 12 months, but exceptionally up to two years. There are currently 243 staff who have been employed for less than a year, including staff on loan from other Government Departments but excluding staff in this category who transferred from the Department of Employment and Cabinet Office as part of the machinery of Government changes announced on 5 July 1995. There are currently 28 staff employed in the press office and 53 staff employed in Ministers' private offices.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many staff his Department employs on a regional basis in each standard English region, what is the cost of running these regional operations, what was the total budget for each region in 1994–95; and what are the main purposes for which the budget is used. [269]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 22 November 1995]: Disaggregated information on the basis of standard English regions is not available. However, information on the Department of Trade and Industry's regional staff in Government offices for the regions and related budgets and activities is provided in GO MINIS 1, copies of which were placed in the Library of the House in July 1995.

  Coal Mines (Accidents)
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the number of(a) fatal and (b) serious reportable accidents per 100,000 manshifts recorded by each of the coal companies operating deep mines which were previously publicly owned in the first 10 months of 1995. [1175]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I have been asked to reply.
  256
  The Health and Safety Executive does not compile accident rates for individual companies or mines.

  Temazepam
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what requirements a pharmaceutical wholesaler must fulfil in order to obtain an export licence for Temazepam. [1538]

  Mr. Maclean
  I have been asked to reply.

  Additional controls to prevent diversion from the legitimate trade in Temazepam will be introduced shortly. These will include a requirement for import and export licences.

  Emergency Admissions
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what change has occurred in respect of the level of emergency admissions to hospitals in the current year; and if he will make a statement. [1152]

  Mr. Sackville
  I have been asked to reply.

  The latest year for which figures are available is 1993–94. In that year, total admissions were 8,286,515, of which 3,833,498–46.3 per cent.—were emergency admissions. In 1992–93, total admissions were 7,873,219, of which 3,640,896–46.2 per cent.—were emergency admissions.

DEFENCE

  Army Training
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about his plans for the support and administration of the Army's training areas and ranges. [2476]

  Mr. Soames
  As part of the Government's competing for quality programme, the Commander-in-Chief Land Command has initiated a study into the way in which administration and support services are provided to the 100 or so Army training areas and ranges in England, Scotland and Wales for which he is responsible. The aim of the study is to explore the extent to which these support services might be provided more efficiently and at a reduced cost as a result of being exposed to competition. The study will last for about six months and its results will be reported to the House.

  HMS Renown
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the current cost per annum of maintaining HMS Renown; and if he will make a statement on her future; [2057]

  (2) where HMS Renown is currently stationed. [2058]

  Mr. Soames
  The cost of operating HMS Renown in 1994–95, the last year for which figures are available, was approximately £29 million. This figure includes the cost of manpower, maintenance and stores. Renown is no longer required to form part of our deterrent force and will in due course move from her current berth at Faslane to Rosyth to await decommissioning.
  257

  Army Surgeons
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of regular Army surgeons required to meet current commitments; [2056]

  (2) what is his estimate for the total number of Army surgeons who will be employed by his Department in each of the next five years. [2055]

  Mr. Soames
  The number of trained deployable Regular Army surgeons—comprising the disciplines of general surgery, opthalmics, burns and plastics, maxillo-facial and ear, nose and throat—oto-rhino-laryngology—required to meet current commitments is 55. Although it is not possible to predict the precise number of surgeons who will be employed in each of the next five years, all practicable steps will be taken to ensure that our requirements are fully met.

  Ships (Target Practice)
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the ships which are currently being considered for target practice. [1825]

  Mr. Soames
  All vessels on the disposal lists are available to be considered for use as a target. Decisions on whether ships will be used for target practice are made in the light of all relevant factors, including the operational requirement for such trials and the costs involved.

  Dr. Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will name the ships which have been used for target practice in each of the last five years. [1824]

  Mr. Soames
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 16 December 1994,Official Report, column 816. I can confirm that no vessels have been used for target practice since then.

  Ship Deployments
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the latest deployment of(a) HMS Kent, (b) HMS Hermione and (c) HMS Jupiter. [1826]

  Mr. Soames
  HMS Kent's last operational deployment was in an exercise in the eastern Atlantic in the spring of 1980. She then became the fleet training ship (static) in Portsmouth harbour from June 1980 to March 1983. Following that she became the cadet forces accommodation and training ship from March 1983 until March 1993. She was then placed on the disposal list.

  HMS Jupiter's last operational deployment was in the south Atlantic from October 1991 to February 1992. She returned to the UK via the West Indies, arriving on 31 March 1992. She was placed on the disposal list on 1 May 1992.

  HMS Hermione's last operational deployment was on Armilla patrol from October 1991 to February 1992. She returned to the UK via the Mediterranean, arriving on 26 March 1992. She was decommissioned on 30 June 1992 and then placed on the disposal list.

  All three vessels remain on the disposal list.
  258

  Military Assistance (Guatemala)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Guatemalan officers are being trained in Britain; what courses they are following; and at what establishment the courses are based. [1342]

  Mr. Soames
  Details of the military assistance provided to other countries are confidential between Governments.

  Jaguar Aircraft
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Jaguar aircraft are to be upgraded to GR.1B standard; and if he will list the additional capabilities of the GR.1B aircraft. [1289]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  We plan to have upgraded all 65 Jaguar GR aircraft to GR1B standard by mid-1997. This upgrade improves the operational effectiveness of Jaguar, and provides a TIALD—thermal imaging and laser designation—capability.

  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF Jaguar aircraft are to be upgraded with the Adour 804 engine; what is the cost of the programme; and what is the planned service entry date for(a) the first and (b) the last such upgraded aircraft. [1290]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  A proposal to upgrade the Jaguar Adour Mk 104 engine is being considered.

  Nuclear-free Zone (South Pacific)
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is Her Majesty's Government's policy in respect of the verification regime to police the South Pacific nuclear-free zone treaty. [1504]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  We have announced our intention to sign the protocols to the treaty of Raratonga which was drawn up by the South Pacific states. The treaty's control regime provides for information exchanges, consultations, a complaints procedure and the conclusion of safeguards agreements with the International Atomic Energy Authority in respect of peaceful nuclear activities. The Government have full confidence in the effectiveness of the IAEA safeguards system and its ability to detect diversion of nuclear material from the purposes declared for it.

  Technical Co-operation Programme
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many technical panels and action groups currently exist within sub-group E of the technical co-operation programme between Britain, the United States of America, Australia, New Zealand and Canada; and what is the remit of each of these technical panels and action groups. [1559]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Sub-group E of the technical co-operation programme currently contains four technical panels and three action groups. The titles, which describe the remits of each panel and action group are as follows:

  ETP4$Medical Countermeasures against biological agents

  ETP9—Hazard Assessment

  ETP10—Detection of biological agents

  ETP11—Low burden, integrated protective clothing

  259

  EAG38—Gene Probes

  EAG39—Medical Countermeasures against vesicant agents

  EAG40—Adsorbents.

  Air Crews (Secondment)
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on plans to provide Tornado aircraft, with Royal Air Force crews on secondment, to the United Arab Emirates. [1303]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  My department has no current plans to provide Tornado aircraft, with Royal Air Force crews on secondment, to the United Arab Emirates.

  However, British Aerospace is among the competitors to meet the United Arab Emirates' next combat aircraft requirement and its bid has the full and active support of Her Majesty's Government.

  Harrier Aircraft
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Air Force Harrier GR.7 aircraft have had their inertial navigation system modified to 1075G standard; what plans he has to apply this modification to the entire Harrier GR.7 fleet; and what is the total cost of the programme. [1287]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Twenty-nine of the 1075 standard inertial navigation system sets, as fitted to the Harrier GR7, were converted to the 1075G standard at a total cost of approximately £600,000. There are no plans to convert any more sets to the 1075G standard.

  Nuclear Tests (Nevada)
  Mr. Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he expects to receive information from his United States counterpart on the hydronuclear tests announced by the United States administration to be ordered at the Nevada test site in 1996. [1586]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I assume the hon. Member is referring to US plans to conduct hydrodynamic tests which do not involve any nuclear yield. There are long-standing arrangements allowing for the exchange of nuclear weapons—related information between the US and UK where the two parties believe that it would be mutually beneficial.

  Defence Contractors
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the Royal Ordnance having an office in the procurement division of his Department and a stand with exhibits on permanent exhibition in his Department's main building; and if he will make a statement. [1047]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  In certain circumstances, main defence contractors may be allocated office space within MoD buildings; any such requests are considered on their merits. Royal Ordnance has an office on the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency site at Fort Halstead, but it does not have an office within the procurement executive, and there are no plans to provide one.

  There is no permanent exhibition of Royal Ordnance products within my Department's main building.
  260

  Written Questions
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason parliamentary written questions 8851G, 8854G–56G, 8863G, 8869G, 8874G, 8876G, 8878G–8886G, 8888G–8889G; from the hon. Member for Don Valley were not published in the Official Report on 23 October as advised; on what date they will be published in the Official Report; and if he will make a statement. [404]

  Mr. Soames
  The written answers referred to by the hon. Member were given on 24 October and passed to the Official Report in the usual way but I am informed by the Editor that there is no record of them having been received. The answers were published as an addendum to the Official Report on 22 November 1995.

  Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on recruitment to the TAVR. [471]

  Mr. Soames
  An active programme of recruitment is being undertaken to provide the annual intake necessary to meet the Territorial Army's establishment of 59,000 personnel. This programme includes national advertising campaigns on television and in the national press, and regional campaigns geared to local circumstances.

  Army Technical Support Agency
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about Defence Agency status for the Army's technical branches and authorities. [2475]

  Mr. Soames
  The Army's technical branches and authorities—aircraft branch REME, electronics branch REME, vehicles and weapons branch REME, Army scaling and cataloguing authority and the land systems technical publications authority—were subject to an internal management study in 1993. The study concluded the Army's technical branches and authorities, which provide a range of technical support services for the Army and other services, would operate more effectively as a defence agency. In the period since the study a chief executive (designate) has been appointed and a detailed analysis of technical support business has been undertaken to determine how the agency would operate.

  On 16 October 1995 I agreed to the formation of the Army Technical Support Agency as a defence agency from the former technical branches and authorities. ATSA will remain part of MOD but the chief executive will have delegated executive powers to discharge his responsibilities.

  ATSA comprises a headquarters in Andover and currently occupies six main sites at Middle Wallop, Malvern, Chertsey, Woolwich—two sites and Chilwell. It employs some 1,250 staff, 900 of which are civil servants, with the balance being military. A major strategy within the ATSA initiative is to reduce the number of main sites and a study is now examining the options for collation. I will be making a further announcement in due course to advise the hon. Member of developments.
  261
  ATSA contributes to the operational capability of the armed forces by providing technical advice and services, which promote efficiency in equipment support and enhance availability and supportability in the design of front-line military equipment.

  ATSA has been set demanding targets. These are largely based on satisfying the customer requirement, whether it be for MOD's integrated logistic support managers working in the procurement executive, equipment support managers or the field force. The targets for the first 18 months to March 1997 are:

  Key target 1—Be effective in influencing the design of an equipment through its life.

  By 31 March 1996 establish a baseline and develop the target to measure ATSA's effectiveness in influencing equipment design.

  By 31 March 1997 meet the target set.

  Key target 2—Produce effective scales of spare parts.

  By 31 March 1996 develop a methodology to measure effectiveness of scales covering range, depth and cost.

  By 31 March 1997 meet the target set.

  Key target 3—Be responsive to ad hoc (help line) technical queries.

  By 31 March 1996 achieve 80 per cent. of queries resolved on receipt or within 2 working days with the remaining 20 per cent. acknowledged with a plan on how the query will be resolved.

  By 31 March 1997 achieve 82 per cent.

  Key target 4—Be responsive to demands for technical publications (between receipt of a demand and despatch of a publication).

  By 31 March 1996 achieve an average of 10 days.

  By 31 March 1997 achieve an average of 9 days.

  Key target 5—Deliver a timely ATSA technical project service.

  By 31 March 1996 establish a baseline and develop the target to measure the timeliness of ATSA's work.

  By 31 March 1997 meet the target set.

  Key target 6—Deliver a timely ATSA service by reducing the administrative lead time (ALT) to complete initial spares provisioning lists.

  By 31 March 1996 achieve an average ALT of 11 months.

  By 31 March 1997 achieve an average ALT of 10 months.

  Key target 7—Satisfy the customer when undertaking technical projects.

  By 31 March 1996 establish a baseline and develop the target to measure customer satisfaction.

  By 31 March 1997 meet the target set.

  Key Target 8—Increase efficiency by managing additional commitments within a declining budget while maintaining the programme by volume with no degradation in the quality of the service.

  Improve efficiency by 4 per cent. in 1996–97 over previous year.

  All the targets will encourage continuous improvement in ATSA services or efficiency which will be achieved by rationalisation and by improving processes.

  Additionally, milestone key targets will drive ATSA to achieve restructuring; competing the technical publications activity as part of the ATSA competing for quality programme; the development of business systems and collocation, of the land systems elements, on a single site by mid-1998.
  262

  Explosives, Propellants and Related End Products Agreement
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how the explosives, propellants and end products agreement applied to defence contracts with(a) Saudi Arabia, (b) Jordan, (c) Oman and (d) Malaysia; and what was the financial benefit to Royal Ordnance of the relevant contracts with these countries; [992]

  (2) what (a) was and (b) are the objectives and purposes of the explosives, propellants and related end products agreement; [1035]

  (3) what has been Royal Ordnance's record under the explosives, propellants and related end products agreement in respect of (a) timeliness of delivery, (b) quality and (c) pricing; and if he will make a statement; [989]

  (4) over what period the explosives, propellants and related end products agreement is applicable; [1037]

  (5) what is the successor arrangement to the explosives, propellants and related end products agreement which expired in March 1993; [1029]

  (6) what other companies, other than Royal Ordnance, were or are party to the explosives, propellants and related end products agreement; [1036]

  (7) what plans he has to introduce competition for the supply of certain products under the explosives, propellants and related end products agreement; what factors have inhibited competition to date; and if he will make a statement; [990]

  (8) what joint ventures with foreign companies have been considered, or entered into, under the explosives, propellants and related end products agreement; [991]

  (9) if he will list the agreements made between Her Majesty's Government and British Aerospace Royal Ordnance prior to the signing of the explosives, propellants and related end products agreement; and if he will make a statement; [1034]

  (10) what current orders and supply of products (a) did and (b) does the explosives, propellants and related end products agreement apply to; [1038]

  (11) if he will list those aspects of the explosives, propellants and related end products agreement which expired in March 1993 which (a) remain commercial-in-confidence and (b) are no longer commercial-in-confidence; and if he will make a statement. [1030]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The explosives, propellants and related end products agreement had two main objectives: first, to secure the supply of the majority of the Ministry of Defence's ammunition requirements of the five-year period following the privatisation of the Royal Ordnance factories; and secondly, to guarantee a core work load for the newly established Royal Ordnance plc, allowing the company to develop into an efficient competitor.

  The EPREP agreement subsumed two earlier agreements—the explosives and propellants agreement of August 1986 and the small arms agreement of September 1986.
  263
  The EPREP agreement ran from 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1993 and covered 42 different types of ammunition including tank, field gun, mortar, small arms and Navy ammunition. RO's performance under the agreement was satisfactory in terms of timely delivery, quality and price. Although all the work is now completed, the terms and conditions of the agreement remain "commercial-in-confidence" until both the signatories agree otherwise.

  The only parties to the EPREP agreement were RO and the Ministry of Defence. No other companies were involved. The agreement was not concerned with exports.

  All the orders placed under the agreement were awarded non-competitively. During the period of the agreement, the Ministry of Defence assessed and trialled alternative products from other suppliers so that, in the future, more ammunition orders could be subjected to competition.

  There was no successor arrangement to the EPREP agreement. However, the success of the agreement in helping to make RO an efficient competitor was shown in 1993 when RO secured, largely in competition, a major long-term Ministry of Defence contract for ammunition. This contract covered much of the armed forces' requirement for small arms ammunition between 1993 and 2000 and for larger calibres between 1993 and 1998.

  HMS Andromeda
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning his Department's ships(a) HMS Andromeda and (b) HMS Sirius. [1823]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Regarding the former HMS Andromeda, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 6 July 1995,Official Report, column 371. The former HMS Sirius has been decommissioned, and awaits disposal. We are considering a number of disposal options for her. No final decision has yet been made concerning her future sale, or use for other purposes.

  Upholder Submarines
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total original cost of purchasing the four Upholder class submarines. [1822]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave him on 21 April 1995,Official Report, column 308.

  Porton Down
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the titles of each of the unclassified technical papers known as Porton notes produced by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment Porton Down between 1965 and 1968. [1583]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, DERA, to write to the hon. Member.
  264
  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 23 November 1995:
  Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking if he will list the titles of the unclassified technical papers known as Porton Notes produced by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down between 1965 and 1968 has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which includes CBDE as one of its divisions.
  I have listed below the titles of each of the unclassified technical papers known as Potion Notes produced by the Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment, a fore-runner of CBDE, between 1965 and 1968.

  Porton Note-288—Preliminary studies on an anagram test for use in performance assessment.

  Porton Note-374—Development of spray equipment. Hand-held training.

  Porton Note-378—Ministry of Labour approval scheme for dust respirators. Report on the protector dust respirator Q/R2000.

  Porton Note-393—HM factory inspectorate approval scheme for dust respirators. Report on the Safirmatic dust respirator.

  Porton Note-376—Construction of a radio transmitter for the short range telemetry of cat electroencephalograms.

  Porton Note-375—Report on the Martindale positive powered respirator unit.

  Porton Note-373—Certification mark scheme for dust respirators. Report on the Protector dust respirator Q/R. 1000.

  Porton Note-371—Ministry of Labour approval scheme for canister respirators. Report on the Baxter canisters.

  Porton Note-368—Certification mark scheme for dust respirators. Report on the Baxter pneuseal dust respirator.

  Porton Note-367—Polarographic estimation of enzyme activity.

  Porton Note-359—Vapour source for the calibration of automatic alarms in the field.

  Porton Note-358—Humidity control system for a small chamber.

  Porton Note-353—Radio-controlled rotorod aerosol sampler.

  Porton Note-349—Sodium flame test for respirator canisters.

  Porton Note-347—Estimation of diffusion at short range in stable conditions.

  Porton Note-346—Determination of quantitative values for various categories of vertical stability of the atmosphere.

  Porton Note-343—Concept attainment test.

  Porton Note-341—Improvements to the sodium flame penetrometer.

  Porton Note-340—Electrical measurement of respiration and heart rate.

  Porton Note-336—Blood cholinesterase levels and symptoms in anticholinesterase poisoning.

  Porton Note-335—Use of polybutadiene synthetic rubber in respirator rubbers.

  Porton Note-334—Dispenser for the CS pellet for use in testing the AFU Mk 2.

  Porton Note-333—Certification mark scheme for dust respirators. Report on the British American optical companys Safline dust respirator.

  Porton Note-332—Device for automatically aligning a particle sampler into the wind.

  Porton Note-331—Review of recent research on aerosol filtration.

  Porton Note-329—Removal of simulated particulate fallout from a vehicle using the Porton exhaust powered vacuum cleaner.

  265

  Porton Note-328—Normative data for a test battery used to assess human performance following drugs.

  Porton Note-327—Comparison of the smoke performances of the British 81mm and 3 inch WP mortar bombs.

  Porton Note-326—Report on the Martindale-fumex respirator.

  Porton Note-325 Comparison between the sodium chloride and nitrogen meter respirator leakage tests.

  Potion Note-323—Certification mark scheme for dust respirators. Report on the British American optical company's Sure-guard dust respirator.

  Porton Note-321—Critical assessment of the claims made for toxogonin, An antidote for organophosphorus poisoning.

  Porton Note-320—Some tests of the Mullard automatic particle analyser type L188.

  Porton Note-319—Ministry of Labour approval scheme for canister respirators. Report on the Angus canister respirator.

  Porton Note-319A—Ministry of Labour approval scheme for canister respirators. Gas tests of industrial containers for Geo. Angus and Company.

  Porton Note-318—High Speed gas-liquid chromatography: Column evaluation.

  Porton Note-317—Sampling efficiency of millipore filter sampler design CD 6895.

  Porton Note-316—Correlation of filter penetrations by different particulate test clouds.

  Porton Note-314—Regeneration of used charcoal from air purification filters.

  Porton Note-313—Gaseous atmospheric pollutants. A literature survey.

  Porton Note-311—Assessment of used charcoals from air purification units by heat of wetting measurements.

  Porton Note-310—Spectroscopic studies on ricin. The quantitative determination of sodium sulphate content and an apparent correlation of infrared absorption with toxicity.

  Porton Note-303—Swelling of rubber in vapour and liquid:-Literature and theory.

  Porton Note-296—Certification mark scheme for duct respirators. Report on the MSA Comfo ideal dust respirator.

  Porton Note-293—Effect of water on G and V agents. A review of work carried out in the UK.

  Porton Note-289—Devices for the teaching of expired air resuscitation.

  Porton Note-378—Ministry of Labour approval scheme for dust respirators: Report on the protector dust respirator Q/R 2000.

  Porton Note-374—Development of spray equipment. Hand-held training.

  Porton Note-388—Permeability characteristics of the skin: A literature survey.

  Porton Note-392—Effect of water vapour on the responses of a micro-argon ionisation detector.

  Porton Note-395—Vertical diffusivity profiles for diffusion to range 1Km.

  Porton Note-394—HM factory inspectorate approval scheme for dust respirators: Report on the Martindale dust respirators types W and Y.

  Porton Note-383—Ministry of Labour approval scheme for dust respirators report on the Pirelli dust respirators type BN9C1.

  Potion Note-391—Estimate of the metabolic cost of decontamination for two teams of men using two different techniques.

  Porton Note 385—Australian Finger Cherry, Rhodomyrtus Macrocarpa Benth. Toxicological study of some fruit extracts.

  266 In my letter to you of the 26 July I said that 57 of the Porton Notes were unclassified. Whilst compiling this list it was discovered that the original Library listing contained duplicate entries for Potion Notes 383 and 393. This is why the above list only includes 55 titles. I am sorry about this.I hope this information is helpful.

  Sea Dumping Operations
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all coastal or sea disposal sites used for the dumping of(a) surplus chemical weapons, (b) chemical weapons recovered from enemy forces, (c) surplus conventional explosives, (d) toxic wastes and (e) radioactive waste since 1965; and what quantity of the waste materials of each category is dumped at each site. [1581]

  Mr. Soames
  Complete records of MoD sea dumping operations undertaken are no longer available. Accordingly, it is not possible to identify the total tonnages or precise nature of defence-related materials or waste products disposed of by this means. Records show that sea dumping of chemical weapons ended in 1957. Beaufort's dyke was the Departments's main conventional munitions disposal site in the north channel, where over 1 million tonnes of munitions were dumped between 1945 and 1973. An emergency MoD disposal took place in 1976 involving two cases of heavily corroded 40mm shells. Hurd Deep, situated in the English channel some 50 miles south of Prawle Point near Plymouth was also a conventional weapon dump site but no complete record appears to have survived of dumping operations at this site after the immediate post-war period until its use was discontinued in 1973. Between 1973 and 1985, up to 2,000 tonnes 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 tonnes; 1,882 tonnes, 1,565 tonnes; 3,244 tonnes; 1,544 tonnes; 1,775 tonnes; 1,093 tonnes and 8,764 tonnes. There are a number of other explosive dumping grounds charted in British waters but these were not routinely used. Details of the UK's sea disposal programme for low and intermediate level radioactive wastes, including wastes generated by MoD establishments, are contained in a report commissioned by the Department of the Environment, "Report of the Independent Review of Disposal of Radioactive Waste in the Northeast Atlantic", published in November 1984.

  Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the climatic chamber in the human factors section at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down was built; and what this chamber is used for. [1562]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, DERA, to write to the hon. Member.
  267
  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 23 November 1995:
  Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking when the climatic chamber in the Human Factors section at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment was built and what it is used for has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which includes CBDE as one of its divisions.
  This facility, which is used to assess the effects of wearing protective equipment on personnel in a variety of ambient temperatures and humidities, was built in the early 1950s.
  I hope this information is helpful.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down have been exposed to chemical warfare agents in experiments since 1965; what was the purpose of these experiments; when these experiments took place; and what were the conclusions of these experiments. [1560]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, DERA, to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 23 November 1995:
  Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking how many staff at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment have been exposed to chemical warfare agents in experiments since 1965 has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which includes CBDE as one of its divisions.
  No members of staff have been exposed to chemical warfare agents as part of experiments since 1965.
  I hope this information is helpful.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many scientific and biological papers were published between 1969 and 1991 under the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment technical paper series; and how many of these papers are now unclassified. [1609]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, DERA, to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 23 November 1995:
  Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking how many papers were published between 1969 and 1991 in the Chemical Defence Establishment Technical Paper series and how many of them are now unclassified has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which includes CBDE as one of its divisions.
  A total of 610 technical papers in the CDE Technical Series were published between 1969 and 1991. These reports are now held in a variety of places and it would involve disproportionate effort to check on the current security classification of all of them, bearing in mind that classification is reviewed from time to time. I can, however, tell you that of the total 610 technical papers. 193 were produced as unclassified documents.
  I am sorry I cannot be more helpful.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what experiments have been carried out in the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment's new facility for testing equipment and volunteers since the 268
  facility was opened in February 1994; and how many years this new facility is projected to be in service. [1563]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, DERA, to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 23 November 1995:
  Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what experiments have been conducted in the new facility opened in February 1994 at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which includes CBDE as one of its divisions.
  The new facility opened in February 1994 replaced the exposure chambers previously used to conduct studies involving equipment and service volunteers. To date the new facility has been used to carry out evaluations of collective and individual protection equipment and chemical agent detection systems. No studies involving service volunteers have taken place in this facility so far. The fitting and testing of respirators routinely issued to personnel at CBDE is also carried out in this facility. The lifetime of the facility is projected to he at least twenty years.
  I hope this information is helpful.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of section 6 No. 5 of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment's range safety regulation issued in 1984 which relates to the use of exposure chambers. [1564]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, DERA, to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 23 November 1995:
  Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking if copies of Section 6 No. 5 of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment's Range of Safety Regulations issued in 1984 can be placed in the Library of the House of Commons has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which includes CBDE as one of its divisions.
  I have made arrangements for a copy of this section of the Range Safety Regulations to be placed in the Library. You should be aware however that the procedures set out in this section refer exclusively to the now disused exposure chambers and not to the facility opened in February 1994.
  I hope this information is helpful.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what new buildings are planned to be built at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down, as part of its building replacement programme. [1610]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, DERA, to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 23 November 1995:
  Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what new buildings are planned to be built at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down as part of the building replacement plan has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which includes CBDE as one of its divisions.

  269
  CBDE are currently undertaking an investment appraisal into the possibility and viability of replacing a number of the ageing buildings with more modern, cost effective structures. The scheme being considered provides for replacement buildings for the Medical Countermeasures, Detection, Protection and Hazard Assessment Sections together with their support facilities in a floor area considerably smaller than that presently occupied. The scheme has yet to receive permission to proceed to the design stage.
  CBDE are about to award a design commission for a new Containment Building for work with microbiological organisms. If constructed this building will replace some of the old Microbiological building which will then be demolished. The scheme does not currently have permission to proceed beyond the design stage.
  I hope this information is helpful.

  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the conclusion of the research work at Nancekuke to investigate the storage of GB referred to in his answer of 16 March,Official Report, column 709; and when this work was carried out. [1616]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, DERA, to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 23 November 1995:
  Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what the conclusions of the research carried out at Nancekuke to investigate the storage of GB has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which includes the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment as one of its divisions.The work carried out at Nancekuke on the long term storage of the nerve gas GB took place from 1957 until the late 1970s and concluded that, suitably stabilised, the agent would have a shelf life in excess of twenty years.I hope this information is helpful.
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when the Health and Safety Executive last conducted a safety inspection at the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down; and when the next Health and Safety Executive inspection of the establishment is scheduled; [1561]

  (2) if he will place in the Library copies of reports arising out of the Health and Safety Executive inspections of the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down, in 1983 and 1988. [1615]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, DERA, to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 23 November 1995:
  Your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence asking when the Health and Safety Executive last inspected the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down and if copies of the reports of the inspections carried out in 1983 and 1988 can be placed in the Library of the House of Commons has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which includes CBDE as one of its divisions.270 The Health and Safety Executive last carried out a full safety inspection at CBDE in 1988. The next inspection is scheduled to take place early in 1996. Requests for placing copies of the reports of the Health and Safety Executive inspections in the House of Commons Library should be made to the Director General of the Health and Safety Executive.I hope this information is helpful.
  Mr. Livingstone
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the 21 safety audits referred to in his answer of 18 July,Official Report, columns 175–76 reviewed the arrangements for carrying out tests and studies in the service volunteer programme. [1611]

  Mr. Soames
  This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive, DERA, to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm. to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 23 November 1995:
  Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking if the safety audits referred to in the answer of 18 July, Official Report, column 175–6 reviewed the arrangements for carrying out tests and studies in the service volunteer programme has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which includes CBDE as one of its divisions.The safety audits referred to in the reply of 18th July were not concerned with the Service Volunteer programme. All protocols for conducting studies which involve the use of Service volunteers are reviewed by the Independent Ethics Committee.I hope this information is helpful.

  Damages Claim (Tornado Aircraft)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make progress in recovering compensation from Bricom Securum in relation to damage done by Airwork Ltd. to the F-3 Tornado squadron at RAF St Athans. [1326]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  [holding answer 21 November 1995]: My Department has presented the extent and nature of its claim to Bricom and is continuing to pursue it.

TREASURY

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement concerning the progress of forecast expenditure towards the convergence targets set for economic and monetary union. [692]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  There is no convergence target for public expenditure which is a matter for national Governments to decide. I expect the United Kingdom to meet the convergence criteria and to be in a position to decide whether to participate in monetary union when the time comes.

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect VAT extension has had on the economy and on living standards. [708]
  271
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  The extension of VAT to domestic fuel and power contributed to the Government's objective of controlling and reducing the PSBR. This is the best way to achieve sustainable growth in the economy and in living standards. There was a generous compensation package to compensate those hit hardest by the change.

  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the rate and scope of VAT. [709]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  I cannot anticipate my right hon. and learned Friend's Budget statement.

  Mr. Gapes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to extend the scope of VAT. [713]

  Mr. David Heathcoat-Amory
  The Government's taxation plans are announced in my right hon. and learned Friend's Budget speech and not before.

  Budget
  Mr. Canavan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received about the contents of his forthcoming Budget statement. [710]

  Mr. Jack
  My right hon. and learned Friend and the Chancellor of the Exchequer has as usual received a large number of Budget representations.

  Social Chapter
  Mr. Garel-Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from business leaders regarding the social chapter. [711]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Business leaders have indicated that they consider employment legislation to be one of the most burdensome types of regulation in a recent Union of Industrial and Employers Confederations of Europe, UNICE, survey. A further survey last summer by the European Enterprise Centre showed that two thirds of Europe's smaller companies were worried that higher costs resulting from the social chapter would make them less competitive.

  Gross National Product
  Mr. Congdon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the relationship between the percentage of GNP taken up by public spending and economic performance. [714]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  Lower public spending, lower taxes and lower borrowing are essential to building a dynamic thriving economy which can compete in world markets.

  Inheritance Tax
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer of the abolition of inheritance tax. [715]

  Mr. Jack
  I refer to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Griffiths) on 1 November 1995,Official Report, column 259.
  272

  Disposable Income
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what areas and by which method the Government have ensured an increase in the disposable income of the average family since April 1992. [716]

  Mr. Jack
  The Government have consistently sought rising living standards through a combination of prudent monetary and fiscal policies and continuing supply-side reforms to boost the real productive capacity of the economy. Real personal disposable income has grown by over 6 per cent. since early 1992. Unemployment has fallen by over 700,000 since its peak at the end of 1992.

  Investment
  Mr. Mudie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on investment levels in the United Kingdom. [718]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  OECD figures show that United Kingdom investment has grown significantly faster than the EC average rate since 1980, having grown at less than the EC average rate in the 1960s and 1970s.

  Mr. Cann
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the investment rates in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Japan (i) 1979 and (ii) the last year for which figures are available. [1628]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  Information on investment is set out in the OECD publication "National Accounts", available in the House of Commons Library.

  Betting Duty
  Mr. John Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the level of general betting duty. [719]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has received many representations on the level of general betting duty. In addition I have met representatives of the British Horseracing Board, the Horserace Betting Levy Board, the Bookmaker's Committee, the British Greyhound Racing Board, the British Betting Office Association and the Betting Office Licensees Association over the last few weeks.

  Public Expenditure
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what priority he gives to cutting public spending as a proportion of GDP. [701]

  Mr. Waldegrave
  It is a central part of the Government's economic strategy to reduce public spending as a share of national output below 40 per cent. This is essential to enable the private sector to generate the jobs, investment and wealth that make our economy prosperous and competitive in world markets.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much income tax was raised in the financial year 1994–95; and what percentage came from the present top rate. [127]
  273
  Mr. Jack
  It is estimated that the total income tax liability after tax credits in 1994–95 is £66.9 billion, of which about 9 per cent. is the liability in excess of the basic rate.

  Consultants
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the information contained in his answer of 7 February 1991,Official Report, column 204, in respect of the issues and departments for which (a) Herbert Smith and Associates, (b) Slaughter and May and Kleinwort Benson have been used by the Government. [1095]

  Mr. Jack
  The tables have been updated to show the issues, sponsoring departments and in which positions the firms of Herbert Smith and Associates, Slaughter and May and Kleinwort Benson were appointed since 1983.

  Role of Kleinwort Benson in Privatisations

  Issue

  Date

  Department

  Position

  British Petroleum

  1983

  Treasury

  Underwriter

  British Petroleum

  1987

  Treasury

  Underwriter

  British Aerospace

  1985

  Treasury

  Joint Lead Underwriter

  Cable and Wireless

  983

  Treasury

  Adviser1 Lead Underwriter

  Cable and Wireless

  1985

  Treasury

  Underwriter

  Britoil

  1985

  Treasury

  Underwriter

  Associated British Ports

  1983

  Transport

  Advisers2 Joint Underwriter

  Enterprise Oil

  1984

  Energy

  Adviser Underwriter

  British Telecom

  1984

  DTI

  Adviser Joint Lead Underwriter

  British Gas

  1986

  Energy

  Underwriter

  British Airways

  1987

  Transport

  Underwriter

  Royal Ordnance

  1987

  Defence

  Adviser3

  British Steel

  1988

  DTI

  Underwriter

  Water and Sewerage Companies

  1989

  Environment

  Underwriter

  Regional Electricity Companies

  1990

  Energy

  Adviser

  Generating Companies

  1991

  Energy

  Adviser

  Generating Companies

  1995

  Treasury

  Joint Global Co-ordinator

  Railway Franchising

  1995

  OPRAF

  Adviser

  1 With Bank of England.

  2 Early stages.

  3 Initial study.

  Role of Herbert Smith and Associates in privatisations

  Issue

  Date

  Department

  Position

  Royal Ordnance

  1987

  Defence

  Solicitor

  National Seed Development Organisation

  1987

  DES/MAFF

  Solicitor

  Ports Act

  Property Clawback Order

  1991–92

  DoT

  Solicitor

  Tilbury Debenture

  1991–92

  DoT

  Solicitor

  Married Quarters Estate

  Current

  MoD

  Solicitor

  Role of Slaughter and May in privatisations

  Issue

  Date

  Department

  Position

  Jaguar1

  1984

  DTI

  Solicitor

  British Aerospace

  1985

  Treasury

  Solicitor

  Britoil

  1985

  Treasury

  Solicitor

  274

  Role of Slaughter and May in privatisations

  Issue

  Date

  Department

  Position

  British Gas

  1986

  Energy

  Solicitor

  Unipart1

  1987

  DTI

  Solicitor

  British Airways

  1987

  Transport

  Solicitor

  British Petroleum

  1987

  Treasury

  Solicitor

  Regional Electricity Companies

  1990

  Energy

  Solicitor

  Generating Companies

  1991

  Energy

  Solicitor

  1995

  Treasury

  Solicitor

  1 Sale of a subsidiary.

  Local Government
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the Acts of Parliament and Consolidation Acts that affect local government which have been introduced by his Department since January 1994. [44]

  Mr. Jack
  Sections 33, 42 and 96(4) of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 cover local authorities. This Act consolidated existing legislation and therefore did not change the content of the law. The provisions of Finance Acts giving legislative effect to the Budget affect local government in common with other bodies and individuals.

  Taxation
  Mr. Robert Ainsworth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all the new reliefs from offers against, and exclusion from, inheritance tax and capital gains tax that he has announced since April 1992, in each case indicating the expected number of beneficiaries in a full year and the cost of the relief. [85]

  Mr. Jack
  There have been no new reliefs from inheritance tax since the answer to a similar question from the hon. Member for Newcastle on Tyne, Central (Mr. Cousins) on 25 November 1994,Official Report, column 466. However, there have been changes/extensions to the inheritance tax threshold and relief for agricultural assets.

  The new reliefs from capital gains tax announced since April 1992:

  Reinvestment relief (excluding deferral reliefs under venture capital trusts and the Enterprise Investment Scheme);

  Venture Capital Trusts;

  Enterprise Investment Scheme.

  Unfortunately it is not possible to provide a reliable estimate for the number of beneficiaries in a full year. However, estimates for the full-year costs in 1995–96 of the new reliefs are:

  Million

  Cost1

  Reinvestment relief

  50

  Venture Capital Trusts

  10

  Enterprise Investment Scheme

  10

  1 These estimates are tentative and subject to a wide margin of error.

  There have also been changes/extensions to CGT retirement and rollover reliefs and to the CGT annual exemption.
  275

  Ministerial Transport, London
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times in the last year he has used(a) London Transport buses and (b) London Underground while on official business. [378]

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  I have not used London Transport buses or London Underground while on official business in the last year.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made towards cutting energy consumption in Government buildings for which he has responsibility in each year since 1990. [1441]

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  Figures showing progress between 1990–91 and 1993–94 towards cutting energy consumption in Government departments responsible to the Chancellor of the Exchequer were given by the Minister for Construction, Planning and Energy Efficiency on 17 May,Official Report, column 259–60. Data for 1994–95 are not yet available.

  Housing Investment Trusts
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if housing investment trusts will be permitted to take over existing rented properties. [1416]

  Mr. Jack
  It would not be appropriate for me to comment on tax matters at this stage of the Budget cycle.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many families contain two or more unemployed people at the latest date for which figures are available [1485]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  [holding answer 21 November 1995]: Estimates from the winter—December 1994 to February 1995—Labour Force Survey show that of 25.4 million families in Great Britain 170,000 families contained two or more ILO unemployed people.

WALES

  Temazepam
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what amount of temazepam per capita is distributed annually in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [1507]

  Mr. Richards
  In 1994, 109 grams of temazepam were dispensed on prescription per 1,000 population in Wales. The figures for the first quarter of 1995–96 show a marked decrease in the prescribing of the soft gel capsule formulations as a result of a voluntary ban by many general practitioners.

  Breast Cancer Services
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the breast cancer services available, and what they comprise for each area. [1145]
  276
  Mr. Richards
  The national breast screening programme, which undertakes routine screening and assessment for women aged 50 to 64 years, is provided on an all-Wales basis by Breast Test Wales. The availability of symptomatic breast caner services, including treatment, is the responsibility of district health authorities and general practitioners and is reflected in contracts with NHS trusts.

  Planning Appeals
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many planning appeals to his office have been accepted or rejected in each of the last 10 years. [1157]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is contained in the "Digest of Welsh Statistics", published annually. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

  Inward Investment
  Sir Wyn Roberts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the value, at current prices, of inward investment to Wales in the last five years. [1400]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The forecast capital investment by inward investment projects into Wales from overseas and elsewhere in the United Kingdom over the last five years has been £585 million in 1990–91; £1.1 billion in 1991–92; £949 million in 1992–93; £765 million in 1993–94; and £921 million in 1994–95. These figures are based upon information provided by companies at the time of the decision to invest and take no account of any subsequent decisions.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made towards cutting energy consumption in Government buildings for which he has responsibility. [1450]

  Mr. Hague
  At the end of 1993–94, the latest year for which figures are available, energy consumption in my Department was 2 per cent. lower than it was in 1990–91, the base year of the Government's energy efficiency campaign. Within this figure a 21 per cent. cut in the use of fossil fuels was achieved. Carbon dioxide emissions were reduced by 26 per cent.

  The Welsh Office has continued to increase its efficiency in energy usage and I anticipate that the 1994–95 figures will show further improvement overall.

  Suicides
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each district council area, county council area and for Wales as a whole the number of suicides recorded; and if he will express this number as a percentage of the overall population for(a) 1971, (b) 1981, (c) 1991 and (d) for each of the last available three years for which figures are available. [1081]

  Mr. Richards
  In view of the large number of figures requested I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
  277

  Detention of Persons
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all those hospitals used in Wales for the detention of persons under the Mental Health Acts; and which of those are private hospitals. [1595]

  Mr. Hague
  The following hospitals can be used for the detention of persons under the Mental Health Act:

  NHS hospitals and units

  Bodfaen Mental Illness Unit

  Bodnant Unit and EMI, Llandudno Hospital

  Brecon War Memorial Hospital

  Broddyfi Community Hospital

  Bronllys Hospital

  Bryn Beryl Hospital

  Bryn-y-Neuadd Hospital

  Brynhyfryd Hospital

  Caswell Clinic (Forensic Psychiatry), Glanrhyd Hospital

  Cefn Coed Hospital

  Cefni Hospital

  Dryll-y-Car

  Ely Hospital

  Garngoch Hospital

  Glanrhyd Hospital

  Gwynfa Residential Unit

  Hensol Hospital

  Hergest Acute Mental Illness Unit, Adjacent Ysbyty Gwynedd

  Lansdowne Hospital

  Lanfrechfa Grange Hospital

  Llwyneryr Hospital

  Llynfi Hospital

  Llys Maldwyn Hospital

  Mardy Hospital

  Mental Health Services, East Glamorgan General Hospital

  Mid Wales Hospital

  Minfordd Hospital

  Mountain Ash General Hospital

  Panteg Acute MI, Talygarn

  Pater Close Unit

  Pen-y-fal Hospital

  Psychiatric Services, Ysbyty Maelor

  Royal Alexandra Hospital

  Royal Hamadryad Hospital

  St. Cadoc's Hospital

  St. David's Hospital, Carmarthen

  St. Tydfils Hospital

  Sully Hospital, Morfa Day Unit

  Tonna Hospital

  University Hospital of Wales

  Whitchurch Hospital

  Ysbyty George Thomas

  Ystrad Mynach Bungalow Units

  Ystrad Mynach Hospital

  Ystradgynlais Community Hospital

  Private hospital

  Llanarth Court Hospital

  278

  Mental Health
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were detained in Wales during each of the last three years under the provisions of the Mental Health Acts; and what percentage of these were held in private hospitals. [1596]

  Mr. Hague
  The information is as follows:

  Admissions to hospitals and nursing homes of people detained under provisions of the Mental Health Act, 1983, or other acts

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  NHS hospitals

  1,208

  1,055

  1,251

  Private hospitals

  28

  80

  124

  Private nursing homes

  6

  1

  5

  Total

  1,242

  1,136

  1,380

  Percentage detained in private hospitals

  2

  7

  9

  Dental Practitioners
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent by each family health service authority on payments to dental practitioners for NHS dental work in each year between 1990 and 1994, inclusive in Wales. [2060]

  Mr. Richards
  The information requested is as follows:

  £000

  FHSA

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  Clwyd

  5,235

  (424)

  64

  71

  75

  Dyfed

  4,735

  (373)

  99

  165

  142

  Gwent

  6,667

  (617)

  127

  148

  122

  Gwynedd

  3,032

  (252)

  26

  101

  116

  Mid Glamorgan

  6,671

  (655)

  69

  57

  72

  Powys

  1,456

  (127)

  62

  33

  116

  South Glamorgan

  6,558

  (597)

  53

  68

  81

  West Glamorgan

  6,049

  (565)

  29

  21

  19

  Dental Practice Board

  —

  55,564

  51,282

  48,445

  50,123

  Wales

  40,403

  51,954

  51,811

  49,109

  50,866

  Notes:

  1. Dental Practice Board (DPB) expenditure is shown to give the complete picture of payments to dental practitioners.

  2. With effect from 1 April 1991 the majority of payments to dental practitioners became the responsibility of the DPB. However, due to the timetable of scheduling by the DPB, March 1991 schedules were paid in April 1991 by FHSAs. The balance of their opening creditors were met by payments made by the DPB and were recorded by FHSAs as negative expenditure. At national level the aggregate amount (FHSA and DPB consolidated together) reflects actual expenditure which is comparable with the aggregated outturns for other years.

  Source:

  Annual Accounts of FHSAs and the DPB.
  279

  Community Health Councils
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make a statement on the main aims of the reforms he proposes to the membership of the community health councils. [1728]

  (2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the consultation document on amending the membership size and qualification of Welsh community health councils. [1729]

  Mr. Hague
  In the light of increasing difficulties in maintaining the current membership levels of community health councils, and the reduction in the number of local councillors from next April, I believe that it is appropriate to seek views from a wide range of bodies on the total membership of community health councils in Wales.

  The review in no way challenges the special status of community health councils in representing the public and patient interest in relation to the NHS in Wales.

  I have arranged for copies of the consultation letter to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Ron Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if the current 21-hour rule enabling unemployed people to study while receiving benefit will be reduced to 16 guided learning hours when the jobseeker's allowance is introduced in Wales; what distinction will be made in respect of the treatment of unemployed people who take up places in(a) further and (b) higher education courses; and if he will make a statement. [1138]

  Mr. Forth
  I have been asked to reply.

  Full-time students will not be able to receive jobseeker's allowance. People receiving JSA will, however, will be able to study part time, as long as they meet the entitlement conditions, which include being available for actively seeking employment. This carries forward existing arrangements.

  In higher education, courses continue to be classed as either full-time or part-time and so the existing rules distinguishing between people on such courses can—and consequently will—be carried forward into JSA. In further education, however, courses are no longer defined as full-time or part-time, and the rules under JSA will reflect this. Courses funded, in whole or in part, by the Further Education Funding Councils for Wales and England will be considered to be part-time if they are of no more than 16 guided learning hours per week. While those courses in Wales are not, as they are in England, defined by the number of guided learning hours, further education colleges in Wales will nevertheless be able to provide statements of the number of guided learning hours attributed to their courses using the same definition.

  These rules are designed to allow the same number of people to study part time while unemployed and receiving benefit as do so under the current rules.

  Training for Work
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each training and enterprise council in Wales the number of training for work starts for(a) 1993–94 and
  280
  (b) 1994–95; what is the estimated number in 1995–96; and what is the total budget for training for work in each TEC for the same years. [1927]

  Mr. Richards
  The information requested is set out in the following tables: Outturn figures are given for 1993–94 and 1994–95 and planned provision for 1995–96.

  Training for Work

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–961

  TFW starts

  Gwent

  4,065

  3,234

  3,400

  Mid Glamorgan

  4,061

  4,283

  3,400

  North-east Wales

  779

  1,558

  1,537

  Powys

  628

  597

  703

  South Glamorgan

  2,653

  2,614

  2,500

  Targed

  1,950

  2,384

  1,500

  West Wales

  4,858

  4,769

  3,568

  TFW spend (£ million)

  Gwent

  4.952

  4.162

  4.113

  Mid Glamorgan

  5.245

  4.230

  3.636

  North-east Wales

  2.139

  1.506

  1.410

  Powys

  0.757

  0.722

  0.926

  South Glamorgan

  3.217

  2.855

  2.996

  Targed

  3.040

  3.111

  2.702

  West Wales

  6.900

  5.913

  6.160

  1 Planned figures.

  Allied Medical Services
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received in relation to the registration of Allied Medical Services as an agency for temporary nursing staff with respect to vetting procedures in respect of the hiring out of auxiliary nurses. [1731]

  Mr. Hague
  None. The licensing of nursing agencies is the responsibility of local authorities.

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  BBC
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what discussions her Department has had with the British Broadcasting Corporation in relation to the delays in completing NICAM coverage of their broadcast network. [1712]

  Mr. Sproat
  None. It is for the BBC to determine the rate at which this programme proceeds in the light of its resources and other engineering priorities. However, I understand that the BBC remains committed to an extension of NICAM coverage as part of its continuing programme of investment in its transmitter network.

  Tourism
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage which of the four options, I, II, III or IV, outlined in the European Commission's Green Paper on Tourism were supported by(a) the British Tourist Authority, (b) the Welsh tourist board, (c) the Northern Ireland tourist board, (d) the Scottish tourist board, (e) the Confederation of British Industry, (f) the National Trust, (g) the British Resorts Association, (i) the Association of District Councils and (i) the Rank Holiday Organisation. [1475]
  281
  Mr. Sproat
  The tourist boards indicated the following preferred options:

  British Tourist Authority/English Tourist Board jointly—Option III

  Welsh Tourist Board—Option III

  Northern Ireland Tourist Board—No preferred option specified; option III most appealing

  Scottish Tourist Board—Option III

  Of the other organisations to which the question refers, copies of responses were received from two, and they indicated support for the options indicated below:

  Confederation of British Industry—Option III

  British Resorts Associations—Option IV

  Most of these organisations indicated that they wanted a higher profile for the tourist industry in Europe, but did not want more regulation.

  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list all the organisations which were consulted by her Department before the Government published their official response to the European Commission Green Paper on Tourism. [1476]

  Mr. Sproat
  In considering the Government's response to the Green Paper, my Department sought the views of the following organisations:

  Association of British Travel Agents

  Association of Leading Visitor Attractions

  Association of Recognised English Language Services

  British Holiday and Home Parks Association

  British Hospitality Association

  British Incoming Tour Operators Association

  British Resorts Association

  British Retail Consortium

  British Tourist Authority

  Confederation of British Industry

  European Tour Operators Association

  Hotel and Catering International Management Association

  Hotel and Catering Training Company

  Joint Hospitality Industry Congress

  Restaurateurs Association of Great Britain

  World Travel and Tourism Council

  Copies of responses or comments were also received from the Automobile Association, the Council for the Protection of Rural England, the Federation of Small Businesses, the National Council of Hotels Associations, the Royal Automobile Club and the World Tourism Organisation.

  My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland, for Scotland and for Wales also consulted a number of organisations, as did the British Tourist Authority and English tourist board.

  Ms Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what alternative courses of action from those detailed in "Tourism: Competing with the Best" were considered in any environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department; [254]

  (2) what procedures have been put in place by her Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of "Tourism: Competing with the Best"; [255]

  (3) if "Tourism: Competing with the Best" was (a) subject to and (b) modified on account of an environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" produced by the
  282
  Department of the Environment; and if she will publish the appraisal. [253]

  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 22 November 1995]: In developing tourism policy the Government have been guided by the main conclusion of the tourism and environment task force, namely, that serious environmental problems caused by tourism are limited to a few locations at specific times. The task force also stated that many of these problems could be resolved through improved management; the Government responded by funding guidance publications and pilot projects. The recent report of the Environment Select Committee on the environmental impact of leisure activities agreed with the task force, finding no evidence that tourism and leisure pose a serious, immediate or intrinsic threat to the environment.

  "Competing with the Best" sets out a number of measures to help the industry become more competitive, and is part of the Government's overall competitiveness programme. Its aim is not to deliver specific developments with measurable environmental impacts, but to equip the industry to deal with ever-increasing competition in the world marketplace. As "Competing with the Best" states, the Government recognise that tourism growth can be sustainable only if a balance is maintained between the needs of visitors and the needs of visitors and the needs of the environment.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. Spellar
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what discussions she has had with the Department of the Environment regarding the need for the implementation of the Latham report with particular reference to the British Library contract. [411]

  Mr. Sproat
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not considered it necessary to hold discussions with the Department of the Environment regarding the need for the implementation of the Latham report, following the experience of the British Library construction project.

  However, the review by Sir Peter Levene's efficiency unit on Government procurement, which complements the Latham report, did consult the Department and drew upon the experiences of the British Library construction project in formulating its recommendations.

  Sports Council
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many redundancies are forecast through the restructuring of the Great Britain Sports Council; and what estimate she has made as to the effects these are likely to have in the level and quality of service. [1607]

  Mr. Sproat
  Staff selection is in progress for the new organisations following the restructuring of the Great Britain Sports Council. Until posts within the new structures have been filled, it is not possible to give accurate numbers of staff whose employment will terminate on the grounds of compulsory or voluntary redundancy.
  283
  The restructuring I announced in July 1994 will enhance the service provided by the Sports Council. The new United Kingdom and English Sports Councils will have a sharper focus and reduced bureaucracy, which will greatly benefit sport.

  Local Government
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the Acts of Parliament including Consolidation Acts that affect local government that have been introduced by her Department since January 1994. [28]

  Mr. Sproat
  My Department has not introduced any Acts affecting local government during this period.

  Culture Council
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, if she will make a statement on the outcome of the Culture Council held on 20 November. [2471]

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  The Council of the European Union on Audiovisual and Culture matters met formally on 20 November; the UK was represented by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Lord Inglewood.

  Agreement was reached between member states on the central elements of an amended version of the television without frontiers directive 1989. In particular, there was agreement satisfactory to the UK that there should be no strengthening of the current articles 4 and 5 on quotas and that a contact committee should be established along with a review after five years. Agreement was also secured on amendments to offer strengthened protection to minors and to clarify jurisdiction.

  The Council confirmed its agreement to the MEDIA II training decision having taken into account the European Parliament's second reading amendments. Taken with the previous decision on the development and distribution elements of the MEDIA II programme, this will enable this five-year programme of support for the audiovisual industry to begin in 1996.

  The Commission made a brief presentation on a proposed European audiovisual investment guarantee fund to promote cinema and television production.

  The Council also discussed a draft common position on a proposal to establish the Raphael programme for European cultural heritage, but was unable to agree due to budgetary concerns. However, the Council was able to agree unanimously to adopt a resolution to encourage work on the promotion of statistics on culture and economic growth. The Council also heard a presentation from the Commission on the cross-border aspects of fixed book pricing systems.

  It was agreed that the title of European City of Culture in the year 2000 should be shared by Avignon, Bologna, Prague, Cracow, Reykjavik, Brussels, Bergen, Santiago de Compostela and Helsinki. It was also decided that Valletta and Linz, both candidates to host the European Cultural Month in 1998, would be invited to share the title.
  284

  Sporting Events (Broadcasting)
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if her Department has reviewed the sporting events listed under section 182 of the Broadcasting Act 1990. [1656]

  Mr. Sproat
  The list of sporting events drawn up under section 182 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 is kept under regular review.

  Adult Television
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the outcome of the case before the European Court of Justice between Her Majesty's Government and the broadcaster Red Hot television. [167]

  Mr. Sproat
  The case has not yet been concluded.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage which encryption systems have been employed by the television services Rendez Vous and TV Erotica and notified to the Secretary of State by the Independent Television Commission; and what powers she has to ban these systems. [166]

  Mr. Sproat
  I understand that both the TV Erotica and Rendez Vous channels employ the Eurocrypt encryption system for their broadcasts. An encryption system may be utilised by a number of different channels including, as in this case, by some whose broadcasts are in no way unacceptable. To outlaw an encryption system would not therefore be appropriate.

  The order that I made on 14 November 1995 under section 177 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 proscribing TV Erotica, however, makes it a criminal offence to advertise, promote or sell the specific software, or smart cards, required to decode the TV Erotica channel's signal. The order comes into force on 5 December 1995. I am considering what action to take in the case of Rendez Vous.

  Broadcasting
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, if she will make a statement on the EC's proposal to amend the television without frontiers directive in respect of the designating factor in determining which member state has jurisdiction. [164]

  Mr. Sproat
  The Government welcome the proposal that a revised television without frontiers directive should properly clarify and define the jurisdiction of member states over broadcasters. If, as proposed, establishment of the broadcasting company within a member state is to he the primary test of jurisdiction, it is imperative that a clear definition of establishment, for the purposes of the directive, should be incorporated in an amended text.

  Departmental Staffing
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many staff her Department employs on a regional basis in each standard English region; what is the cost of running these regional operations; what was the total budget for each region in 1994–95; and what are the main purposes for which the budget is used. [264]
  285
  Mr. Sproat
  [holding answer 22 November 1995]: My Department is based in central London and has no other regional offices. The Department employs 363 staff and its running costs for the current financial year are £17,710 million. A breakdown of the main areas of expenditure can be found in the Department's 1994 annual report (Cm 2511) held in the Library of the House.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what progress has been made towards cutting energy consumption in Government buildings for which she has responsibility in each year since 1994. [1436]

  Mr. Sproat
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Construction, Planning and Energy Efficiency,Official Report, columns 260–62.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Abdul Onibiyo
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what information he has concerning the safety of Abdul Onibiyo since he was removed to Nigeria; [1619]

  (2) what representations he has received concerning the proposed removal of the Onibiyo family to Nigeria; and if he will make a statement. [1621]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  We have no information about Mr. Onibiyo's current situation. As I said in my reply to the hon. Member on 7 November Official Report, column 813, his claim to a well-founded fear of persecution in Nigeria was fully considered and rejected. That decision was upheld by the independent appellate authority.

  In addition to representations made by the hon. Member for Islington, North, representations have been received from the right hon. Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Benn) and from the hon. Members for Vauxhall (Miss Hoey), for Rochdale (Ms Lynne), for Berkshire, East (Mr. MacKay), for Coventry, North-West, (Mr. Robinson), for Leyton (Mr. Cohen), for Hyndburn (Mr. Pope), for Brentford and Isleworth (Mr. Deva), for Feltham and Heston (Mr. Keen), the Bishop of Southwark, the Churches Commission for Racial Justice, the Lambeth branch of Unison, other members of Unison and legal representatives acting for the Onibiyo family. In addition, early-day motions have been signed by the hon. Member for Islington, North and by the hon. Members for Newham, North-west (Mr. Banks), for Nottingham, South (Mr. Allen) and for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours).

  Removal Orders
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people(a) have been removed to Nigeria (i) before and (ii) after 10 November and (b) are currently the subject of removal orders. [1622]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The information requested is not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the available information shows that in the 12 months prior to 10 November 1995,286
  339 Nigerian nationals were either removed from the United Kingdom as illegal entrants or deported and that one has been removed since that date.

  Stop-and-search Powers
  Ms Abbott
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the number of people of African descent who are stopped, questioned and searched coming through British ports relative to the average number of people so detained. [1232]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The information requested is not available.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his Department's current practice in respect of immigration officials passing on details of the claims of persons seeking asylum to the embassies of countries from which asylum seekers have travelled; and if he will make a statement. [1526]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  All applications for asylum in the United Kingdom are treated as confidential. No information about an asylum claim is disclosed to the authorities of the applicant's country of origin. However, both the Dublin convention, which is not yet in force, and the European Union resolution on minimum guarantees for asylum procedures provide for information to be disclosed in confidence to the asylum authorities of other member states of the European Union through which the applicant has passed or which may have responsibility for considering the asylum claim.

  Mr. Khabra
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum have been rejected on the safe third country ground. [1260]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  In 1994 865 asylum applications were refused on the safe third country ground and 1,205 in the first nine months of 1995. A nationality split is available in table 4.3 of the Home Office statistical bulletin, "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 1994", issue 15/95. A copy of this publication is available in the Library.

  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the pilot scheme adopted by immigration officials to accelerate asylum applications from certain countries. [149]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  I am placing a short report on the pilot scheme in the Library.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which countries have undergone events likely to give rise to a well-founded fear of persecution among the nationals since 1988; and which countries are currently undergoing such events. [552]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Under proposals on which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security has been consulting for restricting the benefit entitlement of asylum seekers, it is envisaged that the Benefit Agency will be notified in the event of a future fundamental change of circumstances in a country such that persons will not normally be returned to it for the time being.
  287

  Probation Services
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of(a) probation officers and (b) probation assistants in post in each of the probation services in England and Wales in (i) 1979, (ii) 1985, (iii) 1990, (iv) 1991, (v) 1992, (vi) 1993 (vii) 1994. [2059]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Information is given in the table. Figures for probation services' officers (ancillaries) are not available by individual area for 1979.

  (a) Probation officers

  Area

  19791

  19851

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Avon

  64

  70

  114

  114

  117

  122

  116

  Bedfordshire

  32

  45

  66

  70

  81

  80

  77

  Berkshire

  48

  50

  81

  88

  98

  102

  107

  Buckinghamshire

  24

  48

  82

  80

  93

  94

  94

  Cambridgeshire

  34

  37

  69

  75

  81

  87

  85

  Cheshire

  51

  62

  104

  113

  118

  129

  120

  Cleveland

  52

  51

  108

  108

  110

  106

  109

  Cornwall

  24

  23

  35

  34

  41

  45

  44

  Cumbria

  31

  38

  60

  64

  69

  73

  72

  Derbyshire

  43

  59

  117

  118

  121

  118

  119

  Devon

  63

  62

  132

  134

  139

  143

  151

  Dorset

  44

  45

  88

  89

  90

  88

  93

  Durham

  41

  44

  89

  93

  91

  96

  91

  Essex

  64

  89

  143

  147

  148

  154

  156

  Gloucestershire

  32

  30

  63

  64

  64

  64

  69

  Hampshire

  110

  117

  191

  200

  215

  207

  205

  Hereford and Worcester

  46

  61

  94

  96

  106

  110

  112

  Hertfordshire

  58

  63

  102

  104

  103

  104

  105

  Humberside

  57

  78

  134

  139

  141

  145

  141

  Kent

  86

  101

  163

  171

  189

  179

  181

  Lancashire

  101

  122

  201

  201

  207

  216

  217

  Leicestershire

  57

  56

  123

  124

  126

  131

  142

  Lincolnshire

  31

  37

  73

  72

  78

  79

  85

  Greater Manchester

  222

  254

  426

  446

  469

  486

  502

  Merseyside

  175

  188

  298

  306

  331

  327

  320

  Norfolk

  32

  37

  83

  83

  84

  82

  91

  Northamptonshire

  37

  48

  64

  71

  70

  74

  76

  Northumbria

  119

  137

  238

  238

  249

  250

  262

  Nottinghamshire

  116

  114

  180

  177

  187

  190

  183

  Oxfordshire

  35

  39

  67

  66

  74

  72

  77

  Shropshire

  27

  32

  51

  51

  50

  52

  52

  Somerset

  24

  30

  63

  68

  66

  73

  76

  Staffordshire

  90

  101

  169

  170

  176

  177

  172

  Suffolk

  32

  34

  84

  85

  89

  89

  94

  Surrey

  44

  46

  87

  90

  103

  99

  101

  East Sussex

  36

  36

  68

  73

  73

  77

  77

  West Sussex

  24

  34

  53

  57

  62

  65

  66

  Warwickshire

  32

  37

  62

  61

  65

  66

  66

  West Midlands

  261

  289

  444

  459

  459

  465

  482

  Wiltshire

  27

  35

  61

  63

  65

  70

  71

  North Yorkshire

  30

  36

  54

  58

  57

  60

  61

  South Yorkshire

  112

  118

  205

  222

  229

  239

  238

  West Yorkshire

  199

  193

  321

  319

  356

  394

  389

  Dyfed

  15

  23

  31

  34

  35

  40

  37

  Gwent

  30

  33

  51

  54

  51

  54

  58

  North Wales

  33

  44

  68

  70

  70

  68

  70

  Powys

  6

  8

  11

  12

  12

  12

  12

  South Glamorgan

  40

  40

  73

  78

  77

  76

  76

  Mid Glamorgan

  44

  49

  69

  76

  78

  84

  84

  West Glamorgan

  25

  32

  51

  53

  53

  55

  54

  Inner London

  284

  327

  573

  620

  614

  639

  643

  North East London

  68

  83

  123

  121

  141

  143

  152

  South East London

  44

  53

  70

  76

  85

  89

  92

  South West London

  31

  42

  66

  63

  71

  71

  79

  Middlesex

  151

  170

  238

  247

  266

  265

  275

  1 Figures for 1979 and 1985 are for maingrade probation officers on general duties only. Figures for 1990–1994 are for all probation officer grades.

  288

  (b) Probation services' officers (ancillaries)

  Area

  1985

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Avon

  25

  33

  39

  36

  44

  44

  Bedfordshire

  14

  15

  15

  18

  17

  16

  Berkshire

  19

  25

  28

  30

  31

  33

  Buckinghamshire

  19

  20

  17

  18

  16

  16

  Cambridgeshire

  16

  19

  20

  19

  23

  22

  Cheshire

  41

  31

  34

  35

  37

  40

  Cleveland

  28

  20

  18

  18

  26

  31

  Cornwall

  13

  10

  14

  13

  14

  16

  Cumbria

  27

  31

  33

  33

  33

  32

  Derbyshire

  19

  26

  24

  23

  22

  21

  Devon

  31

  35

  40

  39

  38

  32

  Dorset

  16

  18

  20

  21

  22

  25

  Durham

  23

  29

  37

  36

  30

  25

  Essex

  36

  53

  58

  52

  54

  53

  Gloucestershire

  12

  20

  19

  22

  22

  23

  Hampshire

  16

  44

  44

  47

  42

  50

  Hereford and Worcestershire

  18

  15

  17

  15

  14

  15

  Hertfordshire

  14

  25

  26

  24

  28

  29

  Humberside

  18

  27

  29

  29

  30

  34

  Kent

  45

  40

  40

  43

  49

  46

  Lancashire

  45

  64

  66

  69

  68

  71

  Leicestershire

  18

  22

  22

  21

  21

  17

  Lincolnshire

  23

  25

  24

  23

  23

  26

  Greater Manchester

  130

  141

  137

  137

  141

  153

  Merseyside

  58

  70

  79

  79

  94

  100

  Norfolk

  13

  20

  25

  22

  21

  22

  Northamptonshire

  15

  15

  18

  18

  17

  16

  Northumbria

  54

  52

  56

  59

  61

  61

  Nottinghamshire

  24

  28

  27

  28

  28

  31

  Oxfordshire

  18

  16

  17

  17

  22

  21

  Shropshire

  8

  11

  10

  9

  9

  9

  Somerset

  21

  15

  15

  15

  17

  16

  Staffordshire

  29

  33

  33

  35

  39

  37

  Suffolk

  11

  17

  16

  17

  16

  17

  Surrey

  19

  14

  21

  23

  11

  13

  East Sussex

  19

  22

  24

  23

  23

  22

  West Sussex

  7

  12

  14

  13

  14

  15

  Warwickshire

  14

  12

  12

  15

  14

  15

  West Midlands

  71

  101

  102

  113

  108

  109

  Wiltshire

  18

  19

  18

  18

  19

  19

  North Yorkshire

  10

  16

  17

  17

  16

  16

  South Yorkshire

  73

  78

  80

  78

  82

  80

  West Yorkshire

  121

  119

  115

  119

  123

  129

  Dyfed

  6

  8

  8

  7

  7

  9

  Gwent

  8

  22

  24

  19

  16

  15

  North Wales

  18

  15

  16

  15

  14

  19

  Powys

  2

  4

  4

  4

  4

  3

  South Glamorgan

  18

  19

  18

  21

  22

  22

  Mid Glamorgan

  17

  17

  18

  18

  18

  17

  West Glamorgan

  17

  19

  21

  22

  21

  20

  Inner London

  130

  116

  119

  116

  135

  122

  North East London

  32

  30

  32

  36

  36

  36

  South East London

  23

  25

  23

  24

  28

  28

  South West London

  14

  13

  14

  14

  15

  20

  Middlesex

  65

  51

  54

  52

  57

  50

  Political Asylum Applications
  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for political asylum have been received from people previously resident in(a) Nigeria, (b) Turkey, (c) Iraq, (d) Iran and (e) China in each of the last five years; and how many of those applications, in each case, have been accepted. [1926]
  289
  Mr. Kirkhope
  Information on asylum applications and grants of asylum from nationals of Nigeria, Turkey, Iraq, Iran and China are given in tables 2.1 and 3.1 respectively of the Home Office statistical bulletin, "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 1994, issue 15/95. A copy of this publication is available in the Library. It should be noted that grants of asylum in a particular year do not necessarily relate to applications made in that year.

  Carl Bridgewater
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to make an announcement about a referral of the case of the men convicted of the murder of Carl Bridgewater back to the Court of Appeal. [2011]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  We are very close to completing our consideration of this case.

  Migration (Former Yugoslavia)
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many visas he has earmarked for sick or injured children from the former Yugoslavia to be treated in the United Kingdom(a) in total and (b) by special arrangement with the International Organisation for Migration and the Child Advocacy International charity; [1726]

  (2) what arrangements he has made for the provision of special visas earmarked for sick and injured children from the former Yugoslavia to be admitted by arrangement with Child Advocacy International and the International Organisation for Migration for medical treatment in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [1727]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The United Kingdom has already admitted, under arrangements made by the International Organisation for Migration, 86 people from the former Yugoslavia under the Government's official medical evacuation programme, 28 of whom were under the age of 18. Of the 20 additional medical places announced in September, 14 remain to be filled.

  The arrangements between IOM and Child Advocacy International are for the evacuation of Bosnian children for private medical treatment outside the official programme. These children will therefore need to meet the requirements of the immigration rules relating to private medical treatment.

  Deportation Procedures
  Dame Jill Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to alter the present rule under which persons served with notice of deportation are free to take up paid employment in Britain. [1172]

  Miss Widdecombe
  We intend to take appropriate measures in the forthcoming Asylum and Immigration Bill.

  Next Steps Agencies
  Mr. Devlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about executive 290
  agency status for the police scientific development branch. [2713]

  Mr. Maclean
  We have decided that the police scientific development branch should be considered as a candidate for executive agency status under the next steps initiative. A prior options study will be undertaken to establish whether agency status or some other option is the most appropriate. I would welcome comments from interested parties. Comments should be sent by 2 February 1996 to:

  The Assistant Under Secretary of State

  Home Office (Room 527)

  Horseferry House

  Dean Ryle Street

  London SW IP 2AW

  Police Complaints Authority
  Mr. Butler
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements have been made to appoint a successor to Sir Leonard Peach as chairman of the Police Complaints Authority. [2712]

  Mr. Howard
  Mr. Peter Moorhouse has agreed to be acting chairman of the Police Complaints Authority from Sir Leonard Peach's departure to take up the post of Commissioner for Public Appointments on 18 December. Mr. Moorhouse is currently senior deputy chairman of the authority. A substantive appointment will be made through open competition.

  Performance-enhancing Drugs
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government has to outlaw the use of anabolic steroids and other performance enhancing drugs. [1473]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government announced in November 1994, in line with a recommendation from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, its intention to bring anabolic steroids and other similar drugs under the controls of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

  Since then, the Government have been taking careful and detailed technical advice from the advisory council on precisely which substances should be controlled. It is planned to lay the necessary draft modification order before Parliament soon.

  Ticket Touts (Football Matches)
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many criminal proceedings involving ticket tout offences at football matches contained in section 166 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 have been pursued to date; how many convictions were secured; and what plans his Department has for tightening the current legislation; [1471]

  (2) how many criminal proceedings involving alleged offences contained in sections II, III and IV of the Football (Offences) Act 1991 were pursued in 1994; and how many convictions were secured. [1472]

  Mr. Maclean
  Information under the Football (Offences) Act 1991 is given in the table.

  Information on cautioning and court proceedings data under section 166 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 will not be available until autumn 1996.
  291

  Persons prosecuted at magistrates' courts and convicted at all courts or cautioned for offences under The Football (Offences) Act 1991

  England and Wales 1994

  Offence code

  Description

  Act and section

  Prosecutions

  Convictions

  Cautions

  125/27

  Throwing a missile at or towards the playing area or any area in which spectators or other persons may be present

  Football Offences Act 1991, Section 2

  20

  11

  8

  125/28

  Taking part in indecent or racialist chanting

  Football Offences Act 1991, Section 3

  18

  9

  4

  125/29

  Going onto the playing or adjacent area without lawful authority or lawful excuse

  Football Offences Act 1991, Section 4

  259

  233

  70

  Source:

  SI Division, Home Office

  Prison Service (Study)
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who is conducting the study of the relationship between the Prison Service and the Home Office; if he will list their qualifications for carrying out the study; what is the cost of the study; and when he expects to report the findings of the study. [384]

  Miss Widdecombe
  My right hon. and learned Friend told the House on 16 October that work was under way in response to General Sir John Learmont's recommendation that this should be an in-depth study of the relationship between the Prison Service and the Home Office. The initial work has been assisted by Miss Kate Jenkins, who was one of the three authors of the 1988 efficiency unit report to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, "Improving Management in Government: The Next Steps", which recommended the establishment of executive agencies. My right hon. and learned Friend has given an undertaking to report to the House when the work is complete. Information on the costs of individual contracts with consultants is commercial in confidence and it is not our practice to disclose these details.

  Miss Elaine Connolly
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what considerations led to the transfer of Miss Elaine Connolly from Styal prison to Holloway prison; [140]

  (2) what considerations led to the refusal to transfer Miss Elaine Connolly from Holloway prison to Styal prison. [141]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for these matters 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 A. J. Pearson to Ms Janet Anderson, dated 23 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about Miss Elaine Connolly.
  Miss Connolly was transferred from Styal prison to Holloway because information was received suggesting that she was planning to escape. On the basis of the information available to him, the governor considered that Miss Connolly should be transferred to more secure conditions.
  292
  Miss Connolly was then told she would be returned to Styal. This advice was given to her in error as a result of a failure in communication between staff at Holloway. I am sorry for this error and for raising Miss Connolly's hopes of returning to a prison nearer her home.

  Refugees Convention
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those countries where circumstances which in the past have justified recourse to the 1951 UN convention on refugees have in the past 12 months ceased to exist. [554]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  All applications for asylum are considered in accordance with the criteria set out in the 1951 United Nations convention relating to the status of refugees. Decisions are based on all the relevant circumstances of individual cases as well as on an assessment of conditions in the country of origin. There is no question of our refusing to consider, or of our automatically refusing, an application because of the country of origin of the applicant.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those countries that are not generating refugees as defined by the 1951 UN convention on refugees at the present time. [553]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  Information about asylum decisions, broken down by the country of origin of applicants, is contained in table 3 and 4 of the Home Office statistical bulletin "Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 1994", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Prisoners (Escapes)
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have escaped whilst being transported to and from court appearances and hospital visits since 1990; and how many remain uncaptured. [165]

  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 he given.

  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Gerry Steinberg, dated 23 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about how many prisoners have escaped while being transported to and from court appearances and hospital visits since 1990 and how many remain uncaptured.

  293
  The information is given in the table below:

  Number

  Crown Courts

  50

  Magistrates Courts

  137

  Hospital visits—outpatients

  34

  Hospital visits—inpatients

  188

  The information covers the period 1 January 1990 to 31 October 1995.

  Prison Service records show that 26 of the escapers from court appearances and hospital visits remain uncaptured.

  Prisons (VAT Payments)
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how much value added tax has been paid in addition to the published contract prices to the companies running(a) HMP Wolds, (b) HMP Blakenhurst, (c) HMP Doncaster and (d) HMP Buckley Hall for each financial year since the prisons opened; [388]

  (2) how much value added tax has been recovered from the companies running: (a) HMP Wolds, (b) HMP Blakenhurst, (c) HMP Doncaster and (d) HMP Buckley Hall for each financial year since the prisons opened. [476]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for these matters 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 A. J. Pearson to Mr. George Howarth, dated 23 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about how much value-added tax has been paid in addition to the published contract prices to the companies running (a) HMP Wolds, (b) HMP Blakenhurst, (c) HMP Doncaster and (d) HMP Buckley Hall for each financial year since the prisons opened and how much has been recovered over the same period.
  The Prison Service reclaims all VAT paid in respect of these contracts normally at the end of the subsequent quarter. The figures for the four contracted-out prisons are as follows:

  Establishment and year

  VAT paid (£)

  VAT reclaimed (£)

  HMP Wolds

  1991–92

  311,582

  134,550

  1992–93

  862,872

  788,658

  1993–94

  994,827

  932,949

  1994–95

  1,254,501

  1,183,715

  1995–96

  556,983

  617,627

  HMP Blakenhurst

  1992–93

  463,876

  115,969

  1993–94

  1,499,327

  1,400,602

  1994–95

  1,933,333

  1,790,378

  1995–96

  732,443

  1,029,053

  HMP Doncaster

  1993–94

  254,475

  0

  1994–95

  2,038,796

  1,679,315

  1995–96

  966,712

  1,137,398

  HMP Buckley Hall

  1994–95

  294,657

  145,250

  1995–96

  717,499

  149,407

  294
  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the application and collection of value added tax affects the budgets and accounting procedures of(a) Prison Service managed prisons and (b) privately managed prisons; and if he will make a statement. [389]

  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 A. J. Pearson to Mr. George Howarth, dated 23 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about how the application and collection of value-added tax affects the budgets and accounting procedures of (a) Prison Service managed prisons and (b) privately managed prisons.
  Directly managed prisons pay and can reclaim VAT on a wide range of the services they purchase. Sums included in the supply estimate are appropriated-in-aid towards expenditure under the Vote. Prison Service payments to companies running privately managed prisons include VAT, which is subsequently reclaimed. The Prison Service is not involved in VAT payments by those companies for services they purchase.

  Sentencing Guidelines
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the guidelines governing sentencing for trafficking in class B drugs. [136]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government do not issue guidance on sentencing. The Magistrates Association issues sentencing guidelines for its members, which are available in the Library, and guidance is provided by Court of Appeal judgments in individual cases.

  Ms Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the sentencing guidelines for conspiracy to supply cannabis. [133]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Government do not issue guidance on sentencing. The Magistrates Association issues sentencing guidelines for its members, which are available in the Library, and guidance is provided by Court of Appeal judgments in individual cases.

  Parkhurst Prison
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to decommission Her Majesty's Prison Parkhurst's category A status. [478]

  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 A. J. Pearson to Mr. George Howarth, dated 23 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the plans that are in place to decommission Parkhurst prison's category A status.
  The Home Secretary announced on 16 October 1995 that Parkhurst prison was to be removed from the dispersal estate. The Director of Operations with responsibility for Parkhurst has set up

  295
  a steering group, headed by the area manager, to manage the process of downgrading Parkhurst prison. The prison service will announce its detailed plans for this process shortly.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent to date on improving security at Her Majesty's Prison Parkhurst since the escape of three prisoners on 3 January; and how much of this sum is due to additional costs caused by implementing recommendations of the Learmont inquiry. [391]

  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 A. J. Pearson to Mr. George Howarth, dated 23 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about how much has been spent to date on improving security at Parkhurst prison since the escape of three prisoners on 3 January 1995 and how much of this sum is due to additional costs caused by implementing recommendations of the Learmont inquiry.
  Since the escape on 3 January, perimeter closed circuit television and alarm systems have been installed and modifications made to the emergency control room at a cost of £1.2 million.
  Following publication of the Learmont inquiry the Home Secretary announced on 16 October that Parkhurst was to be removed from the dispersal estate. As a result of this announcement further security upgrading work at Parkhurst has been cancelled including two projects which had been let, for which expenditure of £300,000 has been incurred.

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Boateng
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total sum expended on providing legal advice assistance and representation under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1993 in each year for which figures are available. [204]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The grant paid under section 23 of the Immigration Act 1971 for each year since 1993–94 was as follows:

  Refugee Legal Centre

  1993–94: £1,890,000

  1994–95: £3,000,000

  1995–96: £3,100,000

  Immigration Advisory Service

  1993–94: £2,640,000

  1994–95: £2,420,000

  1995–96: £2,590,000

  These figures do not include expenditure through green form legal aid.

  Prison Education
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms exist for(a) part-time and (b) full-time teaching staff (i) to promote new educational services for prisoners and (ii) to propose improvements in prison education. [398]

  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.
  296
  Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 23 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about what mechanisms exist for (a) part-time and (b) full-time teaching staff (i) to promote new educational services for prisoners and (ii) to propose improvements in prison education.
  In accordance with paragraph 5.3 of the General Terms and Conditions of Contract covering the delivery of education services. the contractor is required to keep the specifications for courses. curriculum and the overall programme of courses at each establishment under continuous review. The way in which full-time and part-time teaching staff can be involved in this process is best determined and managed by the education contractor. Each governor is responsible for determining which courses will run at the establishment concerned and does this by placing orders with the education provider. The governor may obtain advice from an education and training adviser. If the governor agrees to a proposal from the education provider to change the education programme, an amendment to the orders will be issued. Proposals will usually be made known to the governor by the contractor's on-site representative, the education co-ordinator.
  In 1994 the Prison Service awarded a contract to the National Prison Education Consortium to undertake a consultancy to develop a national curriculum framework for prison education. The Consortium consulted widely within and outside the Prison Service, and representatives of the education providers were involved in this process. The final report and recommendations of the consultancy have been accepted by the Prisons Board and disseminated to governors, education providers and chief librarians of public library authorities providing a service to prisons.
  The steering committee which has been established to oversee implementation includes representatives of education contractors.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what safeguards exist to ensure that part-time Prison Service teaching staff have qualifications of the same calibre as full-time teaching Prison Service staff. [396]

  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 23 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about what safeguards exist to ensure that part-time Prison Service teaching staff have qualifications of the same calibre as full-time teaching Prison Service staff.
  The teaching qualifications required of education contractors' staff teaching in prisons depend upon the nature of the subject and the level to which it is taught rather than the employment status of the teacher. In accordance with paragraph 7.1 of the General Terms and Conditions of Contract covering education services, contractors are responsible for recruiting teaching staff who hold qualifications consistent with those held by staff teaching equivalent subjects at colleges of further education or institutes of adult education. Paragraph 7.2 of the General Terms and Conditions of Contract enables a representative of the Prison Service to attend recruitment panels for teachers whom a contractor wishes to use at a prison establishment. Paragraph 7.4 of the General Terms and Conditions requires that a contractor will, if requested by an authorised Prison Service representative, provide details of the qualifications (including copies of certificates if requested) and experience of any person employed by the contractor for the delivery of education services to the establishment.

  Prisoners' Telephone Conversations
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason telephone conversations between solicitors and their clients are tape recorded at
  297
  Her Majesty's Prison Whitemoor; when this practice started; and if he will make a statement. [908]

  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 A. J. Pearson to Mr. Chris Mullin, dated 23 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the tape recording of telephone calls between solicitors and their clients at Whitemoor prison.
  The policy on the use of cardphones by prisoners is set out in Circular Instruction 21/1992, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. A copy is attached for ease of reference. This states that all calls made by prisoners using the cardphone system will be recorded and are liable to be monitored. Cardphones are provided for use only by those prisoners who consent to this. Cardphones were introduced into most parts of Whitemoor in 1992 and into the special secure unit in June 1995.
  Use of a cardphone is a privilege and prisoners are informed that it is not possible to guarantee the confidentiality of conversations with their legal advisers using the system. Prisoners at Whitemoor are advised to communicate legally privileged information either by letter or during a visit.
  The arrangements for prisoners' access to the cardphone system at Whitemoor are in accordance with current policy and are the same as those for all closed establishments within the prison estate.

  Prison Budgets
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent changes have been made to the budget allocations of prison governors; on what date these were made; to which financial years they refer; and if he will list the changes in allocation for each private prison. [387]

  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 A. J. Pearson to Mr. George Howarth, dated 23 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about changes to the budget allocations of prison governors and private prisons.
  Budgets for individual prisons are set at the start of each financial year and then changed as necessary in the light of operational requirements. This year there have been a number of adjustments for directly managed prisons. Payments which the Prison Service makes to the privately managed prisons are unchanged as their precise operating budgets are a matter for the companies concerned.

  Prisoners
  Ms Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are currently restricted to their cells for up to l8 hours a day as a result of(a) staff shortages and (b) sickness leave among prison staff. [135]

  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.
  298
  Letter from A. J. Pearson to Ms Janet Anderson, dated 23 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about how many prisoners are currently restricted to their cells for up to 18 hours a day as a result of (a) staff shortages and (b) sickness leave among prison staff:
  The information is not available in the form requested. Figures are available, however, on the average time spent unlocked from cells. These figures show that, in the week commencing 13 November 1995, six prisons (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Winchester, Chelmsford and Feltham) reported average unlocking figures of less than eight hours per week day. The population of these establishments restricted to their cells up to 18 hours a day constitutes 2.9 per cent. of the total prison population.
  We do not record centrally the various factors which account for establishment's performance on unlocking.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders sentenced under section 53(2) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 were in custody on the last date for which figures are available; and of those in custody, how many were(a) in local authority secure accommodation, (b) in prison department custody and (c) detained under mental health legislation. [631]

  Miss Widdecombe
  [holding answer 22 November 1995]: 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 A. J. Pearson to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 23 November 1995:
  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question asking how many young offenders sentenced under section 53(2) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 were in custody on the last date for which figures are available; and of those in custody, how many were (a) in local authority secure accommodation, (b) in prison department custody and (c) detained under mental health legislation On 20 November 1995 114 persons were detained in local authority secure accommodation and 445 in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales under Section 53(2) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1993. None were detained under mental health legislation.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Rough Sleepers
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people he estimates sleep rough each night in Belfast; and what proportion of these are under 18 years of age. [11]

  Mr. Moss
  The chief executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, which has statutory responsibility to make provision for the homeless, has advised me that he has no evidence from official sources of anyone sleeping rough in Belfast.

  Homelessness
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of Northern Ireland Housing Executive properties have been let to persons classified as homeless in each of the last 10 years. [12]
  299
  Mr. Moss
  The Northern Ireland Housing Executive has statutory responsibility to deal with the homeless under the provisions of the Housing (NI) Order 1988. While precise figures are not available, it is estimated that the proportion of lettings by the Housing Executive to those accepted as homeless, since 1989–90, the first full year of operation of the homelessness legislation, is as follows:

  1989–90: 21 per cent.

  1990–91: 32 per cent.

  1991–92: 36 per cent.

  1992–93: 38 per cent.

  1993–94: 37 per cent.

  1994–95: 36 per cent.

  Divorce
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if it is his policy that Northern Ireland should be included in the proposed divorce law reform Bill; [71]

  (2) if he will indicate the present major differences in the divorce laws as between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, and what work is in hand to draft proposals to bring the two sets of laws in line. [70]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The Family Law Bill which includes the proposed reforms on divorce does not extend to Northern Ireland. There are at present no major differences in the substantive divorce law as between Northern Ireland and England and Wales; but there are a number of differences in the practice and procedure between the two jurisdictions.

  It has therefore been decided to undertake a comprehensive research exercise to examine the operation of divorce law in Northern Ireland. Ministers here will await the outcome of that research before giving careful consideration to the need for reform of the law in Northern Ireland.

  Education (Capital Expenditure)
  Mr. Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will describe the system of prioritisation and decision making in the allocation of capital funding for capital expenditure on education in Northern Ireland; [1109]

  (2) what proposals he has to introduce medium and long-term planning and greater transparency into the allocation of capital funds for educational purposes. [1108]

  Mr. Ancram
  There are well-established procedures for the planning of major capital projects in the education service. In the case of the schools sector, which has the majority of building needs, the system of prioritisation places each major works project in one to seven priority categories, based on an objective assessment of need. My Department reviews and updates and updates the capital needs of the education estate each year in consultation with the education and library boards, the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools and other education authorities.
  300
  The medium and long-term priorities for the planning of individual major works are determined from these planning systems and the available resources are allocated to the highest priorities based on educational need. The available capital resources are reviewed annually in the public expenditure survey.

  Unclaimed benefits
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what estimates he has made of the total amount of unclaimed income support in(a) Northern Ireland and (b) North Antrim; [33]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the total amount of unclaimed family credit for (a) Northern Ireland and (b) North Antrim; [31]

  (3) what estimate he has made of the total amount of unclaimed sickness benefit for (a) Northern Ireland and (b) North Antrim; [35]

  (4) what estimate he has made of the total amount of unclaimed disability living allowance for (a) Northern Ireland and (b) North Antrim; [34]

  (5) what estimate he has made of the total amount of unclaimed benefits in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) North Antrim. [32]

  Mr. Moss
  The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Local Government
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. [38]

  Sir John Wheeler
  This Department has introduced no such Acts since January 1994. The following Orders in Council under the Northern Ireland Act 1974, which equate to primary legislation for Northern Ireland during direct rule, have been made in that period and affect local government—

  The Airports (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 (management of local airports);

  The Litter (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 (litter control powers);

  The Rates (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 (rating);

  The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (miscellaneous amendments to local government law).

  Drug and Alcohol Abuse
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will specify where drug and alcohol abuse advice and counselling is presently carried out in the North Down and Ards Community Health trust: and what locations other than Bingham street, Bangor(a) have been and (b) are being considered for a drug and alcohol abuse advice centre. [69)
  301
  Mr. Moss
  North Down and Ards Community HSS trust currently provides drug and alcohol addiction services from 52A Church street, Newtownards, Ards hospital, Bangor health centre, Donaghadee health centre and Portaferry health centre.

  Premises at 10–14 Victoria road, Bangor, were considered, in addition to those in Bingham street, for a new home for the trust's addiction team.

  North Down and Ards Community HSS trust is anxious to find suitable accommodation for this service but, to date, no final decision has been made.

  Northern Ireland

  England and Wales

  Scotland

  Year

  Female or Male

  Total

  Rate per 100,000

  Total

  Rate per 100,000

  Total

  Rate per 100,000

  1990

  Female

  295

  36.5

  13,634

  52.5

  1,250

  47

  Male

  —

  —

  107

  .43

  7

  .28

  1991

  Female

  339

  41.7

  13,786

  52.9

  1,278

  48

  Male

  3

  0.4

  83

  .33

  4

  .16

  1992

  Female

  308

  37.2

  13,663

  52.2

  1,250

  47

  Male

  —

  —

  92

  .37

  6

  .24

  1993

  Female

  331

  40.6

  13,026

  49.6

  1,280

  48

  Male

  8

  1.0

  87

  .35

  5

  .20

  1994

  Female

  338

  40.2

  12,830

  48.8

  1,275

  48

  Male

  —

  —

  88

  .35

  3

  .12

  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to improve preventive breast cancer services in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [77]

  Mr. Moss
  The Northern Ireland breast screening programme is continually monitored in order to modify it as necessary to maintain and improve its effectiveness. In addition Northern Ireland is participating with other United Kingdom Health Departments in research to improve the breast screening programme.

  Private Landlords
  Mr. Robert McCartney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the major differences in the law relating to the tenants of private landlords in Northern Ireland and their position in relation to rent, repairs and security of tenure as opposed to those in England and Wales; and to what extent the Government propose to move the Northern Ireland law into line with England and Wales. [72]

  Mr. Moss
  The legislation governing the private rented sector in Northern Ireland is significantly different than in England and Wales.

  In England and Wales there are three main types of tenancy:

  (i) regulated—commenced before 15 January 1989 subject to a fair rent with considerable security of tenure and the landlord normally responsible for the repairs;

  (ii) assured—from 15 January 1989 landlords could create an assured tenancy with rent charged at open market levels;

  (iii) assured shorthold—allows landlords to let their property for a fixed period, which must be for a minimum of 6 months, in the certainty that they can gain possession at the end of it.

  302

  Breast Cancer
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have died of breast cancer in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and what comparisons his Department has conducted in respect of the incidence of breast cancer in other regions of the United Kingdom. [76]

  Mr. Moss
  The information requested is as follows:

  In both assured and assured shorthold tenancies, repairing obligations are largely a matter of negotiation between landlord and tenant.

  In Northern Ireland there are also three main types of tenancy:

  (i) restricted—properties generally in a poor state of repair with Net Annual Value (NAV) less than £60 and rent frozen at the 1978 level (usually less than £1.00 per week). Tenants have few repairing rights unless there is a tenancy agreement stating otherwise.

  (ii) regulated—properties in a better state of repair. Rent payable limited to the amount calculated in accordance with statute and registered with the Department of the Environment (NI) and can be appealed to a Rent Assessment Committee. The responsibility for repairs may be set out in the tenancy agreement but will normally be the responsibility of the landlord who can be required to carry out repairs by the 'certificate of disrepair' procedure.

  Both regulated and restricted tenants have considerable security of tenure whereby the landlord can gain possession only after obtaining a court order.

  (iii) uncontrolled—properties built or converted after 1956, or which have an NAV over £140 or which were not previously let. Rent, repairing obligations and security of tenure are a matter between landlord and tenant to be specified in the tenancy agreement.

  The Government have no proposals at present to amend the Northern Ireland law relating to the private rented sector.

  Rural Development
  Rev. Ian Paisley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the implementation of the proposals contained in the White
  303
  Paper on Rural England (Cm 3016) in respect of Northern Ireland with particular reference to (a) business rate release schemes, (b) affordable housing in the countryside, (c) encouragement for the re-use of rural buildings and (d) the introduction a new rural business use class. [51]

  Mr. Moss
  The Government are currently considering the implications for Northern Ireland of the White Paper on Rural England. These considerations will take account of the different circumstances and the existing methods of support for rural communities in Northern Ireland. I will inform the hon. Gentleman once the consideration has been completed and the decision made on the way forward.

  EU Funds (Transfrontier Projects)
  Mr. Charles Kennedy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the Court of Auditors' report in respect of British misuse of funds in transfrontier projects in Northern Ireland. [1041]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The Court of Auditors noted that the number of transfrontier projects was relatively low. However, it did not suggest that there was any misuse of funds or that expenditure was undertaken in ineligible areas or projects or that expenditure was undertaken that was at variance with the twin objectives of the Interreg programme. Indeed the independent mid-term evaluation of the programme noted that it had been very effective, particularly given the difficult situation pertaining at that time.

  Firearms
  Mr. Nigel Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has for reviewing the law on firearms. [2798]

  Sir John Wheeler
  The Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 provides for the licensing and control of firearms in the Province. Although it has been amended on a number of occasions, most recently last year when new offences relating to imitation firearms were introduced, the law has been largely unchanged since the 1960s. Indeed its origins can be traced back to the 1920s. This in itself would suggest reasonable cause for a fresh look at the law. However, in addition, developments in firearms technology and design have proceeded apace and we have seen a growth nationally in the recreational and sporting use of firearms. For these reasons therefore, I believe that the time is right to take a new look at the law on firearms, to ensure not only that it is appropriate to today's conditions, but that it strikes the right balance between public and individual safety and the reasonable expectations of shooters who want to use their firearms in a responsible and legitimate manner.

  The review will be thorough and painstaking. There is much ground to cover. I will, of course, want to take the views of the shooting organisations as well as public representatives, the RUC and safety groups. To that end, I am writing today to Northern Ireland Members and my officials are similarly writing to the political party organisations and other interest groups inviting comment and proposals on what changes to the law they would like to see.
  304
  The review team will work under the direction of a steering committee comprising a senior NIO official, assisted by a senior RUC officer with experience in firearms administration and a person of standing with relevant expertise. I have asked them to complete their work and to let me have their report with proposals for change, by August 1996. Thereafter I will publish the proposals for wider consultation. I do not expect new legislation to be in place before the latter part of 1997.

SCOTLAND

  Research
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about prior options reviews of the Scottish Crop Research Institute, the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency, the Fisheries Research Services and the Forestry Commission's Research Establishments. [2561]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  As part of a wider series of prior options reviews of public sector research establishments announced in the Government's response to the report of the multidepartmental efficiency scrutiny of public sector research establishments (Cm 2991), my Department, together with the Forestry Commission, will conduct prior options reviews of the Scottish Crop Research Institute—SCRI—the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute—MLURI—the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency—SASA—the Fisheries Research Services—and the Forestry Commission's Research Establishments.

  I would welcome comments from interested parties. They should be sent by 8 January to:

  on SCRI, MLURI and SASA:

  Dr. A. J. Rushworth

  The Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department

  Pentland House

  47 Robb's Loan

  EDINBURGH

  EHI4 1TY

  on FRS:

  Mr. D. Dickson

  The Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries

  Department

  Pentland House

  47 Robb's Loan

  EDINBURGH

  EH14 1TY

  on the Forestry Commission's research establishments:

  Mr. D. B. Henderson-Howat

  Director, Forestry Policy

  Forestry Commission

  231 Corstorphine Road

  EDINBURGH

  EH12 7AT

  Public Appointments
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the vacancies during the first six months of 1996 on quangos, outside bodies and agencies to which he has the right to make appointments. [570]
  305
  Mr. George Kynoch
  This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Local Government
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [27]

  Mr. George Kynoch
  The relevant Acts are as follows:

  The Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994.

  Children (Scotland) Act 1995.

  Requirements of Writing (Scotland) Act 1995.

  Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1995.

  Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995.

  Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995.

  Criminal Procedure (Consequential Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1995.

  Proceeds of Crime (Scotland) Act 1995.

  Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations
  Mr. McMaster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is his policy in relation to the application of TUPE in the case of portering staff at the Royal Alexandra hospital in Paisley; how much has been spent by(a) his Department, (b) Argyll and Clyde health board and (c) the Royal Alexandra hospital trust on legal and other fees in opposing the claim by portering staff; and if he will make a statement; [1001]

  (2) what is his latest estimate of the total cost to public funds of the dispute between Argyll and Clyde health board or its successor trust and portering staff at the Royal Alexandra hospital trust since 1 December 1992; what is his latest estimate of the amount that would have been required to settle the claim on the terms submitted by the portering staff; and if he will make a statement. [571]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In any market testing programme it is for the health board or NHS trust concerned to consider the implications of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981—TUPE—in awarding contracts.

  Records have not been kept of the management and administrative costs incurred by officers of the Argyll and Clyde health board and the Royal Alexandra hospitals NHS trust in dealing with the claim made by UNISON on behalf of portering staff. Similarly it is not possible to hypothecate the legal costs incurred prior to 1 April 1995. Since that date the Royal Alexandra hospital NHS trust has spent £2,178.60 on legal fees arising from this action.

  The claims submitted by the individual porters concerned have yet to be validated and will be the subject of further discussions. It would be misleading to provide any estimate of the value of these claims at this stage.

  Bail Statistics
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many defendants in Scotland are annually awarded bail; how many offend on bail; and how many do not offend whilst on bail. [1195]
  306
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  During 1994, 35,780 bail orders were issued. In some cases a defendant may have more than one outstanding bail order. No information is available on the number of defendants who did, or did not subsequently offend while on bail although information is available on the number of offences of "offending while on bail" recorded by the police. In 1994, 25,766 such offences were recorded. As several counts of "offending while on bail" can relate to the breach of only one bail order, careful interpretation of this figure is required."

  Custodial Sentencing
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to ensure that differences in sentencing in Scotland by individual sheriffs are eliminated in accordance with the Scottish Office research paper, "Patterns of Custodial Sentencing in the Sheriff Court". [1193]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Government invited views on a number of possible changes intended to improve consistency, clarity and predictability to sentencing in the consultation paper, "Sentencing and Appeals" which was published in January 1994. Our conclusions were given in the White Paper, "Firm and Fair" (Cm 2600) which announced our intention to promote a specific statutory power to allow the Appeal Court to issue judgments establishing general sentencing guidelines. The relevant provision is included as section 34 to the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1995.

  Prisoner Costs
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average cost of keeping a prisoner in custody in Scotland; and what are the relative costs of the community disposals available to the courts including each of those programmes provided by(a) social work departments, (b) Scottish Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders and (c) other independent agencies. [1286]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The annual cost per prisoner place at HM prisons in Scotland in 1994–95, calculated as total net expenditure—excluding capital—divided by the average number of places available, was £26,479. The average cost per order in 1994–95 of probation and community service disposals available to the courts in Scotland, were £1,588 and £1,446 respectively. The costs of individual programmes provided by local authorities, either directly or through independent agencies such as SACRO, as components of a court order, are not generally identifiable separately within the grants made available to local authorities for criminal justice social work services. As the duration, objectives and content of the community-based programmes vary considerably, the unit costs of individual programmes are not readily comparable.

  Drugs (Exports)
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what controls are placed on pharmaceutical wholesalers to ensure that drugs intended for export are not sold domestically. [1578]
  307
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Under medicines legislation, wholesale dealer's licences are required for the export of medicinal products to countries which form part of the European Community or European economic area agreement. It is a condition of such licences that medicinal products are sold only to those who may legally sell or supply them by way of retail in the country concerned or are themselves holders of wholesale dealer's licences.

  Wholesale dealer's licences are not required for the export of medicinal products to countries outside the European Community or European economic area agreement.

  Any reports that medicinal products sold for export have been subsequently sold in the United Kingdom would be investigated by the Medicines Control Agency.

  Local Government Reform
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many appointments to quangos in Scotland he intends to review in response to the reform of local government in Scotland in April 1996; and what plans he has to issue instructions to non-departmental public bodies asking them to review their membership in respect of local government reform. [1189]

  Mr. George Kynoch
  There are no plans to review appointments made by my right hon. Friend to public bodies as a result of local government reform. As a general rule members of public bodies, i.e. nationalised industries, non-departmental public bodies and NHS bodies listed in the annual Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies", are appointed as individuals and not as representatives of any particular interest group. Similarly there are no plans to ask non-departmental public bodies to review their membership in the light of local government reform. My right hon. Friend will continue to give full opportunities to members of local authorities to serve on public bodies, as recent experience with the new water and sewerage authorities and Customers Council has demonstrated.

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures his Department has taken to ensure that financial subsidy from the new unitary councils will be given to facilitate the continuing operation of the rail services operated by ScotRail within Strathclyde following local government reform. [1741]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Scottish Office will continue to provide funding through aggregate external finance for local authorities' current expenditure, including rail services in the Strathclyde area, from I April 1996.

  Mediation and Reparation Projects
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what funding he intends to make available to procurators fiscal in Glasgow and Edinburgh mediation and reparation projects similar to those operating in Aberdeen and Motherwell/Hamilton as an alternative to the court process for victim and accused. [1264]
  308
  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Diversion from prosecution projects, including mediation and reparation, are not funded through the procurator fiscal service., In 1995–96, the Scottish Office will make available £52,180 and £75,277 through the urban programme for mediation and reparation projects in Aberdeen and Motherwell/ Hamilton respectively. A further £25,680 is provided for the project in Motherwell/Hamilton through 100 per cent. funding of criminal justice social work services. There are a number of additional mediation and reparation programmes, funded through the urban programme, but which are not specifically related to the criminal justice system. Pilot schemes which were provided in Glasgow and Edinburgh by the Scottish Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders, through short-term funding under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, are no longer in operation.

  The Scottish Office plans to invite local authorities to submit proposals for inclusion in a pilot programme within 100 per cent. funding of criminal justice social work services to assess the costs and effectiveness of diversion from prosecution schemes. This will he pursued in the light of available resources and other priorities. There will be scope for including mediation and reparation projects in such diversion scheme applications.

  Kincraig Committee
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the proposals of the Kincraig committee were implemented; what considerations underlie the timetable for their revocation; and if he will make a statement. [1497]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The changes in the law governing early release of prisoners, which arose from the Government's consideration of the review of parole conducted by the committee chaired by the hon. Lord Kincraig, were enacted in the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993. The early release provisions of that Act came into force on 1 October 1993 and will continue to apply to prisoners sentenced since that date.

  In his announcement issued on 12 October 1995 my right hon. Friend outlined proposals for further changes to the law on early release which will be the subject of consultation in the near future. The Government's detailed proposals, including the possible timescale for their implementation, will be contained in a White Paper which we aim to publish next year in the light of the results of consultation. The intention is that changes in legislation on early release arising from these proposals would apply only to those sentenced on or after the date the changes came into effect.

  Development Corporations
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement indicating for each of the development corporations in Scotland the results of the ballots so far undertaken in relation to the transfers of housing stock to alternative landlords in advance of the wind up of the corporations; what were the bodies involved in the ballots; what were the
  309
  number of votes cast for each body involved in the ballot; what was the percentage of votes cast for each organisation; what was the body to which the properties were transferred following the ballot; and what were the amounts bid successfully in each ballot. [1259]

  Glenrothes Development Corporation

  Area of the New Town

  Prospective landlords

  Number of votes cast

  Percentage of votes for each landlord1

  Auchmuty

  Kirkcaldy District Council

  596

  97

  Hillcrest Housing Association

  20

  3

  Balfarg

  Kirkcaldy District Council

  108

  96

  Kingdom Housing Association

  4

  4

  Cadham

  Kirkcaldy District Council

  190

  92

  Kingdom Housing Association

  16

  8

  Caskieberran

  Kirkcaldy District Council

  212

  81

  Glenrothes Community Housing Association

  51

  19

  Collydean

  Kirkcaldy District Council

  281

  63

  Collydean Community Housing Association

  162

  37

  Macedonia

  Kirkcaldy District Council

  237

  78

  Glenrothes Community Housing Association

  68

  22

  Newcastle

  Kirkcaldy District Council

  45

  83

  Glenrothes Community Housing Association

  9

  17

  Pitcoudie

  Kirkcaldy District Council

  129

  91

  Kingdom Housing Assocaition

  12

  9

  Pitteuchar

  Kirkcaldy District Council

  349

  91

  Hillcrest Housing Association

  35

  9

  Rimbleton

  Kirkcaldy District Council

  246

  84

  Glenrothes Community Housing Association

  48

  16

  South Parks

  Kirkcaldy District Council

  135

  85

  Glenrothes Community Housing Association

  24

  15

  Stenton

  Kirkcaldy District Council

  108

  86

  Hillcrest Housing Association

  18

  14

  Tanshall

  Kirkcaldy District Council

  204

  71

  Glenrothes Community Housing Association

  82

  29

  Woodside

  Kirkcaldy District Council

  197

  97

  Hillcrest Housing Association

  6

  3

  Sheltered Housing

  Kirkcaldy District Council

  166

  98

  Notes:

  1 The houses transferred on 28 September 1995 to Kirkcaldy District Council. The Council's bid was £54 million.

  East Kilbride Development Corporation

  Area of the new town

  Prospective landlords

  Number of votes cast

  Percentage of votes for each landlord'

  Calderwood

  East Kilbride District Council

  1.492

  99.2

  East Mains

  East Kilbride District Council

  482

  99.2

  The Munro Trust

  4

  0.8

  Greenhills

  East Kilbride District Council

  813

  98.5

  The Munro Trust

  12

  1.5

  Murray

  East Kilbride District Council

  996

  99.5

  Newlandsmuir

  East Kilbride District Council

  172

  98.3

  The Munro Trust

  3

  1.7

  St Leonards

  East Kilbride District Council

  719

  99.3

  West Mains

  East Kilbride District Council

  484

  99.6

  The Munro Trust

  2

  0.4

  Westwood

  East Kilbride District Council

  1,016

  99.8

  310
  Mr. George Kynoch
  Tenants of Glenrothes and East Kilbride development corporations have been balloted to determine their future landlord. The information requested is set out in the tables.
  311

  East Kilbride Development Corporation

  Area of the new town

  Prospective landlords

  Number of votes cast

  Percentage of votes for each landlord1

  Whitehills

  East Kilbride District Council

  386

  99.7

  The Munro Trust

  1

  0.3

  Sheltered Housing

  East Kilbride District Council

  309

  99.4

  The houses are due to transfer at the end of November to East Kilbride District Council. The Council's bid was £63 million.

  1 Where there was one prospective landlord the percentage of votes was less than 100 per cent, because a number of tenants voted against that landlord.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which NHS trusts(a) have their trust board meetings open to the public, (b) have their board meetings partially open to the public and (c) have their board meetings closed to the public as referred to in his answer of 26 October. [1553]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is as follows:

  (a) Open to the public:

  Caithness and Sunherland NHS Trust

  Edinburgh Sick Children's NHS Trust

  Kirkcaldy Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

  Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS Trust

  Stirling Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

  West Lothian NHS Trust

  (b) Partially open to the public:

  Argyll and Bute NHS Trust

  Ayrshire and Arran Community Healthcare NHS Trust

  Borders General Hospital NHS Trust

  Dundee Healthcare NHS Trust

  East and Midlothian NHS Trust

  Glasgow Dental Hospital and School NHS Trust

  Greater Glasgow Community and Mental Health Services NHS Trust

  Hairmyres and Stonehouse Hospital NHS Trust

  Moray Health Services NHS Trust

  North Ayrshire and Arran NHS Trust

  Raigmore Hospital NHS Trust

  Royal Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

  Scottish Ambulance Service NHS Trust

  South Ayrshire Hospitals NHS Trust

  Stobhill NHS Trust

  The Victoria Infirmary NHS Trust

  (c) Closed to the public:

  Aberdeen Royal Hospitals NHS Trust

  Angus NHS Trust

  Borders Community Health Services NHS Trust

  Central Scotland Healthcare NHS Trust

  Dumfries and Galloway Acute and Maternity Hospitals NHS Trust

  Dumfries and Galloway Community Health NHS Trust Dundee Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

  Edinburgh Healthcare NHS Trust

  Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary NHS Trust

  Fife Healthcare NHS Trust

  Glasgow Royal Infirmary University NHS Trust

  Grampian Healthcare NHS Trust

  Highland Communities NHS Trust

  Inverclyde Royal NHS Trust

  Lanarkshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  Law Hospital NHS Trust

  Lomond Healthcare NHS Trust

  Monklands and Bellshill Hospitals NHS Trust

  Perth and Kinross Healthcare NHS Trust Queen Margaret Hospital NHS Trust

  Renfrewshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  Southen General Hospital NHS Trust

  312

  West Glasgow Hospitals University NHS Trust

  Western General Hospitals NHS Trust

  The Yorkhill NHS Trust.

  Prisoners (Early Release)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what would be the effect on the average daily population in penal establishments in Scotland if remission were revoked. [1496]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The Government will be consulting soon on our proposals for changes to the early release arrangements for prisoners in Scotland. In the light of consultation, the Government will publish a White Paper in the course of next year. As assessment of the effects of the proposals upon the prison population is one of the matters I expect to be included in that paper.

  Law and Order
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his plans for law and order in Scotland, and what is the period time for the consultation process indicated in his announcement of 12 October. [1261]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In his announcement on 12 October, my right hon. Friend re-affirmed the Government's commitment to law and order in Scotland and highlighted the measures taken in the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1995 which will bring about improvements in the detection, prosecution and conviction of offenders. He also stressed the Government's view that there should be greater honesty in sentencing and outlined his proposals for changes to the early release arrangements for prisoners in Scotland. A consultation paper inviting comments on the range of issues to be considered will be issued soon.

  Health Contracts
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the date of the termination of contract in respect of each(a) chief executives of NHS trust and (b) general managers of health hoards in Scotland. [1186]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  This information is not held centrally.

  Prisoner Statistics
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what variations exist between the average daily prison population in western states in the Council of Europe; and what assessment he has made of the
  313
  reasons for these variations, with particular reference to Scotland. [1414]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Table 1 shows the latest comparable available information on the average daily prison population—and rate per 100,000 population—in the western states in the Council of Europe. Table 2 shows the information for the constituent countries within the United Kingdom.

  Table 1: Prison population as at 1 September 19931

  Number

  Rate per 100,000 population

  Austria

  7,099

  91.0

  Belgium

  7,203

  72.1

  Cyprus

  188

  30.0

  Denmark

  3,702

  71.0

  Finland

  3,132

  61.8

  France

  51,134

  86.3

  Germany

  65,838

  81.0

  Greece

  6,524

  68.0

  Iceland

  103

  38.9

  Italy

  50,794

  89.0

  Luxembourg

  425

  107.5

  Netherlands

  7,843

  51.0

  Norway

  2,607

  60.0

  Portugal

  10,904

  111.0

  Republic of Ireland

  2,108

  59.8

  Spain

  45,711

  114.9

  Sweden

  5,794

  66.0

  Switzerland

  5,627

  81.0

  Turkey

  31,304

  51.6

  United Kingdom

  53,435

  91.8

  Source: Council of Europe Sourcebook.

  1Some countries were unable to provide this information as at 1 September 1993 therefore the exact date used varies between countries.

  Table 2: Prison population as at 1 September 1993

  Number

  Rate per 100,000 population

  England and Wales

  45,633

  89.0

  Northern Ireland

  1,902

  118.0

  Scotland

  5,900

  115.0

  The figures in table 1 include all categories of prisoners, that is untried remanded in custody, convicted awaiting sentence, sentenced and civil prisoners. Comparisons of these figures must be treated with caution. There are a number of reasons for variations in the rate per 100,000 population across member states, such as different legal systems, sentencing policies and disposals available, variable use of custodial remand,

  Number of long-term care residents in residential care homes for the elderly as at 31 March each year

  19832

  19842

  19852

  19862

  19872

  19882

  19892 3

  19893

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Local Authority

  8,717

  8,901

  8,985

  9,161

  9,302

  9,324

  9,118

  8,576

  8,854

  8,547

  7,494

  7,701

  7,380

  Registered1

  4,649

  4,998

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Private

  —

  —

  910

  1,417

  1,969

  2,737

  3,317

  3,200

  3,236

  3,635

  3,606

  3,690

  3,631

  Voluntary

  —

  —

  4,266

  4,134

  4,136

  4,032

  4,134

  3,970

  4,139

  3,929

  3,796

  3,720

  3,721

  Total

  13,366

  13,899

  14,161

  14,712

  15,407

  16,093

  16,569

  15,746

  16,229

  16,111

  14,896

  15,111

  14,732

  1 Prior to 1985 it is not possible to separate Registered data into Private and Voluntary Homes.

  2 Figures include short-term care residents (e.g. holiday and respite care).

  3 1989 data has been given on both the old and new basis to aid comparison.

  314
  different ages of criminal responsibility and different ages of entry into the prison system. The Council of Europe "Sourcebook" does not cover these issues in detail.

  Temazepam
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many deaths in each of the past five years are attributable to abuse of temazepam in each health board area in Scotland. [1506]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  Reliable information on the numbers of such deaths is not available for the years prior to 1994. The figures for 1994 are given in the table:

  Deaths in Scotland from drug abuse' where temazepam was mentioned, by health board area, 1994.

  1994

  Argyll and Clyde

  5

  Ayrshire and Arran

  3

  Borders

  0

  Dumfries and Galloway

  2

  Fife

  0

  Forth Valley

  0

  Grampian

  0

  Greater Glasgow

  36

  Highland

  0

  Lanarkshire

  2

  Lothian

  2

  Orkney

  0

  Shetland

  0

  Tayside

  2

  Western Isles

  0

  Scotland

  52

  1Deaths coded to WHO International Classification of Diseases (9th Revision) codes 304 and 305.

  Improvements in the collection of information on such deaths were introduced in 1994. A full description of these changes is given in the report, "Collection of information on drug related deaths by the General Register Office for Scotland", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Long-term Care
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the population in long-term care in Scotland, over 65 years of age, each of the years between 1983 and 1993, by residency in all homes, local authority homes, voluntary homes and private homes. [1139]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The table shows the information available:
  315
  The 1994 figures have been included in the answer as the 1994 "Community Care Bulletin," which contains this information is published on 22 November 1995.

  Criminal Justice Social Work Projects
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the(a) pilot bail supervision and accommodation project in Lothian region, (b) intensive probation project in Falkirk and (c) alcohol education probation project in Edinburgh and Midlothian; and what measures he will be taking to ensure that a greater number of courts in Scotland have community disposals available to sheriffs. [1265]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Bail supervision and accommodation projects in Lothian and Strathclyde regions are being funded on a pilot basis by the Scottish Office within 100 per cent. Central Government funding of criminal justice social work services. The projects are currently the subject of a research study by the MVA Consultancy which is due to report in spring 1996.

  The intensive probation project in Falkirk is currently funded through the urban programme and the alcohol education probation project in Edinburgh and Midlothian through 100 per cent. funding. The urban programme requires monitoring by the responsible local authority and a concluding report of the Scottish Office. The Falkirk project is due to terminate in 1998. All criminal justice social work projects are subject to annual evaluation as part of local authority planning of these services.

  Probation and community service are available in all sheriff courts in Scotland. It is for local authorities, in consultation with sentencers, independent sector providers and other criminal justice interests, to propose, within available resources and national priorities, the range of individual projects and specialist services to be provided as a component of a court order.

  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the average costs per week in Scotland for(a) private nursing homes, (b) residential homes, (c) NHS care of the elderly, (d) NHS long stay people with learning difficulties, (e) NHS psychiatric long stay and (f) NHS chronic young sick. [1271]

  Mr. Michael Forsyth
  The information for residential homes and NHS specialty groups is set out in the tables. The Scottish Office does not collect information on the average costs of private nursing homes.

  Average gross weekly charge per resident in residential care homes (all client groups) in Scotland at 31 March 1994

  £

  Local authority

  269

  Private

  254

  Voluntary

  271

  All sectors

  266

  The gross weekly charge in local authority run homes is the full cost to the local authority for providing accommodation per resident.

  For private and voluntary establishments, the gross weekly charge is as specified in contracts with the local authority.
  316

  Average cost per inpatient week in Scotland for specified NHS specialty groups, 1994–95

  £

  Geriatric long stay

  629

  Mental handicap

  686

  Psychiatry long stay

  691

  Young chronic sick

  853

  Psychiatry long stay includes geriatric psychiatry, child psychiatry, adolescent psychiatry and mental illness.

  Manufacturing and Service Industry
  Mr. Welsh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make an assessment of the contribution of Scottish manufacturing and service industry exports to the balance of payments. [1319]

  Mr. George Kynoch
  Information on Scottish exports is available from the Scottish Council for Development and Industry.

  In 1993 Scottish manufactured exports totalled £11,540 million. The Scottish council estimated that Scottish manufactured exports accounted for 10.3 per cent. of the United Kingdom manufactured exports.

  Service sector exports were estimated at £403 million in 1993.

  Health Board Budgets
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the surplus or deficit in their budgets at the end of the relevant financial year for each health board in Scotland for each financial year since 1987–88; what percentage this represented of their total budget; and what was their actual expenditure in each of these financial years. [1714]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is given in the tables. The figures are based on health board annual accounts and those for 1994–95 are provisional.

  Health board

  Surplus/(deficit) spend £000

  Percentage of total budget

  Expenditure £000

  1994–95

  Argyll and Clyde

  85

  0.03

  250,909

  Ayr and Arran

  828

  0.42

  195,513

  Borders

  816

  1.18

  68,279

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1,453

  1,59

  89,895

  Fife

  1,197

  0.64

  185,619

  Forth Valley

  1,313

  0.89

  146,266

  Grampian

  1,373

  0.48

  284,075

  Greater Glasgow

  9,880

  1.65

  589,240

  Highland

  971

  0.78

  123,448

  Lanarkshire

  1,272

  0.47

  270,435

  Lothian

  3,057

  0.70

  431,438

  Orkney

  (2)

  (0.01)

  14,052

  Shetland

  106

  0.64

  16,449

  Tayside

  845

  0.34

  250,664

  Western Isles

  201

  0.71

  28,187

  Scotland total

  23,395

  0.79

  2,944,469

  317

  Health board

  Surplus/(deficit) spend £000

  Percentage of total budget

  Expenditure £000

  1993–94

  Argyll and Clyde

  525

  0.22

  237,202

  Ayr and Arran

  632

  0.34

  185,531

  Borders

  595

  0.97

  60,822

  Dumfries and Galloway

  874

  1.01

  85,726

  Fife

  959

  0.53

  181,148

  Forth Valley

  247

  0.17

  143,667

  Grampian

  (4)

  (0.00)

  274,398

  Greater Glasgow

  3,082

  0.50

  617,359

  Highland

  848

  0.73

  116,068

  Lanarkshire

  31

  0.01

  264,935

  Lothian

  72

  0.02

  425,067

  Orkney

  58

  0.44

  13,216

  Shetland

  (11)

  (0.07)

  15,439

  Tayside

  323

  0.13

  251,845

  Western Isles

  (26)

  (0.10)

  25,906

  Scotland total

  8,205

  0.28

  2,898,329

  Health board

  Surplus/(deficit) spend £000

  Percentage of total budget

  Expenditure £000

  1992–93

  Argyll and Clyde

  (28)

  (0.01)

  231,346

  Ayr and Arran

  751

  0.42

  178,743

  Borders

  289

  0.50

  57,226

  Dumfries and Galloway

  724

  0.88

  81,799

  Fife

  1,663

  0.99

  166,015

  Forth Valley

  68

  0.05

  140,933

  Grampian

  39

  0.01

  269,181

  Greater Glasgow

  3,292

  0.54

  611,147

  Highland

  790

  0.66

  118,234

  Lanarkshire

  810

  0.32

  249,096

  Lothian

  833

  0.20

  422,652

  Orkney

  232

  1,83

  12,413

  Shetland

  1,216

  8.01

  13,959

  Tayside

  91

  0.04

  254,107

  Western Isles

  385

  1.63

  23,240

  Scotland total

  11,155

  0.39

  2,830,091

  Health board

  Surplus/(deficit) spend £000

  Percentage of total budget

  Expenditure £000

  1991–92

  Argyll and Clyde

  269

  0.15

  173,416

  Ayr and Arran

  420

  0.31

  136,415

  Borders

  171

  0.42

  40,104

  Dumfries and Galloway

  23

  0.03

  66,481

  Fife

  2,852

  2.31

  120,586

  Forth Valley

  244

  0.21

  116,503

  Grampian

  (213)

  (0.10)

  219,626

  Greater Glasgow

  6,926

  1.19

  574,377

  Highland

  926

  0.99

  92,193

  Lanarkshire

  881

  0.44

  198,993

  Lothian

  (36)

  (0.01)

  373,187

  Orkney

  1

  0.01

  7,972

  Shetland

  95

  0.89

  10,539

  Tayside

  505

  0.23

  214,842

  Western Isles

  78

  0.54

  14,411

  Scotland total

  13,142

  0.55

  2,359.645

  318

  Health board

  Surplus/(deficit) £000

  Percentage of total budget

  Expenditure £000

  1990–91

  Argyll and Clyde

  929

  0.62

  149,024

  Ayr and Arran

  202

  0.17

  117,716

  Borders

  430

  1.21

  35,000

  Dumfries and Galloway

  227

  0.40

  56,424

  Fife

  (29)

  (0.03)

  107,749

  Forth Valley

  (13)

  (0.01)

  103,966

  Grampian

  (1,483)

  (0.76)

  197,785

  Greater Glasgow

  5,227

  0.98

  525,666

  Highland

  321

  0.38

  83,803

  Lanarkshire

  333

  0.19

  170,904

  Lothian

  (1,927)

  (0.59)

  328,929

  Orkney

  (6)

  (0.09)

  6,684

  Shetland

  627

  6.92

  8,437

  Tayside

  1,249

  0.65

  190,230

  Western Isles

  101

  0.92

  10,929

  Scotland total

  6,188

  0.29

  2,093,246

  Health board

  Surplus/(deficit) £000

  Percentage of total budget

  Expenditure £000

  1989–90

  Argyll and Clyde

  79

  0.06

  141,589

  Ayr and Arran

  (243)

  (0.22)

  111,048

  Borders

  11

  0.03

  32,714

  Dumfries and Galloway

  418

  0.82

  50,851

  Fife

  (117)

  (0.12)

  97,748

  Forth Valley

  99

  0.10

  94,665

  Grampian

  (2,481)

  (1.39)

  180,712

  Greater Glasgow

  5,425

  1.08

  496,077

  Highland

  615

  0.82

  74,814

  Lanarkshire

  122

  0.08

  157,709

  Lothian

  (15,573)

  (5.17)

  316,514

  Orkney

  81

  1.25

  6,420

  Shetland

  74

  0.92

  8,003

  Tayside

  382

  0.22

  175,503

  Western Isles

  78

  0.79

  9,832

  Scotland total

  (11,030)

  (0.57)

  1,954,199

  Health board

  Surplus/(deficit) £000

  Percentage of total budget

  Expenditure £000

  1988–89

  Argyll and Clyde

  604

  0.46

  131,979

  Ayr and Arran

  403

  0.4

  99,546

  Borders

  14

  0.05

  30,318

  Dumfries and Galloway

  (315)

  (0.67)

  47,521

  Fife

  212

  0.23

  90,680

  Forth Valley

  229

  0.26

  87,429

  Grampian

  44

  0.03

  168,074

  Greater Glasgow

  4,577

  0.96

  472,165

  Highland

  472

  0.67

  70,281

  Lanarkshire

  (18)

  (0.01)

  149,399

  Lothian

  (77)

  (0.03)

  290,863

  Orkney

  (13)

  (0.21)

  6,286

  Shetland

  (17)

  (0.23)

  7,568

  Tayside

  522

  0.31

  166,361

  Western Isles

  41

  0.45

  9,109

  Scotland total

  6,678

  0.36

  1,827,579

  319

  Health board

  Surplus/(deficit) £000

  Percentage of total budget

  Expenditure £000

  1987–88

  Argyll and Clyde

  630

  0.52

  120,141

  Ayr and Arran

  (1,153)

  (1.27)

  91,744

  Borders

  401

  1.3

  30,462

  Dumfries and Galloway

  68

  0.16

  42,769

  Fife

  (430)

  (0.52)

  82,930

  Forth Valley

  329

  0.39

  84,366

  Grampian

  2,667

  1.76

  148,498

  Greater Glasgow

  5,397

  1.25

  425,370

  Highland

  (85)

  (0.13)

  65,891

  Lanarkshire

  1,694

  1.24

  135,427

  Lothian

  743

  0.27

  270,444

  Orkney

  78

  1.53

  5,023

  Shetland

  59

  1.00

  5,853

  Tayside

  1,171

  0.78

  149,825

  Western Isles

  79

  0.91

  8,594

  Scotland total

  11,648

  0.69

  1,667,337

  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance his Department issued to Scottish health boards relating to the retention of a surplus in their budgets at the end of the last financial year. [1715]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Guidance is contained in the Scottish Accounting Manual issued by the Department to all health boards. This states that an underdrawing of up to 1 per cent. of a health board's cash limit may be carried forward from one year to another and that any overdrawing will be carried forward as a first charge against the following year's cash limit.

  Ardrossan, Saltcoats, Stevenston Bypass
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on proposals for the Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston bypass. [1736]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  In my answer to the hon. Member on 8 June 1995,Official Report, column 212 I explained that a revised design for a more northerly bypass was being developed. I expect this work to be completed soon.

  Health Board Managers
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance has been issued to Scottish health boards relating to the publication of the figures for the performance-related pay element in the salaries of the general managers of these health boards. [1738]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Guidance issued in 1994 by the NHS in Scotland management executive said that any performance-related pay should be included in the total remuneration of the board general manager to be shown in the board annual report.

  Scottish Homes
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current position of Scottish Homes' plans for the transfer of its housing stock within(a) the Cunninghame, South constituency and (b) Ayrshire as a whole. [1740]
  320
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  Scottish Homes local stock strategy sets out its proposals for ballot areas in Ayrshire. A copy was sent to the hon. Member. Since its publication Scottish Homes has received outline proposals and registered the interest of alternative landlords in the following ballot areas:

  Cumnock etc—Shire Housing Association Steering Group

  Patna, Delmellington—Shire Housing Association Steering Group

  Drongan—Shire Housing Association Steering Group Coylebank Housing Co-op Steering Group

  Ardrossan—Cunninghame Housing Association

  Saltcoats and

  Stevenston

  Further ballot areas have been identified for Scottish Homes houses at:

  Irvine (Cunninghame South Constituency)

  Ayr

  Dailly, Girvan

  Kilmarnock, Stewarton

  Crosshouse

  Kilbirnie, Beith, Dalry

  Outline proposals for these areas will be invited from alternative landlords during 1996.

  Ravenspark Hospital, Irvine
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he anticipates approval to be given by his Department to the closure of Ravenspark hospital in Irvine. [1737]

  Lord James Douglas Hamilton
  Ayrshire and Arran health board's extensive public consultation exercise on the future of Ravenspark hospital ended on 30 October this year. The board expects to discuss its proposals and the outcome of the consultations at its next board meeting on 30 November. I look forward to receiving its proposals in due course.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Assisted Places
  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the ownership of a house worth £500,000 renders an individual who has no current income ineligible for an assisted place for his or her child; [1000]

  (2) if the ownership of a house worth £700,000 and investments of £140,000 assuming a net interest rate of 6 per cent. but no other current income renders an individual ineligible for an assisted place for his or her child. [999]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The selection of pupils for assisted places is carried out by participating schools. The amount of assistance available under the scheme is determined by parent's total gross income from all sources. Children would be eligible for assistance from the scheme if their parents had no current income, or if their only income was £8,400 per annum from investments.

  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what plans she has to amend the regulations on income in respect of the assisted places scheme; [187]
  321
  (2) what plans she has to include capital assets and investments in deciding who should qualify for an assisted place; [177]

  (3) what plans she has to raise the income ceiling below which parents qualify for an assisted place. [188]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Eligibility conditions and means-testing arrangements for assisted places are set out in regulations which are revised annually.

  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the average cost of(a) an assisted place and (b) a place in the state secondary sector. [213]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The estimated average cost of public funds for an assisted pupil in England in the financial year 1995–96 is about £3,700 for ages 11 to 18. There is no directly comparable figure for the maintained sector. The average standard spending assessment allocation per pupil aged 11 to 16 in England in the financial year 1995–96 is some £2,600; for pupils aged above 16 it is about £3,600. The SSA figures exclude capital and certain other costs which may be subsumed in the assisted pupil figure.

  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the purpose of the assisted places scheme. [191]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The assisted places scheme gives able children from less well-off families an opportunity of an excellent academic education at one of England's best independent schools which would not otherwise have been available to them. This helps to promote choice and diversity and to raise standards.

  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many assisted places there are at Eton college. [211]

  Mrs. Gillan
  None at present.

  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to extend the assisted places scheme to preparatory schools. [189]

  Mrs. Gillan
  We will shortly be announcing our detailed plans for expanding the assisted places scheme as a whole.

  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what academic criteria are applied to decide whether a child already at a private school should have an assisted place; [210]

  (2) what measures are in place to ensure that the advice of a private school at which an assisted places scheme applicant is already a pupil on that child's academic suitability for an award is accurate. [209]
  322
  Mrs. Gillan
  The regulations require a school to be satisfied that a pupil selected for an assisted place is likely to benefit from the education provided. Subject to this and other general conditions of eligibility set out in the regulations and to any specific provisions in their participation agreements under the assisted places scheme, it is for each school to select pupils according to its own academic criteria, methods and procedures.

  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of pupils in private schools are holders of assisted places. [176]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Assisted place holders form just over 5 per cent. of pupils in all independent schools.

  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many private schools receive money from the APS. [212]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The assisted places scheme provides financial help for parents of pupils at participating schools, rather than for the schools themselves. At present 293 independent schools participate in the scheme in England.

  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent reviews her Department has carried out into the academic standards of schools to which assisted places scheme funds are paid. [190]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The academic standards of schools participating in the assisted places scheme are regularly monitored through data on the public examination performance and post-school destinations of their pupils, and through inspection by Ofsted.

  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of overall private school income derives from the APS. [178]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Information about the overall income of independent schools is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Walden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what access her Department has to Inland Revenue records in monitoring the validity of claims for assisted places. [186]

  Mrs. Gillan
  In order to be eligible for assistance under the scheme, parents are required to submit corroborative documentary evidence of their income to participating schools which carry out income assessments on behalf of the Department. Such evidence may include P60s and Inland Revenue tax assessments on schedule A, schedule D or schedule E. The Department regularly audits a sample of schools' assessments, including the supporting documentation.

  Class Sizes, Dudley
  Mr. Pearson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what has been the average size of class taught by one teacher in primary schools in Dudley metropolitan borough in each year since 1983; [579]
  323
  (2) what has been the average size of class taught by one teacher in secondary schools in Dudley metropolitan borough in each year since 1983. [577]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Information on average class sizes of single teacher classes in Dudley local education authority is shown in the table:

  Average class sizes of single teacher classes in maintained schools in Dudley local education authority area

  Position in January each year

  Year

  Primary

  Secondary

  1983

  25.1

  20.4

  1984

  24.8

  20.1

  1985

  24.8

  20.0

  1986

  25.4

  19.9

  1987

  25.6

  19.4

  1988

  25.6

  19.1

  1989

  25.9

  19.5

  1990

  25.9

  19.4

  1991

  26.4

  20.2

  1992

  25.7

  21.5

  1993

  26.2

  22.1

  1994

  27.0

  22.7

  19951

  27.3

  22.9

  1Provisional data.

  Remploy
  Ms Hodge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans the Government have to sell off Remploy. [1666]

  Mr. Forth
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Williams) on 8 November 1995,Official Report, column 934.

  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many disabled people are employed in Scotland by Remploy(a) in Remploy factories and (b) in Interwork schemes. [806]

  Mr. Paice
  In Scotland, Remploy provide employment for 945 disabled people; 756 of these work in factories and 189 in Interwork.

  Wakefield TEC
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what level of funding has been made available to Wakefield training and enterprise council for work in areas which have lost their mining industry. [121]

  Mr. Paice
  Over the last three years over £6 million has been available to Wakefield training and enterprise council to assist in areas affected by the closures of collieries. Other Government funding available to the TEC will also have benefited former mining areas.
  324

HEALTH

  Medicines Monitoring Unit
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding was given by his Department to the medicines monitoring unit in 1994–95 and 1995–96; and what level of funding for the unit is expected for 1996–97. [319]

  Mr. Sackville
  The level of funding from the Medicine Control Agency for 1994–95 for the Medicines Monitoring unit project was £111,424 and for 1995–96 it is expected to be £115,264.

  Prescribed Drugs
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the latest available figure for the percentage of(a) hospital admissions and (b) community health services' patients receiving care as a result of adverse reactions to prescribed drugs. [544]

  Mr. Sackville
  The information is not available centrally. Information on the number of ordinary admissions and day cases associated with drugs, medicaments and biological substances causing adverse effects in therapeutic use in 1993–94 is published in "Hospital Episode Statistics, England, Volume 2", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Accident and Emergency Admissions
  Mr. Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were admitted to hospital in each health region as(a) accident and emergency admissions and (b) surgical emergencies in each of the last five years; and how many have been admitted for these reasons so far this year. [321]

  Mr. Sackville
  The available information will he placed in the Library. The tables are based on raw data from the hospital episode statistics and have not been adjusted to take account of shortfalls in coverage.

  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration his Department has given to the possibility that the death of 19–year-old Stephen Churchill from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in May could be linked to BSE, what requests he has received for an inquiry into the cause of the death; and what was his response; and if he will make a statement. [152]

  Mr. Sackville
  The spongiform encephalopathy advisory committee, which provides the Government with independent expert advice on BSE and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, has advised that it is not possible to draw any conclusions in this case about a link with BSE as confirmed cases of CJD have been found in the same age group in other countries before the appearance of BSE. In addition, the case had no reported contact with BSE.

  The question of an inquiry into the death of Stephen Churchill was first raised by the press. A number of letters have been received since in connection with the case. In view of the existence of the national CJD surveillance unit, which investigates the incidence and epidemiology

  325
  of CJD in the UK since the advent of BSE; and of the SEAC, we do not consider that there is a need for an independent inquiry.

  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department is currently undertaking into(a) BSE and (b) Creutzfeldt-Jakob dementia; and if he will make a statement on BSE in the food chain. [1663]

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department of Health and the Scottish Office jointly fund the national Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) surveillance unit which investigates the incidence and epidemiology of the disease, paying particular attention to occupation and eating habits, so that any change in the pattern of CJD following the advent of BSE can be detected.

  The Department is also funding a series of studies at the Institute of Animal Health into time temperature combinations required to inactivate BSE and scrapie agents.

  The Medical Research Council, the main body through which the Government fund medical research in the United Kingdom, receives its grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and is carrying out research into transmissible spongiform encephalopathies aimed at increasing understanding of some of the biological processes involved in such diseases in man.

  The independent expert spongiform encephalopathy advisory committee—SEAC—published "Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies: A Summary of Present Knowledge and Research" on 7 February 1995. Copies of this report are available in the Library.

  There is currently no scientific evidence to link BSE in cattle with the development of CJD in humans. All the information and evidence relating to the possibility of BSE entering the food chain is being looked at by SEAC.

  Residential Care
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of those entering residential homes are considered severely or moderately disabled, according to the most recent statistics. [1128]

  Mr. Bowis
  Information on the degree of disability of individuals on entry to residential homes is not available centrally. Most people entering residential care should be regarded as having a significant degree of disability or disfunction. At 31 March 1994, about 80 per cent. of all residents in residential care homes were in homes for elderly people and a further 2.5 per cent. in home specifically catering for adults with physical and/or sensory disabilities. The number of physically disabled residents in nursing homes was about 15 per cent. of all residents in nursing homes.

  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many inquiries his Department has received in the last year concerning the transference of assets and its effect on residential care provision. [1131]

  Mr. Bowis
  Around 40 letters have been received in 1995 and numerous telephone inquiries.
  326
  Mr. Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost per week of residential care is in(a) England and Wales and (b) the west midlands. [1133]

  Mr. Bowis
  In 1993–94, the latest date for which information is available, the average expenditure per week on residential care for older people per local authority supported resident was approximately £265. Corresponding data for authorities in the west midlands are given as series HE1 in the unit costs section of "Key Indicators of Local Authority Social Services 1995", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Information relating to Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

  Illness, Disability and Infirmity
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will define the distinctions recognised by his Department between illness and disability and infirmity. [1132]

  Mr. Bowis
  The Department does not use specific definitions to distinguish between illness, disability and infirmity. The provision of health and social care is expected to be based on a full assessment of an individual's needs.

  Milk
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what inspections his officers are carrying out in dairies and supermarkets to ensure milk from(a) broken or (b) out-of-date cartons is not being recycled; [1262]

  (2) when and from whom he first received representations as to the recycling of milk from broken or out-of-date cartons. [1263]

  Mr. Sackville
  My Department was first approached by The Observer on 3 November 1995 about this matter.

  Allegations about the reprocessing of milk were subsequently brought to the attention of the appropriate local authority environmental health departments who have responsibility for inspections of dairies and supermarkets in their areas.

  I understand that following this checks were made in two dairies, but no evidence was apparent of unhygienic practices or contraventions of food safety legislation.

  Temazepam
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the amount of Temazepam per capita distributed annually in England; and if he will make a statement. [1542]

  Mr. Bowis
  It is 0.066g.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths in each of the past five years are attributable to the abuse of Temazepam(a) in England and (b) in each health region. [1543]

  Mr. Bowis
  The table shows the numbers of deaths due to Temazepam abuse, alone or with other drugs—ICDs1

  327
  304.1, 304.7, 304.8 305.4, 305.9—by year of occurrence for the latest five-year period available in England and each regional health authority.

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  England

  12

  13

  15

  15

  19

  Regional health authority

  Northern

  0

  0

  2

  0

  2

  Yorkshire

  0

  0

  0

  1

  2

  Trent

  0

  1

  1

  1

  1

  East Anglian

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  North West Thames

  2

  0

  3

  2

  1

  North East Thames

  1

  3

  2

  2

  4

  South East Thames

  1

  2

  0

  2

  1

  South West Thames

  2

  3

  1

  0

  0

  Wessex

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  Oxford

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  South Western

  1

  1

  1

  1

  0

  West Midlands

  2

  0

  3

  2

  2

  Mersey

  2

  1

  0

  1

  1

  North Western

  1

  2

  1

  2

  4

  1 International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision.

  Waiting Times
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is his policy on waiting times for initial appointments in NHS trust hospitals; [1170]

  (2) if he will make a statement on waiting times for hospital appointments (a) in the NHS and (b) in private medical care. [1171]

  Mr. Malone
  Decisions on how quickly patients are seen following out-patient referral must be based on an assessment of clinical priority made by doctors. The revised patients charter, which came into effect on 1 April 1995, contains a national standard for the maximum time patients should have to wait for their first out-patient appointment: all patients should be seen within 26 weeks of written referral by their general practitioner, and nine out of 10 patients in each trust should be seen within 13 weeks.

  The latest information available shows that in the quarter ended 31 June, 85 per cent. of patients seen had waited less than 13 weeks and 97 per cent. had waited less than 26 weeks. Where the standard is not being met, hospitals are required to have in place an action plan to reduce the waiting time to the charter standard.

  No information is available centrally on appointments taking place in the private sector.

  Long-stay Beds
  Mr. Robin Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the number of long-stay beds in the national health service in 1990 for(a) the elderly, (b) psychiatry, (c) those with learning difficulties and (d) the chronically sick young; and what the figures are under these categories for 1 April. [1140]

  (2) if he will estimate the number of available long-stay beds in the National Health Service by I April 1998 and 1 April 2000 for (a)the elderly, (b) psychiatry, (c) those with learning difficulties and (d) the chronically young sick. [1141]
  328
  Mr. Bowis
  The information available is published in "Bed availability for England", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Hospital Closures
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what alternative arrangements apply in circumstances when a major hospital is closed to admissions and victims of major accidents; and if he will make a statement. [1151]

  Mr. Sackville
  Such closures are infrequent and generally of short duration. If national health service hospital trusts have to place restrictions on the cases that they can deal with, they should collaborate with health authorities, ambulance services and other hospitals to ensure that appropriate contingency measures are in place.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards cutting energy consumption in Government buildings for which he has responsibility in each year since 1990. [1444]

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Construction and Planning gave my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, East (Mr. Ainsworth) on 17 May Official Report, columns 259–62, for energy consumption figures for the Department of Health.

  Additional figures for 1994–95 will be published shortly. These are expected to show a decrease of 8 per cent. over the previous year, as a result of our continuing efforts to reduce energy consumption.

  NHS Appointments (Doncaster)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) who will be responsible for the appointment of a chairman and non-executive directors to the Doncaster health authority in the period from 1 April 1996; [1820]

  (2) who is responsible for the appointment of those non-executive directors of the Doncaster Healthcare trust and the Doncaster Royal Infirmary trust for whom he is not responsible. [1821]

  Mr. Sackville
  From I April 1996, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health will be responsible for the appointment of the chairman and all non-executive directors to national health service trusts and health authorities. Trent regional health authority is at present responsible for the appointment of two of the non-executive directors at the Doncaster Healthcare trust and at the Doncaster Royal Infirmary and Montagu Hospital NHS trust.

  Cheviot and Wandsbeck NHS Trust
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how long the former chief executive of the Cheviot and Wandsbeck NHS trust had been in post; and what reasons were given for his early retirement. [2232]

  Mr. Sackville
  This is a matter for Cheviot and Wandsbeck National Health Service trust. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the trust, Mr. Roger Baker for details.
  329

  Health Authorities
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will announce the boundaries of the new health authorities. [2560]

  Mr. Malone
  We are today announcing decisions on the boundaries of new health authorities in England which will come into operation on 1 April 1996. Details of the new boundaries will be placed in the Library.

  Human Foetal Tissue
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the ethical issues arising from the Medical Research Council project at the Centre for Brain Repair involving the use of tissue from aborted babies; what steps are taken to ensure that the mothers of those babies are made aware of the purpose for which their dead children are being used; if he will indicate the cost of the project; and he will list the consultations which were undertaken with the public and interested organisations before the granting of the necessary approval for the project to proceed. [1343]

  Mr. Sackville
  I understand that the project is still at the planning stage and as yet no human tissue has being used, but future studies using human fetal tissue are being considered. Any such studies will follow the strict guidelines of the Polkinghorne report, Cm 762. Its recommendations, which were accepted by the Government and the British Medical Association, were that such tissue could be used for research and treatment. Such experimental proposals will be subjected to the appropriate scrutiny when they are submitted to the local research ethics committee.

  Mrs. Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list all those projects for which licences have been issued in each of the last five years and which have involved the use of tissue from aborted babies, indicating in each case the number of aborted babies involved; and if he will list the steps which his Department has taken in each of those cases to ensure that the provisions of the Polkinghorne report have been implemented; [1344]

  (2) what administrative and reporting procedures are undertaken by his Department to monitor the issuing of licences for projects involving the use of tissue from aborted babies. [1345]

  Mr. Sackville
  Local research ethics committees—LRECs—advise within every health district on the acceptability of research proposals involving human subjects and human foetal tissue. Departmental guidance on the functions of LRECs includes the Polkinghorne code of practice, copies of which are available in the Library. The Department of Health does not collect information about research proposals approved by LRECs.

  Genetic Screening
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the implications for public policy of developments in pre-natal genetic screening; [1346]
  330
  (2) if he will make a statement on the implications for public policy of developments in post-natal genetic screening. [1347]

  Mr. Sackville
  These issues are being considered in the light of the Select Committee on Science and Technology's report on human genetics. The Government's position will be set out in the published response to the Select Committee's report.

  Psychotherapists (Children)
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many child psychotherapists were working in the NHS in each region for(a) 1979, (b) 1984, (c) 1989 and (d) the latest available year; and if he will make a statement. [1664]

  Mr. Bowis
  The information available for English regions is shown in the table.

  NHS hospital and community health services qualified child psychotherapists as at 30 September each year

  1979

  1984

  1989

  1994

  Northern

  1—

  1—

  1—

  10

  Yorkshire

  2—

  1—

  2—

  10

  Trent

  1—

  1—

  2—

  20

  East Anglia

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  North West Thames

  30

  10

  30

  40

  North East Thames

  10

  20

  40

  40

  South East Thames

  2—

  2—

  10

  10

  South West Thames

  10

  10

  10

  20

  Wessex

  2—

  2—

  2—

  10

  Oxford

  2—

  2—

  2—

  10

  South Western

  2—

  2—

  10

  20

  West Midlands

  1—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  Mersey

  2—

  2—

  2—

  2—

  North Western

  2—

  2—

  2—

  10

  SHAs

  2—

  1—

  2—

  20

  England total

  70

  60

  130

  220

  Notes:

  1Denotes zero.

  2Denotes figures of five and under.

  Source:

  Department of Health and Non-Medical Workforce Census Notes:

  1. Figures are for qualified child psychotherapists only, they exclude assistants and trainees.

  2. Figures are expressed as whole-time equivalents rounded to the nearest ten.

  3. Totals may not equal sum of components due to rounding.

  King's Healthcare NHS Trust
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions have been made by Kings Healthcare for on-site facilities to continue an integrated centre for epilepsy; and if he will make a statement. [2010]

  Mr. Bowis
  King's Healthcare National Health Service trust has assured me that it is committed to the Centre for Epilepsy and is working closely with the chairman of the centre to identify precisely how it will be accommodated in the future.

  Nursing Agencies
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will specify the professional duties of registered
  331
  employment agencies which specialise in hiring out auxiliary unqualified and qualified nurses, with respect to advice to client hospitals concerning past offences of falsely claiming nursing qualifications. [1730]
  332
  Mr. Sackville
  Local authorities are responsible for licensing nurses agencies and for securing their proper conduct. Each placement made by an agency must be supervised by a registered nurse or medical practitioner.

  General Government Expenditure
  General Government Expenditure
  Abortions: Statistics
  Abortions: Statistics
  Mental Health Services: London
  Mental Health Services: London
  Prostate, Testicular and Breast Cancers: Data
  Prostate, Testicular and Breast Cancers: Data
  Persons on Remand: Statistics
  Persons on Remand: Statistics
  The Tote
  The Tote
  Police Scientific Development Branch: Future
  Police Scientific Development Branch: Future
  Scottish Research Establishments: Reviews
  Scottish Research Establishments: Reviews
  MAFF Research Establishments: Reviews
  MAFF Research Establishments: Reviews
  Specified Bovine Offals
  Specified Bovine Offals
  A.303 Improvement Scheme: Archaeological Consultant
  A.303 Improvement Scheme: Archaeological Consultant